Bad - Not Blogging!

If you check this blog site at all you know I have been bad in keeping you posted on what's going on - I apologize.

The new job is as I expected in that I love the people and the day to day. There is a lot to learn and a lot to catch up at the center and so I feel like I take one step forward and then two back most weeks! Hoping to soon feel like I am moving forward and able to make a difference.

Yesterday was one of the most "exciting!" We had to call an ambulance for one of the clients and someone locked their keys in their car. I got a frantic call that Mom couldn't find her beauty shop (I usually take her and was only needing to pick her up yesterday because of a kind friend). I set up her Christmas decorations in the evening and did labels for her Christmas cards and letters and had her write out her Christmas checks and stickers. If I look back on the day I actually had a full one, I just didn't get a lot done!

Man, I think I just got tired!!

HORN FAMILY TIMES

We are in the middle of a family reunion with Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat. Ellene lives in Richmond, California and Pat is from Pascagoula, Mississippi. We have been talking, laughing, sharing photos, and just having a good time together.


We visited Ava, MO on Friday the county seat of Douglas County where their Daddy was born. We tried to find his birth certificate but the book where it would have been recorded went from 1895 to one entry in 1910, the year he was born, but nothing else. Then they sent us to the Health Department and they weren't able to pull records up from that long ago. So, we had a fun trip and enjoyed seeing the area where Daddy is from but came home without a birth certificate. The picnic lunch in the car (since we couldn't find anywhere else to stop and eat it) was good!! We also fit in a visit to Bass Pro Shop on the way home and the girls caught big ones.


We visited Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage on Wednesday and though Ken wouldn't let me post any pictures of him there we all had a good time.


Today we celebrated Thanksgiving since we are all together and haven't been for a holiday for a long time. We enjoyed turkey with all the fixings and of course Pat's famous cherry pie which she let me help make so I could learn some of her secrets.









We are truly enjoying having the time together and are thankful for this opportunity since we live so far apart.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4, NKJ)

Lot's Going On

Thought I should update you on the resume situation since I mentioned it! I was excited about the position but knew with all we are doing with the house and other things it would be difficult going back to full-time work at this time. Well, another woman who already works with the office where I applied got the position so for now I shall remain a working from home employee only! Disappointed but okay with it!

The house updates keep moving forward, the downstairs is almost complete and I had someone bid the remaining jobs last Friday so I will soon know if we can get those things done or if we will be plodding along to try and do some of them! The front office is completed and I have one more bedroom to paint other than the master bedroom which is on hold.

We enjoyed Ray Stevens last night in Branson with friends Dennis and Jill Franck. We laughed nearly the entire show. He was very good. We really had a good time.

Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat are coming the end of October so I will be getting ready for their visit. Ken heads for Jordan soon and hopefully while he is away my friend Karen will visit from Texas.

As I titled this - a lot is going on - but we keep moving forward. OK a few steps back but moving - some days!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Resume and More Work on the House

Reminder: We are working on the home my parents lived in here in Missouri, making the changes that hopefully will help it sell in the future.

Hoping to finish up the downstairs painting today. Ken's off on Fridays so I will have help. It will be nice to have an area done. I need to find someone to cut a couple of shelves for the closets and I think that's it for the downstairs except carpet cleaning - yippee!

Also I submitted a resume for a job yesterday and will know more about that next week. Am hoping I can remember how to sit at a desk and work if I get the job! This video is hopefully not an example of how well I do!!



Sure glad I'm a redhead now!

Back to Normal...!

I'm home from reunion and rafting, company's gone, I'm running around catching up ... now what!? Back to normal, what's that?! Ken leaves for Sweden and a conference next week, We are still needing to do more painting at Mom and Dad's house, I can't get people over for bids, the yards are out of control, I think ignoring things for another week sounds good!

We did finish the new Onward Books project for Convoy of Hope - 7.0 Inside Convoy of Hope's Response to the Haiti Earthquake by Kirk Noonan. It turned out great and everyone is real happy with it. Now on to the next project, just a reprint but hey that's what keeps me busy!



Ken has been taking some beautiful photos. You can check out his flicker site but I have included a mosaic of butterflies that he did here:



Oh to be back on the river!!!

Running the Rogue

I have had a wonderful time with my friend Carol running the Rogue River. We were able to have three great days on the river. The first day was just Carol and I, the second Joyce joined us and on the third Beth was with us. All in all a great three days. And I didn't fall in! Well I didn't fall out of the boat! Well not going through rapids!!

We finished two of the days at our favorite restaurant sitting outside above the river eating delicious Mexican food.

Family Reunion

Mom and I are in Oregon at the family reunion. Tonight is the first night and we had 11 for dinner. Many more expected tomorrow. Yesterday's travel day was long as we got up at 3:30 a.m. and arrived at the airport at 5:15, three flights later we arrived in Medford, Oregon. I picked up the rental car and we headed out for Springfield/Eugene. After a short visit at the Baty's, the home where we will be having our reunion festivities, we headed for the hotel and a much needed night of rest.

Anniversary!

My cousin Melba just called to remind me that today is the anniversary of my last chemo treatment - one year ago. This was the day I rang the bell! Wow, I think we should celebrate! Ice cream?! Actually I am just really happy to have hair!

MOTHER'S DAY

It's Mother's Day a little early this year.

We are headed to the Evangelical Press Association Convention this week in Dallas, and then to Mississippi to visit Ken's family, so we won't be home next week for Mother's Day. We decided to celebrate the day with my mother early and go to church with her and then take her to lunch at her choice of restaurant.

Though we know she loved the company and the lunch, she especially loved getting her favorite cookies that she doesn't get too often since they are from Trader Joe's and we don't have those here! They are Lacey's with dark chocolate and she told me she only had three left from the last box she had been hoarding! She loves her cookies!!

After lunch we took a short drive around a small lake and saw fish and birds and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation.

All in all a great day spent together.

RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI THROUGH CONVOY OF HOPE

HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE:


This little guy has two bags of the food like we bagged at the Convoy warehouse last week. This is some of the supplies that were in Haiti when the earthquake hit.

Convoy of Hope has confirmed that AID IS GETTING TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. Because Convoy of Hope already had a presence in Haiti, including a large warehouse (which had just been fully stocked with food and medical supplies a week before the earthquake) distribution of relief has not been hampered. Water, food and medical supplies are being distributed along with qualified in-country emergency medical personnel.

Other outside organizations have been frustrated by the overrun single-strip international airport and additionally do not have the in-country logistics in place. But because of Convoy of Hope's long-term commitment to Haiti, they are equipped and ready to respond. AID IS GETTING THROUGH and making a difference.

Please donate! Your gift can be put to work immediately helping the victims of this tragic earthquake through Convoy of Hope. Go to www.ConvoyofHope.org to donate.

Brrrr...it's Cold Out There

The weather has warmed up today. It's all the way up to 17 degrees. It's a "Mom" day today so I will be going out in it. Wondering what I will do while Mom's at the beauty shop. It may be too cold to run errands like I usually do! Brrr...

Mom has called several times regarding her appointment. One was talking about my driving in the snow. She was going to cancel her hair appointment since it might snow. She has asked if I have driven in snow before and then she called back and had changed her appointment to earlier in the day. Then she called back and said she wasn't going to lunch at the dining room so she'd be ready earlier. I nixed that one. We had already canceled our going to lunch since that would have us driving in the snow more! It's only a 10 minute drive from her house to the shop! She originally had a permanent scheduled but now only has a set and comb out. Who knows what she'll be having done by the time the appointment time comes around!

This should be an interesting day–and it's just getting started.