Noodles

I've had the nicest day. Monie treated me to lunch at "Nothing But Noodles" and we both loved it! I had Pad Thai and she had Peanut Thai....they were excellent! It was so nice to chat with her and not have the telephone interrupt us! And we had a surprize visitor - Jodean - it was great to see her! So if you haven't tried it yet....you've got to go. It is on Mason-Montgomery by the Dick's Sporting Goods and Gold's Gym...next to Mimi's Cafe (which we want to try next) Then I dropped Monie off at church and went to visit the fabric store. I am looking for material to cover some chairs for the screened in porch and some fabric to make a duvet cover for Andrew's bed - which is going to be our new guest room, since AJ will be in Cedar Rapids all summer. I'm trying to find something bright with pansies. I also am so excited about something that happened for Deaf Ministries. The head of the organization called Peter (the treasurer) today and said that the work in Myanmar needed $2000 asap. Peter called to see if any checks had come in. I told him that I had $635 so far and two envelopes to open. They contained $880. Then I checked the mail and had two more checks, bringing our total to $2025! Isn't God good? I was so excited! If any of you want to know more about Deaf Ministries International - please check out their website at
www.deafmin.org
or email me and I can send you a newsletter. It is a wonderful ministry doing work in 12 countries.

Quick Post

Didn't have time to post last night. Daniel and I went to a College Information Night at school. It was all the details of testing, applications, resumes, college visits, etc. So much information, our heads are swimming! Lots of deadlines to keep track of. Daniel says, "I don't even know what I want to do yet, how can I start picking a college?" It seems early, but the colleges are so selective now and it is time to enroll him in the prep classes for the SAT & ACT. They want him to do 2-3 hours a week all summer doing practice tests. Oh boy! More "homework" to have to make him do!

Wonderful Worship!

What a wonderful morning of worship we had at church today! I drove to church feeling kind of blue about the cloudy weather and the snow which was covering up all the flowers, worrying about the apple trees and if this cold, snowy weather would mean no apples this year. Then I walked into church and was encouraged by all the cheerful "hellos" and kind inquiries about my health. Then worship began with such encouraging Scripture, songs and prayer and my spirit was lifted. I was reminded that God is in control of the weather, of the apple trees, of my health and everything will be as He has ordained it to be - I can trust Him to take care of my needs and to put before me the path I am to walk while I rest in Him. Praise be to God! How can we be discouraged when He has given us such wonderful promises. "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-8
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "Jeremiah 29:11
We have a big week ahead of us: Monday night is a required college information night at the high school for Daniel and I. Tuesday he has an extra rehearsal in the early evening. Thursday afternoon we go back to the allergist with Daniel and then downtown to the church for his dress rehearsal for the Sacred Music concert at St. Mary's in Hyde Park. That will be a late night with rehearsal going until 9 PM! Friday is the big concert - if it is anything like last year's it will be wonderful! Well that is our plans for the week, I'm sure that God has His plans for us - so I will be expectant and flexible (anyway I pray that I will). Have a blessed week everyone!

Snow in Cincinnati

Can you believe that we woke up to snow on April 23rd? I think this is the latest we've had snow in the 15 years I've lived here. I hope my plants make it through. It was only a little, but the temperatures haven't gone above 40 today and are supposed to go down to 36 tonight. I brought in the flat of petunias I had just bought and there are several pots of different plants on the porch that I may set inside. That 80 degree weather we had, really spoiled us. I've been trying to get little projects done today without hurting myself too much. It's frustrating to do things in bits and pieces, but in the long run things will get done. Working on changing Andrew's room into a guest room for Gramee's visits (and anyone else who comes) Andrew is going back to Cedar Rapids for the summer, so instead of a whole room just sitting there empty - we are packing up some of his stuff and getting it ready for company. Don't worry AJ, I am labeling everything!

News from Kathy

It's Friday! We are busy around here with Daniel's upcoming Sacred Music Concert - lots of extra rehearsals to drive him to. And it is Deaf Ministries International Newsletter time again - so I will be able to rest my ribs as I stuff, label, stamp and seal 400 newsletters this weekend. We are having rainy, stormy weather all weekend and it is even supposed to snow on Sunday! Crazy Cincinnati weather! Well I have my cabbage and broccoli protected under a row cover and I only set out 4 early girl tomato plants and I have empty milk jugs with the bottom cut out over them. I may also put a row cover over them tomorrow for a little more protection. Time for lunch! Have a great weekend!

First Planting

John tilled one of the beds this morning so when I got home from work I planted the broccoli and cabbage plants. My ribs are doing better and only hurt a little more after gardening - I was very careful not to do too much. I hope on Wednesday I will be feeling well enough to plant some more. It will be one week on the medication and should be at full strength. We are having beautiful weather, so I really want to take advantage of it, but I don't want to make the ribs worse.

Saturday Stuff

Well I am still having rib pain - but the medicine is supposed to take a week to work - so I'm halfway there. Since I have viral pneumonia - there is nothing to do but wait for it to go away. Since I have been "laid-up" I have been working on computer stuff. One of the things I am working on is a Harris Website that my whole family can post to and put pictures on. I have the first draft of it at http://spaces.msn.com/members/harrishomepage/
I hope to expand it soon with my sisters and mother adding to it. If everyone posts at least once a week with what's going on in their family - we can more easily keep up with each other. We'll see how it goes. Well I need to post more pictures to the site from our family reunion 2 summers ago. More later.

Fridays & Doctors

Well John dragged me off to the doctor today because my rib cage is still hurting and getting worse. So I had x-rays, which I won't know anything about until Monday and was put on steriods - in case there is some kind of inflammation in the ribs. If it isn't better by Monday they will do a bone scan. The doctor is puzzled, as I haven't done anything that would have caused an injury and my lungs sounded clear. Always encouraging to puzzle the medical profession!
On a lighter note, I transplanted 60 snapdragons into bigger pots. And took all the seedlings outside again for some air. Can't wait to feel better enough to do some planting in the garden. Tomorrow we are supposed to have good weather again. It's also the fine arts festival at the high school and Daniel has two different performances - should be fun to hear him.

Wonderful Wednesday!

What a wonderful day! The weather is gorgeous - around 75. So it was an outside day. Cleaned up the deck and porch and John helped me get the patio furniture out. Planted my large deck planters with blue and yellow sweet peas. These are from England and are supposed to be highly scented. I can't wait to smell them. I set the bamboo trellises up in each planter for the sweet peas to climb on. Cleaned up three of my flower beds in the back. Plus the bed around the garden. The daffodils are up and blooming so pretty - also the hyacinths both the little grape ones and the big ones...they smell so nice and look so cheerful.
I gathered alot of sticks and piled them up for John to chip. I carried my tomato plants, peppers and marigolds out to the screened porch, to begin to get used to outdoors. There was a nice breeze, which will help strengthen their stems. Tonight I will bring them back inside. Set out the sun tea jar...so happy that Spring is here! I made a big Seafood Pasta salad for dinner tonight. It was so nice to sit on the deck this morning and read my bible! I also had another eye appointment today and the doctor wants to get me a stronger contact lens for my right eye. He says that I will have to get reading glasses to wear over my contacts for reading. Guess my eyes are getting old! Still having alot of pain in my rib cage - I am assuming it is from all the coughing I did a few weeks back with the bronchitis. John wants me to have the doctor check it out, but I think I will give it a few more days. New "Lost" episode tonight...I think Claire is finally going to have her baby. Have a good night everyone!

Basketball is over

Illinois couldn't quite pull it off, but it was a good game and a really good tournament this year. So Marc Champagne won our little bracket contest AGAIN! I came in eighth, but I enjoyed the games. Marc says that he won't participate next year, because it ruins the games for him - that he would enjoy cheering the Cinderella teams on if he wasn't cheering for the teams he picked. I understand what he's saying, but I still love to fill out the brackets.
They threw a big birthday party for me at work today, since I wasn't at work on my birthday. It was really sweet of them and brightened up my day! I got all the checks written today and am mostly caught up on the work I missed over the last two weeks. My seedlings are doing great, and I can't wait for my day off tomorrow to work in the garden. It got up to 78 today! Heard from my sister - she is really struggling with Daddy's death. I wish there was something I could say to help her - but everyone has to work through grief in their own way. I'll just keep praying for God to bring her comfort.

Opening Day in Cincy

Well it is officially spring in Cincinnati with Opening Day today and the Reds even won against the Mets! Beautiful weather here, everyone is outside and working on their yards. It was strange to go back to work today - thankfully everything was in good order and I think I will be able to catch up by Thursday. Tonight is the Final Basketball game between Illinois and UNC. I am making Chicken Wings for the boys and we will watch the game. Tomato cages were on sale today at Big Lots for 97 cents each - so I went there after work and got 10. Plus they had seeds on sale, so I got pumpkin, spaghetti squash, lettuce, cantaloupe, some herbs and watermelon. Those will all be direct seeded into the garden. John chipped a huge pile of branches today and put the chips around the trees for mulch.
Time to go work on dinner!

Back to Blogging after a Sad Week

Well for those of you who do not know, my dad lost his battle with Multiple Myeloma on Sunday, March 20th. But we rejoice that he is now out of pain and with the Lord. I am not ready to write alot of details about the past month - I spent the first half of March with another bad bout of bronchitis and then the last half in Buffalo with the funeral, travelled with my mom and sisters to Indiana (where Dad wanted to be buried) and then back to Buffalo. Drove back to Cincinnati yesterday (April 1st) I'm not anxious to get back in a car. The funeral service was very nice, as was the burial. I was proud to see how many friends and colleagues of my father's came. It was helpful to hear all of their stories. My dad was in the army, so there was a military part of the service, which was very touching - again, I was so proud of him.
My mom did a wonderful job taking care of him over this long illness and she did great through this difficult, long funeral process. She is much on my mind as she enters this new stage of life. My sister, Jacque also took wonderful care of dad (and mom) and my heart goes out to her as her life will seem empty in alot of ways.
I plan to get caught up at work and then spend time catching up with my plants, garden and blogs. Tonight I will watch the basketball games and think of daddy.