And then there was Friday....

Yesterday's post was about what happened on Thursday.

Ellie ended up spending Thursday night with me.

She and Luke had their checkup and overdue shots scheduled for Friday at 10:30.  Ellie really really wanted me to be there at the checkup and the "shot event" because I'm always at the pediatrician's office with them.  She had a point.  I really usually am - but didn't plan to be this time.

I had my one day of Huntsville  Christmas shopping rescheduled for Friday.  It was originally planned for Wednesday, but we had had our winter freeze on Friday.

Charlie and the Toyota dealership had me planned to come down on Friday and pick out the right color Camry which Charlie and I had decided to purchase for my next new car, since my 1995 Corolla had quit.

As I was getting ready, putting on my makeup, for whatever I would actually be doing on Friday, Sarah called from New Orleans - confused about the pain which was accompanying what she had thought was a bladder infection.  I continued to insist she either go to Urgent Care or find a doctor.  She had her own things that absolutely had to be done on Friday.  Is there ever a good time to be sick??? NO!

Ann and Steve, with Luke and Andrew in the van, came and picked up Ellie.  I told them I'd meet them at the pediatrician.

Charlie and I talked and agreed we'd pick out the color that afternoon.

Ann called back and said she thought Ellie was fine and calm enough for me not to meet them at the doctor's office.

Kate, who had just arrived at home on Thursday afternoon, was just getting up and decided she did want to go with me to Huntsville.  She probably showered and got ready in 10 minutes.  15, max.  Meantime, I hear from Sarah whose pain has increased to Kidney Stone level.  She, and I agreed, thought she probably had Kidney Stones.  She had driven to Urgent Care only to find out they didn't open until 11:00. End of that story?  She couldn't get in touch with whatever friends she had who weren't at work.  She drove herself to the emergency room, after "throwing up" at a red light - opening the door and heaving - soiling the pavement and maybe a little of her car and clothing....while in extreme pain.

I then talked with Ann and yes, Ellie was expecting "Near" (that's me) who had promised to meet her there.  I had.  I had promised her.

Kate and I drove straight to Dr. Powell's office (pediatrician to my 4 girls and now to Ellie, Luke, and Andrew - he even saw John during Thanksgiving holidays - John with all the Pink Eye) I left Kate in the waiting room - and went back to the very small room where I round very tall Steve, Ann, Mike Powell, Ellie and Luke, who were both on the exam table sitting up,  and Andrew in Ann's arms.  It was a tight squeeze to add one more person.  Mike was looking into Luke's eyes and swung around on his swivel chair when I came in.  We were all amused at the idea of adding one more adult body to the mix - (Mike is an old friend - so I was able to do this sort of thing.)

All the while I'm wondering about Sarah who I knew was at the ER in New Orleans with Kidney Stones, looking for relief.  I was also on the phone a lot with Charlie who also wanted reports on Sarah.

Ellie didn't get shots.  She'll get them next visit.  Luke got two shots and did GREAT! Amazing.  We all then went to Chik Fil A and had lunch.  Funny and the usual fast food experience with lots of Christmas Shoppers and lots of moms and kids.

We parted company - with the Barbers - and Kate and I headed off into the Huntsville world to get what we needed to get.  Got a text from Sarah.  She was  being seen by a doctor and tested for whatever.  By the way, her throwing up at that red light had greatly relieved her nausea and her unbearable pain.

End of the day.  Sarah spent ALL OF FRIDAY in the emergency room.  After much waiting mixed with 2 urine specimens and a Cat Scan - she was told she had one stone trying to pass, one still in her kidney, and no bladder infection - but still had the sensation of a bladder infection.  She was sent home with pain medication and a "good luck".

End of our day -  Kate, who had been tremendous help with my thinking through everything, and I came home and were greatly relieved that Charlie said we'd wait until Saturday morning to "pick out the car".

SATURDAY

Sarah called very early - she'd been wakened at 5:45 by the kidney stone trying to get through.  It was all harrowing and the phone calls intensified and Charlie knew she couldn't drive home and he made the decision to go get her.   We were stone faced,  driving to pick out the "dang" car - no conversation - if you could have heard Sarah's voice in distress - as she heaved and agonized with the crazy stone -  the kindest things were, her roommate driving her back to the hospital - and delaying her trip home for Christmas by a day.  Also - that God already knew about this dilemma, therefore,  her roommate  knew of a Urologist in their church who is also in her roommate's community group.  They were able to call his cell and talk directly with him.  It was Saturday and  Sarah wasn't an official patient of his, but he did say she absolutely had to go back to the hospital since she couldn't keep liquids down.

That was incredible relief, knowing she was going back to the hospital.   Laura, her roommate, drove her.

End of the day, once again, Sarah got relief with nausea and pain medication with shots - they kept her for a couple of hours - did another test for any possible infection - still not there - sent her home with nausea and pain medication this time -  Sarah felt good enough for the two of them to get as far as Evergreen where my sister lives.  We had wondered if they would even be home as early as Monday.

Sarah and Charlie came home today.

She has spent the entire day without pain medication so instinctively wonder if the one stone has passed.    All other bladder sensations are also gone - hence - we have hope that the one stone is passed.  Don't know when the other one will decide to travel.

Back to Christmas.

Meanwhile - Children did an adorable Christmas program today at church.

After this long post I'll give just a few pictures of the performance.

When Your Child Leaves Home You Clean Out Her Closet

Kate's closet was way over due for "going through".  I've done it a million times - it seems like it -

but - it had gotten so out of control.

If you go to  her blog ever , you'll find that she is fascinated with fashion, weddings, ummm, well, Hollywood glamour - yep - she is - and she is not kidding and I am not kidding.

Good grief!  The magazines that were in that closet.  I did some major cleaning out - but don't panic, Kate, if you're reading this.  There's a lot of wedding mags I saved.  The good ones - the ones still in tact.  I kept albums you'd created - any fashion sketches I kept - but my dining room table is full of throw away stuff.

And to get it from her closet upstairs and to my table downstairs,

I had to make lots of trips up and down these

carrying as much as I could in my arms.

and it's  a narrow space between bed and closet,

so I was in the closet most of the time just sitting and reaching and pulling out stuff.

These girls wondered if they were gonna be cast offs or keepers.

I wondered, too.  I stared at them, stroked their hair,

remembered the look on Kate's face that Christmas when she opened up the dark one.

She'd seen it at Unclaimed Baggage - it was new, it was being sold in what used to be their furniture store.  She loved it.  I surprised her with it.  She thought Santa had surprised her.

and then the redhead joined the beautiful Indian girl another year - but soon Kate outgrew that interest and the two dolls.  They were just for display - not for playing.

Don't they look bewildered?  I could imagine that the Indian girl was whispering in the Redhead's ears,

"Is she gonna give us away?  Do you think she'll keep us?"  And it looks like the Redhead is whispering back, "I don't know.  I'm just trying not to think about it."

I kept them.

And this character?  What do I do with this?

It's a valentines box for receiving classroom cards.

Made out of an Oatmeal Box.

and this one...

I didn't have it  in me to toss out this part of Kate's childhood,

when she trusted me to "create" for her - oops!  I mean, with her.

See?  When the girls had a project like this....welllll....

I had a tendency to take over.  I got into the whole creativity thing and in elementary school, often, gawdy was better.  So I was able to express my inner gawdy/tacky side.  

And let me tell you something, people.

In a family of 5 women - we have the 10lb, 5lb, and 3 lb weights.

These are not all we have.  Kate took some with her to Wake.

Laura Beth has some in McDonough on the living room floor

right next to the diaper stash.

I have to step over some in the garage, gathering garage dust and debris, 

in order to make my trek to garbage cans,

walking around all the stuff we moved home from Auburn.

I'm telling you, we look like classic hoarders.

But it's getting better and we will be taking a load of stuff to New Orleans for Sarah.

So, after cleaning out the closet, I kept her bulletin board from high school,

the one that shows the 18 year old Kate - heart and soul.

I did stick up that little wooden ADPi thingy, just because,

my girls walk away from all that sorority stuff after they graduate from college,

but it was such a part of their college experience.

Good or Bad, it was.

And this wedding picture that has stood the test of time,

well,

it remains, defining Kate's style interest.

I think it does.  It was on her wall in high school.

Now it's on her closet wall .

Put there by mom, who might just be trying to hold on to a time when I had daughters living at home

under our care.

and this,

it's hanging on the opposite closet wall.

When each of the girls turned ten,

I made them a poster of the first ten years of their life.

This is Kate's.

And, finally, the clean closet, organized and not as packed.

Sarah's will be next.

I've done it before, but it needs it again.

Have to Move to Something in the Present

It just bothers me to stay on that last post - so I have to put something fresh and new up here even though it's my second today.

We're moving Kate out of here.  She got the percentage of support she needed to move  to Winston Salem so she plans to leave on Thursday.  I've no doubt she'll post about it.  So, next two days she and I will get the packing completed.

just about 2 1/2 months ago we  moved her home from Auburn

and here we are

packing to send her off again.

We just said goodbye to Sarah 

who is now moved into her new apartment in New Orleans, 

following a summer's trial run to see if it would work out, 

her living and working there.  It's working out.

thank you, Lord, for directing our steps and providing all the way.

Please let us all reflect You.

August First

Welcome August..... I think!

I hate not to welcome the beginning of any month.

But, August?

We know what it means.

Say one final goodbye to summer of 2010.  It will be a hot goodbye.  Hot!

We looked so forward to this summer.  I did.  And of course there's always Fall and October to look forward to.  and November and December with all of it's creativity and color.  Before winter.

But summer of 2010.  I was so glad for it to be here.

So much to be thankful for.  So much.

5 grandchildren with one on the way.

Kate and Sarah placed in jobs and places they are glad to be a part of.  That makes me so grateful and glad.  It scares me, sometimes, to have such a "glad" feeling.  Not because I don't want a grateful heart, but we are in a momentary "comfortable" place - not so much in a trial or even a semi trial - unless you count having to do strenuous moving of girls to new places a trial.  I don't really.

John is due to see a neurologist next week.  For now, it seems "precautionary" and not too alarming.  It's followup on the whys of his crying and holding his breath and that turning into what looks like a seizure of sorts.  I've seen it and it is unnerving.  I've never seen anything like that.  It happened last time Laura Beth had him at the pediatrician, fortunately.  It got their attention.  She had been telling him about it and he brushed off what he thought was that typical breath holding thing.  He sent them to a pediatric cardiologist who gave good reports on his heart.  Some blips and wanted to see him in 6 months - but still, just routine followup for the most part.  So - to cover all bases, the pediatrician wants her to see a neurologist.  I don't think about it too much.  I've seen him this weekend and he is incredibly strong and healthy and so on top of things in developlment - and hasn't done the crying/seizure thing.  That's because if he whimpers I go for him and at least encourage someone to do so.  I mean, so does Laura Beth, but as a grandmother I immediately want to not let the crying get out of hand, to prevent the thing he does.

But still, what messes with my angst is the emotional stability of my daughters - even more than their physical health.  Isn't that weird?  Mess with their hearts and I go into savior mode.  Fix it, fix it!!  but then, the physical can step over and mess with the emotional - so there's both.  It's my area of really having to let God be God and my not trying to handle everything.

How did I get from the subject being "August" to the subject being "I'm So Glad My Girls Are Happy for Now"?  Anyway - life is just full of stuff to deal with and for now all is quiet on the home front and I'm glad but with a watchful eye.  I really am identified as an optimist more than a pessiment by my friends and family - but also a realist - and life is life and it has its stuff(trials).

I'll tell you one thing - I'm so blessed to the point I'm exhausted.  All four of my daughters plus grandchildren have been in my home this weekend.  We have laughed and talked and analyzed and everything else while the grandchildren had their own hullabaloo - It's Sunday evening and I am really tired and really glad.

And.....Welcome August - Thank you Lord for every season and every day and every month and every year and every second.  Thank you for the good, the bad and the ugly and how You use it all in our lives to make us look like You, when we have said yes to Your Gospel.  When we have said yes to You.

I Am Very Much Back in Scottsboro, AL

On to the next thing.

Tasks, tasks, tasks.

Responsibilities.

Daily living.

In order to have the thing we most want we have to "do".   - and for me, what I want on this day, it is.....

1.  My children with me.

2.  A well-groomed yard.

3.  Clean Sheets.

4.  Giving to Best Friends.

5.  Healthy Food in the Pantry.

6.  Less Clutter.

7.  Fig Preserves for today.

and other things....

but it means getting the thing done.

Sooooooo........

I have a very abundant Fig Tree.  This is its first year to have lots of fruit - enough that I need to do something with it so that it will not be thrown out.

I made fig preserves this morning.  YAY!!  Mother used to make the best Fig Preserves.  I didn't know they were so easy.  Mom, you're busted!  I thought it would be so hard.  

Laura Beth and John and Ada are travelling to Scottsboro tomorrow....just when we thought they weren't.  I can't wait to see them and get my hands on John.  They will be here so briefly but it's worth it to me and I plan to meet LB halfway to intercept Ada so that the trip won't be so harrowing for Laura Beth.  (This is my idea, not Laura Beth's - to meet her - I just want to encourage her travels here to S'boro - I remember those long trips home - with babies)

We have a very fun baby shower on Saturday for Esther's little girl Charlotte.  She writes about her at the place I just highlighted, and if you missed that you can go here to read her great posts regarding the upcoming arrival of precious Charlotte in late August.  I get so excited when I see she's put up a new post.

Sheets have been washed - just have to get them on the beds.

And.... I need to cut grass - I WANT to cut grass - so will have to go get gasoline and pick up 2 wrapped gifts at  Gina's and Grapevine in Scottsboro.  Oh - and my prescription at CVS.

TASKS, tasks, tasks.  Is that where we get tsk, tsk, tsk?  Here in the south we say that.  I guess we say tsk over tasks.  Silly.

I've already been to WalMart and needed available healthy and desirable food for the girls and myself....and the grandchildren.

So - very active day - but I want to get to my yard.

Let me close.  Things to do.  Sarah is on her way here.  Kate will be coming home tomorrow - and Laura Beth and the children - and Ann is probably as glad as I am to have her sisters here in town.

KEEN-wah

Today I'll share how I love Quinoa.

I have had it before, and liked it, but had not made it a staple.

We had dinner with friends the other night and I wanted to eat the whole bowl of their Quinoa, the way they had prepared it.

I heard her husband ask, as I was conversing with another guest, "Sue, do I just pour these vegetables in with the Quinoa?"  and she answered, "Yes".  Didn't give that much  thought as I continued to talk.

When I helped myself, at the table, as the bowl was passed to me, I took notice and really, really took notice when I ate it.  So good.  It had different diced vegetables in it (carrots were visible because of their orange color) and so light tasting and so yummy.  It went so well with their grilled salmon and grilled asparagus.  So good.  Note to self:  Buy Quinoa and make it the same way, although I didn't ask what they had done.  I forgot to ask.

Following Monday I was in Huntsville and at a new grocery store which is a lot like Trader Joe's (not as good, though)  BUT - I looked for the Quinoa.  And they had a red kind.  That got my attention.  I only knew about the yellow version.  Dark seemed like it would be even tastier.  Got it and read on the box - yep - told how to add diced veggies of my choosing when I put the Quinoa in the water to cook. I didn't have carrots.  I had celery, onion and garlic and grape tomatoes. Oh, and some fresh green beans.  I finely chopped a few of those.  So good.  Just takes a little bit of veggies - don't want to over power.  I may have put in 1 or 2 chicken bouillon cubes for added flavor.  There was no oil at all.

We had some fresh cucumbers and next day, when the leftover Quinoa was cold, I diced a lot of cucumber into a bowl and tossed it with the leftover Quinoa - as a cold salad.  Very good!!

I really really liked the red Quinoa.  I think I prefer it.  But I like both.

Grains

I really, really enjoy whole grains, and, as of this summer, it's official.   My favorite grain used to be Whole Grain Rice, but now my two favorite grains are Wild Rice and Quinoa (pronounced KEEN - wah)

A recipe that I put together this summer is for a soup - basic.

BLACK BEAN and WILD RICE SOUP

Black Beans and Wild Rice, with onion and garlic and celery, if you like celery.

Begin the cooking process for the Wild Rice.  Instructions will be on package, but it's 1 part rice to 2 parts water.  About 1/2 tsp. salt per 1 cup rice.    for a moderate amount of soup, use 1 cup rice and 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp. salt.  Bring Rice, Water, and salt to a boil and reduce heat to low and cover with lid.  Simmer for 50 to 55 minutes.

While Rice is cooking, prepare vegetables.
In a nonstick skillet saute amount of your choosing of the 3 vegetables, chopped and diced.  Use about a tablespoon of olive oil and stir constantly to keep the heat evenly distributed and the oil.  Maybe 1 onion, 3 stalks celery, 2 cloves garlic.

Drain 3 cans fat free organic black beans.

In a large pot, place cooked rice, black beans, prepared veggies, and enough chicken broth or vegetable broth to make the right consistency for soup.  Heat through and it's done.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!  So crunchy, filling, and healthy.  I love it.  Is there someone in the home who just has to have meat?  Add cooked, cut up chicken - or even browned lean beef, and drain any fat off of these.  Love it.


Also, can combine the whole grain rice and the wild rice - try to get organic - and it's a combo rice thing.

I'll do the Quinoa Recipe in next post.  I wish I had my camera and could take pictures of the packages and the prepared soup.  And the raw grains.

Google Quinoa and read how healthy it is for you.  Also, Wild Rice.

Just When I Thought I Wouldn't Have a Monday Post...

I was up in my closet,

looking for a piece of interfacing...to give Kate who has never had a sewing lesson...

but bought fabric and a pattern to make a bag...

That's my Kate!!

Let's just dive in head first and see what happens.

Anyway - the following photos were "hanging around" in my closet because I had located them at an earlier date when Laura Beth had posted on her blog about Ada's fascination with bandaids and how she'd placed them all over herself and John.

She's also posted or either told me over the phone about Ada and her backwards shoes and being determined to dress herself and wearing shirts inside out and wanting to do it HERSELF!

Here are my 2 photos....  I know she was 3, because she was so hot natured - her hair stayed so wet and stringy(she got sweaty), that I had it cut really short, when she was 3.  Here she is with an Auburn shirt on backwards, a slip under the shirt, shorts, you can see one bandaid, if you look closely, on the side of her thigh at the hem of her shorts - she had dressed herself - and the look on her face?  Don't even think about taking the bandaids off, nor changing my clothes, and look at what I can do!

turned around, you see the front of the shirt,

the bandaids on the back of her legs,

and the natural curls on the back of head.

Can I go back to this place just for a day?

Now, Laura Beth, I know you're reading this blog.

This is you, where Ada is now.

Tell me, can you really grow impatient with this child?

I know, I know.  I did.  I wish I hadn't.

Back to 2010 and Scottsboro and some pictures from Italy

I have to stick my head back in 2010 for some fresh air.

All those black and whites and old letters - they inspire me - they're my roots - but I have to come back to this place all along.

I've been out in my yard on this very hot Friday - sweating like all get out - but I like it.  I love it, in fact.

I'll come in all along and inside have been exchanging emails with my friend, Val Carrier...and also, Mary Ann, regarding old family letters.  Val has been showing me her pictures of Florence, Italy.  She traveled with our mutual friend, Sarah Stoner Dodd, to Florence a couple or more years ago.

She told me, at the time, that she was going to Florence with Sarah.  Guess what I thought?  I thought she meant Florence, Alabama!  Seriously.  I didn't question her - just wondered why they were going there and where they would stay - but I did think they could swing by and pay me a visit.  Fortunately I began to think about it and it came into my brain like a light.  FLORENCE, ITALY...of course.

Recently in Sunday School - M Ferry was subbing for Charlie and he opened with this question - it really did have to do with where we were in the Old Testament.  He asked all of us, if we could move anywhere in the world - where would we pick.  Okay, I figured saying Evergreen, Alabama wasn't what he was looking for, so I didn't say that.  People were saying places - nice places - exciting - I couldn't think of anyplace I wanted to move to.  The largest city I could come up with was Birmingham, AL.  Mike said that didn't count.  Then I thought of a place - I had to first ask, "Is Tuscany a place or an interior design style or a type of food?"  chuckle, chuckle - then they said place and I named it.  I had images in my mind of Tuscany - steep narrow streets - houses really close to each other.  White Sun washed stucco walls - red rooftops.  In my mind.  I mouthed something to someone across the room, without saying it out loud, "and good wine".

Guess what?  In all that emailing today, Val sent me pictures from Tuscany.  It is a place, a region, and my friend has been there and her pictures are beautiful.  Just look.

She said that this man is sitting under an olive tree.

And this is Sarah and Val - she sent me this, too.

They're not in Tuscany here.  They might be at a lake in Alabama - like Lake Martin.

Not sure.

Sarah was my first roommate at Auburn, when I transferred my Junior Year.

Val and I were in buds in high school.

And this is Martha who they also see a good bit.

Martha and I were in high school together, too.

Martha and I have always known each other, I think.

...and Martha married my cousin, John.

Here is Mary, Martha's sister - she lives in Dothan with her husband, Pat, who is also from Evergreen.

Fun story which Martha and I enjoy recalling from time to time.

My mother and Martha's mother were pregnant with each of us at about the same time.

I was born in July of 51, and 3 months later Martha was born in October of 51.

A bit later, Mother was visiting with Addie(Martha's mom) and remarked to her,

"Addie, aren't you glad we're not pregnant?"  

to which Addie replied,

"But I am."

WOW!  and that is Mary up there, Martha's sister.  They are very close in age.  SMILE.

I joke about this - but.....  I introduced 2 of my college roommates to Val - Sarah, above, and Mary Emily Heard Mulloy.  Each of them lived in Birmingham for a bit and I had this friend Val who was good to befriend them since they were new in the city.  That was when we were all very very young - as in fresh out of college.    This is the way it goes...I introduce a friend to Val and then they like her better than they like me.  Go figure!  :-)

So - Mary Emily is no longer in B'ham although she was for a year, last year.  She has lived all over as a missionary.  She is so fun and so dear and so indwelled by Him.  Well, so are the others.  I love what God has done in their lives and they bless my heart - but I don't get to see them much.  It's just hard to get from here to there.  We're planning something soon, though.  I have to have my Birmingham fix.

Second Day of the Week

Mondays and Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays have such a distinct place in the week.

Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - they stand out -

But what about Tuesday or Thursday or Wednesday.

Wednesday is significant for it's middle spot.

In college we called it Hump Day.  It was downhill in a good way, after Wednesday.  Coasting toward the weekend.

I like Tuesday.  It still seems new - maybe I didn't change the world on Monday like I thought I would, but there's still plenty of possibility for Tuesday.

And how does Tuesday look today from my perspective?

ONE

I don't have my camera.  We finally took it to Best Buy yesterday with our 3 year warranty contract and receipt for having bought it as recently as October 09.  I just think they should give me a new lens - I think we got a lemon in that lens.  It shouldn't have already messed up in the shutter speed.  My camera will be gone 2 - 3 weeks.  Looks like if I post with pictures, perhaps there might be more downloading of oldie goldies.  More looking into the past.

TWO

Andrew woke at my house this morning.  It was my idea.  Long story - but he wasn't feeling good, Ann and Steve both had different tasks to accomplish at 5:00 when we dropped Ann and Ellie off after the day in Huntsville(they rode with us - Barber guys stayed in Scottsboro - Monday is Steve's Saturday).  I just knew Andrew felt so bum and would need constant holding - so I suggested he go home with us. He did and ended up spending the night.  He's already back asleep by 8:00 - rather feverish with cold in his eyes and a cough.  

THREE

Call from New Orleans - trying to wind down Sarah's checking account here.  She's opened a new one in New Orleans - different bank - and get the panel she's sold, get it off the wall at the Veranda Cafe.  That's a ride into town - (for any city living readers of this blog - a ride into town is maybe 3 minutes.  Big deal just to "get it done")

FOUR

I'm doing just a teensy small thing for Ann who is a 1st and 2nd grade VBS teacher at our church.  It all begins next Sunday evening.  I am making a faux fireplace by drawing the bricks on heavy brown paper which is available to us at the church - someone's gift of large rolls of brown paper - from their workplace.  I did get some paints and markers and sponge brushes, yesterday, to do the thing - plus foam core board to back it.  Also backing a few small items with foam core, for her display on the "fake" mantel.

Which - conjures up memories of earliest VBS days - who went?  who loved it?  I did.  My earliest memory, before any which I attended at my own church - was at the Baptist Church in Evergreen.  I went with my friend, from down the street - Jeannie Knox Livings.  Her name which we called her was a double name - Jeannie Knox.  Her mom was Jean.  I loved it.  I was hooked on VBS - but it was simple stuff then - VBS - My first time to learn the song, "Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he - he climbed up in the sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see - for the Lord he wanted to see - and the Lord said, 'Zaccheus, you come down! for I'm going to your house today' - 'for I'm going to your house today' ".  We also glued something on something.  I think cotton onto some picture - and we played outside and we had refreshments.  I loved it.

From then on, it was VBS at my church.  And as a teenager I helped with it.  And as a college student at home during the summer, I helped with that.  I loved it all - but it stopped there for me and I never thought about VBS again - until it showed up again when my girls came of age.  I really had forgotten all about it.  I sent Ann and Laura Beth to Calvary's one summer and after that I couldn't NOT help with it.  My first year to help was the summer after Sarah was born.  I was helping in a room right across from the nursery and I would run across the hall to nurse her quite a bit.  I no longer loved it the way I had in my youth and childhood.  It exhausted me - but over the years I continued to help just due to the sense of responsibility - children still loved it - and mine certainly did. But I loved it less and less.  I was becoming the VBS Scrooge.  Sad.  I recall one summer, helping, and by then Kate was with us and between 2 and 3 years of age  and NOT wanting to be anywhere but with me.  At one point I heard screaming and looked toward the door and one of Kate's teachers was carrying her with Kate's back bowed, trying to calm her down.  I guess Kate had tried to escape and get in my room.  The poor teacher looked exhausted and all I could do was mouth, "I'm sorry".  with a frowny face.

Kate enjoyed VBS as she got older...I think....didn't you, Kate?

So - here we are - and VBS has become quite the production - at least in the Baptist world. Whoa.

I'm just making a mantel for Ann and keeping Andrew next week while everyone does VBS.

FOUR

I don't really have a four - okay - and probably won't knock out huge projects which I've planned - or begin in my late 50's a breathtaking art career which I've been planning since I graduated from Auburn - but it's just Tuesday - and I will get to nurture my little Andrew while he's with me and I just know I'll see my firstborn's face sometime today - my 2nd, 3rd and 4th born are not in town on this day - and with all of that I'll get to laugh with Ellie and Luke, surely, and probably console just a pinch when little bits don't get their way - (wish Ada and John were here)  Plus, with all of that, Charlie comes home every night and we get to spend time together - and enjoy something simple on TV - usually, except I did buy two new novels yesterday which I am so excited about and I just remembered them!  

But with all of that - there's always Wednesday.  As Mother always said, "tomorrow hasn't been touched".  She said with much promise and hope.

Monday Morning

Welcome Monday.

Welcome New Week.

Welcome New Day.

Fresh Start,
Possibilities,

And new summer, in June.

Thank you rain

And thank you God for the rain

And thank you flowers for growing

And thank you God for the flowers that grow after the rain.

I'm sorry on this day when I'm glad,

that someone isn't.

I pray for their heart and their trial and whatever it is.

I pray for them to have God's hands and arms, holding.

I wish I could help.  If I can I will.  

I'm grateful for Kate.

And for Sarah.

And for Ann.

And for Laura Beth.

Thank you, God, for giving them to  Charlie and me.

I'm so glad they love You.

I'm so glad Scott and Steve love You and that they are faithful to my two daughters.

I pray for whomever will love Sarah and Kate, that they will be cared for, today, by You.

I'm grateful for Ellie and Luke 

and Ada and Andrew

and John.  I pray that they will love You.

I pray for all the others, that they will love You.

And in the Front Yard on Saturday...

While we were enjoying the sprinklers and old tubs in the back yard on Saturday(see previous post) - Charlie was pulling up crowded Day Lilies, unwanted Bermuda Grass, and Weeds, in our front bed.  And Luke sat nearby him, it would appear that he's contemplating something.  You'll see what the Hydrangeas do in the afternoon heat.  But bounce back by morning - or with water.

And so ends the weekend - and Sunday brings a time to worship together - and sing hymns - and usually spend a quiet afternoon and evening - after a Sunday meal - taking it easy - usually.