This has been a good week, filled with some interesting things. I got another letter from the 10 year old boy in Mexico that I am sponsoring. He is a sweet boy who loves soccer and wants to be a teacher when he grows up. His name is J0se'. I also helped clean the church this week. I can't do a whole lot, but it's fun to get together with the other 2 ladies and accomplish something (although Kathy and Celia work MUCH harder than I do). I also finally saw my regular doctor about scheduling another sleep study and another echo-cardiogram (I'm supposed to get one a year, but haven't since 2003?) Memory is failing, too! Friday I finally got called to sub. I taught Phy.Ed. at WBL Middle school. It was fun. They played "Capture the Football" so I was outside all day. It was a beautiful fall day-sunny and cool enough. Last period of the day was his Prep. time, so I was able to leave at 2:15. I was so-o-o-o tired when I got home. After taking Waldo for a walk (short one) I dozed on the couch till about 4:30 - with interruptions for a telephone survey, and another walk with Waldo. Then I got up . Went to bed at 9 p.m. and slept until 9:00 a.m. ( with a couple of wake-ups during the night. Saturday I mostly sat around and watched westerns on tv.

As you can probably tell, from my lack of correspondence, I am bored! I wish I would get back to teaching. I am a lazy person at heart, but sitting around all day is not inspiring. I walk Waldo 4 times a day, do Su Doku puzzles, computer card games, and crossword puzzles, and read. I need some inspiration! I guess I could knit, or sew, or . . . I'll put some pictures of my kids and grandkids on, at least that will make my blog look better.

I need some more pictures of Tanner. I think he is always busy and doesnt stand still long enough to get his picture taken. He not quite 13 years old and is 5'9". He is a great kid in many ways. Trav & Erica, e-mail me some pics of the boys when you get time. Thanks

Food for Thought

We had a very interesting Bible study after church today. For quite some time now I've considered Joshua 24:15b as my favorite verse: "AS for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Our Bible study is centered on the concept of "chosen". I had been seeing my relationship with God from the point of me choosing to follow Him. Today had me looking at it from the perspective that God has chosen ME, and now it is my responsibility to decide what to do about that. We studied about God choosing Abraham. Why did God chose Abraham? Was he an especially godly person? No, actually he was the son of a pagan worshiper. He was also not especially moral and upstanding all the time when he considered his wife. When she could not have children and suggested he have a child with her servant, he didn't say, "Oh no, I could never betray our wedding vows in such a way, he just said, "Oh, OK sounds like a good idea?" When they went to Egypt because of the famine, Abraham was afraid he would be killed by Egypians so they could take his wife for themselves, so he convinced her to pretend to be his sister so he would be safe, even though it would still put her virtue in danger; the Egyptians could just take her and would treat Abraham well as her brother instead of killing him to get rid of her husband. It seems that God choses people who LACK the qualities He needs, then when the chosen trust Him, God gives them the qualities necessary for the work he wants them to do. That way God can get all the glory instead of the chosen one saying, "Of course I could do the job. After all I'm so great that God chose me." Bottom line: God chooses the most foolish to show how great are the gifts he gives to us. So, I am going to try to focus on acknowledging that God chose me (foolish, non-talented me. So what will I do about it? How will I try to respond? By being a blessing to someone.

I feel like I'm treading water(something I can't even do). I seem to be sitting around waiting. Waiting for a job to call me to work, waiting for my youngest to get a few minutes to give me a call, waiting to develop some energy to actually do something! Actually, I am taking over more of my own housework each week. Until Thursday arrives when my helper comes to help me clean. By Thurs. it seems that the work is beginning to win the battle, when Renata to the rescue!! I am finally able to get out and get some exercise. I walk Waldo 4 times a day. Most of our walks last 20-30 minutes. So at least that's some exercise for me, too. My daughter, Kerry, was telling me about the social experiment their family experienced a bit ago. Her boys, 7 and 11, decided they wanted to be the parents for a day, and my daughter and her husband could be the children. Once the rules had been established, no driving the car, and no candy only for lunch (lunch had to be healthy), it was full speed ahead. After making sandwiches, while tending to baby sister, and listening to "I'm hungry, when's lunch going to be ready?" and cutting off the crusts from Mommy's sandwich (while muttering, "Just eat it"), and after cleaning up the lunch mess, the boys had had enough before the afternoon had gotten very old. As 7 year old Sam said, "Now I understand better what you have to go through. (He is the one who usually doesn't like crust on his sandwich and had to fix Mom's the same way. What a fun time. I can't wait to move out there. I just have to be very patient (not my strong suit).

Doctor's Report

I went to the doctor in charge of my recovery from the accident today. I got a clearance to return to work part-time as tolerated. I don't know if I can last an entire day without a nap! I still have dizziness problems (some people claim I have always been "dizzy") that I will do some eye exercises for to hopefully clear up. My car is in the shop. The driver's window went down and wouldn't come back up. Meanwhile, they found a leak in the power steering pump and some other minor maintenance things that need attention. It had to spend the night in the shop last night, and again tonight. When they were putting the new pump in, the pump broke with the mechanics tool inside it (I have NO idea!), so the needed to order another pump and another tool. I forgot to ask them if I am going to be charged the extra labor charges for the broken one? I don't know. I am quite ignorant when it comes to stuff like that. I usually just quietly pay the bill and suck it up like a big girl.

I bought Waldo a beach ball at a garage sale and did he ever have fun with it. He soon learmed to get a grip on it by biting the plug, then shake the ball. Then he wondered why it didn't roll well any more. After a little time, there was more duct tape on the ball than blue space (it is a globe ball). But it was fun while it lasted. I'll have to find a light, big ball that is a little more durable for doggie teeth. It was worth the quarter!