I am sitting here as I do every Sunday Morning. 

We have our list of preferred TV Pastors that we listen to. 

Dad has been gotten out of his hospital bed, medication given, breakfast prepared and now he is watching (reading the closed caption) as we watch together. This has been our routine since late January when Dad Wells came home from the hospital. This is our new normal routine now. Kent teaches Sunday School, therefore, he must be there and there is not enough time for me to get to "preaching" when he gets home. 
We can't leave Dad alone. 

So this is it. We watch about 5 sermons each Sunday Morning: Dr. Youseff, Dr. Jeremiah, John Hagee, James Merritt and Jack Graham...and then again tonight we watch one of Dad's favorites. It is a Bible College and I think he loves it because it brings back happy memories of his own Bible College days. It really is like a blast from the past. They all wear suits and ladies all wear dresses. Very much not the normal in today's churches, or in our church at least. My brother in law was visiting last week and said it reminded him of The Lawrence Welk Show from way back when. 

This picture was taken a few years back as he was headed out the door to church. 
God.     
Family.    
Church.    
That is his life. He has served God all his life practically. He is very humble. Yesterday, as we were discussing his funeral plans (we've done this for month's) and he said, "it should say I am a sinner, saved by grace somewhere on it". 
Humble. 
Evangelistic. 
Always sharing the gospel.

Dad will be 94 years old this year. Not sure he will be here to celebrate on his birthday. He has Heart Failure. These past months have been very trying for him and us. But especially the past few weeks. He has been failing very obviously. He can't walk without any assistance, and that is with great effort and very limited, only consisting of about 3-4 steps....bed to recliner, recliner to wheelchair...etc. Shortness of breath, fluid retention. The usual symptoms.

The most amazing thing though. Every night when we get him to bed and tucked in, he then clasp both of our hands and prays fervently for us, family, his home-going. I hope I am as faithful in my last days. 
Unselfish.

This is Dad Wells recently. He has always been so very active. Even at 92 he was jogging to our mailbox. He has performed  "floor exercises" since his youth. "Floor Exercises" consisted of crunches and sit-ups. Use to be 150 sit-ups 3 days each week. Finally, a Cardiologists told him that it was proven that after 60 at one sitting the others were useless. So he cut back to 60. 
Amazing.

Our days on earth with Dad Wells are coming to an end. I am not sure he will sill be with us by Summer. 

He hopes not. 
He is ready. 
He is tired. 
He wants to go on the Glory.

We are thankful that for the last 14 years that Dad and Mom have lived with us. Dad thought he would die first. But not so. Mom Wells was a delight and faithful servant. God has enriched our lives abundantly by allow us the privilege of caring for His saints. 

We will miss him so...such as we do Mom.

Easy, restful feeling...NOT!

Mercy....I am feeling unrest.  Life is busy, and when it isn't then I feel tired and not motivated.  I am sure that means something psychologically....but I think about things I would do if I had time, however when I do have time I don't do them! I think apostle Paul mentioned that in his writings. So maybe I am not the first!

Since January, I have had a goal to purge a load each week to the local Thrift Store.  January was great. February...not so much. 

I was sick in the bed from Friday thru to Sunday for the first weekend.  The second weekend we went out of town to visit our daughter's family from Friday to Sunday and this weekend I had to work this morning until 12N and we have a church event tonight.  So I am unmotivated to get busy.  But I have got to.

I'm relaxing at the moment and also trying to vent to get myself going.  Lets see what happens.

I  do have some bags collected of my purging. I  wanted to have a car load each week. And did just that in January.

I  seem to do better with the timer method.  My daughter and I use to race against time to get chores done. It worked.  Maybe I should do so today.

Time keeps on slippin....into the future

Goodness...I promised I was going to start back blogging.  I need to put things down.  I know the benefit for me.  It helps me "sort" life.  But time has a way of "slippin" by before you know it.

Two weekends ago, my sisters and I returned to the beach where we took our sweet departed mother just 4 week before she died, four years ago.

My sisters and I have been making an annual event of a week at Hilton Head Island for the last few years.  A glorious week of laughter, eating, thrifting and sleelping ....if we choose.  Great tiime to reconnect.  My sisters live 4 and 5 hours away from me.  I seldom get to see them together.  This year, I caused the change up in location.  Last fall I decided to change jobs and haven't acrued the amount of vacation I want.  I'm a little guarded about those days because my children/grandchildren all live out of state and I go there fairly frequently. anyway, off to Topsail Island, NC we went.  I have a dear friend who owns this precious cottage.  I rent it every year for a week and then a couple of weekends thrown in as well.  So the Sister's 3 ended up there.

We walked and shopped and talked and talked some more.   It was great.  My oldest sis in not a "dog" person  due to severe breathing allergies, but since my doggie is hypoallergenic, she went along for the weekend.  I even caught Sis feeding her ice cream!  It was a great weekend.  We talked about Mother. How it was when we were there with her that weekend 4 years ago.  We talked about how she was when she took her last breath...it was us, Sister's 3 with her that night as well, just a month later...in the wee hours of that morning.  A memory forever etched in our minds.  Miss you Mother, we went to the beach...and your were there too.... <3

Where have I been?

I just stumbled across my blog today.  See, it has been a while...a long while and much has changed for me.  I find it hard to believe I have not written any post's in over a year. And, it has been a YEAR at that.  A year of new and old and happy and sad.


Today I have been busy merging machine embroidery files for a flash drive for my NEW Sophia Embroidery Machine!  I seldom use this laptop b/c it truly is slow and has had virus work in the past and that seemed to slow it down the last time I had it "fixed".  And, my hubby bought me an ipad two Christmases ago and that works nice ...and light.  So....with all of that said, I haven't spent much time on this lonely laptop and just saw the blog icon. So, here I am!


I have actually been thinking about blogging lately.  I do occasionally read blogs, usually from post on fb.  So, I can tell I am getting in the sharing mode again! And I am excited to catch up on the people I use to follow...and add new ones too!


I think I will begin a blog fest tomorrow...my most favorite holiday...EASTER!  I have much I want to share...even if just for myself! I find it very therapeutic to write and rehash life for me.  Helps me to sort things out for myself and rethink some things.


See you tomorrow.....Sue Ellen.

Times flies....whether you are having fun or not!!!

OMG~ish!  I cannot believe it has been over a year since I added to my blog.  This is crazy!  I'd like to say that I have written faithfully and that somehow, there was a glich and I just now realized it....but, I can't!

Life has been in the fast lane the past year I must say.  I've worked way to much.  We completed a building project and moved to our new office location April 13th.  The project was huge and I was overseer of the construction/moving/ purchasing and it consumed me...literally!  80 hour work weeks were common for many months.  But, alas, we are in and loving it!!!  About 10,000 sq feet of bliss!  Our previous digs were in the basement of a hospital without windows, dampness and occassional swewer spill from unpstair patients restrooms.  Not good, no, not good at all!  We loved the proximity to the hospital, and miss them and being close to them, but we LOVE our new place!  Everything is NEW and CLEAN and FRESH!!!  Love-Love-Love it!  And morale is amazing as well!!!

Guess another big news items is that my Son & DIL and Grand~daughters moved from TN to SC!!!  Much closer!  Whereas it took 8 hours for TN it is now 5 1/2 hours drive now!!  WHOOP-WHOOP!!! In fact, we went for a vist over the weekend....just awesome...and they love it there.

Their house is just a block from the water.  We went crabbing one evening and seriosuly... it was just a few houses away from them...awesome!!!

Robb & Alyssa celebrated Birthdays on Sunday and Annie Grace will have one on the 17th!  It was such a fun weekend!

Another BIG news item is my daughter in due next week!!! 

We are so pumped to have little Ellie Katherine arriving soon!!! 

We are all so excited.  Her little nursery is complete and ready to welcome Miss Ellie. 



My daughter had 2 babies that did not have successful pregnancies, so in their memory, we painted little owls representing them, perched and watching over Ellie's crib....just precious!



She has asked me to be in the delivery room and I am sooooo excited!  Everyday when she calls me at an unexpected time, I think????" could this be it"!!! 

Too funny, I know!!! 
But this ZuZu is very thrilled!!!


Well, this is just a quick update...I'm quiet sure there will be many postings in the future!  Time did get away from me....life is fast and furious. 

Have a fun day!
Sue.

The Battle Continues...

The WEIGHT Battle that is.....always a problem, always a work in progress, always 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.....sometimes, more back than forward!

I have "done" more diets in my lifetime than I can list.....and my body knows it.

This past Monday, I decided to "DO" a diet I have never done before. That was actually hard to find!  Through the years, I have done many diets that were expensive.  My criteria for this time was it must not be expensive, nor too unrealistic to follow.  Anyway, I decided to follow the Slim-Fast 1-2-3 plan.  I'm not big on missing "food" for a meal, but I need to show my body that I could control this huge desire to eat.

So, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a case of Slim-Fast.

Bought some apples & bananas for my snacks.

Gonna give it a try.

Also, found a really neat website....FREE.  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.  I'm a "gadget" person and spend a great deal of time on the web, so it was fitting!  It will track your weight loss with calories, food journal, weights, with extra tools for BMI, BMR and others.  Also comes with a community chat room.  Very nice site for FREE!  Very similar to other sites I have been a paid member of.  Check it out.

So far....I have lost 4 lbs.  Was 5lbs yesterday, but ate fried fish at the beach last night and decrease in my walking, so even though I was within my calorie limit, believe the fried part cause some fluid retention.  I know better.It was my only meal yesterday, but should have chosen the the broiled fish. The lessons continue...


 

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

 
So, I probably need to set some mini-goals.  The first thing I needed to do was see if I was going to stick to this plan or not.  So far, I am impressed with myself!  As much as I like to eat, didn't know if I could do it one time a day for a meal. Of course, the apples and bananas help tremendously.

Next on the list is to start...TODAY...the 30 day shred video from Jillian Michael's.  That I am dreading!  She is a BEAST!  I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser...but she scares me!  Seriously!  But, according to all the friends on my new-found website....this is an awesome video for results!  Just hope I can walk tomorrow!

OK....just wanted to state all of this publicly so maybe I will be accountable!!!

Beach Week is 5 weeks from today......think I'll put in the video for a preview first......gotta psych myself u for this!

Getting older isn't for sissies!

One thing I have noticed since I passed 50 a few years ago...is that aging is not fun!  It is just amazing to me how things do go "down hill"...or so it seems.  I guess the first thing I noticed was my stamina decreased dramatically.  I am very active....very!  I walk fast, multitask like crazy, over extend my commitments.  But all of a sudden, it is like someone turns off the switch...and I can't continue anymore until I rest.  How odd!

Two years ago, in the winter, I noticed that I had developed allergies.  Never had them in my life.   The upper respiratory kind...watery, itchy eyes, sneezing fits...You know the kind!  And for it to happen in the winter of all times... Go figure!

Then last month, while having a major bout with sigmoid diverticulitis...(oh, by the way, that is another past 50 thing!), I was suddenly allergic to the antibiotic they put me on.  I've taken this antibiotic for years.  Strange!  But about 2 weeks prior to that, and continues now, so for about 8 weeks now, I have a rash!  Basically all over my body!  Especially in my midriff, and arms.  But also legs and back.  Fine, little red bumps.  I have bought a plethora of lotions, soaps and any other treatment items I can think of or read about!  I have toyed with this idea even before the Diverticulitis episode, wondering if it is a gluten allergy.

My f-i-l has Celiac disease and gluten breaks him out bad.  A severe itchy rash....just like mine.  But his is usually contained to his arms...which is typical.  However, I have done tons of research and it can be anywhere, chronic, severely itching,....rash.  There is testing that can be done but usually by a specialist...not even the dermatologist is recommended.  But, a quicker answer is to do an elimination diet.  I'm not so much into depriving myself of things I want!  So I haven't crossed that line yet.  But I'm just about miserable.  I got up and took and oatmeal bath at 1:00am this morning b/c of the itching rash!  As I type....the itching is constant.  I have already used to anti-itch cream this morning.  So I am seriously considering starting this diet today!  But I do LOVE bread!  Yes, I make gluten free bread for my father-in-law but he says it is tasteless.  But I may have to resort to this. 

I have put off this whole diet thing because I have several upcoming business trips.  In fact, during the next 2 months, I will be away from home for 14 days!  That means I will not be totally in control of my menu selections.  So I was blaming that on my reasons for putting off this diet challenge...but I am miserable right now!  So, I may give it a shot!  We will see....

My other blog......

I would like to invite you to my other blog...it is a work blog and the post from yesterday was an event that really warms your heart.  Would love for you to follow it....thanks.  Sue Ellen


http://carolinaeasthomecarehospice.blogspot.com/2011/02/wishes-do-come-true.html

A Recuperating Husband...Bless Him

Kent, my, husband had foot surgery 11 days ago.  We have known for a few months it was coming.  He actually planned it for now b/c this is his "down" time in his business.  He owns "Home Turf Advantage-Lawn Care & Landscaping.  He loves his 2nd career...better than his first one. 

He actually worked in a lab of at R&D Center where he tested and formulated Herbicides and Pesticides.  After about 4 mergers...he chose a severance package about 15 years ago.  That is when his "mission" for the elderly in our church turned into a business of his own.  He loves it.

Anyway, he has been dreading this.  In many years passed, he broke his big toe on the right foot.  Over the years, all kinds of things went wrong with it.  It half fused, grew a bunion and developed spurs.  It was a mess.  Then...it started becoming numb and at the same time hurt.  Sounds impossible to have both but it was not.  Then, b/c he was compensating for the pain, he would walk with his foot turned to the side causing his knee and now his back to go out...Ouch! 



In his recliner with microwave,
mini-fridge at his fingertips
and laptop in use!

So, by the time he decided, at my insistence, to see a MD, there were few options left.  The doc told him if he had not had such a high pain threshold, he would have sought help earlier when other procedures could be done.  So now, his only option was remove the bunion (over growth of bone), remove the spurs, break the toe, instill 2 pins and 2 screws and re-fuse the toe.  Double Ouch!

So, he now is recuperating.  On total NON-Weight bearing for 8 weeks!!!  That is why he had the surgery in his down time months!  He has done far better than I thought mentally!...and temperament!  But...bless him.  I have to help him in the shower, bring his meals to him and do all  his errands.  He's very independent so that truly doesn't rest well with him.  He is one that gets up around 5:30am in the summer or winter and heads to his barn/office.  Prep his equipment, go look at some lots, review his records and do billing...and stuff.  and usually comes home at dark.  Bless Him.  So glad he is healing well.

We have the use of a knee-walker ...one of the best inventions in the world!  I rented it from someone on Craigslist that had purchased one and now rents it.  Beats crutches hand down!  With that thingy...he can get up and go to the bathroom, bed room and scoot around.  The only problem is that he is upstairs and can go up and down the stairs but 2 times a week.  So...today I took him to the barn and his office.  He is determined to go to church tomorrow and teach SS.  Then to the doctor on Wednesday.  Again....bless him....its hard being so sedentary when you are use to being so busy all the time.

So, if you will, even though it is not "life-threatening" whisper a prayer for his sanity.  Thanks!

Do you COLLECT anything???

Through the years, I have seen various items that people collect. I remember when my daughter was young, my Mother-in-law asked me one day what she was going to collect? I had no idea really what she was even talking about. I had not collected anything other than the occasional fads like Trolls or gum wrapper chains....that sort of stuff. Remember them???  But nothing "long-term".

As it turned out, she did find a collection she wanted to collect. She fell in love with the cute Russ collection of Birds: "Tweet Alongs", as they are called. They are so cute and she has a number of them.  I don't think she has added anymore to her collection in a few years.  But they have filled up her curio cabinet!

She told me before Christmas that she had decided she wants to collect Owls now. She had started noticing some artwork and such and had become enamored by them.  And really...there are some CUTE owl stuff out there!  For Christmas, I was able to come across 2 Owl figurines in my thriftings...one that is like a planter that would be perfect for pencils on her desk.  And one I bought at a local shop.  I found a cute scrabble necklace at an etsy shop that has an owl picture on the necklace and is decoupaged.  The cool thing about that is that the flip side of the owl has the same letter as her last name!  And that wasn't even planned!!!

My husband collects pocket knives.  He has hundreds and in fact he sells them as a hobby to feed his obsession!  That's cool with me.  He also collected birds and inherited some from his grandmothers collections.

So...lately I've been thinking...I want to collect something too!  But for the life of me, I can't think of anything!  I really don't want a "fixed" collection.  I want something that I have to search for but is obtainable.  Not something obsolete.  I've thought of frogs, butterflies, Angels...but they just don't "grab" me.

So I am here asking you all....What do you collect???

OUCH!!! My FOOT!!!

Well, I do things.  Lots of things.  I have delusions of grandeur on WHAT I can do alone and what things I need help with!  Well...today, this morning at 6-ish o'clock, I awaken to my husband getting dressed to head out to work. 


Doesn"t look
THAT heavy does it???

It clicked..."I need his help before he goes!"  I jumped out of bed and said, "Can you help me lift this 500 lb TV up to the TV stand (in our bedroom)???  "Sure".  I quickly moved from the top of the current TV the DVD/VCR player and the receiver for the DISH network and he moved the smaller TV off.  Then we reached down to the floor to pick up the enormous TV that use to be in our Den.  (We had gotten a flat screen one for the den and our son-in-law and Kent had moved this one upstairs).  Using good body mechanics which I am sure to always put in place in my "movings", I helped to lift this monstrosity...WOW...I was wrong about how much the TV weighed...not 500 lbs but 1000lbs now!!!  Seriously, I had no idea the weight here...and the cumbersomeness of this piece!  Well...half way up....I DROPPED my side of the TV...KAPLUNK!!!  Earth shattering noise for sure....when I dropped my side, seconds later, my husband lost his grip and dropped his....kinda in slow motion.

Well...it was on my FOOT!!! OUCH!!!! BIG OUCH!!! I immediately yelped...pulled my foot out and by this time, the TV was lying face down on the floor. I just knew I would find the screen cracked or the tube blown and the TV wouldn't work. And....I had also lost my balance after pulling my foot out from under the TV and fell on top of the VCR/DISH receiver that says "never place anyting heavy" on top of it....well....I'm heavy!?! Ok, so I'm yelling "Get me up...!!! Get me up!!!" and holding out my hand to Kent who is a little baffled by my reaction....(had to explain it later!) Anyway...utter chaos so early in the morning. But I knew I needed him to help me so I could work on this TV thing the rest of the day!!!

Kent came over to help me....I cried a little...hurt a lot. Looked at my foot: broken skin and a blue tinge started surfacing. I don't bruise.....almost NEVER due to a blood situation I have with extremly high platelets. Plus....my foot had an area where the skin surface layers were shaved back...OUCH for me! But, my foot was numb. I felt NO pain after the initial pain. Good and bad of it...

So...was it broken???  Funny, Kent is the one having foot surgery next week with fusion of bones and such.  Would I be suffering along with him!  Oh no!  He immediatly said, "Maybe you'll have surgery next week instead of me!"  NOT!  ...I hoped. He has been trying to find any excuse not to have surgery!

It has now been a few hours and all is well.  The feeling came back after about 20 minutes and was a little painful and is still when I move a certain way but not the broken bone type of pain.  I've broken bones before and this def doesn't feel like that.  PTL! Anyway, the slight brusing isn't even there?!?   Go figure!

Oh well, as it turned out...Kent, using his HE-MAN" muscles, lifted the TV alone and set it in place.  It works, didn't break it after all.  WHEW! 

I'm such a weirdo.

It Snowed....AGAIN!

It just doesn't happen to us. 
Not at all. 
Never. 
Ever.
SNOW...and bunches of it!

These pictures were taken yesterday afternoon...in the "HEAT" of the day!  Noticed people still got out to go to the grocery store!  Right after Christmas, we got 7 inches!  This time around we got 3 inches.  T-E-N inches in 2 weeks!  WOW!!!

Honestly, snow is such a rare occurence for us.  We have actually gone several years without seeing a snowflake where we live.  Being an hour inland from the coast, that is not our usual site!  When I saw this snowplow I mentioned to my husband that I didn't think I had ever seen one here beofre!  The roads were a mess let me tell you!

Today, our office is closed again.  Yesterday was due to snow, today to ice.  But even though it is 31 degrees, it is melting nicely.  I'm glad.  Don't get me wrong.  I love snow...from the inside out!  I no longer want to play in it or drive in it....in fact, the only thing I want to do in it is EAT IT!  Snowcream!  I love it!

Yesterday, my husband went to our Hopsice Care Center in order to salt the walks.  I decided I would ride with him and of course took my camera.  I was a nervous wreck!  The roads were so treacherous.  I was so glad to get home.   Some slidding we did do!

Anyway...just wanted to share my pictures!






Enjoy!

~~~Sue

House renovation on Byerly!

My daughter and her husband have started a blog.......please check it out and join them!http://baskinginbyerly.blogspot.com/

A FREE Saturday...a rarity indeed...

It's 11:02 am and I am still in bed.  Not in sleep mode you understand.  Just in a lounging sort of way.  Went to bed around 11:30pm.  Up again around 3-ish with the dogs, back to bed quickly, but just as quickly, back up with dog #2 that had just stood on the porch without taking care of business the first time around...if you get my drift.  When I awaken at 6:00 this morning with the husband, my head was splitting with a headache.

See, we were suppose to have gotten some snow activity last night that ended up just being rain.  But none the less, the rain coming in did a number on my head.  Not an uncommon occurrence.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  It's the kind of "sinus" headache that makes your face hurt, your teeth ache and you can't breath at all through you nose!  UGH!  It didn't help that all this was proceeded with a HUGE allergy attack last night.  That was brought on from being in our basement den without having the dehumidifier running for a couple of days.  It is rather loud and a couple of nights ago while watching TV, we had turn it off and failed to turn it on again.  Hope I don't make that mistake again! 

So, I've said all that to say this...if a few minutes, I'm going to get up and get started on my projects today!  I love a free Saturday.  The ones prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas are never FREE....there is always something pending.

I want to work on my bedroom.  Change the linens, rearrange some things and just enjoy the day!  Who knows, if I finish in time, may work on the upstairs sitting room too!  Trying to get this all done before Kent has some foot surgery on the 19th. He will be non-weight-bearing for 8 weeks and I want to make sure there is a clear path for his mobility with crutches!

So, off I go...getting a start to my day!   

HOUSTON...We Have SNOW!

A snow event for us is big news.  We live about 1 hour inland from the North Carolina Coast and it's just not something that happens for us.  Any snow...is big news for us!  We get 1/2 inch and businesses close, schools close...in other words...we SHUT down!  I know that may seem awfully silly to some of you.  But one reason is that we don't have the emergency preparedness  that other locations have.  I guess we do have a salt truck...but not sure I have ever seen one here nor a plow!  Funny I know.  But I have seem many Christmases where we wear shorts and tank tops...yep...hot is our name around here!

When the forecast came that it looked favorable, I like everyone else made sure we had the staples.  But I didn't just go for bread and milk...I planned my snow day menu!  Chili Beans!  Yum...and corn bread muffins!  Last night, we didn't even have the predicted rain by bedtime. I was quite discouraged when I went to bed around 12.  But I awaken around 5-ish and there it was...I had even left the deck light on so I could see if it had been snowing out my bedroom window.  And it had...and it did...and a lot!  Actually, it has snowed all day today.  Sometimes big flakes, some times fine flakes.  But snow.

I have spent much of the day right here on the sofa in a room I call my Sun~Porch.  Most folks would call it a Florida Room I guess...but sun~porch it is.  Anyway, it has 3 walls of glass 1/2 way up.  I love it out here...especially when it snows.  It is heated space, so that is not an issue.  My dog Chloe has enjoyed my being out here as well.  She will get on the top of the sofa and look all around at the snow and such.  It has been very peaceful.  No TV on, no one but me and Chloe in here, and my new laptop! 

Another benefit of snow is snow cream.  Now...I don't know if any of you grew up like I did, but the rule of thumb was NO SNOW CREAM from the first snow of the season!  Well, living where I live, that rule got ditched years ago!  It was believed to have something to do with purifying the air....whatever...I eat it when I get it!  I now add a little Coconut Rum to the mixture and that makes it all the more relaxing & yummy!

My 88 year old father in law lives with us.  Well, I should say we share a house together...because he does so much for us and is not a burden at all.  Very healthy, self sufficient.  But anyway, he was worried about the birds finding food  a while ago.  Gammie, my 3 year departed Mother in law, was a bird lover.  She was always concerned about the little birds.  He mentioned she would be worried if she were here and he was going to get bundled up and go out to give them some bread. So I proceeded to get bread and go out quickly so he would not have to and it would ease his mind.  I have bread everywhere...but haven't seen a bird near it!!!  Oh well...maybe they will get it later this evening.  The dog did have a few pieces when she went out to potty though!

Well...a pure winter wonderland for us.  It is gorgeous.  I  love it.  But maybe that is because I can stay in and not be out in it!  If you have snow, enjoy...if not, then feel free to enjoy my pictures! 

Christmas Trees & Stuff...

Just getting over Thanksgiving wears me out.  If you read my blog, you know that we have 32 folks...for 4-5 days.  So I spend the week following just resting...seriously.  Of course I have to work, but usually when I get home, I am wiped out and don't want to do anything extra.  I do "fix" a few little things each day like gather the "pumpkin" themed items to one place like candles and all...but not much else. 

So then comes the first weekend of December.  That is usually when I finally start transitioning items from Thanksgiving to Christmas.   Well, there is a great possibility that my son, his wife and the granddaughters are not going to come back here for Christmas.  They live in TN and the 7 hour drive turns into 9 hours for them due to potty breaks, stop breaks, walk breaks...it is hard for little ones to travel in booster seats and seat belts that are restricting.  I totally understand.  We are so grateful to have had them here for Thanksgiving for an entire week. It was awesome and like a healing balm to a wound!  So we all are trying to figure out how to get together for Christmas/New Years.  I have said all of that to say this...I don't think I will put up a BIG tree this year.  After having discussed this with my 88 year old Father-in-law who lives with us, we both agreed... wholeheartedly.  My husband doesn't mind at all, just so he doesn't have to do any of it!

So with that decision made, I decided to have several Mini-Tree's and some of our routine Christmas decorations.  This all sort of came to me as the day progressed.  I spotted my Mother-in-law's ceramic tree that she made back around 1970.  She loved that little tree and I have tried to use it somewhere every Christmas.  Gammie, as she was lovingly known by the grand kids, died in our home 3 years ago with Hospice.  She had desired cremation and for her urn to be buried in a grave plot beside her parents.  The burial was planned, and about 3 days prior, my Father-in-law said he just couldn't do it yet.  After reassuring him that was his choice, we decided to wait until he was ready.  He still isn't.  So Mom's urn sits in a corner of our Living Room.  Dad set it up with pictures, her father's bible, a Tiffany lamp she loved and a few other items.  It is like a memorial for her.  And that is OK.  He speaks to her each morning.  They were married 61 years.  So this year, I placed the little ceramic tree oh her table.  She loved to "hand-quilt" and made many little table runners.  I decided to place one there as well.  As I was setting this up, I noticed the tree base has a music box inside.  Never knew that.  I wound it up and it played Silent Night...it turned out to be a special little place for her...Dad was pleased.

While I was gathering the ceramic tree, I noticed a plastic grocery bag tied up in my Christmas decorations tub.  I don't usually use those in there b/c I like to "see" what is in the tub and use zip lock bags.  So as I opened it up I realized that they were my Mother's Christmas tree ornaments!  I immediately started to cry.  Mother died in May of this year.  She had been staying with my sister and we made the decision to sell her house.  It had basically been un-lived in for 2 years.  Every now and then, someone would take her by there for a "drive-by" and sometimes I even took her there to spend a weekend.  She wanted us to sell it for her...so we did.  After the sale, we had the job to clear out her things.  That was a job!  Anyway, I remember the "who wants this" type of questions about many things.  I'm not sure why I spoke up about her ornaments...but I did.  We often giggled at Mother's little tree throughout the years.  Her ornaments weren't ornate, nor did they have a certain theme...nor quality.  Most of them were from many years past.  Lots of grandchildren ones, some homemade, and quite a few crocheted angels that probably an elderly friend from church made for Mother.  When I opened the bag, a rush of the past came over me.  I had a table top tree that I put on my foyer table and went about designing a Snowflake & Angels tree as a tribute to my Mother.  It turned out sweet...Mother would be proud.  Feels like I have Mother with me for Christmas.

As I looked further in the tub, I came across these sweet angels of Mother's.  They were really cute.  Love their sweet faces.  Think she always had these in her living room on the drop-leaf table.  Found these balls last week in one of my "thrift" shopping expeditions...they matched perfectly!!!  Almost as if it were planned...hmmm.

Well, while describing my deco, let me go ahead.  Our church supports a local ministry that helps women who are recovering from drug/alcohol addiction.  In our WMU meetings, I had heard of Valley of Hope and the different needs they have there.  Then on Friday, I received our Association's newsletter and again saw a post about Valley of Hope.  But this time, they had just opened a Thrift Store in my town to help meet the needs of the ministry.  Well, let me tell you, I LOVE a thrift store.  Probably b/c my mother took me to them often while I was growing up!  Anyway, I decided to go by there and check it out yesterday.  While there, I found this neat sleigh.  Perfect for a hearth or table arrangement.  Well, I had been asked to "decorate a table" for our churches Senior Citizen Singles Dinner.  Something we do annually for the community seniors who have lost their spouses.  A great outreach.  Well, this sleigh will be my table top center piece!  Love it!!!

As it turns out...and it's not over yet... I am enjoying this "Mini" Christmas this year!  I had no idea it would be so sentimental. 

Even though this is panning out to be a very different Christmas for me...no visit to see my Mother, my grandchildren not being here on Christmas Day, my son and daughter-in-law not here to celebrate with...it is still being special.  I find that Kent & I have been reaching out this season already.  Adopting rest home residents, buying toys for the Toy Store for underprivileged families going through bit of a hard time and the Senior Citizens...it's going to be good...my daughter and her husband will be here...and we'll figure out some New Year's plans for everyone to be together.

Oh dear Lord...I've gotten old...

Last night was our annual Christmas Awards Banquet.  I still have a STACK of clothes on the chair in my bedroom of where I was trying to find something to wear!  Took me 45 minutes to finally pick out something I could live with...do you feel me?!?!?!?  Seriously....I found nothing I was happy with...so I picked the best of "nothing" and went with it.

Once I made the decision to pick something out I made sure my make-up was good and hair too so I would feel good about me.  I knew I had to make a presentation for the "Nurse of the Year" award so I wanted to look half way decent.  Well today, one of my co-workers posted a picture of me.  Now, it was not a posed picture.  I had no idea she took one until now.  It was on my facebook page where she had tagged me.  I promptly "untagged" myself from it!  It was awful.  I was old and saggy!  When did this happen!!!

You know, I don't mind getting old...I don't think.  But I want to do it classicly, with grace.  I looked terrible!!!  Not nearly like I felt "inside"!  I thought I was having a good hair night...you know what I'm saying???  Have you noticed some folks are so photogenic it is amazing....well, not me.  This picture to the left was posed....and cropped!!!

But, alas...the camera doesn't lie....how very dissappointing....who is that old woman!!??!!

New WW...and Me

Well...my Tuesday night WW turned out to be a big FAT "0"!  The meeting was rescheduled due to conflict and was held on Monday night which 1) I didn't know about and 2) didn't matter, I had BOD meeting that night.  So, I found another place to go on Wednesday and got all the materials and heard a brief portion on the meeting.

Well.  Looks like the main emphasis is based on total nutrition...including an emphasis on Carbs...which has not been that way with WW before.  Well...I must confess...I am a HUGE Carb addict...carboholic if you will....!

I don't know if that has anything to do with it...but I am starved today!  First of all...I don't like depriving myself of pleasurable eating.  I'm selfish.  I'm impatient.  I'm a big baby when it comes to food.  I want it now.  The way I want it.  When I want it...and First!

In the past 2 months, I have not been obedient to the WW Plan.  And up until Thanksgiving I had only gained 2-3 lbs.  However, when I weighed in on Thursday at the meeting I had gained 5 lbs.!  Yikes!!!  So, I need to "Just say no"....to ME!!!

So...guess I'm just confessing....

Later...Sue Ellen

A New Start

 

I just LOVE~LOVE~LOVE a new start!  Gives me that "2nd Chance" feeling to fix a mess-up!  An opportunity to "correct a  wrong"...anyone with me on that!!!  A new start can be huge or little in regards to dates.  For example...can be as simple  as a Sunday...1st day of the Week...or Monday...first day of the "work week"...could be the 1st day of the Month...or year....see where I am headed!?!?!  

When I found out a couple of weeks ago that the WW Plan was changing...I started to get excited!  I knew this was going to be a 2nd chance.  This could be a do-over.....!  This is the official roll-out week for the plan.  Great timing...the week after all the Thanksgiving week binges! 


Tonight is my weigh-in and meeting night.  I am quite certain that I have gained some weight...I haven't done the plan in a couple of months even though I kept paying each month...but I KNEW the day would come soon that would inspire me to jump on again and go for the 2nd Chance!!!


So tonight is the night.  I am anxiously awaiting the loss of another bunch of pounds soon!  I feel it!!!

I'll keep you posted!

Thanksgiving at the Wells' Home!

Our home @ Thanksgiving!

Annie Gracie...my 2 yo granddaughter

This week, 20 years ago, we spent Thanksgiving Weekend moving into our newly built home.  We did much of the "grunt" work of our house ourselves due to finances.  Not the REAL labor mind you, but the minor, simple, time consuming stuff...painting, staining, etc.  With 3600 sq ft...that is a lot of painting & staining!!!  So on that weekend, my husbands family, all came from Atlanta, SC, and Richmond to help us move from the little house to the big one.  That was the beginning of "Thanksgiving in Warsaw" for my husbands Parents, Brothers & Sisters and their families.  They even laid our  brick walkway.  Just amazing folks.  They usually come starting on Tuesday evening and the last group leaves on Saturday. 

enjoying the football game

As a rule, I would cook the Thanksgiving meal, and sort of plan and guide the production of the other meals.  That remains the same.  This year, I pulled an all-nighter b/c the turkey was 22lbs and would tie up the oven too long and would compromise my "schedule".  So after everyone went to bed about 12mn...I began the BIG MEAL.  We traditionally have a huge country ham breakfast and the cooking needed to be somewhat at a stand-still for the 2:00pm Meal Time.  So it was the best way to handle it.

Cousins....chatting on a blanket

We've grown in numbers through the years.  This year, there were 32 of us.  Due to the fact that the children are no longer "little", it has gotten a bit much to "house" the whole group for that long of a period like we use to.  My son and his family and my daughter and her husband stayed with us.  But the others stay at a local motel right off I-40.  It is only 3-5 miles from our home...so it works.  They spend breakfast-to-bedtime with us.  We have a blast.

Chloe in pink...Caleb the maltese watching

32 PEOPLE!!!  Yes, it is crazy, but we laugh, talk bunches and yes...go a little crazy!  Did I mention all of our dogs too?  This year we were down in numbers.  We had our 2, then an additional 4.  Yeah...crazy.  And my NEW Shi Tzu/Pomeranian had to learn the crowd and she was a BARKER!  Oh well...we lived through it.

Dad giving THANKS

One of our favorite times, it just before our Thanksgiving meal, we go around the  room and state 1 thing we are thankful for.  Special time and special memories usually with a few tears shed along the way.  This year, DAD, just turned 88 years old, quoted scriptures about giving Thanks...it was very special...then we hold hands or wrap arms around each other and pray. 

The POOP BOWL in progress!

Thankfully, the rain held off a little and we ventured outside for several hours which helps with noise control and helps to maintain a little sanity while the 2nd cousins get a chance to play and work off some energy.  The older cousins always have a traditional "football" game...they call it the "Poop Bowl" b/c invariably someone steps in the left behinds of one of the dogs!  Gross...Sorry!  This year was an injury-free event.  Not always so fortunate...one dislocated shoulder required surgery in years past!!!  This Wells' crowd plays to win!!!

My Sweet Little Mother

Even with all the mayhem of it all...I couldn't help but think about MY family having their traditional Thanksgiving at my sisters house in Vale, NC...this was the first Thanksgiving without Mother.   I know they missed her so much.  Mother was the Matriarch of our family.  And she LOVED a family event.  In her heyday, she was an awesome cook.  We loved to eat at Mother's.  In fact, my Mother was known for her sage cornbread dressing. 

 

 

Beth...my sis

Every year, for 20 years, I have called her and gone over the recipe with her...never could get it right.  This year, I called my sister Beth  to go over the recipe and give me hints...she did & it turned out superb.  I missed hearing my Mother's encouragement to me on my preparation of her recipe......I appreciate Beth helping me on it. 

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving.  I did.  And I am Thankful. 

Watching the "Poop Bowl" Football game!

Alyssa...my 4 yo Granddaughter

lots of computer time for this group...