It is fun to stop and be aware of the moments in our lives. When they happen, I think I should run and put that them on my Blog. Even downloaded an app so I could do that easily from my cell phone. It just doesn't happen. Except for this morning. This morning I am pausing to share two 'moments in time' that gave me pause.
First, the funny moment in time.
I headed to bed after Claude night before last. I was just watching the weather and news and finishing the row on my crocheting before going to bed. I turned on the light in our bathroom and then went to the living room and turned the light off there in an effort to not wake up my hubby. (When you reach our age, sleep does not come easily and these little niceties are appreciated.) However, I was having a little reflux and knew if I ate a Tums I would sleep better. Turned off the light in the bathroom and, in the dark, I felt my way around the end of the bed and up the side to my nightstand where my new container of Tums sat...I thought. In the dark, I felt all over the top of the nightstand and couldn't feel that container of Tums anywhere. Okay, I made my way back to the bathroom and turn on the light to see if it was on the bathroom counter. Nope. Off goes that light. I decided I could get a Tums out of Claude's container on his nightstand and look for mine in the morning. So I feel my way along Claude's side of the bed to his nightstand. I put on my glasses and begin to feel all over the top of his nightstand for the Tums. Then it occurs to me. I really didn't need my glasses in the dark!!! And, I started to giggle. Couldn't find the Tums, even with my glasses on, on Claude's nightstand. I did end up going back to the bathroom, turning on that light, finding my travel ditty bag which has a travel bottle of Tums in it and chewed one of those. All the while giggling at the silliness of putting on glasses to see in a totally dark room. Oh my! When I crawled into bed, I was still giggling until I fell asleep. I'm really sure Claude slept through all of that!
Second, a tender moment in time.
Time to get the oil changed in my car. Appointment made at Frank Shoop for yesterday morning. Grabbed the craft bag I always keep stocked and out the door to Georgetown I went for my 10:30am appointment. While sitting in the waiting room working on my Tunisian Crochet project, they came and explained I didn't need the tires rotated but I did need an air filter. I approved that maintenance and went back to my crocheting. The waiting room was empty except for me. Then a man popped his head around the door. He was distinguished looking and commented about my work. I told him I was just trying to learn something new. Then he turned back to the hallway from the service area to the waiting room. In a few seconds he came back with a tiny lady. As she walked in, I knew immediately there was something a little different but I wasn't sure. The man turned to the lady and said, "Would you like to sit in this chair dear? You could see the television better." She looked at him and the chair and said, "Yes, thank you. I will sit in the chair. Yes, I will sit in the chair." She repeated this as she carefully walked across the room to the chair. She said down and then she looked over and noticed me and that I was crocheting. She said, "Oh, what are you doing? May I watch?" Then I knew it had to be something like dementia. Having my mother die from Alzheimer's four years ago, I understood and watched the reactions of them both with memories flooding my brain and heart. The husband immediately came to attention. Not wanting to interfere unless needed but concerned for what his wife might say or do. She was totally interested and caring in a very childlike way. I assured her she could watch and I pulled myself to the end of my chair to show her what I was doing. She came by the chair and knelt on the carpet by me. I marveled at her ability to get down there so easily and had a remembrance of my mother playing with Hayden in my sewing room when she had Alzheimer's. She just plopped down and sat pretzel style on the floor in my sewing room. My knees are awful and I could no more do that than anything. Kneeling can only be done for a second or two. Here was this lady sitting there quickly and easily and I appreciated the ease with which she could to that. She was clearly my age or somewhere around there. Then I put the piece I'm working on in front of her and asked her if she knew how to crochet. She said she didn't. In my peripheral vision I could see the husband relax and enjoy his wife having one more positive interaction. I explained the Tunisian crochet hook looks like one long knitting needle but it has a crochet hook at one end. Then I told her how I had learned two stitches that made the project I was working on and showed her both stitches. She was so happy to see my hand do these stitches. Then the man from the service department came back in to tell me my car was ready. I packed up my craft bag and then went to the woman and touched her arm as she sat back in her chair. I told her good-bye and how nice it was to meet her. She smiled and called me a 'sweet thing'. Her husband smiled and the moment was over. But I felt the goodness of it for the rest of the day and can still feel it now. Floods of memories of caring for my mother. Floods of memories for what it like for the husband and the wife in that situation. Awareness of the long road they still have to travel if she does have Alzheimer's. But the peace of a good moment with someone I really don't know and will probably never meet again.
I am grateful for moments in time. I thank my Heavenly Father for each of them as they happen. Always saying a quick little prayer to thank Him for His tender mercies in my life that bring peace and joy. And, the opportunity to have a good memory to bring back when the times in life are not easy or fun.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Filling in the Gaps...
There were two things said by our Mini's when we had family here in October. I don't want to forget these cute quips by the Mini's.
Quip #1 was by Hayden. Hayden and Bailey were having a discussion about teaching Raelyn to brush her two teeth. The discussion turned to teaching Raelyn to spit while brushing her teeth. Hayden to Katelyn (Raelyn's mother): "You should let me do that. I have been spitting like a hillbilly for weeks!"
Quip #2 was by Bailey. She was yelling down the stairs to Hayden, "Hayden, we need to preparate the tub!" That is a new word for the dictionary, I am just sure of it.
Next I want to fill in other things that happened since November 30th:
Wednesday, November 30th was a busy day. Jon Steiner, the CEO of Kentucky League of Cities wanted to come out and meet with Claude, tour Sadieville and just have a chance to get to know Claude better. We had a lovely visit. Then Claude took Jon on a tour of Sadieville while I finished up lunch. When they returned we ate shrimp gumbo (my mother's recipe) and had lemon cake for dessert with no icing. I tried to make a pudding cake but the cake mix already had pudding in it, so I didn't add additional pudding. I should have. When I tried to take the cooled down cake out of the bundt pan part of it stuck to the pan. I had not planned icing the cake. I was just going to sprinkle powdered sugar on it. I didn't even do that. I told Jon it was my humble cake. We all enjoyed that light cake very much. We gave Jon an ornament I make for certain people each Christmas and a small jar of crabapple jelly. He was happy and had a good visit getting to know Claude and Sadieville a bit better. That day I also took Papa to the nursing home to play music for the residents, attended tithing settlement with Claude and taught Institute before coming home for the night.
Thursday, December 1st Claude was gone during the day so my day was filled with bringing boxes up from the basement and putting decorations out through the house. Then I started to decorate the tree. I got the tree up and pulled out the first string of light to put on the tree. It did not work. Pulled out the second string of lights to put on the tree. It did not work. Okay, that old saying, "Third times a charm..." is not true. It didn't work either. Now I am seriously sure I will not get that tree decorated with lights which means I can't do all the decorating in one day. Shoot! I did put the other three string of lights on the tree and they worked fine. But I would have to get more lights before I could finish decorating the tree.
Friday, December 2nd I went to Georgetown to replenish Papa's banana supply so he could get through the rest of the weekend. I was going to do some cleaning but determined I would scoop Papa up and go for a car ride instead. We put his few food items away and we loaded in my car and away we went. We found our way back to Stamping Ground and completed the ride we tried to finish once before. I found the error that caused us to get back to Stamping Ground too quickly the last time. I turned on Graves Road instead of Gaines Road. This time we made it all the way to Gaines and then looped back and forth through the countryside until we got back to Papa's. He loved every minute of it. I stopped at Walmart and purchased more lights for the tree. Claude was trying to get the exterior lights up and needed more for the exterior as well. When I got home I finished our inside tree and helped Claude get the outside lights done before it got too dark.
Saturday we had Stake Conference. Claude had leadership meetings in the afternoon. I went with him and picked up the four items I needed. Then tried to get out of the madness that is Hamburg Pavilion, a shopping area in Lexington. It took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot. I was ever so grateful my gift shopping was totally complete and this was just a few items we needed that I could take time to get while Claude was in meetings.
Sunday was the final session of Stake Conference. The Church has started broadcasting this live meeting to Owingsville and Beattyville so they don't have to drive in to Lexington. Claude was asked to go to Owingsville and preside at that meeting. We absolutely love going to Owingsville and were happy to get that opportunity again. In the evening we went to St. Matthew's, Kentucky. This is a community right near downtown Louisville. The Mayor there invited Claude to attend their Christmas party as Claude is the President of Kentucky League of Cities this year. It was a nice event. Good food, chance for Claude to meet some of the other Mayor's who also attended this function. The drive in the cold rain was not fun between Sadieville and Louisville and returning. But the event was nice. We got back home and played the Church's First Presidency Christmas Devotional we had set to record while we were gone. That was an excellent way to end our Sabbath.
Monday, December 5th I got Papa's groceries and cleaned his apartment and visited with him some. Then I hurried home to finish my Institute lesson. Normally I do the writing up of the outline on Sunday evening. This time I was reading and studying during any free moments I could find over the weekend. So by Monday evening I had read and studied everything. But I still had several hours work to get it all outlined as the Spirit directed.
Tuesday the 6th I had my doctor's appointment with the ophthalmologist. I still have 20/20 vision from a distance. Up close, I can still use my little reader glasses. Yippee!! So very grateful for that. I dread the day I have to have glasses with a prescription. I shall greatly miss having glasses stashed in lots of places in case they are needed. I'm sure it will happen at some point but for now I am very happy with my readers.
Wednesday, December 7th was that very full day with meeting Claude and rushing to LaGrange to see Bailey perform in the PAC Christmas play. Then back to Georgetown to take Papa to the nursing home followed by a quick dinner with Claude before going to the Church for tithing settlement and then teaching Institute.
Thursday the 8th was Papa's turn to see the ophtalmologist. He has cataracts still on one eye that qualify for surgery. The other eye is not quite there so that Medicare would pay for it. That eye compensates so Papa isn't really aware that he could see better if he had surgery. Dr. Richardson doesn't want to give him a prescription for new glasses since his prescription would drastically change if Papa decides to have cataract surgery. Papa doesn't want to deal with surgery. He is reading less and less. Dr. Richardson asked him if he could see better would he read more. Papa assured him that was not the case, he just doesn't want to read much anymore. So, we wait until the next exam unless Papa determines he wants to try the surgery. Dr. Richardson assured him he could come anytime and they would set him up to take care of the one eye. After leaving Papa at home, I went to Valorie's to give her a birthday gift. Every year I take her a box of lemon Girl Scout cookies. I have done this since I was her visiting teacher many years ago. I also gave her for Christmas that year little slips of paper, one for each day of the year, with a quote on it that uplifts or makes one laugh. I took her a Ziploc bag with the quotes for 2017 and an ornament. She was so happy to have someone tell her Happy Birthday on her birthday. Then I had a stop at Walmart to pick up the non-perishable items on the grocery list along with a few items I needed. Dinner was at Burger King before driving to LaGrange to hear Hayden play in the band. I pulled into the driveway just as Claude was pulling into the garage. Goodness!
Friday the 9th I received a text from a friend when I woke up. Her grandson was supposed to drive her to Georgetown Hospital to get a mammogram. She is the friend that has battled cancer and how has to have a mammogram every 3 months for a while to watch for any recurrence. Her grandson's truck broke and he couldn't take her. I assured her I would be there and take her. I left her at the hospital and went to visit Papa while she did her medical thing. Worked out great for both of us. Friday afternoon I went to City Hall at 3:45 to complete our part of set up for the Polar Express. Claude joined me about 4:30 and the Library people showed up at 5pm for their set-up. We finished Friday's Polar Express at 8pm. Claude and I went to Hardee's for a bit to eat. I had only had a bagel and that hot ham and cheese sandwich was surely made by angels.
Saturday morning Claude had a meeting at 9am and we both had Seminary and Institute Inservice at 10am. Both meetings were at the same building. I went in with Claude to his meeting and sat in the car to crochet until time for my meeting. We both meet at the 10am meeting and left at noon. Back to Sadieville for a couple of hours before time to set up for the Polar Express. By 8pm we were finished with the Polar Express and we decided, since Hardee's worked so well the night before, we would do a repeat performance and dine there again. The angels were still making hot ham and cheese sandwiches and once again it was divine.
I share all of this because December is just a very full month. I had all my Christmas shopping done, I made all my ornaments in October, I had all those ducks in a row because at 66 years of age I have learned that December will always fill up no matter how well prepared you think you are. Things will come along and need to be done.
Now, I am learning to do a fun kind of crochet. It is called Tunisian Crochet. It uses a long hook that looked like one knitting needle but one end has a hook on it like a crochet hook. When you do this crochet it looks like you knitted the article instead of crocheting it. I have practiced making the stitches and now moved on to making a cowl scarf. It will have lots of mistakes in it but it is a good practice piece and I am totally enjoying treating my brain to some new thinking. Once complete, I will post a picture.
One last tidbit. We were challenged as teachers of Seminary and Institute classes to pick one of several Christ-like Attributes and study it and determine how we might implement that more in our lives. The attribute I chose to study was courage. I wanted to record a quote that was included with the material. It was found on an old Baptist church sign. "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." I really love that quote. Hope those who read this will as well.
That about fills in the gaps until next blogging session.
Quip #1 was by Hayden. Hayden and Bailey were having a discussion about teaching Raelyn to brush her two teeth. The discussion turned to teaching Raelyn to spit while brushing her teeth. Hayden to Katelyn (Raelyn's mother): "You should let me do that. I have been spitting like a hillbilly for weeks!"
Quip #2 was by Bailey. She was yelling down the stairs to Hayden, "Hayden, we need to preparate the tub!" That is a new word for the dictionary, I am just sure of it.
Next I want to fill in other things that happened since November 30th:
Wednesday, November 30th was a busy day. Jon Steiner, the CEO of Kentucky League of Cities wanted to come out and meet with Claude, tour Sadieville and just have a chance to get to know Claude better. We had a lovely visit. Then Claude took Jon on a tour of Sadieville while I finished up lunch. When they returned we ate shrimp gumbo (my mother's recipe) and had lemon cake for dessert with no icing. I tried to make a pudding cake but the cake mix already had pudding in it, so I didn't add additional pudding. I should have. When I tried to take the cooled down cake out of the bundt pan part of it stuck to the pan. I had not planned icing the cake. I was just going to sprinkle powdered sugar on it. I didn't even do that. I told Jon it was my humble cake. We all enjoyed that light cake very much. We gave Jon an ornament I make for certain people each Christmas and a small jar of crabapple jelly. He was happy and had a good visit getting to know Claude and Sadieville a bit better. That day I also took Papa to the nursing home to play music for the residents, attended tithing settlement with Claude and taught Institute before coming home for the night.
Thursday, December 1st Claude was gone during the day so my day was filled with bringing boxes up from the basement and putting decorations out through the house. Then I started to decorate the tree. I got the tree up and pulled out the first string of light to put on the tree. It did not work. Pulled out the second string of lights to put on the tree. It did not work. Okay, that old saying, "Third times a charm..." is not true. It didn't work either. Now I am seriously sure I will not get that tree decorated with lights which means I can't do all the decorating in one day. Shoot! I did put the other three string of lights on the tree and they worked fine. But I would have to get more lights before I could finish decorating the tree.
Friday, December 2nd I went to Georgetown to replenish Papa's banana supply so he could get through the rest of the weekend. I was going to do some cleaning but determined I would scoop Papa up and go for a car ride instead. We put his few food items away and we loaded in my car and away we went. We found our way back to Stamping Ground and completed the ride we tried to finish once before. I found the error that caused us to get back to Stamping Ground too quickly the last time. I turned on Graves Road instead of Gaines Road. This time we made it all the way to Gaines and then looped back and forth through the countryside until we got back to Papa's. He loved every minute of it. I stopped at Walmart and purchased more lights for the tree. Claude was trying to get the exterior lights up and needed more for the exterior as well. When I got home I finished our inside tree and helped Claude get the outside lights done before it got too dark.
Saturday we had Stake Conference. Claude had leadership meetings in the afternoon. I went with him and picked up the four items I needed. Then tried to get out of the madness that is Hamburg Pavilion, a shopping area in Lexington. It took me 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot. I was ever so grateful my gift shopping was totally complete and this was just a few items we needed that I could take time to get while Claude was in meetings.
Sunday was the final session of Stake Conference. The Church has started broadcasting this live meeting to Owingsville and Beattyville so they don't have to drive in to Lexington. Claude was asked to go to Owingsville and preside at that meeting. We absolutely love going to Owingsville and were happy to get that opportunity again. In the evening we went to St. Matthew's, Kentucky. This is a community right near downtown Louisville. The Mayor there invited Claude to attend their Christmas party as Claude is the President of Kentucky League of Cities this year. It was a nice event. Good food, chance for Claude to meet some of the other Mayor's who also attended this function. The drive in the cold rain was not fun between Sadieville and Louisville and returning. But the event was nice. We got back home and played the Church's First Presidency Christmas Devotional we had set to record while we were gone. That was an excellent way to end our Sabbath.
Monday, December 5th I got Papa's groceries and cleaned his apartment and visited with him some. Then I hurried home to finish my Institute lesson. Normally I do the writing up of the outline on Sunday evening. This time I was reading and studying during any free moments I could find over the weekend. So by Monday evening I had read and studied everything. But I still had several hours work to get it all outlined as the Spirit directed.
Tuesday the 6th I had my doctor's appointment with the ophthalmologist. I still have 20/20 vision from a distance. Up close, I can still use my little reader glasses. Yippee!! So very grateful for that. I dread the day I have to have glasses with a prescription. I shall greatly miss having glasses stashed in lots of places in case they are needed. I'm sure it will happen at some point but for now I am very happy with my readers.
Wednesday, December 7th was that very full day with meeting Claude and rushing to LaGrange to see Bailey perform in the PAC Christmas play. Then back to Georgetown to take Papa to the nursing home followed by a quick dinner with Claude before going to the Church for tithing settlement and then teaching Institute.
Thursday the 8th was Papa's turn to see the ophtalmologist. He has cataracts still on one eye that qualify for surgery. The other eye is not quite there so that Medicare would pay for it. That eye compensates so Papa isn't really aware that he could see better if he had surgery. Dr. Richardson doesn't want to give him a prescription for new glasses since his prescription would drastically change if Papa decides to have cataract surgery. Papa doesn't want to deal with surgery. He is reading less and less. Dr. Richardson asked him if he could see better would he read more. Papa assured him that was not the case, he just doesn't want to read much anymore. So, we wait until the next exam unless Papa determines he wants to try the surgery. Dr. Richardson assured him he could come anytime and they would set him up to take care of the one eye. After leaving Papa at home, I went to Valorie's to give her a birthday gift. Every year I take her a box of lemon Girl Scout cookies. I have done this since I was her visiting teacher many years ago. I also gave her for Christmas that year little slips of paper, one for each day of the year, with a quote on it that uplifts or makes one laugh. I took her a Ziploc bag with the quotes for 2017 and an ornament. She was so happy to have someone tell her Happy Birthday on her birthday. Then I had a stop at Walmart to pick up the non-perishable items on the grocery list along with a few items I needed. Dinner was at Burger King before driving to LaGrange to hear Hayden play in the band. I pulled into the driveway just as Claude was pulling into the garage. Goodness!
Friday the 9th I received a text from a friend when I woke up. Her grandson was supposed to drive her to Georgetown Hospital to get a mammogram. She is the friend that has battled cancer and how has to have a mammogram every 3 months for a while to watch for any recurrence. Her grandson's truck broke and he couldn't take her. I assured her I would be there and take her. I left her at the hospital and went to visit Papa while she did her medical thing. Worked out great for both of us. Friday afternoon I went to City Hall at 3:45 to complete our part of set up for the Polar Express. Claude joined me about 4:30 and the Library people showed up at 5pm for their set-up. We finished Friday's Polar Express at 8pm. Claude and I went to Hardee's for a bit to eat. I had only had a bagel and that hot ham and cheese sandwich was surely made by angels.
Saturday morning Claude had a meeting at 9am and we both had Seminary and Institute Inservice at 10am. Both meetings were at the same building. I went in with Claude to his meeting and sat in the car to crochet until time for my meeting. We both meet at the 10am meeting and left at noon. Back to Sadieville for a couple of hours before time to set up for the Polar Express. By 8pm we were finished with the Polar Express and we decided, since Hardee's worked so well the night before, we would do a repeat performance and dine there again. The angels were still making hot ham and cheese sandwiches and once again it was divine.
I share all of this because December is just a very full month. I had all my Christmas shopping done, I made all my ornaments in October, I had all those ducks in a row because at 66 years of age I have learned that December will always fill up no matter how well prepared you think you are. Things will come along and need to be done.
Now, I am learning to do a fun kind of crochet. It is called Tunisian Crochet. It uses a long hook that looked like one knitting needle but one end has a hook on it like a crochet hook. When you do this crochet it looks like you knitted the article instead of crocheting it. I have practiced making the stitches and now moved on to making a cowl scarf. It will have lots of mistakes in it but it is a good practice piece and I am totally enjoying treating my brain to some new thinking. Once complete, I will post a picture.
One last tidbit. We were challenged as teachers of Seminary and Institute classes to pick one of several Christ-like Attributes and study it and determine how we might implement that more in our lives. The attribute I chose to study was courage. I wanted to record a quote that was included with the material. It was found on an old Baptist church sign. "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." I really love that quote. Hope those who read this will as well.
That about fills in the gaps until next blogging session.
Polar Express 2016
This is the 4th year the Scott County Public Library has come to Sadieville to provide Polar Express for Scott County residents. This has become a very hot ticket each year. This year they had two nights with four readings each night (6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm and 7:30pm). This year the Library also gave Sadieville six tickets for each reading each night. We posted notices on the two Facebook pages for Sadieville and I took on the task of giving out these tickets. Any leftover tickets I took back to the Library to combine with any they had left. All tickets were given out. With 35 tickets for each reading that gives 140 people an opportunity to participate each evening. Lots of people, lots of fun.
In addition, Eagle Creek Baptist Church provided a community supper that evening. They provided free hot soup to anyone who came through their doors during the same time as the Friday readings. Since our temperatures were very low for Sadieville and there was a nice wind to add a mighty wind chill to the evening, the soup was much appreciated and enjoyed by many. Isn't Sadieville a nice little town? Yes!
The Friends of Sadieville (of which I am chair) find a Santa for the evenings. The Library provides hot chocolate and cookies in City Hall where Santa is for pictures and visits. The conductor calls the kids who take their tickets and follow him to the Caboose for the reading of the Polar Express and he punches their ticket. When they finish the reading, Santa is at the door giving each child a bell as their first gift of Christmas. It is magical for the kids.
I took hundreds of pictures. I shall share just a few of my favorites. First, Friday evening.
Next, Saturday evening readings.
One of the funniest comments was a little boy about four years old sitting on Santa's knee. Santa asks, "Have you been naughty?" Without missing a beat he raises his little pointer finger and points directly at two older siblings standing with their mom. Then he says, "I haven't but THEY have!" Cracked me up.
One little guy was telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas. There was a little list and he was methodically going through it being sure not to forget anything. I was sure I heard him tell Santa he wanted a doll house between other things on the list. As he finished talking with Santa, his mother leaned over to me from her picture taking position and said, "Did he say he wanted a doll house?" I assured her I heard it too. She shook her head in wonder. That was the first he ever asked for that item and clearly the mother had not purchased it. She turned to her husband and explained and he said, "Oh well" with some hint of resolve to find a doll house for their little guy.
Santa will look at parents while the kids are giving their lists to be sure the parents indicate yes or no. He received lots of requests for American Doll from the girls and Transformers for the boys. He does a great job of being with the kids.
Now, I purchase the candy canes for Santa to give the kids after they talk with him or before if they need a little coaxing. I figure the number of places in each reading over the two night and buy some less than that. This year I still had lots of extra candy canes. I think they are like the miracle of the loaves and fished and just keep multiplying. I found this year's candy canes at the Family Dollar store in Georgetown. They had all their candy canes for $2.00 per box of 12. I needed 24 boxes. Last year they were $1.00 per box of 12, so the price had doubled. I had checked several stores in Georgetown to be sure. This Family Dollar has a sale so that you bought one box at regular price and the second box was half price. That was a great savings for me. After I picked out the appropriate number of boxes, I strolled down the toy aisle. Papa will be in our home Christmas morning to open presents. He wanted to have a little gift to give Hayden and Bailey from him. As I looked a little boy came up and asked me what I was looking for. He was about 7 or 8 years old. I told him I was looking for something for a girl and something for a boy. He assured me I needed to get something in the Nerf family. I told him my grandson was a little older than that and really liked Lego things better at this point. He rattled on telling me things and then I asked if he liked Pokemon. He was over the moon happy and made a loud noise before he said, "Man, you could be my Gramma!!" I then laughed out loud as well. Oh that everyone in the world was that happy and friendly. Wouldn't it be a great place.
So, this year's Polar Express is one for the books. Claude and I were both very happy with how smoothly it went. The cold weather only added to the fun but without all that horrid ice we had two years ago. The train rolling through town made it even more fun for the kids. So, until next year on the second weekend in December, this is the Polar Express fun for 2016.
In addition, Eagle Creek Baptist Church provided a community supper that evening. They provided free hot soup to anyone who came through their doors during the same time as the Friday readings. Since our temperatures were very low for Sadieville and there was a nice wind to add a mighty wind chill to the evening, the soup was much appreciated and enjoyed by many. Isn't Sadieville a nice little town? Yes!
The Friends of Sadieville (of which I am chair) find a Santa for the evenings. The Library provides hot chocolate and cookies in City Hall where Santa is for pictures and visits. The conductor calls the kids who take their tickets and follow him to the Caboose for the reading of the Polar Express and he punches their ticket. When they finish the reading, Santa is at the door giving each child a bell as their first gift of Christmas. It is magical for the kids.
I took hundreds of pictures. I shall share just a few of my favorites. First, Friday evening.
One little guy was telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas. There was a little list and he was methodically going through it being sure not to forget anything. I was sure I heard him tell Santa he wanted a doll house between other things on the list. As he finished talking with Santa, his mother leaned over to me from her picture taking position and said, "Did he say he wanted a doll house?" I assured her I heard it too. She shook her head in wonder. That was the first he ever asked for that item and clearly the mother had not purchased it. She turned to her husband and explained and he said, "Oh well" with some hint of resolve to find a doll house for their little guy.
Santa will look at parents while the kids are giving their lists to be sure the parents indicate yes or no. He received lots of requests for American Doll from the girls and Transformers for the boys. He does a great job of being with the kids.
Now, I purchase the candy canes for Santa to give the kids after they talk with him or before if they need a little coaxing. I figure the number of places in each reading over the two night and buy some less than that. This year I still had lots of extra candy canes. I think they are like the miracle of the loaves and fished and just keep multiplying. I found this year's candy canes at the Family Dollar store in Georgetown. They had all their candy canes for $2.00 per box of 12. I needed 24 boxes. Last year they were $1.00 per box of 12, so the price had doubled. I had checked several stores in Georgetown to be sure. This Family Dollar has a sale so that you bought one box at regular price and the second box was half price. That was a great savings for me. After I picked out the appropriate number of boxes, I strolled down the toy aisle. Papa will be in our home Christmas morning to open presents. He wanted to have a little gift to give Hayden and Bailey from him. As I looked a little boy came up and asked me what I was looking for. He was about 7 or 8 years old. I told him I was looking for something for a girl and something for a boy. He assured me I needed to get something in the Nerf family. I told him my grandson was a little older than that and really liked Lego things better at this point. He rattled on telling me things and then I asked if he liked Pokemon. He was over the moon happy and made a loud noise before he said, "Man, you could be my Gramma!!" I then laughed out loud as well. Oh that everyone in the world was that happy and friendly. Wouldn't it be a great place.
So, this year's Polar Express is one for the books. Claude and I were both very happy with how smoothly it went. The cold weather only added to the fun but without all that horrid ice we had two years ago. The train rolling through town made it even more fun for the kids. So, until next year on the second weekend in December, this is the Polar Express fun for 2016.
And the Band Played On...
After a very full day, I pointed my car toward LaGrange again to be there at 7pm. Hayden is now at Oldham County Middle School and is participating in the 6th Grade Band. The instrument he is learning is called the baritone and looks like a smaller version of a tuba. Hayden likes to call it a euphonium. After a little research, I learned that they are a lot alike. The euphonium usually has 4 valves and the baritone has 3 valves. The American version of the euphonium is really a lot like the baritone. Hayden's parents have rented two, one to be kept at school and one to be kept at home. This avoids toting one back and forth on the school bus. Smart parents.
This 6th Grade OCMS Band is made up of lots and lots of kids who just started learning to play a band instrument in September. In that three months, they have progressed amazingly. They were all on pitch. They were disciplined and when the conductor stepped on the stand they all popped to attention ready to begin playing. Literally, you could hear a pop sound. Very impressive I tell you, very impressive. They played their scales first to get them all together. Then they played three different musical selection and each was just grand. Their band teacher, Mr. Wise led them in one, a student teacher from Morehead University let them in one, and the band teacher for OCHS led them in one. It was great to see so many taking music so seriously and wanting to do a great job.
Once again, not as many pictures of Hayden as Bailey. Our seats were in the bleachers in the gym and we were exactly in line with the end of the row on which Hayden was seated to perform. He was the next to the end seat so I could only see his hands. Hence, the picture of his hands playing.
The pictures are of Hayden entering the gym. Hayden is in the green stripped shirt with the green Santa hat. A picture of him looking for our reaction between numbers. There is a picture of Hayden leaving with the 6th Grade Band so the 7th Grade Band could have the seats to perform followed by him sitting behind the tympani watching the 7th Grade Band. The next one is Hayden moving with the 6th Grade Band to the bleachers so the 8th Grade Band could have the seats while the 7th Grade Band moved to seats on the floor behind the 8th Grade Band. I wondered how they would manage all that movement and it was done very cleanly with parents volunteering to sit in the bleachers with the kids as they sat in the bleachers.
Bailey Begins Her PAC Phase of Life...
Our youngest grandmonster is now in 4th Grade. At Buckner Elementary when you reach that age of life, you are now invited to perform with the Performing Arts Club (PAC) for your final two years at Buckner Elementary School. Hayden totally enjoyed this his 4th and 5th grade years performing in each PAC program so Bailey naturally has looked forward to this day.
Wednesday, December 7th was her turn to shine. The program was entitled "Twas One Crazy Night Before Christmas". These are always delightful performances and every student that wants to participate has a part to play in the production. Bailey was in the chorus part of it and filled it with all the expression she can exude.
Claude had meetings in Lexington with Kentucky League of Cities, but he raced away at the end and met me at Papa's apartment and we drove like a bat out of Hades to LaGrange to get there on time. Then we would hurry back to Papa's right after so Claude could drive to Morehead, Kentucky for another meeting and I could get Papa to the nursing home to take music for the residents. Bailey was so happy he was able to be there. At one point I caught our little dear making goo-goo eyes at her Grampa...much to his delight. Oh how I would love to have caught that with my camera. It was between songs and speaking parts and I just wasn't camera ready at that point. They do have a cute relationship. She is in control and he believes he is letting her think she is in control. So fun.
As always, I focus on my grandmonsters when we attend these things. So these are Bailey expressions I loved the most for your enjoyment.
And there you have it, Miss Bailey at her best. Was it worth the 1 1/2 hour drive each way just for a 40 minute performance? Why, yes, yes it was. And, I would repeat the drive on Thursday for Hayden. It is what Grandmothers do for Grandmonsters.
Wednesday, December 7th was her turn to shine. The program was entitled "Twas One Crazy Night Before Christmas". These are always delightful performances and every student that wants to participate has a part to play in the production. Bailey was in the chorus part of it and filled it with all the expression she can exude.
Claude had meetings in Lexington with Kentucky League of Cities, but he raced away at the end and met me at Papa's apartment and we drove like a bat out of Hades to LaGrange to get there on time. Then we would hurry back to Papa's right after so Claude could drive to Morehead, Kentucky for another meeting and I could get Papa to the nursing home to take music for the residents. Bailey was so happy he was able to be there. At one point I caught our little dear making goo-goo eyes at her Grampa...much to his delight. Oh how I would love to have caught that with my camera. It was between songs and speaking parts and I just wasn't camera ready at that point. They do have a cute relationship. She is in control and he believes he is letting her think she is in control. So fun.
As always, I focus on my grandmonsters when we attend these things. So these are Bailey expressions I loved the most for your enjoyment.
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