The Circle of Life

In my last post, I contemplated the "Circle of Life"; in the past day, I have watched it.

Hannah and Jack are very good friends with a brother and sister that live behind us. They spend several days a week together. Jack and Luke have a "band", they play baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and racquetball(against Luke's house - with his parents' permission.) Hannah and Lydia play American Girls, dress-up, American Idol, watch High school Musical, etc, etc.

Jack and Luke have been friends since they began Kindergarten together in the same class. We met Luke and his mom at Kindergarten pre-testing. She and I talked for awhile, and I said, "you look soooo familiar", she named her church, her high school, her activities, and then said, "I'm in commercials for my dad's store", I'd "known" her since I was a kid.

At the beginning of October 2005, a few months after we had moved into this house, Jack saw a kid playing in the culdesac behind our house. He yelled, "are you Luke?" the kid said, "Yes, can you come play?" Hannah ran with Jack over to talk to him and said, "Mom, he said we can come meet his mom and his sisters" So I walked through the yards to end up in their backyard, crashing the birthday party of his sister who we had never met. Kimberly insisted that we stay, we did and amazingly it didn't feel weird. That was the start of our family friendship.

Every now and then, I would hear a knock on my back door, to the kitchen the messiest room of the house... and it would be Kimberly, checking in on her kids. She was so motherly to mine!!! She was one of those people who would have the whole neighborhood over to her house, and be happy about it.

She did not know how to play the piano, but read books and taught her daughters and another girl in the neighborhood piano. She had never cheer leaded, but bought an instruction video and taught herself and then coached her daughter's upward cheer squad.

Jack and Luke ended up in 1st grade together. She and I planned their class Christmas party together, and were co-leaders for the class's Carnival booth.

Hannah and Lydia have had several sleep-overs. Jack and Luke have had 2 attempted sleep-overs at our house, and a successful one at theirs.

This summer, we walked together a few times. One thing I know for sure is that she was on fire for the Lord!!!! All conversations came back to Him.

Our vacation fell over school registration. She went and met our kid's teachers and got their packets. She had a long talk with Hannah's teacher and gave me a good report. When she walked down the 2nd grade hall, she found that Jack and Luke were together for a third year! She explained that Jack was coming to school this year and brought us all the information. We talked to her at least 3 times over vacation. To find out about the teachers, and for Hannah and Jack to talk to Luke and Lydia.

On Monday, she came by with a load of our kid's stuff from her house. This is a regular thing. I teased her that her house is one of our closets :). She said, I don't mind, just thought you might be looking for some of this.

Yesterday, she came over. She said, I need a favor. Luke left his homework on the bus. They had 2 pages of 100 math problems. We each hand copied a page. She drew a dog on hers, and I drew a bird on mine. The phone rang, Hannah came in and said "It's for Miss Kimberly". It was her family needing her to settle something. We laughed.

Today, the neighborhood kids knocked on our door. I answered and they matter-of-factly said, "Well, Luke's mom is dead." I argued with them for a minute, and then Marsha called to confirm.

It's just so sad!!!! We KNOW where she is!!! But she was such an amazing person, it's sad for everyone, especially her husband and 3 kids.

Usually in friendships, I feel like I am even or even sometimes on the giving side. I was on the receiving side of ours. She was so close to our kids, too!

We went over there this evening. They were all in shock, but still their loving giving selves.

We came home and read in Revelation about heaven, and prayed. Hannah and Jack finally fell asleep together in Hannah's little twin sized bed.

Here is her obituary. and this.

Reminders of loved ones gone

On Saturday, I went with my Mother to the wedding of her cousin's child. We are either 2nd cousins or cousins once removed. She is one of 7 kids and an identical triplet. I used to love to tell the story about my cousin Mary, who had four boys, prayed for a girl and had triplet girls.

I fall in age between Mary's oldest two boys. The triplets were born when I was 7 and a half. When they were babies, I went with my dad to see some film at Covenant College. It was scary to me, so he let me go with some of my cousins to the nursery... we played with the baby triplets and thought they were the coolest. We also spent every Christmas afternoon together at our Aunt Collyn's house.

My sisters and I tried so hard to play with them, but they had all the friendship they needed in each other, their own language almost. Sometimes, they would play with us, most times they wouldn't.

All that to say, I have never been close to this cousin. But I couldn't help but cry before and through much her wedding. Anyone who saw me must have thought I was crazy!!!! Some of my cousins may have even wondered what I was doing there. But my emotions were not due to the wedding, but at seeing my three great-aunts.

My grandmother, Billie (Wilhelmine Franzenburg Katzenmeyer) died two summers ago. She was a little like each of her sisters. I saw her two youngest sisters, who are well into their 80's. Granny looked most like Aunt Ruthie - who is 85, but looks so healthy! Her husband, Uncle Russ (who is 90) and she each look 15 years younger than they are! Talking to her was almost like talking to my grandmother, but with less intimacy. Then I saw her oldest sister, Jean,88, grandmother to the bride... she insisted on walking down the aisle rather than riding in a wheel chair. She looked so weak and frail. She reminded me of Granny once she became sick. It all made me realize that even though on most days, memories of her don't cause sadness, I do miss her.

It also made me think of the circle of life... and wonder how much these aunts missed their grandparents, parents.... (although I know for sure that they miss spouses and siblings)... wondering to what extent having generations that are younger fills in that gap. And made me thankful that one day I will be reunited with many of my loved ones in heaven.

When I was little, My cousin Mary had a station wagon to transport those 7 kids. I used to daydream that we took their wagon and all of my parents, grandparents, siblings, Aunt Collyn and Uncle Rudy got in and drove it right off Lookout mountain, so that we could all go to heaven together.

It's Saturday Night!!!!

If you know me well, you know that I am a huge fan of the old Saturday Night Live. Every few months, I check out their section of the NBC web page- They have now added lots of video clips!!!! If you are a fan, you've got to check it out!

I used to love to imitate Emily Littela, my favorite is "What is this I hear about endangered feces?"

"nevermind"

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=2354

And.......

Sometimes, when I get nervous, I watch this.

Electricity Bill

The dreaded electricity bill arrived today. With the record-high heat - several days over 100...up to 109 and maybe 1 in 30 days that the temps did not reach the 90's - I was expecting a bill well over $200, perhaps pushing $300!

Since I returned from Mexico in early June, I have kept the thermostat at 80, lowering it to about 72, when we have company. In Acapulco, the weather is always like this and those who have air conditioners only run them at night. After a few days, your body adjusts to the heat (somewhat :) )

This summer, we have left the thermostat alone, and turned on fans. It has not been uncomfortable. Our bodies have all adjusted. And our bill?..... only $165, not bad for a month of cooling 100+ degree weather for a 2800+ sqaure foot house!!!!

Now we'll see how long it takes to adjust to 60 degree temperatures inside, if we get a winter!

Adam's manly wheels

Adam got to go watch Nebraska barely beat Wake Forrest in Winston Salem this weekend.

He met his brother Ben (who lives in Raleigh),and they are staying with Ben's friend.

Adam had planned to drive his 1996 Jeep. I was worried about how we would pay for a tow, car repair and hotel if it broke down. Then it occured to me- the Jeep gets horrible gas mileage, if he rented a car, we'd break even and not have to worry about emergency car expense.

So, he rented an Altima (or like :-) ). When he went to pick it up, they were out of Altimas so they gave him a purple PT Cruiser. Such a manly car to drive to a football game : ) !

She was a-runn-in

Hannah ran at a county-wide cross country meet today. She came in 22nd out of what seemed to be close to a hundred fourth-graders. I am so weird, I got teary-eyed when she crossed the finish line (I always tear-up when they score a goal or a run, or win an award). She was so worried that she might come in last.... I was sad for the ones who did finish last... but someone has to be last.

Old friends and Poo

We had a great weekend of reunions! On Saturday, we went to the birthday party of the 4 year old son of my (in her words) "oldest friend" (she is 15 days older than me :) We have known each other since the 7th grade, but became inseparable in the first week of 9th grade Spanish 2. We were also roommates in Lockmiller dorms at UTC. Her grandfather, Band-daddy, referred to me as his "girlfriend"... at my wedding reception, he asked me what I was doing marrying another man. Stacy is one of those people that I can talk to every month or two and never miss a beat.

On Sunday, we went to Jay and Cynthia's house along with my good friend Dana and her husband, Scott. We had 8 children between us... and they had a great time together. Scott, Dana and I sat together as college freshman in Geology. The interesting thing to me about the 6 of us, is that we were not a friend group, but we each knew the other 5 long before any of us even dated each other (we did all grow up here).

After a couple of hours of catching up, Scott, Dana and family left. Then we had a couple of Dance Revolution contests (Jay's idea), and the guys returned to their Ping Pong tournament. Cynthia and I were sitting in the garage, talking and watching the match, when a spring burst forth from the ceiling. We all just watched it for a minute, and then Jay took off to find the cause. Realizing that our kids could have something to do with it, I said "Adam, follow him".

The source was an overflowing toilet, clogged by a normal amount of matter from our youngest. He just happened to be the lucky one to use the toilet at that time. Jay and Adam sopped up the floor with towels and threw the overflowed little balls back in. I always knew that there was a brotherly love between them, but when a guy will clean up your kid's, poo......:)

Then on the way home, we asked Joseph about it. He told us, very matter-of-factly, that it wasn't just his in there. Another little girl had some balls escape her pants in the playroom, and Caroline picked them up and threw them in the toilet too.

It's football time in TN

Growing up in a household of girls, I don't fully get this! The guys watched lots of football today - including Nebraska's season opener. They played during half times. Adam tried to tell Joseph that there is "no crying in football". Joseph nor I agreed.

I did become nostalgic though. Remembering the first time I cheered for our high school ninth grade team (when I was in school, 9th graders were not eligible for Varsity Football or cheerleading). Our cheerleading sponsor was new and knew nothing about cheerleading. She had us cheer the entire game facing the field, instead of the crowd. None of us understood the game, so we cheered "1st and 10 do it again",when we were playing defense and "Block that Kick" for no reason in the middle of the game.

Then there was our first Varsity Football game in 10th grade. The guys in the stands started cheering for me. I was very pleased with all of the attention, until our varsity sponsor (who, by the way, knew a lot more than the 9th grade sponsor) gave me a horrible look and pointed to her chest. I looked down and 2 buttons of my vest were undone!

Here's our dance :)

I have had so much fun with this program!!!! I made one of my Dad discoing with his "favorite" politician (Ha ha ha), Hillary Clinton; one of Adam and his Dad performing the hula, and my Mother doing a salsa number with Tom Cruise. I didn't post any of those, cause they'd kill me. I know that my Mother and Dad got a good laugh... and I also laughed plenty at their expense : )!

Erica, you can send this program through your VA blog ring. It's so much fun.

Thanks Lisa and Keri!



BTW, I've actually done many dances similar to that. I tapdanced and Irish Step Danced until May 2006. I plan to go back when life slows down.