A Week in Norman

January 18, 2009

Please forgive my disposal of chronology. Our trip back east was amazing, but my posting of it will be backwards to forwards, starting with one of my favorite parts. :-) A blogger's privilege right?

Here are some words that describe my special week with Max, Jenny, and Graham:

Warmth, love, popcorn, watching Little Dorrit, heart-to-heart visits, hugs, White Christmas, relaxation, books, discussion, girl-talks, bookstores, wet baby kisses, reading stories, singing, scrabble, giggles-chuckles-and hearty laughing, walks in the snow, and much more.

Thank-you my dear brother and sister for the retreat, for the love, and for the way you made me feel like your home was mine. I love and miss you so much.


Max preparing for the C.S. Lewis class he is offering through the University for seniors. (Age 60+). His personal library is a treasure trove. :-)

Jenny kept us well nourished with her excellent culinary skills. Homemade pizza, the best ham I've ever tasted, gourmet fish, chicken and rice, and lots of delicious salad. Yummy!

Look at those white shiners!

Aunt Sally got the antsies and set off to explore the neighborhood and work out in the process. :-) The exercise was exhilarating, especially because I was escorted by the most handsome gentleman in Norman.



We were blessed by a white Christmas! No more dreaming for these Californian's . . . it was real. Powdery, softly falling, blanketing everything with millions of intricate crystals - snow on Christmas Eve is magical.

Imagine your surprise when, on Christmas morning, you open open gifts that you had picked out yourself! :-)

My sister and I. I love you Jenny!



Joy

On Christmas morning, we took the opportunity to snap some family photos.



Graham's first taste of snow. Does he like it? What do you think?


Christmas dinner is almost ready! Yum . . . just imagine the delicious smells wafting through the home. :-)

Dinner was a delight. Savoring every bite, talking about all sorts of interesting things, and doing lots of . . . laughing!!! :-) Laughter is sweet to the soul.

God has placed these two together in a way no man could. They are soul-mates. Watching them gives me hope. :-)
There is mistletoe above them of course, it's just invisible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Saying goodbye was not pleasant. It rarely is. I savored my last few minutes with them, smiled with Graham, and with a heavy heart, walked through security where, to my confusion and consternation, I heard my name called over the loudspeaker. My plane was leaving in four minutes! The Lord was gracious in allowing me to catch my flight, and travel safely home. Home is a beautiful place, but one I returned to with an ache in my heart. Norman Oklahoma is too many miles away.