This and That

In keeping with the journal format and not the blog so much, I want to catch up this evening.

It's the end of a weekend here, Sunday night, children's happy yells echoing across the road. It's been a slightly unremarkable weekend, in other words, pleasant. Last weekend, I should mention, the In-Laws came. This was quite pleasant as well. It was the first time they've visited us in our new home. I am so so so lucky to have joined this family. They are loving and supportive, very much like my own family, in that their offspring have not chosen exactly model roads or necessarily used money wisely in their short-lived lives. I think both sets of parents are proud however of the love that their progeny give to the world, of their independent thinking, of their compassion, of their desire to do "right." At least, this is what we've absorbed as their motivation for being so proud of us. Hee hee. (I had to add that.)

My dad is very tired lately. He needs lots of naps. He can't stay up late. He often has to leave the group. I think he is disheartened by this. I think he thought that the fatigue was only an after-effect of the chemo, yet it's continued even though the chemo was last week and this confuses and possibly scares him. I think it's an effect of the cancer as well. Understandable. I haven't said this directly to him.

Today Seth took me to the library. I phrase it that way because I wouldn't have gone had he not suggested and followed through with it. I checked out a cd rom for ASL (American Sign Language) and I recommend it. "American Sign Language Dictionary by Webster, Millenium" and it's number 3 of a 4 part series. You may remember that I took the full series of 3 classes of ASL that the local community college offered. I was lucky to have a great teacher, Marycate.

Seth also took me to lunch at Hunan Restaurant in Bedford. It's neat that we can each still feel "taken out" by the other at times even though we share all income now.

I also did laundry, the weekly sweeping and shaking of the rugs, and one or two other miscellaneous household cleaning chores, today's were get rid of the shelf that had been by the heater since fall has come and we have had to turn on the propane and kill the mildew spots in the laundry and bath room. Seth vaccumed and straightened the living room.

On the last day of September Seth got his first paycheck from the county and boy oh boy was that nice. We paid off the Buick mechanic bill and paid the propane refill the day it was received. Good times. Feels so good to feel secure financially.

My sister seems quieter these days when I talk to her by phone or see her in person. Granted, I'm not in regular or frequent contact with her. I need to learn more.

This is a busy month. We have my dear friend Beth's new child's baptism on the 24th, a river rafting trip for Seth next weekend, the Bedford book festival featuring Nikki Giovani next weekend, the 5th annual Halloween party of the Brown's on the 30th (always the Saturday before Halloween), at least three doctor's appointments which I can think of offhand, and then the usual weekly activities.

Speaking of usual weekly activities, I'm missing communion with others in the context of focusing on God. I'm missing this because I'm not focusing on God much in my other time. So of course I made a decision to do so...but...community helps. Our house church has been postponed indefinitely and Seth and I have not been going to church on Sundays. I KNOW that this is a personal as well as a community matter but I'm feeling lacking. That's simply all I'm saying. I'm simply noting it. I want, I need, it is best for ALL, the more I can connect/stir/listen.

Brinker, sweetness that she is, is at my feet, having some dream, and she's sighing and and huffing. The felines, Sisty and Quacli, continue to do well, become closer each week. They chase each other for fun and sleep near, though not next, to each other on the bed, couch, floor, whatever.

That's all for now. Wishing you a peaceful and perhaps brilliant week, I sign off lovingly and thankfully.