I picked up Michelle, Tagen and Ellexia a little after 11:00 this morning and we headed to KC. We met up with Jason, Nicole, Geoff, Craig and Nancy and had lunch at Jack Stack’s. The food was delicious and the company was divine. It is always a good day when I get to see all my kids.
After lunch we had some time free so we went to Costco. Between Michelle and I we filled the back of my car with things I didn’t know I needed.
We then went to Craig’s brother Joe’s Celebration of Life service. It was beautifully organized and there was a nice crowd. I hadn’t seen Craig’s nephews for a long time so it was good to see them as well as Joe’s wife. Joe was well loved and it was an emotional afternoon for all who attended.
We came home afterwards and I got home around 5:45 after stopping to fill my car with gas. Kathy helped me unload my car from my Costco shopping trip. It was almost dark by the time I got home and was grateful when Kathy told me she had taken care of chicken chores. I have a headlight flashlight I can use when I do chores at night but was grateful I didn’t have to use it tonight.
The temperature reached the mid 70’s today. It was a nice day to go to KC. Traffic was light coming home and the trip felt easy today.
The kids agreed to having Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day at 1:00. Nicole and Geoff don’t try to make it for Thanksgiving as they host his side of the family’s dinner. Jason had three or four dinners to go to and sometimes can come and sometimes not. I will need to find lots of extra people to come so I have a house full. Nothing pleases me more then to have 20 – 24 people at my house for Thanksgiving. So let this serve as an invitation to one and all. Come if you can and bring friends, family and neighbors with you. No need to bring anything but your beautiful self and others. Tagen requested I fix ham and macaroni and cheese so that will be on the menu as well as turkey and the trimmings. Ellexia wants green beans so we will have those too.
Craig and Nancy are hosting a Christmas gathering for the kids on December 9th. They and the kids agreed to let me crash their party and that will serve as our one and only family Christmas gathering this year. It is hard for Nicole and Geoff to get down closer to Christmas and Jason and Melissa always have several family events to go to too. This way we can get it over for everyone early and be done.
I dislike Christmas so this means I don’t have to put a tree up and it will be over early for me. I will have to get myself organized and figure out what I am going to do this year for gifts. We don’t give lots of gifts and we even decided not to do the White Elephant thing we have done for several years. No one needs anything and some of us don’t like clutter and getting things we don’t need/want. Simple is the key to having a beautiful celebration. For me the time with my kids is priceless and everything else really doesn’t mean much.
I asked the kids about Christmas treats and no one seemed too interested in them. Most of us have reduced or cut out eating sugary things and really don’t want it tempting us. I will make some fudge, chocolate covered peanut butter balls and Chex Mix and call it good this year. Simply and easy! Maybe I will enjoy Christmas more this year.
Tomorrow afternoon I am volunteering at the Friends of the Library book sale. They will be selling a bag of books for $10. I will probably come home with a bag for myself. After my shift is over I am picking up a Walmart order. I didn’t need much this week but did order some more non-perishable things I need for Thanksgiving Day dinner.
Tuesday the research project team is to call me for a phone interview in the afternoon. When that is done I will head to Emporia to watch Ellexia cheer. I need to remember to vote Tuesday morning as I forgot to do advance voting.
I got my A1C results back and they were 5.4. It is almost too low but I certainly don’t show any signs of having diabetes. That is a relief. I am wondering if the lightheadedness I get sometimes is due to low blood sugar. When my blood pressure goes low and if I have low blood sugar that would explain what is happening to me sometimes. I’ll have to read what to do about low blood sugar and how I can raise it a bit. I won’t go back to eating sugar so will have to research and see what other options I have.
Today was another reminder that time is not guaranteed to any of us. It makes the time I spend with my kids feel even more priceless and valuable. Say I love you often, forgive easily and reach out to others to stay in touch. You never know when it will be yours or their last day on earth.
Grateful for the time with family today, grateful our holiday plans are set, and grateful my A1C results showed I am not diabetic.