What a week I've had! Frankly, I'm resting today...translate; lying around like a slug and not getting anything done. Most of the week was such fun, but I did start on Monday going to a memorial for someone who died young (47) of cancer. My youngest sister's Jacki's friend's husband; so I did not know him well at all, but he was evidently very well thought of--the church was thronged. He left his widow and a child--very sad. I went with Jacki and my brother Greg and his wife, Linda. Afterward we decided to go somewhere for supper in town and ended up at the Olive Garden. I've eaten at restaurants so much this week, I feel guilty. LOL (Because I have a ton of food in the fridge).

This week my nieces and nephews had a couple days off school. Tuesday is the day my friend, Melvina, who is also my cleaning lady, came over to do her job and we were joined at lunch by Jacki. I made "Mexican Chicken" and salads for them so I didn't feel so guilty then. I sent both of them home with the rest of the chicken and that afternoon my niece, MacKenzie came over and we had a great time. We cooked our own dinner: MacK's fave "macaroni and cheese with smoky links in it" and "cornbread muffins". I couldn't eat ANY of that, I had leftover crab cake and veggies, but I did have popcorn later. She wanted me to color her hair, so we went to look for more color (she has thick, fine hair beautiful hair--light brown with gold streaks naturally), because I've found out the hard way years ago that one box alone won't usually do anyone's hair if it's long or thick. She had already decided on a dark very red color. When it comes to being almost 18; these things have to be done--and better to do them now than at 46. She stayed overnight so we watched "The Sixth Sense", played Rummicub and Skip-Bo (she won both--I stink at games, but I love them) and then watched "Twister". She went to bed at 4 am and I fell asleep finally by 5:30 or so--ugh. I was up at 10:30 because she had to leave around 11 to go meet a friend before color guard practice for lunch. She briefly nibbled on a corn muffin, we took pix of her new color and off she went. We had talked a lot the night before and I feel a little better about her now. I'm hoping we can do this more often like we used to and she said the same.

Wednesday, I had already planned lunch with my good friend, Trudy. We went to one of our favorite places: Max & Erma's and had a really great lunch--I had tortilla soup and the Third Street Spinach salad. Half was left over and I had it boxed to go. Then we went by the supermarket; she wanted to pick up something for Larry. On impulse (I had noticed it on the way to her house) we dropped by a brand new place in town called "Sweet Things", a combination bakery/snack shop. It's small and only been open 3 weeks. ABSOLUTELY DECADENT LOOKING sweets (unfortunately no sugar-free ones yet), but she also has fountain drinks, lattes and such that are sugar free so we are going back. We were too full to eat anything there, but Trudy got some stuff to take back home. I got a card and a flyer to give to Jacki because they had Skip Bo, Yahtzee and Life games sitting there and when we asked the owner she said they will be starting "games night" twice a week, so I think Blythe and Hunter would like that. Dropped Trudy off and waved at Larry--then hurried home to get ready for Wednesday night bible study at church. Very good class but at the end when I was getting ready to leave my sugar dropped to 46 and I didn't feel so hot, needless to say. I forgot to bring crackers so Linda ran to the grocery store with me and got crackers and milk. I stuffed those down and by the time we got home I felt just fine. From now on, I'm bringing crackers and a thermos with me, just in case. I have to lug so much stuff usually (including water/drink) that I wasn't going to bother, but my sugar is having trouble adjusting to my weight loss I guess.

Thursday was our bi-monthly family meeting and afterward we usually (guess what) go out to eat. Jacki brought Blythe with her and she came home for the night with me. We had a great time, too. I always offer to do whatever anyone likes but for some reason these two nieces (and my nephew Hunter) mostly like to just stay around my house and do stuff. I was tired that night anyway, so it was just as well, we watched some DVDs Blythe brought and made popcorn later. "Nanny McPhee" was a scream, and then we watched "Little Miss Sunshine", which everyone but me has seen so that was good. We were up pretty late and so we didn't get up until around 10:30 am Friday. We decided to forego breakfast food and just go out to lunch around 1 pm. Blythe had never seen "Signs" so we watched that and she liked it. We went to Fatz for lunch and then decided to scooter-poot around--stopped in at Merle Norman's and I asked them to do a light make-over on her. I was afraid they'd make her up too much--she's only 13--but they did very nicely and I bought her the lip gloss and eye glimmer they used and some lip gloss for myself. We left there and her mother called on my cell and said she and Hunter were going for lunch--well, we weren't hungry of course, so we went by a little gift shop Blythe had never been to (I bought myself my first Vera Bradley bag). I've always fought using one of the new type handbags that look so busy because it seems like they clash with the world, but they look nice on other people and I did like this one pattern very much. I guess it's just that I come from the generation that reveres real leather bags that match your shoes or, at least, don't clash--usually I only buy everyday handbags in white, ivory, black or buckskin color in leather or, sometimes in ecru straw or woven material for the summer. So we'll see how I like it. We checked out WalMarts and then we went to meet Jacki and Hunter at Wendy's, bringing our drinks. We said goodbye there and I went home to collapse. I wanted to just stay home today and do nothing frankly, because tomorrow morning is Sunday and I want to try getting to Sunday school class as well as worship. I'll be thanking the Lord for a wonderful week and for my family and friends. This week was the kind I couldn't have anymore before this surgery. A year ago I was not in a good place, so I'm thankful just to be here and to be back again striving to walk in the light.