Serenity

I love reading — always have, and have had alot of fun this year, receiving books (free!) to read and review. Very often, there are sequels to these books, either before the book I just read, or ones coming out later in the year. Thats when I turn to Amazon books to complete my library. I love reading through a series of books, and these groups that I belong to that have hooked me up with the various publishers to receive books, have introduced me to numerous series. Ethan is the same way. He got into the “Left Behind” series, and we ended up getting the whole set, over the course of time. I am so glad I passed my love of reading on to him. We can appreciate that common love for books in each other. For those who don’t like to read, they can’t understand this, almost obsession, we have with books and reading. But, I’ve loved to read ever since I was little, and it will be something I take to my grave with me.

When we go out of town, something else we need to add to the list of things that we need to get is bedding. When I washed our bedding yesterday, the insides of the bedspread bunched up in the middle. Its never done that before. We’ve had this bedspread for a long time, so I would say its time to get another one. I think the last time we bought bedding, we bought baby bedding. So, thats been a “day or two” ago. Its held up well, and I really liked it. But. Its time. To give it a decent burial and get a new one. Seems like we are having to replace alot of things lately. But. We’ve been married 25 years. We lived in this house for 14. We don’t replace things very often. Sometimes, its just time. With our bedding, it is most definately time. d

We all assume that when Ethan graduates, he will either go to college around here, or perhaps a technical college. Or if he decides college isn’t for him, I don’t see him going futher than 60 miles away from home to secure employment. And, as a mom, I’m pretty comfortable with that. I know the world is his for the taking, and he could venture out, checking into Dallas jobs, or Los Angeles jobs, Chicago or New York. I would worry, I would fret, and I would have him call home several times a week. But, if that is truly what he wants to do, where he wants to go, then I will do whatever I need to do to see that he achieves his dreams.

Tomorrow is another week of work, and appointments. I have a cardiologist appointment at 12:30, so I won’t have to miss much, if any work. I have quite a bit on my list of things to do at the church. I still can’t help but sit back and take in the beauty and newness that budgeting and planning did, in the form of a new church. I love working there. Our old building was dank and dark, with many stairs to navigate. The new church is all on one level, and the bathroom is just a few steps from my office, which I am grateful for. What we have done shows me what can be done when money is saved and budgeted. Several years ago, I would have said it wasn’t so. But, the proof is there now, where I go to every morning. And I am loving every minute of it.

We have one store in Emporia that I just love to go to. It is a Farm Supply store, so you will find cattle supplies and equipment repair parts and other various things that living on a farm would require. Including farm clothing, house decorations, cookware, and other things. It is an excellent place to go to buy an unusual gift for someone, all along the “country” theme, which, I love and you will find all over my house. This store just has this different smell to it that you won’t find at a normal retail store. And there is lots of denim and checks of various colors scattered throughout the store. I have bought David many gifts from this store as well as his mom and dad, and other family members. I truly do love this store.

David has several guns, but its been awhile since he has taken them out. When we lived out in the country, he used to go deer hunting when it was in season, but alot of times, he wouldn’t get anything. I’m not sure if Nikon rifle scopes would have helped him, he has problems with his eyesight as it is. But, a few years, he did get a deer, and we would have it processed, and have venisen (deer meat) all winter long. It was OK, but I can’t say that I miss it. I like hamburger better. Quite honestly, I’m glad that he doesn’t deer hunt anymore. Even though its a way of life out here in the plains of Kansas, and hunting is a necessity to keep the population down, I still don’t like being a part of it. What I don’t know or am not aware of, in this case works best for me.

I knew we would do this. We have known all year that our anniversary is the end of October. And that this year is a special year — 25 years. We’ve talked about various things to do, thinking of the Vegas vacations in the form of work that we used to take, or the mountains of Colorado, the changing leaves of Gatlinburg — we would love to get away and do something. But, we are only 3 weeks ago, and still nothing planned. I have thought about inviting all of David’s family to a large family supper at a local eating establishment. Or. Maybe just buy him something … that I wouldn’t normally buy him. I actually have the funds to do that these days. We really need to get something nailed down. I would really like to see us mark this special day with something more than the normal going someplace to eat and wishing each other happiness. With the blended family, and working for a family owned business, we have encountered alot of rocky road. But we go through them, and can proudly say that we are been married for 25 years. In today’s society, that is a major accomplishment.

I told David to put on his calendar that we are going to go shopping next weekend. Our city does a city-wide clean up twice a year, picking up anything and everything. Furniture, appliances. Branches. So, alot of times, we will buy things for the house around this yearly pick-up. This spring, our dishwasher hadn’t worked for a couple of years. So, we bought a new one the weekend before the pick-up, and was able to dispose of it easily and simply.

David has been talking about getting a new recliner. The couch he sits on isn’t very comfortable. If we are going to do it, this is the time to do it. We will probably go to Topeka and check the various different furniture stores for the best buy. If we went to Emporia, we could only check one store. And staying here in town, we only have one option, and its not even a furniture store. So, I’m not sure thats the route we want to go. I do feel good that I have enough money put back that I can do this for him. Our anniversary is this month, so I will be able to kill two birds with two stones that way.

We have a fairly low unemployment rate in our county, with various manufacturing plants in the area. I drew unemployment for a few months back in 2000, when the manufacturing plant that I had worked at for 18 years shut its doors. Long story — it was a family owned business, our family. David’s mom and dad. They sold it to this guy from Texas in 1997, and it only took him 3 years to run it into the ground, and take the county for several hundred of thousands of dollars. We saw it coming, and yet, a handful of us rode it out to the end. I actually was glad I could draw unemployment for a few months, just to take a breather before getting back into the work force. But. It didn’t work that way. Less than a month in, I slipped on ice and broke my arm. So, I spent most of the time recuperating. And then it was back to the grindstone. I actually thought I was compromising — I applied for a couple of part time jobs … thinking I could just work part time. But as it turned out, they both hired me, and its been full time employment ever since.

I am reading a couple books at this time, one of which one of the characters is facing drug rehabilitation. It hit home with me, having a son several years ago, who we had drug and alcohol issues with — and did have him stay at a hospital for 2 weeks for depression. It was a rough time of our life, but we got through it. I firmly believe that though we didn’t admit him to a drug rehab facility, he would have benefited from it, just as he did the facility we had him admitted. They are trained to redirect the lives of the people there, in ways that we, as parents, often are not. Sometimes love is not enough. I am so glad we got Matt here. He is now 31 years old, and is a responsible, respectful adult, who has been at the same job for over 5 years, is taking a night class now besides work, and is just a joy to be around. He’s come a long way!