Warm up

I jumped (well, rolled) out of bed this morning to a cool house--Tim shut off the heat a few days ago when we had temps in the 50s and even 60s. The last couple of days, the highs have been in the 40s, adn this morning it is not even above freezing yet. I scurried about, making Tim's lunch and checking on kids. Then I bundled up and Raven and I headed out.

I could tell the day was going to warm up--the sun was already up in the sky and I could feel the earth warming. As Raven and I headed past Crystal Lake, I noticed the surface looked like a freezy--one of those frozen fruity drinks--just waiting for some invisible spoon to come stir it up so the returning geese and ducks could glide across its newly defrosted waters.

Defrosting. It's almost April, and my freezer needs defrosting. My usual practice is to take everything out in the winter and put it outside, where it will stay frozen will I put boiling pots inside and scrape off the ice before the water melts all over the laundry room floor. So, this morning I'm already at it--hoping the food outside doesn't defrost before the freezer is de-iced.

The joys of spring.......

Till next time,


Suzi

Long day, dental work

Yesterday Monday lived up to its name, at least in the work world. My mother-in-law said she tried to reach me at the office, calling ten times before she got through. The mail didn't come till 1:30 pm, and I didn't get to paperwork till late in the afternoon. It was 9 pm before I dragged myself out of the tax office and drove, first to my mother-in-law's to drop off her tax stuff (she is an accountant in our little family group) and then home to crash. The meatballs I had made in the crock pot were all gone, but Tim had run the dishwasher and cleared off the counter, so that was a nice surprise.

This morning I got up early again (5:30) to walk Raven and get everyone up and out the door. Mark made his 7:45 endodontal appointment and survived a root canal. I didn't have the heart to make him go back to school--he will be numb till after noon. It was fairly painless and lasted about an hour, so Mark did very well. Now we have scheduled an appointment for a crown to go on that tooth. We won't even talk about all the cavities that have yet to be filled.........

But hey, Monday's over. Things gotta be lookin' up.

Till next time,


Suzi

Keeping in touch

Yesterday was a fun day to catch up. I got to talk to Mia, a wonderful Romanian lady who helped us adopt our daughter, Christina, in Romania when my parents were living and working there about 13 years ago. She and her husband are in the US visiting my parents in Tennessee (as well as their daughter who is now living in California.) It was fun to catch up and hear her voice.

My brother also called, and I got to see our Bolivian daughter online too--she was at a friend's house who had a web camera. Even though we don't have a web camera, I could see her smiling and waving and blowing kisses to us from across the miles.

I think we'll have to get a web camera. Now, if I can just talk my parents into getting one.....

Till next time,


Suzi

Beauty and the beast

Yesterday, Friday was a gorgeous day--the temperature was up in the 60s and it was sunny. Of course, in the morning on my way to work, the fog was just beginning to lift and I brought my umbrella because it looked like rain.

Tim and I did enjoy a nice walk with Raven in the evening. We went to a park and tried to coax Raven up some steps and down a slide. He did make a little progress when I took off my coat for him to step on, but he would not go down the short kiddie slide with me. We made our way back through the little plastic tunnel and down the steps. He was very happy to be back on solid ground. He doesn't like slippery floors.

This morning Raven and I walked again--this time under overcast skies--last night the stars were out and even here, so close to the city, we could make out constellations. No sign of the sun today--rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the weekend.

So, we'll take the rain with the sun. We need to green up the grass with a good thunderstorm.

Just hope April 16 the sun is shining as we celebrate the end of tax season.

Till next time,

Suzi

The return of Christina.....

Tonight Christina comes home. The house just hasn't been the same without her energy, spirit and well, noisiness. She has a presence that cannot help but be felt, heard and seen. So, I'm looking forward to having her back, hoping to harness som e of that energy in constructive ways.

Now that the weather is nicer, maybe she'll want to work on cleaning up the yard, or the back porch, or maybe take the dog on a long walk.

I think she'll vote for the dog walk.

Till next time,


Suzi

Fighting the fog

This morning again Raven and I came upon a clearly defined foggy area next to the Crystal Lake not far from our house. It snaked across the road, stretching across a 20 foot wide or so swath along the park--just a little strip, but enough to make drivers' slow down and pedestrians use extra caution as they crossed the road at this point.

Once in the fog, it didn't seem so bad--only a little overcast. It wasn't such a heavy fog that the visibility was totally limited, but it lacked the clarity of vision outside it.

Sometimes my life is like that--while I'm in a fog (with a cold, busy-ness or just plain clutter) I can't see clearly until I'm out of it. I need to ask God for his vision to see through my fog and walk straight down the path without getting hit by oncoming traffic.

Till next time,


Suzi

Peace and quiet

Raven and I had a fairly uneventful walk--enjoying the warmer weather, the absence of other dogs (but there were a few squirrels to chase) and the general peace of an early spring morning--with returning robins singing with other summer birds.

We came home to a quiet house--Christina is still in Wisconsin, and the boys are working with Tim today. So, I'm off to BSF and hope to continue to enjoy a peaceful afternoon.

Peace to you!

Till next time,


Suzi

LUke home, Christina gone, Mark working up north

Luke just got home this morning from a whirlwind band tour in Colorado. He enjoyed many beautiful sights, including Wind Cave and Garden of the gods. It's good to have him safely back home. Christina got picked up yesterday around supper time (before we were home from work) and called us at 11 pm to say she had safely arrived in Wisconsin Dells at a time share--2-story condominium where her friend's family is staying. Mark left this morning to work with Tim's brother Greg in Brainerd, about 2 1/2 hours north of here. But not before he went to the dentist yesterday with a toothache--poor kid! He had to drive himself to the dentist because Tim and I were working. Then they had to explain to him that he needed a root canal and what that cost would be, and that the work would need to be done by a specialist!

Ay ay ay! And we just finished paying for Christina's 10 cavities!!!!!!!

Well, soon they will be grown and gone............???????


Till next time,


Suzi

Nohcalled

Just as I was rushing around to get off to work I sat down to check e-mail and blog when Noh called! It was so good to hear his voice! He is doing well and has just finished a series of exams. and did pretty well (he finds out the results of the test in a month.) We miss him a lot, but hope he can come visit in a year or two. It was a fun conversation and a day brightener to my rushed Monday morning!

This, after seeing my first robin yesterday. Not a bad way to start the week!

Till next time,


Suzi

Long day

We made it to the airport on time--a little after 5 am to find a long line waiting to check in. But Inga got through all right, got her luggage checked and got through security without too much trouble. (She did take off her shoes). Then at work I only waited a few minutes till Mary Ann came and let me in the back door at the office. Starting work at 6:15 was different--although kinda fun--no phones ringing or other interruptions, so I was able to catch up on filing without any trouble.

I even left at 2:15 even though there was more I could have done, and got Luke back to school in time to load the bus with the band for Colorado. I cam home, tried to nap,but the phone or doorbell kept ringing--and Mark was out and Christina was spending the night at a friend's.

Tim and I went to a birthday party for our pastor at the new church plant, and I finally got to bed about 10:30 and didn't open my eyes until 7:30 this morning when Tim got up and Raven came in to lick my hand.

Back to another day, but this time, a more restful one.

Till next time,


Suzi

Flying away

I'm blogging at night because I'm getting up at 3:30 am to take Inga to the airport--she's flying to California to visit her cousin over spring break. Her flight leaves at 6 am--and I'm working in Bloomington, near the airport, so it only makes sense that I take her.

So, I'm off to snooze land pretty quick here--it is already 9:15 pm. I walked Raven tonight and hope the kids can get him out for a little bit in the morning. Luke leaves for Colorado tomorrow afternoon--I hope to be home to say good-bye, leaving work early since I'm starting so early. Who knows....

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

till next time,


Suzi

Honk honk

The geese are back, and honking their heads off. One Canadian goose was walking around in small circles on the refrozen creek by our house. I think he was hoping the vibrations from his honking noise and the movement of his webbed feet would melt the ice so he could float around in the icy water (brrrr). Raven finally got fed up with the honking and barked at the goose, lunging a little, just enough to scare him a couple of feet away, where he resumed the honking and circling.

Now it is snowing again. We got a little covering late last night--although the two inches or so from the night before melted before noon. Will we really see 50 tomorrow?

Till next time,


Suzi

No green to be seen (or even brown)

St. Patrick's Day has arrived, but there is no sign of green, on the ground anyway. Last night winter hung on with a fresh covering of snow. It is pretty on the trees and ground, but I think most Minnesotans are ready for spring.

Hang on, it's supposed to be 50 on Friday. Just in time for Inga to go to California and Luke to go to Colorado, where it's supposed to be 70 during his high school band tour.

Till next time,


Suzi

Rest

Yesterday Christina was home sick. Perhaps after the excitement of the history fair and then 4 hours of babysitting 3 energetic (albeit sweet and cute) preschoolers, even her energy level was depleted. She did expend quite a bit of energy at the history fair--the laptop froze up and wouldn't play cds. Finally we got the dvd to play, but the audio wasn't working. Mr. Labansky, the 4th grade teacher, came to Christina's rescue with a cd player, but not before she was practically hysterical with worry and nervousness about being judged without being ready.

Turned out her enthusiasm for Bob Marley and her knowledge of the subject wowed the judges enough to earn her a red ribbon--second place. Sunday morning she returned to church/school to play in the school's advanced handbell choir--another job well done. Sunday night she babysat, and Monday morning she couldn't crawl out of bed.

Today she is back to her energetic self, and I am finding myself needing rest. But, I'll be working 5 hours this afternoon answering phones at a nearby office--I think I'll bring my BSF study along. Then home to dinner and off to confirmation for Christina.

Then more rest.

Till next time,

Suzi

Fun with Dick and Jane

Last night we attended a wonderful concert by two good friends, Dick and Jane (a married couple) who played the piano and organ at a nearby Baptist church. They attended church with us at Trinity Covenant, which has since closed, and it was a wonderful reunion of friends and memories of former concerts of theirs we have attended. They played Broadway show tunes, classic pieces, and sacred music as well. They ended with an amazing rendition of "My Tribute" by Andre Crouch. I couldn't keep the tears from flowing, remembering all the wonderful times I've heard them in our old church and thinking of our great God, as well, as they had the words printed in the program:

How, can I say thanks, for the things you have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love to me? The voices of a thousand angels, could not express my gratitude, all that I am and ever hope to be, I give it all to Thee. To God be the Glory.

Amen.

Till next time,

Suzi

Marley and Luther

Today is the day for the Academic Fair. Christina is ready for the judges, armed with her tri-board of the painted Jamaican flag and cds/dvds of Bob Marley as well as head knowledge of all she has learned about this reggae singer of "I Shot the Sheriff."

I'm just trying to picture the sounds of Bob Marley in the conservative Lutheran school gym competing with the rich tones of the organ upstairs in the sanctuary as the organist rehearses strains of "A Mighty Fortress"--while Marley croons "No Woman, No Cry........."

Till next time,


Suzi

Chatting across the ocean

Tim and I were finally able to chat with our Japanese exchange student, Mai last night. She is graduating from high school and has passed her exams to allow her to study pharmacy at the university. It is so cool to see these kids grow up and take on things they really want to do. Meanwhile, Noh, our Thai student, is in the midst of exams this week for the university. We've assureed him of our prayers as he pursues his studies.

Carla, our Bolivian girl, is working to finish up her university degree in accounting. Grandma Nelson, here in Minnesota, is waiting for her to come take over her tax business ;) so she can really retire.

We haven't heard from Marcelo in a while, our boy from Ecuador, but figure he is doing well. Inga is doing fine here in Minnesota, getting good grades.

Now, we are proud of our own kids too--who are still in progress--as we all are....

Till next time,


Suzi

Academic Fair

Two days and counting to the Academic Fair at Christina's school. SHe is doing her history project on Bob Marley, the reggae singer of the 70s or so from Jamaica. The teacher said as long as the person involved in their report was dead, it could be considered history. Last night we were searching craft stores for tempera paint so she could paint the Jamaican flag as background. I wanted washable paints, but she said tempura would work better.

I managed to convince her not to paint on our office floor (very light carpeting), but she didn't want to go to the garage--too much of winter's icky residue on the floor (salt, sand, etc.) So, she proceeded to spread newspaper on the blue carpet in her room. Only a little green paint splashed on the carpet.

Thank goodness for Oreck carpet stain remover.

Now we just need to get her book back that she needs and CDs of Marley's music set up. By tomorrow.

Till next time,


Suzi

For such a time as this

I just finished reading the book of Esther for my BSF class. What a powerful book about a brave young woman! She not only lived in a land far from her Jewish homeland, but she became a member of the pagan king's harem and eventually queen of Persia, and had an opportunity to save her people at risk to her own life. Her older cousin, Mordecai, who had brought her up (her parents had died young), told her that perhaps "for such a time as this" she had come to be queen and have influence, when the lives of the Jewish people in the land were threatened by the evil Haman, the king's right hand man.

We are all at a particular season in our lives. Maybe we're coming through some difficult time or task, wondering why God is allowing us to go through so much pain. But he always has us in the palm of his hand. And, for such a time as this, he can use us, teaching us through our tears, for our benefit, for the benefit of others, and to glorify God.

For such a time as this.

Till next time,


Suzi

Monday's blues

Monday lived up to its name, or at least its reputation. Not only was it a hectic day at the office (I stumbled out of there after 7 pm), but traffic was a nightmare during the day. Fortunately for me, I was safely at the office when the bad weather hit, and it had cleared before I left. Here's how the Minneapolis StarTribune reported the unfolding of the day:

6 am: Snow west of the /Twin C ities; National Weather Service expects it to dissipate before reaching the meetro area.
8:30 am: Some light snow expected
9 am: Significant snow expected
9-9:30 State plows deployed as snow arrives.
10:30 am: Authorities close west-bound I-94 at Hwy 280 adn at White Bear Avenue after multi-vehicle crashes.
1:30 pm: Freeways reopen

Up to three inches fell fast and furious, cutting visibility to aolmost nothing and causing roads to be like ice rinks. Since the storm was unexpected, trucks hadn't been out putting chemicals on the road ahead of time. A 20-vehicle pileup on I-94 was the worst major crash, but there was another one on I-94 with 16 vehicles. City streets were jammed since the interstates closed.

We had two cancellations, but a man from LaCrosse, Wisconsin managed to make it to his appointment, arriving about 30 minutes early.

Today the sun is shining and the ice and snow are melting.

Till next time,


Suzi

Another Monday

It's Monday morning, and I'm running a bit late. This weekend we had Mark's birthday/breakfast party--which was fun, but made me very tired. Last night we had our small group (not here, thankfully), and it was good to gather, study and pray. But it was almost 10 when we got home and after 11 before we got to bed.

Five or six o'clock just comes too quickly on Mondays. But, at least the day goes fast.

Only 5 1/2 weeks till tax season ends. Then I think I'll be ready for a trip to Hawaii.

Till next time,


Suzi

Not so bad

The snowfall yesterday was really pretty--freshening up everything. Tim decided he could give me a ride to work, so we waited for Luke to get back from his high school band class so we could all ride together to work. Turned out traffic wasn't too bad--I probably could have driven myself without too much trouble, oh well. The day at work was going pretty well, but when Tim called at 3 to see if he could pick me up, I was talking to one person, two more were waiting at the front desk, the phone was ringing, and I hadn't finished the paper work that I thought, for once, I could complete before 5 pm.

So, Tim and Luke went home and Luke came to get me a bit after six. That allowed me to finish filing the folders that had been stacking up for over a week.

Then our friend John from Hawaii called to say he was in town, so Tim and I met him for dinner. Meanwhile, Mark is out cruising with his friends, Christina is home with two friends, wanting to go to a movie but with no transportation. Finally they talked to another friend from their class who lives close by, and his dad brought them all over to their house. I called to pick them up around ten (which was about the time I got home), and the boy's sister was a bit miffed that these girls had come over and invaded her room. I came to get them and couldn't park because of all the cars on the street, so I waited out in the snow, calling the house from my cell phone, listening to it ring and ring, until finally they came out.

Life is becoming one run on sentence.

Till next time,


Suzi

Back to winter

The land is once again snow-covered--the wet heavy (heart attack) snow that you just don't want to shovel THe world is clean and fresh again, but traffic will be a nightmare--especially considering the bus drivers went on strike yesterday.

Ah well, it's Friday. And temps are predicted above freezing for the next couple of days.

Till next time,


Suzi

Winter weather returning?

We've been enjoying several days of warmer weather--above freezing, and watching the snow melt away. But they are now predicting a winter storm watch for late tonight and tomorrow (of course, on a day when I'm working!!!), with 3 to 6 inches of snow. Who knows, maybe it will all melt when it hits the ground---it probably won't last very long, anyway.

I saw another unusual sight on our walk today. A man and a woman were playing frisbee in the parking lot of a nearby park. It just struck me as odd that two adults would be playing frisbee in a parking lot at 9:30 in the morning on a work day. And it was still rather chilly--overcast and just below freezing.

But, stranger things have happened.

Till next time,


Suzi

Another driver

Well, Mark passed his driver's test yesterday! So now we have another teenage driver in the family. Of course he had to celebrate by taking all his friends out last night. Grandma and Grandpa met us at the testing station yesterday, so Mark could borrow their car, which is much easier to handle than our big van (or Tim's full size pick up truck). They didn't have the updated insurance information in their car, so at the last minute we had to frantically call to get it faxed over. (Whew!)

Mark did very well--not so great on parallel parking, but good enough to pass. Even his mohawk wasn't an issue (although he didn't have it spiked and now it is only bleached blonde, not purple or red).

So, the sleepless late evenings will continue as our two boys are out on the Minnesota roads.......

Till next time,


Suzi

Melting snow

After the cold spell we had in January and early February, weather in the 30s and 40s has been great. But it has its downside, too--as Raven and I walk, we're grateful the sidewalks are not so slippery, but now they are often wet or muddy. Debris that was covered by clean snow is now exposed for the trash that it is.

In time, we may get another snow to cover up the unsightliness of transitional weather, or spring will come with warmer weather and clean up will occur as people are out in their yards, grass grows and trees begin to bud.

More than likely, we'll have another cold snap and more snow before spring really comes. Which will give us a reprieve from the ugliness that dwells underneath.

Maybe that's a metaphor for life.

Till next time,


Suzi

Birthday boy

Yesterday Mark turned four--well, 16. Tomorrow I'm taking him to take his driver's test. Hope they accept the fact that he's only had four real birthdays. Oh well.

We decided to wait to have a party because we had church in the evening and Mark wanted to go with his grandpa on the Leap Day Model A outing. Every leap year, the Model A owners get together and drive a certain route around town. This year the theme was gangsters, so they visited the old haunts of people like Dillinger and maybe even Bonnie and Clyde. Mark had a great time--the weather was in the 40s, so they didn't freeze to death riding around in the old unheated, but very fun car.

Wow, Mark's next birthday he'll be 20!!! (or five) Wonder what that day will be like......

Till next time,


Suzi