Life Goes On...(And a book review!)

And so do we. Yesterday, church as usual. Our CARE group did not meet because we were not good co-leaders or communicators. I don't think anyone minded as they were likely sawing logs-really, not the snoring kind-like us. Then the older girls had youth care group. We finished moving back home. All our stuff is home now and yet not in its home. Today I replaced our depleted groceries while the girls had their 4H meeting. WHEW!! I needed more time before life and all the running it involves got back to normal. However, it has been a good return to life for the kids.



Yesterday, we cleared most of the debris from the front yard and a little in the back. Trees make a huge mess when they are all brokey mcbroke. We have until the 18th to get all the stuff cleared so the insurance guy can walk the property and give us the news of just how much they will cover. We aren't having high expectations, our deductible is pretty high. We hope to break even. We will do everything we can do ourselves and bring in the big dogs for the big dog stuff we can't do. The big dogs cost alot of money. Money you get reimbursed for later. I don't love our wooded lot nearly as much as I used to.



AND NOW...A BOOK REVIEW

This book by Dr. Earl Henslin was such an interesting read. I was pleasantly surprised at how well he takes alot of medical mumbo-jumbo and makes it understandable for the average Joe. I started this book with one opinion about medication (especially for kids with ADD and ADHD) and finished the book with alot to re-examine and think on. I also want to go and get a SPECT brain scan. The information in this book is very new science but has years of data to back it up.

I also love how he ties together so many sources (including the Bible!) for whatever your particular brain "problem" is. Oh yes, I almost forgot my FAVORITE part. There was a TEST!! I love tests. I take tests and then I pretend I am someone else and take the test and see what their test reveals. (Have I mentioned how analytical I am? Like Monk, it is a blessing and a curse!) The test lets you know your problem area and then he gives you several pages of ways to help your brain get back to joy.

This self-help book is both an easy read and a helpful read. I give it 5 stars.

50,000 Words

We'vegot Power, Yes We Do...

...We've got power, how about you? It turns out we have had power since 10 o crock last night, we just didn't know it. Oh well, ignorance is bliss. Soooooo, when we were home today, if I had turned the main breaker on, I would have discovered power. This means, we are staying another night here because we have two truckloads of stuff here and it is just easier to wait til tomorrow. I think Jerry and Martha will miss us...a tiny bit. We really were prepared to wait another week and even being good sports about it. Two more loads of laundry-one in the washer , one in the dryer and all possible laundry is finished. WAHOO!!

So tonight we celebrated with a pizza party and a beer. Actually, I had two. And I don't even like beer. Except on hot days at the zoo and with pizza. I feel so, you know, ENERGIZED. Cheers!

Antidisestablishmentarianism

That title has nothing to do with anything, just proving to my children that I can spell it. Mostly just the child staring over my shoulder. Nosy girl. (I typed sex and she went away.)

We are still in the dark, at least at home. I got my fridge side of the refrigerator cleaned out today. It is all empty and ready to be filled up. Come on power, we are waiting for you. I also got the rest of our clothing that was dirty from the house to finish up. I'll have enough to do without adding laundry to the mix. We have all the comforts of home here and we are sitting pretty. Jerry took Erika and Lilly to Sam's and the grocery today. He let them pick out any cereal they wanted. You would have thought they had won the lottery. Kayla went to the house with me and I made her work. She did not want to go to the grocery. She also didn't complain about any of the work I made her do, so that was nice. She is really helpful now. Able to do all of the things I can. Those of you with little ones-it does get easier, physically anyway.

I vacuumed the whole house here at the guest house. It was easy to do and so little to repay the ability to stay here and have power. Plus, we ARE the ones making it messy!! ( ; It has been gorgeous weather and is supposed to be for the next few days. I just hope we don't get the rain we are supposed to get. Our lineman need things to be easier and rain and storms won't be easier.

Some day, I'll make it home and show you pics of our yard. Don't hold your breath-I don't anticipate power before next week sometime.

Welcome back to electricity Shortymom-I've been praying for you. Glad to hear you are powered up. Some day the land of Reid will get re-enrgized too.

Still Living With In-Laws

And loving it for the most part. Especially loving this wi-fi laptop. Way cool. The girls never want to go home. Memaw has Disney channel now that the power is on. They weren't hatin' it when there wasn't any power. Erik and I however, are missing home. We have ALOT of work to do and it would just be easier if we could live there to do the work. We have cleaned out our freezers. The fridge is mostly cleaned out but I didn't focus on it near as much as the freezer full of berries.

I have not gained any weight-I weighed today when I went to scoop up after the kitties. Considering the lovely food we have been eating this is quite a shock. I guess it just reiterates how little I move. I need to start walking or sumpin'.

I guess that is all for now. Hula, we must be on the same grid. Thanks for all your hard work getting everyone else's power on. You are a trooper!!

WAHOOO!!!!

My in-laws have power!! We are going to check our house in just a few minutes but we are glad to have power here. I may owe someone next year's birthday wish. Let me know!!

Day 10 Without Power

I had a special wish when I blew out my birthday candles. A wish I have never wished before. (At least I've never birthday wished it!) I wished for our power or my in-laws power to come back on. I'll take either these days. It has been OK but as this drags on it is getting harder. "Don't mess with Memaw" has been the mantra and while we giggle, the girls really do obey her much quicker than Erik or I. My girls are not exactly misbehaving, just reacting in very normal ways for kids who have spent way too much time away from home snuggled up with family.

We have all gained about 5 pounds each so far. When all you have to think about is what is for your next meal, that meal tends to be pretty tasty-fat and calories are not taken into account. We are really tired of cooking on the grill though. It really is like camping and while I don't want to seem ungrateful, I'm tired. I also have p-envy. I drive by alot of people with power and I am jealous. Very, very jealous. I've used a birthday wish and everything. The good news is that our gas bill and electric bill should be pretty cheap next month. To add insult to injury, we received this month's power bill in the mail. I am so thankful I don't answer the phones at the power company. 10 days makes some people really crabby. I say a prayer for Hula every night. I wonder if she longs for the snowman six days.

Hubby and I surveyed the damage again at our homestead. We really do have alot of damage but most of it won't be covered by insurance. Trees actually have to damage something when they fall to be covered. We have double digit trees down. Some of them are bigger around than me. *sigh* We are thankful none of them fell through our house, they could have done so very easily. We are blessed and very spoiled. We long for normal. Soon...if you have a birthday wish, I'd love it if you could wish our power back on. ( ;

(Mia, I'm glad my wish got your power back!!)

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Tomorrow will be our one week anniversary-of being powerless and living with my in-laws. It will also be my 37th birthday. Saturday was my in-laws GOLDEN 50TH wedding anniversary. We have had much more festive celebrations. We had plans for more festive celebrations. Man plans and God laughs. The girls and I left Saturday at 11 with promises not to return before 3PM. Just in case some celebratin' was needed.

Erik and the girls and I all went to church yesterday. I charged my phone and my spirits. Most of our church is all in the same boat and it was wonderful to see everyone and know we were all okay. We were the haves and the have-nots. It was easy to distinguish the have-nots by the curly wet hair ragamuffin appearance...at least that's what I felt like. I was also able to go over yesterday evening to my friend Karen's and do some laundry. Thanks Steph for the awesome "message board"-brilliant!! Karen treated me to a movie and a few episodes of "Friends". It was nice to watch TV and do laundry while sipping ICE water. ICE IS NICE. I miss it most of all. I went into her bathroom and flipped on the light and it came on!!!! Unlike ours where I cannot stop turning it off and on despite the fact that it doesn't work. Thank goodness I don't have one of those families who tease about those sort of things!!! HA!! Oh yeah, you did read that right, I was happy to do laundry...heehee. An icy miracle.

Today, we got up before my in-laws, tidied up as best we could and left the building. I left them an "Enjoy the silence" note. I know fish and houseguests both smell after three days and so we are trying to give them a bit of space when we can. After 6 days, we smell!! Not really, gas water heaters ROCK!!!

I may be 1/16th liberal because I love the library soooooo much. Especially when there is no power or internet at home. BLISSFUL. Now I am going to go read while my children surf to their heart's content (up to an hour and a half anyway).

ICE, ICE, Baby.