Again, this month, I did a lot of volunteering on Tuesday mornings, as well as Wednesday and Friday afternoons. And, I continue to sing in church on Sunday’s.
Thursday, November 2, was my oldest granddaughter’s 25th birthday. Vanessa started her day meeting a girlfriend for breakfast and then going out to the beach. Next, she spent a few hours with me over a leisurely lunch at Olive Garden, which has become our tradition. She had supper with her parents and little sister, Emma, and ended her evening on a late date with her boyfriend. Sounds like a pretty good birthday to me. Saturday, 11/4, I replaced the decorations on my piano with Thanksgiving decorations.
On the fifth, Emma joined me at Sunday school and church, but she was coughing quite a bit when we were driving to lunch. When I checked her head, I told her that I thought she had a fever, and I knew that she didn’t want to make “PaPa” sick, so I took her home and then went to visit Dad by myself. By the end of the day, Emma had a temperature of 102. She ended up staying home from school Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. On Monday, 11/6, I bought two flats of marigolds and several mums to plant in the pots in my front yard inspired by all of the lovely fall flowers I had seen in Virginia. On Tuesday, 11/7, before going to do my volunteer work in the church office, I spent a couple of hours potting the new plants and adding some alpaca fluff to each pot to help retain the water in the pots.
After lunch with Jackie, I bought some Thanksgiving tablecloths and plates to use at our Senior Saints meeting next week. Wednesday, 11/8, after my 3-month check-up, I went to the ministry building at church to help prep for Friday’s food bank. Patty and I put together 60 bags of food to be distributed along with frozen food and bread, cereal, and desserts. Thursday, 11/9, I had a much-needed massage. On Friday 11/10, I made an early visit to see Dad before they started several Veteran’s Day activities and picked up Jane to work at the food bank in the afternoon. On Tuesday, 11/14, my son turned 44. JP and I went birthday shopping for him at Lowe’s and then to brunch. Later, I attended the monthly Family Council Meeting at Freedom Plaza followed by a visit to Laura Jernigan (another member of the Senior Saints Ministry team with me) who was in the Sun City Center hospital after having a stroke.
On Thursday, 11/16, The Palm View First Baptist Church Senior Saints’ meeting had a theme of Thankfulness. We played a couple of games and had some good things to eat.
Preacher Larry Pritchett was the minister at Palm View First Baptist Church for more than 40 years. He retired to Georgia five years ago. Saturday, 11/18, we had a memorial service for him. His son and daughter along with their families attended, but unfortunately Julia, his wife, was unable to travel due to health issues. Many long-time members were also present for the service, and all enjoyed a luncheon in the pavilion afterward.
After church and a visit with dad on 11/19, I crocheted hats for Jackie’s snowmen ornaments. This was the first evening that JP and his family got to enjoy the new fire pit I gave him for his birthday.
Monday, 11/20, was the first day of Emma’s Fall break from school. Today, she helped me finish putting hats on the 12 snowmen ornaments for Jackie’s tree. From looking at the pictures below, you can tell that they are not complete yet. I volunteered to crochet the hats and to ponder as to how she can create noses for the group.
Wednesday, 11/22, would have been Rick’s 74th birthday. It was also the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Thursday, 11/23, was Thanksgiving Day. Unfortunately, Kellie’s father was in the hospital, so our family dinner consisted of JP, Kellie, Emma, Dad, and me. After our mid-day meal, I took Dad back to Freedom Plaza Memory in Sun City Center, about 17 miles from my home. I am sorry to say that I took no pictures of people – only the delicious spread that Kellie prepared for us.
No black Friday shopping for me. Instead, Emma and JP helped me move my Christmas tree and decorations into my spare room to use for “staging” until I get everything put up. In the afternoon, Emma helped me volunteer at the Palm View First Baptist Church food bank.
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Emma and I continued putting up decorations both outside and inside the house.
Monday, 11/27, was Cyber Monday and for the first time ever, I did some on-line Christmas shopping and I finished decorating the tree.
On Tuesday, 11/28, I got to see Jackie’s snowman tree. You can click on the picture to expand it.
On the last day of November, I started wrapping presents.
Our journey has been inspired by Joy and Steve Fredrick. You can see more of their story at