Medical Capacity Building With Dr. Charlotte

An Extra Set of Keys

 When we got home from visiting Dad today, I grabbed the car key out of the ignition, the spare car key from the glove compartment (that's a Sam explanation as to why I now insist on always bringing another key . . . ) and the keys out of my pocket.  The keys out of my pocket?!? Dad's KEYS!  Micah and I had walked up town to get Dad's mail for him and I never gave him his keys back!  

Sam called him later and he has keys for his vehicles so he's good, but he won't be able to get his mail or go out to his wood shop until we get his keys shipped back to him . . .

Lunch Where?

Sam, Micah and I drove down to see Dad today.  I snapped this picture of Dad and Sam at lunch and sent it to my sister with the text, "Guess where we had lunch today?"  Within minutes my sister responded with "Isn't that where Ray and I brought Dad for lunch two weeks ago?"

Like Dad said, "There aren't too many places around that serve a good burger" and when you're ninety-years-old and in the mood for a good burger and this daughter's family hasn't been there since FEBRUARY, what do you care where you eat?

So if you're ever in Spirit Lake, Iowa and want a good burger, my Dad suggests "Burger and Company" on Hill Avenue - even if they got his order wrong today! 

I got a new shoe today . . .

Just one!  And when I get the MRI next week, we'll know what's up!  Right now, it's a suspected stress fracture.

I told Sam we could only run a three-legged race if we put his right leg with my left!

 

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for the material blessings of a new quilt for our bedroom and the new paint that we've started to put on the walls!  After twenty-one years of the same color, I am thankful for the upcoming change!

With a sad heart . . .

It is with a sad heart that I post Matt and Micah's maternal grandfather Tony's wife Sheri died this afternoon.  She was able to donate her liver and kidneys.  Her eyes and tissue will go to research.  A final scan was done on her brain today to make sure they were correct with what they were saying.  Her brain death was at 2:58 p.m.  She will continue to live on through others💕

Our hearts go out to Tony . . . 

Forty-Five Years of Friendship

Denise and I have been friends since we met at what was then known as the Presbyterian Camp on Lake Okoboji!

We're better at texting, emailing and writing than we are at getting together!  It had probably been four years since we were last together.  That's us on Monday afternoon in Cannon Falls, which is more or less, halfway between our homes.

A Little Birdie . . .

Matt, Micah and I were sitting in the kitchen talking Sunday afternoon, when we saw something big fly by!  This hawk landed on our neighbor's roof and I was able to snap a picture!

Micah says it's her hawk, "Chili Pepper".

I say, "Eat the bunnies!"

 

School-a-palooza!!!

Sam and I volunteered at School-a-palooza at Berean today.  It was the most amazing, fantastic, free get-ready-for-school event you've ever seen!  We had over 3000 students who received free backpacks, shoes, winter coats, school supplies, food, and more!  

We were stationed in the winter coat area - I was greeting and Sam was fitting coats.  By 10:30 a.m. (we started at 8:15 a.m.) our coats were gone and we began volunteering over in foods.  What a blast!  And we got free lunch to boot!

 

The Breakfast Bunch

We have an eclectic group from the Y who meets not as regularly as we'd like!  Ruth is a retired school teacher whom I'm know for over thirty years who used to work out at the Y before Covid, Jenny worked at the Y forever and is now retired, Carla swims at the Y with me and Steven was our lifeguard as was his girlfriend Rachel.  On our way to Ruth's house yesterday (because she does live closest to the Y and Carla and I had been swimming in the morning), I said to Carla, "You know, Ruth is going to make an egg bake, a fruit salad, and have some type of bread.  I hope you're hungry!"  Carla's like "No way!"  Yes way!  We had individual quiches, fruit salad, doughnut holes, blueberry muffins, lemon bread and strudel!  Score!  Thanks, Ruth!    

CPR on Wednesday!

 Right in the middle of CPR class on Wednesday, I got a text from our birth mom, Allison.  It turns out that her dad, Tony, had to do chest compressions on his wife, Sheri, on Tuesday night.  She had ventricular fibrillation that stopped her heart.  She is currently at the U in a medically induced coma and is not doing well.  Sheri joined our "family" maybe eight to ten years ago and this has been a shock to all of us here - imagine how much more devastating it is to the rest of the F.O.O.'s (Matt and Micah's Family of Origin)!  If you pray, do pray for Sheri, that the swelling in her brain would cease.  Thanks!  

Thankful Thursday!

You know it's been a busy week when you don't have a chance to write your "thankful Thursday" post until Saturday afternoon!  Way back on Thursday, I was thankful for a great week of teaching the Water Safety Aides at Black Hawk.  I taught with two others who were very easy to teach with.  We had a small class that worked well together - after Monday's "but I don't want to get my face wet" - and it was just pleasant!  I thankful for that because . . .

 

Four Generations

Our plans had been to go see Dad last Saturday, but when Matt came down with Covid on Wednesday, Dad put the brakes on our plans.  His exact words were "I've spent enough time in the hospital this year.  I'm not going to risk going back."  We respected his decision, but look what we missed!

My sister Nancy, Dad, Nellie, and Lexie

 

New Glasses!

Not only did I pick up my new glasses after work on Tuesday - first pair since 2011! - but I also got a tutorial on how to take selfies from my (much younger!) co-worker!

The Water Safety Aide Class

Once again, I'm teaching the water safety aide class for ISD 196 over at Black Hawk Middle School.  For the first time ever, we had three staff and eight students and a very interesting day.  

Student A:  I called three times this morning to see if she was coming to class or not.  It turns out that the phone number I had was for an aunt.  Auntie had no idea where Student A was, but she was sure she could attend at least a portion of one of the days.  Um, no. She needs to attend ALL.FOUR.DAYS - 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Down to seven students.

Student B:  Was three hours late to class.  His parent thought he could just stay after class and make up the time.  Um, no.  We are done at 3:30 p.m. and we don't stay late.  We have lives.  However, we do start work at 8:30 a.m. (our prep time) so he could come then to watch the videos and read the lectures he missed this morning.

If A and B weren't enough, wait until you read C . . .

Student C:  She had one mad mama today.  She came storming into the building after class, "What have you done to my daughter?  She's in the car in tears!"  I calmly explained to her mom that her daughter had refused to do anything that required her to put her face in the water - that would include three strokes, dives from the deck and dives in the water.  I offered to work with her daughter on the three strokes that did not require her to put her face in the water, and her daughter hid in the bathroom.  Mom's response:  "Well, if I knew my daughter had to get her face wet, I would have NEVER signed her up for the class!"    Hello!?!  She wants to teach small children how to swim without getting her face wet?  Knock, knock . . . anyone home? 

I think that makes six students and three staff.  I guess we'll know tomorrow!

Friends Through the Thick and Thin

 Last night for our friend, Sheryl's birthday, we met two other couples at "The Howe" for dinner.  We had the most wonderful time catching up, reminiscing and laughing!

Follow our connections:  Mark, Ann and I went to Haiti together back in the early '80's; Mike and Mark were college roommates as were Ann and Sheryl; I actually went with Ann on her first visit to NDSU; Mike helped bring electricity to the same hospital Mark, Ann and I had grouted while we were in Haiti!  Ann, Sheryl and I all have birthdays on the 11th of different months.  No wonder we had fun!

"The Howe" was chosen because it was Sheryl's maiden name.  Now we're going to look for a "Heuer" and a "Dambroten" restaurant.  Wish us luck! 

Thankful Thursday!

Finally.  The next to last Bible study of the summer and Micah said, "Mom, I'm going to go with you to Bible study today."  So off we went.  Had a great time.  Then, as we were leaving, I told Betsy, our leader, that I wouldn't be back next week as I had to work.  She turned to Micah and said, "Are you going to come?"  Micah said, "No, I'm kind of shy.  It was really fun today, but . . . "  And Betsy said, "What if I bought cookies for the last day?  Then would you come?  Because you'd have to deliver them here?"  

I'm thankful for Betsy's quick wit, her "grabbing" Micah and "hooking" her in, and her purchasing two dozen cookies from Micah for Bible study next week!  I'm also thankful that Micah will have the opportunity to go to Bible study again! 

All in a Day's Work . . .

This week, I taught CPR on Tuesday and First Aid on Wednesday for the Water Safety Aid Class (WSA) at ISD 196.  Unfortunately, they were short a Water Safety Instructor in the pool on Wednesday, so they put the WSA Instructor, Makayla, in the pool and let me teach the last hour of the WSA class on Wednesday.  Even though I had brought my swim suit, I was DETERMINED NOT to get wet!!!  Success!  I taught from the deck and just got splashed - all accidentally, of course!

Blessed Beyond Measure . . .

Micah had made well over three-hundred chocolate chip, gingersnap and brown sugar cookies for NLFS's "Girls Night Out" last night, plus three different kinds of cup cakes.  She came home with seventeen cupcakes, but over one-hundred-and-sixty cookies.

"Mom, what do I do?"

Well, she began to text friends who have bought from her in the past.  She knows what church is going to have some of her cookies out tomorrow!  And she knows where a group of missionaries along with a group of church ladies are enjoying some of her cupcakes and cookies even as I write.  She even knows which friend enjoys frozen cookies . . . but there were still close to a hundred cookies left!

So I prayed as I walked around the block with Ollie, the dog we're watching, before lunch, and God said, "Text your neighbors."  I came home, asked Micah's permission and sent out a text to eighteen neighbors.  "Micah had an event last night at New Life that didn't have as many people as expected . . . "

That text went out at 1:30 p.m.  By 1:37 p.m., every cookie was spoken for and we had to turn neighbors away.  At 1:42, Micah sent out a text which included these words, "You all have brought so much joy to me that you don't even know.  I'm so happy to have friends and neighbors like all of you💕"

As we walked with Ollie to deliver cookies, we thanked God for His goodness and provision.  Can someone say "Amen"?      

Girls Night Out

 

Our adoption agency, New Life Family Services, sponsored an event last night called "Girls Night Out".  Micah was asked if she would like to sell baked goods at the event and she said, "Yes!"

We arrived at Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington a little after 5 p.m. and were placed next to a most delightful NLFS adoptive mom, Nena, who was selling candles.  We had a great time sharing our stories well setting up.

The most interesting thing was that Nena had recognized Micah and I from when our family, together with Allison's, had been on the cover of NLFS's magazine!

But it gets even better!  Not a person there we knew except for NLFS staff, but Micah was approached multiple times for different speaking engagements she has done over the years for NLFS!  

"Where do I know you from?  Were you on a NLFS panel at one time?"  

"Yup, more than once."  

"Say, didn't you speak at the 45th Anniversary Gala?"  

"And I was scared to death!"  

And again, "Weren't you on the front cover of one of NLFS's magazines?" 

It was a fun night, a great speaker, and we went home encouraged with our interactions.

Unfortunately, NLFS was expecting 1000 people and it didn't seem like there were even 500 people there.  So Micah had a TON of cookies left which is a whole 'nother story . . . 

New Glasses?!?!

I do not NEED new glasses. My old glasses are totally fine, they're just eleven years out of style and I really don't like to wear them out in public because, well, they're just really out of style.  

We've been talking about me getting new glasses for over two years, but as things have "died" - wash machine and dishwasher and furnace last year - and new glasses are NOT a necessity, they just haven't happened.  Until . . .

Today!  I had a blast trying on so many different frames!  We were laughing with the "Al Roker look", the purple glasses, the multi-colored frames - I tried them all and settled for a pair that I think I'll really like.

Sam went to pay for them (we had back to back appointments because driving is still a pain in the knee for Sam) and our credit card bounced!  Instead of being devastated, we just laughed!  After paying for two contact eye appointments (which cost more) and two new sets of contacts and Micah's tuition and a couple of other things, we had MAXED OUT our credit card.  

So the plan is to now buy my new glasses on Monday!   

Thankful Thursday!

So much to be thankful for on one simple Thursday!

• While going for my early morning walk, I ran into Rich and Jen.  Rich commented that they needed to order another flourless chocolate cake from Micah soon because the one they had had earlier tasted "just like heaven".  I happened to know that Micah had one she had made the day before in her fridge and she was selling it for half price.  Rich was over before noon.
• I meet with an amazing group of ladies for "Bible Study in the Park" on Thursday mornings.  I always leave encouraged by their hearts and their love for Jesus.
• While I was with "my ladies", Sam was getting his stitches out.  The PA was well pleased with Sam's progress and believes his relapse was due to Sam doing too much too soon.  In just a few weeks, he should be as good as gold.
• I was able to help Micah package cookies for New Life Family Services (our adoption agency) "Girls Night Out" tonight - like over 300 chocolate chip, ginger snap and brown sugar cookies - all individually wrapped, mostly by yours truly!
• My friend, Deb, dropped off my Stampin' Up order.  Prior to her arrival I had texted her to let her know Micah was making cookies and she could pre-order.  She promptly texted back, ordering sixteen cookies.  She was getting ready to leave with the cookies and I mentioned to her that she needed to pay for them.  We all burst out in laughter as she said she had put her money in the cooler where she was going to keep the cookies while she went to book club.  She quickly went to her cooler and gave Micah some "cool change".  
  

Almost Twenty-Five Years Later . . .

She looked at me.  I looked at her.  She smiled at me.  I smiled back.  She said, "I know you."  I responded with, "But from where?"

There in Menards I ran in to Brigette, my aquatics supervisor at Redwood Pool the summers of 1997 and 1998.

We had a blast catching up!