Saturday moments

Yesterday we had very few plans.  It was absolutely awesome!

One plan we did have was to attend Empty Bowls, a program here in our new town.  High school, college, and community arts classes fire up ceramic bowls and donate them.  Some are heavy duty pottery, some of lighter and are painted colorfully.  For a $10 donation, you get to purchase a bowl and have it filled with the soup of your choice.  Catherine chose a purple bowl, Robert wanted a red, white, and blue bowl with "USA" inside, and Andrew chose a colorful one as well.  I stumbled across a red, white, and black bowl, with my alma mater's (and local university) symbol on the outside, and snatched it up.  Thomas was having a very difficult time deciding...but when he saw mine that's what he wanted!  I was happy to give it to him.  I was thrilled that my son wanted it!  More importantly, I was very happy to see that the place was packed, and was very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our new community and having the children involved.

Andrew and I spent our afternoon hanging things on the walls.  This place is beginning to feel like home and I'm very grateful for that.  In the evening, he wanted to watch the live streaming of the final toast of the Doolittle Raiders.  He gathered us all, and even the kids sat entranced in front of the computer.  I had no idea until it was over that I had been standing there for over an hour watching the ceremony and toast.  I loved how enthralled and interested the kids were while watching it.  Later, Andrew said to Thomas, "Thank you for watching the toast with me."  Thomas replied, "It's part of our history."  That little guy gets it...he understand that history is important.

Unfortunately, last evening we received a call from my mother that my dad was back in the e/r.  It's another episode with the congestive heart failure.  My heart is breaking for my parents, and for my kids.  My dad isn't ready to stop fighting, but we all know his time is running out.  My mother is dealing with the stress of being a caregiver and knowing that no matter what she does, it won't be enough to change the final outcome.  And I'm sad for my children who never got to know the man my father was, although I am grateful for the time they have had with him and the memories we made together, especially up at the cottage.

It's another gorgeous day here in southwest Ohio.  We have a few plans to be out today, and I'm grateful for the sunshine!