Hello!
Here
we are already in the middle of December getting closer each day to Christmas
week where we celebrate a very special birth. In the midst of all the frenzy
around you I wish you joy and peace this Christmas season. Soon we will be closing out another year and
entering a brand new one. The same God that saw us through this past year will
walk beside us in the next one.
The
week before Thanksgiving I went on a blitz-style cleaning mode in my house with
some small touch-up painting projects. Dawn & her family were here with us
for Thanksgiving Day along with my birthday. This year I kidded my family
(especially my son-in-law) that they had no choice but to be thankful for me. I
didn’t realize how hard I had pushed myself until my right shoulder started
acting up. I figured I had pulled a muscle, but by the time Dawn left the next
day my entire arm was swelling & hurting and my right hand had gone numb.
Needless to say I have slowed way down. I guess I shall have to start acting my
age and spread out huge projects more. So now I am running way behind- usually
by this time all the Christmas presents are bought and the decorations up.
Instead I am going slow like an old granny, but at least I am up on my feet and
now able to keep the pain under control. Dwight has been such a blessing
driving me to town, cooking, sweeping, and helping me with the wash. Nothing
like feeling one’s age- ha!
The
past year for Dana has been hospital episodes, lots of doctor appointments,
some falls- but thankfully no broken bones. We have physical therapy as much as
possible as he is often unsteady on his feet.
It is sad to see his dementia slowly but surely increasing. At times
Dana doesn’t act like himself and he has more trouble remembering his
grandchildren’s names. The best the
doctors can do is try and slow it down and keep Dana on his feet.
Dwight
has been doing better physically and able to putter around in his shop most
weeks. Once a month he will go out to the body shop and spend a day with the
guys. Johnny had Dwight come out a couple weeks this fall to design and paint
stripes on a semi cab. Not having to do body work every day is so much better
for Dwight and of course I’m always making sure he is eating right. It has
given Dwight more time to work on his custom-made knives (a hobby I would have
never picked for him myself as I’m always afraid he will cut himself) and other
wood projects.
Dawn
stays busy all the time homeschooling the kids and hosting a steady stream of
people that come by. I keep telling her
to slow down- the same thing my mother used to tell me. The monthly shots are
keeping her on her feet. I am so thankful she isn’t having major breathing
problems like she had in the past. Randy has announced his call to preach. He
has filled in several times in the past at their church and has already
completed all the conference preacher study courses. The grand-kids keep growing
like weeds. Both of my grandsons are taller than me already. Annette is
graduating high school this May and William is a freshman in high school.
May
you have a joyous Christmas season and a Happy New Year!
Dorcas
and Family
