CHASING RABBITS!

My usual running partner, Larry, has been out of action quite a bit lately. This finds me with a difficult decision-----run alone or TRY to run with the rabbits in our group. Although I am not fearful-ever- of running alone, it's probably not a good idea for several reasons. We are seen better in the dark of the morning when we are in a group, if something were to happen (as it occasionally does) you have someone to help you, and it's just safer to be with a partner. I have run a couple of times alone, but the fast rabbits in the group have taken pity upon me. This AM Sandra ran with me the first 2 1/2 miles----and was going to meet me after I made about another mile loop. There was one of the streets I have to cross completely blocked off-chain link fences--concrete abutments---the whole 9 yards. I ended up entering a maze of sorts that dead ended at a concrete abutment. I was really quite graceful when I climbed that --(SINCE NO ONE WAS WITH ME YOU HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT)! I ended up adding a few blocks to get around the barricades. Sandra was patiently looking for me and came upon Mike-our ultra run friend. Mike sprinted into action and caught up with me.

ALL THIS to say----I tried to keep up with Sandra (to no avail-but kept her in sight) the first 2 1/2 miles and the last 1 1/2 mile I am with Speedy Gonzales. I am working hard-FOR ME--and my time is the best it has been in a LONG time. I am not back to where I had gotten to in the Spring---but I am working on it.

Perhaps "Chasing Rabbits" is not such a bad idea----as long as the rabbits are not leading you in circles!

CALL ME FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS!

I have spent a few hours researching and finally booking all the flights surrounding Baby Dos's arrival and future travel needs. After a marathon of booking flights last night, I might be qualified to be your "Friendly Travel Agent"

Here is how it goes. BC & I fly together for the arrival of DOS. BC flies home the day after his arrival and leaves Momma & Baby in hospital and Henry at home with me. I am told that after a C section, Momma will be in the hospital for about a week. PLENTY of time for me to spoil Mr. H!

The entire Jennings family including Dos will be flying with me to LA then after a couple of weeks. Daddy Jennings only needed a one way flight since he will be driving home the car they left here after his rotation in Fort Worth.

I will then be flying back with Momma and Henry and Dos---(CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY CAMILLE COULDN'T HANDLE THIS ALONE!) and then flying back a day later. Giving myself an entire day to get them settled. WATCH OUT WEGMAN'S---I WILL BE THE CRAZY SOUTHERNER FLYING THROUGH THE AISLES!

So---if you have any complex trip or travel plans you would like help with---JUST GIVE ME A CALL!

SHE'S JUST TEASING US!

This is a picture from Erie last October. Mother Nature is trying to fool us into thinking it is Fall here----DON'T COUNT ON IT!!! My run this AM was GLORIOUS! I was glistening when I finished-but no hard out-soaking sweating going on! SUCH A NICE CHANGE! I also had the fastest time I have had in months---all courtesy of this cooler weather. I was shivering in my tank top when I got out of the car---but as promised---NO COMPLAINING FROM ME!

We drove Pappaw to the Boro yesterday for a special recognition of 57 years as a Deacon---quite the man! It was a sweet time and I found myself a little teary while listening! The Conville siblings have quite the spiritual legacy! Pappaw did comment that the leaves were turning. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was from drought!

I did enjoy watching Mr. Fox eat his supper tonight. He comes every night and looks for his handout. I put some chicken leavings out for him tonight and the usual bread. Interestingly enough, he did not touch the chicken. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT----YOU KNOW FOXES-CHICKEN COOPS----I THOUGHT THEY LOVED CHICKEN!

OUR NEED FOR A TOUCH

As I was enjoying the mid-night - early morning hours, I watched a documentary on a child with Downs graduating from high school. One of the poignant scenes was of the boy holding hands with a girl for the first time. It created a cavalcade of memories to come flooding back.

I remembered distinctly the first experiences of "Holding hands" in my early teen years. Of the thrill of that touch and the warmth of someone showing they cared for you with a simple--yet sweet touch. Fingers inter-twined at times and others your hand warmly wrapped inside a hand larger than yours , all touches that sweetly and innocently began the journey of realization of how important a touch can be.

I never really have any desire to go back and start again-or relive my life, but if I could pick out a few scenes that I could relive---one would be that sweet and special tingle that came with those touches. As the Beatles so well put it, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."

WHAT ELSE IS NEW???

Would you be surprised or shocked to know that it is 12:45 and I am up and wide awake-----after about an hour of sleep???? Went for a long walk tonight --you might call it a prayer walk and came home hoping for a good night's sleep. Not going to happen----with wake up coming around 5 AM. I think Meriedth almost fainted when she walked in the door and I said "Hello". I was sitting in the dark in the den---so maybe she didn't expect to see me. ANYWAY-if anyone comes up with a way to solve all my problems and turn my mind off, I would greatly appreciate it! I REALLY could use a good night's rest!

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THIS

We are studying the above book in Small Group. It took us 2 weeks to get through the first chapter on God's "Infinitude". It all boils down to this-------the ONLY thing that is truly infinite is God. We then dove into God's timelessness and that all the methods of measurement were strictly for man---since God is measureless in all capacities. We talked about Jesus being the full manifestation of the Trinity--and what the Trinity looked like.

On a lighter note, we discussed there were no one sided relationships. That which is one sided is a circumstance and not a relationship. We dove into how we grow a relationship and the purposeful pursuit it takes to grow those relationships.

REALLY it was quite the discussion---we all went home with "Brain Cramps". Next week we begin the light attribute of God's "Immensity". Look on U tube at Louie Griglio's discussion on the size of the universe or go to Frances Chan's "The Awe Factor of God" and you will get a preview of where we are going. MIND BLOWING!

LITTLE BOYS & DIRT

I am having my pot cabinet rebuilt (actually had to build another one) and all the pots were all over the place on the back deck. Some have dirt in them waiting for my next planting. Henry made the discovery of this little treasure while he was here. He spent LONG periods of time several days in a row playing with the pots and dirt. GREAT AND CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT!

When he tired of the dirt, his smart Momma would move him down to the other end of the deck and give him the water hose----Dirty Little Boy Soon Comes Out Clean!

A VIEW FROM ABOVE

BC took a couple of pictures of my garden from the roof top. Thought I would share since they are an interesting persective. I had someone tell me this AM they had planted their pumpkin seeds yesterday. THAT MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT PLANTING A COUPLE OF PUMPKIN PLANTS----HMMMMMM!

This is after a SEVERE trimming
after it began to look like a jungle!

BE SWEET TO YOUR BROTHER!

We are talking to Henry about being sweet and gentle. Using a little stuffed baby, we had him hug him and carry him around and just be generally tender.

Something seems to have gotten lost in the translation---somewhere along the pike. It will pay to keep an eye on H when Baby Brother makes his arrival.

QUIET

Our home is quiet----very --very quiet! TOO QUIET!

THE CURSE

Currently it is 2:22 AM on Saturday AM----I am WIDE awake with my head spinning with thoughts. THE CURSE OF OLD AGE! I have a LOT going on right now with Henry & his Momma here and our college adoptee, Meriedth living with us. Book Club is meeting here Tuesday night and I am in charge of the discussion of our current pick. I am teaching Bible study Wednesday night. I have begun tutoring my ESL student again and she is struggling. We are planning for a trip to Erie for Baby Dos, bringing Baby Dos & Family home to Louisiana, taking Baby Dos & family back to PA. The eventual move South-HOPEFULLY for Baby Dos'es family in the Spring. The Grands and a house in Austin we need to go visit. A LARGE project for the ministry to CSE that needs to be planned SOON! A couple of talks to write for groups about the ministry at CSE. I CAN'T SLEEP---TOO MUCH TO DO AND TOO LITTLE TIME. That is just my activities------ then there are the thoughts about life-friends with problems, problems in general------I am about to sign off this and go reread II Chronicles 20.-----I need to remind myself to put my "Eyes upon Him"

SLOW LEARNER

After 5----count them 1-2-3-4-5-------Dead Dillos----you would think the word would be out.......Last night BC has gone to the office----Meriedth is not home---I have gone to bed---I hear the "Devil in Armor" hitting the plywood. I get up-take the flashlight and go out for a look. I never found anything. I go back to bed. This morning I find he knocked the plywood over and got into the garden. Soon we will be counting to 6 1-2-3-4-5-6--------six Dead Dillos! They are not doing a very good job of communicating the danger in Vienna! This game is getting REALLY OLD!

I started tutoring for the year today. My little student is having a VERY difficult time. Hoping to help----we will see. In the meantime, Henry and Camille are still here and we were joined by Adam today for a long weekend. WHEEEEE!

FAMILY REUNION

Labor Day was the annual James Family Reunion. Brothers, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, children, grands, great-nieces & nephews---31 in all. FUN TIMES! The day really picked up steam once we had eaten and then brother Robbie got out the water guns---FUN TIMES! Our big boys LOVED it all! As for Henry his highlight seemed to be the banana pudding-after all he had about half a dozen servings!

SOMEONE ALWAYS GETS AN INJURY!

COMES WITH ROUGH PLAY

BROTHER NOEL'S FAMILY HAVE NO GRANDS YET

SO THEY ARE MUCH MORE CIVILIZED

HENRY SEEMS TO BE GROWLING HERE WITH NIECE ADRIAN

AND HER TWO CUTE DAUGHTERS AUDREY & ABBY

NEPHEW ANDREW IS IN THE BACKGROUND

JACK AND HIS DADDY, STEVE




THIS IS ACTUALLY AT HOME AFTER HENRY MADE
THE DISCOVERY THERE WAS A TREE HOUSE IN
THE BACK YARD



CAMILLE, ANN, ADRIAN & ABBY

BC, CAROLINE, ASHLEY, CALEB & AUDREY

HENRY SAYS, HELP!

Best reunion yet-Scott & Gabe were also there--not sure where their pictures are!

NOT MUCH!

If you should see me one day and ask what I've been doing, if I say "Not much"--IT'S A BIG FAT STORY! We have been going and blowing HARD since I left to go to Erie. At some point in time, I will crash---but for now I am going strong.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO RAISE A HENRY?

A FAMILY FULL

We had the entire family, except for Adam (he was in the ER enjoying a multiple car pile up fun!) here for the weekend and the annual James Family Reunion. A house full-which is always fun! Henry has loved all the stimulation and I have loved having my dear ones around. We have cooked and eaten, played and swam, talked, and watched tennis and movies and just been together in general. The best family reunion to date!

Pictures of ALL the cousins to come--didn't want to over-whelm you. Just know that we might be that flash that goes by if you happen to be out and about in Ruston for the next couple of weeks!

By the way---the Austin crew all left and the same afternoon college adoptee Meriedth moved in to live with us for the quarter. If you see her and her head is spinning, she is an only child and used to peace and quiet----NOT MUCH OF THAT AROUND HERE!

HOUSE FULL

Sunday is the annual "James Family Reunion". Momma would be so happy that we are doing this. Camille & Henry came home with me Tuesday---Uncle Gabe came today and the rest of the troops arrive tomorrow. We will be sleeping on all available beds, cribs, and couches this weekend. I LOVE IT! It is nice to still have this big house when they all come home. It doesn't happen very often, but the time is now. GOOD TIMES INDEED!

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?

I come from a family that LOVES the water. Our latest family addition goes OVER-BOARD when it comes to loving the water. Camille & I took Henry swimming this afternoon. He WENT BESERK! I have never seen ANYONE take to water like he does. He didn't mind going under---never cried-EXCEPT when I tried to hold his hand, and just wanted us to let him "Do His Thing". His Momma needs to get him in swimming lessons ASAP! Most of us are cautious when it comes to potential dangerous situations----HENRY ALREADY seems to LOVE danger--be it climbing a ladder or jumping in the deep end! OH BOY is he going to be ALL BOY!

WELCOME HOME FROM MR. DILLO!

There is just NOTHING like being back in Louisiana again! I came home a little weary, but went to bed shortly after 9. I am awake at 4 AM---GREAT! About 4:45 I hear the bumping of the shoot leading to the trap. I run outside and there is Mr. Dillo already in the garden. I had to awaken BC since he has put up all the guns before Mr. H made his appearance. LONG story short---BC gets him and he runs off and gets under BC's car! I left for my early run with BC down on all 4s with his flashlight trying to get him out.

I come home and discover---EVERYONE is up----AND Mr. Dillo has managed to crawl off! I think GREAT he is probably under the deck and will die there and STINKY then! BC leaves for work-we have breakfast----I look out on the front patio and THERE IS MR DILLO dragging his bad foot behind him and doing some serious twitching! I go on a hunt for the rifle. FINALLY found the cartridge full of bullets. Camille says---"Mom, just go outside and throw bullets at him." She is SUCH a comedian! At LAST I find the rifle. Take Careful Aim and BAM! GOT HIM! He flies straight up in the air and comes down with all 4 pointed toward the sky. A little twitch and LIGHTS OUT! THIS WILL MAKE CINCO DILLOS THAT HAVE BIT THE DUST AND NO WE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF HILLBILLYS!!!

WELCOME HOME-------REALLY!