Random Ramblings #17

It seems that randomness happens more often lately. Must be evidence of the way my brain is working lately - randomly! As I awoke at 5:17 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep (remember how upset I was to have to get up at 5:30 last Saturday ) I began to think of all the things I wanted to write about, so I guess I'd better do it before I forget them. I already have forgotten some.

First and foremost, thank you so much for your prayer and care during the last difficult week. It means so much to Kristen and to me! You are the best friends a girl could have.

A nip of fall is in the air. It is very cool in the morning and evening. There are geese flying noisily overhead, in that wonderful V-formation. It is always a bit of a disappointment when it then goes up into the 90s during the day. We typically have a fairly long Indian Summer (or I suppose I should say Native American Summer, to be PC)! The sun is rising much later and setting much sooner. It is low in the sky as I head for work now.

Another hibiscus bloomed this week. I had actually forgotten it was in the same bed as the white ones with pink edges.

Care Bear starts kindergarten next Tuesday. I sure Kristen will write about our adventure at the annual Ice Cream Social, where the kids find out who their teacher will be, and have a chance to visit their room and see where they'll be sitting. Ironically, it is the same room Kristen was in when she went to kindergarten (she looks a little tired from the tough week it has been). The next year they sent our neighborhood kids to a different school, because we had overcrowded this one. Now, this neighborhood has gone back to the original school - another irony. Since they live 3 doors down from the house she grew up in, their kids go to the same school and Care Bear will be in the same room. I couldn't resist taking a picture of her sitting at that little table. (I just discovered I don't have any of her in that room when she was 5 - shame on me!)

My niece is here from England - to shop for her wedding dress. Apparently it is more cost effective to fly over here and buy a dress than to buy one in London. Wow. But then she gets the bonus of seeing two aunts and uncles, a sister and brother and their spouses, a niece and nephew, 3 cousins and their spouses, 5 second cousins, and her grandparents. That's just on our side of the family, not going into her mom's family. It'll be a fast and furious, very busy few days. I sure hope she finds a dress she loves.

How does it happen that little bratty neighbor boys who have spent years skate-boarding and biking over ramps in the middle of the culdesac, suddenly are old enough to drive cars?? That is not a pleasant thought for us, judging from the carelessness of their bike-riding days. Cars?? Yikes!

Yesterday at work we said good-bye to a work study student who has been our best one ever. She's moving to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The same place we went for our 25th anniversary and are going for our 35th in December. I hope to connect with her for a few minutes while we're there.

Speaking of work and students - we're off to a busy start of another school year. Barb's son-in-law, Aaron, is off to a running start in his graduate program. His classes are right down the hall from my office, so I see him often. Sorry, Barb! He's doing great. He'll soon be working right across the hall from me. The next group has orientation Monday, so they'll be hitting the ground running as well. The undergrads started Monday, so Kevin is also very busy taking 18 credits, and majoring in social work (he's taking Arabic for the fun of it!) - so hopefully I'll see him once in awhile. So far I haven't because his SW classes are in the afternoon and I work in the morning.

The kiddoes and I have had some fun conversations this week. It was very hot early in the week (and then turned deliciously cool the last few days). The girls wanted to run through the sprinkler. I mentioned that we didn't have their suits, but they could take off their clothes and run in their underwear - but we'd have to go into the back yard, of course. Care Bear says, "It's inappropriate to be in the front yard in our underwear." Okay, I ask you, did you know the word "inappropriate" and how to use it appropriately in a sentence when you were not quite 5??

Then we drove by her house on the way to Baskin Robbins the other night while her parents were at praise band practice. She says, "Which vehicle did they use?"

They were having a great time making up a movie the other day, and had made quite a mess in the process. I reminded them that they needed to finish up and help clean the mess before it was time to go home. I asked Feisty, who hadn't really even made much of the mess, "Feisty, do you want to help me clean up this mess?" "Sure!" She is always so willing.

I said, "You're such a good helper, when your brother and sister just want to play."

Anakin says, in an aggrieved tone of voice, "GRANDMA!! - Well, it's the truth, but the truth hurts!"

Feisty is on a first name basis with one of our neighbors' cats, Tommy. Tommy is old and likes our yard much better than his own. He especially likes this spot on a hot day. Feisty is always watching for him there. So cute.

I read lots and lots of fun mystery books. Many authors. I have just discovered a new series by Alexander McCall Smith. This is the first in the series. It takes place in the small country of Botswana, Africa. These are easy, quick reads and enjoyable. I'm about to finish the third one.

My goodness, that is enough! I was going to share some Max Lucado again, but I think I have kept you captive long enough. If you even made it this far! Have a blessed week-end!