Weekend Update:

Friday:
We started the evening by picking up Dwayne's truck from the body shop.  He had a minor dent in the tail gate and it wouldn't open.  Also, got it detailed.  Looks almost new.  Sure it won't look that way long.
We ate supper at the Eagles.  The food was good and we ran into several people we knew.  Nice evening.
Saturday:
I used to work as a bookkeeper for Donnie Stratman at Stratman Trucking.  Donnie and I were also classmates.  His youngest daughter, Jennifer was getting married.   Jennifer and Erica used to come by the office after school until time to go home.  Jennifer's wedding was beautiful.  I sat with a couple classmates and our sponsors sat in front of us.  We joked we were the 1975 section. 
I then went to visit Mom and Dad.  They were having a good day.
Sunday:
April and I went shopping at the lake.  Cash was with us and did quite well.  He was a little goof ball at lunch but other than that, he was a good boy and great shopper.  We found some good deals and had a great time.  We don't have a lot of money for these shopping trips but we go and have time together and enjoy the day.
Dwayne had been putting up the hay the last couple of days.  He was a little bummed that he had to buy parts for the hay bine.  Thus, the joys of small time farming.

I am grateful for times like these.

Weekly Visit:

We had such a great visit with Cash last Wednesday.  It was such a nice evening out.  We watched Cash play and have fun.  After his wagon ride around town with Grandpa, I got his riding toy out of the garage.  Of course, he took me to the garage and showed me where it was.  He had such fun and the same was said for the rest of us.  Up the sidewalk, roll backwards, up the sidewalk, roll backwards...........over and over again.  Then he went up the steeper driveway and started to roll backwards.  Way too fast!  I was afraid he would tip over as the toy started to tip.  April must have thought the same thing as she came running.  Luckily, I got to him and kept him from tipping over.  He thought it was fun.  That option wasn't allowed after this.  Back to the sidewalk.

Cash riding toy up the sidewalk and then roll backwards.

 

After we went inside, Cash had to have us sit at his table with him.  Only we're too big to actually sit on the bench.  They certainly don't make Little Tykes tables like they used to.

He adores his Grandpa.

  We have such fun with this little guy.  So very grateful to be a grandparent.

Brad Pitt's Lake House:

I forgot to mention the highlight of the boat trip on Saturday. We went by Brad's house and it's magnificent.  I didn't have a camera with me to take a picture.  The slide to the swimming pool came out the side of the house.  It was nice to see, but I didn't get the ga ga feeling.  It was like, oh, well that's nice and I got to see Brad's house.  Now if his family had been there and I saw them, then I would have gone a little ga ga over that.

I'm grateful for the chance to see a star's vacation home.

Mom and Dad:

Monday:
Mom was feeling much better but Dad was totally worn out.  I went up to set out lunch and Dad didn't even know I was there as he was in such a deep sleep.
My sister, Kate set up a facebook page for people to sign up a time to bring a meal to Mom and Dad.
This has worked out well.  There is usually enough for two meals.
Tuesday:
When I spoke to Mom, she said there was a lady there from church who had brought them lunch.
Since I didn't need to go up, I decided to go on a drive.  I had to go to the bank and post office anyway.  I took Hwy V to N, then 28 down to E highway.  I hadn't been to the Hayden area for ages.  I had forgot just how long of a road it was.  If only E highway on the west side of the river, we could cross over to Hwy E on the east side where we live.  Years ago, there was a ferry that went across.  Mom said the last time she went on the ferry was when she was pregnant with me.  I've heard Mom and Dad talk about the ferry quite a bit.  I was a nice drive but I was ready to get back on "my" side of the river.  lol
Stopped by to visit Mom and Dad and then home to start supper.   Chad stopped by after work.  It's always nice to have the kids stop by.  No matter their age, they have their Momma's heart.
A nice evening watching TV and then off to bed.  So far, this week has been a lot easier.

I am grateful for family.

Weekend Update:

Friday:
Mom was having a bad day.  Went up and fixed their lunch and spent time with them.  Then home, fast shower and headed to Wal-Mart to buy groceries I don't buy weekly.  I splurged and bought a new coffee pot.  Hopefully, this one will brew coffee a lot faster.
Dwayne and I went to The Road Kill Grill for supper.  Their barbecue is very good.  I don't know why we don't go more often as it's just a few miles from the house.
Saturday:
Dwayne and I set off for Table Rock Lake.  My brother, Russ and his wife came up from Springfield to stay with Mom and Dad.  It was so nice to get away and not worry about things at home.
A quick stop at St. Roberts to eat at Cracker Barrel.  Gene Allhands, a salesman at Black Gold and just a good ole' country boy gave me a gift certificate at Christmas and we're just now getting around to using it.
We were going to visit Dwayne's cousin, Bette Jo and her husband, Tom.  We try to go down every year around Dwayne's birthday.  Last year we couldn't make it as Dwayne was working overtime.
Tom and Bette are great hosts.  Dwayne and Tom went to the boat slip and picked up the boat and drove down to their house.  Bette Jo said we would drive down to the lake's edge as it was quite a walk back up the rather steep hill.  I later learned that was a very wise decision.  I love to boat ride and could ride almost all day; so relaxing.  We had a great afternoon and it was almost seven when we got back.  Sun and heat get to me with my Lupus and I was exhausted.  I could barely walk the short distance to Bette Jo's vehicle and get in let alone if we had had to walk up the steep hill.  It seemed forever before I could catch my breath.  I've been using the treadmill more but I still get out of breath easily.  We had a late meal which Bette Jo had prepared ahead of time.  Watched TV and visited.
I guess the heat and sun were too much for me.  I was sick and up several times during the night.  Needless to say, I was tired Sunday morning.  I didn't realize how tired I was until I fell asleep while visiting after breakfast.
Dwayne had totally surprised me on the way down as he had remembered the directions from two years ago.  Dwayne has been know to get lost easily.  I watched the hilly and pretty scenery for awhile and then slept until we got to Rolla.
Stopped and ate at Maid-Rites then home to leave yet again.  Dwayne messed the bumper up on his truck and we had to take it to Todd Schoene's to get it fixed.  We stopped by Mom and Dad's and visited awhile.  They had a good weekend with Russ and Shannon.  Mom seemed to be doing much better. 
Finally, we were home to relax for the rest of the evening.

I am so grateful for Dwayne's family.  They have all been so nice to me and welcomed me into the Elrod family.  Dwayne sometimes joke they like me the most and he's just the tag along.  lol

Weekly Visit:

 

Such a joy!

Company:

We had a good day yesterday.  My cousin, Kenny Williams came out for the morning.  I went back up to fix Mom and Dad's lunch and my cousins, Lena Vogeler, Otis and Donna Williams came by.  We had a good visit and Mom seemed to be feeling much better.  It was good to have her family come and visit.
The nurse came out and then later the Chaplain.  Hospice is working out well.

I am grateful for the good days.

Happier Days:

April's babysitter was on vacation last week so I watched Cash Thursday and Friday.  He's at such a fun age.
We played on the porch most of the morning.  I found that running a few errands seems to take a little longer.  I didn't notice that when my kids were young.  Might have something to do with age.........
We only got called to Mom's about three times during the day.  Cash did pretty good while I helped out.
Grandpa.  That's all I need to say.  Cash is crazy over his Grandpa.  When Dwayne got home from work he went crazy yelling for him.  Todd and Desmon came over.  Cash had Todd take him outside and for a walk.  I think he likes Uncle Todd pretty good.  Desmon spent the night with us.
Friday morning, Desmon and Cash had fun on the front porch.  Cash thought everything Desman did was hilarious.  Mid-morning we went to Vienna to run a few errands.  Ten year olds think they should get anything they want at the store.  Desmon found out a $1 toy meant only a dollar.  I think he just likes the thrill of getting something and I've already bought him several toys over the summer.
We stopped by Mom and Dad's on the way home.  She seemed to be doing pretty good.  Dad looked exhausted.  The kids played good all day and Cash and I even took a nap.  We only got called to go up to Mom's a couple times.
April came over to get Cash.  Todd had stopped by after work to get Desmon.  Dwayne decided we'd all go out to eat for his birthday.  Called Chad and he came over.  Off we all went to Sput's.  What a crowd!!  Friday is pool tournament night.  We found a seat in the back and had a really good meal.
Somehow Cash wiped out Facebook on my phone.  Went by Verizon and got it fixed then picked up Mom's medicine.  My cousin, Linda Spencer's husband, Danny had passed away.  I went by for the visitation.  The funeral home was packed.  Stopped by Mom and Dad's, visited with the Hospice nurse. 
Dwayne and the boys were doing hay all day.  They called me down to Chad's for supper.  My boys are both really good cooks.  They had fixed beer can chickens.  I have always heard of that but had never ate it before.  Very good!  I don't think I've ever had more moist chicken.  Had a good evening visiting,
Today I didn't do much of anything.  Mom called early this morning for me to come up and help.  So much for going to church today.  I came back home and went to sleep.  Around noon, Mom called for me to come up and help Dad get her up, she was almost to fall off the bed.  We tried but I just don't have the strength to lift her.  Called my nephew, Zach to come over.  Him and Dad got Mom up and then her knees buckled and down she went. I went down the road to get my cousin, Rusty to help.  He wasn't home.  I was wondering what we were going to do.  Pulled in the driveway and there was a car I didn't recognize.  Luckily, my cousin Doug came out to visit.  He helped Mom off the floor.  Thank goodness he showed up when he did.  Stayed awhile to visit and then on home.
I must have looked tired when Dwayne came in as he fixed supper.

I am so thankful for such a loving and caring husband.