A Break in the Action

Yesterday Jason, Lindsay & Reagan came to visit! What a wonderful, welcomed respite they gave us. They first came to the hospital so that Jason & Lins could visit with my dad. Unfortunately, Reagan wasn't allowed to go to his room since she is so young. And she wasn't happy about it, either! :) But, that gave the two of us playtime in the waiting room while her parents were visiting Daddy. And, you know darn well I enjoyed that!!

After we were all done visiting for the day, the six of us – Mommy, Randy, Jason, Lins, Reagan and I – went to Applebee's for dinner. It was great being with the kids again.

Today Jason & Randy stayed home and did a couple things for my mom while she, Lins & I were visiting Daddy. The guys also took Reagan miniature golfing – and Reagan told me she won. Of course.

This evening we had a nice family dinner at home and then flopped in front of the TV. It is American Idol night, after all. :)

The kids will be leaving tomorrow, but it's so nice to know that we'll be seeing them again shortly. This early surprise was certainly a boost of energy in a very draining week.

Daddy is continuing to improve, although he had a tough day today. You know the deal, two steps forward, one back. But, all in all, he's moving forward. Again, I thank each of you for the prayers, emails, comments, thoughts, and concerns you've sent me. Mere words cannot fully express how grateful I am to be surrounded by such love.

Until the next time . . .

Continuing . . .

And so it goes. Each day my mom and I head to the hospital between 10 and 11am to hang out with Daddy. Randy usually comes up for a couple hours, too.

Today we got some good news – Daddy was moved to a regular room. It's a step down from ICU as they still monitor him, but he isn't hooked up to as many IVs and such. He was glad for that. He even sat up in the chair for over four hours! That's stupendous. But, it really tired him out.

We'll keep up this schedule for as long as Daddy's in the hospital. Mommy's hanging in there, too. She's doing much better than I expected. Very grateful for that!

It's amazing how sitting in a hospital room can exhaust you. I just don't get it. I can sit in my recliner all day long and not be bone-weary, so how come I feel like I've been run over after sitting in the hospital? Just doesn't make sense.

Thank you for the many prayers and concerns you've shared. I so believe in the power of prayer and know that God is in control and has Daddy in His hands. No matter the outcome of a situation – whether it goes the way I want or not – I am trusting God for that outcome.

Hope your week is fabulous! Until the next time . . .

An Update

Whew! It’s been a long few days. But, Daddy’s surgery went well and when we left him last evening, he was resting in ICU. The doctor was pleased with the surgery and said that it went the way he expected. Good! That’s what we wanted to hear. :)

Now, recovery begins. It may be rough at times as Daddy’s chest had to be cracked in order to replace the valve. He knows what he’s in for because he had triple bypass surgery six years ago.

Mommy and I were pleased with the nurses. They were very welcoming; telling us what was going on and encouraging us to ask questions and stay as long as we wanted. It is amazing to watch them work – all the machinery, IV drips, etc. I realize they go to school for all of it, but there is so much to know.

I know I’ve sent some emails and updated Facebook, but please know that I am so grateful for the FB posts, phone calls, and emails expressing concern and love for me and my family. The support and prayer we are receiving is overwhelming and words can’t express how much it means to me. Thank you all.

Now, for a little fun. Back on Wednesday, it was discovered that Daddy has some nasal infection which meant we had to “gown up” each time we entered his room. What a pain! Anyway, here’s Randy in his gown. Isn’t he cute?? HA!

And here’s Daddy just before going into surgery:

Well, now that I’ve humiliated two of the most important men in my life, I’ll end this post! :) 

Please continue to pray for my dad and mom. The next couple of months will be exhausting.

Until the next time . . . 

We Made It!

Whew! After a marathon three days of driving, we arrived at my folks’ home about 2:00 this afternoon. Today was the easiest day of driving we had.

A couple of highlights along the way were the two additional Cracker Barrels we were able to put on our list. That brings the total to 78 CBs since we’ve been on the road. :)

I gotta tell you, though. Three days on the road, overnighting in parking lots, and living in the same clothes is NOT something I want to do again – ever! I told a friend that, by today, I was definitely in the running for “Po’ White Mobile Trailer Trash” Queen!! It was great to get to my folks’ and get into a long, hot shower!

Daddy’s surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning. Please continue to pray for him, my mom and his doctors.

Until the next time . . .

Another Season Has Ended

Well, our time here in Lower Alabama has come to an end – an abrupt end, at that! We spent the day readying the rig for travel. Well, I did some organizing inside, but Randy did all the real work outside. Have I mentioned how lucky I am to be married to such a great guy?

We’ve had a great season here even though the weather was less desirable than usual. Plugged in with old friends and made some new ones. Randy began playing a new instrument, the psaltry, and joined me in one of my dulcimer groups. We found a church we love and feel a part of and know that the friends we made there will be lifetime ones.

This evening we met two other couples for dinner at Big Daddy’s. You all have “met” Susan and Jim through some blog posts. Judy is part of my Bible study, too and she and her husband, Alan, also came to dinner. I was so glad to be able to spend a little more time with these folks. The women of the Bible study have been great to me and I am so glad God brought us together.

The six of us had a great time. The food is always good at Big Daddy’s and we all enjoyed our meals. But, as usual, it was the conversation that was the best part. I got the waitress to take a picture; not the best picture, but at least we got one.

All in all, life has been good. Now, we need to get home. We’ll be traveling for three straight days, about seven hours a day. That’s a lot for us. But, I gotta get home to my folks.

That’s it for now. Until the next time . . .

Plans Have Changed

I am so grateful that I believe in a God Who knows what’s coming before I do. I don’t do well with change, but because I believe in God and know that I can trust Him with whatever comes into my life, I can handle change. Yeah, sorry for being so “deep,” but I find it interesting how quickly life can throw you a curve and your plans have to change.

We found out that my dad needs to have an aortic valve replacement/repair surgery early next week. This is pretty serious surgery and I want to be there. So, Randy & I will be leaving Sunday morning and make the three day trip to the Eastern Shore of MD. I’m hoping the surgery won’t be until Wednesday so I can be there. But, we’ll definitely get there by Tuesday evening.

It’s hard to have to say good-bye so abruptly to folks but I hope everyone understands. We’ve had a great season here in lower Alabama, as usual.

We’ll be busy getting the rig ready for travel tomorrow, so I don’t know when I’ll post again. Please be praying for my folks.

Until the next time . . .

And the Good-byes Begin

Today we had our last jam session with the Pickers. We played some good music, laughed a lot and even shed a few tears as we said good-bye. Several of us went out to lunch afterward, so we were able to make our time together last a bit longer. We’ll miss these great folks next year.

We were only home for a bit when it was time for me to head back to the clubhouse to work on my bracelet some more. I actually finished to main portion in about an hour or so and now just have to add the clasp. I’m also going to make a pair of earrings to match. I’m pretty proud of myself!

When I got back home, I was beat. I didn’t sleep well at all last night; got maybe 3 hours of sleep or so. I sat in the recliner and promptly fell asleep for a while.

Randy worked for a couple of hours on cleaning the rig and I worked on my cross stitch project. Now we’re just watching TV and I’m trying to stay awake!

Until the next time . . .

Laundry, Beading, & Potluck

This was a mixed bag of a day. With Curves being closed this week because of Spring Break, I walked with Randy and Blackie again this morning.

Then about 8:45 I went over to the laundry to get that started. After getting the washers going, I joined Ruth and Judy and a couple of women in the clubhouse craft room to learn how to make a bracelet. Ruth makes lots of different pieces of jewelry, so I asked her to teach me. I love bracelets and earrings, and I’m determined to make one bracelet and a pair of earrings. I’m halfway done with the bracelet. It takes a lot longer than I thought it would. But, I should get both done before we leave.

During the bracelet making, I was back and forth to the laundry room. By 11:15 I was done with both and back at the rig.

Randy was continuing his washing of the rig while I was at the clubhouse.

We spent the afternoon watching TV and cross stitching (me) and napping (Randy). :)

About 2pm I started making mac & cheese for the potluck this afternoon. A bunch of our neighbors got together for a “Michigan fish boil.” Yeah, it didn’t sound so good to me, either, but everyone said the fish was very tasty. Fish is not my favorite so I didn’t have any, but all the side dishes folks brought were really good! ;)

It was nice spending some last minute time with everyone.

After dinner Judy and I went to WalMart. I wanted to pick up a couple pair of capris and I’d seen they had some the last time we were there. I got three pair and left a very happy girl. :)

Another productive day! :) Until the next time . . .

Beginning the “Last Ofs” . . .

If you’re a full-time or extended RVer, you’ll know what I mean by the “last ofs.” When you’re nearing the time of departure from an area in which you’ve sat for awhile, you begin doing things for the last time. Hence, “this is the last of the dulcimer jams” or “this is the last of the clubhouse dinners” etc.

We’re leaving our home for the past seven, yes SEVEN, months a week from this Thursday. On April 22 we’ll pull out and head to Auburn, AL for a three day dulcimer festival. There will be lots of folks there we know, so our departure will be a little less of a jolt.

Today was the last of my JamNFolks jam sessions for this year. Several of us went to lunch afterward, dragging out our time together. :) We do have a gig this Friday, so that will be the “last of” the gigs for the season as well.

Randy was hard at work while I was playing. He continues to clean the black streaks and such off of the outside of the rig. He also ran the vacuum. What a great guy I’ve got!

This afternoon I continued working on my cross stitch project. I really would like to have it done by the time we get home, but I’m not sure it’s gonna happen.

Randy’s out at the last of his Pops rehearsals for the season. I’m so glad he’s gotten into this band. He has really enjoyed it. He’s so talented and I’m glad he’s using his talent.

That’s it for now! Until the next time . . .

Another Day, Another Adventure

The plan for the day was to take a drive with Dick & Pat along the beach boulevard to have lunch at Wolf Bay Lodge, located in Orange Beach. Pat has been wanting to eat there since she’s read that it’s supposed to have some of the best seafood around. I mean, signs don’t lie, do they??? :)

With the name “Wolf Bay Lodge,” I was expecting an inn-like establishment. Not quite. It’s located at a marina and is in a building with other restaurants and stores. Apparently, it used to be located in Elberta along Wolf Bay, but the building burned completely in December 2008. It reopened at its present location on Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach in March 2009.

Randy & I weren’t overly impressed with our meals. They weren’t bad, just overpriced for the quality. Dick & Pat were happy with theirs, so that was good.

We did enjoy walking along the marina, looking at the boats, and watching folks jetskiing along the bayou. The weather was absolutely perfect for being outside. I could have sat there all day watching the water and enjoying the pelicans and the great blue heron. Unfortunately, we had to come on home.

It is fun to find all these hidden (to us) treasures. There is always something new to explore down here in Lower Alabama. If you’re bored here, you got a problem!

After we got home, I had about an hour or so to relax before it was time to head out for Bible study. Once again, we had a great study time. I’m gonna miss it.

While I was at Bible study, Randy continued his quest to rid the outside of the rig of the layers of dirt it’s accumulated while we’ve been here. He’s doing a great job, too!

The week’s off to a good start. Hope yours is, too! Until the next time . . .

Perfect Spring Day Spent with Friends

We woke to yet another morning filled with sunshine. God certainly is blessing us with great weather and it is so appreciated after the nasty winter we had. (Yes, I know, my East Coast family and friends – you had it much worse.)

We had a full day planned and were eager to get started. We left for church about 9:35. Boy, we could tell it’s Spring Break in Baldwin County, ‘cause attendance was rather sparse today. :)

Susan & I had planned earlier in the week when we were together that Randy & I would join her and Jim for  lunch/dinner (dunch) at Mama Lou’s and then go to their house to visit. This local restaurant offers a great buffet. The food has been good each time we’ve been there and today was no different. Randy managed to go back for seconds. No surprise there, huh? :)

I had mentioned Jim & Susan’s house in an earlier post. The house is beautifully set on a small lake and the interior is just as gorgeous. When we were there before, none of their landscaping was in bloom. They were anxious for us to come before we leave the area so we could see how the garden erupts in color. And we couldn’t wait to see it, either.

Well, I gotta say, we were not disappointed! I am going to let the following pictures tell the story. Enjoy!

   

Jim & Susan have created an oasis in the midst of life’s chaos. There is a sense of peace and serenity in and around their home that mere words cannot describe. Yes, some of it comes from the beauty of the landscaping and setting; but most of it comes from Jim & Susan. They are wonderful, loving people and Randy & I are grateful they’ve become our friends.

Hope you had a great weekend, too! Until the next time . . .

Strawberry Festival and a Day with Friends

The Strawberry Festival in Loxley is this weekend and we went today with Darrell & Judy. We left about 10:00 this morning and got there a little before 10:30. The place was already a madhouse!! The festival began at 9am but from the mass of cars and people, you would have thought it had started much earlier. We finally found a parking spot that would accommodate our behemoth of a truck and struck out to see what we could find.

What were we looking for, you ask???? Strawberry shortcake, of course! We are such good detectives; we found it right away. Once the prey was found and captured, we set ourselves down to reap the rewards of the hunt! :)

Doesn’t it look absolutely yummy? As you can tell, we didn’t like it at all . . .

HA!

Now that we were properly fed, we could go on and wander through the vendors. All four of us had been to this festival in previous years and we all felt there were more vendors before. But, we managed to look at and touch lots of stuff. I even bought a couple of brightly colored sun visors. No one else parted ways with their money.

 

Once we made our way through the entire festival, we got back to the truck and headed south. We needed to get some fuel and Randy had to go to Lowe’s to pick up something for the new compressor he’d bought. Darrell & Judy had nothing on their agenda so they decided to ride along.

Well, I figured I really didn’t need to go to Lowe’s, so the guys dropped Judy & I off at the outlet mall while they went on to Lowe’s. Judy was looking for a clutch purse to use at their daughter’s wedding and I wanted to find a couple pair of “fun” earrings. I was successful; unfortunately, Judy was not.

The guys came back, picked us up and we went to Applebee’s for a late lunch/early dinner. Some RVers call that “lupper;” others call it “linner.” I deemed it “dunch.” Whatever you call it, we enjoyed it.

As usual, our conversation was even better than the meal. We talked some about our travels in early 2011. Darrell & Judy are going to join us for a few weeks as we travel west next January! I am very excited about that. The four of us get along very well so it should be a fun time. They have never been to New Orleans or San Antonio, so we are looking forward to sharing it with them.

We’re now home and settled in for the evening. It was a good day with good friends. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Until the next time . . .

Music, Lunch & A Nice Drive

Thursday means music, so about 8:40 this morning, Dick & Pat and Randy & I piled into Dick & Pat’s car and headed to Fairhope for Pickers. Now, the weatherman was calling for rain and it was overcast, but we hoped maybe we’d miss it. But, oh, no we didn’t!!

We were less than a mile from our jam location when the skies opened up. Now, add to that, our location was changed to a different building in the complex and we were a little verklempt. We sat in the car for a few minutes and then the rain let up a bit. Pat & I grabbed our dulcimers and raced for the building, leaving Dick & Randy to get the rest of the stuff. Aren’t we just the sweetest wives??? :)

In spite of the rain, change in location and being a little out of sorts, the jam session was fun, as always. Next week will be our last one for the season. We’ll miss these wonderful folks.

Eating out is always on the schedule on Thursdays and we usually go to the Chinese buffet with the rest of the group, but today the four of us decided to go to an Italian place we like in Daphne called Cousin Vinny’s. Great sandwiches, salads and spaghetti. And more than enough to fill you up – even Randy!

Daphne is the next town north of Fairhope. It is also very picturesque, especially along Scenic Route 98. After lunch we decided to take a little drive along that route to see the gorgeous flowers and to find some water. We found a nice little park that sits on Mobile Bay. It would be fun to go there with a lunch and watch the boats go by some time.

We meandered back to the main drag and again saw lots of beautiful home and landscaping. It always gives me pleasure to drive along that route.

Back home we’ve just settled into our evening routine. We did stop by and say good-bye to Larry and Cindy. They are leaving tomorrow for the north by way of south Florida. :) Of course we’ll keep up with them through their travelogues as they will us. It’s that time of year where the good-byes will begin. Just a fact of life in this RVing world.

Our son, Kevin, returns to Iraq tomorrow from his two weeks of R&R. As you think of our military, please keep him in your prayers. He’s there until the end of August. Thanks.

Until the next time . . .

Another Lunch Out

Our day started out as usual, I went to Curves and Randy walked Blackie. :) Once I got home, the routine continued as I grabbed a shower, then a cup of coffee. I got on the computer to catch up on Facebook and the blogs. Randy checked his email.

A little before noon we headed out to John & Joy Sterling’s home. John is the pastor emeritus of Silverhill Covenant, the church we’ve been attending. Joy has invited us to their home for lunch a couple of times after Sunday service and we’ve not been able to accept. This past Sunday she asked if we were available this week and I picked Wednesday. She also invited Susan & Jim which was nice because it would be easier to make conversation.

We had a lovely time! I figured we would as John & Joy have been so welcoming to us at church. And it wasn’t lunch – it was definitely more like dinner. John grilled burgers and Joy made potato salad, baked beans, and a broccoli salad. Susan brought a couple of desserts. Everything was delicious.

The conversation never lagged. We talked about everything from church life to travels to family and more. It was so nice to be cared about enough for these folks to pursue us for a meal. Just one of the many reasons we love this church!

The rest of the day passed in the usual way. Unfortunately, I got another daggone headache just like yesterday. I think it’s the weather and pollen. It’s getting pretty thick here. But, the headache was too bad so it could always be worse. I’m grateful I don’t have to work and can lay down when I need to. Life is very good.

Until the next time . . .

Isn’t It Nice to Know You're Loved?

I had such a great day. This morning was music with JamNFolks. We had a good session. We’ve got a gig next Friday, so we practiced some of the songs we’ll be performing and also jammed a bit as well. It was a smaller group than usual, but that was kinda nice, too.

After music I met Susan & Wendy for lunch. I can’t say enough about these two women. I met Susan at Curves and she invited me to Bible study where I met Wendy, who leads the study. Susan is married to Wendy’s dad. Both Susan and Wendy’s mom, Barbara, attend the study and are good friends. Isn’t it cool how God can make friendships work even when the odds are against them?

Anyway, I digress. (Imagine that!) Wendy is going to be out of town the next couple of weeks so I won’t get to see her again before we leave and we wanted to spend a little more time together. Thus, the lunch and the title of this post.

 

Another digression – Wendy has written a fabulous book entitled, Amazed Clay. You can check it out here. If you’ve ever struggled in your Christian walk, I urge you to read her book. You won’t be sorry.

Susan & Wendy have welcomed me to the study group and to church and made me feel very much a part of their community. They are encouraging and loving and just wonderful people. I’m going to miss them while we’re away but I believe we’ll keep in touch. Lunch lasted more than 2 hours! We left each other reluctantly but with many hugs. Thankfully, Susan and I will still have time together over the next couple of weeks.

While I was out being loved and enjoying myself, Randy was home toiling away. He continued washing the rig and vacuumed the inside, too. What a great guy I’ve got! Tonight he’s at Pops rehearsal.

Hope your week is going well. Until the next time . . .

Started Out Slow, But Got Better

Man, it was rough getting out of bed this morning! I didn’t sleep well at all last night; Randy had a snore fest going on. So, needless to say, I didn’t make it to Curves. Oh, well. It will be there on Wednesday!

So, the morning was taken up with Randy & I watching the news, drinking our coffee and catching up on our computer time.

Then, the sun came out and the patio was beckoning me so what else could I do but take myself outside while I did my Bible study lesson for tonight. It was just so very nice sitting out there. And while I was doing that, Randy got started cleaning the rig. It hasn’t been washed the whole time we’ve been here, so it is definitely overdue! He’ll take the next few days to get it done.

Once I was done with my study lesson, I took a 15 or 20 minute bike ride around the park. I needed to do some kind of exercise since I hadn’t gone to Curves. Once I got back I got my shower and plopped myself outside on the patio to continue enjoying the weather.

It actually got a little hot today – the thermometer read somewhere in the low 80s! But the breeze and the shade kept it very comfortable.

This evening I attended Bible study as usual. I am really enjoying this study on the women of the Bible. Lots of good lessons to be learned, some of them quite convicting. It’s so nice to study God’s Word and then be able to discuss it with people you respect.

We had dinner after I got home, Randy grilled chicken breasts and I cooked up some broccoli, it was yummy. The rest of the evening was spent in the usual way – TV and computer. :)

Until the next time . . .

Easter Weekend

We’ve had gorgeous weather this weekend; just couldn’t have asked for better. Sunny, temps in the mid to high 70s and a slight breeze. Fantastic.

Yesterday I was up early and had two loads of laundry going by 6:30am. While I’m not thrilled with moving that early, it’s nice not having to jockey for machines. I was all done by 8am and Randy met me in the clubhouse for breakfast.

By 9am I was settled in my lounge chair on the patio, armed with a book, my cross stitch project and coffee. It was fabulous. I stayed outside until sometime in the early afternoon when it clouded over a bit and the breeze got chilly. We watched a bit of TV and finished the John Adams series we’d been watching, It was very good, by the way.

That was pretty much the extent of  our day – beautiful weather outside and later TV inside.

This morning started off pretty overcast – I woke up with a headache that was due to the weather, I’m sure. We spent a lazy morning before having to get to church.

Easter is always the best Sunday of the year! We get to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. It doesn’t get any better than that for a Christian. For me, Easter is more exciting than Christmas, but of course, you can’t have Easter with Christmas! :)

This afternoon we had a potluck dinner with Dick & Pat, Darrell & Judy and Ron & Ruth at Darrell & Judy’s rig. We had a fairly traditional Easter meal with ham being the main course. All the food was delicious and Pat made a scrumptious ice cream cake concoction for dessert. Yummy.

After dinner we sat around the campfire letting it all digest. We had a wonderful time together. A great way to celebrate Easter, with good friends.

 

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: For He is risen, just as he said." Hallelujah! Happy Easter!

Until the next time . . .

This Never Gets Old . . .

. . . enjoying mid-70 temps, sunshine and a gentle breeze. Wish I could give that to all of you!

But the day started out very foggy – this was my drive to Cruves this morning:

Fun, huh? Made me wish I had rolled back over like I wanted to!

After I got home, and did my usual routine of shower, coffee and computer, Randy and I hit the road.

Our first stop was Foley Coffee Shop for a late breakfast, real late; it was after 10am by the time we got to the diner. :) From there, we went to Pensacola for our first-of-the-month banking. With our bellies AND wallets filled, we took  the long way back home.

I’ve been wanting to drive along the beach from Gulf Shores in Alabama to wherever it took us into Florida. So, today we did that, but in the opposite direction. It was a pretty drive, just too bad we couldn’t get over to Ono Island where the rich folks live. The entrance was gated, imagine that! :) But I took some pictures from the road.

Crossing over Perdido Key in Florida

Once we were home, I gathered my book, cross stitch project, and a glass of iced tea and settled myself in the lounge chair on the patio. And that’s where I stayed for the rest of the afternoon. Yeah, it doesn’t get old.

Randy had his psaltry group this afternoon. While he was gone, Darrell & Judy stopped by for a visit. We chatted long enough for Randy to come home and join in.

That was our excitement for the day. Hope your weekend has started well.

Until the next time . . .

No Fools Here!

Yeah, it may be April Fools Day, but we don’t play dat here. :) Really, I dislike this day because I intensely dislike pranks. The only reason to play a prank is to make someone appear foolish or humiliated and then it escalates into a one upmanship. It’s just not pretty. So, it’s not something we do.

What we did do was have a very busy day. We deviated from our usual first-of-the-month routine (yes, I can hear you all gasping!!) because it was Thursday and that is a music day. Randy nor I wanted to miss Pickers so we postponed our bank run until tomorrow. Who needs money when there’s music to be played?!?!?! :)

After music, we went to lunch with the gang to the Chinese buffet, as usual. We got our bellies filled and then it was time to go to the grocery. Always best to go to the grocery on a full stomach rather than an empty one!

We finally got home a little past 3pm after having left about 8:45 this morning. A long day indeed.

But, when we got home and had the groceries put away, it was time to sit outside in the absolutely gorgeous weather. The sun was shining brightly with a breeze so that you could sit in the sun without getting too hot. So very nice. I read a little bit, napped a little bit and just chilled.

Oh, I did make our reservation for next February in Tucson! Yeah, I know – it’s a year away. But, when you’re going to a popular place, ya gotta plan ahead.

The rest of the evening has been quiet. Just the norm. And we like it that way.

Until the next time . . .