Celebrating Early!

We met two other couples last night at Red Robin up in Shoreview for an early New Year's Eve celebration.  We didn't party hardy - one coffee, one white wine, one Coke and three waters; but we shared from the heart.  Each couple is going through tough stuff.  Sam's school closing, while difficult, does not involve his health like everyone else's does.  We laughed, we talked, we joked, we shared life.  It was good.

"Friends, we believe in you,

think of you,

and pray for you.

And when another day is through

we'll still be friends with you."

Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA  

Sweet, Slippery Saturday!

A little sheer ice did not stop our students from bringing in their leftover holiday sweets to class on Saturday!  I say, that ice stopped a lot of people from moving as multiple cars, SUVs, semi's, etc. were found in the ditches on my way to work - fortunately, I wasn't one of them!  And I was one of the staff that got the two-hour late start notification - unlike Sonja who slid into the parking lot and then found her text!

Thankful Thursday!

I finally have a chance to write my post today because - THANKFULLY - we have a two-hour late start.  I'm over at ISD 196 teaching students how to be Water Safety Aides Thursday through today, now until 5:30 p.m. rather than 3:30 p.m.  

I have to say, on Thursday, I was thankful for such a wonderful class.  We have twelve students, not a one with a bubbly, outgoing personality . . . not a one who can do the side stroke . . . but positive, kind, pleasant, easy to work with, willing to take instruction . . . for that I am thankful!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Dureys . . .

. . . was fun as always!

No One There . . .

I was encouraged by the lifeguards to swim this morning because there would be NO ONE there!  After all, it IS Christmas Eve!  WRONG.  At one point it was so busy I had to share my lane . . .

Like a good neighbor . . .

Saturday afternoon when Sam and I returned from Christmas shopping, we saw neighbors Tom and Dave helping neighbor Greg remove this giant ice floe from in front of his driveway.  We're pretty sure it was caused by Greg's neighbor to the north's illegal drainage pipes.  Sam's first words were, "I'd better go help.  They don't have the right tools."

He grabbed his pry bar and spade and went off to join the party.  They measured.  In some places the ice was actually twelve inches deep!  It took a while, but they managed to destroy it - much to Greg's relief!

Greg's wife brought out cookies.  Dave's wife brought beverages.  I stayed inside and read a good book.

You know something's up when . . .

. . . the Inver Grove Heights worship pastor comes out in a stove pipe hat and the Burnsville worship pastor is wearing a suit jacket with flashing lights.  Here's why -



I only wish I knew what was happening in Lakeville tomorrow!
 

The Christmas Sheep

Growing up, we could hang any ornament we wanted to on our Christmas tree, save one:  the Christmas sheep.  That one belonged to Dad.  Broken leg.  Dirty wool.  Worn ribbon.  Dad's.

I found out why this Thanksgiving.  For his very first Christmas, his parents had given him the sheep.  His dad died before his second Christmas.  This is the only gift he remembers ever getting from the father he never knew.

After Mom died, the Christmas decorations stayed packed away.  Until I asked Dad last month for the Christmas sheep which now hangs proudly on my tree . . .  

 

Kadiatou

Learning to tie your shoelaces is a challenge for any child, but for Kadiatou it was an impossibility. You see, Kadiatou was born in Guinea, West Africa with club feet AND club hands. So every day her mum would tie her sandals with string and complicated knots so they wouldn’t slip right off her daughter's little twisted feet. She was scared Kaidatou would spend her life struggling. When she got a text message about the hospital ship coming, she jumped at the opportunity to see if Mercy Ships could treat her daughter.  <<WATCH KADIATOU'S TRANSFORMATION>>

Thankful Thursday!

I was so thankful that I literally had the pool to myself when I swam laps this morning.  I was also thankful that I had the entire house cleaned before lunch except for vacuuming the upstairs.  I was feeling good, carrying the dirty bucket of vinegar water I had used to clean our laminate kitchen/dining room floors downstairs when the handle broke and the water spilled down the stairs, on the landing and all over the rug.  

Sometimes thankfulness is a choice.  My choice was to be thankful that I hadn't washed the towels yet because it took three towels to dry the steps.  If you stop by sometime in the near future, you can be thankful that your steps don't smell like vinegar!

Technically: The End.

Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of work at the Y for 2019.  I got two containers of cookies - Scottish shortbread and chocolate covered Ritz crackers - from my kids.  And when I got home, multiple texts from the Y.  I'll be doing an oxygen challenge and teaching a CPR-PR class next week, but at least I'll be dry!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I got to go above and beyond the call of duty at work - fortunately, I was paid for it!  

I went in early to challenge Justin out in "Emergency Oxygen Administration".  Everything went great until I went to correct his written test.  There was no answer key.  Fifteen questions, fourteen answers I knew he had right.  Since he only needed a 70% to pass, I told him he was good!

After I taught my three classes, I got to be a victim for Justin.  We had a double drowning in the lap pool and he saved both of us!  Then I panicked and grabbed him abound the neck ("suck, tuck, duck" to all you former lifeguards out there!).  He didn't move far enough away so I grabbed him again.  This time was better.  

Then, THANKFULLY, because Barbara's private lesson cancelled, she stayed and played Justin's victim and I went home.  Thankful I could help . . . thankful I could leave!

WANTED!!!

That's me!  Every single one of my parents at swimming lessons last night and both of my adults asked if I would be back to teach Monday night lessons next session.  NOT. A. CHANCE . . .

Cutest Kid Ever!

This is one of my guys on the last day of Tuesday swimming lessons this year!  The legs are mine, too!

Another Day Teaching . . .

I taught at ISD 196 yesterday.  My first order of the day was to check in the Lifeguard Instructor Trainer Review class while their instructor was still guarding in the pool.  Hilarious.  The class age ranged from 44 to 66.  The things I wish I could make up!

Then I bopped over to my class - CPR For The Lay Rescuer.  It couldn't have been more fun!  I had a married couple who were grandparents who had taken CPR before.  They made the day easy and enjoyable!

They were followed up by my First Aid class - once again, a class of one!  So John and I covered the required components of the class, then he got to watch whatever he wanted.  He's a ski patrol volunteer with Dakota County.  If you ever go down while skiing in Dakota County, he's the guy you want to have find you!  He carries a MacGyver pack - full of all sorts of "macgyveresque" tools! 

Thankful Thursday!

APA (against parental advice - for more reasons than just moral), my beloved son is on a cruise in Mexico this week.  What I am thankful for, is that while he knows that I was not in favor of the cruise, he is communicating with me, sending me pictures, and making comparisons with our sail on the m/v Africa Mercy in 2012.  I'd honestly say he's "talked" to me more this week than in several weeks past - and without grunts.  For that, I am thankful.  

A Shingles Shot

Since I had only had a very mild case of the chicken pox when I was a child and I had been quarantined at Eagle Lake Camp for two weeks due to a chicken pox outbreak, I was STRONGLY encouraged by my internist to get a shingles shot.  Easier said than done . . .

The pharmacist in my Bible study said to only get a shot at a clinic.

I called my clinic.  I could get in in two weeks.

I went in today.

The first thing the nurse asked me was if my insurance would pay for it.  I didn't know and my phone isn't working. She gave me a phone and I called.  If insurance didn't pay, it would be roughly $400.00.

Insurance would pay.

Then I asked, "Can I get a shot if my husband currently has shingles?"

The doctor responded with "yes".

I got a shot.  Fortunately, it's only a pain in the arm even though it was a pain in the b _ _ _ !

 

Three Days at the Y!

Saturday

Saturday I taught CPR-PR/First Aid/Emergency Oxygen at the Y.  What did those who know me say?  "Tell Matt "Hi" for me, okay?"  "Matt's a great guy."  "I miss seeing Matt . . ."  I'm glad they love my son, too.

Monday

Poor Carolyn agreed to teach safety with me Monday night.  We were doing "Reach, throw, row, but never ever go!"  I'm pretty sure she had absolutely no idea what things I could throw at her to help her safely float!  The kids loved it and were laughing hysterically.  Carolyn will probably never teach with me again.

Tuesday

It was one of those days.  I went from the screamer to the cutest little guy ever to "Mr. Wiggle".  One more week, just one more week . . . then it's winter break! 

Tene

It looked like a boot on Tene's leg - but it wasn't. When she was still in the womb, a band of tissue wrapped around her leg. As Tene grew, so did the swelling. They couldn't find anyone with the surgical skills who would help them, and her mother despaired. But thanks to friends like you, free surgery on the Mercy Ship turned Tene's clunky gait into the happy skip of a typical three-year-old. <<Watch Tene's inspiring story now>>