@MusicCandy @SadMe70 New place to communicate

Hello my friend, thank you so much for your understanding. It really helps me to have you there to listen. I needed to get that all out last week, and I am so grateful to know I can tell it all to you.

I was out of sorts all week. Last night we had another video call, which he initiated, and we had a day and time chosen, so that was much better. She went off to rest, and I was glad because I don't really want to talk to her. It was nice to just see my son, and the babies. He and I were kind of close when he was in high school and early college. I had some special times with my older son before my younger one was born, and special times with the younger one when his brother left for college. I miss that connection.

The little girl can roll over, and can stand supported. I think she will crawl before too long. The little boy has been behind her in development the whole time, but he is getting there. Since it was quiet in the house, we were able to talk to them, and the little boy smiled a couple of times, and the little girl was looking toward the phone a couple of times.

They still have not bought plane tickets for December. They went to do it, and found that they do not have the necessary documentation for the babies to travel to the US. I guess all they have is Korean birth certificates, and I guess that is not enough for the US. So, I am not holding my breath that they will get all that done in time to get affordable tickets. I will just work on accepting that they will not visit this year, and if it turns out otherwise, that will be a nice surprise.

Otherwise my week was the usual, exercise every day, mostly good food, and too much sugar. Today we are planning on canning a bushel of tomatoes that we got from a local farmer. We did that last year, and I thought we were down to 2 pints left. When I went to bring up all the empty jars a little while ago, I discovered an additional flat of pints! So we have 14 left, and after today's bushel, I think we will have enough to skip doing it next year!

I did get a walk this week, about an hour, and my yoga class, besides my morning exercises. I am glad Rachael's knee is getting better! She is lucky to have a mom with medical training to take care of her. I know you worry for her, and that goes to show how much you love her. It is hard not to worry for our children. I can't seem to stop.

I love tomato and cucumber salad with that kind of dressing! We made something similar this summer, based on a recipe my mom gave me that she made when I was growing up. I know that was delicious! I am still enjoying fresh peaches and corn too! I am very sure that everyone enjoyed and appreciated the meals!!

Did your SS award letter come yet? I hope so! Fingers crossed for you! I am sure it will go through, it's just a question of how loooong it takes them. I get my crown on Tuesday, and hopefully that is the end of dealing with this tooth. This process started in April of last year when the old crown came off and they determined the tooth had to go. I am tired of it, and could have put a down payment on a car with what I have spent! I hope your upcoming dentist appointment goes well!

My husband made our chai this morning, so that was an extra nice treat. I have a funny goat story for you, but can't type it in now. The tomatoes are calling! I will try later this weekend, or save it for next week.

Thank you again for being there for me! I just try to absorb each hurt and then get on with life. It's not what I hoped for, but it's how it is. Letting it all out to you helps me move on.

I hope your week went well, my friend!

Hello my friend! I feel the same about your messages! One of the first things I do on Sunday morning is check for your message!

First things first - HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY!!! 🎂

I hope you had a wonderful birthday!! What did you do to celebrate? I hope you got some nice presents! Did your SS come through yet??

My week was a little challenging because I slept badly two nights, and so did not exercise on those mornings. My walking group did not walk due to the heat, and my period came after 67 days which wiped me out too much to do my yoga class. I wish the stupid thing would just stop already. This crazy amounts of time in between them, followed by having them every month for a while is so stinking annoying!! I did exercise on the 3 mornings that followed good sleep!

I did get my crown on Tuesday and it is doing great! It's a weird feeling when I brush my teeth. With my other crowns, I still feel something as the brush goes over since there is still tooth underneath. With this one, there is a dead spot with no feeling as the brush goes by and I am still getting used to that! The dentist spent a lot of time checking the bite and filing it down, and I think it is just right! How is yours? Since we got crowned on the same day, does that make us co-queens??

My son and his family are not coming in December. I was braced for it, but it still makes me sad, mainly because my husband will not see them as babies now. For myself, I am not as sad about the holiday itself, but because it will be at least a year between times that I see them. Not only do they not have the paperwork for the babies, but it turns out that they do not have the paperwork for her either. She has a green card, but if you leave the country for more than 6 months, you have to file something else beforehand. They filed it June of last year, but immigration is so woefully behind on everything that it has not been processed (they are FOUR YEARS behind on green card renewal interviews, so they keep just sending out extensions for that. Pathetic!). This makes me nervous, since she's now out of the country without having the proper form beforehand, even though it is the government's fault and not theirs. Now I will worry about when that will ever get done, and will it cause big problems for her green card status? Ugh. I want them to come next summer so my husband can see the babies, but if they still don't have the paperwork for her, they can't come. He wants to go there, and that would be a giant nightmare, and I don't want to do it, but it's also not fair to him to not see them. Ugh again. I also wish they had never said they were going to try and come when they knew that form was not processed yet.

I feel so bad for your sister. That is truly terrible. I worry about how things will be for my son in the future if he does not start putting down his foot more, and she does not grow up. I work with a lady whose daughter-in-law is much like your sister's, and though I've had issues with this lady before (and still), she has been very kind to me regarding my son leaving etc. because she truly knows how it feels. How terrible for your sister to only be allowed to see them for one day at a time! Does her son ever bring them to visit her? I am guessing not by what you say. I can't imagine going through having your spouse abandon you, and then you basically lose your son and grandchildren too. I see so many similar heartbreaking stories on the Surrogate Grandparents FB page. I want so badly to gather some of those children into my heart and give them a grandmother, and have an outlet for my grandmotherly yearnings, but none of them have been near me so far.

Your preserved figs sound AMAZING. Our trees are out there growing up a storm again this year, but not a fig in sight. At least the leaves are pretty! Your spice recipe sounds so delicious! And how special that you've duplicated what your grandmother used to make! I love that! I hope your sisters enjoy them, and it brings back good memories for them too! We used to pick strawberries when I was little, and my mom made tons of jam. It was fun helping her, and she used some for gifts, and the rest we had on our PBJ school lunches. I remember one step while the big potful was cooking - when the top got foamy, we had to skim that off and then we got to eat the sweet strawberry foam. We loved that part.

I am drinking my chai now, and toasting you for birthday! Cheers!!

Hello my friend,

Nothing exciting this week on my end. I seemed to have pulled a glute muscle somehow, and it is taking its time healing since I am using it constantly. I did just upper body a couple of days this week, but I did also take a walk with hills. I got out of breath a lot more than I used to on a trail I have done many times, a clear example that I am heavier and have lost a bit of ground in fitness. I have been eating fewer sugary treats, but still consuming too many calories, including alcohol. I am hoping my muscle will heal up soon, because I have at least been doing well with my exercising up until this week!

The goat who restarted her own milk is now not doing well. I am pretty sure she is anemic. She is eating less, very pale eyelids, and clearly not feeling well. One possible cause of anemia is internal parasites, so I gave her a dewormer Thursday morning, and a vitamin B complex gel Thursday night and last night. Yesterday I also gave her something called Nutridrench, which is an energy dense molasses mixture that is usually given to females postpartum to give them a boost. I have not been out to see her yet this morning. I called the vet yesterday morning, but have not spoken to him yet. Another cause of anemia is vitamin deficiency, and I am wondering if that has been caused by her producing all that milk without the high calorie sweet feed that I feed them when they are lactating. I will have to get some and feed it to her if the vet thinks that might be the cause, because I can't stop her from drinking the milk! I have actually found her out there with a milk mustache!

I can't remember if I told you, but this summer I bought 4 heart shaped necklace charms, with my sons' and grandchildrens' names and birthdays engraved on them. My mom had a bracelet like that when I was little, and added my kids later. I had planned to wear it all the time, but now that the rush of my visit has worn off, and knowing they aren't coming in December has all the sadness back in full force, so I've put it in my jewelry box and am back to wearing my miraculous medal. It has given me comfort over the last few years for other things, so I felt like I would be better off wearing that.

Did your sister's son come to visit? I hope at least she got her one day. It makes me sad to think about her situation too. A lady I work with is also in a similar situation. Her son married a crazy person, and she was already limiting the grandparent visits, but a year ago she took off and took the children several states away, so now even their dad hardly sees them. He is spending tons on a custody battle, and meanwhile she is poisoning them against him and his family. What is wrong with people??

I hope your temp crown is ok, and I think this coming week you will get the permanent? My dentist does not make them in a day either. I hear you about the cost. I have spent enough on this one tooth between the periodontist and the dentist, to make a down payment on a car. Not to mention, my mouth has been x-rayed many times over the past year and I am not happy about all that exposure.

Oh, that training you had to do sounds so awful! That is WAY too long with no break! Who could concentrate that long?? We have to do a lot of health trainings at the beginning of each year, but they are videos we can do at our own pace within a month's time. It is many hours with a quiz on each module, but I don't do more than an hour or so at a time. Certainly nowhere near 5 hours! I am so glad you are done with that!

I hope that you had a wonderful, lovely birthday with your family! I hope that before your next birthday, you give yourself the present of retirement! You have SO earned it!!

I am sorry to hear about the power outage mess! I am glad at least that since your ex was too stubborn to bring Rachael home, that at least he took her somewhere familiar. Men are so frustrating sometimes (often times actually).

What did you do with your latest figs? I am so jealous of your fig bounty! Still nothing here, and I guess it is getting to the end of the season. Making jam is such a good memory. I did not do that with my kids and I wish I had. Not that I know how to do it, but maybe I could have muddled through and they could have the good memories I have. My mom was so much more together than I ever was!

I wonder why the scuppernong jam was so sour? Seems like the fruit itself should have done the trick, but maybe the skins counterbalanced that? I remember one year at the farmers' market here, when I was still selling eggs, one couple were selling scuppernongs. I think that is the only time I ever had them!

We started first and second grade lessons this week, so I am starting to get into the swing of the regular year. K literacy testing is this coming week, so I will cover that class in the morning while the teacher tests, and sometime the following week we will probably start those lessons, and that will be my full regular schedule. It is really ridiculous that it takes over a month with all the stupid assessing to get to actual small group instruction. The state of so many kids is so bad. The ones who were virtual are a total mess (the low ones I mean, the higher ones are ok), but even a lot of kids kids coming in the last two years who missed no regular school are just so low. Combine that with all the disabilities, medical issues, speech problems, poor home life - it's just sad. At least I know my grandchildren are not facing these sorts of problems.

I hope you didn't get called in extra last weekend! I hope you got some walks in with the cooler weather too! Fingers crossed for the SS to get processed!! As for my rays of happiness, it's definitely the kids at school giving me hugs! Some of them tell me that they love me, and I am so happy that I can make them feel that way. I want them to feel cared for! I hope you found rays of happiness this week also, my friend! Until next week!

I am SO happy for you about your birthday party! That sounds amazing! What a wonderful thing for Abi to put together for you. I am so glad that all of your sisters could participate! It's so amazing what technology can do these days. What a great idea to have the gifts there for you to open during the video call. I absolutely love that! The book is an incredible treasure, and the dinner sounds delicious too! I am so very happy for you, my friend!!!

I am really glad that Mark is going to be such a great addition to your family also! Praying for good results from the PET scan! I complain so much about my one DIL, that I don't say enough that the other one is very lovely. Her background and family are very different from ours, but she is always kind, thoughtful, and supportive, and is good for my son.

The two of them leave today for their honeymoon to Germany. She put together a whole itinerary on a website that does that sort of thing (who knew) with a map that has pinpoints on all the places they hope to go, links to websites for all of them, and their hotels listed. It's fun to look at for sure, but like the wedding site, I would never have imagined sitting down and doing that myself! They have a lot of really neat stuff planned, museums, cathedrals, Oktoberfest. I hope they get to do it all. It will be an amazing and memorable trip.

My muscle is still bothering me, so I've continued to take it easy with exercising this week. It is hard to actually rest that muscle since I constantly use it to walk, bend down, etc. but I've avoided squats, lunges, walking on hills. I used a heating pad and analgesic pads a couple of times. I hope it will get better soon! I miss my regular exercises!

I made the mistake one day of making a microwave chocolate cake in a mug, and they are delicious, so I've done it three more times. Ugh. Incurable sweet tooth! I am still drinking a little each day, but not a ton, and my meals are mostly good.

If it were possible for anyone to worry more than I have over this Safe Church deal, I don't know how, towards the middle of the week, the diocese changed some people from the short training 9 Sunday) to the longer one today and we got enough to meet their minimum of 15. I'm glad I reached out to the other churches - 6 of them signed up ( and they came) I ordered the food from Ukrops, catering because everyone loves it and better than dry bready subs. I spent all day Thursday and half a day Friday setting up the Hall and kitchen which I didn't mind doing if everyone would just show up// and THEN the weather - more worry that they would or wouldn't cancel it ,or folks just wouldn't come in the storm. The Senior Warder did finally actually do something, and he got there at 8 and my Vestry best helper did too - and everyone came. It was raining but in the AM, not as bad as it could have been. I stayed at work and texted Fiance to pick up the food, and he did, and said there were 15 cars there so I could relax, My best helper said it went well,, the Facilitator was informative and entertaining ( not boring) and everyone raved about the food. since we had guests, I said I wanted them to have the 'good stuff". There is another short class tomorrow right after Service and I can stay for that one even if it will be a long morning after working all night. I did that before and I made it. I'd like to meet the Trainer and the guests tomorrow and wee how it goes for myself since I did 99.9 percent of the work! Its worth it.

That was practically my whole week. Fiance had a check on the first stage of implants and it was fine, he goes back in 3 months. I get my permanent next week and more routine stuff. I made one of those cake cups and they are pretty good, especially warm. I'm still drinking about the same and meals are sporadic. I am glad your newer DIL is good to you and your son and that they get to have a honeymoon traveling Germany - i know it will be beautiful. Maybe they will get on the baby wagon soon!

I am sorry that the muscle is still giving you pain. I remember them telling me my frozen shoulder would take over a year to heal, and it did. does ice or heat help? I walked around with an ice pack on my shoulder quite a lot. Funny looks, but o well. And you poor goat - that has to hurt your heart that you cant help more. I don't blame you though, i wouldn't torture with a muzzle. I'll say a prayer for her too as well as you. Storm over.. Yea. I hope you enjoy your chai and get some rest my friend.

I am so glad to hear that you got enough people to hold the training! Not only did all your hard work not go to waste, but now you have people who can do the visits. It was certainly terrible weather that day, so I am really glad that did not ruin things at the last minute. I am glad you got some help as well! I bet the Ukrops food was tasty. We had one in Fredericksburg for a few years a long time ago, but it closed. I am also glad the facilitator was good - trainings can easily be very dull if the presenter doesn't make it engaging. Did you get to the short class and get to meet the trainer? I hope so!

We talked to my son and DIL on Wednesday morning and they told us all the stuff they had done during their first 3 days in Germany. They are having a great time and seeing a lot! They have been to museums, a zoo, a cathedral, a river cruise all in Berlin. They had one or two more days in Berlin, then taking the train gradually to Munich while stopping at other towns along the way.

How is your tooth doing? The crown on my implant is great. It fits and I don't even notice it. I am so glad that whole process is over! I hope you and your fiance have good luck with yours as well!

Hello!  Ugh, I hate when a whole post gets lost.  That has happened to me more than once on here.  I know it was a pain to retype it all, but I am so glad that you did!

I have been less sad this week, but still not able to exercise at my normal level due to my muscle.  I tried to eat a little better, and drink a little less.  Just to make my week more annoying though, last Sunday afternoon I was eating and felt something hard in my mouth.  I saw a huge piece of what looked like a tooth, and saw that half of the top of a molar was gone, and the other half came off the next morning.  Strangely very little pain, but once I got to the dentist, they could immediately tell it was a crown and not an actual tooth.  I felt pretty dumb that I did not know that.  It was about 15 years old, and must have cracked from my nightly grinding, and finally fell apart.  SO, just when I thought I was done with the dentist, I go back Monday to get a mold made and a temp, then again later to get it.  I only have $298 benefits left since I just spent a ton on the implant crown, so this will be yet another expensive dental bill.  I could literally buy a very nice used car for what I have put into my mouth in the last year and a half.

I am glad your crown is doing well!  I hope your discharge issue has cleared up! I know how uncomfortable that can be!  I am not easily grossed out, so always feel free to share!

My older son and DIL got back from Germany yesterday.  We will see them next weekend at my mom's 85th birthday lunch.  I took this coming Friday off to go up to PA, then I will drive her down to Baltimore on Saturday for the lunch, and come home Sunday.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone! My sister found a miraculous medal from some estate jewelry, and it was made in the 60s or 70s, so the style is closer to what my mom's was.  We bought that for her birthday and are working on getting a chain.  It needs some cleaning up, but we hope it will look ok.

I don't know why my other son dragged his feet about getting a tablet, other than possibly money.  When we found out they weren't coming here in December, he said they have talked with an immigration lawyer.  Since her paperwork issue is ongoing, I don't know how much they are spending in legal fees.  So, we bought one and are going to ship it over there.  I am going to play a game online with my son tonight and I am looking forward to that.  When he was in college, he put a program called Steam on my computer, and we occasionally played together.  I asked him two weeks ago if we could play some Boggle, so we are going to try it tonight.  

My goat is still not well, and is losing weight from eating so little.  I had called the vet again Sunday, did not hear back, called Wed, and he finally called last night.  He is going to come by on Monday.  I'm sure he will do some bloodwork (which my sister also suggested) and maybe that will tell him something.  I feel for your friend watching the mama goat cry for her babies!  I usually sold mine around 2 months old, and the mamas always cry for them.  It is very sad and it's hard to do that to them. 

I am glad you got to the workshop and that it was so good!  Also that everyone liked the food!  Another feather in your cap!  I remember how nice the Ukrops was here, and that they always took your groceries out for you.  I don't know why it didn't succeed, especially since a Wegman's opened a few years later and is thriving.

How nice that you ran into an old friend!  Did you call her?  Would you want to meet up with her?  I really enjoyed seeing my old friend last month when she was in town for a few days, after about 20 years after the last time we got together. I am glad that you ran into her!

Yesterday was pumpkin patch day for kindergarten.  Several years ago they stopped doing it as a field trip, and one of the teachers brings enough little pumpkins for the whole grade, and spreads them out in the grass inside our little track.  They have 5 stations set up, one to pick your pumpkin, three game stations (relays etc.), and a snack station.  The kids love it, parents are allowed to come, and it's so much easier than a field trip.  The bonus for me is that they always do it in the mornings during our K time, so I get to go out with them!  They do a similar thing in spring near Easter.

That is all my news for this week!  I am going to make a grocery list and go get the shopping taken care of today.  I hope to take a walk tomorrow, somewhere flat that will not strain my sore rear end! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Hello my friend, just a quick note to say hi. I am at my mom’s and can’t type well on the touch screen keyboard. I was able to do a few things for her when I got here yesterday afternoon, and we had a good dinner. Going to lunch with the family this afternoon. I will write a better note next weekend!

Hey friend,

Every note from you is just fine. I get a little lift just  seeing you took the time to jot a quick one even when you should be simply having fun with your family and nothing else. I'm glad that is happening and I hope you travel safely. 

The Vestry meeting this month was so strange. 3 members , out of 6, had no report at all and one of those people criticized the other member's work, which was extensive AND he recruited a team to help create it. I thought it was great . Then i proposed that we have neighborhood Christmas caroling one Sunday afternoon in Dec.  Same person has been saying we need to more neighbor outreach.  Same member made a joke of it, the rest started laughing, and that was the end of the discussion. As it turns put, that person, and one other with no report are due to rotate of in December. UnChristian of me, but i say  . buh bye. It really didn't hurt my feelings like I originally thought a diss like that would- I was just shaking my head in disbelief.  I don't know if i'll go ahead with that idea or not at this point . I'm moving to Pastoral Care team in January anyway and that is what I wanted to do all along. The Pastor made that clear. She saw the work i did to prepare for that with Safe Church, not just for myself but for a team to be formed for the visits she can't make. I'll be happier and more fulfilled.   fa-la-la-la-ls!   And oh yes, they want to have Christmas party, just the 6 of us and 3 staff - stand around and eat and talk. I have plans already - I'd rather hide under a bus. 

Everything else was normal busy. Mark's follow up scan was good - only one node lit up and that may resolve with antibiotic, or some other plan, but no where near as bad as it could have been. Abi finishing up the semester. We are touring the venue next week together, my first time seeing it. That should be fun. No, I didn't call y old friend from work. I didn't even call my 2 friends that I do like to get together with once a month or so. Its been longer than that.  since I brought it up and I'm at work, and I have some time not busy right now - I'll call them right after I finish this note. 

Too many doughnuts, cookies, cupcakes and so on in the break room. It;s ER Nurses week. I've already had 2 KK and a muffin, and.. oh well. I did bring some soup and spinach and fruit so I'll try to eat that instead of more of the last stuff. After I call my friend. Why is it such a chore? I will feel better after I do, and I think they will too. It is important to let friends know you care and think about them. Thank God, its only 2!    Chat again soon. 

I did it. 2 phone calls. Yea me.