Yesterday was pretty full.  I tidied up my house and graded a few papers in the morning, and after lunch, I went over to a friend’s house for a few hours to chat.  Karen called while I was there and invited me to have dinner with them, so I went home, washed up the dishes at my house, and then headed to Karen & Erik’s.  I hung out with them until about 9:00, put gas in my car, and headed home to go to bed.  Overall, a nice day!

Oh, and I watched the first hour of AI at Karen & Erik’s…now I feel like a real Xanga person!

Today is the hump day for sure this week.  But it was nice to have a schedule again and a productive day ahead of myself.  I’m currently in my office, so I’ll need to get to actual work shortly (mostly grading).  I have classes like a normal day, and then I’ll head over to Deb’s house for a bit.  I promised the nieces that I’d come see them today, so I will! 

I almost began this post with another “I have nothing of value to say” comment, but then I remembered that I do have something of value to talk about…praising God!  So may I just say that God is incredibly good.  It’s been a long, hard couple of weeks, but He has totally met we where I am.  We are so blessed to serve such an awesome and intimate Savior!

Happy Wednesday, my Xanga friends!

Family Days

It’s Tuesday morning.  I want this week to go faster than it is.  I am not a patient person.

Eric called me yesterday.  They arrived safely at their hotel on Sunday night (11-ish CA time); Eric had trouble sleeping because his brother, Ryan, snores loudly (makes sleeping in a tent with him fun, too).  But he survived, and they were almost to Joshua Tree National Park when he called.  He told me about the oddly camouflaged cell phone towers that Californians thought were a good idea.  They really aren’t. We chatted briefly before his phone cut out, so he called me back to say goodbye.  It’s not likely that I’ll hear from him again until Friday or Saturday.   But he sounded like they were having a good time, driving their rented red Hummer (H3, I think) around in the CA deserts.  

Anyway, to fill my time, I spent most of yesterday hanging out with my family.  I needed to get out of my house, for sure.  So after lunch, I went over to Karen’s for a bit.  I held Jason and played with Maggie and talked to Karen and Erik.  After a while, Erik went to the grocery store, and as he left, we had the following exchange.

Me:  Have fun.  Buy whatever you want.
Erik: Do I have your permission?
Me: Of course!
Erik:  Can I have your money, too?

He’s a funny guy.  Quiet, but funny.  Then I collected a few things Mom had left at Karen’s house and headed to C-ville for the rest of the day.  My parents weren’t home from work yet, so I went over to Chris & Deb’s.  Chris hadn’t had to work yesterday, so they were all there.  I didn’t call before I came; I just knocked on the door and waited.  After a few seconds, I saw the curtains move and Kelly’s face appeared.  She saw me, turned around, and hollered (I heard her through the door), “Mom! Dad!  It’s…Shannah!”  There was much joy from the nieces.  So I played with the girls and talked to Deb (and a little to Chris) and then headed back to my parents.

Funny comments from my brief visit there:

Holly started pretending to drop her wand down behind a bed.  Deb told her not to to a couple of times.  She did it again.
Me: Are you being a stinker?
Holly:  Not me! (said with an emphasis on “me”)

Later, Kelly was stalling so that I didn’t leave.
Kelly: Hey, Shannah!
Me: What?
Kelly: We have lots of curtains (running her hands along the living room drapes).

I went over to Mom and Dad’s and had dinner with them.  Chris and Deb brought the girls over, and they played while we chatted.  I talked to my mom before heading home and collapsed into bed.

Today, I have some grading that I now must do.  And I could stand to do some cleaning around my house.  And I’m planning to visit a friend of mine this afternoon.  That should be fun!  And if I need to not be alone, I’m sure my sister will let me bother her for a while again, too!

Okay, I think that’s it for now…happy Tuesday!

What a…

Crazy computer:  I just “lost” my entire post when Firefox shut down.  But thankfully, the restore my previous session option even had my post still intact!  Shwew!

Weekend:  I’ve been cooped up in my house since last Friday about 3:00 pm.  I hung out with my husband, did laundry, and generally tried to occupy my time.  I was planning to go to small group last night, but it was canceled.  So I watched a 2-hour special of television bloopers which was VERY funny.  I went to bed about 9:30.

Goodbye:  Eric left for his brother’s house around 1 pm yesterday afternoon.  He was definitely as sad to go as I was to see him leave.  I can’t imagine how my friends handle it whose husbands work at Honda and have to go to Japan for 2 weeks at a time (sometimes twice a year!).  And, hard as it was to see him go, I did get an email today from him, letting me know that they arrived in CA safely.  So now I’ll just count days until he’s home…

Response:  First of all, you guys are the best.  Terri’s “reminder” not to wallow was particularly helpful, but the prayers and such have been so great.  Thanks for caring.  Yesterday, I also talked to my sister and mom in the afternoon.  Then my mom called back in the evening to see how I was doing.  I love how moms just know when they need to check on their kids.  We had a long chat, and I really needed her perspective on a lot of things. 

God:  I cannot even begin to tell you how great a God we serve.  I realized last night that my tension and stress (bordering on panic at moments) was not the only option I had.  I could, instead, live in peace and rest.  So I began to pray and practice some of my favorite verses: Phil. 4:6-7 and 1 Pet 5;7-10.  I talked to my mom and to God, and He has most definitely met me where I am.  It’s still going to be a long, lonely week.  But God is good.  God is able.  God is right here with me.  God is…well, you fill in the blank.  Today, how would you finish this sentence:  God is ____________________. 

Happy Monday!

Eric just left… 

So now I’m on my own for a whole week.  It’s going to be a long week.

The snow is lovely.  We didn’t go out in it.  We skipped church (they only canceled early service, and it would’ve gotten out too late for Eric’s trip).  Eric shoveled the driveway to make sure I could get out.  Love that man!

I may get some ironing done.  I will probably go to small group tonight. 

It’s the last day of my Spring Break (*sigh*), and it’s supposed to snow.  Of course, the ground is perfectly clear on this overcast morning.  But they’re calling for it to really get going after Noon.  I guess we shall see…

Yesterday, I spent the morning on the computer, as well as cleaning bathrooms and starting the laundry.  I went with Karen and Mom (and Jason, of course) to Babies R Us in the afternoon.  They forgot to take along the list they’d made, but then remembered everything on it (I can never do that!).  Jason slept pretty much the whole time we were out, so that made things pretty easy, too.  In the evening, Eric and I did some running around together before heading to bed. 

Have I mentioned lately how utterly fantastic my husband is?  ‘Cause he’s really just great.

Anyway, today, I’ll spend more time on laundry, I think.  I have to make dinner for some friends tonight, and I may also make a WalMart run to buy batteries for my husband’s trip next week.  He has a lot of gadgets to take with him.  In case I haven’t mentioned this trip, Eric is flying to CA with his brothers on Sunday for a week-long camping trip in Death Valley.  He won’t come back until next Saturday.  I will miss him lots.

This evening, we are tentatively planning a family party at Karen’s house for my mom.  But if it snows too bad, we’ll postpone. That will be really sad because my dad won’t be able to come up with Chris and Deb, and he’s really missing my mom this week!  They are one of those cute couples who, after 35+ years of marriage, still would rather hang out together than do almost anything else.  And my poor dad has been at home while Mom stayed with Karen and Erik this week.  Of course, Chris & Deb made sure he was doing okay,  so he wasn’t completely on his own all week!  But still…that’s a long time for them to spend apart.

Anyway, I think that’s all I’ve got for this morning.  I hope you all have a lovely Friday!

I have lots of thoughts in my head, swirling around, but I don’t really know how or whether to put them down today.

Yesterday, I was not productive.  I did go to the bookstore, but apparently wasn’t in the mood to buy anything because I left without spending my $25 gift card.  I need some good book suggestions (fiction or otherwise) from anyone who’s got them.  What have you read, say in the last year, that was really worth your time?

I spent most of the afternoon at my sister’s house, hanging out with the gang over there.  I got to hold Jason while he was awake in the afternoon, his little blue eyes moving slowly back and forth.  We walked and sang and talked and then I gave him back to his mom when he got hungry.  That’s the best part of being the aunt!  Anyway, I may end up back over there today sometime, but I do need to get a few things done at my own house today. 

The evening wasn’t eventful.  Eric was very late again (7:30!), so I waited as long as I could, but ate dinner without him.  I watched some television, then cleaned up the kitchen and did some bible study.  Eric came down to chat for a while, too.  We goofed off at the computers for a while, and then we headed to bed. 

I think that’s all I’ve got for now…happy Thursday!

I feel like I don’t have much to say today, so this might be short.

I was pretty busy all day yesterday.  I voted, went to the post office, and stopped at Kroger on my way home.  I met a friend for lunch (Applebee’s for soup/salad combo), and then spent the rest of the afternoon at my sister’s house keeping her (and Jason) company.  I didn’t get home until 6:00, and Eric didn’t get home until almost 7:00.  We had dinner and then just crashed on the couch for the evening.  I read for a while before turning out my light at 9:30. 

EDIT: Karen is doing pretty well.  She’s getting enough sleep to stay “just-this-side” of exhaustion.  The baby is (mostly) eating well, but he’s a little lazy she said.  If it’s “too hard” to get the nipple in his mouth, he just gets mad. He also does NOT like a messy diaper.  He won’t even eat until he’s changed.  They’re working on getting him to stay away for “play time” between feedings and naps, and she said he sleeps pretty well between 8 pm and 2 am, but after that, it’s hit or miss.  Her stitches are still hurting her some, but Advil is a new mom’s best friend, and we tried to keep the giggling, coughing or other motions to a minimum.  End EDIT

Today, I have few plans.  I should clean my bathrooms.  I could vacuum.  I might go spend my gift card to Barnes & Noble.  Maybe I’ll just sit on the couch and knit.  This evening, I have to take dinner to a couple that just had a baby, but other than that, we shall see…

Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was a be-a-u-ti-ful day.  Loved, loved, loved the sunshine and warm wind.  Of course it’s rainy today, and the temperature/weather are supposed to worsen gradually all week.  But it is only March, and the warm days will come more regularly (and closer together) all the time.  I think I can wait a few more weeks for spring…

I swept and mopped my kitchen and bathroom floors yesterday.  That was my “productive” task.  I also finished a pair of slippers which I will be mailing to a certain Xanga friend this morning sometime.  I read some, wrote some, goofed off some.  I went to the post office and put gas in my car.  Eric and I watched Evan Almighty last night and then a couple episodes of Good Eats before heading to bed. 

Today will be pretty full.  I have a number of errands to run (post office, voting, groceries) and things to do (lunch with a friend, hang out at Karen’s for a while).  Maybe the rain will wash all the dirt off my car…it’s getting really disgusting!

Okay, I can’t think of anything else exciting to say right now…happy Tuesday!

EDIT (8:46): There is a great picture of Jason on my SIL’s (Deb) site.  And you can all welcome her to the Xanga world, if you want! END EDIT

The first two times I clicked on the “New Post” option, my computer sent me to Circuit City’s website.  How weird!

It was a crazy weekend, but pretty good.  Here’s the recap:

Friday evening:  I met Eric at work and we got dinner before heading up to the hospital to see Jason.  Eric got some good pictures, we had a nice chat with the crew who came (including Kimberly and Kevin), and then we went home. We had talked about watching a movie when we got home, but I was just too tired.  So I was asleep by 9:30.  Eric joined me later, I guess.

Saturday: We spent the day with my friends from college in Cleveland.  We needed to leave the house by 9:00 to be on our way, and we actually made it.  Except that we needed gas, and cash, and Eric needed coffee, and I forgot the directions on the kitchen table.  Grrrrr!
    So, instead, we actually pulled out to leave at 9:40, which made us late, but oh well!  We arrived at the Science Museum in Cleveland just after noon, so we made good time.  Everyone else was there, and we spent about 3 hours wandering around there and talking. Then the whole crew (3 couples + 4 children, from 7-15 months) went back to a house for dinner and hanging out.  It was lovely.  We left there about 7:45, so we got home about 10:15. I was exhausted again…so off to bed!

Sunday: Church in the morning, then I made dinner (pot roast/potatoes and gravy) and took it over to Karen’s house.  They had not gotten much sleep, so my mom was glad she didn’t have to cook!  We ate with them, but didn’t stay too long.  We relaxed in the afternoon.  I did the dishes (twice), a little writing, a little crochet-ing, and then it was time to go back to church for small group.  We watched some television and then headed to bed. 

And for today, here is a list of the good things about life right now:

• It is the first day of my spring break.  *breathes grateful sigh of relief*
• It is 50 degrees, so I am exercising outside for the first time in about 2 months.  Yippee!!!
• I have no firm plans for today yet.  Love that!
• I think that’s all I have to say on Xanga this morning, too. 

Happy Monday!

So I’m very late today, and I have no pictures of little Jason to post yet (mostly because I’m at work and the pictures are on a computer at home, but also because I need Eric to take some good ones for me).  But I’m here, so that’s something, right?

My morning was a bit hectic because we had Maggie last night.  Karen & Erik thought his parents, who were sleeping at their house, would stay through today, but they didn’t.  So Maggie came to our house for the last night, and my normal Xanga time was taken up with taking her outside this morning.  Then I had to pack up all her stuff and bring her to C-ville with me today to stay at my parents’ house.  Since my parents are probably going to meet them at their house when they’re discharged tomorrow, they’ll just bring Maggie  home with them. 

As far as how things are going for them, everything looks pretty good.  Karen sent the baby to the nursery last night except for feedings so that they could get some rest.  They are pretty much fine with visitors today if anyone wants to see the little guy in person.  Jason has good lungs and sucks on his fingers.  REALLY LOUDLY when he’s hungry.  It’s kind of funny!  But the feeding was going well on everyone’s part, and Erik was holding up, too.

Last night, I made brownies, an angel food cake and snickerdoodles.  The cookies are going to go with us tomorrow to Cleveland where Eric and I will spend the day with my best friends from college.  It’ll be a long day, but it should be fun.

Today, I’m just waiting around at CU for the papers my students are turning in today.  But I’m tired and very emotionally drained, so I am fine with having very little socializing in my life right now.  So I’ll probably goof off in my office for a while and see what I come up with from there.  I’m so glad it’s only hours from being Spring Break!