Sneaking this one in before the end of the month...
1. Because it's fresh in my mind, our Sunday driving misadventure included...
#1: driving to KC at a good time before snow accumulated... but then not driving straight home.
#2: The first indicator of issues involved getting stuck behind another stuck car on a road which involved us going back down a hill and trying an alternate route.
#3: On our alternate route we were going a good pace, but then were cut off by another car which resulted in getting stuck on a hill on a highway with several other vehicles.
#4: After a truck with chains helped us off that highway, we tried 3 different roads to get to our house (which was constantly within 2 miles), but kept getting stuck on hills. During this time a mustang spun out in front of us and as we backed away we backed into someone else. Who didn't exchange info with us because she had no insurance and all she was out for was gas for her car.
#5: Finally I decided we should just go downhill for as long as possible and find a parking lot to get off the roads. Which was a good idea. I found a parking lot at a big park near us and realized I could drive for as long as possible through the park without traffic in our way and at least get us closer to home. Which was a bad idea.
#6. This drive through the park resulted in (surprise surprise) getting stuck on a hill and in my 3point turn to get back down the hill, got my back two tires just off the road enough that we were really truly stuck. Several phone calls later and our good friend came and helped us shovel out, park in the park rest area, and drove us home.
(I told you these wouldn't be so quick)
2. My greatest joy at work right now is Wednesday evening PSR. We have both Sunday and Wednesday classes, and our Wednesday class is only 15-20 kids in various grades, most of whom are 1st and 2nd grade students. I teach a small group of older children... usually consisting of a couple of 3rd graders, a 4th grader and a 5th grader. They read through their lessons and I walk around and ask them to be able to tell me what they are reading, define words, describe what they've learned in their own words, etc. They have been so self starting, interested, involved, and overall joyful kids to be with!
3. I broke down and created a full sized (8.5x11) agenda for myself (versus the mini binder and paper I'd been using). I'm able to fit my work loose papers in it and be more creative with the layout.
4. Recently I've been reflecting on how brokenness is not always sinfulness (although brokenness is in the world because of sin), but still needs reparation. My thoughts on this go in circles a bit.
5. I've adopted another podcast since my last blog. The Lanky Guys (technically called Word on the Hill, and the podcasters are known as the Lanky Guys, but you can find the podcast by searching for the Lanky Guys) cover the upcoming Sunday readings. They seem to make a lot of the same points each year (they've been doing this for upwards of 6-7 years), but it's still nice that they give a whole bunch of context and they really try to pull together all 4 readings (yes, including the responsorial psalm).
6. So far macadamia nut "milk" is my fave dairy alternative.
7. Avoiding the sorrowful...
My grandpa had some polyps that were causing obstructions near his pancreas, gall bladder, etc., so they decided to go for surgery to remove them on Nov. 12th. Because it is a major surgery and he'd be laid up for a long time, my dad brought him along on our new annual tradition of watching a KState game in Aggieville on Nov. 10-11th. The surgery the next day seemed to go well, but he developed complications including pneumonia, a collapsed lung, and his heart could no longer handle the stress. On Nov. 18th, as my family surrounded him, he passed away. Thanksgiving week for us thus included my brother getting emergency leave to come home, the rosary on Friday and funeral on Saturday. It's surreal and heart breaking to reflect on my last three weekends.
