House (and Van) Drama

So, as previously mentioned, our sump pump didn’t work way back in February.  We worked to sort that all out, but we wanted to change the guest room a bit before we put in new carpet.  We planned on the guest room reno, but not this quickly after the kitchen.  Anyway, we are done.  We have the kitchen done, the new furnace in, the patio leak fixed, the sump pump backed up with a second pump + a sound alert + a battery backup, the guest room done, and new carpet.  Whew! 

      

In June we got a used 2020 Honda Odyssey to replace our old van; we were tired of the tiny repairs that were needed frequently.  We wanted something more reliable and less costly.  We got it in time to take to Myrtle.  And it drove beautifully.  Then, two weeks later, I took it to have a nice lunch with my coworkers, and the entire thing felt like it fell apart at the stoplight at 30 and 94.  As it struggled across the intersection as though it were dragging something underneath, I pulled it over cautiously on the side of the road.  I looked under the car and saw nothing.  I got back in and slowly manipulated it back on the road and managed to get it to Jim’s Transmission.  When I explained it to Nate (one of the mechanics), I suggested it was my transmission – although, seriously, I know nothing about cars!  He went out to test drive it and it wouldn’t shift into reverse which I assumed solidified my hunch.  And it was the transmission – one of the most expensive parts of a car!  And the Honda transmissions were on back order.  Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of Nate’s search; he found a used transmission (40,000 miles) that would work.  So, a month later, with a new/used transmission installed, I went to go get our “more reliable” van…. only it wouldn’t start.  I am not making this up… it was completely dead.  Nate jumped it for me, told me to let it run for 30 minutes, and it should be good.  I did it.  Then, I went to fill it up with gas since it was pretty much empty, and … it was dead as soon as I turned it off.  Nate sent someone to come jump it again.  And it went back to the shop.  It was a dead battery that had to be replaced.  I picked it up a few days later.  And now, we are hoping for the best.  Fingers crossed.  It is comfortable.  It should be a great van.  I do like it.  I just don’t trust it.  Hoping it can earn my trust back.

Wrapping Things Up

We have worked in spurts at Gloria’s to try to clean out the house – donating, saving, selling, auctioning, throwing away, etc.  Jennifer stayed for about the entire month of December organizing and sorting things.  Jason has come for some whirlwind weekend trips.  The whole Minnesota Yoh family came over spring break for some days and did some work.  Jeremy has been over there consistently doing many things – meeting people for Marketplace sales, cleaning ladies, small clean out days, big clean out days, and more.  Then, I rounded up a few willing souls to put in time and energy and who wouldn’t be afraid to just get things done.  A HUGE shout out to Chris Daniels, my mom, Sandy, Steph M., David Bricker (hauling stuff one day), Madison, and Ellie.  Here are just some pictures from this time… (note that we did have fun… my button, Jeremy fitting in the trunk, dress up with the girls)

         

And then the house was empty, staged, and put up for sale (along with the 4 other condos in the allotment!).  We were beyond blessed that it sold for asking price quickly.  Working with Laura Martin, our relator from buying/selling our home, was a joy.

The secretary at my school was also selling her father-in-law’s condo across the street from Gloria’s.  She captured this photo one evening when they were there.  A reminder of the promises of God that we will be together again one day. 

Advent: Week 1 and 2

And I finally made it to the blog I was going to post tonight.  That’s what happens when you are at least a month behind on blogging – one blog, turns into 5 or 6.  But I am persevering and finishing this tonight.  So, buckle up as I walk you through the start of our Advent calendar fun! 

Day 1 – Decorate the house.  We had mostly done this on Saturday, but the girls did help Jeremy put up outdoor lights.  We went and watched Wicked instead of putting off decoration.

Day 2 – Unwrap a gift.  No, they didn’t get register blowers.  They were boxes that held comfy PJ pants.

Day 3 – Attend a band concert (Ellie’s).

Day 4 – Shopping spree for canned food drives.  They each had $30 to spend for cans for their school.  They have fun trying to get as close to $30 as possible.  Ellie was at $29 and some change, and Madison was over by a few cents.  Pretty good!

Day 5 – Write a letter.  Ellie chose to write to Ashel, our Compassion friend; she also wrote notes for me to include in our annual Christmas letter (still needs to be written…).  Madison chose to write her cousins, Theo, Miles, and Zadie. 

Day 6 – Attend a festival.  The plan was to go to the downtown open houses in Dalton.  However, Jennifer had bid on and won tickets to the Steven Curtis Chapman Christmas concert, and she wanted to take us.  So, we went there instead.  It was a fun night of music.  Madison got herself hot chocolate beforehand.  And this image reminds me that she is growing up!

    

Day 7 – Make an aromatic toy – gingerbread play dough.  We didn’t get this done today, but we did do it on Sunday.  It does smell really good, and it has really good texture. 

Day 8 – Snowman Pancakes.  One of the girls most anticipated days.  It has been even better the past two years since inviting others to join us!  Bess, Miles, Luke, Amelia, and Briggs came, and so did Ben, Steph, Cale, and Landen.  We moved couches, linked the tables up, had the grill going, and two griddles.  Most people knew what to expect and contributed toppings and fun.  The kids made good use of the basement for awhile before supper.  And then we got out the play dough to calm down a bit (intentionally made the play dough for this purpose!).  The pictures are many because everyone has to be photographed with their snowman (but somehow, we missed Bess’s snowman!).  So, enjoy!

                                            

Day 9 – Holiday books from the library.  Madison was looking for chapter books that were holiday themed.  I think that is only the chick lit/romance ones.  But we did check out some fun picture books that you can’t help but read when they are laying out. 

Day 10 – Attend a choir/band concert (Madison’s)

Day 11 – Dip ritz bits crackers with Grandma and Grandpa

    

About halfway through with some exciting things to come.  It is fun to hear the girls try and predict what the next day might be.  They have some dates in mind where they know, some activities that they are anticipating to show up, and some they have no idea about.  I try to keep a good mix of things happening.  And as we have gotten older, I have learned to be flexible with the days – sometimes I am swapping things around at the last minute to make it work with other things that pop up.  They still have fun doing it.  And it helps me be intentional with spending time with them.  Otherwise, this season is so crazy, I probably wouldn’t spend as much time creating memories with them if I didn’t have this.  So, we’ll keep going! 

Beauty (and the Beast)

Not only did we have a total solar eclipse in April.  We could see Northern Lights (aura borealis) from our backyard in May.  With the naked eye, it was a bit underwhelming.  I could see shafts of light, but not really colors.  But as soon as you took a picture, you could see all the colors hidden in the sky.  It was pretty spectacular and mysterious.

  

The flowers are in bloom.  We have these beautiful orange lilies in our front mulch bed right now.  The gladiolus will soon follow.  Jeremy put flowers in our planters on the back patio that looked gorgeous last year.  I am not a flower person, but Jeremy is turning me into one who appreciates the work of a flower person!  The roses my neighbor tends to in our small shared space are vivacious with color right now, too.

I dropped Sandy off at her house the other night after she came over to hang out and see the house renovations.  We were going to walk, but we are fair weather walkers, and it was raining.  But, there was a huge rainbow arcing over Kidron that night.  Pictures never do rainbows justice, but enjoy anyway.

Not my pictures, but since I have been there and I am blogging about beauty…. my friend, Christi Michaels, and her family are traveling out West.  They went to many national parks, but these pictures are from Bryce Canyon – one of my top parks in the southwest.  It is gorgeous and unique and not to be missed.  I had not seen it at sunrise, but they did.  And I so appreciated the pictures!

    

Finally, the man, the myth, the legend… taking a moment :) … probably trying to get a moment of silence away from the household of chatty girls he lives with!

Sickness

Lately, we have been inundated.  And when I say lately, I mean since this past summer. 

Gloria was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer in July 2023.  She has handled the diagnosis and the treatments with a resolute acceptance and perseverance.  She has had surgery to remove the gall bladder, but unfortunately, there was cancer already moving to other organs.  So, she had undergone various rounds of chemotherapy, and experienced various levels of side effects with the treatments.  She ahs continued to volunteer, go out (or have in) a great support system of friends, and stay positive.  It must not be easy, and I am sure it is lonely at times.  This January, she had a cold that they thought turned into pneumonia.  This one knocked her down some.  She is currently on oxygen, but moving with great energy after a numerous weeks of working with that.  She even has the portable tanks to cart around as she eats out with friends, sorts cards at MCC, and gets on with life.  Jennifer came home on Monday of Easter week and is staying for a couple weeks.  I dropped the girls off the other night during a meeting at church.  When I went to pick them up, they were in the middle of Frozen 2 Monopoly.  They were having a great time!

Madison and Ellie both had strep throat (at the same time) and missed a bit of school. Then, Madison got some virus that had her running a fever and feeling fatigue.  Most recently, Ellie had something that had her throwing up and then drained for about 4 days.  When Ellie was sick, my mom showed up with homemade turkey noodle soup and crusty bread.  It was all Ellie ate for about 2 days.  All this is not the usual here.  I have said to Ellie’s endocrinologist, in the past 3 years, we haven’t had to follow sick day procedures!  And then this.  Both girls weathered the illnesses like champions – resting and keeping up with school work. 

    

My mom was diagnosed with colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy in February.  Last week, she had surgery to remove a section of her large intestine/colon as a precaution to eliminate anything that may have been missed when they removed the cancerous polyp.  Her surgery was Thursday.  I hung out with her at the hospital on Saturday.  She is recovering like a champ – taking laps (and now walks outside), resting, eating all the allowable foods (a diet of white breads, no fresh produce, and no fiber… a complete contradiction of her normal eating!), and drinking a ton!  The girls and I went over this morning to make some food for them – chicken supreme casserole (Madison), tuna noodle casserole (me), chicken and rice casserole (Ellie), and meatloaf (Ellie).  It was a fun project and easy when we all just did our assigned meals.  They will split these up and use them for supper as the weeks plod on and she continues to heal.  We are still waiting on pathology for the results from the surgery that will determine the next steps.  Just like Gloria, mom continues to remain hopeful, positive, and ready for what comes next.