Hello...is it me your looking for?

I know, I know - it's been a very long time. I can't believe that it has been over a month. Lots have gone on since my last post - the walk down memory lane.

I have started school - and two classes it a lot harder than I thought they would be. I go to school on Monday and Thursdays. It makes the weeks speed by, though. I am enjoying work. It is busy, and crazy, and frustrating, and fun - and I love going everyday. One of my co-workers is going through the process of being put on the heart transplant list. Our friend Perry was able to go talk to her and share with her his story. Please pray for Pat. She has been through so much in the last year or so.

This is the beginning of Holy Week. It will be a long week, but it is such a beautiful and meaningful progression from Maundy-Thursday to Easter Sunday. It is deeply moving to me. The church is doing well, and we have had over 80 people for the last several Sundays. We had over 100 this Sunday. There is a group from a different church who may be joining us. It is sad to think of other church having difficulties and splitting, but it is nice to have a growth spurt. It is an exciting time for us at St. James.

I have finally finished that sweater for Jasmine - and found a button (well, really a couple of buttons) for it:
This button was "custom made" - I found them at Wal-mart in the obviously-being-closed-down sewing /crafting section. The big white button has a flower pattern on the front, but it looked too old fashioned for a baby's sweater. The small pink flower was too small for this sweater, so I turned the white button over, and added the pink one on top. Yea! it worked and looks cute!
Now let's just hope that she is not packing things to go off to college - I just know this will be too small for her, now that I got the button dilemma worked out!

And speaking of Jasmine, here are some pic's that I promised - ones her daddy sent to me - taken in January, I think:

I can see a lot of her daddy in her, but I see glimpses of mom, too. Either way, isn't she sweet?

Some Pictures to Share

Here are some pictures that were recently scanned in by my cousin, Matt, and sent out to the family. I thought some of you may enjoy seeing them, and if not - well, don't tell me!

This is me, about 18 months old, in front of my grandpa's Jeep.

This is me, about the same time, on the back steps at Grandpa's house. These steps went up to a narrow cat walk (Aren't cat walks narrow by definition?) that spanned the house and some French doors leading to the main hall in the house. We would love to slide on our socks down that hall, but would always get yelled at because Grandma and Grandpa were afraid that we would slide thru the doors, over the cat walk and fall on the patio below. I realize how concerned they were, but it was a buzz kill at the time. We usually only got one good run at it before we were nailed.

This is Kandi and J - my older brother and sister. I am not sure if I was around yet when this was taken, but I could have been. Look at that grin on Kandi's face - she was a cutie!

This is my Grandma, Pauline. She is with Barney and Onyx (can you gess which is who?) Barney scared the snot out of all of us kids - and they kept him tied up when we were around. Onyx was our big baby who would let us do any number of things to her, and just take it. She was a sweet dog.

This is my grandmother, Pauline. She was a special lady, and I miss them terribly. From the time I can remember, she was confined to a wheelchair. She was a very funny lady, who enjoyed her life, in spite of her physical ailments.

These are my folks. It's hard to believe they were ever this young, but here is the proof. This was taken in NJ, and probably just before or after I was born.

Here they are again, at the entrance to the NY World's Fair. Now where were the kiddo's do you think? Probably just put us in play pins and left us to our own devices... :)

This has got to be the best picture of my grandparents (Fuzzy and Pauline) I have ever seen. I can really see my uncles in the face of my grandfather.

Finally, this is JR and Kandi, again. They are on the swing that is just off the carport I was standing on in the Jeep picture. I remember sitting out there with both my grandprents over the years.

Most of these pictures were taken on "The Hill". My grandparents house, I'm sure you will be surpirsed to find out, was at the top of what was probably the only hill in Indiana, just outside of Peru, IN. It was a great place with a circular drive, a barn, and lots of woods. We had great trails that ran up and down the hill, thru the woods. As long as no one freaked me out about snakes, I could run them all day. Sometimes I think the boys (my brother and cousins) would "spot" a black snake just to keep my from tagging along...

OKAY, this has been a great walk down memory lane...I will be back soon, and put on some current pixs. I have a couple of great ones of Jasmine to share.

Mi Vida Loca - With Prayer Requests

My Crazy Life...

We have had such a crazy two weeks...so many things have happened in and among my family and friends, it is difficult to remember them all. Here is a list - and prayer requests:

1. Mr. Hayes got his heart (as previously reported). It was a very good thing, and something we are still in awe and wonder over. He was home by that Friday, but reactions to medications sent him back to the hospital the next day. They have adjusted the medication, and found that his heart has continued strong and steady in spite of all that was going on. He is back home, once again, and continuing his recovery. The mercy and faithfulness of God is too great for words. We love you P., and can't wait for your return to St. James. Please pray for his continued recovery, and adjustment to meds, diet, and lifestyle recovery will require. Also pray for his family and their health, as well as the adjustments that they will need to make.

2. Sadly, a member of our parish, James (29), went home to be with the Lord las week. He suffered with an unexplained (to my knowledge) seizure disorder. He suffered a seizure, which took his life. This is a difficult time for his family and friends, to be sure. Please pray for them during this time of grief.

3. My mom (Gloria) (HI MOM!) had a knee replacement. From all reports, she is doing better than expected. She said last Tuesday that she was walking with out the assistance of a cane or walker! She is sore, but not in great pain. It is during things like this that I hate being away from home the most. Pray for her continued good recovery! Also for Dad as he considers having his knee (which was replaced about a year ago with results not as good as mom's) looked at once again.

4. Tornado's blew through Memphis on Tuesday - which cancelled our Pancake Supper. That was a bummer, but it was best that everyone was home, safe and sound. Pray for those who have lost loved ones and/or their homes to these storms.

5. Keith was SICK this last week, and is just now feeling better. He was unable to go to church last week, and had his former professor (now Dean) of CTH take the service for him. Thanks, Dr. C! Pray for all those suffering with the flu and other icky-ness this year.

6. Dad's Uncle Pete died about a week ago. My Uncle Pete was a unique man, and I firmly believe that everyone should have an Uncle Pete. He used to have a auto junk yard, and I remember running around and driving them all - car, bus, truck - you name it! He also had a garden where he planted strawberries, which were delicious. Pray for my Aunt Betty and his children during their time of loss.

7. Keith's Uncle Paul is in the hospital right now, he has had several issues (lower intestine) which required surgery and was not doing well. K's parents came back from Flordia to be with Marion's (K's step-mother) sister (Caroline), Paul's wife. He is now out of ICU, and they are keeping a close eye on him. Pray for Uncle Paul, and his healing.

Thanks for listening. Thank you also for your prayers for these situations. A special thanks to BSC - for helping Keith in SOOOO many ways during these past couple of weeks. Our friendship with you and Di is such a blessing to us!

Love to you all...
MelBoe

If I only had a heart

For those who have read my blog the last couple of weeks, our prayers for the Hayes' have been answered! Praise be to God!!

Mr Hayes received his heart this morning and is doing very well. The surgeon "couldn't be happier" with the surgery. This is such an exciting day. Please continue to pray for the family during the recovery.

more info later...I promise!

The Night Before

Well, here it is - Tuesday. We are leaving on our trip tomorrow. I am happy to be going to Synod in Sevierville, TN. I will miss the girls, as always, but it should be fun.

The car is back! Working out the payment from the insurance company caused much anst, but in the end, it did work out, and in our favor, no less. It's very pretty! (we'll have know more in the morning - in the light of day.) The parts for the warranty work were sold by the shop, and so they had to re-order them, and they didn't them in today. So, back it will go once we return.

This wil have to be short and sweet. I hope that you are all well, and warm!

This one's for you!

My friend harassed me today about my lack of blogging. She wants something to do when she is goofing off - so Redblur, this one's for you. (and perhaps your Dianthus barbatus, too?)

Well, the news I alluded to in a previous post turned out to be no news at all. I had applied for a job within my company, and while assured I would probably get the job, once again I was the runner-up. I am not overly sad; I really had no great desire to be a purchasing agent. I really love my job, my boss, and what I do, and am happy to stay there until God provides me with another opportunity.

She-who-must-be-obeyed is doing well. She is back to her normal self, and is eating everything she can get her lips around. She is even trying to get Corkey's food away from her, and growling if Corkey comes sniffing her dish. (Isabel usually leaves Corkey a bit of her meal to snack on, so Corkey is really upset by this turn of events.) She is a fun girl to have around, and we are very glad that all went well with her surgery. Her pathology came back, and the tumor was Stage 2 Cancer, but they believe that they got everything and there will be no follow up treatment needed. Good news over all. We will just need to keep an eye out for other tumors, and have them removed as soon as we can.

I have finally made solid plans to start school. I will begin the first week of March, and will take two classes this semester (2 8-week classes). I am excited and just a little worried. I know how stressful this can be, and yet I really want to start (and finish:) ) my MBA.

We are heading to Sevierville, TN next week for the first Synod of our new diocese (which, to my delight, includes Virginia!). I love that part of TN, and am excited to visit again. (Peg, I will think of you and our trip while there!) I hope to get to do a little sight-seeing / shopping. We will be there Wednesday, and Thursday night, leaving Friday afternoon. It should be a good time.

The car is currently in the shop having its damage repaired. If you don't remember, Keith backed into a pole this summer. It was after I had been let go from my job, and the first time we had gotten his prescription without insurance. The conversation went something like this:

M: Your meds cost $40.00.
K: What?!??!
[BAM]
K: What was that?

Okay, I hope that this is enough, Redblur, it's all I have right now. Please continue to pray for our friends, the Hayes'. Mr. is still waiting for a heart, and Mrs. and the boys need our prayers, too.

She's Back!

Isabel came home at about 10:00 a.m. this morning. I am so happy to have her back. She looked frazzeled when the Doc brought her out to us, but after spending the better part of the day holding down the couch with me, she seems like her old self. We are both on the mend.

I am heading back to work tomorrow. I think the antibiotics are working, but the cough is still with me. I have, however, developed cabin fever and am looking forward to getting back to work. It promises to go fast.