Good Food

Last night we saw Julie and Julia. We loved the movie and left the theatre feeling hungry for some really good food. We talked about our options, the places we like to go and the places we've been wanting to try. After thinking and discussing for much too long we decided on Outback Steakhouse. A safe bet, or so we thought. Jere had the Alice Springs Chicken and I had the something or other shrimp in a cream sauce. Jere loved the chicken and even shared a bit with me. I thought the shrimp was too spicy but was okay. But we agreed that it was all rather disappointing.

Tonight our friends, the Scotts, had us over for dinner. Jim is a butcher. He fixed us steaks. He bought a whole tenderloin and cut the steaks himself. He asked us how we liked them to be cooked. One medium well, three - medium rare. Oh man - melt in your mouth delicious. So amazingly good. We had salad and potatoes. It was all delicious. And then cheesecake with homemade blackberry jam on top. Now that was some really good food!!

Cowboy Boots - Part 2

I saw him again. The same man!! Denim shorts, t shirt with a picture and some writing under it. No dog this time. He was sitting on a bench. And this time he was wearing boots with blue tops, sky blue tops. I wonder if he has a boot wardrobe? Maybe I'd like to meet this man, obviously he has very unique taste!

Gloomy Monday

We did not move here to have grey skies and rain. It's gloomy, gloomy, gloomy.

So ---------- some cheer. Have a laugh, a good out loud laugh!! And who does this remind you of???????\\http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE

Sad Things

For the last week my heart has been heavy. Thinking about two families - one who has lost a son and another whose son was spared. Questioning - why? Having faith that God is in charge and that he will make it all right, somehow. Feeling the absolute empty, gut-wrenching pain that one family must be going through. The intense desire, the total need to wake up and discover that this has just been the most terrible dream that one could ever have. And yet realizing that this isn't a dream at all but a new, hard, sad, horrendous reality. How do you adjust to that? And on the other hand the extreme gratitude of another family who could have lost a son, who could have a son who is now a paraplegic but whose son was spared. The long recovery will be nothing compared to what could have happened. And somewhere in the middle our family with two sons who were not involved at all simply because they were gone to our family reunion but would have been if they had been at work in Minneapolis. One is totally involved in helping two families heal. A tall young man with thin shoulders who is trying, and expected to reconstruct the shattered pieces of a worlds that have forever changed. The other feeling the pain of what could have been, also trying to help give comfort and encouragement. Sons who are feeling the pain of loss, the joy of survival and the guilt of just not being there, of just not being able to change the course of what is now history.





And my prayer is that each individual is blessed according to his or her individual need. That each individual can heal, find peace, solace, comfort.





Isaiah 41:10 ""Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."





Isaiah 41:13 "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Home Again?

Sitting here, back from the Clune Family Reunion. Feeling blue, melancholy, satisfied, lonely. Wondering why some things happen, wishing I knew more answers, wondering how to help people in pain. Loving my family, feeling blessed by each of them, thinking that being together is the very best place to be. Thinking about Matt and wishing he had been with us. And thinking about and anticipating the next get together!