Waking to the sunshine

Now that's more like it! Clear skies and warm sunshine reflecting off the river of glass---oh, yes, a lovely fall morning! The Pioneers are waking up to the same thing, perhaps not the river of glass, but in tree houses instead, on their campout overnight. Even Kathy B. was along so she could play the guitar and lead music 'round the campfire. Hopefully she will be thawed by this evening as we venture out to Lake Asbury for movie night. Suzanne and the kids are alone this weekend and rather than have her try to keep them busy here at my house, we opted to take our "show" on the road, and my chicken noodle soup, to their house. Even Janet is going to come over, as they live in the same neighborhood. Suzanne requested "Freedom Writers" and I so look forward to seeing it once more, especially since two of us four ladies are teachers.

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My day was spent with friends yesterday, starting early with Brenda N. When I arrived at her house, she was still on the phone trying to get her authorization from the insurance company. It sure was a good thing she had already taken one of the Valiums because she was getting extremely frustrated with the insurance people. Once finally in the car, she apologized for her "temper tantrum" which was hardly that, but she just could not believe the powers that be would wait so long to make this happen. She had a fistful of notes and papers she shoved in her purse and as she took her second Valium, decided her attorney needed to get a phone call from her about all this foot dragging going on. Already many of our medical decisions are in someone elses control....just wait! The neurosurgeon sending her for the test was not the one who could prescribe the Valium, that had to come through her primary doctor, more fiddling around!

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She did just fine this time in the MRI machine, no panic attack or claustrophobic events. I waited until she had finally gone in to the room and then left to get my car filled up with Diet Coke at CVS. I dilly-dallied a bit in this fun store, so many interesting things to be found in a drug store besides my drug of choice. I only had to wait a few minutes for her when I got back, and she came out looking none the worse for the wear. We feared she would be too doped up, subdued, to have lunch but she was just fine. Off we went to Honey B's, and a wonderful, long-awaited visit. I saw a friend from Art Guild there who spotted me through my identifying laugh....her husband actually heard it first---busted!!! Carolyn was nursing a broken foot or toes, the result of leaping from her bed in the throes of a bad dream. She had landed flat on her back, too, and the doctors are still discussing the back problem, but for now, the foot gets the attention.

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The waitress went back and forth taking care of us and the other patrons, finally deciding to leave the soda pitcher on our table for us as we sat, chatting and drinking our sodas. I ate only a small portion of my meatloaf sandwich and cheesy potato soup, as we both left room for our dessert. Brenda had chocolate peanut butter pie and I had bread pudding. I brought some of that home, too, but Brenda ate every bit of hers!

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We made plans to meet next week before I take off for WI because Brenda is going to take my castoff clothes to the Bahamas with her at ThanksLiving. Our shared friend, Edda, is treating Brenda to a trip to her son-in-law's hometown in the Islands and is going to donate the much needed clothing to locals they have come to know. Nice! Now I must really get busy in the closet and start making decisions about my old clothes....

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After dropping Brenda at home, I headed over to church to vacuum. All by myself....very exhausting! Once into it I thought, "Hmmm....where's Patty when I need her???" As long as I do not race through the cleaning, I do alright but my nature is to fly around. My flying around days seem to be behind me as I was thoroughly wiped out by the time I got done. I never even touched the fellowship hall, just didn't have it in me. As I drove home, I was wishing I did not have to stop at the grocery store but my soup was going to need the veggies. Hobble hobble hobble into the Winn-Dixie store for the frozen veggies. It was not until later that it occurred to me fresh vegetables would have worked, too...A lotta good that Pampered Chef intervention did last weekend!

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Once finally home again, I worked on a few things for church, including bag labels for the goodie bags I am making up for the preschool and kindergarten kids. They have a little presentation on December 15th and the Ladies' Group is hosting their reception afterward, of which I am Chair. As I made some Prayer Chain calls, I also requested some homemade cookies to be made for this reception from the 'grandma ladies' of the congregation. Our friend, Gordy, is once again hospitalized so our prayers were requested on his behalf.

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Joanne stopped by late afternoon with some more envelopes for me plus an additional list of people to get a holiday card from her. All her cards are addressed now and the next mailing is ready to go except for the newsletter inserts which will come when I am gone to WI. (Lynn--I just noticed I have 'happiness' on my bedroom ceiling!) Kelly T. was bringing the CHRISTmas booklets over last night for us to work on but she forgot some of the pieces, leaving only enough for her to work on. Good! I finished the envelopes while talking with Kelly, as we brainstormed ideas for gift baskets she is making up for her Realtor/neighbor to give to recent home buyers. Now THAT was fun and almost made me want to go shopping!

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She finished her project and I mine, and then she asked me when we were going to watch the funeral video. I glanced at the clock and asked her if she had time right now. She did, so we did, both of us weeping as once more I heard that wonderful sermon, "Jesus Triumphs Over Tragedy". When it was over, she commented that this was most powerful sermon she has ever heard. Amen, Kelly, amen!