Today is a different post as there has been too much time from my last blog post to this one. Although I have posted several recipes, particularly from the videos that I have published from them, I will not be including links to any of my YouTube channels today. Maybe I can fill you in on a few highlights.
First of all, I started a new job the first week of September. I am now the Town Clerk for the the Town of Foyil. It’s part time and I am certainly okay with that. I’m learning a lot but I have so much more to learn. The mayor has been training me. Our town is so small, I am the only paid employee though there are people who do some contract work, like mowing other maintenance projects. It has been interesting and I am grateful for the opportunity. The first time I had to take the minutes for the Town Meeting, I was very nervous, but everyone was patient and kind with me.
We got the clothing ministry completely moved into the parsonage and set up nicely. It functions well and I like the way we can keep it clean easier than when it was in the enclosed garage. I moved into the master bedroom after Dianna moved to her apartment. It has been absolutely perfect in this room. It is big enough for my bed, a dresser, a small bookshelf and my desk. There is still room left over for me to throw down my yoga mat to exercise. The walk-in closet not only holds my stuff, but there is room for the things Kinzie couldn’t take to college with her. As badly as I want to get back to my farm, I couldn’t ask for a nice place to stay right now.
I did attend the Homecoming parade and the banquet for our 45th highschool class reunion. For the record, I don’t feel that old. I really enjoyed riding in the parade and it was nice to reconnect with a few people. I only went to school there my senior year but I have been back for over thirty.
Dianna and I have taken a couple more trips together, but the onset of winter has made it a little difficult to get away. She is now spending considerable time with her daughter and five children as they are going through a rough period right now. Our unplanned trip to Missouri to see Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home place was certainly a highlight we thoroughly enjoyed.I did take a solo trip down to Arrowhead state park and took a hike on one of the trails there. That was a learning experience as I admit to being intimidated by taking a hike by myself. It worked out just fine. I worry too much. I look forward to more trips this next spring.
I got to watch my beautiful Aunt Frankie for several months and it was a difficult learning experience to watch her decline. She passed on October 14 and I cried. I will miss her dearly and have been very grateful to have been able to be with her the last days of her life. Her daughters, Tom’s cousins, have been so very kind to me and I am grateful for the time I get to spend with them, too.
We went for several weeks with slow to no internet and sometimes cell service, making my work very difficult. I don’t know if the solar flares at the time damaged the tower or some other damage was done. The decline in service was slow but steady. I had no internet here at the house but could pick some up at the church and at work.That really cut in to the time I use to actually produce something. I am very grateful that service is back. My frustration in that area has diminished greatly.
As my parents decline, I hear little from them for several weeks at a time. Dad does not communicate at all any more and Mom occasionally is able to figure out her tablet to give me a call. It does no good to call them as they can’t hear the when a call is coming in. Neither have phones any more but my brother set up Mom’s tablet so that she can call out on days she can figure out how. I’m glad when she can. I miss them and wish I could see them more often. Florida is a long way though and no more trips are planned to go in that direction any time soon.
I made a few trips up to Kansas to watch Kinzie and Lakota cheer both football and basketball games. Watching Kinzie being hoisted into the air was very difficult to watch. I held my breath every time. After each game, I got to have dinner with the kids and I really love our time together.
Thanksgiving was wonderful. Dianna, her family, other friends and I went to the community center where I work and had a nice dinner together there. On Thanksgiving day, Kinzie, her boyfriend Lakota and her brother Joseph came to my house and we had a quiet meal together. It was wonderful. The next week, we all met at my son Tony’s house and had a bigger celebration together. I am so blessed and I’m very grateful for it.
I did hurt myself pretty good though. Because I have trouble with my left shoulder from an old injury, I discovered long ago that keeping it strong helps keep the pain down, especially as colder weather sets in each year. I am very careful when I do my pushups but for some reason, my left shoulder swelled terribly and I lost almost all mobility in it. I was confused because there was no pain while exercising to indicate that I had sustained an injury. I got up about 3:30 the next morning to go to the bathroom and was really hurting. For some reason, the pain and the stress I’ve been under triggered my Vagas nerve. I had never even heard of a Vagas nerve before. With no warning, I blacked out, waking up a few minutes later wondering why I was lying on the bathroom floor. I don’t even know if I was sitting or standing when I blacked out. I slowly got up and went back to bed. By 6:00, when it was time to get up, I was in considerable pain. My left shoulder still hurt and now I can’t figure out why it hurts to breathe and bend over to get dressed. Well, I actually broke a rib on my right side, and strained the other ribs at the same time. I have big, solid bones, so even the doctor was surprised that my rib was broken. The only thing I can think of is that I may have landed on the end of the handle of the toilet bowl brush. Regardless, I spent several days in significant pain. I’m still not 100 percent but I am much, much better and I’m grateful.
I now have a new housemate. Another woman is waiting for her new place to be ready to move into and needed a place to stay until then. God has put me in to relationships with some wonderful people that would never have been in on my own. My new housemate is a hoot. I never know what is going to come out of her mouth. She is very kind and giving at the same time. Living with her has been very interesting and I am enjoying it.
Another nice thing that has been happening is Kinzie’s older brother Joseph is coming around some. He stays to himself mostly, but he came to two Thanksgiving meals and the Christmas dinner at my son’s house. He even bought a new car and came to give me a ride in it. That made me feel really good. I am so glad to be able to spend time with him, too.
I got to farm sit for my friend so they could go visit grand kids up north. I love doing that for her and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with animals on occasion.
I had told my family that I could not buy Christmas gifts and I didn’t want any as I really think I am going to have to downsize even further in the future. Of course, no one listened and I got some very nice gifts. Kinzie surprised me a very special gift that wasn’t even wrapped. She had gone to the farm, climbed over all Tom’s stuff just to get to the back of the barn and retrieve a jewelry box my Uncle Ricky brought back from Japan some time in the ’40s or ’50s. I completely fell apart at the kitchen table, bawling my eyes out in front of everyone. I have tried so hard not to think about all the stuff I left behind, thinking I was going to return for it soon. It’s been nearly a year. This jewelry box was such a surprise and I am so grateful Kinzie thought enough of me to go through all that trouble.
Before the evening was over, she had another surprise for me. Walking me out to the car when I was leaving, she and Lakota told me that they were engaged to be married. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t such a big surprise. I didn’t know it would happen so soon, but I was pretty sure it would happen at some time. Kinzie knew two years ago. We were all waiting for Lakota to figure it out…even his mother knew.
Several of us ladies decided to drive to Owasso and look at the Christmas lights. We had a nice time together and Dianna’s daughter, Nicole had an app that told us where to go for the best lights. She navigated for me and we saw some beautiful lights and decorations.
We were supposed to have court on January 12 but the judge came down with the flu. I know there was nothing that can be done about that but I did start to spiral emotionally. I really need to have some closure on this divorce. I didn’t even know it was coming and now it has been dragged out for nearly a year. I hear things that Tom has said and done and that adds to my anxiety. And, of course, I can’t talk about it because we are still waiting for this whole thing to be over. Now, we are waiting for the next court date…again. I know, I’ll live…I hope.
Like so much of the country, we are in the middle of a snow storm. And it is very cold. So far, so good. Terrye did an excellent job of helping to prepare for it. We have plenty of food and we are monitoring the water dripping from the kitchen faucet with the cabinet door open. I’ve got a big pot of home made chicken soup going on the stove and Terrye’s got bread rising. We certainly are not suffering here… and I pray no one else is either.
I’m sorry it has been so long since I posted. I will work to be more punctual in the future. Until then, stay warm!