Sunny Sunday

As you can see it was a beautiful warm Sunday here in Walton, Kentucky. My mom, John and I had a wonderful Sunday at New Bethel Baptist Church. We got to see their baptisms - which is always uplifting - and John even shared a bit about what their church had come to mean to us. And there was a nice surprise for us at the end of the service, but I'll save that for sharing later.
After lunch, John and I took a long walk downtown (can you call it that, since there are actually a couple of stores and one stoplight?), without wearing any coats. It was in the 50's! I saw crocus' and daffodils were up. It felt like spring time. On Tuesday we plan to drive up and see my nephew and the church where he works. It's just a grand life.

Mom and I in her front yard right after church.

What Is It?

One of the things Joao and I most enjoyed in Chicago was the marvelous Art Institute with their world-class French Impressionism collection. I was in heaven.
When I was a teenager Picasso donated a sculpture to the city which was erected at City Hall. I was especially anxious to see it again, as it had become a symbol of the city for me. So off we toddled to see it and although it may be clear to no one what it really is, you have to admit it's an amazing piece of artwork. Big too. Look at Joao beside it just to get an idea.
While I was trotting down memory lane we also drove out to my old high school and house in the suburbs. Amazingly things had changed less than I expected. So 30 years isn't so long after all!
While in Indianapolis, I called around trying to find an old friend I hadn't seen in 20 years. I tried someone in the phone book who had the same last name. "By chance" , she was a member of my friend's mom's church (but not a relative!) and was able to connect my friend and I. Can you believe it???? There really are no coincidences in God's timing. It was so emotional to talk to my old next door neighbour from seminary days. The years fell away and I felt young again.
Right now I am at my mom's catching up with her. Our plan for tomorrow is.... SHOPPING. She has coupons. This could be dangerous.

The Picasso Sculpture at the Richard J. Daly Plaza in Chicago

That Toddlin' Town

Well as you can see below I am no longer in Ottawa! In fact I haven't written for a while because I've been on vacation. Still am. Joao and I arrived in Indianapolis after a 16 hour drive. In one day. We were two tired little puppies when we got to my sister's house. Then we took off for Chicago with here where we stayed on the Magnificent Mile right downtown. We had a wonderful time. Magnificent in fact. We did all the tourist stuff, even if I had lived there 30 years before. I can't tell you what a good time we had, even if it was a little dreary weather-wise. Here I am atop the John Hancock building - 94 stories high. I'll post a few more photos and info as time allows. But we are thoroughly enjoying our time together.

6 more weeks... or not

Well ground hog day came and went (and it's pretty pathetic that it was the highlight of my week) and I couldn't begin to tell you if he saw his shadow or not. Even if he did, I can never remember what it means. I told you I was pathetic!
In fact, it's been so lovely warm here in Ottawa, that it feels like spring. Everyone is gloriously happy that it's above freezing, although I love to remind folks that if we had this weather in August, we would freeze to death. It's all a matter of perspective, right?
I confess, I AM enjoying the january/february thaw. It's mahvelous. I find myself thinking of crocuses (is that how you spell that?) and daffodils and hoping the bulbs I put out in october come out in April.
I don't think I will mind at all, taking some vacation this month. I am looking forward to revisiting Chicago with my sister. It's been 30 years since I've been back. She wants to take João and I and we are looking forward to that. Wish it weren't on a weekend, so we could go into my high school. We even plan to drive by our old house.
We also have made tentative plans to drive down to Dothan, Alabama to visit my friend from Korea days, Sherrill. We will see the folks who did the mission project at our church this summer. They've asked João to preach and speak to the SS classes and I will be singing and speaking in SS too on the Sunday we are there. That should be an interesting cultural experience for us all. And fun to boot.
I'm looking forward to seeing the family and spending quality time with them. My niece wants me to stay in her apartment and I want to do so. Strange for her to have her own apt. She's just a baby... ha, ha. Our oldest daughter also has an apt. and says we can stay there when we go to Rio. Oh, that that were soon. *Sigh*
I've been looking at job banks. I don't know what to do. I probably need to work . (let's rephrase that - I need to earn some money to pay for a trip to Brazil.) But if I work, I won't have time off to travel to Brazil. I have simply decided to put those things in God's hands. And unlike Scarlett O'Hara, I don't plan to think about that tomorrow. I plan to pray about them today!