THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS

 Yesterday we finally got in to see Dave's primary care doctor.  No referrals.  Dr. said there was no need for another drain to be put in.  His pain is a lot less and dr. says Tylenol and ibuprofen will work the best.  Frustrated but at least Dave is better.  So I guess this will be an ongoing saga.

We also went to see Lynne yesterday afternoon.  It was really a good visit and not as sad as I had anticipated.  She was up in her wheelchair and even talked to us a little bit.  The Aphasia is very prevalent, with lack of language but we managed to get several really good laughs out of her by saying silly things.  That warmed my heart.  She did say one very clear sentence. "I want to go outside",  So Karen (her daughter) took her out on the front porch...she was only out there for 2 minutes at the most.  The temperature was a steaming 100F.  Lynne was content with that and had no memory of even doing it one second later.

She is definitely on the decline and so thin but the process may take some time longer.  Its hard to know what the body is going to do.

Dave and I didn't actually say a final goodbye to her, just bye until we see you again.  That may be here on earth or a reunion in heaven.

We would appreciate your continued prayers as we all go through this stage.

I'm sharing this photo with you because Lynne even managed to give us a little smile for the picture.  She does look different since she is not wearing her glasses, due to a small sore on her nose.  I'm glad that I have this picture for my memories.

Its going to be another HOT one today.  102-104F

I think I'm going to just stay inside and veg a bit.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

NEVER ENDING WORK

 I think we are finally getting a handle on the never ending jungle in our backyard.

Dave seems to have some renewed energy and takes a lot of breaks when we are cleaning up the yard.  The weather has been mild.  It has allowed us to spend a few hours each day out there.

Not a single grape this year but the vines are healthy and we have cleared a lot of the undergrowth.

Don't you just love the neighbor's bougainvillea cascading over the fence?  that salmon colored one is so brilliant.

Since our sprinkler system has been fixed we actually have some splotches of green appearing again.  Of course that means the grass is growing, which means it must be mowed before it becomes a jungle again...

It took Dave practically all day to cut our huge lawn (lots of rest breaks) with the electric mower.  But PTL it got done with no ill effects.

We still have to redirect some of the sprinkler heads so they cover the entire yard.

That's for another time.  I'm just happy to see a better kept yard.  The weatherman says our mild weather is coming to an end and this weekend it will be back to 100F.  Sigh ... 

Dave has his primary care doctor appointment Friday.  At least he's better but we do need referrals and answers as to his pain.  Prayers appreciated.

On a sadder note;

Lynne (my friend that I used to be a caregiver for) is not doing well at all.  Her daughter called me yesterday and said that the visiting nurse said it was just going to be 2 weeks at the most before her body just stops.  Everything is shutting down and this end of life is hard on all of us. I'm just praying that she will just fall asleep and wake up in the arms of Jesus.

63 years of friendship is a very long time.  Trying to wrap my brain around the finality of it.

Dave and I will visit her in the next few days to say our goodbyes.  She won't know we are there but maybe somewhere in that Alzheimer's destroyed mind of hers she will know we have loved her and will truly miss the "old Lynne".  This shell is not my friend.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

HAMBURGERS GALORE

 My Goodness !!!

This was a week of hamburgers galore.

Between 2 times of getting freebies of 2 burger combos at the soft opening of the Super Duper Burger to yesterday getting a $5.00 Cowboy burger at our local Leatherby's restaurant and ice cream parlor ... I am on overload.

Its all good stuff but oh my, the tummy can only take so much.

This burger was yesterday's meal after church.  All you had to do was mention the deal and that Expensive burger was only 5 dollars.

Leatherby's really makes delicious food and this Cowboy Burger was no exception.

It was a one day only until they would run out special.  $5.00 for that huge burger and a ton of fries which were yummy.                                                                           The burger has bacon, onion rings tomato, lettuce, pickles and Delicious BBQ sauce slathered over the "mess".  Oops I almost forgot the melted cheese !

We went with our son Steve and DIL Sigrid and ate and caught up on life.  Of course we had to have a "Senior Sundae" to round out the meal..maybe the words Round Out has a double meaning..haha..

Oh we were all so full that we waddled out of there and didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day and evening.  Its going to be a long time until we have burgers again.

Sometimes we just have to eat like the calories don't count!

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THE NEIGHBOR'S BOUNTY

 Our neighbor, Hye, grows so many wonderful things in her garden.

A few years ago she put in a Fig tree that likes to show off now that it is mature.

These lovely figs are just bursting at the seams.  I'm not sure when they are ripe but I think I may have to try one soon.

Do you like figs?  Fig Newtons used to be my favorite cookie.

Wishing all of you a great weekend.  Hope the weather will cool down.

Happy First Day of August.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind 

LOOKS LIKE FALL IS COMING ... SO QUICKLY ...

 I couldn't believe what I saw when I looked out Dave's office window at our side yard.

The Sweet Gum tree is beginning to be dressed in its Fall gown.

What happened to Summer?  We are finally getting some Summer temps this week.  The weather people say it will be in the mid 90's for the next 7 days.  At least we don't have the humidity like the south does.  I'm "wilt-ie" enough as it is..😅😜

I am fascinated by this red leaf just doing its thing on the tree trunk and the shadows playing on the bark.

Yes, Fall is definitely on its way ! 

I just want to thank you for all the prayers and concern for Steve's business partner.

He is at camp with Steve this final week.  Mark is taking it easy but he is so happy to be doing what he loves to do, even though his voice is weak and rough from the 4 days of intubation.  It really is a God miracle that he is alive.  The doctors didn't think he was going to make it.  I'm still praying he won't overdo things.

God is good and this is a real testimony to all who know him.

Always be Grateful.

Always be Kind.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST BORN

 57 years ago we added a precious bundle to our lives.

Steve is our first born and we were thrilled to have him from his first cry.

Happy Birthday !!!

You are so creative, thoughtful, a fantastic business man, a wonderful husband, father, son, friend to so many.  Steve, I am thankful that you love the Lord with all your heart and see opportunities as ministry.  

Most of all, Steve, you are a man of Integrity.  We are so proud of you and what you stand for.                                                                  

I know I have posted this picture just a while ago, but this is where he is right now working as the camp photographer for week 4 and the final week of the church camp.

Love our son to the moon and back !!!

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

BUMBLE BEE BOOGIE

 The other day I was out in our backyard.

The Ginko tree was blooming its head off.

Heard a loud droning buzz and saw many huge Bumble Bees having a snack.  

At least that's what I think they are.  They are huge and flit so fast that I couldn't get close enough to get a good picture.  I haven't seen them on any other plant, just this tree.

I had to delete most of my shots.  They were so fast that all I got was a bunch of leaves  ... 😀... You can see on the above photo one coming in for a landing.

Love our yard and all of the critters.  Speaking of critters the skunk has been back!

Right at dusk it has waddled up to our sliding patio door and taken a gander at us inside.  So far no smell ...  Let's keep it that way !!!   There you go Myra, dots and exclamation points to make this post "special"  😄

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday...

Every day should be a day of thanksgiving but here are some things I am especially grateful for today:

This amazing sunset from a few nights ago.  Every direction produced different colors and cloud formations.  Its amazing what a difference a few minutes can make.

I am so happy we were able to get an appointment for Dave to see his primary doctor.  Its 2 weeks away but at least we are in the loop now.  I'm just praying that things will not escalate and we can finally get some answers.

2 nights ago we got a wonderful phone call from dear friends that live in Colorado.  We yakked for an hour ... best hour of the night!

Last night we got a call from some very special friends that we met through this blog.  We love them like family. I wish we could see them again but at this stage of our lives I don't think it will happen.  We cherished every minute of that precious conversation.

My morning devotion today was all about Thankfulness and doing it in ALL circumstances.  Practicing the discipline of Thankfulness.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

 First of all, I want to thank all of you for your comments and well wishes for both Dave and I.

I am so thankful that Dave's pain is a lot less and that we are still above ground.  Right now the next thing on the agenda is getting an in person appointment with our primary doctor.  Its not always the easiest thing to accomplish, but we will pursue until this thing can be cleared up for good.

A huge praise for our sprinkler system getting fixed.  Some very dear friends helped us and now we will no longer have dead grass.  We are just too, too, too, blessed.  I just can't comprehend IT.

Son Steve is on week # 3 of his camp work.  Last week Mark, his business partner came for a few hours because he thought he was well enough.  Not true, he went home exhausted and perhaps he will be strong enough for the last week of camp on the 28th.  My opinion, probably not but who knows.

Life is good and the temperatures today will only get to 80F.  That's down-right cool for the Sacramento area this time of year.                                                                       Am I complaining?   Nope ... I am enjoying it to the fullest and the AC is getting a well deserved break.

I guess I have rambled on long enough.  I just wanted to catch everyone up on Life on the West Coast.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

                                                                      

GUESS WHERE I WAS AGAIN ???

 You aren't going to believe where we were AGAIN yesterday ... ER .. !

Poor Dave was in such pain in the same place as where the drain was put in for 10 days and then removed, back in December.  Fluid or a cyst they never were very clear.

Same tests as last Sunday, Blood work up ,Urine, CT Scan.  Nothing really showed up as causing the pain.  They gave him IV's loaded with pain meds which made him loopy and sick so they gave him anti-nausea meds which succeeded in making him sick and very sleepy.  That's the way we were discharged.  Dave was miserable and slept most of the rest of the day.  Pain is still there when he turns certain ways, tries to sit and generally move.

Our son Mark ...  the nurse ... got access to his test records and thinks maybe he has adhesions on his scar tissue.  It really makes a lot of sense as to where the pain is.  So we have to contact primary Dr. and see him in person to get to the bottom of all of this.  Maybe a referral to a specialist who can delve into the idea of adhesions.  In the mean time he still hurts and the meds they gave him to take at home are Opiates.  Not going to take those unless he is out of control...

So we are back to square one but at least we slept fairly well and today is here..

This just can't go on.

On a prettier note, our Crape Myrtle tree is really doing its thing.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

GUESS WHERE I WAS YESTERDAY?

 

The last few months have been a bit on the rough side.

Dave's health has been not too good.  He has had a lot of pain in the area on his side.

This is where ER had put a drain in to drain fluid from around his kidney and liver area..  The pain was so much less but it never went away.  So this last month it began to come back and we ended up in ER yesterday morning.

Great doctors, gobs of tests ... lab work ... CT scan ... NO conclusive answers.  NO fluid to drain just dull pain.  Doctor can't figure out what the problem is.  Says it isn't diverticulitus or diverticulosus  (sp?) so we are back to square one again.

Getting old and the body not cooperating is a definite problem.  So

We are again taking it easy today and wondering where we go from here.

On another note here's the latest follow up on Mark Behrens (our son's photography business partner. Apparently they are releasing him later today.  He was able to eat solid food and get up and take a shower.  Drs. feel what he had/has is an acute case of pneumonia.  Mark thinks he is back to normal but Me thinks he needs quite a while to regain his strength and stamina.  He thinks he will join Steve at camp in the next few days... I don't think so !!!

I think when he's home and has to do things for himself, he's going to find that he needs a whole lot more recovery time.

Prayers appreciated.

Steve is back at camp for week #2.  This time it is 400 high school students.  Busy times ahead.

Thank you for all the prayers and loving concern for us all.

Love my Blog Family.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

PLEASE PRAY

 After the good report the other day on Steve's business partner, Mark

Things took a turn for the worst.

I have no followup except to say please pray for his heart functions, God's healing power and the whole family involved.

Thanks

Sue

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

A BIG FAT THANK YOU

 Thank you my dear friends for all the prayer and support.

I am so thankful for all of you.

Update on Steve's Business Partner... Mark is still sedated but the doctors feel that all of the tests have proven negative.  They are reducing some of the meds he is on and his wife says that the Drs. will probably remove the intubation tube today.  Mark has a long road ahead of him.  That's all I know at this point about him.

Son Steve is starting his 3rd day of this weeks camp.  The camp is about 3 hours drive from our house, so he lives there for the entire week and comes home on the weekends.  He is at the camp to record all of the activities that the kids do each day.  This week it is about 200 junior highers doing their thing.

The internet is very sparse in the mountains so the communication is minimal.  Things are going well there and the camper staff is so supportive and are happy with whatever Steve can do.  Steve sent this picture to his wife and she passed it on to me.

He titled it Solo Rodeo.

I'm guessing that the camp theme must be about cowboys and all things western.

Continued prayers would be most appreciated for Steve and especially Mark.

I will update when I find out any more news.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

A SIMPLE PRAYER REQUEST

 As you probably know, our older son Steve is in the professional photography business.  He has a business partner named Mark Berhens.

Mark and Steve have been partners for many years and have traveled the world together.  This request is for Mark.  Mark has been in the hospital for almost a week.

First they couldn't identify the infection and now things have turned into pneumonia with a collapsed lung and fever.  He's been intubated also.

This illness couldn't have come at a worse time.  They have been working on a big project for one of their sponsors.  It was due today.  Steve had written the script and some of the software dealings, but Mark was suppose to finish the video end of things.  Needless to say it wasn't completed which Steve has been trying to do on his own.  He can do it but its not easy.

Then today is the beginning of 4 church camps.  Each runs a whole week.  They do all the photography and video for the entire week.  Its a major job with a really nice paycheck.  Now Steve went up north to the camp and is doing double duty to record everything for personal photos and for advertising too.  He needs much prayer to accomplish everything in the contract.

So all that to say  Prayers appreciated and will update as I find out anything.

Our son Steve on the left and Mark his business partner on the right.

This guy can thrive on pressure but he is also a very dear friend to Mark too.

Lots of stress for the rest of July.

Thanks friends.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Monday evening Dave wasn't feeling so good so I said I would go out and turn off the sprinklers for him.

Well the hose and I got tangled and down I went! Right on our cement walkway...

Right down on both knees and kind of banged up my arms a bit too.  The worst of the damage is to my left knee...its the one that always seems to take the brunt of any disaster.

Being 81 makes a fall that much harder.  I was really shook up and after checking everything out I confirmed that I was Still Alive and nothing was broken ... no blood ...

Next on the agenda ... how do I get up from that position ??? 

It was the only time I went out without my phone.  It was still on the arm of my chair.

There was nothing to grab on to to use as a brace.  Believe me I did some desperate praying and managed to do it..oh it was not a pretty sight but up I got.

All that to say, I thank the Lord for sparing me.  I am turning some lovely shades of black and blue.

And so, life goes limping on.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MUMBLINGS

 Well we survived the weekend and I say on to better days ahead.

We are so ready for uneventful times and just to enjoy each day we are blessed with.

Dave still isn't feeling up to par but hopefully amoxicillian will do the job.  That's all I am going to say about that at this time.

Now on to some poster boards I finally looked at after many years.

At a bible study I attended way back in the late 1970's, we were given a project.

It was to, through photographs, show our feelings and thankfulness about someone we love and care for.

Big surprise ...  I chose my husband.  Now remember this was before digital processing and all I had was a point and shoot camera.  I have retaken some of these with my phone now to preserve the "oldies but goodies".

The snaps are yellowed and many of the sayings are torn and missing.

It really was a fun assignment though.

I'll just show a few of the photos close up to explain what you are looking at.

Dave has always been the life of the party and was so loved at Sears for the 30 years he worked there.  Lots of the staff meetings had him dressing up for something.  He made a Big Bird costume and was a baby one time.  Dave got to wear the real Winnie the Pooh costume and be Winnie for a promotion.

The photo on the bottom left is from 1961 when he sang with the San Francisco Opera company in their chorus of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg.  It was all in German and they just sang it phonetically not knowing any German.

Dave way back in 1965.  He played SATCHMO and sang while our Pastor Roberts played a mean ragtime piano.  So much fun to be able to let one's hair down.

Dave and Steve playing together.

Dedication of new born son Mark.

Dave as President Lincoln at a church function.

Dave singing in his college group quartet.

Loving on our best friends daughter and he really is that wild and crazy guy playing at his folks property  in our "just married" days.

There are many more photos but I think that's enough for today.

Its just fun to reminisce about the years that have flown by.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

You know ... 

Wordless Wednesday is going to be a major fail.  I just can't go without adding my own two cents worth to the post.

One year ago today we went through financial fraud.  It had a profound effect on our lives.  Through the Grace of God we have survived and I do believe we are stronger for it.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

LOVE YOU DEAR BLOG FRIENDS

 Thank you for all of the wonderful comments these last several weeks.

We are so blessed.  Both Dave and I are finally feeling more or less "normal" now.

The house is quiet and we have begun to put things back in their rightful places.

One of the things we tried to sell was what we call "Mark's Throne".  It is an antique that Dave's Dad bought at auction at least 75 years ago.

What to do with it since its still in our garage??  We tried it several places in our house and it sure didn't look like it belonged.  This is where it finally found its home.  I think it looks pretty good and doesn't block light or has it become the "elephant" in the room.  Mark thought it looked pretty good there and its still his chair, if we can ever sell it or he can get it back up to Oregon some time in the future.

We moved another chair to the other side of the table .

And so we think this will work.  

On another note;

In reading Myra's ( Respice, Prospice ) latest blog post I was fascinated by her Mildew Mary picture.

I have a similar thing with my Funky Froggie.  My colorful Frog has sat on a rock in our backyard for 18 years, officially 18 years as of today!  Now he is all blue and well worn.  I just can't seem to say good bye to Frankie, so there he sits through all kinds of weather.

I do love Frankie's expression.

I'm so grateful for the neighbor's bougainvillea that peaks over our fence.

Its such a bright spot behind our grape vines.  It doesn't look like we will get any fruit this year but at least the leaves look healthy.

The "lawn" is pretty bad but its still our space to enjoy.  

Two nights ago the skunk visited us again. Fortunately we had our sliding glass door closed but he came right up to the pane and looked at us, then waddled away.  No smell but I just don't like a "Peeping Tom" in our yard.

Praying for a good week ahead.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER

 Family is all gone and we are back to our daily routine.

What a wonderful time it has been to have our sons and family together.

I am so very grateful.

Believe it or not I even got several "honey-do" things accomplished by Mark.

We desperately needed a new shower head put on in the master bath.  

Of course that was a simple thing for Mark to do, but , we found out that the main faucet needed to be replaced to make the whole thing work without having any drips.

So we had to buy a new faucet which came with no Instructions !!!

Thank goodness for uTube...and things didn't fit exactly right the first time.  An hour later we have a new combo that works and has more pressure than ever before.

How to spend your final day ... Son and Dad spending time together in the bathroom. 😃

Yay, it was so nice to take a shower and have enough pressure to get the shampoo out of my hair.  The appliances don't match but I don't care.  They get the job done !

Our final meal all together was at a new restaurant that just opened.

It was called Habachi Buffet.  The place was huge and there was every manner of Asian cuisine and American palate.  Delicious... We certainly got our money's worth.  Not much on the ambiance but our tummies were full.

We love our Family and will cherish this special week together FOREVER.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

A FEW MORE DAYS OF FUN AHEAD

 Well, we are getting to the last few days of the family being together.

Yesterday we took it easy and the sons and our granddaughter, Maddie prepared for our Bountiful Crab and ETC.  dinner last night.

Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Sausage, Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Corn Bread and Tri Tip for the non fish eaters.

What a meal lovingly prepared by the best Chefs in the World !

We may not look very happy in this pix, but you know that getting all the crab meat out of the shells is really serious business!

Blessed conversation around the table and finished off with Granddaughter Amanda's homemade chocolate cake...

It was so good but there wasn't even a single photo taken of it.

I love our family and am cherishing every minute we have together.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind