::faithful

praying for Angela’s Mom and for Roxie’s Mom, for healing and recovery; for my children as they prepare to go back to college and high school; for my husband, for all the intentions passed my way

grateful for air conditioning; bananas; a car that runs without problems

::healthy

Ugh.  It’s hot again here in Texas.  Too hot to play outside unless you’re up at the crack of dawn. I’ve decided to forgo my daily lunchtime walk for some workout time in the office. Yep.  I have a big office, a door that closes and super great air conditioning, so I’ll be logging miles of jumping jacks, burpees, push ups and sit ups. Princess Pea, my younger daughter, was so generous to share her “We’re Sexy and We Know It” workout routine that she created for an assignment in her Kinesiology class last semester.  It’s tough, with all of the previously mentioned exercises, plus squats, lunges and mountain climbers. Toss in some Pilates stretches and I have a tidy little workout.  Who needs to go outdoors when it’s 106 degrees?

::pondering

Life plans and paperwork.

::creative

Hmph.  The most creative thing on the docket this week is cleaning the fridge.  Maybe I’ll arrange the condiment bottles according to height. Yeah.  That will suffice.

::delicious

• Grilled Steak, potatoes, Tossed Salad
• Turkey Paninis and Carrot Sticks
• Bratwurst, Macaroni and Cheese, more Salad
• Hawaiian Pork Kabobs, Fresh Peas
• Grilled Flank Steak, Fresh tomatoes and more Salad
• Grilled Fish, Salad
• Grilled Chicken and Peaches, Corn Salad, Green Beans

Are you seeing a theme here?  uh-huh.  It’s called Cook As Much Stuff Outside as Possible and Eat Lots of Salad So That You Don’t Have to Turn on the Stove.

::fun

The Tour de Cure was brief this year.  We cut our ride short – only did 15 miles – because we had to be at Gordon’s funeral.  The best part was my Husband telling all his coworkers how great our kids are with their cycling!  Made my heart zing!

DirtBike, Princess Pea and The Architect. SUPER cool LMAero Jerseys!Me.  Riding my bicycle on the Texas Motor Speedway!

::looking ahead

Freshman Orientation for DirtBike, as well as finishing up summer reading.  School starts in ONE WEEK!!  The Architect working at the water park.  Mass in the middle of the week.  A quiet weekend.

Linking up at Suscipio– come join us!

::faithful

praying for –  Gordon, who went home to heaven Friday night.  His death was not unexpected, as he’s been suffering from renal and congestive heart failure for a long while. As his condition deteriorated, Jane called us all in to visit once more.  The grandkids even snuck Fonzy, Gordon’s dog, into the hospital for one last snuggle! On Thursday evening Gordon told Jane that he was too tired and too sick to stand on the edge for much longer, and that it was time for him to make the jump. They made the decision together to stop extraordinary measures, and transferred into hospice.    

Praying for Jane, for comfort in the coming weeksmonths as she grieves.  She and Gordon have been married for almost sixty years.

Praying for their family and for my own.   Gordon’s death is the first one in our lives that my children have been old enough to really understand and grieve.

Gordon and Jane are dear, dear family friends; we’ve known them since before we were married.  They are the parents of my husband’s best friend Bill, who died from brain cancer thirteen years ago. Our families are intertwined, bound by years of friendship and sealed with decades of shared laughter, tears and prayer.  Our kids have called them Nana Jane and Papa Gordon since they were babies. I remember when the girls were old enough to start puzzling out the intricacies of family trees.  They were really surprised to learn that not everyone has three sets of grandparents and extra ‘cousins’! For Mr. Pea and me, Gordon and Jane have been an incredible, loving example of the sacrament of marriage.