This crazy, beautiful life....

I'll start with the story and follow it with pictures.

It was an absolutely wonderful weekend with Matt and with old friends whom we dearly miss!!! We arrived Wednesday, got the Sonic meals we've been craving for quite some time and are completely off our diet, and picked Matt up from school. We had dinner at church and got the chance to catch up with a lot of folks, and I stayed for praise band rehearsal (fun!). Karl was in different praise band when we were in IL, and there have been some big changes there, so he hasn't gone back. It's a shame because I know he'd love to get back with that group too. But I digress....

Thursday was Matt's cross-country meet in Chester, IL. It was a beautiful but chilly day, and we hung out with Amanda all day. Mary came over and brought her two little angels: Katherine (17 mos.) and Sarah (2 mos.). It was nice to spend some time with them. Then we went to watch Matt run! He improved his time by 45 seconds, and we were so proud to cheer him on at the finish! The team is a great group of about 20 kids. They are so encouraging and supportive of each other; any competitiveness seems to be very good-natured. Of course, in cross country, your real competition is with yourself. Amanda's husband, Brian, coaches cross country at another local high school. His team's shirts last year said, " Our sport is your sport's punishment." How true! As Matt pointed out, these young people aren't running because it will make them popular as some sports will. They are running because they love the sport, and they are a down-to-earth, dedicated and hard-working group. After the races, some of them met at Mariachi's for a late dinner. We went along and sat at another table; we didn't want to cramp his style, you know. The waiter brought out hats and a dessert for one girl who was celebrating her 18th birthday. It was fun to watch them goofing off and good to see Matt right in the middle of it all. I still have a hard time recognizing him as a teenager rather than a child sometimes, but that night, he was definitely a young man. Karl bought everyone's dinner. I was surprised when he told the waiter he'd take care of the bill, but when I asked, Karl said it was because he doesn't have enough chances to spoil Matt, and he wants to take any chance he can. It was a wonderful night.

Friday was pretty laid back. I did paint the baby's room for Amanda and Brian. Brian hates painting and Amanda isn't supposed to "in her condition." That was about it, I think.

Saturday, we did some running around and visited our former neighbors, Steve and Peggy and Rose (whose dear husband, Milton, passed away this summer). It was so nice to see them! Saturday night was a chili dinner with lots and lots of old friends!!! We saw Becky and Jonathon, Emily Z, the Nees, the Kassebaums, Amy S....I know I'm forgetting someone...and we enjoyed plenty of laughter and food.

Sunday was church, lunch with Amanda, Brian, Dave B, Becky & Jonathon at 54th Street Grill (YUMMY!!!), dinner with Chris and Rachel D. at St. Louis Bread Co. (boy, I've missed that place), and pool and Rams football at Bethany & Brandon's. Another great day!

Yesterday was tough. The goodbyes are so hard with Matt. We all held it together this time... until we were apart. I am so very proud of him, and I miss him so much. I just keep praying that the AF will see fit to send us back to Scott AFB to see him through high school graduation. Our plane was delayed by an hour and a half, so we got home extra late last night. I have things I have to do today, so I need to hit the ground running, but I really need a couple of days to recoup, do laundry and clean house!

My Papaw R is not doing well. A couple of days after his surgery, his blood pressure dropped terribly low, and his heart rate and temperature went up. After a day in intensive care, he's been moved to intermediate care and will be in the hospital for several days, receiving IV antibiotics to fight an unknown infection. He will also have another procedure to put stints in his kidneys/bladder. He is talking some but is very confused and disoriented, and he keeps pulling his IV out.

It's a pretty day here, and I have a lot of catching up to do, so I'd better run. I'll post some pictures first though!