Today, Claude was up and at 'em early. He had a 9am meeting in Lexington. I set my alarm and got him up then I laid back down for a bit.
After about a half-hour, I got up, got ready for the day and got busy. I was able to get another year finished on a project. I am creating a PowerPoint of our 50 years of marriage. Next year is our 50th anniversary. We are having a family reunion. We will have the conference room at the resort and it has audio/visual equipment we can use. It occurred to me a slide show of the 50 years of our family would be a fun thing to have playing through the days. I have 1970 through 1979 complete. Yeah me!!
I was able to get some little phone call things completed. One was to determine the best way to purchase root beer. When one tours Buffalo Trace Distillery (where bourbon is made), one gets a free shot of bourbon at the end of the tour. When one does not drink bourbon, one is given a free shot of root beer. This has been Dr. McGillicuddy Root Beer. I would go to Buffalo Trace Distillery and buy it by the case to have when family visits. It is really good root beer. I learned I could order it from the manufacturer in New Orleans for less than driving to Frankfort to purchase it. So for years I have ordered two cases at the time and keep it on hand for visitors and family. Thanksgiving is coming to be followed by Christmas. There will be family visiting for each of these holidays. I am down to one extra 6-pack. Time to order before the holidays arrive. I went to the website for Dr. McGillicuddy and couldn't find the root beer. There was a place to eMail them a question. I sent an eMail and asked where to find it now. Turns out they have changed the name to Freddie's after a long-time employee at Buffalo Trace. Now I have to buy it from Buffalo Trace again. Okay... I checked the website for Buffalo Traces gift shop. They have Freddie's for $5 more per case that the last time I ordered. If I order two cases through the mail, it will also cost the same as buying three cases with the shipping included. Ugh. I called Buffalo Trace and left a message to be sure of their cost in the gift shop. It is the same as online. We will be going directly to Buffalo Trace again to get this great root beer. It is that good.
The other phone call was a tender one. Our daughter is a first grade school teacher. She shared with us about the needs for one of her little friends. Then she asked if we could put his name on the prayer roll at the Louisville Temple. I told her I needed to have this child's name for that. She can't give me the name. This all happened on Saturday. Now, Andie is not active in Church anymore. I prayer daily for my kids to have experiences with the Church, to remember how much they enjoyed when they were active. To me, Andie's request was an answer to that prayer. Andie cannot give me the child's name. We left with her being assured the child would be remembered in our personal prayers. I pondered over this all weekend. This morning I called the Louisville Temple and explained the situation. I asked if they could put Andie Marx's student on the prayer roll. The sweet lady on the phone said she was sure Heavenly Father would know what the intent was. She took Andie's name and put it on the prayer roll as Andie Marx's student. I sent Andie a text and told her that her friend was on the prayer roll now. She was very happy about that. So many tender things here. There can never be too many prayers to help someone. Andie's little friend will benefit from these prayers. Andie will benefit from knowing he is being prayed for. I have had confirmed for me once again that the Lord does hear and answer every prayer. Very tender morning with this one. When Claude and I had lunch, I shared this with him. My Big Guy had tears well up in his eyes for his daughter and her friend. Sweet moment for us.
Claude and I met for lunch at Jimmy John's. We experienced the fastest service we have ever had. By the time I finished my order and Claude started his, my sandwich was handed to me. Claude got his before he could even got his wallet out to pay. It might have been because we were the only customers in the store. It might also have been because we eat there fairly often and we always order the same thing. They just might know us and our order too well.
Claude headed for home to get our yard work for the afternoon set up. Then he would come back to Georgetown to have his physical therapy for his back. I headed to the nursing home to spend time with Papa.
Papa was in the dining room when I got there. He and another man had just had their eye exam. They put drops in their eyes. I'm not sure if it was to dilate them or to check the eye pressure. Nonetheless, they were each having fun with how things looked with their eyes still recovering from eye drops. Sort of a halo of color around things. Papa finished eating and we got him out to my car. As soon as we got outside, Papa commented about how very bright the sun was. Then I remembered he had those drops still wearing down in his eyes. We got him in the car and he was fine.
Papa and I opted to hang out by Elkhorn Creek in the Cardome Park again. It was just pleasant. A little cooler today but we enjoyed our time. I took this picture of Papa watching the ducks. This was my comment as I posted this picture on Facebook. "It is often the simple things of life that bring the most joy. This is a lesson I am learning caring for Papa."
As I sat there with Papa, I looked at the beauty of a fall day around me. I took these pictures of things that caught my attention from the driver's seat in my car. It is so pleasant when life slows down and you can enjoy the beauty of where you are at that moment in time.
I took Papa back to the nursing home and checked my cell phone for messages after getting him back in his room. I had an eMail from our son, Jake. He sent his turtle-loving Mother this great picture. Jake explained that every year Nikon has a contest for scientists who submit their best microscopic images. This year the winning image is this one of a turtle embryo. Oh Be Still My Heart!! Is this an amazing photo or what?? I love it. Hope you do as well.
Then it was off to my doctor for my flu shot. This was something I used to not do or even consider. Now that I spend so much time at the nursing home, I feel it is more important to do what I can to help me stay healthy on my own as well as around these residents. I learned this time that there is a stronger dose that is usually given to those over 65. I am 69. However, our doctor was out of the stronger dose. I would have had to wait until next Friday to get that dose and it still takes it a couple of weeks for the shot to be effective. We determined, since I don't usually get lots of sickness like flu, I would probably be better helped to take the normal dose and let it be working before we get into November when the flu is getting more prevalent. So, I had a shot in my right shoulder. I was told to keep the arm moving so it didn't stiffen up. I assured her we were planting in our yard when I got home and that should keep it moving well. She chuckled and agreed.
Back to Sadieville I hurried and changed into my yard working clothes. We have a flower bed along the back of our home. I had it full of mint plants. They were scraggly and needed to be replaced. Claude bought nice bricks and made really nice flower beds there. I pulled up all the mint. We both went to Lowe's and determined what we wanted to plant in those beds. Claude bought good dirt to mix in with the poor soil and clay we have on our hill. Today was the day to put the plants in the ground. We worked together digging the holes. After I dug my first hole (there would be four holes), I stopped to mix up the bad soil we dug up with the good soil Claude had opened and put into the trailer behind his tractor. We would use the trailer as a mixing bowl of sorts. I would do the mixing while Claude planted the two holes we dug. Then I would dig the other two holes and also pour shovelfuls of the mixed soil into where he was doing the planting. It was a great system and we had it completed in an hour. Here are before and after pictures.
I enjoyed looking at our burning bushes on the south side of our home. We planted those when we bought our home 15 years ago. They were actually the dwarf version. They do not look dwarf to me!! I do love burning bushes in the fall. I first learned of them in Maryland. I always looked forward to them turning bright red. It was great fun to plant these in our yard when we moved here.
We rewarded ourselves with a trip to Hardee's for dinner and a sweet treat when we got home. We earned it. The amazing thing was we had all this day done in time to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in the evening. Yeah Us!!
Let's see if we can fill up tomorrow with as many good things.
These pictures amuse me no end. This is our daughter, Nissa, and her hubby, Todd, trying to get a good pictures of all their grandmonsters on Sunday, October 20th. To get all those tiny little ones with short attention spans to sit still and grin all at the same time is next to impossible. There were many others. I picked the two I liked best. Several times we have tried to do this with the great grands. Every time we have a string of pictures with at least one of the kids making an interesting face, wiggling free from our vice grip, etc., etc., etc. I just grin and I keep at all of them as I look at each one. I found myself doing that same grinning when we got these pictures. Fun times. It is truly fun to watch your kids, kids have kids and see your kids be grandparents.
Monday, October 21st, our Katelyn had gall bladder surgery. She is healing and doing okay. Claude and I have both had this surgery. I had it in January of one year and Claude had his in December of that same year. You feel so much better after it s done and you heal. Hopefully that will be the case for our Katelyn.
Tuesday, October 22nd, Claude and I would have a wonderful date. Claude made reservations for us in Berea to have dinner at Boone Tavern. Then we drove back to Richmond, Kentucky to see "Jersey Boys" at Eastern Kentucky University Center. It was a lovely evening. We have seen Jersey Boys twice before. This version seemed a little more tame to me in the language department. The young man that played Frankie Valli had a voice that really sounded like Frankie Valli. We had seats about 4 or 5 rows from the front. Excellent seats. Good music. Good food. What can be wrong with that? Nothing, I tell you, nothing.
Saturday, October 19th was Bailey's last Cross Country race for 2019. It was the Kentucky State race and is has a very long name which I do not remember. It is held in Lexington at Masterson Station Park. This is a biggy with kids from all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky participating. Bailey didn't run until 3:30pm so we had the morning to ourselves. Our original intent was to go to Georgetown in the morning and do the American Heart Association 5K. It is held at Georgetown Hospital. However, Claude's back was bad and we determined we should save it for the Cross Country event. I would visit Papa in the morning so I had the rest of the day to support Bailey and have dinner with my hubby.
Andie and Michael drove to the race. Bailey was required to ride the school bus over and back. It doesn't take a lot of encouragement for Bailey to do this. She loves the bus ride with all the other kids. Hayden opted to stay home for this one.
We met Michael and Andie inside the event area. We found the Oldham County School tent and Bailey so she would know her cheering squad was on the premises. Michael helped us find the best place to stand so there was minimum walking for Claude. Soon it was time for everyone to line up on the starting line. In the middle of the picture is Oldham County in the blue. Somewhere in those blue uniforms is our Bailey.
These are two pictures of our girl running. The second one is Bailey headed to the finish line.
After her finish and re-hydration, we went to see her pick out her shirt for the final event of this Cross Country season. She was very happy to complete all her runs this year.
Michael shared a cute story about Bailey from the beginning of the cross country season. Their coach did a timed run at the track around the football field to see where they all fit in their running ability. Bailey came in with an exceptional time. When Michael heard the time, he was sure Bailey didn't run that fast. He talked with her and it turns out she was running in the beginning, then one of the other runners had a problem so she stopped and walked with her. When the group of people she started with came back around the track she just picked up with them an ended with them. Somehow this gave her a great time. Michael talked with her coach and her coach said she was sure Bailey's time was not quite right. She was happy to learn the reason. Our girl has a huge heart when it comes to helping others.
After the meet and the t-shirt purchase, we bid Bailey goodbye and we left to have dinner with Andie and Michael. We all drove to Frankfort, which was on their way home, and had a nice meal at Staxx Barbecue.
It was a good afternoon. The weather was excellent and the drives to and home from the meet were wonderful. Good to be with family.
Speaking of family, we got this picture of the Roper girls.
I just love these nuggets. I love that Raelyn reads to Emelia and that Emelia loves time with her sister.
Sunday, October 13, 2019 was a Sabbath Day that gave me pause. I begin every Sunday morning with a prayer to have a spiritual experience that day while attending Church. I would be blessed with two big moments on this Sunday.
Claude's back was hurting. He would not be going with me this Sunday. I got ready and practiced the hymns on the piano at home. The organ at Church is still not working so I am playing the piano. It is always a good idea to run through the hymns at home before I go to Church.
When sacrament meeting started all was as usual until it was time for the sacrament hymn. Usually the person conducting the meeting stands and introduces the hymn by saying something like, "We'll now prepare for the sacrament by singing hymn number..." I was seated at the piano waiting to play and no one came to the pulpit. I leaned around the edge of the piano and the counselor doing the conducting, Bro. Anderson, was in a quiet conversation with Pres. Jenkins, our Stake President. When they finished Bro. Anderson quietly walked across the stand and around to the piano. He said, "We don't have the bread for the sacrament. We want to have you play sacrament hymns until they arrive with the bread." I asked him if they wanted me just to play or if they wanted the congregation to sing with the playing of the sacrament hymns. He said they wanted the congregation to sing. I turned to Jill Jenkins, the chorister. She is a teenager and new to the calling of chorister. This was a different situation and I wanted her to learn from it and have a good experience with it. I quickly explained about the need to fill time till the bread came. I told her and Bro. Anderson we would begin with the sacrament hymn in the program for that day. Then we would simply sing through the hymns as they came in the hymnal until they were ready to bless and pass the sacrament. Bro. Anderson went to the pulpit and explained to the congregation what we were going to do. I played the introduction to the sacrament hymn in the bulletin and we sang through it. Then I played the introduction to the next sacrament hymn in the hymnal and we sang all of it. We would do this one more time before the priesthood holder came in with bread for the sacrament. Then we sang one more sacrament hymn as the Elders (missionaries assigned to the Georgetown Ward) prepared the sacrament. The hymn timed perfectly with them finishing the sacrament preparation. Then they blessed the bread and passed it to the congregation, then the water. It was a most moving moment. In my 69 years I have never had this happen quite like that. It was powerful to sing and think about the words to the sacrament hymns. They speak of the Savior's Atonement and our prayer to Him and the lessons we are to learn from the Atonement. The congregation was really reverent and it seemed as if that is how each Sunday should go, not that an error was made in getting bread to the Church. It was truly a good experience and an answer to my morning prayer.
After choir practice, I went to visit Papa at the nursing home. It was a lovely day so I took him to the park along Elkhorn Creek for some fresh air. As we walked from the nursing home to my car, we looked at the beautiful mums in different colors planted in the flower beds of the nursing home. There was also a tree changing colors in the parking lot and the sun was shining on them and I drew Papa's eyes to that as well. He loves trees and nature at its finest. A leaf had fallen from a tree and skittered across in front of us. It was mostly brown but my eye caught a bit of red in it as it tumbled across in front of us. I paused and picked up the leaf. The picture at the beginning of this post is a picture of what we found. It looked like a leaf within a leaf. The changing of the color was beautiful to me and to Papa. I took it to my car with us and snapped this picture. I posted it on Facebook with this thought, "Look at how autumn changed the color on this leaf. Absolutely amazing." A friend explained it was a fungus that can irritate those who suffer with hay fever. I really wanted to go Boo, Hiss! I was having such a positive experience with this leaf and just didn't want anyone to rain on the parade I was experiencing. It is an interesting fact to know but for me the true power of this experience is the lesson learned from the coloring of a leaf by the hand of God. I believe we learn lessons from everything we experience in this life. I love when the lesson I feel is such a positive one. This leaf showed all the variety that we are blessed with just so we can have joy in this life journey.
As I drove home I reflected back to Tuesday evening, October 8th. Claude and I went to Louisville to the temple. I had the name of a relative I was standing as proxy for. We did some initiatory work before we went to the endowment session. This time the words of the entire session were displayed on the wall as they were said. I looked around and saw no one that appeared to be hard of hearing. That is usually when the words are displayed. It appeared that this time the words were there for my benefit. It just gives me an added dimension of what we are hearing as I see those words. I understand more and the session for me is a different experience with heightened learning because of this little change in the norm.
I learned from these three things that we can get into routines and have good experiences in each of those routines. But when something a little bit different happens, we become more aware of those things we do automatically. We are prone to have a more deeply felt experience that will stay with us and lift us a bit more that usual. The norm is good. But these moment confirm the importance of the norm and strengthen the lessons we are to learn from the good things we experience and do.
Grateful for the lessons that leaf brought to my life.
