Comings and Goings

One thing about our weather, we aren't lacking for rain. Jenna wants to have a garden this year. I really need to break ground but I don't know when it's going to dry off enough for me to do that. Actually, the temperature is dropping right now and they're calling for snow tonight.

ANKLE UPDATE. As you know, Mom fell and broke her ankle on Tuesday. I took her to the doctor on Friday for a checkup. After another x-ray he was satisfied enough to send her home with a boot and clearance to place half her weight on that foot. We were glad to get this news because it makes things a little easier on Mom, however, she still faces a lot of challenges and cannot stay by herself.

Vicki has been out of town since Wednesday morning (more on that below) so we've had to scramble to take care of Mom. Judy and Amanda were kind enough to stay with Mom during the daytime last week and one of our neighbors, Sharon, has been staying with Mom at night except for last night and tonight. Jenna has stayed with her grandmother in Sharon’s absence.

The biggest challenge is Mom’s remaining original knee. It has been showing signs of wearing out over the last few months and this is just exacerbating the problem. We've also been fighting some swelling which came last night after Mom and I spent most of the day going through her records so that I can take them to the CPA that prepares her taxes. She simply sat up too long and suffered the consequences. I am very thankful that Sharon lives close and has been so willing to help out. She was Aunt Mar's nurse before she retired back in the fall.

I'm not sure how long it will be until Mom gets back on her feet so our routine is going to be interesting until then.

SO WHERE'S VICKI? I'm sure that's a question on your mind since I mentioned she is out of town above. When we returned from our cruise two months ago the ladies at the church office all decided to take a cruise together so they got online, found a deal with Carnival, and booked it. Their trip just so happened to fall on this weekend. They left home Wednesday morning and should return tomorrow night. I have been too busy to remember many details but I know they sailed from Jacksonville and had stops in Freeport and Nassau. I'm glad she got the chance to go. I'm also glad I've not heard about their ship, the Carnival Fascination, in the news. And I'm going to be very happy to get her back home.

PAINTING. Our bathroom may be done but work on the house continues. We decided now would be a good time to paint both our main and back halls. The last time the main hall was painted was in 2003 and there have been a lot of toys rubbing against the baseboard and bouncing off the walls since then. It was time.

We’ve hired a friend of ours, Jules, who does some painting on the side doing the work. Jules’ wife, Roni, is our church secretary and is on the cruise with Vicki. With everything going on I’m glad I wasn’t tackling the job myself.

CAMPING. Ben went on a campout this weekend. This was a troop trip and they worked on the cooking merit badge. Since coming home he’s gotten a skillet out and practicing his new skills -- and he’s just learned you don’t cook bacon on high (cough, cough).

The troop went to Parish Reservation which is near Fall Creek Falls State Park. I think Ben’s tent leaked because he came home with a lot of wet stuff.

BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET. Speaking of scouting, Nate pack had their annual Blue and Gold Banquet last night. This event normally features a cake decorating contest for scouts and their parents. I was unable to help Nate with this because I was helping Mom gather her tax records so Jenna stepped in and saved the day. They got decorating ideas from the internet and then got to work. By the time I got home to pick Nate up for the banquet and drop Jenna off at Mom’s they had made the cutest -- excuse me, coolest -- cake. It featured a lake with fish in it and on shore there was a tree, tents, campfire with logs around for the campers to sit on. Evidently the judges were impressed because Nate’s cake won first place! I don’t know if Nate realizes it, but he has an awesome big sister.

Nate also received his Webelos patch last night which means by this time next year he’ll have earned the Arrow of Light and will cross over to Ben’s Boy Scout troop. As much as I think scouts are good for the boys I will be glad to drop to one trip to White House each week.

Joe