December 25, 2010- a day for joyful celebration. This year time just seemed to slip away until before we knew it Christmas was here. My husband and I both work for organizations where the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the busiest days of our work lives.
Christmas isn't about material gifts or it shouldn't be. It's about rejoicing in the greatest gift ever given. Long ago, in a land not known to many today, a young lady and her carpenter husband left there new home of Nazareth and journeyed back to Bethlehem as requested by the authority of the time-to be counted as part of a census. Who knew that they would arrive and find no place to stay? Who knew they would settle for a stall in the stable ? Who knew that the young lady would give birth that night ? Who knew that the tiny baby in the lowly manger would be the greatest Christmas gift any of us would ever receive ? Who knew that this tiny baby would be sought out by people near and far ? Who knew that he would grow up, preach and teach, have many followers ? Who knew that eventually he would die so that each human being could have life ? Who knew that he was and is one who remembers us, even when we keep him at a distance, far from our hearts ?
What a wonderful gift we have been given. A being who took our form, lived among us and eventually lost his life to save ours.
This is the miracle we celebrate at Christmas. This is the greatest gift, a gift not to be kept for ourselves, but shared with every person we meet on our journey.
Merry Christmas and may all of you remember to share the Greatest Gift !!
JOY:)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Ultimate St. Louis Staycation
I never did understand those people who say there is nothing to do in St. Louis. On a Staycation in the Fall of 2010, my hubby Ernie and I found plenty to do. This vacation was just the right mixture of work and play.
We started out or vacation week doing yardwork-one of the necessary chores of home ownership. Ernie cut and trimmed the grass, while I tackled sweeping/raking up dirt and leaves on our patio. Unfortunately, I could hear leaves and acorns falling as I was working. A quick look on Tuesday am found the patio covered in leaves and acorns once again. Oh well- yardwork will be an ongoing thing with 3 large pin oak trees in our backyard.
Monday -After a morning of yardwork, we had lunch from our favorite neighborhood spot-Russo's Gourmet Catering. Yum-Yum. We finished out Monday with a trip to Home Depot to look at towel racks and a trip to (my favorite) the Dollar Tree Store. Monday evening we talked to my Mom in North Myrtle Beach as usual, then just relaxed and watched TV for the rest of the evening.
Tuesday-I had an appointment with my Sleep Medecine doctor for follow-up. Due to scheduling, I saw him at his office in O'Fallon Mo. The nurse spent at least half an hour trying to make my mask work-to no avail. She put in an order to Provider Plus for a new mask. I am still struggling to make CPAP work effectively, but keep trying. My next follow-up appointment will be in December, back at St. Luke's.
Next, we drove back in to west St. Louis county to take in the Butterfly House. They had a special exhibit of Orchid & Owl Butterflies which was quite interesting and lots of fun. We even answered a short quiz and got a free gift !!
The Butterfly House visit was followed by lunch at Annie Gunn's, an exclusive restaurant in the Chesterfield Valley. The restaurant prides itself on using a lot of locally grown meat and produce. Lunch was delicious !!
Wednesday=the big outing for this day was a stock-up trip to Sam's Club. This we do 3 or 4 times a year. You know, Ernie can't live without Starbucks Frappacino. We followed this with lunch at another St. Louis fave restaurant, San Sai Japanese Grill. Couriously, this restaurant only has locations in California and St. Louis. My Curry bowl was good for three meals !!
Thursday- We did pack a lot into this day. The am saw us on the road to Provider Plus-where I got a new mask (Opti=Life) for my CPAP machine. Hopefully this one will be THE ONE. After this jaunt we headed back to Wal-mart for grocery shopping and the Container Store to look again for a towel rack. Thursaday afternoon brought a follow-up visit to the dermatologist for Joy. Thursday evening brought us to a trip to the UPS store to return a phone which I had received earlier in the day. Next, on to the T-Mobile store to obtain new phones. Our normal Thursday evening choir rehearsal finished out the night.
Friday- Our 27th (yes count them) wedding anniversary. I started out the day by making Eggs Benedict, Vanilla Coffee and a Apple Juice-Champagne Sparkler for breakfast. We got happy anniversary wishes via telephone from my Mom in N Myrtle Beach, SC.; from my Dad who is visiting my brother John and family in Joliet, IL, and our good friends Kathy & Leon DeDonder (whom we are having lunch with on Saturday). The rest of the morning brought a trip to the Art Museum to view the Joe Jones exhibit. Joe Jones was a painter and activist from the Midwest. He was not a formally trained artist. He identified most with the working man. Quite an interest part of history which was uncovered for us by the SLAM.
Friday afternoon saw a long stretch of down time during which we watched TV and played with our new phones.
Friday evening we celebrated our anniversary with dinner at the Terrace View Restaurant in downtown St. Louis, followed by a walk around the area's newest park, CityGarden.
We started out or vacation week doing yardwork-one of the necessary chores of home ownership. Ernie cut and trimmed the grass, while I tackled sweeping/raking up dirt and leaves on our patio. Unfortunately, I could hear leaves and acorns falling as I was working. A quick look on Tuesday am found the patio covered in leaves and acorns once again. Oh well- yardwork will be an ongoing thing with 3 large pin oak trees in our backyard.
Monday -After a morning of yardwork, we had lunch from our favorite neighborhood spot-Russo's Gourmet Catering. Yum-Yum. We finished out Monday with a trip to Home Depot to look at towel racks and a trip to (my favorite) the Dollar Tree Store. Monday evening we talked to my Mom in North Myrtle Beach as usual, then just relaxed and watched TV for the rest of the evening.
Tuesday-I had an appointment with my Sleep Medecine doctor for follow-up. Due to scheduling, I saw him at his office in O'Fallon Mo. The nurse spent at least half an hour trying to make my mask work-to no avail. She put in an order to Provider Plus for a new mask. I am still struggling to make CPAP work effectively, but keep trying. My next follow-up appointment will be in December, back at St. Luke's.
Next, we drove back in to west St. Louis county to take in the Butterfly House. They had a special exhibit of Orchid & Owl Butterflies which was quite interesting and lots of fun. We even answered a short quiz and got a free gift !!
The Butterfly House visit was followed by lunch at Annie Gunn's, an exclusive restaurant in the Chesterfield Valley. The restaurant prides itself on using a lot of locally grown meat and produce. Lunch was delicious !!
Wednesday=the big outing for this day was a stock-up trip to Sam's Club. This we do 3 or 4 times a year. You know, Ernie can't live without Starbucks Frappacino. We followed this with lunch at another St. Louis fave restaurant, San Sai Japanese Grill. Couriously, this restaurant only has locations in California and St. Louis. My Curry bowl was good for three meals !!
Thursday- We did pack a lot into this day. The am saw us on the road to Provider Plus-where I got a new mask (Opti=Life) for my CPAP machine. Hopefully this one will be THE ONE. After this jaunt we headed back to Wal-mart for grocery shopping and the Container Store to look again for a towel rack. Thursaday afternoon brought a follow-up visit to the dermatologist for Joy. Thursday evening brought us to a trip to the UPS store to return a phone which I had received earlier in the day. Next, on to the T-Mobile store to obtain new phones. Our normal Thursday evening choir rehearsal finished out the night.
Friday- Our 27th (yes count them) wedding anniversary. I started out the day by making Eggs Benedict, Vanilla Coffee and a Apple Juice-Champagne Sparkler for breakfast. We got happy anniversary wishes via telephone from my Mom in N Myrtle Beach, SC.; from my Dad who is visiting my brother John and family in Joliet, IL, and our good friends Kathy & Leon DeDonder (whom we are having lunch with on Saturday). The rest of the morning brought a trip to the Art Museum to view the Joe Jones exhibit. Joe Jones was a painter and activist from the Midwest. He was not a formally trained artist. He identified most with the working man. Quite an interest part of history which was uncovered for us by the SLAM.
Friday afternoon saw a long stretch of down time during which we watched TV and played with our new phones.
Friday evening we celebrated our anniversary with dinner at the Terrace View Restaurant in downtown St. Louis, followed by a walk around the area's newest park, CityGarden.
Saturday brought lunch with our dear friends Leon and Kathy at the Royal Buffet.
Sunday- Church, football and more projects.
All time not spent in a certain activity was spent doing chores, working on projects or relaxing. What a week of wonderful weather, lots of good food and many other pleasurable experiences. Monday-back to work-but it really feels like we have had a vacation !!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
An Artful Journey
Our family has a dear friend who died in January 1999. He was a Sculptor, a dear friend and a deeply religious man. His name is William C. Severson (know to us as Bill). Bill's artwork can be seen world wide. As part of our vacation this week, we spent a day driving to and viewing some of his local artwork.
Our first stop was Bellefontaine Cemetery. Bill and his family members are buried here. He actually designed an obelisk for his gravesite which is quite interesting. It is in two pieces and when the solstice occurs each season, the two pieces cast a shadow which forms a cross shape on the ground. Above, in the middle is a picture of it.
Next we travelled to a site just across the river, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville Illinois. Here we viewed two of Seversons pieces, the Millenium Spire (with Candlearium) and the Angelus Bells. Pictures of them are on the top of this page left and right.
We are lucky to have memories of our dear friend left behind in the form of the many works of art he has made and installed worlwide.
Bill you will always have a special place in our hearts.
Monday, May 17, 2010
A Rainy Weekend Away
Ernie & I were looking forward to our Church Family Weekend. It was held at Toddhall Retreat & Conference Center in Columbia, IL. http://www.toddhallrc.org/ from Friday night - Sunday mid-morning. We arrived at Toddhall around 7:30pm Friday evening. The weekend started with a presentation about Haiti-the power point presentation wouldn't work but Bill Scoopmire read what he could to us. This activity was followed by a bonfire where we roasted marshmallows,made somemores, told ghost stories and enjoyed the evening. We closed out the evening with a service of Compline read by Lucy Krieg. Being tired out from a long week-most of us headed off to our rooms for the night.
Saturday morning started with breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, fruit or juice. The morning was spent making crafts that had something to do with Haiti. Our choices were tat-tat fans, anglican prayer beads, bandanas, culture crosses, make a fruit salad or make a map of Haiti. I made anglican prayer beads and a bandana, and tasted the fruit salad.
Next was lunch which was sandwiches,salad, drinks and dessert. After lunch we spent an hour or so working in groups on plans for our Sunday Morning service. My group wrote our version of the Prayers of the People-incorporating prayers for Haiti. Since noone was volunteering to read, I took on that task.
Once our plans for worship were completed, the rest of the day was free time. Ernie was supposed to lead a Nature Walk, but that wasn't possible with all the rain. People spent their free time watching a movie (The Chronicles of Narnia), reading, talking, sleeping, etc.
Dinner was chicken,green beans, rice, drinks and apple pie !! Everything was delicious. After dinner we had a bit more free time than headed back to Wilson for a game of pictionary which lasted about 2 hours. We broke into 3 teams to play, each team took turns drawing and guessing. The most fun I had was watching the looks on peoples faces when they found out what they were supposed to draw. The children of Holy Communion are very ecology minded. We tried to use up most of the paper for pictionary. If someone tried to change the paper when there was still a blank space left to draw on-the kids called them a treewaster. We all got a laugh out of that. Later, the kids found it had stopped raining and insisted on going outside for a game of flashlight tag. Once again the evening ended with Compline and then free time- off to bed for some of us, more flashlight tag for others.
Sunday morning I woke up early and made enough noise (not intentionally) to wake Ernie up. I had thought it would be nice to take a walk before breakfast, but once again it started to rain. We got dressed and packed up as much as we could. Then we headed up to Ginny's for breakfast. After breakfast I decided to make some purchases at the Gift Shop. Then back to our room to finish packing and load the car so that we could leave for home right after church. Next we headed back to Wilson to turn in our keys and hang out until it was time for church. The church service was less formal than usual. It included dramatic presentations of the lessons, a poem psalm , guitar and violin music and the prayers of the people that our group wrote. Great service !!
After our worship service everybody headed for home. We got in our car to go home and found it wouldn't start. This freaked Ernie out, but thank goodness for Mark Willingham who knew just what to do. Eventually the car started and we were on our way.
We made a quick stop at home to grab Honey's collar and leash and make a pit stop-then it was off to Rock Road Animal Hospital to retrieve Honey. When we got to Rock Road AH I stayed in the car since Ernie was afraid to turn off the engine thinking it might not start again. After about 5 minutes, here comes Ernie telling me that he doesn't have his debit card and he doesn't know where it is. Once again Ernie is freaking out. I go in and pay with my card, we get Honey and are on our way home. Once home Ernie has me check the bank account for any fraudulent transactions (there are none-thank you God !)
We think about where he last used his card and he thinks it was at the ATM machine-not a normal use for us-but the mother's day holiday left him unable to get to the bank during it's open hours. He is calmer now that he knows where his debit card probably is. He decides he will call the bank tomorrow (Monday).
It's great to have a chance to get away and out of your normal routine, but its even greater to come back to familiar territory and one's own schedule.
---Joy------
Saturday morning started with breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, fruit or juice. The morning was spent making crafts that had something to do with Haiti. Our choices were tat-tat fans, anglican prayer beads, bandanas, culture crosses, make a fruit salad or make a map of Haiti. I made anglican prayer beads and a bandana, and tasted the fruit salad.
Next was lunch which was sandwiches,salad, drinks and dessert. After lunch we spent an hour or so working in groups on plans for our Sunday Morning service. My group wrote our version of the Prayers of the People-incorporating prayers for Haiti. Since noone was volunteering to read, I took on that task.
Once our plans for worship were completed, the rest of the day was free time. Ernie was supposed to lead a Nature Walk, but that wasn't possible with all the rain. People spent their free time watching a movie (The Chronicles of Narnia), reading, talking, sleeping, etc.
Dinner was chicken,green beans, rice, drinks and apple pie !! Everything was delicious. After dinner we had a bit more free time than headed back to Wilson for a game of pictionary which lasted about 2 hours. We broke into 3 teams to play, each team took turns drawing and guessing. The most fun I had was watching the looks on peoples faces when they found out what they were supposed to draw. The children of Holy Communion are very ecology minded. We tried to use up most of the paper for pictionary. If someone tried to change the paper when there was still a blank space left to draw on-the kids called them a treewaster. We all got a laugh out of that. Later, the kids found it had stopped raining and insisted on going outside for a game of flashlight tag. Once again the evening ended with Compline and then free time- off to bed for some of us, more flashlight tag for others.
Sunday morning I woke up early and made enough noise (not intentionally) to wake Ernie up. I had thought it would be nice to take a walk before breakfast, but once again it started to rain. We got dressed and packed up as much as we could. Then we headed up to Ginny's for breakfast. After breakfast I decided to make some purchases at the Gift Shop. Then back to our room to finish packing and load the car so that we could leave for home right after church. Next we headed back to Wilson to turn in our keys and hang out until it was time for church. The church service was less formal than usual. It included dramatic presentations of the lessons, a poem psalm , guitar and violin music and the prayers of the people that our group wrote. Great service !!
After our worship service everybody headed for home. We got in our car to go home and found it wouldn't start. This freaked Ernie out, but thank goodness for Mark Willingham who knew just what to do. Eventually the car started and we were on our way.
We made a quick stop at home to grab Honey's collar and leash and make a pit stop-then it was off to Rock Road Animal Hospital to retrieve Honey. When we got to Rock Road AH I stayed in the car since Ernie was afraid to turn off the engine thinking it might not start again. After about 5 minutes, here comes Ernie telling me that he doesn't have his debit card and he doesn't know where it is. Once again Ernie is freaking out. I go in and pay with my card, we get Honey and are on our way home. Once home Ernie has me check the bank account for any fraudulent transactions (there are none-thank you God !)
We think about where he last used his card and he thinks it was at the ATM machine-not a normal use for us-but the mother's day holiday left him unable to get to the bank during it's open hours. He is calmer now that he knows where his debit card probably is. He decides he will call the bank tomorrow (Monday).
It's great to have a chance to get away and out of your normal routine, but its even greater to come back to familiar territory and one's own schedule.
---Joy------
Saturday, May 1, 2010
CPAP Nightmare
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I am seriously thinking about renaming this blog CPAP Nightmares !! I just started CPAP therapy in the middle of April. It has not been an easy adjustment. I'm convinced that these machines and accessories were made by men-for men. Round 3 will take place on Monday afternoon as I will have a 3rd visit from Provider Plus. Hope this one is successful. More to come later-
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Google
Sunday, April 25, 20010
I started this blog a while ago, but got busy and haven't added to it. News here- A sleep study done on Friday, April 16.2010 means that I am now one of the latest additions to the world of CPAP machine users. Ernie said he could tell a difference immediately. He usually goes to bed later than I do. My first night with the machine, he said when he came to bed, I was just lying there quietly sleeping and breathing. My normal nighttime includes, snoring, coughing, pain, panic attacks, getting up to go to the bathroom, being up for an hour or so 2 or 3 times a night. What a difference !! It was short-lived though as I am having some trouble with the mask. I am a words person and the instructions are only in pictures. I do best when I have a combination of words and pictures. Also, I have to take this apparatus apart every day to clean it, and never seem to get it put together exactly right. I know there is lots of help out there, so I will look into it. Hoping things get better, as the device really seems to be worthwhile. I can't keep falling asleep at work during the day.
Sunday, April 25, 20010
I started this blog a while ago, but got busy and haven't added to it. News here- A sleep study done on Friday, April 16.2010 means that I am now one of the latest additions to the world of CPAP machine users. Ernie said he could tell a difference immediately. He usually goes to bed later than I do. My first night with the machine, he said when he came to bed, I was just lying there quietly sleeping and breathing. My normal nighttime includes, snoring, coughing, pain, panic attacks, getting up to go to the bathroom, being up for an hour or so 2 or 3 times a night. What a difference !! It was short-lived though as I am having some trouble with the mask. I am a words person and the instructions are only in pictures. I do best when I have a combination of words and pictures. Also, I have to take this apparatus apart every day to clean it, and never seem to get it put together exactly right. I know there is lots of help out there, so I will look into it. Hoping things get better, as the device really seems to be worthwhile. I can't keep falling asleep at work during the day.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Joye's Jumblings #1
A new thing here. A blog of my very own. To share, or not. To write or not. This is my life. This is my blog.
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