Practice Good-Bye

Edward in the woods during the recent camp-out

Next week, on John's birthday, we'll be taking Edward to Calvin College to move into the dorms. Yesterday, he left for a cross country resort/camp in Canada with the Calvin team and he won't be back till Sunday, so we're getting a taste of how life without Ed will be. I'm going to miss his sense of humor and his unique view of life, but the big pots of laundry? Not so much. :)

The Day When I Didn't Shower or Brush My Teeth or Wash My Hair

Lake Michigan, Sunday Morning


John walking throught the forest

Saturday, we went on a short camping trip with friends from church and experienced being one with nature for awhile. It was beautiful. I didn't even mind the pit pots this time. Under clear blue skies, we enjoyed music, nature, fellowship - all the good things. John and I even woke up early Sunday morning and saw a bald eagle. As my friend Gracie would say, it was fantastic. Around the campfire, we prayed for Cathy whose back problems were becoming almost unbearable. A recent MRI had revealed a bulging disc.

On the way home Sunday morning, things started to get interesting. Some of us had decided to stop for brunch at the Steak and Egger because the name of it cracked us up. Cathy told us she couldn't drive anymore because her legs were not responding appropriately. I took over her van, and with doctors instructions, drove her straight to the ER in GR which was about 2 hours away. To make a long story short, she was quickly brought in to surgery where they performed a laminectomy. Afterwards, the surgeon told me that he was able to remove what was definitely causing her problems and felt they had done it just in time. Thankfully, now she is on the road to recovery. I saw her up in her room after surgery and we still kept talking about how we were going to wake up from a dream at any minute with the sound of rain on our tents. But today, I can see how God answered that campfire prayer for real.

The Anniversary of My Second Life

I received a call this morning from my friend Mark who had a terrible head injury 33 years ago today and lives with partial paralysis. He wishes me a "happy" anniversary on this date every year since I also had a significant head injury on the very same day. I love how he remembers to call me because I usually forget. I mean I think about how I'm going to call, but then things get away from me. So we talk about our anniversary and how he is doing in his life teaching disabled adults. I later think about how we met at Calvin College when I tutored him in Math and how we hit it off and what a blessing it is when we have friends who understand our losses. Like when my friend Cathy, who also experienced a head injury, said this week that our forgetfulness or spaceyness keeps us bonded. We have a tear in the fabric of our reality where something happened about which we know nothing and ok, maybe we were spacey before or maybe we're forgetful because we're in our 40's. Or maybe something happened in the time when we were absent that only You know about. Perhaps you don't know what I'm talking about, but I know that Cathy does.

The picture below with the happy smiling faces is of my mom & I taken a couple of months into the recovery process. When I think of the 3 months I was in the hospital, I never forget how mom was with me there every day. She's the best!!!

October 1975, Blodgett Hospital

The Great Mother - Daughter Double Date

All photos today were lovingly captured by Bridget Anne.

Last evening, Bridget & I met our friends Cathy & Emily of Chili Cook-off fame downtown for a picnic on the Grand River. Afterwards, we set off for a walk in the city.


At one point, Cathy presented me with a Key to the City.


The mayor seemed surprised when we gave it back.


We stopped into a clothing boutique and the girls tried on these hats.


Cathy found a vintage 70's outfit that was calling out her name.


After watching the downtown swing dancing, we had to pose by the flowers and do some downtown mountain climbing.


We finished off the night with some pretty intense ice cream... oh, and some night swimming which unfortunately was hard to photograph.

Home Sweet Home

Sparkles

After a week by the ocean, we have returned home - the sun followed us! We drove 16 hours straight yesterday and I'm feeling un-blogworthy. It sounded so good when a friend at church this morning said "Welcome home". When I get over the funk, I hope to post some pictures in the week ahead!

First Cup of Coffee

You can all relax now - the horizon is straight.

My mom took this yesterday morning of me sitting under the umbrella.

Adventures at Sea

Today,,, I walked along the beach between the ocean and the shining people who were staring at the beauty and I felt their joy. It was amazing.

I later saw the dolphins jumping just off shore and the pelicans swooping low and beating their wings in perfect rhythm. That was amazing too.

I went out into the ocean with John in search of the sand bar to play catch, and with the water over my head for too long (we couldn't find it) felt pulled by a rip current. My body started to feel unusually weak and I was even a little scared. I yelled help to John and he looked a little worried, but something in his eyes told me to relax. I laid on back and floated as best as I could and kicked with my weak legs. After what seemed like an eternity of being sucked into sea with my weak muscles helpless against the force, I could finally touch my toes on the ground only to be hit several times in the back by great waves. I struggled to shore and then walked about 200 yards, gasping, to my chair. I told everyone that they almost lost me. John was so funny and calm and maybe I was a being a bit dramatic, but he said when I was waving my arms and saying help, he thought I said, Throw me the football!

This is amazing too.

Mourning Has Broken

Last Sunday at MCC

We are always excited on Sunday morning to go to the warehouse where our church meets. If you look into the pansies to your right as you go up the stairs to the door, you will see this mother bird sitting on her nest. She is not afraid of any of us - she's more concerned about the 2 eggs underneath her. That's one great thing about her. The other is how she reminds us all that God takes care of us even more.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matt. 6:26

The Path Where You Find Rest

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Pretty Purple Petunias

I captured this moments before a scattered thundershower hit the deck

Today,,, we are getting ready for Edward's graduation open house on Sunday. We've actually been getting ready all week and I realized I have taken virtually no pictures. so I stepped out this morning to photograph the petunias on our deck.

We will be welcoming a contingent from Celeryville this afternoon which is always exciting. Yes, the Queen Mother will be among them.

A Very Big Flash Back Friday (72)

I thought it was Wednesday yesterdayday, so I didn't post. Here are all the first days,,,

Processional

So this past Thursday night, we headed over to graduation - the Queen Mother, Opa, Edward & I in the car. John left earlier with the girls since Maria was playing in the orchestra and we were to meet John's mother there. Mom and I were riding in the back and broke out in a doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo, to the tune of Pomp & Circumstance. We were really getting into it when Edward joined in with the cello part. It was a priceless moment indeed.

I later learned from Maria that they played through this 2-3 minute piece exactly 11 times - she counted. Each time includes 2 times through the melody. It must have been about the 10th time when Edward finally came in the procession and I was so excited. Tomorrow I will continue the story.

Pomp in Our Circumstances

Still enjoying the Dogwood tree...

So this evening we will be going to see Edward graduate from South Christian High School. The Queen Mother has announced that she and her consort will be arriving this afternoon for the ceremony. I'm sitting here looking at the fixture which she has christened the "cuss and clean" and wondering if she might be up for a cleaning project later on...

Getting Ready for the Pomp & Circumstance

Gather round while I pack the last lunch. Ever.

So yesterday was Edward's last day of school and I was aware that I was packing a lunch for the last time. It felt good. I am not a morning person, so this has been a rather startling aspect to my morning. But I have 2 younger daughters, you say? They have taken on their own lunch packing duties with a gusto, but I never had the heart to make Edward do it. So there you have it.

Quote for a Graduate

Until you spread your wings, little birdie, you'll have no idea how far you can fly.

A friend of mine who has a cottage up north on the Pere Marquette river sent me this picture of a bald eagle who is building a nest nearby. I needed to blog it of course.

Mother's Day Rocks!

Yesterday, we had some friends over for Mother's Day and John, bless his heart, orchestrated the dinner preparation with the kids. My friend Cathy & I could hang out, play ping pong and have fun for awhile. Hope you all had a happy Mother's Day too!


Me & Cathy Flinstone, John doing dishes in the background :)

The Davids

With 2 teenage girls here in our house, the evening revolves around American Idol 2 or 3 nights a week. If they can't be home, it must be recorded! Bridget is an actual American Idol Encyclopedia. Her favorites are the Davids.

Spring's Bright Things

Flowers "won"

These yellow flowers and all that went along with them were a good antidote this past March to that time of year in the midwest that gets very wet and gray. They came out of one of those guessing games at the table at the Fernando Ortega benefit dinner where the winner gets to take the centerpiece home. I really tried to give it back, but then when they insisted, I thought how I could take a photo and share it with the world on the intertube...

I have spent the past couple of days listening to Fernando Ortega and painting in clean and bright colors with my friend Cathy who we saw Fernando with. She is such a kindred spirit! Fernando, painting, hanging out with friends - 3 of my favorite things for sure!

Take This Test

A friend of mine at work gave me this test and I had to go home afterwards:

There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush.

By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Now, if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses,
how should he express himself?

I'll put the anwer in the first comment!

Join the Carnival

A very awesome blogger-friend, Sarah from Virginia, is hosting the first ever Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling on her website. She's looking for entries in the following categories: Art and Craft, Eco-fab, Interior Design, Fashion, Food, Green Living, Organization, and Outdoor Living. Go check it out - you can even win a prize. Go check it out!

Happy Spring!

Bridget & friend Jessica eat marshmallow bunnies on the ride home from church last Sunday

Today is the first day of spring and we are having a beautiful day here in GR with the shining sun. I had to work downtown this morning and met a friend to walk down there in the afternoon. What a blessing that was! The weather, work, the new space, the friend, walking, the Ford museum, the new bookstore with the drinking fountain. It's all good.

Cleaning and Shopping and Keeping On

John has been out of town this week, first to Washington DC, then to Arizona, so I have been motivated to do some deep cleaning. I spent about 10 hours on the kitchen cupboards and last night, I organized the 2 junk drawers. Doesn't that sound fun? It was!

I did have a couple of birthday lunches with friends which felt like gifts to me as much as to them, you know? Deep in the recesses of my cupboards, I discovered some jam jars of my friend Lori on her birthday. So I took a cleaning break for a birthday lunch!

It turns out, my friend Cathy loves three-cheese Olga's as much as I do and we only ever eat them with our mothers. What's that all about? So we met at Olga's, and ended up shopping for a hot babe dress (for me) and pants and a bathing suit(for her). Those are the completely hardest things to shop for if you ask me, so it was a good feeling to have succeeded, and it was a plus to have had so much fun doing it. Another bonus: when I got home, Bridget approved of the dress! This is huge.

Note: I never knew I could have a hot babe dress, but I have been told since I am a hot babe, all of my dresses are hot babe dresses. Now that makes sense to me. :)

Dear Computer

I'm going to ignore the giant sucking sounds coming out of you today while I try to get the house cleaned. It will be fun! You'll be okay - hope you can have fun without me. Jewels

Sometimes We Are Out Past Our Bedtime

Josh Ritter on stage
photo by John taken with Palm Pilot, a time I wished I had my camera


The other evening, John and I went downtown to the former Ladies' Literary Club to see Josh Ritter in concert. This old historic property was donated by the club to Calvin College to carry on their tradition of lectures and music for the community, and I have been wanting to go there. John had heard that Josh Ritter was like a new Bob Dylan, so I was expecting something more melancholy and out of tune, you know, but what we saw was a very exciting, high-energy concert. He was so funny in between songs when he would make references to the Bronte sisters and Wuthering Heights or Jane Austen and said he was used to playing in places with names like Doc Willoughby's or Elixir. Anyway, it was fun, but a little late for old people on a school night.

Note to Netherlands readers: Josh Ritter will be in Groningen on March 23!

Posing With Blogaversary Earrings

Mother-Daughter Diptych

I brought the earrings that Marianna had won in last week's drawing to the brunch that the bride's mother gave to watch the opening of the gifts the morning after the wedding. As we waited for the bride and groom, my niece Tiffany was eager to try out the earrings which matched her eyes and her outfit. I thought it would be cool to juxtapose this photo with one I had taken of her mom. I can just hear Tiff going "Ooooooo." But really, it's cute.

Let's Talk About More Cold Things

Unfortunately, I have been tagged to show what's on my refrigerator, so that is why you can see this not so pretty picture here today. I was relieved when I realized it was not what's IN my refrigerator!

Not a lot of thought went into this arrangement, just a lot of little thoughts - a few pictures, pizza magnets & coupons, library schedule, postcard from Sumatra, Neuschwanstien, a note that Edward was a finalist in a math competition, a Bible test of Bridget's with an A+ and 2 canal house magnets - but I do see it everyday, and in a way, it's comforting.

I'm now tagging Gracie, Annette, Pearlie, Anooja,and Donna. Let's see what you've got!

And the winner is...

This morning, the Bridget & I made sure all the names of the people in the 2nd Blogaversary earring give-away thingy were properly accounted for on a slip of paper.

We enlisted Edward as a not-so-enthusiastic, neutral party to hold the pink hat and Bridget pulled out the winner's name...

... it was Marianna! The model for the underwear party! And it just so happens we will be seeing her next week at her son Trey's wedding. Congratulations, Mar.