This blog has deteriorated into a Sunday Hymn and Thankful Thursday blog, but I even missed half of that yesterday. My computer was doing strange things and I was unable to use it to write or even comment on posts. (I did read your blogs on another computer, though.) Son Nate was out of town, and he’s my fix-it guy, so I had to wait until he came back and could do his magic. I’m thankful that he can do such things.

On another topic. I’ve had a rather long history of sleeping poorly, but I’ve seen some mighty good improvement lately. I’ve started taking 1000 mg of calcium and 500 mg of magnesium before I go to bed. Boy, has that ever helped! I sleep more deeply and if I wake up in the night, I’m able to get back to sleep right away instead of tossing for hours until daybreak. Such an easy and helpful fix.

We’ll be rooting for the Giants on Sunday. My husband grew up in New Jersey and has been a Giants fan since he was a boy. I think I’m gonna make some sliders and hot wings for our party.

The weather has been so mild our grass is turning green. I’m looking at raised bed directions for a garden this year. If they’re elevated, it will be so much easier for me to take care of, and I’m sure my husband could build them. I can’t wait. I’ll have to do something to protect them from wildlife, though. I’m not keen on gardening to feed birds, bunnies, deer and wild turkeys.

Are you planning to have a garden this summer? Can you tell I’m ready for winter to be over, already?

So I went to a much-dreaded dental appointment this morning, the first of several scheduled in my near future. As it turned out, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. State-of-the-art techniques and materials in the hands of a really nice hygienist really helped to keep me comfortable.

But the most surprising thing was to be taken to the ‘spa’ section of the office and receive a hand waxing before the procedure began. I said, “You’re trying to distract me, aren’t you?” She laughed and said that was the idea. I’ve never had a hand waxing before, and it really felt good. Kept my hands all warm, and did at least partly distract me.

Does your hygienist do that?

This morning I drove to Milwaukee to see my sisters, take them to lunch, and check out the Home Goods store near their apartment building. Nary a thing caught my eye, at least anything I needed.

Harry attended a downtown business owners breakfast yesterday morning for the first time. The thing about a small town is, everybody notices what you’re doing. We eat in their restaurants, not so much because the food is good–because it mostly isn’t–but to support the local business and get to know the owners. My husband’s clients stay in the hotel, eat in local restaurants and spend money in the mom-and-pop shops. The “So what brings you to town” question* to our clients gets asked and answered frequently, so everyone is very aware of the folks who are there for week for biblical counseling and teaching. Curiosity mounts, and yesterday at the breakfast my husband was able to speak to several people about his ministry. We signed up to host a breakfast at our office in June, the first available date. They asked him to “give a talk” at our breakfast. Isn’t that fabulous? We have prayed for months for our town and that God would use us to make Himself known to the people there. We are frequently amazed as we meet people that they already know about us, and that my husband does “good work.” We thank God for these answers to prayer and we’re excited about whatever He has in store in the months ahead.

*I guess I should explain that our clients are not local. They come from all over the US and sometimes other countries, staying for a week of intensive counseling and teaching. Therefore, they make use of local business, who very much appreciate it.

Yesterday was bread-baking day, apparently. I made three loaves of cinnamon raisin bread–two to share–and a loaf of pumpkin cranberry bread. I like to make my family happy.

I wish the GOP candidates would just cut it out. Squabbling isn’t attractive.

It’s kind of different living in a place where it’s so cold that the snow doesn’t melt away when the sun comes out.

This is to mark our first snowfall of the year. We’ve seen a few flurries now and then, but it’s coming down like it means it right now. Beautiful fat snowflakes. Normally, the first snowfall makes me want to bake cookies…..but I’ve done enough of that lately to curb the urge. The tendency is more to eat cookies, with a hot cup of tea. Not that that is a good thing, either.

In Colorado where we used to live, they’ve had some 18-or-more inch snowfalls already, coming long before Christmas. One more reason I’m glad to be here, not there. But can you believe this is Wisconsin, the end of December, and we’re just now getting our first snowfall?

Yesterday I got a flu vaccine and a pneumonia vaccine. I don’t usually have a reaction to the flu shot, but I sure am achy this time. Must be the pneumonia one. I’m sitting in my robe, drinking lemon-ginger tea; something I always do when I don’t feel well.

Did you know that brushing and flossing your teeth before you go to bed adds six years to your life? Yes, indeedy. If you don’t brush and floss, all the nasty bacteria in your teeth travels straight to your heart while you sleep, causing heart problems. So says my new doctor. So when you’re really tired and are tempted to skip flossing for a night, don’t. Preaching to myself.

The local Christmas parade in Saturday night. Since our office is at the beginning of the parade route, we were asked to host Santa for a while so he can take a little rest after the parade and before heading out to have a bazillion children tell him what they want for Christmas and have their picture taken with him. Of course we said yes. Want me to personally hand him your Christmas list? I could make him read it before he gets the coffee and cookies.

Containers of peeled and cubed butternut squash were on sale for $1.97 at Costco today. I roasted a pan full, then used it to make a quick soup for lunch. Roasting the squash makes a big difference in the flavor of the soup. So good and warming.

Chills are setting in now—must be a reaction to the shot. Think I’ll have a rest.

We haven’t been on a church search for a long time, but now that we’ve relocated, that’s what we’ve been doing. Oh, how I really dislike tramping from church to church, trying to find one that has sound theology and preaching. Then there’s the issue of church music/worship. Ugh. Do all percussionists have to prove their level of skill, and give a sample of each instrument they can play, loudly and with much ado? Why do people have such an aversion to singing hymns with lyrics that are sound theologically and actually center around God? Why such an affection for songs about feelings, that center around me? I’m simply not interested in singing songs written by crooning contemporary Christian artists that weren’t meant to be sung congregationally, anyway.

The choice seems to be to go to a church where the denominational theology is sound, but the worship (singing and preaching) is dull and the very small congregation lifeless; or to a church where the preaching seems to be sound (when it’s non-denominational it takes a while to tell), but the music drives us up a wall. Neither choice seems very good to me.

What to do. Have you been faced with a similar decision?

Last night as I was getting ready to go out to dinner, I reached for my rings that were on a glass hand-shaped ring keeper. It was on the counter of my bathroom sink, but far enough away that I thought it was safe. Dead wrong. My diamond anniversary ring that my husband gave me for our fortieth anniversary flew out of my fingers, bounced a couple of times, then skidded across the counter and made a hole in one down the sink drain. Even though I yelled, no-no-no-no-no!

I’m thankful for whoever designed plumbing traps that keep anniversary rings from sailing right down the pipes to the septic tank! If  the water had been running, my ring would be a goner. When Harry got home he took the drain apart and rescued my ring. Whew.

I don’t think I’ll make that mistake again. No ring-keeper near the sink. No putting on or taking off rings anywhere near the bathroom counter!

These days are just flying by so swiftly I often have to check to see what day of the week it is.

I’m getting myself in gear to host our Thanksgiving dinner for thirty next week. I began my shopping today and hope to get it finished before the weekend. I don’t like crowded grocery stores. No, thank you.

China or disposable plates? I want to use my blue turkey transferware plates and blue Spode plates, but my sisters think I’m crazy and want me to use disposable. Which do you use?

I bought a ton of disposable, just in case. I may wimp out at the last minute.

I’m filling a wall in our new family room with family pictures. I really love the old ones. I’m using the ‘flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants’ method of hanging them. They aren’t perfect, but I consider it part of the charm. Yes? And I’ve decided that I am definitely a ivory mat/dark frame girl.

Our family room sofa and sun room sofas are being delivered on Friday. Happiness! Our living room sofa, however, won’t be delivered until January due to fabric delays. I told my salesman that I was not happy because I have 30 people coming for dinner. So, they’re sending me a loaner sofa to use until mine comes. My sofa will be almost white, and the loaner is a multi-color stripe in ‘desert’ colors. It’s going to look very interesting with the other furniture in my living room. My guests may need blinders. But at least they’ll be comfy. It’s nice of my Crate and Barrel salesman to arrange the loaner sofa. It’s new, so I hope we don’t spill on it.

We bought a new artificial pre-lit Christmas tree. I love a real tree, but the thought of falling needles and stringing hundreds of lights sends me straight over the edge to artificial.  Funny how energy fails when you get old. I’ll have fresh pine on my mantle, though.

Speaking of energy failing, I’m tired. Have a good evening!

Yesterday, while leaving church:

Lady (a complete stranger): (Tap on shoulder) That’s a beautiful sweater!

Me: Thank you!

Her: I’m learning to knit and I recognize that stitch.

Me: Oh, I didn’t make it….

Her: (Reaching over to take my necklace in hand) That’s a beautiful necklace! Is it garnet? Is it real?

Me: No, I don’t think so.

Her (loudly): Well, you’re elegantly dressed for economy!

I could scarcely contain my guffaw as we left the church. My husband says she called it right. My middle initial is E, and it stands for Economy.

Phone rings.

Me: Hello?

Stranger: Mrs. (unintelligible)?

Me: I’m sorry; I think you have the wrong number.

Her: No, I don’t. I’m your neighbor. I’m the one who brought you the apple pie. I made a Jewish apple cake with apples and raisins. You soak the raisins and put them in. I want to bring you a slice. I brought your other neighbor a slice and I want to bring you one.

Me: Oh, yes, okay….thank you. (She must just have my name wrong. My neighbor really did bring me an apple pie when we moved in.)

Her: I’ll be right over.

Me: Okay, thank you.

Click. Time passes. No doorbell ring, nor Jewish apple cake delivery.

Phone rings.

Me: Hello?

Her: I was there. (Irritated)

Me: I’m sorry, but I really do think you have the wrong number.

Her: No I don’t.

Me: What street do you live on?

Her: Partridge Avenue.

Me: I live on ______ Road.

Her: No You Don’t! You live on Partridge Avenue!

Me: No, I’m sorry, I don’t. I live on ______Road. I just moved here and this is a new phone number for me. I’d love to have a piece of Jewish apple cake, though! (Smiling, joking, friendly.)

Her: You’re not Mrs. _____? Oh.

Click.

What are the odds of getting a call from a lady who took her neighbor an apple pie, like my real neighbor brought me?