TGIF

 FRIDAY - Thank God. Seriously! 

The end of this long week found Stacia and I sitting at Sophia's sharing our take aways from John Chapters 1 - 6. We were determined to begin adding our "normal" into our  "new normal" this week. 

We rushed to be at Sophia's before 0900 so we could get 1/2 price drinks....we made it...and then discovered I had left my purse in our driveway. ::face plant:: We settled in anyway.  Nothing was going to steal this hard-earned time from us! 

This has been a challenging week for Dad. He's struggled with frustration, anger, and mood swings.... I finally had had ENOUGH. I gave myself a stern talking too and marched myself down to the pharmacy. When I was told Dad's med was STILL delayed, I didn't politely walk away. I DID politely ask to talk to the pharmacist. I calmly (and with a bit of a shaky voice because I don't usually question authority - much) shared they could SEE I had turned in this request 2 weeks ago. Dad still had meds at that point. It was a simple refill. In the past two weeks I have talked to pharmacists, doctors, and the insurance company numerous times. They can see the insurance company finally agreed to let dad continue on his med and I was told I could pick it up days ago. I explained Dad's condition and said  if it was going to take until Monday to get meds - someone needed to sell me a couple of pills NOW to get us through the weekend. Who knew it could be so easy? They gave me 5 days worth from the ones he will get on Monday. It shouldn't be this hard.

It also should not be this expensive. ::snort:: These pills have a $125 co-pay for 3 months. The blood thinners have a co-pay of $600 for 3 months...unreal. Another reason to take care of yourself in your 20's...just sayin.  

Arielle brought the boys over for an afternoon visit. This was just what we needed around here. 

Remember when you thought if you hid your eyes no one would see you? Stacia and Benny amused us with a rip-roaring game of hide and seek. 

Danny has kissable cheeks! He's got a sweet personality - coos and smiles galore this afternoon. 

No visit to Papa and Baachan's is complete without an indoor snowball fight! 

 

It's been a long, emotionally-draining week and we are going to rest well this weekend. 

AND - SUCCESS we are working to "find our new normal." We are carefully adding some of our "normal" back into this season. This week we added a zoom Bible study, Bible Babes, and our Mother/Daughter study back. Next week we are going to try to add the gym  a couple of days a week.  It takes a lot more planning, but we'll get it figured out. 

Because I need to mark this non-scale victory...today, I tucked a shirt in, wore a small jacket with horizontal stripes, and a BELT. 

Walking Tally - 53 miles out of 100 miles 

Challenging Days Call for Bright Flowers

 Nolan persevered and got everything lined up for his VA DEA benefits. It's never quite as easy as one expects...but he should be ready to start classes Feb 1st. 

Today was a challenge. Enough said. In the midst of the challenge these beautiful flowers arrived at our door from my brother and his wife in K-stan! We love you Nate and Heather. 

I simply do not know how seniors navigate the maze of medicare parts A - F without an advocate. We NEEDED to end the night playing games together. 

Walking Tally - 50 miles out of 100 miles 

12th Day of Christmas - Better than a Gift Exchange

 We try to hold our household gift exchange on the 12th day of Christmas - Epiphany - the day the Wiseman are celebrated for their visit to Jesus...but not so much this year. LOL 

This year we met at Sophia's, in our little part of Alaska with Patrick and Lila. Patrick and I first "met" in the days after the Tohoku quake/tsunami. He and Lila were planning to move to Japan as language teachers/missionaries.  He reached out to me to hear what we were experiencing. A friend of his knew my cousin...We managed one trip to Osaka to meet  in person before we were reassigned stateside. They have a daughter who LIVES in our town. I noticed a bit ago a photo posted which looked like OUR MOUNTAINS...and asked if they were up here. Today, Michael, Dad, Stacia and I met Patrick and Lila for lunch. 

It was great to catch up, share stories from a country we all still love, and encourage one another. They are now in WY, supporting their daughter and son in law as they work to revive a district church. 

Stacia would like to do a gap year in Japan after she graduates. Lila shared they have contacts she may be able to work/stay with in Osaka. Hmmm....much to pray about in the next two years. 

I thought I had forgotten to take a photo on this busy day but I found this on the camera roll.  A woman from the Philippines messaged me and asked me to give regards to Dad.  I responded and suggested to Dad, "Smile, let's send a photo back." 

Dad summed up the day best, "This was a good day." He got up in time to get showered, medicated, grab a quick bowl of cereal and head to Sophias for a couple of hours of good food and community. We got home and he read the paper, while we visited with another friend. We had a quick bite of dinner I had started early in the morning. He ended the day reading a bit more, while kids were coming and going. 

The day was busy...there was work, youth group, picking up meds, picking up kids, doctor's appointments, bits of counseling and meeting with other friends....it WAS a good day. A full day - I could use a bit less full of a day. We are still in the process of  finding our new normal, learning what works well in this season. We are starting to get a clear picture.  Days like this used to be our norm, they now seem good to limit to 1 or 2 days a week. We shall see. 

Walking Tally - 46 miles out of 100 miles 

11th Day of Christmas - Full of Blessings

 Michael needed to stay off his foot today, this led to lots of driving for me.  It was a day full of blessing. 

I never made it OUTSIDE to walk today, but I DID get 4 miles on the treadmill before the day took off. This treadmill is a blessing. I think of the gal who blessed us with our exercise equipment each time I use it. 

I try. I do. OBVIOUSLY, there are some tricks I need to learn about the whole caregiving gig. I'm pretty sure I got as wet as Dad. We both got a good laugh out of the situation. Laughter is good. 

There was lots of laundry, lots of paperwork, lots of trips to town to deliver non-driving youth here and there...and in the midst of it....Michael blessed me. As I ran out the door on one of the three trips he told me to grab a chai, sit in a parking lot, and read. He was keeping Dad company today.  Sweet. 

That is how I found myself at the gym, though not IN the gym. There is a great mountain view from the gym. I sat in my warm car, sipping my chai, reading my book and savoring the QUIET mountain view. Baby steps - I was in the general vicinity of the gym. ::snort:: 

Dad got a kick out of Millie coming in to wake him up this "morning."  She does seem to watch out for him...when she isn't pestering him. LOL 

Dad spent much of the day reading his new super large print Bible. He had me get out another of his Bibles and he spent a contented day reading back and forth. One is NIV and one is ESV. 

Stacia told me to go ahead and finish working on bills (I was done with ours, needed to finish Dad's) and she would make dinner. Such a blessing. 

The final blessing of the day was a Zoom Bible study with the Gather Ministry Gals. Good discussion, sweet to be "together." 

Walking Tally 41 miles/100 miles.... 100 miles by my birthday! 

10th Day of Christmas

 Whew! Life by planner! It IS working. First we learned what is essential in this season. Now, we are learning the amount of push  needed (balanced with rest) to work into our normal routine with the extra work of caregiving.  As an example, I used to grab dad and run to the store....now if I want to run to the store with him it takes an extra 20 min to get out the door and another 15- 20 min to get back in the door. 

Today was PRODUCTIVE. I did not get EVERYTHING done which was on the "to do" list...but I got the essentials done and made progress on everything. 

I have not gone to the gym with any consistency or been able to walk outside since we brought Dad home. Many of you know I walked 5 - 7 miles a day all spring, summer and early fall. I just can't leave the house for that amount of time....when I go out, Michael or the boys need to be here and on alert (not in the garage, working in the yard etc).  Timing has been hard...for life and for walks. The sun doesn't come up until close to 10 a.m. I don't want to walk in the dark. By that time Dad IS up.....this will be much easier in the summer when the sun ALWAYS shines and I can go walking early.   OK - that's ALL backstory...so you know why THIS made me so very happy. 

Great to be OUT. 

For the first time since Oct 8th - I went for a walk. It was COLD. I need to find gloves with the finger pocket thingies, and I need to find something to cover my nose and mouth. My hat was frozen when we got home.  I also need to buy a pair of snow pants that fit me. It was 8 or 10 * outside. 

BUT I committed in the morning, when motivation and attitude are high, to go for an OUTSIDE walk with Stacia. We knew it had to be between 10 - 4 p.m. She suggested we go and I replied it was COLD and I needed to pay bills first. 

Ever felt like the Holy Spirit slapped you upside the head? 

I got up, suited up, and  kept my word to my daughter. I CAN pay the bills when it is dark outside. 

Millie is happy to be out! 

We walked 1.5 miles. That  added to the 3.5 I did early a.m. on the treadmill and I totaled 5 miles! What a treat. I am TRYING to get 100 miles in before my birthday on the 24th.  Stacia and I had begun to think I would need to aim for our Valentine Anniversary instead, ...but maybe I will get it done. LOL 

I have never been so happy to see this sight.....warmth! 

Stacia got a full day of school done. 

In addition to a winter walk, I jumped back into Bible Babes, made numerous calls about Dad's care, picked up Alex from work and made several appointments for the upcoming week. I also cared for Dad, did a bit of cleaning and made dinner. 

Michael did some studying, relaxing, had a Birthday lunch with Krista and continued to try to recuperate from the procedure to his foot on Dec 31st. 

Alex and Nolan worked a full day. Nolan worked an overly full day. 

Krista kept busy! 

Dad's new SUPER LARGE PRINT Bible arrived in the mail. He plans to switch from Dilbert to it tomorrow. 

Walking tally: mile 37/100.

9th Day of Christmas

Church....

and then...the girls went to friends. The boys were working. Dad, Mike and I went out to lunch. 

We texted Arielle to see if we could stop by for a quick visit. They were game. Look at how Danny is growing....He much prefers his back to Tummy Time....

Benny cracked us up. Michael sat on the corner of the coffee table in their living room. The same coffee table Michael remembers playing under as a 3 year old. Benny, now 3, looked at Michael and in all seriousness said, "Papa, don't sit on Mama's table, you will BREAK it." LOL 

I've always loved these magna-tiles and wanted them for my kids...but they were never in the budget. This year we bought sets for both families. It was fun to play with Benny's set today. 

After the excitement of church, lunch out and playing with Great Grandkids, Dad came home and took a long Sunday nap. 

Michael and I read and chillaxed. 

8th Day of Christmas

 It has gotten COLD. The frigid temps arrived with the New Year. Lest you think I'm exaggerating...it was 5* at our house today...I'm sure it was colder up in the mountains. THAT, however, did not stop Cory, Jamin and Krista from going to Hatcher's Pass' Gold Mint Trail to try cross country skiing.   We are still looking to outfit all of us with cross country skis. 

Krista and Cory

While the skied we rested. Stacia made another Christmas gift. I worked on start of the year paperwork type stuff. Michael and Dad read.  Our day wasn't as exciting, but I can guarantee it was WARMER.