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We got back from Minnesota last night. We passed a couple of inches of snow in most of Central Wisconsin (not on the road thankfully) and frozen lakes/ponds in Minnesota. I did not wear my coat the whole time. We would hurry into the gas stations and restaurants and that was the sum total of how much I was outside.
My husband's family is wonderful to be with for Thanksgiving. Between two families and two grandmothers, they divvy up who is bringing what for the big meal. Someone else washed dishes so I dried. That was a welcome change! I got to spend time with each of my three nieces and two nephews, and that was very special to me. None of them have been brought up to put God first in their lives, so I tried to mention Him in our conversations but not to the point of overdoing it. It really makes me sad that such good, moral people won't go that extra step and diligently seek Him.
I found two wonderful prints at the Swedish shop to frame and hang on the kitchen walls. I'm looking forward to finishing that interminably long kitchen project.
Have a wonderful Lord's day and week ahead, Lord willing. |
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Instead of having Thanksgiving with just of the two of us, my hubby and I decided to go to the north side of the Twin Cities to be with some of his family for Turkey Day. We'll be gone for three days, and two of those days we'll be driving. I'm actually looking forward to it, maybe because I'm also planning a stop at Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gift Shop in Minneapolis Friday morning. My husband comes from a very Swedish family, and when you marry into a family like that, you are very likely to inherit their like for all things beige in your home with some blue and yellow scattered throughout.
Today I am baking a peach pie, making fudge, and making a casserole for the Wed. evening meal in Minnesota. I bought 3 packages of steamed veggies (all you do is heat the package in the microwave) and a vegetable tray to supplement the more high-calorie/high fat items of a traditional turkey dinner. This time of year, losing weight is almost impossible for me, but I still try.
I appreciate Kim asking our son to their home for Thanksgiving. This is our first year Steve won't be with us for Thanksgiving. I know he'll have a wonderful time, too. I hope all of you will enjoy the holiday to the "fullest." God is so good! |
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I am loving these gas price wars and falling gas prices. I filled up for $30 yesterday instead of the $50-$60 it has cost the past few months.
We had a wonderful November Ladies Bible class yesterday on Invisible Wealth. We read many Proverbs about the subject as well as got sidetracked to various topics, like: Why is it always the same people who sign up to feed the visiting preacher? Or how do you go about motivating people who attend once a week that Sunday nights and Wednesday nights are important to attend, too?
I have been thinking and praying about re-aligning our Ladies Bible class. For four years, we have met (almost) monthly. Several ladies have asked that we meet weekly; others have asked if we could spend time together on projects as well as have Bible classes. Have any of you ever been part of a group who met weekly and perhaps rotated lessons and projects every other week?
With an empty nest and no family nearby, I'm trying to make plans for Thanksgiving. We'll probably be just the two of us as everyone else at our congregation has family nearby, so do I buy just a turkey breast or get a small turkey? Better yet, would you like to come have Thanksgiving with us so I can do the full spread, which is what I'd much prefer? :) |
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I got back to Cary, IL Friday night. Doing all the driving between Illinois and Texas and taking a couple of side trips took its toll (get the pun?) on this quasi-older woman. Thankfully I had Steve as a passenger between here and Tuscaloosa, but after that there was no one. (I'm the only one who can drive the company van when Scott isn't in the car for insurance purposes).
I had a terrific time and got to visit with many friends and Pleo friends, too. "Who?" you ask? Let's see. Sunday, 10/12, Steve and I went to evening services in Hessville (Hammond), IN and got to see and hear Bill White preach a wonderful sermon. For about 20 people, their singing was phenomenal, including two of the best song leaders I've ever heard.
Monday, 10/13, we had lunch with Shane. That evening we ate with Kim's family and saw former Elginites Tom and Joyce Towe and the Norm Webb, Jrs (former Elgin preacher) and Srs (FC classmates).
Tuesday morning, Steve and I drove to Tuscaloosa. He and his apartment-mate, Caleb, unloaded the van. We had lunch with Alisha and Katie at City Cafe in Tuscaloosa. The food was excellent and such a deal. I hope the same young 'uns will go with me when I'm in the area again. :)
I made it to Houston on Wed. evening in a thunderstorm, just in time for my sister, Janet, and I to go the Bible study at Cy-Fair, where I saw Mike and Ginny Dubose (from FC) and met Lindsey in person.
Friday I headed to Texas City. That night I went to the gospel meeting/singing led by R.J. Stevens in Rosenburg and saw Aleta (and got to meet her hubby) and Gene and Janice Mabry, two more FC friends I hadn't seen school days.
Saturday I drove to the TC dike, which was still closed due to Hurricane Ike, and visited with one of the owners of a large shrimp and bait shop. She was busy taking the roof apart. Most of their building had been blown down. Hauling was being done for free but pieces had to be in manageable parts to be hauled away, so that's why she was working on the roof.
Mother and Daddy were in reasonably good health while I was there, and we got to go to The Reef, my favorite seafood restaurant, on Sunday. Sunday night I went to a new seafood place with David and his lovely family, so I got my fill of grilled and fried shrimp that day.
Monday, Mother and I made a trip to Galveston to see the Hurricane Ike devastation. The first thing I noticed was ALL the billboard signs blown down. A couple (like Whataburger's) had already been replaced. The next thing I noticed was lack of plant life. Galveston is known for the beautiful trees and bushes in the center islands along its main boulevard. Everything looked dead from the salt water that had flooded the island. We were advised not to drive too far along the seawall because the mounds of garbage were quite smelly, and Mother has allergies that couldn't handle it. I heard on the news that Galveston is going to spend a gazillion dollars getting its beaches back in shape.
Also on Monday, I met Frances and her daughter, Dana, for ice cream in the afternoon. Again, I had a wonderful time seeing a great Pleo friend in person.
Tuesday, I headed to the north side of Houston and spent the night with my dear childhood friend, Texas Linda. She and her hubby are the ones who kept my parents during the hurricane. They still had piles of brush and quite a few empty spots in their 3-acre lot where they lost trees due to the hurricane.
Wednesday, I drove to Sulphur Springs, TX, and had a lovely dinner with Beth and her family. A friend of hers had made an Italian casserole which we had for dinner. After Bible class, I met her daughter, Kasey, and the twins and lots of people I'd love to have as friends.
It took two more days of driving to get back to Cary, which, of course, included a stop at Lambert's, Home of Throwed Rolls in Sikeston, MO. I get sleepy a lot easier than I used to. To stay awake, caffeine was much needed and singing loudly and listening to music and pinching myself were all needed.
I really enjoyed all of the congregations I visited and all the lovely Pleonasters I got to visit with. Invariably, I met people at each congregation who called themselves Pleo lurkers. If they visit my blog, I hope you'll let me know when you actually join and post and include me on your Friends' list. It has taken me several days to recover from my trip, but it was well worth it. |
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I usually go to Texas once a year. This year I'm going twice. "Why?" you ask? Today is my mother's 80th birthday, and I'm going to help her celebrate a little belatedly. We have great plans. She is not able to get out much anymore, but she has already asked if I'd take her to the Mall of the Mainland (MOM -- fitting, isn't it?) in Texas City and to Kroger's. I was thinking of painting their living room but that's more than I can handle by myself.
When I go to Texas City, I usually have to stay in a motel. Mother and Daddy (and my older sister) have a small home with one bathroom, and sometimes it's not enough for the 3 of them. I started last week trying to make motel reservations somewhere near TC, even 40 miles away in Houston. I was finally able to get reservations yesterday. Someone cancelled, and it's a Comfort Inn about one mile from my parent's. Yippee! There is still much damage from Hurricane Ike in that area, esp. Galveston, and there are many evacuees and workmen being housed in all the hotels, even miles away in Houston. I wasn't able to get all the nights I wanted, but I'm thankful for the 3 nights I got.
I hope and pray good things will happen for all of you while I'm away. |
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