My Son the Doctor!

Good Morning Company Girls!!

Well, this week I have wonderful news to tell you about so I'm going to start off with that right away! Last Friday was hubby's alternate Friday off and we were able to travel to Toronto...which is about an hour away from here. Toronto is a very busy and for me, confusing city....to say it intimidates me would be an understatement! I was glad it was hubby's day off because that means he was able to do the driving! If he hadn't then I would have gathered up my courage and made the trek to the big city myself if I had to because my eldest son was defending his doctoral thesis!!!! Yes, can you believe it...a very exciting day, to be sure. I had never been to a 'defense' before..didn't know what to expect..didn't even know what to wear! Fortunately we left in plenty of time to find parking and get in there before it started because they had signs posted that latecomers would not be admitted! I knew my daughter-in-law, Jennifer would be disappointed at this because she had hoped that hubby would be able to slip out part way through the defense, and take the baby and she would be able to come in and observe her hubby, at this pivotal part in their lives. I felt bad for her, if it was my hubby I certainly would want to be in there! Anyways, if you've never been to a 'defense', I'll give you a brief overview....in this room, a little bigger than most living rooms...and placed in the centre there is a long table with chairs. Six chairs are placed with water glasses at each place and a pitcher of water in the middle. Also, in the middle of the table was one of those 'spider' speaker phones that you see on television shows...this is needed because one of the questioning professors lives and teaches in Michigan and would do his questioning via speaker phone.

At first, it was just hubby and I and Ryan in the room....slowly, other men started coming in...these were the other professors...and last to come in was another professor who was the chairman of the committee. So, do you have the picture set in your mind? The next thing to happen was that we were sent out of the room! Apparently all the professors had to chat and decide who was going to ask what...oh yes, they had already got the Michigan professor on the phone.....so, we waited at a little sitting area for about ten minutes, then we were called back in.

Hubby and I sat over, against the wall and for the next one hour and forty-five minutes were quiet as two mice could be while we observed our son as he defended his thesis. Each professor took turns for approximately fifteen minutes asking him questions...'Why did you say that', 'What is the meaning of that section', 'What were you thinking when you said that'.....I will admit to being fascinated...I will also admit to not understanding everything they said...you see the topic was from the New Testament.....in fact I'd really have to get my brain working at even understanding the topic of his thesis,...Conjectural Emendation in New Testament Criticism with the Epistle of James as a Case Study. Say that five times fast!

When Ryan was much younger, like in elementary school, he was a challenge...in fact one teacher thought he was ADHD.....I questioned that...to me he didn't seem that way at all....they said....'he's always looking out the window, not paying attention'....I questioned Ryan on that...he said ' they teach the same thing, over and over for three days...I got it the first day'..ahhh, so there you go.....another thing he liked to do was challenge what you said...everything we'd talk to him about, or the teachers did..he'd challenge...we began to call it 'his word games'...he'd love them, you could tell...he'd also loved to debate....whether he'd believed in the topic or not, he could debate it and do it well.....this is the son that we cut our parenting teeth on.....he was definitely the kid that 'walked to the beat of a different drummer'! At first I thought that he'd be the death of me(so to speak) but when he was older I could appreciate his thinking, I no longer found it frustrating but found that it was a marvellous strength! No one was going to convince him to do anything that he didn't want to do! A fabulous trait to have when faced with peer pressure every day! So...you get the general idea of the personality of my son...which hasn't changed a lot in this thirty-four year old man!

After the professors had their allotted fifteen minutes then they went for round two...five minutes each.....then,...they sent us out again!

After about ten minutes they called him and us back in again....the professor that was his advisor came and got us...smiling from ear to ear, and tipping the committees hand when he said 'Congratulations, Ryan!'

When we were all seated again, the chairman gave the official news, that other than a few minor corrections before it could be published, he congratulated Ryan on successfully defending his thesis!!!!! After fourteen years of post secondary schooling, it had come to this! To say that hubby and I were proud, was an understatement, really, words could not really describe how we felt.

As we were getting ready to leave one of the professors turned to us and said....'Well, you both did very well, just sitting there quietly and not jumping in and defending your son!' I replied, 'well, no, Ryan has always been able to express himself well, we didn't need to'.......I knew, and had tremendous confidence in him......I had witnessed it from the time he was a young boy, I knew he could do it....and as I sat there observing and praying, praying that the Lord would speak through him, that whatever words that came out of his mouth would be from Him, I was assured that all would be well.

Apparently, his convocation isn't til next fall...good grief...I don't think we'll be able to call him doctor before that..but...it does have a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Dr. Ryan Wettlaufer...cool eh?

Now, if any of you know of a bible college needing a really, really fabulous new testament teacher...please let me know...I can personally vouch for him..if that counts!

Have a good week, with last minute Christmas preparations!

A Christmas Memory...

Good Morning Company Girls!

Rachel's suggestion this morning sent me waaaaaaaaaaay back in my memory banks.....I had to have been only 6 years old. I went to bed that night with visions of Santa and sugar plums dancing in my head...as well as a loose tooth! When I awoke the next morning, I discovered it was missing!! No longer in my mouth, not in the bed..no where to be found...it must have been swallowed...oh no! I immediately didn't feel very good, I remember having a stomach ache...knowing me it was most likely my brain working overtime.....when your only six it does give you a moment of panic to know you swallowed a tooth! My older sister went racing down the stairs to see what Santa had left under the tree...in our family, Santa gifts were never wrapped but just displayed under the tree...something I will admit to continuing with my kids...after all, Santa doesn't have the time to wrap gifts you know.....anyways, back to my story....


.....there I was, sitting on the toilet with this stomach ache...the bathroom in this very old house was directly across from the top of the stairs....my dad was sitting on the edge of the tub with his arm around me....sister dear came to the bottom of the stairs and started hollering, telling me what I got...dad, quickly shushed her....he didn't think it was fair that I was stuck in the bathroom while she was having all the fun! I remember, even at that young age...it wasn't my mom that stayed with me...(she was probably trying to keep younger brother from tearing the place apart)....it was my dad...I remember being pleased that he stayed with me til I felt better. When I finally got downstairs I was so excited....a brand new Betsey Wetsey doll...ya, you guessed it..you gave her a bottle and she wet her diaper....quite the new innovation for a doll 53 years ago! The only other thing I remember about that morning is that my sister wrecked the cellophane on the doll box getting to what she thought was her doll, only to have my mom tell her that the blond haired Betsey was mine and the brown haired one belonged to her....I remember not being thrilled over having a wrecked box!

....I guess what I'm saying is the best memory of that whole thing was my dad patiently waiting with this little girl in the bathroom....being ever so nice to me.....it made me feel special on that Christmas morning.

I pray that on this Christmas morning that each of you feel very special in some way....we all need that sometimes, don't we?

Oi vey!

Good Morning Company Girls!

I hope that the ones that celebrated Thanksgiving last week had a wonderful time....these two pics are of William , he's our youngest grandson, and he turned one this week...yes, he really is that cute.....

This week I did a lot of driving and on one trip to take Maya back up north, which was on William's birthday, I was recalling the trip I made a year ago to witness his birth.... oh . my. goodness! Never have I ever been more scared in my life as I drove through a snow storm for over 45 minutes and I couldn't even see past the front of my van!!! It was just me, praying constantly, knuckle gripping the steering wheel and using those poles at the side of the road with the diamonds on them to guide me. Thankfully, in taking Maya home I just ran into some very light, hardly there, flurries.

So, this week is one that I'm very glad is over....too much driving..really, I don't mind driving..it's especially easy in my 'new to me' van.....but it was a lot and at gas prices..up to $1.12 a litre..(if you multiply that by 3.79 then you get how much that is per gallon, if you don't live in Canada that is)......so, that to be said, when I took Ben for his shift on the Salvation Army 'bubble' or 'kettle'...whichever way you say it.....at the mall 25 minute drive away...I took a good book and sat in one of the comfy mall chairs and read while he did his 3 hour shift....if I could just figure out what to get my adult children then I could have been shopping...but....I hate shopping and so I hate just wandering aimlessly...thinking...'well, maybe they might like that'....good grief!

On Tuesday, Maya had the biggest adventure so far in her life, I think...she had to come down from up north because she had a specialist appointment on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., hubby decided that taking the bus down into our area would be the way to go.....speaking of go...we have a fast transit system that involves bus and trains around our area called the GO system...good friends of ours, well the husband is a GO bus driver.....hubby talked to him and gave hubby the scoop on what Maya's suppose to do...it involved her taking the bus so far and then getting on a train to come the rest of the way...she was nervous...I don't blame her...I'd have been nervous too...but I did the mommy thing and told her that she'd do great, that I'd be praying for her and that it was a great adventure!!! Inside I was thinking...oh my goodness!

She did just fine.....very pleased with herself...and so was this momma!

So, on Tuesday, before I picked Maya up, I had to take Ben to his kettle shift, then take Emma and Megan to another city, down the main highway about half an hour away, for an appointment that Emma had...then back home, drop the girls off then out to another city on the other side of ours to pick up Maya then back up to the mall to pick up Ben....all that took about 4-1/2 hours...non-stop, go, go, go.....did I tell you I just turned 60, I'm old people...too old for this stuff....

Then, the next day...took Maya into the city for her appointment...stopped to visit my mom ...home again for an hour then onto another appointment in the next town...finished that at 2p.m., drove Maya back up north, stopped long enough to use the facilities, grabbed a hot chocolate and donut at Tim Horton's, then drove back, getting home around 7 p.m.!!!

Yesterday, I went to the naturopath...she wanted to try this treatment on me,...called Bowen.....it was kind of weird and I kind of wondered about it's validity since she didn't seem to be doing much...but, good grief..was I ever in pain by the afternoon! Then I had to take Emma to the church...her and I were attending a ladies Christmas dinner...I was eating and she was serving...(I was mildly surprised that she actually went!)...eldest daughter, Leslie also sang at it...it was a lovely dinner..turkey with all the trimmings...haven't enjoyed having that done for me in years!

That brings us to today...no appointments so to speak...but I do have to go and get some bloodwork done for the naturopath.....not my favourite thing to do...since I'm physically disable in my arms then they have to take the blood from my foot..ya, ouch!...plus it has to be a fasting one so when hubby brought my tea this morning, I had to remind him that I couldn't have it...he knew but had forgotten....so, I'd better go and face the music...it's the only way I'll get a cup of tea!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend...we plan on travelling north to have birthday celebrations with that cutie at the top of the screen...and his parents too, of course....then on Sunday after church, we plan on going and cutting down our Christmas tree at the tree farm...then in the evening, we plan on meeting with(just hubby and I) my siblings and spouses to celebrate my mom's 85th birthday!!!

Ya, tis the season! go, go, go....

We were just getting ready for bed when I heard the wailing.....coming from downstairs....I knew it was Emma....she was once again angry with me.....

She wanted her 'friend' to come and sleep over.....she had already tried to convince me that this girl needed to come and live with us...that her dad was kicking her out...she needed a place to stay.......this is the same girl that used the 'b' word, for a female dog...which is fine if you're actually talking about dogs...but she was talking about me...just a few months ago....and Emma now wanted her to come to live with us.......

I told her that first of all...we didn't have the room.....she indicated her bedroom floor...I said that was fine for a one night sleep over but not an extended indefinite stay......I also said that because this girl was underage that she really should be calling Children's Aid ...they could help her in ways that we couldn't...they could put her in touch with government agencies that could help her to establish life on her own......the bottom line is that I didn't want this child in my home.....this is unusual for me....I've been accused by family members of 'collecting' kids....and I will admit that my 'former' foster mother heart wanted to help this girl, wanted to give her the mothering that I knew she had never experienced...but I just can't.....too much going on with Emma these days, too much going on with Megan these days, concerns for Paul, Corey, Ryan, Jenn, Leslie, Jairus, Lauren, Ryan P, and most of all, concern for my beloved....who works too hard....he doesn't need another teen in this house, especially one that we would have no real jurisdiction over....

Emma wants to hang out with school friends after school, on weekends....any time.....we say no.......these kids are the ones that claim to be bisexual, who post really gross pics on Facebook, most have the tattoos and the multiple piercings, the less than appropriate clothing attire....

.......I said to Emma, as she sobbed....Emma, when you were younger and you made the choice to go out on the road, get to close to a moving car, too near to the campfire and kept on having asthmatic attacks in the pool...dad and I did something...we kept you away from the road, out of the path of a moving car, stopped you from leaning too close to the fire and made sure you took your inhaler before swimming.....that's because you were making bad choices that would harm you...we are your parents, we love you...it was our job to keep you safe.....

......now, you are older but sometimes you are still making choices that are harmful to you.....hanging out with these kids after school (I can not control her hanging out with them during the seven hours of school time).....is harmful to you.....we have to try and keep you safe.....she just cried...'just stop, I don't want you to'.....'I know, but I have to...that's my responsibility, I'm your parent'....

Earlier, I had found a paper on the floor in her room...(she had left it in plain view for me to find)...it said (in her favourite colour)....there will be five new cuts on my arm for everyday that I'm not allowed to see my friends......I asked 'are you trying to blackmail me.....if you do this, it will be your choice....I don't want you to do it..but it will be your choice...and it's liable to get you onto the psych ward....'I don't care', she says........'well, it is your choice', I say.

So, as I sit beside her bed, at 11:45pm....I'm drawn to touch her shoulder, as she cries, to rub it gently....she cries out..'don't touch me, I don't want you to touch me'....I continue to rub......I say...'I'm your mom and I love you'.......

...a few more minutes pass...she says 'just go, just go'....and so I do....but, as I leave I gently, inconspicuously, move a pair of scissors of the floor, that were by my feet.....to under the bed...no, I don't think she's suicidal....I just didn't want anymore cutting...I didn't want the scissors there, prompting her to use them.....

....another evening past....another day today......we'll see how today goes.....

#1 Son...

Ryan with son William on his shoulders...William actually enjoys his dad holding him this way....

Eldest son Ryan holding Flannery as she is now..... (I know ..I uploaded the pics in wrong order...adjust!)

Eldest Son Ryan holding his dog Flannery when she was a pup......

These pictures are posted because 34 years ago on November 25 at approximately 7:30am, Ryan came whimpering and mewing into this world .....it was a planned c-section, big sister Leslie's birth made that a necessity......she couldn't get down the birth canal so they were pretty sure that babe #2 wouldn't be able to either. Thirty-four years ago they did things a little differently.....you were admitted the previous evening to prep you properly.....husbands/dad's were not allowed in the delivery room......with Leslie, because it was suddenly needed they just put me out, general anesthetic....with Ryan I opted for an epidural......worst mistake of my life....I really should have known better.....I had two epidurals with Leslie...neither one 'took'....

.......when they inserted the needle for Ryan, I remember thinking that it was higher than I remembered the ones for Leslie's...but I was sooo nervous that I didn't give it much thought....until the doctor made the first incision and I felt it!! I let out a gasp...the doctor leaned over the drape and said...'did you feel that?'...yes!!!.....in went the local freezing...(they were prepared...that's a scary thought!)......I didn't think that I'd feel a thing....being frozen and all....was I wrong! It felt like they were going through my body and trying to come out my spine!..I lay there praying and hoping that it would be over quickly....a few moments later the doctor exclaimed...'it's a boy.....what?, I said (i had been convinced I was having another girl)...it's a boy!

They laid him in a little bassinet, and wheeled him over...not too close but I could still see this tiny, wee babe (6lbs7oz) on his tummy, curled up with his knees under him, and he was just making these little mewing sounds.....so tiny.....he obviously wasn't happy about being taken from his warm secure spot to this cold, sterile room....and it was snowing outside.....hey, I just realized that when baby William was born this last December that it was the snowingl for him also....they both came into the world as the snow came down outside....hmmmm.....

...anyways, it was quite the day.....when they had stitched me up they wheeled us both out into the hallway where hubby was waiting.....he was overjoyed that he had a new baby...hubby loves the babies.....we had to stay in the hospital a week...another thing they did differently back then...sections were always a week in the hospital......I ended up having complications from the epidural...some of the medication got into the spinal fluid and went up to my brain....horrible headaches....then the meds they gave to counteract that gave me hives! A birth to remember for sure!

Thirty four years later, that tiny wee babe is all grown up.....he's a good husband, a proud dad, a scholar....he's spent the last fourteen years going through post secondary education and Lord willing should be graduating with his ph.d. in new testament theology next spring...he's an excellent carpenter, he's made me many wonderful things....he's got a good head on his shoulders...and as his siblings will attest to, knows anything about everything ....he's going through a bit of a rough time right now...he's been trying so very hard to get a teaching position the last few years but these positions seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth.....he's discouraged...we pray for him every day....even little 2 year old Afton (grandaughter #3) prays everyday for 'uncle wyan to get a job'.....there is a job out there somewhere, of that I am convinced....I truly believe that God wouldn't have led him into this field if he didn't want him to use it to further his kingdom by teaching others....yes, I truly believe this...unfortunately, we want it now and our timing isn't God's timing.....it's all about resting in him, isn't it...easier said then done when you're discouraged..been there many a time....

God has a plan and His love has not failed me yet because I know that my Redeemer lives....because..

He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak (that's me)

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken

They conquered death to bring me victory.....

....and I know my Redeemer lives!

...and he lives for everyone of my children, in heaven and on earth....He has not forgotten.....

Ryan....I type this for all to see....dad and I are so proud of you.....we are proud that even amidst your sorrow that you keep going....you are a responsible, sensitive, caring man.....all the positions you fill..as a husband, a dad, a teacher, a carpenter, a co-worker, a friend....and most of all to us...a son...our very first son......you have filled our hearts with pride....and tomorrow we wish you a very Happy Birthday....may the Lord shine his face upon you and give you peace, my son. We love you.

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

An Amazing Weekend!

Good Morning Company Girls!

Well, I've waited til today to blog about my amazing weekend last weekend because I wanted to share with the Company Girls that graciously read my blog......for so long it seems like it's all been doom and gloom, but not this time...the only gloomy thing is that I don't have pics to show you...I know...failed again....you see we got this new camera about a year ago and I haven't made myself figure out how to load the pics on my computer yet and well, poor hubby is usually too busy during the week with working three jobs that I don't want to bug him about it when he's finally home.

but.....

I can still tell you about it...and maybe post pics over the weekend when hubby has a few moments...

...well, if you read last Friday's post then you would know that it was my 60th birthday....hubby had made plans...hubby loves making plans! Just after noon on Friday we left the house and drove down to Niagara Falls.....it had promised to be a sunny day but so far it wasn't.....by the time we had arrived though the sun was shining...lovely because the hotel room he had booked overlooked the falls from the fifteenth floor! Gorgeous, breathtaking view! While we were getting settled into there, my cell phone rang...it was my youngest brother calling, which I thot was strange since he's an elementary teacher and he should still be in school...which he was...I heard excited kids in the background......and then singing! His class sang Happy Birthday ...chachacha! to me!! I giggled throughout the song...what a hoot!

Then, after a little reading time (yes, I had brought a book...(never like to go somewhere without one) we changed our clothes cause hubby said we were eating someplace over the border in Buffalo and we had to be slightly dressed up....
....at the border crossing, the guard, of course was very nosy...asking a million questions...asked hubby what he got me for my birthday..hubby said..'this weekend away from the kids'...the cheeky guard said 'well, if you hadn't had the kids you wouldn't have to get away, would you?'....nervy pup, I'd say! Anyways, then we went to Joannes, where I did a little fabric shopping, and bought my first official Christmas gift for little Miss Honour, my 7 year old grandaughter....a small Singer sewing machine.....the label said for 6 years plus so I guess that fits her.....I hope she likes it!

Then onto supper at the Asa Ransom House....an old house set up for dining and staying at...they had a few rooms ...but the dining room was lovely ..very homey....we enjoyed a tasty meal...during the meal, eldest son Ryan called to wish me a Happy Birthday......Ryan lives about 3 hours and a bit away from us with his wife and baby son....

Then we crossed back into Canada to return to our hotel...unfortunately the fog had moved in so our perfect view was gone! It was like being in a room surrounded by cotton balls...very surreal!
...but at 9 p.m. all of a sudden there were fire works high in the sky above the clouds...I have no idea how they got them so high...we were on the fifteenth floor and they were higher than us....we stood at the window just delighted to watch them...I secretly thought...'look at that, fireworks just for me to celebrate my birthday!'....(ya, I know..just a little vain... :0)

The next day, we had a leisurely morning...hubby insisted on room service for breakfast...I had a fit when I saw the prices and just ordered a muffin off of his breakfast order...good grief they sure charge a lot...but then again it was Niagara Falls...everything is expensive there!

When we checked out at noon we travelled slowly back home, stopping at the Butterfly conservatory...an amazing place with a huge amount of beautiful butterflies in a natural habitat just flying around...they even landed on me!

Then we continued on to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where it was tea time! We went to the Irish shop and had tea and scones...after that we walked around for a bit but it had turned quite chilly so we finally left....just outside of NOTL, there is a lavender farm...now, I love lavender and hubby had planned to stop there....a really nice young man who owns the place with his wife, told us all about the different kinds and invited us back next spring when they have a whole weekend filled with activities....after buying some lavender body wash, we moved on...hubby said we had to stop on the way home to pick up a birthday cake for Sunday...he had invited my siblings and spouses for birthday cake on Sunday afternoon....as we got closer to Grimsby, he asked if I was ready for supper...now I kind of had been thinking that something was afoot here....both of us were a little weary and we're both usually on the same wave length....I would have gladly gone home, put my feet up and had some tea at this point and I knew he would feel that way too....but..here he was suggesting supper out...after we had already spent all this money....hmmmmm......
....also he had been texting madly throughout the day with someone...he wouldn't tell me who....the plot thickens...
after some supper, we stopped by the grocery store and he went in and got the cake...and then finally we were on the way home...not without some more texting though....the texting was weird cause hubby doesn't usually do a lot of texting.....hmmmmm......

When we arrived home ..all the lights were on and cars in the driveway...I thot I saw son Ryan, who was suppose to be 3 hours away in my bedroom window! I said to hubby...'was that Ryan?'....he shrugged and said..'I don't know, I didn't see him'...as we were getting out of the car I could hear the grand kids squealing...all the windows were open.....

walking into the house...everyone was exclaiming Happy Birthday...all my kids and some significant others were there...(well, except Corey, but I really wouldn't have expected to see him.....)...then eldest daughter said, apologetically....'um we kind of made a mess in your bedroom...you'd better come and see'.....so I did......as I walked into my bedroom I was dumbfounded! They had completely redecorated my bedroom while we were away! They had all worked together, stripped the room, removed old wallpaper that had only been there for over thirty years!....painted the walls and ceiling......installed a closet organizer...had always wanted one of those....and eldest son had made, stained and put up a shelf around the perimeter of the three walls of my room, about a foot lower than the ceiling, for my teddy bear collection.....yes, I've had a teddy bear collection for years....and now I could display them all!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

What a treat....what an amazing thing for them all to do....even little Honour told me she had helped! They all worked together..all my kids to do this unbelievable thing...for me!

The next day after the siblings had left and we were all sitting around the dining room table....Lauren said..'well, mom..you only turn 60 once, we had to do something!'......

..and they sure did...but as I looked around the table, I will admit to getting a little teary eyed.....the thing that meant the most was that they had all come together, they had all worked together...it really made the last 36 years of parenting worthwhile....and that border crossing guard was wrong....if we hadn't had all the kids, life would yes, probably have been a little less stressful at times but....man, I think it would have been really boring and I would have missed out on this! To see my kids altogether like that...well, it warmed my heart and made it all worthwhile.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday to me!

Good Morning Company Girls!

Well, today is my sixtieth birthday...yes, I'm really old! I actually don't feel that old...I was saying to one of my daughter's, just a bit ago that when I was younger, I thought 60 was really old! Well, now it really doesn't seem so.....although my eyes did betray me in the shower yesterday....

you see, when we went to San Antonio the guests shampoos and lotions were from Bath and Beyond...really nice Orange Ginger....so, of course, cause you are suppose to bring these little bottles home with you...that's what Oprah says.... I did...now the shampoo and body lotions are in these tiny brown bottles and the shampoo is in a clear one...I noticed just before I got in the shower that the conditioner one that I had been using was almost gone so I went to my travel bag and grab another bottle. After shampooing I put the conditioner on...well, it just didn't seem to go on the same way as before...it made me think...did I get the body lotion...I squinted at the bottle and couldn't see a darn thing...my glasses were on the vanity so I reached out of the shower, put them on..and lo and behold, yes, I had just put body lotion on my hair!! Good grief! So then I had to rewash my hair and go without conditioner...I guess that's what you'd call a senior moment!

So, fortunately today is hubby's alternate Friday off...he's made plans...anybody that knows my hubby knows that he delights in making plans to surprise me....so..because he had a few points left to get to the gold level for a hotel chain(Marriott)..he decided, with my suggestion, to book a hotel room for tonight at Niagara Falls! He also planned that we'd slip across the border to Joannes in Buffalo....Joannes isn't in Canada....to look at quilt fabric...he said that maybe I could buy a little....then he's made dinner reservations at some restaurant in Buffalo...I have no idea where..he wont tell me.....then we come back to Niagara Falls in Canada for the night...tomorrow, I'm not sure what he's got cooked up..but....he says he doesn't want to bring me home to the kids til he absolutely has to....you know it's been a rough couple of weeks with the kids...I really do need a break....so, that's it! Sounds pretty nice, eh? He's a pretty good hubby...I think I'll keep him..for at least another 37 years I hope!....oh....wait a minute...that would make me 97...good grief...I don't want to live to that old!

On Sunday, our children's program, of which eldest daughter and I co-ordinate, will be doing their Operation Christmas Child shoe box packing! It will be a full morning to be sure!..

so..that's my weekend...at least, I hope...that's what is planned, Lord willing, as my grandfather used to say.....what are your plans?