I JUST READ

several of my friends' blogs, and they all sounded so very interesting. I hardly know what to say. My computer has been ill, and I haven't been able to get on---but now it's better and I think I have caught up with all my interesting blogging friends.

Not too much new here. I cut the boys hair a few days ago (& Dean's). I love cutting hair, and I think I'm getting better at scissor-cutting. Anyway Dean's always looks pretty good.

We've been on antenna for several years now, and we were going to get the converter boxes for HD TV. But..... I read an article that says they don't all work, and some don't work well. So we decided to get DISH Network instead of fooling w/the boxes. We got the family package and I really like all the channels we get, plus it's the most inexpensive one they had! I especially like Hallmark and Hallmark Movie Channel and the DIY and ID channels. And of course the kids love Boomerang and Animal Planet etc. So I think we made good choice.

I've been reading a lot this summer, and really enjoying it. So many good books and so little time!

I'm taking the boys tomorrow and Friday as Sherri is busy as usual. All of her children are pleasant to have and are at such a good (& easy) age to have around! In two years we will have the trauma (like my friend Trish) of having to go through Bekah learning to drive and taking Driver's Ed. I'm thinking we should start teaching her now. Back in the "olden days" when I learned to drive, everyone could already drive by the time they had driver's ed. Believe it or not, I could drive at 9. And we had stick-shifts! Bekah does drive the tractor, but I think she and Katie actually could learn some basics in a big parking lot. Hmmmmmm. :-)

My theory (not having kids to take care of most of the time) is that during the HOT summer, we should sleep in the day and do work at night. Does anyone agree with this, or am I crazy?

Well, good night for now.........

PATRIMONY

is the name of the book we discussed at our "book-talk" group at the library tonight. It's written by Philip Roth---author of PORTNEY'S COMPLAINT & GOODBY COLUMBUS and others. It's a moving, somewhat depressing (but good) memoir about his relationship with his father, particulary the last year of his life. Patrimony is the legacy or birthright from father to son in the Jewish Community. This book is "real", sad, and touching. Most of us like it and thought it well-written and honest. This book was very different for this author, and he did a great job.

Sherri and I brought the snacks tonight, and after we cleaned up (they only ate her dessert b/c it was soooooo good & mine was just brownies!) we went to the sidewalk cafe for a sandwich and soda. We had such a good time gabbing we sat outside until after 10 p.m.! So fun to do stuff without kids once in awhile. Let's do it again Sherri!!

However both of the girls are in Little Rock with their "other" grandma, and we miss them terribly. I won't see them until next week! sigh...

I'm reading a David Baldacci book right now and enjoying the fluff! Hope everyone is reading great books this summer!

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!

What a difference a year makes. Last year in Aug. Dean was diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) which sounds so much worse than it is. It's chronic, but progresses slowly. It can change (to acute), but usually it doesn't. Usually you don't die from the leukemia, but from some other illness you can't fight because of the leukemia. We are not the type of people who say "why me?" but rather----"ok, how do we deal with this now?" By the Grace of God, of course.

But at first we were devastated. Dean was depressed for about 3 months. Then slowly we got used to it, and the only real difference it has made in our life is we go to the doctor a little more for him to get blood counts, and we try very hard to keep all sick people away from Dean. So when the kids are sick I go over to their house to help Sherri and I found out when I get sick I too----need to stay away from Dean. Because when he does get sick----he gets it worse and for a longer period of time. He caught a cold from me in May & was sick for 4-6 weeks and even had to go on antibiotics. So hand sanitizer goes with us everywhere. He uses it often. Other than that----things are great!

And now the good news. We accidently found out ( a long story----call me if you want to know the details) that his CLL may be related to his Viet Nam tour. After a very short period of time we found out it was, and he has received full disability from the US Government which gives a monthly check and 100% free medical including eyes and dental! This----is----HUGE!!!!! It has totally changed our life for the better. Both of our attitudes are FANTASTIC, and we know we can deal with the challenges and changes that life brings us. Halleluiah!!! Thank You God.

CLARIFICATION

Ok, I published my post and then re-read it. I thought some people who read it might think the book I'm talking about is Pro-Cultist----nothing could be further from the truth. I't's just that this author really "gets" people----and he really understands different religions, and why people become fanatical and how they can be mislead.

Also I thought it sounded like I was anti-Catholic. No WAY! I am liberal, and Catholic, and I can understand why people might think that we Catholics are "cultish". Everyone thinks their religion is the best and that they are right and the only way to go. Everyone! Which is exactly the point of: "You don't have to be wrong for me to be right."

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WRONG

FOR ME TO BE RIGHT (Finding Faith Without Fanatacism) by Brad Hirschfield is the name of the book I'm reading right now.

Yes, I'm STILL reading the THE POWER OF NOW----but it's so repetitive. He (Tolle) is taking a whole book to say: Yesterday is gone--kaput--you can't CHANGE it. Stop thinking about it. Tomorrow will never actually come---because there's ALWAYS a tomorrow---it never REALLY arrives. You only have this very moment you are actually living in. So stop thinking----and just be--------and be grateful and fully aware of all the blessings you have right now---this very minute. If you could stop thinking and be AWARE every minute of every day you would be "living in the moment". Most of us can't do that----but this author tries to tell you this will solve all the world's problems and says it a million different ways. I think living in the moment is VERY important also.

However I'm really really loving the Hirschfield book. It's written by a Rabbi who was at one time something of a fanatic himself, and he's incredibly wise and articulate about the problems in todays world. We live in a time where "religion" is killing more people than at any time since the crusades. He clearly understands and explains why this is so. He talks about many different aspects of religion and here is an excerpt about cults:

"The distinction between cults and religions is far less clearcut than most people think. The way we define a cult can't be based on its age. All religions have a starting point; each tradition was once an innovation. When early Jews proclaimed there was ONE God, and early Christians said Jesus was His only begotten son, their contemporaries thought they were lunatic cultists."

Well gee, let's see. Say there's this "cult" as some might call it, where some of the women and some of the men live separately and wear a type of uniform, and give all their money and all their goods away to serve their God. And when they go to church, the "minister" makes these gestures like the sign of a cross, and sometimes he lights incense, and waves it around, and sometime he sprinkles something on the people. "Outsiders" might consider this a "cult" of some sort. I consider it being a Catholic. The thing is-----is to know more, and understand more, and be educated more about all religions. Cause you don't have to wrong for me to be right.

Love it.......

I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. He's an excellent narrator I highly recommend it to people of all faiths. -(I think you would like this book Joy).

I LOVE SUMMER BECAUSE

fall is next!! When I lived in Michigan summer was always such a treat. We went swimming in Lake Huron (VERY COLD---water temp. in the 60's) when the temp. outside was up to 70. We loved this very short season that started usually in June. By July the temps would be in the 70's and sometimes 80's---but at night it would still be 50's & 60's.

Aug. was the hottest month and we would sometime see high 80's and very rarely 90's. Whenever it was that hot, we would all head for our basements or go to the beach. It was so hot to us (no central air) we had to rest! We always spent a week or two at an inland lake (you can't go more than 3 miles in MI without hitting a body of water) and loved the canoeing, fishing, and swimming. I grew up on Thunder Bay River, and Dean grew up on Lake Huron As adults, we lived across the road from Lake Huron. All the kids took swimming lessons, and several times a week I would load up the wagon with towels and toys, and we would walk to the beach. Sometimes I would be wrapped up in a towel for warmth while the kids swam. That was summer then at that place.

Now, in the South, the temps are so much higher, and I don't deal well with temps over 90. So I stay in the AC and close the curtains and look forward to the fall. Even the fall here can sometimes be higher than our summers in MI were.

So for me, I look forward to reading and movies and the occasional swim with the kids, while waiting...... for glorious FALL!!

LYNN THINKING.......

Hello. Sherri tells me I need to blog. So here goes. I have a big birthday coming up in Sept. and I thought I'd share with all who read this what it's like to get older. Your outside changes (boy does it!) but your inside doesn't. You may be amazed really at how little it changes. Of course you have all that wisdom----but really you remain about 30. You are even startled & puzzled sometimes when you look in the mirror. You think Connor (HGTV) & John Travolta etc... is/are HOT!! I'm not raising children anymore like most of YOU are----but I'm still interested in what every ones concerns are. I think of my grandchildren as my own children. My daughter lets me do this :). I like to do a lot of the same things all of you do. I love reading and the movies. I care about being "green" and doing the right thing. I hate feeling "invisible" as you will all find out some day. Just thinking and thinking........

New subject: We just back from Mississippi. Dean is feeling very tired, and has been resting for over a week now. He has had a cold for about a month, and is now on anti-biotics. This is the result of his CLL. He is getting better, and is finally playing golf again. We had a fun time in the Gulf and saw NARNIA-PRINCE CASPIAN & the new INDIANA JONES movie. We really enjoyed both. Also got to go to a couple of casinos, and did some shopping with my SIL Debbie.

The kids have basketball camp this week and theater camp----so maybe Sherri and I will head out to Hobby Lobby!!! YES! Ok enough for now----no more thinking.