Monday, April 18, 2011

Grasshopper Days 4-18-11


Grasshopper Days

For Today, April 18, 2011

Outside my window...  Well.  I have to come clean.  The picture above is totally false advertising.  It won't look like that for probably another month.  Right now it is 37F, dark, cloudy, and raining.  And isn't that a lovely way to start the week?

I am thinking...  about my parents IN HAWAII, eating fresh pineapple on their lanai.  Okay, probably not at this moment since it's 5AM there.  But they will be.  (What was that verse about rejoicing for the good things that happen to other people???  Grrrrr!)  Kidding.  They totally deserve it.

I am thankful for...  my parents, in Hawaii, etc.  They really do deserve it.
Also, a little story to let you know how my mind works.
I am thankful for a roof I don't worry about leaking.
I know, that's kind of a think we take for granted, but not always.
 
We bought our first house from a couple in their 90s, and to say they'd let things go would be an understatement.  It needed a new roof.  I can remember it dripping into the kitchen at least twice.  And we had no money for a new roof.  Lived their seven years and only (finally) re-roofed to sell the place.
 
Bought this place in 2003 and it needed a new roof.  The roof over the kitchen and mudroom was FLAT.  And friends, that is a special kind of insanity here, where it rains almost 300 days a year.  My grandparents lived here until they died and I know that roof leaked.  So bad the kitchen ceiling came down once.  We remodeled the kitchen and moved in.  No money to fix the roof and no point in doing it until we could remodel upstairs anyway.  Until the Big Remodel (that ate Miami) of 2005-2006.
 
Which means that for parts of eleven years I had a worrisome roof over my head.
And now I don't.
And I'm very, very thankful.

I am praying for...  my folks get back tomorrow and my mom has an MRI Wednesday morning.  That's the test where they slide you into into a little tube and you can't move?
Yah.  She's not particularly claustrophobic, but would appreciate prayers all the same.
We're also praying for Tate's Hunter Safety test tonight (post below).

I am wearing...  blue jeans, white T, blue sweater, socks, slippers... layers.

I am creating...  hmmm. A blog post.  Hah.

I am going...  to get school started momentarily.

I am reading...  just finished Rosa Park's autobiography.  Next???

I am hoping...  for good Monday morning attitudes.

I am hearing...  the dryer tumbling (no line-drying today), the furnace blowing, and tappety-tappety.

From the learning rooms...  the Cold War, words with cycle, graphing functions, the Bay of Pigs, experiments with heat, Fidel Castro, being courteous to adults, memorizing Philippians 2.

From the kitchen...  probably left-overs tonight.  Tate's class is right at dinner time, so our schedules have been different.

Around the house...  moved the furniture and really cleaned over the weekend.  Partly because we're hosting Easter, but mainly just because we were due.  Even Gunnar said, "Mom, isn't it about time to move the furniture?"  Love that boy.

On my mind...  feeling in a rut.

Pondering these words...  When asked how she stayed balanced, deafmom Karen Putz said,
After laughing hysterically I informed her that my life was actually an unbalanced washing machine on a lopsided spin cycle.
Sister!

One of my favorite things...  finishing things.  Crossing things off my list. Yah.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  getting Tate to his written test (Monday) and his practical test aka Range Day (Wednesday), collecting my parents from the airport (Tuesday), Maundy Thursday dinner at church (Thursday - duh), Tenebrae Service (Friday), breathe (Saturday), Easter services and family here (Sunday).  And homeschool, and grocery shop, and laundry, and clean, and...

Here is a picture I am sharing...
 
Earlier this week.


4 comments:

leah said...

It was snowing this morning - I think your weather traveled eastward!

I will say a prayer for your mom. MRI's and claustrophobia are not a great combination. Too bad she couldn't have one of the new "open" MRI's!

Leaking roofs. I really don't like them. Ours was leaking, and we had it replaced (mucho $$), and it is STILL leaking after the contractor put the new shingles on. So we had him come out and re-touch the leaking areas. Guess what? STILL leaking. Argh. These are the times I want to pack everything up and move to a very dry place, like Arizona! :-D I'm glad your roof is finally leak-free!

Cathy M. said...

I love your pretty blue house. I hope it looks springish there really soon. O.k., I'm all done stalking your blog... right.... now.

The dB family said...

Praying for your mom!

Blessings!
Deborah

Mrs. Squirrel said...

Counting blessings is a good way to really dig into those things that we completely take for granted. Sometimes I even start listing things like indoor plumbing (especially on cold snowy days).

My first MRI was an "open MRI" when they were first investigating my dizziness issues. Right now I wish your Mom's appointment would be in one, too. It had a glass plate above your face that you can see through with lights and mirrors so you are actually in a lit "room" and your field of vision is aimed (via the mirrors) out into the room at your feet. It really made for a not-too-bad experience. I was particularly glad because I was in there for 1-1/4 hours (intricate inner ear searching took several tries to get it right).

I will be praying for you Mom and for God's peace to fill and comfort her. [Perhaps some good meds, too, if they are needed.] I will be praying for good results, too.

Hugs!
-J