Fredricksburg

It was really, really great! Mally had a birthday celebration Friday noon when we met with Nancy and her class for lunch, and again that evening, when she had a chocolate moussey thingy with a candle in it. We all sang loudly. Since her class stayed late on Friday, they finished their work and she was free on Saturday. She really wanted to go on home, but the children had to do their thing of hitting the shops. We had a good time, saw a lot of junk, some of it really expensive, and I sat a lot of the time. I know she was glad to get home. I think she has a week off between summer semesters. This will all be over for her by the end of next May. She is graduating in two places, I think. Whatever. I know she is ready to be through.

For some reason, I am very, very tired. Maybe I need more caffeine. Or something. Meanwhile, I am just doing a lot of sitting. Next post, I will try to move a photo of the children on here for you to see.

Hug people a lot - it makes you both feel better....

Uh - oops.....

Just had word from my very necessary Medicare drug supplement program that I have now reached the limit of $2420. with my combined payments and theirs for meds. In June, yet! So I am in what is called the 'donut hole". This means that I have to pay for the next $1680. of meds, document this carefully and send the receipts in. This reaches $4000. And then, and then, and then!!! The excellent news is that Blue Cross has to pay for ALL of my meds for the rest of the calendar year. (EEk, I think Pollyana is back!) Really, this is a very uneven way to do things. Plus, they don't even cover all of the meds we take. Dad will reach the donut hole in about August. I used not to take so many pills, but since the heart cath, they have been piled on. I"ve managed to rid myself of a couple of them, but the others seem necessary. Or so the doctors say.

Note to all of you. While you are working, be sure to put aside enough to supplement Medicare and pay for both supplement insurances for medical needs. Also it'll be a good idea to get a nursing home policy. We never realized how important it is and hopefully will never have to need one.

I went to my chiropractor yesterday and while he isn't the best in the world, he does have what I call the 'Rack". I don't think they know the reference when I mention this name, but basically I am strapped to a table, and my spine is stretched out, first the lower, then the upper. It makes a major difference in the pain. Medicare doesn't limit my chiropractor visits. They used to try and one of the doctors sent them an x-ray of my lower spine and they quit quibbling about it.

Tomorrow we leave for Fredricksburg and I am really stoked! It's a fascinating place and I love to just wander around. Having the children, I will be able to see it through their young eyes and that will be lovely also.

I 'lost' Dad yesterday. He went off to deliver 'meals for the elderly' (in his early 80's) as he does about once a month. The office began calling me frantically to see where he was, and I was ready to walk out the door to see if he had had car trouble or something, when he walked in. Said he made his deliveries. So I phoned the meals office again, and the schedulers had put him on two routes at the same time. They did have the grace to apologize for scaring me. George is good, but even he can't be in two places at once. I knew he had gotten there or I would have heard from him. He is Mr. Dependable. I have now decided that the term 'elderly' probably refers to people in their nineties.

Be at peace with everyone. It's all gonna be just fine, by and by.

A new day---

Well, dears, today I had considered going to a children's church meeting to meet people from other churches in various areas. Mine is children's choir. I didn't go - made an appointment with chiropractor for a back workout instead. Besides, I know how to run a children's choir. The only problem I have is that now I don't have a choir, I have a duet. I am mad about these two little girls, and it takes guts for them to stand up and sing, just the two of them. I still am mulling how to get more children to sing, short of kidnapping.

Still stewing about this 'humble' thing. To me, humble = humility = humiliation. No, no, no!!! That can't be what it is about. I will keep stewing.

I'm also falling in love with cabling in my knitting. But to show off cables well, you can't use a wild mixture of colors. I must have some gypsy in me - no, a lot - because I glory in lots of color and texture to the point of overkill. Gotta watch that.

We leave for Fredricksburg on Thursday after lunch. I am so looking forward to doing this. I hope to take the children to my favorite herb shop for lunch and one day we will have lunch with Nancy and her fellow students. I also need a really good basil plant. My cooking is handicapped without this. I make pesto when the basil really gets going and freeze it in a divided tray. DH doesn't eat pesto, so I can take out what I want and give him his great love - catsup. Bleah. Sometimes I have to insist he at least taste what I cook before he covers it all with catsup.
Catsup - the great equalizer.

Choir practice tonight and it is always such fun. I have finally remembered Betty Pulkingham's descant for the Duke Street tune. I have to talk the guitarists into dropping down a couple of keys so I can reach all of it. Or rewrite, dropping those E and F notes. My soprano goes to D, sometimes to F and no higher. The bad news is that our two fabulous guitarists are going to be gone for two weeks! Aggggh! And they want me to bring my guitar. I'll do it, and they may well be sorry. I already told them I only played easy chords.

Pray for everybody - it works.

I found it!

Here's the poem I mentioned........

Because He is risen: a poem for Easter

Because he is risen
Spring is possible
In all the cold hard places
Gripped by winter
And freedom jumps the queue
To take fear’s place
as our focus
Because he is risen.


Because he is risen
My future is an epic novel
Where once it was a mere short story
My contract on life is renewed
in perpetuity
My options are open-ended
My travel plans are cosmic
Because he is risen.


Because he is risen
Healing is on order and assured
And every disability will bow
Before the endless dance of his ability
And my grave too will open
When my life is restored
For this frail and fragile body
Will not be the final word
on my condition
Because he is risen.


Because he is risen
Hunger will go begging in the streets
For want of a home
And selfishness will have a shortened shelf-life
And we will throng to the funeral of famine
And dance on the callous grave of war
And poverty will be history
In our history
Because he is risen.


And because he is risen
A fire burns in my bones
And my eyes see possibilities
And my heart hears hope
Like a whisper on the wind
And the song that rises in me
Will not be silenced
As life disrupts
This shadowed place of death
Like a butterfly under the skin
And death itself
Runs terrified to hide
Because he is risen


by Gerard Kelly








Posted by Bless on January 21, 2006 | Permalink
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sad news

My news this morning was that Mugabe's challenger has backed out of the election in Zimbabwe. Many people had been hurt in helping to unseat Mugabe, and this may be why, but these people had involved themselves willingly and I wish the election had gone on. Getting a true and free election in this country may be hopeless, however. I know God will take care of Mugabe in His own time, but in my humanness (sp?) I have to wish He would hurry. And yes, I know that is incredibly presumptious. Have to pray for the people of this country, even more.

I've just 'met' another blogger friend from Australia (New South Wales to be more specific). She is also an MJ and I am learning new things about down under from just reading her blogs. Thanks, MJ.

In other areas, Nancy is seeing her doctor again on Wednesday and will get her 'marching orders' for rehab. If my previous therapist is correct, one has just 6 weeks from time of surgery until you lose benefit from it. So she has four weeks. I know her well enough to know that she will do the painful work to get her mobility to the place it needs to be. I'm cheering for her.

MB and Sarah had a cooking day together last Saturday at Sarah's place. They make massive amounts of casserole food, keeping one for each and sending the rest to Janet's for her and Marshall. Sarah and Marshall are coming next month to spend a few days with us.

By late fall, maybe we can have another family reunion for the HG's. The last one was such a resounding success. Hopefully this time, we can all stay closer to the ranch - have to check with Scooter about this - he is always so hospitable.

Today, I set up the first appointment for cataract removal. This doctor only works one week a month in the summer- we should all be so lucky. So this work will be done one eye at a time, and a month apart. This happens in August and September. I'm getting tired of not seeing clearly. It is slowing down my reading.

In the other MJ"s blog I read a poem which I love. Try googling it if you want to read it. It begins

"Because He is risen, spring is possible "
I have to write for permission to reprint or I would do it here.


Forgive everybody - that works, too.

Unbusy day

This morning I went to the shop for Nancy. It was the last day of the 50% off sale and they were expecting a crowd so I had two other broads there. Another was coming at noon. So they sent me home, but not before I had picked up a few of the things I have been wanting but wouldn't pay full price for. Yeehah! Lazy afternoon. Plans are now to meet Nancy in Fredricksburg this next Friday and keep the kids for two days while she goes to class. Friday is Mally's 11th birthday and Scooter will be in Washington with the Boy Scouts. I expect we'll have a hoorah party with a cake. Yeah! Besides we can wander the town or loll in the pool. I'm for lolling, myself.

Be at peace with everybody - it works. M

sun and sky

This afternoon we drove to Mertzon to Nancy's, even though they were all gone. We swam and I stretched my aching back. It always helps. Funny, the sky is bluer there and the oak trees greener. Dad says it is the smog in Angelo. I think he's yanking my chain, but I'm so literal I'm not really sure. I could join the Community health club here and swin there, but somehow, in the summer, anyway, it is so much better in the sun, under the blue sky. Nancy was somewhere in class for two days, with her dual knee braces and her sometimes crutches. Scooter and the kids have another fire at the ranch and were off to fight it. We do wish we could be of some use. We've told them if there is a bad one to call and we can come and make sandwiches and ice drinks and get them to them. I can still do food if I sit on a stool, but not much use fighting fires. I told the grandkids this and Saxon said "Your wisdom from living so long is more valuable than fighting fires." Do you believe this? I am honored beyond words. It isn't schmooze when they say it, because they got it direct from their parents. Don't I have great kids? The best!!!!!

I made my very own margarita this afternoon, Whoop! Now, time for dinner. Tomorrow I work in the shop as it is the last of the 50% off sale. I'll take my knitting,but it should be busy.

Till later, may the Lord bless you. MJ