My thoughts on matters large and small, deep and shallow. Join me for coffee and correspondence. This month's coffee: Folger's Half-Caff. Today's Cookies: the plain round ones on the lower shelf at the store called, "Tea Cookies." They're yummy and affordable!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
awake
Sarah Jane and I just got back 1:30am. We should've arrived at 9:35, but I overshot our exit off the Garden State Parkway. We knew we had gone too far when we saw flat land and sand in the soil...
God was good and saw us safely home. I have a cold and my nose is running like a faucet. And this coffee... And I think I'm just so happy to be back with my own family. I missed them!
One thing I did while in CT was really fun: Clair took me to see Nunsense at the Ivoryton Theatre. It was great! If you have a chance to see it, go! We laughed and laughed. There were a couple not-nice lines/jokes, but generally it was fine. The one character, "Mother Superior," was played by a man. "Mother Superior" seemed to weigh about 300 lbs, but moved with amazing agility for "her" weight. He/she was a great dancer. Clair was amazed at how nimble this heavy person was. I told her I thought he was padded. After the show, the actor came out in street clothes, and he was a trim man, about 5'7", weighing maybe 150. The padding really looked like real extra weight.
My friend had her baby. She had a girl, her third child, though poly-cystic ovarian disease has bothered her for some time. I think God must feel such joy in making these miracles happen. Makes me want another one. I guess that never goes away. If God wants to, He can make it happen, but so far, in the 15 years since getting my tubes done, nothing has happened outside of the IVF we did to get Noah. He knows best.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Road trip to New England
My friend is Clair. And while Sarah Jane and her buddies were going to the beach, Clair and I were having manicures. I'd never had one before and let me tell you it was most relaxing. Clair treated. (I think she was a bit taken back that I'd never had my nails done before.) Mei, my Chinese nail-doer, was very thorough, and trimmed all my cuticles, massaged my hands and forearms, and even put a very warm towel on them. I think I liked that more than having spiffy nails. The process of having my nails done involved seemingly countless lotions and polishes. I think Mei applied 8 different liquids to my nails and hands by the time she sat me down under the dryer. And then Clair joined me. We sat there, feeling very girly and self-indulgent. A gal massaged Clair's back. (She had offered to do mine as well, but I thought it was extra so I declined.) Now my nails are a tasteful light pink, and I feel very special.
Clair loves the Lord, and so we have spent much time talking about His working in our lives, and how much He has blessed us.
Clair has quite a testimony. She said He manifested Himself to her in a most miraculous way. Jesus told her to read His Word because every word in it was true. I just had shivers as she shared all the details. Clair's working on a book, and I think she'll include this, so I'll not write it all out now. Just trust me - if you are earnestly seeking God, He will reveal Himself to you!
It's just about time to check in on another friend and see how her C-section went yesterday. I imagine she'll feeling a bit ouchy right now. I remember that feeling the next day, after all that wonderful numbing medicine has worn off. You just want to hop out of bed, but you can't. You have to move in slow motion because there are 7" of staples holding your tummy shut...
Saturday, June 23, 2007
My newest obsession
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Depression glass
Also, here's a lamp that Faith's mom has. Faith said it was rather old. I liked how the bottom lights as a night-light. You can have both parts on, or just one. Isn't it dear? I love the color!
And, though it's off topic, I just had to post a pic of Maisy, our Sheltie, how I found her this morning. She's often on her back.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Respite in Rosebud
Faith and I chattered happily, both being ENFP's, and the time flew. As soon as we got there, we headed to the main street for a town parade and fair. I loved the small town of Coalport, right across the river from Rosebud, a walk from Faith's childhood home. As fire engines and sportscars (advertising so-and-so for city council) inched by, the passengers threw candy to the crowd. Noah soon had more than he could carry. Nice ladies walked along, handing out balloons to kids. A Ten Commandments float went by - that was neat.
After the parade, we walked about and Noah won a bird whistle at a dart game! We ate hot dogs and snow cones, and every other person stopped Faith to say hello. "Oh, that was my cousin," Faith would explain, or her father's cousin, or her aunt, and so on. Everyone knew everyone else, or was related to them. I loved it. Also, I envied how Faith, now, and as a child, walked to her old-fashioned Methodist church, with the bells ringing everyone in. "Frank and I were married here." she told me. Yet again, I felt ripped off by my own wedding in a done-over grocery store, star-pierced lit border, mirrored poles and all... Oh well. The reception was OK. I often find myself wanting to have a vow renewal in an olf-fashioned church. Maybe someday we will - and then go on the honeymoon that David longs for. (Scuba-diving off some island - I'd really like that too!)
But I digress.
Back to the usual now. But I was ready to come home. I missed the rest of my family. Faith missed her squirrel.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
family visits
Friday, June 8, 2007
chipmunk cheeks
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Job well done
My mother-in-law joined us, just back from her trip to Venice. She brought souveniers with her! She has got to be the best souvenier-getter in the entire East coast. As soon as David had opened his gifts, she started handing out all the others. Soon the table was filled with interesting goodies: hand-painted flutes, T-shirts, jewelry, linens, old-fashioned toys, and knocking balls (which may be whisked away in the night by the peace-and-quiet fairy). By the time all was unwrapped, I had an ecru hand-crocheted table runner, a golddust-filled glass pendant, and a lovely sachet of dried lavendar, mmmmm-mmm!
Mom told us that Dad insisted on getting that fancy table runner for me. He bargained and bargained for it, finally spending about $70 on it. He's so good to me. I still treasure the Canadian gold coin pendant he brought me a couple years ago.
Well, I'm pooped. Time for bed...
Screeee!
"Screeeeeeee!"
How is it that a five-year-old can scream this much.
"Screeeee-eeeeee! Ben is on my bike!!! You're not riding it in the middle! Screeeeee!"
"Screeeeeeee! Becka won't let me on the couch! Screeeeee! She pinched me! Becka- I'm never gonna play with you again! I hate you!"
So, what is a mom to do? Send them all to their rooms, put some break-and-bake cookies in and watch a movie...
This really happened.
As I got to the girls' room, I heard a terrified scream come from Josh. It was one of those get-there-now! screams, and I ran to see what was up. As I approached the room, there was an orange glow coming out of it - fire! I screamed for David as I nearly dropped Ben at the doorway and ran in to get Josh off his bed, which was on fire.
Josh was trapped behind the fire, in the corner the bed was in, but I got around it, grabbed him, and took him out of the room. By this time, David had flung the books off and was in the room. He tried to beat the fire out with a blanket, but it just kept coming alive again. This was because of the mattress, an old one filled with Spanish moss of all things! We had to haul it outside and douse it with water. Still it stayed lit. Finally I suggested David cut it open like a bun, and douse it. That worked.
All this started because Josh snuck some matches into bed.
So I have two pieces of advice for moms:
1. Don't use old mattresses. Use new, non-flammable ones.
2. Don't keep matches. We have only kid-proof lighters in the house now, as we have a five-year-old son.
God was good.
Monday, June 4, 2007
KJV only!
http://www.av1611.org/
Lots of good stuff. Educate yourself. Why use a butter knife when you could use a sharp sword?
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Shorn Sheltie
Here she is before:
And after: