Reflections from home
Got an e-mail from Inga, bless her heart, saying that she met David and Mark at the airport and they took a taxi to their hotel, where they promptly crashed. Oh, she also said they exchanged some money at the airport, so they should be good for the time being.
This morning I needed to go into the office to learn some more things about accessing the website at work, and Tim was off working as well. So, when the phone call came with a crackling voice, it was our sleepy 15-year-old daughter who answered.
After months of waiting, weeks of final planning, and days of final scrambling, Mark and his friend David are finally up in the air, soaring across the US to the east coast on their way to their final destination: Chisinau, Moldova. We got up early this morning, leaving the house a little after 7 am. Traffic was incredibly good--Tim said it was because it was a Friday and most Twin Citians flee the metro area for the northwoods on the weekend--but I like to think that God was paving a way for us to our destination.
I think I am a pretty calm, reasonable person, but there are times when I get worked up. Usually it is over something minor, like getting something mailed for work last night before the post office closed. Last week I was a bit of a wreck as we scrambled to get Mark's visa papers ready at the last minute. But since I've requested prayer from a number of people, I feel an unusual calm.
This morning was a wonderful, cool morning after days of heat. I wore my jacket and my hands actually got cold. It is wonderful to open up the windows and enjoy a nice mild summer day.
When I got home from work today, Tim and Mark were hungry, so we had supper right away--turkey breast from the crock pot. Christina had friends over, and they had eaten earlier, so they went off to spend Christina's babysitting money almost as soon as I got home with the cash from her babysitting check.
At last I have more than a minute to blog. I am so happy that I took this trip down to central Illinois to see my dear friend Joy and her family. Our mutual close friend and former roommate Bobbie and her daughter were icing on the cake. It's amazing how you can be apart from some people for months and even years, and then when you get back together, it's as if no time had passed at all.
We arrived safely home about 6 pm, ten hours after leaving Champaign. We are tired but happy. Tim and Raven were happy to see us, and I think Mark was too, when he got home from frisbee golf. More later--must get to bed.
It's ten pm, but most everyone here is in bed. I'm checking out the weather for tomorrow's trip home--I'm hoping to be heading out around 8 am to return to Minnesota. Today we went to the pool and enjoyed an evening walk around the neighborhood. It's warm and humid here, but not unbearable--it's in the 80s though the dew point is 73. We had grilled steak and chicken breasts for dinner, with fresh vegetables that Bobbie brought with her from her Michigan garden. Yum. Zuchini bread and ice cream treats were our reward after our walk. Little Clovis came with us, his tiny poodle legs somehow keeping ahead of us except during brief moments when he tried to add a few drops of moisture to neighborhood shrubs and trees.
Christina and I arrived safely here at my friend Joy's in Champaign, Illinois. During the last hour of our trip, we witnessed a spectacular lightning show, and half hour after our arrival, the heavens opened up and the rain, wind, lightning and thunder came in force. The power flickered off, came back on, then went out completely. A beautiful Bradford tree in the back yard split open and fell on Joy and David's fence.
I'm getting ready to head out of town till Monday with Christina--we are visiting my old roommate from college, and another roommate will join us with her daughter for a mother-daughter weekend. I'm excited but a little stressed getting ready, getting maps, packing, etc etc
It's been a busy couple of days--my parents arrived safely and we are enjoying our time with them. I'm up early again today to work, but thunderstorms are delaying our walk--Raven is too freaked out to go outside. I hope we can get at least a short walk in, because I'll need extra time to get to the office if the rain keeps up. The rain is very welcome--don't get me wrong--I just wish it would let up enough to allow a safe walk.
Here it is Monday again--the weeks of summer seem to keep zipping by!
I don't know why little adjustments can get me so down. My parents are coming to visit, but I was planning to be gone at that time. I was to meet with someone who is training me to do an important part of my job today, but he had to call to postpone our meeting--for very good reasons. These things, however, can be fairly easily resolved.
Last week I was very spoiled. I worked one day, got two holiday days, and was able to catch up a bit after our trip to Cornerstone. This week I've been dragging myself out of bed sometime between 5-5:30 am each day to go to work. It's been good to walk early, because it has been so hot, but I miss the days I could sleep in till six at least. I'm filling in for the office manager who is out of town, but only for a few hours in the morning, so I really shouldn't complain too much.
Raven and I got up early again, since I'm working today. I love seeing people on my walks, but sometimes it is nice to enjoy the solitude that early morning usually provides.
My office manager, Nicole, will be out of the office the rest of the week, so I'm going to be working a few hours on Thursday and Friday. I'm still working on learning the programs so I can post on the website, and hope to figure out how to configure our newsletter.
It's hard to believe that after all the rain we had this spring and early summer, now the grass is turning brown. It's cloudy today, but I'm not sure if rain is in the forecast or not.
Had a great weekend--attending an open house, walking to the Coon Rapids dam and enjoying a meal with friends on Saturday, celebrating Luke's birthday with family on Sunday. I crashed early last night during the fireworks to celebrate Robbinsdale's Whiz Bang Days.
Last night we attended what I think will be our final graduation party this year--for Christina. We've known Christina's parents for a long time--Tim grew up around the corner from her mom Beth. Last night Beth had pictures of Christina and it was fun to look through them and remember all the years that have passed too quickly.
It's funny how animals will bring people together. As Raven and I were out walking today, we encountered a large yellow lab, alone, without a leash or owner. I was mainly concerned about getting Raven away from the dog, but it seemed the other dog only wanted to play. Raven growled and barked--I'm sure he was in his protective mode.
Twenty years ago little Luke, our firstborn, came into this world. It was after a long labor, and my blood pressure was steadily rising--so he ended up being an emergency C-section. He was healthy, though, and we were so thankful. I was in pretty rough shape for a couple of days as a result of toxemia, but I recovered from the whole experience in a couple of weeks. Luke, meanwhile, was happy, sweet and wonderful.
Back to reality today--Raven and I walked early. It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Minnesota. Blue skies, pleasant temperatures--hope the day at work goes by quickly.
Finally we are back from Cornerstone! Actually, we got back yesterday afternoon about 4:30. We emptied the camper as best as we could, and then Tim took it back to the spot where we park it behind his parents' house. I worked on unloading and straightening up the house before our guests were to arrive. We were so excited to see Dave King of IdeaJoy and his daughter. Dave is the one who taught a blogging seminar two years ago at Cornerstone, and has caused the spawning of many other blogs as a result. We met up with him at Cornerstone again this year--seeing him at different places around the grounds and inviting him to our campsite as well. He and daughter Sarah stopped in Minneapolis last night on their way home to Calgary, Alberta. We enjoyed a lovely evening together of spaghetti, computer talk, conversation about American fireworks (poor Raven was disturbed by the neighborhood noises), and stuff we learned at Cornerstone.
We are continuing to enjoy great weather here, great conversation, food, music and seminars. Today we are in the Gallery tent with music in the background rather than a speaker, so hopefully it will be a bit easier to blog.
Wow! Here I am on Saturday morning at Cornerstone music festival! There is a NetSpot here with several computers set up so my sister Cheri and I paid a reasonable fee for a few minutes of computer time--wahoo! The weather has been amazing--temperature highs in the 80s, low humidity, a nice breeze--only a bit dusty (I can feel the dust on the keys as I type!)
I'm married to a great guy. We have three young adult children and one German shepherd mix dog, Raven. We have hosted five exchange students from Bolivia, Ecuador, Japan, Thailand and Moldova. Our former cockatiel, Iago, is now with the Lord.
