Done . . . Finally!

With a warm temp of 55º today, we finally finished painting the house.  I did the painting and Sam did the stirring and pouring whenever I needed more.  He also tackled the leaves, while I cut down hostas and Matt brought the logs down the hill.  Next on the "to do" list - making those logs into firewood. But not right now.  Right now, we're just going with exhaustion in the easy chairs!  

Recue Hero!

 

When Matt was little, one of our favorite shows was "Rescue Heroes".  Today, I got to be a real life "rescue hero". 

I had gone for a swim at the Y this morning and returned home without showering to finish my workout when I heard the door bell ring.  We were expecting some packages today, so I said to myself, "Leave it, Amazon man.  I'll grab it later."  When the door bell rang a second time and I could see a person at the door, I decided to check it out.

Joe Rust, who we knew from church, was at the door.  Turns out he had gotten a flat tire on his way to work today.  He dropped his car off at a repair shop, then walked to his son Kevin's house, which happens to be across the street from us.  

Neither Kevin nor his wife were home and Joe really wanted a ride home, so I grabbed my keys, apologized for my appearance and drove him home!

Thankful Thursday!

Today was a VERY.LONG.DAY at work.  Things did NOT.GO.WELL.AT.ALL, including rain at recess, which we stayed out in anyway.  My first words to Micah when I got home were, "I.NEED.CHOCOLATE."  

Fifteen minutes after fortification, I began to clean the kitchen.  While cleaning, I listened to "Episode 336:  Our Reaction to the Storming of the Capital Building" on my favorite Podcast, Provoke and Inspire.

I am thankful that these men, who Micah and I went to Ukraine with, speak truth and walk with Jesus and let their lights shine brightly.  

Data Digs Results

Nothing like the results of the "Data Digs" to totally turn my life upside-down!  Up until yesterday, I was shared equally between the three fifth grade classrooms because as far as anyone knew, the classes had pretty much identical educational needs.  I found out yesterday how inaccurate that perception was . . .

It turns out the classroom that I had spent last year in, and somewhat had tried to avoid this year so I would not be accused of playing favorites, had over 50% of the students qualifying for additional help, compared to the classroom next door in which only 3% of the students (or just one child) qualified for additional help.  

Friends, I'm going home!  I love Aimee and I love working with Aimee!  Today, we worked out a schedule where her classroom IS the priority.  Any time I have left, can be used by the other classrooms.  It's going to be a crazy fall . . . but fun because we'll be together once again!      

Sharing the Good Ship Mercy!

Friday morning, Micah and I drove up to the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, to share Mercy Ships with forty-some nursing students.  When we arrived, our friend Melinda, who had invited us to speak, said that they had had technical difficulties with their first speaker and were now running about fifteen minutes behind.  The students would skip their break, though, and we should have our full allotted time to speak.  Except the first speaker went on and on and on - even with two instructors trying to stop her!  What should have been a twenty-minute talk that I had spent two days preparing, was now cut down to five minutes (because I felt it was very important to show the two videos).  I was feeling a bit whiney - save for two things:

• There were a small group of girls that stayed after to talk with us, asking great questions, and very excited about the ministry of Mercy Ships.  In fact, one of the girls had been onboard when the ship was in Cameron as her parents are missionaries there.  It was a joy to speak with them.
• God reminded me later through 1 Corinthians 15:58b to "always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Only God knows the fruit our time will bring . . .

 

The Cheerleaders

 

I saw my cheerleaders on Thursday!  It was so fun!  They've cheered me through two knee surgeries, one ankle surgery, two graduations, five trips overseas, and so much more!  They're the MS ladies at the Y (MS being multiple sclerosis).  For years, their class was during my swim.  We'd end at the same time and I'd walk and talk with every Tuesday and Thursday, matching my pace to theirs. It was such a joy to see my favorite four - Lori, Shannon, Barb and Diane!

Do we have a winner?

 

Every year the Star Tribune has a Christmas cookie baking contest and this year, for the second time, Micah entered.  

The first time she entered, she entered "Grandma's Sugar Cookies", not realizing that sugar cookies were too ordinary and that they were looking for something more "outside of the box".

This year's entry is "Malted Milk Ball Sandwich Cookies".

My high school friend Beth makes them every year for Christmas.  Micah did a few tweaks to Beth's recipe and now we'll wait and see if we have a winner . . .