Thought I'd better check in quickly.....

....before I head out for the day. It's Friday and is supposed to be glorious, temperature and weather-wise, with a high predicted of 87 degrees above zero and sunshine. What could be more perfect, in my opinion?!?!

*

Yesterday was spent on the other side of the river, supposedly beginning with breakfast at Panera with Justin. However, one of us missed our cue and got involved listening to the pundits about the debate, lost track of time, and when I went to feed the kitty...I saw the clock and said, out loud, "Oh, no! I'm supposed to be at Panera right now!" Quickly I called Justin and he was disappointed but turned around and went back home, after we agreed to meet at Victory. I hurriedly got myself ready to go and headed toward his side of town. I called Justin to see if he wanted something from McDonald's since I got over there so early and felt badly about ditching him for breakfast. He got a yogurt and I got us drinks. Justin called back to say the drive-way was blocked with heavy equipment and dirt piles and asked me to call Bonnie at church to make sure they were still having class. I called him back and said they were, we can get through, and he was right behind me! We met in his school parking lot then, and he jumped into my car, eating his yogurt on the way to church (only blocks away).

*

Once again, our Bible study was extremely interesting, tear-jerking, this time about Joseph's passing. We discussed how often there are family members who don't speak to each other for decades, often not even attending the funerals of parents for this reason, etc.

*

Pastor told a story from his own family and even he had tears in his eyes. He kept his in better than I did, mine show up brightly on my shirt! One couple had recently lost the wife's brother, whom she'd cared for in his declining days, so was touched by the lesson, too. We talked about how often, when we lose a loved one, other memories or hurts from the past are brought to mind, and sometimes people mend the rifts when faced with another person's mortality. Joseph's treatment of his brothers after their father died was a faith example we should all follow in our living, sincere forgiveness and utmost kindness. A tall order!

*

After our class, I dropped Justin off at school and then headed to the Mall again to bide my time until he was out of class. At first my thought was to go to Joe's Crab Shack but decided the Mall was more sensible to sit and read my book. I had an outdoor table seating at the Cheesecake Factory and got settled in with my book. NOT the best idea to try to eat and read, and then to be reading the portion of the book which elicited tears! I wonder what that poor waiter was thinking, since everytime he came to check on me and my food, I was wiping my eyes!

*

Oh, Judy! Wow! For those who've read The Shack, I was reading the chapter where Mack has gone through the waterfall into the hidden door and is talking with "Sophia". He hears the children laughing, turns, and sees them playing with Jesus in the lovely meadow, and here come the tears again...........He got to see his little girl again and she was in glory. You were right, Judy, I did have to hang on for dear, dear life! After I ate some of my lunch, (those who've dined with me know I never eat the whole thing), he boxed up my leftovers and I went to sit outside at Barnes and Noble. I could hardly stand it, not having a highlighter, so went inside the store to see if they had one for me to buy. Oh, yes, they did, novelty ones, about two inches tall, and were fruit scented, six flavors. I chose the grape one and started marking away in my book for whatever reason.

*

In no time I had to pack up and go pick up Justin from class. We were going to Melrose to sign up for a new place to live. He's able to move in the middle of November which entitled us to a rebate on half the rent as a "signing bonus". His present lease expires at the end of November so we'll make up the loss of two weeks time at Il Villagio with the rebate from Melrose. I'll get my "Turkish friends" lined up to move Justin from his present home into the quad he'll be sharing with three other guys. It's set up with four bedrooms with private bathrooms, common area and kitchen, and tons of amenities available. He's looking forward to it, and the cost should be about the same as what I pay now for his rent and electricity, plus he's only blocks from church!

Two of our worker bees at church, The Kelley's, ever faithful, no matter the job!

I am back home again after the pricing of items at Good Shepherd. The older ladies run circles around me and thankfully we had able bodied men to tote the boxes and such into church so we can access it quickly in the morning when we set up. Much of my time was spent on the phone with my sisters-in-law who were taking turns calling me with updates on Arno's surgery. He had the operation this a.m., using local anesthesia vs. a general which will aid in his recovery following having some length of colon removed. I told him he'll never miss it! I got to speak to him a bit before the surgery because Nancy's phone was stuck on speaker and he couldn't help but hear me! If I'd thought faster, I could have sung a hymn for him but I missed my opportunity. Caught me off-guard---nuts!

Here are more hard workers who run circles 'round me: Ethel, Ellen, Bonnie, and part of Jackie.

*We did this pricing in the new classroom building which is due to be painted tomorrow during the yard sale. Fausto, the master gardener who tended to Timmy's lemon tree, was sadly cutting down the Mexican sunflowers he'd planted along the face of the church. Someone had commented that they were too tall and wouldn't allow natural light in so chop, chop, chop. He was not happy about this, saying they'd have flowered in the next week or so and now, they are in the dumpster. Having them gone makes the church and walkway less jungle-looking but I also feel sad that Fausto feels sad.