Let the Programs Begin

The children and adults of Salem pulled it off again this morning. Their program - Tree-mendous Love - was great. And the annual Christmas soup dinner after the program, with the men preparing four different kinds of soup and all the fixins, was delicious. Tis truly the season.

Snow

I imagine a lot of posts today are about "snow." Winter has arrived! Not only "Storm Warning" but also "Blizzard Warning" for this area of Iowa. Ventured out earlier today to make a call but 'hunkered down' now. Snow blower up and ready for the predicted snow fall. A good day to listen to some good music and catch up on things in the (home) office.

Reflection of the Rain

There is always something about a rainy morning that slows a person down... or at least this person. Maybe it has something to do with wanting to stay cozy under the covers as the rain drops fall soothingly on the roof top, delaying then my entrance into this new day. The mind is a little numbed, the step a little slowed on days like this. There is pause for rest and quiet reflection seldom found in sunny days that often propel us from one thing to the next and the next and the next. It IS good to slow down a bit... even when there is so much to do. Thank you God for the rain.

125 Years

Join us this weekend in celebrating First United Methodist Church's (Elberon) 125 years in ministry.

"This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord" - Exodus 12:14a

A parade, children's games, ice cream social, and concert (River's Voice) on Saturday with breakfast, worship, lunch and program on Sunday. What could be better?!

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
.Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here."
Those Lazy Hazy Days of Summer - Nat King Cole

Vacation Time

And the colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high (high colorado) rocky mountain high (high colorado)
- John Denver, Rocky Mountain High

Highway Time

I’m heading down this highway
I’m heading down this road
I’m heading down this highway
It’s a long road, I’m told
- Waterboys, Ahead Down the Highway

Rain Time Again

"And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard,
it’s a hard, it’s a hard,
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall."
- A Hard Rain's A-gonna Fall, Bob Dylan

Graduations Continue

49 years later...
a grandson's graduation from 8th grade.

Theres a time for joy
A time for tears
A time we'll treasure through the years
We'll remember always
Graduation day
- Four Freshmen, Graduation Day, 1956.

Afternoon

Sometimes I will, then again I think I won't
Sometimes I will, then again I think I won't
Sometimes I do, then again I think I don't
- Chuck Berry, "Reelin' and a Rockin,'" 1972

In the Garden

We would sing and dance around
because we know we can't be found
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
- Beatles (Ringo Starr), Octopus's Garden, 1969.

Week's End

"It's finally Friday
Forget the workin' blues
And let the good times roll.."
- George Jones, Finally Friday

Rainy Day

"Sometimes the sun shines
Through the rain
Ooh let it shine
Shine through the rain"
- Cinderella, Through the Rain, 1994

Road Trip

"On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again,
And I can't wait to get on the road again."
- Willie Nelson, On the Road Again, 1982

...going to Elberon for afternoon Parish "road" event.

Rain

"Still the rain kept pourin,
fallin on my ears.
And I wonder,
still I wonder
who'll stop the rain."
- Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970

Sunshine

"Sounds of laughter here comes Sunshine
Smiling faces all around
They possess you bless you Sunshine
Now you can never let them down
I say Sunshine
Sunshine, Sunshine"
- James Taylor

...heading out to Kid's Hangout.

Turn, Turn, Turn

"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven" - The Byrds, 1965

Its time, I think, for some things...

The Last Snow

Today and tonight there is a Storm Warning for our area. It looks like we have dodged the bullet as the heaviest snowfall was to the west and north of us. A casualty however was our final Lenten service - RATS. Snow in April is so unpredictable!

Hospitality

In our Sunday evening Lenten services our parish churches are helping one another in their practice of 'radical hospitality.' Not only are we opening ourselves to others in our communities, we are also opening ourselves to each other. Yesterday, we joined Kenwood UMC - CR and St. James UMC - CR in a covenant relationship to meet together regularly for the purpose of helping one another initiate new practices of 'radical hospitality' in our churches - "the wheels, they are a turning."

V-Day 14

This has been our last day in Glendale. Breakfast with the girls. A day on the computer planning with a break to do a couple little tasks for Leah. Ate my first Jack-in-the-Box hamburger and fries tonight. Goodbyes to girls as we will be leaving before they get up in morning.

V-Day 13

A morning of worship with good people. The work of the Spirit is amazing. The day continued soaring with our time with Abby. My "getting away" has perhaps been too successful. Only a couple of days now to get back into the "swing of things."

V-Day 12

Early basketball game for girls (only one this Saturday). Brunch at Denny's (I haven't been to a Denny's in about 40 years). The afternoon walk was a little longer today - 4 miles. Then an evening movie with the girls and their parents (popcorn for supper is a good thing).

V-Day 11

Updated blog layout. Roller skating party (for Abby's birthday) in evening was a big hit with the kids. I think the adults liked it as well. It was decided early that sixty was the cut off point, so no need for me to put on skates - that was a relief!

V-Day 10

Empty house today - everyone to school and work, except us. Computer time in AM. Walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. Girls basketball practice after school, then home for late supper. Leah's focused on Friday night's skating party for Abby (birthday).

V-Day 9

A pleasant surprise - leisurely lunch with Leah. Time in the afternoon, after grocery shopping at Sprouts (healthy food, except for the peanut clusters), for putting up coat rack and assembling Granddaughter's book case. Late supper, lazy evening, and lots of late night talk.

V-Day 8

Lunch with old friends and catching up on things . Then off to Gabrielle's after school play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Home again for supper and an evening with the girls while mom and dad are at class and meeting.

V-Day 7

Emma to school in AM. Althea, Brian and I boxed up 2 loads of garage sale leftovers and hauled to local charity thrift store. Walked the canal path for about four miles in the afternoon. Then supper with Gabrielle at Golden Corral before her Christmas present shopping at Target.

V-Day 6

Sunday worship at Glendale First UMC in AM. Help with Super Bowl Party preparation before 3:00 PM start with Cardinal fans. Good game with ups and downs. Too bad Warner and the Cardinals couldn't have won. Oh, well.

V-Day 5

Up early to fix scrambled eggs and toast for everyone before Abby and Gabrielle's basketball games (2) before noon. Celebration 2 of Abby's birthday at 2PM at her home with Cullinans, Judy (AZ grandma) and Nanna Betty. Pizza and ice cream cake. Yum!

V-Day 4

Friday was our day with Emma. Shopped at Walmart (her choice) for Christmas present and then to Taco Bell for lunch (again her choice). Afternoon nap after watching her play with her selections.

V-Day 3

Abby's birthday today. She openned her present from us before going to school. Continued decompression in AM then long walk in afternoon. Updating blog before we take girls to basketball practice then to eat out for Abby's birthday (Micayo's).

V-Day 2

Up early to see girls off to school and then emailed some loose ends for newsletter. Afternoon walk to downtown Glendale, stopping at a few shops and then to Cerreta's Chocolate. Yum! Went with Brian to pick girls up at school then home for the evening.

V-Day 1

Traveled from Van Horne to Eastern Iowa Airport - Cedar Rapids to Mesa, AZ to Glendale, AZ. A mild 60 degrees when we arrived. Granddaughters were excited to see us. That's good. This will be hard to take!

Bday Yesterday

The day itself
somewhat a blur
little time
to reflect
until the end
of a
busy day
when finally
sitting down
breathing deep
sixty three
years worth
of living -
is good
very good.

Snow Day

Between numbers on
a sheet needed
for year-end reports
there is time
for mindless breaks
now and then
moving snow from
here to there.
Bright sun shine.