"The Rest of the Story"

Borrowing the phrase from the unforgettable newsman Paul Harvey, but thought it fitting for this entry. Decided I should follow-up on the ideas and questions posed in the previous post, so instead of Dorothy's "Yellow Brick Road," you need to "Follow the Bold, Green Print" inserted after the original "wonderance" from the former post. And enjoy these reflections and reports of the mundane and blessed moments of our lives.

. . . why I didn't remember that the aforementioned poem, "October's Bright Blue Weather," was written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Be honest now; how many of you followed the links to read a bit of the bio of Helen Hunt Jackson, or to enjoy the entire poem praising the nature of autumn? The links are still there, so you should read if you haven't. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

. . .if my root canal scheduled for Monday will be as relatively stressless as it was last time. NO!! I'm not really a whiner, usually--but this dental experience was more akin to the stereotypical dread I've always associated with root canals. Last time lasted about an hour and a half, and the two original shots of anesthetic sufficiently masked any sensitivity. This time was two sittings of about two hours each, and the digging and drilling the first time kept reaching points that retained ample sensitivity despite the dosages of Novocaine. Each time I would wince and jump in obvious discomfort, the good doctor would inject another dose of deadener. I lost count of how many; just remember his repeated remarks to his assistant, "All that medicine, and he's still feeling it!" Guess I finally got enough and he filed and fiddled and "photoed" away for the two hour appointment, filled it up with temporary glue, and instructed me to come back in a week to finish up. Assured me "the worst was over," and blocked me in for an hour-long appointment. Well, it wasn't as uncomfortable and the original shots were enough, but wasn't as smooth or quick as we'd hoped. Guess twisted roots made access a bit tricky, and caused material to keep "binding and bending" so my stay extended to nearly two hours before I was released and making another appointment for the rebuilding and permanent filling. That's happening on Wednesday and only a half-hour slot, so am praying all goes as planned. Yeah! Delightful dental adventures.

. . . how long we will wait before being very happy and relieved that we switched over to the snow tires on the car this morning. Not long. It snowed a few inches a night or two later, and one morning's drive to work was less than favorable, but since has warmed up, melted the snow in the valley and roads are now dry and smooth cruising again. We are happy and hope for it to stay off the roads for as much of winter as it will. But, when the inevitable "here-to-stay" winter conditions do come, we are relieved to have studded tires.

. . . what factor in their upbringing resulted in both the kids' excitement about their current plans for soon participating in random "zombie" events at their respective colleges. Not sure, still--but the son reports that his week as a human this year in MSU's annual "Humans vs. Zombies" event was one of the most stressful he's endured, constantly needing to stay hyper-attuned to everyone around him lest a zombie pop out and nerf-dart him. Sounds like he had lots of fun nonetheless, and he survived the entire duration. And the princess portrayed one of a zombie horde in some movie that a friend was making, so she got to get made-up and "act" zombie-ish. She was pleased to report that the make-up or film crew commented that she made a good zombie. Oh--the zany creativity of college-life!

. . . if, despite being at it for over a couple decades now, I will ever stop feeling astounded by the traumatic "home-life" that too many of my students deal with. Am sure I'll always be deeply saddened by the horrors in our sin-filled world; need to work to more consciously divert my emotional energy into focused prayer warfare against Satan's evil powers.

. . . or if the tenderness and connection I so deeply feel for them--despite their far-less-than-desirable behavior--will ever become callously eroded away. If it does, I'll know it's time to change professions. There is no room for calloused educators not completely devoted to finding and nurturing the best in kids.

. . . how my creative, "own-drummer-marching" kids are keeping up with their novel writing for National Novel Writing Month: 50,000 words all written in the month of November. This is his third time through the process and he has succeeded with the goal each time, sacrifices sleep time and possibly some attention to academia, but am sure will still admirably accomplish both. She--on the other hand--admits she is quite behind with her word-count, and likely will not meet the goal. She is still committed to the story and will continue with it, but maybe not make the goal in November. Did you all research the program? Anyone tempted to try it next year?

. . . how much longer the remodeling in the dear bride's office will have her inconveniently working from a desk crammed in a tight corner in the entry hallway. Way too long! Popped in when picked her up from work this evening; desk still awkwardly occupying the entryway, and construction-zone disarray dangling all over the office space. Going on near three weeks now; not sure what the holdup is.

. . . if we will be able to attend my nephew's wedding in Illinois in June--or my brother's, probably in Arizona, sometime this winter. Really would like to make it happen. Nephew's may work as may coincide with a retrieval trip for the princess after completes her year, and MN and IL are quite near. Details for brother and his bride-to-be are still uncertain, so will just have to wait and see.

. . . how many Russian words or phrases will become part of our usable vocabulary when the princess is home for winter break from Thanksgiving through New Years. (She is registered to continue with the 102 course in January.) Bit by bit learning a little about the intricacies of this interesting language. Don't want to stress the princess with too much prodding about the academics that were plenty stressful enough for her on their own. Hope her second term at it "clicks" more easily for her. She is determined to persevere with it, so that's good. Such fun learning about differing cultures through language!

. . . why it's too easy to stay up and so hard to get up. And, as it's now the wee a.m. hours as I work here, I've not experienced any habitual changes here; and, I will likely regret my choices with the obnoxious intrusion of my alarm in the morning. Such is the journey and the price of creativity.

. . . if my sister-in-law is feeling just a bit too much like a professional surgical patient after her fourth ACL knee surgery yesterday. Apparently a wood-getting mishap this time instead of the usual basketball intensities causing the injury. Evidently doing well. Heard word of her making pies for Thanksgiving festivities and believe they still have plans to head to LasVegas this week to celebrate their daughter's birthday and spectate at the National Finals Rodeo while there.

. . . how many of the Bozeman gang will be there for our Thanksgiving festivities at the son's apartment, and how much kitchen help we will have, or not. Eight for dinner; 16-pound turkey, ten pounds of potatoes mashed, fairly decent gravy, peas, corn, Brussels sprouts, and fresh-baked frozen rolls plus two pies for dessert was the bride's and my part of the meal. A couple of the roommates added family favorites to the menu as well: green-bean casserole from one WA boy, and unique and tasty sugar-and-cinnamon soaked dill pickles from a PA kid. We brought candles in crystal holders for decoration and had "poppers" to add to the festivity before we dined. We watched a movie together that night, and had a waffle and bacon late brunch after a bit of shopping on Friday before returning home. Plenty of leftovers for the boys to use in their 'frig', so hope they remember to eat them before too long. All the "kids" seemed to enjoy it, and it was a pleasure getting to know the son's friends a bit better too.

. . . if maybe the princess will be a bit too tired of traveling after a day on the train and NOT feel like jumping in the car the next day for a five-hour jaunt to do Thanksgiving with her brother and friends.
She slept in until noon the morning we left, and got to enjoy listening to some favorite music CD's that hadn't had a chance to for awhile, so seemed to do fine with more travel. Know she relished in seeing her brother again--even if a bit brief.

. . . why it's much harder than I anticipated to make time for sorting and organizing in the kids' room, so it can be a welcoming and usable space for the princess when she's home for winter break. Still a state of chaos, as she prefers sleeping in the larger bed in the "guest room" so I gave up on trying to get it reorganized before her homecoming. Still want to find a comfortable order for their room (and much of the rest of the house) soon, however.

. . . what festive and celebratory moments I should think about for the darling bride's birthday next week, and if she wants a German Chocolate cake this year, or not. Did make the yummy coconut, pecan frosting, and some gooey brownies as birthday dessert. And we took a leisurely drive to visit with my Grandma and an Aunt, and we shared some birthday cake with them. Wonderful spending a bit of time with each of them, and we returned for a celebratory dinner of interesting hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine at a festive eatery. After birthday phone calls from the daughter in MN and her Papa and brother in CA, and gifts and dessert, we enjoyed viewing a favorite movie,"While You Were Sleeping." Always good to celebrate the wondrous blessing of my beautiful bride!

. . . why I am the grayest--by far--of all my siblings, even though I am the youngest. Is it my job, my attitude, my emotionality, my lifestyle. . . ? Still no clue--but don't guess it really matters.

. . . how the princess will deal with the undulatory bi-polaric emotions that are inevitable with the first visit home after experiencing the autonomous freedoms of college-life. All seems well, as much as I can tell. But only a week home so far today. She's enjoyed some conference skype sessions with her group of friends, and still likes being waited on if we are willing to do it for her. Imagine that! We'll see how it all plays out as the vacation continues in the coming weeks.

. . . why completing these posts takes way more time than I think it should. I'm a very finicky wordsmith, and need my communications to exude the right mood, be very clear so as to leave no room for misinterpretation, and be amply creative in their presentation. How am I doing?

. . . how the time spent composing them correlates to the number of readers accessing them. Seems the counter feature is quite sporadic in its rise, and not many comments, reactions, or poll questions answered. So I'm still wondering. Do you give me an indicator of your visit here?

. . . or even if that matters. Is there a formula for assessing the value of creative endeavors? Tricky question. Lots of opinions out there, I'd guess.

And finally, I WONDER (denoting awe-inducement now, instead of simple cerebral ponderances)

. . . at God's remarkable gifts of the family we love, jobs we enjoy, and friends to care about and pray for across years and miles. Yes, God is generous with His wondrous blessings. Praise Him!

May you too discover the WONDERS He has gifted your life with. Thanks for listening, (and commenting, if you feel so moved.)

So, as Bill Nye the Science Guy always concluded his interesting factoids, "Now you know!" I hope the knowing has somehow brightened your day today. And Happy Advent to all; continue to bask in the wonders and blessings of our coming Lord.

I Wonder. . .

. . . why I didn't remember that the aforementioned poem, "October's Bright Blue Weather," was written by Helen Hunt Jackson. (You can read the entire poem, and information about the author by following the links on the right.) She was apparently a pretty remarkable woman, an activist for Native Indian rights and a close friend and classmate of American poet, Emily Dickinson.

. . .if my root canal scheduled for Monday will be as relatively stressless as it was last time. Praying for that.

. . . how long we will wait before being very happy and relieved that we switched over to the snow tires on the car this morning. (Remember, you can check my current weather by clicking the link in the right sidebar.)

. . . what factor in their upbringing resulted in both the kids' excitement about their current plans for soon participating in random "zombie" events at their respective colleges.

. . . if, despite being at it for over a couple decades now, I will ever stop feeling astounded by the traumatic "home-life" that too many of my students deal with.

. . . or if the tenderness and connection I so deeply feel for them--despite their far-less-than-desirable behavior--will ever become callously eroded away.

. . . how my creative, "own-drummer-marching" kids are keeping up with their novel writing for National Novel Writing Month: 50,000 words all written in the month of November. (Follow link in sidebar for more information.) And, keeping up with their classes too.

. . . how much longer the remodeling in the dear bride's office will have her inconveniently working from a desk crammed in a tight corner in the entry hallway.

. . . if we will be able to attend my nephew's wedding in Illinois in June--or my brother's, probably in Arizona, sometime this winter. Really would like to make it happen.

. . . how many Russian words or phrases will become part of our usable vocabulary when the princess is home for winter break from Thanksgiving through New Years. (She is registered to continue with the 102 course in January.)

. . . why it's too easy to stay up and so hard to get up. (Better--a bit--though with the recent time change making morning a bit brighter, for awhile.)

. . . if my sister-in-law is feeling just a bit too much like a professional surgical patient after her fourth ACL knee surgery yesterday. Apparently a wood-getting mishap this time instead of the usual basketball intensities causing the injury.

. . . how many of the Bozeman gang will be there for our Thanksgiving festivities at the son's apartment, and how much kitchen help we will have, or not.

. . . if maybe the princess will be a bit too tired of traveling after a day on the train and NOT feel like jumping in the car the next day for a five-hour jaunt to do Thanksgiving with her brother and friends.

. . . why it's much harder than I anticipated to make time for sorting and organizing in the kids' room, so it can be a welcoming and usable space for the princess when she's home for winter break.

. . . what festive and celebratory moments I should think about for the darling bride's birthday next week, and if she wants a German Chocolate cake this year, or not.

. . . why I am the grayest--by far--of all my siblings, even though I am the youngest. Is it my job, my attitude, my emotionality, my lifestyle. . . ?

. . . how the princess will deal with the undulatory bi-polaric emotions that are inevitable with the first visit home after experiencing the autonomous freedoms of college-life.

. . . why completing these posts takes way more time than I think it should.

. . . how the time spent composing them correlates to the number of readers accessing them.

. . . or even if that matters. Is there a formula for assessing the value of creative endeavors?

And finally, I WONDER (denoting awe-inducement now, instead of simple cerebral ponderances)

. . . at God's remarkable gifts of the family we love, jobs we enjoy, and friends to care about and pray for across years and miles.

May you too discover the WONDERS He has gifted your life with. Thanks for listening, (and commenting, if you feel so moved.)

"October's Bright Blue Weather"

It's the title of a poem that my Mom often quoted to us when we were growing up. I have read it, but can't remember any of the lines without referencing it, and don't even remember the poet's name. I'll have to do the research and report back to you. At any rate, the descriptive title is both an alluring sentiment and an apt snapshot of the mini-vacation the bride and I had about a week or so ago. It was the annual long weekend for me due to state teachers' conferences and it joyfully coincided with a four-day weekend on the bride's schedule too, so we chose to take a drive that allowed both a chance for soaking in a hot springs and also for a quick visit with the collegiate son. The beautiful bride's several sessions of internet perusing and planning resulted in a fun itinerary: one night in a Medieval themed room at a "luxury Bed and Breakfast" near Lava Hot Springs in southern Idaho, a scenic jaunt through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and Sunday morning worship and lunch with the boy in Bozeman before returning home. As already alluded to, the crisp, golden days couldn't have been more perfect for our travels: autumn's brilliantly bedecked forests gleaming against the azure abyss beyond; rugged peaks--drizzled with wintry icing--towering above white-capped lakes or winding rivers; peaceful sepia prairies splattered with random patches of red or gold; steamy wisps of whiteness vehemently verifying the volcanic landscape. No matter how frequently I witness the wonders of God's glorious creation, every time I still gasp in awe and revel in His masterful artistry! And the simple blessing of October's bright blueness to enjoy it all in is further proof of His divine providence.

So, in the continuing adjustment to our "just-the-two-of-us" status, this getaway was new territory. Our soak was lovely; misty swirls of steam floating from sandy bottomed pools of varying degrees of hotness contributed to wonderfully relaxing and pleasant moments. Vacation dining is different without the rest of the family too; we enjoyed some flavorful Thai cuisine for dinner one evening, and superbly fresh and piquant Mexican for lunch the next day. Yum! Our "Medieval Chamber" accommodations were fun, but we felt a little guilty knowing how much the princess would have enjoyed the decor too. The ornate four-poster bed was hand-carved in England and purportedly a replica of that of King Henry VIII; the wall paper reasonably resembled a stone castle wall; a not-quite full-size suit of armor occupied a nook along one wall; regal red-plush padded throne-chairs flanked a decorative wooden hearth--both carved from lustrous mahogany; lighting dangled from iron dragon-head fixtures; a portrait of good King Henry and other medieval scenes completed the theme. Here are a few photos of the furnishings--just for fun:
We breakfasted in the morning with some of the other guests on a tasty spread of fruits, and toast, bacon, eggs, and potatoes. This family dining style pushed us a bit beyond our social comfort levels, but was interesting nonetheless. We were a bit surprised that the other guests were considerably younger than us: college students or recent graduates, but it was interesting to meet them and hear their stories. One couple had stayed there on their honeymoon a year before and were back again; another couple were young parents of a toddler and an infant while also university students. They were thankful for nearby grandparents that were caring for their children so they could take this needed getaway. We confessed that we were newly-emptied-nesters so were experiencing life in new ways as well. So, our scenic and relaxing trek culminated with the quick check-in with the son in Bozeman. We got to town just in time to pick him up at his apartment and drive him to late service at church. Worshiping with the kids is always a divine pleasure. We bought him an Arby's meal for lunch and took him grocery shopping for a few needed items, before dropping him off at the university gymnasium for his "sword fighting" club session, and driving on home. We praise God for His blessings on our journey and the lessons he teaches us and the ways He shapes us with each new experience. And, we pray you too will seek Him and find His "bright-blue-weather" blessings in the moments of your life as well.