Quiet Weekend

We are at the end of anther week, and almost at the end of another month. We did have another record setting winter's snowfall; with the snow we received this month, we got over 100" so we are ready for spring!! We woke up yesterday morning to a white world and by evening the only snow around were on the dirty old piles.

Some of the highlights of this month were Elton and Lauri and family's visit over Palm Sunday. That is always a special time. Olivia and Regan had their dance recital. We had our Coffee Break soup supper at church this past Wednesday, and had a great turnout. I spent each Thursday with Emma, and this Thursday I stopped in to see Uncle Quinten and Aunt Marie. This evening we had a delightful time with Wayne and Jane Vanden Hoek (cousins) at Arnie's restaurant.

I also went to see a foot doctor Dr. Peelen, who put the bones in my feet in place and then had new orthodics made to help with the ankle and foot pain I have had for a long time. It definitely has helped, but I may have to have it adjusted another time.

We went to the funeral home this evening to see the family of a man from our church who died on Wednesday. He had many health problems and also had ALS. We have more folks at church that need our special prayer support. We have a lady receiving chemo and radiation, another gal broke her arm and during therapy the therapist pushed it too far and broke the arm again, so she had to have a 2nd surgery to put a plate in. A young mother expecting her third baby was having early contractions, so was on bedrest for 2 weeks. Most of these folks need or needed meals or rides, and that is part of my ministry at church. I arrange what they need by calling the willing and healthy church members. It is a very enjoyable ministry as most everyone I call is more than willing to help.

We continue to bring in, organize or rearrange things in the house. I ordered some window treatments for the guest bedroom, master bath and walk in closet this week. They should come in about 10 days so then we can hang those. Everett has been building a new filing cabinet for the den and is making good progress on that. We also got the call that we had been waiting for from the Olde Tyme Country furniture store in Shipshewana. Our bed and nightstands are built and will be delivered on Tuesday. We bought a new mattress last night, and that will be delivered on Wednesday. We are excited about that!!

Monday before Easter

We had a delightful weekend with almost all of the kids and grandkids. (Only Emily was missing, but we were thinking of her). Elton, Lauri and kids came Friday evening, so we got to catch up with them, and happy that Syd was getting over her strep. She was on medication so was feeling a lot better. It was her special weekend as our family celebrated her 12th birthday. Can you believe Sydney Shae is almost 12; on the 27th? She is growing up to be a lovely young lady.

Saturday morning we slept in, Brenda and Joel and Emma showed up at 9, and the guys put up the TV's. At 11:30 Mackenna and I left for Olivia and Regan's dance recital at the Forest Hills Auditorium. We stopped at Forest Hills foods to pick up some roses for the girls and some candy for Aidan. The recital is always well done by the Moving Company. The girls have been dancing at least 4 years, and continue to improve in the Irish dance.

After the recital Lauri, Mackenna and I went shopping with not much success, but we tried. At 5 o'clock we met at Brenda and Joel for a Mexican feast. It was delicious. After dinner the guys took all of the kids to the fire station, and Joel showed the kids around a check out the gear and the truck etc. Emma had so much fun with the cousins and did not like the idea of going to bed, but we left on time so we could all get to bed on time also. It was great to have the upstairs cleaned up and have enough room for their whole family to sleep. (We do not have the bed we ordered for our bedroom yet, so we still are in the guest bedroom downstairs. )

Yesterday was the grand finale and everyone was able to come for dinner. We tried to fix things that Syd liked as it was her special day. We had a big pot of chili, and her pick was pasta, with a white and spaghetti sauces to choose from. We had a salad bar, yummy bread and a white bunny cake for dessert with ice cream. The cake was decorated by Lauri, Ethan and Mackenna. It was very tasty, especially with the twinkie ears!

Those special times go by so quickly, but the memories are forever. Elton and Everett spent quite a bit of time discussing wood, buying wood, and making plans to build a work bench, end tables and a desk. Those are ambitious plans and we will keep you informed of the progress!!

Today it was back to work and appointments. I have had trouble with my left ankle so had my 2nd appointment at a foot Dr. who made adjustments on my foot, taped it, and made a mold for orthodics. Hopefully it will be the solution for the pain.

Visitors

Elton and Lauri decided to come up for the weekend. We love their company, but additionally, we always seem to just get a little more done when they visit...which we love!

Brenda put up some chocolate brown wall
embellishments (vines) in my new laundry room

This canvas and wall words are the focal point in our new hallway,
the main thoroughfare in the new addition

Elton, Everett and Joel laboring over
the installation of a new bracket for...

...papa's latest embellishment in the den.

the two youngest grand kids, Emma & Ethan

Sydney and Alex having some fun with
Aunt Brenda's camera

March is in like a lamb

It has been sometime since I added to this blog. Mostly just the regular events of each day have taken place. We are thankful for our good health and time spent with family. We ended February with an overnight visit with Olivia, Regan and Aidan on the 24th, because they did not have school on the 25th.

We had a nice dinner with 24 people from church at Forest Hills Inn, as a new way to enjoy fellowship. It was very nice, and that way we got to visit with a few people we rarely talk to.

We had a nice dinner on Leap Day with Paul and Mary Hondorp. They also told us about a trip they are planning for April 2009 in the Netherlands. It would be a river boat trip again to some different areas. It would include a visit to an island, and also stop at Kuekenhof Gardens again, which is a very beautiful place in the spring. We are thinking on that.

March 1 we met with 3 other couples that make up Ada dinners for us this year. We have been to the 0ther 3 homes so we are next. We have a great time playing ripple. Marv and Jan left the next morning for a cruise leaving from San Diego to Mexico. I am sure they are having a wonderful time in the warm sun!

Sunday we had a belated birthday party for Emma's 2nd birthday. She was happy to be the center of attention, and loved having her cousins here too. I spent the day with Emma today, and took her to Rivertown Crossing Mall so she could play in the treehouse, and later we went to the 2nd level and she rode on the carousel, and rode on a kitty. She spotted an area that looked like it was for kids, and she spied the Easter Bunny. She thought it was so nice because the bunny waved 'bye-bye' to her. By then she was pretty tired, so we went home and she ate and took a nice nap.

Tomorrow I plan to dedicate the day to the upstairs. YIPPEE.