These are Dahlia Imperialis blooms. They are so dear to me because they bloom when everything else is almost done. There have been many years that the frost has killed them right as they open. However, the last couple of years have been gentle (or the plant is getting more tolerant) so I've been able to enjoy this umbrella of purple flowers.
I am feeling really grateful for medicine these days. My back sent me to urgent care all day yesterday but I did get some really good painkillers. Just not young anymore I guess.
Christmas is coming and I can't wait to decorate! I am a steadfast traditionalist - nada until December 1st. The waiting just makes it better.
God bless all!!!
It seems that every Sunday as I'm listening to our pastor's sermon I am reminded of the same thing. My little guy used to crack me up. He would be so passionate about telling me something he learned that he'd ask me a question first (the answer to which being what he was so excited to tell me). Then, before I could actually make a guess, he'd blurt out, "WHY sharks sleep something something...." He would never begin his answer with "because", always "why". Well, our pastor uses the question and answer strategy to drive home a point but he blurts out, "why" the same way as my little guy.
We had a lovely dinner with some friends that I've grown up with but don't see very often. I'm happy to hear that they live very close to us and that they are now engaged! It would be great to continue our frienship even if for no other reason than that it is such an old one. Maybe we'll find we have something in common.
No making lunches tomorrow! Thank you to all veterans for your service and for the little break in routine.
This morning my girls were all playing tea party. It was going very smoothly when I overheard one say, "Now if you have to puke, you'll need more medicine." Turns out it was make-believe-tea-party-sick-puppy game. The things they play!
I was reminded of a particular squabble that I broke up years ago between my son and his friend. The two were crying/fighting because they were cutting up each others' pretend presents under their pretend Christmas tree with their pretend chain saws. I was very amused and had they not been so worked up I might have let them try to work it out - for pretends. Imaginations are powerful things.
Nostalgia struck yesterday as I was waiting for the bus with the kids. The air was so clean and crisp and it was just barely sprinkling at that time. We could smell woodsmoke and fresh rain scents. Before I had to deal with so many pairs of rubber boots, rain coats, stir-crazy kids and mud, I used to love the rain and in between shower spells. I was flooded with that happy memory of being a kid during the fall.
Last night, my two oldest kiddos and I went to the theatre to see Ballet Foklorico de Mexico. It was fabulous. I am always looking for opportunities for my children (who are half Mexican) to be exposed to their heritage in educational and appropriate settings. I am sorry to say that the Latino TV channels provide much less than that. I DON'T ever want my daughters to wish to look like the women they see on Telemundo. Why must we expose our breasts to broadcast the weather? My 10yr old son is already much disillusioned with the behavior that he has seen first hand amongst his Latino acquaintances. This is why I want so badly for them to see the beautiful part of their heritage. I really wish I knew some Christian Hispanic families that are trying to instill in their children Godly virtues while modeling the Latino lifestyle. That's all I'm asking for!
God bless the president. I have to admit that I may have shown too much discouragement at the outcome of the elections. My little boy told his grandma, "He (the president) wants to kill me!" I asked him why in the world he would say that and he replied that he'd heard his older brother say it. Yikes. Time to set the record straight. Prayers are needed now and we will not be a family of president bashers! I feel a lesson coming on for after school....
