Thankful It Wasn't More Serious

It's been quite a weekend/week. Nothing major, just non-stop. After work yesterday I came home and got Beth because she had a doctor's appointment. After that we stopped at the grocery store, and got home a little after 5:00. 

Fixed dinner, (we had sliders) then I went out to the computer to look something up on google maps when my sister texted, 'Can you talk'? Sure. We talked, we laughed, we made plans, we hung up an hour later. 

As I was putting my phone into my pocket, I got a text from Chuck letting me know he was heading home. So I went into the kitchen and began making his sliders. After he got home, I went in and took my shower.

For a few days now it's been just one thing after another, nothing major, nothing hard just... constant. :) 

Okay, on to my story. On Thursday Beth and I were at work. She cleans our preschool classes and I learned later that she had just taken a cart full of trash out to the dumpster.

This was taken last year

I was headed to another part of the building when I passed a window that looks down to the second floor.

She was sitting alone at that little table, looking out the doors. When I knocked on the window, she looked up at me And. Was. Sobbing. I kind of hesitated, not sure which direction to go to get down there and by the time I did there were a few people with her.

When she had put everything in the dumpster and then came back into the lobby with the cart, she somehow stepped on a screw, about an inch long. Thankfully she was wearing her crocks that day and the thick sole took most of the screw. It did go into her foot just a little bit though and it hurt!

We were having our clothing bank that day and we provide small shopping carts for the clients to take their things to their cars. Some people are homeless and they bring their own carts, I heard staff members were in and out with carts, that screw could have come from anywhere!

The people who were with her had gotten a first aid kit and handed me disinfecting wipes, antibiotic ointment and a band aid. It wasn't really bleeding but you could see where it went into her foot. By now she was calm and feeling better so she put the cart away and met me at my desk. She got her backpack, I logged off my computer and we headed to the walk-in clinic. 

The doctor looked at her foot and by then it looked like it had started healing. It wasn't bleeding, and the wound was closed. She had a tetanus shot back in 2023 so didn't need another one. She was glad about that! He told me some things to watch for in the next day or two just in case, and said she could take some over-the-counter pain meds if needed. She took some once but hasn't needed any more. Every time I look at it, it looks better and better. 

I asked her today if her foot was hurting and she said, "Not very much." 

So I said, "So it is hurting a little?" 

"No." 

"When you say 'not very much' it means it's hurting a little. Is it hurting?"

"Nope." 

"Okay, well that's good!"

But I'm still checking it every day. :)

We're thanking the Lord it wasn't more serious!

Before We Forget

Hello,

We're actually having blue skies and sunshine for a few days, it's been so nice! That's unheard of here in Seattle in January. I was even able to get out and do a little yard work the other day. 

Before Christmas becomes a distant memory, I wanted to share this different take on the song Mary Did You Know? If you haven't heard it, I'll try to include the link Here.

This made me think of all the kids and adults with special needs who struggle with these very issues. The Lord knows them, He sees them, and He loves them.

Beth and I were coming home from the grocery store the other day and had this conversation. Out of the blue she says:

B: Next time I make my sliders.

(We sometimes have sliders and chips for dinner. She comes upstairs and uses our bread, mayo, meat, etc. we make them together and then she takes her dinner back down to her place. I'm guessing that's what she's talking about.)

Me: The next time we have them you can make them yourself downstairs?

B: Mmm-hmm

Me: Oh, you have all the stuff to make them? The meat, and mayo and everything? That's great!

B: Yeah.

Me: That's excellent Beth. Sure, you can definitely make them downstairs then.

B: I forgot!

Me: You forgot what?

B: To buy the stuff.

Me: Oh, so you DON'T have the stuff to make them?

B: Yeah.

Me: Oh okay, we'll have to remember to put them on your list for next time.

B: Okay.

That's how most of our conversations go. She knows what she wants to say but doesn't always know the right words. Sometimes it takes us a while to figure it out. I'm grateful the Lord knows her heart though, and her every thought.

What else? Oh, Beth came upstairs recently very frustrated. I saw her go into the kitchen, she got a cup and headed back downstairs. I asked her if anything was wrong and she said something about a drip. Come to find out our bathtub drain was leaking and it was coming out in her room, right above where she sits to watch TV and write!

The plumber came out on Tuesday and was able to fix it in less than two hours. She was at All Aboard so I sent her a photo of the work he was doing. You can see the hole in the ceiling.

We've covered it temporarily and now we've got to get someone out to put up some new drywall. In the meantime we've moved her desk back into place and she's back to writing and watching TV from her regular spot.

After church today we went to Applebee's for lunch, then she and I went to Walmart. She was looking on-line for some gel pens and I guess she found them at Walmart. She searched through the many pens for the exact ones she saw on-line and then I heard her say, "There they are!" There were 6 in a package, so she bought two.

A few months ago Diana suggested we get the Family Album app since they're on the East coast, and now they're easily able to share pictures of Adelaide and Oliver with us. Three year old Adelaide just started taking ballet lessons, and six month old Oliver took one of his first rides in a swing:

We were just there a couple weeks ago but I miss them so much already!

Well, as we swing into next week, I hope each day is on point for you. :) Have a great week!

Ravioli Night

 Hi,

We've been home for a week now, our colds are gone and we're back into our routines. I don't know about you but when I get sick that's about all I can think about. It sort of consumes me and it's hard to function. I'm so glad to feel better again.

Our youngest daughter Diana married into a large Italian family and one of their Christmas traditions is Ravioli Night. A few days before Christmas they all get together - there were about 50 this year - and they make ravioli from scratch.

Someone makes all the dough ahead of time, then they pull out the ravioli machines and get to work. Everyone has a job, from the oldest to the youngest. Everyone is talking, there's laughter, and some even broke out into song more than once.

This little guy kept watch over the festivities

Diana and Adelaide

Peter and his Nana. Over Nana's shoulder is the 'roller' station. They use a rolling pin to sort of flatten, and cut the ravioli into individual pieces.

Once the dough is at the right thickness, it goes to the table with the molds. The molds are filled with cheese (also made ahead of time), then covered with more dough before being sent to the roller.

Nana and Grandpop - Peter's grandparents

The Patriarch and Matriarch of the family 

Sharaya and Ally filled all of the ravioli molds. For three hours people brought them the dough, they added the cheese and another layer of dough, then it went to the roller. From there they were sent to the racks in the garage.

Every job had enough helpers so I took pictures and hung out with Adelaide when she got done helping. But I was able to sit down and fill about 5 molds.

Beth helped take the leftover dough from the molds back to the table with the ravioli machines but I didn't get any pictures of her. 

I asked one of Peter's aunts how long this tradition has been going on and she said she remembers being a preschooler and helping at her grandparents house (Nana and Grandpops parents) and she is 70 now! They keep track of how many they make and this year it was over 1000! That's happened only a few times over the years. 

This is just one of three trays, or boxes actually. They cover them with baking powder (baking soda? we can't remember and it's too late to ask Diana or Peter - they're three hours ahead of us) and let them sit for a day or two. 

When the cheese is gone, they take all the leftover dough and shape it into noodles. Nothing is wasted!

When it's ready they distribute them to the families. On Christmas day our family all went to Peter's parents and we had fresh ravioli for dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it but trust me it was delicious!

I've never been a part of something like this. It was quite a process, and to have that much family all working together toward one goal was amazing to see. (Thank you Sharaya for some of your pictures!)

Does your family have any long-standing traditions? Have you ever made pasta from scratch? (You may have more information on the process than I do!) If so, please tell us your story!

A Whirlwind Trip

Hi everyone,

How was your Christmas? Your New Year celebration? Chuck and I have been so congested we didn't celebrate New Years this year. The first time that I can remember. 

But we're feeling better now and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. What a whirlwind few weeks we've had.

We flew out on the 17th, took a red-eye into Newark, NJ and went right to the hotel to sleep. A few hours later Chuck went back to the airport to pick up Sharaya and Ally (Sharaya didn't find out her days off until the last minute and we had already bought our tickets) and that started ten days of celebrating three birthdays and an Italian Christmas!

Adelaide turned three this year and she helped make and decorate her own cake. That was the first big thing we did after arriving.

They got about 5 inches of snow just a few days before we arrived, then got an inch or so after we got there. It was cold and sometimes icy but we were willing to brave the elements to spend time together. 

We spent one day at an outdoor market. Got some coffee and hot chocolate to carry around with us then enjoyed all the shops. 

The sign outside this art gallery read, "More than just Thomas Kincade" and they were right. She was so excited to see all the Disney art! Rooms and rooms of art, scenes from Paris, London, art from Monet and van Gogh. We could have spent a lot more time in here. 

A lot of our time was spent playing games, hanging out, we went out to eat a couple of times, and we got to snuggle with Adelaide and Oliver. We couldn't get enough of those two.

Diana and Peter's birthdays are just a few days apart and are close to Christmas so just before we left we celebrated them together. I want to say, Peter is such a good man and treats our daughter well. We're so grateful for him.

There's so much more but I'll share that next time. We caught colds a few days before we flew home and we're not not 100% yet. 

I hope you're all doing well. I head back to work on Monday and I plan to read your posts soon. Happy New Year!

Christmas Preparations

I'm sorry I haven't been posting, or commenting on your posts. We leave soon for Pennsylvania and we've been packing and getting ready. I do hope you all are well.

Last Sunday was the Christmas Concert at church. The Lord has blessed us with phenomenal talent and this production is always packed. This year included the choir and orchestra, drama, narration, and a live nativity. It was really powerful and reminded us of the great sacrifice Christ made in coming to earth.

We had our office staff Christmas Party today. There's a raffle for gifts that each department brings, we play games and sing Christmas songs. It's always so fun and the food is amazing.

This was just the appetizer table

Lunch was ham, scalloped potatoes and veggies

I may not be on here for a while as we finish preparations for our trip. I cannot wait to see everyone, especially those little grandkids. Adelaide turned 3 today and recently wrote her first word by herself: Nana. 💕

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

We pray you experience the deep, personal love Christ has for you, as we celebrate His birth.