April 26, 2009

It has been a busy few weeks with Easter and then my State Masters Swim Meet this past weekend.  - Oh well it is already Saturday of the next weekend but you know what I mean. Anyway, after only three weeks of training for me, our team managed to come in first only 11 points ahead of Evanston so we were surprised and happy.  I did well in my age group getting 8 firsts and one second - however my times were way off last year.  I'm counting this as my off year.

 

The kids are keeping me so busy I have a hard time getting my naps in.  I was able to see Andrew in his dress rehearsal for the talent show  and I will spend Tuesday evenings with Kev, Tracy and her family.  Our Thursday night small group has started up again  and it is good to share with them again after so long away.

 

Lucky is doing well on part of his dog training - the sleeping in his own bed and the feeding schedule but he is terrible at barking at the people with dogs passing by and the golf carts.  He really needs good walks to tire him out.

In my spare time I am playing scrabble on face book with a few different people and it is really fun. I am losing all the games I am playing but it keeps my mind active and I come up with a good word now and then.

 

Emotionally, I am doing OK but feeling the loneliness of not having Joe around more and more.  We used to love to sit on the deck together in the afternoon and just talk and now that the weather is nicer I will miss having him there even more.  I hope to start with a grief group at Wellness House in May.  I went there while Joe was alive in support groups for people with metastatic disease and it was really good.

 

Until I write again,  Take care and God bless.

 

Mary Anne

Easter Weekend

Well howdy! Michael posting here just to say that we had a very nice weekend with everyone in town at "Mom's" house. It definitely takes some getting used to the changes because of Dad being gone. For starters, even though this was not the first trip back since Dad died, the wedding was, it was the first one without a distraction and with 4 months having passed. It hit us hard the void of Dad not being there. You couldn't just imagine that he was in the other room watching the Masters Golf tournament which is where he might have been. He was missing and missed. Mom is doing great and I think we all are moving on with our lives and this new stage. We did take time to spread his ashes and say something about Dad we missed or appreciated. It was great to be together, and I hope and think it makes us appreciate our family even more.

April 9, 2009

Hi Friends,
Well I made the switch. For those of you that are on my email contact list you will get an email telling you but my new email is maryanne80@att.net. This will save me quite a bit of money each month from my previous user so be sure and change it in your contact list. I will still get emails from comcast for 30 days but then it is kaput.

My first night as pack leader was tough. Lucky whined and barked for about two hours on and off wanting to be on the bed with me but I will endure. Just waiting for the first of the out of towners to arrive in about 45 minutes. That would be Michael and Heidi and kids. Karen and Mark get here tomorrow.

Have a lovely Easter. We had a presentation at the clubhouse tonight put on by our church members called. "Is it I Lord" having each of the 12 Apostles give a narrative of how they met Jesus and the impact he had on their lives. It finished with a depiction of them at the Last Supper like the picture and they held that pose for one full minute. It was very moving. It was a great start to this special Holy weekend.

I wish you all a blessed time with family and friends. Take care. Mary Anne

April 8, 2009

Hi Friends,
Obviously I am back home and it is harder being here than in Bonaire but I am quite busy with taxes UGH!, swimming to get ready for the state meet and physical therapy for my shoulder. It is an old injury but I am trying to rehabilitate it to avoid surgery.

Speaking of rehabilitation - are you familiar with Caesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer? Well we actually have a guy right here in Naperville that does the same thing. Hearing about him I thought I would try it because Lucky has gotten so aggressive with other dogs when we go on walks and the golf carts going by has always been a problem.

Well, as I suspected, I have let him become the leader of the pack (not just since Joe died either). So I have strict things I am to do with him to let him know I am the leader. When this man took the leash, Lucky knew who was boss and although he tried his insane barking, he did not get away with it and after just a couple times, we were able to walk by Jayne's Carrie blue terrier without Lucky going nuts. He is no longer allowed to sleep on the bed, he has to eat after I do and I have to pick the food up after 15 minutes. He gets no petting unless he does something for it like sit or lay down. He has to walk at a heel all the time because otherwise he thinks he is the leader and is hunting for me. Oh my, so many things to change. But Sandy was very positive in that he thought Lucky could turn around very quickly. That is if I do. So that is my focus. Of course i have all the kids coming in for Easter tomorrow so that will be interesting to say the least. Michael is bringing his Bichon, Jewel, and at least they get along.

The golf cart issue is going to be more difficult but if i can take command, that should fall into place after the other things.

I love being back in my home church. I sang with the worship team last Sunday and that was great. I'm back in my bible study and our evening small group will start back up after Easter so the calendar is filling up. Evenings at home are quiet but my friends try to keep me busy.

I am switching my Internet service tomorrow so I may have to have a new email address. Be on the watch for the change.
I am trying to decide whether to close this blog now. I will talk it over with the kids but I am doing well and I do have a facebook page if anyone wants to know what I am doing. I may switch to that. I want to print out this blog so I can have it to read but the main purpose was to keep you all informed about Joe and we know he is doing fine. So am I. I couldn't have done it without the Lord and all your prayers but I have a lot of peace. Thanks for being our friends. I hope I can support you in the way you supported me.
Take care and God bless.
Mary Anne