We see Larry mostly during the weekends because he works in Longview, which is about 1.5 hours (one way) from where we currently live. Well, this morning, he called and begged me to pick him up from his workplace. Kari's stomach flu has spread to him. Oh, no.
Yes, the stomach flu has attacked my poor husband. Unfortunately, he's one of those people that when an illness hits him, it hits him hard. If it's a 24-hour bug, it usually stays with him for 3 more days. I dropped the children off with their grandmama before I drove to Longview to pick him up.
He was a sorry sight; my poor baby. During the drive back, he reclined, closed his eyes and didn't want to listen to the radio. After 45 minutes of silence, I thought I would make pleasant conversation.
"Boy, it sure is a nice day today, isn't it?" I remarked. He just stayed quiet; his stomach was in terrible pain. Poor baby. I returned to being silent. Now I have 3 babies to take care of.
When I brought everyone back to the house, I made chicken soup from scratch based on what I had in the pantry and fridge. It's rather bland, but seems OK with rice or crackers. Larry's been sipping that soup and drinking water. So far, his stomach's been keeping them down.
Oh, now our niece Brittany also has the stomach flu. So does her mother. And Larry's mother. Brittany said that the stomach flu is going around her school, too.
I haven't had a chance to do any Christmas decorating or shopping due to a sickly household. Oh well, we'll make do with what we can get done.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I'll Never Forget This Thanksgiving!
I am tired. This past Tuesday (11/20), Kari contracted the stomach flu. I have spent the rest of the week changing clothes and bedsheets, washing, disinfecting and most of all, comforting. Kari has gotten better, but isn't completely over it. Now Gary has it. Poor little guy. I hate seeing my children go through this. The key thing is to keep them hydrated. I heard that this stomach flu is going around the community. I hope Larry and I don't catch it, but it seems inevitable.
On Thanksgiving day, Kari was feeling a little better (no fever) and Gary didn't have the stomach flu yet, so we went to Larry's brother's house for the Thanksgiving meal. It was quite a spread - fried turkey, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, pecan pies...oh, we certainly didn't leave hungry.
This was my first Thanksgiving without my parents and it was hard. I miss them, but I also enjoyed being with Larry's family. We hope to visit Virginia next year. I have a lot to be thankful for: my health, my family's health, the country we live in, our friends... Most of all, I am thankful to have Jesus Christ in my life. He has been my anchor in the many trials I faced in life. I am also thankful for the men and women who fight and fought for our country. God bless you all.
Since the children have been sick, I haven't gone out. I mean, we spent some time outdoors when it wasn't too cold, but I haven't done any shopping and I am getting cabin fever. Somebody save me! Just kidding.
Well, I better get some rest. Check back with you later!
On Thanksgiving day, Kari was feeling a little better (no fever) and Gary didn't have the stomach flu yet, so we went to Larry's brother's house for the Thanksgiving meal. It was quite a spread - fried turkey, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, pecan pies...oh, we certainly didn't leave hungry.
This was my first Thanksgiving without my parents and it was hard. I miss them, but I also enjoyed being with Larry's family. We hope to visit Virginia next year. I have a lot to be thankful for: my health, my family's health, the country we live in, our friends... Most of all, I am thankful to have Jesus Christ in my life. He has been my anchor in the many trials I faced in life. I am also thankful for the men and women who fight and fought for our country. God bless you all.
Since the children have been sick, I haven't gone out. I mean, we spent some time outdoors when it wasn't too cold, but I haven't done any shopping and I am getting cabin fever. Somebody save me! Just kidding.
Well, I better get some rest. Check back with you later!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
"Next Iron Chef" Comments
I cannot believe it! Chef Besh should have won. His plating was beautiful and he was pretty gutsy making that swordfish dessert. Also, I wished Mario Batali was one of the judges.
Oh well...congratulations, Chef Symon.
Chef Besh, you will always be an iron chef in my book!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Trick-or-Treat on the Square
Our niece, Brittany, was a huge help when I took Kari and Gary out trick-or-treating on the town square. Merchants set up tables by their shops and provided the candy which costumed youngsters eagerly sought. This occurred from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.The police were great in directing people and vehicle traffic.
I did not have a problem finding a parking space nor did I have difficulty with any heavy traffic when I was ready to go home. We all had a wonderful time. The weather was pretty warm: about 75 degrees.
Grandmama made Kari's costume and since she ran out of time (due to working an extra shift), the dress didn't turn out the way she planned. Nevertheless, Kari looked adorable. We were a bit unprepared with her costume. People thought she was either a princess, a fairy or an angel.
Kari was overwhelmed by all these strangers filling her basket with goodies. And some of these strangers were in outrageous garb.
Gary was cute as can be. Dressed in camouflage duds, he passed off as a hunter. His candy bag was filled as well. The contents will later be inspected by his daddy. Of course, if there is anything remotely chocolatey, I may have to check it out.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Waaaahh!!!
For those who have little children afoot and STILL maintain an impeccable house, PLEASE tell me how you do it.
Sorry, I guess I'm just having one of those days. Usually I just tell myself that I can only do so much and to take it one day at a time. Does anyone know how much a maid costs nowadays?
Sorry, I guess I'm just having one of those days. Usually I just tell myself that I can only do so much and to take it one day at a time. Does anyone know how much a maid costs nowadays?
Magdalina's Wheel Chair
This report which Cindy sent me is too moving not to share. Cindy is my friend from Newport News, VA. She and I were roommates during the times that I did missionary work in Zhitomir, Ukraine in 1993, 1997 and 2002. Cindy had been faithfully continuing the missionary work in Ukraine every year since it started in 1993. She and a group are getting ready to leave next week for another Ukraine mission. Prayers are solicited for their safe trip. I wish I could join them, but it is difficult with 2 little children right now. Perhaps one day.
It gladdens my heart to know that in a world of turmoil (perhaps I shouldn't read the news so much), that there are still people with giving hearts. It reminds me of a particular song: "Love isn't love till you give it away..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tommy South wrote:
I got this from John Kachelman yesterday. He's in Ivano-Frankivsk now, doing some relief work in the villages as well as teaching. This gives you an idea of the sort of needs that exist all over Ukraine, especially in the outlying areas. Tommy
---------------------------------
Report #13-- October 23, 2007 from John Kachelman
Magdalina's Wheelchair
In today's report I want to introduce you to a lady that we first met in March named Magdalina. She lives in the village of Nebliv. She is 77 years old and for the past 24 years she has been confined to her small house. She has multiple physical problems, but the major disability is the fact that her hip joints have never functioned properly because they were not corrected at birth. She maneuvered around her house pulling herself across the floors and using a stick that has a piece of wood tied to the end that enables her to "hook" various things she needs.
Her house is not much more than a 10x12 room with an entry room through which you walk from the outside
to the inside. In our visit in March, John Durham had promised Magdalina that we would get her a wheelchair. We had intended the wheelchair to be delivered when the first container arrived; but due to a number of problems we were unable to deliver the wheelchair from that container.
The container that Kathy Cadden filled and shipped out of Columbus, MS arrived as our second container into Ukraine. Ivan Skoleba worked to get the container shipped from Kyiv into Ivan-Frankovsk. As we arrived, Kathy's container was in the midst of distribution. There was a pallet box with five wheelchairs still available for distribution and John Durham said we needed to make certain that Magdalina received one of those.
When John came to get a van load of benevolence items to distribute in Nebliv, he took back two wheelchairs and one was earmarked for Magdalina. Today we went to Nebliv to deliver the snow boots and clothing to the mentally handicapped orphanage and to take Magdalina her wheelchair.
As we left for Magdalina's house, John told someone to get one of the "Family Boxes" that Kathy packed for her container. As we drove through the village the drizzling rains continued changing the dirt roads into muddy lanes with rocks sticking out of the puddles. We finally arrived and all got out and walked the distance to Magdalina's house. We entered and found her sewing on the oldest manual sewing machine I have ever seen.
She was surprised to see us and told us that she had been visited by Ivan, Sasha, and Julia. John asked her if she remembered us visiting in March and she said she did remember it very well. John pointed to the wheelchair and told her that we had promised to bring her a wheelchair so she could get around in her house better. As Ivan began putting the foot rests onto the chair, Magdalina could not stop crying and saying that no one had ever treated her in such a way as we were. She said that she often prayed for us and remembered the visits in the spring. She kept saying how thankful she was for the wheelchair and how much she prayed that God would bless our efforts.
She would hold her face in her hands and try to stop crying so she could talk more. "I apologize that I am not presentable for your visit," as she tried to adjust the head scarf. "I am not able to do anything in this house to make it able to receive guests as you."
At that time John Durham reached over and brought the Family Box to where it could be opened. As he opened the box, Magdalina's exclamations and tears increased. Inside these boxes Kathy puts a miscellaneous assortment of items that are needed in every day living. These are all packed inside a 5-gallon plastic bucket that serves a multitude of purposes. John pulled out and explained each item. There were dish towels, matches, plastic drinking glasses, mugs, candles, soaps, lotions, and fingernail clippers among the treasures in that bucket. As John showed each to Magdalina, she told us how thankful she was and how much she prays that God will bless us. When John showed her the matches Magdalina exclaimed, "Oh I needed these very much, but I do not have money to buy them. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Throughout this visit we have witnessed the wonderful gratitude that is demonstrated by the distribution of items in our containers. For all that worked and sweated and sewed and sorted and packed, Magdalina's tears and words are sent to you. You never probably thought you would be helping a totally disabled 77-year old widow who lives in a small hut at the end of a muddy path, but you did. Magdalina said that she has not been able to get out of her house in 24 years, but now with this wheelchair she will be able to go outside on the warm days and look at the grass and trees once again.
Thank you for being a part of this effort! "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the widows in their affliction."
John Kachelman
Ivan-Frankovsk, UA
It gladdens my heart to know that in a world of turmoil (perhaps I shouldn't read the news so much), that there are still people with giving hearts. It reminds me of a particular song: "Love isn't love till you give it away..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi,
I thought you would be interested in this email describing this Ukrainian woman, and how others were reaching out to help. This work is supported by congregations other than the ones I go to Ukraine with, but it's good others are reaching out, too.
As you look at the photos of Magdalina at her sewing machine ..... notice her glasses. I wish I could send her a new pair!
Blessin's,
cindy
Tommy South wrote:
I got this from John Kachelman yesterday. He's in Ivano-Frankivsk now, doing some relief work in the villages as well as teaching. This gives you an idea of the sort of needs that exist all over Ukraine, especially in the outlying areas. Tommy
---------------------------------
Report #13-- October 23, 2007 from John Kachelman
Magdalina's Wheelchair
In today's report I want to introduce you to a lady that we first met in March named Magdalina. She lives in the village of Nebliv. She is 77 years old and for the past 24 years she has been confined to her small house. She has multiple physical problems, but the major disability is the fact that her hip joints have never functioned properly because they were not corrected at birth. She maneuvered around her house pulling herself across the floors and using a stick that has a piece of wood tied to the end that enables her to "hook" various things she needs.
Her house is not much more than a 10x12 room with an entry room through which you walk from the outside
to the inside. In our visit in March, John Durham had promised Magdalina that we would get her a wheelchair. We had intended the wheelchair to be delivered when the first container arrived; but due to a number of problems we were unable to deliver the wheelchair from that container.The container that Kathy Cadden filled and shipped out of Columbus, MS arrived as our second container into Ukraine. Ivan Skoleba worked to get the container shipped from Kyiv into Ivan-Frankovsk. As we arrived, Kathy's container was in the midst of distribution. There was a pallet box with five wheelchairs still available for distribution and John Durham said we needed to make certain that Magdalina received one of those.
When John came to get a van load of benevolence items to distribute in Nebliv, he took back two wheelchairs and one was earmarked for Magdalina. Today we went to Nebliv to deliver the snow boots and clothing to the mentally handicapped orphanage and to take Magdalina her wheelchair.
As we left for Magdalina's house, John told someone to get one of the "Family Boxes" that Kathy packed for her container. As we drove through the village the drizzling rains continued changing the dirt roads into muddy lanes with rocks sticking out of the puddles. We finally arrived and all got out and walked the distance to Magdalina's house. We entered and found her sewing on the oldest manual sewing machine I have ever seen.
She was surprised to see us and told us that she had been visited by Ivan, Sasha, and Julia. John asked her if she remembered us visiting in March and she said she did remember it very well. John pointed to the wheelchair and told her that we had promised to bring her a wheelchair so she could get around in her house better. As Ivan began putting the foot rests onto the chair, Magdalina could not stop crying and saying that no one had ever treated her in such a way as we were. She said that she often prayed for us and remembered the visits in the spring. She kept saying how thankful she was for the wheelchair and how much she prayed that God would bless our efforts.
She would hold her face in her hands and try to stop crying so she could talk more. "I apologize that I am not presentable for your visit," as she tried to adjust the head scarf. "I am not able to do anything in this house to make it able to receive guests as you."
At that time John Durham reached over and brought the Family Box to where it could be opened. As he opened the box, Magdalina's exclamations and tears increased. Inside these boxes Kathy puts a miscellaneous assortment of items that are needed in every day living. These are all packed inside a 5-gallon plastic bucket that serves a multitude of purposes. John pulled out and explained each item. There were dish towels, matches, plastic drinking glasses, mugs, candles, soaps, lotions, and fingernail clippers among the treasures in that bucket. As John showed each to Magdalina, she told us how thankful she was and how much she prays that God will bless us. When John showed her the matches Magdalina exclaimed, "Oh I needed these very much, but I do not have money to buy them. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Throughout this visit we have witnessed the wonderful gratitude that is demonstrated by the distribution of items in our containers. For all that worked and sweated and sewed and sorted and packed, Magdalina's tears and words are sent to you. You never probably thought you would be helping a totally disabled 77-year old widow who lives in a small hut at the end of a muddy path, but you did. Magdalina said that she has not been able to get out of her house in 24 years, but now with this wheelchair she will be able to go outside on the warm days and look at the grass and trees once again.
Thank you for being a part of this effort! "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the widows in their affliction."
John Kachelman
Ivan-Frankovsk, UA
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
One Lump or Two?
We just returned from spending the weekend in Gladewater with Larry. Even though he was on-call, we were glad there were no emergencies because we were able to spend more time together. Larry's parents pleasantly surprised us with a brief visit on Saturday. They were doing some shopping in Longview and Buddy wanted to see what's next to be done on our place.
Larry had spent the majority of the Saturday daylight sealing pipes together (for water, electrical and sewage). Later we did some strolling around the Longview Mall. Larry bought a couple of items and Kari got on one of those kiddie rides inside the mall.
On Sunday we went to church in Gladewater and Kari did not want to be left alone with her toddler Bible class. She was screaming something terrible until Larry took her outside and held her. He told me later that she was actually shaking. After she had calmed down and Larry gently spoke to her, she went back to her class and had a great time learning about Joshua. I had stayed with Gary in his cradle roll class. Every rubber toy that the teacher handed him was treated like a ball. Gary threw everything down. His classmate, Caden, who is also ten months old, just put every toy he was given in his mouth. He was teething. They were so cute!
After church, we drove to Tyler, which was about 45 minutes from Gladewater and checked out some stores and the mall there. Larry developed a slight headache so I drove us back home. We returned to Sunday evening service at the Gladewater church and Kari wanted to bring Winnie-the-Pooh with her because she wanted him to "know Jesus." It was so sweet!
The members there were very friendly and recommended a few local businesses that could help us with our house-building (laminates, countertops, paint, etc.). I was just informed that the neighboring town, Gilmer, was having a Yam-bor-ee. I'm sorry I missed it. I love yams. The town boasted that their yams are so good that even Oprah has special requested them. Well, that's what they tell me.
I drove back to Center with the children on Monday and it was raining. When we came home, there were 2 packages from my parents waiting for us. It was mostly stuff that I couldn't fit in my suitcase when I had visited them last week. I also did some grocery shopping later on to fill up the fridge again.
Today I have the unenviable task of finishing my unpacking, putting away the contents of the packages and washing clothes. My children have been entertaining themselves so far with a tea party. They invited their friends, Winnie-the-Pooh and Baby (haven't found a name for her favorite doll yet) to join them. The kitchen table is filled with items that need to be sorted, so Kari improvised on the table for her tea party.
The weather is getting cooler here. Time to give the children some lunch so I'll check back later!
Larry had spent the majority of the Saturday daylight sealing pipes together (for water, electrical and sewage). Later we did some strolling around the Longview Mall. Larry bought a couple of items and Kari got on one of those kiddie rides inside the mall.
On Sunday we went to church in Gladewater and Kari did not want to be left alone with her toddler Bible class. She was screaming something terrible until Larry took her outside and held her. He told me later that she was actually shaking. After she had calmed down and Larry gently spoke to her, she went back to her class and had a great time learning about Joshua. I had stayed with Gary in his cradle roll class. Every rubber toy that the teacher handed him was treated like a ball. Gary threw everything down. His classmate, Caden, who is also ten months old, just put every toy he was given in his mouth. He was teething. They were so cute!
After church, we drove to Tyler, which was about 45 minutes from Gladewater and checked out some stores and the mall there. Larry developed a slight headache so I drove us back home. We returned to Sunday evening service at the Gladewater church and Kari wanted to bring Winnie-the-Pooh with her because she wanted him to "know Jesus." It was so sweet!
The members there were very friendly and recommended a few local businesses that could help us with our house-building (laminates, countertops, paint, etc.). I was just informed that the neighboring town, Gilmer, was having a Yam-bor-ee. I'm sorry I missed it. I love yams. The town boasted that their yams are so good that even Oprah has special requested them. Well, that's what they tell me.
I drove back to Center with the children on Monday and it was raining. When we came home, there were 2 packages from my parents waiting for us. It was mostly stuff that I couldn't fit in my suitcase when I had visited them last week. I also did some grocery shopping later on to fill up the fridge again.
Today I have the unenviable task of finishing my unpacking, putting away the contents of the packages and washing clothes. My children have been entertaining themselves so far with a tea party. They invited their friends, Winnie-the-Pooh and Baby (haven't found a name for her favorite doll yet) to join them. The kitchen table is filled with items that need to be sorted, so Kari improvised on the table for her tea party.
The weather is getting cooler here. Time to give the children some lunch so I'll check back later!
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Funny Demotivators(R) Sample - DESTINY
You were meant for me. Perhaps as a punishment.
