Memorial Day 2008

We're having a nice, quiet Memorial Day by ourselves---not we had planned, but that's the way things go around here!

Heather and all four children spent the night last night (so she and I could watch DVD's after the kiddies went to bed). Unfortunately, everyone woke up around six am with Anna puking. That was her first experience with being sick, so this was traumatic for her---not so nice for her Mama, either.

After a quick bath and hair washing, Heather took all the kids home really early. We've talked to her a few times and it looks like Anna and George are both sick at both ends...not very pleasant. With that size family, she's probably feeling doomed about the immediate future with more sick kids---and maybe her and Spencer, too---staring her in the face. At least Spencer's home by 2p these days to give a hand. He isn't a very happy camper, either, as it cancelled his plans to go shooting with Papa and friends.

Cousin Sheila is doing okay. We got another update and, although she's still in the hospital, it sounds like her spirits are good and she's evangelizing everyone who comes near her bed to give care. The update said that she's still on antibiotics and bone marrow "boosters"....can't go home until they're sure her blood levels are high enough to protect her from infections, anemia, etc.
Thank you for all who are praying for her.

The prayer shawl is coming along. Probably about three feet now...seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping to finish by around June 1st. I'll take pictures before I send it off.

I worked Sat. and Sunday at the hospital. Both were good shifts with no tragedies, falls, med errors and other issues. I enjoy working there and feel blessed that I've been able to keep my skills up even occasionally. It's a little harder to do my job when I've been gone for a few weeks because I don't know all the patients anymore (there's a good turnover).

Rog is out in the garage working on his 'antennae' project. Our cable disconnects on June 5th...we still don't have local channels or any way to get the news. We decided to try the new Netflix player to stream instant viewing on the DSL to the tv, but it won't arrive for a couple of weeks and we have no idea how well it will work. Rog is confident that he can get Fox news and channels 7, 12 and 24 (hope he's right). If he pulls it off, it will save us $30/month.

His solar oven project is a little stalled. He's having difficulty coming up with how to make the reflectors stable and movable. Everything he's tried is flimsy and fragile. More back to the drawing board (guess prototypes are like that).

A neighbor just told him this morning that the homeowner's association has had to back off the rule that homeowners here can't use solar power. Apparently, the State and the utilities have stomped on them and told them they can't prevent people from saving energy. This is good news and means that all of us will have some form of solar panels in our future (more projects to keep the men busy).

Hope you and yours have a wonderful day as we honor those who have, and do, serve our Country and make our freedoms secure.