Heading into March

 If you missed my previous post about Joseph, I hope you'll go back and read it.  

On Monday, February 26 I still had the day to myself because Elizer's preschool was closed and he was not coming back from Alex's place until later in the day.  

I made shepherd's pie and took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's.  I had a really hard time shaking the sadness I felt over Joseph's death.  In the evening Destiny and Elizer came and stayed for a while.  That was so nice.  They had fun together and I loved having them here.  

Meanwhile the ladies at church were having a paint and sip night.  I just wasn't in the mood for it, and besides I knew that Destiny and Elizer would probably be stopping in.  They had a huge turnout of ladies and so much fun.  

On Tuesday morning, February 27 I took Elizer to his semi-annual WIC appointment before I took him to preschool.  He had gained 2 1/2 pounds and grew 1 1/2 inches!  We knew his size 3 clothes have been getting short and snug!

I worked on some music and laundry, then picked him up from preschool at the NORMAL TIME!!   His teacher said he had had a great day.  Hallelujah!!!  First time in a whole week!  I decided to take him to Get Air after school.  We made this video for Destiny.  He's so comical!

He had such a great time at Get Air again.  It cracks me up when he goes into the dodge ball area and the older kids act like they have to be careful about this little guy.  Then he starts in on them and they discover he has no fear and he has no idea he's small, haha!!  

I took him home to Destiny afterward, then came home and updated the choir books.

On Wednesday I made an Asian stir fry and took it to Anthony and Lori after I picked Elizer up.  In the evening we had our soup and bread supper at church.  Destiny and her mom came and ate with us.  That was fun.  Some people thought her mom was Destiny's sister.  They took Elizer home with them after the meal, and Dick and I stayed for the Lenten service and then choir practice afterward.  

On Thursday I did our laundry and had a hair appointment.  Elizer's school closed at 1:00 that day.  When I picked him up we walked across the street to the Way Fruit Farm store.  I got some yellow delicious apples, Dick's favorite, and saw that they sold Gene Wenger's ham loaf, also a favorite of Dick's.  So that's what I made for our dinner that evening along with baked yams.  Even Elizer liked the ham loaf.  

Here's a sweet picture I took at Destiny's place when we took Elizer home. 

On Friday I made Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Salad and also folded our laundry.  While I was doing that and watching Call the Midwife I got a message from Anthony asking for prayer for Lori.  Lori's dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital during the night and was unresponsive.  They said he had a massive brain hemorrhage and if they operated he would most likely be in a vegetative state the rest of his life.  Lori was at peace to let him go, but other family members urged her to have them do the surgery.  I immediately began praying that he would pass away before Lori had to make any decision.  And about 20 minutes later Anthony texted that he had passed.  Lori said it was very peaceful.  He was 90 years old.

Dick left right from work for the hunting cabin about an hour-and-a-half away.  He was spending the night and the next day with his brothers. 

After I took food to Lori and Anthony's place I came home and got some things done.  Then Elizer came here to spend the night with me.

On Saturday morning I woke up and realized I had slept a full 8 hours!!  That is rare indeed.  I usually cannot sleep more than 7 hours even if I have the opportunity to do so.  

Elizer and I had a nice laid-back morning.  He loves watching Dora the Explorer on YouTube. He also loves to clean the toys out of this cupboard and "hide" in it.

I filled up the tub and he took a long bubble bath with the jets on - some of the time.  He didn't mind when I turned them off.  He said they pushed him around, haha!  

I decided to go to the mall with him later in the morning.  He said "Spiderman is ready!"

This time they had a big potted plant in the middle of the stage at the mall.  It's usually empty up there.

We were glad that the fish store was still open, and we spent quite a while there. 

And again we sat and pretended to play this game.  It's free when you do it that way!

And again, the backpack leash worked great.  He walked so nicely with me, and we had such great conversations about lots of things as we walked.

He fell asleep on the way home and took a nap on the couch for about two hours.

Destiny came to pick him up and was taking him to Get Air.  Her brother, his wife and little boy were visiting from Lancaster.  Anthony brought Hunter to our place, and I took him to Get Air too.  

Hunter loves to shoot baskets.

And of course Elizer was having fun playing dodgeball with the big kids.

Destiny and I thought the boys looked so cute afterward as we walked to the car.  Her sister-in-law is on the right. 

Hunter stayed overnight at our place.  Dick was home from the cabin when we got there.

On Sunday morning they showed us on the screen this picture of the new sanctuary.  We are SO EAGER to move!!  But we are awaiting the occupancy permit as it goes through all the channels.

I was excited to see crocuses in bloom when we got home from church!! Yea Spring!!!

And inside, my cactus has decided to bloom again.  Not at Valentines like last year, but in March.  I love it.

After lunch we played Scrabble with Hunter.  

It was a pretty slow game and he managed to stick with us for about 3/4 of the game.  Then we let him off the hook and we took his turn for him.  I WON!!

After a while Hunter came over with this doll on which he had put a pair of Mr. Potato Head glasses, and he cracked up.  "This is my mom!!"  I cracked up too!

After a while we left on some errands and eventually met Lori to give Hunter back to her.  It was good to have a chance to chat with her about her dad's passing and about how her mom is handling it.  Pray for Lori when she comes to your mind.  She has been carrying so much, and it's not over.