Just a post

Over the past six days I have gotten a whole new appreciation of what my mother and father went through for all the years that I was a teenager. On Thursday, January 19 I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. This would have been bad enough if it was my left shoulder but being my right shoulder which I write with, drive with, eat with, tie my shoes with, fastened my belt with, brush my teeth with, makes life a bit more of a challenge.

So it presents a whole new challenge to life right now. This is where the appreciation for my mother comes in. I never understood the amount of work she had with my dad as she dressed him, combed his hair, got him out of bed in the morning. I Appreciate it more now that my dear wife has to do it and help me with just about everything. Together I’ve mastered sleeping in a chair, resting the arm on a pillow, and taking the brace on and off. She’s been very patient as we have worked through the process, learning what the restrictions are and what the process involves. We’ve also had the benefit of having Jeremy here over the weekend and in the evenings to help out when needed.

Yesterday we started therapy on it, which will involve more intensive work to try to get back in shape and trying to return me to work as soon as possible. Fortunately the pain has not been as bad as anticipated and we’ve been able to manage it pretty much with medication and icing it. The therapy will continue for the next three months both at home and at physical therapy. I will wear the brace for about eight weeks but it will allow me to return to work soon.

The weather has cooperated very well down here being mostly in the mid-50s, we have not had a wear jackets while going outside and we’ve been able to enjoy the fresh air.

I also purchased Dragon dictate which allows me to dictate to my computer for e-mails, instant messenger and for posting to this blog. That will make it easier to return to work and to continue to do what I do everyday which is analyze the business processes of IT and to communicate with folks pretty much around the world.
Well it’s about it for now.

P. S. How bout them Giants

 

Update on table travel

David successfully transported the table from Mt. Juliet, Tn. to South Bend, In. and reassembled it.

Great Job and it fits!

 

Christmas #2 and Holidays come to an end

Sarah and David arrived on Wednesday evening to celebrate the balance of the Christmas holidays with us. We decided to treat Thursday as if it were Christmas day, so we rose early, ate homemade cinnamon rolls and opened stockings. Then we proceeded to open the gifts that sat under the tree all week or arrived on the second Christmas eve from South Bend. After Becky received the prototype table for Christmas, Sarah received the final project made a oak. David now gets to put it together after transporting it to South Bend. I can’t wait to build to projects from the Woodsmith project planner they gave me. We continue to see and enjoy David’s HUGE heart, so after sacrificing his IPOD Touch for orphans, Santa left a reconditioned IPAD for him under the tree.

2nd Christmas day pictures

      

What a wonderful day it was! It’s always exciting to have Dave and Sarah here. They complete the circle that God started so many years ago. It’s very hard to have them so far away, but we continue to stand on the premise that God has them where He wants them right now. We spent the evening enjoying a fire on the hill while cooking hamburg’s and sausage. The weather was perfect in the mid 50’s to 60’s all weekend.

Friday the Girls went shopping while the we stayed home to watch football. Friday evening we all walked around the Gaylord Convention Center enjoying the lights and the decorations.

  

Gaylord Pictures

Saturday was a day to watch more football and enjoy New Years Eve Day together. While the Boys went to Cory’s Dog House for lunch, the girls relaxed at home. We took the time to get a family portrait done on the back stairs in the afternoon. Jeremy did a great job with his very fast camera.

 

Family Pictures

That evening the kids pitched in to do the cooking. Jeremy made his best batch of chicken wings yet on the grill, while David and Sarah cooked pizza in the house. David even found Jeremy’s old Legos and spent quite a bit of time setting them up.

   

New Years Eve Pictures

Well here we are on January 1, 2012. David and Sarah have headed back to South Bend while Becky, Jeremy and I prepare to return to work here in Nashville.
It has been a great year for all of us. David began his trek towards his Masters, Sarah continued to move the South Bend Sylvan Learning Center forward all while buying a new house and making it their own.
Jeremy has seen so much more of the country than he ever imagined he would and is preparing for his next round of touring. Becky’s business grew even more over the year and has more exciting times ahead. I started a new job at Emdeon Business Services and look forward to the challenges that it will bring in the new year.

God was awesome to us in 2011 and we look forward to see what He has in store for us in 2012.
Happy New Year to everyone!!!

 

Christmas 2011

Pictures from the day here:

Well the work shop is clean and the projects are done. The presents are open and the space under the tree is empty ( well sorta). That would mean that another Christmas has come to an end (well sorta). Jeremy, Becky and I celebrated the the birth of Christ here in Nashville. What a wonderful day it was with the sun shining and the birds eating at the bird feeder. It’s always a joy to watch as the gifts are open and the surprises abound. This year was no different. The weather was warm enough for Becky and I to take a walk without jackets in the afternoon. We have celebrated 3 Christmas’s here now and have seen 3 different ones.

Gifts included a new Pelican case for Jeremy to carry his work tools from show to show

A table that we made for Becky’s eat-in kitchen

and an awesome new remote Jeremy bought for me to eliminate the other 4 and a sweet Chisel Hammer

 

We spent late Saturday afternoon at Longhollow Baptist Church for the Christmas eve service. Then returned home to enjoy the evening watching old movies and eating homemade Calzones. Christmas eve was a bit chilly (about 40) but we were able to walk around the development to see the lights. Something that we have never been able to do before..

I say that Christmas has “Sorta” come to an end because Sarah and David will be here towards the end of the week to celebrate another Christmas day with us and then the New Year. This year they celebrated Christmas in their new house for the first time. It’s always hard to be away from them and the rest of the family for the holidays, but God has us right where we are supposed to be and the two of them where they are supposed to be. We missed the rest of our families as well. It was nice to talk to each of my sisters to hear that they are doing very well. Becky touched base with those in Florida and New York.

Until we see you all again.. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year… May God bless you more this year than last.

 

Done and Occupied

       

     

 

What does Jeremy do with 2 days off?

He builds A Futon!!!

     

What a great job he did.. and oh yeah… no plans… just looked at pictures and decided how to build it..

Good thing we have a  large workshop now…

 

Thanksgiving 2011 in South Bend

This year we traveled to Sarah and David’s house to celebrate their very first Thanksgiving in their new home. What a great time we had!!! Thank you Sarah and David for having us and allowing us to celebrate with you..

Jeremy traveled to Indiana with us for the first time since the wedding 2 years ago. He arrived home on Monday, from of all places, Indianapolis, where he was doing a show all week. (see link here) He washed his laundry (good thing) and jumped back in the car on Wednesday to help drive us to South Bend.  As we drove by Indy, he looked out the window and proclaimed “ I was just here”.

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

Thursday, David’s parents Lavone and Mary joined us for dinner bringing the excitement that Mary always brings. It was fun catching up with them and finding out what they are doing in their lives.

The weather was perfect, the food was AWESOME and the laughs were plentiful. Sarah and David are wonderful hosts allowing us to relax and eat well.

Black Friday Sarah, David and Becky headed out at 6:00 AM to shop. They found some great deals and rolled back into the house around 8:00 for breakfast. Then Jeremy joined them and off they went shopping again. Yep, I stayed home!!!!

We had a great time bowling with the WII both evenings. I won Thursday evening and of course Jeremy just had to come back and win Friday evening. Sorry David, next time.

They have done a wonderful job remodeling the house and making it theirs. David and his father did a great job remodeling the family room by replacing the dark paneling on the walls with new sheetrock and putting hardwood floors down.

Old Room	New Room

Jeremy helped out this weekend by replacing the ceiling light in the eat-in area of the kitchen. I knew we brought him along for a reason. it really was nice having him with us this time.

It’s always hard to leave, but Saturday we headed back home to Mt. Juliet. We will see them again New Years weekend, but it’s hard leaving them up there. They are both doing great with David returning to school for his Master’s and doing a super job. Sarah’s job is going well, she makes a wonderful director of Sylvan Learning Center there in South Bend.
But alas, we miss them….. Thank goodness for cell phones, webcams and text messages. Somehow that brings us a little closer when we are apart.

 

Table Project for Kitchen

I have been working on a new project the past couple of weeks. We will place this table in the eat-in area of our kitchen.

I have learned how to make Mortis and Tendon joints, recess and insert sewing machine hinges and use Kreg Pocket holes.

Yes it does fold in half, is 48” long by 42” wide when opened fully. Hence it’s 48×21 when folded.

 

Jeremy and Lucas Oil Stadium

Jeremy, and the company he works for, were in Indianapolis this week for the NCYC conference.
The event took place in Lucas Oil Stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play football.

Empty with equipment on the floor

Center Stage

30,000 Teenagers

 

Great video

This is an awesome video performed by the orphans in Jeremie, Haiti, which is supported by LongHollow Baptist Church. It is being directed by our Worship Leader. You can donate to the orphanage by downloading the video for .99 at LongHollow Public Facebook page.

Bondye Bel! from Long Hollow Creative on Vimeo.