It's August Already!

It's August Already! I can't believe I didn't post once during the month of July. Bad me :(

July was a pretty laid back month for us. I was sick with bronchitis for a couple of weeks (maybe that's why I didn't blog). We did go camping with a group from our church, Northwood Alliance, to Newhalem, WA. We experienced thunder/lightening storms, a couple of downpours, enjoyed watching the kidlets play in the rain, went on a couple of good hikes and all around had a great time with friends. We celebrated Ron's 54th birthday having dinner with friends, Tim & Cindy at the Beachhouse restaurant in Birch Bay.

August finds us getting ready for a couple of trips. First one begins this Thursday (8/6). We drive to Boise to help Brandon and Danalyn move to Lewiston. On Friday Ron is taking Max to Roaring Springs, a big water slide park in Boise. Saturday will find everyone loading up the big truck for the move, Sunday we will be driving to Lewiston. Monday we will unload/unpack and help to get them all settled in their new place. I don't know how much help I will be as I plan on getting in lots of grammy time! with Christopher and Max!!!! The reason for the move is that Brandon has accepted a teaching position at Cul De Sac School District teaching high school math. We are planning on returning home on Wednesday 8/12.

We then leave on our second August trip on Sunday, 8/16 - we are going camping with Max for a week before taking him back home to start school. We will be at Grandy Creek for one night, in Newport, WA for 3 days and then Cheney, WA for 3 days. We will return to Blaine just in time for the back to school picnic at Northwood on August 30th. If you are in town, please join us for the church service that morning and then the picnic on the church grounds.

Don't know much else so will close for now. I hope to be a little better about posting to my blog in the days to come.

Take care and hope to hear from you all soon. Alice

Catching Up

What a beautiful day! The sun is shining and there is a slight breeze. Slept till 9:30 this morning and woke feeling refreshed and ready to start a new day.

First off, thanks Daryl and Krista for letting me know I had the wrong number for Ron in my blog. That has since been corrected. And it was great to see you the other night. I look forward to connecting with you again soon.

I had a little health scare earlier this month but am glad to report that all three biopsies came back benign and my most recent blood tests came back normal. Praise the Lord! The doctors are still trying to figure where the anemia is coming from. I see Dr. Moore on Tuesday for follow up.

I am still working at the C Shop one day a week and at Northwood one day a week. HomeConnection is finished for the school year.

Ron is doing fine. Business has picked up some what and for that we are thankful.

We are working on plans for 2 mini-vacations and one big trip. Our first mini-vacation is scheduled for August 6 to 12 when we go to Boise to help Brandon and Danalyn move to Lewiston. The first day in Boise is going to be full of fun and no work. Grandpa Ron is taking Max to Roaring Springs, a great big water park, for the day. Then on Sunday they load up the truck ~ I get Grammy time with Christopher! Monday will find us driving to Lewiston, Tuesday they will unload the truck ~ I get more Grammy time! and Wednesday we drive back to Blaine. We will be bringing Max back with us for a week and a half visit. When we return we will be at Beachwood for a few days.

Our second trip is taking Max camping. Sunday night we will be at Grandy Creek by Concrete and then we head over towards the Newport/Spokane area. I am not sure of the name of the places we will be camping but we will be 3 nights at one park and then 3 nights at another park and then on Sunday we drive back to Lewiston. We will be staying in Lewiston till Thursday when we head back to Blaine.

Our third and biggest trip is taking lots of planning. We leave on the 20th of September and will return to the Blaine/Birch Bay area around the 5th of December. That's right ~ a 2 1/2 month trip. We will be going to Montana, Yellowstone, Rapid City, SD, Fergus Falls, MN to see my Aunt Cathy & Uncle Art, then through the Amish country of Iowa and onto Branson, MO and Nashville, TN. Then onto Hampton, GA to see Ron's Aunt & Uncle, Savannah, GA and then to Milledgeville, GA to see my best friend Merel and her family. Our return trip will take us through Alabama, Arkansas and then on to San Angelo, TX, Tuscon, AZ, Las Vegas, NV and then to Napa, CA to see my other Aunt and Uncle ~ we hope to be there for Thanksgiving (hope that's okay with you Aunt Joan and Uncle Don) and then home via Elma, WA, returning just in time for the holiday festivities with family and friends. And of course, back to work!

I plan on blogging all about our trip and posting pictures both here on the blog and on Facebook. Check us out there!

Well, Ron is off to help a friend move a bed and I want to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Wishing everyone a happy day!

Alice

A New Day

Just thought I would write as I have not written lately.

Update: we are now at NACO/TT here in Birch Bay. Will be here till Thursday when we head up to Grandy Creek, near Concrete for six days of camping, resting and just being together. I know, many of you are laughing as you think we are camping all the time since we live full time in our RV. But camping is different - no appointments, no jobs for Ron, just a time to relax, go for walks, enjoy being together, hopefully the weather will be nice and we can go for a swim, and having campfires to sit around in the evenings.

Last week we house sat for some friends while they visited family in California. It was a delight as I got in some baking, entertained three different evenings, Ron got the new awning up on the motor home, thanks to Kristen and Mike for helping with that project and for Dan being available if we needed him. We watched a couple of beautiful sunsets, and I enjoyed a couple of baths in their jacuzzi tub (once we figured out how to turn it on).

Brandon and Danalyn and the boys are doing well. Their big news is that Brandon got his first teaching position. He will be teaching Math at Cul De Sac K-12 school in Cul De Sac, Idaho. God has just opened up so many doors for them...Danalyn is transferring within the Life Care Center family to a nursing home in Lewiston, Idaho. Lewiston is about 20 miles Southwest of Cul De Sac. They have a day care facility right on-site so they don't have to look for a new daycare. They will be living in East Lewiston. The Lord has provided them with a renter for their home in Boise. Please pray for Max as he changes schools and meets new friends. They will be moving the first/second week of August and we will be going to Boise to help them move.

Jamie, Suzanne and Opal are doing well. Opal is standing and pulling herself up and trying to take a few steps. Jamie continues to work at Fred Meyer. It looks like the house on C Street has sold and so they will be moving to Bellingham to be closer to work. Good for them, sad for us as we won't be able to see them as often.

Something Fun...I took a writing class, Memoirs, at the local community college. It was fun to get to meet a real published author and get critques on some of my stories. I was encouraged to keep writing and sharing what's on my heart. Watch for stories about me and my family in the weeks to come.

I guess that's all from here. Take care and keep in touch when you can.

Alice

A Wonderfully New Day

What a beautiful day I had today!

God is so good and blesses in so many ways. I had lots of things on my schedule to do today and was wondering how it would end.

1. Doctor appointment in Bellingham ~ drove 29 miles to doctor's appointment, got there and it was canceled. No problem, had to drive to Bellingham anyway to go to Costco.

2. Went to Costco ~ in and out in 15 minutes! A new record I am sure.

3. Worked at Northwood ~ did the attendance, answered phone messages, readied the bulletins from Sunday to go out in the mail.

4. Went to the post office and then dropped off a suitcase at a friend's. Thanks Amanda for letting me borrow it.

5. Worked on my story for two hours. Started a class at Whatcom Community College "Memoirs: Where Memory and Story Meet" on Monday nights. This week's homework is "The Day I was Born" and so I did some research on the internet and found out I need to go to my library to try to get information from San Francisco ~ go figure! Guess I will be going there tomorrow afternoon and maybe even Friday morning.

6. Went to a friends to do laundry, shared a delicious meal with her family and another friend and her two young daughters (four of our adopted grand girls). The girls, ages 4, 6, and two 8 yr olds) have decided that if I am their Grammy then they must be cousins!

And came home to spend the rest of the evening with Ron. God blessed in so many ways: a sunny spring day, appointment canceled gave me free time to write, and lots of time visiting with friends and playing with grandkids given to us by the Lord! Who could ask for more...

Wishing all who read a blessed day!

Alice

Pictures from Christopher's 1st birthday

Here are some pictures from Christopher's 1st Birthday. Sorry they are a little foggy ~ it is definitely not easy keeping him from moving!

Max made the basketball cake for Christopher and he had lots of fun eating and playing in it.

Good afternoon on this beautiful sunny day. A few months back I wrote an email to many of my friends and family members asking some hard and difficult questions. I wanted to catch up on where I am today.

God is faithful and has truly blessed me with friends and family who love and care for and about me. I still struggle with depression issues but none like a few months ago. Among the dark and hard days are days filled with sunshine and joy. Depression is not fun in any way ~ like the commercial on television says "depression hurts everyone." I can honestly say that when I am depressed, it not only hurts me but causes pain for those who surround me. I think the depression I have found myself in since mid-December is finally lifting. Days are easier to get through and looking forward to new things is exciting.

As I wrote in my blog from a few days ago ~~~ I spent nine days in Boise with Brandon and his family. Got in lots of Grammy time and left feeling physically exhausted ~ who would ever guess that a one year old could wear out a 50 year old. Had a blast with Max ~ saw "Monsters vs Aliens" in 3D - try to explain to a 10 year old why you can't see 3D even with the special glasses on . What fun to be taken out to lunch by a 10 year old with his own money. All in all it was a great time and I am glad I was given the gift of visiting them to celebrate Christopher's 1st birthday. We also can report that the eating/swallowing problems that Christopher seemed to be dealing with have passed and for that we are thankful for answered prayer.

God has been faithful and steady even on the dark and dreary days ~ we had to say an early goodbye this past week to little Emerald Trulock-Workentin, Jamie & Suzanne's newest baby. Emerald was born at 19 weeks 4 days weighing 6 oz and 7" long. We were sorry to say hello and goodbye at the same time but are thankful that Suzanne is recuperating from major health issues due to complications of her pregnancy. God surrounded us (and them) with friends who showered us with encouragement and love during some difficult days. We are thankful for the doctor's and hospital staff who have and are treating Suzanne.

We celebrate God's blessings in the ongoing good health reports that we get regarding Opal. This week Ron and I had the priviledge of taking Opal in for her most recent swallow test and received the good news that she no longer needs to have thickener added to her formula, juice or water. She is swallowing correctly and no longer chokes on regular formula and juices. We are proud to say Opal now weighs over 17 lbs.

As I mentioned earlier some days are harder than others but I have come to realize that each person faces struggles and joys and I just need to learn how to accept and deal with the difficult times just as I rejoice over the celebrations and day to day joys. I thank you all for your love and support and most of all your friendship. God has richly blessed me with having each of you in my life and for that I am thankful.

I hope and pray that each of you also know the love and care of our precious Lord Jesus. He is the reason for the season!

Love, Alice

Time in Boise

I spent nine days in Boise with Brandon, Danalyn, Max and Christopher. The reason for the trip was to be with them to celebrate Christopher's 1st Birthday. It is hard to believe that he is one already.

I spent the week watching the kids during the mornings while Danalyn worked and Brandon slept after working at Fed Ex each weekday. I was reminded of how much work a little one can be...diapers to be changed, cereal to be fed to, naps to allow Grammy to rest and then time to play Boggle with Max, watch the soaps, watched Hannah Montana, Zack & Cody, Witches of Wizardly Way or something like that...played a few games on Wii - this Grammy is too old to keep up with a 10 yr old who is constantly on the move and then add into the mix a one year old who just learned how to walk and takes after big brother's love for sports...tossed balls, chased balls, and listened and played every musical toy in the house and oh yes, changing a diaper or two :).

It was fun to watch Christopher celebrate his birthday twice. The first on his birthday (3/24) we had a birthday dinner of meat loaf, mashed potatoes w/gravy and green beans and of course, birthday cake. Christopher didn't seem to know what to do with the cake. All that would change by Friday when we did the family celebration - we were joined by Danalyn's parents, sister and her family including cousins Jayden and Colton. Max and Grammy had made a basketball cake for Christopher and the room was decorated in all sorts of sport stuff. Well, Christopher enjoyed that specail birthday cake and wore it from head to toe. He scored big time by getting two basketball hoops - one was a musical one that he enjoyed as people cheered each and every time a basket was made, the second one is a two foot high hoop that will grow with him up to 5 ft. Not sure who had more fun with that one : Christopher, Daddy or Max!

The weekend ended on a much quieter note. Daddy, Mommy and Christopher went to Lewiston for three days so Grammy and Max had some special one on one time. We went to the movies and saw "Monsters vs Aliens" in 3D - hard to explain to Max how come Grammy can't see 3D but it was still a good movie. On Sunday Grammy was treated to lunch at Chuck-a-rama by Max and then we spent the afternoon watching basketball. Go UNC!!!! And then we made a sneak trip to Fred Meyers and got some yummy Reeses peanut butter cups along with chips and cheese sauce - as we say Grammy LOVES Max and we had so much fun. Monday morning was kinda chaotic as Max got ready to go to school and I was busy preparing for the trip home.

It was a wonderful time in Boise but as usual it was good to get home.