Oh, what a fun and busy weekend!   That’s what helps make Christmas such a fun time, isn’t it?  On Friday night, Don and I hosted our Sunday School classes at our home.  We had about 35 people attending, and fun was had by all.  We ate, and talked, and played games, and prayed and laughed and sang and laughed some more!  It was cool weather, but the men were able to eat outside by the fireplace, and we ladies ate inside at the table…and on the floor…and on the couch!  Don and I provided turkey and ham and everyone else brought all the other food!  Yummy!

Just a few random pictures…I didn’t manage to get a pic of everyone…I kind of lost track of whose I had made.  Go figure!

Our teacher brought everyone a pair of Christmas socks.  Then she decided that this would make a perfect ‘class picture’.  And, she was right!  Can you tell which one I am?  🙂

Here is the whole group:

On Saturday, Joy had gotten us tickets to a play in Montgomery…about 100 miles north of us.  She has a broken foot…and Pop has macular degeneration…so I was the designated driver.  They arrived at my house around 10…and off we went…

We stopped and got a quick bite to eat and headed to the theater.  Montgomery has a wonderful theater called The Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  They have plays of all kinds, all through the year.  Many are suitable for children and schools from all over the state take groups there.

The play we were seeing was Peter Pan.

It was delightful!  There were quite a few children there and it was fun to watch them and their enjoyment.  But, it was very entertaining for adults also.  I don’t think I had ever really known the story of Peter Pan.  Maybe I did and just forgot, but parts of it were new to me.  Wonderful actors, and fun music.  The children really enjoyed seeing Peter Pan and the children flying through the air!

We went by a favorite smoothie place and got us all one for the road and took off for Dothan.  Pop had stories to tell and some we had not heard before!  So blessed to have this time together!

Great fun!  Great people!  Great activities!  Great food!   What more could you ask of a weekend?

I know who I am and I know I’m a lost cause.  I know I have ADD and when I start doing a massive project like decorating the whole house for Christmas, it shows up…BIG TIME. 

My plans are big tree in den, decor over TV cabinet, small table in den, buffet in DR, table in DR, cupboard in kitchen, back foyer round table, front foyer.And, that’s what I am sticking with.  But, here’s the problem…I have a little bit done in every space and NOTHING completed!  I know that’s not the most efficient way to work, and I don’t mean to do it that way…it just happens.  And, all of a sudden, I look up and am so strung out that I don’t know what to do next!

So, working away as hard as I can, and here comes Alex.  I have to take him all the way across town because his nurses at his visit with his Dr. yesterday wrote his prescription wrong…AGAIN!  This infuriates me because if Alex wasn’t aware, and checked it, he could get in big time trouble taking too much of this med.   And this is not the first time, either.   So, off we went.  It’s just not good for me to go away from a project once I start.  Then I get even more off task. 

I went to my closet to get a sweatshirt….it’s cold here today.  As I walked back through the den, I glanced into the library as I passed by.  When what to my wondering eye should appear?     A certain little dog had left a puddle….ON  MY  ZEBRA SKIN!!!!!    He’s not allowed to come into the main house, but sometimes he will sneak out when Alex does.  I think he had it planned and was just waiting for a chance to do it.  So, I had to stop and clean a zebra!  Clean a zebra!  Have you ever had the chance to say that?  Here’s the culprit!

Coming back home, I need to get some of my things in the storage room.  But to do so requires a t-a-l-l ladder.  Taller than the one I fell off the other day.  So I cautiously lean the ladder against the shelves, and begin climbing.  Uh! Oh!  Here comes Alex!  He starts fussing at me and telling me to get down.  “You’re old and fragile now, Mother”, he says. “Well empty out that box of ornaments and shove this old body in it there and be done with me!”  🙂  I do love that young man!  He is always looking after me!

So, why am I writing this post when there are boxes from the den to the studio to the kitchen to the storage room?  Don’t know.  Just saw the computer and picked it up.  Now, I’m not going to hold you responsible for slowing me down and taking my mind off decorating.  Why!  You didn’t even know when you started reading this that I should not be writing…I should be about my day’s work.  I know if you had known, you would have told me to sign off and get back to work.  You would have said for me to keep my mind focused on what I was doing because I have a BIG party here in 3 days!  I can just hear you now.  Ok, I’m going, I’m going!  BYE!

PS…I don’t even know what a ‘plum pudding’ is!  But, the meltdown, I’m familiar with……

Today has been a good day.  And, a reflective day, too, I think.  We went to Pop’s for lunch.  We had the big stuff catered, Joy made several dishes, and I made 1.  It was all delicious!  We talked of all the blessings we had.  Adding sweet JT to the family, and waiting for little Levi (that’s what Adam and Suze have chosen for a name.)  As Joy was hgetting everything heated, Adam, Suzanne, Ian and I got the tree and the rest of the decor out of the attic.  We almost got finished with everything, but still have a little bit to do.  Pop was so appreciative.

Do you eat turkey at other times of the year?  It’s really delicious.  We have one at Thanksgiving and one at Christmas…and that’s it until another year brings us back to Thanksgiving.  Perhaps, it’s because it is usually so big.  Even if you get a small one…it’s still too much unless you have a big crowd.  Anyway…

I had to beg and plead to get pictures made today.  So, I’m just showing you one …just us girls.

We were missing 3 of our group today, and that just leaves a gap in our family circle.  Alex was not able to go.  Today was not a good day for him.  Will is a Master hunter, and his group had made their plans for today quite a while ago.  Actually, they do this every year.  Ben was out of town visiting his sister.  Adam and Suze had to leave soon after lunch to be with her family.

We got the kitchen cleaned up, and divided up the food that was left.  Then we all went our separate ways.  Joy has broken her foot…AGAIN!  So, she is hobbling around. 

Ian went back over to Pop’s to help him with some computer stuff.  And, he said he was heading back to B’ham tonight.  And, he might.  But, I have made my thoughts on the subject loud and clear!  Tomorrow is soon enough…there is no reason why he has to drive 200 miles tonight!  Kids!!!!

So, another Thanksgiving has come and almost gone.  I am so blessed.  Our whole family is blessed.  God has shown such mercy and grace to us and to Him all the glory goes!  We have nice places to live, we have plenty to eat, we have jobs, we have cars, we have family…close by, we have friends, we have a sweet church family, and we have started another generation in our little family.  We have all this because God has blessed us.  We have all been through hard, hard times…but we have not been defeated.  He has seen us through.  Just like He says He will.  When I stop to think about all we, as Americans, have…and how little those in other lands don’t have….I am humbled.  God is good to us.

My friend Shirl has 2 daughters, Jolie and Jayna.  These are the children of Jayna (she and Tara are dear friends).  You can read their names on their shirts…John Davis and Blair.  Jayna did their shirts…aren’t they great?  She has started a business selling shirts and outfits…all appliqued…on top of teaching school every day.  I do not have pictures of Jolie’s two…she may never send me a pic now that I almost gave her a DOG TOWEL!!!!!  But, if she does…I’ll post it.

It’s bedtime for me…10ish.  Tomorrow, I must get my house decorated…well, started.  I have a big party here next Friday. 

Hope you made sweet memories today.  Your friendship is such a blessing to me.  I learn from you all.  Nite-Nite!

I just re-read this post before I hit publish.  Man!  It’s all over the place.  The brain…she is scattering further and further!  Takes all I can do to gather it back together when I really need it.  Obviously, I didn’t try to ‘get it together’ tonight.

It is 8:58…Tuesday morning.I am sitting on my bed with the laptop in my lap.  Right beside me are 2 phones…my home phone and my cell phone.  Suzanne and Adam are at the doctor RIGHT NOW to find out the sex of their sweet bundle of joy.

My  TV is on The Today Show.  Prince William is getting married on April 29, 2011.  Our sweet baby is due on……….April 29, 2011.  Wasn’t it sweet of them to set their date in honor of our BOY or GIRL ?

The news commentator is saying that England has declared the wedding a national holiday.  I feel confident the US will follow suit, as soon as they get word of our due date.  Wouldn’t you think…?

It is 9:15.  Her appointment was at 8:00.  Come on…let’s hear something.  Over 1 BILLION people are expected to watch the wedding.  If our wee one stays on schedule…I know about 12 folks who won’t be tuned in.  Do you remember when Princess Diana and ‘ole what’s-his-name got married?  I watched it from start to finish.  What a display!  I think it was every little girl and teen girl and young woman and older woman’s proof that things we only read about in books, and dreamed of, can come true.   A girl can grow up, marry a Prince and become a Princess.   I loved watching it.  And, I’m sure I will this one, as well…on the DVR, a day later.

We’re all waiting to know.   Not that it will matter.  Boy or Girl…makes no difference.  I learned long ago that God, in His great wisdom, is the one who decides when life takes place.  He sees the future…He knows where this family will be in 5 or 10 or 20 years.  He knows who needs to be a part of this family…and that is who will come to live with Suzanne and Adam.  We think we know best so many times, but we don’t have a clue.  It is usually only in hindsight that we can see how the situations that we had no choice in, and maybe didn’t even like, were the right ones.  The older you get the more you learn to trust His ways.  We have all confidence that His choice will be the right one.

Oh! my!  I knew it…I went to the bathroom, and she called!   I know she has a lot of calls to make…I’ll wait a few minutes.  She knows.  Adam knows.  I want to know!

   IT’S  A  BEAUTIFUL, BOUNCING, BABY BOY !

I did a dumb thing.  Very dumb.  I didn’t mean to…but that doesn’t earn me any points, now does it.

I’m having a big party here at my house on Dec. 3.  I’m sorry to say, but I’m just not able to work at something all day any more.  My joints just won’t stand for it!    Therefore, it takes a while longer to get a project completed.  So, I have begun taking down all my Fall decor and getting ready to decorate for Christmas.  We are doing Thanksgiving at Joy’s this year, so it won’t matter if my decor is down.  I started yesterday and today everything is down and by the back door.  I also needed to put up the fall dishes and platters and such.  You know…basically wipe out fall and get on to Christmas!

Those of you who know me IRL know that I am vertically challenged….I’m 5 ft.1 in.  Not a complaint…just a fact.  But, it does require step stools and ladders quite often.  Now, I try to be real careful.  I make sure the step stools and the ladders are sturdy, and have rubber on the feet so they don’t slip as I am climbing.

I know alot of people are not like me. ( But, I know at least 2 people who are.)  I am of the opinion that if there is an unadorned flat surface …it must be adorned.  And, it matters not if it is 3 feet off the ground or15 feet off the ground.  So there is where the ladders come in.  I use them all the time.  And, I’m very careful…really.

Today, I had to get the tall ladder, because I was going to the top of the pantry.  It’s a good ladder and very sturdy, but I do not like to get it out, because I can’t put it up.  It locks into place, and I can not get it unlocked.  It bothers Don when I leave that big ladder opened and in the way.  And, if he is bothered…he is not happy.  And if he is not happy….I am not happy.  And I much prefer happy!

I have been up and down the big ladder probably 20 times today.  And, I was on my last trip up…I’d forgotten one little vase that needed to go up.  Up the ladder…no problem.  Down the ladder…BIIIIIIG Problem. 

I’m still not completely sure how I ended up on the hard, stone floor…but that’s where I was.  I landed on my hip and elbow, bent 2 toes backward, and hit my head on a wooden stool on the way down!  You know, I’m sure I looked very funny going down, but at the moment, I wasn’t laughing.  I lay there for a minute…trying to see if I was injured.  I knew I hurt, but I was praying I had not broken anything.  Then I tried to get up, but my arm was hurting too bad to steady me.  So, I called Alex.

Well, Alex is the sweetest young man.  And, he really does try to look after me.  So, when he saw me on the floor, he was worried.  I told him what happened, and that nothing seemed to be broken.  I just couldn’t get up.  So, I asked him to help me up.

OK…now I  can see some humor.  One of the results of the Cerebellar Atrophy that he suffers from is very bad balance.  So for him to get me up was not easy.  He had to stabilize himself against the cabinet in the kitchen, and then hold on while he pulled me up with the other hand!  He couldn’t HELP me up…just PULL me up!  Which was very helpful,  but my shoulder is now out of socket, as well! 

I slowly checked to see if everything that was suppossed to move did, and that nothing that was not suppossed to, didn’t.  And, all seems intact.   But, my pride.  We sat at the island for a minute or two, and then I told Alex that I was going to lay down.  I could feel my elbow throbbing and my head pounding.  “Thank you for helping me,” I said.  And, then he said to me, “Mother, you can not climb a ladder by yourself anymore.  You need to have someone to help you.”  I thought that was very kind and told him that I would be fine, and would be careful.  And, then he said, “You know, Mom, you’re at that age where you can be breaking your hip.  You are just too old to be climbing a ladder anymore.”

Well…call the home, get me a flannel nightgown and a cup to put my teeth in, Son.  Oh, and I’ll just use your wheelchair myself from now on!  Too old to climb a ladder, my foot!  And, by the way, if I had to wait on someone to be available to help me when I need to put things up, I really would be an old lady!

I’m getting more swelling and bruising…and I know by tomorrow I will be walking like I did break my hip.  So, I will sign off and find some aspirin and the heating pad.  But, my t-shirt will do just fine…no flannel nightgown.  No teeth in a cup.  No hearing aids.  No TV with the volume all the way up.  No riding in a wheelchair.

I’m NOT old….just clumsy.

SUNDAY  AM

I was right.  Stiff, swollen, and bruising.  Can’t walk on one foot, didn’t even know I hurt it.  Elbow and hip very painful, too.  Don’t think anything is broken, though.  I’m just going to take some more muscle relaxers and dream this day away.

Y’all don’t reserve me a room at ‘the home’ just yet, ‘m’kay?