Community Chat

[LurkyLoo]

A good day to good friends! Any left-overs left? I love them, but have none. Even all the cross-buns went. Good for my diet, I guess. While I intended to stay but one night at my brothers, I just got home this morning. Got quite a white Thanksgiving! My great niece and her boyfriend couldn't make it out to the country that morning, so the roads were just too bad for traveling. My brother brought me back, and I sure hated leaving Smokey behind. He was a bit confused, at first to see me. Then gradually warmed up to me, as is his usual shy way. Even slept at my feet. I will just have to visit more often, bless him- and bless my kin for having me. Had to borrow clothes from my sil.

Today is the big day for the young couple moving into my old home. It's a good day for it. Just some clouds and in the 30s. Tomorrow will be better yet. They've invited me to come take a "tour" once it's all set up. I'm going to buy a little home-warming gift for them- and something for that baby girl! Hope I can find suitable things right at our gift shop here. If not, I'll go back to Kohl's on the tram with the other ladies who love to walk the mall for exercise.

Selah yes, the town is decorated and I've been practicing filming (as I call it) with the iPad. My brother's grandson showed me a bit about it, and he videoed us all around the table. Figuring out how to email these vids, is another thing. You girls sure can help me there! I hope your family can all make it there for Christmas.. and that the one dil can control herself. Yes, there's usually a few in each family who like to stir it up. Don't overdo with the wrapping! A few here, a few there.. that has to be my way, too.

Hello to Snappy! So glad you enjoyed the special time at your dd's with the new in-laws and kin. Is tiring, though, isn't it? I think I talk myself half to death. Then it all plays over and over in my mind while trying to sleep. Organizing what they all shared with me, I guess. Remember those days when several generations all lived under one roof? No wonder they went to bed so early! Hope you have recovered now. I'll probably sleep much better tonight.

Rowan dear, I'm sure your father enjoyed himself at the museum- that nitpicking and grumbling is maybe what he enjoys! I notice my brother, the older we get,he seems to like nothing more than complaining about what's wrong in the world. I bet he notices the same thing about me! And well.. there is plenty wrong, if you care to look about. Can't dwell in my little cocoon all the time, darn it. I didn't find any grand sales online yesterday- not of anything I needed. Hope you did much better than me!

Glad you made it home, DeLaney- praying you can get to work safely on Monday. So what did you get Mike? Hiking poles, maybe? Know you both enjoy that.

Hello to you, HiLo dear! What an aggravation for your son and yourself. I do hope you can send and receive any important messages- business, shopping confirmations and such. It never hurts to have a free back up account. It's all I use for shopping and signing in here anyway. Bless you- I pray you continue to recover and are keeping warm.

I thought of Anu when I heard of the madman shooting up Austin, TX. Glad they got him, in the only way they could, before he could hurt anyone. A safe flight home for your Nan, dear!

A peaceful and blessed weekend to all our friends. I have laundry to do and put away, before I go downstairs to dinner. Bye for now.

[DeLaney]

Hey. . . Hiking poles! That's a great idea, LURKY!

Most recently I was comparing the X-Box with other gaming systems. Looking for something that may occupy us through the long winter months. Maybe both--the gaming system to us from Santa and the new poles just for him.

Glad you're finally home safely, too. I knew Smokey would be comforted to see you. Enjoy the tour--sweet of them to do that! When you send a vid by email, you just select it like a pic. It will embed itself into the email. Can't wait to see them!

SELAH, we've had no pesky protestors here either. If we did, trying to close down our malls; I'd be so tempted to use a motorized cart and plow thru, blowing the horn as I go. "Oops, oops--didn't see you there! Maybe you should GO HOME to take your nap!" . . . I know one thing; they better not hinder some of the more assertive Black Monday Walmart shoppers. I pity the fool! Need body armor there anyway just to pick up some wrapping paper. I wonder how much they're being paid per hour. . . These sponsored staged international anarchist protestors. Occupy Wall Street turned Occupy 7-11, so noble. . . in the name of a dead man.

Your hubby is one dedicated soul! I am not about to attempt to hang lights outside in this ice. Candles in the windows, wreaths on the doors, my nativity, flamesless candles and garland on the mantel and a tree. That's it for me! Maybe a nice centerpiece on a table runner. . . Praying your DIL will seek out the help she so needs. I feel your family's pain, you know.

SNAPPY, thank you for your interest in my studies and future career plans! I plan to specialize in Behavioral Modification Therapy eventually, as it's most promising for so many disorders. Seeing some great results and it is still evolving. I should be finishing up--at last--before this time next year. Better late than never, and I'm sure you're right. . . God knew these life experiences would better help to prepare me for assisting others in helping themselves later on. We watched a video of a past Thanksgiving when my brother was still with us--still healthy and enjoying playing football with our cousins after dinner. So full of life and with that great, easy-going laugh of his. HARD, but also wonderful. Even Mike was reduced to tears. I know you are missing your husband (and others) even more than usual during the holidays. Hugs to you!

Got a short txt from JOY and they are having a wonderful time there. No mention of swimming, but some shopping, lots of dining out and driving along the coast to take in the Christmas lights. Must be beautiful there! They are leaving for home in the morning. She sends her love to all!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

[snappyfrappy]

Good Saturday to each of you. It's in the 70s here. We are due for RAIN several days this coming week. They are talking real rain, not the spritzing we get now and then.

HiLo, the only thing I have to get is the gift card for the person whose name I drew. I'm planning on giving a donation in my DSs name to a Christian organization he likes. Obviously I didn't draw his name, but in 60 years I've never NOT given him a gift. This way he will be remembered. January is their 40th anniversary, so I'll do more for them than I normally do for anniversaries.

DeLaney, glad you made it home safely. Pray you can get to work on Monday.

Selah, can't imagine weather that cold. Taking your DR chair to church is a genius idea, IMO. I hope something happens and your DS and his wife don't end their marriage someday. Wonder how she treats him when they are alone at home. It might be different. Yes, what happened between that relative and me was very painful for a long time, but after years of just letting her get away with things, I'd had it and told her so. But all is very good now not just between us, but the whole family. That can happen in your situation also. You have several children. 5 if I count correctly. Oh, if I had little grands or great grands, I'd be buying them gifts. We just have a lot of grown ups now. We also exchange gifts with our next door neighbors on one side and I get something for our pastor and his wife. My sis and I stopped that years ago, but her birthday is in December and we do exchange birthday gifts. I got her one of the bracelets with the double heart that says "always sisters, always there" and a flameless candle. She will be here on the 12th and we will go out for lunch. I'm glad your hubby decided to move ahead as usual and hope it's a nice Christmas eve. I think we are all going to DS and his wife for dinner then also, so DD and I will be home together on Christmas day. Never happened before, but it sounds nice. We plan on sleeping late, having a nice brunch, maybe staying in our new pjs and enjoying.

Lurky, this is a special day for you and of course for that young couple moving into your home. Sounds ideal, and it's kind of you to get them a housewarming gift and something for the baby. Glad you had time with your great niece and that Smokey warmed up to you and even slept with you. Ahhh! how sweet. You are a good "mom".

Time to go. We hope to finish trimming the tree this afternoon. DD has had computer issues, so has been busy with that, but all seems well now.

Praying for safe travels for WaJa and her family.

snappy

[DeLaney]

Hi, SNAPPY! Left you a message above, including from JOY. Have fun decorating the tree tonight! I'll wait one more week before getting my live one.

[snappyfrappy]

Hi DeLaney, I appreciate hearing about your education and your professional plans. We will have to hold a special cyber party when you get your degree. Balloons, calorie free desserts, music, whatever makes you happy. I'm sure watching the video of your brother was hard. Bitter sweet. Thank you for the hugs. The last few years of hubbys life were hard, especially at holidays when eating is such a big part of the day. He had no appetite, couldn't taste anything and it was difficult to see him try to drink an Ensure just because everyone told him he MUST. Now he's free of that. One day I'll see him again, but I know he's safe and happy now more so than ever in this life. I'm content. Thank the Lord.

snappy

[SelahG]

A blessed Sunday to you ladies. It's a big fat 0° here but the sun is shining. Hope it warms up some before the late services. I stepped out on the porch briefly to call hubby in to take a call for the shop and I thought, "did I forget to put on pants?" The wind whipped up my backside with icy tentacles going for bone! Though hubby was born and raised here, I'll never understand how one adapts to being out in these extreme temps. This morning he got up, ate breakfast with coffee and went right to hanging the Christmas lights on the shop. It must be his Nordic Viking blood.

I got the vid of you and Smokey, Lurky! Both of you, just adorable! The love between you is so obvious and your new outfit is so pretty, too. Thank you and your great-nephew! Glad you enjoyed the pics of our brood! Yep, proud Grandpa---you know it!

We found the Moravian Putz on YouTube and there, in a discussion, hubby found an old family link from his mother's side. Will explain more by email but he was chatting with this person last night who sent the link to their family page who live in WI. Would be a funny coincidence if you are linked to them, too.

Awww, a baby girl ... What a blessed Christmas for the young family in your old homestead. No, I can't overdo it ... Have just 4 gifts wrapped so far. Some of the larger and odd shaped toys and such for the GKs may just get a ribbon or bow on Christmas Eve. They will not care and less paper waste.

DeLaney, I can picture it in my mind ... You, with your many bundles and hiking poles in the front basket of the scooter plowing through! And well we know many of our nations' enemies---within and without---are supporters of this "movement", in name only, with their own agendas. Quite likely some sponsors, too, but many groups are self-sponsored through online donations. Communists, anarchists, hacktivists, hate-groups, terrorists ... No good will come from it, as it did from MLK and like civil rights movements. This only breeds further division, violence, destruction and chaos. It's what those groups want---defeat the nation from within and take it over. Divide and conquer. They will not succeed, unless or until God brings judgement against the U.S.A. through these tools.

Your decorations will be lovely! We don't go overboard either, but hubby has this thing for outdoor lighting from his childhood, when he used to help his father with it. I have gone through all the tree ornaments, some very old family heirlooms, some handmade by our children and grandchildren. They are ready to go up when we cut the tree. Been raising our own trees for years. Hubby has it picked out from months ago. Then, when it comes down after the 1st, he puts it in the lake as a few other locals, as the Wildlife and Fishing dept recommends. The fish like to breed and lay their eggs within these "nests." Then he goes ice fishing there with his brothers and friends. Nature and man in a cycle of harmony.

This reminds me, I want to share this cool project my youngest son-in-law of the Sioux Nation has been helping with on the side:

His group designs, makes and sells these plywood shelters, which can be easily rotated and moved, you see---for ice-fishermen, ice-skaters and amateur hockey teams. [He did himself play for the Fighting Sioux when at UND where he met my youngest daughter.] These shelters are going up all over here! Parks and rec centers. They just got an order for a dozen for the children's petting zoo ice rink. Many families use them for the children waiting on the school bus. Very good since the construction co he works for slows down during the long winter, but he does some free-lance architect work, too.

Snappy, enjoy your warm weather if you go out to church today! I try not to ask too many questions of my son or his wife about how it goes in their home life, but you know how you can tell when your child is unhappy. Even, or especially when they say nothing. Concerns me. I pray and I listen. I give advice when either are open to it. Please when you think to, pray for her mother [a saintly soul] and her two sisters, too. She works hard at keeping her own family divided---as though she should have been an only child. Thank you, and I will pray your grandson's tender heart will not be broken.

Yes, you have that right. I have 5 living children and 4 grandchildren. I'm counting 3 children and 3 grandchildren for you. Blessings all! Now a great-grandchild would be so special for your whole family. I can only hope to live to see my first. Love this bracelet you bought your sister! Was that from QVC?

Welcome back, Joy---whenever you find time to check in! Waiting to hear if Gracie swam with dolphins for Thanksgiving.

[snappyfrappy]

Hi Selah, it is RAINING! Has been for several hours, and we might get as much as 5 inches throughout this week. YIPPEE. It's always dangerous for drivers out here who aren't used to rain and slick streets, but we SO need it. Can't imagine the kind of cold where you are, and hope someday you are able to retire to warmer climes.

Those plywood shelters are so interesting. I can see how they would be very helpful to lots of people in cold areas, even as shade in the heat? How would that work?

Yes, 3 kids, 3 grands. Having a GG would be lovely, but the married GS and his wife don't want any, and she isn't a believer and he is but has followed the path of least resistance, so they wouldn't raise their kids to know Him, and that would be heartbreaking. The Lord knows best. I prayed for your DS and the family...hers also. A doctor once told me that lots of families seem to have a "bully" as he called it. But, the Lord is able to do anything. Your DDIL is mixed up with dangerous occult things if I recall rightly and that's so hard. That demonic influence. I had an aunt who gave me the creeps. Ouija boards, entertaining spirits in her home, re-incarnation, etc. Thank you for praying for my GS.

snappy

[LurkyLoo]

Good (Cyber) Monday, good friends! I'm going to work in the gift shop for a few hours, so this will be short. Hope your day is off to a good start. It's drizzly, but warming up here. May even reach 70 degrees, then dipping again tomorrow with a slight chance of more white stuff. This is why it's cold and flu season!

So thankful your area is finally getting the nice rain it so needs, Snappy! Do watch those oil slicks on the roads though. I bet your tree is lovely! Chances the whole atmosphere of a room, I think. I only have the small tabletop variety now. Just easier for me to manage. It is cute with white lights. I guess from the road one couldn't tell the difference since the table is obscured under the window. I need to start of my Christmas cards tonight, have already received a few. I hope to finish up my gift shopping this week. I wonder if the internet will crash today. I know a few who live here who waited for today before starting their shopping.

Hope you hear from the surgeon, with the test results today, Selah. Have prayed they will be good enough to proceed. Praying for your youngest son's family, too. Maybe in the meanwhile, until she wakes up, or seeks professional help.. maybe just ignore the negative behavior- hard as it is, and give her lots of attention for the positive behavior. Maybe you all have, I don't know, but have seen that work with some children.

I love those shelters your SIL is helping to build! They resemble canoes. I can see how they could be floated down the river. I hope the venture continues to go well! Thank you for the compliments, dear. I'll be interested to learn more about this family link your hubby has discovered.

Hello to all our friends here! A richly blessed day to each of you!

[snappyfrappy]

Hi Lurky, I think your table top tree sounds wonderful. Were it not for DD, I'd do that. We have so many more ornaments than we can possibly use. There are things in the garage rafters that I'd like to have, but neither of us is going to climb up there and hunt for them. So we are content.

Just got back from having my smog control device checked. Wanted to do that before the really heavy rain gets here. It's just under 60 degrees, but I wore a warm sweater and didn't have to wait long.

I just have to get one gift card for the person whose name I drew and bag the things I have for others and I'm done. Can't imagine not giving any of my grands gifts this year, didn't draw their names, but cutting back was partly my idea, so I need to stick with it. I'll probably give them more for their birthdays in the new year. Hard to believe it's December already.

Glad you have that place to work and mingle with people. You are in what sounds like a good place. Hope you have a nice evening.

snappy

[HiLo]

Greetings to all my wonderful sisters on e-mail and to those who are not. Stephen is so busy on his UPS route he hasn't had time to stop by and change the e-mail address for me. I'm going for gmail; Steve thinks this is a great one.

Can't wait to get back to all of you who have been emailing. Just think, I'm going to see some of Selah's pictures of her Native American relatives; can't wait and what has been going on in each of your lives.

Snappy: Am in touch with you on Widows thread; just saw that Mama S. has posted but don't have time now to reply to her just now; off to my acupuncturist. Whatever he has done with needles in my head as provided a most restful time for me, Praise God.