Sick Hubbie

Scott is all nauseous and achey (achie? achy?) , maybe running a fever. I am taking him home. We are at work, but he just cannot keep going. At first I thought it might be the curry I made last night - I swear the chicken was still good. But I don't think that funky curry would give him a fever.
The kids are at home, as it is still half term break. Tonight I am supposed to go eat dinner at the women's house and meet with one of my accountability partners. We are doing Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself bible study together - and it is great! I did it about six years (or more) ago, but it is all new for me. When I get home, we are going to watch Charlie Brown's Halloween - "It's the Great Pumpkin!" Yeah for Charlie Brown! A friend has it and is lending it to us - because they certainly do not have it here.

OXford

I sat across the table at the Noodle bar in Oxford, smiling at Peter and Christopher sharing a large bowl of chicken noodle, eating very deftly with chopsticks. We don't eat out much at all - maybe once every 4 - 6 months here. It is a big splurge as resturants are very hard on our budget, but this is a special occasion. Josh's girlfriend from Korea is here and this is her last day with us as she is going to visit friends in both Oxford and London for the remainder of her time in the UK. She spent nine months studying in Oxford last year and wanted to show us this city. We had never been here and we love it. It is an amazing city, with beautiful building and all sorts of interesting shops and people. I love walking through the colleges of Oxford University. This is definately a place we will visit again.

Is it menopause??

I wonder how God can use me sometimes. I know He can use the unwise and fools and that gives me hope - but honestly, most times I am just a cranky middle-aged fool with a big mouth.
Can I blame it on menopause??? I would like to, but because of knowing myself, I really cannot. If this is menopausal and one day I will emerge as a gentle, kind woman - Oh Lord! Hasten the day!!! Most days - barely concealed raving maniac woman is what you get.

So I got up this morning - Monday morning - early and raring to go! The kids are out of school for autumn half term break, so no lunchboxes to fill, no rushing off to school, just a good quiet time with God and into work early with lots of plans to get stuff done. It started out OK, but then this nice unsuspecting lady (who is most likely on the other nicer side of menopause) comes into my office - to help. She is visiting with her husband, who is helping with finances, and they sent her to my office so that I could find her something to do. She really was very nice - but at first, I totally misread the situation. I thought that everyone knew she was coming - including my husband - but forgot to tell me. Yeah, well, I showed her the phone system quickly and she answered some of the calls. I was just freaked out because I was trying to hurry and do what I had to get done for the day - garden invoices, doctor and dental appointments for the men, copies for the Tuesday bible studies - while trying to chat and be hospitable to this nice lady. I was weighing the pros and cons of starting her on making a new music book, but she was only going to be here today and tomorrow morning. It is hard to have someone start and then come behind them and sort out what they have done. I just fall back on my stinky mommy thinking and say "It will just be easier to do it myself."

So I come away with the thoughts - I am just the meanest woman in the world. I am an uptight, high strung type A hateful woman. How can anyone else love me AND how can the Ruler of the universe love me???? But then His Spirit whispers - " I do love you, I made you, I know you.
Repent and enjoy the fresh garment of justification that I have for you - right now. Slip it on and know that you are my dearly beloved daughter. Take a deep breath and go forward and sin no more. " Then I am sure He chuckles because I am like a defiant toddler - of course I will sin more - in a minute. Later on today. Certainly tomorrow. Next week is looking pretty good also.

Gracie Sharp

I am so glad to hear that Gracie is doing better. It was really scary to be reading about her way over here! I hope that she gets well very quickly.

Long time no blog

Yep, I have been busy. We hit September running and have not stopped, I think I have just adjusted. In early September my office mate, the lovely Fleur, was needed elsewhere so I have been alone, juggling the phone calls and my other office bits. So work is more intense and some days I work longer. I am still blessed with the ability to leave work around 12:30, but then I often run errands, such as go to the post office or bank for Betel.
On September 4th the boys went back to school. Everything was the same and familiar for Peter and Paul, but Christopher entered "lower" high school at Henley High. It has been a rough transition from his old primary school to a larger High school, with much more homework. He has been teased about being American and having red hair. So we have had to spend time getting him organized and helping him settle in.
On September 6th, Josh, my oldest son arrived from Korea. He immediately started an online course out of London and spends much of his time studying, as he intends to finish the course in half the recommended time. Just having another son in the house takes time, although we are enjoying him.
We also started our home bible studies every Tuesday night in September. We also started a new accountability program where we intentionally mentor two guys, a young mother and a family in our church. We are to try to spend at least an hour with them every two weeks. That does not sound like much, but with the travel time, it has added up. We are enjoying it immensely - especially the family. That includes Gina - an alcoholic who recently left the Betel women's house after spending 22 months there. She has rejoined her husband, Stuart, and their four children: Scott, 16; Tommy, 14; Danielle,13; and Charlie, 8. The family has had a very bumpy start to re-incorporating Gina back into family life and decisions, as well as adjusting to moving up here to Birmingham to live now. Their old hometown was just too toxic for Gina to go back to live, so last May, Stuart and the children moved here. But despite all their problems, they are doing well and we are enjoying getting to know them all better.

So there are my reasons, my excuses......did I mention we got a young dog? Not quite a puppy, but less than a year old, Bella (that was her name at the animal shelter) is a miniature Jack Russell terrier (terror!) mix. She is great, except when we take her for a walk. She thinks she can whoop up on any other dog she sees, as well as the goat down the road. We walk (or drag) her everyday, twice. Good exercise, I like it. I probably will not like it so much when winter sets in. But right now, the trees are gorgeous, the air is brisk and walking the dog is mostly a joy.

So, now that I have done new post, I consider myself back in the game. See ya next time.