Service From the Heart...

There was a devastating flood in Eastern Kentucky. This area is mountain country with lots of little 'hollers'. In each of these there is usually a stream or creek. Normally, with excessive rain, one or two of these might flood. However, this time miles and miles of these streams filled way over their banks. Homes and vehicles and businesses slipped from their foundations and floated away. Some stayed firm but filled with mud and debris. Many lives were lost as this occurred during the night time. 

Our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has an arm of it called Helping Hands, that is set up to provide help after a devastating event like this. There is a storehouse in Georgia filled with items needed to clean up after these events. This last weekend, several stakes (groups of congregations) in the Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana areas, volunteered to provide people to clean up some of this mess. There were several hundred volunteers. Claude would be one of them. Claude has a new calling at church as a communication specialist. He went to take pictures, interview people, get authorization forms signed to use the pictures taken of people, and fill in as needed at the command center.

I was blown away by all the preparation to be able to do this. The week previous there was training of some sort or other that Claude participated in via Zoom every night. There was an app everyone loaded to their phones to track what would be done and by whom it would be done. There was the ability to send group messages outside of normal social media methods. Each ward (congregation) was asked to provide a leader with 10 volunteers from that ward. There was training for each of these leaders in what they could and could not do. A command center was set up in Hazard, Kentucky at the branch building there. A grassy area was divided up for people to put their tents. Another area was set up with covered tables and chairs for computers. These would received the work orders for people living in the area. Then the work orders would be divided up so teams could work at several homes in a small geographical area. Temporary showers were set up as well as port-a-potties. People were originally asked to bring their own food for the weekend. Then other plans were made to provide food and water for everyone. It was amazing the background work that must be done to help these people. 

Everyone was to arrive Friday evening, if possible. If they could only help Saturday or Sunday, that was okay. Claude loaded his Jeep with two tubs of things, a small tent, sleeping bag, cooler with food and water, etc. He left our home about 1:30pm. I set his Google Maps so I could track where he was while he was gone. 

I takes a little over two hours to get from our home to Hazard. Once there Claude set up his camping area. We were concerned about him being able to walk the next morning. It was not at all comfortable for him in that little tent. But he made it okay. 

These are pictures of the command center area. 

And this is a picture of the camping area. It turned out there was a hotel right near and it was full. 

There was rain Friday night. This made Saturday morning a bit foggy. One of Claude's tender memories was watching the teams gather in circles to prepare for their day of service in the area they were assigned. 

Marissa Noe, a friend in the Georgetown Ward, took pictures of their team's work on Saturday. I will share some of those pictures here. When you talk about 'mucking' out a place, I believe that is a very appropriate term. Marissa's husband, Adam, is a woodworker. He makes lovely things out of wood. One of their assigned homes was a man who had a workshop that they had to completely empty. It tug at the Noe's heartstrings to have to tear out and throw out cabinets and equipment from this man's workshop that will all have to be replaced and rebuilt. 

To say the work is dirty is an understatement. There are hundreds of homes like this that need this kind of work done before they can rebuild. The gratitude for this service was exemplified by Mr. Happy, the mayor of Hazard, Kentucky. He is also the high school principal. Saturday evening he provided 200 pizzas to feed the volunteers. Here is what Mayor Happy had to say, "There are too many groups and individuals to thank for their selfless work and generosity over the last month. One group from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought 300 folks, two weeks in a row, to clean and rebuild. Thanks to them, and to everyone who has contributed. God bless you!"

Sunday afternoon late, my hubby drove back into Georgetown. I sat in our living room and listened to him share his feelings and experiences. The tears welled up many times as he described the feelings they were all having, the devastation they saw, the lessons they learned. Claude was one tired fella. He would do it again. He was grateful for all he and I have been blessed with in our lives. 

As he drove the highway between Jackson, Kentucky and Hazard, Kentucky, the creeks were filled with buildings and vehicles that still need to be removed. So much devastation. So much still to do. We are grateful for the things the Church does to help in these events. A truly humbling experience.

Incidentally...

I will do two Blog posts today. This first one has to do with incidental things in our family.

Monday, August 22nd, I went to see my podiatrist. I have trouble with ingrown toenails. He removed a part of my right big toe nail and this was a check-up on its healing. It got an A+ for healing. Yeah me.

In the evening, Claude made us a fun dinner. The last time we visited Jake in Chelsea, Michigan, we popped into a gas station to get some things for our hotel room. They had a sign on the front door that you could get tatchos inside. Tatchos are nachos made with tater tots instead of tortilla chips. Claude made them for us and they were very tasty. Fun twist on an old favorite.

Wednesday, August 24th, I actually left my comfy little home and went to Walmart. Claude had some items he needed for the coming weekend (see my next post) and I tagged along to search for a few items I needed. One of those is a costume I am making for Joel, our youngest great grandmonster. He is affectionately called "the Potato". Katelyn, his mother, felt he needed to be a potato for Halloween this year. She asked if I could help. I found pictures of potato costumes and really liked the idea of Mr. Potato Head. Katelyn thought that would be a good idea. I found this lovely pillow in Walmart that will be the base of my Mr. Potato Head Costume. How cool is that?!

Thursday, August 25th, Katelyn sent these pictures. She has a new job. She will be the librarian for Orchard View High School and Orchard View Middle School. Hope I have those names right. They are next to each other in location. Katelyn went in and made her office in each school ready for the school year. The first picture will be her office in the high school and the second picture is her office in the middle school. And...she is off and running!

The Ropers are hosting Julia from Sao Paulo, Brazil as an exchange student this year. Thursday evening, they went to Grand Rapids airport and picked up Julia. (Joel held by Drew, Julia with Raelyn in front, Katelyn holding Emelia) Julia will be with them the entire school year.

Thursday evening, Katelyn had a bit of time with Joel. She sent this picture. Be still my heart. He is so handsome. 

Thursday, Bailey posted pictures of her mellophone group from the band. She also included a picture of her with her boyfriend, Jake. Not easy to get a picture of them. 

Friday, August 26th, Claude left for Hazard, Kentucky (see next post). I took the opportunity to go to Lexington by myself for a little outing. I started at Penney's and roamed all inside the mall. Purchased NOTHING! Drove behind the mall to a strip shopping center and shopped in the Half Price Bookstore and a party store. Purchased NOTHING! Drove across Lexington to Hamburg Pavilion to get some gift cards from Meijer. Received a notice on my cellphone that there had just been a shooting in front Dick's Sporting Goods at Fayette Mall. I had just been in that area. Whew!! I hit Michaels for yarn and felt to make that Mr. Potato Head costume. Then I treated myself to dinner at Chipotle. I grew up having pinto beans and rice for dinner a lot. I loved it. I decided this time at Chipotle I would get a burrito bowl with just white rice and pinto beans. The kid got the white rice part in and put black beans on top. I tried to stop him but the beans were on the rice. He went to throw it away. I can't waste food like that. So I took them and ate them. They were good but the black beans are not flavored like the smoky flavored pinto beans. I'll try again next time. Nice outing for me.

Saturday, August 27th, I had a date with my grandmonster. Hayden found this ad for seeing Rogue One (a Star Wars movie) on the big screen. He knows we love Star Wars so he asked if we would like to go and take him. Of course. Claude was in Hazard, so it was Hayden and me. Hayden also suggested we might plan to have lunch at Red Robin. He is a sly young man and I am an easy touch! We went to Red Robin. Hayden eyed the card with all the desserts. I asked if he wanted to skip dinner and just have dessert. He said he felt he should eat something nutritious first. He ordered a big cheese burger and fries. Hayden is not known for his eating. He wolfed that cheeseburger and fries right down. When the server came to see if we needed anything, Hayden quickly told her he wanted the brownie dessert they had. She asked me if I wanted anything. I quickly said I would have the mile high mud pie. Oh My Goodness. That pie turned out to be an ice cream pie. The size of the slice was really very good. The problem came in that the top layer of chocolate ice cream was piled on a mile high, hence the name. I didn't finish it. It was very good though. As we walked to the car, I looked a Hayden and said, "Are you developing an appetite?" He looked at me and grinned that great Hayden grin and said, "Maybe!" We enjoyed the movie on the big screen. I really enjoy being with this grandson. 

At the Marx home, Bailey showed me her new musical instrument. She played the trumpet in middle school through her first year of high school. Then, this year, she got the mellophone for marching band. Now she has another instrument for symphonic band, a French horn. She is very happy with herself. I am very happy she wants to try and learn new instruments. Michael, her father, simply asked if he should be buying a musical instrument store. 

As I drove to La Grange, I passed fields of tobacco getting near harvest time. So very pretty. I love watching this plant grow and then be harvested. I was pointing this plant out to Kris when she and Cordell visited. They had neither ever seen tobacco growing. So, I pulled to the side of the road and took these pictures for Kris. 

This Saturday, Nissa and Todd had Nelson, their grandson, our 2nd born great grandmonster. They were looking for school clothes for him. Love this little guy!

This week the kids started returning to school. That means "1st Day of School" pictures by parents. Nelson started Kindergarten on Monday, August 29th. The bottom picture is Aubrey, Nelson and Tay.

Today, Tuesday, August 30th, Raelyn went to her first day of 1st Grade. Of course, her little sister, Emelia, wanted to do exactly what Raelyn did. So, she had her picture taken as well. So fun. 

We received our final copy of Wing World Magazine. Gold Wing Road Riders has dissolved. It was such a big part of our life. I sent a thank you not to Shirley Stephens-Garcia, a co-founder of this organization. She put it in her final article for Wing World. Such a sweet thing for her to do. 

That about covers the "incidentals" for me for the past week. 

Dreams...

Sunday night I had a sweet dream. 

I noticed during my time having Covid, that my dreams were very vivid and often disturbing. I'm not sure why. I awake and remember them and they caused me worry. I will share one. I was showing my arms to Claude, my hubby, and someone else that I do not know. I asked them to look at the inside of my elbows. They were turning blue like a bruise. This blue would eventually go to my finger tips from inside my elbow. As I turned my arms over to look at the other side, that side was also turning blue. They ended up turning black like they were burned. I remember reaching with one of my hands to touch the fingers on my other hand and they were literally burned and irregularly shaped on the ends. Then I awoke. I could not think of any reason I would dream this kind of dream. Every night, during my time with Covid, I had these kinds of vivid and uneasy dreams.

However, Sunday night, I had a very sweet dream. I was holding my father's hands. They had the same age spots they did when he was alive. They felt warm and healthy though. The scene changed and my father and I were going for a walk. I listened to him talking about the things we saw on the walk and whatever else came to his mind. Papa always enjoyed talking to others. He would listen to me when I talked to him but it was always listening to then express he ideas of things or tell me how to make things work. I was comforted as we walked that he talked like that again. We came to a stream and I remember seeing him jump across the stream in my dream. I thought how wonderful it was that Papa could walk so easily and even jump. He was out in the trees that he loved. He was seeing the things of nature that he loved to observe. Then, I woke up. This dream was sweet and I felt good after dreaming it. It gave me peace again after Papa's passing in May to feel him close and enjoy his company, and to see his strong body. 

I wonder about my dreams. Claude dreams but usually has no idea what he dreamed when he wakes up. I often dream and it is vivid and can cause me to wake up concerned as to what that dream might mean or happy and at peace because of what was in the dream. I have even awakened laughing out loud at what happened in my dreams. I also dream in color. My understanding is some people do not dream in color.

It seems like sometimes the dreams are to relieve the pressures that life throws at me. Sometimes, the dreams are to bring comfort and reassurance. I do believe they are there for a reason. It seems like, after 72 years, I should be a bit better and understanding them. 

Still a Bit Foggy...

I made it through another week. Sunday again. Claude and I are much better but still wear out easily and still have foggy brains. We have always said that between the two of us, we have a really good brain. That is more needed now as we finish up healing from Covid. So, this week was about getting well and staying well. Most days we spent at home until we could both test negative for Covid. 

Monday, August 15th, Nissa and Todd continued their vacation with their two oldest grandmonsters, Tate and Raelyn. On Monday Raelyn got to choose where they ate. Surprise, surprise, surprise. The girl chose McDonald's. Their big tourist outing this day was the Garlyn Zoo. Nissa & Todd continued to be sure they had a swimming pool every night for the kids to enjoy. 

This day Claude and I both stayed inside and rested.

Tuesday, August 16th, this day the Tyler's continued their journey with a boat ride to and from Mackinac Island and a visit to the Butterfly House on the Island. This night they would stay at the Casino owned by Todd's tribe

Claude and I took Covid tests. We figured he would test negative and I might still be positive. Were we ever wrong. I tested negative and Claude still tested positive. 

This was good for me. I had been asked and wanted to accompany Camille Klein for her special musical number in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. I contacted Camille so we could find a time to practice. Yeah!! Normal life!!

Wednesday, August 17th, my big outing was meeting Camille at the church to practice in the morning. We couldn't practice at my home because Claude was positive. Camille has such a lovely voice. She would sing Hymn #129 Where Can I Turn for Peace. Camille and I both face major struggles and this particular hymn strikes a chord with each of us. It was very nice to get to visit with Camille, share stories and learn a little about each other. 

I finished, went home, and curled up to crochet. That was my physical limit while still building back some strength. But I was happy to be out for just a bit.

Thursday, August 18th, I received an eMail from Blake Jensen, our travel agent. Their agency posted a new tour to Australia. Blake wanted us to know that, since we had already signed up for New Zealand/Fiji, we could add on Australian and go there instead of coming home after that trip. We would save money on the tour since we would already be there in the area. Oh My!! All through caring for my parents, Claude and I said we would take a L O N G trip after we finished that care. The long trip we wanted to take was to Australia and New Zealand. We glanced through the itinerary and gave each other knowing eyes. But, it was a lot of money and a lot of time. We wouldn't make this decision rashly.

Friday, August 19th, we got up in the morning and tested for Covid. This time we both tested negative. Hallelujah!! Such great news. That meant we could go to LaGrange in the evening to watch Hayden and Bailey play in the Oldham County High School Band at the first football game of the year. 

I found this little guy enjoying our tree stump. It is a little chipmunk that lives in our back yard. Happy we left the tree stump for him. In the afternoon, we saw our first hummingbird at the birdfeeder in the front flower bed. I didn't have my cellphone and did get a picture of that critter. 

I then made a recipe I found on Facebook that piqued my curiosity. It is for Butter Pecan Fudge. I made two little pans. We kept one and the other I took to the Marx family in the evening. The neat thing about this recipe is that the pecans in the fudge have been toasted in butter. Yum!!

I spent my afternoon making a grid for the New Zealand / Fiji / Australia possibility. I sent Blake an eMail reply and assured him that combining these two trips would be our dream trip. However, we are going to the Amazon this year. Then before six months would be up we would be combining New Zealand with Australia. That is a lot of time (39 days) and a lot of money. We needed to review this before we made a final decision. We wanted to be sure we were physically able to enjoy so much time traveling at once. So, a grid to get a good study of the travel was important. 

In late afternoon, we drove to LaGrange, stopping in Frankfort for a Cook Out Burger for our dinner. It was such a pleasant evening. The temperature was great. The band played exceptionally well. The football team struggled and lost. I have pictures of the half-time score and the final score. I'm sure things will improve for them as the year progresses. At the end of the half-time performance, the band plays the school fight song and then the band members rush the fence and finish the number there. There are two pictures of the kids at the fence. One of them I have circled where Hayden and Bailey are standing. There was lots of action in the air as well as on the field this night. There was a flyover of airplanes. There were at least three of those flying sails with a tricycle like thing under them that circled over the field throughout the game. And, there was a flock of geese flying over at the end of the half-time performance. Didn't get a picture of that as I was videoing the band playing. So much action for a foggy brain to try and grasp. 

Saturday, August 20th, would be decision day for us. I printed us each the 11 page grid. I noted the dates, times and costs for each of the New Zealand / Fiji and Australia trips. Claude and I sat at the dining room table and went over all the details of exactly where and what we would see using the grid and maps. We studied how much extra we would need for side trips not include in the cost of the main trip, how much we might need for meals, additional airfare to get us to where the group would leave and return home from that location, etc. You see, the amount that is posted as the cost of the trip never, ever covers everything. One must know this when they travel and be prepared for additional cost as part of their calculations. We were careful to think about how to handle 39 days on the road not including travel to meet up with the group and return home. What would we need to do to leave our home for that long. What costs would be due and when. How would that fit into our budget. Lots of detail to think about. After going through all the income and out go, the time factor, the things we needed to do to be gone that long, we were sure we could do this. We made notes for ourselves on our girds of things we needed to check on further. When all was said and done, we felt comfortable with booking Australia. We would think about it and talk about it and then I would contact Blake on Monday. Whew!!

In the evening, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner out. We tried Dave's Blazin' BBQ. New place that once was a BBQ truck parked in the Kroger parking lot. They just decided to take the risk and set up a storefront. The food was good. I had BBQ brisket sandwich with corn pudding for my side. Claude had French dip with potato salad. We both agreed we would go back again. 

Sunday, August 21st, has been a nice Sunday. We attended church for the first time in three weeks. I told Claude we needed to get there early as someone might have taken our bench. The missionaries had an investigator with them who was, ironically, named Joseph Smith!! Nice man that was about our age and could have passed for a Utah boy with his blond hair. I accompanied Camille and she sang beautifully. I also met a new couple, the Barney's, who come from Colorado. They happened to be friends in Colorado with George Andersen that I grew up with in Louisiana. George's sister, Jani, was my best friend. George told them he had a friend in Kentucky but he wasn't sure where. Amazingly, they moved right into our ward! Nice family with three kids. Primary went really well. All teachers and workers were present again. Funny how well that works when school is back in session. 

After church we picked up lunch at Taco Bell and brought it home. Claude tried a nap. I worked on my laptop. Claude would have two meetings over Zoom in the evening. I would crochet.

Happy to be back amongst the living. Still on the tired side but that will change as we build strength. We neither lost smell or taste with Covid. We were completely spent as far as energy went. We had lots of aches and some headaches. It really was like a bad case of the flu for me.