A View from the top

My neighbors father owns a hot air balloon company and she took a ride with him about a week ago. She just sent me this picture of our house. I LOVE the picture. Great view.

Sustinance from the Earth

I love having a garden until it comes to this part of the year where everything needs to be pulled and cooked up. Last night, Amanda and I pulled all the carrots and beets. I didn't realize how many carrots were still in there and how many were really good sized. This morning, I am working on taking the skins off the second sink load of carrots. My arm is sore, my shoulder is sore, and I'm not quite sure where I'm going to put them all because the freezer is full. But I am thankful for vegetables (that are organic by the way). The dogs really love the carrots. Scout was was jumping up and trying to steal the carrots off the counter. Funny dogs!

Carriage Man

This manikin continues to freak me out. It was sitting on the couch today and when I walked by, it made me jump. It is life size and has rubbery hands... looks kinda real. Tonight, he is resting in Tim's chair. I wonder when he will make it back to the animal hospital? I hear they have great fun with him there by sticking him in the cages, by putting him in closets, and by putting him on the back staircase. Kristin needs to take him back to work tomorrow. At least the dogs are used to him now. All he needs is the remote to the T.V. and he's golden.

My daughter got me GOOD

Ok, so its 9 p.m, I'm really tired from watching the Red Sox lose to Kansas City 2 nights in a row, and I have a splitting headache. So I thought, well, I'll go to bed early. I went in my bedroom, turned on the light, and I saw someone laying in my bed. I could have sworn the person was breathing. I slammed the door shut and called Tim in only to find out that my daughter took the manikin they use at the Windham Animal Hospital for the carriage they have out front, and placed it in my bed while I wasn't around. I thought it was my neighbor Eileen. She doesn't have any issues that I know about but I wondered if she had dementia that I didn't know about and forgot which house was hers sort of like Walter used to. This is what the manikin looks like.... Freaked me out! Kristin reports that someone put it in her car tonight.

Crazy Love

I have just started reading this book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. Chan talks about how our churches are missing it because people have an inaccurate view of God, and who we are in light of God.

R.C. Sproul wrote "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."

The first 3 chapters lays the foundations and the last 7 challenges us.

There was one quote in the book that was my favorite: "God is the only Being who is good, and the standards are set by Him. Because God hates sin, He has to punish those guilty of sin. Maybe that's not an appealing standard. But to put it bluntly, when you get your own universe, you can make your own standards." I love it when people don't pussyfoot around the subject.
You can read a section or watch the chapter videos on his website www.crazylovebook.com. It will challenge your thinking, I promise.

What is this?

In the spring, I went to Pinkerton and bought some plants from the sale the students put on from their plant science class. I bought the one in the back I think but didn't remember what it was or even that I had it. I thought it was a weed at first but I didn't end up picking it out because I wasn't sure. Well lo and behold it turned into this fascinating plant that Tim thinks must be tobacco.... (like he has ever seen tobacco) Dad, I need your help... what is it?

Hopkinton Fair

I love September because it is fair month. Today, we ventured out to the Hopkinton Fair. We've been there once before. Of course we enjoy the food... although there was nothing healthy and I missed having my bowl of soup at the Deerfield Fair. Oh well! Anyhow, we found it delightful to experience a new treat.... Maple Syrup cotton candy. IT WAS DELICIOUS! No dyes and if you lick it, it looks like maple syrup. When we went to the animal barns, there was a white goat named Fiona that tried in the worst way to get the cotton candy. She also loved Tim and Amanda. Everyone was trying to feed her hay but she'd only take it from Amanda.



I like fairs because you can see neat things... like a giagantic pumpkin .... and a really nice looking red-tailed hawk about 2 feet away. And Tim got to see the tractor that he isn't allowed to buy this year. Too bad.... maybe next year.

September

Well, everyone is catching up on their blogs and even my daughter Kristin is now blogging. So I suppose I should catch up. My sister Tracy reminded me that each day is a gift... which is why I started this blog. I don't like to blog when things aren't so up-beat. Lately, I have been overwhelmed by those who are hurting around me. I've had friends who lost a jobs in July; and the place they worked didn't pay into the unemployment system so they have no job, no money, no insurance, and no unemployment to fall back on. I've had friends whose grown up children are suffering with health issues, spiritual issues, and whose marriages have fallen apart. My heart grieves for them and for their parents who tried their best to raise them to love and serve God. It feels like everyone around me is getting divorced right now.

I also started back to school last week and was very discouraged because I didn't get something I ordered even though it was in my budget (we're being micro-managed). Hopefully, the fire department will get me the AED trainer I need soon. By 8 a.m. on the first day of school, someone had opened the AED cabinet (I might add, we found out it was an accident and that her backpack got caught) and 3 policeman, and 6 fireman, and an ambulance came. Glad to know it works??!!!! School has been stressful with the H1N1 preparations and trainings, care plans on at least 25 kids with peanut allergies, bee sting allergies, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, seizures, and diabetes. I also have a kid with an implanted defibrillator that went off 3 times last year while he was playing forbidden sports with a town team. So I learned all about those and what not to allow, etc. And, my coworker nurse adopted a baby from Korea and she will be out for 3 months. I love the sub nurse who regularly subs for me. She is in her 60's and we all call her Rachet. She was with me yesterday as we watched a big female louse scramble around someones head. YUCK! So welcome back to school. Many think that school nursing is easy. If you spent a day with me and dealt with the issues I see, you would find it is a very hard job! I believe I have saved more lives as a school nurse than in a hospital. BUT, I'm thankful I have a job.

I'm thankful for the long weekend but will spend it getting ready for our annual lobster fest/barbeque. We have 40 coming over for 2 p.m. on Monday. We invited neighbors, close friends, and some of Tim's work colleagues. Many don't know the Lord. It will be a little more uncomfortable because its not just my closest friends, but I think it is good to do this. Why do I have to live in my comfort zone anyway?

I love September because the weather is beautiful, the apples are coming (YUM, Honey Crisp... not for making pie Tracy), and there is nothing better than the first day of school when all of the students return. I looked at one boy and said...you've grown 5 inches this summer. He had a physical yesterday and his mother came in laughing and said "you nailed it right on the head...he grew 5 inches". Please pray for my students and me as I work with them. Many are hurting so much right now. In class this week, one teacher asked a boy why he moved from a different town. His answer in front of the whole class was "Because my mother is sleeping around". Very sad. I have quite a few of the Calvary kids this year as well. Please pray for them as they adjust.

Last, I got in a car accident several weeks ago and am having to deal with the insurance company. I've never done this before (are you surprised?) so its a new experience for me. I was rear-ended at a stop light and the person totaled his car. I started to have neck and especially muscle issues within a couple of days so I'm seeing a chiropractor and getting massages. ( I know I shouldn't complain... but when you are in pain it hurts!) After seeing one of my teachers out of work after getting rear-ended, and realizing that she really has a serious brain injury from it, I'm thankful it wasn't worse. I'm also thankful for my husband who in his protective ways will not let me drive anything but a tank (which had less than $2000 damage). Thanks Steve for your wise counsel yesterday. I'm thankful for your new job, and for your old expertise in the field of collision work.