Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year

I have been trying to make things ready for Christmas. Getting further. My brother is driving mom and dad down this year. Looking forward to everyone here. Should be fun time. Kim and Chris are coming and the handsome grandsons.Our tree up front has the most beautiful colors this year. Never had that before.Now the wind has been blowing so I am sure they will be all off before Christmas day.I have off 2 weeks for Christmas from work. Was time for another break from the you know who person. Clean like a fool all the time and then this place is filthy comes out of her mouth. So insulting.....Wishing everyone a very beautiful time with family and friends.

Cold.....

I would say it is cold here but I am sure most of the people that live in the midwest and including my daughter who lives in the mountains would say it is very toasty here. So I will not say it is cold. Just a bit nippy...... In a week we have Christmas break. I have been trying to get things together for Christmas dinner and all. My parents and brother and family and Kim will be here.We decided to get a few different lights for the house this year. We always pack each eyecycal...sorry i tried several ways to spell that and finally said forget it. Anyways we pack each set of them lights in a bag so they are not so hard to untangle but after so many years we thought just forget it. So we are decorating different. I have to get few things and I have been trying to make this sourdough bread. Which is not bad. Just when you get it out of the oven the outside seems so hard. But after awhile it gets softer. My mom always baked bread on saturday for the whole week and you would think I could master that huh. I made some amish bread with lemon and poppyseeds and then going to make some pumpkin breads also to give out as gifts at school etc. Have a blessed day.

Back to work.....

I enjoyed my furlough days even though I didn't get paid for them. We had a wonderful trip up to mom and dad for Thanksgiving. We stopped and seen my brother on the way home. It rained some and then we had santa ana winds. Now it sounds like the el-nino is going to start. Yes ...we need rain very badly. Back to work again. Just a word of caution...if you use them bags for pan liners...make sure it can be heated up to the heat you are using. They thought they would be nice and it was greatly appreciated.. to give us pan liners to speedup the clean=up... but...now to save on money they have gotten the liners that can't stand much heat. Well like instant potato flakes so goes the liners into all the food and all over the ovens and wells and hot carts and guess who has the job of trying to get it off. It melts into hard glue and I still haven't figured out how to get it off. So most days it puts me in a bad mood. We are supposed to get another new mattress today. The first night we are just asleep and pop goes a spring. scared the beejeebers out of us. Every night there goes some more. Then the hassle of trying to get another. The lady said we have to take the mattress off and see what happens and all. even when we stood the mattress up on its side you could hear springs popping. Good grief. Here we got this good ortho mattress so it lasts a long time and what a hassle. Sure hope the new one is better.Many Blessings.

Furlough days......

This week I have to take off with no pay so says the district. So I will make the most of it and do some things that need to be done. There is craft show also that needs to gone to. I just love those things. Then I need to find a turkey and get it cooked to take up to mom and dad for Thanksgiving. Been way cooler . Just lovely that way.Corky went to the Men's breakfast at Church this morning. Afterwards he is riding with the Motorcycle Fellowship down to the beach. Should be fun time. Kim scored some free tickets into Disneyland for the kids and her and Chris. That should be fun time for them.Casey is doing good.Praise God for that. Cody is being awesome big brother and helping out.For the details on Casey and the surgery you can go to Kim's blog.Have a blessed day.

Blessings.....

Casey made it thru the surgery ok. Kim will write the details later on her blog. What a little trooper he was. His legs were wobbly still when we seen him. But he had that smile just like Cody that lights up my world.Mom and dad made the drive down ok and then the drive back home. They did good. We drove them in to Uncle Bill's birthday party.Nice to see family.Have a Blessed Day.

Hmmmmm......

Just enjoying sitting here and resting a bit.Been very hectic at work. Glad when the day is done.We needed the truck driver to pickup the broken freezer and he picked up the milk cooler instead with all the milk. Days have been going like that lately. My arms have been hurting worse again. Have to get back to the stretches and lifting the weights to strenthen them up. It was hot again but cooling back off. We got the new windows in. Sure is different in the house. Please pray for Casey to come thru the surgery fine on this Monday. You can read Kim's blog to see the details on it all.Mom and dad are doing fairly good. Dad helped her do the vertigo exercises a bit and it helped. They are going to try and drive down for Uncle Bills birthday.Have a Blessed Day.

Fall.........

Isn't Fall a nice time? I like when it gets cooler and all. We had a blast Sunday afternoon with Cody's birthday party. Kim and Chris got one of them jumpers for the kids. They just kept jumping and jumping.Corky was tempted but thought hmmmmm I bet my back would be messed up for going to work. It was 90 to 92 degrees but the patio was partially shaded by the afternoon and we had the easy-up which helped.Runors are flying that the school I work at will be the next to close. Hope not but what do you do? I have enough senority that I can bump someone.Have to wait it out and see. Mom woke up with the vertigo again. She can't get in for a treatment until next week.Sure wished that would stop coming back.Corky had to move equipment around yesterday at work with the big semi from different jobsites.. So up at 4 which made for a long day. By 11 you are ready for bed. Have a Blessed Day.

Ahhhhhhhhh...........

Just feeling blah... But then I read some others blogs and feel like I am really being a ........for feeling so sorry for myself. So anyways work has been very trying the last few days again. But hey I will get thru it fine. Sunday afternoon is Cody's birthday/halloween party here. Should be fun time. We decided to get them windows installed that are supposed to do wonders on the bills. Ours needed to be done as we can see underneath lots of them to the outside. Just costs so much money but had to be done. I have to take 6 days off in the way of furlough days. They setup the time and mine is the week before Thanksgiving. So actually I am looking forward to that time. We plan on driving up to mom and dad for Thanksgiving. They are doing fairly well. A few mishaps but God is good. Today is Picture day at work. See if I can break the camera. hahahaah. Have a Blessed Day.

Raindrops.......

Isn't that an awesome sound when it has been so hot and dry for such a long time? Just makes me smile and smile. Work has been going pretty good. The boss was on the rampage yesterday and I just stayed out of the way. Our milk cooler was broke so it was hard to keep all the milk in the refrig with all the food. But something just pushed her button and WOW. Now the school board has come up with a new plan after we all have to take furlough days ....now they decided to freeze all our step increases and longevity pay. I can't get any step increases anymore so I get longevity increases. I wonder when all this stops.But at least we still have jobs. Look on the bright side. We got our air conditioner replaced as the old one decided to leak water all inside the house. Mom and dad are doing better. Dads heart rate the other day was going very fast. But they since have said its better. It was very quiet in the house after the kids went back home. They are going to have Cody's birthday party here on the 25th. Should be a fun time. Have a Blessed Day.

Thank you

Thank you to all for the many prayers lifted up on behalf of mom and dad and Kim and Chris and their family. Mom is able to walk without the walker as of yesterday. Her vertigo is much improved. She also got a good report from the dermatologist. She goes to the specialist on Thursday for her ears and the vertigo problem.Kim and Chris were able to bring some stuff back last night as the mandatory evacuation was lifted. Praise God for stopping the fire and all the hard work of the firecrews. The fire was stopped right on the edge of town. When they got to there house last night all was good.Blessings to all.

Prayer Request

Kim and Chris were evacuated for the fire coming straight at them in Wrightwood last night. They packed up as much as possible. They made it here and pray the fire stops and all turns out ok.So far the fire is only 10 percent contained.Blessings.

Prayer request

Mom woke up with the vertigo again this morning.They got into the doc. Pray that they get to the bottom of this. She could not hardly walk by herself. Mom and dad were just getting where they could go again. Such a trying time for them both.Blessings to all.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...........

It is foggy this morning.Yeah. Maybe it is finally going to be cooler. I just love that.Our a/c was leaking water on the inside here in the house. So we had to get new a/c. What an expense. We could have just shut the thing off but then it was starting to rust on the heater part and then does that work in the winter??? So best to just dig up a can from the backyard and pay for new one.. Yes.. Corky seems to think I have cans buried in the backyard. Just as a joke I should do that once and watch his face. hahahahaaha.Work has been going pretty good. Our count is really low. But if you think about it with so many without jobs it would be cheaper to buy loaf of bread and peanut butter and bag of chips and you could make heck of lot sandwiches with that. They charge 2 dollars a day now for lunch. So anyways.Dad went fishing with my brother John and they only caught one fish. Told him he should have used blue duct tape like that boy of Greg did at the reunion. Mom's itching is doing a bit better with the cream from the dermatologist. But her hair is still falling out really bad. Wished we could figure that one out.We watched the grandkids over the last weekend. We had a blast. Just love that. I got 2 little sleeping bags for them and then this one drill that you take the car and airplane etc all apart and put back together. Cody just did that over and over. Them boys are so smart. Grandpa had gotten this big wagon for the backyard and they both fixed and fixed on that. Such imaginations they have. Hope everyone is well. Have a Blessed Day.

Still hot and humid...

The heat is less but still humid. Work is going pretty good. Our count is way less so I am sure they will cut my hours if it does not go up. There is way less kids enrolled and they are talking about shipping some more out. Also may be more cuts of the jobs because they are trying to have the kids to teacher ratio higher yet. So they can lay off more people.I went to a craft show and seen old neighbor from when Kim was little. Was fun to see her. Mom and dad are doing ok. So that is great.

Hot and smoky......

The fires and heat are relentless right now. Hope the firefighters get the upper hand soon and the weather cools down. Just been so hot here. 112 most days. Today back to work.Trying to get myself in the right mood. Last year was not very good with the boss . Been watching for a intra-district transfer but so far with all the layoffs and school closures there is really nothing available. Thankful I have a job. Just hope this year is better on the blood pressure if you no what I mean.Blessings

End of summer...

On Monday I go back to work. Not very enthused about it. It was cooler for a bit but now it is very hot again and humid.We get to see a Dodger game next week. Kim got some free tickets from filling up with gas. So that should be a good time. We made a short trip up to mom and dad. They are doing pretty good. Mom's eyes are not good and she goes to the eye doc today. She has cataracts I believe that need to be taken care of. Dad goes in tomorrow to have the stent taken out of his gallbladder duct. After they finally took out the remaining gallstone he is feeling so much better.Mom is recovering from her mini-strokes.My brother John had an extra computer so he brought it over to mom and dad and set it up. So they are going to try and maneuver the internet. They did good while we were there.Please pray for mom and dads continued recovery.Have a Blessed day.

To Hot........

Can you tell I hate hot weather and especially humidity. Makes my hot flashes worse. Blah.......Thanks for all the prayers for mom and dad. Dad is feeling lots better. Mom is doing better. She had some memory loss. She said right after she couldn't remember to much. We met them for lunch at the Grapevine Friday.She seemed good just her voice you could hear she was tired.Corky went on a motorcycle ride today with the guys up in the mountains.He said it was beautiful up there. I have been trying to clean but having a hard time motivating myself.I got out my painting stuff again. I took a class on Donna Dewberry one stroke . I wished I would have taken art class in school. I have a hard time to see where things are supposed to be shaded. Oh well. I practice and finally end up with something that looks semi-ok.Asking all to continue to pray for mom and dad's health. Blessings.

Awesome Time.......

We had such an awesome time on our trip. Time with family and just being with each other in a confined space as Corky says it. We celebrated our 37 years together at a Wendys.As when we put in the gps a steakhouse it was closed down when we got there. Then we tried to rely on our own navigation in Little Rock, we ended up in a really bad neighborhood and Corky says we need to get out of here fast or we might get shot. Really was bad. So we quick put in the motels address and a wendys was right there. we learned what a bellywasher was and you could order a croppie casserole if you wanted in some places. So how you all doing today? Just love that. We learned big time that people in other states have a good attitude. Not here. Blast the horn and get out of my way. No wonder people have nervous breakdowns here. just drive on the freeway for a bit.We even had to sleep on a mattress that had a hole in it. Felt like we were reliving that Lucy show where she tied herself to the side of the bed. I was pissed because we were so tired and then that.So when I complained in the morning The guy thought I was complaining that the bed wasn't hard enough. Who knew a hole in a mattress was not a hard bed. Haha. By the way so that none of you hit that place it was in Flagstaff, Arizona at the Fairfield inn by marriot..But in spite of it all. Oh and Corky got bit by a ton of fleas in Arkansas from his waist down so when we got home we went to urgent care. So he could get relief from the itching. One guy at Church said good grief looks like they had big lips and sucked the juice right out of you. Looked awful. We kept in touch with my parents via email because my dad was having such a time after the gallbladder operation. They have since found another stone in his duct and now he is on the mend. But my dad called the other day and he had to take mom in because she was having series of mini strokes. She is back home and we hope and pray that both of them are on the mend from this seemingly endless pain and suffering. Pray for God's healing touch to be with them both.We sure missed the kids and grandsons while we were gone. We watched them for a bit while Kim and Chris went to the demo derby. They always come up with soemthing and we have such a hard time to keep from chuckling. Just love them little ones to pieces.So precious.Thanks to everyone for Blessed time. Family is just the greatest ever. Blessings to all. Corky and Kay

Prayer request

Dad has to have colonscopy to see why all the bleeding and then they have to go down his throat and see if he needs a stint put in his gallbladder duct. They will do upper GI at the same time and also check his pancreas.This will be done on different days. June 24th and July 1st.Pray for God's healing touch. Blessings to all.

Chomping at the bit......

So far Corky has to take Fridays off. We are hoping things pickup soon at his work.We decided to take the 2 weeks and head out early for the family reunion. We are stopping by my brothers and also some friends in springfield.They had to layoff tons of people in the school district and close 3 schools. Now they were ordered to open a new school so that means possibly closing another school. The one I work at has low enrollment so who knows what will happen. I will find out tomorrow if I get to work summer school.Everything has been upside down at work.I am weary of it all. dad is still having problems.He sees the doc today. Hoping for some answers.Drove up to Big Bear Sunday afternoon to see Kim and family while camping. Really fun except Corky got carsick and he was driving.Corky has not been sleeping well as he gets excited like a little kid for vacation. Hope to see lots of family at the reunion. Should be fun.Don't think mom and dad will make it. Mom's dizziness is better but dad is really not to good for a trip. Pray for them to get healthy once again. Dad so enjoys driving and going places. Blessings to all.

Update

Dad made it thru gallbladder surgery just fine. They also fixed a hernia that was by his bellybutton..Thanks for all the prayers.Blessings to all.

Update on mom and dad

Thank you all for your prayers. Mom is doing a bit better. Dad had to be taken by ambulance again to the emergency as he had cranberry juice and was having like seisure. They did a cat scan and found his gallbladder was enflamed. So he will probaly be undergoing surgery in couple of days. He was in good spirits mom said. So lift them both up in your prayers. Dad has been in pain for quite sometime. Hopefully this will be the end of all that stomach pain.Blessings to all.

Prayer Request

Would everyone lift up my mom and dad in their prayers.Mom is still being very dizzy with the vertigo and now sinus infection again. early this morning she had to drive dad to the emergency. He was in so much stomach pain and vomiting. They run bunch of tests and came up with a virus.Blessings to all.

Hanging on....

Well the union made comments last night at the meeting like no matter what you vote for...the district will do what they want anyways.Nice union huh. So now we have to take furlough days. They say when and will schedule them. But that is better than taking a rollback in wages. And way better than no job at all. So you thank God for all your blessings. Corky is still having to take Fridays off. The weather has been really chilly. Signed up to work summer school. Don't know if I get to work it yet.They usually do things at the last minute it seems.Someone gave me a starter of Amish Friendship Bread.That sure is some good bread. So I have some more bags fermenting away on the table. Going to try different combinations in the end to see how it tastes.Love to all.

Spring is in the air....

It has been warm already. I just love the wildflowers on the sides of the roads etc. We watched the grandsons for a bit on Sunday. They kept grandpa on his toes. Just love that.They have been making Corky take off on Fridays now because the crews still have't gone out. We hope it all picks up soon. I am still waiting on whats going to happen at work. Sounds like they might shut more schools. Sure is something this economy. Our count is going up a bit for lunch but they said only 38 kids were enrolled for kindergarten. That sure isn't a good sign at all. So we might be the next school to close. If the enrollment gets to low they shut it down.Hope all is well by everyone. Love to all.

Good times....

What a wonderful time we had visiting with everyone who came to mom and dad's anniversary.Some we hadn't seen in long time.Looking forward to the family reunion this summer. Now its back to work. d-day is April 1st for me to see what happens at the job. We keep praying everyday Corky doesn't get laid off. Every Friday he hates to ask for his check because then the boss dishes out the bad news.Thanks again for everyone who came and shared in the celebration.Love to all.

Hmmmm......

We wonder what's going to happen now....They are closing 3 schools here because of the budget and laying off so many people in the district.I have almost 15 years but you never know.We are looking forward to seeing lots of people at mom and dad's 60th anniversary in couple of weeks. Should be a fun time.Dad is getting nervous. Mom still is having trouble with her dizziness. It is vertigo and it sure takes a long time to not be dizzy. Not good at any age but not good at all when you are almost 80. When they fall things break very easy and they don't heal very fast.The reunion is soon. Looking forward to seeing everyone.Blessings to all.

Just plugging away...

Hope everyone has been well.We have been sick with colds,sinus infections,ear and throat stuff and allergies in the eye. So not up to par to say the least. Have been trying to make this picture thing on the computer for my mom and dads 60th but something is not working.I get it all done and ready to save and it won't and then I lose the whole thing.Have done this how many times. So I finally told myself....self give it up.Just figure another way to do it. Did manage to make some flower pots with cupcake holder papers with pictures in.They actually turned out halfway decent.Then got the dumb taxes done. Good thing is we actually get a refund but unfortunately the state will send us an iou. hmmm.We did get alot of rain which was needed very badly. We had the grandsons overnight awhile back. That was a blast.Corky is still praying he don't get laid off at work. The guys haven't gone out yet on any jobs for 12 weeks now. The boss has only gotten 3 bids so far. sometimes bids 5 times a week on jobs. Corky is the only one left at work. He now has the warehouse job to. Plus he runs the bids and mechanic and driver etc. He says I will do it all as long as I can keep working.Our count is going up a bit at work. So we hope it keeps doing that.Now with the state budget taking us out we will all have to take 2 days off possiblya month.Or they said we have to take our vacation days they give us and not pay us for that.Keep getting slammed from all sides. As long as we have jobs.Praise God. Lot of people have nothing.Love to all.Blessings.Corky and Kay

Blah.....

I have been down a bit with some things around here. I have to remember when I surrender it all to God that I leave it there. If I continue to worry its like I don't trust Him. We will trust in God's way of handling it all. We had a wonderful Christmas. Now its back to work. Corky's job is wondering everyday if its going to be there. They have jobs but the people don't have the funding released to pay for it. So we wait and wonder. The lunch count is going down also. But I expect the budgets are strained from to much Christmas bills.It was nice and cold here. But it has been changed last couple of days. Was 86 here yesterday. Saturday we are going on a motorcycle ride with the Church fellowship.Off thru Malibu and Ventura etc. Then I got a card for our tax prep in the mail. Good grief. Now I have to work on that. Never a funtime for that.Corky had a cyst removed from the middle of his back right after Christmas. He is still waiting for the steri strips to fall off. That cyst really got huge and infected. Looked awful. My ankles have been hurting so bad. What's up with that anyways. My mom and dad are going to have open house for their 60th wedding anniversary On March 21. All are invited.They didn't want anything but when they were down for Christmas, my brother convinced them to do something. I think they just don't like all the attention. My brother Chuck is doing well after his back surgery. Keep praying for him.Blessings to all.