Fun, Friends, and Back Home in Indiana

I spent most of my time in Oklahoma City with my son and with my mother-in-law. I totally enjoyed my time with them, also realizing I may not have my sweet M-I-L a whole lot longer. She is a sweetheart and I enjoy her company.

However, on Thursday night I had a really fun evening with a good friend of mine from the hospital where I used to work. She has been a friend for a long time, not just at work. I had spent time with her family on various occasions. She asked me to come for supper and spend the evening, but she lives about 40 minutes from where I was staying, and I really don't do well driving at night. So she said, "Just come and spend the night! We'll have a slumber party!" So I did!

Her 3 girls are an absolute delight. The oldest one, Cali, (in the middle), is so mature and very sweet. She helped her mom clear the table. And she got my room ready for me. She wanted to show it to me so we all went upstairs. She had made the bed, turned it back, and had my book and the TV remote laying by the pillow. She also showed me where clean towels were in the bathroom. (Later, when I was going to bed, she brought me a big glass of ice water--so I wouldn't have to go downstairs in the dark if I needed a drink.)

After supper (which was grilled T-bone steaks, baked potatoes, green bean casserole,salad and rolls!) the girls had a jump rope contest for me. I tried my luck, but let me just say--I'm out of practice. They all surpassed my ability.

They have a huge exercise ball, and they were showing me tricks they do with it. They are all sitting on the ball here, even though you can't see it. After supper, hubby made rice krispie treats--which thrilled all the girls. You can see the middle one, Kinsie, enjoying one. (I think she had at least three!). The youngest one, on the right, is Chloe. This is my assessment of the girls: Cali--sweet, mature, compassionate; Kinsie--fun-loving and laid back (not much bothers her); and Chloe--mischievous and a bit ornery--just like her mother. I told Joely that "pay back is rough". She said "I knew I would have one exactly like me--it's scary!

After taking the girls to school Friday morning, Joely and I had coffee and talked, and then I headed back to OKC. It was a totally fun evening.

On my road trip back, I got a book-on-tape from Cracker Barrel to keep me awake. I've done this before, and it keeps me from getting sleepy. This was "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks. It was a really good book--I enjoyed it.

However, there is nothing like getting back home. I have obviously gained a few pounds while I was gone, so it's back to the routine. I got back on Sunday about 3:00 pm and mostly unpacked, did laundry, and "chilled" in my recliner, caught up on blog-reading, etc.

So now it's back to getting in the routine. Yesterday was a gorgeous day! I got out early and rode my bike 3 miles. For seasoned bikers, I know that doesn't sound very impressive, but I'm definitely going to have to work up to longer distances. (The first and last 1/2 mile is on gravel and makes me a little nervous.) I did get a helmet, in case I take a tumble.

A Busy Boy and Some Geneology!

I am staying with my 1st cousin (from first marriage), and she was babysitting on Tuesday for her great-grandson. Some of you who are great with relationships can help me out here. I think that would make little Aiden my third cousin--or would that be 2nd cousin, twice removed? I get so confused about these things!

This little guy really kept us "old folks" busy! He is 18 months old, and cute as a bug, but NEVER stopped moving! He even fought going to sleep by keeping in constant motion. We finally put him in his high chair with some crackers and banana, and he fell asleep watching a kids program on TV.

These were throw rugs that Aiden decided to pick up and re-arrange. At one point he had the pink one over his lap like a blanket. He played with his toys, danced to the music on TV, in between trying to see what he could get in to. My cousin has a poodle, Bridget, and Aiden and Bridget get along famously together.

This is my mother-in-law, Gloria. She is nearly blind but she was also enjoying little Aiden. Ok--here we go again! If my mother-in-law is an Aunt to Aiden's great-grandmother, what relationship is Aiden to Gloria? I think it must be great-great-great aunt!? At any rate, we're all related!

It was fun to get to know this little guy! (BTW, he's going to get a hair cut on Saturday so that people won't think he's a cute little girl).

Beautiful Drive, Good friends and family

I started out early Sunday morning to drive to Oklahoma City. It is always a two-day trip when I drive, but I also had a few stops I wanted to make along the way.



My first stop was in Rockville, Indiana at the Rockville Correctional Facility. As most of you know, I have been writing to and mentoring a girl at this facility.(well I guess she's a lady--35 y/o, but looks so young!) They are allowed to have visits from family or friends for 2hours at a time. I arrived there about 10:30 am and had a wonderful visit with her.

This is Nichole with her kids, R.J. and Nyla. They are 3 y/o and 2y/o. Nyla just had her birthday. She hasn't seen them for a long time. I am currently trying to work out a visit to see them and get some current pictures for her. I am impressed with the way Nichole has grown spiritually and she has a very positive attitude, in spite of some of the negative things that go on. She is in college there (through Ivy Tech) for Medical assistant. She is also in a work program at a factury there (Penn products), which will help her with employment when she gets out.
One humerous thing is that she always wants me to tell her what I've fixed for meals. They have pretty bad food, and I told her I thought it would make her feel bad. She said, "Oh no! I can almost smell the roast and taste the food" A good imagination I guess.

When I left Rockville, I went to Terre Haute to see my friend Naomi. (This is an older picture, as I am in OKC and forgot the cord to upload pics from my camara. I took her a care package and visited for about an hour.

When I left Terre Haute, I drove as far as I could until sunset. (I don't drive after dark). I got to Rolla, Missouri at 7:30 pm and stayed in a Best Western.

I couldn't believe it, but I slept until 6:40 am (my time--it was actually 5:40 in Mo). I got ready to leave, had juice and coffee at the hotel, and left there about 7:15 am (Mo. time)

Sort of on a whim, I decided to stop to see the Precious Moments Chapel. I knew I wasn't on a strict schedule, and had wanted to see it for a long time. My kids and first hubby had been there a long time ago, but I wasn't with them. The grounds are beautiful, and the chapel was really impressive. We couldn't take pics inside, but these pictures below are from the internet. One room had beautiful stain-glass windows, each one depicting one of the beatutudes.

This was the main room, as you walked in. It had murals along both walls, and this big mural at the back, called "Hallelujah Square". I was really glad I had taken this little respite from my driving. (Besides I really needed to walk for a little while!)

I arrived in Ok. City about 3 pm their time and went to see my mother-in-law, Gloria, and son Tim. I went to her home and he came over to visit with us.

I am staying with my cousin, Donnie and her husband Gene, and had supper there. Her computer modem is broke, so I came to the library to catch up and get my "computer fix".

(I'm really hoping my cord for my camara is in my suitcase, but it didn't get here to the library with me.). I will be spending most of the week here, and leaving again for the drive home next Saturday.

A Tale About Trees

The last two days have been quite an experience.  We have 7 trees in our yard and had a tree-trimmer come and trim six of them.  Were talking a major trim job.  He was very good, but to keep our cost down, he doesn't do his own clean up. 

He came on Monday afternoon and by supper time he had done four trees.  We began to clean up the mess.  Lynn would saw and I would carry the pieces to a place at the back of  our garden to burn them.  By 7:00 pm we were already exhausted, and didn't seem to have made much of a dent.  Lynn had taken off work for Monday and Tuesday so that we could get this done.  He said to me, "Do you think we could get anyone to help us?"  He seemed so discouraged. 

I remembered that it was Spring Break.  So I immediately e-mailed several people in church who I thought might have contact with teen-agers, pleading for anyone available to come and help, and we would pay them.

By 9:30 pm I had received a call from one of the boys and he said there would be two of them coming.

What a blessing and a total God-send.  These boys were such hard workers. By noon we had almost the entire mess cleaned up.  However, the tree-trimmer was coming back that afternoon to do the other 2 trees.  The boys said, no problem!  Give us a call when he's done and we'll come back. 

He finished trimming at 3:30 pm and by 5:00 we were finished.  We thanked the boys, paid them and told them they had been a God-send.  They told us anytime we had work to give them a call.

Not only were Lynn and I so encouraged and thrilled to have our yard nice and clean.  It also restored my faith in young people.  These 2 boys were so cheerful and pleasant to work with, and it was a joy to get to know them. 

This is the fire that we kept going all day.  It doesn't look very large here but there were times that it was huge.  There was quite a lot of wind, But we watched it and it did very well.  (I think we did singe the grass

just a little). I couldn't believe how much we burned.  Lynn also cut up quite a bit of it for firewood.  

The above 2 pictures are the "after" pics.  I thought it was interesting that I also got the shadows of the trees.  Apparently the sun was just at the right spot to cast these shadows. 

It was a truly exhausting job, but we are so glad to have it done.  The plus side is that I also now have a farmer's tan.  Why didn't I wear a sleeveless top?!  I also have some very sore leg muscles.  But this, too, shall pass.

Spring, Glorious Spring!

I have been energized by the warmer weather,

 the sun, the flowers the birds. 

I didn't realize it, but I think I was actually getting kind of depressed.

I actually have some daffodils in my yard, but for some reason the program that I use to upload my pictures from my camara to my computer is not working recently.  So I borrowed this picture. 

(I thought maybe it had something to do with blogger, so I went in to blogger and did an update, based on a recommendation from another blogger--several people were having trouble with their pictures uploading very slow from their files)

Let me just say, I am less than thrilled with this update.  It uploads the pictures faster from my files.  But it keeps wanting to help; for example, today it won't let me type in normal fashion.  I guess because I have pictures, it keeps centering everything.  Also, if I pause to think, it jumps back up to the beginning of my script.

BUT--I digress!

i

  Spring, Spring, I heard a robin sing

I'm glad because it's Spring again!

Spring, Spring, it makes me want to sing

I want to play ball, I want to jump rope,

and roller skate again I hope,

In good, old Spring.

This is a song we used to sing as kids.  I think I would modify it--instead of saying "roller skate",

I would say "and ride my bike again I hope", since I've made plans to ride bike this spring.

Ok!  Energized or not, my computer is driving me crazy this morning, so I will stop.

I trust most of you by now are enjoying warmer temperatures and some sunshine,

as well as enjoying His Sonshine.

(By the way, I've been using Walgreen's Photo Express to upload my pics from my camara.

I think I need to change.  What are some of you using?)

Belated Happy Birthday!

I wanted to wish Wanda, at Moments of Mine, a Happy Birthday yesterday.  So I went to her most recent blog, but there were TONS of comments, and I was afraid mine would get lost in the shuffle.  Then I was going to post it on mine, and I got distracted.  Hopefully it's OK to be a day late!

Wanda, I absolutely love your posts!  You seem to live in a paradise of beauty.  What a lovely home and property.  I do hope your birthday was a great one!  I know you will have many more!  Please accept my Birthday wishes, a day late.

Excited to Ride

I have been wanting to be able to ride bike, and so I had decided I would start checking garage sales or thrift shops to see if I could find a bike. My hubby said he had one up in the barn and would get it down and fix it up for me. I thought "great!". I even put a "yellow stickie" on the kitchen table with the word "bike" and drew a picture of me riding it. (All of this because he often needs a visual reminder to get something done).

FINALLY, Thursday evening he got the bike down and showed it to me. Let's just say, it was not exactly like one of the new mountain or road bikes in the stores. But He assured me it will work fine. Friday evening he oiled all the gears, etc. on the bike. As you can see from the picture, it is still going to need a little work. But we both tried it out, and it actually rides just fine. Now when I get a really nice day, I'm going to clean it up and see if I can get some of the rust off of it. Any ideas of something that works well to remove rust without a lot of work? Or maybe I'll just try Coke--I think someone told me it takes off rust. (Imagine what it does to our insides!)

So now--no more excuses. Even though it's only about 40 degrees today, it is sunny. So I believe I will take the bike for a premier spin and just hope that I'm not too old to stay upright on a bike. I canceled my fitness center membership for the summer, so I'm hoping this will be a way to keep up with my exercise goals. Walking around my country mile by myself is just plain boring.

[Post-Script]: I just got back from my premier ride, and I learned something. Apparently riding bike does not use the same muscles as walking on the treadmill. I only rode 2 miles (part of it riding into the wind) and my legs are like jelly. When I got back, Lynn looked at my hand grips and said, "No wonder you were working so hard--you had it set on ;high'! Duh! Maybe next time I'll start out in 'low'.