My 60th Birthday part one the morning.

Hello World! Look out! I am now known as a classic and retro!
At least that is what my sister Rachel's birthday card said when I opened it.  So far today I have had to replace my car battery. And cleaned. Happy Birthday to me and thank goodness for AAA auto club.
This is what happened.
I got up read the Bible and prayed then went to go to curves and my car sounded like a machine gun. Ratatatatatat! That means the battery is dead. The sound used to be a click but not any more. Soooo....I called Triple A. They sent a car out to charge and start my car and I bought a battery for my birthday.
While I waited for the truck I opened up the front curtain and saw the dirt and dust in the living room and cleaned. Sorry, Katie Jones, I should have done this yesterday so the cat fur wouldn't get to you.
Anyway now on my 60th birthday I have a new car battery and a clean living room. I also opened 23 of my birthday cards, but I will save that for another day.
So the morning is over and for lunch I am having left overs.The mystery is what does the rest of the day hold?

A Kentucky Thanksgiving!

Here I am in Kentucky with Jo Ann and Sam and Mom-law for Thanksgiving. It is warm and partly sunny.  The trees have no leaves and the house is the same. Yesterday as I drove across  across the Ohio/Indiana Kentucky bridge I saw smoke from the electirc plant and wondered what this river looked like about 250 years ago. Definately not the same as today. The trip was uneventful until along I- 65 I saw lots of cows just grazing in the fields. And that was basically uneventful too!

As I studied the book of Genesis this morning in the quiet of the house, I learned a few things about Abram and his wife Sarai  and the city of Ur that I never knew before. I wondered where God is taking me and guiding me now?

Other than that all is the same here.

Mom

 I can never get the photos to do what I want them to do but here are some photos and memories of Mom

Mom died two years ago and then we heard that Dick had died right afterward.  So sad and so odd.

The Beach photo was taken when I was in 7th grade and we were taking a vacation in April and went to Bethany beach.

This is a doll that mom made for Katie when Katie was little, At least I think She did!

 This photo was taken when I was  graduating from Miami in 1974. It is at Dessie and Howard's house on Oak Street.

                                      This picture was taken at the Deshlers house on  44th street in University Park, before they moved. Ila is still alive and busy in Silver Spring in the home where she and Walter now live. After so many years of living in a house I wonder if it is odd to find yourself back in an apartment. I am glad I got to go and visit with her last summer when I made a mad dash to D.C. for JJ and Chris.

A COLD

I used to be able to do things even if I had a cold, like could go to work or school and even clean house. Now that I am 59 and have a cold, all I want to do is sleep and lay around in bed. Even with Niquil or Alkaseltzer for colds, I still can't get going. So I missed a party last night and a big get together today at TMS for international students. I hope to go to a party tomorrow night. But it depends on if I am better.

I took these photos from Katie's site because I am too lazy to find and download my own. These are from the weekend we went to Indy in October. Love the Dancing in the rain!

Halloween!

           I know. I know. Halloween was so several weeks ago. ON  October 28 a Sunday evening I had the opportunity to go with Jiangmei and he father Dr. He trick or treating. We went to the dorms and Jiangmei had a terrific time. She collected candy, decorated a pumpkin cookie and got some coloring sheets.  We also saw her friends from class and enjoyed the costumes of the other children. More than anything Jiangmei wanted a pretty princess dress. I couldn't find one of  Lita's that she could borrow,  so instead I painted her fingernails in princess colors. "The Trick or Treat" adventure was so much fun! I was exhausted when it was over. I was also left with a gratefulness of living in a country where kids can go begging for fun not for real.
         My memories of  Halloween are good with costumes made by my mother and later of making them for my own children. One thing that we used to do that I don't see much of now is Trick or Treat for UNICEF. I wonder if that organization still has the program to collect money for children of the poor countries of the world. To collect money so that children don't have to walk miles with buckets to gather water in buckets for their drinking washing and other places.
       I am continually reminded that as Americans we are so blessed  to live in this country. America is where even those who have so little have so much in comparison to those living in other parts of the world.

Once is not enough

Once a month is not enough. but I am working and spending time with friends from other countries and in general being busy and so it is hard to get the writing act together.
Last month a friend of a friend said can you take in a homeless college girl and I said yes. And so for a while I have a roommate or at least I will have until she moves out or gets sent back to China. Joyce is her name her major was Educational Psychology and we are getting along fine. I say was because she was a student and now is looking for a job. She has been looking in Chicago, looking in Washington D.C. and even in Cincinnati. Perhaps she will soon find one.
I also joined up with Global neighbors and have been matched with two Chinese students, Kevin and Monica,. For fun activities we carved pumpkins and made applesauce. We also went to Indy and spent time with Katie and Jonathan and Dustin and Loren. While there we visited the Raceway and the Art Museum
In addition to mentoring students I also have been doing some tutoring. One boy is a high school senior and one a fifth grader. Then I have Jiangmei and Rithin. Preparation takes time and thought. Last night I taught Kevin and Monica and Amy about making pies. We did a meat pie and a pumpkin pie and an apple one. All were yummy.
I also have been out with Tutu and Ayo to a multicultural event at Hall Auditorium. Music from many different cultures. Interesting. My favorite was the violin music by the young children.
yesterday November 3 Michelle Obama was here. I heard her speak at Withrow Court and I was sad that we didn't give her a better or bigger venue.

And that is what has been keeping me busy.
Wondering now~what is next.