Windy!

Hello everyone! It’s late Monday afternoon here and I’m at the lake enjoying the beautiful blue sky. It is really windy though. I just took a couple of photos for you and you can see that the wind is blowing almost 20 mph and has been all day long!

I guess you can’t tell very well in these photos. It was all I could do to remain upright to take these photos a few minutes ago. These are my favorite color of iris. Aren’t they gorgeous?

I bought a bowl of beautiful flowers to sit on the stairs. You can see which direction the wind is blowing by the way the grass is pointed!

This is a little bit better picture of the flowers. Aren’t they pretty?  I always like to have a bowl of flowers on the trailer steps in the summer. I think it makes things much more homey and welcoming.

Last week I dropped off a batch of baby hats and blankets to Holy Family Hospital. The nurses told me they are out of the burial buntings that I make so I told her I would make more.  My friends, it really depresses me to make these, but the nurses tell me that it brings the family a lot of comfort and often they keep the bunting as a momento. They are very easy to make and I would encourage you to see if your local hospital could use them. The nurses repeatedly tell me that it is good for the parents to see their baby wrapped in something pretty instead of just a hospital blanket. It does make it worthwhile. I would be happy to supply the pattern that to anyone that would like it.

The first Hermione sock finally has the heel completed. I love the colors of this yarn, but my goodness it is splitty. It is Knit Picks Felici sport yarn in the color “Dockside.”

My back is doing fabulous! I see the spine doctor on Wednesday and I’m so excited to tell him that. I don’t know how long this Botox injection will last, but it’s been like an absolute miracle. I can’t say that enough. I am over the moon! I’ve been able to work in the yard. I have been able to take walks. I have been able to stand for more than five minutes and visit with people. I am so happy right now.  The hardest thing is to try not to overdo it.  I can’t wait to be able to book a flight somewhere!  

Alex asked me if I could find any pictures of him with Mutsuko. Mutsuko’s family hosted Alex when he first went to Japan when he was 13. Mutsuko lived with us while completing her bachelors degree and Alex lived with her family in the summer while teaching in their private school for several years beginning when he was 13. She is like a daughter to us and we miss her very much. She was in her 30’s when this photo was taken! Doesn’t she look 16?  I think Alex was 14 or so.  She’s beautiful inside and out.  I have gotten to visit with her several times when I’ve gone to Japan to visit Alex.

And, just last week Alex sent me this picture. This is Harumi. Harumi also lived with us while she completed her degree. She is married and has two children now. I find that so hard to believe. Harumi is absolutely wonderful. She is also like a sister to Alex. Just like Mutsuko. She calls us Mom and Dad and I actually arrived in Tokyo just hours after the birth of her first baby. I was able to see him right away. I can’t wait to go back to Japan and see my two girls there. I hope it will happen soon. I was so glad they got to meet up with each other again last week. Alex just happened to be in her office building in Tokyo. What are the odds of that?

And I thought I would leave you with a photo of our place at the lake that I took Friday evening. This is definitely my happy place. It is so peaceful and quiet here. I wish I could stay here year-round but I know that isn’t possible. It’s not unusual to have 4 to 5 feet of snow in the winter here.

I’m hoping that each of you are having a wonderful day.  I know that I tell you all often that I’m praying for you for various things that you have happening in your life.  I write them down in this notebook and I pray for them each and every day.  When I tell you I’m praying they are not just empty words. Even though I haven’t met most of you in person, I care very much for each and everyone of you.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Philippians 4:6

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  Ephesians 6:18

Blessings Always,

Betsy