I smell lemon!

Monday was one of busyness, yes, that is a word in my dictionary. Right after 7:00 am, when I was already awake, I got a text message from Anne H. to call her when I woke up. Immediately I called her, curious for the early morning summons. She was surprised I called so quickly and I explained that I was awake since right around 6:00 for no apparent reason. Anne was delighted to have someone to talk to for a change for her morning commute! I did send her the address information for Stephanie’s parent’s home in WI, but after our lovely phone visit!

It would have been nice to spend more time under the covers while using the laptop but Marlena was coming to do the dusting today. As I do with Justin, a list was prepared detailing what was expected, establishing priority. My formal rooms were primary, of course, but I also let her know when I would get home after Bible study and lunch, so my room could be ready for me to sit in there, out of her way. Marlena had come last week to size up the project and told me how much she loved my pretties.

When I came home from lunch she met me at the door and asked, “Remember how much I loved your tchotchkes???” I laughed and suggested she hated them now and she said, “Yes, I do!” Then she said, “Not really, but they sure take a lot of time and they are so delicate…” I am glad we bid the job not on an hourly scale! One thing she did say, though, was she found everything to be quite special and inspirational, which is a good thing. "Every time I turn around, I see the words "Be Still..." so I took a break!", she joked. She also got choked up reading some of the things in memory of Timmy around the house.

Marlena did not get done today but will come back tomorrow to finish up. She needed to leave in time to stop somewhere to catch up a past-due bill so of course I was sure to get her on her way in plenty of time. This lady is such an ambitious worker and I really hate to see her struggle. Her mom lives with her, Marlena is retired military, and works circles around the other staff at The Club. As I said last week, if I still had a business, I would want a roomful of Marlenas! She used lemon scented cleaners, which is how come my home smells this way.

At Bible study, Ethel shared some lemons from their tree which last year bore none, and this year has 500! I took one to cut up in the water pitcher to serve for ThanksLiving---yum! Class was full as Betty brought her three granddaughters, grade 5 and older, who used to come to church with her before they moved away. Every chair was full and Judy C., who arrived late, had to squeeze in on the corner.

We are still in Nehemiah, with today’s subject matter being how the Israelites rededicated themselves to the Lord’s ordinances, after they remembered all the times He delivered them from tribulation when they turned their backs on Him. Joseph, our guest participant, remarked about how these people keep doing the same things over and over again, and never learn. I told him, as he sat closely next to me, that this book could have my name on it, and Donna said it could have all our names on it. “…for I daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment…”(Luther) Our advantage is that no one on earth is writing it down and sharing it with the world, as is happening with the children of Israel!

We had a large group for lunch since the three girls were with us, but Judy did not come since her two grands were at her house with Uncle Mike, waiting for her. Clay County schools is out all week for the holiday (yikes!) so she has her hands full, at least until Wednesday night! Jason, our waiter, took good care of us, anticipated my drink order and even knew I was having potato soup for my meal---somehow. Kristi came with us today, too, only her second time since joining the Bible study. Nice!

My phone battery had quit so when I got to the car, I listened to a phone message from Carol, who is in NC right now. She was wondering if there was any news on the missing banners, and since I had none, she was going to call Pastor to let him know. This has been going on since last week Thursday with probably about a half dozen people involved in the dilemma. When she called him, Pastor had only a moment before been informed by the secretary that the banners were missing. He told Carol he was perplexed by the situation, as we all were, but agreed we should use the ‘old’ purple colors, formerly used for Advent.

Later, when I had taken occupancy of my desk again, my phone rang with a call from Carol. It was a blessed day!!!! She excitedly told me the dilemma was solved---there are NO blue banners. WHAT???? If the police came to me and asked me about them, I would absolutely swear we had blue Advent banners, but, it seems, we do not! No wonder neither Judy nor I could remember what was on them. Carol said she had a senior moment and then it came to her that we actually use the cross-stitched banners for Advent and only had the blue paraments and superfurnal(sp) for the altar. What a relief and what a laugh on us all! And Carol had thought about checking area pawn shops to see if anyone had tried pawning these banners…um, no.

Justin kindly stopped at the store on his way home from work and brought me a 12-pack of Diet Coke so I would not have to venture out immediately tomorrow morning. He stayed to visit, which I liked, with plans to come back tomorrow before Trivia to do the vacuuming. We might have a skeleton team since several of our players are traveling for funerals or family visits. Anne and Pastor might be joining us, depending upon his schedule, about which Justin is excited. We shall see.

My day ended the way it began, with church friends on the telephone. One friend and I talked for over three hours tonight, until my phone battery was exhausted for the second time in one day. Lots of words and I hope good counsel was shared, and I also hope, a good sleep for us both!