Early Thanksgiving

Becky's first turkey was moist and delicious!

The Baker's have Thanksgiving on the Sunday (today) before the BIG day on Thursday. For years, this has worked well for us. That allows Becky to have Thanksgiving with her husband's family and anyone else to go to their other family. For Clyde, Jason Allen and I, we enjoy a great meal at Cracker Barrel! It is the best dinner for the cheapest price! The $8.99 includes pie and ice tea:) There is a wait, so we try to pick a time in the early afternoon after the noon time and before evening meal time. There is still a long wait, but to me it's worth it.

In the morning, I watch the Macy's parade and put up the Christmas tree and decorations. What a great day. I wish each and every one a very blessed Thanksgiving and a holiday season to long remember. One of our 4th grade girls came in this week and said she is most grateful for being in remission for three years. I remember when she was out of school more than in school one year, lost all her hair and was very pale. So, we all are very thankful and happy for this precious student.

Two Trips to the ER this Week!

Our first trip to the ER with Austin (or any of the three) was this past Wednesday evening. On Tuesday, getting out of the shower, Austin fell and hit his chin on the shower seat. After getting it to stop bleeding, a band-aid on, they put him to bed. After school on Wed., it still looked "bloody", so the nurse at WCH recommended Becky take him in. We met out at Brannon's Crossing at the Central Baptist Urgent Treatment. After the doctor checking it out, she decided we should take him on to the Pediatric ER at UK. We went, and after waiting there, the doctor made the decision that, although it could take a couple (or three) stitches, he would put in the little Sterial "strips". Out and home by 8:00 or thereafter. Jason had a meeting in Woodford Co. until about the time we got home, and Clyde had framing here with three different jobs. So, it was me, Becky and Austin.

Then on Sat. night, mom got home from a day at Renfro Valley with the church group, and found Kent in a bad way. He had been sick all day but by the time she got home, he was unresponsive. She called and I went right over and after that Bev. & family arrived. It was everyone's decision to call the life saving squad. They took him to UK, and immediately they hooked him up to an IV, which was putting fluid in him (badly needed). Then they did a CAT scan, EKG, and found his potassium was extremely low. They are taking care of each of these needs so he will likely go home tomorrow. Now, the work begins to see if Kent will seek help to get over this illness. Prayers please for this need!

Beautiful Monday

Austin ran in to see us first, and we commented how tall he is getting, so he stood up straight for us to measure him. He likes getting tall!
Matthew & pap playing basketball.

Their bikes are at their house (with helmets)...oops, no helmet at nana's house! We may need to but one! This bike is one they share.

Today is the first day of the work week and the weather has been marvelous! Clyde and I had a good weekend, starting off Friday night at Sonny's with Michelle & Fred. Saturday, Clyde and Jason Allen went to the UK game. I believe they made it through without freezing until they were in the shade, then they were quite cold. I shopped around while they were there, taking it easy on my aching back:( Then Saturday night, we went to Lexington Green to see "Switch" with Jennifer Anniston & Jason Bateman. It was cute, I would recommend it! The large popcorn is always a winner! Becky & family were in London, enjoying granny and grand-dad, Uncle Jessie & old granny. Sunday after church we went to Abuelos with the Waggoners and Susan & Chris Wiley. We ended the weekend sitting out back by a nice big fire.

Monday we started a pot of veggie soup in the crock pot that smelled good when we got home. The grandkids came over for the evening, while mom & dad went shopping & out to dinner. I added cornbread to our dinner and ended it with cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins. They were more work than I usually care for, but they were very good! I got them from my friend Allysa's blog (link on my page named "Me and the boys"). If you want really good muffins, that are really moist, check out the recipe from her page.

I loved having Austin, Matthew & Maggie over tonight. When they arrived, Austin was the first in the door, and just looked so tall! He is growing by leaps and bounds. He gives us good hugs and love. Everyone ate good tonight, and they played well in their playroom, rode their bike, played basketball and MJ played with her doll. Love them to extreme!

Horse Park

We had a great weekend at the Horse Park camping on their Trick or Treat weekend. There was a free lunch provided by Northside RV, costume contest, hayride, pumpkin decorating, pumpkin games for the kids and above all Trick or Treating:) They kids loved every minute. On Sunday, they had just as much fun playing with pap in the leaves. They didn't want to leave when mom & dad came back for them.

I have been having these emotional roller coasters lately. Today, while reading "I'll Love you Forever" (Austin brought it to me), I cried. I am guessing it's the "age" thing, knowing I won't be around for all the "highs" of the grandkids lives. Or maybe thinking of dad....missing him. Then today at lunch, we sat across from two ladies. One I figured, was the daughter (but could have been a much younger sister). She was talking so mean to the elderly one, that I prayed it wasn't her mother. One was appx. 65 and the other appx. 85 (give or take for both). First she berated her for the way she put water in the coffee pot wrong this morning. Then she said she didn't give a "sh...." over something (didn't want to appear to be listening, when actually I didn't want to listen at all...it made my stomach sick). She said the "H" word to her over something else...she cut up her salad while saying "this is how you do it, I can't always cut up your salad"....she commented that the coffee the elderly lady got cost too much, and just ragged her out during the meal. Clyde and I talked about it, but knew if we said anything to the younger of the two, she may tell us to mind our own business, or create a stir. However, I was praying continually for the elder one. If you know me, you know it was all I could do to sit there. Well, when I left, I promised I would smile if the elder lady looked at me, if not I would keep quiet.
That didn't happen. Clyde walked out and sort of stood waiting for me. When I looked at the older lady, she did look so sweetly at me and smiled. I walked over patted her arm, and said "God bless you". She said thank you to me, so kind. The other one said something like "that's not likely" or something. I didn't frown at the younger lady or anything of the kind, I just didn't look at her at all. I pray that this didn't cause any problem for the one lady.
At school two 3rd grade girl's came in to the lab on their way down to prime time. This is another one of those "things" that happen that breaks your heart. One is especially close to me as I know her from an older sibling, and I know her grandmother. She started quoting things her dad had said about how her mother had ruined his life. On and on, things a child should not hear between both parents. I told her that this was "adult" problems and she shouldn't be involved and I was sorry she was. She mentioned hearing screaming all the time, etc. I truly tried cutting off the conversation, but I also hated not to show her others cared.
The last thing I'll blog, since this is my blog I would think I could write this, but you know anything you post is "public". So how can I say this??? There was a little girl at school, who is now a senior in highschool. She was a good student, sweet as any kid I knew. Very supportive parents (at least her mom was so outgoing and kind, don't know if I remember dad). Regular church attendance, at least I saw them pretty often. On Face Book last week, her mom posted that she would be wearing purple the next day in honor of her beautiful daughter. Pictures that were posted left me no questions about how this little girl had grown into a very different person than one I remembered. My prayer in writing this is that God will use me to be a positive role model to any student, girl or boy, that I can be while they are young and impressionable.
You may wonder why I am blogging this. It is hard to put in just so many words and know most people won't read one word of this, but my heart just breaks for the elderly and for the young people at school. God bless each and every one and help me to be what they need at the time they need it. Give me wisdom to know what to say, what not to say. Amen.

Matthew

Seems like each time I try blogging these (busy) days, I wind up taking off a design, or adding something silly that I sure didn't aim to add! So, today after too long trying to add back a cute "fallish" design, I will just type and add a few photos.

On Friday, I was resting up a bit for a Friday night dinner and movie date, when Becky called needing help. She had an extremely busy weekend planned, even busier than normal, if possible. Matthew was complaining of a sore throat. So, she called and got a quick appt. and I took him in. She raced home (around 5) for last minute preparations for Jason's college roommate, Eric, and his family to arrive. They had a good meal, nice evening together to catch up, then Eric & family went to GT homecoming (I always like for Becky to go:). Tonight, all Jason's fraternity brothers (and wives) are ending the day at Danny & Saras for food & fellowship.

This left nana and pap with one sick Matthew. He was tested and positive for strep, but the problem is, he feels pretty good! He cried last night, after realizing he wasn't going home for his momma. He wailed wanting to see her, it was so sweet (actually). He cried "momma, I just want to go home cause I love her"....miraculously, he stopped before too long. I told him he would love staying at nans house as Austin & Maggie does and they have never, ever cried for mom or dad! He fell asleep on the sofa, and we made him up a nice, comfy bed on the air mattress. He woke up around 7:30 Sat. morning, and asked if the company had gone home so he could go see momma. I told him she would call soon to check on him. Like clockwork, she called soon. She talked to him and although he sounded sad, he didn't cry anymore:)

Pap went to the store and got him OJ that he likes, applesauce, sugarfree popsicles and canned Chef Boy type of food for lunch today. He has enjoyed NOT sharing the basketball, the computer, and picking out the DVD he wanted to watch! He is sure a whole lot easier alone! He is a sweet boy. He thinks of Maggie & Austin a lot. He wants to make them things and wanted to bring them home a sucker (I said no).

Sunny Florida

I came across this little misplaced turtle, trying to find it's way back to the water. It's hatching season in Florida, so at night no motel/condo on the beach can have a light on. Either out back or in the lobby, hallway, etc., that leads out to the back. Thus, I am sitting in the hallway in semi-darkness blogging.

My sweet boys!

I have saved a couple of personal days each year for many years, so that when fcps gives us one more each new year, I have three total. So, I decided to use two of them this coming Monday and Tuesday since we are off Wed. - Fri. With the Wiley's in tow, we all headed down on Friday after work. The traffic was mild, the weather perfect, and we found it the same upon arrival. Beautiful Sunday:) We enjoyed church this morning in a very traditional service (the 8:30 one is for those liking the old hymns) at White Chapel Church of God. It is pastored by Bro. Steve Birch that was Eastland's minister for many years. His son, Brent, actually preached the sermon this a.m. After that, we enjoyed a beautiful day at the beach. We ate tonight at Aunt Catfish' and the wait was long, but the food was worth it. We met up with the Waggoner's tonight and enjoyed the company.

Becky's family is off school all next week so they were coming to Florida so they are in the motel next door. It is fun having them down here, running into them on the beach:) The boys and MJ love playing in the sand. They are loving it! Here are a few photos!