This and That Again

In the last twelve hours, we have witnessed the power of' God in the weather. A spring thunderstorm last night was a bit premature but it sure was powerful. One thunder crack sent me jumping in my bed. Then the temperatures plunged about twenty degrees and the wind began to blow. Now its morning and snow swirls through the air. I suppose winter finds it difficult to let go.

Its not a pretty morning....still dark, dreary and very cold. The warmth of the house is welcome.

Last night, the sixth and seventh graders had their annual science fairs. Both grandaughter Sydney and Isaiah were involved. As a parent and grandparent, science fairs give me the creeps. It such pressures kids. Next year as eighth graders they do a history fair. Now that is more interesting to me. Did you catch that I'm not one with a bent toward science? Both of our kids did well and it allows me to sigh deeply. They feel so good when they do well and so badly when they don't do as well as they hoped. They both gave it their best and that is all we can ask.

Kendra as music teacher in Crystal Lake had her student's program last night. I'm sure it went well. I used to go to each one of those. She called last night and facetiously said, "When can I expect you?" Maybe next time.

My husband got a cold about ten-twelve days ago so took himself to the guest room at night in hopes of not passing that bug to me. I needed him in bed with me at night and it was a great loss to me for those nights. Last night, we slept together again. I rested so much better having him close to me. There was a calm in me that all was well. Marriage is a mystery. After forty five years, we are much close to the two shall be one than we were at our twentieth anniversary. Life is a growth process.

The 2009 Retreat

Retreat 2009
A retreat to remember.......it happened on Saturday. The theme was Outrageous Joy....and there Joy met us. Jesus that is. There were awesome testimonies of God's touch on lives. That was the goal...or rather...the goal was what ever God wanted it to be....the people he wanted to send and the results he wanted to see. I trust His Spirit is still lingering on many today.

Because of a snow warning north of here, we changed our speaker's hotel reservation from the Radison in Merrillville to a quaint B&B in Rensselaer. As it turned out, the move wasn't necessary because of weather but, the owner of the B&B accepted Glenna's invitation to come to the retreat to hear her and her life was touched with new Holy Spirit energy. It was a beauiful thing to witness.

Two Catholic gals came to Glenna after day's end with tears streaming down their faces and their words were that they never really understood salvation before. What joy that turned out to be for those young ladies.

The Holy Spirit was busy that day. I could see it as I watched the dynamics. It all had so little to do with the beauty of the setting that our committee so tirelessly worked at creating. But yet, I think the beauty softens the heart so it is in a good state to listen and receive.To God be the glory.

The Week that Is

Good Morning. Sometime it takes a long time to get something one longs for with all their heart. I have not been able to sleep a full night's sleep for a couple of months. I have a sleep aid from the doctor and it would give me six hours and the rest of the night I tossed to and fro.

Last night, I slept six hours, woke up to do my thing, if you know what I mean and then went back to sleep until 7:45. I praise God for that gift. His new mercy to me this morning. Sleep is such a powerful blessing. It restores mind, , soul and body. I hear of people that struggle with sleeplessness on a continual basis and wonder how they can go on. At any rate, it feels very good to know I had my full nine hours last night.

Last minute preparations are in order for the women's retreat which will be on Saturday. Last week, the ladies that work with all paper products, guest bags, copies of materials we are placing in them name tag etc had a work party nearly every night. We have all decided that name tags can be a bit more simple in the future as the product while cute and pretty takes a tremendous amount of work hours.

Yesterday, the ladies that sort dishes, put up tables and chairs and change table lines and china after breakfast were at church setting up the dishes that will be placed on each of the fifty tables. Ugh. They seem to revel in it but it is something I'm happy not to have on my list. Another group will pick up all the food products we need to prepare 440 hot meals. Others (and some of these overlap) will be bringing things in to add to the decor to complete the eye appeal of our theme and colors. The theme is "Outrageous Joy" and our colors are bright pink and brown. Twill be cute.

My job this year is to show up. Oh, I did all the grunt work in the beginnning and have put hours into preparation that is virtually unseen. But this time, I will still serve as narrator and let the rest of the girls do their thing. I have always felt responsible for every facet. No more. I have a great committee and they can and are pulling it off just fine. God is in every part and parcel, so we go forth with confidence.

Busy Busy Saturday.

My Florida son got my computer all cleaned up and I feel like a new woman. Thank you, Jay. His last instructions were, "Now back up your files!" I plan to do that tomorrow. I went through my documents today and cleaned out 167 files that I hope I didn't need anymore. They are gone....never to return.

Last night my Noblesville son and wife and children came for the night and for today. While I'm totally bushed at this time, I must say that boy can accomplish more in one morning than we can get done in a month here. Let's see...he began to fix the hole in the wall that an overzeolous video playing twelve year old put his knee through. Then he and Ken finally got the bottom drawer of our buffet open. It has been stuck for over a year.....many efforts were made in the past but this time, they hit the jackpot. Josh went on to fix cabinet hinges and closings, yippee. Each one of the little things added together felt like a ton and it was so freeing to have them fixed. Sometimes it feels like things are falling apart all around one and today was a day of building.

In the mean time, Lauri and I packed up three bags of tea pots. They are those I collected for use for the retreat and now, I am more than ready to get them out of the door. Tomorrow someone is coming to take all my luncheon sets to church permanently. Freedom. I may be able to find my house again once these things are out of here. The time has come to simplify.

You Say What?

After a very cloudy day and stormy night, today dawned with a rising sun (hallelujah). The temperature is about twenty degrees cooler today than yesterday. Back to winter for awhile.

This morning, our seamstress for Peggy Sue came to do final measuring for curtains. The cushions are finished and in place. It's beginning to look really cute. I can't wait until the curtains are up and we can call the project complete. It has been a very long process. I understand from my husband that some work has to be on the underside before we take it anywhere and he tells me he needs warm weather to work on it. It was the biggest disappointment I have had in a loooooooong time. I'm still getting over it or trying at least. I seem to have resolutions that he doesn't want to hear. Oh well, we will see what we will see. All this while, I'm planning to go to Phoenix with Peggy Sue and all this time, he is planning not to take the trailer and to live with our daughter's family while there. While I'm grateful for a welcome there, I am vastly disappointed not to have my own little private living space. I could smack him right now. He says, I told you that and you didn't listen. The only thing I heard was that the bottom of the trailer needed some riveting before we went. I guess that was suppose to translate into not taking the trailer to Phoenix for me but it didn't. I had every faith that he would get the work done and then we would be ready. To be honest.......this is going to take awhile for me to adjust to the change. I don't even want to write what I'm feeling right now.

Jan's Faith

Yesterday began as a mild day. My friend Jan from church came for her seventh of eight study lessons in preperation for becoming a member of church. We have had a delightful time sharing our faith, our joys and our struggles. Before she left I shared with her that I told the Lord earlier that I need sunshine right now and there didn't look there would be any so I asked Him to be my sunshine as well as my sonshine for the day. Jan looked at me and said, "Let's pray for sunshine today". I encouraged her to go ahead and pray. She beautifully told the Lord that my emotions needed to see the sun.

After lunch I sat in the chair and for the first time since I've been sick, was relaxed enough to dose off. When I woke up, I was facing the north but I saw shadows on the houses across the street. I couldn't believe it. The sun was shining! I got up quickly and spent the rest of the day in the sun room and let the good ole sun bake onto me. Thank you Lord for sunshine and for Jan's faith that believed You would send me sun.

Today the sun is shining brightly and the temps are in the fifties with the promise of sixty or more. I plan to get outside a bit today and savor the early spring air.

My husband is already home from town which is earlier than usual. Yesterday was his first golf outing of the year. Normally, I'm happy to see him go but with my need for his presence, I thought, ugh, one more day without him. So, I guess he is making up for it today. I love having him around these days.

Forgive one Another

Yesterday was a wonderful day outside. It was in the fifties and the sun was bright and encouraging. As usual in spring, the balmy day brought nippy winds. If one could stay out of the wind, the sun warmed the clothes and the skin under it. I stood outside in Lauri and Elton's garage which has a south door and just leaned against their car ducking the wind. It was reminiscent of Florida last week but not quite.

In the morning, Isaiah and I cleaned up some things that really needed cleaning. Our sun room which we haven't accessed since it got cold had about twelve dead plants in it and a bunch of stuff I was done with and threw out. What a freeing feeling. Isaiah is a good help when he wants to be. Actually he did the grunt work and I did the straw bossing. I was very careful to be gentle in my instructions. He always says he likes a clean house and I like that he likes a clean house. He showed me this morning that on his own he had straightened two of our kitchen cabinets. Gotta love a kid like that. I hope he carries that helpful spirit into his adult relationship.

Ken was gone to a men's conference all day yesterday. To be truthful...the day was too long for me. I was so relieved to hear the door when he came home. He was tired and I was exhausted. We went to bed together and it felt so good to have him home safe and sound. I have come to depend on him heavily the last couple of months. Hopefully, I'll get some of my independent spirit back soon. I'm sure he will be as happy as I will be. He has been such a patient man for me.

Our service theme this morning was on our need to forgive each other. One of the exercises we could participate in was writing down those people who need our forgiveness. Or better stated, we could write the names of people we need to forgive. Often times when one harbors a resentment toward another, the other doesn't even realize the resentment. So we hurt only ourselves and we are being disobedient to God who said he would forgive our sins if we forgive others their trespasses. There are many references to that in God's word, the most obvious is in the Lord's prayer. Isn't it amazing how we can know these things and not act on them? At any rate there were three fires set up outside on the parking lot, we were then invited to confess our sins, forgive those on our list and then go outside and burn it up in the fire. Remember, God says he doesn't remember our sins. Now we can forget them, too.

Pictures Will Come, I Promise

Where have I been, you ask? I supposed I'd have to say I've been trying to recoup and the last two days have been very long and exhausting. I've decided to take today slowly. I've had my time with the Lord ( which was hit and miss while we were gone and I've suffered for it). Isaiah 40 left me with great solace. "Have you not known? Have you not heard? the Creator of the ends of the earth does not faint or grow weary, there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, to him who has no might, He increases strength, causing it to multipy and making it about!" Oh do I need his power and might and He says here he gives it to those that call on Him for it. I call on you, Lord.

The sun just arrived on my day and that will bring another blessing of joy and brightness.

I also had a few frustrations with my computers when I got home from Florida. The first information I got as I met my daughter and grandson was that my computer, which seems to act as everyone's computer, had crashed while I was gone. Crashed so bad, I cant get into my files. That came as a big downer since all my women's retreat stuff is stored there. Then the laptop I had taken with me decided it couldn't access Hotmail for two days. Suddenly, yesterday after noon I thought I'd try it again and eureka, it connected. So that has fixed itself.

I promised some people in Florida that I would post the Florida pics as soon as I got home. I keep all my pictures on my crashed computer so I can't even load them. BUT, rest assured, I will get some copies made and send them to you. Oh the joys of technology.

Commiserating

Monday Morning.......it rained all night. The sound was therapeutic each time I roused. I had hoped it would rain itself out by morning but while the rain has stopped and the sun has played peek a boo with me, it still isn't pretty out there yet. Sometimes it takes awhile to clear off when one is so near the ocean.

Yesterday was a very busy day. We took our time getting going after my brothers and their wives left for home. While we talked of getting ready for church, not one of us had enough energy to get dressed up. Around eleven thirty, we left to go to the ocean. It is always a beautiful sight and one that can't be skipped when here. We stood on the pier and watched the waves and pelicans diving for about a half hour. The sun was strong but the wind was nippy.

After that we made a few necessary stops for things one or the other of us needed and then we went to my dad and Mary's for a visit. A distant relative that lives on the island now and grew up with me as a child came to spend some time. It was so good to see her again. It's amazing that people that spent so much time together as children don't get to see each other in real life much because of distance. They used to live in Lansing and now spend summers at a cottag e in Michigan and winters on this wonderful island called, "Nettles". Not to tough to take.

After a tour of their new modular and a tour of the rental of some DE Motte friends, we headed back home with a very tired Gayle. Jann's daughter from Wisconsin and her family stayed the night last night so that gave me a great excuse to tell them I would leave them to visit with each other while I stole away to my room just to recoop. This trip has been a gift but a very busy gift. I think we will leave for the north tomorrow. I have too many meetings and events I have to be at and that kind of takes the fun out of VACATION. Oh, to be free of responsibility. I'm going to work on that, yes I am. All these "have tos"limit our freedom especially in the winter when it would be nice to go where we wanted when we wanted. My daughter tells me not to make those decisions now but I remember feeling this way last year as well. I love what we do, but I think it has come to the time that I say, its been a nice ride.

Enough of that.

Have a great day.

Yesterday We Honored Jack

Even though the sun was shining, the wind was cold. Everyone was complaining......the natives that is. My niece apologized to me a couple of times like she could do something about it. Ken called me to come to the back yard. He instructed me to sit in a chair in a little corner. I told him there was no way I was going to sit out there in that cold. He assured me he checked it out and the sun would bake me there. I finally acquiesced. I had on a big brown sweatshirt and the sun started to penetrate through my clothes. Finally, I got warm enough to take the layer of my sweatshirt off and sit in my tank top. I sat there about an hour. When I came in to get ready for the wake, I could tell I had gotten some sun. By the time I got in my pjs last night, I was shocked to see I had a sunburn on my neck and shoulders. I even came out to the living room to show it off. We had a good chuckle together that I was going to get sun no matter what the weather might be.

Yesterday afternoon went very well. The wake was enjoyable as we watched coworkers, neighbors, and friends come by to comfort my sister and her family. Since Jann moved south many years ago, she pretty much left family behind in the north. She has a precious daughter here that has moved back here and she some members of her husband's family. The food brought in for the after the funeral dinner was beyond adequate. Besides every side dish one could imagine there was a huge ham, a big aluminun pan of fried chicken, and a luscious baked turkey and a couple of big vegetable and noodle dishes. The line of cakes, pies and brownies was a temptation to everyone. Jeanie, Jack's daughter, made my dad a pineapple upside down without sugar. He was pleased.

Our son, Jay and his wife, her mother and their two beautiful children, Austin 12 and Jessica 4 came up from West Palm and stayed until everyone else left last evening. We don't get to see those grand children often so every chance is a treasure. Even though there was only one other child here, Jann's grandson, 13, the three of them had great fun together.