October 4 Pictures of Emma ...

Sunday Afternoon:  Mid-afternoon, after attending Calvary's wonderful service and coming home to eat lunch, Emma and I drove out to Rockford to take a little walk. We didn't go north of the dam this time. We actually parked south of the dam and walked along the Rogue in the opposite direction of last week. I took a BUNCH of pictures of Emma. I just love these pictures of her! 

You have such a nice smile, Emma!

So glad you did not fall in ...

The colors of the day were so perfect in this place to take pictures ... you don't always get lighting like this.

We went back to my house after our walk in Rockford because we had forgotten to print out some pictures Emma needed for school. After we did that, we walked for awhile along the railroad tracks in Comstock Park. I'll post more of those pictures later ...

Thank you, Emma, for the nice walk today! Thank you, Lord, for the beauty You have made "for Your pleasure and Your glory!"
 

October 3 with Emma

 Saturday Night:  Emma came over. We always "visit" awhile and snack ... try to catch up with each other's week a bit, and then we watch a movie. 

THANKFULLY, this week I was all set and prepared ... my dear friend Brenda recommended "Enola Holmes" which was showing on Netflix. I watched it Friday evening, while recovering from my endoscopy, and I loved it so much. Enola reminded me SO MUCH of Emma. I knew she would LOVE this movie!

Emma DID love the movie. We had so much fun watching it together! I am so thankful for times like these with my dear Emma.

October 3 with my Kaity-Girl

Saturday:  I never quite know exactly what "mood" I'm going to find Kaity in lately (understandably); but I did ask the Lord to give us a good time together today, and He definitely answered my prayer.

As soon as we arrived at my house this afternoon, Kaity announced that SHE was the TEACHER and it was time to teach her students! Thankfully, I was ready for that possibility and had all of our school stuff out and organized.

Our Kaity does NOT like to read. She cannot understand WHY I think reading is "the highest form of pleasure" available on this earth! Ah. That's OK. As long as she learns to read. Which is tricky ... the learning part, that is.

What is working so far is "playing" school where "Miss Kaitlynn" teaches her doll babies to read. Both Liam and Lily do NOT know how to read, which will be detrimental to them for the rest of their entire lives!!!! Ah--the situation MUST BE REMEDIED!

Kaity actually does a very good job reading to her babies. She has taken this whole thing extremely seriously (thank you, Lord).

We even have an official "Reading Chart" for Liam and Lily, with stamps and names of books they've read, etc. to incentivise them to ACHIEVE their goal.

We split up our time between school and play.

I've already gotten my $100 worth out of these magnetic tiles. No kidding. The kiddos ALL love them.

Kaity's face! WHY?!?!?

I've been amazed at how Kaity will build and play and pretend, using these tiles. I'm so thankful for them.

Kaity loves to build. I think it gives her a sense of accomplishment--which it should!

Our four hours together went by very fast today. We ate our hotdogs and snacks, played, and then returned back to Jesse right on time to switch girls ... Kaity for Emma!

 

October 2 An unusual Friday

 Friday:  I was scheduled for an endoscopic ultrasound today at noon over at the hospital. My dear friend, Brenda, drove me to and from, stayed with me the entire time she was allowed to do so, and I was well taken care of. Thankful it is over ... but it's not exactly over. You see, the physician who did the endoscopy (to check the cysts on my pancreas) found an "incidental" tumor ... yes, T-U-M-O-R on the muscle wall of my stomach. What?!??! Well, no reason to panic ... truly. He did a needle biopsy and sent it off to Pathology to see just what we are dealing with. In the meantime, I am already scheduled to see a surgeon in a few weeks who will formulate a plan ...

Since I couldn't eat anything since 6PM Thursday evening, when I came home from the test, I was very happy to eat! I grabbed a banana and shared it with Matey, who was extremely happy about it!

Isn't he the cutest little guy?

I ate more than a banana. I actually made my dinner ahead that morning. It was a yummy broccoli/pasta casserole that I really love. I also ate a piece of delicious cake that I had frozen in the freezer--a gift from my friend, Robin. PLUS, I ate a chocolate pumpkin delicious-beyond-words two-bite treat from Brenda, and then a consumed half a package of M & M's ... because ... well, I guess I am a teensy tiny bit stressed about having a tumor ... but you see--had I NOT had the endoscopy (which, by the way, checked out just fine for those fluid-filled cysts on my pancreas), the doc never would have seen the tumor on my stomach. Always something to be thankful for in the end, right? God does incredible things beyond our understanding.

October 1 Matt's Game

 Thursday Evening:  This might be the only game I will see of Matt's this year (due to COVID). I was super pleased to get the opportunity to be here in person to watch him play.

There is a lot to admire about Matthew ... he is a serious person who works hard at this sport. I'm really proud of him.

Matt is #12 ... so take note!

I love these pictures of you, Matthew!

Five minutes after our arrival, Kaity asked me if the game would be over SOON. I truthfully told her NO. She was not pleased. I will say, however, that it was COLD, WINDY, and rather miserable to be outside--so I sympathized completely, but not very vocally as I wanted to stretch Kaity as far as possible--I wanted Matthew to know we were there!

Nearing the half-way mark of the last half of the game, we just got TOO cold. It was 40 Comstock to 14 Kelloggsville at that point, and Kaity was begging to leave. I thought it might be good just to walk to the car, turn on the heat, and warm up a bit.

It was a LONG walk to the car with the wind at our faces. It was SO good to turn that heat on! There was no way I was leaving that car again. So we left. I do not know the final score, but I DO know that Comstock Park played a very nice game tonight--they looked really strong. So proud of you, Matthew!

October 1 at home with Kaity

Thursday:  Kaity and I played "school" for the little while she was at my house this afternoon. Kaity is a very enthusiastic teacher ... MISS Kaitlynn, she requires her students to call her.

Her classroom was quite large today. She had RAINBOW, her snow leopard; HEIDI, her little hamster; HARRISON, MY little hamster; LUCY, my stuffed lamb; and then later, we remembered PACO, LILY and LIAM.

We played some number games, as well as letter matching games.

Kaity was VERY into it.

Look at PACO wearing false TEETH! Oh.my.word.

Instead of going to swim lessons tonight, we are attending Matthew's JV football game. Due to COVID, Matt only gets to give away three tickets each week ... and this was OUR week!