Today was a very good day - Saturday, July 25

I know I've said it before, but it is so hard to get Michael to go places!
Today was so easy and so great, though.

Steve and I had decided to move our trailer to the front of our house so that Michael can have something exciting to do (place to go) while still being supervised. He has been so bored during covid, because we are so isolated (by choice.)

So we went outside to take a look for the parts and pieces to make the move happen (like the tow hitch!) While we were out there, he came outside with his slippers on and wanted to get in the van to be part of things.
Steve knows that I've been wanting to go in the mountains, but I don't like to go by myself, so when Michael got in the van I asked if he wanted to go to Taco Bell and get fiesta potatoes. He did, so he let me seat belt him, and we all rode to Taco Bell.
After that I asked if he wanted to go for a ride up the canyon, and he said he did, so we kept driving!
We ended up going to a nice spot and parked the van. We got out and walked around for a while, and then Steve and I sat and talked. Eventually, Michael got himself back in the van; we seat belted him and headed home.

Once back home, we moved the trailer and got it set up and leveled.
Then we cleaned out some wasps that had made a home in the stove's exhaust/vent, and cleaned up the inside of the trailer (who knew it would be so dusty!)
After we were all finished and ready to come in, I told Michael he could eat in the trailer. Well, I forgot and a few minutes later took his soda from Taco Bell out to him and he reminded me of his dinner. So I came back in and got his dinner and our kiddo ate his dinner in the trailer while Steve and I sat inside to cool off a while. Later on, Steve went out and sat in the trailer and read to keep Michael company.

Here are the pictures of the day -

I'm sure that Michael is going to have a very good time hanging out in the trailer. Who knows? Maybe we'll actually take it somewhere one of these days!

♥ Melody

Living Life on Life's Terms - Covid-19

I was a sick kid. I was hospitalized with pneumonia twice before I'd even turned 8. I got weekly gamma globulin shots because my immune system sucked.

The second hospitalization, I was diagnosed with asthma and sent to a specialist. I was never hospitalized for sickness again after that, but because my mom had watched me get sicker and sicker and felt more and more helpless, she took out all the stops to keep me well.

I remember in kindergarten the children would line up for a drink at the drinking fountain, and the teacher would get a disposable cup that my mom had provided for me and I got a drink from my cup.

I wasn't allowed to go outside and play when it was cold. I wasn't even allowed to go to class out in the mobile trailer. Instead, I stayed inside my classroom and teachers in neighboring classrooms would keep an eye on me.

I saw my 2nd grade teacher at my nieces wedding when I was in my late 30s and she told me how worried they'd been for me when I was a kid, and that so often my complexion wasn't a healthy pink, but grey.

My mom and my teachers were invested in my health, but in spite of that, I always felt different.

Fast forward to today with covid.
I am astonished that people refuse to wear a mask to protect themselves and others.
I am astonished that people can't sit their butts at home and find things to do there.
I am astonished that people look for conspiracy theories and disregard scientist and medical doctors.
I am astonished.

I think that I, as a child, behaved more adultlike than I see adults behaving.

I am astonished that during a pandemic people are behaving business as usual. People are dying of this disease, and even if they don't die, they are left with long-term health issues that are going to impact their lives for the foreseeable future.

I have never been as appreciative of my mom and the adults around me supporting me in my health as I am now. I am grateful that I learned that to live my best life I needed to lessen my risk.
I have no trouble finding things to do at home - 4 grandkid quilts are finished and I'm working on a 5th.
I have read books and listened to audio books while I sew.
I have watched a slew of tv shows and movies.
I have done yard work.
I have learned about zoom and see my friends at zoom meetings several times a month.
I am currently training to be an Education for Ministry mentor for online groups.
I talk to my family on the telephone and my adult kids and I play games as a family on zoom and other online platforms.
I keep in contact with friends on facebook, text, and phone, and have a twice monthly book group zoom meet up.

Each week, Steve and I do an online order with our local grocery store and pay a person to shop for and deliver the groceries.
Occasionally we place a telephone or online order with a local restaurant and then pick up the order and bring it home.

It is really not that difficult to invest in your/my health. It takes planning and looking at things in ways outside of the norm. It takes self-care and being adaptable. But it simply means living life on life's terms and finding the gratitude in it.

Hey, if a kid can appear different to others, an adult sure can too! Especially since we're all in this together.
♥ Melody

Josh's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda

2 sticks butter
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla.

1 bag peanut butter or chocolate chips (or some of each!)

Preheat the oven to 375*

In a small/medium size bowl:
Mix the flour and baking soda together

In a medium/large bowl:
Mix the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and peanut butter. Add the egg and mix it up. Then add the flour mixture. Once it’s all mixed you add the bag of peanut butter/chocolate chips.

Bake at 375* for 8-10 min