Thanksgiving Dinosaur

My little grandson, Nehemiah, stood on the kitchen chair beside me while I carved the remaining meat off the turkey carcass.  He watched as I pulled off the wings and asked, "Nonny, why are we taking apart this dinosaur?"  I figured when he asked the question that he had looked at picture books of dinosaur skeletons recently.  "Does this look like a dinosaur bone?" I asked as I held up a leg bone.  "Yes!" he exclaimed.  Yes, we had dinosaur for thanksgiving.  They aren't extinct after all and they taste just like turkey.  

Our Thanksgiving feast

We ate the whole dinosaur!

Thanksgiving day was Annelise's fourth birthday.  She received a violin and her first lesson from Uncle Paul Burton.

A Writing Cabin

We have an apartment which we made available to our grown kids when they were ready to be on their own.  The boys were able to get through college with relatively low college loans because they were willing to live in the small apartment on our property.  After each graduation, I had secretly hoped that the apartment would be vacated and could become my refuge; a place where Paul and I could go to talk together for an evening, or a quiet place to read and think when I need it.  However, Paul Burton will be staying in the apartment and has two more years of medical school.  After that, Kathryn is eying the apartment as her future home.

I don't know when the idea first began, but Paul has been seriously thinking of building me a little writing cabin on our property.  It wouldn't be a very big cabin, just big enough to have a space to call my own; a retreat at the edge of the woods.  This weekend we paced off the area that we thought would be perfect and went out to that spot with our lawn chairs and a cup of coffee.  It felt right.  We sat in the sunshine sipping coffee and imagined where the front door and windows would be. The plans are somewhere out in the future, but we have been waking up mornings feeling excited about it.  I dream of sitting inside the little cabin writing without interruption, while he thinks of ways to make the cabin airtight and how to provide electricity by using solar energy.

We've been sketching, dreaming, taking stock of the materials we already have on the property, and hoping that we can soon start this project in little baby steps.  I called Paul the other day because I found a poem about a cabin and read it to him over the phone.  He enthusiastically remarked that I should write out the poem and frame it to be hung later in the cabin when the walls are up. 

Is there somewhere,
anywhere...
a little, lonesome cabin
lost among the forests
on a wild, deserted shore;
an empty, waiting cabin:
rough-hewn, worn, and solid
with a dandy-drawing chimney,
books and windows little more
I'm tired of noise and traffic,
people pushing, phones and letters, 
dates and deadlines, styles and headlines,
pride and pretense, nothing more;
and I'm needing such a cabin,
near God's masterpiece of mountains,
such a lost and lonesome cabin
where a tired soul can adore. -Ruth Bell Graham

The Cabin Site: 

An idea; a dream; a possibility.

Cough, Cough

I have had one of those hard-to-get-rid-of colds.  The lingering cough has given me the voice of a heavy smoker.  It would be great if I were singing jazz, but I'm not, so I sound like a foghorn.  All of this is to say I haven't felt much like posting.  I'm going into my third week of coughing but the doctor told me today that my lungs are clear.  So I am just going to keep drinking plenty of water and I've made a decision to slow down and take afternoon naps this week.  I think that will finally kick this cold out of the door.

Mercifully, Kathryn has not caught this cold from me.  While Qavah had the sniffles and a cough last week, she is entirely better.  Paul Burton generally works holidays but has this Thanksgiving Day off for the first time in several years.  Lord willing, our plan is to have our Thanksgiving dinner with the family and spend the afternoon playing games and relaxing.  It sounds like a fabulous plan to me.  

I heard a great sermon today about letting go of all anxiety and handing every single anxious thought to God for His attention.  It is written in Phillipians 4:6,  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  I was lying down listening to those powerful words and had a mental picture of myself handing over a list of what I consider the trials in my life.  I pictured myself "presenting" my list, leaving the list with God, and returning to the kitchen where the savory aroma of a baking turkey and a grateful heart made my day perfect. This Thanksgiving I want to exercise true thanks giving, without the weight of my list in hand.  Thank God for His arms that are strong enough to carry all of our "lists."

Leave it quietly to God my soul:

the past mistakes

that left their scars.

All bitterness beyond control,

that mars

His peace,

demands its toll.

Confessed to Him and left...

it would,

like all things

work together 

for my good,

and bring release.

I would be whole.

So

"leave it quietly to God

my soul."  Ruth Bell Graham

Rainy Day Reading

On June 14, 2007, Ruth Graham left the confines of this earth to be with the God she faithfully served.  I was reading some of her poetry and quotes this afternoon.  I have a book of poems she had written and I appreciate how much of her poetry is centered around her life with her husband and children.  Although she wrote of things common to motherhood, she often focuses on her walk with Jesus as the One for Whom she lived.  Her poems create peaceful word pictures, and as the rain fell steadily on my rooftop today I felt rewarded with a ray of sunshine by reading her poems. Her husband Billy said of her, “I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day,” Graham recollected. “I will miss her terribly and look forward even more to the day I can join her in heaven.”  I'm looking forward to reading more of her poetry there! 

Listen, Lord,
a mother’s praying
low and quiet:
listen, please.
Listen to what her tears
are saying,
see her heart
upon its knees;
lift the load
from her bowed shoulders
till she sees
and understands,
You, Who hold
the worlds together,
hold her problems
in Your Hands.  Ruth Bell Graham

Beyond Our Understanding

Paul read a few chapters of our Jan Karon book over the weekend.  The girls and I didn't go to church on Sunday.  We decided to stay home and watch some inspirational documentaries on Netflix.  Qavah and I have the remnants of a cold.  We coughed our way through the afternoon, dozing on and off.  We seem to have the same cold virus that is going around.  When a virus comes to our home we pray for the best possible outcome, which is that the girls will not get it.  So far, Kathryn has been staying healthy.   

There was a tragic accident just outside of Roanoke this weekend involving a man who our son Colin knew well and worked with at Ply Gem in Rocky Mount.  That man's life ended in a fatal car accident.  His wife and two young daughters survived the accident, but his death reminded us that life is precious and fragile.  We have stopped to pray numerous times today for the families involved, and for the comfort that only God can give.  While we have our own challenges in our family, by just looking around us, we see that there are people who suffer a great deal and need our help and prayer in their time of trouble.

Colin's friend and colleague enjoyed life and had a great love for God and his family.  We met him at church, and it would seem to our human minds that God would protect a servant like him from such a disaster.  Instead, He took the young husband and father to his eternal home.  We are praying that God will help his family through their grief, and that their reunion in Heaven will be even sweeter because of the sudden way they had to let go of their dreams and embrace the plans of God. 

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.   ICorinthians 2:9

Reading Together

Paul sat on the comfy little love seat in the corner of our room reading to us last night.  The new Jan Karon book came out in time for his birthday.  We girls sat in the bed together, snuggled under the covers, until the girls dropped off to sleep.  I sat there listening to the story beginning to unfold as Father Tim and his wife, Cynthia, begin their vacation in Ireland; a dream come true for them.  Jan Karon does a lovely job of describing the scene in a way that places the reader right in the room to observe the same things.  In the story last night, she described the Bed and Breakfast so well that I could almost smell scones baking when I woke up this morning. Reading aloud together is something that we have done for nearly 37 years, and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a way to share some quiet time together. 

In chapter three, Father Tim and Cynthia had just crawled under a mountain of blankets and plumped the feather pillows to settle in for the night.  He felt Cynthia shivering and asked if he should close the window.  She replied, "No, I am just excited by it all.  I'm glad it took so many years for us to get here."  "You're glad?" he asked.  "That it was so long delayed and hoped for makes it all more precious."  That's exactly how Paul and I feel when there is a new Jan Karon book in the bookstores.  Tonight is Friday night and I am dreaming of hearing Paul's voice as he continues to read. I have a hunch that he is at work dreaming about the same thing.  Good stories read by someone you love, a bowl of popcorn, and a warm blanket on a cold night, makes for a perfect evening.  I'm thanking God right now for the imagination He gave to me.  I've been many wonderful places just by reading a good book.  I'm really looking forward to spending the weekend in Ireland with Father Tim and Cynthia.

Note:   At Home in Mitford is the first book in the Mitford series if you are interested.

Reading Together

Paul sat on the comfy little love seat in the corner of our room reading to us last night.  The new Jan Karon book came out in time for his birthday.  We girls sat in the bed together, snuggled under the covers, until the girls dropped off to sleep.  I sat there listening to the story beginning to unfold as Father Tim and his wife, Cynthia, begin their vacation in Ireland; a dream come true for them.  Jan Karon does a lovely job of describing the scene in a way that places the reader right in the room to observe the same things.  In the story last night, she described the Bed and Breakfast so well that I could almost smell scones baking when I woke up this morning. Reading aloud together is something that we have done for nearly 37 years, and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a way to share some quiet time together. 

In chapter three, Father Tim and Cynthia had just crawled under a mountain of blankets and plumped the feather pillows to settle in for the night.  He felt Cynthia shivering and asked if he should close the window.  She replied, "No, I am just excited by it all.  I'm glad it took so many years for us to get here."  "You're glad?" he asked.  "That it was so long delayed and hoped for makes it all more precious."  That's exactly how Paul and I feel when there is a new Jan Karon book in the bookstores.  Tonight is Friday night and I am dreaming of hearing Paul's voice as he continues to read. I have a hunch that he is at work dreaming about the same thing.  Good stories read by someone you love, a bowl of popcorn, and a warm blanket on a cold night, makes for a perfect evening.  I'm thanking God right now for the imagination He gave to me.  I've been many wonderful places just by reading a good book.  I'm really looking forward to spending the weekend in Ireland with Father Tim and Cynthia.

Note:   At Home in Mitford is the first book in the Mitford series if you are interested.

Transfusion Day

My daughter just keeps amazing me.  About the time I think she is never going to submit to another hurtful needle, she puts on her composure the way I put on my shoes, and deals with it.  Her veins were hard to find today, and once again she had to be stuck until a vein was found.  She handled it beautifully, which always makes me so proud.  I hope when I am called upon to handle a hardship in life, I will do it with the bravery and grace I have seen in Qavah.  Don't we learn more from our children than they learn from us?  Isn't that just one more reason to view them as a gift?

Transfusion Day

My daughter just keeps amazing me.  About the time I think she is never going to submit to another hurtful needle, she puts on her composure the way I put on my shoes, and deals with it.  Her veins were hard to find today, and once again she had to be stuck until a vein was found.  She handled it beautifully, which always makes me so proud.  I hope when I am called upon to handle a hardship in life, I will do it with the bravery and grace I have seen in Qavah.  Don't we learn more from our children than they learn from us?  Isn't that just one more reason to view them as a gift?

Happy Birthday Paul

We celebrated Paul's birthday by going to church for a two hour praise and worship time last night.  The praise team did a great job choosing songs rich in Biblical content and we all enjoyed the evening together.  Kathryn had reserved a table for our family and the church also provided several delicious homemade goodies served with coffee and tea.  It was an uplifting evening and a great celebration for Paul.  We met several people last night and introductions were a part of the evening as well. 

I woke myself up during the night when I burst out laughing.  I was dreaming that we were still at the concert and some people came up to us and introduced themselves as the "Nimble" family.  Then they smiled and pointed to their 6 year old son and said, "This is our son Jack B."  Since I woke myself up, I sat up in bed and tried to think why in the world I would dream about "Jack be nimble."  The nearest I can come to an answer was that we all went into the nursery after the event at church and looked around at the way things were organized.  The babies had their own little cubbies with their names on it.  At any rate, we had a delightful evening, and I woke up this morning chuckling as I thought about the way our minds work creatively even while we sleep.

Enjoy your Sabbath rest. 

Good Eating Day

Kathryn and Qavah have days that food just doesn't taste good to them.  They have days that their appetite is next to nothing, and I have learned not to force food on them.  Usually that phase passes and they are ravenously hungry for a couple of days after that.  Today was one of those days.  They had hot oatmeal and homemade applesauce for breakfast, hummus wraps for lunch, and roast beef with gravy over mashed potatoes and greens for dinner.  Kathryn is now taking pancreatic enzymes with meals and it seems to be helping her digest her food.  Today was a good day, with good food, good music, and an afternoon Christmas movie.  At the end of the day, a box was delivered and it was filled with beautiful Michigan apples from Aunt Marcia and Uncle Les!  We had one more snack of delicious sliced apples before turning out the kitchen light.  We are grateful for good days like this one.  The blessing of good food fills the soul as well as the tummy.

The Clean Plater
Some singers sing of ladies' eyes, And some of ladies lips, Refined ones praise their ladylike ways, And coarse ones hymn their hips. The Oxford Book of English Verse Is lush with lyrics tender; A poet, I guess, is more or less Preoccupied with gender. Yet I, though custom call me crude, Prefer to sing in praise of food. Yes, food, Just any old kind of food. Ogden Nash

The Things That Bless

We had a picture perfect day.  After church and a family lunch, Paul and I took the girls to the little town of Paint Bank.  It is a picturesque town in the middle of nowhere about an hour from our home.  The drive there was steep and winding, but it was worth the effort (and the little bit of nausea).  The leaves were still pretty and we stopped along the way for some photos.  The girls both felt good, and they were able to take in the sights in the town because everything was situated on four corners and there wasn't too much walking.  From the little white church to the working water wheel, we snapped pictures continuously.  The Swinging Bridge Restaurant served up buffalo steaks and burgers.  We had already had a big lunch so we decided to buy fresh baked apple scones and coffee for the trip home.  We continued to take pictures as we left Paint Bank just before sunset. The fields where the buffalo roamed were lush and green, so naturally that put me in mind of a song I get into my head when I see buffalo, and I sang it most of the way home. 

The thing that blesses me is the way the girls respond with joy and gratitude to the world around them.  A woman spinning wool made them a little bracelet and they loved that.  Then they were given a treat by the woman at the General Store, and they were so happy with that as well.  It was a lovely day in every way.  Paul and I came home refreshed and ready for the week ahead.  Enjoy the pictures.

Click on the play button to begin the slideshow:

Colors

The Blue Ridge Mountains are are so pretty in the Fall.  This weekend we plan to get out and enjoy the colors of the Autumn leaves.  We have some projects planned for the weekend, but we will be sure to take a break and enjoy the beauty around us.  The girls are both doing well.  I'll try to post some pictures as we take them during the weekend.

The Sermon on the Amount

Paul and I once attended a Christian seminar that was actually free, but in order for couples to attend future weekend seminars, the money had to come from donations.  When the time came to discuss this with the couples on our weekend, the minister leading the weekend said, "It is time for the sermon on the amount."  We are used to hearing the phrase, "Sermon on the mount," and they thought it was a good way to get our attention.

Recently someone asked how in the world we were managing the girls' health care with the rising cost of hospital bills and labs. This is the "sermon on the amount" for those who have been curious. There will be some readers who will not understand my answer because it will seem more a matter of luck or coincidence.

More than ten years ago, before we knew what the future would hold for us, Paul started designing a small rock drill.  Between his consulting business, working evenings and weekends, he designed his own product and worked very hard to bring it to the market place.  It took a very long time, a lot of investment, and a lot of faith.  This year, we have seen a miraculous change take place in Paul's drill sales.  Little by little they have sold until they are now in many different countries and what seems like "luck" to some folks is nothing short of a miraculous gift from God to us.  

The extraordinary part of this story is how far God has gone to supply the needs of two girls who started out life with several strikes against them.  Kathryn was abandoned at a train station in northern India.  Qavah spent the first seven months of her life in a hospital without the love of family to uplift her.  Now all these years later, God has given us the ability to meet their needs and we are blessed beyond measure when we think back to how He began by giving Paul a dream.  That dream became a prayer, then a project, long before it became the means to pay the medical bills that insurance does not cover.  We would appreciate your prayers for more drill sales this year, and we gratefully acknowledge the people who have been praying for the success of these drills for the past several years.  Our small group at church, our parents, and our friends, are all able to witness the provision that God has made for our girls, and we are so grateful for the way they stood by us and prayed for a return on our investment.

The sermon on the amount is this, give all that you have, and watch what God will do to bless the faith you have placed in His capable hands.   Don't worry about "how" you will manage in your own strength, think about how powerful God is to meet every need you bring to Him.  Then the Sermon On The Mount will come to life and His words will take flight in your spirit as it has in ours.

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5)

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I Love Weekends

Last week the girls had appointments to check out some health matters.  I also babysat, ran errands, and got caught up on the banking and paperwork that had accumulated during Kathryn's hospital stay.  I finished painting some trim in the front hall and put my last coat of varnish on a table I had been restoring.  Hooray, the weekend is here!  After attending a lovely bridal shower this afternoon, Kathryn and I came home looking forward to sunset.  The guys were finishing a project in the barn and we all gathered for dinner and the lighting of our Shabbat candles.  We are tucked in for the night and feeling the blessing of home, family, and rest.  

Paul and I would like to say "thank you" for the many friends and family members who still pray for our family, and particularly the girls.  We are not very strong on our own, but with God's grace, and the prayers of others, we have had what I believe is supernatural strength to meet the demands of our family.  As Christians, I am reminded that we are living out the life God had planned for us.  With His help we are able to accomplish far more than when the going was easy.  While Paul and I have many friends enjoying the quiet life of retirement we recognize that we have been called to something different in our twilight years. 

In reviewing our life together recently, Paul said, "I love having a little kid in the house."  I facetiously wondered if it is because of having a trail of toys in every room at the end of the day, or having to drive around a small bike left in the driveway. Then he said, "I just like seeing the Winnie-the-Pooh stool at the kitchen counter again."  From her step-stool, Qavah is learning how to run a kitchen and a home.  We're starting over, and it's exhausting but fun.  It may be because of our ages, but we truly have begun to love Sabbath rest.  Our hearts are quiet, and we know that tomorrow we will have ears to hear the Word of God with our brothers and sisters in worship.  We will also see Qavah at the front of the church listening to the children's sermon and then she'll wave to us like mad as she follows her friends to children's church.  Paul will probably squeeze my hand and we will both be thinking about the good life we have been given.  It is a gift.

The Weekend

Friday night started with a celebration.  I took Annelise and Qavah to see the Princess on Ice show at the civic center.  They were wide-eyed with the lights, music, and costumes.  Qavah met up with her friend Emily who was celebrating a birthday and they hugged before going to see the exhibit of Cinderella together.  The glass slipper, the dazzling princess gowns, and the joy of being a little girl made the experience one that the girls will remember with delight.

I had a weekend guest and, after having the whole family for dinner Saturday night, we got up for church on Sunday, greeted by a beautiful, balmy Fall day.  After spending time with my friend over lunch, we came home to the family and my friend said goodbye.  She had to drive back to Winston-Salem.  Our family spent some time during the evening praying for the upcoming week and then as if waking up from a dream it was Monday morning.

We are back to real life, routine responsibilities, and making sure the household is back up and running smoothly for the week.  Throughout the weekend I had a sense of joy that stayed with me as I cooked and cared for my family.  I had the real sense that God is in control and that there is nothing I need to do but to enjoy the life He gave me.  I'm so thankful for this season of peace for the girls.  

My Princesses:

The girls wouldn't turn around for a picture.  Cinderella had captured their attention:

And then there was the glass slipper:

A Princess admiring a Princess:

 

Qavah's Bravery

I left for Charlottesville Monday morning and took Qavah to a pediatric dentist.  It is a two hour drive.  The dentist had made a plan on our last visit to work on Qavah Monday morning and again on Tuesday morning, so I made plans to stay overnight in the area.  Qavah was numbed first on the right side and had four crowns, sealants, and two extractions.  After that trauma, we went to visit Aunt Jackie and Uncle John!  Qavah had forgotten most of the pain of the dental visit while there, and played with her cousin Laura until bedtime.  She had so much fun that when we went back to the dentist on Tuesday, she hopped right up in the chair for two more tooth extractions on the left side, two crowns, and more sealant on her molars.  It was an amazing amount of work and the dentist worked swiftly while Qavah was distracted by a movie.  I was amazed at Qavah's bravery and strength.  We had talked about the visit ahead of time, and how she might be rewarded for her courage.  We have something very special planned for Friday evening.  I think Qavah will remember in the future that being courageous for the right reasons will yield a worthwhile reward.  Since it is a secret, I'll write more about it on the weekend.

Kathryn is doing very well.  Paul took the afternoon off work and drove Kathryn to her appointment. Her GI doctor saw her yesterday and went over the notes from her hospital stay.  He explained some of his findings and together they worked out a plan to taper her off of the antibiotic she is now taking.  Then they made a plan to introduce food slowly.  Baby food is fine for now and she is holding steady at 84 lbs., but she is starting to crave a real meal.  She has had a good recovery and has been enjoying herself.  She went to the College and Career group at St. John tonight where she is meeting new friends and getting involved in the ministry.  Paul and I are so proud of her, for the way she keeps going, and for the way she chooses to surround herself with spiritually healthy people. 

On the way home from Charlottesville yesterday, I decided to stop in to visit Mom Campbell who was singing with her friends in a ladies' choir.  They rehearse at her church, and since I was driving by, I decided to take Qavah into the church to find her.  We followed the sound of music to a choir room and sat down beside her.  Mom and I haven't sung in a choir together since we lived in New Jersey many years ago. She shared her sheet music with me and we sang some good old hymns together.  The ladies were rehearsing for a singing engagement at a nursing home at the end of the month.  It was so nice to sing alto again with Mom, and after the rehearsal I got to meet the women who have been praying for our girls.  Their faces were so sweet, and they gave me the impression that they had found peace and contentment in this life, but look forward to the future life with joy. They will close their program with this song by the Gaithers:

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King (3 times)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We're going to see the King.

No more crying there, we are going to see the King (3 times)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We're going to see the King.

Thankfulness

The message this morning at church centered around the theme of thankfulness.  Only one leper out of ten went back to Jesus to thank Him for healing him.  I'm thankful tonight to have a church home where I am taught the truth and reminded to be thankful.  I'm thankful that my husband would take our son away for a weekend to spend time with him and five hundred other men to learn about the grace and forgiveness of God, and how to live the Christian life as leaders in their homes.  I'm thankful that Kathryn is eating bits of food throughout the day and appreciating every morsel including baby food without complaint.  I'm thankful that we met around the table at the close of the Sabbath Day to pray for the people we love and for the week ahead.  This has been a wonderful weekend in many ways and seeds of new beginnings have been planted.

Kathryn and I have read three chapters of her new book this weekend.  I'll close with this quote from the book because it spoke to my heart about remembering things for which I can be thankful,  and it is a reminder to give God the praise that is due Him.  "When nothing seems to be happening in the moment, when loneliness settles over your spirit like a lead apron, when pain and grief and anxiety conspire to push you to the edge of despair, remember God's mighty deeds in your life.  Remember His kindness, His special, tailor-made graces that fell out of the sky like a gentle rain." ~ Joni Eareckson Tada 

Order in the House

The battle against clutter is never-ending.  When we moved into our house many years ago I promised myself that I would go through all records, papers, and trinkets every seven years.  That was thirteen years ago, and rather than a few bags of trash, I need a dumpster.  Kathryn spent the day sorting through many years of "saved" stuff and asked herself, "Do I need to save this?"  She now has her room put back together and all of the things that are no longer necessary are going to be put out in the trash for Monday pick-up.  She feels free.  She feels powerful!  She feels like posting pictures!  Now, we put our feet up, relax, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.  Kathryn had some more noodles and broth today and it has settled nicely.  Thank you, everyone, for the prayers you have offered up for her.

Click on the picture to make bigger:
 

Quiet

Today Kathryn went to a follow-up doctor appointment.  I took her to the doctor who is studying her problems of inflammation and neuropathy in her hands and feet.  The drive was beautiful because it was a perfect fall day. Kathryn was told that she has two places in her spine where the discs are compressed.  The doctor thinks that when she is having bouts of inflammation, her spinal cord is being squeezed which causes the nerves to send pain signals to her neck and legs.  He recommended a drug for nerve pain, but she wants to talk to her other doctor to consider the side effects first.  From that appointment we went shopping for a couple of small items then drove home.

Our day was quiet and peaceful.  We were busy, but there is a quietness that has covered us, and it has made for a lovely start to the weekend.  Paul and Paul Burton went to a retreat in the mountains and we are home to relax and enjoy the cooler autumn days.  Kathryn has a plan to go through her stored college items and "weed out" unnecessary clutter from her room.  We thought we would be ready to post pictures, but that will come tomorrow, Lord willing.  We are ready to turn in for the night to read from the new book Kathryn received.  It is good to sit in our home and feel the quietness tonight.