Closing door, opening a window?

Here we go again. Just when I am trying so hard to be content with wherever and whatever I am given, God changes things again. I feel like a bipolar ping pong ball (is there such a thing?).

We went to Becca's performance and it was wonderful. I had the very cutest, baby dragon on the whole stage. I took pictures and I hope to have them out in a couple of days.

Last night, after the performance, I was approached by the outgoing Principal of our school. She said she was sorry to hear about the nursing job. She then asked me if I would consider working at another school as a SPED para, working with Autistic kiddos. The school is where our outgoing Vice Principal will be Principal. I spoke with our outgoing VP and she indeed wants me to work for her, but she had greater ideas in mind. This job is in District 49. More of a rural area and I say, half way to Kansas. The superintendant had already talked to her about starting a strings program, district wide. She felt that she could offer me an additional stipend to start a strings program for the school or perhaps, later on, more than one school.

It seems like something I would greatly enjoy and I am honored that I have been hand selected by the Principal. I just don't know what to do. Please say lots and lots of prayers for me so that I can get a clear direction. I am to make my decision by early next week.

I truly believe that when God closes a door, he opens a window. I just wonder if this is my window. If it is, I want the window to let in fresh air and the view to be beautiful.

Assistant Principal

Yesterday, Tom handled the home affairs and I spent the day at our school district's administrative offices. We started at 7 am and finished around 5. It was a long, tough day. We selected the top three candidates and our principal will pick the one she likes best. I left feeling really tired. I felt like I had spent the day, picking people apart (I did). I realized that I don't like picking out all the good and bad points of people. I think we made the best decision, based on the candidates we were given. Our prinicipal chose those too.

I learned a whole bunch about interviewing. I was able to clearly see some of the mistakes that I made during the nursing interview, but I also know that job was not for me. Weird day.

Today, Becca and Tom have their big play that they have been at camp for the last three weeks preparing for. Becca is a baby dragon and dances to Kung Foo Fighting (remember the song?).

Laura and I will go to the play tonight, but spend this afternoon getting her packed and ready for camp. She has a sleep over on Thursday night and a birthday party sleep over on Friday night. Sunday, she is off to camp.

Tom and I have the house to ourselves on Friday night, as the birthday party is a sleepover for both our girls. We have decided to use the time to head for Canon City on Friday night. There is a bbq cookoff on Saturday and Tom thinks Friday evening is a better time to talk to folks and get some catering ideas. I know it doesn't sound like a romantic date, but the drive alone will give us time to talk. We don't get to do that much, with our hectic schedule.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day.

Thank goodness for Monday

Our weekend was absolutely full. On Friday, we worked and worked to get ready for the bbq on Saturday. I was exhausted and ready for bed Friday night. That was a good thing, because on Saturday, I got up and ran/walked the big "Sailing Shoes 5k". By the way, I couldn't figure out why they call it the "Sailing Shoes Race". We are a land locked state, so not much sailing going on. I found out that it was named after a 70s song called "Sailin Shoes". They played it before we ran and I had never heard it. I suppose it was cool at the time. Anyway, I finished it in about the same time I always do. I was really glad that I got out and did it, but the next race, in July, is a 10k. I have to work on that now or I will never finish.

I got home from the race and we did more preparations for the bbq. I did sneak in a quick nap and helped Tom disassemble Laura's bed (more on that later). All that before guests arrived at 4:00. We had a great time. I so love the folks at daVinci. Tom's brisket was too moist this time, so we are still perfecting things, but nobody complained and all went back for more. I made key lime pies for desert. Thanks Jen, for the idea you didn't know you gave me. I was reading one of your blogs at about the same time I was trying to figure out what to make for desert. It was delicious. When Tom and I went to bed Saturday night, we were EXHAUSTED.

Sunday morning, 3am, Tom was up and taking David to the Denver Airport. He delivered him, drove home and slept until 11 am. Laura slept until 12:30. I think we were all a little tired. In the afternoon I went with Deb. over to her Mom's house for a visit. I brought her Mom some Poppies from my garden and we had a lovely chat.

The visit made me think of my own family in Florida and in Colorado Springs. I promised myself that we would visit Dad this week. I know his days on this earth are fewer more than greater and we need to take advantage of what we all have left. I want my girls to have memories of him.

The visit made me think of my own Dad in Florida as his health is not the best. It is frustrating that he continues to smoke and do things that are a detriment to himself, but I love him. I am saddened that I can't visit more, but the gas prices have put a halt to our travel. We have been told that "Stand-By" flights are impossible right now because the airlines have grounded so many of their planes due to gas prices.

Speaking of family, we got good news concerning Tom's brother. The surgeons removed two polyps from his esophagus and they will be analyzed, but the docs said that they were soft and did not "look" cancerous upon first inspection. That is great news. It could be that he has "Barrot's Esophagus". We are praying that all goes well for him.

As you can see, we had a crazy weekend. This week, Becca and Tom have a school play, but the Drama camp ends. Laura is a counselor at our church's Bible School and she is preparing for Camp Elim, next week.

Thank goodness for Monday.

Content no matter.

I am preparing for the big 5k (well, big to me). Carole and I went on an extra long walk this morning. My knee was hurting on Wednesday and because of the 5k on Saturday, I was hesitant to run. We decided to walk up Mount Baldy. Jen, you know the hill. I couldn't believe it. I just sailed up the hill with hardly a second thought. It was good to see such progress in a year. We walked and talked. Carole always makes me laugh and she gives me food for thought.

We walked into a new neighborhood where they have million dollar homes. I was thinking that this is how the other half live. I was thinking that the folks coming to our home on Saturday may think the same thing and we are the poorer half. I easily fall into those thoughts and I am ashamed of myself. More house, more money required and lots more maintenance. I wouldn't be able to stay home with my children and watch them grow. I wouldn't be able to teach violin because I would be working at the hospital. Life would just be bad. I wouldn't be able to do what God has put ME on this earth to do. Thank goodness for my modest, beautiful home. More importantly thank goodness for my healthy family that I so love. Thank goodness for my friends and family who love me no matter what I live in.

St. Paul wrote "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content".

May ALL of us learn to be content.

Just a summer day.

This morning, as I sit down to write, I realize that I don't have a lot to say. The day is not crazy busy, just normal violin students. I realize that I love summer. I am hoping to make a light meal tonight and sit outside for a bit. My garden is very pretty and every night we hear the humming birds. Just livin life and loving it.

I also realize that it is not often that I have days like today. I want to make the most of it and enjoy each part of it.

This weekend we are entertaining 25 folks from school. All staff who are helping with the summer drama camp. It should be fun, but much to think about, cook and clean. I think it will be a lot of fun and a chance to play with some recipes we are making in Dillon.

Also this Saturday, another 5k. I will walk part of it, but it is my last 5k in the Pikes Peak Grand Prix Series. The last two races, one in July and another in September, are 10ks. I better ramp things up a bit.

I hope all of you have a great day.

Prayer request

We went to Elitch Gardens with Jan and David, on Saturday. We had such a good time. I got soaked when Laura and I did the River Rapids. We watched the Mercy Me concert that was included in our admission. It was truly a great day. Just as we got off the last ride of the night, Tom got a call from his brother, Skip. He told us he was at the Denver Airport with his fiance. First of all, we didn't know he was dating anyone and secondly we had no idea he was coming into town.

He met up with us at home around eleven pm. We were all tired, but Jan said that we all had to talk. We sat around our kitchen table. Tom and I were sure that Skip was going to tell us that he and Barbara were getting married. That was not what he said. He told us that he will have surgery on Thursday to determine how bad and what stage he is suffering with esophageal cancer. It took our breath away. Please say a prayer for him. We are hoping that things are'nt too bad.

Barbara was delightful and we just love her. Dad was so surprised to see Skip, especially on Father's Day. We grilled pork tenderloin and Tira Misu for dessert. It was great to just catch up with Skip.

I hope all of you had a great Father's Day.

A name.

OK folks. We need some help. I realized, yesterday, that we can't call our BBQ catering, "Russell Your Feathers" because it lends itself to specializing in chicken. That's not the idea at all. As a matter of fact, Tom is a brisket man. We thought and thought and nothing has sounded just right. We have tried out ideas like "Smokin Bones" (already taken), "Smoke Signals" (pretty sure already taken). If any of you have ideas, please let us know. We would love any and all ideas.

We signed the girls up for the "Kid Q" in Dillon, so we are off to the store today to find more BBQ ideas.

Happy day all.

A bit of time to myself.

Sometimes it feels so good to just be by myself and do housework. I have a whole whopping 30 min. this morning to do just that. I have laundry going and the dishwasher to empty, but all in all, I feel like this is a breathe of fresh air. The TV is not on, the girls are not home, Tom is at work and I can just think and breathe.

Yesterday, I was called to pick Becca up from camp as she was vomiting in the garbage can. I think she finally had whatever the rest of us had a couple of weeks ago. She had the same symptoms, but this morning she was just fine. I am hoping that we won't have a repeat of yesterday. Laura went with her to camp today as she has been invited to help the art teacher with set designs.

I got a call from our new prinicipal at school. She asked if I would be on a committee to select the new Vice Prinicipal. I was honored and somehow, it reconfirmed that I wasn't supposed to have the nursing job. I know it sounds strange, but I realized that Tom and I really are an integral part of that school and that I wouldn't be able to be there so much as a volunteer, if I had yet another job.

Laura and I barbecued last night. We are doing this in order to get ready for the "Kids Q" in Dillon. Becca and I will Q tonight. It was so much fun, watching my girls cook. Laura made beef and vegetable shish kabobs. We threw some shrimp on the barbie. I made a rum/pineapple/brown sugar/garlic glaze to go on the shrimp. Those shrimp were the best we have had in a looong time. Laura ate about 20 of them, if not more. We were thinking that Laura could do the shrimp for the kid Q, but we are concerned that by the time they get to the judges they would be cold. Too cold. We are going to try a pork tenderloin next.

My sister, Tammie, has agreed to come to Dillon next summer and be one of the dancing chickens for the "Russell Your Feathers BBQ team". Not really, but it is a great mind picture.

May all of you find a mind picture that will make you laugh today.

Rejection

I found out this afternoon that I did not get the nursing job that I was hoping for. I know that it was not meant for me for whatever reason. Now I have to rethink things. I am going to take some time to just think about what my next adventure should be. I still haven't ruled out being a music teacher since that is what I seem to do best.

Thanks so much for all of your support the last few weeks. This has been a long drawn out process and I am glad that it is over.

Happy day all.

Girls at work

I hope to capture a picture today of my girls and the little girl down the street, hard at work. Tom is back at it, building shelves for our garage. He no longer needed a pallet that he used on the floor to elevate whatever, in case the garage flooded. I think we will always be afraid of water in the house, after our flood on Austerlitz Dr.. He asked the neighbors if they wanted it and nobody did. He put it out next to the road for garbage pick up. My creative Laura saw it and asked Tom if she could have it. The next thing we knew, we had full fledged girl power hard at work in our back yard. They are using the pallet and scrap wood to make a "fort". Yesterday, they had Tom's wood, hand saw, nails, goggles, hammers, power drill and whatever else they could think of. They are having a blast and you can just see the creative juices flying. I was thinking that that is what summer is about. It is about getting outside and creating, whether it be in the garden or building a fort.

We are all hard at work, preparing for our crazy weekend. Friday and Saturday is the neighborhood garage sale and the Pueblo BBQ Cook Off. We shoudl have a lot of fun, but we will be really busy.

Later.

Summer colds

I can't believe it. First week out of school and three of us are sick. It's the cold, fever, sore throat kind of stuff. Perhaps we are getting it out of the way now, so that we are all healthy for the garage sale and bbq competition this weekend.

Tom made a brisket on Saturday and it was REALLY good. He will do one more and then two for the competition. He will determine which of the two is better and submit the best.

We girls are getting ready for the big neighborhood garage sale. We have six bags of girl clothes, ready to give away. We are sorting and pricing this week. My house looks like a hurricane has gone through it, but I know that we will be happy about getting rid of some of our "stuff".

TTFN.