Riviera Nursing Home

I was invited to be a part of the Christmas program at the Riviera Nursing Home. Michael and Suzan Gauthier pour their lives into this ministry and it was a privilege to do this little bit to serve with them. I read my Christmas Story and then Pastor Tim sang "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Sylvia bought her "if-you-can-count-you-can-play" handbells and that was a fun part of the program. I really appreciated the Patsch family joining us with their five (teenage and school
age) children.

Behind the Scenes of Christmas

I love being in the nursery for the Christmas program.

Kayden's Nana was Raggedy Ann in the Toy Store. It was if she was asking, "Is my Nana in there somewhere?" Landon played the part of infant baby Jesus. He was just discovering his voice and won everybody's heart with sweet baby noises.

We had a small but fun group. Jamie played the part of 2 year old Jesus and came with his costume on and his shoes off. Tyler was tired and sat very still in a in a chair. It was as if he put himself in time out.

And now for the surprise

After two nights with Doris, I moved in with one of my babysitting familes. Dad was traveling with work and mom needed help while rocovering from outpatient surgery. They provided a home away from home while the floors were getting done but more importantly, it ended up being a real time of bonding for the three of us. After work that day, I picked up 4-year-old "Ben" at school and he asked me if I was gong on vacation (because my suitcase was in the back seat.) He was actually very excited that I was spending the night. That night he moved to his top bunk so I could sleep in the bottom bunk. And, as he drifted off to sleep, he said "Goodnight, Gwen" (Ben Ten Alien Force part alien cousin). Getting us both to school and work on time was not easy but was accomplished with only one wardrobe meltdown. (I'll leave you wondering which one of us did the melting.)






I made arrangements to leave work early on Friday to get my hair done and I was sitting in the chair, all dyed up - even my eyebrows - and my phone rang. It was Carol, my sister. It's never good news when the conversation starts out, "Mom's ok, but ... " She had fallen at home, broken her wrist and split her lip to the tune of ten stitches. She was in the emergency room. As the Lord would have it, my brother David and his family were visiting from Lawton, OK, so, when Mom fell, she was not alone. They had a flight out of Orlando the next morning so when I got "Ben" settled at home that night, I drove down to Vero Beach. I spent the next five days in Vero taking care of Mom. We called the orthopedic doctor first thing Monday morning and after initially telling us they had no openings, they asked us to come in as soon as we could. The physician's assistant (Doogie Houser) settled mom in the room and then we met the othopedic doctor (Doogie Houser's YOUNGER brother) Doogie, Jr. was a sports injury specialist so he referred us to his collegue, Dr. Cohern. Sugery was scheduled for the next morning and we spent the rest of the day doing bloodwork and paperwork.

We reported to the hospital the next morning. I can't remember the last time, if ever, I sat in a surgical waiting room. (That's how blessed I am!) It made me think about how it felt to be waiting on me. After a while I thought every patient should be mom. They kept mom overnight.

We went straight to the therapist from the hospital and they made a lighter plastic cast for mom's wrist. Mom was a good patient and a pleasure to be around through the whole ordeal.

I had to come home on Wednesday night and go back to work on Thursday morning. (Carol came stayed with mom through the weekend.)

December: a blur of activity and surprise

On December 1, my carpeted floors began turning to tile. I took the day off to check in with the installers but quickly realised I was in the way. George came to take out the front toilet and turn off the water line to the ice machine. It was not small part of the project that the blue tile already on the kitchen floor would be replaced. (sigh, I fell in love with that house because of the blue tile.) I spent the afternoon away from the

house helping Danella wrap her Christmas presents and then I spent the first of two nights with Doris, hostess extraordinaire. (Danella and Bob graciously hostessed Shelly and Precious.)

Ok, so, the "before" pictures are plentiful," and uh, not so many "after" pictures. I am asked almost daily if I like my floors. Truthfully, the house is still too dismantled to get that "walk through the door ahhh" feeling

Thanksgiving Day

I ate Thanksgiving dinner the Dicks, my adopted family. It was a gorgeous day and tables were set up outside. There were 18 people there, 13 adults and 5 children, and food for 3 times as many as that. Somehow I missed getting pictures of the feast. It was varied and plentiful. I took a large pan of squash casserole but it was not my best :0(
Landon and Logan did not get to dress up for Halloween so they came to Thanksgiving dinner as turkeys. (Gives new meaning to that silly saying, "I could just eat you up!") Doesn't this last picture look like a father and son that love each other? God bless this wonderful family for including me!

Thanksgiving Week

This was an unusual Thanksgiving because mom was not in Vero. She had just returned from a trip of a lifetime to Italy and she was having Thanksgiving with sister in law, Nan, and niece, Erin. My brother Terry had already left for Madison, WI, and his new job there.

I knocked a few more days off my unused vacation by taking the Monday - Wednesday before the office was closed on Thursday and Friday. I had one major project, a real "must complete," as I had to move all the breakables off the furniture. That's all my ceramic vegetables, salt and pepper shakers and dishes. And, let's not forget the living room and the the storage cabinet built underneath the bar. Where was it all going to go? I put together a shelf and stuffed it with as much as would fit. A few times it felt like things were growing back in place of the everything I removed. I stood my bed up against the wall. We ended up putting the dining room table in there as well and then inverting end tables on top of that. Although everything was not perfectly organized, I was ready for tile installation to begin on December 1.

My Thanksgiving was special because of friends and family. I was able to help one of my babysitting moms get ready for a big family dinner by helping her prepare twice baked potatoes and green bean casserole. Her four year old boy eagerly helped to clean the toilets with cleaner that turned the water blue.

I dog sat the Wednesday before through the Friday after Thanksgiving for Lucy, a very sweet basset-schnauzer mix. And because I know you are wondering what that combination looks like, here are pictures:

I finally met the triplets

One of the my coworkers has triplet neice and nephews. I have repeatedly volunteered to go with her on a Saturday night to help baby-sit but it has never worked out. They go to bed early and with very little effort and my coworker already has other family members helping her. So, while I understand, I still wanted to spend time with them.

They came to church on November 16. I stayed in the nursery during church. (Think about it: one family adds 3 children) It was Pancake Sunday. The kids were great even though it was obviously their naptime (that explains the blank stares.)