It's not so bad

Ah, what could be nicer on a Sunday evening than reading a book under a cozy afghan with a nice warm kitty?

And if it's a party you want, sit on the floor. It's like being part of a pride!

Head over Heart

It's time for child number three to leave home. He's lived on his own for a year and a half, but here in town. Linnea and Will went away, far away, to college, now Andrew joins the Navy. Cute little Navy boy here!

It's always hard the days before they leave, especially the first time. And then (with Denny) every deployment. Everyone has a coping mechanism, and it may not be a positive one. But what else can you do but cry? Can't do that.

So I must discipline the mind. Reason with my heart:

• It's not that long, really. Boot camp is only 8 weeks. Will and Linnea didn't communicate much their first weeks away. And Linnea didn't even come home at fall break that first year, or any year for that matter.
• He'll probably be home for a few days around Christmas.
• Maybe he'll get stationed in Europe and we can all go visit!
• And who says he'll make this a career?
• And who says he'll not be back here living and working when he's finished?
• It could be worse.....

The other part of the mother heart is concerned for other son who is going to be living alone and bearing those expenses. Adjusting to that. Hopefully, he'll find someone to live with him at least for awhile.

We take him to the recruiting center this afternoon. They take him to a hotel to spend the night, but we can pick him up for dinner. (What's with that?) He leaves sometime tomorrow but we don't know when. I hate all this living from moment to moment. Why don't they tell us every thing all at once. Like when they leave and what they're doing all day???

Think I'll vacuum.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yes, this is what it looked like when I got up this morning, October 10th!
I've grown up in the Midwest, but I've never seen snow like this in October, ever! It blows around in the air sometimes in mid-October, but snow lying on the ground, covering the grass, piling up on the deck? Wow! Are we in for the long winter?

Our birthday celebration

Dennis and I have our birthdays four days apart. Usually we do something for his birthday, then the parties are done. This year his birthday was on a Wednesday, and I'm always gone for dinner that day. So we decided to celebrate together with several friends on Saturday. And everyone could come! miracle of miracles!

We sat the men at one end of the table and the women at the other. That ended up being a great idea. At one point in the evening the conversation at the women end was about breast-feeding (how did we old ladies get on to THAT) and the men were talking about diesel engines and theology! After the celebratory song and cake, the men went out to the bonfire-wish I'd gotten a picture of that- and the women stayed in the living room.

It was a great evening for good conversation and catching up with friends. I think the men particularly enjoyed the time since they rarely get together as a group and have good stimulating conversation.

Hurrah for great Christian friends, and birthdays to celebrate!