Wow...and Transitions

Wow, I cannot believe that summer is gone already. This summer just flew by. I am amazed when I look a the calendar. Then just yesterday, driving to work there was a fog that covered half of the valley, it was confirmed -- fall has arrived. I am so grateful that I got the house painted today. Wahoo!!!!

We will be doing the trim work tomorrow.

And ignore the OOOLLLDDD deck to the right, going to be replaced in the spring to match the front deck above. But you get the idea...so much better than that light gray color (see blog post on transformations and dozers)

I started Fall term Thursday and I thought it would be a fairly light term due to the number of credits I am taking, but now I'm not so sure. With 8 text books to read and some weekends, and a large research project to do...I'm a bit concerned but know that I will pull it off.
I have got to remain balanced and only take one day and one project at a time or I will not be able to enjoy the journey....TTFN.

It's been a sad couple of weeks...

About 3 weeks ago my beloved grandmother, aka GG fell and broke her hip. I was in a weekend class in Oregon and my sister said she would be fine until I got back Sunday night and not to worry about her, just finish my class. While I couldn't stop worrying - I know GG would have said, "oh Vicky, just get your stuff done, and don't worry about me."...in her loving slightly impatient Germanish tone...so, I stayed.

By Monday it was determined that she would not be having surgery to correct the her broken leg, due to her strong objections and the high risk of losing her during surgery. So, on Monday, the hospital discharged her and we needed to move her to a full time care facility that day.....argh...and my sister and I drove all around checking out the best options and found a great spot for her Martha and Mary's in Poulsbo overlooking the water.

I slept next to her all night that night, in the recliner in her private room. She did not want to be left alone. She had been given just 2-4 weeks to live, based on her advanced lung disease.

I still had a little over a week of school left before semester break and needed to finish up a couple of papers, talk about a tough balance. It was really hard to focus.
My boss at work was very understanding and said, take as much time as you need "Family First". So I did.

I spent many hours with GG at Martha and Mary's reading the bible and even from a Danielle Steele novel. I gave her at least a couple of foot massages each time I went there. She fell asleep almost every time I did. We spent time talking about funny memories. She remembered when I hurt her thumb while I was in labor with Heather. And while Heather was crowning she went to look and said "Well, don't know if it's a boy or girl, but it's blonde!" Then when Heather came to visit her at Martha and Mary's, they both spent time joking and laughing. Her sense of humor never wained, and she was making jokes up until her last day with us, Sunday, September 6th,,,,just 13 days after we moved her there.
She was one of my best friends on the planet and I would often go to her for advise. I will miss her so much. I am thankful that she did not suffer. I am thankful that she went peacefully and that she is with our Father in Heaven.
We are holding two memorial services this weekend to honor her and celebrate her amazing life, and I'm going to take Monday to myself to get ready for my upcoming weeks and months---just as she would have expected me to do.

Break....much needed

So glad to be on break, after 6 months of writing PLA papers, I was able to finish my planned PLA essays. I received 27 credits and they have posted to my transcript for the summer term. So excited. Plus I took 12 credits, so it has 39 for this term....geez!!
I really needed the mental break from school and have scaled back to 13 credits this next term, so I can have a more balanced life until I graduate in June.
more later....