Good Friday

The week

Monday morning I had a long appointment at the cardiologist, EKG, Echo and face to face and it was all good. The meds are at the right dose, my heart is around 50% (it was 30% and 50-75% is normal, no one uses 100% – so why don’t they make 75% the top? Who knows.) Anyway, the doc said she’ll check me out again in 6 months and maybe knock off some of the meds. This really shows that it must have been a virus that infected the heart, besides the fact that everything else came out negative, the meds would not have worked this fast if it was something else. So, good news. Grace had her last work day at CC, it was nice for her just working 2 hours every Monday. I think they start back in August, and hopefully they’ll keep her in mind. Hannah went to ballet/dance and James and I sat outside at Solid Grounds.

The weather was perfect and not too windy so I was able to finish my art. I might redo the words, but everything else is done.

This is Jack ‘hiding.’

Tuesday I took Jack to the dog park, but he was not feeling well. He did end up chasing a ball that a guy was throwing, but he didn’t chase any other dogs. I think he had a tummy bug from daycare (or maybe from drinking the water at Rifle falls.)

I was trying to wear him out so I could go to TNO and the girls wouldn’t have too much trouble watching him. TNO was a day late because tacos – at Adelita’s. I was so glad that Stacy showed up (and James.) We had a good time and good tacos. James and I headed over to Phil’s for a drink because they were donating profits to an organization that helps out senior and low income homeowners. So, by drinking – we were helping! (And we’re going to be actually helping when the event happens later.)

There was a gun threat in the area on Tuesday and schools were closed on Wednesday which made our Fox theater field trip get canceled. So, we went to Cafe 180 for lunch.

Jack.

Thursday we went to Creativity club and 2 other families showed up, so it was nice to chat.

Jack found a nice spot in the sun.

Friday was gorgeous, I had planned a marshmallow roast park day, 3 other families showed up and we got to see the baby owls. I only got good pics of Floof, Flight was on the ground (he believed he could fly…)

Grace’s art.

 

Grand Junction

We left Friday afternoon (after the Forensic pathology lecture, which was very interesting) for GJ.

It was a long drive and we got in late, Jack was wired up and wanted to play, but we eventually got him to sleep.

The girls stayed in Bethany’s dorm (she doesn’t have a roommate.)The next morning we dropped Jack at daycare and James and I had breakfast at a cafe while the girls slept in.

Main street.

We had lunch with the girls and Zack at Texas Roadhouse, then went to walk around the mall. We split up, the girls went back to the dorm and James and I went to Fruita to walk around. We managed to get there when everything on Main street was closed.

We took the scenic route back to the college.

We went to dinner at Pho, then walked around Barnes and Noble. The girls were going to see MacBeth, but it was sold out, so they ended up going to the movies while James and I went for a nightcap.

Sunday morning we had breakfast and walked around the college, said goodbye to Bethany and headed out.

We stopped at Rifle Falls SP because we were close to it.

There were caves, some big enough to walk in, behind the falls.

Stuff – Heart Echo/EKG/MRI/cardiologist appointment, school, Grace work, friend time, ballet, worship dance, TNO, EG Hammertime benefit drinks, Holi @ Fox theater, youth group event, Creativity club, hike, Pop tart party EG, Resurrection day!

Dinners – BBQ pork sandwiches, taco Tuesday, peanut coconut curry chicken (had to move it from last week), quinoa bowl, sweet potato and chorizo lasagna, grilling stuff.

Blizzard {Not}

It was raining, then when we went to the movie theater it started snowing. The snow was wet, small, it was blowing – but that was not a blizzard. I blame the weathermen, after the last bomb cyclone blizzard they came on the news touting their snowfall accuracy. ‘Look, we said 8″ here and they got 8.5″, we said 12″ here and they got 12″, we’re amazing!’ After this pathetic snowfall (which I knew was going to be a miss because they kept drastically changing the snow totals, 4-15″, then 4-10″, then 4-6″, then 2-4″….) they were like, ‘Here’s why our snow tracking data messed up.’ Hannah’s youth group cancelled their outing (which they had to do to make sure everyone was safe because at that point it was snowing and blowing and there was no way to determine if the snow would get better or worse.) But I see snow in the forecast for next Wed too…

At the movies we saw A Dog’s Purpose and Isn’t it Romantic, had some BBQ and snacks and then headed home to let Jack out so he could eat all the snow. Someone put Jack’s ball on the coffee table once and now he thinks it’s there all the time.

Next mornings snow, decent, but gone by afternoon.

I did not cancel my TDO, but no one else came, so I sat and read my book while drinking an 1885 (Dr. Pepper, espresso and cream.) I knew it was too much caffeine (kept me awake during the night), but it was good.

I had to improvise dinner because we were going to have coconut peanut curry chicken because Hannah was eating pizza at youth group, but since she wasn’t going (and it was cold) I made the pork Tex-Mex soup Wed night and I had the noodles and veggie for the curry that needed to be eaten, so I made a quick 5 spice chicken to go with it.

Today is Friday, James is working from home (which means he’s playing ball with Jack), the girls don’t have any school to do, we have a lecture at 2pm and then we’re going to Grand Junction to see Bethany.

The sunny days before the storm

The weather was so nice and since James was working from home and Bethany was still here from the weekend (no class today) we had a picnic lunch at Fly’n B – of course we checked out the baby owls, Jack got dirty and Grace saw a muskrat.

James and I took Jack to the patio of Solid Grounds while Hannah was at dance. I did some art, read my book, James read his book and Jack sat.

Tuesday we did some school while Jack slept.

He had fun chasing a squirrel and barking at it.

We left him in the crate and went to St. John’s for some Bach by violin.

Lunch was SAME cafe.

Grace’s stickers came in the mail – cute!

This was the verse on Biblegateway for today –

Hebrew 1:3 Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words! [ The Son Is Higher than Angels ] After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, far higher than any angel in rank and rule. Did God ever say to an angel, “You’re my Son; today I celebrate you” or “I’m his Father, he’s my Son”? When he presents his honored Son to the world, he says, “All angels must worship him.”

No matter if you read the Bible straight through, in year, one book at a time, just verses at a time – there will be things that pop out when you see them. I must have read these verses before, but when I read them this morning I found a deeper level to them. “The Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature.” I love that! Since we are made in God’s image and Christ lives in us we too should mirror God and are stamped with His nature. Lofty goals and a good reminder.

 

Weekend

James and I took Jack to coffee, the weather is getting nicer in the mornings, not too cool to sit on a patio.

We got home, picked up the girls and went to the Springs to eat at Rudy’s BBQ.

It was really good, the brisket was so tender and moist, the cream corn was creamy, the potato salad was good, the coleslaw could have been better, but the meat and jalapeno sausage were spot on Texas style. Dogs can hang out on the patio, so it’s a great lunch spot in good weather.

After lunch we walked around Old Colorado City and got some ice cream.

Jack was not impressed with the queen.

From church – do you get to Heaven by being a good person? There’s more to following Jesus than simply following the rules. It’s devotion that is missing – if there is something dividing your heart, keeping you from full devotion, get rid of it. If it is time, money, material things, unhealthy relationships, whatever is keeping you from following Him, leave it.

Mark 11 ¹⁷ As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” ^18-19 Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.” ²⁰ He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!” ²¹ Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” ²² The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

After church on Sunday James grilled, then I took the girls to the Arvada kite fest while James took a nap.

Our week – the oxygen machines go bye-bye, Grace work, ballet, worship dance, driving practice, St. John’s music at noon, $1 movies, Main event youth group, TDO Castle Rock, Forensic pathology lecture, leaving for GJ, visiting Bethany, Macbeth, Rifle Fall SP.

Dinners this week – Navy beans and sausage, pasta alfredo with Italian sausage and yellow squash, pomegranate pork chops with couscous and green beans, peanut curry chicken over thai noodles and veggies, pork Tex-Mex soup, (dinners in Grand Junction Fri/Sat), grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato or chicken noodle soup.

The Best Thai Curry-Peanut Sauce (this makes 28 servings – so, a lot – cut it down by 1/2 or 1/3 as needed, also turn the heat higher or lower if you like and serve it over pork, chicken, veggies, etc.)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons red curry paste
1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 (13.5 ounce) cans coconut milk

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook until the aroma of the garlic has mellowed, about 1 minute. Add the red curry paste, and stir for 1 minute more. Whisk in the peanut butter, brown sugar, chili powder, cayenne pepper, fish sauce, sesame oil, and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and is smooth.

Our week

On Monday it seemed warm enough to sit on the deck of Solid Grounds with Jack, but the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. So, I dropped him a home and came back to sit with Grace and read. Tuesday was jazz night at Phil’s, we ate dinner at One Barrel – they have such good food and drinks there.

Jazz was nice.

Thursday we went to the ballet for Ballet Masterworks.

We had awesome seats and the ballet was amazing. Part 2 was Carmina Burana, it opened with 60 person chorus, the dancers and orchestra – it was electric.

We had lunch at PS 303, dropped Hannah at home and Grace and I went to CU to make mini-terrariums.

Jack likes to do school, but he just ends up messing up things.

We drove to Montbello to help Pam with crossing guard duty. The school doesn’t have a crosswalk and a kid was hit a few weeks ago (he’s fine), so she asked for help training drivers and walkers to cross where the new crosswalk is going in. Her grandson Marcus was happy to keep Jack occupied.

Then, since it was hot, we went to Constellation for ice cream. Jack’s had ice cream from every Littleman places except Rocket – that will have to wait until Summer.