A sneak peek

We managed to capture a nice family picture last week, which I am claiming as our Christmas card photo! (An unexpected check mark!)  So you will have to wait until you receive one in the mail to see all of us, but I can show you a picture of its cooperative participants, plus 1/3 of its uncooperative ones.

Mystery of Death

This duck moved into my grandmother's yard last week while she lay dying.  In the 40+ years that she and my grandfather have lived there, never has a duck resided on their patio.  We all took great delight in this feathered friend who made himself right at home among my grandmother's plants.  He was a wonderful distraction and we all smiled at the beautiful tribute he was for her final days.  Many of the caregivers read all sorts of signs into the duck's presence but I merely took as one of those funny, little things that the Lord orchestrates sometimes.

Early Friday morning, I was staying over at my grandmother's house and I was awakened to the caregiver calling for me, she sounded very distressed.  I jumped out of bed to help in whatever way I could, only for her to take me towards the front of the house--towards the duck.  She kept saying, "I think he's dead.  I think he's dead."  Sure enough as I stood looking out the large picture window, the duck was indeed dead.  Here I was, expecting death at any minute, only to find it in an unexpected corner.  I wanted to laugh.  In my heart, I had a good chuckle over this poor bird's death, but the caregiver was really shaken by it and I didn't think my twisted humor would be appreciated.

I do not understand why the Lord brought the duck or why it died a few hours before my grandmother, but personally, I enjoyed it being a part of that week.  I enjoyed it being a part of that process.

Time for school

 With warm weather coming to an end, we snuck in a few more days of this:

Look who's riding the waves!!

Followed by picking crabs for my birthday.... (This is why people have those stupid selfie-sticks)

 And it all culminated with starting another year of school!  

Deep Creek

Way back over Labor Day weekend, we went 'camping' with some friends in Western Maryland.  Our intended camping trip ended up being more like staying in a lovely mountain house, complete with a kitchen, hot showers and real beds!  We did mix up our posh setting with a little hiking and swimming in Deep Creek Lake.  The entire weekend was wonderful but a major highlight among the adults and kids was the atvs that the owners left for our use.  With plenty of fields and forest trails we all really enjoyed taking them out for speed or for exploring.  Zach ended up being a little speed demon and kept trying to go faster--a major shift in his personality!

During the drive home, Marcus made an innocuous request at one point, but I was unable to fulfill it in an appropriate three-year-old timeframe.  He became increasingly agitated and was repeatedly asking for the same thing over.  And over.  And over again.  As you can imagine I was also becoming increasingly agitated in direct proportion to his impatience.  Finally, with plenty of pent up frustration, I said, "Marcus!..."  To which he immediately chimed in, "I know, I know! Chill out!"