Pages

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Not Your Ordinary....Week

Many Sunday nights I sit down and can't think of too much to write about, so a blog does not get written.  In fact, my life seems to happen this way - an ordinary week with not much happening or many events happen, then I have trouble trying to write a post. Well this has been one of those weeks. So I will highlight my "not your ordinary week."

Tuesday I was totally dressed, lunch made, then I let Abby out to find the most beautiful snow fall ever. The ground was totally covered with more to come. The roads weren't bad, so we did have school.

After I got to school, I had trouble with my eyes. I thought I had my contacts in backwards. When I got home, I took my contacts out immediately, only to realize that I had pink eye. After getting some medicine I counted this as a blessing. Others around me have had either the flu or the stomach bug, which made them extremely sick; and I just had an inconvenience.

Wednesday, I did not go to school because I knew I was contagious. I made the best out of this situation by going out to eat, getting concert tickets, and sewing on some sweatshirts. This was also a sad day in history for two reasons. First, this was the 16 year anniversary of Carl passing away. Second was the announcement that Hilltop Haven will be shutting it doors in 2 months.

The closing of Hilltop Haven is devastating to our community on many levels. At the current time, there are 100 patients that will have to be relocated and 125 employees that will be out of work. This is the biggest employer in our community. On a personal level, it has always been apart of our lives. When I was 5, I had a uncle that was in there that we visited. Then when I was in 4th grade, my mom went to work there. We would go visit. Then in the early 1980's, my grandmother was a patient in there  until she passed away. As a FHA sponsor, we went to the care home for various activities through the years. Then my mother started out in the Howard Apartments and eventually ended up in the care home.  Just like her mother this is where she finished out her life. Many families are being effected by the closing of this historical part of Gunter.

On a different note, the weather was beautiful this weekend. Rick had warned me that this was going to be a working weekend. So Saturday was the day that we emptied the storage building that has housed our "junk" and Christmas for over thirty years. The building has to be demolished before we can get electricity to the new building. Many treasures were either trashed, "Good Will"ed, or moved to the new building. I could write about several treasures, but I will share one that really excited me only because it is a God-thing.

This year as I decorated for Christmas, my village and Santa Claus collection found a new arrangement. As I was anticipating this arrangement one night, I got to thinking about this plastic Santa Claus that we had growing up. I had not thought of this Santa in years, but I was wondering when Mom had gotten rid of it. She was not a hoarder. In the building I had three of her last boxes of stuff that came from her apartment. As I went through the boxes, in the bottom of second one was this plastic Santa Claus that we decorated with for many years. It still has the rocks in it that kept if from turning over when placed on the bookshelf. I already know where it will be displayed next year as I decorate for Christmas.

We did get the building unloaded, and Rick even made a 4 X 8 foot closet/box in the new building to hold all the yard ornaments. The box was made out of the shelves in the old building so history was preserved. Even though they did not get displayed this year, they are well-taken care of until I can get them out next year.

After this week, I can handle an ordinary week.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

December 2012

Rick and I in Chicago at the Blackstone Hotel


December just continued the holiday season with excitement. The week after the wedding Rick and I got to go to Chicago for a business/pleasure trip. His business - my pleasure. I wanted to see Chicago at Christmas. The weather was perfect for me to do the Hop-a-Bus city tours. We stayed at the historical Blackstone Hotel; and I went to the Chicago Art Institute. We also ate at some fun places with not your typical southern menus.

Macy's in Chicago
I turned in my resignation, because of the financial state of the school district. I now can't wait to see what God has in store for me in 2013. This will definitely be a new chapter in my life. 

We did all the usual - Christmas parties, Church Christmas cantata and services, Christmas lights with the grandchildren, Christmas crafts, lots of food events, and a visit from Santa.
Santa and the sisters














The unusual also happened this year - We had a white Christmas, in which Greg and Lisa made it to Gunter just in time. Even though Chad and Tara did not get to join us, we did get to skype several times plus all our normal phone calls and messages. 
A White Christmas
Greg's gift to Lisa

We did have to adjust for my MARRIED kids this year, but that is OK. I know that even though we were not together doing the normal family traditions, they each started their own traditions with their wives. The best gift I have is knowing that they are with someone they love. What more can a mom ask for!


Rick's gift to me was a new camera lens. Hopefully,  I will do even better posting pictures on here. I am determined to learn the different settings on my camera this next year.


As the year comes to an end, 2012 was life changing for our family - I gained two "drop-dead gorgeous" daughter-in-laws that makes my boys extremely happy. Rick is still keeping me happy, so I can say that we are truly Blessed. God has blessed us richly. My wish for whomever is reading this is that you can say the same.

May you have a very Blessed 2013!