First Week of Sabbatical

UPDATE: Oops. Thank you, Jeni (of Down River Drivel), for pointing out that I neglected to post that I am beginning a sabbatical. I forgot, having posted it elsewhere, that I never said anything about it here! So I'm adding this at the beginning. Yep, I will be away from my church until October 28. I started last Monday. I'm not sure how much I will be posting about what transpires. I suppose that all depends, right?

Back to the original post:

I've only received four phone calls that were church related. Not bad. It will be different next week when I am mostly out of town.

It has been a difficult week--mostly issues with my mother at the nursing home. I don't want to post about it except to say she seems to vacillate between three "personalities." One is depressed and crying, very disoriented, and confused and sad about it. The second is furious, totally lacking in reason, full of hatred and anger. The third is somewhat "normal" -- at least somewhat aware of things, smiling and generally sweet.

My sister with Alzheimer's fell and broke her leg. She is going into surgery about now. Thinking of her makes me very sad.

Enough about that.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. The sky was partly cloudy but the air was balmy and the sun was warm. I'm not a shopper, generally, but once in a while I get in the mood. So I drove to Sheboygan for a mall visit, and I took the camera. Here is a bit of what I saw on the way.

The soy bean fields are glorious right now. The pictures just don't capture it, but you get the idea.

Even the weeds and grasses along the roadside are beautiful.

Some fields are golden yellow and some are a deep amber.

My shopping trip resulted in some new decor for the wall...


...and the table. I made the arrangement myself, and bought new place mats--and other stuff.



In the afternoon, Tara a.k.a. "Little Red" came over for some conversation before she heads out for some intensive training and then a missionary journey to Africa. I don't know what God has in store for her, but it is a blessing and a joy to have had a part in her life. Oh, to be 22 again--as long as I know what I know now!

I'm spending the next couple of days cleaning a badly-disorganized home office and I may sneak over to the church to clean up my office there too. I'm in get-rid-of-stuff mode...Odd, since I just acquired stuff yesterday. I'd take a before and after picture, but it is too embarrassing. ;-) Next week I'm off to a silent prayer retreat.