What Did You Do Today?

[Blueyes]

Is her funeral going to be Friday? I know everything will be well put together and nice. You are the mom now Janet, and I know you can handle it.

[judy]

Oh Janet, it is so hard to plan a funeral for a parent. She will look beautiful, because she is at peace now.

I am so sad for you, Janet. One day at a time is the only thing you can do. Somebody once told me that sadness is a great honor to the person we loved so much, and a very important feeling to go through.

[DianaB]

Janet, your heart won't always feel this way. It's normal at first to hurt so much. After all no one can replace your Mom but in time you'll feel better. If you really stop and think about it there's no way that you would really want to bring your Mom back with the pain she was feeling and the problems she was having. Knowing that your Mom is in heaven will make heaven a much more special place. I know that for me.....I have grandparents and a special aunt that is waiting for me.

Now's the time to draw closer to your family. Let go of some of the problems and share the loss that you have right now. You need each other and you can get through this together. Don't let things get you upset but let your problems be like water on a duck's back.....just let them pass. Your Mom is gone but your family is still here and YOU can be the one that keeps everyone together.

I love you......wish that I were there with you.........and me and my family are praying. I'm here if you need me.......at any time!!!! Hugs!!!!

[gja1000]

Janet this is such a hard time and you only think about the sadness and loss right now, but in time, you will replace these thoughts with happier memories with your mom. Everyone above me has given you such good words, so I won't repeat the message, except to say that you are such a wonderful person for all that you have done for your mom. No one could ask for a better and more loving daughter!

Many hugs to you.

[Tiramisu]

Today was a regular first work day of the month day. Jeff thought he had gotten a hernia at work but it looks like a torn muscle, which is ok. AC man says I need a whole new unit, so I'm putting in a window unit until the settlement. Then, I'll keep the little ac for power outages with a generator.

Meet Laura and her fam for dinner and I'm turning in early. I have power, water, and cool at the house, so I'm getting an air mattress and going to spend the weekend out there ... She what it looks like at night. I should be able to get the guest room painted and start on my room.

[gja1000]

YAY YAY YAY!!! Sandy I'm so happy for you. It will be so exciting to actually get started on your new home. I remember just a few months ago, how much fun it was to see things take shape in our new home. I hope things go well for you. Sorry about the AC, but you gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Thankfully, there will be a settlement to help you with the costs of the things you need to do at the new house.

[gja1000]

Things are still very hectic at school - it seems a never ending plate of things to do - not that I really mind, but I wish it would slow down a bit.

Gary will be going to Oklahoma on Saturday and I will miss the heck out of him - but it will be nice to have a quiet house for a few days, and no one to worry about except myself. Mom needs me to run some errands for her over the weekend, so I'll have plenty of time to do that. There is, what we call a "City-Wide Garage Sale" at one of our local auditoriums. They have it about once a month, and it really is more like an antique mall than a garage sale. That's just the name it has had forever. I've bought several really nice antique things there over the years. I haven't been in several months, so hopefully I can make it this weekend.

I'm having breakfast on Labor Day with a friend I haven't seen in quite a while and that will be nice. Then on Tuesday, the "girls" (2 women I work with) and I are going out to dinner and then they will come over to see my house. They were out here before I moved in but not since. I'm planning a quick trip to Houston next Friday and Saturday to see Abigail play in a volleyball tournament. It will be a good chance to see her play several games.

[judy]

Sounds like a nice weekend, Gayle. I hope Gary has a wonderful time!

Sandy, what a good idea to sleep there! I am so happy for you! Do you have any colors picked out yet? Decorating styles?

I am busy gathering contribution of clothing, bedding, etc. to take over to a community center nearby for the flood victims. I was planning on going over today, but I think it's going to rain tomorrow, so probably will wait tilll then. I have to pick up some more stuff this morning from my neighbor.

My friends are leaving this weekend, so I am spending as much time with them as possible. We have been by the pool whenever we can, getting in our last licks! I am going to be lost without them! I really do love the three families I have been friends with all along, plus we have become friendly with 2 other couples who are also very nice. Another nice couple has been siting with us at the pool too. I will definitely miss the pool! It is so beautiful up there, and a place to go every day where people I really like are always there! I have some other things set up for the fall, and might sign up for tai chi.

I also put all of my projects on hold for the summer. I realized a while ago that I have all winter to stay home and do things. It was a really good plan. It is much better to get out and enjoy the summer, my friends, the pool, and the beautiful Catksills.

I don't know yet what the outcome of the flood will be as far as my town is concerned. We may lose several stores because the buildings are not safe anymore. I would become much more involved in helping, except that a lot of the people running the volunteer groups are a little too wacky. You must know the type...young, intense, idealistic, with no lives of their own, who like to jump in and take over. I prefer to help out quietly, wherever I might be needed. I will work it out for sure.

[DianaB]

Life here has been crazy!!! Dean's been grouchy.......Karlie was sent home yesterday because of a fever (allergies) so she's home again today......Dae Lynn's been up and down with some of Damon's drama.....still........and Damon's not feeling well at rehab and there was some controversity about him even healthy enough to stay.....but he's staying. I really think that he's very homesick.

The kids have been about to drive me crazy!!! I cannot pick up as fast as they get it out.....and then I have Karlie nagging at me about one thing or another.....Yes, she nags!!!! I think that Dae Lynn's going to come and pick up the kids after school and take them to Walmart so I can have some peace and quiet for awhile!!! I'm so ready!!!

The weather has been so hot still. Our corn crop wasn't hardly anything and if we don't get some rain soon we won't have much of a soybean crop either........so Glen's stressed right along with everyone else!!!!

Ok....enough complaining!!! I did get my utility room all cleaned out yesterday and it looks really nice......now to go and work on my bathroom!!!!

[Janet]

Wow...I have a lot of catching up to do don't I ?

Sandy...I'm really happy for you. I just know you're going to make your house into a beautiful home. Sure wish I could come see it.

Judy...I'm sorry your town was so hurt by the flooding. Those poor people and business owners. Starting over isn't easy for some. I'm the same way when it comes to helping. I like to do it quietly on my own instead of someone directing me all the time. I think just as much gets accomplished.

Diana.....sounds like you need a vacation! With two little ones it can get a bit hectic for sure, especially if one of them isn't feeling well. I hope it helps with Dae Lynn getting the kids out for awhile so you can have a break.

You all know what I did today so I won't go further...I just wanted to comment on your activities. It sounds like you are all well and doing great. For that...I am so thankful.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by DianaB

Life here has been crazy!!! Dean's been grouchy.......Karlie was sent home yesterday because of a fever (allergies) so she's home again today......Dae Lynn's been up and down with some of Damon's drama.....still........and Damon's not feeling well at rehab and there was some controversity about him even healthy enough to stay.....but he's staying. I really think that he's very homesick.

The kids have been about to drive me crazy!!! I cannot pick up as fast as they get it out.....and then I have Karlie nagging at me about one thing or another.....Yes, she nags!!!! I think that Dae Lynn's going to come and pick up the kids after school and take them to Walmart so I can have some peace and quiet for awhile!!! all cleaned out yesterday and it looks really nice......

Diana, you probably already do this and of course it won't work with Dean, but my daughter has her 4 and a half year old daughter Emma, pick up all the toys, etc she gets out. My daughter has done this since she was pretty little. At times it is more work for my daughter to make Emma pick up her things, but at other times, she just does it because she knows she has to. I'd probably make Karlie pick up Deans things too explaining that he's little and she has to help.

[Tiramisu]

Andrew spent the night with me ... We got up early, met the handyman at the house, drove two hours to have birthday cake with Sarah, drove two hours back home ... Now we've crashed for some football games.

Somewhere in there, I got paint. Doing the guest bedroom in country white with white ceiling (after I scrap the texture). I think I'll go with a pale yellow with white trim for the outside. I want everything to look crisp and clean.

I found a deal on a barely used central air system (people decided they wanted a bigger unit), so the guy's coming tomorrow to get started on that.

[Janet]

You have got it sooo together Sandy. I am totally amazed by you.

[gja1000]

We (Texas) are having tropical storm winds today. No rain though with the drought we are having some terrible fires everywhere. There was one within a couple miles of me earlier today. It's out now thankfully. There is still a big one east of us. They have evacuated a big addition. There are reports of 300 homes burned about 30 miles southeast of Austin. I just heard a minute ago that there is a housing addition on fire out near Lake Travis (VERY expensive homes out there). Such scary times.

[Blueyes]

We are having fires in our area, too. In a town about 35 miles north of us, I-20 had to be closed for awhile. The fire jumped the interstate! The wind is blowing so hard here, our town smells like smoke from those fires