Perhaps it's wishful thinking, but I believe my pain has eased up just a little since this afternoon.  I did follow the advice of one of my on-line friends about using cold compresses, and as a nurse and with the advice of my nurse-daughter, I have been alternating hot/cold treatments, so perhaps that has helped.  In any case, I see my regular doc tomorrow, so please say prayers that she has some advice to help with this problem.

To all the Moms, Grand-moms, "stand-in" Moms, and God mothers, I wish all the very best on this special day.  Having received calls from all seven of our kids (one of whom is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, believe it or not), my day was perfect.  May all the seeds you have planted in the lives/hearts of your children blossom into flowers of love, kindness, generosity, and tenderness, and may those beautiful gifts be spread to THEIR children as well.

My Mom is 88 years old and still going strong.  Oh, she has problems--can't hear, can barely see, and has difficulty walking b/c of arthritis--but she is still my Mom.  Each phone call ends with an "I love you" and a "keep in touch" message, and in spite of the fact that talking with her can be difficult, I treasure each chat with her, building more and more memories of the woman who has helped me become the person I am today--and am still becoming.  Thanks, Mom!

Sid returned from Lockport around mid-morning today, having spent the night at Jess' house after attending the retirement celebration for our friend.  He said that the reception was very nice and that most of her kids were able to attend.  Gloria and her husband, Ed, have dedicated themselves to educating the young people in our parish, almost entirely via our Catholic school in Lockport.  This is the school from which I graduated and in which I taught school for many years, as did Sid.  This school holds a special place in our hearts, and Gloria and Ed have been part of this school for many, many years.  God-speed in your retirement, Gloria!

Bec and Glenn picked up that furniture yesterday and were able to get it all set up in the trailer last night.  Sid was there in time to help get the furniture off the trailer bed and truck, so, except for a rug that has to be put in place, the living room now has a nice sofa and coffee table.  Bec also received a brass bed frame for a queen-sized bed, so that has been set up as well.  Thankfully, all of our kids and their cousins tend to share furniture with one another, and this time it was an extra-special blessing.

Randi is here with us for another visit, as I mentioned yesterday.  She was a tremendous help last night and today, getting my food for me and taking care of my meds and whatever else I needed.  She is a special young lady, and I love her very much.  Thanks to Randi for always being so willing to help--no matter what the circumstances.

Tomorrow, Sid begins his last "teaching week" at school.  The following week is for final exams, so he'll be pretty busy this week getting things ready for those.  Tonight, he has been grading his last sets of regular tests that were administered this past week.  I'm sure he'll be relieved to get some time off soon--as will the kids, I'm sure.

Bec told us that Cade passed the LEAP tests that he took a while back.  He will be attending the local public school for the first time next year, after having attended Holy Savior since kindergarten.  He is a very capable young man, so I'm sure the academics will not be a problem; however, he will have to deal with a lot more students there, where the enrollment is so much greater than at Holy Savior.  I'm sure he'll do just fine, though, and we wish him all the luck in the world as he begins this new phase of his educational career.

That's it for tonight!  Hope you have a great evening and a wonderful week.

HEARTFELT BLESSING:  "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem."                                                --Theodore Rubin

NOTE:  We all have problems or difficulties in our lives; how we react to them can make all the difference in the way we solve them.  We can think we can't solve them, or we can treat them like we might anything else with which we are faced--with a desire to do our best.  If we change our attitude (reaction), we change the way the problem affects us.  So, start slowly, but start--make your attitude one of accepting the challenge, and you will "win" the battle.