25 Things

1. Family is most important of all.
2. Most people are well-meaning and good.
3. The decisions I make today determine my life tomorrow.
4. "Get over it!" is a great thing to say to myself but not to others.
5. Prayers are answered, but only if you pray.
6. Kind words are far more effective than critical ones.
7. Listening is more important than hearing.
8. Taking offense usually doesn't help the situation, so just try to understand.
9. A clean house rocks.
10. The apple may not fall far from the tree but it can be picked up, washed off and baked into something tasty.
11. The more sleep I get, the better I feel.
12. Mornings do not rock - I don't even think God gets up really really early.
13. Counting blessings usually gets me further in the day than whining about my problems.
14. There's always a reason to celebrate something.
15. A good driving mantra. "I'll get there when I get there."
16. Life without Diet Coke is not do-able.
17. Once someone is gone, all we have are the memories so we need to make as many happy memories as possible.
18. Nothing in the world is worth giving up my integrity for.
19. Friendship is like food for the soul.
20. Simplify.
21. Saying "No" is okay.
22. Saying "Not now." is just fine too.
23. The most important thing for a marriage is working together towards the same goals.
24. Expect miracles.
25. I'm the only one who can defeat myself.

Time

Amazed: I've changed my eating habits over the last 3 months and la-la-paloooooooza do I feel better!! Fruits and veggies, protein and fiber rich foods -- now that's what you need to eat when you turn 50 so you can still feel 40. Make a note of it! (but leave room for pretzels and ginger cookies and do not - I repeat - do not try to live without Diet Coke! It's against the law.)

Delighted: Jane has not lost her key for 5 days in a row. Delightedness! She found her way to/from my mom's garden home several times. Delightedness! She invited mom to go eat at the dining room (too bad it was after hours, but she's getting the hang of it). Delightedness! And she made it to breakfast and exercise class 3 times this past week. Delightedness!

Entertained: Robin called today and said "Are you ignoring me?" to which I replied, "Probably! I'm ignoring me too!" Seems email and texting didn't get my attention. Darn, don't you hate it when we have to resort to the old-fashioned telephone?! Poo Poo on old technology. Anyways -- where was I going with this? --- oh yes, tonight is the neighborhood annual Red Hat Party and we needed to talk about how much fun we were planning on having. Girls do that.

Excited: In one week, count 'em 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 days, we will be crazy bound for Florida! Keaton is leaving a day earlier than we are, and somehow he believes we will show up a few days later with all his furniture! This week will be busy busy! Dinner theater with mom/jean, hair appointment with Connie, stamp club, packing for Keaton's move, packing for me & Kevin, all sorts of fun to be had! Didn't I just say to someone I love lazy summer days with nothing to do?! Well, either way - crazy or calm - it's all good.

Passion: Janet is on morphine now. She is lucid at times, enough to give orders per Debbie! The family is surrounding her and hospice is doing their job. If you are a rubber stamper, please visit the GinaK blog to see a stamp set that she had designed in honor of her friend Daisy, who is battling cancer. A portion of sales proceeds from each set is benefiting the American Cancer Society. This is such a beautiful touching set. If you, a family member, or friend has ever been touched by cancer you will want it. I got it, and I will ALWAYS have something to remind me of Janet.

There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want.

Getting Ready to be Ready

Kevin's leg is not black/blue/purple anymore, but I still have it listed at MyBrokenLeg.com! How many weeks can a broken leg stay swollen 3 times bigger than normal? Inquiring minds wanna know! (I'm no expert, but I believe the answer differs on whether or not you actually went to the doctor and have a cast!)

So how did Jane's move-in go? Is she settling in? All good questions! The furniture is well-placed in Jane's new garden home, minus some picture-hanging which will take place soon. She has spent the last 5 days puttering about unpacking boxes and placing and mis-placing this and that. We are working to help Jane establish small, but very important, habits such as safe-keeping of her house key and visiting the dining room for meals. Repetition and Jane make a very happy couple! So -- Kevin and I are trying to catch up at work before our next move-in assignment. Here's what the memo said:

INTER-OFFICE FAMILY MEMO

TO: Mom & Dad
FROM: Keaton
SUBJECT: Florida Relocation

I am all grown up now. My new teaching job awaits me in Florida. I can do my own laundry and cook a mean macaroni & cheese dinner. My alarm clock works well. I have good manners and I can find my way to any Walmart. I can balance a checkbook and I am a good saver. I depend on God and I pray daily. You have been good parents. Your final assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to travel 1000 miles away and deposit me in a place I will now call home. Can you do that for me? Can we do it together? Do you love me enough to leave me completely in God's care? I trust you do.

Say it isn't so -- how can my baby be all grown up already? Keaton, we love you and we will miss you. At the same time, we are excited for you and have confidence in you. And we know that you know how to use the phone, email, and text message!

There's no finer friendship than being friends with your grown children.

Mamma Mia!!

You ask ... what can you do on a 90-11 degree day while waiting for the moving truck to roll up in your driveway so we can start unpacking? Well - go to a movie in air conditioning, of course! The point is "Mamma Mia!" is fun, the music's terrific and the cast is appealing. There's a Greek Island, a pretty girl, Meryl Streep singing and being funny, an amusing situation and two renditions of "Dancing Queen." What's not to like? Basically, this isn't a movie. It's a vacation. Go if you need a 2 hour vacation.

All Righty Then .... so we dahsed over to Rosegate and the move-in! Jane & I started directing traffic to the highly skilled team of packers (i.e. Kevin and the moving company) and in a few hours it was o-v-e-r. Then we began to work our way through the 57 boxes and Hallelujah ... we found bed sheets, towels, and a shower curtain before the night was over! After enjoying a home-cooked meal at mom's (talk about Mamma Mia!), everyone was dead tired and ready to call it a day! Jane actually spent the night in her new Garden Home without us hovering over her, and we slept like kittens in our own bed!

Today we will have more unpacking, errands, and the like. However, Kevin is giving me some much needed time at home this morning while he tends to Jane. After a few loads of laundry, I'll head that way and greet the boxes in the garage and the 90-11 degree day once again! If only I had a picture to share of my hot flushed red cheeks and salty sweaty hair while searching for boxed necessities yesterday afternoon! Oh .... the caption would definitely read "Mamma Mia!".

Lastly, while standing in the moonlight saying goodnight to Jane, she casually looked into her mailbox and discovered a letter addressed to her! Sister Connie had sent Jane a very special welcome greeting on DAY ONE!! How cool is that?! That's why God invented sisters! If you don't have one, adopt.

Sisters and brothers are as close as hands and feet. I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends. ~James Boswell

Jane's Pre-Move In Day

Well - I "feel" like I've been to California and back again after today! And Jane's furniture doesn't even arrive until tomorrow! We accomplished so many details today, and I truly believe Jane had a sooper dooper day! Moving to a new state, at age 73, after living somewhere else for 30 years, and knowing you have Alzeimers, HAS to be frightening. But I believe we did a whiz bang job at making it a happy day.

My mom, who will be Jane's neighbor, was just the best! She came hobbling over to Jane's new place and I saw her coming across the street and went flying out the door to her. She had a happy grin on her face and I greeted her with "Mom - ya got any toilet paper we can have?!" She did a U-turn and came back with a roll of TP, a box of kleenex, and some foam paper cups!

We worked our way through a medical evaluation, and a massive paper-signing ceremony, after which we lunched in the dining room. Throughout the day, cable and phone service was put in place. Meanwhile, my mom was busy cooking up a storm for our dinner while Jane & I hit the discount store for household items, food, and drinks.

We were absolutely befuddled as to where might be a perfect place for the kitchen trash can. So we went on a "trash can investigation" and visited several neighbors to survey the results! We crashed a card-playing party and helped a neighbor trim her rose garden (all the while it was 90-11 degrees outside today). Finally, we threw out the brand spanking new welcome mat, hung Jane's new hummingbird feeder, and took our "homemade" chocolate chip cookies from Meijer to mom and the new neighbors.

The best gift of all ---- on the drive home this evening, after stopping at Kevin's office with Diet Cokes so we could polish off our "homemade" Meijer brand chocolate chip cookies, Jane said to me 3 times "This was a great day!" Then quietness. Until the moving truck shows up tomorrow!

If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.

Welcome to Indiana

• Phase 1 of move-in is accomplished! Jane & I are safely in Indiana. We had a happy drive home, and got to watch the most beautiful sunset and then the most beautiful full moon greeted us! It was included in Jane's "Welcome to Indiana" packet -- this beautiful sun and moon!
• We considered driving on to California, but decided against it. Tomorrow's another day!
• Kevin & Keaton were fast asleep in their beds when we arrived home, probably with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads! Man - they were knocked out!
• It was 90-11 degrees today.
• I am SO ready to be off work tomorrow! I told Jane that the #1 stressful job in America is an air traffic controller, and the #2 is working in a law firm. Some days are just like that.
• Debbie got to take Janet home from the hospital today! They were waiting for the hospice people to arrive when we chatted for a few minutes. Janet was worried they were not going to get there in time for her next pain med. Debbie said she, and other members of the family, would become doctors & nurses in the coming weeks.
• It's too quiet in this house --- that can't be good. I will investigate.
• I wish I were at the Summer CHA (Craft Hobby Association) meetings in Chicago this weekend. It's on my life list, and I'll get it crossed off someday!

This and That

Leg Update: Thanks to everyone who tried to convince Mr. Stubborn not to let his leg rot. At least we tried. So there will be no more whinefest. This evening after work when I popped by his work, it went something like this:

Me: Hi - is your leg still broke?
Mr. Stubborn: Yep.
Me: Okay - good!

I would have asked him to play Bunco but he can't do the Bunco dance so what's the point? Enough about that.

Weekend Move: Jane's moving plans are coming right up. I'm sure she is a bit anxious and nervous, but having her own place at Rosegate will give her the independence she wants and the help she needs. Yes, the decisions and move details give me pause. We all want to do the right thing for our loved ones! But more importantly, I pray that God's convicting power will be on OUR hearts as we lead our loved one through this process.

Highlights of Today: I sent birthday wishes to sister-in-law Connie! Wish we could be there to help celebrate her 39th birthday (which is kinda like 63). Shake your Booty Con! I was talking with mom today and we decided that it's kinda fun to fly by the seat of yer panties!

Lowpoints of Today: Thinking about Debbie, preparing to say goodbye to Janet forever. Thinking about Janet - breathing, swallowing, talking - things we take for granted are hard for her.

Happy Thought for Today: Recently, Andrea said to me "Mom - what's up with the card pictures on your blog? Does this mean your life is boring or what?" Well, thank you my little Andrea-kins ... I've been thinking about that and the light bulb went off! We can't have a blog-collision here so I need TWO BLOGS! One blog for ramblings and pictures for family & friends. One blog for my "boring" papercrafts! Oh - I love it! Thanks Andrea-kins! Watch for further details.

Email Issues: As many of you know, I've been having issues with Comcast-but yowser ka-bowswer I think they are finally fixed! I did NOT have to give Comcast a piece of my mind (what's left of it). I did NOT have to cancel my account. And I did NOT have to pay for the fix! A kind-hearted stamping papercrafting friend told me how to reset the reply email settings and faster than you can say "Bob's Yer Uncle" ... it was fixed! Thanks Tami, you rock!

Princess Rhegan Turns Four

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday Dear Princess Grandchild of mine who I love and adore and think you are so STINKIN' CUTE and you ROCK my world! Happy Birthday to You!

Life is Full of Surprises!

Kevin has broken his shin and/or ankle. He doesn't know it yet, but it is broke. If you are reading this, call him and tell him to let his wife take him to the doctor! It is swollen 3 times bigger than normal, and is black, blue, purple, and every other color of the rainbow! But he doesn't want to go to the doctor -- no time, he says! We'll just see about that. I am, after all, Miss Know-It-All. I believe he should be spending his time at MyBrokenLeg.com.

5 people I talked to today:

• Debbie - I got an update on Janet following surgery. Hospice details need to be arranged before Janet can be discharged. She is in much pain and highly medicated. Doctors believe they can eventually help her get somewhat mobile and a little more social. Janet's daughter learned that she is expecting her first baby - good news for Janet!
• Keaton's Apartment Complex - There will be a washer/dryer provided in his unit! Happiness!
• Mom - I am concerned about how tired she has been lately and I told her as much. She says "I'm just old, Kay!"
• Brandt - He could not talk long, he had to go brush his teeth.
• Fran - She is mad at Kevin for letting his leg rot.

4 things that made me grin:

• My paycheck
• A new Regina Specktor CD
• Andrea called today - Rhegan & Clayton will return home from a week at camp. Goodbye quietness.
• Joyce called today to say she is having fun without me at the Scrap Expo, and that a new set of Copic Markers might be in her future.

3 things we are doing tomorrow:

• Meeting Sandy/Freddy in Louisville to deliver their new car, i.e. Jane's old car.
• Having lunch with them at the KingFish located on the river.
• Stop at the ER on the way home from Louisville (it's on my to-do list, but not sure if it is on Kevin's to-do list)

2 things that make me wonder:

• Why is my new cell phone not as good as my old one, even though it is prettier?
• Why did I leave my car in the driveway with the keys in it and neighbor Fran had to come tell me to put my car away?

1 last thing:

And speaking of money, I paid $4.08 for gas today! That's insane. Especially for Miss Know-It-All.

Cookies For Breakfast

Sounds like a good idea, No?

My MoJo, a Move, and a Movie

Picture Details: (Kay and sister-in-laws) Jane, upper right; Connie, lower right, Yours Truly on the left.

• The dog is wagging the tail for me lately and my mojo is in high gear. In two weeks, my sister-in-law, Jane, will be moving from Ohio to an assisted living facility here in Indianapolis. She is a delightful 73 year old with early stages of Alzheimer's, and I love her smile. Let us pray that her smile continues to shine through this process. And mine.
• I have always been a multi-tasker. A detailer. An organizer. Let's face it - I try to be the General Manager of the Universe. So it goes -- my mojo hits high gear until I crash. Been working on the various details of the move and, so far, haven't crashed. That's such a good thing don't you think?!
• Kevin & I scooped up Jane from Ohio for the July 4 holiday weekend. We enjoyed outdoor walks, fireworks, outdoor walks, visiting Rosegate, outdoor walks, eating dippin-dots, outdoor walks, dinner with Andrea and circus, outdoor walks, and laughs and tears. Jane walked my butt all over Indiana! My mom's garden home is located right across the street from Jane. All the ladies are excited about Jane's move to Indy. They will scoop her up for breakfast, exercise, and card-playing. Jane will likely have to put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign to keep them at bay!
• Tonite, a surprise visit from Harold/Vivian greeted us after work. We scooped them up and drove them to Rosegate before sundown for a tour, and crashed mom's pad. She was delighted! I'm either going to start selling garden homes for Rosegate or arranging senior moves! We are getting good at "scooping" up people!
• Oh yeah - the movie part of this blog entry is this (I really do have a point here): There is an attorney at my firm, whose name shall remain anonymous, who looks just like Jack Black. So everytime I see him, I say "Hi Joe-Jack Black". Been doing that for over a year now. Last Sunday night, Keaton & I flipped on the tube and guess what movie, starring Jack Black, was on? School of Rock! OMG - funny! And you KNOW how I think everything ROCKS! Well, now Joe-Jack Black ROCKS even more! Well, it's funny in my head anyway.
• Final Ramblings: What's for dinner?

The influence of the family has a greater effect upon what we think, how we feel, and what we do about our lives than all of the other sources of influence combined.