this past week-end

Well I went to the Scrap Pink Crop at By Design Scrapbooking Boutique in Clear Lake. It was nice. It lasted Friday and Saturday from 10-?? I went home at 9:30pm on Friday as it was just too cold there. I stayed until 11:30 pm the second day. I finished early so I left. I was really tired when it was over. i felt as though I didn't get much done. I work on a revolving photo stand by 7 Gypsies that hold 4x6 pictures on a spindle. I put 56 pictures on it and I think it could hold more. not as full as I would have liked it to be. I may add more if I can find more plastic sleeves.

Went out to eat last night with Allison and Colton. They are cute together.

I slept a long time Saturday and Sunday. I think I wore out myself not sleeping well with the crops. I slpet 16 hours.

Well they hired the new pastor for the church. His name is Brian Lambert....married with 3 kids. Can not tell you more as I do not know more.

I am getting sleepy.......get to go home in a few hours. Becky

11:18 AM

At 11:18 I got my power back!! Yeah!! I was asleep and the red light on the Alarm clock woke me up flashing. It took me a second to realize the power was on, but I had not the celebration I expected because I woke out of a sound sleep. I laid there and thought quietly...my power is back on. I turned on the A/C and called Lloyd to let him know that the power was back so he could take care of the generator. That is what he did on his lunch break!

I then overslept, but made it to work! Took a short bubble bath....HOT one and then off to work!

I am looking forward to my days off...I have a crop on Friday and Saturday at the By Design Boutique in Clear Lake. Should be alot of fun!! I am excited.

Cool at work....

Well I felt so bad for Amanda and Andy. Their power was only on for 2 hours and it is down again....They came over and spent the night at my "hot" house last night. I really felt bad for them....I wanted to offer them more than a bed and a fan....They were content in the "simple" things we offered them.

We were suppose to get power by Monday. It has now been moved up to AFTER Sept 25...this Thursday...frustrating.....trying to make light of all of this.....trying not to whine to much....I am just not a "Little house on the Prairie Girl".......Thankful for the little things...like being able to afford a meal out every evening in a cool resturant...A/C in my van....the generator that powers my fans which blow hot air......I am not kidding I am really thankful for that hot air from the fans....for my little fans that blow that hot air....for a hubby who everyday looks for gas for the generator.

I can not cook and can only use my microwave sparingly as it over heats every time I use it. I think it pulls too much power. But I have not lost my food in the fridge or the freezer. So for that I am thankful.

I wanted to go to church yesterday. I think the new prospective pastor was to preach today. It is so hot and I am having a hard enough time sleeping, I just stayed home and slept the best I could since I had to work and I had a house full.

Well I thought I worked tonight....don't. So I guess I will find a washateria....I need clean scrubs and undies.

The hospital is blessing us with 100 GC to Wal-Mart and an "Ike" holiday. We get to have an 8 hour holiday for an additional day off sometime between now and next September. I also have 30 hours of overtime on this next check. I have never had that much overtime in 21 years of employment. Should be really nice.

Well back to work.....praying for power....miss my A/C....Oh......Haelee cut her first tooth!!! Becky

I am tired.....

Well still no power....I did sleep well. Lloyd took care of me with a long extension cord and a fan. I actually got cool today. I am tired of being without power, but I am trying to be creative.

I saw the generous family side to Andy. He called to let us know there were fans and extensions cords in his house if we needed them. When Lloyd went over to get them, he found their power on. He let them know and of course they were thrilled.

I had an emotional side this morning. I never realized how much I love HEB until I saw an 18 wheeler pull up at a red light this morning. I actually started crying. I called Lloyd and told him I think I am loosing it.....he told me I was tired. I was, but I was also thrilled to know they are trying to get things back to normal.

I must of ate something that didn't agree with me. I started having diarrhea before I left the house. I had several times at work and then it went away. I got scared about eating food from home, so I bought Chipolte's. It settled find.

When you drive around town, there are power trucks everywhere...nice to know that there will be an end to this. Our branches were pickup by the city today. Front yard looking normal.

Found out tonight there will be 30 hours of overtime on this next check. Going to be a nice check...about 1800 more than normal with my emergancy diff., OT 30 hours, and my 24 hours of sleep time. Should be interesting. What can I buy or pay off with this......hum........

Looking forward to electricity........Becky

Centerpoint giveth power...then takes it away....

We had power for 2 and 1/2 days and then they turned off our power to work on another area with the intent of turning it on a couple hours later.....well when they went to turn it on the transformers blew. Back to square one and it is getting hot....Becky

It's(IKE) Over.....Wow!

A summary of the past 2 days....talk about a roller coaster!

I got off Friday morning and came home to finding out the worse case scenario was happening in my area with IKE. It was coming straight at Galveston and up the ship channel. I am only a few miles away from the ship channel. I couldn't go to sleep as I was worried about the storm and my family here. I also kept on thinking about the 50 foot tall Live Oak in my backyard....didn't want it on my roof.

Finally slept from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm got up and started boarding up more of the house. We ate food out of the freezer for we figured once we lost power it would ruin. Then the winds started about 7:00pm. By 10:30pm the wind howled and it became very scary. At 12:20 am the power went off.....The winds were horrible by then. Allison and I played cards to keep out minds off of it and Lloyd slept off and on.

About 3:10am the eye past over. We went out side and assessed the damage. We had lots of leaves every where and a few branches down. Scary...Until 5:00am it was very calm. We listened to the radio and tried to ignore the happenings outsides. We kept on hearing horrible noises we have not heard earlier. This time the winds lasted what seem like forever.

I tried to sleep ....didn't happen. When the sun came up we started assessing the damage. Our roof was intact, but our 50 foot Live Oak, about half of it was inches from our window and roof. Looked like a war zone....leaves, limbs, and branches everywhere along with the fence down. I did finally sleep from 9:30am-ish to 2:30pm.

When I awoke everyone in my neighborhood was outside cleaning up. We started carrying branches to the front yard for the city to pick up. One of our neighbors had a chain saw so we chopped up branches. Raked leaves and raked leaves......There are piles all over my yard. We were out of bags so the piles remain. It was not too bad as far as the heat. The skies were overcast and so cloudy with and occasional sprinkle every once in a while. There is a cool front on it's way here. Expecting 2 to 4 inches of rain on Sunday afternoon.

We lit up the grill....wrap corn on the cob in foil, warmed up left over semi-frozen hamburger patties, and placed beans in the can on the grill. In about 30 minutes it was all warned and the corn was thawed. It tasted so good. It was my only meal that day besides peanut butter crackers and water. We are having to boil water at this point. There was a drop in pressure at one of the plants and they are not sure of the integrity of the water. So glad I bought some bottled. Still no power......and it is getting hot and we are so tired and stinky.

Talked to hospital found out I may have to work on Sunday....ate, bathed, took a nap with my Disney fan blowing in my face.....it is so hot.....

About 10:20pm I heard the answering machine beep and the lights came on!!! We were told it would be 2 to 4 weeks minimum before we had power. We got it within 24 hours of loosing it!! I jumped up and screamed "we have power!"! I woke up Lloyd, who was so startle he didn't know what to do. Allison had already gone to bed....I woke her also! We were thrilled. Cleaned the inside of the house and washed a load of clothes while we had power.....afraid it was too good to be true! We still have power...I will be buying a generator....not going to be like this again....it is miserable. I need at least a fan, stove, and icebox.

Unfortunately I got called by the hospital. I have to sleep there on Sunday and Monday and work on Sunday-Tuesday. I wanted to sleep in my bed so bad...So I cooked food and packed to go....I have to be there at 7:00am. I am almost loaded and ready to go.

I have learned so much these last few days. I think all of America is spoiled to AC, running water, and power in general. I also learned that I would never survive "Little House on the Prairie Style". I love my electricity. I have learned to really appreciate all my favorite restaurants....miss yall..... I miss my tree. We started it 29 years ago...it was only 4 foot tall when we planted it. It grew and grew. We need it trimmed badly now. Had it trimmed in May. I am so glad we did, otherwise it would be really bad. I appreciate my washer and dryer....I love clean clothes.....

Well I am going to get a bath and head off to work.....I hope I can sleep today......Becky

Y-IKE-S

Well Ike is on his way here. I am at work tonight. It looks as though I will get to go home in the morning and I am basicly on call for Relief once the storm has past. Probably have to work on Sunday. It maybe a catagory 1 by time it gets here, but none the less it is still a hurricane. I just heard an update that he is hitting an area of dry air and is not as organized as he was and will mostly loose strength before hitting landfall. Landfall is set for Galveston~~~50 miles from my house.

We readied the house on Wednseday. I forgot to buy ice. Lloyd is making as much as he can so we can at least have something cold to drink. I packed up all my scrapbooks and baby pictures. D day is today. We will feel at least tropical storms winds by morning and hurricane force winds later in the day. The eye will cross early Saturday morning amd we will have hurricane/tropical storms winds for 10-12 hours. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

We always loose power at the least little storm. The only saving grace is a cool front is on its way here. The highes will be only in the 80s next week versus 95 with a 105 heat index.

I guess next week I will sleep with a battery operated fan and ear plugs....FUN FUN!!

School is canceled until Tuesday next week. Allison is happy, but what she doesn't realize is there will be make-up days....Well back to work....Becky

Church....lots of changes....leaving me baffled..

Well I found out on Wednesday there was a prospect for senior pastor at my church. I do not know much about him except there is a meet and greet on next Friday and he preaches on the 22th and we vote afterwards.

I found out today that 8 of the 11 employeed at the church have been laid off. I know finances were bad, but I never expected it to be this bad. Allison was very upset that the youth pastor was one to be laid off. She was very opinionated about this. My guess if Jerry will take over this role. Allison loves the youth program at the church. I want her to always love God and the church and I hope this does not destroy her love for it.

My heart goes out to all of them. Especially ones where both were employeed there like Paul and Becky. It is hard enough for 1 person in a family to loose their job, but both.... That has got to be overwhelming....

I am having so many mixed feelings at this point. Do I look for another church which was the original plan starting this week-end? Do I wait this out? Do I give the new guy a chance....who knows maybe he is exactly what I am looking for in a pastor teacher leader.....

I am overwhelmed thinking about it. I need to keep Allison active and storng in her faith. I want to grow again. That statement brings tears to my eyes as it has been such a long time since I have grown. I watch God work everyday....things people see as coincidence, I know God had a wonderful hand in.

Blessings are all around us if we just look for them. Becky

First day of School for Allison 8/29/08

It is so hard to believe Allison's first day of school was last week and she is a Junior! She started her junior year on August 29, 2008. She came home happy about her classes and the friends that were in her classes. She has classes with Amber (3) and Meagan (1). She got in to Sign language and Choir. She really wanted swimming, but she needs to take other classes at this point, so swimming had to be placed on hold. This should be an interesting year. The first choir performance is already scheduled. I managed to changed my days where I can go to it.

She is growing up so fast. Hard to believe she is 16 and in a couple of months she will be 17. Hard to believe she is a Junior. Life goes by quickly...she keeps growing up before my eyes....old saying with alot of truth.

Stay beautiful, keep your tender loving heart, always love and do not judge others(something you do so well)....keep that beautiful smile of yours....good luck in your junior year.....have fun, learn much, take it slowly as the years of youth fade all too quickly....always remember you are loved.....Mom

Labor Day

What a great day!! Good food....Good fun! I had all the girls there. My dad came by briefly and I got to see him also! I do not seem to get to see him much, so it was great he was there! I got to see the little "bug".....Haelee bug! We had all the camera's busy taking pictures....too much fun! Here is a serious picture of all of us!

Amanda, Ashley, Josh, Paw Paw, Allison, Colton, Becky, Andy, Haelee, and Lloyd.

It was filled with laughter, fun, hamburgers, new card games, hot dogs, and of course lots of pictures! Got to have something to scrapbook! Here is a picture of us in our calm normal state...just kidding!!!! Have to have a goofy one......

Well I will always have happy memories of this day! Wishing that the rest of my family was there.....

Becky

Church....I miss being with God's People

I really miss the church that once was. We have been members of a church called Clearpoint for around 10 years. Things had changed so much there. The only leadership left there is the music minister. The lead pastor there left 2 years after we joined completely burnt out. The last lead pastor left over a year ago under not so good circumstances. There was alot of bitterness in his resigning. Things keep changing and not for the good. The youth pastor was well loved and he went to Tennessee. The new youth minister, I just do not know how I feel about him.....he seems ok. The kids seem to be attached to him.

Most of the congregation have left also. The church is in a severe financial situation. I know God can heal anything.....but I guess I am worried alittle. This church was my family for a long time. I did alot of healing. I was able to forgive my mom....a major step in my life. I was able to move on and semi put it behind me. It still resurfaces occasionally. We also met our best friends there. I do not know what I would do without Miss Donna and Mr Al. Wonderful people.

I hear that the church may have found a new pastor. It is only hearsay. I just do not know if here is any truth to it. I really want my church back......I want to grow and learn....I want to be taught.....I sound selfish and that is not how I want to sound. I just want what was....do not know if that will ever happen......I am very sad about that.

Yesterday...Surprise!!

My girls threw me a surprise birthday party! It was great! My youngest started it and the rest joined it. Present was Dale, Barbara and Fred Conrad, Amanda, Haelee, and Andy, Racheal and Mike and her goddaughter, Allison, Colton, Lloyd and Me, Ashley and Josh. I didn't list them in order.....oh well. It was so much fun. Amanda and Barbara made me a cake....yum.......I got a Fry's gift card, Rooster cookie jar, coasters with pics of family in them, Dawson's Creek Season 3, and a cheese bowl with spreader. The best was having my whole family there....nice to have all my girls in one place!! We went to Cracker Barrel...good food! Here is a picture of all of us!!










Ashley and Josh are in from Dallas. Taught us a new card game.....Lots of fun. Ashley won....I was doing great until I had problems clearing off my foot. The game is called hand and foot. Tomorrow we are going to have hambugers, hotdogs, chips, and baked beans.

This was such a wonderful day! I couldn't stop thanking everyone! Here are pics of Haelee, and all the girls.






Beautiful aren't they! Thanks girls for making this a very special birthday! Love you....mom