Making A Comback?

You know the drill. Don't believe it 'till you see it. It's hard to convey how your heart isn't into something that it used to be. So I won't. There! Problem solved.

My biggest fan won't even be able to read this comeback for at least a few more days. Mom is still in the hospital recovering from her double knee replacement last week. I can't even put up good pictures of Mom on the blog sometimes, so you certainly aren't getting any of her now. I stumped Noah with this picture. It's the machine which dispenses pain meds at the push of a button. In other words, it's another one of those machines lying around a hospital that makes me feel like I could kill someone if I breathe wrong. Noah, you'll be excited to hear that Mom finally got to see one of those combination thermometers you told the guys about. Thanks.

As of right now Mom is doing great with her therapy. She can walk with a walker, but it takes some effort to get there. The dog will be much relieved to see her around again in a few days I hope. Thanks for working with her on the Ortho floor and checking in Becky!

Before going under the knife, Mom got one of the most helpful birthday gift ideas she's ever had for me. It's not easy these days. When you're kids live and die for a cartoon, like He-man, it's pretty simple to find out far in advance what the top toys on their list will be. But when you're kid is turning 29 and just likes to hang with people and blog about it, what can you do? I don't NEED any more movies and I still don't read as much as I should. One of us realized that my yard needs some work and something's got to get my rear in gear.

Ignore screen door that won't stay shut, the huge weeds in the walkway and the loose bricks because this used to look ALOT worse. And in a year or two, you'll see something like THIS (right) or a version of it. Thank you Mom and Dad for the Hydrangea, for getting me outside and helping me clean up the area. Now who wants to help me get rid of some huge piles of sticks?

The Down Side...

The down side of a GI tract that refuses to heal fast is that Thanksgiving ends with a net weight loss. To the left, my plate. To the right, my brother's. Don't worry, my loving Mom sent me home with plenty of leftovers. Thank you for making so much from scratch for only four people!

The up side is that you can take pitty on yourself and use Wes' big screen TV to play your brother's Xbox 360 and Halo 3 for a couple of days. It took three days to remember to take this picture, sorry.

What terrible timing to be invited over for Charly's chicken head soup. It was fun being able to watch Ryan sweat bullets while staying nice and cool myself though.

In trying to kill time between errands today, I found that Carol Zimmerman plays guitar!!! And REALLY well too! I'm so behind.

You can't just make an appearance at a party without contributing. So Kristin let me cut eggs for the salad at Holly's Birthday party tonight. I love cutting eggs!!

Look, there was a ladder, a tree...it just worked. Happy Birthday Holly!!

My Mom Voice Dials!

Ya, I was surprised too. Those two people who are me and my brother's biggest computer support customers (you know it's true) actually use the voice dialing options on their cell phones. I'm not only surprised that they use it, but that it works. My iPhone can't recognize diddly squat when I say it. The only time I've had a successful voice dial is by pronouncing Jed Stuber as Jed Stubber.Mom probably didn't think I would remember this tiny fact after our six hours at the hospital together yesterday, but what else was there to notice? Despite my roomie and his friends insistence, I waited until Tuesday morning to check in to Methodist for whatever it is I have. I hadn't kept down water since Monday afternoon, so this loud IV machine was wonderful to hear. As of this morning, I've never wanted a banana and toast so much in my life. It was wonderful. The last test to see what's going on should come back today. I had the flu a few years ago, but this was way more painful. Did you know that when you have a high fever and are shaking uncontrollably that it's actually your body being warm and thinking that the normal air around you is really cold. Medical facts are fun.

Birthday Week

It's bout time to give credit to all those jerks (except you Mom, you're not a jerk) who wanted to do something for my Birthday over a week ago.

Tuesday 14th

A couple of the dudes at work, Ron and Frank, treated me to donuts at Trefzgers since it was my first time on a donut run. Before leaving the store, I saw the cake I really wanted. The week went by though...and no one got it for me. (sigh)

The Stubers made up for the lost cake dream with a gigantic "Harms Recipe" mint chocolate brownie when I got home from d-group. Amazing. Yes, it went well with the milk I brought home. There was also a singing voicemail left on my phone from a couple of crazy ladies!

Finally. Mail call had the cutest card ever made!!! Thank you!
There's a little heart at the top of the "n"! Did you see it!?!

Wednesday
Nan would not take no for an answer about hosting a dinner at his place. He asked me what my favorite food was. I spent a little more time thinking about it than usual. Usual is "I have no idea". It occurred to me that cheese is often in my favorite dishes...so I said anything with cheese!

The result was an appetizer of fruit and three types of gourmet cheese.

Along with Filet Mignon covered in goat cheese.....amazing.

You can't help but talk about food at Nan's house. A long conversation about various herbs and spices lead someone to bring up the existence of an herb named anise. That's right, anise. And it's pronounced almost like the word you're hoping it doesn't. I think the jokes would have died down relatively quickly if Nan hadn't announced, "I have anise, let me show you!"

Thanks to Wes (thanks Wes) the men managed to sing Happy Birthday to me in three different styles.


Thursday

Wanting a fourth excuse to sing Happy Birthday, the guys planned another celebration during Thursday night Bible study. Don't let the smile deceive you...I want to kill them.


Friday

Knowing my knack for over-packing evening plans, the fam held off on birthday celebrations for Dad and I (Happy Birthday Dad!!) until Friday. Someone recently made a comment about how many of my peers are being more health conscious at meal time. The fam is being no different. Knowing that no one wants to be stuck with leftover birthday cake, Mom found the smallest cake I had ever seen.

Perfect!! Four pieces and you're done!

Thank you for everyone who reminded me that they care!

AH!! Must blog before long weekend!

Kari's Surprise Birthday party Tuesday. Very fun to surprise the all-knowing. Couldn't get pictures. Too many anti-picture people in frame. You win this time people!!! But Ryan was there holding the last piece of cake.


Work this week was going to be me whining about projects, but it's been pretty good so far. I've ditched my maintenance boss, Ken, and will be doing all IT in June, then back to maintenance in July. I'm doing alot of wall mount installations and running wires at the middle school. It's nice to be somewhere different and have a really tight schedule. Also, I'm so not working more than 5 hours a day.

Our buddy Nick is in town for the summer from Iowa State. While he raises support for a Cru internship there next here, he's spending time with folks to spread the word. Ryan and I made a deal with him. If he rode bikes with us Wendesday we would listen to his schpeal. Ryan gave me the girl bike, as he so gleefully points out. Nick did a great job and I'm really excited for him as the Summer goes by and he gets back to full time ministry. We'll miss him again!!


Finally, a relaxing Friday (not really because I botched up my schedule) on the golf course with my boss and church friends. Then off to dinner with the fam to celebrate Mom and Bro's birthdays!!! At golf, we continued to prove that anyone I don't know, my boss knows and vice-a-versa.


Off to Cedar Point for the weekend with the Sunday School class. Please pray that I have the energy and sanity to survive the van rides. Don't see how that's possible without God.

Kiddos

Christopher, one of the most recent roomies to leave the bachelor pad for a married life, was generous enough to come over and help get my rear in gear early in the morning. There are several projects around the house which need doing, and by coming over during his vacation, it got me going on one of the smaller ones, and helped with some of the decisions that needed to be made. I am not a decision maker. Very sad. Anyway, thanks Chris! We removed the door between two 2nd floor rooms, studded it and put up drywall. It will need plaster eventually.

Check it out. Is there a stud in here....besides me? LAUGH!!!


Well, today was the long awaited day dedicated to hanging out with the cousins. Actually, 1st cousins once removed. Thank you Jerelyn! :-) My cousin Melinda and her husband Don have three cute and very fun 9-year old triplets, Grant, Erin and Kira. The kiddos are staying with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple of weeks, and I snagged 'em for a day. Sadly, Erin could not join us because she broke her hand this weekend and went back home with her parents to St. Louis :-(

Ice skating was the only thing on the agenda originally. Their aunt took them last year and they had alot of fun. I like to think of things on my own, but never can when I'm trying. It's kinda like stressing over big decisions in life. If you just let go and be patient, you'll be surprised at how many things fall in place. I'm learning alot about that this year. With things falling together last minute, we ended up with a VERY busy day!

Cookies!

They were sent to me with a cookie recipe and ingredients. Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies. It was a very easy recipe. During the 10-minute baking breaks, we checked out my blog (they're famous now!) and watched their favorite scene from the movie "Cars". Back in the kitchen, I see that their modest portions worked out nicely, whereas my monster size dobbles turned into one huge cookie. I never learn.




Puppies!!

Remember how Jon and Joy needed some dog watching help this weekend? A last minute request last night turned into fun today. We went down the street to play with the dogs and let them out. The extra hands actually helped out alot since the tiny ones have to go separately.

I just stuck this in here to show you what a safe driver I am. And that I still have SarahK's tradition exchange gift in my car. Sorey!


McD's

The triplets FAVORITE place to eat is McDonald's, and it was their Mom's idea to send us there for lunch. However, it occurred to me as Chris and I were working this morning, Jerelyn could probably have lunch with us! She runs alot of promotional stuff and training for the area's golden arches and is GREAT with kids. Thanks for meeting and enjoying my awesome cousins Jere!


The kids introduced me to a special drink called a "suicide". From Jerelyn and my roomie's reactions, I'm apparently the only person in the world who DIDN'T know what this was. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. I'll keep their exact measurements a secret until Jerelyn can tell us how they make the Big Mac secret sauce.

Ice Skating!

The main event - ice skating at Owen Center. We got there a little late, but that worked out because none of us had the footsie endurance for more than about 30 minutes total on the ice.


Another sweet thing falling together was running into some church friends, Craig, Debbie Jo and their family. Such an encouraging and entertaining (I want my book back Craig) couple. They found us while the ice was getting cleaned (an extra long cleaning for some reason) which gave us a ton of time to catch up and for Debbie Jo to get to know the kids. We have to work on how Grant explains his new internet popularity in public...




This is Grant falling....maybe.


Hammer Time

Before leaving the house, I showed them our punching wall. Chris and I didn't have time to take it down this morning so it was fresh on my mind. One whack at the wall with a hammer, and they were hooked. After coming back from ice skating, I think we got 1/3 of the wall demolished. Who woulda thought that the highlight of the day would be whacking holes in a wall with a hammer. Grandpa is going to be on edge until they go back Friday, making sure that they don't turn his walls into swiss cheese.






Special Delivery





Last but not least, the kiddos helped me deliver Jed and Julie's Christmas present to their doorstep.





I am legally obligated to tell you that Grant is cool in order to fulfill my payment for a piece of gum.

My cousins impress me so much. They are SOOO smart and observant. While I was tying their skates and thought we were having a conversation, they were figuring out if the lady at the snack machine was getting ripped of from the amount of change she got. You can especially tell that Kira is thinking hard in the back of her head about everything you say. Their conversations are really interesting to hear too. Since they share so much time and so many experiences together (ie school), they communicate really quickly. Many sentences are only half said because they know what the other half is. And they remember everything you say, so be careful!

You guys were so much fun. Thank you for coming over. I missed you Erin!! I wish I could sign your pink cast.


Capped off he night with small group time a few hours later. It was great meeting with the discipleship guys again after a three week winter weather hiatus.

Merry Christmas

Not alot to say about other people or myself today. The fam had a nice lunch and afternoon together. No yard work or snow removal this time, just a little IT support.





We survived Christmas with Tilly, but couldn't get the bone away. You win again puppy.







Mother once again proved her attention to blog detail in picking a perfect gift. This year MANGO tea! There's enough Keurig Mango Tea to last one Bible study person for three books of the new testament, or three for one.




When the roomie got home, the Fay family Christmas yielded endless fun for everyone.

Celebration Of Life AND Death

Tuesday was Grandmother's visitation and funeral. I know I didn't tell too many people about it. I'm sorry if you wanted to know. It was basically out of laziness, business, and not wanting sympathy because it was a great thing. I'm dreading this post only because I have so much to say about her and the past she's responsible for. The back log of posts recently has everything to do with writer's block and laziness. The one serious concern this week was my Mom's health. She is also very happy to see her mother with the Lord now, but continues to be very sick this week probably with the same stomach virus that contributed to grandmother's 97 year old heart failure. :-( I love you Mom!

The visitation and service was at my old church, First United Methodist in downtown Peoria. I grew up there, have alot of good memories from there, and remember (not always by name) alot of people from there.

I didn't feel right snapping pictures of random people (except my cousin) with a casket right next to me. But if I had you would definitely be looking at Mrs. Garber and Mrs. Koepel, the two ladies who have been running children's ministries down there since before I was born. So joyful and loving, and SOOOO excited to run into you at the grocery store 20 years later :-)

Even though I grew up here, I eventually started feeling like a fish out of water. Normally, I'm either in an environment where I know or know of most of the people I'm talking to, or I'm a complete stranger (like everyone else) and can act accordingly (say "hi" and have a normal human conversation). Here however, everyone knew everyone else, except me, and you can't have a long conversation getting to know them again in a reception line! When you don't see these folks in years, they figure you moved away. Everyone asked where I was living now. Ummm, just down the road actually :-)

But more awkward than the "where'd you go" questions was everyone offering their somber condolences. Why the sad face?? I could see my Mom having to respond the same way all morning as well. Grandmother was a believer in Jesus Christ as her personal savior and loved the Lord very much. She had eternity worshiping our God and Savior to look forward too. She's been separated from her loving husband who died 13 years ago, needed constant attention and was very frustrated in her physical condition.

Grandfather had a career outside of church, but eventually, they both ended up working for the church. Grandpa was the financial secretary, and Grandma, the membership secretary. I'm not sure if those are the exact titles, but you get the drift. Grandmother knew everyone and everything that went on at church. Over decades of service at a church larger than my current one, that multiplies out to a significant chunk of knowledge and relationships. She was also very meticulous about information records and grammar. Mom inherited a large percentage of Grandmother's grammar control, and I'm inheriting none of it! And why should I when Mom can just email or call with blog post corrections? :-)

My parents have carried on the fine tradition of knowing practically everything that goes on at church. Mom can tell you at least something about anyone you point out, and Dad can yuk it up with anyone he bumps into, friend or stranger.

Just like how life revolves around my current church body and building, it did growing up as well. I won't bore you with the hallways and rooms. The sanctuary had enough to speak of.






My family always sat in the same spot. About four rows back from the front of the balcony.





Janet Kaiser has played the organ and piano at church for as long as I can remember. The choir loft surrounds the organ, with the enormous organ pipe system sitting above. Piano lessons from Janet were pretty expensive, and you had to be pretty serious to take them from her anyway. My buddy Eric took lessons from her for years.

Phillip, the music pastor at FUMC, sang one of my grandparents favorite songs. His father was my piano teacher, and an awesome teacher he was. It was very meaningful to me that I would not only get a hymn to learn every week, but that he knew all about the author/composer of it and it's back-story every time.


To the right is the piano I played while accompanying the "Music Makers" children's choir directed by Mrs. Lisa. 2nd and 3rd graders I think. In the center are the steps that the children rushed down to every week for the short children's sermon before heading off to their classes. Behind the stairs are the candles I got to light at the beginning of each service during my year as an acolyte.

Mrs. Garber couldn't pass up reminding me about my solo on stage down at the fellowship hall. I was one of the three wise men for the annual children's Christmas program with my two best friends, Eric and John.

All in all, the trip down memory lane was very sweet. But, the fact that I felt like such a fish out of water around all these people left me with a caution. I hope that my time and service spent in my current church and body of believers isn't as superficial or without significant meaning as alot of the liturgy in some churches today. If church is more of a comfortable place than it is a challenging environment to grow and be sent from, then I will only rot there with a deceived smile on my face. Grandmother and Grandfather had healthy and engaging lives inside and outside the church, with a genuine outgoing attitude for anyone that would talk to them.

The cemetery was Swan Lake on the north end of town by Sam's and Grand Prairie. With the nasty weather, there was no grave-site service, only a short service in the mausoleum on-site. Kinda cold either way you go out there.


Back at the church, I felt Baptist again. My aunt and uncle's Sunday school class made lunch. A fabulous potluck assortment.

Next week I get to hang out with my triplet cousins, Grant, Erin and Kira. They're in from St. Louis for the week.










My bro and Grant, studding it up in their suits.

Erin being a wacko!