Life at a Hectic Pace

I really haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  Life has just got in the way of blogging.  It is amazing how the words busy and stressed and overwhelmed slip into my vocabulary.   I image someday my life will go at a slower pace but for now I will just enjoy the fun and excitement of it all (and try to take a nap on Sunday afternoons.)

The Wednesday after our trip we hosted the MHS Cross Country team dinner.  The main course was chicken enchiladas and chips and salsa.  It was a good first run at entertaining in the new house. (No pun intended.)  The CC team dinner on Wednesday was followed by a CC meet on Thursday.  Kayla, Hadley, Myle, Monica, Trinity, and Raph accompanied me to the field somewhere in Butler county to watch AJ run his last meet of the year.

On the 12th,  Kayla, Hadley, and I headed to Topeka.  Kayla wanted to introduce her first born to her friends in Topeka.  I wanted to see Grady.  On Saturday Megan and Laura hosted a "Sip and See" for Miss Hadley.  I believe this is the last of a year and a half of wedding and baby showers.  It has been an amazing two years.  While in Topeka we had a little photo shoot with the two babies.

The next week was relatively uneventful.  I actually worked 4 days in a row.  It was great being able to spend a Friday with my mom and dad.  I had been off my regular routine for 4 weeks.  Kayla and baby H. came in and with the help of Aunt Nancy we made Halloween costumes for Hadley and Grady.  You don't have to sew perfectly to make a costume--or so I was told.  I think I will probably never progress beyond costume making in my sewing ability.

Friday night the blind guy (or should we call him the window treatment salesman) came to give us a quote on window coverings for 19 of our windows.  Just when I thought we had made all the decisions!   If we get our order in soon we may even have blinds by Thanksgiving.

Saturday Gregg burned the brush pile and I went grocery shopping, made chili for a crowd, and went back to mom's for costume making part 2.  In the evening we all (by all, I mean all 16 of us) gathered at Dan and Myle's for a chili feed followed by a family picture photo shoot.  After getting over the realization that we had a miscommunication on timing and Ty and Laura were going to miss watching part of the KSU/WV game--we all had a good time.


Sunday, part of the crew gathered at the new homestead for hamburgers.  Megan made a yummy gluten free pumpkin dump cake for dessert!  We have yet to have the first family dinner at the house!  That will be next week!

Oh yea, we also closed on the loan for the house!
I am blessed.  God is good

The buffet line.

Part of the CC team.

AJ running

Hadley and AJ

Uncle AJ

Hadley meeting Aunt Renee

Welcome Hadley!

Smile Grady!

Smile Hadley!

The burn.

Me taking a picture of Trinity taking a picture of Megan.
I'm not sure what Raph is doing?

Ty and Laura keeping us informed of the KSU score.
Go CATS!

Aunt Myle entertaining Grady

Raph and his Dad goofing around.

A Trip to DC

Where did I leave you last?  The moving from the rental was complete and we were settling in our new home.  Right?

Before I even figured out where all the light switches were, WGO and I flew to Washington DC.  He had a conference to attend and I went along for the ride.  We flew out on Saturday (a 6:30 flight from Wichita International) and his meetings were scheduled for Sunday through Tuesday.  Since neither of us had ever been to the capitol we extended the trip to do a little sight seeing.  We stayed in the historic Willard International Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave just a stone's through from the White House.

Another couple from Wichita attended the conference and we had a great time seeing the sites with them.  We bought a 48 hour pass on a "hop on, hop off" tour bus.  Although our hotel was very close to most of the attractions, the bus saved us a lot of steps.

Highlights of the trip for me included the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery,  seeing the Constitution at the National Archives,   touring the Holocaust Museum, and dining at the Library of Congress.  We happened to be walking by the White House as the president was leaving so we got to watch his helicopter, Marine One, land and take off.  Sunday afternoon we also just happened to be walking through Lafayette Park as a Pro-Life/Religious Freedom Rally was getting underway.  I stayed and listened to several speakers while WGO went to the opening session of the conference.  We spent Monday and Tuesday afternoon visiting the offices of our legislators.  Since Congress was not in session we only got to visit with staff members but it was interesting to get a glimpse of how it all works.

I was amazed at the size and number of the Federal Buildings.  It gave me a different perspective at the size of the federal beauracracy  and how many people it must employ.   No wonder our debt is out of control.

On Saturday, WGO's sister and her boyfriend came down from Philly.  We ate at the Indian Museum and viewed the exhibit that her company had made.  Then we went to Alexandria and walked the quaint downtown area and enjoyed a beer together.  We had dinner with WGO's aunt and several of his cousins.  It was a fun and memorable last evening of our trip.

Our flight home left at 6:00 a.m. We left the hotel at 4:00 and arrived in Mulvane before noon.  I won't bore you with all the details or all the pictures of our trip.  But here is a sampling.

Marine One landing on South White House lawn.

Dave and WGO outside Mr. Pompeo's office.

View of Capitol at Night

The Library of Congress

The Washington Monument

The Lincoln Memorial

The Changing of the Guard at Arlington

Van Gogh self portrait at Art Museum

A Visit with Smokey Bear

The National Cathedral

At the Natural History museum

Melinda, Alan and WGO at Indian Museum

Aunt Donna and cousins (and Alan)



I am blessed!  God is good!

Wow, What a Week!

I have several excuses for my absence from the blogger's sphere.  One, Kayla had her baby and I have been spending time in Rose Hill bonding with Hadley.  Two, we moved.  And three, we haven't had an internet connection!

Hadley Ann Lackey made her appearance on Thursday, September 13th at 4:45 p.m.  She weighed in at 8# 5 oz and measured 19 1/2 inches long.  She is just about perfect in every way.  This grandma was much relieved that labor and delivery went very smoothly.  It was great getting periodic text messages from the Lackey's updating us on the progress of the birthing process.  My, how times have changed!
Thursday evening WGO and I made a dash to Wesley to get a quick peek at Baby Girl Lackey.

I took Thursday afternoon off to pack but ended up running last minute house errands with WGO.  We made another decision (but probably not our last) concerning mirrors and a shower door for the bathrooms.  So Friday,  I packed fast and furiously.  When I had most of the boxes packed, I joined WGO at the new house cleaning.  We crawled into bed at about 10:00 anticipating the move the following morning.  WGO misread the clock and headed to the house at 4:00 a.m.  I, on the other hand. forgot to set an alarm so woke up 45 minutes before the "moving crew" was set to arrive.

The move commenced at 8:00. My friend Mickie and her husband David were GREAT help as were two of our mission trip teens, Hannah and Elizabeth.  Junior Pauly came with a trailer and Dan came with the three grandchildren in tow.  The girls helped me clean and Raph hung out with the guys.  Lucas showed up just as Dan was needing to leave.  Tyler, Laura, and AJ were also on hand to help in the afternoon.  I especially enjoyed AJ's help in getting the kitchen organized.  Megan and Chad and baby Grady came into town Saturday afternoon.  WGO and I were too pooped to join the family at Dan and Myle's for dinner.  We had a very quiet, thrown together meal at our new island in our new house.

This week I have tried to spend as much time as I can with Kayla and the baby.  When I wasn't holding and admiring little Hadley I was cooking and cleaning and doing laundry there.  Kayla felt good enough for an outing on Wednesday to her place of employment and Target.  On Thursday we went to my mom and dad's to check up on Dad who had surgery on Monday and to allow G. G. to hold her 14th great grand baby.

I was blessed to have such great siblings who came to help dad and mom through this week.  Three of my brothers came on Monday to help Judy with surgery day.  Mary came on Tuesday from Michigan and she will stay until Nancy comes from Louisiana.  It was a great relief for me to know that mom and dad were well taken care of while I have been preoccupied with house and baby. 

There are many more boxes in the garage whose contents need to find a permanent home.  I am sure there will be some rearranging over the course of the next few months.  And it may be a while before I can talk WGO into putting nails in the walls to hang pictures.  But for the most part this house now feels like our home.  Stop by and see us some time!

I am BLESSED.  God is good!

The Lackey's hours after Hadley's birth.

WGO cleaning the kitchen.

The Rental in packing mode.

Thank you Hannah and Elizabeth!

Thank you Junior and Lucas.

Grady and Papa
Hadley and Grandma

Sweet Baby Girl

Hadley's first trip to Target.

Spinning Plates

I really should be packing.  Yes, you heard that right.  I should be packing but I thought I would send a blog your way while I have the computer and the rental to my self.

Kayla still has not had her baby.  And the house still isn't finished.  But both could happen this week.
Kayla's due date is September 11th and her doctor said because it was her first she should really consider the 16th as the actual date.  I'm thinking what he means by that is that they won't discuss an "exit strategy" until after the 16th.  Kayla is hanging in there, working each day and trying to get those last minute things done--just in case.  Her craft projects are complete and waiting for Mr. Lackey to put some nails in the wall.  (Unfortunately, he doesn't have nor understand the word "nesting".)  I spent yesterday at the Lackey's doing our laundry and getting some meat prepared and in the freezer for easier meals once baby is in the house.  We cooked 10 lbs. of ground beef and cooked and deboned two chickens.  We froze boneless chicken breasts in meal ready packages.  Her mother-in-law brought down several casseroles last week so meals should be pretty easy.

A lot of progress was made at "the house".  The painter finally finished (except for touch ups).  The electrician is making progress and the plumber is about finished.  The tile guy is done.  WGO and Mr. Lackey have laid the hard wood floor.  Carpet is coming on Monday.  And hopefully our trim carpenter   who was recently injured in a motorcycle vs. deer accident will be able to come and finish the trim in the great room.

WGO and I  went out to the house last night to check out the outside lighting, now complete.  It was weird walking through the house that soon will be our new residence.  It almost seems real now.  I don't think I will really believe it is our home until I sleep there, cook a meal there, and do our laundry there.  Even after we move in there will be lots for WGO to do--finish the bar area, build a mantel in the basement, and get cabinets or shelves in the craft room.  So, I still won't have my husband back but he will be closer.

Have you ever seen a performer spinning plates on top of sticks?  Well, I think if is a good imagery to describe my life right now.  I spent two mornings this week with my mom and dad.  Dad is still dealing with his kidney stone and added a fainting incident to health issues we are dealing with.  Until we figure out what is causing his dizziness he is not driving.  At work, each plate represents one of the ministries that I am involved in, Adult Faith Formation, K-6 FF, Youth Ministry including Mission Trip and Confirmation,  and Stewardship.  Another plate is just trying to keep meals on the table and clean clothes in the drawers.  Add cross country, new babies and new house and there are many plates I am trying to keep from crashing to the floor.  Please don't think I am complaining.  I know I am blessed.  I am blessed that  I can still spend time with my folks.  I am blessed with being able to work with such wonderful people at St. Michaels.  I am blessed to have great kids and a great husband working his tail off to build us a beautiful home.  God is good.

Ready for the freezer.

The floor.

Looks like a toilet!

The kitchen has lighting, sinks, and some appliances.

Light fixture in the dining room.

Ceiling fan in the master bedroom.

About Baby Showers, Birthdays, and Baptisms

Last Sunday we celebrated the imminent birth of Baby Lackey with a Baby Shower.  My sister, Judy and my daughter-in-law Myle were the hostesses of the affair.   There was a full house at the Second Hand Ranch as friends and family gathered to shower the new mom with gifts for the new baby.   It was great seeing so many of Kayla's high school friends.  Some brought babies of their own.  Where in the world did the years go?

In the past year I think I have been to 10 wedding or baby showers.  What a great tradition to gather as women to give support to the next generation of wives and mothers!  It is not only the generosity of the much needed gifts given but also the stories told and the encouragement spoken.  It is as if we are saying, "We have been where you are now and even though the trials and the challenges inherent in being a wife or being a mother are many, we do not regret the life that we chose.  We wish you great happiness!"

the quilt

"I love you to the moon and back"  made by Aunt Megan

a gift from a girlfriend

Kayla surrounded by love.

Thursday was my birthday.  When I came home from church Wednesday night, totally wiped out, I fell down on the couch.  Immediately I smelled the aroma of something baking.  WGO had a cake in the oven.  I can't remember the last time someone made a birthday cake for me.  (It was probably my mother.) And I am pretty sure Gregg had never attempted to bake a cake.  Thursday dawned a new day.  Unfortunately life goes on even if it is your birthday, so I went to work as usual.  AJ had a cross country meet in Clearwater.  It was nice to have Kayla accompany me to the meet.  Afterward we picked up some KFC and took dinner to WGO and Mr. Lackey who were laying the wood floor at the house. We picnicked on the deck.  I said that I wanted to celebrate my birthday at the new house and so I did!  About the cake,  as I served it to our guests (the plumber stopped by to chat) I realized that it was very dry! Gregg was served last and as soon as he took a bite and declared it uneatable the rest of us put our forks down!  Come to find out Gregg didn't put any water into the mix.  We had a good laugh and as they say, "It is the thought that counts."  WGO did hit a home run with the gift--a gift certificate for a manicure and a pedicure.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my birthday buddies in this post.  I got to celebrate with Monica on Friday evening.  We had pizza and cake, a really scrumptious homemade pumpkin cake.  Tyler and I exchanged gifts in Topeka on Sunday.   What a blessing to share my birthday with a son and a granddaughter!

AJ running.

Before the cake was cut.

Today WGO and I left the rental at 5:30a.m. to make a quick trip to T-town.  Today was the day of baby Grady's baptism.  It took place during the Sunday morning liturgy at St. Matthew's Catholic Church.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful celebration of God's love and grace.  I am reminded of the time Jesus said, "Let the children come to me".  He then blessed them and embraced them.   Today he blessed and embraced Grady Mack Beisel!

Grady with his Godmother and Godfathers!

The Baptismal font Grady was immersed in.

Grady with his proud parents and Fr. Jerry.

We stopped by Ty and Laura's apartment.  This is there new table.

The newlyweds--they already of pictures of their big day hung on the wall.