catch up and Christmas Spirit

Wow, long time since I have posted anything, been a rough few weeks. Had the tumors removed from my stomach -- Benign fantastically, but several little tumors left.

Jim ended up in the ER, with pain in his back, numbness and paralyzed on right side. Heart attack was the first thought, but all is good on that scene. The doctors believe at this point he has a compressed disk that is causing the numbness. With pain meds he is surviving and refuses to stop doing anything at all. His MRI was Wednesday and now we await results and diagnosis

He did finish painting our home. He has nicknamed is Porter's Gingerbread Cottage. The main color is Cappucino Spice trimed in Buttermilk Cream Yellow. Looks awesome. Had to laugh though, we have sheds in the back, one needed painting, one is tan, one white. Well, the white and needed painting are now Cappucino Spice trimed in Buttermilk Cream Yellow.

I want to paint the table in the back the Yellow. and next summer, the plan is to paint the concrete a darker brown and paint around the foundation of the house.

We are hoping the work comes thru for new windows, doors, insulaiton and central heat. Awaiting news on that

Then we have a tight cute home.

Christmas fever has caught me. Will start working on quilts for the family and wall hangings.

Chorski is up to maybe 5 pounds dripping wet, he helped paint and ended up with speckles of both colors on him. Had problems keeping his nose out of the paint -- his face got washed a couple times a day.

Inbox

Hi all

Been a while, but, had 3 procedures -- oh what fun, at the moment recovering from stomach tumor removal, have a drain from stomach, Wednesday it comes out

Now -- I belong to a couple of Christmas groups, one is Christmas to the Max - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristmastotheMax
So if you are looking for a year round only discussing Christmas -- check in here -- lots of sharing of recipes, plans for trees, and crafts.

Another will be published another day.

My group is a quilters group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quiltersaccess and we share EVERYTHING about life, plus patterns we are working on and at the moment have started a SUNBONNET SUE swap -- so come on in a join us

Finish to a week

Saturday, an end to an exciting week.

Got 9 Christmas presents ready to assemble, making each grandchild an art kit, Jenna, Connor and Kaitlyn asked for one. So with school supplies on sale I decided to build them each a kit. I got construction paper 88 cents (divide up between 9) crayons (25 cents each), colored pencils (only for 7 twins too young $1 each) 15 cents for plastic folders, 5 cents for regular folders, pencil sharpeners, 80 cents for pencil holders and 75 cents for scissors -- still need 2 pair for Ashtin and Blake.

Then I will make bags to carry them in, go to crayola.com to download and print coloring sheets for the kids, take some card stock I have add to it, and some paper, will go stickers for them to fix up their binders.

Friday I had my EGD, again showing another problem, so back on a semi liquid diet for a week, I get to eat breakfast and lunch but no supper. I think I will see why this is happening.

Chorski is growing like a weed, still nipping and yapping at us, but he is learning. He does not like bathes and yesterday, Jim was watering -- Chorski got in the way. I understand that Chorski was one ticked off pup, but he got wrapped in a blanket, and held then he went to sleep.

Today I will have Jenna, Connor and Kaitlyn while Jeremy and Theresa get his room ready for class. Monday is meet the teacher, so after Jenna, Connor and Kaitlyn meet their teachers, their other Grandmother will bring them to me for the rest of the day and on Tuesday they start back to schoool.

Nicholas and Natalie start Thursday, Ashtin and Blake start Friday, Jacey and Jaely are still too little for school they are a whopping humm 16 months old now

As Tammy said to me Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans

Kathryn spoils me

Yesterday not one but 2 packages arrived from Wales. After I had sent her her Gingerbreat teapot and cookie jar, with the fabric for sunbonnet sue swap plus a couple postcards (and surprises)

Well package one took me forever to go thru so I will start with Package 2

Delia Smith's - Christmas cookbook, I have had a ball going thru it, but it will take time.

Package 2 -- oh wow -- first
Delia Smith's Summer cookbook, we found sooooooooooo many recipes for next summer
A magazine I haven't been all the way thru yet
2 Welsh mini cookbooks and a Welsh tray and the kicker is the Delia Smith's Feast of Advent

Well, let me tell you, I love cookbooks I truly love them and don't cook lol (I can cook, but well someone else is a better cook)

The Feast of Advent will be used in December and January. What a tremendously awesome gift.

I love my cookbooks, but Kathryn knew the Feast of Advent would absolutely be my favorite. I have started reading it and will be sharing it with others.

Wow, it will take me time to properly savor the cookbooks, to mark recipes to be tried, and to learn so very very much especially about Mince Meat Pies

How blessed I am today

Life is Good

Last night late, my cousin called. Oh my had not talked to Wayne since the 60s, visited online, but wow, what a privilege to talk with my cuz -- and it won't be the last time lol

This morning, I got up, started getting packages ready to mail. The thimble swap went to Cath in Australia and I got things gathered up to send to Kathryn in Wales

She knows for sure she is getting fabric and part of her gingerbread set lol, but other than that, well, gee, Kathryn you will have to wait

Took Cath's package, got it in the mail, then went out to Laughing Quilters, was welcome with open arms, and ate lunch with them visited, caught up on goings ons.

My Yahoo group - quiltersaccess is starting a 12 month swap - Sunbonnet Sue. I am so excited, so ready to do this, and will have others locally joining in which makes it even more exciting.

With Kathryn as a swapper, we are learning about Wales and the UK what an opportunity to learn and do Sue in UK style. I am so very blessed with friends in great places

Saw a saying on Facebook:

LOST? TRY GPS -- GOD'S PLAN for SALVATION

Have a beautiful blessed weekend, I will have Jenna, Connor and Kaitlyn from after Church til sometime Monday evening -- might even take them to the zoo not in this heat

Heat Air Heat Heat

Today started out with a bang -- beautiful, sunshine only 82 degrees, Chorski was in a very loving mood, of course, last night the shots finally hit, rump was sore, had trouble with stairs. After a good night sleep he is up and going, but wanting tons of love.

Today was the day for the assessment. We will be helped; however, nothing can be done until we have a source of heat. So, he is getting to start the process for central heat and try to get us central air. which means NO MORE HEATERS, no more gas furnace. Wow, what a thrill to think this will happen.

After he gets us heat, he will return to do the appraisal, he already is recommending 9 inches of insulation in the ceiling, 3 new doors, and we will find out about insulation for the walls, new windows -- but say a prayer for us say a prayer.

Now for another BFF - today is Lynda's birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY friend and sister of mine May God take care of your problems, give you joy AND SEND YOU HOME TO LIVE lol love ya

Prayer will be deep, talk with God as I move about.

What a week

Oh my I have had a tremendous week. NICKIE and I have talked, talked and talked, decided politics not good, but hey -- so what there is so much more to life than politics. It is a blessing to have Nickie in my life AGAIN and when she sent a photo -- wow what a beautiful woman with a fine man

On to Friday, NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY, so a van load (5) headed to the CHEESECAKE FACTORY. It was Suzi's birthday with mine on Sunday, so we were treated like royalty lol. ended up with Charles joining us made a wonderful group. I brought home 2 slices for Jim and I for the weekend (lasted to Saturday night)

Saturday the women at the Church were baking bread for each family to take a loaf at Communion to take to someone special. I took bread to my neighbors, Lee and Mom Gartrell on Sunday.

After Church, 5 of us went to Los Vaqueros for dinner, soooooooooo much fun, so embarassing for me, since one of the owners loves to tease me, says I have A MILLION DOLLAR SMILE, oh dear

Monday humm was POOL PARTY it was 105 in the shade, the water was wonderful, the slide was where I could catch the kids

Tuesday was NOAH (Not Old At Heart) luncheon, I had volunteered to help set up, great program, Molly Lou did a piece on Oklahoma City in the 50s and 60s, just a barrel of laughs and memories of heels, hose, hats and gloves

Wednesday was hospital day AGAIN, for CAT AGAIN only this time it was accomplished, so find out Monday if I have to live with this, it is repaired, removed or what

Today is NATIONAL SISTERS DAY -- to my sisters here - THANKS FOR BEING A SISTER to me

We started out the day with a visit to the vet for Chorski. Boy that gal is good, Dr Dana Gill, gave him a treat, shot his rear and checked for worms, he didn't yelp, was as good as gold

On home to Jenna Connor and Kaitlyn here for a bit, school is starting, no baby sitter so we fill in

well what a week -- hopefully next week won't be as adventurous

OH YES my iphone broke on Sunday, thankfully I had APPLE CARE, they sent me a new iphone, I didn't know what would transfer so I copied tonssssssssssss down and sent photos to my email

Ok Great week tremendous with beling able to talk to Nickie

What a day

Oh my all

Yesterday my very best friend from High School called me. She had tracked me down via Classmates.com left me an email and I sent her 9 yes 9 emails to get her attention.

Well Nickie and I had a blast crying and talking. Plans are in the works for a face to face for the first time since 1966 boy do we have a lot to catch up on.

We will be talking on the phone frequently.

My heart and brain has not settled down yet.

She called me and just said her name -- recognized the voice, now just to see her now just to see her.

Anyone out there have a story like this?

I AM AN HEIRESS - Are you?

A beautiful day has begun, with bright sunshine, Chorski playing and yipping. Jim reading the paper.

Last night was the 3rd in the Beth Moore 'THE INHERITANCE" Bible Study. I am blown away by the women who attend, their strong beliefs, their questioning of their beliefs which I believe is still FAITH. God touches my heart each time I attend any Bible study, but these women are awesome, not afraid to share anything with each other.

My Church family shares everything they can, giving freely of their joys, time and friendship. Our Pastor is truly in touch with the Lord and makes you believe it. Loving the Lord is a blessing and a joy so SMILE -- SMILE WITH HAPPINESS AND JOY

Exciting day yesterday, went for a CAT and ended up in the ER. With Lupus, I have a sodium reaction that stops my heart and creates major problem

So I was told -- hey no sodium -- passed out, stopped breathing and all that fun stuff

So today just worn out

Today's thoughts

Hi one and all

Today I am setting up my first blog. This blog will pertain to things happening in my life, with maybe recipes, crafts or photos included.

I have Lupus, have struggled with it since before 1985 when I was diagnosed. It can be traced back to my high school days.

I am also a Christian, attempting to live my life as God would have me do so

Thoughts about holidays, family, illness, books and other things as days go along. Any comments are appreciated

Kristiy Laine