A Few Tidbits before Thanksgiving...

Sunday, November 24th, Katelyn posted these pictures of our little girls. Oh my goodness, I love getting pictures. Look at how sweet they are together. 

Monday, November 25th, I finished the second pair of flannel pajamas. These are for Nelson. I have Emelia's cut out but will have to wait to get them sewn until after Thanksgiving. How huggable will Nelson be in these soft pajamas? I think pretty darn huggable!!

Tuesday, November the 26th, Katelyn had Raelyn help her bake cookies. Love that face. Today I baked a cake for Thanksgiving dessert. While I was mixing the chocolate/banana pudding batter, Claude was downstairs vacuuming and putting up the air mattress for company this weekend. I finished my mixing and got a cereal bowl. Into it I put the beaters and the spatula with the chocolate batter on it. When Claude came up, I had his treat waiting. Trust me. Licking the beaters and the spatula never get old. 

Tuesday morning we had sunny skies. I hurried to the nursing home to take Papa to the creek. The clouds would roll in as we sat there. When it was almost noon, I started the car to take Papa back to the nursing home. The geese were totally unconcerned with moving from the road so I could get out of the park. I even honked my horn but I truly believe they thought it was some weird kind of goose honking!! I finally looked at Papa and said, "I'm going on out but we may be having a goose for Thanksgiving dinner instead of a turkey!!" We had a good chuckle. 

Today, Wednesday, November 27th, Claude had his physical therapy appointment. He drops me off at the nursing home and then goes for his appointment while I visit with Papa. This allows us to only take one car into Georgetown. We left early so we could get a biscuit for breakfast. We got a ping on our phones as we were driving to Georgetown. The alert was that a tractor/trailer had turned over and all lanes of I-75 were blocked. Alas, we were on I-75 going south with no exit. We came upon the back up and stayed in the right lane. It was moving just a bit. We called the physical therapy people and informed them Claude would be a tab bit late. When we came upon the mess it was just that, a really big mess. This was a tractor trailer hauling garbage to the dump. We are having horrible wind gust today. Part of the truck's problem was the wind. I wish I had, had my phone ready to take a picture. That tractor and trailer were across all three lanes of the northbound side of I-75. They had cleared one lane of the southbound side of I-75 but the other two lanes were filled with debris from the garbage truck. The debris seemed to be mostly metal things. It was all over the Interstate. They were going to be a long time cleaning this up and getting the report done on the wreck. No injuries. The worst thing was they must have called for dump trucks to haul off the debris. One of them, instead of going to the dump and paying to dump the trash, chose to dump their load of trash along the intersection near Sadieville. The rudeness of some people is underwhelming.

Now we are ready and waiting for the Marx family to be in here in just a few minutes. Jake will drive down after work and we will all have a nice Thanksgiving weekend. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Final Walk...

What a way to end the walks we would do in 2019!! Claude has signed us up for 5K's that we could walk several times this year. We have enjoyed these times together. The last one of these would be the Southern Lights Stroll at the Kentucky Horse Park. It would have a competitive 5K run/walk at 6:15pm and a stroll through the Christmas light of the Horse Park starting at 7pm. Claude signed us up for the stroll. 

This turned out to be a cold, windy, rainy day. The evening promised a break in the rain maybe while we walked. It kept that promise for much of our walk time but not all. We did enjoy this walk and would do it again. We differ in our approach to it though. I think if we want to keep up our pace and be timed we really need to participate at 6:15pm. If we do the 'stroll', it should be that, a stroll. Not even a fast walk. With the rain and the leaves on the ground and it being dark, it could get a little slippery. We did fine though. It was a fun way to end our walks for 2019.

Now the Southern Lights are on at the Kentucky Horse Park. We want to take the Ropers through when they come for Christmas. We think Raelyn would really enjoy this drive through the campgrounds with Christmas light to watch.

Rockin' the Rodeo...

Claude and I attended the Bluegrass Rockin' Rodeo last year. I shall refresh your memory about me experience with rodeo watching so you can see what a great thing I have done by attending the rodeo...again...

When we were in our early years of marriage, we made a trip to Utah at the time of Fair and Rodeo. This is a very big deal in the west. Claude's home town of Tremonton, Utah has the Box Elder County Fair and Rodeo as an annual event of major significance to the community and the surrounding areas. Claude was very excited about being home for this. He really wanted to go to the rodeo. I assured him he could go but I didn't really want to go. I was very concerned about a horse breaking its leg. Claude assured me that never happened. I agreed then to go with him. As bad fortune would have it, the first horse out of the chute broke its leg. Really!! I was heartsick. They got the horse out of the arena with is one leg dangling and it trying to walk on three legs only. Ugh!! They had to put the horse down. This was my last rodeo. Never again did I want that image added to the one I would carry for the rest of my life of that poor horse with the dangling broken leg. 

However, last year I agreed to go to the Bluegrass Rockin' Rodeo with Claude and we had a very good time. No horses or riders or bulls or calves were injured. So when Claude approached me about attending again this year, I told him okay. 

Friday, November 22nd, we went to Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for this year's Bluegrass Rockin' Rodeo. 

My favorite part was this father and son that came in each riding their own horse. The little guy was maybe 6 or 7 years old. At least from a distance that is what it looked like. Their two horses are in the lower right stall in the picture below. The little boy is sitting on his horse with his cell phone in hand. His dad is the one coming out of the chute in the right side of the picture below. He did stop and take a video of his dad in this event. He was so cute sitting on the horse without supervision while his dad got ready and waited his turn and then participated in his event. When the little guy would feel the horse starting to move and get fidgety, he would grab the reins and yank the horse back to where he wanted him to stand and the horse would comply. Clearly this little guy spends a lot of time on the back of that horse and they know each other well. 

The dad came back to his son after his event. He watched the video his son had taken. Then the little boy got off his horse and climbed all over the railing while his dad prepared for the next event in which he would participate. The little guy knew where his boundary was and, though his dad wasn't watching closely, he really didn't need to because of how well behaved this little guy was. 

Eventually the dad left him to participate in his next event. This time the dad used the horse the little boy had been riding on. The little guy climbed up on the railing with cell phone at the ready and, if you look about in the middle of the picture below, you can see him standing on the rail taking another video of his dad. 

After that event, the dad came back to stall where their other horse was, the little guy joined his dad and shared the video. Then the dad put all their stuff together and got the horses ready. The little boy got on his horse and the father walked his horse in front and they exited the arena. It was a perfectly delightful way to enjoy the rodeo. Rodeoing is clearly something this father and son do and they know the routine and exactly what to do. Those horses were so well behaved. It was just fun to observe.

So, if my Big Guy Clauda wants to go to the rodeo next time...I will say yes. 

Things that Happened on Thursday...

Thursday, November 21st, Claude and I had our breakfast biscuit from Chick-filA on the way to our Adult Religion Class. 

This particular class was excellent. They are all great but this one really topped the cake. Claude and I both commented and talked about the things we learned during this class. We were studying 1, 2, & 3 John and Jude. Darin Griffith started with Jude and shared the history of the time with a wonderful chart he had created on the board. We covered the big conventions from the Nicean one on and how the creed was formed. As we talked we went backwards from Jude to 3 John to 2 John, to 1 John. It was just fascinating to put the history of the time with the scriptural record and to relate it to revelation received in our day. I do love this time with my hubby each Thursday morning. It is a good investment of our time.

After our class we had lunch at Chipotle. This is indeed one of my favorite places to eat. 

Christmas is coming. Almost all my gathering of Christmas gifts is complete. Which really leaves Claude and I to buy for each other. This has become a loving, difficult, funny time in our lives. We don't want to add anything to our home. We have all the clothes and things we really need. It just gets difficult when you reach the point where if you need or really want something, you get it. I actually found a beautiful quilt with turtles all over it. I loved it. I passed it by even though it was listed at 50% off till a certain time. That day came and it kept popping up on my laptop that the 50% of deal would be over by the day after they said the last time. This continued for a week!! I shared my desire for this beautiful handmade quilt at half off and the fact that I really don't need the quilt. Claude told me I should order it. So I did. Then the next day we were discussing Christmas ideas for each of us and getting no where. Then I said, "You could wrap up my quilt and give it to me when it arrives." Claude was happy with that idea. The next day Claude lays an ad from Cabela's on the breakfast table and points out some slippers he wants and suggests I might consider those for Christmas. I thought that was a great idea as it was something he would want and would use. Ahhhh....the magic of Christmas!!!

After our lunch at Chipotle, I suggested to Claude that we go to Cabela's and try on those slippers to be sure they would fit right. We are so pleased we did because the ones I would have picked out didn't fit at all and they didn't have the color he wanted. He tried on three different slippers and finally picked the right size and color and walked out a happy man. So we both know what we are getting for Christmas but we are getting this we want and that we will use. Again...Ahhhh....the magic of Christmas!!!

We headed back to Sadieville. Usually we leave my car at the nursing home on the way to our religion class and Claude drops me off to visit Papa. Today we would be joining Papa for dinner so we headed on home to get a few things accomplished before them. I did a Blog entry and finished a Christmas gift. 

I am making each of the great grandmonsters flannel pajamas for Christmas. I finished up Raelyn's yesterday afternoon. Now on to cut out and make Nelson's. I think I should have started with Emelia because it will be smaller and then treated myself to the larger, easier ones. Alas, I did not think of that. But I am happy with the first pajama set. It is purple and that will please Raelyn no end.

We drove back to Georgetown in the rain. Ugh!! Every year the Thursday before Thanksgiving, Signature Health Care hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for the residents and their families. Claude and I join Papa for an evening with him. He was very happy to see us. He enjoyed his meal and the company. We met a few of the family members of residents I see every day and even met a resident and her daughter. This nice lady is also on Papa's hall. It was a good evening.

It was a good Thursday full of many good moments in time.

An Update About My Teeff...

Had an appointment on Tuesday with Dr. King who is working at repairing my gum in preparation for the implants. The beginning of August I fell and had to have three of my front teeth extracted. The gum was shattered so bone grafting was inserted in the sockets after the teeth were pulled and we have been waiting and watching to see when Dr. King might begin the implant part of this process. They took x-rays of the gums and can see by the granular-like look in the x-ray that the gum in healing quite nicely. I was told to come back the end of January and we should be ready to being the implant process. I again made sure they knew I would be happy to wait longer if needed to begin that part of the process. I really don't want this to fail. If it were a back tooth and out of sight, failure might be an option. But this is three front teeth and failure is not an option.  

Dr. King gave me the dollar amount for the final bill. This number was given to Claude and me before the teeth were extracted but it has been months. So seeing that bill again for about $4,000 and knowing I have already given them over $2,000 made me swallow hard. Then it was suggested that I speak with Dr. Hollen, our regular dentist, about her cost as she will made the crowns that go on top of the implants. UGH!!! 

As good fortune would have it, my appointment at 9am with Dr. King was followed by a 9:40am appointment for my semi-annual cleaning with Dr. Hollen. I joked with Dr. King that this should be a shorter appointment as I had three less teeth to clean right now. He appreciates the fact I have a sense of humor about all this process. 

Dr. Hollen's office charged me first for the cleaning and x-rays they had to do. That was $260. Then they showed me the cost of three crowns to make the implant bridge for the front of my mouth. That bill will be $5,000+. I swallowed hard and said, "Okay!" Goodness. We have no dental insurance. This will be all out-of-pocket. It really left me numb for a bit. 

As I got ready to leave Dr. Hollen's office, look who I found looking at me from the room across the hall. So cute.

I left the cleaning and went to Bojangles to get me a biscuit for breakfast. I had not eaten since I had dental appointments to go to. I got my soda and biscuit and found a parking spot to munch and think. My first thought was, "It is a good thing we sold the empty lot!" Then I was just thankful we would be able to do this. It is a blessing to be in a position financially to take care of this need in this way. If all goes well, you will not be able to tell I had any work done on the front of my mouth. It will look like it has always been there. I find myself again thanking my Heavenly Father for helping Claude and I prepare for retirement in a fiscally responsible way...so far. We have been able to help our little family some as well as care for our own needs. And now, to care for this crisis in my mouth. I am grateful, so very, very, grateful.

Now, a bit of humor. Claude and I have taken to saying, "Curb!" whenever we come to a curb or step so that neither of us fall. I said that to Claude and he still almost tripped the other day when we were at Buffalo Trace restocking our root beer supply for the holidays. Yike! I appreciate that we have found a humorous way to help us be careful in our walking. It does give us a chuckle each time but I truly appreciate that warning from my hubby.

My mouth will get fixed. We will swallow hard to cover the cost. We are grateful for this additional blessing of being about to cover this expense and good doctors to care for me. And that is the 'teeff' update.

Epilogue:
It never fails that you get some cute news to lift you when you have tough news. Katelyn messaged these pictures of her girls after my dental visits. Katelyn commented about these pictures with this, "Rae is saying a prayer. Asking Heavenly Father to let her see you and to listen to I am a Child of God. Emelia is being sneaky and trying to get the stuff on the desk."

I responded with this picture for Raelyn asking Katelyn to see what she thought of my new purple coat. Raelyn and I both love purple very much.

Katelyn showed the picture to Raelyn and responded, "She said she loves your purple coat!" I love the digital age when we can share so quickly. I also love that Raelyn knows to pray for help.

Life Keeps Chugging Along...

I last posted to this Blog on Thursday, November 14th. More happened that day so I will begin this post with the afternoon and evening of Thursday, November 14th.

I took Papa out for a bit that afternoon. I had him back to the nursing home by 3pm. Then I hurried home expecting to see our new hot water heater installed and heating water for us. Alas, the plumber had called Claude and told him he would be late. I went downstairs to do something and didn't take my cell phone with me. When I came back upstairs, Claude told me it rang and when he looked at it the call was coming from the nursing home. This always sends me in waves of concern coupled with reassurances to myself that all will be as it should be. I picked up my phone and returned the call to the nursing home. 

It turns out it was the Director of Nursing, Pat Murphy. She wanted me to know they had to move Papa to another room and that was already done. He would now room with Mr. Tuttle in room 107. Papa's roommate in room 105 is Matt. Matt was taken to the hospital in an ambulance that Monday. He was going so they could prepare him for some type of surgery on Wednesday. It seems they returned Matt to the nursing home Thursday afternoon right about the time or shortly (very shortly) after I got Papa back to the nursing. Matt came back with some kind of infection. They didn't want Matt around other people except in a controlled environment and they didn't want Papa exposed to any infection. So they moved Papa to the room next door, 107. Papa will stay there until Matt is better. Then Papa will return to his bed. The nursing staffed moved everything Papa has at the nursing home into this new location except for the pictures on his wall. Those they left since Papa will be returning to room 105. Papa is doing okay with the change of location, however, he does get confused about it until you remind him that he is allowing Matt to heal by being in this location for a while. 

When I got home I found my hubby trying a new recipe. He has taken to watching Alton Brown who has a show called Good Eats. Alton Brown has a scientific bent to his cooking. He also has clever ways of doing things. This was an Alton Brown recipe where you pound out and stretch a steak. Then you roll it up and tie it with string and bake it. He made a special sauce to go on the steak. It was an absolutely yummy meal. So happy he enjoys cooking like this. We get some really good meals.

Andie, our daughter also shared some pictures with me of Hayden. It seems he had his first Oldham County High School Symphonic Band Concert Thursday evening. We were not aware of this concert and missed it. But the pictures of our young man dressed in his tuxedo are really fun. Hayden looks quite handsome. He is pictured with his father, Michael, and his mother, Andie, in the last two pictures.

Friday, November 15th, I had a little list of things to do in the morning. We had a closing that afternoon for the property we sold. I was going to visit Papa after the closing. So, the morning was my time to get a few things accomplished. The only thing I did accomplish was getting my shower!!

While curling my hair, I received a phone call from a friend who lives further in the country than us. One of her kids was hurling at school and needed to be picked up. Her car was broken and she couldn't drive. She was hoping I would lend her my car. I suggested I might pick him up and bring her to him if the school would release him to me. She called the school while I finished curling my hair really quickly. The school said I could pick him up if I showed my photo ID. With my Driver's License in hand, I picked up poor Eli and took him home. Such a sad face. It just melted my heart. I assured him I brought two old beach towels and gave him one of the Mini's gallon Ziploc bags we keep since they get car sick really easily. He nestled in the back seat of my car. I tried to talk to him and he soon became comfortable enough to chat a bit. Turns out he is working at making a robot with the kids at school. This is something Hayden has done. We got Eli home and he was happy to see his mother. I said a very quick hello/goodbye and then hurried home to grab my things so we could make tracks to Nicholasville.

We had a very smooth closing on what we have fondly called "Area 11" for the last 15 years. Our new neighbors (once they get their home built) are a young couple. He works at Toyota and they want to live closer to his work. The closing was held in an old home owned by the lawyer that was the closing attorney. I said to him that the house looked like it might have a neat history. Turns out it does. It was used during the Civil War as a hospital during the battle of Perryville. Claude and I have been to this battlefield. This grand old home also has connections to the University of Alabama football stadium. It is named the Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Denny in that name actually owned this old home. So the home has a neat history. It sure is a lot easier to close on a piece of ground than property with a home or other building on it. We celebrated this event with a meal at Schlotzky's including a Cinnabon for each of us. Yum!!

I spent the rest of the afternoon with Papa. We just stayed in his room. His back was very bad and I tried to get some pain medication started for him. Papa has deteriorating disks in his back and they have arthritis around that. Every now and then it just get very irritated and he is in excruciating pain. While trying to help him get out of bed and to the bathroom, I received two phone calls. I am a lady whose phone seldom rings. So two calls during a short period are rare and to have that happen while helping Papa who is calling out in pain as he moves is just icing on that cake! One of the calls was to ask me to play the organ for two sessions of our Stake Conference on Saturday. The person who was going to do it had work issues come up. I agreed to do that. 

Also on the 15th we got these pictures of our Roper babies. First were a series of pictures of Katelyn letting Raelyn help her make a purple cake. Raelyn LOVES purple. I am happy the kids gets to lick the beaters. Oh my, is this a right of passage in life or what? Katelyn surprised Raelyn with purple icing. Then she wrote Raelyn's name on the top and had Raelyn fill in the lines of the letters with marshmallows. What a great idea to help her learn to write her name!! 

That evening the family must have gone to watch Drew play hockey. Katelyn said that Raelyn eventually pushed Emelia's stroller over so she could see Daddy on the ice. There was a very cute video of Raelyn cheering her dad on as he skated and played hockey on the ice. So sweet.

Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th, we had our semi-annual Stake Conference. This is where all the congregations (Wards) in our area gather for a special church service. Saturday we had a Leadership Training Session in the afternoon which focused on the Welfare/Self-Reliance Toolbox. Saturday evening was the Adult Session and it also focused on the Welfare/Self-Reliance Toolbox. Sunday morning was the General Session and it was filled with uplifting talks. I sent three of the quotes I enjoyed to our missionaries. They were:

1. If your outgo exceeds your income your upkeep will be your downfall.
2. The grass is always greener in other places. It isn't. It is just a different shade of brown.
3. When you serve at your convenience, you serve yourself. When you serve at your inconvenience, you serve the Lord.

Someone posted pictures of a Super Saturday event in Utah. In those pictures was one of my sweet mum-in-law working on her project. According to the tag in front of her she is making a star for Christmas decorations and painting it white.

I spent the afternoon with Papa today. We managed to get him in my car and sat my Elkhorn Creek for the afternoon. He was happy to be outside again. It was a cloudy afternoon and a little cool. But we were able to have a good visit and get him out. The weather is going to take a downturn for the next couple of days and we won't be able to do this. 

Veteran's Day 2019...

This year Bailey invited her Grampa Claude to attend the Oldham County Middle School Veteran's Celebration on Thursday, November 7th. This is an all day event. The school does an excellent job of honoring the veteran's. They have a program, lunch, a parade, etc. Claude was happy to see Bailey marching in at the opening holding the Air Force flag. He said Bailey was very sweet. She kept hugging him and telling him she loved him. 

Since their Elementary, Middle and High Schools are all in the same plot of ground, they always have a parade. All the kids come out of their classes to watch the parade and cheer for the veterans. The band marches with them and the cheerleaders cheer. Posters are made with the name of the veteran and the branch of service in which they served. The student gets to march in the parade with the veteran they invited. All of this parade stuff is great fun and held at the end of the day. However, on this day there were bad storms and record breaking cold temperatures. An outdoor parade didn't need to happen in all of that. They had Plan B in place. They marched through the halls of the Middle School with the students cheering them. There is an enclosed hallway from the Middle School to the Elementary School so they marched through that to get to the Elementary School. Then they marched around the cafeteria and the room next to it while all the elementary kids cheered them on. Back through the hall to the Middle School they returned. It was a grand parade even if it was Plan B. 

Claude enjoys this time with the Mini's. He will have one more year of this before Bailey goes to the High School. 

Veteran's Day was actually Monday, November 11th. I posted this to Facebook: "In 1969 this handsome fella (with no facial hair) was transferred to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. In 1970 I started my eternal journey with my favorite veteran. After all these years, one of his favorite requests from his Mini's is to attend the Oldham County Middle School's Veteran's celebration. This year Bailey was with her Grampa. Claude Christensen loves his country. He and I are grateful for every veteran past and present and for this amazing country in which we live. Happy Veteran's Day!!"

I posted to Jo, Claude's older sister, who was also in the Air Force, that I was thinking of her on Veteran's Day. I also asked if she knew if there was a picture of her and Claude in their dress blues. She said she was not aware of one. Then Lynette, Claude's younger sister, sent me this picture.

I posted it to Facebook with this comment: "Thank you Lynette Christensen Drysdale for this picture of Jo Johnson and Claude Christensen. This is just cool!! Sister and brother in their dress blues. Yes!!"

It was a nice Veteran's Day.

A Week in Review...

Wednesday, November 6th, was our grandson's birthday. Hayden turned 15 years old. I am blown away by that fact. 

That morning we awoke to frost on the pumpkin. We have experienced some record breaking cold air this November. 

Thursday, November 7th, we received an eMail from our realtor regarding our lot that is for sale. She received word from another agent who had a client ready to make a cash offer for the property. Later that day we received the offer for the lot. It was considerably less than the asking price. Claude and I read the offer carefully, crafted our questions and sent them back to Billie Mussman, our realtor. She answered all our questions. We made a counter offer. This offer was accepted on Friday, November 8th. We were very happy with this. We have had very strong impressions we need to go ahead and sell that lot so all we had to consider selling would be our home when the time comes for a move. We have a closing date of tomorrow afternoon. This will be such a nice thing to have done. We have truly enjoyed having the lot and no neighbors next to us for 15 years. It is time to prepare for the next phase of our lives and this is a major step in that direction.

Saturday, November 9th, Claude and I participated in our next to last 5K for this year. It was called God and Country. It was the first annual 5K sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention. There were 49 people who participated. The proceeds will go to God's Pantry in Lexington. This charity helps supply extra food to the local food pantry in Georgetown, Amen House. It was held at Coldstream Park in Lexington. We walked there on Memorial Day with our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a very nice walk and mostly level. It is a down and back walk, you walk half-way and then turn around and come back that same path. It was 32 degrees that morning. I told Claude you could tell we do not to that every weekend. The real diehard's are wearing spandex and we were in our jeans with big sweatshirts, scarves and gloves. Claude finished at 1 hour 23 seconds and was 39th out of 49 people. I finished at 1 hour 26.9 seconds and was 40th out of 49 people. Claude send me a message after getting these stats with this terse phrase, "Please try to keep up next time." Oh My Goodness!! Our final 5K will be at the Kentucky Horse Park again and is Southern Lights. Should be an interesting walk. Hope it is warmer!!

That afternoon we received this picture of our little Emelia. It seems she can sit up by herself. She is not quite getting herself into that position but will sit that way when placed in a sitting position. She is really working on figuring out how to make all those limbs on her little body work together so she can crawl. Katelyn says she may be doing this when they come for Christmas. That introduces an entire new level of things she can get into. And we will be off on the next phase of her learning...

I spent that afternoon with Papa. When we got home from our 5K, there was a package on the front steps. Junie, my sister, had sent me a text saying she purchased and mailed Papa's Christmas gift. I was to give it to him as she didn't want to wait until Christmas. The package was from Junie to Papa. I took it to him when I went to visit and we opened it. I took video of him opening it and pictures and sent them to Junie so she could experience that from her home in Utah. The book Papa is holding in the picture is a huge picture book with pictures of the National Parks. These pictures are all two pages and gorgeous. Junie had tagged several of the pictures and put sticky notes about her experiences with Papa or her hubby, Steve, in these parks. I was back visiting Papa a day or so later and found him asleep with this book by his side. He will enjoy these pictures very much.

Saturday evening was the last performance of the Oldham County High School play "Clue". Hayden did not get a part in the play but was able to help by working the front of the house. Andie shared these two pictures with us of Hayden. He looks very happy to be participating in this way. We missed all the performances of this play. Felt bad to miss them but we are so happy he is happy and enjoying his High School experience.

Sunday, November 10th, Katelyn sent this picture of Drew and Raelyn playing ice hockey in their kitchen. He has left his mark on this daughter of theirs. She loves ice and hockey.

Tuesday, November 12th, Claude and I were able to attend the Louisville Temple. We had such a lovely experience. As we returned home we shared our experience that night. I went to this session with a prayer in my heart to have a better understanding of the Atonement and how it fits into the session. It was amazing the insight I received. I told Claude that we have been going to the temple for 50 years. One would think after that amount of time things would just be rote. But when you attend with a prayer about some thing or to learn something, you always come away with a great experience. Interestingly we both had the same learning experience. I love to attend the temple. Such a blessing to have one close enough to get there easily.

On the way home I received a text from a dear friend. Her hubby's mother has stage 3 dementia. She wanted advice on what to do. I sent her a long text reply, followed by several shorter ones. It stirred up all those feelings of anxiety and concern that I have experience since 2002 when my mother was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's and especially since 2005 when we moved my parents here and I became their caregiver. I also felt the blessings that have come as we have needed them in their care. So many people and articles or books have turned up just at the moment they were needed to help me through each phase of their care. You are thrust into the need to make decisions and know things that you just don't have any experience with when someone is diagnosed with dementia. What a huge blessings to have a loving Heavenly Father make sure people and information are placed there to help at or before the time they are needed. It is still an extremely emotional drain. But I acknowledge the amazing help from my Heavenly Father as I have gone down this path. It was good to share some helpful hints as my friend and her hubby go down this path also.

Tuesday, November 12th, we woke up to the first snowfall this year. We had about and inch or two on the ground. Very pretty. Claude painted a birdhouse and we put it in the tree in our front yard earlier this year. It was covered by the leaves on the tree during the year. With the leaves off you can see it now in the second picture.

Today, Thursday, November 14th, we finally accomplished something Claude and I have talked about for a year. We have felt like our hot water heater was not working up to snuff. We didn't want it to do one of those incidents you hear people talk of with a flood in their basement. Veteran's Day we went to Lowe's and picked out the hot water heater we wanted and bought it. That puts you on a list for one of their installers to call you and set up a time to install the new water heater. Today was the day of installation. We now have a 55 gallon water heater that is heating water as we speak. Yippee!! Now we are ready for company to come for Thanksgiving and Christmas and should have no flooding of the basement. Turns out the old one had coils that were about to break inside and the faucet at the base appeared to have been broken when it was installed 15 years ago. So...it is a good thing we got this one off our to do list!!