September 10

I finally got a call from the Brain Injury Clinic today and the earliest they can get me in to the clinic at Abbott is September 10.  I couldn't stop myself from asking, "What do you do if someone seriously needs help?  I mean, I just stutter when I'm tired and words don't come and I'm light sensitive . . ."  And she had no answer, but she did say if I was willing to go to the clinic at United, they could see me on August 21st!  No brainer!  I'll be there at 8:00 a.m. that Friday, ready for an entire day of testing!  Thanks for praying!  

My Pacer!

I was swimming laps in the pool today when Glen turned to me with a smile and said, "I've got to go now so I won't be able to pace you any more!"  I laughed and I laughed hard!  Glen is 78, does the side stroke and maybe swims one lap in the time I do three!  Definitely my pacer!

It's a boy!

I got to my OB/GYN appointment early today - and they got me in early today - and then came the knock on the door.  "Your doctor has been called upstairs to deliver a baby.  Do you mind waiting?"  A few minutes later, in walked the doctor.  "No baby yet, but it's coming.  It's their fourth.  It'll be fast."  I had just changed into a lovely gown and was sitting on the table, chatting with the doctor, when another knock came on the door.  "You have to go NOW!"  When Wanda came back, she had delivered a 8 pound, six ounce baby boy!  Congratulations!  And I still left on time!

Oh, What a Deal!

Sam and I went to Dick's Sporting Goods last night so I could get a new swimsuit.  When we got there, I found out my favorite brand, Uglies, were on sale for $19.98 - a $24.00 savings per suit!  I walked out with these two suits for a total of $15.00, compliments of that $25.00 gift card from Sam and Cooper!  Thanks, guys!

A Most Delicious Laugh . . .

I was team building with a group of adults from Ryan Corporation down on the Sand Creek Low Ropes Course this afternoon when through the trees came a sound that can only be described as "a most delicious laugh".  We stopped what we were doing and everyone listened with a smile on their face . . .

You see, we also had a group of children from the Shriner's Hospital there at the same time and I had worked with them earlier on the high ropes course.  Imagine missing a limb and being up here . . .

    

Some struggled, some were scared, some were quite amazing.  After the ropes course and lunch (which they shared!), the kids took off for the zip line while I went down to the low ropes and that's where we heard . . .

a most delicious laugh!

YAY!

First we heard the city was going to pick up "the trail of the storm" - have all your limbs and branches out on the curb.  Then we found out the city was not going to pick up anything, so Sam spent yesterday bundling backyard branches in 2 foot by 3 foot bundles, ten for our yard waste pick up and ten for neighbor Don's.  Ten was the pick-up limit and all of our neighbors were fine with us putting out ten bundles a week in their various yard wastes on their pick up days until the trees were gone.  After all, we had until November 15 when yard waste pick-up ended for the season.

(Compare that to $300.00 for a dumpster or $60.00/visit to a yard waste drop off facility - our budget couldn't handle it and feed Matt, too!)

Then, I heard the word "easement" from neighbor Alice and we began to pursue "easement".  Three phone calls later, we scored!  The fact that our pine tree was less than 14 feet from the fire hydrant and a light pole put it in the "easement" zone.  And the city is outside right now chipping our pine tree up into memories!  Glory! Thanks be to God!   

Blessed . . .

That's all I could think as I drove to work last Saturday - "I am blessed."  Because, you see, when I pulled up the shades Saturday morning, this is what greeted me . . .

When Annie and I went out to look at the backyard, it was even worse up close . . .

The saddest view was the front yard . . .

But I was blessed because I still had a house that was intact, no one was hurt, and the basketball hoop missed Sam's car completely.

I returned home from work sometime after 5.  The pine tree was off of the neighbor's driveway and in a neat pile in the front yard.  I found the culprits in the backyard, going after half an elm.  It turns out that our next-door neighbor, Nancy, and our across-the street neighbors, Dave, Tron and Mya, and our down-the-road neighbor. Bob. were there with chain saws, cutting and piling and clearing.  

I did what any good neighbor would do - I bought the pizza!