WHAT A DAY!

Well today has been very interesting and it is only 12 noon. I decided to go to stores I hadn't been before, you know, learn the area a bit. Well, I went to the dollar store to buy 1 thing and ended up with lots of things! But they had such good deals, I will tell my husband. Coming out of the store I spotted a little dog, some type of sandy and gray long haired dog, maybe laso opso (?) or something. I tried to give the dog a bone I had bought Gracee but she licked it and went on her way. I couldn't let her wander around alone, so I asked some customers and they didn't recognize her. One fellow told me he had seen her way down by the IGA where I had to go to get milk. I thought, my husband's going to kill me as I swooped her up and placed her in my car. I went into IGA to customer service thinking they could make an announcement in the store for the owner. They were so busy I didn't want to leave the dog in the warm, now almost hot, car. So, I took off to go home. Then thought maybe I would check with the pet shop around the corner from the IGA. They said no one reported a missing dog and then we gave her some water and found she was a female and had been fixed. The sales woman told me where I might take her and even suggested a neighborhood nearby. So, I got in my car and the little dog seemed to settle down in back on Gracee's blanket. I decided to check a neighborhood closer and parked my car. I was going to start knocking on doors but saw a couple of men working across the road. I picked up the dog and started across the road. As soon as the dog saw the men she started growling. Oh, boy, I thought. Then a white van came toward us with a woman yelling, "That's my dog!" When I gave the dog to her, she called the dog by name as the dog's little tail wagged almost as fast as a fan blade!!! She said that when she opened her door, the dog just darted outside. She was so happy to find her. And I thanked Heavenly Father for helping me find the owner! Then I asked Heavenly Father to help me recognize when help does come from Him. Whew!

Then on my way back I decided to try different roads (although I'm not familiar with the road I was supposed to take back home anyway). I found myself on Hull Road!!!! I'm going to tell my husband that if we settle here and buy a home that is where I want to live. That is so coincidental!!!! Cool!

One thing unique to Fayetteville is that one road is not named one name. When you come to an intersection and cross it, the road changes names! Hmmm.... Hope I can get used to that! Also, in stores, you take your cart right to the cashier's side of the register and they empty it as they ring up items. That is so nice!!!

I think I could get used to this place after all! Until next time....

Trip from KY to OH

We stayed with my husband's sister and her husband for a week at Fort Knox, KY. It was great because she was pregnant with her first (a son and it took her 7 yrs. to get pregnant) and had not met Tracey before. They got along great as "Aunt Punkin" and Tracey yelled at each other and played with each other. It was so fun to watch.

Then we took a bus from KY to OH to visit my husband's other sister and her family. I got so sick on the bus ride. When we pulled into the bus station (I had never been in one before), I went into the restroom and there was only 1 stall that you didn't have to deposit money to use. I opened the door and it was clogged. I couldn't stand it any more and just got sick on top of everything else! I felt bad but there was nothing I could do. Boy, did I feel sorry for the people who had to do maintenance for the bathroom facilities!!!!

We had a wonderful visit. My husband's sister had a daughter born 6 mos. before our daughter and they played so well together. What a joy to watch them. We found that when we played music, they would sit side by side on the sofa. They would keep beat to the song by our daughter rocking side to side and our niece moving forward and back! How cute they were. It was so much fun.

My husband's parents also came for a visit and they drove us from OH to PA. My husband had a 30 day leave and was getting ready to be restationed in AK (he was in the Air Force). We stayed with his family so they could get to know our daughter better. We had nice visits with all of my family as well. Everyone fell in love with our daughter. She was so cute and very intelligent. She started talking when my mother and I visited my Aunt Mary Kuziak. I believe she had a toy or ball that went under a piece of furniture. I said, "Get it," and our daugter repeated me. That was just the beginning of speaking that would also start her speaking for her brother (I was about 3 months pregnant and found out right before we left TX).

Our visit home was very much needed since we would be in AK for 2 1/2 yrs. and wouldn't have the money to travel back to visit our families. Chip flew out before me to find a place for us to live. Tracey and I flew out after by ourselves and that is another story altogether....

Finally Moved!

We finally moved across town after months of packing, cleaning the old house (got a full deposit back) and cleaning the new house. Curtains are up in the living room and dining room. Still have many boxes to unpack but all is well. Gracee has taken the move very well. I have started taking her to the dog park each day and at 12 noon she reminds me!!! She has doubled in weight and size since we rescued her at 9 mos. of age in December (and they said she wouldn't grow any more!). During the move Chip ended up in the hospital with a stomach ulcer (duodenal). The stinker had all the signs and he waited until he hardly had the strength to stand to talk to our pcp about it. He was sent directly to the urgie care center where a blood test was done and stool sample. He was sent from there by ambulance to the ER. He was in the ER a few days due to lack of beds, was given 4 units of blood and had surgery to stop the bleeding. Whew! He spent about 4 days in the hospital. I was terribly worried but upset with him at the same time. He is in the health care field (physician assistant/instructor) and knew all the signs yet did nothing until it was a life or death situation. I've heard health care workers are the worst patients and he proved it true. So, I really had not help from him at all during the move, but that was okay. I've done it in the past, although I realize I'm much older now and some things were hard for me to do! I packed everything and we hired movers so we wouldn't have to bother members of our church as we had done with past moves. Everything worked out just fine albeit a few scratches and nothing being put in place, just everywhere! With Chip still recuperating, it has taken to take care of some things around the house that I just can't do by myself. And each day comes and goes....