Summer Days

I guess I should add something to our blog since it has been 2 months since I have done so! A lot has happened since I last blogged so I will try to give all the updates.
Themost exciting thing that has happened is the birth of my new great niece, Savannah Nichole. She was born to my niece, Amy, and her husband Kent, on April 23. She weighed 7#, 4 oz and was 20 1/2" long. She is beautiful and we are all just so in love with her! I wish I weren't so far away......she will grow so much between my visits home....but I guess that is what I signed up for when I moved to PA,not that it makes it any easier.
My oldest niece, Lisa, was accepted to nursing school for this fall. She will graduate as an LPN in 1 year and then plans to go on to get her RN degree. I am excited about her choice of careers since nursing is something close to my heart.
The kids are out of school for the summer and have so far excelled in fighting with each other! I am sure that there is some cosmic justice in this somewhere as I am often reminded of my brother and I when we were kids and how we used to fight with each other all the time. I feel the urge to apologize to my parents at least once a day for how I acted when I was my kids ages. But other than that......we are enjoying not having to get up early and having a more relaxed schedule. Sarah is going to spend a couple of weeks with my folks in Ohio where I am sure she will be spoiled more than she already is. She always has a good time when she is there. Thomas will stay at home with us. He is a homebody and would never last away from us for more than day or two, so he is going to have to grow past that before we can leave him out there. We are hoping to get our pool up next week. We had to order a new pump for it and we are changing over to a saltwater system that is supposed to be better in a lot of ways from the chlorine setup that we had in the past. I'm excited to get it going as the kids practically live in it all summer long!
I am still working 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM about 7 days every two weeks plus every other weekend on 3-11 shift. It's more than I really want to work but it is hopefully temporary. One of our LPN's is graduating RN school this month and should be taking boards soon. He intends to take the 11-7 supervisor position and then I can go back to my regular 3-11 part time schedule. It's been nice to have the extra money coming in but I am exhausted all the time from lack of sleep. It seems like I don't get anything done around home working night shift either.
Jeff's work has been fairly steady. He was laid off for 4-5 days twice but was soon back to work. We have been fortunate to have steady jobs with the economy the way it is. I have been thankful many, many times that I chose nursing as a career. I read recently that healthcare is the number one field to be in during a recession and I agree.
Sarah and I recently went with Jill Purcell and her two girls, Heidi and Kirsten, for a "girls night out". We went to Hershey's Chocolate Factory and learned how chocolate is made and then we had a night at a hotel that had an indoor pool with a water slide(the girls enjoyed that immensely). The next day we went to an outdoor safari park, Lake Tobias, and we had a great time there feeding and watching the animals.

I'll try to not be so long in posting the next time. I think of doing it more often but getting it done is the hard part! I hope everyone is having a great summer.

Well, here it is April and I haven't posted since February!! Shame on me! Things have been busy here. I am still working night shift 3-4 nights a week. I sleep during the day after I get the kids on the bus so by the time I get up and around it is time to go and get them OFF the bus! After that it is homework, supper, whatever evening activity there is, bathtime and bedtime.....doesn't leave me a lot of time to do much else! Jeff is working in Hazelton, which is 90 miles from home. He leaves at 5:15 AM and gets home around 7:15 PM, so he doesn't have a lot of extra time either. I guess we are glad that we have work though and can't complain. There are so many who wish they could work long hours!

We have enjoyed our special meeting visitors this week. We had Audrey Fuller and Pat Robinson (from Ontario) on Monday for supper and the night and then we had Robert Flippo and Shannon Meyer last night. Our special meeting is tomorrow here in Williamsport and we are looking forward to that and know that the Lord will be faithful in feeding us.

My niece, Amy, and her husband are expecting their first baby any day. In fact, she was due on the 15th so she is now 3 days overdue! So everytime the phone rings, I look to see if it is an Ohio call :-) I hope everything goes well for them.

We are enjoying nice spring days. Yesterday and today it is in the 70's. Tomorrow it is to be in the upper 50's so a little cooler. The kids are enjoying going outside without their coats. Of course, I have been thinking of my wonderful cousins in Denver, Co who are getting all that snow......glad it's them and not us! We'll soon be planting flowers......I think I am going to plant mostly perennials this year.

TTFN

February Days

Wow.....how did it get to be February already!?! 2009 is well on it's way!

Things here have been very busy the past while. I've been working mostly night shifts (11-5A) because our night supervisor quit and I am one of the few RN's willing to do that shift. The kids like it better because I am home more with them and they really don't know that I am gone. I am only working 3-11 every other weekend while I am on this shift. Hopefully it will only be until April when we have one of our LPN's graduating RN school and he has accepted the 11-7 supervisor position. I am willing to do it temporarily but not long term because I don't get enough sleep.

Sarah has been sick with bronchitis. She missed all last week of school, went Monday this week and then missed again today, mainly because she couldn't stop coughing. Hopefully she will be able to go tomorrow. Parent-teacher conferences are coming up.....can't wait for THAT!! They always make me nervous.

My dad came out for two weeks recently and worked on finishing our basement. We now have a room for our freezers, a storage room/extra bedroom, and most importantly......I have a scrapbooking room!! I have wanted one for so long! We have to get the carpet laid yet and then I can move it and finally get my stuff organized and out of the guest room and wherever else it is stashed! My mind is full of projects...... I owe a huge thank you to my dad.....he did a wonderful job!! We want to finish the other half of the basement and put a family room down there eventually. Hopefully that can be done next winter.

We have had some sad days here recently. My Uncle Kenneth (my mom's oldest brother) had a massive stroke a week ago last Friday and passed away yesterday afternoon. He was in his early 80's but had just had a heart cath a few weeks ago and was given a really good report......goes to show that life is uncertain no matter what we're told otherwise! He was such a pillar in our family and will be missed more that I can even say. His shoes can never be filled, but there are footprints on the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Since this happened I've been reminded of Elisha when he asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit. I'm thankful for those in my life, like Uncle Kenneth, who had this kind of a spirit....one that made you want to have a portion of it for yourself. His funeral is this coming Saturday and calling hours Friday evening in Newton, IL. We plan on leaving Thursday afternoon and going as far as my folks in Ohio. Friday AM we will leave for IL and come back to OH on Sat and then back to PA on Sunday.

Jeff's aunt, Agnes Whipple, was just diagnosed with lymphoma (Non Hodgkins),so that has been more sad news around here. She is actually his great aunt but we have always been very close to her. She lives down the hill from us. She turned 81 last October, but is a young 81 :-) We had her to her first appointment at the Cancer Treatment Center today, They are going to do a bone marrow biopsy on Friday and a PET scan on Monday......then they will sit down with us and discuss her prognosis and treatment options. So she has some difficult days ahead probably in getting through the chemo...... She has such a positive outlook on it though that is touching. She just accepts whatever comes and doesn't complain.....a lot to be learned from her! We are certainly hoping for the best though.

On a happier note.......I am going to be a great aunt in April and I am getting excited to see this baby!!! It's been awhile since we've had a baby in the family so it will be nice!

Happy New Year -2009-

Our holiday's were spent enjoying the company of family, who are also our friends, and we feel truly blessed. Having that is better than any present!
We enjoyed our special meeting visits with Shannon Meyer, Audrey Fuller and Ani. Our special meeting was on New Year's eve, but Jeff and I didn't get to go as we went to Jeff's sister's wedding at 7:00 that evening. My folks went and took the kids though, so at least some of us got to have the privilege!
We spent Christmas Eve at Jeff's dad and stepmothers house. Nice to see family that we don't often get together with. On Christmas morning, we had a Brunch at our house with all of Jeff's family that live close here. It was the first time we had done a brunch but I don't think it will be the last.....it was very nice and everyone contributed something, so it wasn't too stressful for anyone. I discovered that there are some very tasty breakfast casseroles out there....yummy!! Later in the day those of us who didn't have to go to work (there are a couple of nurses in the family and our patients don't go home for the holidays!) went over to Jeff's brother, David's, for a more formal Christmas meal. So, needless to say, we were well fed that day! We also have two Christmas birthdays in the family (Jeff's Uncle Bill and his cousin's son, Weston) so we celebrated those that day as well.
My parents came out to visit us on Dec 30 and stayed through Jan 4, so that was our New Year's treat! My dad and Jeff started working to finish our basement. I am SO excited because I am finally getting a scrapbooking room! Which means I can clean out my upstairs of all the clutter (only a fellow scrapbooker would understand all the gadgets and gizmo's that you collect). We are also putting in a second room that we will use for storage, but could be a bedroom if needed, and another room for our freezers. Eventually we would like to finish the other side and have a family room down there also.
We've had some minor sickness over the holidays but I think everyone is on the mend.

2009 is here, ready or not! There are a lot of uncertainties with all that is going on in our country as well as in the world as a whole, but we are glad to have the assurance that we serve a living God and He is on the throne. So, for me, I want to go forward with greater faith and leave it in His hands. Someone mentioned that instead of being worried about the outcome of the recent political election (which I've been guilty of), that we should be concerned with our own election and in keeping our "calling and election sure".....that this is the election that God is most concerned with. I need to remember this as we go into this New Year. I hope all of you had great holidays and are enjoying the start of a great year!

Feeling the holiday time crunch....

I suppose I am not alone in feeling like the days are slipping by and there is still much to be done! I spent most of today shopping, since I am by nature a procrastinator......something I struggle with all the time! I got about halfway through my list and need to go one more day I guess to finish up. It won't be tomorrow though as we are getting SNOW and it is supposed to turn to freezing rain and sleet. So tomorrow will be a good day to stay home......hopefully the kids have school or I won't get much done here either!
Today after I came home from shopping, I finished setting up our 30 gallon aquarium that my neice Lisa was nice enough to get for us. We had a 10 gallon but 2 of our goldfish are about 4 inches long so they were needing more room. Now they'll probably grow to be a foot long!! But I am NOT getting any larger of a tank, they can go swim in the river if they outgrow this one! Anyway, the tank looks so nice now that it is done and it is so relaxing to listen to the water burbling and to watch the fish.
I finally started putting out my winter decorations (did I say that i was a procrastinator?). I have lots of snowmen and keep getting more all the time. I love them!! The more the merrier! I want to finish that stuff tomorrow and then get started cleaning the upstairs a little bit. I think I'll need to start with a scoop shovel! Thomas' 6th birthday is January 2 and we are going to redecorate his bedroom for him. He is still in a toddler bed and it is either time to cut holes in the foot of it or break down and buy him a big bed! So that is on the calendar to do sometime between now and new years! He wants a John Deere room so it shouldn't be too difficult as there are John Deere things everywhere you look. I have ordered the pictures for the walls and his bedspread and curtain. Now I just need to get some decals and the bed and we will be ready to get it done! I can't wait.....it'll be cute!
Sarah participated in a holiday piano recital on Saturday. She played very well and I was so proud of her.....it takes a lot of guts to get up in front of a roomful of strangers and play a piece. How well I remember when I used to have to play in them. There are 170 music students at the center and only 30 were chosen to be in the recital, so I thought that was a nice confidence boost for her.
Our Christmas plans are for the family to get together here at our house for brunch at 10AM. Some have to work 3-11 so it made dinnertime pretty rushed. Hopefully this will work out better. Then later in the day we will go to Jeff's brother, David's, for a sit down meal with all the trimmings. Always lots to eat it seems! We will go Christmas Eve to Jeff's dad's family for a meal.
My folks are planning on coming out over New Years, so we hope the weather holds out for that to happen. Jeff's half-sister, Honesti, is getting married on New Years Eve, so that is on the agenda as well. We will have New Years dinner here at our place for the family. Lots of saurkraut so we will be healthy, wealthy and wise for the coming year! We are looking forward to having Shannon Meyer overnight for our special meeting visit on the 29th. So, as you can see, the schedule is pretty full between now and New Year's! Somehow I'll have to fit work in there as well.

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!

Ever been to a paddle party??

Today started out with grocery shopping.......this after my poor, almost 6 year old, son told me yesterday "Mommy, don't you CARE if your children STARVE!!?" after looking for a snack. So I took it that the cupboards were bare......at least in his estimation! Of course, we certainly do not look the part of the "starving Fuller's" by any stretch, but we musn't let the children go hungry, so off I went to fill the shelves. To the tune of.......a lot, lets just put it that way! I wonder how people afford to have a big family because just the 4 of us is expensive....and I shop at the discount stores! But anyway, my children are no longer "starving" and my husband is no longer opening the cupboards and closing them in disappointment.

This evening I went to a "paddle party". I told Thomas I was going to a paddle party and he kind of looked at me funny......didn't sound like much of a party to him!! I could just picture what his little mind was thinking :) Once I told him what it was, well, he wanted to go along of course. So I told him it was a "girls party" to which he told me it "wasn't fair", so I offered to put him in a dress and fix his hair up in clips and ribbons so he could go as a "girl" but he soon decided that he would stay with daddy and do whatever "guy thing" they were doing this evening. So, Sarah and I went off to the party. It is a Princess House party where every guest is given a paper plate paddle with a number on it. They auction off PH items throughout the party for 25 cents to a dollar each and then draw for whoever gets to take it home. I ended up winning a serving platter for 50 cents, so I was happy with that. And we had a lot of laughs so it was a fun evening.

Now it is bedtime. Tomorrow I work 3-11 and in the morning I have to can the venison that Jeff has ready in the basement refrigerator. My jars are ready to go. I would do it tonight but it is about a 4-5 hour project so I think it will have to wait til morning.