quoting William

well. the floors are finished. the rooms are painted. my sweet neighbors are coming this weekend to help us move back into the downstairs. can't hardly wait.

the hubs continues to recuperate from surgery. poor guy. he's doing really well. thank You.

it's been a whirlwind. so hard to think that just last week we were in a frenzy. so happy to think all's well that ends well.

'think of all the beauty around you and be happy.'

Tuesday

sitting alone in the waiting room at the ER this morning. I cried. I prayed. my mind raced. I was a bit panicked. called back to his room to wait. I took a deep breath.

a few tests. a few long hours. a diagnosis later. we were home. tired. grateful. thankful.

the hubs tops my gratitude list. bless him. blessed me.

'why should I wish to see God better than this day? I see something of God each hour of the twenty-four, and each moment then, in the faces of men and women I see God, and in my own face in the glass, I find letters from God dropped in the street — and every one is signed by God's name and I leave them where they are, for I know that others will punctually come forever and ever.'

good Friday

staying busy today. starting another project. I should be finishing other started projects. but reasons abound. for starting. for not finishing.

this home tour business has been good. is good. has motivated us to do some things long past due. like company coming and I finally clean. I know I should do it all along. but (she reasons).

we're having a garage sale sometime soon. part of the 'treasures' will come from those 'stored' on the sleeping porch. a lovely little room that was open at one time, I suspect. when we bought the house I thought what a cute play room it would be for the grandkiddos. for the tour it will be staged like a play room. after (or as part of) the tour the hubs will take it over as a train room. not to be confused with his train garden. different trains (he could have worse habits she smiles).

so I'm writing while taking a break from the great clean-out. pulled up the carpeting that was covering the floors. to discover a pretty blue-gray paint. a bit worn. just the way I like it. this one will be simple (she hopes). paint the walls. seal the floor. arrange the stuff. easy-peasy (she dreams).

'I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.'

.

jet lag

I'm feeling a bit worn out today. sluggish. got home from LA yesterday. those days. the day before we leave. the day of departure. the day after we arrive back. so very hard. emotionally. my eyes well with tears. my stomach lumps. my heart is heavy. just knowing that I have to leave. am about to go. am without them again.

the overwhelming-ness of it will pass. but the ache lingers.

so bear with me while I pity party. and get back into the steady hum of normal life. life is good. just a bit far away.

'I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.'

on the ottoman

picking colors. for a table in the center hallway (I have a thing for yellow these days - inspired from a vase that belonged to my mom). for the master bedroom. for the den. fun. agonizing (the table color is perplexing me). satisfying.

I've been in a bit of a frump the past few days. a little sad. weary. perhaps overwhelmed. last night I got a phone call that, when the conversation was done, I took two aspirin and went to bed. oh me. oh my. life does have its ups. downs.

I think the biggest issue is that life is usually. most consistently. up. very grateful for that. I guess when that is the biggest issue (I'm not complaining. sometimes it just feels good to say it out loud) - life is good. and it is.

the week will have a happy ending. headed to LA to see the babies. ages ranging from 1 - 31. definitely. definitely. an up.

'we are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. the trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.'

je parle un pue de français

I speak a bit of French. I wish I was fluent. at least conversational. I would love to sit in a café. overhear neighboring tables. and understand. just casual talk. a bit of chit chat. and every year during le Tour time, the feeling grows.

I am hopelessly involved with my Rosetta Stone tutorial. a vain effort. but I soldier on. always hopeful. I give up at times. but then go back. French is just one of those life goals. challenging (she fears). attainable (she sighs).

so here's to fulfilling our ambitions. and oddly. saying what we mean better. more beautifully. in any language.

'in French, you don't really say 'I miss you.' you say 'tu me manques,' which means 'you are missing from me.' I love that.'

baseball

a partial holding in season tickets for the Round Rock Express + the Iowa Cubs in town this (last) week = four days of baseball.

we are very fortunate to have a minor league club in our backyard. makes going to the games easy. fun.

people at the park are so very nice. friendly. the reason we have a share in season tickets is pure chance. two years ago we were sitting by a fellow and his wife and struck up a conversation. they were partial season ticket holders and a couple in their group were dropping out. by the end of the game we were invited to drop in. it didn't work out last year (as the drop outs decided not to). but for this season we had success. we went to the fellow and his wife's home for the lottery. they did a big bbq dinner (turns out it was the fellows birthday). their kids and grandkids were there. along with the other folks in the ticket share. we had a very nice evening. ate. drank. were merry. and got tickets to 12 games (which is the perfect amount. not too many. not too few.). four of the twelve were for the I-Cubs.

there is something quite wonderful about baseball. it is contagious. everyone is happy. cheering. clapping. booing. a camaraderie. just a lovely few hours. and sometimes a little dancing.

and then there's Spike. I love Spike.

'this is a game to be savored, not gulped. there's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings.'