Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Desperate for You and Vegetables

Where's Little Bear?

Tea Party!


My Grands visited me for the first part of Spring Break!  It has been so much fun, watching them play, learn, discover each other in new ways, and just having them close to snuggle and read to and sing with.  CB and the girls arrived Friday.  On Saturday she went on an overnight trip to Nana's house and to visit with teacher colleagues.  Grandpa and I played "Where's Little Bear?", picnic, pillow toss, barber chair and piano bench spins, read stories, watched loony toons and Nick Jr.  We all went to church Sunday morning and danced, sang, listened, drew, snacked a little, and saw Miss L's art.  Then we ran in the courtyard a little before coming home to meet Nannie, Becky, Jonah and Gracie who were arriving at our house.




Jonah and Grandpa built a catapult, and afterward sidewalk chalk on the driveway and a giant mess in the sandbox followed.  Much eating ensued--pulled pork, braised carrots, whole grain bread and butter, many bowls of watermelon, blueberries and strawberries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, rice cakes, more watermelon, veggie sticks, bananas, more watermelon, popcorn, a tea party of cinnamon rolls, orange slices, chocolate cupcakes, and of course-tea!





My kids and their kids had an afternoon at the park while I tried to loosen up at Body Flow. More eating and washing down with smoothies made of fruit, milk, yogurt, protein powder, elderberry syrup and probiotic powder.


After kid baths and showers we girls talked a little. Or a lot.  To each other and to our husbands, who, bless their hearts, were missing all the fun stuff.  Late last night I found an invasion of ants and perhaps also termites in the kitchen.  After spraying, killing, and cleaning thoroughly with bleach all the affected areas. I went to bed about 1:00 AM and then had a dream.

I was in my parents' house and it was filled with relatives.  All my grandparents were there.  Only my Daddy was missing. Muffin and all our girls and all their children were there, along with other younger children.  Something was wrong and I seemed to be trying very hard to keep household chores and children in reasonable control.  My grandmothers were trying to talk to me and tell me about customs they followed in caring for their families and houses. My mother was doing laundry, but it was my laundry and my children's laundry and some of the grandchildren's also.  While she put the dirty clothes in the washer, before I had checked them, I discovered that some of the latches and locks on the doors and windows were faulty, allowing them to swing open and closed, and the children were wandering in and out of them, into potentially dangerous territory.  I was notifying Muffin that repairs were in order for safety and then ran to look at the laundry.  All sorts of make-up, papers, and plastic had gone into the laundry with the clothing and left spots and discolorations on each and every garment.  I was trying to find a way to not cast blame, and to corral all the little ones--damage control--when I woke up.  


Near noon today we took chicken tenders and cupcakes to Nannie's house, and she served sides: Macaroni n cheese, bread and butter, mashed potatoes, and lemonade pie.  Awhile ago the girls and the grands left for their respective homes and I suddenly realized that I was desperate for time with Father God.  And some real vegetables.  While I have a plate of Asian slaw, watermelon, and greens, I'm listening to my favorite praise music.  A very satisfying meal!  



Monday, March 7, 2011

A Typical "atypical" week

I guess I've been busy. Sometimes it feels busy-quiet. Sometimes busy-frantic. Sometimes busy-by-choice. Last week was fairly typical and also extraordinary. I think that is what comes from living with Jesus in the driver's seat.
~Monday: Finishing touches on cleaning the house before teaching. Quick run to the bank, post office and library. Cardio workout at the gym for 40 minutes. Meeting with my Emmaus reunion group to share, make agape for the next Walk, and pray. My amazing sisters always inspire me!  Home to teach 9 students, ages seven - adult.  A few hours to decompress with "Chuck" or another fun TV show while doing computer work for the studio.

~Tuesday: Calls for Baby Music to individuals, Mother's Day Out, and learning about Baby Expo, a venue in May to reach young families with all kinds of helpful products and services for their babies.  Started building posters and flyers by computer.  Followed up with a grandmother who wants to start classes with her granddaughter this week. Yea!  Quick lunch. Taught 11 students, ages adult-five. Ending the evening with 8:00 Body Flow with Tyler and Eve.  Excellent!  As always, home to a light supper while calling Nannie and talking late night with Muffin.  That is without exception!!

~Wednesday: 9:30 Class at church. This is our ongoing Sozo class, which is currently studying "Belonging" by Ed Khouri and his group, as well as The Life Model, also written by a group.  This is all about building the capacity for joy to live in the front of your brain rather than from the back of the brain where all the primal urges drive us--fear for example.  After Sozo class, I ran in a little late to the noon Body Flow class with Jackie--an awesome teacher! Back home for a shower, quick "half lunch" and teaching.  Today I have 10 students ages 6-15.  In fact there are three six year olds and three eight year olds and they are very entertaining.  After this class I practiced for an hour, which I also did on Monday and Tuesday, for a performance the following morning.  Bach's Arioso is my choice piece for the event.

~Thursday: Arrived before my accompanist for an early run-through of the Arioso, so went to the bank to make a deposit and returned to the program site. The occasion is Harmony Club, a nationally federated music club. I've been a member since 1977 when I was expecting Boo and Christel went to Mother's Day Out on Thursday mornings.  The club has been in Abilene for over 70 years. We meet monthly and have short programs, studies, and promote music activities in the city such as public programs, music instrument donations, scholarship donations for summer study for students, support for music organizations.  After an interesting program, I drove home to deposit my violin and change clothes, eating a very light lunch before my Pilates training session with Kevin.  It was a killer!  I spent 15 minutes in Wal-Mart purchasing a scarf and two birthday cards, then drove to an appointment for a massage.  It isn't all a luxury.  I need deep tissue massage to break down lumpy bumpy tissues and sometimes it really hurts, but releases toxins.  Afterwards I drink about a gallon of water.  Then I went home to rest a little before teaching Baby Music with Caitlin from 6:30-7:30.  We discussed flyers and advertising. Then home to wait for Muffin to arrive.  He received an award for patent applications and Kaki was his date to the banquet.  Then he drove all the way home and arrived about 12:30 a.m.  So proud of him!

~Friday: Slept late. Unavoidable and purposefully.  Returned some phone calls. Muffin made calls for Nana, whose phone account had been violated with porn calls and texts.  Evil!  Got one birthday card in the mail for super nephew. Ran to Body Flow class with Erica (Torture Woman) at noon, then bought McDonald's salads and headed to the church.  We ate in the car and waited for our pastor and a man who had an appointment for a Sozo.  He is a recovering alcoholic, been sober 15 months.  Lives in a shelter for homeless and has been in prison three times.  Wants to live for Jesus and start over and be free.  For two hours we ministered to him and visibly saw his posture change from anxious and nervous and almost combative to peaceful and relaxed and tears of joy for the freedom found in forgiveness.  It was awesome!  Afterward we shopped for groceries and rejoiced, came home and rested and watched A Year in Provence. Muffin made deliciousioso chocolate chip cookies-white and dark chocolate.


~Saturday:  Started a roast and veggies in the crock pot for some neighbors whose mother died last week.  They have been in OK City and back and then had a piano contest all day Saturday with their daughter.  They were exhausted and overwhelmed.  We offered to cook a meal.  While that was cooking we went to Body Flow, to Target, and to another grocery store for goods for the weekend.  And Muffin took the car to be inspected.  I made a blackberry cobbler and a salad and put whole wheat rolls in a basket. We delivered the meal at 6:15 and visited 20 minutes.  Then the two of us went for dinner at Copper Creek--blackened salmon in strawberry sauce, mashed potato-carrots, steamed broccoli, and fresh bread.  Yum!  Such a pleasant environment and evening.


  Home to finish cleaning the kitchen and  put away all groceries and just chill awhile.  Also worked on the flyers and brochures again.  And read some Vince Flynn, which I borrowed from the library.

~Sunday: Played with the praise team and was so blessed to be where the Spirit poured out!  After church and a thought provoking sermon about building joy, we met the family who helped build City Church DC.  Went to lunch with them and their son and he blessed us with paying the tab and lots of great conversation about the Lord's work.  Home for a nap, cooking dinner for our week, cleaning house for the week and packing for Muffin's return to work today.
All in all, abundant blessings in learning God's ways.  How we love Him!