Great Sunday

Rick came up to Wichita last night and we spent the day together. We began with a terrific breakfast at Jimmy's Eggs. I had sweet potato pancakes. It tasted just like pumpkin pie! Then we took the bikes out to the zoo and rode around the park bike paths and did a little geocaching. As Rick was looking around for a cache outside of the picnic area, I heard a bagpiper playing "Highland Cathedral". It's one of my favorite songs, so I thought maybe one of the families in the area was playing a radio loudly. I started riding along the path a saw a man with a snow white beard practicing the bagpipes by the creek. It was a surreal, amazing experience. We rode about 12 miles until it started to get hot. After a shower and clean clothes, my sweetie took me to Olive Garden. He had to leave at 7:00 P.M. in order to get home and get to work tomorrow, but it was so nice to see him, even if the time was so short. Not living together makes you much more appreciative of the time you are able to capture.

Busy days... but reflection is due

For those of you who do not read my facebook wall, I have been posting a picture a day of my oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, in honor of her 30th birthday. Today's picture was a look back at a very dark, but very hopeful time in our lives. I will re-post it here.

When Mary Beth was 11 years old, she caught a staff infection which developed into pneumonia. Her lungs collapsed and she was in the hospital for a month. I thought I was going to lose her. One night when she was at her worst, I was keeping vigil in her hospital room, watching her sleep and wondering if she was going to make it. All of the sudden, she said, "Thank you!" I asked her who she was talking to and she said, "That pretty blonde nurse. She said I was going to be alright. Then she smiled at me and left. Didn't you see her? She walked right by you". There had been no one in the room. We are convinced she saw an angel because the next day she started to get better. her health improved rapidly and she was able to go home by the end of the week. This picture is taken after she left the hospital. I bought her the black cat so she would have her "Leslie" in the hospital with her.

I have shared this story so we can all remember that no matter how busy we are, take time to look for angels.

A wee bit better!

Just a little bit of an improvement in the office today! All the books are on the shelves, all articles are put away, and the coffee pot is set up with a fresh can of "Chock full o'nuts" coffee close at hand. Just the necessities! Classes begin next week and there are many more in-service meetings that I must attend until then. This still feels like a dream! I can not believe that at 50 years of age, I have achieved one of the highest occupational goals I ever had but never thought would happen. Just goes to show that anything can happen.

Hope you are are well.

Tangents and musings

I know that readers of this blog would think I forgot my daughter's birthday yesterday because I neglected to post anything here! However, I have been posting a pic a day in her honor for the month of August on my facebook site. It is linked to the blog, but I am not sure how well it works. The facebook apps works great on my phone and it is so easy to manipulate. The blog...not so much. therefore, it tends to get neglected.

Happy Birthday, Mary Beth!!! It seems like just so little bit ago when I held you in my arms and marveled at the brand new life I brought into this world. I far too often allow myself to dip into a pool of regrets and should-haves. But I think it is important to recognize that if I did anything differently, then my three strong, independent, beautiful children might have turned out contradistinct to what they were meant to be. I do believe that everything happens for a reason.

And Happy Birthday yesterday to my sister-in-law, Teri!

I did remember David on the 5th.

We have had a busy weekend. Rick just left Wichita to go back to the Shawnee home. He came up here to help move the cats, who are settling in contentedly, and to re-arrange my office at the university. This picture is the way it looked when I walked in on Saturday...and this is after the majority of it was cleaned out!!! What a mess. But after three hours of moving, cleaning, and unpacking, it is starting to take shape. Thank you, Rick. I could never have done all this work by myself! I will post new pictures tomorrow after I have all the books on the shelves.

Hope you are all safe...

Gonna make a pie....

One of my favorite movies of all time is, "Waitress". If you have never seen it, go buy a copy. The main character is a waitress at a pie diner and her mother used to sing her a song, "Baby don't you cry, baby don't be blue, gonna make a pie, gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle..." It's such a sweet a little song and I can not get it out of my head. Today, A.J. and his band left for Portland, Oregon in order to meet with a record company and cut their album. They have an opportunity to be selected to go on tour also. This is their big break and I am so proud of him for being brave and setting off on this new adventure!

The picture is the naked ladies that are growing by the side of the house. I didn't plant them; they just appeared one day. They acquired their name because they have no leaves or other adornment on their stalks, just lovely pink blossoms. Hope you are well and safe on what ever adventures life brings your way.

Settled in - Part 1

With the last candle in place, the apartment is all settled! I just received the keys to my office this afternoon, so settling in -part II will begin next week. I did get the office I wanted and it is huge and beautiful! Two walls are solid windows...and the view is magnificent! Just have a ton of books to mive up and then unpack.

I attended a workshop today and was able to meet many wonderful people. I consider myself so blessed to have this new teaching position.