This morning, post airport, was just plain difficult. The first time alone, letting it all sink in. I *know* he was 83! I *know* he is in heaven! So...why is this so hard?
Forced myself to grocery shop with Emily. Oh - yes - she's back from Spain! As of Friday night. Talk about an emotional homecoming...
I sat alone and read sympathy cards...that was very good. I read the actual cards - so lovely! And the notes about what Gilbert had meant to people. Amazing!
Started to tidy up. Framed a few favorite photos. Then, amazingly, I made 6 phone calls to pension, health insurance...tough calls where I had to tell the news and do the financial stuff...
By then I was on a roll. Cleaned up the kitchen and made dinner. I still remember how! :)
I'm better. I've been emailing regarding work issues... I can almost imagine going back tomorrow!
Thank you for the prayers. Can't quite say I'm celebrating with him, but hey...I'm on the way.
Good night! -g
4.28.2009
Back to our previously scheduled programming...
Sitting in my spot in the livingroom. Journal, Bible, coffee...but having a hard time concentrating. I'm a bit numb.
Three weeks ago this past Sunday my dad went into the hospital.
One week ago this past Sunday he died.
That next week was spent planning a funeral, cleaning out his room, cleaning out my house from two weeks of me being gone to the hospital and in anticipation of relatives arriving...
Saturday was the funeral.
Sunday we spent 7 hours in a rented van taking his body to his burial plot in Iowa.
Yesterday was the burial and the 7 hour return trip.
The last relative was just dropped at the airport.
I guess it's ok that I'm numb.
I'm wearing my dad's green cardigan, paging through his latest Bible. Grief has come in waves, but mostly I think I've been too busy to really mourn. It will likely come at odd times when I think to ask him something, or I drive by the nursing home.
He was so dependent, and his body failing, but in God's mercy He allowed my father to have his full mind right until the end. My brother took home the notes on dad's desk from the latest sermon he was preparing.
It's just odd to think that all that knowledge, and all that experience is just gone... and I know...he heavily invested his life in people, so it's not "gone," ...but still. He's gone.
My prayer warrior is gone. He prayed for our family continually.
And my biggest cheerleader is gone. I walked on water in the eyes of my daddy. He knew my faults but looked right past and through them. They were instantly forgotten. It was the closest thing to God's love that I've ever felt.
I think this is going to take a while. But that's ok. I was blessed beyond all reason with the dad that I had, and the legacy that he has left me is rich and full. I have stacks of hand written sermons, and dozens of audio tapes through which to remember him.
I moved my parents to Milwaukee 8.5 years ago. It's been an amazing journey. I'm a different person coming out on this end of it. And that's a very good thing. I definitely have a lot more wrinkles, and a lot more compassion.
I'm no longer a daughter. Hmmmm.
Three weeks ago this past Sunday my dad went into the hospital.
One week ago this past Sunday he died.
That next week was spent planning a funeral, cleaning out his room, cleaning out my house from two weeks of me being gone to the hospital and in anticipation of relatives arriving...
Saturday was the funeral.
Sunday we spent 7 hours in a rented van taking his body to his burial plot in Iowa.
Yesterday was the burial and the 7 hour return trip.
The last relative was just dropped at the airport.
I guess it's ok that I'm numb.
I'm wearing my dad's green cardigan, paging through his latest Bible. Grief has come in waves, but mostly I think I've been too busy to really mourn. It will likely come at odd times when I think to ask him something, or I drive by the nursing home.
He was so dependent, and his body failing, but in God's mercy He allowed my father to have his full mind right until the end. My brother took home the notes on dad's desk from the latest sermon he was preparing.
It's just odd to think that all that knowledge, and all that experience is just gone... and I know...he heavily invested his life in people, so it's not "gone," ...but still. He's gone.
My prayer warrior is gone. He prayed for our family continually.
And my biggest cheerleader is gone. I walked on water in the eyes of my daddy. He knew my faults but looked right past and through them. They were instantly forgotten. It was the closest thing to God's love that I've ever felt.
I think this is going to take a while. But that's ok. I was blessed beyond all reason with the dad that I had, and the legacy that he has left me is rich and full. I have stacks of hand written sermons, and dozens of audio tapes through which to remember him.
I moved my parents to Milwaukee 8.5 years ago. It's been an amazing journey. I'm a different person coming out on this end of it. And that's a very good thing. I definitely have a lot more wrinkles, and a lot more compassion.
I'm no longer a daughter. Hmmmm.
4.19.2009
Funeral
Gilbert's Funeral plan:
Saturday, April 25, 2009 2 pm
at Redeemer Evangelical Free Church
7735 W. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee
Visitation at the church from 12 noon to 2 pm.
Saturday, April 25, 2009 2 pm
at Redeemer Evangelical Free Church
7735 W. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee
Visitation at the church from 12 noon to 2 pm.
4.18.2009
Heaven
Gib flew to heaven on Sunday, April 19th at 3:19 am. God woke me minutes before so that I could be a part of the send off. He went so very peacefully. Thank you all for your prayers.
Sweetness
Our 13 year old son, Jacob Gilbert, decided that he did not want to come to Grandpa's deathbed. I was so fine with that. I assured him that Grandpa knew how much he loved him, and loved him back. I told him he had a special bond that he would carry his whole life: his middle name.
Once Frank and I got to the hospital, the night we transferred Gib to comfort care, Frank's cell rang. It was Jake. He had changed his mind. And so Frank went back to get him.
Once here, Jake did not really know what to do or say. None of us do, actually. My acoustic guitar is here, so I suggested that Jake play it softly. Jacob is mega talented on the electric guitar, like not just mom-brag talented, but really rocks the house. However, I encouraged him to play nice and soft and soothing for his grandpa.
He started in, and then he lit up. "Mom," he said, "I know just what to play!"
"What?" I asked.
"Stairway to Heaven."
Whew. How appropriate is that?
So Gib got a little Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure…
Once Frank and I got to the hospital, the night we transferred Gib to comfort care, Frank's cell rang. It was Jake. He had changed his mind. And so Frank went back to get him.
Once here, Jake did not really know what to do or say. None of us do, actually. My acoustic guitar is here, so I suggested that Jake play it softly. Jacob is mega talented on the electric guitar, like not just mom-brag talented, but really rocks the house. However, I encouraged him to play nice and soft and soothing for his grandpa.
He started in, and then he lit up. "Mom," he said, "I know just what to play!"
"What?" I asked.
"Stairway to Heaven."
Whew. How appropriate is that?
So Gib got a little Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure…
Lingering
If I had been able to script a deathbed experience, I would have wanted to read Scripture, tell my dad I love him, pass on others' greetings, sing hymns to him accompanied by my guitar, and hold his hand.
God gave us all of that yesterday.
A friend was here with me when I sang to him, and I looked at her with sheer wonder in my eyes as it became so apparent that he was singing along. There was no sound, but his mouth moved, and at times his arms and hands. When I stopped, he stopped. When I started, he started. It was powerful.
*We* sang It is Well with My Soul, Amazing Grace, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
I have my laptop here, including thousands of songs on I-tunes. I could find comfort in a lot of the contemporary praise songs right now, but it's all about Gib, so I searched for the word "hymn" and hit play. I'm not sure where all those songs came from, but we had hours of GREAT homegoing music. Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling, We're Marching to Zion, The Wonderful Grace of Jesus, and on and on and on. I was buoyed up, and content. He held my hand, and slipped into a totally restful state.
I read parts from Revelation - the parts about our awesome God and about heaven. I read John 14. I prayed with him, I cried with him (he didn't know...didn't want to make him sad) I talked to him...and a lot of the time we just listened to the hymns.
Then I broke my rule and played the whole Messiah. [I love it so much that I make myself save it for Thanksgiving through New Years] I told him that personally I thought it would be cool to exit during the Hallelujah Chorus, but he wasn't ready. Likely he did not want to ruin it for me for future listening. He's so thoughtful.
Another friend brought me dinner, and we laughed as we imagined me being here for weeks and months instead of hours. Gib is SUCH a fighter. I told the nurse this is my fourth time at his death bed. I'm not kidding. And this time I know it's THE time, but you know...I still can't quite grasp that.
At 9 pm, with my husband firmly planted at Gib's side, and a friend supervising the two of them (smile) I ran home for a much needed shower. I really thought he might fly Home while I was gone, and I told him that I was leaving for an hour. But he waited.
At 10:30 I just had to sleep. I'm so exhausted that I knew I needed real sleep and not recliner kinda sleep, so I kissed his hot forehead and went to my cot. I knew I could not monitor his breathing, but that I would know if he were in distress. I was just 5 feet away.
At 5 am I awoke to his steady breathing. So steady, in fact, that it sent me into new sobs. It's like he's just taking a good long nap. I have not seen pain and suffering for well over 24 hours. When he was leaving pain and suffering, I could deal with that. But now...now he is just so peaceful and it seems so sad that life is seeping from him. But I must remember the congestive heart failure, the gaping open 12 inch incision, the infected blood, the infected fistula through which he receives his life giving dialysis. There were SO many fights to fight, and now, instead of fighting, he is resting.
My brother, who is a surgeon and had the hardest time of any of us agreeing to comfort care (doctors are used to never giving up...) just wrote to me:
Dear Grace, Dad's peace is an answer to our prayers. You are witnessing what happens when someone is completely in God's hands. Love, Sam.
My favorite nurse just came on duty. That in itself gives me comfort. I am going to leave him in her expert care and make a dash to Starbucks. I've got some work ahead of me - ushering a dear saint to heaven.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.
God gave us all of that yesterday.
A friend was here with me when I sang to him, and I looked at her with sheer wonder in my eyes as it became so apparent that he was singing along. There was no sound, but his mouth moved, and at times his arms and hands. When I stopped, he stopped. When I started, he started. It was powerful.
*We* sang It is Well with My Soul, Amazing Grace, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
I have my laptop here, including thousands of songs on I-tunes. I could find comfort in a lot of the contemporary praise songs right now, but it's all about Gib, so I searched for the word "hymn" and hit play. I'm not sure where all those songs came from, but we had hours of GREAT homegoing music. Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling, We're Marching to Zion, The Wonderful Grace of Jesus, and on and on and on. I was buoyed up, and content. He held my hand, and slipped into a totally restful state.
I read parts from Revelation - the parts about our awesome God and about heaven. I read John 14. I prayed with him, I cried with him (he didn't know...didn't want to make him sad) I talked to him...and a lot of the time we just listened to the hymns.
Then I broke my rule and played the whole Messiah. [I love it so much that I make myself save it for Thanksgiving through New Years] I told him that personally I thought it would be cool to exit during the Hallelujah Chorus, but he wasn't ready. Likely he did not want to ruin it for me for future listening. He's so thoughtful.
Another friend brought me dinner, and we laughed as we imagined me being here for weeks and months instead of hours. Gib is SUCH a fighter. I told the nurse this is my fourth time at his death bed. I'm not kidding. And this time I know it's THE time, but you know...I still can't quite grasp that.
At 9 pm, with my husband firmly planted at Gib's side, and a friend supervising the two of them (smile) I ran home for a much needed shower. I really thought he might fly Home while I was gone, and I told him that I was leaving for an hour. But he waited.
At 10:30 I just had to sleep. I'm so exhausted that I knew I needed real sleep and not recliner kinda sleep, so I kissed his hot forehead and went to my cot. I knew I could not monitor his breathing, but that I would know if he were in distress. I was just 5 feet away.
At 5 am I awoke to his steady breathing. So steady, in fact, that it sent me into new sobs. It's like he's just taking a good long nap. I have not seen pain and suffering for well over 24 hours. When he was leaving pain and suffering, I could deal with that. But now...now he is just so peaceful and it seems so sad that life is seeping from him. But I must remember the congestive heart failure, the gaping open 12 inch incision, the infected blood, the infected fistula through which he receives his life giving dialysis. There were SO many fights to fight, and now, instead of fighting, he is resting.
My brother, who is a surgeon and had the hardest time of any of us agreeing to comfort care (doctors are used to never giving up...) just wrote to me:
Dear Grace, Dad's peace is an answer to our prayers. You are witnessing what happens when someone is completely in God's hands. Love, Sam.
My favorite nurse just came on duty. That in itself gives me comfort. I am going to leave him in her expert care and make a dash to Starbucks. I've got some work ahead of me - ushering a dear saint to heaven.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.
4.16.2009
Decisions
What a day.
We're finally out of the ICU...but into comfort care. As Power of Attorney, I had to make the hard calls today. A lot of discussions with doctors and with siblings. A lot of tears. Actually, I think the tears are just beginning.
I have watched my dad suffer so much over the last five years. And yet I've seen him enjoy life. He loves to laugh, loves to study the Word, loves to watch sports, loves a great grilled burger and a glass of red wine. He knew how to savor the good things and enjoy the moment.
But today the choices did not include too many good things. He is going into sepsis. The infections are ahead of the antibiotics. There were more antibiotics to try, but less and less chance of achieving a decent level of life. At what point do we say enough is enough with medical intervention? It's a really tough call. Believe me, I've come to know it too well. Even at 83 with congestive heart failure, kidney dialysis, diabetes, a gaping 12 inch open incision, and no cognitive responses, it's still heart rending. The what if.
Time to sleep. He's restless. I hope we can stay ahead of the pain.
I did what he asked me to do: say enough is enough at the right time. God set up a number of signs for me. I believe it was the right time.
Pray for us.
We're finally out of the ICU...but into comfort care. As Power of Attorney, I had to make the hard calls today. A lot of discussions with doctors and with siblings. A lot of tears. Actually, I think the tears are just beginning.
I have watched my dad suffer so much over the last five years. And yet I've seen him enjoy life. He loves to laugh, loves to study the Word, loves to watch sports, loves a great grilled burger and a glass of red wine. He knew how to savor the good things and enjoy the moment.
But today the choices did not include too many good things. He is going into sepsis. The infections are ahead of the antibiotics. There were more antibiotics to try, but less and less chance of achieving a decent level of life. At what point do we say enough is enough with medical intervention? It's a really tough call. Believe me, I've come to know it too well. Even at 83 with congestive heart failure, kidney dialysis, diabetes, a gaping 12 inch open incision, and no cognitive responses, it's still heart rending. The what if.
Time to sleep. He's restless. I hope we can stay ahead of the pain.
I did what he asked me to do: say enough is enough at the right time. God set up a number of signs for me. I believe it was the right time.
Pray for us.
4.15.2009
Death and Dying
Here I sit in the ICU. Day nine with my dear father, Gib. Nine days ago he had emergency bowel surgery to remove an obstruction and untwist a kink. They removed about 5 inches of bowel.
The first few days were disoriented and a bit combative. That is SO not him, but I have been at death's door with him before, and knew what to expect.
The next few days were calm, and my presence soothed him. Those are the hardest days, because when I left I felt so badly...that I was not there to calm his angst.
Then I started to notice him slip...mentally. The words came slow. I could see he was struggling to form them...I could see the frustration.
And the last couple days I've been trying to convince the nurses that something is amiss...he is just not here mentally...getting worse rather than better.
Today I got a call at work...the first...that he had spiked a fever, and needed a CT on his abdomen to look for a suspected abscess. I rushed to the hospital. He has been mostly resting comfortably and unable to know that I am here. Further questioning showed the gravity of the situation...an abscess would be fatal, as he cannot tolerate surgery. I've emailed the world, said my good byes, prayed with him, read him Psalms... During his CT I ran home and changed and got my books, planning to stay overnight.
The CT just came back. No abscess. And so we don't know what is causing the infection. And so...we wait.
I'm still going to stay overnight. I'm hoping to study. But I'm realizing how exhausting this is.
I'm okay with his living, I'm okay with his dieing, but this hovering in the unknown...that's tough stuff.
On to studying...I hope...Good night!
The first few days were disoriented and a bit combative. That is SO not him, but I have been at death's door with him before, and knew what to expect.
The next few days were calm, and my presence soothed him. Those are the hardest days, because when I left I felt so badly...that I was not there to calm his angst.
Then I started to notice him slip...mentally. The words came slow. I could see he was struggling to form them...I could see the frustration.
And the last couple days I've been trying to convince the nurses that something is amiss...he is just not here mentally...getting worse rather than better.
Today I got a call at work...the first...that he had spiked a fever, and needed a CT on his abdomen to look for a suspected abscess. I rushed to the hospital. He has been mostly resting comfortably and unable to know that I am here. Further questioning showed the gravity of the situation...an abscess would be fatal, as he cannot tolerate surgery. I've emailed the world, said my good byes, prayed with him, read him Psalms... During his CT I ran home and changed and got my books, planning to stay overnight.
The CT just came back. No abscess. And so we don't know what is causing the infection. And so...we wait.
I'm still going to stay overnight. I'm hoping to study. But I'm realizing how exhausting this is.
I'm okay with his living, I'm okay with his dieing, but this hovering in the unknown...that's tough stuff.
On to studying...I hope...Good night!
4.13.2009
The Sacred Romance
Following are quotes from the book The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge. I'm journaling on my laptop, so I had already typed them out there... thought I'd share a few here.
“Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them.” AW Tozer.
"Starting very early, life has taught all of us to ignore and distrust the deepest yearnings of our heart. Life, for the most part, teaches us to suppress our longing and live only in the external world where efficiency and performance are everything….We divorce ourselves from our heart and begin to live a double life."
p.5
“Our original shimmering self gets buried so deep we hardly live out of it at all…rather, we learn to live out of all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather.” – Frederick Buechner in Telling Secrets as quoted on page 5.
"Here, busyness substitutes for meaning, efficiency substitutes for creativity, and functional relationships substitute for love. In the outer life we live from ‘ought’ (I ought to do this) rather than from ‘desire’ (I want to do this) and management substitutes for mystery." p.6
"Given the right plan, everything in life can be managed, except your heart." p.6
“Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them.” AW Tozer.
"Starting very early, life has taught all of us to ignore and distrust the deepest yearnings of our heart. Life, for the most part, teaches us to suppress our longing and live only in the external world where efficiency and performance are everything….We divorce ourselves from our heart and begin to live a double life."
p.5
“Our original shimmering self gets buried so deep we hardly live out of it at all…rather, we learn to live out of all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather.” – Frederick Buechner in Telling Secrets as quoted on page 5.
"Here, busyness substitutes for meaning, efficiency substitutes for creativity, and functional relationships substitute for love. In the outer life we live from ‘ought’ (I ought to do this) rather than from ‘desire’ (I want to do this) and management substitutes for mystery." p.6
"Given the right plan, everything in life can be managed, except your heart." p.6
This and that
Once again there's only time for a "bullet point" post...just a glimpse at what is filling each day.
* My father has been in ICU for almost a week following bowel surgery. He is 83, in congestive heart failure, receives kidney dialysis 3 days a week and is a FIGHTER. While I know he is ready for heaven, he SO wants to stretch out his days here on earth. I've been at the hospital A LOT.
* Work has been very busy. My job is to find new work for the architects, so in an economy like this where there's never enough work, I must keep at it. Thankfully I love what I do.
* Emily has been in Africa and Portugal the past two weeks. I'll have to post a camel photo. Simply amazing.
* Joey was home for the Easter week end. Yes, I beat him in Scrabble. :) He and I are about even and we love to play. He's such a joy of a kid. We connect well.
* Easter Sunday was a blessing at church. I sang, our quintet sang, Shane had a great sermon, they showed an inspiring video of clips of the Jesus movie...it was an inspiring hour. Puts my trials in perspective.
* Today I've been mega journaling. I'm reading The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. Between it and the Beth Moore John study, I'm very introspective and in the mood to write. I long for hours upon hours to do just that.
* My final exam is a week from Thursday. Overwhelming, but plugging away... Need to keep reading and stop being so introspective! :)
* Today was a catch up day. Two boxes for Goodwill, laundry done, lots of reading and writing, puttering... but now I'm off to the hospital, along with Jake.
* Anna is on a spring break band trip. Cleveland, Washington DC, and New York City. Our kids really get around. Frank's traveling for work. Me and Jake are the only ones not leaving Wisconsin.
* That's life in a nutshell. Even in the midst of the chaos that a hospitalization causes, I take the time for a good cup of coffee, my journal and the Word each morning - no matter what. I know "this too will pass." And some day Gib will head to heaven, and I'll never regret the hours sitting at his bedside.
* Happy Monday, everyone. He is risen indeed!
* My father has been in ICU for almost a week following bowel surgery. He is 83, in congestive heart failure, receives kidney dialysis 3 days a week and is a FIGHTER. While I know he is ready for heaven, he SO wants to stretch out his days here on earth. I've been at the hospital A LOT.
* Work has been very busy. My job is to find new work for the architects, so in an economy like this where there's never enough work, I must keep at it. Thankfully I love what I do.
* Emily has been in Africa and Portugal the past two weeks. I'll have to post a camel photo. Simply amazing.
* Joey was home for the Easter week end. Yes, I beat him in Scrabble. :) He and I are about even and we love to play. He's such a joy of a kid. We connect well.
* Easter Sunday was a blessing at church. I sang, our quintet sang, Shane had a great sermon, they showed an inspiring video of clips of the Jesus movie...it was an inspiring hour. Puts my trials in perspective.
* Today I've been mega journaling. I'm reading The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. Between it and the Beth Moore John study, I'm very introspective and in the mood to write. I long for hours upon hours to do just that.
* My final exam is a week from Thursday. Overwhelming, but plugging away... Need to keep reading and stop being so introspective! :)
* Today was a catch up day. Two boxes for Goodwill, laundry done, lots of reading and writing, puttering... but now I'm off to the hospital, along with Jake.
* Anna is on a spring break band trip. Cleveland, Washington DC, and New York City. Our kids really get around. Frank's traveling for work. Me and Jake are the only ones not leaving Wisconsin.
* That's life in a nutshell. Even in the midst of the chaos that a hospitalization causes, I take the time for a good cup of coffee, my journal and the Word each morning - no matter what. I know "this too will pass." And some day Gib will head to heaven, and I'll never regret the hours sitting at his bedside.
* Happy Monday, everyone. He is risen indeed!
4.05.2009
The birds aren't that hungry after all...
We do have a lot of birds in our yard. And I'm likely the only one in the neighborhood who bakes their seed...but goodness...those feeders seem to need refilling a lot.
Well...last night...about midnight, I caught a trespassor. I was too sleepy and dumbfounded to get my camera this time. I stood right at the window and was a foot away from a huge doe who was sucking the seed right out of my feeder with her long tongue. Last time I saw her I was so amazed that I kept my distance and got a photo. This time I was just kinda mad. I tapped on the window, she looked at me and went back to chowing down. I opened the window and clapped, and then she took off in a flash - jumped the fence and was literally just *poof* gone.
Of course after she left I was wishing that I had taken a photo from so very close. Last time I took this one.
So, in the last week I've spied a very large raccoon eating up the spilled seeds, and a now a doe eating and spilling for that coon.
I need to find a discount bird seed distributor. Seems I'm feeding half the forest!
Well...last night...about midnight, I caught a trespassor. I was too sleepy and dumbfounded to get my camera this time. I stood right at the window and was a foot away from a huge doe who was sucking the seed right out of my feeder with her long tongue. Last time I saw her I was so amazed that I kept my distance and got a photo. This time I was just kinda mad. I tapped on the window, she looked at me and went back to chowing down. I opened the window and clapped, and then she took off in a flash - jumped the fence and was literally just *poof* gone.
Of course after she left I was wishing that I had taken a photo from so very close. Last time I took this one.
So, in the last week I've spied a very large raccoon eating up the spilled seeds, and a now a doe eating and spilling for that coon.
I need to find a discount bird seed distributor. Seems I'm feeding half the forest!
4.04.2009
Red at the bedroom window feeder...
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Really, you need to appreciate that photo. You have no idea how many times I crawled (yes, literally) to my purse to get my camera only to have him fly away. Red is rather camera shy.
The little round heads in the foreground are a small horizontal grouping of sculpted birds that I have perched on the window sill.
I do love these feathered friends.
April
Hello!
Do I have any readers left? I'm sure you've logged in only to find...no update. So sorry. On the bright side, life has been so full that there's not time to write about it. :)
Let's see...
**I'm now 46. It doesn't feel much different.
**It's still winter here...I think we're expecting an ice storm tomorrow. (GOOD GRIEF)
**Work and school are keeping me busy most minutes. And the little things like cooking and cleaning and trying to say hello to the kids now and then. :)
**I'm at the laptop to write a paper. The homework this week is, "Why did the author of Hebrews quote Psalm 95 so many times? What concept do you think the author is trying to make clear in this reference? What nuance/perspective does Psalm 95 add?" (If you'd like to send me your answers, feel free!)
**My oldest brother is here for the week end. He and I went to my favorite coffee shop, by Lake Michigan, and had coffee and split a Java Milkshake. They grind coffee beans into vanilla ice cream. UNBELIEVABLE. I might be awake for a long time tonight though...
**Red and Ruby, my cardinal couple, are sighted daily from the bedroom window. I'll upload a photo I snuck of Red. Tonight I actually saw Red put a seed into Ruby's beak, and it looked like he gave her a kiss. I am *so* into these cardinals...a sign of aging, no?
**I just did my "neti pot" for the second time today. If you have no idea what that is, Google it. It is a drug free way of sinus cleansing and it works SO WELL. Yucky cold lingering on...
**Tonight I took some time to make some cards. Very simple, using ribbon and stickers and a calligraphy marker, but really felt good to do something a tiny bit creative.
**Bought some new KEEN sandals today. If you have no idea what those are, Google that too. In my estimation they are the world's most comfortable shoe.
**There. You're all up to date. Well, at least on the items on the TOP of my head.
I will try to be more consistent again. So sorry. I've missed you. -g
Do I have any readers left? I'm sure you've logged in only to find...no update. So sorry. On the bright side, life has been so full that there's not time to write about it. :)
Let's see...
**I'm now 46. It doesn't feel much different.
**It's still winter here...I think we're expecting an ice storm tomorrow. (GOOD GRIEF)
**Work and school are keeping me busy most minutes. And the little things like cooking and cleaning and trying to say hello to the kids now and then. :)
**I'm at the laptop to write a paper. The homework this week is, "Why did the author of Hebrews quote Psalm 95 so many times? What concept do you think the author is trying to make clear in this reference? What nuance/perspective does Psalm 95 add?" (If you'd like to send me your answers, feel free!)
**My oldest brother is here for the week end. He and I went to my favorite coffee shop, by Lake Michigan, and had coffee and split a Java Milkshake. They grind coffee beans into vanilla ice cream. UNBELIEVABLE. I might be awake for a long time tonight though...
**Red and Ruby, my cardinal couple, are sighted daily from the bedroom window. I'll upload a photo I snuck of Red. Tonight I actually saw Red put a seed into Ruby's beak, and it looked like he gave her a kiss. I am *so* into these cardinals...a sign of aging, no?
**I just did my "neti pot" for the second time today. If you have no idea what that is, Google it. It is a drug free way of sinus cleansing and it works SO WELL. Yucky cold lingering on...
**Tonight I took some time to make some cards. Very simple, using ribbon and stickers and a calligraphy marker, but really felt good to do something a tiny bit creative.
**Bought some new KEEN sandals today. If you have no idea what those are, Google that too. In my estimation they are the world's most comfortable shoe.
**There. You're all up to date. Well, at least on the items on the TOP of my head.
I will try to be more consistent again. So sorry. I've missed you. -g
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