Grammy and Gramps take care of Kids while Mom and Dad are in India!

Monday Feb. 25th

Kids off to school as usual.  Gramps and Grammie went Walmarting and to brunch while Ry and Shoj packed for trip.  They left the house around 5:30 p.m. for airport. Tonight we had roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes and cooked carrots.  Kids ate well.   Played a game of Parcheesi (to be continued).   Off to bed on time.  

Tuesday Feb. 26th

Windy this morning.  Pri and Deegs off to school.   Ate Frosted Flakes with Gramps and donut holes.   

By noon it was snowing.   Heavy wet snow, came fast.   Got maybe 4 inches.   After school Grampa helped build big snowmen in back yard with Stephen and Priya.  Fun.

Had roasted chicken, dressing, potatoes, gravy and corn for supper.  Ate well.   Used Shoji's 'rub' on chicken, delish!

Finished the parcheesi game, Grampa won..

Ice cream, shush , cherries for snack.  To bed on time.

Wed. Feb.27th

Off to school as usual.  Grampa  cleaning off cars.  Windshield wiper broke on van so went to auto parts Napa on Randall road to replace it.   Shopped  Toys are Us and got the Pig Mania game now called Pass the Pig also found a ball for playing horse.  Had spaghetti for supper , bow tie pasta, breadsticks, peas.   YUM.

Thursday Feb. 28
Boo hoo,  Priya woke up with a fever and not feeling well.  Tried to throw up but didn't.   Sleeping all morning. Grampa napped too.   Around noon went to the store.  Bought some donuts and other stuff.   Made coffee in the new little Mr. Coffee pot.  Priya started on some diluted 7-up and also ate a little soup. Staying in bed and sleeping lots.    Fever around 99 to 100.   Gave her one dose of Pedia Care at noon (couldn't keep it down earlier).   Wants to eat a little but then when tries can't. Really just encouraging fluids and rest. Stephen home from school, did all his work for Monday.   Watching TV show with Gramps.

Reheats for supper.   Priya not eating.  Throwing up this evening from about 7 to 9 p.m.  Sleeping now and seems better.  Tomorrow should be over it.

Boys played parcheesi and horse and watched the Pickers on TV.

Friday, Mar. 1
No school today.  Priya still under the weather.  Low grade temp. no appetite.  Tried hard to eat breakfast, wants to go to the birthday party so bad.  Just can't eat and is so tired.  Said' I can't go Gramma' and cried a little.  Called Katie's Mom and told her Priya just couldn't make it.  She is taking fluids fairly well. Lots of resting.

Deegs and Grampa playing games, shooting baskets ect.
Stephen played outside with neighbor boys.

Mac and cheese for lunch, pizza tonite.  Pri ate some at each meal.
Watched Gilligan's Island.  Had ice cream, pop.
Hoping tomorrow Pri will be improved.

Sat. Mar. 2
Pri seemed a little more chipper this morning for a while.   Fixed cream of wheat , both kids ate it but Priya couldn't finish, said tummy hurt and she had to lye down again.  Feels warm.  Temp has been low grade only, highest, 100.3only once otherwise 99.1 and some normal readings.   Most complaints are
tummy, stuffy nose, and a little aching.  Stephen played outside with the neighbors and went over to Jaden's a little while.

This eve thought we would try going to church.  Priya said okay she'd  try too.    Got there early, kids had a smoothie together, Gramps had coffee before church.    Lady selling smoothie asked Priya how her folks were doing.  After church, went to Red Robin.  Priya trying so hard to act like she felt well.  Just not able to eat , put her head on my lap most of the time.   Should have kept her home.   Went straight to bed when we got home, she was exhausted.  She is so sweet---said “I  just wanted everyone
to be able to have a good time and didn't want to spoil it so I said I would go.  Bless her.  We thought maybe getting out of the house might be good for her but sorry we took her.Sunday Mar. 3
Had blueberry bake for breakfast with bacon.  Everyone ate well but  Priya couldn't finish one piece and only ate one piece of bacon. Taking fluids fairly well.   She did seem more chipper again this morning.  
Gramps left after we all played a game of Parcheesie . Stephen is king of the game.
Stephen and I played several games this aft.  Kids both had Mac and cheese for lunch.  Priya has been in bed most of the afternoon---lots of sleeping.   More sneezing today.  Nose is stuffy.   Have given her pedia care med.  at bedtime and sometimes during day if needed.   I called the Walgreens pharmacist and asked if there was anything else to try---- she said keep doing what we are doing.   Have been thinking maybe of going in to the clinic if not better tomorrow.

Don't think she'll make it to school. Tonight we had left over pizza, but Priya refused anything but juice,
water and little oranges. Her little prayers were so precious---prayed that God would heal her and
that no one else in this house would get sick.   We are all praying with her on that.  Stephen did lots of reading this eve too.  Watched an old western movie from the kids selection --way old like 1975, called Against A Crooked Sky.   They had never seen anything like it ; they'll probably be talking about it.
Been years since I had seen one too.   A little graphic, guns, arrows ect.

Monday March 4th
Stephen off to school,  He gets up so nicely, dresses and eats with no problems.  Happy to go to school.Priya is home again today.  Has a temp last night and still not  herself.  Encouraged this morning , she asked for some eggs and a piece of bacon.   That's the first she seemed interested in something to eat.  

She's been sneezing and now seems to be left with a cold.  Has a little cold sore like redness in her nose.   Got her to eat a little soup at noon .  She's glad to have Stephen home from school ---they are buddies and have fun together (most of the time).  Tonight we had ham , scalloped potatoes (box) and green beans. Stephen is a great eater.  Priya's appetite improving steadily now.  Played some games, off to bed.  Sweetest prayer times.

Tuesday March 5th
No school today .  Having a snow storm today.   This has worked out well in Priya's favor---gives an extra day of rest and healing and actually probably good for the school to just clear everyone out for a day (let the germs die out).  Pri is mostly coughing and sneezing now.   Eating much better.   I screwed up and didn't hear the NO SCHOOL message on the phone so had them out the door to the bus-----they returned home and said they either missed it or there is no school.   Called the school to
find out.  

Snowed all day .  Stephen played out with Gavin.   Didn't want Priya to go out yet because of her cough ect.   She doesn't seem to be having any temperature problem now.  By late afternoon and evening the plows were out.   Must have 6 to 9 inches , maybe more.  We looked up some travel logs on Athens, kids got a kick out of seeing where you are.  Got a little hyper tonight---getting ready to  have Mom and Dad home.  Priya looking forward to going back to school.

Wednesday March 6th
Kids off to school.  Both got ready , ate breakfast very nicely (been eating left over blueberry bake from when Grampa was here).  Washed some clothes, took a bath, went out and cleaned the snow off the
van wow more snow than I thought.  Really melting fast here too.  Saw those big fat male robins all over.  Spring is not far off.  Kids home , in good humor.   Priya said she had an an ISAT test this
morning and seemed to think it went fine.  Did their homework and reading. Had Turkey dinner tonight.  They ate well.  Stephen surprises me how much he can eat.  Snacked well after school too.  Watched a little cartoon.     

I like PBS Wild Kratts.  To bed with no problem.    Kids decided to switch beds tonight. Back in
their old rooms.   Funny.

(Was really nice getting the e-mail and the photos;  kids loved it. Pri
doesn't seem to think of checking her device).

Thursday, Mar. 7th

Priya got a text from Daddy today while waking up.  We were a little late getting started but they made it to the bus fine.   Was fun Skyping with Ryan and Shoji from Greece this morning.  Priya didn't share with us that she got the early morning text.  Her ipod is very private and personal.  (:

Did a little shopping this morning and other 'stuff'.  Played lots of Parcheesi;  Deegs loves it.   Had hot dogs, cooked carrots, mac and cheese, spaghetti o's , oranges tonite for supper.    
Eating well.

Played some horse and the kids challenged each other standing on the
soccer balls.   Priya is really good and can go 2 minutes without
falling.   Stephen picked it up real fast and managed almost a minute
without too much practice.   Amazing.
Had shush, blueberries, chocolate(hot fudge) ice cream sundaes before bed.
We are having a good time.  PTL

Friday Mar.  8Both in school today.  Did a little shopping , went to Trader Joes got
corn bread mix, they didn't have blueberries, checked Joey Caputo's and
got a couple blueberries.  Made banana muffins this aft.  Had ham dinner
tonite, Deegs loves the coleslaw with the dressing.
This eve watched Madagascar 3  (I kept falling asleep, Stephen kept
nudging me and laughing).   Good day and eve.

Saturday, Mar. 9

Had cream of wheat and muffins for breakfast.  Got ready to go to the
ballet practice.   Stephen and I went to the corner cafe for pancakes
then shopped around the stores.   Liked the Flag Store ---Packer stuff
and lots of neat things here.  Also liked the store , Out of the Box,
got some earrings there.    On to the birthday party for Priya at 1:30.  
Stephen and I played games this aft, time went fast.  Got Chinese food
for supper .   Played horse before bed.   Such good , bless-ed, times.   
Fun comment of the day from Stephen,   "Gramma, I think you have been
here longer than ever before. "    (This was a busy day, didn't make
church).

Sunday March 10,2013Priya doing lots better.   Poor Deegs woke during the night with a fever (101.8), gave him medicine , fluids and cold cloth.  He slept with Grannie.  Says he aches and has cough also blowing lots out of nose.    Did get back to sleep.  Got up around 8:30.  All of us a little tired, turned the clocks ahead
an hour for daylight savings time last night.

Had blueberry bake and bacon.   Priya eating well;  Stephen did eat a piece and had milk to drink but was not real enthusiatic to eat. He is laying around and not excited to be real active.  Temp is down but
cheeks still pink.   Coughing lots , some sneezing.   Anxious for Mommy and Daddy to get home.  Priya got text saying they had left Athens . (have to ask her if she has heard anything, likes to keep  her ipod  
private, cute).

Deegs had some chicken noodle soup at noon (didn't eat well though)  takes fluids pretty good.   Priya had her left over chicken tenders and  some left over rice.   Watched the 'Easter Story' DVD this morning.  Playing games and Stephen did lots of resting (played in bed) .  Went to YUMMZ this afternoon around 2 p.m.    Priya so looking forward to it and Stephen says lets go for Priya.  He didn't have anything.  Pri  tried the mint (a little too minty) wishes she had mixed with
vanilla.   A fun place.

Watched some  'Johnny Test'/PBS on computer .  Getting very excited for to see parents.    Priya got the text that the airplane had landed,   YEAH!  (she shared this one).  this was around 5p.m. , Ry called shortly and they got to the house around 6:30.    Oh so happy to have them home.   Made the day.
Enjoyed Shoji's delicious soup and corn bread with everyone.  Oh so thankful for everything, what a great time for us all . Praise the Lord!

Will take the train home tomorrow.

Grammy did take the train home and that was the last anyone ever saw of her....

Riches

It is not really getting rich that we struggle with.  It is about appearing rich.  As long as I look like I have wealth then I feel important, hence our consumer debt crisis.  It is better to actually have wealth and not act like it than to have debt to appear wealthy.

Priya and Vegetables

Today I asked Priya what she wanted for a vegetable at lunch and she said a carrot.  "Just one carrot," she demanded, as she is not big on veggies.  So I peeled a carrot and gave it to her and she munched it down. But I have noticed that if I take that same carrot and cut it into four pieces and give it to her, she has a big fit complaining that I am giving her four carrots and that is way too many!!    It is hilarious!  I've tried to explain that it is all the same amount and cutting them up just makes it easier to eat.  But evidently not for her, so I just peel the whole thing and give it to her.

dad

Priya and Stephen's first house

Built in one night! Great job guys!

Henry Nouwen - Life of the Beloved

I have been reading & reflecting on Henri Nouwen lately and his book “Life of the Beloved” It is so rich an meaningful. He uses 4 words to define us as being God’s beloved. He uses the words Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. These are very powerful words in our walk with Christ. And lately, I have been focused on “Blessed”, when we realize that we are God’s Beloved we can rest in the reality that we are His Blessed children. Nouwen gives us an exercise to realize our blessedness. He says an aspect of prayer is sitting in silence and listening to the good things God has to say about us.

It is all about us being in God’s “presence” to hear the things he has to say. And I think the idea of “presence” is vital to becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. There are lots of really great ministries opportunities to pursue, lots of voices calling for our attention, but for now “presence” is the river from which everything else will flow.

Memory from Tralee Ireland

In 1997 I worked about 4-5 months in Swords, IRE with Amdahl Ireland. One weekend I rented a car and drove to West Ireland. I stopped at a B&B in Tralee. It was a fishing community and very friendly toward tourist. So I got to the B & B and a lovely family showed me to my room and I began talking with their 16 year old son and his grandpa. This grandfather was a fisherman his whole life (as his grandson explained).

So, I looked at Grandpa and asked him what kind of fish he caught? He answered me in a couple sentences and I didn't understand a word, not one word, of what he said! So I looked that the grandson and I said, "what language is he speaking?" The grandson said, "English."

Evidently, the old guy mixed in a little Gaelic and his accent was so thick I didn't get one word of what he said. I just about laughed myself out the door...

3 Questions from Church and Patrick Lencioni's book of 3 questions

1. What makes our family unique?

Priya 8 - We all have different voices.

Shoji - We are multi-cultures

Dad - Our faith transcends culture

Stephen 6 - our last name boldt - because there is a movie bolt and store named Boldt, founded by our great-grandfather Everett Boldt.

2. What is our top priority? hmmm.... working on it that.

3. How do you talk about and use the answers to these questions?

Hamster, Fish and Dog

We successfully avoided getting a dog. Priya has been insistent on getting a dog like crazy for months. We went to the pet story just to look at types of dogs and on the way to the dog area she saw a hamster and fell in love with it. So this was my chance to deal down, so to speak, because a hamster is way easier than a dog (cheaper too).

So I told the kids that if we get a hamster then we can't get a dog and we have to do something with this our goldfish. We have a one pet rule in the house.... I thought the goldfish could be a sensitive topic because they cried when the first one died. So I asked Priya, "what about Pineapple (or Treasure depending on the day). What are we going to do with him?"

Priya looked at me and said without a hint of hesitation.... "Just get rid of him... flush him down the toilet.... or feed him to the tarantulas..."

I wasn't expecting that!