Thankful Thursday

(Orange zinnias and decorative grass taken 10/10/2009 at the Cincinnati Zoo)

I love autumn! I also love winter, spring, and summer. I know! I'm so fickle! Or maybe I'm just thankful for each season that God gives as it comes along.

I remember reading or hearing a sermon by a famous preacher (Swindoll, perhaps?) that compared the earthly seasons to our journey of life. I was too young at the time to understand just how true that analogy is but I've lived long enough now to experience it first-hand.

Each season has its own trials and blessings. As a child progressing through the Springtime and as a young woman enjoying the Summer season I could never fully imagine the joys that come with having grown Blessings (that's my children) and my little Grandblessings (their children). If I had failed to grow older I would never have experienced this beautiful Autumn season of life.

As I contemplate my life's Autumn season a few things immediately come to mind for which I am thankful. Here are a few just for starters:

1. My parents and in-laws are in reasonably good health.
2. My life's partner has been with me since the early Spring season of our lives and he helps to divide my burdens and multiply my blessings.(Here the word "blessings" does not pertain to my children, although I can see how the multiplying of those blessings could apply here, too.)
3. My house has not been emptied of the sound of my own Blessings' feet. How nice not to have an empty nest yet!
4. We have a house on the hill (literally!) that shelters us from the elements.
5. My body's heater hasn't gone too haywire yet. (Note to you Summer girls: no blankets needed to keep you warm at night.)

And some that pertain to this literal autumn season:

1. The impatiens that survived the drought of summer (and picking by a certain grandblessing) are still showing off near the sidewalk. :)
2. The red geraniums are looking especially vibrant against the backdrop of fallen leaves.
3. The cups of coffee and hot tea are particularly appreciated now.
4. The beauty of the trees has not been as spectacular this year due to the lack of moisture but some of the maples were as gorgeous amongst their dull-colored neighbors as cardinals are beside winter-plumed birds at my bird feeder.
5. The summer chores are over and the autumn ones are under way but the shorter days and longer nights help to slow my body's busy pace just a bit. This might be mere perception, but it helps me transition toward sleep instead of thinking I must complete more chores before day's end.
6. The dark evenings mean more time spent snuggling with a good book instead of working in the yard.

Every season has its beauty and every season has its work. Some seasons require longer days and more stenuous labor to complete the tasks at hand and some allow more time for rest and reflection. I'm positive that the Lord that created us and the seasons designed us to enjoy everything in its time.

Zoo Antics

Some of you probably heard rumors of what happened to Karen yesterday and some may still be wondering so I shall now try to tell the tale from my perspective. I hope it reminds you to pray for my daughter and unborn grandchild.

Like these flamingos, it was a day of family togetherness for Karen and her girls, little Fen, the Bear, and me. Our zoo membership expires soon and I wanted Tigger to have a chance to see the new manatee acquisitions. (It wasn't a good day for manatee pictures. The water was somewhat blurry.)

The napping polar bear will give you some clue as to just how unseasonably warm it was in Cincinnati yesterday. We all felt like this guy looked: hot and droopy. We envied him his pool.

The girls got to see a couple of animals up close and personal, including this young penguin. The only problem with being up close and personal with a bunch of animals is that they . . . well, they smell like a bunch of animals. It smelled like a zoo yesterday. Naturally.

As our day was winding down we made our way to the zoo train station where we parked the strollers and got in the long line. There was little to no shade there and we were a bit uncomfortable. Little Fen was getting restless because he'd been riding or being held for a few hours and he wanted to get down and play on the pavement. I wrestled him while we waited for the train to return, pleased that we would be in the next group to board. We were the second family in line.

As we heard the whistle blow that signaled its return, Karen turned to me and said, "I don't feel well. I'm going to buy a Sprite and sit down for awhile." I asked if she felt nauseous, had a headache, or what. After vague answers I asked if she felt faint to which she replied, "Yes."

I quickly thrust Fen into the Bear's arms as Karen stumbled. She didn't fall to the ground and she didn't sit down. She just sort of landed in my arms. My cry for help made the woman in front of me offer her services as a nurse. Karen hadn't totally lost consciousness because as the nurse asked questions she responded somewhat.

A zoo paramedic soon arrived with an ice pack to put on the back of her neck and some bottled water. Between the heat, animal smells, the exertion of pushing strollers up and down the hills, her pregnancy, the sinus trouble she's been fighting, and standing in line in the sun, I think her system had an overload.

And even though her visit at the zoo didn't end with quite as much exuberance as it began, I'm happy to say that once she got in the shade and had a large cup of ice-cold Sierra Mist she was back to being herself, even if she didn't visit any of the animal exhibits that were on our way to the exit. The Bear and I made sure the girls got to see everything though. They were already worried about their mommy and taking them to see the animals seemed the best way to act naturally and calm their fears.

She's a bit embarrassed by the whole episode but I told Karen she wasn't the first - and she certainly won't be the last - person to faint at the zoo. The paramedic who responded acted like he did that kind of thing all the time. And I'm pretty sure he wasn't a zoo vet.

Monday's Maniacal Musings

The worst part about Monday is that it follows Sunday. In our home, Sunday is not typically a day a rest. Of course, the fact that Saturday was one big part-ay could also help explain why I dragged myself off to our weekly homeschool co-op feeling like someone who had not had enough sleep lately. Because I hadn't. That's why.

But it was a good weekend so I'm not complaining. It's just that I have all these random thoughts taking up precious brain cells and I need to get them written down pronto! before they purchase one-way tickets to who-knows-where and thus depart forever. So if they come across as the unorganized, almost unintelligible gibberish of some dear soul on the brink of senility, be assured that they are. Just be glad that I can still type at my advanced age.

Of course, perhaps it is the time spent trying to teach 20+ students from grades 1-6 certain educational concepts in the Monday co-op that is the actual culprit instead of the whole aging thing. The little "front kicker" who vigorously attacks the Bear in the first period taekwondo class usually also assaults my patience during the last period of the day. Students like this little fellow are why I gave up teaching as a profession years ago.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who sent well-wishes for my 50th birthday. I hope you take everything I say here as the joke that it is intended to be. Without further ado I shall now launch into my monologue.

• Karen and family asked me to accompany them to the zoo Saturday so we could watch the animals do fall activities and the kids could trick or treat. I think the grandkids really wanted to trade me for a cuddly zoo animal, but the keepers said they already had enough old bats hanging around the place.
• We noted that this birthday was also the 32nd anniversary of the day that Pastor Dad asked me out on date. He didn't know at the time that it was my 18th birthday but since we were married before my 19th it was the last October 10th that he has been able to plead ignorance of the occasion without dire consequences.
• My parents have chosen a few special birthdays to present me with nice pieces of jewelry. (Think a "girl's best friend.") I think next year I'll tell them that it's my 75th. No wait. That won't work! Even my parents won't be that old yet next year. Hmm. It reminds me of how Bear used to tell folks that his mother was 32 years old in response to their queries about my age. That's pretty good considering I was 35 when he was born.
• I got some snarky birthday cards from two of my "double-cousins" ( who are older than I am, as a matter of fact) that turned out to be quite prophetic. One said that we're still "quite the lookers" and went on to make some snide remark about always looking for things. How could she possibly have known that I would spent a good 10 minutes this morning looking for my glasses!? The worst part about misplacing eye glasses is that one needs eye glasses to help locate the missing pair. No, I don't have a spare. I'd need to sell a few "best friends" to buy more than one set. Ain't happening.
• The card from the other cousin said that 50 year olds accomplish great things every day... like "eating their oatmeal..." Yeah, well, I would've done so if I hadn't spent so much time looking for those stupid eye glasses this morning!
• Princess and family gave me a card with a dude on the front who looks a lot like Fen with a pacifier in his mouth. The card told me to "suck it up." I'm trying. I'm really, truly trying. But watching those decades fly by ain't as fun as it was when going from the onesies to the teens or the teens to the twenties.
• Lulu and hubby sent me 2 dozen beautiful long stem red roses. Gasp! I guess Onyx got that job as a Walmart greeter after all. Thanks, guys and dogs!
• Among other things, Karen and family gave me a wall hanging that contained a Mark Twain quote that says, "Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." Apparently. Unless he meant finding one's eye glasses when in a big hurry to leave for Monday morning co-op. Then it absolutely cannot happen.
• Pastor Dad bought me a gift card for my favorite department store. I don't know if he realizes it or not, but said gift shall also include a day out shopping. Ah! The gift that just keeps on a-givin', honey!

Thanks again, one and all, for the kind acknowledgements (on blogs and otherwise). We're all getting older so we might as well laugh about it.

(Stop over and see the pictures of someone else who will be celebrating October 10th as a birthday from now on. His momma, Stephanie, is a lovely lady with whom I've become acquainted in recent months. She's a bloggy friend who could use an encouraging word and her newborn son could use your prayers.)

Mental Images

I guess I discovered a new well of inspiration springing up yesterday. After a few weeks of silence I've become Chatty Kathy all of a sudden. Bear with me.

You'll notice that I haven't posted any pictures of yesterday's zoo trip and I probably won't. Why? Well, I only have three. Two of them are of Fen in his stroller and one is a far-off picture of giraffes. I guess photography wasn't one of my priorities. Too bad, too, since there were many special moments throughout the day that just screamed "take pictures!" I'm hoping someone else will post theirs. Hint, hint.

But I am carrying several mental images of the day that one son-in-law called "the best zoo trip EVER." I agree whole-heartedly. It a was a peaceful day for all of us: a day of rest (unless you count the miles and miles of paved pathways that we walked), of relaxation (unless you count the unruly children scaring the zoo keeper in the bird house while annoying the rest of us who kept the children in our group under control), and of family togetherness. Yep! That last one tends to get me right here (hand over heart) every time.

One image I have is of our grand entourage (all 12 of us) making our way from place to place. We stayed together but we tended to walk in smaller groups as we meandered along. Several times I looked at my two sons-in-law who were leading the way due to the length of their long legs. These fellas were side-by-side as they pushed their baby strollers. I wished I had thought to take out my camera. It was one of those "Kodak moments" that repeated itself many times.

The guys were deep in conversation. I'm sure they were contemplating some of life's more complex issues. You know, things like wives, children, and what's for dinner. I'm not sure there are any definitive answers for the first two, but the answer to the last issue was Frisch's Big Boy.

Ah! The warm fuzzies just would not end.

Good times.

How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation

The last you heard from me I was on a trip to Kentucky. It was great but now it seems so long ago. There are two things that can make a recent trip seem that way:

1. Life is so boring or intolerable that one can hardly remember being away at all, or
2. Life is so busy that one good thing just quickly follows afterward.

In my case, I'm glad to say it was the latter.

So, where have I been and what have I been doing? I'd like to think I've been putting some memories into my spouse's and children's memory banks. Here is a quick run-down of recent activities:

• That little trip to Kentucky featured a bit of unintended genealogical research. Okay, yes, there was also some intended genealogical fun, too, as we visited an obscure cemetery where some of Pastor Dad's ancestors are buried. We can now say we have visited "Lizard Lope." The part that was unintended was finding out that the conference's host preacher is distantly related to Pastor Dad. I found this out by talking with the preacher's 90+ year-old grandmother. The preacher and Pastor Dad are 3rd cousins once removed. Will wonders never cease?
• About 36 hours after I returned home I found myself on the road again. This trip was with Lulu. We spent one day traveling to NC, one day doing TONS of work in her yard in NC, and one day driving back from NC. Whew!
• Upon returning from NC we took some hasty showers and went to Wednesday prayer meeting. Afterward we took Pastor Dad out to eat for his birthday. We didn't rush home because Pastor Dad expected us to be here for his birthday. We did it because Lulu wanted to take her daddy out to eat. You'll need to see her blog to see how that episode turned out! :)
• We celebrated the Fourth of July (on the actual date) at Karen's house. Thanks for having us!
• We celebrated the Fourth and Pastor Dad's birthday again yesterday at my mom's house. We're party animals I tell ya!
• Today we took the whole family to the zoo. Well, the whole family minus Sgt. Dan who is not in town yet. I think everyone, including our newest grandchild, had a great time. Too bad he won't remember watching cheetahs run, being up close and personal with a penguin, or seeing his cousins hand-feeding giraffes. Of course, he won't remember that his mommy took the time to feed and diaper him whenever necessary either but that's okay. Our zoo always makes a big deal out of "Zoo Babies" each May. Little Fen was one of the youngest babies around the zoo today, animal or human.

It has been a busy few weeks with no let-up in sight, but that's fine. I only wish winter passed as quickly.

The Manatees Were Calling

Tigger just loves manatees. You do remember that story, right? And you do remember that Polly, Tigger, and Sweet Pea are staying with us while their parents are in Europe, correct? I know that some folks (including their parents) have been waiting for posts about the girls so without further ado I will show a few pictures of our day at the zoo.

We started out our visit by riding the carousel. Tigger was able to ride the manatee. Grandad was available in case "someone" got scared. (She didn't.):





We didn't make Tigger wait too long before we went to the Manatee Springs to see the live ones. Polly and Tigger were mesmerized:





One of the manatees showing off for Tigger:





The kiddos: the Bear, Polly, and Tigger, lying in "the bubble" where the manatees will swim overhead when they're in the mood:





Have no fear, we made sure Tigger didn't sneak any baby manatees out in Sweet Pea's stroller. :)