Back to just the two of us

Kids left at 3:30am yesterday---since then we have been cleaning, washed 8 sheets and at least two million towels, plus all the stuff that didn't get done last week.it was so nice having them here. they went to the beach, to Mexico, to all the malls and army surplus stores, we ate in and out, had so many snacks, candy, cheese balls etc.went to church on Sunday and they asked our daughter in law to play for the service (piano) and our son to have the prayer. our kids and grand kids all have no qualms to pray aloud in public---and what is nice you can hear them!

yesterday we took time to pull a "Paula" ----we took a ride. we ate breakfast at a Whataburger" and when we left J erry said, "lets just drive north and see where we get to"---so we did---and we turned west and east and saw farms and animals and sugar cane fields being burned and lots of beautiful houses and lots of very poor shacks, falling down ,places where people lived and more. I finally got out the Garmin" and put our home address in and it led us home. those are amazing things.

today I had a wonderful surprise---the cable worked---I have been on dial up and it is so slow, I hate it.

I have to write a Christmas letter and send it to all the ones who sent us cards---they are still coming. I just didn't feel well enough to do the cards this year. I usually have them addressed in November.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL-------BARB

The reason for the season

MerryCHRISTmas to you all here in Jland. i wish i could have sent cards to you all, but have just been too dragged to do that this year. thank you so much or all of yours. love, barb

closer

son called---they are leaving home at 3am--they hope to stay in norman, oklahoma and be here sunday----have been busy all day--washing, cleaning ,cooking.the tree is up.mother will soon be down. we cleaned out 4 drawers so they can unpack and put their suitcases in the shed. hopefully they will not be bring so many toys as they did when they were younger. and not so many clothes----i tell our guests that we do have awasher and dryer, so they don't need much. this is a verrrrrry small house. praying for nice weather so we can eat and be out on the deck a lot. in the am just have the clean linen to put on our bed----we always give up our bed and sleep in the living room.will wash the bedspread in the am too. right now gonna look at africam and see a few animals---and then to bed.

CHRISTMAS IS ACOMIN'

HUBBY HAD LIVING ROOM ALL TIDIED UP---THEN WE DECIDED TO GET OUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE----WHAT A MESS IT IS NOW--WOW. IN THE 21 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN COMING TO TEXAS IN THE WINTER WE HAVE AMASSED A LOT OF STUFF. MUCH OF IT CHRISTMAS STUFF. WE ARE ON OUR THIRD TREE---THIS ONE A 4FOOT WHITE ONE WITH THE LIGHTS ALREADY ATTACHED----SO I HAVE A ZILLION STRINGS OF LIGHTS NO LONGER USED--YEARS AGO I STARTED PUTTING SMALL PICTURES OF THE 7 GRAND KIDS IN LITTLE GOLD COLORED FRAMES---THEN FOUND SOME CUTE FANCIER FRAMES ON SALE AND BOUGHT UP A DOZEN OF THEM (ONLY TWO OF THOSE EVER GOT PICTURES PUT IN).AND GARLANDS, HAVE MILES OF SILVER STUFF AND GREEN FAKE STUFF AND BEADS--OH MY. JERRY KEPT SAYING WE NEED TO TAKE THIS STUFF BACK AND GIVE IT TO THE KIDS OR THROW IT OUT. AFTER I PUT THE TREE TOGETHER AND MADE A NICE MESS WITH ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE DECIDED TO LET IT ALL SIT AND GO TO DENNY'S FOR SUPPER----AND WE DID!!








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weather changes

was 85 today--beautiful---we sat on the deck and played dominoes---then "bang" it dipped to 40---to get to the 30's tonight. had left over soup tonight for 3rd nite in a row---getting better every time--haha--really it is. last nite added some beans and tonight a little more cabbage and tomato juice and can of corn. reminded me if when jerry was in the army out on manuvers and i made some soup with hamberger for myself and kept it on the back burner--had it for a couple days and then neighbor came over---her hubby was gone too---she ate the whole pot of soup!!

pollen of some sort must be in the air--been coughing and wheezing all day and haven't done that in a long time. tomorrow comes early---have minnesota breakfast to go to--so will say good night.

A QUIET DAY

WENT TO MCD'S FOR BREAKFAST AND THEN TO CHURCH. HAD 18 THERE TODAY, COUPLE MORE THAN LAST WEEK. AFTER CHRISTMAS THE PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH COME IN BIGGER NUMBERS AND AFTER NY'S THEY ALL GET HERE. SO FAR WE ARE THE 1ST TO BE AT CHURCH---WE ARE ALWAYS THE LAST TO GO BACK. NINE OF US OUT TO EAT TOGETHER. STILL HAVING TROUBLE TYPING WITH LEFT HAND---MAKE SO MANY MISTAKES.BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TODY--SAT ON DECK AND PLAYED DOMINOES--I WON----AGAIN!!!!HAD TO CALL BROTHER IN SAN ANTONIO TO TELL WE CAN'T COME FOR CHRISTMAS SINCE OUR KIDS ARE COMING. WOULD REALLY HAVE LOVED TO GO THERE---HAVEN'T BEN TOGTHDR FOR HOLIDAYS IN MANY YEARS.
XUPPER TIME--AD I AM TGIRED OF COFREWCTING EVDRYTHING I TYPE. BYE VOF NOW.

THURSDAY

AND ALL DAY I THOUGHT IT WAS FRIDAY!! IT IS ALMOST 11:30PM---THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE IS SNORING AWAY--I JUST WATCHED A GOOD MOVIE--AND JUST ABOUT READY FOR BED MYSELF. WE WENT OUT TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT FOR BREAKFAST THIS AM AND THEN TOOK A RIDE AROUND TOWN TO SEE WHAT CHANGES THERE ARE FROM LAST YEAR. IT WAS STILL COOL/COLD THIS AM, BUT WARMED UP SOME BY AFTERNOON AND JERRY GOT THE TRUCK ALL CLEANED.
HAD A LATE AFTERNOON VISITOR--A NURSE FRIEND---SO DIDN'T WANT TO START COOKING SO LATE(HA HA) SO OF COURSE WE WENT OUT FOR SUPPER.NOW TOMORROW I HAVE TO COOK----OR SOME OF THE GROCERIES I BOUGHT THIS WEEK WILL SPOIL.
I REALLY HOPE TO GET BACK WRITING ABOUT MY "JOURNEY,CHILD OF DIVORCE," AGAIN. I HAD PRINTED THE 1ST 20 ENTRIES, BUT THINK THERE WERE MORE THAT I LOST. I KNOW I WAS UP TO GOING BACK TO MINNESOTA FROM CALIFORNIA---SO WILL TRY TO TAKE UP FROM THERE.

GRANDSON GOT OUT OF NEPAL JUST A DAY BEFORE ALL THE FIGHTING AND KILLING. THEY HAD QUITE AN EXPERIENCE CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS ETC. NOT A TRIP I WOULD LIKE---HE IS NOW BUSY WRITING COLLEGES . HE IS GOING AFTER A PHD AND HAS 5 YEARS UNDER HIS BELT NOW. HE HAD ME READ ONE OF HIS PAPERS FOR HIS MASTER'S AND THERE WAS NOT TOO MUCH I UNDERSTOOD!! FUNNY HOW YOU TEACH THESE KIDS SO MUCH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE TEACHING YOU.
THIS IS BECOMING JUST RAMBLING--SO WILL CLOSE AND GO TO BED.

A FEW MORE GROCERIES

TODAY WE WENT TO SUPER WALMART---I ALWAYS THINK OF LISA WHEN WE GO THERE. IT WAS COLD AND BLUSTERY OUTSIDE, SO THOT IT A GOOD DAY TO SHOP INSIDE. GOT A HALF HAM AND A TURKEY BREAST AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY WHILE KIDS ARE HERE--AND THE REST CAN BE SANDWICHES ETC.
WHEN THE BOYS WERE LITTLE WE ALWAYS HAD A REAL CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH STOCKINGS, GIFTS ETC..BUT THIS YEAR WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD HAVE A NICE DINNER--BUT MAYBE WOULD GO TO THE BEACH OR SOMETHING---NO SANTA.
THEY ALWAYS HAVE "CHRISTMAS" IN MN WITH DAUGHTER IN LAW'S SIDE BEFORE THEY COME DOWN, AND THIS YEAR WE GAVE OUT ALL THE GIFTS AT THANKSGIVING TIME. JERRY AND I PLAN TO TAKE A TOUR THIS WINTER AND MAYBE EVEN A CRUISE IF WE CAN AFFORD IT---SO PROBABLY WON'T REALLY GIVE GIFTS.WE HAD SUCH A ROTTEN SUMMER, WITH SO MUCH TIME SPENT IN CLINICS AND HOSPITALS---WE DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE OR DO ANYTHING EXCEPT THE ALMOST DAILY RIDE AROUND TOWN.
WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A FREEZE TONIGHT--IT HAS BEEN COLD ALL DAY--AND WINDY. YESTERDAY WAS 85 AND SO NICE OUT. THE WIND HIT LAST EVENING AND REALLY RATTLED THE STUFF ON THE DECK.
THE BUG MAN CAME TODAY AND SPRAYED AROUND AND UNDER THE HOUSE--SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T GET ANY ANTS OR OTHER CRITTERS.
IT IS ALMOST MIDNIGHT, SO BETTER HIT THE HAY---HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK TOMORROW AND GET ADDRESS CHANGED ETC. GOODNIGHT ALL

GETTING SETTLED--ALMOST

WENT TO SAM'S CLUB TODAY AND SPENT 225.65 ON STUFF.TRYING TO GET THINGS READY FOR WHEN SON AND HIS FAMILY GET HERE IN A FEW DAYS. THEIR TWO BOYS EAT A LOT, THEY ARE BOTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND HAVE TO KEEP UP THEIR ENERGY, YA KNOW!! THE OLDEST, ALMOST 20 IS 6-5, WEIGHS 230 AND DOESN'T HAVE AN OUNCE OF FAT ON HIM!! THE YOUNGEST IS 14 AND STILL GROWING---WILL SOON BY 6 FEET. WE FEEL LIKE MIDGETS ALONG SIDE THEM---WELL NOT QUITE.

FINALLY GOT MY COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO CABLE. THE CABLE GUY HAD A TIME, BUT FINALLY GOT IT DONE--SEEMS OUR TV AND COMPUTER ARE HOOKED TO TWO DIFFERENT BOXES. IT IS SOOOO NICE TO HAVE IT RUN SO FAST AND BE ABLE TO SEE VIDEOS AND HEAR THINGS AGAIN. CAN'T DO EITHER ON MY DIAL UP IN MN.
RIGHT NOW HAVE TO GO FIX SOMETHING FOR SUPPER.

no sleep tonight

just can't seem to get comfortable tonight. only things that don't hurt are my knees and my left foot!! and when I can't sleep my mind goes round and round, remembering things, thinking of things I need to do---like the Christmas letter and addressing cards, ordering something from LL Beans for hubby, calling insurance company to take insurance off the old car that we left home in the garage,making doctor appointments or the two of us, opening new bank account because I got in a huff and closed the one we had because an employee mistakenly told me 10,000 dollars was the minimum amount we should keep in the checking account and charged us 6 dollars because we didn't. (i wish i had gotten his name---but i did write the bank at the time---and they never wrote back---grrrrrrr. I took two tylenol, but they didn't do a thing, even counted steps--nothing---but it is after 2am and have so much to do in the morning that I better at least lie down again. I hear jerry getting up to go for his 3 mile walk around the park---stupid time I know--but if he is awake around now he goes "to get it over with"-----maybe with him out of the bed I might get to sleep before he gets back!

home again in texas

we made it here on wednesday after great time in southern mn with the entire family. having trouble with phone again and still have to get connected to cable for computer.laundry basket overflowing---so once i get at that will be back on journal.still not able to get in to neilisha's blog--bye for now---barb