I’m hanging around the house longer than usual this morning, waiting for my bowels to calm down long enough to allow me to get to work. That sounds grim, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s not too bad. The house is empty and peaceful after the frenzy of everyone getting ready to leave. I can hear the rain falling on the roof and trickling down the gutters. I hear thunder. The birds are singing.
Ruth singing again. This video isn’t as high quality since it’s recorded with my phone. Still, you get the idea 
I’m so proud of my daughter, Ruth. She performed in the Tennessee Middle School Honors Choir. Sam and Ben spent the day in Murfreesboro where their high school choir ranked a superior rating, which means they’re going to State competition at the end of April.
I have to trust that there will be future opportunities to take pictures of Sam at college. Even though I had my camera for our last week, I didn’t get it out. Sometimes taking pictures keeps me from fully experiencing the event I’m trying to capture in images. That’s how I felt today. Being on campus again (I graduated from MTSU in ‘87) and being there with my son, Sam, was both exciting and surreal.
Over the years, people have told me how much it’s grown and changed. Yes, there are several new buildings and construction of even more in what used to be a field. But the older part of the campus hasn’t changed at all. Classrooms were the same, professors’ offices where in the same places, public gathering areas were the same.
While were were there touring the honors building and dorm, it was the first time I’ve seen Sam excited about what’s quickly moving toward him. His excitement made me feel this sense of possibility and expectation for him. It also made me feel nostalgic and old. More than once, I thought about my own parents and what they might have been feeling when they dropped me off at school, how the felt when they didn’t hear from me, or when I called asking for money.
In many ways, I know Sam doesn’t feel like he’s ready for this. Neither am I. Hopefully, we’ll let the excitement and possibilities see us through. The thing is, it doesn’t matter if we do or not. Fall is coming, and off he’ll go.
Blessings to you, Prince Sam!
I needed a little sunshine this week.
Selfless. That’s the word that best describes Frank. He works selflessly to provide for his family. When I whine and complain about my physical difficulties, he never tires of hearing it (at least he never lets on that he does). And when I completely changed my diet in a effort to find healing, he said, “We can do that” and selflessly adopted the diet for himself as well.
Those are only a few examples of Frank’s selfless nature. I am thankful for his love, his patience, his kindness, and his gentle spirit.
I just ate two Eggo waffles covered in syrup and I liked it. I’m not very good at sticking to this diet thing.
It’s too soon to tell if the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is doing my ulcerative colitis any good. I fully believe that even if it isn’t fixing the disease, it’s a very healthy diet. It’s especially good for Frank since he has type 2 diabetes. However, I’m always SO FREAKIN’ HUNGRY!
Part of that is because I’m still on prednisone. But still, I have a hard time finding things to snack on, and stuff takes quite a bit longer to prepare than I’m used to.
And what about when I cheat? How badly does it set me back? I didn’t clear out illegal foods when I started. So until I’ve scarfed down the last of those Lil’ Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies, a cheater I will be. I’ve already cleaned the house out of hershy’s kisses.
Physically, I’ve been running to the bathroom at night with gas, but with no real gotta-get-there emergencies. The problem is, I can’t tell the difference yet. It might be gas, or it might be explosive diarrhea. They both feel the same, so better safe than sorry. Sometimes my multiple-movements-accompanied-by-severe-cramps happen in the wee hours of the morning, and other times they occur when I’m trying to leave for work. Either way, the frequency has decreased since the first of December, even if the urgency has not. It’s my understanding that this diet should eventually help. But not if I keep cheating, of course.
