SATURDAY ODDS AND ENDS

Good Morning!  Do I have any people left?  I haven't posted in a week in case you haven't noticed.  It's been kind of a boring week, nothing exciting happening, which in a way is good, right?

I have spent a couple of afternoons with daughter, Gail, who is looking for an apartment.  This is exciting for her because she is one year sober and is looking at the world through clear eyes with a clear brain.  I am trying to be helpful, yet not too helpful, if you know what I mean.  She has to accept the consequences of her actions, and not rely on mom and dad to make everything alright once again.  We want to help, but not enable, and there is a fine line between the two.  She did find an apartment yesterday that she likes so we'll have to see what happens.  I sure would like her to be settled in a place before it gets much colder and the snow starts to fly.  She is in a safe place right now but I don't know how long she can stay there.

The trees are almost totally bare in our little town.  We've had a lot of wind in the past few days and the ground now holds what a couple of days ago was still hanging on the trees.  Our skies have been gray except for one day this week, and we've had steady rain and drizzle, not the sunny drying days the farmers have been praying for.  The beans should be all off and the corn at least half done, but because of the cold wet weather they are far behind in their fall work.  Fields are turning black, a sign that the beans have gotten too wet and are rotting.  Corn isn't as sensitive and can wait awhile yet.

Yesterday was our youngest son's birthday, but I failed to connect with him.  I tried both the house phone and his cell phone, but got no answer.  I hope Lance and Tya were out on a family celebration with their two girls, and that I'll be able to catch up to him today.  He is a wonderful son, and we are so proud of him.  He has had a lot to overcome in his life, and he has done so with blood, sweat and tears, making us beam with pride at his accomplishments.  I'll never forget the day he was born into our family.  He and his brother were coming to live with us, and were delivered to our home by a SW.  He jumped out of her car in his too small blue plaid flannel shirt, jeans that were also too small, and tennis shoes with no laces or socks.  He bounded up the sidewalk  hand and hand with his year older brother, with his long tangled bowl cut hair sticking out in a dozen different directions, and his four top front teeth missing, and when I opened the door to invite them in, he jumped over the threshhold and straight into my heart.  Happy Birthday Lance!  We love you dearly.

And now it's November, Thanksgiving month.  I love Thanksgiving.  I love the hymns we sing on Thanksgiving.  I love having my loved ones all gathered together, giving thanks for all of our blessings.  I think I'd better get some plans made and some grocery shopping started as I want a large group around my Thanksgiving table this year.  What are your plans for Thanksgiving?  Will you serve the meal or will you go to a family gathering elsewhere?

I have a couple of gifts to make, so I'd best get to the sewing machine today.  What are your plans?