Last 2 Weeks in March 2019

The weekend of March 23, we traveled to Overland Park to go to Garrison's first soccer match.  After the match, we went to Strouds for a great lunch (fried chicken) - minus Garrison who went to Lawrence, KS with his Cub Scout Troop to visit the history museum there.  On Sunday, he and Chad went on a 3 mile hike with his Cub Scout Troop.

On Sunday, we went to church at 8:15 where I played the gathering music and the hymns with Sam for the service, then we traveled to the Lake of the Ozarks to Mark and Mary's for a family fish fry.  Amanda/family and Nicole were unable to attend, but Joe and Tom (and Norma, Joe's dog) were all there - it was so nice to see them - it had been a few years since we had seen the guys.  Elizabeth and her boys joined in the fun for a delicious fish dinner.  We had a great visit.  Of course, I forgot to take any pictures - will have to do that at our Easter gathering.

Chad traveled to Canada for work March 26-29, so I went to Overland Park on Tuesday and got to pick up the kids at school as walkers - they were thrilled.  Garrison came out first and looked at me and said, "Do we have to wait for Peyton?"  Yes!!!  It was a beautiful sunny Spring day, so we went home - they changed into shorts - and we played outside for an hour or so.  Garrison climbed trees, they did the monkey bars, we played volleyball - fun time.  After Amanda got home from work, we even ate our dinner outside on the patio.  No wind - beautiful evening.

On Wednesday, I took the kids to school late which they liked.  I spent the day running errands, shopping and doing a few things around Amanda's house.  At 2:45 p.m., I met Amanda at Cottonwood Point Elementary for Garrison's first grade music program.  The theme was Pajama Party, so the kids all wore their pajamas and slippers and sang and had motions to lots of fun songs.  Garrison  had a speaking part and did a great job - memorized - on that!!!  We were so proud of him, and I was so happy to get to attend.  After the program, Garrison went home with me which he thought was great to get out of school early (only about 30 minutes).  Peyton stayed as she had Girls on the Run after school, and Garrison and I picked her up at 5:30 p.m.  We made a quick trip through McDonald's drive thru for Happy Meals so Peyton could eat before she was being picked up for volleyball practice at 6:10 p.m.  Amanda had a dinner meeting that night, so Garrison did his guitar practicing after she left and gave me a guitar lesson.  We had a fun time.

Thursday morning I took them to school and then came home.  It was a great few days with Amanda and the kiddos.

Friday was the 4th anniversary of Mom's passing.  I was sad but also rejoiced in her long life - 86 years - never having to live in a nursing home and really feeling pretty good until the last 4 months when she lived with  us and just a crummy last 2 weeks after her final heart attack.  God was good to her and to us - she was able to spend lots of time with her family and especially her precious great grandchildren, Peyton and Garrison, who she loved so much.  They have many fond memories of her too, which for that I am grateful.

Good news on Friday also - Tom, who graduated from UMSL in December, secured his first "real" job - something with computer software - with a start-up company in Columbus, Ohio - he starts Monday!!!!  Everyone is elated.  Joe is liking his job after passing his boards as a RN at St. Mary's hospital in St. Louis in the ER.  They are on their way!!!!

Quiet weekend ahead - church on Sunday with a carry-in lunch.  I started chemo one year ago this week and am feeling grateful and blessed that I beat it and it is behind me.  God is so good - we are blessed!!!!

First Two Weeks in March 2019

The first weekend in March, we had a special music day at church for the dedication of our new piano - purchased so we would have a nice piano for the sanctuary to compliment the black baby grand already there for our two-piano pieces.  I played a contemporary piece, Perfection Commotion, with Brenda Ford, Marnie Bellamy and Janet Parks - 8 hands on 2 pianos which was fun to play.  Later in the service, Marnie and I played a two piano arrangement of Great Is Thy Faithfulness.  It was a wonderful morning of beautiful music by all the piano players (8) in the congregation.  Ron and I made a nice contribution to the purchase of the piano along with a few other families.

We went to watch Garrison play basketball - his final game of the season.  On Monday, Chad came down with Flu A.  Tuesday, Garrison came down with it and was given Tamiflu by the doctor.  Wednesday, Amanda was diagnosed with it and also received Tamiflu.  I became ill but did not go to the doctor on Tuesday - fever, cough and aches.  Peyton and Grandpa seemed to avoid the germs and did not come down with it.

On the first Sunday of Spring Break and Monday, Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison went to The Great Wolf Lodge and had a good time.  Madison, last summer's nanny, stayed with the kids on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Ron and I went to OP Wednesday afternoon to pick up the kids for their Clinton leg of Spring break until Saturday.

We had a wonderful time.  Thursday morning, Peyton and I made slime - imagine that.  We were playing Play Nine when Miss Kelly and Miss Sherri stopped by, and they played with us.  The kids then decided we should all play Trash with the Play Nine cards - that was interesting.  The kids and I had spaghetti and meat sauce, rolls, etc. for lunch.   We watched a movie in the afternoon.  They painted canvases using painter's tape which turned out very nicely.

Thursday night, I had a P.E.O. meeting - Ron and Peyton went to McDonald's to get their dinner.  They were still awake when I got home, so I got to tell them good night.

Friday morning, we made no-bake cookies and took some to Miss Debbie and visited Sara Sue.  They also took cookies to Miss Esther and had a nice visit with her.  We played a lot of games.  We fixed Peyton's favorite, BBQ meatballs and rice for lunch along with peas and fruit cups.  Peyton enjoyed fixing the rice and cutting up the fruit for the fruit cups.  We had strawberries and dip for dessert.

They went back to the bank with Ron after lunch and stayed for a couple hours.  They had a blast.  Ron's co-workers gave them candy and made them feel special.  Garrison sat at Ron's desk - maybe Ron's  replacement when he retires?????   They called me around 3 and I picked them up.  When Ron got home around 4, we all went to the playground - they had a blast.

We all enjoyed watching a few episodes of The Titans.  They took their showers and were good about getting ready for bed all 3 nights.  They slept in some every morning.

Saturday morning, Peyton and Ron went to Casey's to get donuts for everyone for breakfast before we got dressed and headed to OP.  We stopped at Kohl's on the way and then had lunch with their parents at BRGR before we came home.  A great few days with our little sweethearts.  We are blessed.