Still Here

Salt Lake City

Hello,

Two months ago I thought we would have another place to live in connection with a job. Instead there is still no indication that there is anything out there for Leroy. We are moving deeper into the trusting God mode most days. We are neither wondering where our next meal is coming from nor are we unsafe so if we like, we can ignore God. But life still holds many blessings for us even if I have noticed sore muscles here and there from lengthen and strengthen.

Andy started a major re-insulating project in Olivia’s room. Leroy tells me that he felt he was even able to make some significant contributions to the effort. Tonight they are hoping to finish this task; however Leroy tells me that he does not know if he can again work so late. He is a much better morning worker, but then Andy is gone to work.

For Thanksgiving we used about half of a large can of pumpkin for the pie. Today I looked up a pumpkin bread recipe and proceeded to change it to my needs for less sugar and oil. I also had extra pumpkin that was not enough to double the recipe so even though I was not home I took off with my usual adjustment abandon and made two smaller loaves instead of one. In one of them I added a half cup of cranberries that were also left over.

The girls, Leroy and I ate half of each loaf. It does cement my belief that we are training our children to crave sweets because both girls had at least three slices in spite of the reduced sugar. These girls also eat my homemade whole wheat bread that has only about a tablespoon of honey, yeast, water, and flour.

Andy, who has a more serious sweet standard, ate one slice of pumpkin bread. He thought it was good, but it needed more sugar. Neither of us was surprised with that comment. I was not sure that he would like it at all.

Paula

Lengthen and Strengthen

Salt Lake City

Hello,

I was seriously thinking of skipping the exercise class this morning; however I called Miriam in Iowa to ask where the advent candles might be. She asked, “Are you going to go exercise?”

She could tell from my low key response that I had not really planned to do this. Her skill or forte is applying pressure to convince people to do what she thinks is right. I also caved in to her will and my own niggling guilt.

It was quite fine to be greeted with enthusiasm by the person who also comes to the Pilate and yoga classes. Course that woman is an extreme exerciser as she goes to one class every day and some days like today even goes to two of them.

I do not feel as sore now as I did last week, but maybe tomorrow will tell a different tale. One thing that helped was they talked a while before class started so we started five-ten minutes late, but I did not complain about not getting my money’s worth. On the walk home I did feel lengthened and strengthened.

Now if I could just think of something to have for supper (my word)/dinner (their word) that we would all like to eat. These little girls have rather narrow tastes and most of it is not things that I normally eat. Broccoli, bread, peanut butter, granola, scrambled eggs, cucumbers, carrots, and rice are the most common ground. Maybe the list is longer than I realized.

I made some rice because I have missed it and they all like it. Surely I can dream up something that will be acceptable to all. It is so wonderful that Leroy eats almost everything I put in front of him. I do not thank him enough for that.

Paula

The Farm

Salt Lake City

Hello,

This morning the girls and I met their Salt Lake adopted grandmother at the farm for a visit with Santa. As it turned out neither girl was interested in getting too close, certainly not close enough to sit in the sleigh with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Instead we spent time looking at locally made crafts. Then it was on to see the animals. We saw cows, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits, and a variety of birds including geese, ducks, chickens, and pigeons.

The best thing was to see the rooster stand on one leg and crow. Some of the geese or perhaps swans were standing on one leg while sleeping with their head tucked under their wing. Later someone came with a bag of bread to toss out. Suddenly we were surrounded by rushing honking geese and ducks.

Our last stop was the playground tower providing quite a lot of entertainment. We are well blessed indeed. I was especially happy to be invited on this type of outing rather than shopping.

Leroy and Andy did go shopping, mostly for the car, but Leroy also found a pair of jeans that he says fit him quite well. In addition he has been looking for another pair of pants to wear to church since he only brought one and the time is getting long enough that he would like to have two to create some variety. He found a pair in a catalogue that were a good price, but would you believe that their sizes started at 34 and he wears a 32. He got disgusted with that and quit looking. He did find a pair of mittens that I consider quite expensive. Leroy’s hands are often cold so he will pay for mittens hoping that price means warmth. These mittens look good and are partly down filled.

Miriam is off today to visit a friend in Iowa. She will come back Tuesday.

Paula

More clothes

Salt Lake City

Hello,

Leroy and I again went to the thrift store. Each Monday they have a rotating colored tag items for $1. Today it was purple tagged items for that lowly dollar. Leroy got some lounging pants as he is tired of wearing jeans all of the time. He might also wear these to work out. I brought medium weight pj’s as warmer night wear was on my list. I think people must wear out their pajamas because there were not very many to choose from. I did find a pair of large pajama pants with a draw string tie so I can hang them up on my hips. Not sure that they will be warmer, but it seemed worth a dollar to find out. Then I was looking for a robe as I would like to get up and write in the morning before I get dressed. The house is too cool to entice me to get out of bed so I am trying this garment that was also only a dollar. It has a rather funky design with leg holes. I have worn it this evening and I am not sure that I like it, but it will fill the bill for the morning writing if I manage to wake up in time to write. Miriam suggests that I could cut the bottom seam on this robe and make it just a normal bottom. I might yet do that. She does not have a sewing machine, but has borrowed one from someone else. I think we are blessed with our ability to find useful items for just a total of $3.

Neither Leroy nor I know how the time in each day disappears so fast, but it does. Today I never even had time to open a book, although I did read Sunday’s paper today. We also did not get to the gym, but tomorrow I will go to the Pilate class. I am going to dream about my strong core tonight so it will be a bit easier tomorrow. I do find this to be a challenge. I did not think the weights class was so much work because I used just five pound weights, but my muscles are sore. I am glad I started with wimpy low weights. Any higher weight and I would be most unhappy moving around today.

Paula

Sagging

Salt Lake City

Hello,

I must face the truth. I am sagging more than I used to. Even my four and three year old grandchildren have made comments. Lexi, in DC, is entertained to see my underarm skin flap when I wave goodbye. She is so entranced that she falls on the floor laughing and begs me to do it again. Even when on Skype she wanted to see the action. Then just yesterday as I was pulling on my underpants, Nora commented, “Old people have wiggly bottoms.” This was followed by great giggles.

Could this be true? I am working out at the gym. I am even going to classes two times a week and sometimes even three times. I lift weights on my own at least once or twice a week with a good ride on a stationary bike.

Leroy and I both watch a video of some tour as we take this bike ride. It is a bit disconcerting to go downhill because we need to pedal just about the same as going uphill. Well, in all honesty it is not just the same as it does require shifting gears, but it is not like being outside in the real world where it is more restful and breezy to go down a hill than in this contrived world.

I am also a little amazed that people think I am old. How can they tell? What gives it away? Surely the changes to my person have been minimal. Perhaps I need a reality check, certainly not a mirror check.

Paula

Settled In

Salt Lake City



Hello,



I am feeling settled in, but Leroy is poised on the edge ready to fly away if he just knew the destination. What a strange and out of time existence we are leading. Leroy really feels the lack of a job in terms of keeping himself occupied. I feel it because I am not ready to spend so much time with Leroy every day. I handle him better in smaller doses. Perhaps this is getting us ready for retirement and more constant interaction.



One of the girls said something yesterday that was both funny and brilliant. I, however, have forgotten what it was so you will be spared that quote. Aren’t you lucky?



Leroy and I are lifting weights three days a week. I will go to yoga again tomorrow. This yoga has elements of Pilate to it. I miss some of the routines that I had been used. After the Pilate workout yesterday, I know that I am not strong in my core; at least I could not hold still all of the body parts that were not involved in a maneuver. Hopefully in a month it will be better. There is a woman in the class who is 68, she has been doing this for a year, and she could put many people in the loser section. Maybe I can work up to that ability.



Tonight for our walk to look at Christmas lights, we found that one more house was ablaze in glory. It is quite nice to look at these lights with someone under the age of five. It adds to the appreciation.



I am happy to be here now because I know a day will come when Leroy and I will not be quite as interesting to these children as their world expands more and more. Next year Olivia will be in kindergarten.



Paula

Power

Salt Lake

Hello,

Yesterday the power came back on about dinner time so we were able to have a normal meal at home. It is so nice to have the electrical assistance when cooking. I will have to say that I was starting to feel a bit cool and in order to read I was using a flashlight. Leroy, Miriam, and Andy were gone on an errand while the girls had gone across the street to play with a friend. Earlier the group of little ones had come home determined to watch a movie. They were a bit put out that this TV did not work anymore than the neighbor’s had.

Leroy and I again lifted weights this morning. I have to confess that I did not put too much effort into it since I did not even work up a sweat. I should probably try harder.

Leroy gathered and “chopped” leaves that he put on the back area of the yard so they could decompose to enrich the soil. The yard looks good.

Leroy and I keep a list of passwords for our various internet places. Today we could not find that paper list. It was quite frustrating. Both of us were getting a bit grumpy by the time I finally found the file on the computer.

This evening the girls and I took a walk in the neighborhood. We saw four houses that had lights on for Christmas. One of them had quite the display with the other three being much more modest. Olivia exclaimed, “It is not even Christmas yet.”

Tomorrow there is again a Pilate class. I am giving myself a pep talk about the benefits of attending. It is a bit of a challenge for me. When I exercise with a tape I just slide into it without worrying much about form and reaching for the ultimate when I start. It pushes me more to be with live people.

Paula

Busy

Salt Lake City

Hello,

Both Leroy and I filled our day Saturday. Leroy went to lift weights at the gym and stayed to go to an hour class that had the same theme. He tells me today that his muscles are sore.

Drummer Andy went to church in the morning to practice with the band for Sunday service. Miriam and I went two hours later to practice with the choir. The girls went with us, however, for the early part of the time there they watched a movie and then they came in to practice with the adult choir. Andy and I then came home while Miriam stayed with the girls for the children’s choir practice.

At the end of that time we did not do so very much at home. That is so unlike my childhood Saturdays that routinely meant music lessons and cleaning the entire house, but not as thoroughly as would happen in the spring and fall. Certainly dusting and vacuuming was done as well as cleaning the kitchen cabinets, perhaps washing the kitchen floor, and cleaning the bathroom. Notice that word is singular? Only one bathroom in spite of four bed rooms.

Leroy is also busy napping in by turns with each of the girls. Now that is a hard job! At least he gets to sleep on the job. Usually he is sound asleep and they are still thinking about it when I check the status.

I will not get this posted this afternoon because we are without power for some unknown reason. The prediction is that it will be restored at midnight. It will be interesting to see how the night goes. We also had this happen one Sunday when we were visiting in Kenya. There darkness came at 6:30. Here, however, it will be a bit sooner than that. It will just be a little slice of life before electricity. Unfortunately we are not much geared to that concept.

Paula

Favorite Things

Salt Lake City

Hello,

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” That is certainly true in the case of my eight quart metal mixing bowl. My children do not have such a great bowl. However, I did not risk making bread and granola without my favorite large strong metal stirring spoon as it fit in the car very nicely. I used that spoon twice today. Once to make granola and once to make sour cream twists. It was wonderful to grip the handle and feel it easily move the ingredients around the edges to make a well mixed dough or thoroughly jumbled ingredients.

Tomorrow I will make bread (Leroy and Paula style whole wheat.) and more apple crisp. Leroy is talking about freezing some of the apple slices, but we have not done that yet. Miriam did make an apple cake plus we have eaten one or two apples every day. Such bounty to be had in the fall!

I am not sure it will be a favorite but this morning I went to a Pilates class. Only two of us attended so the instructor did an introductory class. It was good for me, and a bit of a challenge.

Tomorrow I will go lift weights in the morning. I will try to lift three days a week, Pilates once and yoga once. That ought to give me some regular exercise. Today Leroy went with me and lifted weights. I am not sure what he will do tomorrow as it is recommended that you rest one day when lifting weights.

Last night we played memory with the girls and Andy. I came in dead last both games. Little scary to think my memory is totally gone. Tonight, however, I got 15 matches. Andy was not there and I am not sure if that made the difference or what. At any rate I feel restored because of it.

Paula

New things

Salt Lake City

Hello,

This morning Leroy and I went to the gym with Miriam and got a month pass. This time I took along a photo id plus a piece of mail with my name and SLC address. How is that for being prepared?

The cost of $35 for a senior couple is quite within our idea of good use of our funds. It should help us to keep focused on our well being. I can even join a yoga class for that amount. I suspect that we will use the weights the most.

This morning we spent a bit of time on the machines. Miriam showed what she knew about and we both remembered some things from other times of using the machines.

Miriam has told me that my jeans were too short. Course the pair I stored is longer, but it might as well be in jail since I cannot easily get to it. So this morning it was off to the thrift store where I bought two pair of jeans for a $1 each. Miriam and Leroy both thought they were a little big, but I love the comfort so I got them. Leroy found one pair that was also $1. We are both feeling that we did not pack the right clothes for this long a time away from our supply. Somewhere in my subconscious I was sure that we would be settled in our next home by now. We will adapt.

We played a memory game with Andy and the girls. Leroy and I clearly came in last(me) place and second(Leroy) to the last place. We had better work on some brain activity. Perhaps that should be a daily task. I am not sure how it happens, but we do not do so many extra things as each day flies by.

Paula

Odds and Ends

Salt Lake City

Hello,

Yesterday morning Leroy and I got up as the snow was coming down. When I first looked there was no snow on the sidewalk. By the time we and the girls got dressed snow covered the walk and much of the road. The girls actually got ready in good time, but there was only one stroller out so Olivia needed to walk and that necessitated a change of clothes and boots. The wind was blowing snow in our faces so Nora decided to quit before we even reached the next house. Leroy was happy as he declared it quite difficult to push the stroller through the snow which was now over an inch on the sidewalk.

It was a nicely packing wet snow as Olivia soon discovered. She proceeded to throw snow balls at us. When we threw balls at her she turned her back as soon as she realized it would happen. We started doing the same. Consequently it took us a long, entertaining time to get around the block. The walk would have been quite different had it been just Leroy and I.

Even without shoveling, the snow has melted from the road and sidewalk. That is a treat, although I would have been happy to shovel for this first snow.

Another treat is that Miriam and Andy are bowling this afternoon and the girls are playing at a friend’s house. That means it is quiet, quiet, quiet around here. I miss quietness. You know that is how it is much of the time when Leroy and I are in our own space. We have both read the paper, eaten a snack, and I am now on the computer. We still do not do our routine exercising and devotions. I miss both of those things. Perhaps tomorrow?

Paula

Settled for a Time

Salt Lake City

Hello,

I think we are getting so used to traveling all of these distances. Leaving Bismarck it did not seem far to contemplate another trip of more than 400 miles. It was a great day with a little rest area hike down in the ND Badlands. Now Leroy says, “Perhaps I should just retire so we can camp in all of the places that we have been visiting. But I am not ready to not work at all.”

In Billings Leroy went to a pastor’s meeting and visited with one of his seminary classmates. He also met another person who graduated from the same school, but attended later than Leroy did.

Last night we spent a wonderful time in Billings, MT. It was wonderful to have just this great talking time. Then we also checked the weather on the TV, Ipod, computer, and radio. It was decided that we could leave in the morning and beat the winter storm that is coming the day after. They also helped us plan our route so we did not go too far west and encounter any rain, sleet, or snow. Instead we saw sunshine that gradually turned to cloud cover. We did see some snow on the ground at the higher altitudes but only in the grass and not the road.

We left Hanson’s with much more than we expected to receive: five books and four bags of apples. We will make some crisp or pie. We are happy.

Now we are at Miriam’s regrouping and considering our navels along with the future.

Paula

On the Road Again

Bismarck, ND

Hello,

We are once again traveling. In spite of the fact that I am really ready to settle down for a long time, we are once again going back to SLC to spend some time with Miriam and family. We talked about flying, but decided to be like turtles and haul most of our supplies with us. If it decides to warm up and become spring again we are ready for that.

We stopped to visit with some American friends we had met in Slovakia. It was just wonderful to spend some time talking, talking, and talking. Then there was the delicious lunch that they treated us to. This lunch contained more veggies than we would normally get on a traveling day. It satisfied my body and soul.

Tomorrow we go on to Billings to spend more time with friends. How great it is to have friends in many places. That makes us rich indeed.

For some reason I am very tired and I will not write long. Each time I leave one of these families there is the sadness that goes with parting. Then I just remember that I am seeing all six of my grandchildren in a relatively short amount of time and under ordinary circumstances that would not happen. Sometimes we are given gifts that we had not asked for.

Tonight in Bismarck we went to a diner for supper. I had tasty borscht accompanied by a spectacular sunset. Leroy’s soup was also very good, but I can neither spell it nor pronounce this dumpling dish. You just never know what you will find in any one place. Blessings pressed down and running over!

Paula

Field Trip

New Brighton

Hello,

Leroy and I arrived in DC just a day ahead of another field trip for Lexi’s class. This one was to the zoo, so we were quite pleased to be able to participate since we like zoos. Stephen’s parents were planning to go and they invited us to go along. Lexi was all concerned because she thought they might not want to have so many adults. After checking with her teacher, we went feeling quite necessary. Stephen’s father decided to stay home and help Sarah and Natalie.

Before we left the school, Leroy helped pack lunches for the children while Barb and I helped on the playground. For the trip itself, Leroy and I were assigned three girls as our responsibility while Barb was in charge of two others. This time we rode on the school bus.

The bad smell was noticeable on ascending the steps of the bus. Even though it was quite cool the “hatch” on the roof was open as was one window. This was really the slow bus to the zoo. When going up hill, I doubt that we went over 5 mph with a little more speed on the straight away. Barb said it took us 45-50 minutes to get there. At one point one of the teachers stood and said, “There is something wrong with the bus. The driver is going slowly hoping to save power. Another bus has been called, but we are planning to stay on this bus to the zoo if we can make it.”

We managed to get there and it was great to speed back in a different bus.

It is a trickier duty to chaperon three and four year olds in the zoo than in the building museum. Here in the wide open spaces with lots of hiding places, there was much more need to gather and count heads as at any moment a child could go off somewhere. We also found that two adults and three children might have been harder than one adult and two children. Our three girls did not all want to hold hands. It is that old formula about three people being a more difficult group than two, consequently it kept shifting as to how many and whose hands we were holding. I was a bit anxious that we would think the other adult was responsible for one of the girls and they would be gone. Luckily all children were accounted for at the end of the trip.

We saw the giant pandas, primates, and a new animal for us, the long nosed shrew.

Paula