Wednesday

Today it is cold. The weather says it is 10 degrees but it feels cold. We went out today to a tour of University of North Dakota Hockey facility and it is awesome. The part that worried me today was "blowing snow warning" that has crawled across the tv screen all day. There is 2-4 inches snow expected but a lot of wind. Today was bad enough.....it can take my breath away. I truly feel like a sissy here. Payton is doing well and such a good baby. He is so darn cute. Back to the Hockey arena, the floors are marble and all yepp ALL seats are leather there are tv sets everywhere so that you can not be anywhere inside the doors and not see the game. So you can go to concession stand or restroom and watch tvs along your path to and from and while there. A gentleman who played hockey here and went on to have casinos in Las Vegas paid over 100 million to have the arena built. This is definitely hockey country.
I feel somewhat guilty, Amanda and Adam's church is bringing in supper every day and we could do that but the church insists on doing this. Brennen is crazy, he woke me up this morning saying that his daddy told him to. I will have to talk to Adam about this! We picked up Taylor after school and then went to eat at a Bistro. It was good stuff. I dreaded running to the car for the trip home. It is cold!
Brian is doing well with his finals and we will meet up with him and his friend Oliver in Columbus Monday evening. Lisa was excited that Griswald used the litter box without coaxing. I may have her keep him a while longer if it works out good for her. Karen and Dorian are well and warm. Brenne is sitting down and we are all watching Frosty the snowman. Brennen and Amanda are eating sherbert but I can't bring myself to eat something cold. Can't wait to see the windchills tomorrow....it makes me cold to think about it.

Monday

Much to my dismay, we went outside today. We went to Super Target then to lunch. The Target was awesome and we bought several newborn outfits and some cute little "boots" for his North Dakota winters. We went to Applebees next and all looked good until they told us their heat was not working. They had electric heaters everywhere. Imagine if you will, no heat and 0 degree weather. Yep, it was warm and was not below freezing. I ate with my coat on and was still cold. Then Amanda and Adam dropped me, Sharon and Brennen off at the mall while they went by Adam's work and then took Payton to his first dr. appt. We quickly learned every bathroom in the mall as Brennen was having to go every few minutes. My baby called and he had his first final today and will be home this weekend. I am so proud of him. Talked to Lisa and she is frustrated with Griswald, (doesn't surprise me, he could frustrate Mother Teresa) Talked to Karen on line and she is good too. It is now -7 degrees, I can't imagine living here in winter. But it is a clean, modern city that is full of young people. Taylor is here today and it is good to see her. She read an entire book to me tonight. I changed Payton and I was a little slow and he peed all over himself. By the way, the doctor said Payton is just fine. I am tired and need to close. Enjoy the pics.

ND Day 3

Payton and his quilt that Lisa made him and me and the boys!

ND day two

Well I slept for almost 11 hours last night and feel well rested today. Payton is even cuter today if that is possible. He is truly a beautiful baby. It warmed up over night and it was 7 degrees by afternoon. So with the warm spell, Adam and Brennen went outside to play and shovel. I watched from the window. Brennen is simply B rennen, a very energetic three year old who makes me laugh. He asked me to lie down with him to take his nap this afternoon. He never quits talking even as he goes to sleep. The Durbin household is really celebrating. Brennen's adoption was final last week so he is now officially a Durbin. Well they got him a cake and celebrated his adoption and he calls the cake his "Durbin cake". Adam being Brennen's daddy legally is such a answer to prayers. Adams does an excellent job taking care of his family. Taking it easy today just watching christmas shows and holding the boys. As for the cold, I can't even imagine going outside to play in this cold but I guess it is what you get used to.

Another Journey, this time to ND

Last night I went to Columbus to get ready to fly out again. I have got to plan my vacations in the summer time from now on! I spent the night with Lisa and she is watching Griswald for me while I will be in North Dakota. She had bought Griswald a Christmas outfit which is really appropriate since he is name for Clark Griswald of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation fame. The Santa outfit was really cute and he didn't even mind it. I think it was keeping him warm. Lisa deserves a medal for taking people to the airport. She got up at 4:30a this morning to take us to airport and on a Saturday at that. I dressed warm, trying to always be prepared. The flight to Minneapolis was non eventful which is a good way for flights to be. When we landed at Minneapolis we were told that it was -1 degrees air temp. That is cold! Soon enough we boarded the plane headed to Grand Forks, North Dakota. As we were settling in, the pilot announced that there would be a delay while the airplane was refueled. It didn't need fuel to make it to Grand Forks, but it would need it before it's return flight to Minneapolis. According to the pilot, the fuel could not be got at Grand Forks as their fuel was frozen. So Minneapolis at -1 was warm? That should have been a good clue. Eventually we got off the ground and before long we landed at Grand Forks. As we landed, the pilot announced that the air temp was -18. They did not tell us the wind chill, a person can only take so much at one time and they probably figured that we would not get off the plane if we knew the wind chill temps. Amanda and Adam arrived at the airport to pick us up and she who just had a baby three days previously, was in jeans; real jeans not maternity. When we arrived at their house we got bunches and bunches of hugs from Brennen. He is so big now but he is so silly. Payton is probably the prettiest baby I have ever seen as a newborn. (excluding my three). He has the perfectly shaped head and the cutest button nose and really long toes. We have tried to get him awake all day to no avail. He wakes up just to eat. I think he might have his nights and days mixed up. All in all, it has been a good day. Amanda is just like a daughter to me and I could not miss out on this opportunity to see their latest. And I would go anywhere to visit Brennen. I will try to add some pics and will try to write more tomorrow. If my fingers don't freeze overnight....

December 2nd

How did it get to be December? Last I knew it was4th of July. This time of year gets a person to thinking and I am thinking through writing. Last night I watched my favorite college football team lose. Not sure how it happened. WVU only had to beat a sub par team and then play for the national championship. WVU has so much talent and is such an awesome team, but last night they did not play like one. The anxiety that I felt in the final quarter and the disappointment at the end of the game was very real. How could such a good team have such a bad night?
How many bad nights have I had? How many nights has my heavenly father sat and watched me be less than I am capable of? Probably several.
Church this morning was thought provoking, giving instead of receiving. We were reminded that we need to make a list for giving just like receiving? Well I am making my list, this is my fantasy list of what I would love to give.
I would give the Red Cross in Marietta a new modern building and call it the Jan Packer building after an awesome woman. I would give Community Action enough money to have no waiting list for meals on wheels delivery. And to my mom I would give her an on call aide to drive her where ever she wanted to go, clean whatever she wanted or just spend time with her. And my children, Lisa would have a lovely condo near work and Brian would have free air miles to visit whenever he wants. For Karen I would give her an unlimited bank account for Casa and those wonderful grand children of mine. Jason and Jen would have a wonderful large home with a big fenced yard and Amanda and Adam would own their own day care chain that would make a difference in so many children's lives. Every elderly person in Washington County I would give home help twice a week and someone to visit them too. To show my selfishness, I want something for myself. A soup kitchen/transitional homeless shelter for families.
I love to dream but dreams are the first step to making it reality. My reality of what I want to give this season is
gifts to the elderly that I deal with daily, gifts of socks, gloves and hats.
and for the ones that have those things I want them to have something that makes them feel special and thought of. I want to make a huge Christmas dinner and with help of others deliver meals to some special people. I am not alone in these types of wishes, everyone I know wants to make a difference to others I am lucky that I have those around me that will assist me and encourage me. Tomorrow is the first day of the week and there are many things to be done, I need to get the annual poinsettia to my mother, you see Dec. 1st was Mom and Dad's anniversay and I have given her one each year. And to my special sister who is having a birthday on Tuesday I give one also. She is spending her birthday in Amish country, a gift from her husband. Tuesday I am having supper with a wonderful group of women who inspire me. A busy week but a thankful week. One that I can use to spend with exceptional people that God has blessed me with. I am rambling, so I will close. I will post a pic of one of my Honduran grandchildren........