Like a good neighbor . . .

Saturday afternoon when Sam and I returned from Christmas shopping, we saw neighbors Tom and Dave helping neighbor Greg remove this giant ice floe from in front of his driveway.  We're pretty sure it was caused by Greg's neighbor to the north's illegal drainage pipes.  Sam's first words were, "I'd better go help.  They don't have the right tools."

He grabbed his pry bar and spade and went off to join the party.  They measured.  In some places the ice was actually twelve inches deep!  It took a while, but they managed to destroy it - much to Greg's relief!

Greg's wife brought out cookies.  Dave's wife brought beverages.  I stayed inside and read a good book.

You know something's up when . . .

. . . the Inver Grove Heights worship pastor comes out in a stove pipe hat and the Burnsville worship pastor is wearing a suit jacket with flashing lights.  Here's why -



I only wish I knew what was happening in Lakeville tomorrow!
 

The Christmas Sheep

Growing up, we could hang any ornament we wanted to on our Christmas tree, save one:  the Christmas sheep.  That one belonged to Dad.  Broken leg.  Dirty wool.  Worn ribbon.  Dad's.

I found out why this Thanksgiving.  For his very first Christmas, his parents had given him the sheep.  His dad died before his second Christmas.  This is the only gift he remembers ever getting from the father he never knew.

After Mom died, the Christmas decorations stayed packed away.  Until I asked Dad last month for the Christmas sheep which now hangs proudly on my tree . . .  

 

Kadiatou

Learning to tie your shoelaces is a challenge for any child, but for Kadiatou it was an impossibility. You see, Kadiatou was born in Guinea, West Africa with club feet AND club hands. So every day her mum would tie her sandals with string and complicated knots so they wouldn’t slip right off her daughter's little twisted feet. She was scared Kaidatou would spend her life struggling. When she got a text message about the hospital ship coming, she jumped at the opportunity to see if Mercy Ships could treat her daughter.  <<WATCH KADIATOU'S TRANSFORMATION>>

Thankful Thursday!

I was so thankful that I literally had the pool to myself when I swam laps this morning.  I was also thankful that I had the entire house cleaned before lunch except for vacuuming the upstairs.  I was feeling good, carrying the dirty bucket of vinegar water I had used to clean our laminate kitchen/dining room floors downstairs when the handle broke and the water spilled down the stairs, on the landing and all over the rug.  

Sometimes thankfulness is a choice.  My choice was to be thankful that I hadn't washed the towels yet because it took three towels to dry the steps.  If you stop by sometime in the near future, you can be thankful that your steps don't smell like vinegar!

Technically: The End.

Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of work at the Y for 2019.  I got two containers of cookies - Scottish shortbread and chocolate covered Ritz crackers - from my kids.  And when I got home, multiple texts from the Y.  I'll be doing an oxygen challenge and teaching a CPR-PR class next week, but at least I'll be dry!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I got to go above and beyond the call of duty at work - fortunately, I was paid for it!  

I went in early to challenge Justin out in "Emergency Oxygen Administration".  Everything went great until I went to correct his written test.  There was no answer key.  Fifteen questions, fourteen answers I knew he had right.  Since he only needed a 70% to pass, I told him he was good!

After I taught my three classes, I got to be a victim for Justin.  We had a double drowning in the lap pool and he saved both of us!  Then I panicked and grabbed him abound the neck ("suck, tuck, duck" to all you former lifeguards out there!).  He didn't move far enough away so I grabbed him again.  This time was better.  

Then, THANKFULLY, because Barbara's private lesson cancelled, she stayed and played Justin's victim and I went home.  Thankful I could help . . . thankful I could leave!