On Our Way!

So we're on our way!  Dennis is taking the girls to the airport while I pack the final items.  We had hoped to be gone by six, but we didn't have room for everything in the car so we decided to just leave as soon as he gets back from the airport run and we load our stuff in the car. 

I'm taking some family Christmas decorations to Mandy.  We try to take a few things back each time we drive.  Gradually she will have most of the family heirlooms as the boys have no interest in them and family traditions and history are important to her.

Anyway, the rash is still there but much better than yesterday morning.  My nurses, (Dennis & Mandy), put the cream on for me this morning since I can't reach my back and we're going to give it a try.  It's been nice to have our own personal R.N. here while Mandy has been here!  :-)

I took this picture last night from the deck.  Clouds were moving in so I couldn't get a clear shot of the moon, but I still thought it was kind of neat.

Thank you for all of your sweet comments and prayers.  I appreciate each of them more than you know and I know each sweet prayer is heard by our Father in Heaven.

Many Blessings and much love,

Betsy

Leaving or Not?

It's Wednesday!  The plan is to leave early, early tomorrow morning, take Mandy & Piper to the airport and hit the road from there.  Time will tell.  I woke up with a horrible rash on my back.  It's painful and burning.  I had a chiropractic appt. and he told me to get to a dermatologist or Primary Care Dr. ASAP...before we left.  He told me not to start the drive without seeing someone.  So my dermatologist fit me in.  After a steroid shot in the rear end and a prescription for cream I'm home and waiting to see if it improves.  If not, I can't go.  He said he doesn't want me to have difficulty breathing and be in the middle of nowhere.  The thought is that it is a reaction to the massage oil that was used in my massage last night.  A different oil than usual was used in a combo with the oil usually used.  I blame NO ONE.  It was a freak accident that could happen to anyone, but of course, if it could happen, it will be to me. :-(  This is what seems to happen everytime we plan a trip anywhere.  I get sick, my heart acts up and now, this time I get a rash.  And not just any rash.  It's miserable.  It burns and it hurts.  But enough of that.  I have had FUN TIMES with my girls this week.  Here are some photos to prove it.

Us girls made a trip up to the trailer yesterday to get some groceries and other things that we'll need for the trip like toothbrush and phone chargers.  The groceries came home because we didn't expect to be gone for so long when we left last week and we didn't want them to go bad while we were away and bring mice or mold, etc.

It was a cool and windy day.    Just look at the hair blowing!  :-)

 Piper and I were enjoying the view from the fishing dock.

 I love this girl with all of my heart.

 She had to borrow Grandma's jacket to stay warm.  (I don't think we'll have that problem next week in Nebraska!)

 I do love this view.

 Piper doesn't have a shy bone in her little body.  She ran right up to this group of kids and jumped on the merry-go-round with them.  She had a wonderful time and they were really good with her.

Back home she was deep in thought while looking at a Shopko advertisement that came in the mail!

 But she caught me taking her picture.  "Oh Grandma!"

 I took part in a swap that kathyb, (Compassion Knit) on my sidebar organized.  My partner was Debra, (Araignee), and she sent me an absolutely lovely package.  A beautiful card she made herself and some tea.  Three skeins of red, white and blue yarn.  I adore these two skeins of Knit Picks yarn and some wonderful washcoth Peaches and Cream yarn too.  Also a handmade button from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  Thank you so very much Debra.  I really love it all!  You are the best and I hope you're feeling better now.

I also received these two gorgeous hand painted cards from Lorraine who lives on the Isle of Lewis with her husband Gerard.  She has the most precious grandchildren who obviously adore her and Gerard.  Thank you Lorraine.  I think they are beautiful.  Sorry about the awkward slant of the photos. I'm an abysmal photographer.

Here are our two new girls, Amelia on the left and Franny on the right.  Amost identical, just their eyes are a bit different.  I admit, I hardly ever call them by the correct name and I've known them all of their lives.  Amelia is 16 aand Franny is 14.  Mandy feels so bad about leaving them behind and they know something is up.  Especially Amelia.  She has hissed and batted at me several time and she has NEVER, ever done that before.  She has always loved me.  Mandy thinks she knows that she's being left behind and feels just awful but they'll be fine.  They know us and know our house.  Ellen, who is staying with the animals while we're gone, came over this morning to meet them.

I started a baby blanket a few days ago but haven't worked on it much.  It's a stitch pattern that Mandy uses and really likes so I thought I would give it a try.  It just uses one circular needle and I like that for traveling.  The yarn is Bernat Baby Sport in the Lilac Bouquet colorway.

The Celebration of Life for Mike is Saturday morning.  I just talked to Melanie on the phone and it was wonderful to hear her voice.  She is such a strong, strong woman.  I hope I can be like her when I grow up and I am so blessed to have her as my big sister.  She has always watched out for me, (except when she was the one beating me up.) Ha!  I love her so much and wish I were more of a support for her right now.

I'm going to close now because I need to get the ironing done and finish packing.  If you read this before Thursday morning, please pray my rash improves so we're able to take off tomorrow morning as planned and for safe travels.  It will be two very long days of driving and that makes me nervous.  It's also the first trip in our new car and it's going to be very, very hot in the midwest.  I've already had two flat tires and I only have 2600 miles on the car.  I don't know if the tires are cheap or if I have had especially bad luck.  I haven't had a flat tire in years until the past two months!  There are parts of Montana and Wyoming that we're driving through that have nothing around for miles and miles so that's always nerve-wracking.  I'm such a wimp.  I'm SO glad that Dennis is going with me. :-)

I hope you have a lovely afternoon and I'll try to post again soon.

"But those that hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31

This verse popped up in my devotion for today.  It's my favorite verse and I think the Lord is trying to tell me something today.  :-)

Blessings always,
Betsy

Joy Among Tears

Happy Sunday to you all.  It's been a good weekend, although mixed with some tears too.  I'm wishing I was with my sister in these hard days for her, and yet Mandy and Piper are here and Jamie, Kyleigh and Caleb were here for a few days too.  Jamie and kids left this morning and Mandy and Piper will fly back home to Omaha on Thursday.  Dennis and I will take them to the airport early in the morning and then set off to drive to Omaha.  Only one ticket was available to fly with them and it was $669.00!  No rental cars because of the College World Series.  Oh well.

We had a few warm days this week and since we have no pool, out came a sprinkler and Piper had a great time running around in it.

 I told her that when I was a little girl there was no pool available so we always cooled off in the sprinkler in the summertime.  She is quite the ham!

 On Friday we went to downtown Spokane to Riverfront Park and she got to play on the big red wagon.  That's her going down the slide and it was HOT from the sun.  After this first trip down she learned to tuck her dress under her legs and slide!  This wagon is quite popular among tourists and residents alike.  It's a radio flyer!

Building blocks close to the wagon and the Spokane River.  The World's Fair was held here in 1974.

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 Another view, this time with the clocktower included.  We have had absolutely perfect weather all week.  Upper 70's and a storm or two in the evenings.  Today is the first day we've turned the AC on in almost two weeks.  I love having windows open day and night.

Then Piper and I rode the 109 year old Looff Carousel.  They just reopened it within the last week or so after building a beautiful new building to house it in.  The timing was perfect because it's been closed down for a quite some time while the rebuilding was going on.  We had a wonderful time!  Just look at that smile. :-)

Lots of geese and mallard ducks roaming freely throughout the park.

On Saturday we took all three kids to a trampoline place at the mall called "Get Air."  I've never been to a place like this before, but I do have to say that it made me feel very, very old. :-)  Those kids run and jump all over the place.  I would break every bone in my body. Ha!

Here's Piper!

Piper in the front, Caleb to the right and Kyleigh in the back.  They would prefer that we not post photos of the two oldest grandkids, but you can't see them clearly here so I think this will be okay.  My goodness they had a great time.

 We took a picture before church this morning on the back deck. Dennis, Jamie and Mandy in the back.  Kyleigh, Me, Piper and Caleb in front.  Sorry about the blurred faces.  Again, no photos online.  I did want to share this picture though because it's the first time we've been together in several years.  It was a great weekend.  

I finished several more pairs of mittens this week.  I am officially sick and tired of them so I'm going to take a break until we get back from Omaha.  I'm planning to make some baby blankets for awhile.  It will be better anyway, because I'll lose dpn's, stitch markers and other small items in and under the seat in the car.  This way, I'll use a pattern that just calls for a circular needle so I can't lose anything!

Please continue to pray for my sister Melanie and her kids.  The Celebration of Life service for Mike will be next Saturday.  Dennis and their son-in-law Tim will be speaking.  I know this will be difficult for Tim especially because he was very close to Mike. My heart just breaks for all of them and I feel so far away.  

Oh, and if you noticed, I have photos again.  I don't know what it was, but our computer genius son fixed it and several other things for us in less than five minutes on Saturday.  I am ever so grateful!

I hope you all have had a lovely weekend and I'll be back soon.

"Let us them approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we many receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Blessings always,

Betsy

He's Gone

I would like to thank each one of you for your thoughts and prayers and wonderfully sweet comments on my last post.  My brother-in-law Mike passed away peacefully during the night with my sister Melanie by his side.

Our family would appreciate your continued prayers, especially Melanie and their children, Michaela, Mitch and Jarrod.

Mandy is still flying in today with Piper for their visit and if things go as planned, after we take them to the airport next Thursday, Dennis and I will drive to Omaha for the Memorial service which is tentatively scheduled for June 30. 

Thank you all for your love and support.  This has been a very hard few years on Mike & Melanie and their family.  The end came much, much faster than anyone thought it would, but we are very thankful that he is now at peace and painfree.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  John 14:1-3

Many Blessings to you all,

Betsy

Fun Times Ahead

Another week is here and it's a big one!  Mandy and Piper will be here tomorrow.  Yippee!  Then Jamie, Kyleigh and Caleb will be here on Friday for the weekend.  All three grandbabies together for the first time in about 5 years!  We are so happy.

I have an issue happening with my computer again.  No photos that I have taken in the past week have moved to the laptop where I have to blog from.  I have a few really cute ones from Mandy of Piper and her cousin on my phone but can't post them.  I will ask Jamie to look at it this weekend, otherwise, without photos, my blog is pretty boring and I may be finished. Kaput.  I can still comment on your blogs but mine will be a goner.  Maybe it can be fixed though.  We can always hope. :-)

Meanwhile, I took these before the issues began.  I always like flowers outside the door of our trailer in the summer.  The little angel was a gift from a gentleman at our church and my angel windchimes make a beautiful musical sound.  This makes me smile.

 I planted a few different coloring geraniums in a pot by the trailer hitch.  Since this photo, Nita has added some tiny white filler flowers that I have no idea the name of.  It looks much fuller and happier now.

 We have lots of iris at the lake too.  Yellow, purple, chocolate brown.  Many different colors.  The rhubarb at home is still producing too.  I'm getting tired of rhubard. :-)

Four blankets are finished for the Crisis Nursery.

You may recognize these mittens.  I took photos this weeks newly finished ones, but can't post it, so here's a reminder of what I'm working on.  The new ones are green and red and I have 10 more pair done.

I have done some knitting on the socks I've had on the needles for quite some time.  They are easy to take along to doctors appointments and that's about the only place I've been knitting on them.

Piper spent some time at the aiport with her Daddy and Grandpa while they were working on the airplane.  She is a natural around planes and loves to help Daddy.

 It was a pretty hot day there in Nebraska on this particular day so she had something to drink and sat in front of the industrial fan for awhile to cool off.  I love this picture of her hair blowing in the breeze of the fan.

 Life has pretty much gone on about the same.  The rhythm of summer has set in, although we haven't been at the trailer as much this year as we had planned.  Things keep coming up that we need to be in town for.  We're starting to make some retirement plans for a few years down the lane and are still trying to figure out what we want to do.  It's REALLY hard when your family is scattered to the four winds.

I the past I have asked you to keep my brother-in-law Mike in your prayers.  Last week we found out that the cancer has spread again and he will now be on hospice.  Please pray for him, Melanie and their kids.  It's hard.  I can't even begin to imagine their thoughts and feelings and I have no words.

Not much else is new at our house, except the excitement is building for our babies visits.  And yet, they aren't babies anymore.  Kyleigh just finished her first year of middle school for goodness sake!  How in the world did that happen?  I am trying to plan some food for the visit.  With Piper allergic to all dairy and Kyleigh and Caleb with Celiac disease, planning meals and snacks is definitely interesting.

We are looking forward to a wonderful time with them all.  I hope you're all enjoying your summer, (winter down under for you Shaz), and that life is good for you.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Blessings,
Betsy

Lake time

Hello Everyone,

Would you believe I've been working on this post for three days?  Yep.  I even took the laptop to the lake because with my phone hotspot I thought I could post there.  Well, it would have been just words, words, words, because our cloud thingy is at home and there were no photos without the cloud thingy.  Oh well, here I am, home again for a few hours for Bible study today and I thought I would take this opportunity to post something.  I am able to read all of your blogs even when I'm gone, so I try to keep up with them.  You all have so many amazing flowers and seem to get so much done daily.  I'm impressed. :-)

This was us on Saturday evening.  We had to put the awnings on the trailers in because of strong winds, but we still had a good time.  Visitors from down the road came calling.  You never know who will be out for a walk and stop by.  It got down to 39F that evening so it wasn't long after I took this picture that the coats came out and blankets were thrown over our legs so we could keep talking.  The campfire helped a lot.

 All I've knitted on is mittens.  Eight pair here and one and a half more pair completed that aren't in the picture.  I'm on a roll!  :-)  Bored, but on a roll.

 I have been watching this holder with six glass bottles in it for a couple of months.  It was at Michaels.  It started out at $19.99.  No way would I pay that even with the 40% off coupon.  Then it went to 50% off.  Now we're talking, but I still didn't want to pay $10.00.  The other day I was in the store and it was 75% off in-store special.  So I bought it.  For $5.00!!!  You can buy the bottles individually for $2.50 each which would be $15.00 but I got the holder AND the bottles for $5.00.  Patience paid off.  Yippee!  I got the little silk flowers for $.65 as a bush and then cut it up.  I love it!  All for $5.65.  I'm a happy girl.

I had a few little stalks of the flowers left so they went into a vase on top of the Hoosier Cabinet.

 It looks nice and spring/summery to me.  What do you think?

 I've hung my 4th of July banner on the kitchen island.  I know it's a little early, but I want to remember the sacrifices our Veterans have made for us and not take our freedoms for granted.

 One last photo I took at the lake this morning on my walk.  No swimmers this morning, but in a week or so this place will be hopping all of the time, day and night, once school is out.  The past few weekends the beach has been packed with kids AND adults.  The kids don't surprise me but the adults do considering the water is still far from warm.  The lake was completely frozen over just two months ago.

I've been doing lots of running around this week doing paperwork, etc. for various things.  Only one night was spent at the lake since Sunday night, but I'll be going back early tomorrow morning for the weekend.

Could I please ask for prayers for my brother-in-law Mike and sister-in-law Karen?  Mike is my sisters husband of 40 years and Karen is Dennis' baby sister. 

Mike has been fighting cancer in various places for a couple of years.  This morning they  found two more suspicious spots on his brain.  I know God is in control and we've been praying for Mike along with many, many other people.  Now I'm asking you, my friends, that if you believe in the power of prayer, to join us.

Karen is fighting either pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.  She had an MRI this morning which showed no change since her last hospitalization a month ago.  She will now be scheduled for another biopsy.  She has been in horrific pain for months and just wants an answer.  Of course, we're praying that it is NOT cancer.  Would you join us in that too?  Just the not knowing is terrible in itself.

On a bright, bright note, Mandy and Piper will be here in a week and a half!  Yippee!  Then Jamie and Kyleigh and Caleb will drive over for the weekend.  Grandpa and Grandma can't wait.  It's time for lots of hugs and kisses.

I hope you all have a blessed and peaceful weekend, filled with the things that make you happy and bring contentment to your life.  The older I get, the more I realize contentment is very important.

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him." Jeremiah 17:7

Blessings always,
Betsy