The weather is telling us that fall has officially begun, after a delightful time of an Indian summer.  I love the fall weather... sweatshirts and jeans, cozy blankets, chili, (coffee is a year round delight)... all the comfort things that you look forward to when it just begins to get chilly.  And my allergies have been tolerable this year, which makes it even more delightful. 

I didn't fully mean to let the whole month go by without blogging... but it did.  Not that I have anything of interest to really say, but I do not want to let this little xanga blog die, no matter what some may say.    I enjoy reading the updates of you all, so maybe you enjoy reading mine... even when they are of little consequence.

So, this past month, here are some recaps of happenings...

• I got my carpeting cleaned, so it feels nearly brand new again!  It had needed it severely, probably three years ago or so, but we finally had it done.  We also had our two couches cleaned, as well as two chairs.  So it's all fresh and spiffy again.    Maybe that will inspire me to get some more projects done around the house... I guess we'll see on that.
• A two month battle with 5th/3rd bank was resolved this month, so I am greatly thankful for that.  In July, the bank made a mistake, and paid property taxes from our escrow to a neighboring county.  They recalculated the escrow amount to include our county as well as the neighboring county, so they wanted an extra $1,000+ from us, in addition to an extra $200 per month in payments.  I was on the phone who knows how many times, continually talking to someone and then their supervisor, as well as a local person at this bank branch.  They finally saw that it was an error, but getting that money back into our escrow account proved to be a difficult thing.  However, it did get resolved, so I am happy... happy that it is over... and hoping I don't have problems like that again.
• My dad isn't doing well.    He's had pleuresy and something else for a month now that will not subside.  Many things have been tried, and he's now doing one more round of antibiotics to see if that will have any effect.  I am taking him to his cardiologist on Friday to see if there is anything going on with his heart.  Things have seemed to settle in that area in his chest, and he feels like there's fluid or something around his heart, as it "jostles" in his chest.  He had a massive heart attack two years ago in the spring where they revived him three times.  This pain isn't like that, but it is still a concern... and he's in constant pain.  I hope we get some answers on Friday... or at least begin to get answers.
• We've been keeping busy at work... which we are thankful for... but it will be nice to turn this crazy corner and settle back into something a little more "normal"... whatever that is.
• Asher is adjusting to life on a college campus... though Saint Joseph's is a catholic campus, it's as secular as they come.  The environment is very challenging.  He is doing well in his classes, though, and he's wreaking havoc with conservative logic in all his discussions.  The liberal mindset seems to be the norm of the college mind, which is unfortunate.  He hasn't had any playing time on the soccer team, except for a few minutes in an exhibition game.  Though this is quite frustrating, he is continuing to work hard and "put in his time."  (He works out extra to deal with his frustration, in general... which means he is very fit.  )  There are going to be a couple of reserve games played this fall, so he should get quite a lot of playing time in them.  He knew this would be a year of learning and growing, as far as soccer goes, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get under his skin.  Pray for him, if he crosses your mind, that his faith will be strengthened as he walks in these difficulties. 
• Our friend who has Hodgkins disease is doing well.  He's had four chemo treatments, and his body is responding.  Their family is doing well, too, so we are all very grateful to the Lord for His protection, direction, and provision.
• I'm reading Hagai right now, along with Psalms and John.  I think it's interesting that Hagai speaks to three main attitudes or emotions that had developed in the people of his time... disinterest, discouragement, and dissatisfaction.  Though the circumstances may be different, I think the pattern his people were in fits us now.  We may not be at fault for not building God's temple, while we beautify our own homes, but we may very well be at fault in not building God's kingdom, while we focus on taking care of our own stuff.  I know I'm speaking for myself here.  Then the discouragement that sets in, once we do set about God's business.  It doesn't look like we think it should or come out the way we thought it would... even if we are doing all that we are supposed to.  And then the dissatisfaction that it's not like it used to be.  Perhaps we have experienced supernatural events in the past, and things just aren't moving that way right now, in the areas that we're working on and praying in.  Maybe it seems that God's glory was bigger and better in something that already happened... maybe years ago, maybe just yesterday.  I am challenged by all this.  Those three words resonate in my heart... and I repent of letting them stay.  In and of myself, I can change nothing.  I can't even muster up a bit of interest, encouragement, or satisfaction.  I maybe can for a day or a moment, but not for real, for an enduring time.  But I am so grateful that I know the One Who can.  By and through and with and in (and every other preposition you can think of) His grace and Holy Spirit, these things are possible.  Not only possible, but promised.  In that, I can take hope.  And I can let Him bring me to the end of myself and not be afraid of what will be left.  That is my hope, and that is my prayer.

Well, that is my update for this month.  Perhaps I will have more to update next month?  Who knows.    May the Lord draw us all closer to Himself, that we will become more and more like Him, and less and less stuck in ourselves.  Truly, that He may be glorified in all our lives.  Amen and amen.

The week begins, and there's much to do... as there always is.  Some of it *must* get done, and a bunch of it *should* get done.  We'll see how that goes. 

I took Rein to his eye doctor this morning.  He gouged his eye on Saturday evening with his thumb.  He was lifting a heavy roll of vinyl, and his hand slipped.  His thumb ripped his glasses off and gouged his eye.  It was a pretty good gouge (or bad, if you will.)  We put some natural drops in it to clean it out and help it begin to heal, and he layed low (I grounded him) the rest of that night and all day yesterday.  He is much better today.  Thankfully, the eye heals quickly, and we had *many* people praying for him.  His doctor gave him some antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ointment that will further keep the eye from getting infected, as well as give a bit of comfort.  He also bought sun glasses to go over his regular glasses, as all light makes it uncomfortable.  So, he went from feeling like he had just stuck a knife in his eye, to feeling like there was sand paper in it, to now feeling like he's been punched in the eye along with the sand paper.  Well, he *did* punch himself in the eye, so that makes sense.  Any way, our county fair is this week, so he'll be working all day as normal as he can, and then sitting at his booth at night at the fair.  Aimee and Tori set the booth up and have been covering these past two days.  He usually airbrushes at the fair, so we'll see if he heals well enough to want to do that.

Other than all that stuff I need to get done, I don't have much on my schedule this week.  I love weeks like that.    Not that things couldn't come up, but at least for now, it doesn't look too complicated.  I may or may not venture over to the fair (it's literally just across a field from our house.)  Sometimes I enjoy going, and sometimes I enjoy avoiding the entire event.  It might depend on whether or not I get a craving for some of that deliciously awful-for-you fair food.    Though, for that reason, I'm sure it'd just be better for me to stay home.

Any way... have a wonderful week, no matter what you have going on!

Happy

Birthday

America!