Saturday afternoon

~' a peaceful sunday' by hans thoma

Funeral yesterday (me sitting there quietly crying before the service even began....so draining being me), then library with three youngest, getting caught out in, what appeared to be, a monsoon on our way home.  Waking up early this morning to Gary getting ready to take Nat'l Guard son to drill for the day (which is almost 2 hours away). They were up at 5am.  Major ugh.  He thought it might be a fun day-date for us, but the heat really gets to me, so youngest son went with him.  They're fishing, which works great for me.  Male bonding.

I stayed home and went out this afternoon with oldest daughter for dinner things...hamburgers and potato salad (potatoes are just finished boiling), since I figure they'll all be hungry when they get home.  Got the flowers for the Altar....white/ivory/light pink roses for a couple who are celebrating an anniversary.  I'll be setting up the Altar elements as well, which will be my first time alone.  Will have our priest double-check me before the service so he doesn't end up with an 'ah-ha' moment during Communion.  Eye roll.

Now must try to get an accurate balance in the checkbook.  Speaking of  'ah-ha' moments. Continued eye roll.  But is the balance ever in favor of you having more money in there than you thought?  Uh, no.  But I'm optimistic nonetheless.

Must chill.  I say that a lot.  My life lately has been way overfull of drama and its ugly stepsister called anxiety.  Gary had a sweet, long conversation with one dating son yesterday about his (son's) love life, wanting to know what was up, etc.  This son expressed strong interest in marrying his girlfriend, and Gary was cautioning him with linking his life to a non-believer.  Oh my.  You can tell them and tell them, but they have to do it themselves.  Maybe his faith isn't as important as we'd like to think.  But after the new wears off in a relationship, if there's not a cornerstone of Christ, what's holding it together?  Not much.   I realize many marriages of non-Christians work, but why, if you've been raised in that environment, put yourself in a trying situation?  Preaching to the choir here,  I realize.

Not much I can do about any of it tonight.  Must read a book.  Got a few used (but new-ish looking) books at the used bookstore at the library yesterday.  Two by Muriel Barbery---The Elegance of the Hedgehog (which is an excellent movie I've seen on Netflix), and Gourmet Rhapsody, The Hidden Life by Kitty Crenshaw and Catherine Snapp, PhD (about depression), Lamb in Love by Carrie Brown which I've read a few times, and at the library checked out the trilogy of Elizabeth Goudge's about the Eliots of Damerosehay.  Love them.  And got The Rosemary Tree (one of my favorites of hers) too.  Love little Winkle in that book.

Still plowing through (and that's the only term for it) Middlemarch.  Is it good?  Well, excellent writing, but very long sentences and paragraphs.  My mental state isn't quite up to the challenge, but one of my goals for this summer is to finish it.  Now on around page 300 or so and it's over 800 pages, so I will prevail.

Will have rest for the remainder of the day.  Can't solve any problems that might be lurking in my wee brain.  Oldest daughter is making a chocolate pie or two with a recipe from my grandmother, who was a fine, plain cook.  Something to look forward to.

Take care all.