ANOTHER Crazy Busy Week

And so, once again, I find myself contemplating my schedule. This is the 4th week of the month, and it was nearly as busy as the 2nd week of the month...the next week is slow again. I recognize both food co-op and life group happen on the 2nd and 4th weeks.  I am not quitting either one of those events. I am going to have to be diligent NOT to schedule appointments in that week, so we have margin for the "pop up" opportunities which invariably fill our days. Since it WAS a week one simply hangs on and runs through....I will not try to capture daily posts. Here is our week in a glance. 

Michael taught SUNDAY School and preached last Sunday. I picked up a young man we give a ride to church, dropped Stacia off to help a bit with CoRielle's obligations, and ran the rest of us to church. 

Yes, fall is cold in Alaska. I know it is still fall because the CALENDAR says it is fall. We are in the process of remembering to allow time to warm the car, scrape the windows, and dig out warmer clothes. I need to find my winter gloves for early a.m. feedings and waterings of chickens and rabbit. I'm reminded every morning it IS time to do it. LOL 

We had nothing on the calendar for MONDAY. Allie has been under the weather. She stayed home and slept and worked on college - conserving her energy until work, while Stacia and I ran errands. Looking ahead, we KNEW this was the day to fit in all our "trips". We hadn't been to Walmart in ages. Y'all if I did all my shopping at Walmart, I would have to fight anxiety. Their shelves were BARE...no spinach, no roasts...anyway...Stacia needed to buy a supply of fondant for Bre's baby shower cake, I had several cooking events this week, this was our shopping day. 

Back at home, I went outside to help Michael with some yard projects we wanted done before snow falls. Stacia made dinner for which we were grateful.  

I was surprised to find kale and lettuce still growing in the greenhouse. I am wondering how long I can keep it alive. 

TUESDAY I was at CoRielle's at 8:00 a.m. I bring tea and my breakfast. The boys were quick to ask for tea. It's apparent I've contributed to their delinquent tea drinking tendencies. 

They loved it so much Little Buddy said a new word - strung two of them right together - "Please, tea." Oh yes, I was proud of his words. He likes the z bar as well. LOL 

We love his face -it just stays hidden until adoption is final. 

We had a great morning. The television was not even requested. We played games, I read, we played with magna tiles, we jumped from dino to bed, we played hide and seek, and Arielle and Cory were home to grab boys and run two different directions before we knew it.  

The day was going well! I arrived across town in time to eat my lunch before starting my 4-hour shift. It turns out volunteers were low and there was just ONE volunteer for the 3rd shift. She had graciously come in early to help us with 2nd shift. We stayed to help her with her shift. I got home at 7:30 p.m. It was a long day - but it was spent with good people and fun, as well as work, was enjoyed. 

WEDNESDAY Dad had a doctor appointment. These are always a bit wild. He still has heart failure, they simply wanted to check numbers as they continue to adjust meds. His dementia was on display as he insisted, I was his wife and was born in MT. I suppose it's good for them to note what life is like in our home. 

I arrived home at 3 p.m. and began prepping for a women's ministry event that evening. OK - it was BINGO. I'd never played BINGO, but the gals love it, and this night had no purpose other than socializing between 6-week study series. I made a couple of snacks and made sure I had handouts available for the next study.

Stacia was also in the kitchen starting the fondant work on Bre's baby shower cake. There was great muttering going on. Allie is there in the background working on her first college math class. 

This cake was heavy enough that pillars had to be used...Michael helped as Stacia, and I were simply not getting the job done. 

Somewhere in here I became aware it was expected I would run the girls to the store to buy an item for their planned costumes for youth group. It was obvious I wasn't going to get it done before 5 p.m.

Stacia says she asked, "Mom can you take us to the store today?" I have no memory of this. I asked her if I responded (which seems to be even more alarming to have forgotten). No, I didn't respond. ::shew::

OK - a lesson in positive communication and closing the circle of communication ensued.  If I don't respond, one must assume I didn't hear and close the circle.  (Note we ran into this in reverse this a.m. before church. I assumed Stacia's response when she didn't respond. ::snort::) Allie quickly googled other options for costumes, I got pizza on the table, Michael helped the girls....

...and they and I left for the church around 5:15 p.m.  I will listen closer in the future; they will make sure I respond if they need to add an item to my schedule. 

THURSDAY, Stacia and I worked on mints and the food we could prepare for the Baby Shower. 

Allie spent many hours on her math assignment. 

I began drying mushrooms. 

I was not happy with the way Stacia left the cake on Wednesday night. She was frustrated with it as well. Today, she tore off the borders, re-did them and added some more swirls. I think it turned out darling. She said she feels like she was on an episode of Nailed IT - but no one else KNEW what her original vision was - this cake is darling! 

Thursday night was life group. We were down to 11, but it was a challenging discussion. Always good. Food was consumed. 

FRIDAY, the girls and I joined together this week for our breakfast study. We began a study on women in the Bible. It was a great week. We are enjoying the study and saw many new things we'd not seen before. The same was true online. We'll begin this study next week with our local group.  Millie was VERY happy when we got home. 

As Stacia and I worked on food, Allie worked to complete her week's college assignments. At one point she asked me to check a math problem which was giving her trouble. I don't know math. I called Stacia over. We all got the same answer. We woke Michael up. He got a different answer - I don't think it was the right one either. We are all eagerly waiting to hear what we did wrong. LOL  Allie called it quits and began dipping thick pretzels for the shower. 

College math is a family affair in our home

Friday night was Bre's Baby shower. Michael came and helped Pastor watch Bre's kids as Izaak wasn't able to make it back to town. The shower will be its own post - the only thing receiving its own post this week. 

This week has reminded me of a friend from the Elmendorf Gospel service. He was raised by a single mom. Noting all the food consumed at church gatherings he commented, "If we'd known about the church back in the day, we wouldn't have been hungry." There's a whole lotta eating involved in churching. LOL 

SATURDAY - everyone except Grandpa and I slept in. We dried more mushrooms. These will last a good long while. 

I enlisted Michael to help the girls with two driving skills. They left for 2 1/12 hours. They worked on parallel parking (a skill I have not perfected) and highway merging (a skill I didn't want to face with them).  He agrees they are ready for their driving tests. 

While they were out and about, I put together a dinner to take to a new mom, as well as some snacky items for her to have on hand for breakfasts or quick hunger attacks. 

We all went to deliver the food and visit with Elise. Isabella is a doll! 

Sweet Moments - Elise and Isabella 

Isabella had a rough start, and it was great fun to visit her at HOME rather than in the NICU. It is our honor to commit to continue to pray for God's healing touch in her life. 

Michael spent the evening preparing for Sunday School.  Dad decided he was going to bed. The girls and I watched a couple of episodes of The Chosen. We had watched it before, but I tend to fall asleep. I told them not to worry as I was familiar with the plot line. ::smirk:: The thing is I am NOT familiar with the characters and am forever asking things such as, "Is that John or Andrew?" 

Season three is coming. I have decided to watch season 1 and 2 before it drops. They wanted to watch with me. 

Earthquake as I finish typing this Sunday a.m. and 8:48 a.m.