Pumpkinfest

When Mike was here we went to LLBean's annual Pumpkinfest.  I've never seen so many pumpkins at once - I think there were around 7000 or so.  They were all carved and donated by different high schools, then each pumpkin was lit with a candle.  Pretty impressive...

Well

After a week of passing strep around our house, the sun is shining a glorious day out my window, and we are all well!

I'm so thankful for:
Tom's parents who helped while they were here
Friend Tammy who brought not one but two meals (feasts) to us last week and took Aida on an adventure in the woods
Sweet Hubry who took off work to care for me and the kids (then took off work again when he got sick later in the week)
A sweet Bible Study retreat I was actually able to attend for part of the weekend and a group of supportive women who have so enthusiastically embraced me and my family in such a short time!
Such a beautiful world to look at
A gift of plane tickets so we can be with family over Christmas
Fall in New England

Sick

I don't remember when the last time I was sick in this way was.  When I think of sick, my mind is flooded with images of the early months of pregnancy.  But the sick of today is flue-like - achy all over, sore throat and ears and head, glued to the couch all. day. long.  My mother-n-law did 5 loads of laundry and kept a half eye on the kids, all while providing me with tea and crackers, etc.  My father-n-law and Hubry worked all day on our bed - fixing it so the mattress is not on the floor.  All the while I just stayed still and quiet on the couch.

We had a full afternoon / evening planned, and everyone, including the babe, just drove away in the car.  I am still here, and the house is so quiet.  Come to think of it, this is the first time since we've moved to Maine that I've been totally alone in the house for longer then a 30 minute chunk of time.  Kind-of eary.  I want to use my time well, but there's not much to do from a lying down position :)

Looks

Shortly after we moved to this vacationland, I remember sitting at the kitchen table looking through our health insurance papers, trying to decide how to decide what practice and doctor would be the best for our family.  We had narrowed our search to 1. family practice and 2. woman - mainly because I wanted one doctor who could treat all the kids and me.  But after that narrowing, I was still left with lists and lists of possible practices and doctors.  Since we didn't know too many people at the time, I had nothing to go on.  So I did what made the most sense to me - I read all the short bios and looked through all the photos and chose our doctor totally based on looks.  Seriously - after calling around to see who was still accepting new patients, I made a list of the possibilities, then looked at all their pictures online.  I chose the one that I thought looked extra caring and compassionate. :)  (We might have prayed a bit about it, too). Then I called to make an appointment.  And guess what???  I loved her, and she was totally caring and compassionate - just like the picture suggested.

Well, last weekend a girl from my Bible study of 10 women hosted a Fall Festival at her house.  My Bible study is a whole other story of Grace, but that's for another day. Anyway, we went to the festival, with our friend and houseguest Mr. Mike, excited to meet the husbands and children of the other women in the group, and I walked in the door to find....my doctor sitting on the floor with her one year-old son and her four year-old daughter.  Want to know what her daughter's name is?  Eliza!!!  Turns out her family goes to my friend's church, which is how they know each other, etc.  I had such a good time getting to know her better, and felt overwhelmed by Grace.  I had some serious feelings of anxiety over having to choose a doctor blind, and feel so thankful for the woman we chose.  So thankful.

Speaking of thankful, we were blessed to have Mr. Mike join us for a few short days.  He drove all the way up from Chattanooga just to be with us.  We really appreciate his friendship and encouragement through the years.  It was lovely to watch him interact with the kids - especially Bro, who can be a hard nut to crack. But Mr. Mike showed him such dignity, respect, and gentle care it didn't take him long for him to warm up.  He and his wife "raised" many, many children through their home daycare, and the love he has for children is quite evident.  Pictures to follow. 

Remember

Every week we walk to the front
to Remember how the blood poured out.
We take the cup and lap it up
to the last warming drop.
But this week you reached for Grace
with jerky hand and juice spilled down
your dress upon the floor.
For a moment there was a commotion
of paper towels and quick fingers
whisking mess away.
And your eyes looked down and back
and you forgot that we were there for Grace.
Your knees dropped to the floor as you
buried your face in my quiet whispers.
But kneeling renewed your strength,
they brought you another cup,
and together we took communion kneeling.

on spoken word / rap

Is this music or is this the news?
- Songbird

some more photos from the visit of the visiting professors of art and astronomy

bro was very ill for most of the visit. spontaneous sleeping was a regular occurrence. 

what bro loved most about the ferry was that there were cars on it. and also the hydraulic ramps at either end.

Mom! got a live one here!