IN Carmel

 That's all that's left of another Thanksgiving trip to Georgia.  Memories and there are plenty of them...all good.  So there will be some pictures on this post.  Once again the monastery visit was a good one.  The only thing that would make that better is if more of the family could have been with us.  But we'll take what we can and it's good.  Saturday was our last day together.  Rick left in the morning to visit with his son and family who live in Nashville Tenn.  Jared and family left EARLY Sunday morning on their race to Michigan.  That's a very, very long trip to make in a day.  We left Conyers around 9 and Worshiped at Rossville UMC.  A church that took North UMC confirmation youth and adults in at least 30 years ago with leadership given by Nancy Baxter for a week of work and fun in the Atlanta area.  Sunday's visit brought back many good memories.   The church seats over 2000 people.  Covid impacted...

  The internet at the monastery is very slow.  Slower than molasses in January or any other phrase you might know that means the same thing.  You have learned that postings are slim or next to nothing.   Today there is a picture of the three "elder" Russell boys.  There are a whole lot of other Russell boys in this family but these are the first R boys.  Dee, now Father Cassian, then Doug and last but certainly not least Rick who is the middle brother.  So...it would appear that we have had Thanksgiving in Georgia now at least 16 years.   The weather is cooler than usual but certainly no snow as is seen in Michigan.  That's where the youngest family of Russells will be heading back to around 4 am tomorrow morning, ready for work and school Monday morning.   We've played cards, talked a whole lot, put a very difficult puzzle together with the grandsons, watched I Love Lucy videos, ate and laughed a whole lot.   Me...

 As Dee said or known as Father Cassian to others.  I missed a day.  The road got in the way and I was to lazy to sign on at the motel.  We arrived yesterday at the guest house mid afternoon.  Rick rolled in just a bit later and the evening was spent as brothers by birth along with me as a sidekick.  Lots to catch up with.  3/13 game played with Rick since we couldn't seem to get the tv working.  Humm...the batteries were in backward!  Dah.  This morning all together again with more family time talk.  How fortunate to be together again.   Friendship soup fixings finished, 5 pie crusts are in the freezer waiting for the Michigan fillings to come.  Michigan family is on their way arriving in 2 hrs. around 3 PM.  Their trip is the longest and way to long for old folks to do at the speed needed.  Cookies are disappearing and all seems to be in the grove we have created for ourselves more than 13 years in the mak...

 On to something new this morning with that car ride out of Indiana.  There will be strange little round hills in northern Kentucky, horse farms in Tenn as well as a mountain ride, and other seasonal changes along the way.  I love the window ride.  The bags are packed.  Some things went to the car last night and the rest will be packed this morning.  Russell family time is coming.  It's been two years since we saw Doug's two brothers.  Rick will arrive from Dallas on Tuesday.  There will be lots to talk about.  I'm sure that the Michigan grandsons have changed a whole lot for their uncles to take note  Their 2-year of growth is impressive even for their grandma.  There should be nine of us together for the week.  Michigan family arrives Wed.  Dee, Brother, Father Cassion will be with us more this visit only sleeping at the big house and eating all his meals with us.  yahoo!   Love it..  He will qua...

 On Facebook this morning from Nicci G,  Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds.  You can plant flowers or you can plant weeds.  Now keeping that in mind every day would make a huge difference in so many ways.   So today I choose to plant flowers.  Really?  I wish it wasn't Nov.  I would have my hands in the dirt immediately. That will be a big celebration when the sun warms the soil again. I am not a garden glove person.  I love the feeling of dirt!  So I propose to plant flower thoughts until that time.   I'm dressed for work and it's church day.  Humm...Interesting thought what that choir robe covers.  I've seen just about everything.  Yes.  It's Advent decorating at 12:15 with what I hope is a host of friends wanting to make a difference.  We are just about as ready as one could ever be. So bring it on!   I know there will arrive a feeling of relief when returning home kn...

 A message to Adam this morning which he might have read by now or not.  Adam is an early riser.  We'll see if a message comes through.  I love to text all my grandsons.  For an unknown reason,  I'll take it,  lots of sleep last night.  Woo...that's really a new thing for me.  All the morning stuff has been finished including removing the ice from the birdbath. The birdbath this year is just outside the kitchen window.   It's interesting to see how many birds come for a drink and even a bath on a freezing morning.  The bluebird lets me know in uncertain terms that the ice needs to go.  Smart bird.   Votives are finished, all 30 are ready to go back to church to use in the huge advent candles.  I wanted a few more glass holders so shopping I went.  They tend to get broken over time.  I couldn't find one at Hobby Lobby where I bought what we have a few years ago.  Not one.  Same at Joann's ...

 It's early.  Should we say 6 am.  That's early for me to be thinking about words.  So there may be a few less. I can report that last night's preparation for Sunday's decorating went swimmingly.  99.9% of what needed to be placed in areas was placed.  I'm still thinking and the .1 percent means a pole forgot to be moved to the office.   Today's work includes more votive candle pouring.  These little candles need thicker wicks than one finds in purchased votives.  Thicker wicks support a more robust flame that is more visible to the congregation.  Years of decorating have taught a lot about what people can see and can't see.  They let us know.  And finally, I'm fixing the pink Mary candle used on the third Sunday of the month.  Sometimes the how can I fix this candle comes after years of trying just about everything but failing.  I could write a book about candle-making experiences in my kitchen.  The family...

 Yes...the furnace guys finished their installation.  And today the weather is a bit cooler.  Woo..  escaped the bullet on this one.  We're toasty warm with what should be a warmer house than in past winters given that the boiler is new and not full of stuff that accumulates over time impeding the heated water.  I'm looking forward to a toaster house. There is lots of new bright copper piping that I think needs some Christmas balls hanging from them!   An unexpected yesterday event was making votive candles for the large two-foot Advent candles used in the sanctuary each year.  Always needing something and I can say these homemade votive candles work great fitting the tops of those honker-sized candles.  They are each 10 lbs of wax poured into PVC pipes coated with candle release.  How many have I made?  I certainly can't say.  We just hope they are not broken when used.  It happens.  We have a purple set, b...

 So many reasons to pray a prayer of thanksgiving. One of which being. weather temp. now 60 at 8 am in late November when we are furnaceless.  Today the guys should finish.  Who would have thought!  This year  I could make a thanksgiving list a mile long or something close to that.   Today is a day at home but adding a short trip to see grandson Andrew.  I am the worst beyond worst grandma remembering birthdays.  Someone in the family should send me a text ahead of time.  I need a cover person.  Andrew was 15 on the 12th.  The card and money are being delivered today.  I just didn't get around to it which is an inexcusable excuse.  By now I hope the family has caught on.  My goof never hides.  Our roofing friends stopped by yesterday to blow away gutter leaves.  Their hope is that new guttering comes soon.  Soon is fine with me.  Things take.....   I was given some dried figs la...

 More about that second-guessing pit later.  Last night I connected with Texas, Georgia, and Michigan.  Got to love that phone.  Texas with Rick, Georgia with Jo, and Michigan with Jared.  Lots to talk about with family  The hope is that once again Doug and I will connect with a long-time choir member friend Jo Pierce who now lives at Rossville, Georgia just north of Atlanta on our trip south.  She is excited and so are we.  I guess I should say on our way north after being south for a few days.    Today is another connecting day right here.  I'm visiting another choir friend Susan.  We both with prayer can say we have been through cancer surgery this year and currently are on the sunny side with healing.  The last time I saw Susan was at one of her radiation sessions in July. We both received radiation to our heads. It's scones and coffee morning and I'm adding some ice cream with heft.  Calories to say it better....

 Monday always feels like the first day of the week.  But it's not.  This morning was another wait morning so I filled it with a trip to Aldi's and Kroger.  I think everything that I'm taking to Georgia is now here.  That's a great feeling.  It's a done feeling.   Today was the Doctor's day I mentioned.  And I saw Doctor Schneider at noon.  He gave me three plans to think about as we proceed through this next what I'm calling pre-cancer adventure.  The good part is that if I am uncomfortable with the plan we can change it.  Since so far the tissue is pre-cancerous tissue we're proceeding slowly.  It could remain pre-cancerous for the rest of my life. And then maybe not.   The plan I've chosen is to see him every 3 months for a  good examination., the first visit for sure includes another mammogram.  I could have chosen medication with side effects and a visit with a surgeon would have been the third....

 Another good morning at church.  This afternoon football and the Colts are winning.  Not too much other than that planned for the day.  Yesterday I spent some time refining the menu for Georgia and getting the shopping lists ready for our attack on the Conyers, Ga. Publix Wednesday afternoon. The lists are ready Rick and Dee.  An important thing to remember is getting Turkey out of our freezer to make the trip south.  There was a hint of a shortage of turkeys so I made sure we had one.  There are a few other things on the dining room table to take along.  I'm assuming apples will be on the Michigan list of things to bring.  Next week will be another wonderful family time together with my brothers-in-law and the Jared family. We will be treated to that good old-fashioned southern hospitality.     Tomorrow is another one of those Doctor days.  Maybe this will be the last for a while.  Maybe not.  My hope...the las...

 Today is the Saturday that North folks provide a carryout meal for folks who stop by the church.  So the great Saturday crew of 5 eager workers arrived at 9 to begin preparation.  The work progressed at a great pace and James and I took an attic break finding things that were needed for our Advent workday next Sunday, Nov. 21.  So another extra job was completed in preparation for our  Advent decorating Sunday.  I always want to work ahead to be ready which calms my soul.  I can never over-prepare.  Habits in classroom preparation don't die quickly.  Perhaps never.   We fixed 48 meals asking folks to take one meal.  At 11:30 we gave out 2 meals each and there were enough to last until we closed at 12.  It was beef stew day and looked delicious.  The 1 meal take out could be counted as 2 meals.  The portion was huge.  Folks in the area can find a hot meal prepared every day by three near by churches.  O...

 Another week is almost over.  One week seems to be chasing the next one.  There have been many chases in my life thus far.  And the week to come will certainly chase this one away as well.  Curiosity demanded that I calculate approximately how many that might be.  4,316 is a close number.  More to come.  My life flows on in endless song again and again.   This morning was an early morning trip to the lab at IU North for fasting blood work.  With thanksgiving Dr. Baker keeps looking for that so said needle in a haystack.  I like doctors to be proactive.  It keeps me sane.  It's just so commendable that I U decided to build a hospital at our back door. Wasn't that nice!!!   The hour after the blood poke was spent at Penske Honda getting the car serviced for the trip south.  They found no needles in their haystack.  So little by little, we'll be ready for the trip.  There is still much to d...

 Lots to remember.  It was a Wed. sort of cleaning day.  Blew off the patio, blew out the garage,  Scrubbed the kitchen floor, vacuumed the carpet.  Discovered I was tired this time for a good reason.  That's always a good mental exercise to remember.  Having a good reason is what I want.  Remembered the haircut.  Did a library drop-off and visited with friend Kathy returning her "bulbs' back to their home.   The church's All Saints celebration includes lighting a prayer candle.  They are lit for only a short period of time near the end of the service.  So...an attempt was made to snip off the burned part of the candle and remelt the ends which I hope will enable us to use them again when needed.  Woo...that was a sitting and watching TV job which saw about 400 candles being refurbished for another year.  I can check that job off for sure.   So it was a busy day of lots getting a whole lot accomplished....

 Last night was a bit longer.  Sleeping pill the supporter.  It happens now and then so the alarm in my head didn't call till 6 am.  Woo.  I'll take it.  Slow morning with a crossword puzzle,  scrambled eggs with coffee.  It's hump day and time to rethink the week.  Sewing project is in the bag.  Sweeping of the upper level is completed getting all the little snippets of colored thread in the sweeper and no longer being tracked all over the house.  A few cobwebs taken down in the process.  Sorry spiders!   If my brain will cooperate, reminding me to set the timer of the iPhone, I should make it to see Mike today.  Mike's the hair man and I blew off the appointment yesterday.  My mind was sewing.  So today, Mike, library returns and maybe a visit with a friend.  It's another day for me.   A new animal is coming to the Michigan Russell family.  It's a horse requested by persistent Eli....

 So interesting that my prediction about the morning time when sleep goes away is usually 3 am. It happens more than I would like but it is what it is.   I'm usually right on with number 3.   Time to think about what has been and what will be.  I'm so at peace waiting for the surprises that life will bring.  The achs remind me that healing is happening and can't happen without reminders of where I was and where I'm heading.  North's long ago Sr. Minister, Dick Hamilton prayed a prayer with some of these words...Surprise us oh, God by your power and your love.  That has been burned into my memory for at least 30 years.  That prayer was set to music and was sung by the choir.  Perhaps music was the anchor.    Today started early as you know and the time was spent with Umoja cloth napkin ironing.  The prints are wild with color and beautiful in a wonderful African way.  The container is once again full of napkins in...

 What an impressive fall.  Today's temperatures are in the high 50's.  The trees still have quite a few leaves.  The snapdragons are still blooming and the birds are hanging around.  It's a beautiful fall day.  No frost for more nights this time of year than I can remember Today seems to be an extension of yesterday. It might be thought as the clean-up time related to yesterday.  So off to church this morning to pack away sand and candles used at the All Saints service yesterday.  We did a few things differently as related to Covid and those changes seem to be keepers for services to come.  So put that in the bank as a good change that Covid brought.  Surprises happen. Patty H. dropped off all the cloth napkins used at the Umoja celebration.  They are in the dryer waiting for a press and fold ready for next year's celebration.  It was a wonderful evening of celebration, visiting, hearing many child filed stories.  A t...

 Another great morning at church remembering those who have gone before us.  This is All Saints Sunday in many churches.  It was a meaningful service of honor.  Kate sang such an interesting 23rd Psalm solo.  It brought me to tears as music does these days.  When notes and words mesh together they have a way of finding that soft quiet place within.    Those are so many times when memory takes me back to the beginning of the year reminding me that I have not walked this strange journey through cancer along.  So church was good.  It's a beautiful afternoon with low 60's, the sun is shining, and the trees with their colorful dress are spectacularly beautiful.  I did a quick stop to JoAnn's that will allow a finish to my stitching.  JoAnn's usually is PACKED with folks and I try to avoid Sunday buying.  Today...no such thing.  In and out in a matter of minutes.   Later, the afternoon will be a time to reconnect ...

 Yes...early is what it is all about.  This time the 3 o'clock hour was spent thinking through Advent preparation at North. Time well spent.  With all of that filling my mind space I got up, washed my face, drank coffee and scrambled eggs, and then to the computer.  I dumped what was on my mind to the screen and now I have an announcement for Sunday church and a plan to make Advent come alive once again.  It would seem to be that it happens every year!    This year...something new.  The congregation will receive an invitation to be a part of the preparation on Sunday, November 21 immediately after the second service.  It's time to share the work.  There will be plenty of guidance from the Visual Arts Team.  We'll get her done.   Yesterday's good news about no cancer...only pre is still with me and one to feel a blessing for.  My sister told me to eat some ice cream to celebrate.  I did something even better....

 After a bit of waiting again I made a phone call to my friend Charlotte who works at I U North.  She's one of those supportive persons working with mammogram folks. The question... what are the results of the Monday biopsy?  Good news...no cancer now.  The tissues are pre-cancerous ones.  The application needed for those pre folks will be discussed on the 15th.  Woo.  I'm delighted.  There might be surgery to remove them and there might not be surgery as explained by Charlotte.   Yes...I would still say it's very good news no matter what the next step might be.  Today just got a whole lot smoother.   Earlier today I went back to some blog entries around the Feb. 1 date of surgery.  The road has been full of twists and turns of this will happen but just not yet seems to be part of the journey.  So...it continues.  I still have neck issues and probably will continue to have those issues.  It's not a doct...

 It's a do day.  The big do this morning was preparation at church for All Saints Day Sunday.  It's also communion Sunday, the first Sunday of the month as well as emphasis on the Umoja Project, a mission project directed to the children of western Kenya.  So...much to celebrate.   The worker bees that surrounded me this morning were great.  Sand in basins, candles planted in the sand and distributed through out the sanctuary.  All 13 stations ready for people to remember those who have died this year by lighting a candle as well as spending a moment of reflection.  It's always a time of saint remembering. Time that our church folks feel a healing touch.  Then home and the sewing machine is once again humming along.  Just another afternoon of thinking and planning and than thinking again.  But I must admit that the best ideas come in the middle of the night when my thinker is going 100 miles per hr. at least.  Guess it's t...

 It's not pumpkin frost this time.  That season is over.  The lawns are white this morning and the bird bath has ice sealing the water from a drink.  It's been a beautiful fall and I'm sure there will be more good days but a jacket will be added to enjoy the time spent outside.  It's a Brr. morning and my sweatshirt feels great.   Last night I decided to skip Tylenol which proved to be a mistake.  There is a bit of discomfort all within what was related would be the case.  Things take the time they take...yes...Mary Oliver is with me again.   I'll let the jonquils have a rest in the bag instead of the ground for the day.  Healing continues.  It's a greatly appreciated gift.   The blessing for the day is that there is nothing on the calendar than needs doing.  So the day is all mine to play with.  It's turning in to soup weather.  There's enough in the refrigerator for the next few days with some le...

 This morning was another trip to I U North.  This time a visit with Dr. Moore, the surgeon who took care of my head.  Back with the healers, two important ones, ladies who greet people at the front desk getting folks needing treatment to where they need to go with gentle words of encouragement. .  So many older people are compromised by age as well as disease.  These workers are my friends for life.  Dr. Moors's visit was a good one.  I had many, many questions and he answer them using words I could understand.  What a gift.  I thought it might be time for him to terminate our visits but that's not the case.  Next visit March 1.  Time to reconnect with a great healer.  I'm blessed.    My appreciation for all folks who give hope to cancer carriers continues to grow with each day of life that has been given to me.  They are angels sent by God living here with us.  My mind tells me that I am not a cancer victi...

 A much anticipated day is here.  This morning's scrambled eggs and coffee with crossword puzzles have come and gone.  I did a bit of stitching and then decided that it was time to pull some of the Lantana and get the crocus in the ground.  Done.  The time arrived to motor on over to I U North again just 10 minutes away.  And I did while singing songs learned in church like I am thine, Oh, Lord, Beloved Let us Love one another and more. remembering the goodness and grace given and with tears of appreciation and a happy heart. Arrival time 10:30 I would add that I U North probably along with perhaps other hospitals the most loving Cancer Center employees that nourish the soul.  How fortunate to be with kind, loving healers during a time where answers take the time they take.  For me, no words are really adequate enough to express what I feel every time I need to be with these healers.    They are a gift from God in a great time of ne...