It's been three weeks, so it's past time for an update. I'm not sure I have much to say.
Will had a great time on his first trip to Pine Cove, a Christian camp, for a weekend retreat with the midschoolers. A friend & I were counting up the years we have had kids going to Pine Cove. For her, it was 7. I realized that over the last 11 years, when my daughter first went, my kids have gone every year except last year. They continued to go as high schoolers on the servant team (serving meals for the midschoolers). My older son even went once as an "adult counselor" after graduating high school. He skipped last year, though.
Today was Missions Meal. This is a monthly (most months) meal we cook and serve to raise funds for our Haiti Sister Church or other missions cause. It's always fun to get together with friends and work for a good cause. We're raising funds with a new roof in mind for our brothers and sisters in Chambellan, Haiti. We had a small crew, but we got it done eventually, starting at 8:00 a.m. and finishing up at 2:30 p.m. We hung out for an hour to wait for the midschoolers to return from Pine Cove.
I've been convicted about a couple of things -- time in the Word and in prayer, and financial giving. I'm posting it here so I'll be accountable to you, my reader friends. So far, I haven't made any changes. I find time to read fiction all the time, but I'm having trouble getting motivated to read my Bible. Right now, I'm not in a Bible study other than my mini-church (home group), so I don't have a class to structure my reading. I'm terrible at deciding WHAT to read, and that stalls me out. I have a devotional that would at least keep me going, but I'm not picking that up either. So, when you see me, asking me how I'm doing on spending time with the Lord.
Although I enjoy the relative simplicity of having fewer people around, I do miss my big kids. With my daughter in Germany for 9 more months and my son in Toronto for a few more weeks, it's been quiet. But I do enjoy the smaller grocery bill! Only I have to adjust my shopping habits to buying for three, not five. We can get by on a gallon of milk each week! Wow!
OK, I guess I had something to say! I'd better wake my younger son and see if I can get him to do a little more school work!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
A friend told me today that I update my blog every two months, whether it needs it or not! OK, friend! Here's an update, much sooner than predicted!
As of Wednesday, we're a one-kid household. My older son is in Canada visiting his girlfriend. My daughter is married and in Germany with her husband. It feels strange to only be the three of us! But it's kind of nice, too. Less to worry about, fewer people making messes, etc. Don't get me wrong. I miss the big kids. But I'm ready for this next stage. And the older son will be back for a couple of weeks before he leaves for Basic Training.
My younger son was in a parade today. Lewisville had their Western Days festival. My son's karate group marched in Old Town Lewisville. It was a small group and short parade, but it was fun! My husband and I drove the instructors van, equipped with an amp and speakers which were playing country music loudly for the crowd! It was good to help out!
Tonight we went to a thank you dinner for serving on the Brew Crew, our church's coffee service team. We serve coffee for the church services on Sunday. The coordinator hosted us to a nice dinner of fajitas and all the fixings in his lovely backyard. We had a wonderful time getting to know each other better!
It was nice to have a relaxing weekend with fun events. Not that we don't have a few fix-it projects looming in the future! But that'll be another weekend!
As of Wednesday, we're a one-kid household. My older son is in Canada visiting his girlfriend. My daughter is married and in Germany with her husband. It feels strange to only be the three of us! But it's kind of nice, too. Less to worry about, fewer people making messes, etc. Don't get me wrong. I miss the big kids. But I'm ready for this next stage. And the older son will be back for a couple of weeks before he leaves for Basic Training.
My younger son was in a parade today. Lewisville had their Western Days festival. My son's karate group marched in Old Town Lewisville. It was a small group and short parade, but it was fun! My husband and I drove the instructors van, equipped with an amp and speakers which were playing country music loudly for the crowd! It was good to help out!
Tonight we went to a thank you dinner for serving on the Brew Crew, our church's coffee service team. We serve coffee for the church services on Sunday. The coordinator hosted us to a nice dinner of fajitas and all the fixings in his lovely backyard. We had a wonderful time getting to know each other better!
It was nice to have a relaxing weekend with fun events. Not that we don't have a few fix-it projects looming in the future! But that'll be another weekend!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Back in the Saddle
Or, rather, bus driver's seat. The school hired two new drivers. One of them is terrific! The other one quit after a week and a half. They tried to get teachers to drive personal vehicles. They even rented some 15-passenger vans. It still wasn't working well. So they asked me to drive until a new driver, whom they had hired, could start in a few days. I agreed to drive for a few days.
The driver didn't work out. I'm still driving. It's only been a week so far, but the driving is much easier than last year. Instead of having 50-60 students, I have 20-30 students. Also, my route is over 10 miles shorter. I'm thinking about continuing the job. They asked me if I wanted the job when the new driver didn't materialize, but at that time I didn't think it would be a good idea. Please pray for wisdom for me. The money is nice, but I need my sleep and my sanity!
My daughter and son-in-law are in Germany. I hear they were supposed to move into an apartment, but I haven't heard from them since. A youth hostel, which has rooms full of bunk beds, is not a newlywed's dream accommodation! Also, due to Oktoberfest, the hostel was booked solid. The apartment came through the day their reservation ran out at the hostel! I hope it is working well for them.
My older son is leaving for a 5-week stay in Ontario with his girlfriend. He'll be back for about two weeks before he leaves again for Basic Training. It just hit the younger son that his brother wouldn't be around much longer. It's going to be a hard transition for him, but I think it will be a good one for us. It might be emotional, though.
We're still battling schoolwork issues with the younger boy. He's already sliding into bad habits. Driving hasn't helped any because I haven't had the energy to ride his case constantly. We saw the neurologist again on Friday. She's going to put him back on Adderall, but on the extended-release version. My son tells me, after we've left the office, driven across town, and are eating lunch, that he doesn't want to go back on it because it makes him moody. I wish he'd said that at the doctor's office! We'll give it a try and see how he does. The Focalin made a noticeable difference, but he still wasn't getting his work done. And, yes, we have seen him do his work willingly, if not cheerfully, when medication was working well.
My class is going well. I'm sticking closer to procedures than I did last year, and things are running more smoothly. I also feel like I'm getting more opportunities to provide academic assistance -- that is, actually teach!
As for the missions front, things are still moving slowly. We hope to be more aggressive in paying off bills. We've had a lot of home repairs that needed to be done, and we still have more to do! That will get the house more ready to sell, so it's not wasted money or moving backwards in our "getting ready" process. It's hard to wait on God's timing, even when you know His timing is perfect!
The driver didn't work out. I'm still driving. It's only been a week so far, but the driving is much easier than last year. Instead of having 50-60 students, I have 20-30 students. Also, my route is over 10 miles shorter. I'm thinking about continuing the job. They asked me if I wanted the job when the new driver didn't materialize, but at that time I didn't think it would be a good idea. Please pray for wisdom for me. The money is nice, but I need my sleep and my sanity!
My daughter and son-in-law are in Germany. I hear they were supposed to move into an apartment, but I haven't heard from them since. A youth hostel, which has rooms full of bunk beds, is not a newlywed's dream accommodation! Also, due to Oktoberfest, the hostel was booked solid. The apartment came through the day their reservation ran out at the hostel! I hope it is working well for them.
My older son is leaving for a 5-week stay in Ontario with his girlfriend. He'll be back for about two weeks before he leaves again for Basic Training. It just hit the younger son that his brother wouldn't be around much longer. It's going to be a hard transition for him, but I think it will be a good one for us. It might be emotional, though.
We're still battling schoolwork issues with the younger boy. He's already sliding into bad habits. Driving hasn't helped any because I haven't had the energy to ride his case constantly. We saw the neurologist again on Friday. She's going to put him back on Adderall, but on the extended-release version. My son tells me, after we've left the office, driven across town, and are eating lunch, that he doesn't want to go back on it because it makes him moody. I wish he'd said that at the doctor's office! We'll give it a try and see how he does. The Focalin made a noticeable difference, but he still wasn't getting his work done. And, yes, we have seen him do his work willingly, if not cheerfully, when medication was working well.
My class is going well. I'm sticking closer to procedures than I did last year, and things are running more smoothly. I also feel like I'm getting more opportunities to provide academic assistance -- that is, actually teach!
As for the missions front, things are still moving slowly. We hope to be more aggressive in paying off bills. We've had a lot of home repairs that needed to be done, and we still have more to do! That will get the house more ready to sell, so it's not wasted money or moving backwards in our "getting ready" process. It's hard to wait on God's timing, even when you know His timing is perfect!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Sorry I left you hanging!
My daughter said I need to update my blog! She's right. I shouldn't have left you in a slump for a month!
My biggest bit of news -- NO MORE SCHOOL BUS DRIVING! After a near miss involving a tight turn and a ditch, I decided the stress of driving was too much for me after my roller coaster summer. My nerves are just not up to it. I think I'll be a better teacher for doing less. And I'll be available to tutor or meet with parents after school.
School has started, and we're setting into a routine now.
My younger son has started a new AD/HD medicine, and it seems to be working well. We are determined to keep him on track this year!
My teaching is going well so far. I still have a few challenges now and then, but that's just part of it! Teens will be teens. Overall, it seems much smoother than last year. Maybe I learned from the experience of my first year.
My daughter and son-in-law have left for Germany. He will be teaching English in a German high school on a Fulbright scholarship. Hopefully they are finding a place to live and settling in. I haven't heard more than a "Good morning!" on Skype. Of course, I was
asleep at the time! We'll get this time difference thing worked out eventually. I need to get a webcam so we can actually see and hear each other.
My older son is officially in the Air Force now. He departs for Basic Training in San Antonio on November 17. Life is changing in a hurry for our family. Frankly, although I'll miss my older kids, I'm ready for this next phase. I'm hoping it will be better for all of us.
Keep Mark in your prayers as he will be the representative in handling her estate. He'd be the executor, but the will she prepared wasn't valid. The lawyer said declaring her intestate would be easier and would give the same results with less hassle and expense. He'll have to make several trips up to Oklahoma on business days for court
appearances and such. They will also have to sell the property. The house still isn't empty, but it's getting there.
We've been able to use some of the money from my mother-in-law's estate to pay some bills and make a couple of purchases. We have some nice patio furniture that we're using in our living room that we got at the end-of-season discount of 50%. If we ever make it to Haiti, the termites can't eat this! It's cast aluminum. Also, Mark is buying a digital SLR camera, which has been a long-time dream. I think taking a photography class at church this summer stirred up the shutterbug in him!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Slump
I'm in a slump. Here's a few definitions:
a landslide or rockslide
the vertical subsidence of freshly mixed concrete that is a measure of consistency and stiffness
a landslide or rockslide
the vertical subsidence of freshly mixed concrete that is a measure of consistency and stiffness
glass melted over or into a mold using heat from a kiln
a period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectively
a period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectivelyWhich one do you think applies?
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Haiti Bunch
The 2009 Haiti Team, or "The Haiti Bunch", had a wonderful time visiting our sister church in Chambellan. We had twelve members: Pastor Bill Lee, Midschool Director Charlie Ridenour, Bryan Knowles, Roger and Linda Little, Mission Board Member Cindy Guidroz, Carol Etheredge, Mark & Carol Hawkins, Keila Lorenc, Connor Egbert, and Jessica Williams. We had one member who was not able to go when we rescheduled: Kristen Moore. We also had one alternate who was unable to go due to team size: Lauren King.
At 12:15 on June 11, the team members were at their homes, finishing their final packing details, and almost ready to leave for the airport. The night before there had been some storms in the area, including a few tornadoes, but the weather was much better that morning. Except for at the airport. It seemed storm after storm built and reformed right over DFW. At that point, we learned that American Airlines had canceled our flight to Miami. Try as we might, we could not get on a flight to Miami that night! We contacted Billy Moses, the RMI missionary, to determine what to do. Since we couldn't get to Miami, there was no way we could make our flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti the next day. We had to cancel. Fortunately, the team scheduled for two weeks later had canceled, leaving an open spot for us! So we put our bags aside and waited.
Two weeks later, on June 25, our flight took off right on time without problems. We spent the night in Miami and took a morning flight to Port-au-Prince the next day. We breezed through customs -- a rare event! A private bus driver/pastor, Nader, drove us from the large airport to the smaller one. After getting our flights arranged, we at lunch at a nearby gas station. Actually, it was quite nice. That afternoon, after a 45-minute flight, we arrived at the tip of the peninsula in the town of Jeremie. From there, we traveled 2 hours by truck into our sister Church village, Chambellan.
We arrived in Chambellan Friday around dusk to a parade of church members waiting for us about a mile from the church. The Brigade, a youth organization in the church, met us in uniform with songs and flags. There were hugs, kisses and hand-holding by young and old Haitians as they welcomed us. The team was overwhelmed!
On Saturday, Charlie Ridenour led a seminar on being a godly single. College students Connor Egbert, Keila Lorenc, and Jessica Williams added their input and experiences. Carol Etheredge gave her viewpoints on being an older single. We broke into men's and women's groups, where they asked lots of questions. The team did an excellent job of pointing them back to God's word as our standard.
Sunday began with a long worship service. Their music groups, ranging from children to adults, gifted us with wonderful singing. Jessica and Carol sang a song in Haitian Kreyol for them. Our team members had an opportunity to share a personal greeting with the church. Pastor Bill Lee introduced the topic of marriage in his sermon. After lunch, some of the team members took a walk into town, where we got a closer look at local living. Later that evening, the church and the team held an open air service at the town soccer field. Several of our team members presented their stories of how they came to know Christ as Savior.
The adults on the team led a marriage seminar on Monday -- three sessions with lunch after the second session. Pastor Bill, Bryan Knowles, and Roger Little taught in the sessions. Everyone participated in fielding questions about marriage in our breakout sessions with the men or women. Although they have different cultural situations, we stayed close to God's word as our guide for the roles as husband and wife.
The highlight of our trip was the group wedding ceremony. We were planning to marry 9 couples. We found out when we arrived that there were 14 couples! Fortunately, we found dresses for all of the brides. It was wonderful to sit back and observe as they performed the wedding ceremony. The team is usually in the spotlight, so being on the sidelines was a real treat! Carol Etheredge took pictures before, during and afterward. She took two "formal" photos of each couple -- one of the couple posing and one of the couple kissing! They weren't used to kissing in public, so this was really funny for all involved! Carol brought her printer and left photos for the couples!
Very early Wednesday morning, we began our travel to the mission compound and then to the retreat center for a little R&R. This isn't just a fun time, although playing at the beach and relaxing in the gazebo is wonderful! It is also a chance for the team to share their experiences and think about how being on the trip might change their everyday lives at home. It's always enlightening to hear everyone's highs and lows.
Thursday we did a little shopping from vendors who set up their wares. We also toured the domestic center, where women are taught to sew, crochet, cook and embroider. This gives the women an opportunity to earn money for their families and learn a valuable skill. The best of the graduates move on to open their own schools! They have lovely items available for sale in their gift shop.
Friday was a day of travel, rising early and arriving in Port-au-Prince in the midmorning. One last treat was representing a family who had adopted a Haitian child. We met with his birth parents and siblings, giving them photos and a video to watch. We took pictures and video of the birth family to give the adoptive family. We flew back to Miami and on to DFW by late evening. It was wonderful to be greeted by family and friends there to greet us and to share our stories.
Thank you for supporting our mission trips this summer through Impact 2009. It was an honor to represent you to the Haitian church in Chambellan. May God richly bless you for being a part of our trip!
At 12:15 on June 11, the team members were at their homes, finishing their final packing details, and almost ready to leave for the airport. The night before there had been some storms in the area, including a few tornadoes, but the weather was much better that morning. Except for at the airport. It seemed storm after storm built and reformed right over DFW. At that point, we learned that American Airlines had canceled our flight to Miami. Try as we might, we could not get on a flight to Miami that night! We contacted Billy Moses, the RMI missionary, to determine what to do. Since we couldn't get to Miami, there was no way we could make our flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti the next day. We had to cancel. Fortunately, the team scheduled for two weeks later had canceled, leaving an open spot for us! So we put our bags aside and waited.
Two weeks later, on June 25, our flight took off right on time without problems. We spent the night in Miami and took a morning flight to Port-au-Prince the next day. We breezed through customs -- a rare event! A private bus driver/pastor, Nader, drove us from the large airport to the smaller one. After getting our flights arranged, we at lunch at a nearby gas station. Actually, it was quite nice. That afternoon, after a 45-minute flight, we arrived at the tip of the peninsula in the town of Jeremie. From there, we traveled 2 hours by truck into our sister Church village, Chambellan.
We arrived in Chambellan Friday around dusk to a parade of church members waiting for us about a mile from the church. The Brigade, a youth organization in the church, met us in uniform with songs and flags. There were hugs, kisses and hand-holding by young and old Haitians as they welcomed us. The team was overwhelmed!
On Saturday, Charlie Ridenour led a seminar on being a godly single. College students Connor Egbert, Keila Lorenc, and Jessica Williams added their input and experiences. Carol Etheredge gave her viewpoints on being an older single. We broke into men's and women's groups, where they asked lots of questions. The team did an excellent job of pointing them back to God's word as our standard.
Sunday began with a long worship service. Their music groups, ranging from children to adults, gifted us with wonderful singing. Jessica and Carol sang a song in Haitian Kreyol for them. Our team members had an opportunity to share a personal greeting with the church. Pastor Bill Lee introduced the topic of marriage in his sermon. After lunch, some of the team members took a walk into town, where we got a closer look at local living. Later that evening, the church and the team held an open air service at the town soccer field. Several of our team members presented their stories of how they came to know Christ as Savior.
The adults on the team led a marriage seminar on Monday -- three sessions with lunch after the second session. Pastor Bill, Bryan Knowles, and Roger Little taught in the sessions. Everyone participated in fielding questions about marriage in our breakout sessions with the men or women. Although they have different cultural situations, we stayed close to God's word as our guide for the roles as husband and wife.
The highlight of our trip was the group wedding ceremony. We were planning to marry 9 couples. We found out when we arrived that there were 14 couples! Fortunately, we found dresses for all of the brides. It was wonderful to sit back and observe as they performed the wedding ceremony. The team is usually in the spotlight, so being on the sidelines was a real treat! Carol Etheredge took pictures before, during and afterward. She took two "formal" photos of each couple -- one of the couple posing and one of the couple kissing! They weren't used to kissing in public, so this was really funny for all involved! Carol brought her printer and left photos for the couples!
Very early Wednesday morning, we began our travel to the mission compound and then to the retreat center for a little R&R. This isn't just a fun time, although playing at the beach and relaxing in the gazebo is wonderful! It is also a chance for the team to share their experiences and think about how being on the trip might change their everyday lives at home. It's always enlightening to hear everyone's highs and lows.
Thursday we did a little shopping from vendors who set up their wares. We also toured the domestic center, where women are taught to sew, crochet, cook and embroider. This gives the women an opportunity to earn money for their families and learn a valuable skill. The best of the graduates move on to open their own schools! They have lovely items available for sale in their gift shop.
Friday was a day of travel, rising early and arriving in Port-au-Prince in the midmorning. One last treat was representing a family who had adopted a Haitian child. We met with his birth parents and siblings, giving them photos and a video to watch. We took pictures and video of the birth family to give the adoptive family. We flew back to Miami and on to DFW by late evening. It was wonderful to be greeted by family and friends there to greet us and to share our stories.
Thank you for supporting our mission trips this summer through Impact 2009. It was an honor to represent you to the Haitian church in Chambellan. May God richly bless you for being a part of our trip!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wild Ride
"Trust God and do the next thing." -- Oswald Chambers
Life has been a bit on the crazy side lately. The ups and downs have jumbled together into a wild ride.
Friday we spent all day at the church decorating for the wedding. The rehearsal that evening went well. Dinner was fabulous! (Thanks, parents of the groom!)
My husband ran home to change between work and rehearsal and accidentally left his phone at home. We decided later it was no accident, but rather God was sparing us that evening.
When we got home, my husband discovered he had a message from his brother. His mother had passed away that day. A friend had called Mom and didn't get an answer, so she checked Mom's house. She found Mom sitting in her favorite chair in front of the TV. She may have drifted to sleep and not woken up. We'll never know exactly, this side of heaven.
My husband's brother and sister had headed to Oklahoma that evening to take care of details. But we had a wedding to put on. After I was given the news, I knew I had to tell the kids. I called them all together and broke the news. I hated to upset everyone before the wedding, but they had to know. My older son's girlfriend, who was staying with us, was a great comfort to my younger son.
The next morning, although a bit numb, we began the wedding preparations. The girls got together in the morning to do makeup and hair. After having an emotional morning, I joined them around noon. Once we got in the swing of preparations, we focused on rejoicing with the bride and groom.
The afternoon ceremony was absolutely beautiful! Thanks to lots of creative friends, the church was lovely! My older son's girlfriend was escorted in place of Mom, and she placed a white rose in Mom's chair. Everything went smoothly and pretty much as planned. The only faux pas was almost forgetting the unity candle. But after a laugh, that was forgotten. The reception was fun and memorable. We finally had to shut it down about 7 PM!
After LOTS of cleaning and undecorating (with lots of help from friends and relatives), we left the church around 9 PM. We decided to wait until Monday to go up to Oklahoma. That gave us a day to regroup, do laundry, and get ready for the next thing.
Sunday morning we attended the worship service. Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed dinner with both brothers and families, as well as the bride and groom! In the evening, we attended a wonderful concert featuring two guitarists with a very different style: Rhett Butler and Billy McLaughlin. We marveled together at the talent of these two men! My younger son became a favorite fan in no time, getting a tour of the bus and making friends with the crew.
Monday morning we packed and prepared to drive to Oklahoma. We left around noon and arrived to find my husband's sister, with her friend, and his brother, with his wife and daughter. Over the next few days, the siblings made final plans and started the long task of sorting through belongings. We only made a small dent, but it was a start.
After the memorial service on Wednesday, we took Mom's ashes to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. We went to several of the family's favorite camping and picnicing areas to spread her ashes in her favorite places. On Thursday afternoon, still having a lot of ashes left, we went out again to spread some more. We were blessed with several rare occurances. We saw male and female elk down by the road (usually up in the mountains) and were able to get some photos. We had a racoon family approach us at a picnic table and eat from our hands -- also a great photo op! We saw wild turkeys, buffalo, longhorns, and prairie dogs. It is rare to see so much wildlife in one day. My husband and his brother said they had only seen elk and turkeys once or twice over the many times that they had come over the years.
My younger son stayed with his aunt over the weekend while we came home. I am going to do some laundry, take care of a few things around here, and head back up on Monday. My sister-in-law will be tackling the house and the accounts and other details that couldn't be done this past week. Since I'm off for the summer, I wanted to help her with whatever I could.
My daughter and son-in-law (wow, that sounds strange!) come back tomorrow afternoon. I'll get to rejoice with them as they share honeymoon excitement. Then it will be back to the aftermath of losing someone you love.
I wonder what new dips and turns lie ahead?
Life has been a bit on the crazy side lately. The ups and downs have jumbled together into a wild ride.
Friday we spent all day at the church decorating for the wedding. The rehearsal that evening went well. Dinner was fabulous! (Thanks, parents of the groom!)
My husband ran home to change between work and rehearsal and accidentally left his phone at home. We decided later it was no accident, but rather God was sparing us that evening.
When we got home, my husband discovered he had a message from his brother. His mother had passed away that day. A friend had called Mom and didn't get an answer, so she checked Mom's house. She found Mom sitting in her favorite chair in front of the TV. She may have drifted to sleep and not woken up. We'll never know exactly, this side of heaven.
My husband's brother and sister had headed to Oklahoma that evening to take care of details. But we had a wedding to put on. After I was given the news, I knew I had to tell the kids. I called them all together and broke the news. I hated to upset everyone before the wedding, but they had to know. My older son's girlfriend, who was staying with us, was a great comfort to my younger son.
The next morning, although a bit numb, we began the wedding preparations. The girls got together in the morning to do makeup and hair. After having an emotional morning, I joined them around noon. Once we got in the swing of preparations, we focused on rejoicing with the bride and groom.
The afternoon ceremony was absolutely beautiful! Thanks to lots of creative friends, the church was lovely! My older son's girlfriend was escorted in place of Mom, and she placed a white rose in Mom's chair. Everything went smoothly and pretty much as planned. The only faux pas was almost forgetting the unity candle. But after a laugh, that was forgotten. The reception was fun and memorable. We finally had to shut it down about 7 PM!
After LOTS of cleaning and undecorating (with lots of help from friends and relatives), we left the church around 9 PM. We decided to wait until Monday to go up to Oklahoma. That gave us a day to regroup, do laundry, and get ready for the next thing.
Sunday morning we attended the worship service. Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed dinner with both brothers and families, as well as the bride and groom! In the evening, we attended a wonderful concert featuring two guitarists with a very different style: Rhett Butler and Billy McLaughlin. We marveled together at the talent of these two men! My younger son became a favorite fan in no time, getting a tour of the bus and making friends with the crew.
Monday morning we packed and prepared to drive to Oklahoma. We left around noon and arrived to find my husband's sister, with her friend, and his brother, with his wife and daughter. Over the next few days, the siblings made final plans and started the long task of sorting through belongings. We only made a small dent, but it was a start.
After the memorial service on Wednesday, we took Mom's ashes to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. We went to several of the family's favorite camping and picnicing areas to spread her ashes in her favorite places. On Thursday afternoon, still having a lot of ashes left, we went out again to spread some more. We were blessed with several rare occurances. We saw male and female elk down by the road (usually up in the mountains) and were able to get some photos. We had a racoon family approach us at a picnic table and eat from our hands -- also a great photo op! We saw wild turkeys, buffalo, longhorns, and prairie dogs. It is rare to see so much wildlife in one day. My husband and his brother said they had only seen elk and turkeys once or twice over the many times that they had come over the years.
My younger son stayed with his aunt over the weekend while we came home. I am going to do some laundry, take care of a few things around here, and head back up on Monday. My sister-in-law will be tackling the house and the accounts and other details that couldn't be done this past week. Since I'm off for the summer, I wanted to help her with whatever I could.
My daughter and son-in-law (wow, that sounds strange!) come back tomorrow afternoon. I'll get to rejoice with them as they share honeymoon excitement. Then it will be back to the aftermath of losing someone you love.
I wonder what new dips and turns lie ahead?
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