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.

Scary Or What?

Halloween is the time for candy,  trick or treat,  bats, witches, 

and you guessed it ~PUMPKINS!

One Saturday I took my global neighbors and Jonathan and Lauren to an Apple Butter Festival,

 not so festive. 

This was followed by a trip to the Farmer's Market. This was an excellent place with lots of pumpkins and fall produce. 

 We came home and 

carved pumpkins.

They found the face ideas on line and I love that the top has hearts on the pretty one!

Thanks, Monica.

This is the scary one and it is really scary now lots of mold and stuff growing inside, eeww!!

Remembering

Today I got an e-mail from Sharon Sullivan Starling that her father had passed away. He had been battling blood cancer for many months and there wasn't anything more they could do after Wednesday. I remember lots of fun barbecues at the Sullivan's house and how well he and Patsy managed in a three bedroom house with 6 children (4 girls just two boys.)  But thing I will always remember Don and Patsy for was how they introduced me to a person called Jesus. For them Jesus wasn't just a name in the Bible or an obligation it was a following and a way of life. Don was a very caring husband, father, grandfather and  great grandfather. He will be missed. RIP

Friends

Gosh, I am tired! I spent the weekend (23 hours). Friday night and Saturday morning with some of the ladies from OBF church. We drove down to a lovely area near Cincinnati and stayed in hotel style rooms with rather hard beds. The ride down was good with Kathy, Tutu, and Barb. At the retreat location we had three meals, one was fried chicken, a hay ride and marshmellow/hershey s'mores. This was the first retreat I had been on since Jonathan was a baby. It was also the first one that was girls only since 8th grade.  I loved that the place was the same location where Lita had 4-H camp.
After this trip I feel I know Barb and Tutu much better and cemented my relationship with Kathy even more. Not only did we have my favorite food, but we did each other's nail.  And we wrote letters of encouragement. When was the last time that ever happened? Well, Katie, Kathleen and I did that once this summer.
Terry led a prayer and discussion over materials presented by the speaker, Angela Thomas, no relation to the famous Danny Thomas daughter.

My reaction: thank God I know the God who changes ashes into Beauty. Kathy felt it was very good and useful. Barb,Tutu, and I not so much, but maybe we were just tired from staying up and talking? Sometimes the barbecue sauce needs to soak in a bit before we taste the flavor.

2 New Things

Today Karen and I went out to dinner. Most of the time we go to Bob Evans or Phan Shin. If we are really trying to have an adventure we go to Applebees or Panera. But today we walked on the wild side and tried two new places here in Oxford. We went to TGD and got Turkey dinners.  Then afterwards we went to a soft serve ice cream place.  Love that orange swirl!

Remembering

So today was September 12, the day after September 11. Things have changed here in the USA security wise. People seem more fearful of strangers, but there are still places where you feel safe at night to walk on the street. People are more aware of bullies and now have a way to handle that sort of situation. The hate crimes are not just shoved under the carpet any more. It also has taught us how we are proud to be American and we won't give up. So I think that September 11 has opened up the eyes of Americans in many ways.

I am posting this picture of yellow roses because they make me think of  love and of hope. They symbolize strength for today and  a bright hope for a better tomorrow.

This Cat again

When I get up early or in the middle of the night this cat attacks me. She bites my ankles gently and loves to play with my shoe strings. When I take off my shoes she sticks here head where my stinky feet were.  Today and several weeks in a row now she has a favorite spot in which to sleep. I have even caught her picture on occasion. Notice how she has grown.