Best Friend Time

Today Cheryl and I spent about four hours together without kids. This is the first time since we were 18. It was so much fun. We went souvenir shopping, ate at Clyde's and walked the boardwalk. We even braved the crashing waves to walk out to the lighthouse. It got a little scary when we climbed up the metal ladder and were standing next to the metal lighthouse when it began to thunder and lightning. We got down as fast as we could and walked back to the car as quickly as possible, which wasn't very quick due to my knee. Poor Cheryl just had to wait for me. I told her she could go ahead. From the safety of the car, we called her kids who met us at her house for a competitive game of Phase 10. They'll be coming over later in the week for "family fishing" with Mom and Dad. It was nice to be with my friend and now it is nice to be home. I feel like death. I hope this cold or whatever it is leaves soon.

Father's Day

Today was spent doing what Dad enjoys most...fishing with family. We had a delicious roast beef and mashed potato dinner then headed out on the lake. It was quiet and peaceful. We had a fry tonight - perch, trout and catfish. Grandma Hollister came over and visited. Bonfire later, I think.

Texas, Missouri, U.P.

I arrived in Houston on time, no problems or delays with the flight, but as I walked out to the area where Lance was going to pick me up, it began to rain very hard. Soon it was thundering and lightning. Once I was in the car and we were on our way to Michele's house, it began to hail - the size of quarters. Power was knocked out, traffic was backed up, trees were blown over, pieces of "stuff" were flying across the road as we drove...to make a long story short, three hours after being picked up we finally arrived home - a trip that should have only taken about 40 minutes. Michele had manicotti waiting for us. She gave me a tour of her beautiful home, we had cookies and milk while visiting, and then eventually all went to bed. Curtis woke me up at 6:15 a.m. to go fishing before we began our trek to Missouri. I only caught blue gills but he caught a giant catfish. It was fun. At around 9:00, we pulled out of their driveway and began the 10-hour drive to Carthage where we met up with Mom and Aunt Sally. (**We made the trip in 9 1/2 hours. Mom and Aunt Sally managed to make a 16 hr. trip take 3 days. We pulled into Cracker Barrel at exactly the same time!)

Texas (Michele's estate)

 

We arrived in Carthage, Missouri on Wednesday and checked into the Precious Moments hotel. The next morning we went to the Precious Moments Chapel where Aunt Sally was able to see Grandpa and Grandma's stone. Aunt Sally and I had an extra special surprise. While we were in the Artist's Room, the Artist himself - Sam Butcher - came in to hang up a new batch of grandkid pictures. Anyone who knows anything about Precious Moments knows what a big deal this is. We were able to talk to him in an informal setting and his son-in-law snapped a picture of us. Great fun! On that same day, we stopped at Fantastic Caverns to explore the underground stalagmites and stalactites. They were quite the sight.

Carthage, Missouri

Finally...after two more days on the road...I arrived home. Daddy-o was waiting for me and we went out fishing right away. We caught a lot of fish and also a great variety...blue gills, pike, large-mouth bass, rock bass, perch, and bullhead catfish. We'll be having a fry pretty soon!

Home - the U.P.

Pure and Lovely

I was in a funk the other night, mad at a few people for not being mind readers, feeling sorry for myself and I came up with the thought that I have lived through a very hellacious year. I knew in my head what I thought that word meant so I looked it up and this is one of the definitions I really liked...formidably difficult. That's how this past year has felt to me. I began listing all the reasons my life is so awful but I was only able to stay in that "place" for a little while before my heartbeat for truth kicked in. Yes, there were difficult moments, difficult days, months even...but there were blessings, too, so here is my new list:

Difficulty #1: I blew out my knee in November and didn't have it repaired until February.
Blessing #1: I had a brother and a momMA and a Megan willing to help with anything I couldn't easily do on my own. I was not alone.

Difficulty #2: I was on crutches for over five months.
Blessing #2: I've had plenty of practice and I'm strong. I'm also coordinated. The crutches didn't defeat me!

Difficulty #3: My injury was serious enough to require surgery.
Blessing #3: I have health insurance and everything was covered by workers' compensation.

Difficulty #4: Recovery period prohibited driving, going up steps or weight-bearing.
Blessing #4: My momMA opened her home and nursed me through the worst of it. My grandma took the train and traveled over 50 hours to help me adjust to life back at my own house. My friends and family from around the country took every opportunity to encourage and reach out long-distance.

Difficulty #5: I had to miss work and we don't get paid sick days.
Blessing #5: L&I compensated me for pay-loss and I had a wonderful case manager.

Difficulty #6: I had to miss work and we don't get substitute teachers.
Blessing #6: I got a substitute teacher!

Difficulty #7: I had to get a new car to replace beloved Sidda.
Blessing #7: I have the financial means to get a new car.

Difficulty #8: I had to put in many, many extra hours to create answer keys to Honors courses.
Blessing #8: The principal agreed to reimburse me for my time.

Difficulty #9: I had to put in many, many extra hours to create a yearbook.
Blessing #9: I was able to work with my students and see the pride on their faces when the finished books were in their hands.

Difficulty #10: I have a broken patella.
Blessing #10: Because it took so long to have my ACL repaired, my knee was immobilized for several weeks. This may have given the kneecap time to heal without me having to be in a full-leg cast.

I could keep going, but 10 is a nice even number, so I'll stop. The point is, there were difficulties but there were blessings. Blessings I would have missed if it weren't for the trials. Thank you, Lord, for meeting my needs. Thank you for being my Leader and Protector and Defender and Advocate. You are my King and you are my Abba-daddy.

 

printable can be found here

Feathered Friends

“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”  

~Maya Angelou

Notice the blurry yellow goldfinch flying in for its food. I LOVE this shot!!!! 

 
(photos taken by my momMA)

Science Dissections

Frogs

Owl Pellets

Green Lake with momMA

I went on my very first walk around Green Lake since I hurt my knee back in November. I felt quite a sense of accomplishment. We only stopped to rest once. My knee didn't bother me at all - only my feet were a little sore. We saw a heron perched high in a tree (never saw that before) and pretty yellow flowers that looked like wild irises growing at the edge of the lake. (Pictures taken on momMA's cell phone.)