Gradually shaping up

This morning both the boys were working on Mark's room, and Tim too. They have sanded it and primed it. Tim is looking it over to do some touch up before the final coat will go on, possibly tomorrow night.

Tonight Tim and I are meeting with people from Calvin Christian High School to explore this option for Christina. Tomorrow is Terry's birthday and we're having a little gathering to celebrate. Friday night we have a wedding to attend.

Left to do: vacuuming, mowing, sweeping, dusting, decluttering, organizing, cooking, picking up stuff.

Will we make it? We'll see--the Big Party is now only 3 days away!

Till next time,


Suzi

Summer's here

Well, this Memorial Day weekend was a hot one--with Minneapolis actually being the hottest place in the country or at least in the top three. The western suburbs actually missed out on storm activities last night, though other locales received hail and severe thunderstorm warnings. We just got clouds and wind and a cool front, thankfully. Today is cooler, so we have the windows open, but I'll probably turn on the air in a few minutes.

Today everyone is working. Christina has a Tuesday babysitting job for her cousins throughout the summer. She's still looking for other part-time work, however. I'm putting off pounding the pavement (at least aggressively so) this week to focus on getting ready for Graduation Party.

We're on the threshold of a new phase of life. New job opportunities for me and Christina, new work challenges for Tim, going from full-time student to full-time work for Mark. Only Raven's life remains constant.

Stay tuned for the next episode in the life of the Nelsons........

A warm walk

Yesterday I guess Minneapolis scored the hottest spot in the nation at 97 degrees. This morning Tim joined Raven and me on a warm walk--we did 2-3 miles, but we did take a little break by the lake and dipped our toes (and paws) into the cool water.

It will be a good day to work inside in the air conditioning. Much needs to take shape for the big grad party. Luke is here, and I'm hoping he will help with the walls on Mark's room, which need to go from being the textured red and black and Luke made them to be when it was his room and he promised to fix when it was no longer his room.

Anyway, I'm trying to get motivated and I think I'm just about there. Clean house, here we come!

Till next time,


Suzi

One more graduation photo...

... this hug is worth a thousand gray hairs...

Slide show at Mark's commencement

 

Mark, the graduate (and his brother Luke two years ago)

Proud parents with our graduate

 

Mark, the graduate

You go Mark!

 

Mark and Raven, fall of 2003

 

Mark as a Powder Puff person on Halloween one year...

 

My baby boy is graduating!

Above: Mark with his friend David (Mark is on the right).

Below (left): Mark in his big hair days.

It's hard to believe the day is now here. On my half-birthday, nonetheless. My baby boy Mark, is graduating from high school. He even got a hair cut (didn't get too much taken off though) to please his mom.

I'll post pictures of the graduate later. Until then, enjoy the photos, including the one of a little boy who couldn't stay awake for his supper. Now, he's up till 11 or midnight and then up again in the morning for the day's activities (not school any more--at least for now!).

Congratulations Mark! We are so proud of you and grateful for the fine young man you've turned out to be! We love you!

Mom & Dad

Suzi & Yvonne at the Peacock Inn

 

Our friends Scott & Yvonne outside the Peacock Inn

 

With friends, old and new, at the Peacock Inn

 

Last day of school

It's weird, going down and waking up the kids for their last day of school--and for Mark, really the last day. They got to sleep in today, because neither one of them has finals till this afternoon. Then two finals for each of them: Mark has Latin and Computer Assisted Design (or something like that), and Christina has Religion and Algebra. Then they're done!

Christina starts babysitting weekly on Tuesdays next week--she'll be watching her cousins. She's still looking for another part time job, and hopes to hear from Michael's soon, but she's got her application in elsewhere too.

It's supposed to be hot this weekend--hopefully not too hot in the gym where graduation will be tomorrow. I think it's supposed to rain on Monday--which will follow the annual tradition of a rainy Memorial Day weekend. Usually it's cool and cloudy all weekend, so we should be thankful for sunshine.


Summer, here we come!

Till next time,


Suzi

Two days till graduation!

This morning Mark is going to graduation rehearsal. He and Christina don't have any finals today, so no regular school for them. Tomorrow they take their last finals of the year.

Tim is getting Mark set up as an independent drywall contractor. I think the name of his business is going to be "Dueling Banjos" (the tools that hold the tape and taping mud are called banjos). I guess "The Mark of Excellence" was taken.

Tim's been working every day, but there hasn't been enough work for employees, so he's encouraging everyone to look elsewhere, or he can also help them start up their own business. Construction is really competitive right now with many immigrants working for little pay. As much as I appreciate other cultures and the hard work and good work ethic that many have, it makes it tough for Tim to run a business and pay employees a decent wage plus deal with all the other expenses of payroll, workman's comp, taxes, etc. etc.

Meanwhile I keep looking for something. I'm on monsterjobs.com and careerbuilders.com now. It's funny, but the first job listing that came up was for an office manager for a large Covenant church in the Twin Cities. I might have applied for it, but it is clear on the other side of town.

But I've got plenty to keep me busy in the interim!

Till next time,


Suzi

I'm pumping!

Last night we "installed" my insulin pump. After a three hour session with my nurse, interrupted only periodically by Christina and Raven, I was hooked (up). I am becoming the bionic woman. I have contact lenses in my eyes, piercings (only one in each) in my ears, and now an insulin pump attached to my stomach.

I have to wake up at 3 am for the next couple of nights to check my blood sugar. It was 87 last night. (A little low, but not dangerous--my target range is 95-140.) I thought about eating a cracker, but was too sleepy, so I went back to sleep. After all, with all the stuff in my head it took me till almost midnight to fall asleep initially. I was up again around 6:20 and took my blood sugar at 7 am. It was 121. Pretty good. After my walk it was 128. I adjusted my insulin for breakfast and will check my blood sugar again before lunch. One cool thing is that the blood sugar monitor reads my levels and then it has some kind of wireless connection to the pump so it reads that level as well. That way I don't have to enter my number manually on the pump unless I wait longer than 30 minutes to do so.

I survived my shower, disconnecting the pump and reconnecting without any problem. Sleeping was another matter--I tossed and turned a bit, wondering if the slender tubing would break or strangle me as I had the pump under my pillow. It did neither.

And, for my lounging days at the beach in my bikini (HA! TRIPLE HA!) this summer, I can go pumpless for the day and resort to my old insulin habits. Otherwise, I can go up to an hour without the pump if I'm swimming or in a hot tub.

Fun times!

Till next time,


Suzi

Interview

Today I had my first job interview. It was with a recruiter, so it was sort of a mediator person, but it was very helpful and I enjoyed it very much. We will see how things progress. Stay tuned.

I got out the bulk of Mark's graduation invitations yesterday. If you don't receive one and would like to, let me know. It's Saturday, June 3 from 4-8 pm. I still have to order more food items and paper products, but things are getting underway. Graduation is this Saturday already!

May is my favorite month, as I've mentioned before, but it is always such a busy time. Today the sun is shining and there is a pleasant breeze. My irises are almost ready to bloom. They should be in their full glory at party time. Now if only the maple trees and cottonwood trees would stop their seed shedding--then we could really enjoy the outdoors! But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining...

Till next time,


Suzi

Back to the rat race

Well, after our wonderful weekend here it is Monday morning. It's Mark's last Monday of his high school career and the start of his last week of school. I can hardly believe it. The job search continues for Christina and me, with thoughts of going to Kelly temp agency to see if that will help hone skills and interests/abilities with the "right" job.

Tonight is the last BSF for the school year. We're meeting a little early for a fellowship time with our discussion group, then we'll go to the sanctuary as a group to listen to others share about what they've learned from the Genesis study and how they've applied it to their lives. It's always a moving time and sometimes a little teary. I'll have to remember to bring my Kleenex.

On the agenda for today is to get Mark's invitations out! The party is coming up and though we've been getting the word out (Sat, June 3, 4-8 pm), we need to mail out the word too.

Till next time,


Suzi

A wonderful weekend

We got back from a restful, fun weekend in Chaska, MN at the Peacock Inn. We stayed in the Shirley Shanusbruer room (also pictured above)--so beautiful and comfortable! We had a wonderful time with our friends the Sieverts at the Musical of Musicals, the Musical at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Turns out the other couple who was staying at the B&B was at the musical as well. Breakfast was wonderful and beautifully prepared. You must go to the Peacock Inn website (link above) to see how magnificent this place is. The innkeeper, Joyce, is really friendly and very good at what she does. We had dessert each nice with wine (or you can choose non-alcoholic--we splurged for this one time).

The second night a couple who had just gotten married (two middle school teachers--a band director and a science teacher) stayed at the room next to ours (no, we didn't hear any thing!). It was fun to get to know them a little bit at breakfast this morning. They have a gift opening this afternoon and have to go back to school tomorrow, but they will honeymoon in June in Mexico.

But do check out the Peacock Inn website and visit here if you have a chance. Cheri, this would be a great place to stay when you visit Daniel (although of course we would have to join you and of course you are always welcome here!).

Till next time,


Suzi

Last concert

Last night we attended the kids' last concert of the year. For Mark, at least, it was the last school band concert. He's played the tenor saxophone since 5th grade--been in jazz band for several years and even taken some small tours. Christina's been playing the flute--taking time off in 7th and 8th grade, but she's enjoyed playing at West.

A week from tomorrow is Mark's graduation. It hardly seems possible! He's been waiting for his high school career to be finished, not always patiently, but the other day he remarked that this coming ending is "kinda sad."

On a happy note, Tim and I are looking forward to our getaway weekend. We won't be too far from home, and Terry will be here with the kids. I think his daughter Maria may come to stay at our house for at least part of the weekend (she is 13). It should be a great weekend for all.

Probably won't get a chance to blog again till Monday--have a great weekend everybody!

Till next time,


Suzi

Today's to do list

Lots I would like to accomplish today:

Mow the grass
Grocery shop for the weekend (Terry and probably his daughter Maria will be here while Tim and I are gone).
Pick up, vacuum
Get list together for Mark's grad party
Make up invitations for party
Address invitations for party
Order food for party (cake was ordered yesterday)

The job search continues, and I have received invitations for interviews! So I will be pursuing these leads as well. Today is a gorgeous spring day, so I plan to enjoy it! Hope you do too!

Till next time,


Suzi

Two day count-down!

On Friday Tim and I are going to have a long-awaited weekend getaway. We're going with our good friends, the Sieverts, to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to see The Musical of Musicals. It's a spoof of Broadway musicals including Oklahoma! and Phantom of the Opera so I know I'm going to love it.

We're staying at a Bed and Breakfast, one night with Sieverts, then a second night just the two of us. Terry is coming over to stay with the kids and Raven. When we get home we are confident that Terry will have the kids and the house whipped into shape.

I've been sending out resumes online and am excited for new job possibilities. Yesterday I met with our pastor about helping with our church's web site. The adventure continues!

Till next time,


Suzi

PS Click here to see "Tim's" new post!

More prom pictures

Isn't she ravishing?

Careful, don't ruin my French tip nails!

Mom and Terry, please help me pin this on Pete!

(Note Terry's new Blue Tooth.)

Have a good time honey!

When will they stop taking pictures so we can go???

Christina and Pete before prom

A Magnificent Mothers Day

Yesterday was a very nice day. I got to talk to my own mom (thanks Mom for being such a great role model!) and enjoyed mother's day with family here. At church, we received a tulip for each child that we have, then my kids (and Tim) took me out to lunch at Perkins. After lunch, we headed home to get ready for an evening with more family--Tim's parents and brother and family came over for dinner. Tim was able to spend some time shopping with his mom for a "Blue tooth"--an ear piece that goes with a cellular phone. Since her stroke and more recently with carpal tunnel in her good hand, Tim's mom has a hard time holding the phone for any length of time. The blue tooth should fill the bill quite nicely, at least as far as the mobile phone goes.

I got heart felt wishes, cards, notes and flowers from my kids. Mark grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and brats and I made a chicken cashew salad. Cousin Terry joined us all to make it a very special day all around.

Today the guys are back working on our house. Project: painting Mark's room, hanging a new screen door and putting up boards underneath the deck. Little by little, things around here are taking shape!

Till next time,


Suzi

It's cold, but getting better

Yesterday on my walk I was freezing. I put Raven in his rain jacket which made him very unhappy. He let me put it on him but once we were across the street he was just draggin'. "I will not be seen in public in this ridiculous outfit!" he seemed to say. So, there on the street corner in front of all the school children, I helped Raven disrobe. I wonder if he regretted his decision later when we walked into the wind and rain--it felt worse than January! Today, at least, there was no wind or rain, although temperatures are still in the 40s.

Prom must have gone all right. We were in bed when Christina got home, and she is fast asleep in her bed. I did make it over to the hotel where prom was held because she had forgotten her camera, and parents were lining up to take pictures of the "Grand March." Well, I missed the Grand March because we were having our small group dinner/Bible study about a mile away, so I wanted to get back. But it was fun to see the kids all decked out.

Well, I hear her stirring now. I'll try to get some pictures up here. Tim took quite a few. Oh, she had a good time in spite of having her toes stepped on four times in one dance. She had 36 bobby pins in her hair. Now it seems she wants to meet her prom friends for breakfast.

The party just continues. Ah, to be young again....

Till next time,


Suzi

Prom night

Prom night. The night that teenagers (especially girls) wait for, pray for, long for, live for.

Tonight's the night.

Our 16-year-old daughter will be going to prom tonight. Her boyfriend is very kind and responsible, and we are confident that all will go well.

She got her nails done yesterday--soon I'll be picking her up after school to get her hair done. Her friend gave her a pedicure last night, and she's meeting another friend today to help her with makeup.

Too bad it's rainy and windy with a high in the 50s today. But she should still have a good time.

Maybe I'll even post some pictures...

Pray for them. Pray for us!

Till next time,


Suzi

I'm getting the pump!

After two years of contemplating, I've finally decided to take the plunge. When I was at my doctor's office this week, I decided to go for it. I'm getting an insulin pump, and probably within the next couple of days.

I filled out the one-page form at the doctor's office and yesterday I got a call from Medtronic. I could select from different colors--Smoke, Purple, Red, Blue and Clear. After a little debate (Christina voted for purple) I decided to go clear. I also went for the shorter tubing, not planning to have the pump in my sock as some patients do.

I am pumped! (Pun intended.) Later this summer technology is available for another attachment to read blood sugar and send messages to the pump. Blood sugar readings can be read every five minutes, and if you go high or low a little signal is sent out.

I'll be calling the doctor's office for a three-hour training session, probably next week, and going back at the end of June to meet with my doctor to find out how things are going. I'm looking forward to this new adventure.

Till next time,


Suzi

The sky was falling

With all the rain we've been having, the cement board ceiling under our little deck finally caved in. And it seems a roof vent is leaking, which has caused a dripping problem in Mark's room.

Hopefully today Tim and crew can fix the leak and replace the ceiling(s). Poor Mark is living in a room covered in plastic (except for his bed). Tim did take advantage of the torn-down ceiling to run the DSL line from my computer in a more direct, hidden fashion.

Today will be a day of sorting through more stuff and cleaning out stuff. Graduation party is approaching, and besides cleaning, I need to mail invitations and plan for food, etc.

But I'm grateful for things to do at home and the opportunity to be here. Really.

Till next time,


Suzi

Happy Birthday Mom!

I'm blogging really late today, so this will be short, but hopefully sweet! Today is my mom's birthday and I didn't want the day to go by without blogging a special birthday wish! I started my day taking lunch to my daughter at school (she forgot it) and when I talked to mom this morning I remember her doing special things like that for me (although during elementary years I often came home for lunch of tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and cooked chocolate pudding with a big marshmallow on it). I'm sure there was more variety in Mom's lunches than that, but I guess that was my favorite noon meal.

After running Christina's lunch to school I was in my on-the-go mode so I didn't even stop to check e-mail till evening. Grocery shopping, home to bake banana bread and start supper, off to take Christina to get stuff for a school project, home again to finish getting supper ready for Tim, kids and Terry and Judd. It was fun to have a full table--even Pete (Christina's boyfriend) stayed for supper. We had ham and potato casserole so it was an easy way to fill up our tummies.

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me the "mom" things. Mother's Day is coming, which is often (every 6 years or so) on Mom's birthday. May is a great time to remember how special you are, Mom--when everything is so fresh and growing. Thanks for helping me grow into the person I am--hopefully I am following your model in some small way.

Love you Mom--have a great birthday and wonderful year!

Till next time,


Suzi

Rainy days and Mondays...

I think the sun is trying to peep out after some morning showers. Yesterday was a beautiful day with a gorgeous sunset. Mark had a great time on his senior class trip out to a Lutheran Bible camp. They did a ropes course, played ultimate frisbee, went swimming (very briefly in a COLD lake), and played paintball besides hanging out, eating great food and having chapel and devotional time together. Mark enjoyed getting to know some classmates he hadn't had a chance to really hang with during his two years at West, but was happy to spend time with these friends.

For our anniversary dinner, we took Mark and Christina with us to Red Lobster. It was fun to go out, just the four of us--that hasn't happened in a long time. Tim and I are still planning a get-away weekend in a couple of weeks so we'll have plenty of time away from kids and home then. We walked out of the restaurant to a most wondrous sunset--a beautiful orange/red ball centered down the middle of the boulevard. Unfortunately, Tim didn't have his camera with him, but it's a sight we won't soon forget.

Work for Tim is starting to trickle back in. I went to the dentist this morning and had my best check up in a long time. I moaned about work woes to my hygenist, whose husband is also a taper and also lamented to my dentist, whose brother-in-law is a general contractor, so maybe we can find some leads there. God is at work all around us.

The worship service yesterday was really awesome. An old neighbor of Tim's parent's (and close friend of Tim's younger brother) spoke at the service. He had been through Teen Challenge and now is the manager of five houses for men who have come out of drug addiction. The sanctuary was packed and there was not a dry eye in the church as he spoke of God's deliverance in his life and the lives of many men present who came to the service from the Serenity Village houses that he manages. He had Tim's cousin Terry come up and prayed for him. It was quite moving.

God is at work in our times of struggle and sorrow. We need to keep our eyes focused on him for our future and to see how he wants to do his work for his kingdom through us.

Till next time,


Suzi

A meaningful evening, a fun-filled day

Last night we attended the Teen Challenge banquet. It was a very moving experience, hearing the testimonies of so many teens and adults whose lives have been changed by the program and by giving their lives to Christ. We also heard the Teen Challenge choir--there must have been about 500 people in the program who sang in the ballroom where we had the banquet.

It was great to see some old friends, too, who were there to support Teen Challenge. But the greatest thrill of the evening was running into John, Tim's former employer who relapsed back in January and whom we haven't really heard from since. He just re-entered the program yesterday, and he was singing with the choir. We are hopeful that the help he gets this time will stick, and we are glad he is safe and sober now.

Today Tim and I went on the Minneapolis/St. Paul home tour, looking at old houses that have been fixed up in inner city neighborhoods . I love the woodwork in these homes and it is fun to see what the homeowners have done. One man wallpapered his ceiling and cove in beautiful patterns, which took him many many hours to achieve as he had to piece small sections together to make the amazing outcome. One home had, instead of wood trim, mosaic tiles along the windows and doorways. Very eclectic looking.

Tomorrow is our 23rd wedding anniversary. I'm looking forward to spending the day with Tim and celebrating God's goodness in our marriage. Tim is a good man and a wonderful husband and father. I don't know why I'm so blessed but I'm grateful that I am.

Till next time,


Suzi

Senior trip

Mark left last night for his senior class trip. They are going for a weekend of paintball and other camp-like activities. If it warms up, they can go swimming in the lake, but I'm sure that water will be really really COLD! I've been washing Tim's drop cloths and drying them outside--but it's taking forever for them to dry. I left them out last night. When I got up this morning it was only 40 degrees! Last weekend we were running around in shorts.

Ah well, as long as it's breezy and it doesn't rain, I'll continue to bring out the drop cloths. Tim must have a dozen of them. He was going to send Christian (one of his crew) to the laundromat, but that would have taken forever. Terry suggested the only real way to get them clean is to hang them up and power wash them. But Tim mainly wanted to get the dust off them. I suppose before we fold them up we can pick off any chunks of sheetrock dust that are left behind.

So, this is my life now. Laundering big rags and sorting through junk. Actually I'm not complaining--it's good to have the time to get this done. And tonight we'll have a break as we are attending the Teen Challenge banquet with Terry. I think Minnesota's governor will be there--he is a big supporter of Teen Challenge. It will be good to hear the redemptive stories of God's love and lives transformed.

Till next time,


Suzi

Slowin' down, catchin' up

Well, just as I'm enjoying a life of leisure in my post-employed state, drywall work for Tim and crew has suddenly dried up.

We're keeping busy at home, however, and Tim still has a couple of small jobs. And God is good, several checks have come in the past few days--and there is lots more outstanding.

We're trying to keep Tim's employees busy here at our house. Yesterday we cleaned out the back porch and made a trip to the dump. My friend Char from our old church was working there--so it was good to see her. I'm thinking a good project for them all (Tim's crew) would be to paint the outside of our house. It never seems like we've come up with the money to hire it done, and Tim works on one side at a time as he has time in warmer weather.

Spring cleaning is a good feeling and helps us feel ready to throw open our doors to welcome friends, new and old. Seems like we had no time a month ago, and now we have been blessed with the gift of time.

Still trying to look on the bright side...

Till next time,


Suzi

Really sad day

Last night we went to a funeral for the nephew of some good friends of ours. Their family and the Nelson family have been linked in three generations--Tim's parents are friends of his friend Brent's parents and Brent's kids are friends with our kids.

This is the third death of a friend's son who has been killed in a car accident in the past five years or so. I think in all cases speed (as in driving too fast) was involved, and they may have involved alcohol too.

This boy who died over the weekend was a good kid who loved his family. They shared stories about how he shared his love with everyone and told them he loved them. Brent shared how his nephew came over to their house almost every night for dinner in the past several weeks, as he recently moved back to Minnesota from California and lived close to his uncle and aunt. Every night before he left, he would hug them and tell them he loved them.

Our boys came with us to the service. Before Luke left to go home we hugged him and told him we loved him. Mark, too, gave us a hug before bed and in the morning before school. Christina is pretty good about saying "I love you" a lot of the time. Sometimes she has ulterior motives, but I know she always means it.

If you haven't heard me say "I love you" lately, I'll try to say it next time I see you or talk to you. As Jim Croce said in his famous song, "I'll have to say I love you in a song" because it was difficult for him to speak it. Well, I hope it's not hard for me to say, but I'll go ahead and write it here. "I'll have to say I love you in a blog."

Till next time,


Suzi

Christina's sick

Well, today Christina is home sick. It seems like every week either Christina or Mark is home with some sort of stomach upset or fever or something. It's getting old, but I know there's stuff going around and some people have been sick for days on end, so I shouldn't complain. And Tim and I have been healthy, so we should be grateful for that. Sometimes I think the kids just get run ragged with staying up too late and getting up early, and just every once in awhile they need some downtime. Maybe I'm too soft.

Because Christina's sick, we're not having Christian come over to help with household stuff today. So this is incentive for me to get busy, because there definitely is stuff to be done. I'm trying to resort to Flylady tactics--finding 21 (or is it 27?) things to toss. Actually I tossed two garbage bags full of stuff and I've only scratched the surface.

As my friend Rick says, On we go!

Till next time,


Suzi

Organizing

Tim's having a slow week, so his employee Christian is here to help us organize Tim's office and also to work on our bikes (he used to work in a bike shop).

In the mail today I received a bunch of old photos from my parents (thanks, Mom & Dad!). So now I should really undertake the task of organizing these as well. Stuff from my childhood, from high school days, and even pictures of our kids we sent them when the kids were little. It's fun to relive a lot of pleasant memories.

Better get crackin' with that organizing...

Till next time,


Suzi