and I have been feeling homesick for the holidays. Last year I came here to IL for the holiday and it was easy, an adventure. This year it's for real and for keeps, and I have had a few blue moments knowing the family in MN will be gathering without us. I was really tearful on Sunday, but it seems better these past few days. I think it helps to have Eric home--he keeps me busy!
We still are up in the air as to what Eric's younger two are doing for Thanksgiving. Originally the plan was that they would be headed to their Mom's in IN for the weekend, but now she has to work much of it, so is just planning to come down here for the day and take the kids out. That, however, is dependent on the weather and her getting her car fixed (no heat). I hope she can make it; as a mom I know how much I treasure any time I get with my kids, and seeing my kids is a NEED for me, not just a want. I hope it all works out well for her. Rei and I are not going to MN, and despite my lobbying for it, none of my kids can make it down here this year. They will be with the family up there though. so I am content. I am making a huge turkey dinner here, planned for around 7 pm when Eric gets home from work, and will spend the day cooking. Last year Aurora and Eric primarily made the meal, and I just helped with the pies. We had such fun, and it was very tasty! This year it'll be me doing most of the cooking, although I may rope Rei into helping some... Eric and I went and got all the fixin's yesterday. Brianne has to work 6- 2 on Thanksgiving and her bet is that they will be busy--everyone wants coffee and donuts for their travels don't they? Hmmmm... Cliff should be around to help some too. I don't think he's working.
We have some good news on Betty: she has come home from the hospital now, and her fevers are under control. I haven't heard more details on what the tests showed, but am so glad she's feeling better. That was such a worry for all of us! Now I hope she takes things slow and easy--she is so stubbornly independent sometimes, and she thinks she's invincible... (just like a teenager!). Bless her heart, she is a wonderful person and I want only the best for her.
We've been looking at the christmas list of what to get for whom... I had to laugh at Eric because he seems so surprised at the effort and time I try to put into the gifts for everyone. I'm a bit sad because I have not made anything this year, and normally I'm finishing up projects about this time of year, but my usual gift making time has been usurped this year by other priorities! Oh well, I will get a head start for next year! I'm sure I can do that easily. I was joking with Liisa that I need her to get/set up a webcam on her laptop this year for Christmas eve at my mom's house, so that I can vicariously be a part of the festivities there. I have a web cam here, and I can set mine up too, then I can chat with family as they want to talk to me, and I can see the gifts as they are opened/exchanged... It could be really fun! Eric has to work Christmas Eve from 6 pm to 6 am, so it'll be a quiet night for me here.
Because I am not sure when I will next post this week, I want to just take a minute to count all that I am thankful for this year. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, whom I adore, and for all that has come to me through our relationship; I am so grateful his kids have accepted me into their home and their lives, and that we are making things work as a family. I am so glad I have Reimond here with me and that he is starting to find a place here as well with school, bowling, and making friends. I don't know if I could have made the move if he hadn't been willing to come with me! I am so very proud of my big kids and all they have accomplished--establishing households, going to school, being responsible adults... I tried to do my best by them growing up, to teach them what is important in life, and to help them establish their values and beliefs where it truly matters... It has paid off, and I am so very proud of them! I am thankful for being able to have my grandbabies in my life--they are such joys and treasures, and while I wish I could take a more active role in their lives on a daily basis, I am thrilled that they know me and I have a relationship with them. My extended family and friends too are treasures I hold tightly to in my heart. One of my recent devotions talked about how when all is said and done, it is the people and the relationships that remains in one's memory, not the material things out of them, and how true it is. I have so many wonderful people in my life that I count in my heart as "family". I am most truly blessed!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone, and know that you are loved!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
It's thursday already?
Where has the week gone! I sometimes feel like the time flies so fast, and yet the days have a tendency to run together for me (as my daughter can attest to when we talk on the phone and I am confused...) so that I am never quite sure what day it is. This week has been hectic anyway because Eric is in finals all week and has been spending time completing projects and papers, while meeting his work obligations and attending classes. The kids have many obligations too between daily high school bowling practice (Aurora and Patrick), confirmation class (Reimond), and working (Cliff and Brie), so I spend a lot of my time running the roads as "mom's taxi". I really don't mind--I just need to keep track of the time so that I can be where I need to be, when I need to be!
I finished my last spinning class on Wednesday night. I was a little disappointed that I didn't come home with any handspun, hand-plied yarn to knit with; the agenda for the last class was to learn about how to use the remaining tools to prep fleece for spinning, including how to wash/clean raw fleece, use a drum carder (as opposed to the slower process of hand carding), or the technique of "flicking" (to prepare raw fleece for direct spinning, complete with lanolin intact on the fibers), and three different methods of plying the spun fiber (done for strength and usability). All in all, the thread I had spun was used to demonstrate plying, but the entire bobbin was NOT plied, and what was was too small to bring home/do something with. But I was told I could purchase a "studio card" that would allow me to go in whenever I wanted to use the spinning wheel and other tools. That excites me, but I will need to find somewhere to get some fleece to spin before I avail myself of it, because you have to provide your own raw materials. That's going to be my "next project"--to find some fleece.
I've decided I am going to join the "Southern Illinois Artisan's Guild." I was going to do so last night, and attend my first meeting, but some running with the kids ran overtime and I would have been late to the meeting--not a good way to make a positive first impression--so I didn't go. In talking to their out-going president, who was my spinning teacher, it seems like it would be a good fit for me and my myriad of interests, and would give me some connections that would be beneficial for finding "raw materials" for many of my needlework interests, perhaps even how to create some of my own (like hand-dyed fabrics or overdyed flosses, or making yarn). And, I really would like to be a "re-creationist"--demonstrating old-time handwork techniques for others, like piecing quilts, or embroideries, or knitting... I am really excited about doing this!
Eric has decided not to take classes next term as he finally has his dates to go to the police training school in Arkansas. He will be gone the last week of January and all of February for this and once he is done, he will be certified to carry a weapon and get his badge. This training will occur over what would be his last weeks of the winter term, and the conflicts in time and so forth would make it too difficult to be manageable. Makes sense to me! I was talking to a girlfriend in Minneapolis and mentioned to her how nice it would be to have some company when he is gone--I think I will be lonely without him here (although I am really hoping to have some sort of job before then!) and it would be nice to have other grownups around...
Before I go I wanted to put a quick update on my sister's mother in law. She had surgery yesterday to remove a small cross section of her lung to see what exactly is going on with her. I haven't heard any details as yet other than she handled the anesthesia well, and had minimal bleeding issues (despite her low blood counts). She is on oxygen now, but is doing as well as can be expected. She remains in my prayers. As Reimond said, she has been a "grandma" to my kids these last 14 years or better (when my mother-in-law died she sent cards to Liisa and Tony offering to be their Grandma too so they would have another grandma to love them, and it was a huge comfort to them). She is a wonderful woman!
teeheehee....Don't know if anyone noticed, but when I wrote this I honestly thought it was Thursday.... Then when I looked at it when it was posted, I realized Oooppps! It's really Friday.... Color me a real blonde sometimes!
I finished my last spinning class on Wednesday night. I was a little disappointed that I didn't come home with any handspun, hand-plied yarn to knit with; the agenda for the last class was to learn about how to use the remaining tools to prep fleece for spinning, including how to wash/clean raw fleece, use a drum carder (as opposed to the slower process of hand carding), or the technique of "flicking" (to prepare raw fleece for direct spinning, complete with lanolin intact on the fibers), and three different methods of plying the spun fiber (done for strength and usability). All in all, the thread I had spun was used to demonstrate plying, but the entire bobbin was NOT plied, and what was was too small to bring home/do something with. But I was told I could purchase a "studio card" that would allow me to go in whenever I wanted to use the spinning wheel and other tools. That excites me, but I will need to find somewhere to get some fleece to spin before I avail myself of it, because you have to provide your own raw materials. That's going to be my "next project"--to find some fleece.
I've decided I am going to join the "Southern Illinois Artisan's Guild." I was going to do so last night, and attend my first meeting, but some running with the kids ran overtime and I would have been late to the meeting--not a good way to make a positive first impression--so I didn't go. In talking to their out-going president, who was my spinning teacher, it seems like it would be a good fit for me and my myriad of interests, and would give me some connections that would be beneficial for finding "raw materials" for many of my needlework interests, perhaps even how to create some of my own (like hand-dyed fabrics or overdyed flosses, or making yarn). And, I really would like to be a "re-creationist"--demonstrating old-time handwork techniques for others, like piecing quilts, or embroideries, or knitting... I am really excited about doing this!
Eric has decided not to take classes next term as he finally has his dates to go to the police training school in Arkansas. He will be gone the last week of January and all of February for this and once he is done, he will be certified to carry a weapon and get his badge. This training will occur over what would be his last weeks of the winter term, and the conflicts in time and so forth would make it too difficult to be manageable. Makes sense to me! I was talking to a girlfriend in Minneapolis and mentioned to her how nice it would be to have some company when he is gone--I think I will be lonely without him here (although I am really hoping to have some sort of job before then!) and it would be nice to have other grownups around...
Before I go I wanted to put a quick update on my sister's mother in law. She had surgery yesterday to remove a small cross section of her lung to see what exactly is going on with her. I haven't heard any details as yet other than she handled the anesthesia well, and had minimal bleeding issues (despite her low blood counts). She is on oxygen now, but is doing as well as can be expected. She remains in my prayers. As Reimond said, she has been a "grandma" to my kids these last 14 years or better (when my mother-in-law died she sent cards to Liisa and Tony offering to be their Grandma too so they would have another grandma to love them, and it was a huge comfort to them). She is a wonderful woman!
teeheehee....Don't know if anyone noticed, but when I wrote this I honestly thought it was Thursday.... Then when I looked at it when it was posted, I realized Oooppps! It's really Friday.... Color me a real blonde sometimes!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday evening, time to relax!
I don't know that there is a lot to write about tonight (although when has that ever stopped me?) but it's Sunday night and it's time to reflect a little on the week past and the weekend. This has been such a crazy week and I am honestly glad it's over. It has been emotional and high stress, and while I learned a few things about myself because of it, I am hopeful this next week will be easier, quieter.
As an update on the family: Betty (Rollie's mom) is still in the hospital, and is still spiking fevers. There are no clear answers in sight and she is doing as well as can be expected: she hates being in the hospital but is dealing with it with grace and faith. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Erika is home from the hospital now, and is recouperating at home. She too has a long road ahead of her, but each day is a little easier from what she has said, so I am optomistic for her. Her healing is a matter of time and patience, not always her strong suit (as she would be the first to admit!). Andrea is still being followed up on for her abdominal issues and should be fine. She too just needs rest and time to feel better. My mom, daughter, and Andrea's mom have helped out with the kids so she can rest some (although lil Miss Alexis is showing "princess" tendencies when her mother is around and wantes to be catered to; a diva in training!). I have not heard anything further on Jenna's mom, other than she went home from the hospital. I keep her in my prayers as well.
I have spent some time this weekend cross stitching, which makes me very happy, and I have even read a complete novel! It's been nice to have some down time. The kids had bowling on Saturday and Aurora did really well her last game with a 210, and Reimond had a 127 his second and third games; the boys (Rei and Patrick) spent Saturday at Jared's for his 16th birthday, and they seemed to have fun, and Aurora played at the football game Saturday afternoon. Sadly our high school football team lost to their undefeated rival, and our dreams of the state championship are now dead. They ended their season with an 8-4 record, which they should be very proud of. Brianne had to work Saturday, so she and Aurora had a quiet evening relaxing and watching tv, while I read my book and Eric did homework. Today we had church: Brie and Cliff were greeters, and Aurora and Patrick were servers, so we did the family thing there, and late this afternoon was a youth ultimate football game at the church that the kids all went to (some more happily than others, although in the end they all participated). The Pastor also provided dinner, and it ended up just being me and the kids there for that, which was nice, but odd. As I told the kids when they were grumbling about needing to play, we belong to a very small church, with very few youth, so to my way of thinking, Youth activities are mandatory to support the church, especially given they only happen about once a month. The two youngest weren't necessarily happy about it, but they did comply. Now they're out and about with their friends (running between three households), while the older two are on the computer/watching tv. Eric is focused on homework, and I am going to shortly pour a glass of wine and find my knitting. Definitely a nice way to end a challenging week!
As an update on the family: Betty (Rollie's mom) is still in the hospital, and is still spiking fevers. There are no clear answers in sight and she is doing as well as can be expected: she hates being in the hospital but is dealing with it with grace and faith. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Erika is home from the hospital now, and is recouperating at home. She too has a long road ahead of her, but each day is a little easier from what she has said, so I am optomistic for her. Her healing is a matter of time and patience, not always her strong suit (as she would be the first to admit!). Andrea is still being followed up on for her abdominal issues and should be fine. She too just needs rest and time to feel better. My mom, daughter, and Andrea's mom have helped out with the kids so she can rest some (although lil Miss Alexis is showing "princess" tendencies when her mother is around and wantes to be catered to; a diva in training!). I have not heard anything further on Jenna's mom, other than she went home from the hospital. I keep her in my prayers as well.
I have spent some time this weekend cross stitching, which makes me very happy, and I have even read a complete novel! It's been nice to have some down time. The kids had bowling on Saturday and Aurora did really well her last game with a 210, and Reimond had a 127 his second and third games; the boys (Rei and Patrick) spent Saturday at Jared's for his 16th birthday, and they seemed to have fun, and Aurora played at the football game Saturday afternoon. Sadly our high school football team lost to their undefeated rival, and our dreams of the state championship are now dead. They ended their season with an 8-4 record, which they should be very proud of. Brianne had to work Saturday, so she and Aurora had a quiet evening relaxing and watching tv, while I read my book and Eric did homework. Today we had church: Brie and Cliff were greeters, and Aurora and Patrick were servers, so we did the family thing there, and late this afternoon was a youth ultimate football game at the church that the kids all went to (some more happily than others, although in the end they all participated). The Pastor also provided dinner, and it ended up just being me and the kids there for that, which was nice, but odd. As I told the kids when they were grumbling about needing to play, we belong to a very small church, with very few youth, so to my way of thinking, Youth activities are mandatory to support the church, especially given they only happen about once a month. The two youngest weren't necessarily happy about it, but they did comply. Now they're out and about with their friends (running between three households), while the older two are on the computer/watching tv. Eric is focused on homework, and I am going to shortly pour a glass of wine and find my knitting. Definitely a nice way to end a challenging week!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
So far, so good--no early morning phone calls as yet...
I'm sitting here with my coffee and contemplating my day. It started with driving the teens to school: they were running a little late, and Patrick has all his bowling things he brings back and forth (Aurora and Rei leave their's at the bowling alley--both for bowling for gym daily, and for high school bowling practice; Patrick and Aurora are on the respective varsity teams). I've been doing better again about going to bed at a reasonable time, so I just stay up after I drop them off. Eric is at work, as is Brianne, and Cliff, I believe, is sleeping, after working 'til close last night. I'm feeling less frazzled today than I have been the past few days, and it helped to talk it out with Eric. He understands completely how torn I feel about wishing I were closer to everyone while things have been chaotic, and he told me in no uncertain terms that if I was needed in MN I could go with his blessing and he'd man the fort here. For whatever reason, that just set my heart at ease, and I could honestly say I am fine with being here and waiting things out. Maybe it's just the knowing that I could go if it were necessary that makes it easier. Regardless, I feel more at peace again today than I had the last few days.
Last night was my spinning class, and I actually used the spinning wheel. Let me tell you here and now, it is NOT as easy as the instructor makes it look. I felt like I had three hands and no coordination what-so-ever as I tried to make thread, and easily lost the beat of what I was doing. Gary, the instructor, said it needs to be a mindless coordination of foot, hands, and eyes, and if you try to overthink it, it doesn't work at all. I found myself easily flustered, and rather than frustrated, just laughed at myself, and had a ball. As odd as it sounds, it was fun to feel "inept" at something, because I had glimmers that I can do it correctly--I just need to find the rhythm--and I was totally learning something that I have wanted to know how to do since "forever"! (Some of my favorite fairy tales are Sleeping Beauty and Rumplestiltskin). I was given a plastic grocer's bag worth of roving (cleaned, combed, fleece, ready for spinning) and was told my "homework" is to go into the art's and craft center as close to daily as I can and "spin" for up to 30 minutes each day, to practice. I think the hardest part for me is combining the skill sets. "Treadling", or keeping the wheel turning at a constant rate of speed, is easy, until you add in feeding the fleece into the orifice and onto the spool (for sewers, think of winding a bobbin) at a nice, steady pace, and in nice managable amounts. My problem is I have a good beat going, then I stop treadling as I focus on what my hands are doing, or I hold too tightly on the fleece and don't feed out enough fiber to spin, or I allow the twist to get between my hands instead of keeping it in front of my left hand... I know this makes little to no sense to any of you, but it is helping me to process it through mentally. Gary says that spinning is 90% the spinner, and 10% the actual wheel used... I see what he means. I think I get it on an intuitive level--I can "feel" it when it is flowing right, as well as when there is a problem, and as I said, I had moments where it all clicked... They just didn't last long! I will perservere though, and Eric is completely supportive of my interest in this. I would love to someday make a sweater that I totally made from beginning to end (short of shearing the fleece myself), and with the opportunity to use the spinning wheels when I want to (you rent "studio time") there really is a chance to see if this is a hobby worth investing in (as if I need another hobby--although it has been pointed out to me that this is just a natural extension of one I already love and am engaged in). So I came home last night feeling like I was all thumbs and fumble-footed, but happy and determined as well. I am loving every minute of it!
On a totally different subject, I wanted to share that Reimond has now found a group of friends here in the "addition" we live in ("Timberbrook") that he is really enjoying, and he and Aurora are becoming quite the social butterflies. They spent Tuesday afternoon at the mall with their friends, and are spending less time in the house, or getting into arguements with each other. It's really nice to see both of them coming out of their shells, even if Eric and I are now on the opposite side of the fence from before ("go find something to do") to setting limits on "no, you really need to be home tonight" as they try to wheedle their way into going out and about at their pleasure... As we told Patrick too, it isn't that they aren't allowed to have the freedom they desire, it's just that we need to know where they are, what they are up to, and they have to check in... If it doesn't happen, then their wings get clipped a bit! Rei and Aurora are good at the former, whereas Patrick struggles a bit with that (especially the checking in part), but Patrick seems to handle "no" better than the younger two... Last night it was "no, you cannot hang at the bowling alley on base because no adult will be there to supervise you, you have NO money to bowl or play games with/eat at the snack bar, and you cannot just "loiter" there" and they tried to split Eric and I by seeing if Eric would overrule my "no" after I was very clear in why I said it... Little Brats! It is nice to see them getting along so well though.
I haven't heard anything new today on Andrea or Erika, so I guess they are both doing fine and feeling better. I'm sure I will talk to both of them later today. Again, thanks for the continued prayers and good thoughts!
Last night was my spinning class, and I actually used the spinning wheel. Let me tell you here and now, it is NOT as easy as the instructor makes it look. I felt like I had three hands and no coordination what-so-ever as I tried to make thread, and easily lost the beat of what I was doing. Gary, the instructor, said it needs to be a mindless coordination of foot, hands, and eyes, and if you try to overthink it, it doesn't work at all. I found myself easily flustered, and rather than frustrated, just laughed at myself, and had a ball. As odd as it sounds, it was fun to feel "inept" at something, because I had glimmers that I can do it correctly--I just need to find the rhythm--and I was totally learning something that I have wanted to know how to do since "forever"! (Some of my favorite fairy tales are Sleeping Beauty and Rumplestiltskin). I was given a plastic grocer's bag worth of roving (cleaned, combed, fleece, ready for spinning) and was told my "homework" is to go into the art's and craft center as close to daily as I can and "spin" for up to 30 minutes each day, to practice. I think the hardest part for me is combining the skill sets. "Treadling", or keeping the wheel turning at a constant rate of speed, is easy, until you add in feeding the fleece into the orifice and onto the spool (for sewers, think of winding a bobbin) at a nice, steady pace, and in nice managable amounts. My problem is I have a good beat going, then I stop treadling as I focus on what my hands are doing, or I hold too tightly on the fleece and don't feed out enough fiber to spin, or I allow the twist to get between my hands instead of keeping it in front of my left hand... I know this makes little to no sense to any of you, but it is helping me to process it through mentally. Gary says that spinning is 90% the spinner, and 10% the actual wheel used... I see what he means. I think I get it on an intuitive level--I can "feel" it when it is flowing right, as well as when there is a problem, and as I said, I had moments where it all clicked... They just didn't last long! I will perservere though, and Eric is completely supportive of my interest in this. I would love to someday make a sweater that I totally made from beginning to end (short of shearing the fleece myself), and with the opportunity to use the spinning wheels when I want to (you rent "studio time") there really is a chance to see if this is a hobby worth investing in (as if I need another hobby--although it has been pointed out to me that this is just a natural extension of one I already love and am engaged in). So I came home last night feeling like I was all thumbs and fumble-footed, but happy and determined as well. I am loving every minute of it!
On a totally different subject, I wanted to share that Reimond has now found a group of friends here in the "addition" we live in ("Timberbrook") that he is really enjoying, and he and Aurora are becoming quite the social butterflies. They spent Tuesday afternoon at the mall with their friends, and are spending less time in the house, or getting into arguements with each other. It's really nice to see both of them coming out of their shells, even if Eric and I are now on the opposite side of the fence from before ("go find something to do") to setting limits on "no, you really need to be home tonight" as they try to wheedle their way into going out and about at their pleasure... As we told Patrick too, it isn't that they aren't allowed to have the freedom they desire, it's just that we need to know where they are, what they are up to, and they have to check in... If it doesn't happen, then their wings get clipped a bit! Rei and Aurora are good at the former, whereas Patrick struggles a bit with that (especially the checking in part), but Patrick seems to handle "no" better than the younger two... Last night it was "no, you cannot hang at the bowling alley on base because no adult will be there to supervise you, you have NO money to bowl or play games with/eat at the snack bar, and you cannot just "loiter" there" and they tried to split Eric and I by seeing if Eric would overrule my "no" after I was very clear in why I said it... Little Brats! It is nice to see them getting along so well though.
I haven't heard anything new today on Andrea or Erika, so I guess they are both doing fine and feeling better. I'm sure I will talk to both of them later today. Again, thanks for the continued prayers and good thoughts!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Hopefully this is the last update for today:
Andrea is on her way home as it was NOT appendicitis (it was, however, still something painful and needing medical treatment for); she will need to lie low for a number of days and take it easy, poor kid! And Erika said things are slowly looking better for her, and she could go home as early as friday from the hospital. I just cannot get over how managed care barely gives you time to get the pins back under you before they throw you out the door~ I am breathing easier anyway, although I am still wishing on some level I could be closer to help out both Andrea and Erika...
At least my laundry is close to being done (although I read my book and finished it instead of cross stitching--just couldn't concentrate on the stitches this afternoon!)
At least my laundry is close to being done (although I read my book and finished it instead of cross stitching--just couldn't concentrate on the stitches this afternoon!)
Sure do wish I were in MN right about now!
My son called me earlier today to say my daughter-in-law had been taken to the ER by him and the babies with stomache pains; he called a little bit ago to say that they think she has appendicitis and is currently on a morphine drip IV for the pain... Liisa has the babies at her house (although she has to work later this afternoon), and I am sure Andrea's mom will do a wonderful job of helping out and being supportive. I just feel so helpless right now being so far away! I wish I were closer and could be there to help out, or offer love and support! Right now all I can do is pray and wait (although I am not one to discount the power of prayer in the least--I KNOW it works!). I just am not a very patient person, despite what others think, and I am a worrier too. If I can see it with my own eyes, and hear what is being said, it helps me to understand and relax... My laundry and my cross stitching are getting a good workout today because I really need to keep my hands busy, and I am very glad I have my spinning class tonight (I think I get to actually try using the spinning wheel tonight!). I know that there is not that much I could do differently even if I were in MN, (except that I could help watch the babies) than I can do here--praying and worrying are universal after all--but I do wish I could be closer by...
Update on Erika
I haven't talked to her yet this morning, but Liisa and Jesse were there to see her last night. The good news is that she has been moved to a trauma unit from the ICU, but she has a punctured lung, a perforated liver, and a smooshed spine with some small floating bone fragments near her spinal cord. She is primarily on bed rest, and she is stiff and sore. They are still debating whether she'll need surgery or not, but she is making small gains. Thank you for the prayers being sent!
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