November 2, 2005

• Did you ever have the occasion to ask for prayer, but you didn’t really
  want to because the problem was of your own making, and, if you hadn’t
  been so dumb, you wouldn’t have to ask for prayer in the first
  place? 

  Well, I’m asking for prayer anyhow as it seems as if all we do is
  unpack the car, recover from wherever we’ve been and whatever we’ve
  done, and then we repack the car to go somewhere else. I specifically
  would like prayer for cheerfulness and energy for James and me,
  physical healing for David’s “appears to be broken” finger and very
  sore shoulder, and the ability to get everything done in time and with
  a patient, peaceful spirit.  Also, perhaps that I could change
  water into wine.  It seems like less of a miracle right now. 
  (har)

  But, I have so many fun things to tell and so much to report!  I
  shall start where I left off, with the trip to my mom’s on Thursday
  night.  We figured out the logistics of having to be four
  different places at the same time and all managed to wind up at our
  house by about 9:00. We finished cleaning, packing, and the rest of
  Rachel’s birthday cake (Look! A zeugma!) before heading out to
  Curwensville. After Nathan was successfully deposited at my dad’s for
  his hunting weekend, we went to my mom’s.    Friday was
  a relaxing day, so much so that I didn’t even have that constant jaw
  pain I’ve been having.  We got to visit my mom’s sixth grade
  classroom, all bedecked for Halloween. WOW! What an amazing place. I
  wish all of you could have seen the wonderful job she did. Saturday,
  after a leisurely breakfast of French toast at the Branding Iron in
  Curwensville, my mom and I went mattress shopping. I found the mattress
  of my dreams, but I didn’t buy it yet. I need to wheel and deal with
  the owner. I have a maximum price, and I want to make sure I don’t pay
  more than that!  Saturday night was the final Curwensville
  football game of the season, which they lost. Still, it was fun to be
  there.

  We arrived home Saturday night around 10:30 to unload the car, crawl in
  bed, and prepare to leave again. My alarm went off at 5:30 am the next
  morning so that I could get Libby up and help her to get ready for her
  cheerleading competition in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Thankfully, my neighbor
  was driving, so after the 6:00 am pick up, I crawled back to bed. 
  The alarm went off again at 8:15, and I roused the rest of the troops,
  packed the van again, and headed us all off to Eat and Park for a big
  breakfast, completely forgetting that Eat and Park at 9:30 on the
  Sunday after Penn State’s homecoming would be insanely crowded. We put
  our names in and went to Wal-Mart (which is next door) to get a few
  last-minute items like ice, ibuprofen, water bottles, and
  magnetic-clasped, fingerless, camouflage mittens. 

  Our meal was fine, despite the fact that they ran out of muffins at the
  breakfast buffet (How can you run out of muffins?), and we were on the
  road to Lock Haven with time to spare.  I arrived at the football
  field a half-hour earlier than I needed, so I  got the best
  parking space at the football stadium.  Of course, immediately
  after parking, Michael tearfully announced that he had forgotten to
  pack his helmet and shoulder pads.  Thankfully, David had not
  forgotten his, and since both boys are essentially the same size, all
  was well. 

  The day was gorgeous–a really-o, truly-o answer to prayer. 
  Rachel, armed with coloring books, crayons, baby dolls, and Skittles
  took up residence in the stands with a buddy who was similarly trapped
  by her older brothers’ football games.  I was armed with a
  double-layer of foam padding in a cushion, a cooler full of drinks, and
  a box full of snacks and food. The sun was warm, the atmosphere
  exciting, and I was pleased. Meanwhile, James was in Georgia. His math
  conference didn’t end until Sunday afternoon, and he wasn’t going to
  get back into town until midnight. However, Saturday night, David was
  really upset about the game, his injuries, and James being gone. I let
  David talk to James, and James decided that he would see if he could
  change his ticket and catch an earlier flight and skip the last (and
  most interesting to him professionally) day of the conference. 
  After a significant fee, the flight was arranged for early the next
  morning, delivering him at the airport at 2:30, just perfect timing for
  the Wilson family to pick him up as they headed to Lock Haven. 

  Michael’s game was amazing.  Although his team lost, it could have
  gone either way in the closest-matched game of the season.  This
  loss was the team’s first, which left them with a record of 4-1-1, the
  best record in the league, making them league champions.  
  The next game was a blowout (we won), but as I didn’t have any of my
  DNA on the field, I was only moderately interested and walked to
  McDonalds to buy Michael a cheeseburger.

  James arrived, to the delight and joy of David, the other players, the
  coaches, and me.  David’s game began, his first game under the
  lights.  It was an incredibly close-matched game with neither team
  appearing dominant.  At the end of the game, the score was
  19-19.  They decided on a sudden death overtime with the Centre
  Bulldogs getting the ball first. We scored, but we missed the extra
  point. Then, Central Mountain lined up.  On the second down, they
  fumbled the ball and we recovered. We had won!!  Everyone went
  nuts. It was quite a sight.   This victory gave David’s team
  an undefeated season and an invitation to playoffs. They all got medals
  and had many pictures taken. 

  But, meanwhile, what of Libby and her cheerleading competition? 
  About an hour into the game, the girls arrived, all wearing medals and
  toting a huge trophy. It seems that her squad took first place and got
  a bid to the national tournament in March!  Although I believe
  (and insist) that the March tournament not happen, it was quite a
  thrill to see both the Pee Wee football players and cheerleaders
  sporting medals. 

  After all this fun, to celebrate (and to feed our gnawing bellies), we
  went to Ruby Tuesdays with the Wilsons. It was another late night,
  another full car to unload, and another day full of wonderful memories.

  But, there’s more!  However, I shall save it for another
  post.  Even though Kristen likes my long posts, perhaps there are
  some who do not!

  (Can’t recommend the book wholeheartedly–too heaving bosom!)

  • 4:09 pm
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