Advent Intent

Packed away in a pod somewhere is my Advent wreathe. Years and years old, it is a wreathe into which I have put the four candles of Advent. In the center is the Baby who I switch out on Christmas day for a large white candle to celebrate the coming of the Light into the world. All of it tucked away in a pod somewhere awaiting our first Christmas in our new home which hasn't happened yet. This year we are out of our Tahoe home and in a lovely little leased house in Jacksonville, Oregon, using someone else's furniture and dishes. So what to do about an Advent wreathe?

Well, I do believe that intention tops ritual and so I improvised. I wanted to do something for Christmas decorations so I bought a garland like one I had bought last year. We stretched it out across a cadenza in the living room. I borrowed 6 lovely red balls from the folks who own the house. I had brought some battery powered tea lights so I put 4 of them close together in front of the garland. When we find the AA batteries we brought with us, we will be able to light the garland's lights. 

Meanwhile, the tea lights will be lit every Sunday between now and Christmas in anticipation of the coming of the Light into the world.

What happens in my heart and mind during this time has very little if anything to do with the accompanying decorations. And yet, it is nice to have some decoration to focus my attention on the important things of the season. Advent blessings, dear friends.

We're Moving!

 Some of you know this so forgive the repetition. For others it is the first time you are hearing this. After I had my 'episode' back in  December and all anyone could say is, "Why is your oxygen so low?", we decided we needed to get off the mountain and down to an oxygen rich level. And so began the journey. 

Dean said we should move to the Rogue River Valley close to Grants Pass Oregon so we headed to Zillow in search of some houses to buy. We found 6 we were willing to look at. Our realtor here found us a realtor there and we headed to Oregon during Michelle's spring break. There was a house I really loved right on the river and we made an offer, they accepted, we got the first part of a loan, ~~ and the market crashed, interest rates soared, we couldn't get the bridge loan and new decisions had to be made. 

After nothing happening for months, we decided to let go of the house in Oregon, ski-lease our house here and rent a place on the Applegate River. One of the things that had kept us from ski-leasing before was my thought of everything we had to clear out, move, store and put behind lock and key. All of that had been done. A large portion of our stuff was tossed, donated, or stored in pods in Reno awaiting moving to OR.

With that decision made, we found a little furnished house in Jacksonville OR and will be moving there on November 1st. A friend here is leasing this house for us. Another friend will be the property manager. Still a lot to do to get ready to go but mainly we just have to pack our clothes and go. We are taking the grill - Dean can't be that close to a fishing river and not have his grill. Just a wee bit more complicated than just the clothes and not much. Only have one closet to lock. 

Plans at this time are to move in on November 1st, throw away the oxygen tank, and breathe! 

What happens next? Who knows? For the first time in my life, the future is wide open. Stay tuned for the next chapter in "You're Never Too Old to Do Something Different". 

The Year of the Granddaughters

 Dean and I have six granddaughters and this year they all have special "promotions" that take them one step further along their life journeys. We are so proud of all of them.

Lettie just turned 9, celebrated at Disneyland, wins awards at school, plays piano and is as lovely on the inside as she is on the out.

Emily has just graduated from elementary to Middle School, makes good grades, is an outstanding soccer player, and as lovely on the inside as she is on the out. 

Megan has just graduated from middle to High School, won the silver principal’s award, outstanding achievement in AVID and 4.0. She is an outstanding soccer player, a certified referee, and as lovely on the inside as she is on the out.

Trinity takes that final high school step and will be a senior with really good grades, becoming an amazing cook, and as lovely on the inside as she is on the out. 

Carly takes that final college step and will be a senior and working on her certification as a teacher of learning challenged students and is as lovely on the inside as on the out. 

Kaitlyn is living and working in Germany and will marry her long time love on July 15th. She also is as lovely on the inside as on the out.

Grandpa and Mama Susan are very, very proud of all these young women and their accomplishments and who they are and are becoming. We love them all deeply and dearly and although we don't get to see them often, they are always in our hearts.

Respect and Hope

 We spent spring break week with Michelle's family in Oregon. On our way up, we had lunch at our favorite little restaurant. We were able to eat outside on their patio. My body has been very achy and just to be careful on unfamiliar ground, I used my cane all week. As we were leaving, I was heading inside to the restroom and was walking behind a server with her arms full of dirty dishes. As she leaned her back into the door of the restaurant, she saw me coming. She stopped until I reached the door and pushed it open for me. I thanked her profusely for noticing and waiting. 

As I was leaving, a young couple left just ahead of me. For some reason the young man turned back, saw me and opened and held the door for me. Again I offered profuse thanks for his noticing and waiting. 

There is not a thing that said those two people (a busy server and a young person at play) should stop and wait to hold a door for an old lady, but they did. I was So Grateful. 

Having fallen trying to go through a heavy door on my own with my oxygen in my hand, I am really anxious about doors. Several times over the course of the week, I requested someone open the door for me with a bit of an explanation beyond age for my request. The cane helped, I'm sure. Every time, the answer was of course, a smile, and gracious door holding. 

Not only was respect shown on their part but hope was raised on mine. We read so much negative news about how people treat each other these days, it was really nice to be a part of respect and civility and good old fashioned kindness.