Wait...it's almost March?!?

 10 more months 'til Christmas.

This last month has been an absolute blur. Cleaning at Mrs. Bryan's house, cleaning at our house, lots of thinking and brainstorming and rearranging, appointments upon appointments, sinus infection/allergies, Bobby's surgery, meeting with surgeon and finally agreeing to future outpatient surgery for me, ongoing updates from my parents, garden tilled and snow peas, potatoes and beets planted (and yes I left several rows empty between the potatoes and beets for something else to go later as a buffer), chickens are laying, we may have a broody hen..in FEBRUARY!!!, we have two roosters that need to disappear, lots of family have been in from out of town to assist with the sorting and cleaning at Mrs. Bryan's house, and somewhere in the midst of it all I've found time to pay bills and catch up on a few emails. While I no longer feel like our house is a disaster zone, it is still overwhelming.

Years ago a friend posted a quote by Martin Luther:
    “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

I told Bobby that has become my mantra the last year. No bird nests...that is all I have to accomplish. And then I remember the barn swallows years ago that conquered our back porch. I missed one day...ONE DAY!...of sweeping off their forming nest and it was too late. There was a nest with eggs in it. I have to admit, we enjoyed watching the birds hatch and hearing them screech and watch them learn to fly and disappear. I did NOT enjoy cleaning up the mess afterwards.

On the positive side, rearranging the house to make room for things has meant doing some deep cleaning that really needed to be done. We hope to move the few furniture pieces we are getting from his Mom's to our house the middle of next month. Tonight I moved the fish tank to its new location, and we were amazed at how much larger the room looked with it in a different spot. I hope by my surgery in April everything will be in its place. That's my goal, anyway.

January 2023

 The best laid plans of mice and men 'oft go awry.  ~ Robert Burns

Several years ago many of us bloggers posted a project for each month as a way of challenging us to get some things done. I did accomplish quite a bit that year, but I also found it a bit stressful. I was both surprised and relieved to find others felt the same way.

So this year my plan was to have one major project or goal to accomplish every two months. I was making progress. I honestly thought I could finish a non-fiction book I've been attempting to read the last two years before the month was out. We finished picking up pecans at our house and most of Mrs. Bryan's house so we could get them to the sheller. I had planned to pick up all the sticks in the yard from the last few storms and till my garden to have ready for planting next week. 

But on Monday, January 23, when we called Jean (my mother-in-law) to see if she wanted to ride along as we took ours and hers pecans to be shelled, she didn't answer the phone.  Bobby tried her cell phone. She didn't answer that either. We weren't too concerned as she would forget she had gotten the paper or what time the mail ran and would check those things over and over throughout the day. Sometimes she would forget to take her phone with her when she went to the mailbox. We finished getting ready for the day and Bobby tried to call her again. Still no answer.

When we arrived, the lights and tv were on and the door was unlocked. Again, not unusual for that time of day. I rang the doorbell, which she didn't hear anyway 90% of the time, knocked on the inner door on the porch, and went on in. She was asleep on the couch. I called her name a few times, but figured she didn't have her hearing aids in. As I approached, I quickly realized several things were not right, so I immediately went back outside to Bobby and told him we needed his sister. We passed on the road. I took her spot of homeschooling her kids and she went to the house where Bobby joined her and they called the paramedics. Once the EMT arrived and they place her on the stretcher, she coded. After a while of CPR and they started discussing the paddles, Bobby called it and told them she had a DNR order. Since Bobby's sister had healthcare power of attorney and we could provide the paperwork and her doctor confirmed she was in the middle stages of Alzheimers and had a history of heart/blood pressure issues, they agreed to stop trying to revive her. 

The last two weeks have been a blur. I was shocked yesterday to discover we were in the month of February, and Bobby agreed with me yesterday when I told him I didn't even know what day of the week it was. We have accomplished a lot, but there is still so much to do. One of his sisters will head back home tomorrow. I think that will be tough the first time we go to the house and absolutely no one is there.

Today is my first real day at home. The siblings are all meeting at the house today and making some decision on things. Unless they call and tell me to come later this afternoon/tonight, I will be trying to get caught up on things here. We'll probably work there again most of tomorrow and a little bit Saturday, but then we'll have to take a break for a week or two as Bobby has his surgery and recovery. Hopefully after that we can get into a new, temporary routine between home and dealing with the estate. The words from Steve Green's Find us Faithful keep running through my mind as I sort through pictures and papers.

We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road,
And those who've gone before us line the way.
Cheering on the faithful; encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace.
 

O may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize,
But as those who've gone before us

Let us leave to those behind us,
The heritage of faithfulness passed on thru godly lives.
 

O may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone,
And our children sift thru all we've left behind,
May the clues that they discover and the mem'ries they uncover,
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.

 

O may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

2022 wrap-up

 I started to do a bullet point update for the last 3 months of 2022, but ended up deleting it each time.

October
Turkey Trot training going great
Taught a new class during election training
Early voting began
I got sick
Dog's fence line went out during a thunderstorm

November
We met with surgeon at UNC -Chapel Hill
Aunt Lois died
Election Day
Worked with Blue Bag Canvass Team the week after the election
My friend Marilou died
Kids Christmas Program work began in earnest
Trip to AL for Thanksgiving
Turkey Trot cancelled due to flu numbers in the area
Cancelled Mom's 80th birthday party due to her health

December
Kids Christmas play
FINALLY got Bobby's van returned
My first gallbladder attack, lasting almost 30 hrs
Septic tank stopped up and collapsed at Mrs. Bryan's while she had family staying with her

So I was not sorry to see the calendar for 2022 close.

Here we are on the third evening of 2023. It is now 5 months out from the first diagnosis of a 1.5" kidney stone for Bobby and we still do not have a surgery date (though we do know it is supposed to be in January and will be at least a 2 part procedure).  The dogs are starting to realize the fence is not working so I've got to call and schedule that repair. And Monday we went out for breakfast and I had the chicken biscuit I couldn't eat on my birthday because of health issues. Life is still crazy, but seeming a little more doable. Years ago a friend of mine posted a quote that said something like "You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop those birds from building nests in your hair."  That's been my motivational quote the last few months.

a week of goodbyes

 Early in the week our pastor's wife received word that her Dad had suffered a massive stroke and they did not expect him to make it. Mr. Bowen has visited our church on numerous occasions throughout the years and was one of the friendliest and easy going people I have ever met. I think it's safe to say our whole church family grieves with the Bowen family and Nan as they prepare to say their goodbyes tomorrow.

The next day we found out that one of our neighbors had also passed away. Over the years he had been a tremendous help to Bobby. He was a mechanic and has his own shop behind his house. Before cars became so computerized, he did an incredible job of keeping Bobby's van running. Our prayers are with the Walls family, especially Betty Lou as she adjusts to life without her husband.

The next day we found out the wife of one WCA's earliest board members passed away. I never met her, but Bobby knew the family well. The Trumans owned a saw mill, and they would let you purchase a small truck load of mulch for a very cheap price.

My sister-in-law Amie lost a cousin this week. He was missing for several days before they found him.

And this is the week that the world will remember that Queen Elizabeth died. As much as I know her country and family grieves for her, her death does not have the same impact on me. My life and the life of those around me doesn't know change at all with the death of this very dedicated and important person. The older I get, the more I am reminded that I do not have to be important or well connected to make a difference in my world. Don't get me wrong, I watched the first memorial service for her and have watched some of the historical proceedings, but it's not with the same heart of prayer and concern that I have for the families mentioned above. I'm so thankful that our God is a god of comfort.

Summer Review

 I still can't believe we are already into September.  So what happened from my May post through now?

• We had a small garden. I canned 3 batches of tomatoes.
• Put up several pints of spiced apples (sugar free). Still have 1/2 a bucket to go.
  
• Made batch 1 of 2 of grape jelly. I might not pick any more.
• We've had three different hens hatch out biddies, and one more that wants to but we're not letting her.
• We put burlap around the pecan trees in hopes of stopping the worms from getting to the nuts. It's supposed to take 3-4 years of wrapping & spraying before they're gone.
• Spent 3 mornings fishing with Bobby's great-nephews.
• Worked a summer election, called a 2nd primary (essentially a run-off) and helped with the hand-eye count afterwards.
• We purchased a new van.
• New van went back to the shop the 2nd week we had it and we still do not have it back. It is now at the Chrysler dealership as the problem is not the lift or adaptive equipment. The company will "rent" us a van free of charge to go to Alabama in October if ours is not ready by then.
• I was rear-ended and only went to get it evaluated because my husband insisted. Found out there is a possibility they will total it if the frame is damaged as they fear. I like my car. I hope the end of next week I get a call saying it is fixable. (It goes in the shop a week from today.)
• My sister-in-law had someone back into her (while she was parked at the gym). She gets her car repaired the same time.
• My niece had someone t-bone her van and hers is an ongoing mess. Turns out the family doesn't have any insurance at all.
• The board and committee chairs for the quilt guild has met twice and we are running full steam ahead for our new guild year which kicks off two weeks from today. I am the program chair once again (my last year) and only have one more slot to fill for the year. Still need to create a contract and get those emailed out to speakers.
• Bobby had a routine colonoscopy and we have now followed up with genetic testing. We should get the results in another week. Neither of us expect them to find anything, but if they do, then his doctor wants us to consider a surgery. We both think that is excessively extreme for benign polyps.
• Bobby's annual urology visit did not go as expected. We were fully expecting to hear "Everything looks good. See you next year Bryans."  Instead we now have a visit with a specialist at UNC Chapel Hill to see what options are available for an x-large kidney stone in a bad spot. Since that stone was not on the scans a year ago, and he has had a previous sepsis infection from kidney stones, we mistakenly thought we'd have already had an appt by now. (We got the news the end of July.)  Our appointment is for the first week of November...right in the middle of early voting.
• In June I went to Sand Dollar Island with a friend from church for a day. I enjoyed it, even if the ferry ride and the island wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I think I might try and go again the end of November or the first of March when everything hasn't been so picked over.

 

And that is everything I can think of off the top of my head. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will be busy as well. Happy September everyone.

May

The end of April finished up help table elections training and brought with it an offer to work on the Early Voting helpline. (For those not familiar with Wake County elections, Help Table is the position that processes all the non-perfect scenario voters and the Help Line is a direct line to the Board of Elections that puts you in touch with staff who can answer questions and troubleshoot problems. I was flattered to be asked. After talking it over with Bobby, I said yes, then within an hour was wondering "What have I done?!?"

Today we completed the first week of Early Voting. I have learned a LOT, still have a lot more to learn, but am so thankful for the organizational structure and supportive network that BOE has in place. So far it has been a positive experience, though a bit slower than I would like. (They say November will be much busier and some days you won't take your headphones off for very long.)

 We also had our first reptile visitor for the year. This is way earlier than we've ever had one before (I think) and I am thankful Bobby's nephew Robert was willing to come over and help me take care of it.  It was skinny, but about 4 ft long (roughly, we didn't measure).

We have two broody hens that I am constantly pushing off a nest to get eggs. We've discussed trying an egg swap with a friend and putting some fertilized eggs of a different breed under them, but we don't need to do it until we know we'll be in town around hatching time. We also really don't need any more chickens, but I hate for them to want to hatch eggs so bad and not be able to do so.

My aunt has had several slight strokes in the last month, and my Dad's oldest brother fell yesterday and broke his hip. He is currently at the hospital and we are awaiting word on if/when they will do surgery. He is currently unable to feel that leg.

We were able to get tomato plants and 2 rows of green beans in the ground (not enough to put up for the winter, but hopefully enough for a few meals this summer).  So far so good. 

I am behind on quilting (what's new about that?), I am managing to keep up with the laundry and the dishes, but am woefully behind on other household chores.

Gas was $4.09 on the way home. Earlier in the week I saw it jump to $3.89 and thought maybe it will drop a little in a few days when I start running low. Bad idea. I guess tomorrow morning I'll leave a little early and fill up on the way in to work. I fear if I wait until coming home it might be even higher. 

Belarus is now running military drills. They say it is routine, but it is new for the country. Many people think they will join Russia in attacking Ukraine. I think about Sasha and wonder if his unit is one of the ones who will fight. He was such a sweet and caring person, who understood Christianity in his teens and it hurts my hurt to think of him being placed into war. I don't know where Mikalai and Aleg are, but it wouldn't bode well for either one of them to fight, either. My heart hurts at the insanity of it all, but other than pray, I don't know how I can help. We've contributed toward supplies for refugees, but there are so many and the need is so great. We know families of two people who have children training in Poland in case the war spills over into a NATO country. My prayer is that it doesn't, but I fear we have watched the beginning of the next great war this year.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

new nephew

 My favorite text from the family group chat last night:

I only heard the nurse say 8 lbs. I couldn't hear the rest because there was a baby crying in the room.

Welcome to our family Anderson Jeremiah White!!!

My parents got to visit at the hospital this afternoon.

My brother Andy got to give him his first bottle.

So thankful for this photo...for so many reasons.

My sister-in-law Amie is such a trooper. So thankful for her and happy for her.