Tomorrow is Christmas!

It's already December 24--just a few more things to do before the big day. I've got a few presents to finish wrapping, dinner to get ready, a meat tray to pick up for tomorrow--a trip to the bank and pharmacy, and cleaning and packing.

I hope this will be a good vacation time with our family--a time of bonding and fun, since we are so often running off in separate directions. Nothing like 20 plus hours in the car to get you to be close! Tennessee here we come!

Till next time,


Suzi

Dogs, dogs and more dogs

Today on our walk we met many furry friends. Usually I try to avoid them--not because I don't like other dogs or people, but because Raven usually pulls on the leash and barks his head off, and I don't know how owners (or other dogs) will respond to this attention. So, today I tried avoiding one dog only to run into two. Then, up behind me came a lady who asked if her dog could greet my dog. By this time I had to go down the route to greet the dog I had originally tried to avoid, and then another dog and two owners came running by.

The encounters went pretty well and I know Raven enjoyed it. And I got a work out on top of it. Not bad for a morning's work.

Till next time,


Suzi

Computers are wonderful but.......

Tim and I are trying to find old Christmas letters, and he finally found our favorite from 1998 (we called it Nelsonopoly) on our old computer. The frustrating thing is we can't copy it to a zip disk--I tried e-mailing it, and also tried putting it on a floppy, which might work but so far I can't open the floppy on this computer. AAAAAHHHHH

Meanwhile, I need to shower, change, eat breakfast and take two exchange students to a volunteer activity in St. Paul. Then I need to do a little Christmas shopping for Tim's gifts and then wrap, wrap wrap!!!

Merry Christmas!!


Till next time,


Suzi

No job, no cry

Well, I called JJ (my prospective employer) after my appointment yesterday and she told me that she wanted to put me right to work for pay, because they had a mailing they needed to get out that day. But they no longer needed me for computer work, because they had just lost a major client and were doing major cut backs.

I have to say that I felt a sense of relief--because I had a growing apprehension about whether I could do what they required and put in the number of hours they might have needed without jeopardizing time at home. So, it all worked out okay. I got a check for my work yesterday--so that is nice to have right before Christmas. They still may call on me to do things on a freelance/contract labor basis, which would be fine. And in a month I'll be working two days a week at Jeff's (my brother-in-law) office through tax season.

We still aren't sure about money we'll need for next year's tuition for Luke and Christina, but I'm confident something will work out.

Till next time,


Suzi

PS Happy birthday Daddy!

Countdown

It's getting closer and closer to Christmas! Yesterday I got quite a bit of shopping done, the van in for an oil change, and my hair cut. Today I'll be at the hospital for my diabetes check and then off to the office to see if this job is going to work out. I don't know if I'll be working any next week or not, because we are leaving Christmas night for Tennessee--and I still have to wrap gifts and pack!

I'm trusting that the day will go well, I'll do my best and whether the job pans out or not, it's in God's hands. Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry.....

That's what my kids always tell me, "Don't worry mom!" And I reply--"I'm a mom, it's my job to worry!" But I know Jesus says not to worry, to trust in God who provides for all our needs.

Okay, here we go!

Till next time,

Suzi

Big day coming up

Tomorrow is a big day. In the morning, I'm going to see my diabetes nurse educator as well as my nutritionist for a repeat visit. I may get an insulin pen to have with me before meals, which will come in handy with Christmas coming up! After the hospital visit (my appointment is in the hospital basement), I'm going over to see about a new job. I'd be working in a home office--not far from my home, where I'd be doing secretarial/computer things. The only thing is I'm not familiar with the computer programs I'd need to use, so we'll see tomorrow how things go--if it will work out or not.

I guess I'm not too nervous about the hospital visit, but the job thing is a little more of a mystery. It would be nice to have it--it would be part-time, and close to home. But at the end of January I'll start working two days a week for my brother-in-law during tax season. We need to be saving money for our daughter's high school tuition--she wants to go to a Lutheran High School that is more than double the tuition we're paying now. And, Luke will have college tuition.........

So, we'll see how it goes....

Till next time,


Suzi

Yikes--it's only a week till Christmas Eve!

Just as I was feeling pretty smug about how ready I was for Christmas, I realized that we only have a week to go! I still have presents to buy, to wrap, food to order and buy, a house to clean, programs to attend, bags to pack for our trip right after Christmas--which means clothes to wash, cars to check up on, etc etc.......

In the hustle and bustle, I must not lose sight of the reason for the season. It helps to have my Christian radio station on with carols of the season proclaiming the baby who came to save us and give us true meaning for the whole year.

Till next time,


Suzi

For some reason, I couldn't post earlier this morning, but now I can! Oh, the wonder of computers!

New refrigerator

Raven and I walked early again today, anticipating a snowfall and the arrival of our new refrigerator between 7 and 9 am. I spent the better part of last evening cleaning out the old one. Turns out the 6 inches or more predicted early yesterday was only about 1-2 inches by morning.

The guys came right at 8 am, and were done in about 10 minutes, I think--including measuring, taking out the old frig and bringing in the new one. It is bigger than the old one--it has a handle (the old one had been removed when the kids were toddlers)--and it's a side by side with a water dispenser. Of course, Tim will have to run the tubing for the water through Luke's bedroom ceiling, so I'm not sure when he'll be able to get to that. But with 4 teenagers in the house, it's nice to have a little more room for food storage.

Of course, the food doesn't last that long, but Cub is always beckoning to me to come so I can fill it again.

Till next time,


Suzi

White stuff abounding

I just heard the forecast for tonight. Six inches of snow or more after midnight. Maybe this will be the year of snow--we haven't really had that much for several winters. All I want is to be able to get out of my driveway and have safe roads to drive on--especially for Mark as he looks forward to getting his license in a couple of months.

Meanwhile, we are rejoicing over the capture of Saddam Hussein. Hopefully they can have a quick trial and bring him to justice. Our prayer is that the violence will end over there and stability can be brought to that country.

You go troops!

Till next time,


Suzi

Up up and away

Well, so much for a leisurely Saturday morning. Tim and the boys are off to work, I'm off to a meeting, and Inga is babysitting. Only Christina gets to sleep in. Ah well, it's better to be off and running--maybe I'll get some wrapping done and work on the Christmas letter--it's getting late in the season!

Till next time,

Suzi

Excitement in Robbinsdale

Last night our son's friend who lives down the block came over and announced that there were police cars across the street from his house, looking in windows with flashlights. One of the neighbors is a friend, but it didn't look like they were home.

A couple of hours later, our son Luke was coming home from playing pool with a friend. As they turned off the highway to come to our neighborhood, they were suddenly surrounded by police cars and another vehicle. Cops came out of their squads, guns drawn, and approached the other vehicle, demanding that they raise their hands. As Luke and his friend David watched, they stayed in the car, afraid to move. The others didn't move either, so the cops opened their doors and dragged them out, threw them on the ground and cuffed them.

Then they drove away, leaving room for Luke and David to drive home, a bit shaken, but thankful to be alive and safe.

Even little Robbinsdale (Pop. 14,000) can have it's moments of adventure!

Till next time,


Suzi

Love that liver

My liver is a good one, I think--perhaps an overactive one. I've been learning that the liver is the organ that produces glucose--and, in my case, when I exercise or sleep (especially after an insulin shot)--the cells start crying out to the liver to produce glucose. This morning before my walk my number wasn't too bad--141--but after my walk (still fasting from the night before) the numbers went up to 187.

Anyway, Raven and I enjoyed our walk--he did a beeline down the now shoveled sidewalks--not too many places to sniff as the mounds of snow piled up on either side of the walkway. As we got to the parkway, we were dismayed to discover the walkway was not yet plowed--so we alternated between the snow-free street and the snow-filled sidewalk. Good thing I had on my high zip-up Sorel boots.

It's cold, (about 2 degrees) so maybe that was another reason for Raven's scurrying (I wore two layers--at least--of everything.) I also enjoyed my new CD disc man and listened to Amy Grant Christmas carols--except for the times the CD player slipped down. Well, maybe practice will make perfect.

Two weeks till Christmas--so I better get busy wrapping and writing (our Christmas letter).

Till next time,


Suzi

A quick blog

Snow, snow, snow--

It sure is pretty, but it can really slow you down! We've got about 6 inches and Inga slipped and fell on her already tender ankle, so she's home today. I was out shoveling after increasing my insulin last night (I saw the diabetic nurse educator and the nutritionist yesterday--they say I'm doing pretty good--could be a bit better.)

I felt I was having an insulin reaction so came in to have some juice. The glucometer read 179, so I'm wondering if I need to callibrate it for accuracy. Anyhow, when it rains it pours--or should I say when it snows, you get snowed under!

Now I'm off to Bible study.....

Till next time,


Suzi

Snowing in the streetlights

Raven and I walked early again today--as the snow was softly falling past the street lights. I had my glasses on (too early for contact lenses) and noticed the flakes just before they melted on my glasses. As I looked up at the streetlights, I could see the tiny patterns of various snowflakes reflected in the light. It was really cool--so many designs and intricacies. I have to admit, at first I thought I was just seeing the blood capillaries on the insides of my eyeballs, but, no, these were different patterns, and my eyes were open!

The snow is starting to mount up a bit and I hope not too much, as I've got an appointment this morning with a diabetic dietician, and then, ironically, I'm having a Christmas cookie bake here with 3 friends. So, I'm off to shovel and drive and bake! Soon I'll be pushing those snowflake designs off my driveway and windshield!

Till next time,


Suzi

Monday morning.....

Well, it's Monday and we had a fun-filled weekend. The Holidazzle parade of lights down Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis was delightful on Saturday night. It was a bit cold--with the wind, but not too bad. Some of us retreated for a while into Crate and Barrel. Then we enjoyed holiday treats at the Corrigans' home--it was nice to warm up and socialize in a cozy environment.

Sunday evening's Advent dinner went well, too. What started out as a two-family affair with the six of us and 3 guests turned out to be a 4-family affair with 20 of us, including Luke's friend Alex. We had tacos, buffet style, and I think everyone had fun. We played a game where the kids were on 3 teams and had to cooperate using only one hand to see who could wrap a gift the fastest and the best. Then Tim read a couple of Advent devotionals (one was a devotional I had written 11 years ago!) and we shared some favorite Christmas memories. Of course, I had to share about my Dad reading "The Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve, and also about our Christmas gathering in Tennessee the year the Romanian dictator was executed on Christmas day--which opened the way for our adoption of Christina who was born two days after Ceauceascu's demise. (I know I spelled his name wrong--I've got to find the correct spelling for that!)

Anyway, now the holidays are in full swing, but our big events are over, so I hope I can keep up the house without having parties planned (well, we are having a cookie bake here tomorrow.......)

Christmas will be here before we know it!

Till next time,


Suzi

Posting late

Well, today I'm posting at 10 am--a far cry from yesterday's early morning post. I need to get going and get the boys awake and busy or out of here who slept over. "Mom," Mark says, can John and Corey sleep over?" "Mom, can Sean sleep over too?" "Mom, I promise we'll clean up." "Mom, can we sleep in the family room that Christina just cleaned for the weekend party?" "Mom, can we cook pizza and leave the plates and pizza maker lying around for you to put away and clean up.......Mom..........."

Actually it's not that bad. I'd rather have kids here and know what's going on (at least when I'm awake--who knows what they do when we've gone to bed!). So far nobody's burned down the house or had wild orgies. Before I know it they'll be grown and moved out. And then maybe moved back in. And out. And in..........or........who knows.

We'll just take one day at a time.

Till next time,


Suzi

Winter wonderland

This morning I walked early again--it was dark and the ground was covered with a fresh layer of light snow. The street lights were hazy in a comforting sort of way--the morning seemed slow to come from its frozen slumber to meet the sun. Even Raven wasn't as bouncy as he usually is after a snowfall--no snow dogs (angels?) today--though he did track a few rabbits, whose footprints were evident to my eyes today as well.

One person was out shoveling the driveway as we walked and by the time we got back home, a man was snowplowing over at the elementary school across the street. The kids started to get up for school--Luke has jazz band on Fridays so he leaves early and the others have to catch the bus earlier than usual. Christina wants a ride to school so, maybe I'll do some grocery shopping on my way home.

And hope the streets aren't too slippery after our covering of snow. There might be more on the way....

Till next time,


Suzi

Catching up

Yesterday I balanced my checkbook that has been waiting weeks for me. To my shame, I had two statements to catch up on. But fortunately, each month balanced and I was as happy as a clam (if only I had more clams to be happy about!).

Now I need to catch up on my housework. It's not too bad--as we've had gatherings here every week for the past couple of weeks. This weekend we are hosting an Advent dinner and two families with teenagers are coming over, so I guess there is more reason to be nervous. But I'm not in a panic (yet)--what makes me nuts is when I compare myself to other people's homes with immaculate carpeting and nick nacks or zero dust bunnies under the bed, beautiful decor and scented candles burning in every room.

I would like this too, but I have yet to attain it. My goal is to have a peaceful home where people can relax and not feel they are in a museum, but not be in a cluttered environment either.

So, today I plan to catch up. It helps that we've steadily getting rid of clutter--so I don't have to keep moving that around!

Till next time,


Suzi

Make new friends

This coming Sunday is an all-church Advent Dinner--but instead of having it at church, various host homes are having people over for dinner and fellowship. We are having a new family to our church--a mom and two teenagers. I'm hoping the kids connect well, the house gets clean, and the food and "entertainment" all come together.

We have a booklet with ice breaker suggestions, and Scripture readings. I hope it will help us take the time to reflect on the meaning of the season. We've just completed our 40 Days of Purpose--reading The Purpose Driven Life--and our pastor jokingly said now we are entering the 40 days of the purchase driven life. Hopefully we will keep our focus where it should be.

Three weeks from today is Christmas Eve--December is already upon us. May our focus be on the Reason for the Season.

Till next time,


Suzi

Oh Christmas tree....

Last night we got the tree up. It was going to be a family effort, but.........well, Mark got home late, two or three of Luke and Inga's friends came, but were mostly spectators--Luke did help Tim bring in the tree and decorations from the attic. Tim basically set up the tree, with some assistance from me, and he strung the lights. Every year we buy new lights as the old ones don't work after a year in our attic.

So, now the tree is up, the lights are on, and there are still boxes under the tree with ornaments yet to be hung. Maybe I'll get to that today. We actually have gifts to wrap that can go under the tree too. Amazing. And, we're having a new family from our church over for Advent dinner on Sunday, so we have incentive to clean and decorate.

I love Christmas time.

Till next time,

Suzi

Back to school

We've enjoyed a different schedule for the past few days, with the kids home for Thanksgiving. Now it's back to school/work and the routine of things. Except for Inga--who spained her ankle over the weekend and is now on crutches. She twisted it sledding on Saturday night, but the doctor at urgent care (the same one who stitched my hand--9 stitches--when I sliced it with a bread knife two years ago) said it was only a #1 sprain--so it's not too bad. It's still swollen and sore, and Inga's got a cold today, too, so I let her stay home. Besides, her grades are very good, and the school is quite a maze with it's three floors of circular hallways. One more day of rest should help her prepare for navigating school tomorrow.

Hard to believe it's December already--and now the kids are counting the days till Christmas break. I'm hoping while their counting they are studying as well--semester ends in January.

Till next time,


Suzi