Sat Nov. 27

My how time flies! I worked on my classes in the am. Denny fixed breakfast. Luke left about 11 to head to Des Moines to see Karen's family. Missy went to Battle Creek to see high school friends. Mandy and Brandon ate lunch at Grandmas and watched football. Denny worked at the unit with Dan G. I planted about 75 daffodils; then went to the unit for awhile; then back to computer to work on classes. We went to Ute for supper. YUM!

Friday Nov. 26

Great time at the rec center this am. We swamabout 1 1/2 hours in the baby pool. Then played in the toy room. Then we ate 3 large pizza up in the golf room. Denny met us for lunch. At home we just relaxed. Mandy and Brandon made chili for supper plus cheesecake -- coffee/oreo cheesecake. Matt and Becky left for Kingsley about 4. We ate supper out in the coop. It was so nice and cozy out there. We watched the DVD To save a life. Last night Denny and I put the little ones to bed and The big kids played Trivial pursuit in the basement.

Thursday Nov. 25

Happy Thanksgiving!! Praise the Lord for all that He has blessed us with. I took the 4 little ones to ggny's. It made Howard laugh right out loud. He was sitting at the kitchen table and saw 15 cats running up the hill. Then he saw 3 heads of children that were chasing the cats. Haley said, "Scat." And Anabel just kept saying, "Scat, Scat." Linda Dean and the rest of the Whaley's came about 12. I stopped at the unit with Mandy and Brandon for a tour. Nice afternoon. Great food. Lots of it. Had a good time playing The Last Word with the Whaley family.

Wed. Nov. 24

I'm driving my car again. It's been about a week since it got fixed at Don's and it is good to have nice enough weather so I can drive the Malibu. The roads did turn icey and they let school out at 1 pm, rather than 2:30 today. At home I took a nap with Anabel. We went to church at 7 and Chad L. the Methodist pastor gave the Thanksgiving message. Matt, Becky, kids and Mandy and Brandon got home about 8:15. Luke got here about 8:30. Good to have everyone at the farm. We cannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn't beat having the little grands around. Torren played with the farm set while Haley and Denny put together Guess Who?

Tues Nov. 23,2010

Guess who is going to be at the farm on Wed. night? And GGny and GGpa are coming Thurs. if all are healthy. Mrs. S made alot of good iimprovement on my paper. Oh my am I thankful for her! We got the tables in the sunroom all set up. Let the party begin. Missy worked with Tots again this afternoon. They play bb, volleyball, and clarinet in the 1 1/2 they spend together.

Monday Nov. 22

Guess who is coming to IG on Wed. night? Stopped at folks before school. Howard is bringing Nut spred/filling, Ritz crackers plus pickled herring. School continues to be overwhelming. Took roses to Cathy. Went to Arthur , then across the street for supper. We ate dollar burgers plus onion rings.YUM

Blessing from Mary Jo: May the Lord bless and keep you. May He guide and direct your path. May He keep you focused on the attitude of gratitude to Him for Salvation, Love, Wisdom, Compassion, Peace He has poured into our lives. May we live before the world with all the evidence of Jesus. God bless you.

Sunday Nov. 21

Guess who is coming back to Iowa on Wednesday?? The Missouri Johnsons :) E&A went to donuts with Grandma before SS. After church Missy, Anabel and I made a quick run to IG. I did more work on my research paper. Ingathering at 6. Service afterward. I called Kim and talked a while about 8:15 about my research paper.

Sat. Nov. 20 10,962

Guess who is coming back to Iowa on Wednesday? I'm so looking for ward to having all the family home. I left for class about 7:45 and didn;'t get home til 4:00. Matt came and helped Phillip in the barn. They are cleaning out the mangers. Denny cleaned our apartment and did some rearranging. He fixed zuppa and we baked a turkey to put in the freezer. We'll get it out for Thanksgiving. I made cavatini for the Ingathering tomorrow night. I walked thru the unit after I got home from class. Dan G is farrowing some mammas in there. Nice to see the babies.

Friday Nov. 19 HALEY"S BIRTHDAY

SEVEN YEARS OLD!! WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR HALEY!! Here she is making flower soup in August. I called her from school today. I was looking out the resource room window as a group of 10 -15 students met to pray (every Friday morning around the flag pole). I'm ready for a weekend break. Lauren went home sick this afternoon. I went after school to Susan's. Lisa VK was there visiting with Susan before the bank AG appreciation supper. At home I read for the class tomorrow. Imagine that!

Thurs Nov. 18

5 dev coffee at folks After school Vicki stayed to IEP help. Class in Denison. Not much of a life - excitement wise, but I'm thankful for each day.

Wed. Nov. 17

5-dev- coffee at folks Anabel's red count was down. That is why she has felt so tireed the past couple days. Denny worked on a rubric for counting coins for me. THANKS HONEY! At school we had an AR meeting. 8:30- 9:30. Too much for me. I just keep struggling on. After school I brought Matt here to work with Phillip. I went to get my hair cut. At Awana I studied, returned email etc. Then took Matt home. Lauren decided not to come to youth group.

Tuesday Nov. 16

Up at 5- dev-ran 2 in the mud- Anabel went with me to Ggny. She had chemo today. Evan and others went to story time at library. I went to bank after school. We visited in sun room, then supper. Nice phone call from Mandy. Bed at 9.

Monday Nov. 15 10828

I drove the pick up today. E&A joined me as I went to Ggny. Yesterday Whaleys came to see the folks, but got stuck in the road by Barkers. Anabel said they brought lots of meals. 2 paraeducators were gone from the resource room today. After school I headed to Arthur to study at the bank. When we got home Denny went to get a heater going at the unit for Dan. I started by research paper. I'm concerned about an IEP that I have to do the Monday after Thanksgiving. Lord, keep seeing me through. You have been faithful. In bed by 9. ho hum I have no life and I feel like I am up to my ears in things that I should/would/could be doing. Guess who is going to be 7?

Sunday Nov. 14

There was no electricity in Arthur today so we did not have SS. We wore coats in church, and used the piano, not the clavinova. No power point, or organ, or microphone. Still we were spoiled rotten compared to the saints of 125 years ago. We took Beth and Laura home after church. Then ate a Food Pride with Gordon and Sue. I got some socks, tape, etc. at Pamida. Denny got a few groceries, then . I worked most of the afternoon, night on school stuff. Dean and Linda got stuck on their way to the folks. Denny got them out. Then he got a heater going at the unit for Dan. Now he is paying bills.

Saturday November 13

Ski trip in 2006 with Mandy and Luke. Such good memories. NOT good thought to have no electricity this am. Denny went out to push snow. I rode with him in pickup to Odebolt to work. My class in Denison was postponed until 10 am. I was planning to take the pick up and when I called Donna about the possibility of riding with her, SHE WAS IN ODEBOLT - ACROSS THE STREET -AT THE DENTIST. Definitely a God thing. I rode down with her. Class was a lot of information. I continue to be overwhelmed. Denny met us at 300th and Highway 59 about 4 to give me a ride home. The road was awful, even with the pickup. YUCK! I'm dreading the driving to school with bad weather. Home for a 1 hour rest, then to the computer, Denny fixed supper. I talked to both Gail and Jean this afternoon. Hendersons are in Brownsville. Jean and Arlan are coming home from OK. Denny, Thanks for the nice meal and all the support and encouragement that you give me. I'd be lost without you.

Friday November 12

I took coffeecake and juice to the 15 hs schoolers that pray around the flagpole every Friday am. Coffee at folks. I missed an IEP training meeting yesterday. AFter school I got a pizza and went to Arthur. We ate it after Denny got off work at 6. I went to IG fro Home school skating. Jensens headed to Ames for Iowa La briee conference with Phillip's folks. Is was starting to snow. I saw a high school family at skating and then went to the play Footloose. It was a great escape. I really enjoyed the first half. Then I went outside. LOTS OF SNOW. I DID NOT enjoy the drive home. I left right away and sspun all the way home. The Malibu was over heating because the drifts were as high as it's framework and I couldn't get traction. BUT I did make it home. Praise the Lord.

Thurs Nov. 11

5 - dev - Anabel called down to see if she could go with me to ggnys Denny had Veterans Day off. He joined us for coffee. He is planning to work at the unit on the feed line. KC was sick again and not at school. A. not happy with me. Shannon has been visiting Jensen's for a couple days. Cute cousins that seem to play well together. Oh did I say that Jensens now have a goat? That would be Millet, gift from Storm Lake friends. After I got home from school I headed down to the apartment to work on classes. I noticed a box ... Good I got the class book I ordered ... The box looks big ... I don't have time now to look. So I worked til dark and Denny came in to see if I wanted a ride out to look at the trees he cut down in the terraces. Sure, after I finish up this project (which I did wrong) When I went up the stairs to go outside, I looked at the box. It had holes in it ... no it was not the class book ... It was daffodils that I ordered about 6 weeks ago when I thought I would need a lift this fall and planting bulbs that would bloom in the spring would be helpful. Well it was dark ... and the forecast was snow through the weekend. IF only I had looked more closely at the box I could have planted them before it got dark ...Such is life. Uffta.

Wed. Nov. 10

Up at 5 - dev- Denny got up too. Coffee with folks - L&J to Styles Unlimited - Mrs.S started to help me with research paper. Was she speaking Spanish? I didn't understand what she was saying. I need a superman to get me through these classes. MT helped Phillip take down a fence. Parents night at Awana. Great turnout. Home at 8:30

Tuesday Nov. 9

Up at 5:15 , no run, 2 little ones headed down for kids coffee about 6:45. I was glad I was ready to go to school. Anabel and I went to GGny. After school I studied at the bank, then home. Denny worked outside til dark. That's pretty early nowadays. He and Phillip loaded up the trailer with metal to take to Schau's. It's great that Phillip is cleaning the place up. We gotta love our first grader. She is a first born (like her grandpa an dad). A list is so good to keep organized and on task. I guess all of our family feels better with a list. Make one today and make your day :)

Monday Nov. 8

Up at 5 - dev - ran 1- Evan went with me to coffee at folks. Then he and I headed to school. Missy brought in the other 2 at 8:30 ( for a 6-12 month old observation time for the child development class). Fun to have them at school. AT 3 there was an IEP meeting for K. -2 hours- 2 case workers, 2 lea, Cathy for AEA, Vicki, 2 parents, 1 student and me. Plus there was a conference call from Emmetsburg SAFE. What would I do without the constant support and love from this guy? At 5:30 I headed home, ate a bite of wonderful chicken casserole, picked up Whitney H. went to Bible study at Danielle's, came home and crashed at 9:15. Missy had a dr appointment about her back. Denny started to pull out fence posts south of the house. He called about doing the floor in basement.

Sunday Nov. 7

Picked up Beth S.before prayer time. We, three had donuts. Great revival song with violin and guitar this am at church. After church Pete and Whitney H. came over for lunch. Nice visit. We had ice cream sundaes out in the coop. In the afternoon Denny cut wood for the coop and I looked up info on bipolar for my college paper. Nice phone call from Luke. We went to prayer time at church at 6. Now a little work on the computer and to bed we go. Friday is home school skating.

Sat Nov 6

Denny went to run the disk for Curtis L. He had to be there by 7. Now that's early for him. I left about 7:30 to go to my class in Denison. It was nice to call Gail and Jean on the way there. Gail leaves for Brownsville on Wednesday. I signed up for the BV class. Now I need to order a $100 book. double ouch! At home I worked all afternoon and night on class projects. Missy washed the upstairs windows. They look great.

Friday Nov 5

No foot steps this am. I guess they came down for coffee cake with Grandpa before he left for the bank. I took coffee cake into the BCIG students that pray around the flagpole at 7:30 every Friday am. I heard that there was 18 students. Next week I'll invite them to the Home Ec room , but this am we had a teacher's meeting at 7:55. Howard got the gas lever fixed on his car yesterday in Odebolt. After school Vicki and I worked on K's IEP. I went to the Dose garage sale for social skills with L&J. We left the bank about 6:10, then home and I read until 6:30. We ate supper of BBQ chicken pizza in the coop with Jensen's. The trees were really pretty this fall. Thanks Matt for the nice info you gave Julie L as they travel by St. Joe. Good Luck on your half. :)

Thurs Nov 4

Two little ones came down the stairs this am at 7:05 ready to go to GGny's. Pretty fun. We didn't get to see them for a super time on Oct. 31,so I copied a pix from Missy's blog. How cute is that? After school I went to the bank and studied til 6:45 when Denny left work. Great supper of beef roast tonight. YUM!!

Wed. Nov. 3

Kids were up and went with me to the folks. Early out for professional development. Nice visit about how we are all one moment away from traumatic brain injury , or a grandchild with special needs so we need to be aware. Also got to encourage the importance of professional support. We are all working together for the helping of the students. I picked up Matt T. at Cody C. home. Phillip showed him around. Missy and I walked about 3/4 miles. Going south first (uphill) the back home with the wind and the stroller. I took Evan and Matt to church. We had leftover lasagna. Then took them home. Email from Morningside with more information. This is an arrangement I did for church in August Qasi centennial.

Tues Nov. 2

Slept til 5:15 Coffee at folks with Denny. He and I went in to vote. I left my car in Arthur last night. I finished reading Chapter 11 and wrote a response, but didn't post it. After school I came home and read. Great supper. Cheeseburger casserole. Look at those nice girls from last August at the Arthur church. Thanks for calling Mandy.

Monday Nov. 1

I went to the folks before school. Anabel had a chemo treatment this am. Missy had letters from Denny and Mandy to send along. She is hoping that more will come to her so she always has 2 letters to send with grandma as she goes for her next chemo. I had an IEP at 3:15 this pm It went okay. Then to the bank to read the text book for Saturday. I borrowed Donna's book. 3 chapters in about 5 hours. We ate out in the coop, then I stayed out there and read til 9. Then to bed.

Sunday Oct. 31

The 2 little ones and I headed to IG to pick up Matt T. , but he wasn't there. So off to get donuts before SS. I helped Kim S. with the 15 2-4 years olds in her class. AFter church I fixed leftover steak, stirfried vegetables, and ramen noodles. Then worked on IEPs all afternoon. The class yesterday showed me a tutorial website for IEP. I made myself lay down for an hour, even if I didn't sleep because I was up til after 1 Sat night working on the blog. Nice phone call from Luke. And Mandy on her way to work Sun night. to bed by 8:20. The pix is the group at Cronks on Sunday night Sept. 26