Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace
And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Still In Texas

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Well… today is my sweet husband’s birthday and he is alone in China.  If everything had gone as planned I would have been there to celebrate with him, but unfortunately that was not to be.  I sent an email with all my ‘Happy Birthday’s’ so that he would see it first thing when he got up for his 4am conference call.  Sang to him as soon as he called me, albeit long distance… at least I tried.  But not being there was still disappointing.

I can hear it in his voice when I talk to him... he has had enough alone time.  The stress of taking care of everything can get to be too much very quickly.   Help is on the way though...Jason, our son, will be heading to China on August 26 and I know that will be so exciting for both of them.  I have sent several B-day presents with him so that Michael will have a belated birthday celebration.  He is going to be so surprised!!!

I spent yesterday making reservations for him and Jason to go to Beijing.  They will stay in a hotel only 10 mins from Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City.  Then set up a tour to the Great Wall, but not the same section that we did with the family in June.  I wanted them to see something new together and make it more interesting for Michael.  They will have a full day of activities, but the main thing is the Great Wall.  They will get back to Shanghai on September 1.

I will be leaving here on September 2 for Shanghai myself.  I made my reservations a couple of days ago.  I will be back so that we can all go around Shanghai and see the sights together.  At least I will get to be a part of the visit.  I really did not think I would be able to handle the walking and the heat so soon after surgery, so I set up the Beijing trip for before I get there.

I will see the doctor on August 29 for my follow-up and am confident that all is well.  I feel great and this time surgery has been pretty easy on me.  Everything is taken care of now… so time to get back to my life. 

As I look back on the chain of events that brought me back to the US, I am feeling that there was some divine intervention going on.  Had I not, I would not have gone to the doctor and none of these issues would have been found and taken care of… so God was definitely working his miracles… and I am so grateful. 

It will be hard leaving the family and Maggie after being back for such a long time.  But the few months until January will pass quickly.  We will be back before they know it!

Jason and Dennell will be exchanging nuptials on January 14.  We will be back for the wedding festivities and then I will stay on for another few weeks after Michael has to go back.  This is our last one to marry and he has waited a long time to make sure this is THE one.  We are very blessed to have her in our lives too.

This week is going to be pretty hectic.  Tomorrow I will be dining at the middle school with Kendall.  Thursday I will be at the elementary school from 11am with Austin, then 11:45am with Brooklyn and wrap it up with Wade at noon.  At least I will have eaten lunch at school with all the younger ones.  Bailey is a freshman this year and it would not be ‘COOL’ to have MawMaw there for lunch… so won’t be hitting the high school scene!  You know…I might embarrass her!!!  Could not chance that one!!!

Friday is adult day… Marcy, Jennifer and I are going to be lunching at the Victorian Tea Room in downtown Mabank.  Don’t laugh… the food is wonderful!  My friend, Connie, and I had lunch there last week and I was amazed at how yummy the food was.  It is only open during the week so I had never been able to eat there… but we actually had to wait on a table… the place was full!!!  And once we tasted the food, it was obvious why it was packed!   

Then, Friday night, Bailey is having a Birthday slumber party… but I am guessing there will NOT be much slumbering going on!!!  If memory serves me…. Five or six 14 year old girls are not a recipe for sleep or anything else for that matter, except giggling and mischief!!! 

Sunday is actually her birthday and we will be having a family celebration then.  It is kinda funny… I made out her card and b-day present weeks ago before when I thought I was leaving to go back to China…  I am so ahead of the game this time!! 

The first three days of next week will be spent in Dallas for various appointments… then out on Friday.  The time is so booked that it will fly by… ARG!!!  As happy as I am to get back to Michael, I am equally sad to be saying goodbye again to my family and friends. 

Until the next posting… have a blessed day!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Back on the ranch… if only for a visit

Sunday, August 7, 2011

It has been a while since I posted anything.  Somehow it seems the days pass quickly and writing falls to the back burner.  I am really sorry for not keeping up better.  But let me see if I can quickly catch you up.

I could not have been more giddy when I saw the kids at the airport.  It was so wonderful to be back on Texas soil.  However that blast of hot air was all too familiar and I knew instantly that I was in the midst of a hot Texas summer. 

I have to admit, the first stop on the way home was a What A Burger!  My mouth was watering just thinking about it.  Michael and I both had talked about craving a What A Burger so I had to have one.  Terrible choice…fast food… but what the heck!  When the first bite hit my taste buds it was heavenly!  Not sure if it was because I was hungry from the flight or simply because it was home and familiar, probably a bit of both, but nothing had ever tasted so good!  I devoured it!   I have since had a second round with this wonderful taste of Texas.

It was strange being behind the wheel of my car.  I had not driven for 6 months.  The kids were teasing me and warning other drivers to beware.  But honestly, after a few minutes of getting the feel again, it was a piece of cake.  And now I think nothing of it.  The first time I put gas in the tank I almost croaked.  I knew gas prices had soared since I left, but seeing it on the pump made it real.

Also coming in the house for the first time in 6 months… Jennifer and Kendall had cleaned the house for me so everything was nice and clean. I was kinda disoriented...  I felt like a guest.   Maybe partly because I was not staying very long initially and could not allow myself to settle in, it would have made leaving that much more difficult.  But I have settled in and it feels good to be home.  But it will be hard when it is time to leave again.

Maggie was waiting for me when I walked in the door that first night.  Although she was all over me… she would not look at me and behaved with a bit of indifference.  She was thoroughly PO’d at me… without question!  It took a couple of days for her to get over it… then it was like I had never been gone.

I have also consumed my weight in Mexican food.  I never tire of the wonderful favors and smells of a good Mexican restaurant.  That first Sunday home I met an old colleague from Fiserv, Natalie and her husband, Jeff, at the Jalapeno Tree in Gun Barrel City.  Not my favorite place, but there are a couple of really good dishes.  My brother, Jack and I, have had a couple of trips to Ojeda’s… which is excellent Mexican.  And the kids and I have been to La Fuenta several times since my arrival.  When I leave, I will have satisfied my hankering for Mexican food.

My BFF, Connie and I had Italian at one of our favorite places in Plano.  That was my first shopping day once I got home.  It was great being able to find clothes and shoes and other wonderfully familiar things.  I loved every minute of the day… and I am not typically much of a shopper.  I guess when you have been mostly cut off from doing it; it makes it more enjoyable when you get to.  Either way… it was all good.

It has been wonderful going to my home church.  I have so enjoyed Sunday school and the church services.  It is great seeing everyone too.  It really felt like coming home.  The church in Shanghai has been such a blessing, but nothing like your home church.

I have so loved being with the kids and grandkids.  Brooklyn and Austin have both spent the night with me.   I walk up to Jennifer’s most every morning before it gets too hot and visit with them.  The walking is in part exercise for me. But Maggie is loving it too.  I watch the kids swimming in the pool and just being kids.

We went to Canton on First Monday.  Although it was ridiculously hot, we still had a great time.  We walked through the buildings with no A/C first and then headed to the A/C’d barn when it got too hot.  I managed to find several things with my name written all over them.  So all in all it was a very productive day!

I am loving being home so much I extended my stay… until August 8.  That would be tomorrow.  However, I will be staying a little longer.

I have taken care of some necessities while here too.  A visit to the dentist… check, the hair dresser… check, and the doctor… check.  While getting my exam at the doctor, we discovered a little problem that needs tending to.  So I cancelled my travel plans for a little day surgery and recovery.  It will all be fine once I take care of this… it just was not in my plan.

Poor Michael has had to batch it a little longer than we planned.  And he had to endure a little typhoon as well.  But we talk almost every day, so that helps.  So say a little prayer for him… he is fairing ok, but he is under a great deal of stress right now.  He has lots going on with work, but mostly he is there and I am here, dealing with my issues… so he is doing a bit of worrying, although I tell him not to.

So that is a quick summary of what has been going on with me… so remember me in your prayers… and take good care until next time.

PS… here are a few pictures of fun in the pool…