Spending Time With My Favorite Girl

My daughter flew in for some meeting for work and got to stay overnight at the Galleria.  Lucky thing.  She had a break after she landed and we got to go to lunch.  Our favorite place to eat together is La Madeleine's.  We decided to get together somewhere close to Love Field.  We'd eaten there once before but couldn't remember exactly where it was.  I started driving and pulled into the one on Preston and ran in to ask where a location was close to where I was going.  He said "Royal Lane, no that's not it, Northwest Highway, maybe . . . wait"  . . another man comes to the counter and says its at Northwest Highway and Midway.  So I call her and we connect.  I love spending time with my kids.  We had a nice lunch and off we went our separate paths.  I've seen her more in the last few months than in years. I love being able to spend time with my family.  They are awesome!

He's always been there

I'm still pondering the questions I was asked last night by the MiaMaids (if that's what they're called now).  I was driving over to meet Kristin earlier today and thoughts came to me remembering so many times he's shown his hand to me and my children.  The list is so long its hard to remember them all.  I remember when I was going through my divorce in the late 80's the time I heard his voice; I remember during that same period when I was just wanting my mother's arms around me and found myself in a classroom sobbing.  In walked Barbara Hammond.  She was a large woman and would have been my mother's age.  Barbara sat down, put her arms around me, and just held me.  I remember on the night my mother died seeing her walk through the room.  When Stephen was a baby and I was trying to nurse him; one morning I woke up and nothing I did would settle him down.  I was tired and emotional and he was frustrated because he was hungry.  There was a knock at the door and when I opened the door an elderly woman was standing there.  She came in held him, fed him formula and I slept.  I just knew everything would be all right.  There has always been someone there when I needed help.  I know God sent them for me.  The list goes on and on, but ultimately, I know God knows me.

Hope on the Horizon - By Greg Olson

This morning my nurse asked me how I knew he knew me.  The past couple of years have been really difficult, however, through it all, I have felt his peace, warmth, and comfort.  I've learned to trust him.  It has always worked out.  Maybe not the way I thought it would or hoped it would, but it has worked.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father.

I Can Be Such a Ditz!

Eliza called and asked if I could come to the chapel tonight to be interviewed by the young woman.  I said sure.  Worked at the family history library this morning, got home and packed Steve's lunch, walked the dogs, and when he left . . . I settled in and put on my absolute favorite things . . my pink flannel pj's.  About 7:20 the phone rang . . it was Eliza . . "Sister Kerr, are you still coming to the chapel?"  Oops!!!  I didn't have a car and was in my pj's.  As I quickly threw on different clothes; I was calling like crazy to catch a ride to the chapel.  Thanks Geniel!  It was a good experience though.  They are beautiful young women and were asking questions I didn't have answers for without some thought.  It was a good opportunity.  Embarrassing for forgetting, but good.

Caught up on my laundry tonight.  Clean sheets.  I love it.  Why do I deny myself some of the little things I love most.  I need to do a better job of taking care of me.

Remarkable Family

This has been a challenging month for our family.  My children's father wound up hospitalized for multiple reasons, but regardless, it has been a time of growth and challenge and stress for them.  I stand awed at the strength I have seen in them and am proud of them and comforted to know they can step in and do what is required.  Also amazing to me is my dear Steve.  How many men would go to their wife's ex-husband's apartment and help cleanup.  We all found Jim had been hoarding things.  My kids (Stephen, Kristin, and Holli) all went over and cleaned up his apartment.  It's been a monumental task, but there were several large black bags of trash hauled out and Steve was right there helping.  He amazes me.

I just watched "Nie-Nie's" "New Life" video on Mormon messages.  She's an amazing woman.  I think I lose my view of who I am sometimes and need to remember I am a daughter of God and he knows me.

During dialysis last night I started throwing up.  I don't know if it was a virus or something I ate, but it was miserable.  Fortunately Sue was here and helped me and when Steve got home he cleaned things up.  I crawled into bed and Steve gave me a blessing.  I feel much better today.

Got up this morning and took my shower, ate a bagel, and took the dogs for a walk.

Today is Steve's 61st birthday.  We are getting older.

Pakistan - Where's the money coming from?

I'm very confused.  Can someone help me clear this up?  Where is the money coming from?  Isn't the US in debt and broke?  When I'm broke, which is most of the time, I would love to contribute to all of the agencies who call me on the phone, but I don't.  I politely explain I'd love to, but the money doesn't exist in our household.  Shouldn't the US do the same?

May 19, 2010 -

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday that the United States would provide $110 million in additional humanitarian aid to assist as many as two million Pakistanis forced out of their homes by intensified fighting in and around the Swat Valley. 

July 19 2010 - Hillary Rodham Clinton - 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton  announced amass of aid projects for Pakistan to the tune of $500 million dollars.  These are part of a $7.5 billion aid effort to win over Pakistanis.

 August 20 2010 

US government increased aid for flooding to $150 million dollars.

Monday 15 November 2010 - ft.com

 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/96492710-de06-11df-88cc-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz15O4sxxdx

Hillary Clinton said the US will  provide Pakistan with $2 billion a year in military aid over at least four years

Losing a Friend

Our sweet Gabby passed away this morning. 

She had been ill for awhile but her pain got so much worse we had no choice but to let her pass.   Gabby had gotten so confused and was in pain all of the time.   She had been a part of our family for about 14 years now.  We took her to Dr. Hanks this morning.  She was so compassionate.

She will be missed for years to come.

Hard to Believe - Its September!

I found a new blog today I've not visited before.  http://www.beinglds.blogspot.com/.  They're celebrating family this month and are having tons of give aways.  Its a neat site and I've included their button on my site.  They are encouraginig everyone to put the button on their site to celebrate family. 

After an awfully hot summer, its so nice to have a little relief in some cooler weather.  We're still waiting to hear back from Bank of America on our loan modification.  We submitted paperwork this time back in February and supposedly we have gone through underwriting and are waiting on a "packet".  You just sometimes want to give up, but I keep holding out to hear something.  For the time being, our needs are met.  We are living tight, but still find joy in our days.

The past month has been a rough one on dialysis.  Supply problems.  Today went well though.  I get a delivery tomorrow of new supplies.  Hopefully no problems this time around.  Its frustrating.  I spent alot of time on the phone with technical support this month.

Busy day

Got up early this morning and filled a service assignment at the temple.  Hard work but it was fun.  Got home and did my treatment, cooked dinner for Steve to eat when he gets home, cleaned up the kitchen, mopped the floor and am now going to bed.

A Friend Departed

When I first started my dialysis treatments, I got back to working on my genealogy.  Donna Freeman contacted me and invited me to join the Stewart family site.  We emailed back and forth, prayed for each other, and just kept in touch.  I grew very fond of her.  I had written her a couple of emails and didn't hear back and was concerned.  I knew she had heart problems.  I got back onto the family site today and discovered she had died last October.  It tugged at my heart strings, because I really felt like I'd gotten to know her.  As I read her obituary I became even more impressed.  She didn't hesitate when faced with challenges, she just kept working on them.  She grew a beautiful garden and was very involved in local politics in her area.  She will be missed by many.  She just wanted to get together in Sallisaw Oklahoma for a reunion, hopefully that reunion will still happen sometime in the future.

Another girl pays the price and McDonalds

So it appears Joran van der Sloot was arrested for allegedly killing another girl.  He was arrested in Chile and is being extradited to Peru.  He was the key suspect in the murder of a US girl, Natalee Holloway.  It would seem he may finally pay for what he's done.  Its just too bad they couldn't convict him for the death of Natalee before he had the chance to kill another girl.  I can't help but wonder how many others there are out there we know nothing about.

Another interesting thing in the news today - McDonald's has ran an ad in France, clearly pro-homosexual.  "In the past, the American Family Association conducted a lengthy and effective boycott of McDonald's over its previous pro-homosexual policies. That ended when McDonald's officials conceded they would be neutral in the future. Johnson contends the ad is a clear violation of that, and he says he is already in a boycott mode. AFA reports it is trying to reach McDonald's officials for a response."  One News Now -   Boycott time again?

Been trying to get a loan modification on our mortgage "this time" since early April.  This is my third try on this rodeo.  It looks like its progressing though.  45 days to go.

Now I've settled down

Going through camera pics taken over the past couple of weeks and ran across these.  My sister had flown in town a few years ago and I had been down to her hotel to visit her.  On the way back, dark had settled in and I was driving down the freeway and saw this opposite me on the freeway -

Somehow I found humor in this.  Casket store . boxes to go.  So when i was driving back form Austin last week with my daughter I made her stop, went onto the service road no cars were coming and I jumped out of the car and took the picture.  Bad example for my daughter I know, but I wanted to preserve this for history.  It had been just an awful time when we were in the final stages with Helen.  So, when I saw this I laughed so hard.

Speaking of my daughter - she's coming home.  Well close enough, she'll have her own place and only be a couple of hours away instead of 24.  These are her new digs.

Finally - here are my kids.  It was my son's birthday the night after we returned and so we met at IHOP and ate for his birthday.  

 

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)

Can I say I'm angry with DART
today . .                                                                                                                                                                                                  he


Yes I can!

Bureaucracy . . don't you love it!  I had an appointment with my dr. at the dialysis center this afternoon at 1:30.  Since we're down to one car and Steve had to be at work at that time, and I am trying to be self-sufficient and not a burden on anyone else, I called DART to check on using the transportation system to get me home.  I see the little yellow flex-line bus pass my house several times a day so I figured no problem.  Wrong!  Anyway, I called them and they said yes, the flex-line bus could pick me up at my dialysis center and bring me close to the nearest stop to my home.  I called today as soon as my appointment was over and he said he could pick me up at 2:07.  I asked if they would come to the door or should I stand out front.  He said if I could be at the curb it would be helpful.  So at 2:10 I called as I hadn't been picked up and was told they were caught in traffic but on the way there.  At about 2:20 I see the van on Shiloh turning and going north - not south to where I was. I called ... reply "can't cross Plano Parkway".  I'd have to walk up to Plano parkway to be picked up.  Started walking up there and he picks me up nearly there.  At that point, he said I'd have to be at 14th and Shiloh to be picked up in the future and then after I gave him my fare, I was told he'd have to drop me at Shiloh and Park.  Didn't have time to stop at my stop.  By this time I was frustrated.  Oh yes, I was carrying a box of dialysis supplies in my arms all this time as well.  So I got off in front of Albertson's and started walking home.  He passed me walking not once, but twice.  Didn't have time though to drop me at Peachtree though.  I'm ticked!  Did I mention its 90 plus degrees here today?


Yesterday was interesting.  I woke up at 6:45 a.m. to hear the missionaries vacuuming their room.  When I approached them about it, didn't get a real friendly reply.

On an up note, I got my laundry done and got my ironing done yesterday.  Big accomplishment though.  I felt like my insides were going to fall out before I had finished the ironing, but I got it done!