End of Summer, Reunions and Rehab

It has been a busy, busy week for me! I have had to family reunions in the last week, started outpatient physical therapy, had a Scentsy party and attended a 31 party. Oh... and school starts back in session tomorrow for me. I need a vacation!


Last weekend was our Lyons Family Reunion. It was a great turnout and a huge auction success! Here are a couple of photos of our "clan". 

A collection of my Granny Lyons (pictured here) children and their spouses.

I think a few got away from us but this was the most of the crowd at the reunion . It was great to see some faces that I hadn't got to see there for a few years!

I had another reunion yesterday in Chillicothe, Ohio. This was the Bell Family (my mother's side). I was running late and forgot my camera when I left the house but there were several people taking pictures and I'm waiting to get some of those in my inbox to share with you.

I started outpatient physical therapy last week for my back. I have issues just gradually getting worse over time and I need to try to improve things and avoid surgery later down the road. I had a fall on icy steps in 2003 that left some parting gifts of damage for me. Combine that with Degenerative Disc Disease and a little bit of arthritis setting in and I have some rough days sometimes. So 3 visits a week for 6 weeks and they say they can have me moving and bending in ways I can't now. Can't wait to see the pull that off. I have a great friend who is a wonderful physical therapist but I can't work it out to see him. :( John is the best! His office is about a 30 minute drive away but since I have to leave from work and get straight to therapy, I can't get to John's that many days a week with at least a 45 minute drive from my office. :( Stinks having to "settle" for second best (but still good therapy though).

I can tell it's the end of summer. My college classes resume tomorrow. This semester is Business Math and Psychology. I'm excited to get started again but I'm sure in a few short weeks I'll be counting the days for my short fall break again, as usual. :)

Getting To Know You Sunday

I attended and awesome family reunion yesterday. I'm working on getting my pictures ready and will post them tomorrow. I really enjoyed spending time with family I hadn't seen in a few years and really enjoy being around. Now it time for Getting To Know You Sunday with Keely @ MannLand5 

The questions this week are: 

1. If you could host a Reality TV show, which one would it be?

It would probably be a cooking or home makeover show. I really like the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows but I love the ideas I get from the HGTV and Food Network reality shows.

2. Do you put your seatbelt on before or after you start the car?

Sometimes before, sometimes after... but I never put it in gear and hit the road without it on!

3. Shave or hair removal cream?

Shave. I have the smell of the hair removal creams and honestly shaving is faster. I don't wanna stand there and wait to take the cream off. And it doesn't stay on good in a shower while I'm tending to other body parts. So no hair removal creams for me!

4. What's your favorite feature in a house?

I enjoy relaxing in the living room on a comfy couch but I also like a big, roomy kitchen to work in and have room for a few people at a time to work, mingle and visit all at the same time. I don't have a kitchen like that :( but it's something I love.

5. What is your favorite "Fall" scent?

It has to be the pumpkin & spice scents. They of course make me think of all the wonderful smells that associate with fall.

6. What tv show are you looking forward to seeing the most this Fall??

I honestly don't have anything I'm waiting to watch. I always have something I look forward to seeing most anytime but nothing comes to mind that I am "waiting" to watch this Fall. I guess since I start back to school Aug 30th and I know that between working full time, domestic duties and school, I won't have a lot of time anyway, I haven't gotten myself hyped up for anything in particular. I'll just see what's on and good to watch when I do find the time.

7. Personal Shopper or Personal Chef?

I have to echo my friend Stephanie on this one. I'll take the Personal Chef! I really wanna be a GREAT cook, but until I am, I'll handle the shopping and choose a Personal Chef. That way someone else is making those great meals I see on TV while teaching me along the way. =)

8. What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of "Fall"?

I look forward to the fall decorating and activities that go along with that time of year... hayrides, bonfires, etc. The crisp cool air - certainly more inviting than the humid, muggy evenings of summer.

It's your turn now. Go ink up @ Keely's place and play along!

Gifts of Wisdom

This week I'm dedicating the Gifts of Wisdom post to my good friend, Lori.

As a single mother, she works hard to raise her young 5 year old son, help her older son (23) get through college and her young daughter (19) to raise the beautiful granddaughter she's given her as her daughter works and goes to college as well. You know with this kind of load there are many days when everything isn't a bed of roses... to say the least. But as I listen to Lori as she talks I pray for her and encourage her to trust God and keep believing that whatever she needs, He will provide.

This week's Gift of Wisdom from the Treasure Box is

Most of us, at some time or other, has had the wish... even if for only a moment... to 'win the lottery' right? To just be handed the answer to all of the problems and frustrations we are dealing with. There would be no bills to worry about, no scraping to buy groceries or put gas in the car just to get to work. All of our problems would disappear!

Have you ever faced a time in your life when you were down to your last dime? You worried how you were going to feed your family their next meal? Keep the bare necessary utilities paid, such as electric or gas? I have. I was once a single mother as well. I did a lot of worrying but I also did a lot of praying. I was blessed with a wonderful Christian Mother who taught me how to pray and how to trust God for the things I need. If we never had to face hard times, we would never learn to trust God and depend on Him to meet all our needs. If we came into this world and started out with all we would ever need in this life, we would have no reason to trust God. He provides just what we need, but in His timing.

"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who have been called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 

The next time you are facing a situation you see no way out of, pray in faith, believing that God will provide all your needs. 

Random Thursday & Prize Sign

Things have been a little crazy around here. Sorry I've been MIA. Just a few things to share...




Remember the stray, pregnant cat from my front porch I mentioned in Post It Note Tuesday? She was determined to make our house, her home. Since I couldn't find a good home for her, a good friend of mine (though not a huge animal lover herself) had her fixed so at least the worry of more babies on my front porch would be gone. When the appointment was set up for the spay date, they asked for the cats name, breed, color and gender. All that was easy except the name. She had no name, being a stray and all. So this cute little girl was name Shadow in a split second of conversation. 

The vet's office also attaches the owner/parents last name to the pet as well. So it was a riot to see my friend's eyes roll as they call over the intercom "Shadow Eichenlaub for dismall". She's spayed, recovered and doing great. I'm not in hurry now to find her a home, and she's even growing on me now. So the joke in our family is we are foster parents for Shadow Eichenlaub.

We've had some crazy storms here today. My friend Lori's house had a tree fall on it today. Besides physical damage to the house, the tree hit and pulled off the electric box on the side of the house, ripping out her whole wiring circuit and leaving a hot electric line on the ground. Her children where home (she was at work with me) but thankfully no one was hurt. If you don't mind, a prayer would be great for her and this costly repair project. Did I mention she's a single mother of 3 and also has a grandbaby added to the mix too. She could use a prayer or two. Thanks!


There has been a lot of late working nights trying to get things caught up at work. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully our office will reach that light by the first of next week!


I also had to take my Abby to the vet a few days ago, due to impacted anal glands. I will spare you the ugly details here but feel free to Google it if you are curious. If you ever watch Dirty Jobs with Mike Roe, you probably know about the process to empty those glands. =)  She was pretty miserable and is doing just great now!


I also have to show off my great sign I WON from Stephanie S. @ A Day in the Life of a Grad Student's Wife. With everything going on here I haven't had time to take my own pic but here is the photo I borrowed from Stephanie's giveaway post.

It's gonna look GREAT in my new cubicle at work when we move to our new office. Since our "colors" (our logo, scrubs we wear, etc) are Brown & Teal! =)


Please go visit Stephanie's Blog and click on her Etsy Shoppe too for some more great handmade signs. I have another one or two I'm planning on getting my hands on. Thanks Steph. I LOVE IT!