A Good Friday

While I write this on April 3rd just after midnight,  I want to report a Very Good Friday here in Greenville. A lot was accomplished throughout the day.  Laundry is almost done, banking is done, Cleaning is off to a great start!  Mary, Matthew and I went shopping around lunch time.  Mary got a new Timex watch.  Matthew was going to get a white polo shirt, but when we got to Penney's he changed his mind and wanted a shirt/tie, vest and dress pants. I was happy to get them for him, as he hasn't been interested in getting new things for a long time and he really needed them.  I will be sure to take pictures.

Good Friday service was very nice.   Jeff's reading was just so good tonight and I played the clavinova without too many mistakes.  I practiced a little on the organ, but knew it was too risky to play it for church.  Mary had to work tonight, so she missed her favorite service of the year.  Oh the joys of being employed!  A video was shown that was very nice..I have included the link so you can see it too.  "He Was Crucified"  

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=QBMQBgEMGIw&safe_search=on.

We watched a cute movie together tonight- "My Life in Ruins".  It is about a Greek Tour Guide and her passengers. We liked it enough for 4 stars!  

Mary's friend, Brandon, is home for the weekend, and Mary will be going to Craig's Cruisers with his family tomorrow. I will be going to Hope College tomorrow to watch Baseball Game and then bring Sarah home for Easter.  It will be a short visit, but well worth having the whole family home.  

I will be playing for Easter sunrise service, teach Sunday School and direct the choir in the late service. Seems like a lot, but I really like doing all of those things. I will be tired for sure. Dinner will be Ham, potatoes, salad, corn and brownies for dessert.  There is no bowling, so we won't have to rush to get Sarah back to Hope before 6 pm. 

Spring Break for Mary and Matthew is next week.  I work on Monday and then have the rest of the week off.  Mary will be working and sewing her prom dress.  Matthew has a baseball game in Grand Rapids.  All of us will be going to Ann Arbor on Friday for the weekend.  We have tickets to the Glee Club Spring concert on the 10th.  I will also be bowling in a state tournament at 12 noon on the same day.  I will keep you updated and hope to get some nice pictures of all the events.

Time for bed...Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Grace

April 2nd was my Grandpa Heumann's birthday.  He was a wonderful man and I have such nice memories of all my grandparents!  Thank you God for a wonderful family!

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lamb!

It is March 31 and we have had nice weather for over a week.  Best off, today is Matthew's baseball season opener double header and we are expecting 70 degree temperatures and sunny skies!  I will be there with our camera. I didn't have to wake Matt up this morning, it is game day! Yay!

I spent several hours with Sarah at Hope College yesterday.  She has a lot on her plate and I went down to treat her to dinner and a needed break from the stress of catching up after travelling with the basketball team and missing a few classes.  Today she has two tests, class all day and work in the afternoon.

Mary woke up yesterday with a migraine and missed first hour of school.  Meds worked and then she was off to college class, high school, play practice and then work at Jimmy's restaurant.  She gets her McDonald's schedule today.  Being the worrier that I am, I wonder if she will miss service tomorrow or eat burgers for Easter dinner. I have been giving it all up to the Lord to handle, because there are somethings that I can't control.  Mary is anxious to start sewing her prom dress.

Today I am going to try and catch up on things that I put off. Laundry, paperwork for work, fixing up the sewing area, practicing piano music for holy week and Easter, and working on theatre booster activities. Of course,  I will be at the baseball game later today.  Better get working!

Have a Great April 1st and that is No Fools!

Grace

New Beginnings

This week marks new beginnings for Mary and Matthew.  Mary has started working on her prom dress.  It will be beautiful. Emerald green material with a full skirt. Last night she sewed a mock bodice to check for size and then cut and marked the pattern.  I have decided to follow her process with photos. 

Matthew's baseball season starts this week Wednesday.  He has a double-header in Belding and hopes that he will get to pitch one game.  I washed his uniform, #9, and purple socks and he is ready to go!  I will be there for the season opener.  Looks like the weather will be favorable as well.

I worked on chime music for rehearsal and did some shopping.  Rehearsal for kids choir and chimes went well. I really need to be starting the laundry.  I don't have my work schedule for April yet, but I think I am working early Maunday Thursday.  Still looking for a new venue to work.  Sometimes, I just want to quit nursing and stay at home. I would most likely get bored after a while. Not sure what other work I would want to do...Music?? Not a lot of jobs for nurses who like music. GO back to school? I don't think I have the motivation for that right now.  I'll keep searching.

Palm Sunday was very busy for me.  Teaching Sunday School, directing the combined choir, played for church, directed the chime team and then got Sarah ready to go back to college. Sniff Sniff...I didn't like that.  Sarah got back to Hope safe and sound and we watched the rest of the MSU v Tennessee game with her.  Go Spartans.  We won a point in bowling last night and had a fun time.  My bowling was pretty good, over average all three games! I even bowled a 153~yay!

Well, that is all for now. We keep you posted about our activities during this holy week.

Grace

State Solo and Ensemble

The whole family and a friend drove up to Central Michigan University with Mary to listen to her play for State Solo and Ensemble.  Mary played her solo the best ever! Then she played 5 scales and sightread a very bizarre piece of music.  The judge was complimentary.  He is the husband of Mary's private cello teacher from several years ago.  He told her, "Mrs Tenney would be very proud of you!"  In the end she scored a 90 which is a superior or level one rating. Mr. Clements, her accompanist, is very talented and funny too!  He is also the new accompanist for the GHS Choirs.  He is a wonderful addition to our school's music program.   Mary and Matthew think he is awesome too! This was Mary's last solo and ensemble (mine too), and she has gotten all superiors at the district level and 3 superiors and one excellent (Freshman Year) at the state level.

After we got her rating and medal, we went shopping at the JCPenney in Mt Pleasant.  It is a bigger store,  so we were more successful at finding clothes. To celebrate Mary's success, we ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. I have never eaten there before.  I had chicken slammers that were just ok. I tried several different sauces and the garlic ranch was pretty spicy!  Next time I would get a burger. They do have a pretty fun trivia game there.  The questions are on a TV screen and you punch in your answer on a portable game board.

We got home after 6 pm and Mary then went to the symphony in Grand Rapids with the same friend. She just got home and said it was a nice concert. Matthew is at his buddy's house tonight. Tomorrow his mom is driving them to the church they will be travelling with to the National Youth Gathering in July.  I am excited for them.  There is a meeting after their service and Jeff and I can't go.  I am playing for church and participating with two choirs and teaching sunday school. Sarah will need to go back to Hope tomorrow, so we need to pack her up and get her there before bowling. Craziness!

Looking back over the past few days, Sarah and I had a nice time together this week.  We played some Wii games, shopped, had lunch together a couple times and watched March Madness. She and Jeff got her taxes done!  The week has gone by way too fast and I am dreading taking her back already.

Thursday night was the HS Collage Concert. It was very nice. Mary was the Master of Ceremonies and did a great job!  Matthew and Mary both sang with the Village Green and Mary played cello with the string orchestra, symphonic orchestra and two ensemble groups.  I ordered a DVD, so next time you visit you can experience the good music.

How about that March Madness?  Only Duke remains as a #1 seeded team.  How crazy is that?  Who will win?  I picked Butler for the first game and Kentucky for the second. Won the first and Lost the second.  Tomorrow I am hoping the Spartans will crush Tennessee Vols and Duke to beat Baylor.

I have prepared my Sunday School lesson and practiced the hymns for Palm Sunday! I hope all goes well! I will do my best.

Goodnight!

Grace

So Much to Report!

I left off in the early early morning of Jeff's birthday.   Sleep time went quickly and the alarm clock said, "Time to get up!"  Jeff and I got to church at 0830 for orchestra practice. Mary wasn't too far behind with Matthew.  Rehearsal was a little scary...I was having trouble with the hymns.  I had to bank on "bad rehearsal, good performance" mentality.  Sunday School went well. I only had two kids, but I think they learned the story of Jesus being annointed by the woman washing his feet with perfume and and drying it with her hair. Then I ran up to practice with the choir..I was the accompanist. Church started and thank goodness the hymns came together and orchestra held me up!  The choir anthem went well and our orchestra anthem "How Beautiful" came together after stopping and restarting after just a few measures.  Sometimes you just have to do that.  My biggest booboo came just before communion.  I forgot I had to play more than just the Create in Me portion of the liturgy.  When I heard Jeff say "praising God and singing", I thought, uh oh, better find the music quick!  I sightread it and did just fine.  Whew! I got through without any other problems.  The congregation sang Happy Birthday to Jeff.  It was very nice.

When we arrived home there was a message on our phone. Wouldn't you know it, Mary was offered a job at McDonald's on a message.  She starts tomorrow for a one hour orientation.  They know that she works every Friday at Jim's restaurant.

The afternoon was filled with travelling to Grand Rapids to get Matthew some cleats for baseball. Matthew found some nice cleats and Jeff and I each got a pair too for church softball season.  I threw my old ones away at the end of the last season.  In the meantime, we got texts from Sarah about her trip home from Illinois.  The team bus overheated and they sat for an hour waiting for a new one.  Luckily there was a McDonald's nearby for them to have a snack and just get out of the bus for awhile.  She got back while we were shopping and waited for us to pick her up.  Dinner was at Texas Roadhouse where we had a good steak dinner and a waitress that liked to call Mary, "Honey".  That drove Sarah and me crazy!  Needless to say with all the driving, shopping and eating we got to bowling pretty late. We expected to bowl our first game after our last, but it took so long for everyone to figure out how to set up the scoreboard we actually bowled the whole first game.  Sadly we lost all four again.  Spotting another 100 pins in handicap and some good bowling on both sides, we just couldn't catch up. I didn't get a Happy Meal afterward, but instead we had birthday cake!  It was delicious if I do say so myself!

Monday I got a lot done on the computer and then Sarah and I did some errands before Mary got home from school.  She didn't get to go material shopping on Sunday, so I promised her we would go on Monday.  Green was the color we were on the lookout for and did we find a beautiful one!  Emerald Green!  This is a big undertaking, but she is excited about doing it.  Joann Fabrics is having a prom dress competition. Mary can win scholarship money for a winning dress photo entry.  Good luck Mary! The night wasn't over yet!

Mt Calvary preschool had a fundraiser at a local pizza place.  We got there and ordered, but I had to leave before it was finished for kids choir and chimes. There is a sickness going around and had several missing from both groups.  We still managed to have a good rehearsal and will be ready for chimes on Sunday. Luckily when I got home, there was pizza waiting for me! Mmmmm!

Today I got a haircut and then Sarah and I went to Applebees for lunch with my golf buddies. Pretty soon we will have nice enough weather to golf before lunch.   We did some shopping together and then I got an appointment with an orthopedist to get a second opinion about my painful feet.  Today ended up with a home made taco dinner, TV and OU women's basketball.   I am blogging!  

Tomorrow Sarah and I have another day together and who knows what we will decide to do.  She does need to do her taxes while she is home, laundry and I think even some homework! Can you imagine that! Soup supper, church and choir for some of us and Mary and Matthew will be performing at the first of two Collage Concerts at the High School.  We will attend on Thursday. 

That is probably enough for now...I am tired of typing! 

Gracie

PS: Mary is feeling a lot better!

Happy Birthday Jeffrey!

What better way to start off a weatherman's birthday weekend than with a day of snow!  Yes it snowed most of the day on Saturday with just accumulation on the grass and cars.  Welcome spring!  I hope that this was winter's final hurrah for the year! We need to see more of those flowers.

Hope played in the championship game Saturday afternoon and ended up losing to Wash-U from St. Louis. The girls played hard, but the balls just weren't  through the hoops.  The referee's were less than stellar.  There should have been better officiating for a championship game.  Even the announcers called the game expecting Hope to lose.  It made me pretty mad. Kind of like the doctor we saw later in the afternoon.......

.....Mary has had a a sore throat on and off since last Monday. Saturday afternoon it became almost unbearable. I took her to urgernt care at a nearby hospital, not Greenville.  After checking in with nursing and registration, the doctor waltzed in with a preconceived idea of strep throat.  Mary said she felt like she was in a sitcom.  He talked fast, "forgot" his pen and had to go by memory, and pretty much dismissed any other potential problems that could cause her symptoms. What a clown. He gave us a prescription for Penicillin and told us to see our own doctor this week.  The story doesn't end there.  We got back to Greenville and get the meds, but all the pharmacies close by 7 pm on Saturday.  It was 7 pm....no prescription. So, after dinner Mary and I drove into Grand Rapids to fill the prescription at a 24 hour Walgreens.  Got home around 10:30 pm.

Since then, I have practiced the piano, readied myself for sunday school and baked a birthday cake.  Thought I had better blog because tomorrow will be family day!  Sarah travels home from Illinois and we plan on picking her up for  Spring Break in the afternoon.  We will also be having lunch out and getting Matthew some cleats for baseball.  Mary wants to look for material for a prom dress that she plans to sew.. Hmmm. One month until prom. Guess we will wait and see how she feels tomorrow.  I hope she feels good, I 'd like to have her playing cello in the orchestra in the morning.  Her health comes first.  Can't forget bowling in the evening.  Matthew is going to the movies while we bowl.  I think he is going to see ALice in Wonderland.

Amazed at the March Madness results!  Kansas is gone along with other top seeded teams! What will happen next?  Stay tuned!

Gracie

Hope Wins Again!

Lady Dutch played another great game tonight.  They stayed in the lead most of the game and won by 9 points. They will play tomorrow at 3pm for the championship!  I bet Sarah is soooo excited!   Can't wait to hear from her. I know I will.  She comes home this weekend for spring break.

Greenville High School Village Green Singers did well at the choir festival today. Their director was very happy with their performance. Next week is collage concert and they will be working hard to get ready for that show.  I have tickets for the Thursday show. I might have to sell tickets on Wednesday if there isn't enough people.  However, Easter isn't far away, I really need to be at church and choir rehearsals.

Excitements builds!  More tomorrow!

Gracie~ Hope College Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN!

Pretty Flowers!

The flowers at the top of this blog were photographed by me in our side yard.  I even got some bees in the picture!  Can you see him?  I am not as afraid of bees as I used to be.  I can't wait until the trees are blooming. The dogwood in our front yard is beautiful in the spring.

Work was uneventful this morning and then I checked my computer and took a little nap. Got to church for lunch and quilting and planned music with Jeff for Sunday since the orchestra is playing. Rehearsal went well tonight and I think that our songs will sound very nice.  I took Mary shopping at Meijer, Penney's and Maurices.  We both found tops but Mary didn't find pants like she needed.

Tonight's highlight was seeing the International Space Station fly overhead.  It was really cool!  It came from the northwest travelling southeast.  It started out very dim and then got brighter as it moved quickly over Greenville. Within a few minutes it turned dim again and was gone. Mary took a video of it, but it is hard to tell just how fast it is moving because there is nothing next to it, just black sky.

Getting some laundry done, will work on more music tonight before going to bed.  Don't have to be to work until 0830 and I get off at 5 pm.  Need to be home by 6 pm since that is when the Hope Basketball game is on.  Yay!  Go Dutch! Win!

That is all for now.. Have a great Friday...and just a little early....Happy Birthday to my brother Dan!

Gracie

Wee Bit O' Good News!

Matthew officially made the Jr Varsity Baseball team.  Congratulations Matt!  He is doing well in school too, all A's and one B+.  We are very proud of him.

Today was a beautiful day!  Blue sky and wonderful temperatures. I didn't need to wear a coat! What a nice change. There are little flowers opening up in the flower beds, purple and white, crocus and some other little ones. A couple even found their way into the grass!  I got a lot done today and will finish up my house chores tomorrow after work and quilting.  I work on Friday all day...12 hours!  Then the Hope basketball game will be on in the evening at 7pm CDT and 6pm EDT.  I hope that I can stay awake for the whole game!

For now I am going to watch sometime TV with my sweetheart and then get to bed for 5 hours of sleep before my 3 hour shift tomorrow.

Gracie

Top O' the Morning to You!

Just a quick note to wish everyone out there a Happy St. Patty's Day!  Don't forget to wear something green, or you might get pinched!  Matthew didn't have green on and he said if someone piched them, he would punch them! I hope not! He is smarter than that..just a lot of talk.

Talked to Sarah this morning already.  She got weighed underwater as part of her project in a physiology class.  Guess she only weighed over 4 pounds.  That is my kind of scale!  She leaves for Illinois this afternoon at 1:30pm with the Lady Dutch Basketball team!  First game is Friday.  Then Saturday they will either play for the championship or 3rd place. She is very excited and so am I! Can't wait to watch it on the computer.

I am getting some work done at home on the computer and will be off to run errands hopefully by noon!  Mary has play practice, Matthew has tryouts and I have a "poopy" job to attend to, LOL!

Better go, Lot to do! May you find that pot o' gold at the end of your rainbow!

Grace

It is a Birthday Kind of a Day

Today a friend of mine became a grandma for the first time.  We are so excited for the whole family.  What a great day to be born..March 16th! Today was my Grandma Heumann's birthday.  She was a wonderful person and I have so many wonderful memories.  Sure wish I could have posted a picture of her.  I was her "little dolly". Some of my memories are:

• She and Grandpa would babysit us a lot and cook us dinner.  
• We bonked heads once when she sat on the piano bench with me! We laughed!
• Made the best chocolate chip cookies.
• Gave us lots of love! 

My shift at work went by quickly and then took a much needed nap.  Had Chinese lunch with my golf buddies. It was almost warm enough to start golfing again! Yay!  Got some work done for church music and practiced the piano a couple times. I will be playing for church tomorrow night and Sunday.  I will also be playing with the choir both services.  Orchestra plays too, so I need to practice that song as well.  All the songs are very nice and I hope I can do them justice.

I am off tomorrow and will continue to practice the piano.  Need to take the Prius to the place where we bought it to get a part ordered.  Think I will finish the laundry and do some banking/bill paying too.  Guess I should finish the "dog yard" job now that all the snow is melted and the rain is over. I am not looking forward to that at all.

That should do it! Have a good Wednesday!

Gracie

Lots O' News

What a busy Monday! Here is the latest~

• The sink in our downstairs bathroom now drains normally.  They had to remove pieces of pipe and replace with new. Unfortunately, they had to cut into the basement ceiling and in the back closet wall.  No idea what the bill will be.  I did get to see the old pipe. It rusted right through. 
• Jeff took the Prius to have it checked.  It needed a new wheel hub and bearings. Good thing we have a warranty on it.  We did pay for the diagnosis and an alignment.
• Mom called and told me that the Village Green Singers will be singing at the Lutheran Haven while they are in Florida.  I am sure that the "havenites" will love the show.  Village Green is still singing at Downtown Disney too at 1100 on Friday, April 30th at the Waterside Stage in the Marketplace.
• Sarah called and texted me today that both student athletic trainers will be travelling with the Hope College Ladies basketball team this weekend for the Final Four!  Hooray! I am so excited for her.
• Matthew's baseball tryouts conflicted with driving class.  So we pulled out of driving class until after baseball.  Next set of lessons would be during the Village Green Florida trip.  So it looks like June before he can take the class he needs.  No hurry. 
• Quite a few kids from choir and chimes sick today, so I have cancelled music for tonight.  Hard to play chimes with 4-5 missing. Our family may take advantage of the time and go out to eat using a coupon the expires. We will have to see when Matthew gets home from practice and if Mary feels better. She came home from play practice feeling under the weather. The weather though, is really quite nice today. Sunshine and milder temperatures.

Guess that is all the news for now....that a lot!

Grace

Somebody Has to Lose

Our bowling team lost all four points again tonight. Oddly enough I wasn't as depressed about it. I bowled below average all three games, but over one hundred which is always my goal. Jeff did better, but not the average that he left before military duty.  The most exciting time tonight was when our opponent, who is a nice guy too, bowled a 299!  Eleven strikes in a row!  Wow, I was holding my breath. Then he threw the ball and all but the stupid 10 pin fell. Most the house gasped and sighed.  Still it was great. I was really pulling for him.  We have bowled this team for as long as we belonged to the league.  His wife is bowling at state with Norma and my team.   I am bringing a great handicap!

Sarah made it back to Hope safe and is back to doing homework.  Mary is home from Ann Arbor and had a fun time. She said the U of M/Hardvard/U of Va Glee Clubs concert was amazing.  I guess the combined number was Ave Maria by Chanticlear (sp??).  She did get soaked walking to the church for the concert.  I guess the umbrellas were blowing inside out.  Matthew went you youth, watched part of a movie and had pizza, ritz bits and chocolate milk.

Tomorrow we are going to have the Prius checked tomorrow and a plumber is coming to check our sink drain in the bathroom. Chimes and Kids choir in the evening. 

That is all..

Grace

Happy Baptism Birthday Matthew!

Today was Matthew's baptism birthday, so in our family's tradition, he picked dessert.  The cheesecake was very sweet.  Good thing Jeff cut small pieces.  Matt had a nice day, fun playing paintball with his buddy, TV and good dessert.

We were able to watch the Lady Dutch win their game tonight. It was a close game again. They advance to the Final Four next weekend, back in Illinois. Go Hope! Go Dutch! Win! No word from Sarah yet. Not sure if they are travelling back to Hope tonight or tomorrow. My guess is that I will get a text later tonight. She looked so nice on the computer screen during the game. I am so proud of her!

Mary said the concert was amazing and is having a great time with her friend too. I will hear more about it tomorrow.  For now, I had better get the lesson finished and then off to bed...we need to Spring forward~!

Grace

Hope College Wins!

Had a full day of work yesterday.  Five in the morning till five in the afternoon.  Seems I always have a headache at the end of a day at work.?  Work wise it was fine and now I am off until Tuesday.  I was pretty excited most of the day awaiting the next round of play in the NCAA- Div III tournament-Sweet Sixteen.

Jeff and I finally accessed a live stream of the game, and watched the Flying Dutch Women's Basketball win and advance to the the Elite Eight round of play.  We saw Sarah on the sidelines several times.  She looked very professional and of course beautiful as always. The Dutch play again tonight against Steven's Point-Wisconsin at 8pm. Go Dutch!  The listening link from my previous entry works just fine. However the video stream one didn't work. Jeff found a good one on the Hope site.

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/

Once you get there, click on watch live video stream.  Look for Sarah, she stands at the end of the bleachers of the Hope Team.  Let's hope we can get to the Final Four!

Matthew is playing paintball this afternoon, with his buddy Mitch and  the "regular" group out at a member's home.  It is a rainy, cloudy day. Maybe that is good for paintball.  Matthew starts his segment II driver's course next week.  Then we  decide when we will let him take the road test. He wants to test right away, but he needs to have a car.  Still saving and waiting to hear from potential employers.  No job yet.  Baseball tryouts next week after school.  He is going to be busy.

Mary left this morning for Ann Arbor. Tonight the University of Michigan and Harvard University Glee Clubs will present a joint concert. I would love to hear that!  Our whole family is going to the spring concert next month.  Her trips to Ann Arbor are funded by her job at Jimmy's Pub and Grub on Friday evenings, three cello students and an English student. Mary did get a role in the spring play "Bleacher Bums".   Her role is Rose. She is also getting excited about finishing senior year.  There are lots of projects going on for the open house.  Which by the way will be June 12, 1-5 pm.  Time is really flying by now.

Jeff and I are going to go for lunch an shopping.  Tonight we will celebrate Matthew's baptism birthday.  We are having cheesecake!  He loves it.  Better get going.  Need to get ready for Sunday School as always on saturday.

Gracie

PS:  I have created a group for March Madness competition.  If  you'd like to play...let me know.  I have sent out invites to those who have played before.

Back to Normal?

I picked Jeff up at the airport last night at 10:30pm and met him just as he was coming down to the baggage area.  It was so wonderful to see him again!  Lots of hugs.  We got home before midnight and he was able to say good night to the kids.  Our family is all back to normal.

Sarah isn't home obviously, but she isn't at Hope either.  The ladies basketball team is heading to Illinois for the next round of play in the NCAA Division III tournament.  Sarah went along as the student trainer.  Here are some links in case you want to watch or listen to the game.  The Lady Dutch are an excellent team and play great ball.  I have watched a couple games live! Fun!!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iwu_basketball     (watch)

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/hop (listen)


Today was a two hour delay day for school. Too foggy for safe travel.  Mary had to be at the community college anyway.  Matthew started at 9:30 am.  Today is call backs for theatre. Mary had a talk with the director yesterday and will meet again at lunch today about the play and what her desires are. It is pretty complicated and better for me to explain the final decision. Just bear with us.

I have to get going now, supposed to have salad for quilters lunch today and orchestra tonight.  In the meantime Jeff wants the Prius looked at. He thinks the engine sounds really loud.

Gracie

Tonight is the Night!

Barring any bad weather from Miami to Grand Rapids, I will pick Jeff us tonight at 1030 pm. In some ways the six weeks have gone by fast and in other ways not fast enough.  We are expecting some rain to move into the area soon. The skies have changed from sunny and clear yesterday to cloudy and threatening this afternoon. 

A lot has been acomplished since my last blog.  The house is getting cleaned, the cars got washed, laundry has been started (Jeff is bringing home clean clothes! KUDOS!), bank accounts balanced, floors swept and swiffered and even the p**p yard is cleaned up!  I am baking brownies and cake now for soup supper tonight.  I am playing for church and have some fine hymns to play, Eternal Father Stong to Save, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Abide With Me.

I took the kids to Big Boy for dinner last night and ended up supporting a fundraiser for St Charles Catholic Church.  Eventhough there were lots of people there, service was pretty good and the food was too.  I hurried over to the Theatre booster meeting. We talked about a lot of stuff and in the end I am now the coordinator for Bleacher Bums pre-show activities.  Lots of ideas were brainstormed and if we can get even half of them done, wow watch out Greenville, it will be a blast. Auditions are still  taking place. We won't know anything for a few days.  After the meeting I came home and watched some television and then helped Matthew complete a project due this morning.

As mentioned earlier, I am baking for church supper now and then need to go get Matthew from school.  Finish up the housework, church, choir rehearsal then off to the airport.  It will be SO WONDERFUL to have Jeff home.

Grace

He's Coming Home!

Jeff comes home tomorrow night!  We are excited about his return.  I think Jeff is excited too!  In the meantime, I want to get some laundry done, clean up the house, maybe dust and get to that lovely job in Sammy's yard!  You never know what other project I might start. 

Tonight I have a theatre booster meeting. Planning for the next show and the next season!  Speaking of the next play, Mary has auditions today and/or tomorrow. Call backs are on Thursday.  Matthew is taking a break from crew and trying out for baseball next week.  Plan B for Mary is to apply for stage manager if she doesn't get a part and I suppose Matthew would be back on crew if he doesn't make the baseball team. Seems crazy to evevn think that way!

I had a pretty good day at work yesterday and then took the kids to Pizza Hut for dinner before I had to be at church for kids choir and chimes.  Rehearsals went pretty well. Our chime team was asked to be part of a "bell concert" this spring. It is exciting, but we have our work cut out for us too! My next day of work is Friday, a 12 hour 5a-5p shift. Haven't done one of those in a long time!

Better get going and get some things done. 

Grace Wilhelm, USAF dependant

A Fun, Busy Weekend

Saturday morning everyone was getting ready for the day. My work shift was 1130-1630, Matthew was going to go with me so we had to get him to the Dairy Barn so he could apply for a summer job. Meanwhile Mary left for the Detroit airport to pick up her friend, Brandon. Work went well and Mary made it the airport and Ann Arbor safely.

As soon as we got home from work, we had a bite to eat and then headed off to Holland, Mi to watch the Lady Dutch play in the NCAA-III tournament. Matthew took some pictures of the beautiful sunset during our drive. The game was spectacular! The Lady Dutch team is really good. They ran really good plays and kept the ball moving. They won and now advance to the next round in Illinois. Sarah is supposed to be travelling with the team! Sarah looked very professional at the game and we got to see her "patch up" a bleeding leg. We took Sarah to Red Robin for dinner and then to Meijer to get pop and mac and cheese. We got home just after midnight. It was a full day, but a lot of fun.

Church went pretty well, the kids choir did a good job and my sunday school lesson was fun, Feeding of the 5,000 is a fun story to teach. I was pretty tired afterward, so I took an afternoon nap, and got a few glimpses of Red Wing hockey, Gator basketball and a creepy movie on WGN. Matthew and I did some Wii bowling and then headed off to the bowling alley where I had a less than stellar night at bowling. Each game got a little better, but all were below average. Mary made it home safe and sound. Brandon brought her a very nice masquerade mask from New Orleans. We all had a Mc Donald's meal as usual after bowling.

Now that we are back home, I finished a job application for an Obstetrics position and then knew an update was in order. Tomorrow starts a new week. Mary has play auditions and Jeff comes home! Hooray! Choirs meet as usual and I need to get a few other things done.

Gracie

Guess Who is Grilling?

Yesterday was such a nice day with sunshine and blue sky, that I decided we would grill hamburgers and dogs for dinner. That was a welcomed menu by all. Mary was the cook and did a great job! The burgers were juicy and the my hot dog was black! Mmm! Today was just as nice, there is a bit of a chill in the air, but we had frozen pizza instead...yum. Lots of the snow is gone and I am going to have to go clean Sammy's yard pretty soon. Oh the joy of spring in the dog yard!


I guess I need to backtrack a few days. Wednesday's choir concert was very nice. There was one solo in particular that just knocked everyone's socks off. I was recruited as an usher and had an interesting time seating people after the show started. Several had to locate their families and there were a few that wanted to stand with me the whole show. I explained that the fire law requires everyone to be seated, so the left!!! How crazy is that?

Thursday was a very busy one for me. I had PT first thing in the morning and then I went grocery shopping. The one hour I had for shopping flew by quickly and I needed to be at the foot doctor's at nine thirty. Physical Therapy did it's job and increased my mobility and strength and even reduced my pain for many days. But my pain persists. I told the doctor the same thing and he ordered xrays (finally) and discovered that both my feet have heel spurs and my right heel bone is parallel to the floor. I guess that is a structural defect, probably congenital. That would make sense, since Sarah seems to lack good range of motion in her ankle too due to tight calf muscles. The doctor said my pain is the result of a shortened or tight achillies tendon. The doctor suggested a freezing procedure that may kill the pain in my feet. The doctor says the success rate is 75%, but in his practice it is less. Doesn't sound so good to me. Otherwise he could lengthen the achilles tendon which is more invasive with a longer recovery. The last is just learn to live with it and pain out of pocket for custom orthotics. Lots to think about.

My next event was to prepare a main dish for our quilters lunch. I made spagetti and meatballs and I think they turned out pretty well. I finally decided on a new quilt design, thanks to my quilting buddies. Thursday night Mary and Matthew sang the National Anthem with the Village Green singers before the last home basketball game. They did a fine job. A video is posted on my facebook. We stayed for the game too. Matthew did the video taping for the team and Mary and I cheered on the team. It was an exciting game, went into overtime! We ended up with a loss. Tried to get to bed early since I had to be at work this morning at 0500.

I received a generic rejection email concering the job I interviewed for last week. So much for the personal call I was promised. I have applied for a few more jobs and will wait and see if I can get an interview for one of them.

Although I woke up several times in the night, I felt well rested and couldn't go back to sleep after 3 am. I got up at 4 am and did some bank work. Work was fine and I got home in time to throw on a pair of jeans and head off to the high school for orchestra festival. They played well and received straight 1's! We all headed to church to prepare for a new Sunday School quarter. Mary went to work at the festival in the afternoon and I took a nap. Mary is working at Jimmy's Pub and Grub tonight for three hours. I guess Brandon's dad wants her to work every Friday. Matthew has applied for a job at a hardware store and supermarket. Tomorrow he is going to apply at the Dairy Barn for a summer job.

Tomorrow Mary is going to Ann Arbor "Via Detroit" to pick up Brandon at the airport after his spring break. They are looking forward to spending time together. I am supposed to work for 5 hours tomorrow. Sunday the kids choir is singing and I will need to play and direct them. It is a favorite song, You are my All in All. It should go well. I will need to Wii bowl too before league at 6:30 pm.

Jeff is visiting his parents this weekend with his brother Andy. They are going to try and see my mom too. I am glad that he got to travel a little down there since he has worked so many hours and was without a car most of the time. We are looking forward to his return home on Wednesday! Hooray!


That is all...Gracie

In Like a Lamb..Out Like A Lion?

March has come in like a lamb in Michigan. No snow since last Friday and none in the immediate forecast. It is a sunny day and we can hear the birds in the morning. Today it was a woodpecker. I don't think he was pecking our house! Matthew and I think we heard a bat again too in the wall near the computer area. Here we go again!

Great Scores! I had a wonderful night of bowling, 152..148...137! I guess that Wii bowling really helps me, as I Wii bowled a few games before I left for "real" bowling. Unfortunately we lost all four points. The first two games were very close. We did have to spot them nearly 100 pins and then their players were bowling well too! We still had fun and enjoyed McDonald's together afterward.

Today I picked up the house, worked on the computer, banking and bill paying and of course blogging. Have to keep my reader's up to date! Mary has a job interview this afternoon at McDonalds. She has mixed feelings I think about the interview. She needs and wants to make money, but she also has a lot of things planned for the last months of her senior year. Prom, concerts, and Village Green trip. How will that affect her chances for getting hired? Matthew has a baseball meeting today for the upcoming season. I think tryouts are next week.

I have kids choir and chimes tonight and I have a few other things I want to get done in the next week. I will be playing for church quite a bit, so I need to practice the piano a lot this week. PT 3 times this week and a High School Choir concert on Wednesday after I work. I see the foot doctor on Thursday. Think I will ask for xrays.

Guess that is all for now...Have a great Monday!

Lots of Lasts

Today is the last day of the Olympics. It has been so much fun watching all the events. although I have missed some skating and bobsledding. Thank you Sarah for sending the links for those things I was so sad about missing and for keeping me up to date on other events. Apolo got DQ'd and it would have been nice to watch the skating exhibition last night.. I had more important lasts.

"A Night of One Acts" at the high school ran from Thursday to Saturday. I attended the last two nights and it was great! Mary did an awesome job. Her play was a comedy and she was hilarious as a lady in a garbage can! I was surprised when she came out in mussed up hair and covered in dirt/soot. Her part may not have been a large one, but it she made a tricky role look easy! She played several different people in the same play, where an accountant was thrown into three separate scenes. You can ready about the play on Grenville High School Arts link. Click on theatre program then on One Acts. Matthew was the sound man and did a great job too. The second play was more of a drama. Mary wasn't in the second play. There were some fun moments in that play too. Now with that play over, the spring show auditions are the 9 and 10th of March. The production? "Bleacher Bums". It is about fans at a baseball game. I love baseball, you know that! LOL! It will be Mary's last production at Greenville High School. She will audition for one of the two female parts and will also consider being a stage manager. We will see what happens. Matthew will be trying out for the Greenville High School baseball team!

Mary played in her last winterfest yesterday morning. Winterfest is an event similar to festival. They play three songs for 4 judges/clinicians. One of them follows you to a classroom and works with them to improve their music in preparation for festival this Friday where they will receive a grade.

Jeff's last day in Miami is March 10th. I will pick him up at the airport later in the evening. I hope to have everything in nice order when he gets home. We have missed him and are looking forward to his return. It has been a good learning experience for all of us. I am not as afraid to do the banking and bill paying. Our church has worked together to get business and worship done.

Tonight is not the last night of bowling. I hope I do better, sure can't do much worse. Our partners, the George's won't be there tonight. So I guess the game will go faster, just hope the scores are better and we win some points.

Since today is the last day of February, this will be the last paragraph of the entry and the month. Be sure to check on the photo album. I should have pictures posted of the play very soon.

Gracie

Busy as a Bee

Yesterday I wrote about the subtle signs of spring. Later we got about 2 inches of snow. Oh well, I live in Michigan. I hear that it might reach 40 degrees next week! As much as I like snow and winter, there comes a time when spring is soooo welcome.

This morning I went to PT and the therapists discovered that my arches fall when I walk and go up steps. They have been giving me meds through some electrical device and today they taped my mid foot. Although it doesn't give me full pain relief, there is some progress.

I got home and get ready for my job interview. The interview went pretty well, I am happy with all of my answers. The job is definitely a "side job" consisting of 2hours a week on Tuesday evenings teaching childbirth classes. I won't hear anything until next week.

The kids and I went to wal-mart to buy some needed things, and a few wanted things! I noticed the van tires were a little low so we stopped added air, dropped off newspapers at the paperdrive and then had McDonalds for dinner.

Mary and Matthew have hurried off to the opening night of the winter play. I have added a link to the review in our local paper along with a picture. There is church orchestra tonight, so I will miss the opening performance. I will attend tomorrow and Saturday's show. I am excited to see it and will be anxious to hear how the kids say tonight went.

http://www.thedailynews.cc/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=233&ArticleID=32941

Better get off to orchestra. Figure skating finals are tonight on the olympics and I work tomorrow.

Orchestra went very well tonight. I have a much better handle of what we will be playing the next few months. Before I know it, the school year will be over and graduation will be upon us. Time is just going to fly.

Gracie

Subtle Signs of Spring

I woke up this morning to find the kids were still sleeping and school started in 30 minutes. Got them up quick and off to school and even remembered to take the garbage out. Still sleepy because of late night olympics and a couple early mornings, I decided to go back to bed for more sleep. As I was resting my head on my pillow I heard a bird chirping~I thought, spring is almost here. Thank you little birdie! Just last week when I was in Lansing for a meeting, my friend and I saw the trees are budding, another great sign of warmer weather! It is snowing today and we have another 1-2 inches of snow, but the sun is out and the streets are warm and travelled enough that the snow melts. I don't think it will be too long now. Of course, this is Michigan and we have had many snow storms in March. Still it is nice to see the subtle signs of spring.

Work was uneventful yesterday morning and then I went off to therapy. We are trying just about everything. I had lunch with my golf buddies and then stopped off at church to get some things done. Keeping up with the mail and banking and watching the Olympics.

Today I still hope to get to the store and take the kids for dinner before lent service. Choir and praise team rehearsal follows. Tomorrow is therapy and my job interview. Hope all goes well. GHS theatre has opening night of their play and I will have church orchestra. I will go to the show on Friday and probably Saturday. Work a whole shift on Friday.

Good news is that Jeff will most likely be home in 2 weeks! Hooray! We can celebrate his birthday together!

Better get moving..I play for church tonight.. Hymns are pretty easy, practiced several times already.

Gracie

Heavy Snow Stayed South

School is in session! Not much snow on the ground this morning. Still snowing, maybe get another inch or two. I can say it is blowing! Will this be the last snowfall of the season??

Here are some pictures of the concert as promised. I have posted more on the Family Photo Album. I was sitting in the upper area of the auditorium, so I couldn't get close ups of the kids. See my facebook of a video of one of their songs.

Mary has a job lead at McDonald's. We eat there every Sunday after bowling and have made "friends" with the Sunday night staff. The manager last night gave us the hint and even had Mary put her name (the managers) on the application as a reference!

I need to get going to PT and work for a few hours. Kids choir and Chimes tonight.

Grace

Will There Be a Snow Day?

It is early Monday morning, just after midnight and the snow will start falling soon. We expect several inches overnight. So, we wait to hear if there will be school or if we will have the day off. Either way, I have therapy for my aching feet at nine and then I am going to work for 3 hours with my little girl. I guess there is a visit from the agency tomorrow. The nurse that was supposed to work called in and I am going to work a few hours till another nurse can get there for the rest of the day. Then I work on Friday.

Saturday was a good day. The kids and I did a few errands and looked at a few dishwashers. Ours is not always cleaning well, and we thought we could participate in the cash for clunkers. I found few but am leary of buying since I cannot install it. I would have to hire a plumber. My gut feeling is to just wait a little. Anyway the kids left for the Show Choir concert at 2 pm on the bus and I left at four alone in my Prius. The two hour ride wasn't too bad...I talked to my mom, listened to the Glee Club CD and the radio. I was there before I knew it. Got my sunday school lesson done and read from my new nursing book while waiting for the show to begin.

The show was very nice. I think, wait know that Greenville had the cleanest and classiest performance of the evening. The host school had awesome vocals, but just not too polished. I drove home alone with the radio and then stayed up too late watching the Olympics! I just love them!

I was still able to get up on time and get to church on time. The chime team played today and did the best of our ability. We had a lot of hurdles in the morning and I am thankful for all my ringers and their commitment to the group and encouragement even with my shortcomings.

Matthew finally got to go play paintball today after church and had a really fun time. He is pretty tired though. He went to youth group too. Mary and I tried to watch a movie but we both fell asleep. I woke up and then had bowling which for me was pretty much an epic fail. I am not bowling well at all! I think I have tried so many things and it just doesn't come together. I am ready to give up completely! I throw a good one and then try to do the same thing and get one pin. It is just depressing for me. Good thing I get Happy Meals afterward.

For the most part, our family is doing well and holding things together here. I have missed Jeff a lot today. Kind of feel out of place without him sometimes. Talked to him for a few minutes tonight before he went to work. He is back on night shifts this week and next week. One of their workers tour of duty ended today and she goes back to her family tomorrow. We are still waiting to hear how long Jeff will be gone.

I hope to post a few pictures from the Concert later today.

For now, I am going to call it a night.

Grace

Week Three Over

Three weeks have passed since Jeff left for military duty. I can say sometimes it has gone by fast and other times it seems like forever. Either way we are all doing well. Still waiting to hear if Jeff will come home mid or more likely the end of March.

I am loving the Olympics, but not as much as Sarah. She is working hard at staying focused on school not sports. It isn't easy! Glad the American won the gold in figure skating. We are watching ice dancing now. Two of the US couples are from University of Michigan. GO BLUE!

Matthew went to his orthopedic surgeon this morning (eventhough he didn't do any surgery). He did a great overseeing his healing. A resident did the reduction...and a good one at that. Anyway, he was discharged from anymore ortho visits. His arm/bone looks great. Praise the Lord! I talked to the vice principal and she reluctantly corrected the attendance today so he can still exempt three exams. I am glad this chapter of Matthew's fx arm is over.

My day in Lansing with my nurse friend Marcella was fun. We had a delicious lunch at the Middleton Diner and then went to a bookstore, where we ended up making a few purchases. I am excited about my new nursing book. The meeting at the nursing agency was tolerable and we accomplished everything we needed to.

Mary and Matthew had show choir choreography clinic the past two nights to prepare for the spring choir show. They were long nights especially for Matthew who had homework to do when he got home. Tomorrow they will be going with their choir to Chelsea High School for a show Choir showcase. I will be driving the 2 plus hours to watch the show myself. Better than sitting at home alone for most of the day.

I have a job interview! Thursday at noon I will meet with several people about being a Prenantal Educator. I am excited about this opportunity. It is only 1 night a week, so I would probably still try to pick up a shift with my patient too. Will keep you informed. I am waiting to hear about the other jobs I have applied for as well, Pediatric positions from 3 different departments and 1 OB job right here in Greenville.

Well, I am going to get back to the Olympics. Matthew is bugging me for the computer too.

Gracie

Safe and Sound

Sarah is back at Hope College safe and sound. I got back to Greenville about 8:30 pm just after the Olympics started for the night. We all are tucked in safe for the night!

Talked to Jeff this afternoon for quite awhile doing FAFSA stuff. Think we finally got it all right. This evening we talked and got the information for Hope done and faxed. Looks like our Expected Family Contribution will be less than expected! Yay! Now we will wait to see what kind of help these institutions will give us.

Tomorrow will be a long one for everyone. I work 8 hours, then will change and get over to church for Ash Wednesday service. I am directing the choir. Choir rehearsals follow church. Maybe I can get some other things to do crossed off my list before church. The kids have school, then play practice and then choreography for village green until 10 pm! They will be so tired! Hope they feed them something. So much for Ash Wednesday service for them. No one ever considers families church involvement when planning school activities.

So I guess I had better get to bed.

Grace

Almost Time To Go Back

Sarah goes back to college later today. We have had a nice time together. Before we go back, I will go to therapy, take Sarah shopping, finish up her laundry and pack up. She will be back next month for spring break. Wonder if Jeff will be back home by then.. Should know this week.

Today started with therapy too. Then we watched the Olympics and I got the thank you notes done!! I also applied for a few more nursing jobs. According to the website, my application is under review for one of them and sent to the deparment for review on one of them. Will have to wait and see what happens. Had dinner at Applebee's and then watched the figure skating tonight.

Mary is home safe and sound. She had a nice time in Ann Arbor with her friend. Unfortunately Mary got blisters on both feet from walking to dinner with her high heels on. Needless to say she had pain during campus day today! The blisters are quite large and painful. There is choreography this week for village green and of course play rehearsal all week. So I decided to sterilize a needle and punctured the blister with a tiny hole for the fluid to drain out. It is covered with antibiotic ointment and bandaids and clean socks. We will see how they are in the morning. Anyway she did meet a young lady at campus day with similar interests. They plan to keep in touch and consider if they would want to room together next year.

I only work at my patient's house on Wednesday this week, but also have a mandatory meeting on Thursday in Lansing. A fellow nurse and I are going together. I have church on Ash Wednesday and Orchestra on Thursday. Friday I take Matt to the doctor. He had his last OT appointment today. He has regained most of his range of motion and strength. His therapist reccomends discharge to home program. He has cool activities to do at home. He should be cleared to play baseball! Hurray. Matthew says he has no more pain or discomfort. That is good!

It is snowing again here, and I guess we have some accumulation before it is over. I don't have my weatherman at home so I just wait to see what happens. Jeff finished 5 night shift in a row and has a few days off now.

Time to get ready for bed..

Grace

It Could Have Been Better

Bowling for me wasn't very good. I bowled below average all three games. I don't even think I got a strike tonight. I had a lot of nine pin frames, just can't pick up the last one standing. Doug had a great night. Our team managed to win one point. We seemed to be ahead early in the game only to lose it in the end.

Talked to Jeff this afternoon and talked through business and plans for the next few weeks. Things are going pretty smoothly for all of us right now. Praise the Lord! Thanks for all of your prayers. They are working! There is a possibilty that Jeff's orders may be extended to the end of March. We won't know for several more days.

It has been nice having Sarah home. We like to watch the Olympics together. What we really need to do is get her laundry done and work on financial aid papers and maybe taxes...maybe not! There is no school for us tomorrow, so we will get to sleep in. I take Sarah back on Tuesday. Will be sure to restock her food items before taking her "home".

Mary is in Ann Arbor safe and sound. She will be attending "Campus Day" at U of M for admitted students. Tours, sit in on classes and having lunch. She is pretty excited and can't wait to get to college period. She is so done with high school. She still hasn't found a job in town, but continues to teach cello lessons and tutors english. Her strings group hasn't had a gig in several weeks.

Matthew is glad to be off tomorrow and wants to go see a movie. I am not even sure what is playing right now besides "Valentines Day". He sure is a nice thoughtful young man. He offered to help a lady with her groceries yesterday and today pulled a car up to the door for a member so she wouldn't have to walk across the ice.

What does this week look like?
~PT for me and OT for Matthew
~Take Sarah back to college
~Work on Wednesday & Mandatory meeting at Nursing Agency on Thursday.
~Ash Wednesday Service, I will direct the choir.
~Matthew sees the ortho doctor on Friday. Probably will have final xray. Let's hope!
~Saturday the Village Green will perform at a show choir showcase concert in Chelsea MI. I will be going to watch. Last year's trip to the show case was cancelled due to snow!

I guess we won't be bored, right?

Have a good night and a Happy President's Day!

Grace

Bringing the Birthday to YOU!

Matthew had a very nice birthday. We ended the day with a round of "Happy Birthday" and marble cake! Craig's Crusiers was a lot of fun. We ate lots of pizza, played lots of games and drove the go karts twice. There were lots of people there, but it didn't seem overcrowded to me. We were able to talk to Jeff after all the excitement and fill him on the birthday activities. It was so nice to hear his voice.

Earlier, we went to the store and bought a "dock" for his iPod. It charges and plays the ipod or you can also listen to the radio. It has a remote control with a snooze button so he doesn't have to get up to hit the button. Is that a good idea?? I got Matthew's old clock radio and I set it up on my side of the bed. Matthew is thankful for his birthday money and has put in the bank to save for a car!

Sarah and I have also been watching as much of the olympics as we can. The short track races were exciting to watch. The final race was pretty intense and we were glad that 2 americans received medals.

I have my Sunday School lesson done and I am ready to play for church tomorrow. Most of our orchestra won't be there tomorrow, so just the baritone will be playing with tomorrow. That is fine because we enjoy playing music together. It should be a nice transfiguration service.

Hoping to get today's pictures posted, so keep a look out for them.

Happy Heart's Day

Grace

Happy 16th Birthday Matthew!

I can't believe that my baby is sixteen years old! He was a good baby and has brought us a lot of joy! We are going to celebrate today by going shopping for presents together and then play and eat a Craig's Cruisers. The pizza is decent and we like playing the games and driving the race cars.

We had fun last night too. First we did our chores before heading off to dinner, which was delicious! Best mozerella sticks I have ever had and of course the best ranch dressing in the world. It was nice to visit with Brandon's dad for a little bit (it is his restaurant). Matthew drove to Holland and picked up Sarah and then she drove home. We saw the end of the olympics with the flags, moment of silence, the torches and the lighting of the cauldrons. I am looking forward to a few weeks of watching winter sports.

Before the celebration begins, we are going to the bank, and I am going to practice the piano for tomorrow. I can prepare for Sunday School later...remember, that is when my creativity is working at it's best.

On a side note,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Grace

Fun in the Snow!

Yesterday's snow day was a good one! I dug out of our driveway just after 8 am to get to work and then pulled safely into my patient's driveway after her mom made tracks with her 4 wheel drive. Work was pretty uneventful.

Mary did call me and ask to see the doctor about her eye. It was hurting more and swelling increased. I got her an afternoon appointment with a PA. He confirmed that it is a sty, and gave her antibx eye drops. She also continues to put warm compresses on it as often as possible. She wants it to be better for the weekend. She is going to U of M to see her friend and also for a admitted student visit day on Monday. (No school on Monday~President's Day!)

I told the kids in my morning note to have a fun day playing in the snow. They won't be kids for much longer and they should have fun together. Well, they had a blast. They made a large snow fort/wall in our side yard and extended into the front yard! I am so glad they spent time together and had a lot of fun!

We had McDonald's for dinner, then I was off to choir rehearsal. Attendance wasn't the best but it went pretty well. Watched a little tv and went to bed.

Today started early. I woke up at 0300 and couldn't go back to sleep, but was determined to rest as much as I could. I got up for work at 0430 and spent 3 hours with my patient, then became the patient at PT for my feet. I have quilting and Matthew has OT this afternoon. Tonight is the big Village Green Variety Show. I'll be selling tickets before the show.

Tomorrow I work again at 0530 till 1630. I promised another eat out night on Friday, probably to Jimmy's Pub and Grub (aka Cory's). We will pick up Sarah tomorrow evening and then watch the Opening ceremonies (that I will have taped) together. It will be nice to have her home.

I need to go birthday shopping today too. I can't believe that Matt will be 16 on Saturday. He wants to go to Craig's Cruisers. A place with pizza games and go karts. Lots of excitement ahead!

Better run along!

Grace

It's Official!. Snow Day!

Greenville Public Schools have already cancelled school for tomorrow. Kids are happy. I am wishing I didn't have to go to work. It will be a zoo! Hope that the Village Green Variety Show won't get cancelled! They don't cancel sporting events! Here's hoping!

Mary's eye has been hurting for 24 hours. Now it is swollen. Think it might be a sty. Starting warm compresses. Please pray for quick resolution.

Thanks!

Grace

It's Snowing! All Day!

Just as predicted, the snow began early this morning and has been snowing consistently all day. I managed to get the precip gauge up after about 1" of snowfall. It is nearly half full now about 8 hours later. It is supposed to snow until tomorrow afternoon! We expect a snow day tomorrow and of course I am scheduled to work! I never seem to be off when the snow days hit. Darn!

I got a lot done today. I had PT for my feet. That really seems to be making it better. Then I went shopping and got milk and some food that we could eat without cooking. Stopped by church and then quick went home to put groceries away before I went to lunch with my golf buddies. Today was Chinese food! Mmmm. It had been awhile since I ate chinese food. We spent a good while talking and laughing as usual.

This afternoon I talked with a friends at church about getting our boys to the National Youth Gathering this summer in New Orleans. There is a church in W Michigan that has only one young man going, so they are happy to invite our two boys to go along with them. Before I knew it, Matthew needed to go to OT. Whew! I received word that my other orchestra books were in at the music store, so I went to get those too. It looks pretty difficult. Practice practice practice!

Matthew and I worked on clearing the snow before dark. I decided that we needed to keep up with the snow, or tomorrow would be an extra hard shoveling and snow blowing day. Got that done and then balanced a few bank accounts.

Tonight's Theatre booseter meeting was cancelled, so I am at home blogging and trying to get in the mood to write the thank you notes. That is overwhelming! Tired too from a busy day and getting exercise with the shoveling!

That is all....Stay warm.

Gracie

Lifes Ups and Downs

While life is good at the Wilhelm's house, there have been a few "downers". For this post, let's list the downer first then the good ones.. I like ending up on a good note!

Downs

• Sick yesterday after church...missed bowling...self inflicted isolation for the rest of the day.
• Rejected once again for a job that I was really excited about.
• Didn't get too much done today, but have a plan for tomorrow!
• Headached returned

UPS!

• Had fun shopping with the kids on Saturday.
• Church and Sunday School a great success!
• Better today...tried to eat a little of everything.
• Applied for two more jobs!
• Sarah comes home on Friday!
• Winter Olympics are coming.
• Talked to Jeff...that is ALWAYS good!

Off to kids choir and chimes! Then dinner with my kids :)

Gracie

Happy Weekend! Happy Birthday Janelle!

It is a bright Saturday morning with a few flurries blowing through Greenville. Just read on Facebook that our friends the Welshinger's already have 25" of snow and it is still falling in Maryland. Whew! Jeff called last night as told us we might see significant snow later in the week.

I have posted pictures of our medical facility and of Mary's math paper burning ceremony on our photo album. Both were pretty good, in their own sort of way. What is it about a fire that is so captivating? Mary finished PreCalculus with a C, which is still commendable from me since I barely made it through Algebra II. She much is happy with her classes this semester.

I had a pretty good day at work yesterday and then the kids and I went out for dinner at El Rancho. Mary came home and worked on creating a open house annoucment for her graduation this summer and Matthew went to the high school basketball game. I did a little of both. We had a little visit from some young friends too, and had some fun discussions. No debates! Talked to Jeff and then finished off the night with Mario Kart with Matthew. I am getting better and Matthew is first place in most games.

As for today, I am going to edit a job application online, go shopping, banking, prepare for Sunday School and then go to work for one of my famed 8pm to 2 am shifts. Hooray. So far I have eaten breakfast and did my blogging. What is more important than that?

Better get going and get something else done! Have a great weekend!

Gracie

A Day I Always Remember

Today is the day my dad was ordained in 1945. Eventhough he is heaven, a great place to be, I will always remember this important date with joy and remember dad as a wonderful pastor who LOVED TO TELL THE STORY! He was a wonderful man!

Yesterday was a good non-stressful day. I practiced the piano, followed up on some bill business and completed my last CEU class for my license. Matthew and I also attended the open house of our new medical facility. It is beautiful and it "green". I did take some pictures and will post them later, as I am supposed to be at quilting. Choir rehearsal went pretty well last night and then I watch some TV.

Later today I go back to therapy for my feet. I do feel a lot of progress!! We are waiting to hear if Matthew OT got extended. We hope so. Orchestra practice is tonight so I have practiced a some in our new books! I can't wait.

Talked with Sarah last night. She will be coming home late next Friday. It will be nice to have her home for Matthew's 16th birthday. The Olympics start that night too. I am excited. The winter olympics are my favorite! Think I will post a link for the olympics under the Look and See section.

So Long!

Grace

Happy Groundhogs Day!

First event of the day was from the Groundhog. He saw his shadow and predicted another six weeks of winter. It has been pretty cold here lately and we had several inches of snow today. Sorry Jeff, I forgot to put out the rain/snow gauge. I must say that I still think that snow is pretty and I am still enjoying the winter season.

The rest of the day was packed with accomplishments. Sammy got groomed. He looks really nice and was glad when I picked him up this afternoon. The ladies at the vet say he is a sweetheart. That is good to hear since the previous groomer had other things to say about him. They are closed now. I wonder if they were mean to him?? Poor boy. We are good to go for a while now.

Next on the agenda was PT for my aching feet. They are doing stretching exercises with me and I must say they do feel better! I am going three times a week. I am encouraged! They hurt really bad the last few days. Today after therapy it was noticeably better.

Had lunch with Norma and Janet, my golf buddies. We always have a nice time. Dropped off mail, made some appointments, did online banking and followed up on loan information! I even completed my last CEU class for my nursing license renewal.

Mary thinks her math test went well. I was praying a lot during the test time. Mary made it to her Spanish class at the college and did fine on the listening test too. Even had time to stop at home for lunch. Matthew said his history test was fine too. Now the 2nd semester has officially started, and we headed to Wal-Mart to get new folders and paper. Picked up a few groceries and exchanged a pair of jeans for Matthew. We hurried off to the high school after checking out so Matthew could catch the bus with the Varsity Basketball team. He taped the game for them. He likes that job.

Jeff called in the late afternoon. He got to go jogging before more rain showers moved in. I briefed him about the family news and we are planning a phone conference to finish up FAFSA and other financial aid stuff, even taxes! It was really nice talking to him. I love him very much and miss him a lot! With that said, we are doing fine here and keeping up with the daily routine.

Mary planned for Sunday School with her co-teacher, Josh tonight. They made a Bible bingo game. There class has good attendance, the kids love them! What will happen next year? They will both be away at college. I attended the Theatre Booster meeting. A lot was accomplished I think. We meet again next week. Mary attended a city council meeting for extra credit in her government class. She was full of information when she got home.

I thought I was working in the morning, but the schedule has changed. I called my clients house tonight to check on my hours for tomorrow. She told me that I am not working until Friday and Saturday. The new nurses are working on their own and tomorrow was assigned to them. Guess my hours have been cut back again. Par for the course. I am going to look at the bright side and be happy to spend more time at home and keeping my brain sane! I have applied for a few more jobs that I found online. Waiting to see what happens.

Guess that is my news for now. Tomorrow will be snow shovelling, thank you writing, and who knows maybe I will paint the kitchen trim! I planned to do that after our windows went in last fall.

Gute Nacht!

Grace

All is Well

So far so good. It has been nearly a week and we are all thriving. Talked to Jeff tonight and he had a good Sunday. Went to church at St Mark's with his brother Andy and friend Stephanye. Mary spoke with Jeff while I was at bowling and I guess he stayed with Andy last night and enjoyed time together. He was off to work when we hung up the phone. He is working midnight shifts. He is able to get rides to work so he doesn't have to walk there at night in Miami! Whew!

Our Sunday was good too. Church went well, although it was a little strange without Jeff. He has missed a Sunday before for military duty, but we all expect not to see him for a month. Took the kids for pizza lunch and then got some chores done at home. Youth group planning meeting was tonight and then I went bowling. We ended up winning 3 points tonight. Yay! It will be fun having Doug on our team while Jeff is away. I had a good night tonight. I bowled over average, although I had some bad balls that I want to forget.

No school tomorrow! I like having days with my kids. These days won't last too much longer. Time really does go by faster every year! I have PT for my aching feet in the morning and Matthew has OT in the afternoon. Kids choir and chimes in the evening.

Last day of finals Tuesday morning. Please pray for Mary on her pre-calculus test on Tuesday morning early! Matthew has a history final. Tuesday lunch starts the next semester. Sammy gets groomed on Tuesday! He really needs it! Theatre Booseters meeting in the evening.

Time to go play Mario Kart with Matthew. I am getting better!

Grace