4-14-14 I've Gone to the Dogs...

We are babysitting dogs.

Alexis and Corey have taken a trip to Japan for a couple of weeks and I, in a moment of insanity, agreed to dogsit for Chelsea, a big black-lab mix, and Roxy, a little terrier runt. They are nice dogs.

However…

The dork-sisters, Pip and Sparky, take exception to Chelsea. Chelsea is big. Chelsea is an alpha dog (like Pip). Chelsea's bark doesn't just go "Bark." She says,
"AAAHHHHWWWOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFF!!!" She can take both our dogs down with one paw tied behind her back. So things are not good at our house. We have, as Cesar says, "Negative energy" flowing.

The first indication of what the two weeks would be like occurred before Corey and Lex even left our house. Chelsea wandered around the house gathering all the rawhides. All of them. She stacked them in a pile and then put her foot on the pile. She had selected one bone knot to keep in her mouth. She then sort of tossed this up and caught it. Again and again. Just to say to our doggies, "In your face, peons." Every time there has been a bone involved these past two weeks there has been a fight. So all the bones have been confiscated.

Bones bring us to another issue--when Chelsea chews rawhides she gets terrible gas. The first night I was laying in bed, trying to go to sleep, when I got this terrible whiff…I thought something had died!! Another good reason to keep bones away from Chelsea.

Chelsea has a daily pill. She takes it very well…in a marshmallow.

Sparky is basically living underneath furniture for the duration. She is terrified of Chelsea, even though Chelsea really ignores her.

Roxy (the dog Corey despises) has been the best dog of the bunch. I open the back door and say, "Who wants to go outside?" Little Roxy puts her little wiry head down and just walk, walk, walks outside. When I open the door to say, "Come here." Little Roxy puts that little head down and prances in on those little stick legs. She gets along with everyone. Her motto has been, "If someone looks at me, roll onto your back."

This four-dog arrangement has challenged Loy and I. Remember those mind bender puzzles about "A cannibal and a pastor and a chicken have to cross a river in a canoe that can only hold two. How do you get across?" It's sort of like that in the mornings.

Pip and Sparky sleep in the laundry room. It is a gated community. Chelsea and Roxy sleep in our bedroom, Roxy in a kennel and Chelsea in her bed. (Actually, Chelsea and Roxy are very good at night.) Anyhow, Loy gets up at 5:00 a.m. He exercises, then comes up to shave/shower. When he's done with that he opens the bathroom door and says there is this big black dog, stalking him. He gets Roxy out of the kennel and lets C & R outside. When they are done, he lets them in and puts them in his office. Then he releases our hounds from the gated community. They do their thing and then they get the privilege of coming into bed with me for the last hour or two. Then he takes C & A and puts them in the kitchen. Very complex.

We have made the gated community a Chelsea-free zone. The girls keep their rawhides there along with their food. However, I keep forgetting to lock the door to the gate. Chelsea has instincts that tell her when it's open. She then goes in to eat their food, which is immeasurably better than her food.

So, 10 nights down, 5 to go!!!

How much will dog psychotherapy cost (after Chelsea and Roxy leave)? I think we've got some puppy depression going on here.

So, what else is going on in this crazy house? I'm just waiting for summer. Not spring, but summer.

Spring is always a disappointment for me. We get a couple beautiful days. But mostly it's not quite as warm as you want (you feel those 50 degree days and put on shorts and then are freezing!). And you have snow when you don't want snow. I only like spring because is tells you that summer is coming.

We are traveling to St. Kitt's Island in May (did I tell you this before?) I'm very, very excited. It's living out my destiny. I can't wait!!!

We have one other trip planned for sure…in July the Watley family will meet at Storm Lake, Iowa, for the weekend. (by Watley family I mean our kiddies and their families). We like to try to all get together in the summer for at least a weekend. I'm not sure if I'll get all the kids, but that's OK…better some than none.

So, think of me this week with my canine companions. And think of me next weekend, doing a monstrous doggie-poopie-pick-up. The fun never stops here, let me tell you!!

By for now!

Kitt.

 This is Chelsea. She has the softest ears ever known to exist. Her redeeming feature.

Roxy, Pip, and Sparky. No redeeming features.

12-16-13 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

At the risk of ruining your enjoyment of our big Christmas letter (har-dee-har) I am going to post our Christmas letter here. Some people are offended by the form Christmas letters, but I so much prefer that to just a signed Christmas card with no information or picture!!

Merry Christmas 2013!!

What DID we do all year??? We travelled this year. A lot:

• Estonia (a former Soviet Republic,

• south of Finland, east of Russia)

• Huddersfield, England

• Flagler Beach (Florida) 

• Phoenix/Flagstaff

• North Captiva Island (Florida) • Arkansas/Oklahoma

• Sioux Falls (many times)

Lex and Corey (and their two dogs, Chelsea and Roxie) now live in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where Lex is an actuary for Coventry Health. She has passed 4 of the 10 actuary tests (a really big deal!!!) and they just moved into a beautiful brand new home. With two moves in the past year (first to a rental, then their new house) Corey has been busy packing and unpacking and packing and unpacking.

Grant, Angela, Payton, and KD, the goldendoodle, still live in Sioux Falls where Grant is the Head Cross Country Coach (taking his men’s team to the NCAA Division II National Meet) and Assistant Indoor and Outdoor Track Coach for the University of Sioux Falls. Angela is a terrific mama to Payton—and sometimes to Grant! We are thrilled that Angela is pregnant again and a new baby boy will join our clan in January.

Payton continues to excel in her cuteness and we love our frequent video-chats. She toddles all around and loves to play with food and doggies and toys. And food.

Logan is the Controller for Clear Creek Landscaping in Omaha, and is setting up an accounting services business. Jenna teaches 4th grade at West Dodge Station Elementary in Elkhorn. When she's not molding the future of America, she’s molding the style of America, working part-time at Ann T aylor Loft. In addition to their maltipoo, Lucy, they adopted Rosie, a 9-year-old rescue Pomeranian.

Paul is working on his MBA at the University of Sioux Falls and is enjoying a graduate assistantship in their Sports Information Department, tracking stats and writing stories.

Luke comes to visit us every other weekend and those are highlight weekends for us. He is in 2nd grade at Sheridan Elementary. Talking, playing superheroes, playing football or basketball, playing with his dogs, talking, reading, talking are a few of his pastimes.

We run to the mailbox each day, hoping to hear from you!! Your updates are a very fun part of the season for us!

Hope this Christmas brings you loads of joy!! 

Love, Loy and Kitt.

12-17-13 How to Raise a Low Media...Husband

I was reading on facebook--a terrible media-type addiction I have--about how to raise a low media child.

Child-Schmild. I want a low-media husband!!!

In the effort of fairness and to give credit where it is due, here is the original website for this probably great article. I didn't read anything but the headings. http://mamanatural.com/how-to-raise-a-low-media-child/

The Trick:

1. Encourage Self-Directed Play. Hmmm. I need to get little things for Loy to play with. He isn't a fix-it man or I could go the route of having little things that are broken laying (lying?) around the house. He reads on his ipad only, so reading won't work. I could leave crayons and paper around...have the Legos sitting on the table...a jigsaw puzzle out.

2. Turn off the TV. Yeah, right. In the midst of football season, just turn off the TV. In what universe???

3. Make the home a safe and encouraging environment. That one might have some merit, but not sure if it'll make him less electronically connected. But, I could sure work on the tone of my voice, the eye contact, the "Go Get "Em, Tigers!" If I danced around in a skimpy negligee, he might think that was encouraging!! :)   (I can't believe I just said that!!! My kids are now trying to get that mental image out of their heads while screaming!!!) Meet him at the door with his slippers and pipe? Oh, yeah, he doesn't smoke a pipe.

4. Choose toys wisely. Convertible. Boat. Firepit. Those kinds of toys???

I think we're doomed to being plugged in.

Just a few thoughts from me today...

Kitt.

10-26 Remembering to Relax

We just got back from a blissful 5 days on North Captiva Island, Florida. This is our little piece of heaven off the western coast of Florida (near Fort Myers). Last year during Loy's fall break we had just lost Luke. We wanted a calm and quiet place to go lick our wounds. Somehow, in my obsessive vacation planning, I came upon this island and we booked a little cottage. 

We loved our time there last year. We decided this may be the place to go back to every year. (Some of you know, we have traveled extensively, but I have never wanted to go back to places I've been before. I enjoyed them, but "Been there. Done that." But I have always wanted a place with tradition...that place that I wanted to return to. And this was it!!)

But, last year's cottage had a few quirks that we decided we didn't want for this year--it was just one room and, if you don't always go to bed at the same time as each other, this is problematical. And it was on the bay side of the island, which was OK, but the best views were on the gulf side. So, last year we had scoped out the houses and picked four that looked promising. We ended up booking "Rainbow's End." 

This is the saga of our visit to North Captiva Island (not to be confused with Captiva Island). First, we got on a plane to Atlanta. Then we got on a plane to Fort Myers, arriving at midnight. Then we waited for the hotel courtesy vehicle to pick us up. 

The next morning we got in a taxi for an hour long ride to the Pine Island Marina, where we picked up the water taxi. But, before we got to the marina we stopped at the Publix grocery store where I faxed a grocery list earlier in the week. (Prior to faxing the grocery list I had to figure out all our menus for the entire stay--there are no grocery stores on North Captiva.) 

After a picnic at the marina (the above pictures are at the marina) waiting for the water taxi, we took the 30 minute boat ride to Barnacle's Pier. There we met the wonderful landlord and she drove us in her golf cart (because there are no cars on the island--other than the rescue vehicles) to a bee-you-tee-ful little house right on the beach. 

This kind of vacation retreat is not for everyone. There are only three restaurants, but two of them require you to be a member to eat there. However, since October is such a low tourist month on the island, if you called they maybe would let you in anyway. There is no grocery store. Shopping consists of one convenience store (which is a pretty shabby convenience store. Not much to choose from. Some of the shelves are bare), a touristy souvenir shop, and a boutique/touristy shop. That's it. 

We went out to eat at Barnacles one day for lunch. Sort of bar food. I had two fish tacos. Loy had a clam basket with fries. $46. Yep. You read that right. Any wonder I plan our menus and order our food??

Our days were lazy and very selfish. Get up when we want. Read when we want. Eat when we want. Swim when we want. It was quiet (at least for me...Loy kept listening to his iPod and podcasts.) 

When we are on the island we have a ritual that we never ever do here. We make a point to watch the sunset together every night. It's pretty amazing. Then we came back into our little house and made supper and ate on the back porch. 

We saw dolphins from our back deck, two jellyfish in the calm water near Barnacles (I sat there on the dock for 20 minutes watching that thing. It was so cool), and a stingray right in our ocean. We did not see a manatee, which the island is known for. But, on our way out of town our landlord told us where to go next year to be sure to see one. 

There has to be a down-side, right?  Bug bites. I have probably 100 bug bites on me. Are they sand fleas? Are they no-see-ums? They are not mosquitos, but they itch like crazy!!!! (Note to self next year: Use the bug spray that is in the cottage.) Loy was bragging about how he didn't get bit, but when we got to looking we could see quite a few on him too--but he's more manly than I and isn't itchy at all. 

We left, grudgingly, after 5 days. Refreshed and relaxed. It was 85 degrees when we left. We got back to Omaha and it was 42 degrees. I was in capris and told Loy, "YOU go get the car...I'll wait here." He was so nice and did just that. 

With all my quiet time I've been pondering this quote:

"We don't get to decide who God is."  Francis Chan

I've been thinking lately...always dangerous. My little Bible study is doing an apologetics study. We take one reason people may give for not believing that Jesus is the Son of God and then we try and find Scriptural backing for our arguments against that belief. We have all loved doing this--sort of feel like we're iron sharpening each other...

But, it hit me the other day that what I believe or what you believe is really not all that important. God is what He is. I can believe something about Him, but my belief does not make is so. Or, you can believe that He is just a man and that does not make it so. Rather than arguing over things like whether women should be pastors or when Jesus will return (pre- or post-tribulation) or is He loving or what do we have to do to get to Heaven or is there even a Heaven...we should try and discern what God is saying, not the side we want to argue on. Our purpose is to glorify God, not win an argument. 

However, what you believe about God and Jesus now IS important in your own future. 

The Bible says "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father."  --Philippians 2:10-12

Everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord eventually. Every single person. You may think, "Nope. Not me. I'll never bow." 

It reminds me of a story of myself back in the '80's. Ronald Reagan was president and, for some forgotten reason, we had gotten tickets (from Loy's work?) to go hear him speak in Omaha. Now, I am not political. I don't get involved in any of that much. (I DO vote, though.) I wasn't especially excited to see President Reagan. Just one of those work deals.

After the rally we were walking on the street towards our car. Suddenly there was an excitement on the sidewalk. The President's limo was coming by! People were stopping and turning, ready to look at him. Unbeknownst to me, I was jumping up and down, waving! I didn't mean to do it. It just happened. Like he would notice me in the throngs! But I guess I subconsciously realized that he is THE PRESIDENT. This is a big deal. 

So, picture this...if I am right to believe the Bible, you WILL bow to Jesus. Whether you now believe or not. It might not make sense to you, but that does not alter the fact of what is Truth. Believe what you want now...

But, if I am wrong...well, I really don't see a down side to this. I have believed something that gave me comfort. And, according to some, I will die and that will be it. I'd much rather believe than not.

Don't know where I really want this little train of thought to go, but just thought I'd share it with you.

So, if you want to travel to a quiet place and just relax, talk to me and I'll give you the name of a great place!!! (And she's not even paying me to say that!!) I think I could make a vocation out of planning vacations...I absolutely love scouring the internet to find just the right place. 

You should hear what I've got planned for late May-early June!   :)

10-10-13 Old, Old, Old

Lately there have been signs in my life that I am getting old. Really old.

1. I, just recently, have had to start wearing my glasses while curling my hair. I just can't make out what needs to be curled without them.

2. I went bra shopping (guys, skip this paragraph!!) and bought a bra advertised as "Your Friday Bra." It didn't look especially good or sexy, just comfy. And I put it on and it was!! And the back has not two but three hooks. For some reason, three hooks screams "aged" to me.

3. I talk about my granddaughter (and soon I'll add a grandson to that conversation.)

4. I can get the senior discount at DQ. (You only have to be 50!)

5. My jammies are all summer ones--and that's on purpose because I get so hot overnight.

6. Conversations with my friends always turn to hot flashes and menopause. When I was young Loy used to say that we always ended up in the delivery room when we girls talked. No more.

7. We do things like can foods and plant flowers and help our kids move.

8. I am considering having my hearing checked. I seem to say, "What?" a lot.

9. I have progressive bifocals.

10. I take 6 pills each morning (but two are vitamins). I get these pills out of my trusty pill container--like all us oldies use.

11. I can't eat certain foods late at night.

12. Caffeine keeps me awake and jittery.

13. My cholesterol is high.

14. I am too old to have the flu shot in a mist--I have to get the shot. (And I'm actually talking about flu shots!!)

15. I get AARP Magazine and really enjoy the stories.

16. If it makes it to 8:00 before I put my jams on, that is a late night.

17. I have had a colonoscopy.

18. Don't tell anyone, but I have two whiskers that I have to pluck every few weeks. I have told all the girls (Alexis, Jenna, Angela) to make sure they pluck those babies when I am in the home.


But, on the other hand, I'm not doing these things:

1. Talking about my bowels. (Please stop me if I ever start doing that!!) (#17 above does NOT count!!)

2. Wearing a red hat.

3. Eating at a buffet at 4:00 p.m. or so. My parents used to do this because it was still the lunch prices but the buffet had put out the supper food.


When my big kids were in high school I would look around at some of the other moms and think, "Yeah, I'm cooler than that mom." "Gee, I act so much younger than her." (If you had kids graduate with me...I'm not talking about you! It was someone else.)

Now, I find myself looking around thinking, "Why is everyone at church so darned young?" "Yes, I'd like to join the young homemakers group...oh, wait...that time has come and gone." "I thought I was supposed to be wise by now." "That newscaster was born when I was in college."

1. At least when I go to Curves (my goal is three times per week and sometimes I actually make that

goal!) I am almost always the youngest (or at least one of the youngest) ones there. And, when I am on the marching in place platform, I always jog in place instead.

2. I know how to use a computer.

3. I can text (but my kids will tell you that I routinely don't hear my phone.) And I don't tweet. And I have to have Danielle, my 25-year-old office buddy, work on my iPhone if there are any issues.

4. All these years mean that I have some tremendous friends that I have known for a long time. It is so nice to be able to be with people and not explain who your siblings are or where you are from.

5. I don't stress about what others are thinking of me quite as much as I used to.


So, I think I'll make my new mantra be something like,

Hello, my name is Kitt. I am 54-years-old. I have survived both of my parents dying when I was in my 20's. I birthed four wonderful babies. I have survived triple negative breast cancer. I have survived losing a child I was guardian to. I have been married to the same wonderful guy for 31 years and we still love each other. I don't look like I am 30, but I don't look like I'm 70 either. I still love God. I still love to laugh out loud. I love to visit friends and family. I am what I am. (Or as Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam.")

There, I feel better!!

9-15-13 All Tied Up

I've had the blahs lately. Life is marching on and nothing is too bad, but I'm just not feeling the joy. My spiritual life feels stale and rather rote. I feel like I'm trying to fly but I've got weights on and strings entangling me. (See, I really did name my blog with thought--I want to fly but am earthbound so often!)

(Picture taken from "Secret of Nimh")

I had a ticket to the Beth Moore simulcast yesterday. I'm not one of her groupies, one of those who has swarmed to her conferences and bought her books and wears her T-shirt. I've done a Bible study she wrote, but have shied (or is it shy-ed?) away from her, just because I truly dislike sitting in a room watching a screen. I'm all about the relationship. But for reasons that are not important here, I had a ticket.

As the day approached I felt more and more that I did NOT want to go. I wanted to stay home and do my own thing. Begin by cleaning, then some laundry, other mundane chores. I would top the whole day off with a wonderful nap. But I had this ticket...

The night before I thought, "I could stay home and no one would notice. It starts at 8:00 after all..." (if you don't know, I am definitely NOT a morning person.) I went in to check the time and found it didn't start until 9:00. Drat. So I had no excuse.

"I'll just go for the morning session, then bug out." That was my plan. 

So, all that to say I was there, not totally willingly. But, as I think is often the case, my reticence to go was directly proportional to the import of what God wanted to teach me. Here's what I learned...

Well, on second thought, let me back up. Some of my "readers" (I make it sound so vast and important, don't I?) are not well-versed in "Spiritual talk." So I'll do a bit of pre-explaining. I'm no expert, but here's how I see things.

God is Holy. Totally. 

We are all, every single one of us, sinners. We are born that way. We continue that way. This creates a vast chasm between us. Totally unbreachable by our own actions. In the older times, there were certain laws that were set up that, if followed, would keep us as clean as possible. This is called "The Law."

God sent Jesus, His only son, into the world to save us. He died on the cross to pay for my sins. He paid the penalty of sin once and for all. Nothing I could do, whether good deeds or self-denial or following the law, could do that. Just Jesus. (I don't pretend to totally grasp this concept--the why's and wherefores--but I know it is true.) 

If a person acknowledges that Jesus is God, that He is the only way to be assured of eternal life after death, and asks to be forgiven he is accepting "His Grace." Living under Grace means that I accept that the work is done. Nothing I can do will make me more "saved."

Anyhow, back to Beth Moore...

She gave us a test to see if we were living under Grace or under The Law (as we all tend to want to DO more--sort of making light of Jesus' sacrifice.)

Here is my paraphrased version of "The Test" (answer "True" or "False"):  (and this is my paraphrase--I apologize if I totally botched it)

1. When I am seeking God's will, do I always assume the hard or unpleasant thing is what God would want me to do?

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”--Matthew 11:29-30

2. Do I feel compelled to ask for forgiveness for the same offense again and again?

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -- I John 1:9

3. Do I have the tendency to not feel back in God's grace after asking forgiveness?

Doesn't this mean that I am trying to DO enough to make myself forgiven?

4. Do I want to pay penance for my sins?

5. Do I think that God loves me in spite of me?

6. Do I find the parable about God paying the workers who have worked differing number of hours the same wage ...disconcerting?

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”--Matthew 20:1-16

7. Do I deal with anxiety in my spiritual life?

8. Do I condemn myself often?

9. Do I find it easier to tell others that God loves them than to believe that God loves ME?

10. Do I think that I have to keep in close relationship wit those who have wronged me?

"Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed."--2 Thess 3:14

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them." --Titus 3:10

"If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector." --Matt. 18:17

11. Do I feel guilty because of "how good I have it?"

Grace is the best thing that could ever have happened to me. 

12. Do I often think I am a disappointment to God?

If we feel like we are a disappointment to someone, our natural bent is to distance ourselves from that person. Disappointment means an expectation not met. God knows all. He may be displeased, but not disappointed. 

13. Would you realize the truth of Romans 14:17 from being around me?  

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval."


Here I am, one of God's children, saved by Jesus Christ and I am living as though I have to measure up--as if I am still under the law. And I'm not necessarily talking the Old Testament Law, but "My Law."

Well, it hit me, anyway. Hard. That's the baggage that is holding me down. These pesky laws I have set up for myself to follow.

But, then let me tell you a story. While I was sitting there at Beth Moore I kept noticing one woman. She walked in right ahead of me and I noticed her. She sat alone in front of me and I noticed her. I noticed her when we dismissed for lunch, after lunch, break. I felt God telling me to just say something to her.

I'd love to tell you the story of how I did that and we had this instant bond and all was good. But, no, I ignored the nudging. Don't know why, exactly, but I did NOT want to do this thing. So I didn't.

Living under the Law I would say, "I blew it, big time. I am not worthy to be God's child. I will blow it again and again and again. Why don't I just give it up entirely???"

But, living under Grace I am saying, "God, please forgive me for not listening to You. I want to do what pleases You, but again and again I go my own way. Tenderize my heart so that I hear You more clearly and give me the courage to obey You." And, to that woman who wore the Husker T-shirt and had a little limp and sat all alone, I am so, so sorry. I am praying for you right now.

Did any of this make any sense? Sorry I rambled, but it helps me to process things by writing them down.

On a lighter (and older) note...today is Loy's birthday. YAY Loy!! I had ordered some gifts and only one got here in time, poor guy. But, he is having a great day. Almost all the kids have called to wish him a Happy Birthday. And he's watching football. And he took a nap. A good day to be Loy, I think. He'll just have to wear his new pants another day...

Thanks for reading! If I've said something wrong, please comment and call me on it. A discussion would be fun.

Love,

Kitt.

7-20 That's How I Roll...

This summer has been so incredible. It is flying by!! It all began with our trip to Estonia, followed by a trip to Sioux Falls, followed by a whole family trip to Florida, followed by a trip to Phoenix/Flagstaff, followed by a trip to Sioux Falls, to be followed by a trip to Arkansas/Oklahoma. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every trip.

Figuring that you don't want to hear massive amounts of detail on MY trips, I'll just focus a little bit on Florida. We rented a beach house on the Atlantic side of Florida ON THE BEACH. In my mind there is no use in renting a house across the street from the beach. Or one house in. Or walking distance. I want to go out on my deck, down my stairs, and be on the beach. We even got to take Luke for the week. When we got to the house he ran all over exploring, then exclaimed: "This is the BEST BEACH HOUSE EVER!!!!" Never mind that this was the first beach house he'd ever seen.

He played bellboy when each of the big kids got there, showing them to their assigned room. Then began a week of sitting on the deck, playing in the sand, body surfing, and hide and seek. The kids all told me they would do this again (just not next year. Guess they don't want to spend every year's vacation with ol' Mom and Dad.)

Payton was so cute on the beach, although she wasn't too sure about the waves. She crawled all around the beach house, but kept with Mom and Dad on the beach. And she kept tight rein on all our hearts!

Loy and I have been struck this summer by the fact that we can plan all we want for what our future will look like. But, it doesn't always turn out that way. We have seen several people who were tooling along just fine and illness has made their plans unattainable. People who were, a month ago, planning a retirement of travel and RV-ing but are now struggling with a very serious cancer diagnosis. Women who's husband left for another woman. People who have given up lots of plans to look after ailing parents. They are not on the path they would have planned.

It's got me thinking. I have always looked ahead to my life and what I want it to look like. Getting breast cancer at age 48 was not in my game plan. Raising a 3-7 year old in my early 50's was not what I envisioned. Then, once I adjusted to that, having a 7-year-old taken away was not what I had planned. For that matter, when I was young I thought I would live my whole adult life in Kearney. Things are not usually how we picture them.

But, exactly what DID I want this next stage of our life to look like? Can you believe I had never considered that far in the future? Loy and I have been talking and have no conclusions.

Two of our kids live in Sioux Falls. Two live in Omaha. Do we move to one of those towns? Move to halfway in-between (which is, basically, no where.) Do we stay in Lincoln? Stay in this house? Move down south? I've always been sort of opposed to the older people moving down to communities with just older people. I mean, where are the older people mentoring the neighborhood moms? I have loved my relationships with neighbors who are not in my stage of life. But, now that I'm getting older, I can sure see the appeal. (Do I sound like we're 80-years-old or something? I just like to know what's ahead.)

Then we thought, "Maybe we should go somewhere we might want to retire for 3 months in the summer." With Loy being a professor, that is totally do-able. Then I amended that. "Maybe we should try it for a month first." I'm not sure if Loy and I can stand each other for three months away somewhere!! :)

Have I  mentioned before about a Wall Street Journal article Loy showed me of this couple who sold their house and traveled the world, living in different countries for a month or so at a time? They rented houses and would really live in the country. Not just fly through in a week. They had enough savings and investments to finance this endeavor. If they stayed somewhere expensive (like Paris) one month, then they would go somewhere inexpensive (like Mexico) the next month. They travelled across oceans on cruise ships as they were moving from one seasonal locale to another. This sounds incredibly fun to me--as long as I get to come back to the US to see my family every other month or so. But what if we did it in the US? Then I could fly to see them whenever I wanted...

We're looking for a place to stay for a month next summer. I have no idea if we'll REALLY do this or not. But, part of the fun is the looking. I've been scouring websites for cottages. Quiet. On the water. Something to do nearby. If you have any suggestions, send them my way, OK?

What I want to do is make all my plans, write them all down. They'll be good plans. Serving God, going to church, helping our grandchildren grow to love Jesus, and then add a nice location and house and good health. And I want to hand my list to God and say, "Hey, Big Guy...would you sign off on this, please?"

It's hard to accept, but God wants to hand me a blank list and say, "Hey there, Kitt, Child Whom I Love, would you sign off on this please?" I have to trust that if we get to live on a lake somewhere and kayak together, that will be lovely. But if it doesn't happen, that is God's will. I have no business whinging (a British word--means grumping or complaining or whining. Rhymes with "fringe-ing") about how terrible my life is or how hard I have it. It is what God has determined will be most glorifying to Him.

It's not about me. What?!?!?! Not about me?????!!!!!

It's about glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. (Westminster Catechism)

Now, maybe I could enjoy him more on a lake...   :)