Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was a reminder that we should be careful what we wish for.



When we had 7 kids running aroung our house, and had to cook dinner for them all, I used to say "In 10 more years....." I was actually counting down to days of simplicity and silence.



Now I am like the man who dies of thirst while floating in the ocean. I have so much simplicity and silence it could choke me. No Tom, Dave, or Sabrina. Don't worry about them, it didn't bother them... but it killed me.



I have this morose thought that we all have a finite number of Thanksgivings to spend. We get so many with our grandparents, then so many with our parents and then so many with our kids. I don't want to wish anymore away, or be ungrateful for the ones I have.



On the bright side of things we had 18 people at our table for dinner. It was great meal with great people. I soaked it all in and say "Thanks be to God." We are really a blessed family.



Next year Ecuador will be in Sabrinas rear view mirror. It will just be a memory, and she will be sad about that. I hope that between now and then she siezes ever waking moment and gathers treasures.

Rotary Momentum

Things in Rotary are really building momentum. I have had 2 opportunities to mix with some real haymakers in Rotary. I attended Rotary Leadership Institute, and got a million ideas. Many of the examples were done by people in the room. We had International projects that stopped Polio in the Philippines, brought fresh water to people in Haiti, and built peace with tribes people in Pakistan.

Of course I have my own happy story from my daughter in Ecuador. I really feel a pull to use my talents to affect some real change in peoples lives. I am so grateful for the life I have been given, that I know it would be absurd for me to focus all of my energy on lowering my handicap, or getting a bigger TV. I am just not going to settle for that.

Then the following week, I went to the Rotary Foundation dinner. Kimberly and I were most touched by all of the exchange students present. They were bright eyed, outgoing, and generous with their time. We met 2 girls from South America, and then told us how much fun they were having. They said they couldn't wait for snow. Now I am watching the weather praying for a big nasty blizzard so they can play.

My call to Sabrina this week was great. She is really loving her host family, and Ecuador. She told me it has taken months for it all to sink in, but she is really "getting it." I was most charmed when she told me she is working with the Rotary there to help kids in an orphanage. I see the full circle coming around.

Tomorrow is our meeting, and I expect to see some new faces. There is reason to hope that we will be adding a few members over the next month. I would love to see our group move from "defense" of counting members into a more productive posture of getting some work done, and letting our works attract new members.

Dave is coming home for 4 days!

Dave called last night and said he was coming home for a few days to get his braces fixed. He is new at a job so he can't get more time off than that, but we are thrilled none the less.

This lazy Sunday morning, Kimberly and I layed around planning... of course the Menu! Our dining room table hasn't been used in a month. We have been kitchen table people, and that is the last thing we wanted to be. We really miss filling up that table and passing he bowls around it.

For 4 night... we are eating in the dining room, and our kitchen will sing.

Beenie.. I am the only kid on the block applauding the sub freezing temperatures. That means that we are closer to seeing you. I went to the RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute) yesterday and was proud to tell everyone I met how grateful I am for the Rotary Exchange program. You would be so pleased to see the 100 plus Rotarians that showed up at Siena College to make this all happen again and again.

I am going to try to call you tonight. I like Sunday Night calls.