Reconnecting.

We've been here in Western NY for a week now - visiting with family and friends...squeezing in as many visits as we can before we leave next week. How good it is to see the autumn colors here in WNY. Sure, we saw them along the way too, but they somehow can't compare to autumn colors on the trees that line the streets of your hometown. Last week Monday, after we got settled at the campground, we headed over to Scott's place. He had just walked Veronica home from school and she was having some pudding in the kitchen. Quietly, Ron walked to the kitchen doorway and stood there as she was intent on eating her pudding. Scott said, "Binker, look who's here," and she looked up. When she saw Ron, she whispered, "Papa!" and by the time she was halfway across the room she was crying and laughing at the same time. She leapt into Ron's arms to hug him and then she saw me and tried to hug us both at the same time. Hard for her chubby little 5 year old arms, but she did a very good job of it. It was a moment to cherish and there wasn't a dry eye to be found. Scott looks awesome - he got his hair cut recently for Locks for Love - it had been really loooong - trust me on that...but he looks great and is happy he had it done. A smile on his face often now, he is making good choices and some really nice changes which will make life easier - and more affordable - for him. He doesn't have a whole lot of extra cash, but is getting better at managing his budget. This will make leaving next week a little bit easier on this mom's heart and mind.

We've been making some great improvements to the RV as well...putting in a small electric fireplace and a catalytic heater, both of which will help us keep the RV warm at a lower cost. The furnaces which come with RVs generally operate on propane and are vented outside. This means that half the heat escapes through the outside vent and is using a lot of propane. So we have two other means of heating the trailer now which will cost less and will more than pay for the investment within the first year. Since we will be in Arizona during the winter, we'll need to use the heat then too. So Ron has done an awesome job improving our coziness factor. The nights and early mornings can get downright cold at this time of year. We'll continue to use the furnace for heating the bathroom in the morning or at night when we shower - it makes the bathroom like a sauna. This I can handle. :)

I'm a sweatshirt or flannel shirt girl, actually. I like to be cozy. As soon as the temps go below 55, that's cold enough for a sweatshirt or one of Ron's flannel shirts. How funny it is that he has three bags of flannel shirts waiting to go in the closet - and I already know my favorites - the ones I love to put on over a turtleneck. Those will hang all the way over to the left of Ron's shirts; right next to where my winter clothes start. I figure someone should wear them 'cause he can't possibly use them all.

Old friends, new friends - people who have blessed my life for various periods of time...seeing so many of them all this last week has been such a blessing.
And I continue to be amazed at the people who enter my life via the wonder of internet. Today I got an email from an old friend - (not old in the literal sense) -he used to date my sister in high school. It was great to hear from you again, Bruce...keep in touch, ok? Funny how people re-connect isn't it? You log into classmates.com and find so many people who played an important part of your life when you were young. Kids you saw every day - with whom you used to walk the halls of high school between classes when you were supposed to be hurrying to the next class; carrying on conversations which caused you to slide into your seat just as the bell rang. Good times, not always easy, but a time when it was easier to be a teenager than it is now. The world was still outside the high school doors, and we went back out into it at the close of each day, but somehow it didn't offer the temptations that teens deal with today...maybe they were there, but we didn't know about them. Or knew, but weren't tempted by them. Or were tempted, but didn't give in. Kind of complicated, huh?

One last thing that I thought would be the most difficult part of our trip back home...seeing the house that was our home for 29 years. The lady has made some pretty significant changes - at least on the outside, but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Somehow, I think this is because the years we had there with the kids - including our grandkids - were so happy. It doesn't bother me to see the changes because the memories of our time there are still so fresh. I wish the new owner many years of blessing in the house which is now her home.

God has been gracious to us - and to our family. So much ahead...and so many blessings we have to be grateful for - including all of you.

May He bless our troops - and those who wait.