I have the greatest friends in the entire world!

As well as my family! I was greeted by a wonderful e-mail last evening from my friend, Suzanne, as she sent me a zip file, complete with instructions about how to open it, of an anthem we are singing in choir, called "Hiding Place". This lilting melody had been echoing in my head the better part of Wednesday night following rehearsal and through the "tribulation" yesterday morning, and to find it waiting for me last night was tear provoking! Linda J. sent me a message about how tears make rainbows on the soul, from a devotional book she is reading, and I told her my soul must look it is hallucinating! Many sent good wishes through phone calls, e-mail and other electronic venues, and I greatly appreciate them!

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Then, Mom sent me an e-mail telling about the funeral service for a very young lady from her congregation. The father, Greg, was a schoolmate of ours---younger than Jill and me, but older than Kerry, I think. He recently lost his wife to cancer and now he's burying his daughter. Last year, I believe it was, his cousin was killed in an accident in a barn where she was crushed under enormous hay bales, and not too long ago, Greg's mom died. And I am concerned about a meeting and a Court date???? Oh, puhlease!

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My friend, Judy R., is having her lump removed on the 12th so prayers and good wishes by all would be appreciated. Her spirit is good, excellent, as she reports feeling quite confident after all the tests and exams show it might be a less dramatic surgery than some experience. Of course, no one knows for sure until the surgeon gets a look at it, but from what has been observed thus far, it looks like it might be "only" a lumpectomy". She has already become, in a week's time, the spokesperson for mammograms, breast health and cancer awareness while proclaiming the role of the Father's guiding hand in these matters. We just never know what it is going to be in our lives which spurs us forward!

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Today I am busily gathering some current information for the Court appearance Monday, but I think I have most of what I might possibly need. My dishwasher is busy in the kitchen, hopefully finished its job before the water was turned off to repair a leaking pipe affecting us all on The Club Continental compound. My hair should have been attended but I think I can make it work until my booty shop appointment late this afternoon.

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There was not much to clean up this a.m. as my lady friends did such a great job after our dinner last night. Our themed dinner was "Green Food" based upon St. Patrick's Day coming up later in March. My donation was my famous corned beef, cabbage, and carrots which I found to be too crisp (except the meat, of course) but the ladies claimed they like the veggies to have some snap left in them. Justin and I like them mushy so I will cook it some more this afternoon. Sandy brought mashed potatoes with apples mixed in, a sweet taste, and yummy! Christine made a Shepherd's Pie which was delicious, too, and we had Key Lime Pie for dessert, courtesy of Martie. Oh, nearly forgot to mention that Jen brought potato rolls with green butter, and I did manage to recognize some of Joanne's food in the fridge and made a lettuce salad and cooked a cauliflower for our meal. Justin opted not to come for some reason. Betty couldn't make it last night, Brenda N. was sick, Dee and Julia had art conflicts, and Brenda W. decided she has spent too many evenings away from home lately so stayed in to spend time with Jimmie. Okay, I see how it is! Only teasing, I know sometimes it gets to be too much running, especially for those with such a distance to travel. Our theme for next time is Breakfast Foods and I would like to make that delicious apple French toast, but someone else already volunteered for French toast. Can we have too much of that? I will make some thing with meat, so we have protein....hmmm? Suggestions???