A Time to Dance

The phone rang the other night. It was Rich and Carole who live about 30 miles from me.

"You want to go square dancing?"
"I don't know. I've never square danced."
"No problem. We're going to a beginning class and it's only 2 miles from your house."

I couldn't think of any reason why not.

So on Tuesday night I found myself holding hands with a tall husky 70 year old man with no hair.

Now, the only old man I'm used to dancing with is my dad. Here we are doing the swing in 2004.



Well the tall husky man was pretty good. He promenaded me around. I weaved in and out , grabbed arms, and occaisonally got run over by dancers who were going in the right direction. We learned about 10 different steps and formations. I really had to concentrate. In a way, it's so easy...but in another way....well let me just say...you cannot be daydreaming. When someone gets lost...it's so funny. For a woman, if you get lost...sooner or later (mostly sooner) and an arm reaches out and grabs you---folding you back in.

I did try to talk Mozart into going but he says square dancing is for squares.

When I got home from square dancing, Mozart said that son "C" had called. He wanted to stop by to pick up some mail. This was earth shattering news, because we've heard very little from our son. Mozart said, "We almost had a conversation." (on the phone) When C stopped by to get the mail, Mozart said he looked dirty and scraggly and was in and out quickly...leaving with a friend.

Because this situation is so...out of my hands—it prods me to trust the Lord completely. The worries do creep in...and when they do I imagine sweeping C and all my worries under God's wing. I can't see what's going on under the wing, but I bring my mind to rest by reminding myself he is completely in God's care.

In closing...
Here's a photo of my mom and dad doing the swing!

My Article Came Out

My dirt biking article came out! I received an advance copy and a check. It will be out in the March 29th edition of Evangel.

Evangel is a church take-home publication with a circulation of 11,000. They publish about 100 articles per year.

I originally called the article, "When God Rode a Dirt Bike", but after the article was accepted they asked me to come up with some alternative titles. They chose, "Off-Road Riding With God".

The title "When God Rode a Dirt Bike" came to me because I mention, in the article, that God was riding with me on my dirt bike when we climbed a monstrous hill. God goes everywhere with us!



I will let you read the article after March 29th--because the magazine bought "first rights" and I can't publish it elsewhere before that date.

I've been a little slow at posting because my camera is broken. It is NOT fun to post without pictures! I have taken some pictures with my son's camera, but its very hard to get them OFF his camera. It can be done, but involves a trip to CVS to dump the pictures into their computer and burn a cd. Oh...the picture above---that's a picture of my dog, Jasper, with his glasses on. (He is now in dog heaven.)

Son update: My son is still gone. But I sense he is staying with someone. (He's not on the street, thank goodness.) Last week, my cell phone rang while I was driving. When I checked my phone later, I noticed an unfamiliar phone number with a different area code. There was no message. I called the number back...and it turned out to be the cell phone of a young man who I do not know. I asked to speak with C (my son) and he said, "He's out with my dad right now."

It seems as though he's staying with a family.

I did speak with C briefly, because he called me back. I can't really go into things much more than that. I continue to pray for him.

I continue to pray for George Bush too. I've prayed for him for 8 years, and it feels strange to stop. ..since he's no longer at the helm. So I'll continue. I'm adding Obama to the list now.

I'll close with the words of our first President:

Direct my thought, words and work, wash way my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit...Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.

--George Washington
1st U.S. President

Son Update

My son is okay. He came by today to pick up something. Mozart was here--I was at work. Mozart told him what we expect for him to live here...and didn't make it easy for him to return. My son (who doesn't have a working car) was with a friend that Mozart didn't recognize. He picked up a change of clothes and left again. At least I know he's still alive, and for that, I'm thankful.

Today I had a usual challenging but fulfilling day in the Special Education class. Then I picked up the woman that I "caretake" and we went to the local museum of the town she lives in. It was facinating. I love local history. This town was at the end of a famous pioneer trail and many of its streets are named after the pioneers.

After that, I had to attend a meeting at the school district.

It feels good to be home. All is quiet. My youngest is working at his new job tonight, and the oldest is "somewhere" but okay.

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord "my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2

The Sun and the Son

The sun is back. It's 85 degrees. But the other son is gone. He has been missing for 5 nights. I'm calm. (I think) This happens once in awhile.

I read an article saying we need 10 minutes of sun on our skin each day. This gives us our daily dose of vitamin D. So I dusted the leaves off the chaise lounge and sat down with my lunch. Oh....it was heaven. As I looked into the deep blue, something fuzzy and brown caught the side of me eye. A gopher had poked his head up through the grass! He was 2 feet from me.

Interestingly, yesterday my friend L., who is almost 80, told me she shot a gopher with her pellet gun.
"Did you kill him?"
"Yes. I shot that sucker in the head."
"What did you do with him?"
"I left him in the hole so his little friends could see what happens to gophers in my yard."

The brown fuzz ball was staring at me with his beady eyes. I stared back. I'd never seen a gopher this close before. I noticed his teeth! I tossed my dish at him. He ducked into his hole. And later in the day he added several more mounds to the back yard.

Back to the son. There is nothing I can do. I just have to pray for him. So I do. He belongs to God. God has him.

On Being Generous

It's a small tree, but it is generous.

I wish I had a cookie tree. It seems like the cookies disappear as soon as I buy them. Since the budget is tight, I decided to make oatmeal raisin cookies from scratch last night. They are my favorite cookie! I put the dough in the refrigerator as it was late. I'll bake them tomorrow night. When I got home from work the next day, lo and behold the smell of oatmeal was in the air. My oldest son had baked a tray, and shared them with his friend. That's fine, but he's baking another tray right now, and his friend is hovering. What should I expect with boys around?

Earlier this week, I decided to make a list of all the food we would need for one week. This would alleviate so many trips to the market and maybe I'd save some money. I had 6 meals planned and all the ingredients were in the cupboard! Wow...the pressure peeled off me. No worrying about "what are we going to have for dinner tonight?"

It all began well, with ground turkey and baked potatoes the first night. Then...the next day someone made salsa with my tomatoes and ate half the bag of tortilla chips that I was using for the tortilla soup.

The Monterey jack cheese for the tortilla soup was used by someone to make cheese bread. And I could tell you a story about the burritos disappearing...but I'll spare you. Because I really don't want to complain.

For one, I'm glad my son likes to bring his friends around. And even though our budget is tight, I figure God is an expert at multiplying food. So that is what I'm praying.

But I will have to plan a few more dinners.

I'm now putting signs on the food that is reserved for dinners.

UPDATE ON OUR POTENTIAL MOVE

We're slowing down in our search for houses, as Mozart is taking some time to explore some new directions for his career. So the house won't be going up for sale yet.

I'm glad...because if we move, I'll really miss the oranges. Now if I could just get those boys to eat oranges! (I caught them using those dangling orange balls as targets for the airsoft guns! I put a stop to that—they are now using soda cans!)

Happy New Year!

Here is our family Christmas picture. That's my dad on the right, with my mom in the middle. My first born is the tallest. (I really need to think of some names for these kids besides first born and second born.)
Here is second born. He doesn't know what's in the bag yet...but it's slippers!

Now that I have a family Christmas picture, I'm thinking of sending out some cards. Yes, I know I'm late!

Tonight both boys are out, so Mozart and I rented a movie - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We are going to barbecue sausages. This will happen after Mozart stops composing. He said "Let's eat late." Well what about my stomach? I'm hungry now!

I stepped outside and was greeted by the waxing cresent moon with Venus dangling below like a jewel. I was ankle deep in yellow Ginko leaves. Our fall came late this year. The beauty of the night made me think of God our creator. I prayed for our family and for the New Year.

I think I'll go back out and pray for all of you...my friends and family.

Then maybe Mozart will be ready to eat!

Happy New Year to all of you!

You want to live WHERE?

I had to tell Mozart that this was a little too far out. Yes...I do want to get away from the crowds, but I might want some trees.



Okay...a nice balcony view of trees. How much is fire insurance?




This is nice. But a little too expensive.



On the road...



Let's drive to Phoenix and look in the town of Anthem.



I liked this home! But the weather is 118 degrees for 4 months.
The picture is off-center and focusing on the garage because we have four drivers in the family--and potentially need a spot for C. to work on his car.

This was sort of a "retirement" community feel. I wonder if they would like the sound of my youngest son's drums, and the look of tools strewn on the driveway when my oldest son needs to work on his car. Then there are dirt bikes...

A few more pictures back towards COOLER Prescott. You can see the road cut in the mountain that leads up toward Prescott. Click on the picture and you'll feel like you're there.


I just had to show you these cute Victorian homes in Prescott. You can get one for a good price...but they take a lot of upkeep.




We found a community of rustic homes. (Just above our price range.)


Picture taken in the early morning, on our way to Phoenix.

And coming home...orange clouds...like God's fingers stretching over the desert.



The home search will continue. We planned to drive through Northern California and up to Oregon this week, but due to the snowy roads and passes and my cold, we'll wait.

We'll have a quiet New Year celebration at home.

Happy New Year!