Transitions

The leaves are past their peak now. I think I'll have to mow one more time, but I’ll do that when I start chopping leaves. All the corn seems to be in and now the farmers are turning their attention to the soybeans. The whole landscape seems to be taking a deep breath before it enters into its winter rest. Fall is here.

NORMAL? Last time I said I'd write when we got back to a normal routine. Well, we’re here.

When I wrote last we were in the middle of our Fall Break so last week was the first week back from break. All the business of life has resumed. The thing is, normal is not the same any more. Nowhere is that more evident to me than when we are around the table, whether we're out to eat with Mom and saying we're a party of six or at home not needing to bring out the card table because we can all squeeze around the kitchen table. Life marches relentlessly on.

I've been very proud of Mom. Ever since Ann Beth went home after the funeral she has insisted on staying home alone. Jenna surprised her by spending the night with her on Friday the 12th and the boys stayed with her last Friday night. I know this has not been easy for her.

OUR PART TIME CAT. I mentioned a month or so ago that Miss Cat had disappeared. Well, she returned, having gained quite a bit of weight. Then she disappeared again only to reappear a few days ago, this time quite a bit thinner. I guess some kittens will be making their debut with us in a few weeks. I should be thankful that Miss Cat is the only loose woman in my life.

BEING THANKFUL. Speaking of being thankful, this is one I had to write down so I could share it here. We had sat down to eat supper the other day and asked Ben to say the blessing. Part of his prayer went something like this: "Thank You that we have food to eat today, which we've always had food to eat, but I'm just saying..."

This may sound a bit irreverent when you read it, but it was not at all that way when he prayed it. He was actually at a bit of a loss for words. I don't know what was on his mind, but I am glad he realizes, if by just a small fraction, that he is blessed beyond what many children in the world experience.

AN OLD STORY. I wish we were better at writing cute things down as reminders for me when I compose my thoughts here. Our family news would be all the better for it. In reality it's rarely the case. However, we do this on occasion and the other day we ran across one of these notes where Vicki recorded a conversation with Ben from September of last year. Better late than never.

Ben: "Nothing like a Mountain Dew!"

Vicki: "That's a Diet Dr. Pepper."

Ben: "I know. I'm just pretending that it's a Mountain Dew."

AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMAN. I am so proud to tell you about a cousin of mine who spoke at church yesterday. Lisa Hellmann is a senior studying nursing at Belmont University. She also has a passion for the people of Haiti. Last summer she spent eight weeks there and she shared those experiences with us at church. Her love, her passion are simply amazing and I am really proud to have kinfolk like her.

Lisa plans to return to Haiti over spring break and also as part of her life’s work. It’s really inspiring to see how she is letting God be in charge and move her into a place and calling He created just for her.

If you want to listen to Lisa the audio is available on our church website (http://www.mtcarmel.cc/) on the sermons page under on-line resources.

Joe