The Foster Parents is We

Well, the lady turned out to be scared of Leto (!?), so we picked him up from them the next day and he's been pretty quiet ever since he got back here.  Maybe their female dog entranced him and he misses her; all I know is it's good to have him back, and we'll just keep him here.

Also, Phillip's vehicle got hit for the 3rd time (different vehicle each time), but they're okay (thanks be to God), and yesterday was Ben's birthday, so Happy Birthday, Ben!  And Happy Birthday to Katie, too!  (Not Kattie H.)

I ate some salad with a little raw garlic today;  Mark said he could smell it when he walked in the room, but it was totally worth it.  Yum!!

Love You All!
xoxoxo

Leto's Foster Parents

Mark and I were so relieved when we met the young couple who are fostering Leto (and we hope it continues for as long as needed!).  They seem like a young BYU-I couple, and they were very nice.  They have a really high fence around their back yard, except for the somewhat shorter gate.  They also have another dog they are fostering - Roxie - who looks kind of like a boxer/bulldog, very cute.  Leto loved her, and that will keep him happy as much as anything else.
Leto didn't seem to mind when we left him, and we haven't rec'd. any phone calls yet.
We took Leto's pan, his Pedigree dog food, and his Science Diet Dental Care dog food that we sprinkle in with the other food.  We got him a new collar and leash, also, and will be paying for any expenses.  I'm excited for Leto, and I'm excited for us, to know Leto is in good hands.  She works with the Humane Society normally, and seemed very knowledgeable.  It's a miracle that we found them (on Craig's List)!
So we're praying for Leto to be calm and happy.  Tut's happy, because now his food dishes can be on the floor and he doesn't need to jump up or  down to get to them. : )
It seems so luxurious in our apt. now, and I can come and go at will.  A-maz-ing.
Have fun and stay well, y'all!
xoxoxo

Saturday Night

We've just relaxed this weekend, and it's been so wonderful, and needed.  Mark felt like we had to go finish the house up, but I told him I didn't think he needed to today.  After all, we've been unpacking all week, we've had both Leto and Tut, and they started working with a consultation team, to be reviewed by the state in one month, so it's been rather busy around here.  It's also been H-O-T hot, so not a good time to go work in the house.
Leto has been incredibly well-behaved (if you don't count sneaking onto the bed when our back is turned), and Tut has enjoyed hours in the enclosed courtyard.  Often we retrieve him after dark.  The shrubbery and huge hydrangeas must seem like a jungle to him, and I know he loves to roll on pavement.  If he goes a couple of days without getting out, he gets antsy.  It's perfect for him here, and he also loves sitting on the broad windowsills in the sunshine.
We've taken Leto in the car and on walks, and he got the routine of going out the back door and pottying in the field right away.  Then he runs back to the door to go in.  It's easy.  Leto goes to the foster home (over by Brooks' folks' home) tomorrow after church.  It's a relief, but kind of sad, too.  I'll be happy when Seth gets settled in a place where he can keep Leto.
Mark and I watched a Netflix Instant Streaming movie, The Secret of the Kells, last night.  It wasn't totally understandable, but it was very pretty animation-work, and interesting.  And I've been reading Sean Astin's book, There and Back Again.  It's of special interest to me, as we're big fans of his portrayal of Samwise Gamgee in LOTRs.  It's fascinating to read about the experience, as seen through his eyes.  I'm glad to read that he's a family man with strong core values.  Good for him!
Kattie and Ben got in an accident last night - someone made a left turn in front of them and just stopped in the middle of it, so of course they hit him.  Kattie is bruised and sore today (and maybe has a broken collarbone), but no one was seriously hurt, it seems.  Ben's car was totaled.  What a miracle that they weren't hurt worse!
Well, that's the news for now.  Take care!  I love you!
xoxoxo

Three-Fourths Plus Done!

Thanks to TROOPERS Danny, Dallin, Justin, Bro. and Sis. Thompson, and Mark, we got so much done Saturday!  And now we are close to being unpacked!  Everything's been fitting right in, and there was plenty of room in the storage.  We need to go down and clean up this wkend., I think.  I will post pics as soon as things are unpacked.
SUCH a relief!  Thanks so much, guys!  We can never repay you!
More laters!
xoxoxo

One Big Day Today!

This is it!  We are moving all of our things out of the house in Chubbuck/Pocatello today (I love how the computer underlines all these Indian place names as incorrectly spelled).  We will start in a couple of hours, probably.  Dallin and Haley, Danny, Justin, and some guys from the church down there will come over to help, which we soooo appreciate.  Most things are already packed in boxes, thanks to Seth, but we'll buy some more boxes and finish up.
Seth has kept things really nice there, which helps a ton.  I was down there for the last couple of days, making lists, etc., and seeing where things are.  Books and bins of memorabilia, plus our favorite furniture, will go into storage (and a bunch of other stuffs); a smaller chest, storage drawers, fold-up little table, Tamathy's fairy house and display, a little green chest, and some decorative items will come here.  A few things like the piano bench (Megan's old one) are going to Melinda's, and a load will go to the dump.
Mark's boss is letting us use his truck and trailer, and Dallin is bringing a trailer.  And I don't know what else.  I've made clear lists of what things go where, and we'll be sure and have duct tape and markers.

I found out why I haven't been feeling so great lately, and am on antibiotics now, but I missed giving my talk in church.  Mark, however, gave his talk and then gave it for me at home.  It was most excellent!

Bonnie, I'm sure Phillip and his buddies would love a box of cookies and F-Troop dvds.  That's so generous and thoughtful of you!  Thank you!
I am loving it here at The Gables, more and more.  The state changed some things that the owners and Mark wanted changed (cutting out some poor management from the past), and they noted things that are much improved, from the moment they walked in the door.  Everyone notices a different feeling here now.
One of the best improvements is that they got new magnets to hold the activities room doors open.  Now that huge room is wide open to the hall, all the time, and it doesn't seem like this shut off, wasted room anymore.  They got the music system fixed, too, so there is a pleasant background noise.

Kattie and Ben are getting married on Sept. 23rd, so you can imagine how exciting that is, with Sandy and Jessie, Tamathy, Muezet, Richard and other Kattie-siblings  (and maybe Megan and Sabriel!) coming out for it!  I can't wait for everyone to meet Ben - they'll know immediately that he is the right guy for Kattie. 
I know I am forgetting things I wanted to tell you all about, and maybe I can add them in later.  Anyway, it will be a HUGE relief to have the house empty!  Seth is moving up to IF, too, where he will look for work and spend time with the family.  Yay for that!
Shauna and Jason will act as rental agents, and we will spiff things up as much as possible for rental.  It is also listed for sale, but it's not likely to at this time in our economy, and that's fine with us.  If we can get some renters (and that market is big there, with the university in town), we will save paying those utilities and get some income from it, to help with the house payments.  That would be great, and we'd know the property is being managed.  I'll bet the neighbors will love it when we fix it up a little.

I'll go ahead and post this for now.  Wish us luck and pray for everything to go well, okay?  I am looking forward to having this huge task accomplished!  Thanks to everyone for helping (and to those who wanted to help, but can't).  Just the emotional support means a ton.

We love you!  Hang in there!
xoxoxo
 

Quick Ketchup

So much has been happening around here!  Let's see...well, Sam has started as Kattie's assistant, they took us to Bear World, I've been on my own to Kmart and Wal Mart (I pretend my electric wheelchair is a horse), Tristan and Alaina each spent several hours here by themselves (which I loved!), Haley came up with Hunter and we went to Target (where Haley got a bunch of free stuff by using coupons!), Justin brought Seth up and they went to a "cheap" movie with Natasha and they're going shooting today (and looking for jobs), the State came and surveyed and we're waiting to hear from them on Monday, Mark and I are giving talks on the Priesthood tomorrow, Mark's been suffering with a bout of gout in his foot, Kattie presented a family evening here, telling about Mongolia, Monday evening is our ward picnic, Kattie and Ben are trying to pick a time for their wedding, it's been nice and sunny here, and I'm getting to know the residents a lot better!
So that's what's been going on here...how about you?
We love you!
xoxoxo

Happily Muddling

 

Some pictures from our apt., plus one of the courtyards

Sorry I haven't posted - it's just been so busy around here, and I mean Happy Busy!
We are enjoying the work so much, plus our "play-time."  Kattie has joined us as Activities Director, and she has been cleaning, organizing, and rearranging like crazy!  Her real gift, though, is getting to know the residents and their families, and their needs.  Tomorrow night is a perfect example of attending to those needs: we will start a Family Evening, supported by Single Adults in the area; two residents have been doing an evening like this on their own, and Kattie picked right up on that when they asked her about having a larger one.  She went to a meeting for the area SAs, armed with flyers asking for their support.  See what I mean?
And starting tomorrow, Danny's wife, Samantha, will be joining Kattie as her asst., as this is just up her alley and what she's been studying in college.  Kattie can sure use an assistant, with all she has been doing and has planned!  (And any of you who want to volunteer here, as an entertainer or whatever, please do so!)
Danny and Melinda and family came out for the Old Time Fiddler's concert here last week, and Alaina got up and performed some ballet/improvised dance numbers for us.  Then Alex got up and added some crazy dancing to the mix, till Melinda pulled them reluctantly from the floor.  Tristan came for the day Friday, and the residents just loved him, he was so helpful and friendly and polite.  We practiced saying, "May I ask you what your name is?" and other useful phrases, just as a reminder.  He took to everything and everyone, and exclaimed, "I love people!"  Isn't that cute?
Alaina is coming home with us this afternoon.
We also attended Josh's and Alex's birthday parties, which I will post pictures of later, and we went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was very good, with nary a cuss word or sleazy innuendo in it.  Funny how you don't need those to have an exciting, entertaining movie, isn't it?

We've had some sad things, too...one of our resident's daughters passed away, and yesterday morning the wife in one of our resident couples passed away.  She was out and about just two days before, and I hadn't even known she'd gone to the hospital, so it was rather shocking to hear.

They have hired a new maintenance man, who hasn't started yet, and they are hiring a nurse for when the present nurse has to leave.  They have also started their new menu system which helps them order and have a good variety of meals consistently.   I've heard quite a few comments on the positive changes, from residents and from professionals that come in here for physical therapy work and so on.  That's exciting when it comes from people who don't know I'm not a regular resident.  I feel like a regular resident since Kattie's been here.  I get to do more with the people here and I'm getting to know them.
They are a great bunch!

I know I'm forgetting some things, but that's all I can think of right now.  Hope you are all well and happily muddling along, like us, lol.  We love you!
xoxoxo