First time of doing my FlyLady basic cleaning steps (dusting & vacuuming) in what seems like forever. Actually succeeded. Dad became an over zealous helper near the end.. I guess if we are both going to be at home together from here on out we need to divide up those jobs somehow:). He is so very good to try to help me in every way.
In talking together we decided that it would be good for Dad to go over to Utah to oversee the cleanup/remodeling of the Insurance office that was in the house on Freedom; Terry Sides has moved out, apparently leaving quite a mess, and we have decided to turn in back into residential, thinking it would be easier to keep rented than an office in that space. The downside is it will take a fair amount of dollars - cleanup, paint, floors, a new bathtub + tiling so that it can have a shower, plus a stove, refrigerator - and possibly washer & dryer. The timing is a little hard for us, but hopefully with Dad there the expenses will at least be kept under control. Or better control. That is the hope. I will miss him greatly, but it is a good test of my ability to survive on my own here - including doing the animals. I’m afraid I have become quite spoiled over the past year... am definitely not used to doing a lot of the normal jobs around here!
We were up at 5:15 this morning and he got an early start. (Me too.)
Standing in the living room doing my warm up exercises prior to Tai Chi, I was fascinated by the twittering and fluttering about of chickadees around the holly bush. They were probably eating berries...altho I didn’t see that happen. Just lots of birds, fluttering about and making lots of twitters!
Thursday, 10/27 Trees seen through a blanket of fog this morning...absolutely beautiful.
Yesterday - long, hard, and lonely...but I got through it:). Jim sounded happy with what he’d been able to do; that is good.
I was headed towards bed, but remembered I had an experience today which I desire to share. It began last week as I was driving to meet my visiting teaching partner so that we could do our visits. For some reason I thought back to my very first visiting teaching companion, whose name I do not remember, but who taught me what visiting teaching was all about as we visited our sisters spread over the large geographical area that encompassed our military ward in Germany. (Visiting them took the better part of a day.) As the thoughts came, so also came an overwhelming sense of gratitude for those experiences and all of the ones since, as I have visited and been visited by so very many over the past 37 (can it be that many?) years. I have grown so very much because of those experiences.
Today, as I was returning from town towards home and hoping to visit one of those sisters, one who was once one I visited and then became my partner as we did other visits, and now is no longer able to be a visiting teacher, the thoughts returned and I realized I wanted to share these feelings in our upcoming fast and testimony meeting on Sunday. As the thoughts went through my mind, then came the words (or thought) that while I may never have had any remarkable, life-altering or life-saving experiences I have greatly treasured the associations and friendships formed, especially with some of the elderly, and the heart-felt hope that in some small way I have been a help to them.
So...as I headed out on Garden Valley I called to see if this sister was at home; there was no answer. So - I thought, “Well, I can just go on home and I will have a little extra time to work on my long list of undone things.” For some reason, before I reached the turn in the road onto Del Rio towards home, I decided to try the number once more. To my surprise, this time there was an answer - the sister I wanted to visit was home and said, yes, come! Now, she has been unable to care for herself for the past couple of years and her husband has borne most of that burden. More recently a daughter has been down to help, particularly as the husband has been having health problems of his own. I thought they had all been in town together, so thought all were home when she answered the phone and I turned to the left and headed there to visit her.
When I got there, there was no car at the house - which gave me kind of a funny feeling. I parked out of the way of the driveway, walked up to the door and rang the bell. There was no answer so far as I could hear, so, feeling a little strange, I tried the door and opened it a crack then called out, “Anybody home?” I then heard this sister’s voice... weakly calling the words, “I fell down!” Following the voice I found her in the bathroom, on her side & back, unable to get up. I immediately did what I could to make her more comfortable and told her to stop trying to get up, that I would get help for us. (She is large enough that I felt trying to help her on my own might imperil both of us.) Having the cell phone number for her daughter who I knew was visiting, I called it - only to find out that she was at the hospital with her father (this sister’s husband); there had been an emergency and they were admitting him. I explained what had happened, reassured her that her mom was OK, and said I would call for help - which I did, to church members who lived fairly close by. Two wonderful brethren came within a short time and gave the needed assistance. After giving them thanks and hugs, I sat down to visit with this sister while waiting for the daughter to return. It took quite a while, but I was so very grateful to have been able to be there at the time I was needed. And now I can say I have had one of those remarkable experiences! And I am even more grateful to have been a visiting teacher for all these years. The saddest words when I returned home from my hospitalization, etc. in Portland were to hear that I had been released as a visiting teacher (they weren’t sure I could do it any more); the happiest were to find out that I was called again, with a new partner:). And now, I am getting to know, and hopefully serve, four new sisters.
Saturday night, 10/29
Halloween is just around the corner; Emily just sent me the following:
We took Eli to our ward's trunk-or-treat tonight. I think it may have been one of the best nights of his life. He was dressed up as cookie monster (which he loved) and he justRAN around for 2 hours straight. He whole costume was wet all the way through with sweat! He participated in the costume parade and he caught on to the trick-or-treating thing (although sometimes he tried to give the people candy rather than accepting it). It was really cute but now I have to wash his costume before Monday. He was singing and giggling the whole way home and until he went to bed. He wore me out!
How fun is that! Maybe she took some pictures...we will see what shows up on Facebook:).
I am headed to bed; it is 9:00 and I am so very tired. Hard to figure out what I really accomplished over the past 2 days, but I know I have been trying hard. Sure miss all those I love and hope all is well for each and every one of you!
So...as I headed out on Garden Valley I called to see if this sister was at home; there was no answer. So - I thought, “Well, I can just go on home and I will have a little extra time to work on my long list of undone things.” For some reason, before I reached the turn in the road onto Del Rio towards home, I decided to try the number once more. To my surprise, this time there was an answer - the sister I wanted to visit was home and said, yes, come! Now, she has been unable to care for herself for the past couple of years and her husband has borne most of that burden. More recently a daughter has been down to help, particularly as the husband has been having health problems of his own. I thought they had all been in town together, so thought all were home when she answered the phone and I turned to the left and headed there to visit her.
When I got there, there was no car at the house - which gave me kind of a funny feeling. I parked out of the way of the driveway, walked up to the door and rang the bell. There was no answer so far as I could hear, so, feeling a little strange, I tried the door and opened it a crack then called out, “Anybody home?” I then heard this sister’s voice... weakly calling the words, “I fell down!” Following the voice I found her in the bathroom, on her side & back, unable to get up. I immediately did what I could to make her more comfortable and told her to stop trying to get up, that I would get help for us. (She is large enough that I felt trying to help her on my own might imperil both of us.) Having the cell phone number for her daughter who I knew was visiting, I called it - only to find out that she was at the hospital with her father (this sister’s husband); there had been an emergency and they were admitting him. I explained what had happened, reassured her that her mom was OK, and said I would call for help - which I did, to church members who lived fairly close by. Two wonderful brethren came within a short time and gave the needed assistance. After giving them thanks and hugs, I sat down to visit with this sister while waiting for the daughter to return. It took quite a while, but I was so very grateful to have been able to be there at the time I was needed. And now I can say I have had one of those remarkable experiences! And I am even more grateful to have been a visiting teacher for all these years. The saddest words when I returned home from my hospitalization, etc. in Portland were to hear that I had been released as a visiting teacher (they weren’t sure I could do it any more); the happiest were to find out that I was called again, with a new partner:). And now, I am getting to know, and hopefully serve, four new sisters.
Saturday night, 10/29
Halloween is just around the corner; Emily just sent me the following:
We took Eli to our ward's trunk-or-treat tonight. I think it may have been one of the best nights of his life. He was dressed up as cookie monster (which he loved) and he justRAN around for 2 hours straight. He whole costume was wet all the way through with sweat! He participated in the costume parade and he caught on to the trick-or-treating thing (although sometimes he tried to give the people candy rather than accepting it). It was really cute but now I have to wash his costume before Monday. He was singing and giggling the whole way home and until he went to bed. He wore me out!
How fun is that! Maybe she took some pictures...we will see what shows up on Facebook:).
I am headed to bed; it is 9:00 and I am so very tired. Hard to figure out what I really accomplished over the past 2 days, but I know I have been trying hard. Sure miss all those I love and hope all is well for each and every one of you!
P.S. If you read this blog, could you please let me know...with a comment or an e-mail?
I am reading -probably should be sleeping :) So glad you were able to help your friend! I need to make a post but I am so tired I will have to hope for tomorrow. -sara
ReplyDeleteWow...so nice to know you have read the blog:). I am sure you are tired; just thinking about all you've been doing makes me tired! Love you, Mom
ReplyDeleteI read the blog! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Love!
ReplyDelete