Some More Wildflowers

Ugly as Dallas is, it does have nice wildflowers, even this late in the season. I found a few at the lake yesterday and were able to identify them.

Aster

Blue sage

Red autumn sage

Rosinweed

Creatures From The Urban Fish Lagoon

The weather was so beautiful today we just had to go for a hike at the lake. It is great having a state park just 5 miles away! Because of the great weather, and because the Cowboys were not playing today, I expected to see a lot more people there than we did. Today I have the creature photos. Tomorrow I'll post the wildflowers.





I don't know if the snake really left his skin exactly here, or if someone picked it up and stretched it out so nice to scare people walking by!

Lunch With the Ladies

It was nice of Martha to get a year older so we could go to Mimi's and celebrate. The servings were all so big we had lots to bring home to our starving husbands.

Expectations or Hope?

What is the difference?

When we want something, we hope it will happen. Hope for that thing is distant and illusive, without specific time or place. The fact that we don't have the thing we want gives us a vague sadness, but there isn't real pain because the thing we hope for is still too far away to hurt very much. That distant hope may not actually affect our daily life in any meaningful way, yet it may have been the very thing we based important life decisions upon some time in the past.

But when circumstances change such that we are lead to think we might get the thing we hope for, the distance and illusion start to turn into immediacy and a distinct possibility. At that point, we start to have expectations. We start to make plans based on those expectations. We start to get excited and happy at the thought that our hopes are actually coming true. That expectation changes how we think and act.

So what is the difference between having one's expectations disappointed and one's hopes crushed? Having one's expectations disappointed hurts a lot. But having one's hopes crushed is death-giving.

Slow Week

I don't usually go an entire week between blogs, but I guess I haven't had much to say this week (besides the fact that I lent my camera to someone, so I haven't had any new photos to post).

Rachel was very sick a week ago with a migraine that just wouldn't go away, and which presented with more nausea than head pain. She missed two days of work because of it, then worked the rest of the week even though she didn't feel that great. She did find a couple friends to go to the Great State Fair of Texas with yesterday, and they seemed to have a good time. They got to hear part of a concert by Third Day, which Rachel enjoyed. She's hoping to get back to the regular schedule this week and that her stomach is calm.

Today had a few bumps for me--I got to church only to realize that it was my turn to bring cookies for the visitors, and I had forgotten. So I said I would go to the store to buy some. But I couldn't find a store. Our church is not in our own neighborhood, so I didn't know where the grocery stores are. I ended up half way to downtown Dallas before I found a grocery store. Then when I came out and went to unlock the car, my van key was missing from my key chain. I went back inside and looked, asked the cashier, but never did find it. Lucky for me, I had a hidden key in a magnetic holder, so I didn't get stranded where no one knew where I was!

This afternoon we ended up going to a lovely choir party that we originally thought we'd have to miss. It was fun and way too much good steak! I wish I'd brought my swim suit because they had a heated pool. Though it seems it would hardly need to have been heated since it has been about 15 degrees above normal for weeks.

Gary was traveling this past week too. He got home hours late on Wednesday night. His flight out of Boston was aborted on takeoff due to a light coming on. Turns out there was dirt in the fuel. You know, better late than NEVER!

I talked to David yesterday. Looks like we won't see him or Sarah for Thanksgiving, and won't see Sarah at Christmas either. She has such a heavy work schedule, and needs to save her vacation days so she can get married! I hope we see her again sometime before the wedding!

Rachel and I watched Night at the Museum while she was sick--not too bad of a movie. It is the kind of silly comedy that Gary likes, so he's watching it now before we have to turn it back in.

40 Steps To Remove a Tube of Hand Cream from the Toilet

1. Cry and whine because a tube of hand cream accidently fell into the toilet while it was flushing.

2. Cry some more because the water (etc.) now won't go down the toilet.

3. Decide that to remove the tube of hand cream, one must uninstall the toilet.

4. Remmber that you can't replace the toilet with out a new wax gasket.

5. Go to bed. Do not use that particular toilet either before or after going to bed.

6. Go to church.

7. Go to the big home improvement store and try to figure out why there are so many different wax gaskets to choose from.

8. Buy one anyway.

9. Go home, eat lunch, read How to fix a Toilet in Fix it book. Notice there are no instructions for wax gaskets.

10. Get some tools.

11. Try to remove the rusted nuts.

12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 four or five times.

13. Get hack saw from garden shed.

14. Saw bolts off.

15 Remove toilet and spill water (etc.) all over bathroom floor.

16. Try to remove hand cream which is wedged in one of the S curves at the back of the toilet.

17. Cry.

18. Find a wire coat hanger and devise a fishing pole with a hook on the end.

19. Fish for hand cream from the underneath opening of the toilet.

20. Repeat step 19 for 45 minutes.

21. Notice that green hand cream is coming out the bottom of the toilet.

22. Pull even harder and retrieve tube of hand cream impaled on hooked coat hanger.

23. Be careful not to drop toilet bowl which is now cover with slimy green hand cream.

24. Use half a roll of paper towel to clean up hand cream.

25. Take a breath and be happy that the toilet is no longer clogged with a tube of hand cream.

26. Discover that new wax gasket does not include new bolts. Wish you had bought a different wax gasket that did include new bolts.

27. Find some other bolts.

28. Scrape up and discard gobs and gobs of brown sticky wax from the old gasket. Remember that just because it is soft and brown and comes from the toilet, it is STILL just wax.

29. Install new bolts which are way too long.

30. Install new wax gasket.

31. Set toilet onto new gasket, lining up bolts into holes.

32. Sit on toilet to squeeze down was gasket. This was easy.

33. Put wing nuts on upward protruding bolts. Don't overtighten.

34. Dump a few gallons of water into toilet and check for leaks.

35. Replace tank on top of bowl, taking care not to remove already-perishing rubber gasket.

36. Tighten tank bolts.

37. Turn on water, while praying.

38. Observe--no leaks.

39. Flush, just for fun.

40. Spend the next 30 minutes cleaning up the mess, putting away the tools, mopping the floor, scraping up more brown wax.

Plant Condos

My old plastic hanging planters that I had for several years started to break, so I decided to replace them with some ceramic ones. I actually ordered these from an online store set up by the Mennonites called Ten Thousand Villages. Gary and Rachel both reacted negatively to their shape and color, but I suppose they'll get used to them eventually.

Was This Baby Planned?

I don't know why, but for some reason this evening I was remembering a conversation with the doctor I went to to find out if I was pregnant the first time, back in 1978. We lived in a college town, Ithaca, NY, at the time.

I went to the doctor and did the pregnancy test. He told me it was positive. Then he asked me, "Was this a planned pregnancy?" I just said, "Yes," but thought that it was kind of a strange question, since it was actually none of his business whether this baby was planned or not. But when I got home I realized he was asking me if I wanted an abortion.

I didn't go back to him for prenatal care.

I also remember going to an expatriate doctor in the Solomon Islands when I was first pregnant with child #3. She started scolding me for having too many children too close together. That really made me mad, since that child too was planned, and it was none of her business even if it weren't. I didn't go back to her for prenatal care either.

Hmm, like I said, I don't know why I was thinking of this ancient history tonight.

Is it Gleaning, Scrounging, or Stealing?

There are three pecan trees growing along the sidewalk at the entrance to my neighborhood. I walk past them every day when I go to the office. Sometimes I stop and pull some weeds out of the nearby flower beds which usually look pretty bad due to neglect.

Now it is pecan season, so each time I walk by I stop and pick up a few pecans that have fallen to the ground. It looks like we're going to have a bumper crop this year. Then I come home and crack a few at a time and try not to eat them all so I can have some for later.

Probably somebody legally owns these trees, but no one seems to emotionally own them or the flowerbeds. I'm going to set that issue aside and just try to get to some of these lovely pecans before the squirrels do.

Further Proof of Global Warming

It is October, and there is both papaya and a mango seedling growing in my compost pile.

The mango actually got fried a few weeks ago with the scorching sun and the top leaves fell off.

Simple--In Four Parts

Some of my readers (that's a euphemism for all two of you) might be interested in a series of articles I have written entitled Simple Living in the 21st Century. These weekly installments have been posted on the Zeal For Truth blog. Here's the link to part 4--Appropriate Technology. You can see a photo of a computer box turned into a stove!

If you're interested in the earlier parts, just look around on the site and you'll find them.

Feel free to jump in and comment on my articles or any one else's--no need to register. Many of the articles are geared to politics, some to church life, and a mixture of a few other things.

My Visit to an Emerging Church

Last Sunday we were in Houston visiting my son and his fiancée. When we were making our plans the night before the word was, "We'll have to get there early or there won't be a place to sit."

So we hurried ourselves up, took the dog for a walk, got overdressed, and headed for ecclesia. No, I'm not trying to show off my Greek skills; that's the church's name.

When we arrived we got in the coffee line. Not just for the standard Mr. Coffee brew, but rather for a muko-choco-latto, or something like that. So while most sanctuaries have a sign outside saying: "No food or drink in Sanctuary," this one was just the opposite. Proceeds go to support the place.

What the church's name lacks in originality, the venue makes up for. The meeting was held in an art gallery with a name that seemed quite fitting for some of the artwork on display.
Two walls were a permanent display of interesting religious art; the other two were dedicated to moving exhibits.
The congregational singing was a combination of contemporary music and hymns, led by an average guitar player. The congregation was of many colors, mostly on the young side, and more comfortably dressed than I was. When the pastor got up to lead the opening prayer he was interrupted by a cute two year old asking, "Do you know where my mommy is?" The pastor smiled, held the child up so we could all see her and her mom could find her. That taken care of, back to his prayer. Not long after, the children were dismissed to their own service.

By this point I was beginning to suspect that this was an emergent church, but when I heard Brian McLaren's name invoked, then I knew for sure.

Next was the scripture reading, and I'm afraid to say this is the one part of the service that I had a little objection to. The reading was from Luke, but instead of actually reading from Luke, the pastor read from The Voice of Luke, Not Even Sandals, a retelling of Luke and Acts written by Brian McLaren. Don't get me wrong--I'm not opposed, in general, to paraphrases and even oral storying of scripture. But what bothered me, is it didn't seem like the pastor actually mentioned that's what he was doing. Here’s a link with info about McLaren’s book, if that interests you.

The service ended with communion, done by intinction, with both grape juice and wine offered. Having both options available was a new one for me.

I enjoyed my visit to ecclesia, and found it a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Since the place was busting out the seams, it must be doing something right. I'm aware of the criticisms of the emergent church movement and feel that some of those criticisms are valid. But, I also know they are not all cut from the same cookie cutter and I'd be willing to learn more.

Proud Mama

Pardon the link to my family blog, but I do say it was nice to get this article in the mail today in a publication from Best Semester.com.

Caleb and Laura's Wedding

Our best wishes to Caleb and Laura for a very happy life together. It was a beautiful wedding, with the coolest groom's cake ever!

Cleaning

You know you're really cleaning when you vacuum out the silverware drawer.

White Kitty and Black Mouse

I'm thinking I should call this photo "Cat and Mouse."

This cat has been driving us crazy of late. Last night, or should I say at 2:30am, we were jarred awake with a great crash. The cat had gotten on a metal gadget that I store colored papers in and flipped it over onto the floor. Then two hours later it woke me up again. We can't put it outside at night for fear of the coyotes, and even so, it has figured out how to jump up into the high bathroom window and scratch on the window until we let it in anyway. The other problem is it has figured out how to turn the bathroom faucet on--but not how to turn it off, of course. It prefers running water to a water that's been sitting around in a bowl all day!

We keep wondering when this cat is going to die, but it seems to still be going strong. It showed up as a stray the night of Andrew's graduation from HS--over ten years ago now.

Missionaray Snake Stories

Even in Dallas we have missionary snake stories. Today a woman got bitten by a copperhead (this one is pretty well hidden, huh?) while she was pulling weeds around her home here on campus. She was rushed to the ER and was treated but is still in a lot of pain. The snake was also taken to the ER, but it isn't in pain because it is dead. They took it just to make sure the doctors got the right kind of antivenin.

Want to know more about Texas's venomous snakes? Here's a link.

Maybe Wedding Doves Migrate

A year ago I wrote this post about a white dove that lives in a tree that I pass each day as I walk home from work. It was gone for many months, and I just assumed it died. But today, it was there again, and I had a nice chat with it, welcoming it back.

And speaking of animals, this is what greeted us in the hallway yesterday morning. I guess I really should be more careful about leaving the back door open. (Gary caught it and put it outside.) We've noticed a marked increase in the number of toads this season--must be due to the very rainy weather we've had this year.

Photos from Honduras, Hurricane Felix Relief

These are photos Andrew sent from his recent work.

I'm also trying a new thing with embedding a slide show. (You might be asked to download a flashplayer.)

(I'd appreciate comments to tell me if the slide show thing works, if it takes too long to download, etc.)

A Nice Thing to Hear

It was a joy to have someone write these words to me this week:

I am so grateful for your son in my daughter's life. As I told him, I am so blessed to meet the man for whom I have been praying since she was a baby...

I look forward to the day when I can say these words, too.

p.s. The wedding date is June 21 in Seattle.

Closet Cleaning

A year ago I helped my daughter go through her closet to sort out her clothes so she could buy some new ones "for work." Well, now we're doing it again for ostensibly the same reason, although I suspect it is just to make up a reason to go shopping. (Did I ever mention how I hate shopping??)

In any case, she has lost several pounds since a year ago, so she does need some new clothes because some of the old ones don't fit. But I still hate shopping.

Another Empty Nest Post

Apparently my last Empty Nest Post hit a chord with a few other folks, because I ended up with an unusual number of comments. (BTW, thank you all for reading and responding.) Today I'm thinking some related thoughts.

Earlier this afternoon we attended the wedding of the son of coworkers we've known for many years. It was a simple wedding, and the bride was beautiful. The self-written wedding vows included a promise to care for the bride's six year old son. None of that sounds very unusual, but most people in the room never expected that Daniel would ever marry. Most of us are still surprised he is alive. Over 17 years ago, at the age of 17, Daniel contracted viral encephalitis which started out with a 108 fever causing brain damage. He nearly died then, and has been recovering for 17 years. We saw the slow steps of progress until now he can hold a job and drive a car. And more to the point, he can marry a woman whom he loves and who loves him.



So why is this an Empty Nest Post? Well, Daniel's parents decided some months ago to leave the comforts of Dallas and move to *#@&% (see, if I tell you the real country, I'd have to kill you, and then who would comment on my blog??) What to "do" with Daniel was an issue for his parents. For although Daniel has made unbelievable strides, he still requires someone to take care of him in certain ways. So, besides bringing happiness to the couple themselves, this marriage is a provision for the parents who now have an Empty Nest so they can move overseas for further ministry without worrying about Daniel's well being.

Those of us who have witnessed God's grace throughout these 17 years are so happy to see God bring Daniel to this point of living a productive and bringing him someone to love. It is a blessing to view this marriage as the way God is providing for Daniel, Vicki and six-year-old Steven to take care of each other.

More Symphonettes

A couple more of the the girls from our group have join Facebook and our now our Symphonettes Reunited has gotten a little bigger.

One of the girls pointed out the fact that three of our songs are on the school website, so I downloaded it here. I've never put an mp3 on my website, so I don't know if this will work. But if it does, you can hear a song that was recored about 35 years ago, and you'll never guess who played flute in it!

Baby Spit-up

I just figured out what that sour smell is I keep noticing. Maybe it is time to go change out of my church clothes. I now remember being baptized with regurgitated cottage cheese while in the nursery--which tends to ferment within minutes.

And what nasty looking baby food they sell these days. One parent packed a container of banana-plum-grape stuff--do you know what color those three ingredients make??

I was happy that the wailing chorus had turned into a babbling brook by the time each set of parents arrived.

35 Years Ago

Thanks to the wonderful internet, a friend of mine from college days found me and we've gotten reacquainted. We were in a girls' singing group together and we decided to try to find some other members of the group. We've started a Facebook group called Symphonettes Reunited.

Can you figure out which one is me?

An Empty Nest Post

This is an Empty Nest post. That's because it is the musings of a mother whose children are getting married.

Apologies in advance if this post annoys anyone.

My last couple blogs here (and in my other blog) have been about the neighbor boy getting married. He and his siblings are close and long-time friends of my kids, and so it does almost feel like one of my own got married. He and his new wife flew off to the east coast early this morning to start their own nest, unpacking wedding gifts and turning a single's home into a couple's home.

What do these actions bring to the mom? (Well, to me at least, the surrogate mom, and likely to the real mom as well?) It brings relief. It also brings happiness, but somehow I'd describe it more as relief.

That may sound silly, but somehow there is this feeling inside of me that

1. our kids are not really grown up until they are married
   
2. our kids now have someone besides me to care for them, to make sure they are ok
3. now I'm no longer responsible for that child's well-being, someone else is.

I know, there are plenty of mature, self-sufficient, single, happy 20-somethings out there who probably think I'm really stupid for feeling this way. Sorry. I don't mean to dis you in any way. Nevertheless, that's how I feel.

Wedding Reception

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was missing the wedding of my best friend's son. Tonight they had a reception for the new couple in Dallas that I was able to attend. Since I've known the groom since he was less than 5 years old, it was almost like having one of my sons get married.

It was a fun time for Rachel also since she got to see a lot of the friends she grew up with (she and Michael were in the same class at school).

Rain Delay

It only rained for about 5 minutes, but it took 20 minutes to get the tarp out and the get it put away again.

We left when the game was tied, and by the time we got home, they were well behind and went on to lose it. But it was fun to go and see a friend there.

Not Much

Is a bobble head anything like a bottle neck?

In other news, I'm having another "bake the perfect cheesecake" marathon. I told my good friend that I would prepare a couple cheesecakes for a reception she is hosting this Saturday for her son and his new bride. The trick I added to my repertoire this round was to buy a drywall knife to cut them with!
This evening I tried my hand at touch-up painting some rust spots on Rachel's car created from the BB-gun attack. Since the front of it looks so good now, we're trying to patch up the rust spots on the back. Speaking of Rachel, she had yet another interview today which she felt good about. Now a couple more days of waiting to find out if it amounts to anything.

Sunburn

Even the plants get sunburned if you leave them outside too long in the Texas heat.

Tree at Crater Lake

I don't have anything very profound to say about this photo from our recent trip, I just thought it was cool and I wanted to show it off.

Home Group

a.k.a. Bible study, small group, cell group, etc.

Sometimes the time together gets tedious, or frivolous, or too long, or too silly, etc. On the other hand, when there, I know I am cared for.

Insult to Injury

I was already feeling down today when I got a phone call from Planned Parenthood asking me if I wanted to keep abortion legal.

We live in such a messed up world.

Bloom Where You're Planted

I guess God must have some kind of sense of humor to plant these daisies here. Or, maybe he put them here as an object lesson for people like me who sometimes need a reminder of who's in charge of the universe.
They don't seem to even notice that it is nearly 300 feet down a perpendicular cliff to put one's roots (or feet) on solid ground.


Taken at Salt Creek Falls in Central Oregon, from the top of the falls.

I Wish I Were There

I have no idea who these children are, I just couldn't resist taking this photo as we strolled through the redwoods one day on our recent trip.

But the photo reminds me that the sons of two of my good friends are being married today, and I can't be there. One wedding is in Pennsylvania and the other is in North Carolina. I pray God will bless those marriages, protect them from divorce, and let them live happily ever after. (Do you know how seldom that happens these days?)

I should also add that there was plenty of squabbling going on between these two children, but in the end, they decided to go it together.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm starting to feel somewhat caught up with all the details that were left unattended while we were traveling. I've managed to do such exciting things as empty the cat box, clean the bathroom, get all the wrinkles out of the clothes that were stuffed in the suitcase, replace the door knob on the front door, pay a couple bills, go to work, and buy groceries. I still have a pile of stuff on my desk to deal with that needs some serious attention. I've also uploaded about half of my photos to my online photo album .

While in California, I visited an internet friend named Lisa. Turns out she and her family know a bunch of people that I know. The Christian world isn't all that big. Photos of my visit to her bamboo farm are on in my photo album too.

Oregon Wildflowers

Columbine
Yarrow
?? at Odell Lake
aster sp.
petite bluebonnet
white bluebonnet
paintbrush

Trip Summary

We glad to be home safely. Here's the statistics for our 15-day trip:

• 1 - night at a resort with the bathroom down the hall
  
• 2 - miles walking in an underground cave
• 2 - rental cars
• 4 - meals at gas stations
• 4 - times the laptop was on the internet
• 5 - waterfalls
• 5 - times Gary preached his sermon
• 7 - sets of relatives we visited
• 8 - beds slept in
• 13 - homes we ate in
• too many to count - times we made wrong turns
• too many to count - times we yelled at each other for making wrong turns
• too many to count - photos taken of cool places
  
• too many to count - good conversations with friends and supporters
  

Pie for Breakfast

It is OK to have pie for breakfast when you're on vacation. If it had been Labor Day weekend, I could have had huckleberry pie.

Redwood

There's nothing like a redwood forest to put life into perspective.
(Click the photo to get a better idea of what I mean.)

Driving

I hate driving. I hate getting lost. I hate not knowing where I am. I hate not knowing how to get from A to B in the most direct and efficient way. I guess that makes me a control freak.

In spite of that, we did enjoy a few cool sights yesterday.

If you are interested in more photos and details, check my other blog.

I'm Off

I am about to go to bed because I have to get up very early tomorrow to fly to San Francisco. I'll be joining my husband who has already been there for a week. We'll get a rental car and attempt to make our way around to visit friends, family, and supporters. Gary will preach at church next Sunday.

Then we get on the plane, fly to Oregon, and do the same thing over again for the following week.

I hope to be able to read email and do some blogging, but it is hard to tell how much that will be.

If anyone thinks of us, pray we will be safe and not yell at each other too much while getting lost during all the driving we have to do. :-(

Gary has gotten an invitation to come have lunch at the Google headquarters on Tuesday, but he'll take the BART in, and I'll sit around at Aunt Helen's house.