Good Things In A Grumpy Week

1. One very sick Baby Noah has been miraculously brought through a week of seizures and illness.

2. Bought a blender and been making fresh fruit smoothies.

3. Got my hairs did.

4. Lost a little bit, emphasis on little, of weight.

5. Have laughed every single day.

6. Have cried two days...while praying.

7. Mac has only a few pre-requisites for nursing school left.

8. Yes the Sine-Off makes me sleepy therefore I have had some lovely naps.

9. My skin is not dry.
10. Summer-time salads every night with dinner.

Grumpy

I'm grumpy. Just sos you know. I am. Sometimes people are grumpy but they don't warn you. Don't tell me to not be grumpy because that really makes me grumpier still but it will be specifically focused at the person who is trying to do a de-grumping.
I am grumpy because I am off work today but got an email telling me to do a report on an event that happened 12 hours ago. The requirement is within 72 hrs. This made me grumpy because I do not need someone to tell me to do my job, this implies I would not do it without being told. When you also post that reminder on the reporting site that everyone reads, it makes it look to everyone that I'm not doing my job. Which by the way I always do and generally I exceed the basic requirements. So I'm grumpy.
I'm grumpy because I have a sinus headache and the only thing that seems to really help it are medications that make me sleepy.
I'm grumpy because somehow this house is messy and I don't know exactly what's going on but it doesn't seem it should be this messy which leads me to my next complaint. Other people who live here are definitely not doing their share to keep the place neat.
I'm grumpy because my yard is overgrown and needs about two days of grooming and I don't know when exactly that is likely to take place.
I'm grumpy because Mac's tuition is due on Monday and I had hoped to put a patio in this year. Well, the grump-root is my leaky basement upon which we've spent $1,000 so far this year without success and are now scheduled for a $2,200 yard dig-up. I'm just saying, over $4,000 in a few months is a bit stress-inducing. Not the end of the world, I'm not trying to be a drama queen. But it doesn't make me particularly happy at the moment.
I'm grumpy because I seriously HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT! That's pretty self-explanatory.
I'm grumpy because my neighbor who works midnights and must have been off last night, was doing a very noisy garage clean-out at 2:00 a.m. His process was to stand in his garage and pitch various large heavy objects down the driveway. This woke me up but my natural gift for insomnia then kept me awake until at 4:00 a.m.
I'm grouchy because my truck needs to go into the shop.
I am grumpy because I just checked the status of my Amazon order placed on Wednesday. Allow me to copy/paste for accuracy: 2 items - delivery estimate: March 21, 2011 - March 25, 2011.
I think that's enough of the grump chronicles although I could add a few more installments. I'm frankly tired of hearing it. Thanks for listening.

Get right or get left!

I am too tired to write a lengthy blog so I'll just drop this in your lap.
Was Jesus a liberal or a conservative?

Provocative!

Hosea 6:2-3
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Officer Matthew Edwards

Taylor Police officer Cpl. Matthew Edwards was killed in the line of duty yesterday at 6:00 a.m. responding to a report of breaking and entering at an apartment complex. He approached the suspect to talk to him and the man turned on him and opened fire.

Cpl. Edwards was 31 years old and leaves behind a wife as well as 6 and 8 year old children. He was a Christian who loved his family. He returned to his hometown of Taylor and joined the police department in 2005 after having been a Detroit police officer. He had a desire to serve his hometown and protect the people there.

He was also the brother of one of our dearest friends, Michael Edwards, who is also a police officer.

Needless to say the family deserves our prayers during this time. Donations can also be made at any PNC bank on behalf of Cpl. Edwards and his service to others.

Blog & Run

Hey there! I'm still here! A busy week has left me with no time for leisure computering. I've been covering for co-workers at the hospital and working on several projects at the same time. But all as well and although it's been busy, it's been a good and productive week. There was a rumor that I was back on Facebook but in reality, I'm temporarily logged in to enjoy the pictures of our friends Chad and Janis' beautiful new baby girl, Josslyn Eden.
Dean started at the new plant a few weeks ago and it has not been a positive experience. The move was based on improved seniority and a more established factory. He has worked for 22 years in the paint department and was hoping that was where he'd be assigned. Unfortunately when he arrived he was placed into a different area that he had never worked in before and on a pretty demanding job. In fact, the guy training him told him he has worked there for six years and hates it. He's been pretty discouraged not to mention exhausted every day. It's been ten hours at work, home to shower and eat and then into bed with a lot of Motrin to help him sleep. HOWEVER! God always has things well in hand even when we feel like things are making no sense. During orientation, the Mr. was told that Dearborn Truck is such a large plant, there is no moving between departments. Ever. The only jobs a person can bid on are within his assigned department. Last week there were openings in paint and despite the insistence that no one moves out of their department, he bid for it. He also spoke with a supervisor who had known him from his former factory. Today he was informed that on Monday morning, he is to report to paint! Hallelujah! I could see the tension already leaving his face this afternoon.
I am being presented with several opportunities with work and ask you to pray for wisdom and favor. More on that later!
Jay has been busy with work and his girlfriend, Emily so we don't see as much of him lately. It's so wonderful to see the Lord's hand fulfilling all that we prayed for when daboyz were small. Everything is not accomplished in their young lives, but God proves himself continually faithful.
Mac is on the road to West Virginia with my parents and my sister for a family reunion. He'll be back on Sunday.
So it's just me and my Mr. for the next few days. I'll work tomorrow and he'll spend the day with his Folks and then we'll have the weekend to do...? Maybe a movie. Maybe a dinner out. Surely some shopping because it's payday! Most of all, I continue to fall in love with Jesus all over again when he pours out such abundance on us. Have a great Friday!

Picture: Janis, Baby Josslyn & Chad. How adorable are they?

Titus 2:1-6
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

My Relaxing Weekend

1. Housework
2. Laundry
3. Grocery
4. Yard work
5. Hosting my mom's birthday party
6. Church
7. Church again
8. Errands
9. On-call for work
10. Cooking

Haluska

Mac and I are currently in Haluska Heaven.

I'm just sayin'.

Dean's Folks

After three weeks in Wyandotte Hospital Dean's dad, Ben, was declined for admission to the nursing home. It's a complicated mix of some of his dad's specific issues making him not a good candidate and the fact that part of his need for extended care was a result of his mom's disabilities. In other words, his current condition would not require a nursing home if his spouse could provide adequate care. Since his parents do not living in assisted living presently, the social worker at the hospital was able to get him short term placement in another facility giving his mom time to arrange assisted living. A week ago Thursday he was accepted to another nursing home for short-term care. This was the Thursday afternoon before we were leaving on Friday for Up North.I was not entirely comfortable with the facility that finally accepted him. There is a reason that only this place had an opening for Ben. It's like the old Groucho Marx quote, "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member."Dean's mom, however, felt it was worth giving it a try so we left on Friday morning for Up North and on that afternoon Ben was transferred. Unfortunately, a few days into his stay my fears were confirmed so Dean's sister Kelly (having arrived from Alabama for a week) and his mom had Ben discharged home. Kelly left Saturday morning for Alabama and Dean spent the night there to keep an eye on things. I do agree with the assessment that it is too early for a nursing home and that Ben can remain at home with proper care. Three weeks of excellent nursing care did him a world of good at the hospital and his condition improved considerably from admission to leaving Wyandotte. It's maintaining that level of care while making adjustments for a steady decline that present a challenge. Dean's mom is disabled with legal blindness, obesity, diabetes and needs a walker to ambulate. Even with a walker she can only make it a few feet and requires a wheel chair for longer distances. Having been completely dependent on Ben, Marty (mother-in-law) has never done any work to deal with her disabilities or to prevent her own condition from deteriorating. This leaves her with greater handicaps, poor coping mechanisms and a deep sense of denial about their situation. Because Ben is doing "well" at the moment, she almost seems to think that the momentary crisis has passed and they are back to "normal." Which results in less than adequate care which will result in....you get the idea.

The Mr. has his work cut out for him and is pushing them toward assisted living despite his mom's reluctance. Although this won't fix everything, it will provide a good deal of support that will hopefully tip things in the right direction. So there you have the update! What will come next is anyone's guess.

These aren't Dean's parents, but aren't they cute?

The Camp Ebenezer Sunday School Picnic

Psalm 22:25-27

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Summertime Food Favorites

1. Grilled hot dogs.
2. Iced tea.
3. Lemonade.
4. Watermelon.
5. Fresh salads.
6. Ice cream.
7. Coffee enjoyed outside.
8. Fresh herbs on everything.
9. Macaroni salad with tuna and peas.
10. Bologna sandwiches with fresh tomato.

Home!

Home! A much-needed week Up North has come to an end and after six hours to complete a four-hour trip thanks to traffic jams, here we are. I think we are all rested and quieted after seven days tech free. Quiet would be the word for our vacation this year. Dean was preoccupied with his parents and his new job starting on Monday. My uterus is like a compass, it points due North. In other words, ever year I get a visit from my leetle friend right around this time. I spent most of the time with a migraine and feeling generally yucko. We were even less adventurous than usual and rarely strayed away from home. Thanks to blistering heat, no campfires or s'mores this year.
Still, no complaints. We are surely more refreshed than we were a week ago if for no other reason than down-time we wouldn't have taken here at home. It just happened to be a year with issues that wouldn't completely disappear for a week.
So I am happily back on Queen Street with the vacation laundry already laundering. Jay has headed home to do yard work and Mac has disappeared into the basement. Donny has deposited himself in his "hot hole" (a giant hole he dug in the backyard.) Dean is sorting through the week's mail and will shortly go see his parents. Although we haven't been here, this house seems to need a dusting and a little shining. In a way, it feels like we spent a week at home and now we're home. Happy to be in either place.
And who knows? The summer isn't over...there may be a s'more or two in store before the leaves fall!
Grace!

Washed By The Water