Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Saturday, October 11, 2014

Catching up





All week I tried to get back here. It was a week not to be forgotten any time soon.

The week-not-soon-to-be-forgotten started on Saturday night when Noah, driving Doug's car, was broadsided out in the country on a state route in the pitch black night. Airbags deployed, but he and his girlfriend were both wearing seat belts and no one was injured, thank you God, and their Guardian Angels. If the young girl driving the other car had run the stop sign 5 seconds sooner, I fear there could have been very serious injuries. Noah was not cited, it was entirely her fault, and she failed the field sobriety test. Doug got to the scene before the highway patrolman and so he was able to view the test. She couldn't put one foot in front of the other. The carful of people she was driving were coming from her mother's wedding reception and she admitted to drinking. But once she had handcuffs on and was in the backseat of the cruiser, her mother said she wanted EMS called because her daughter could have low blood sugar. Of course by the time the officer arrived at the scene, 50 minutes had passed, and by the time EMS arrived it had been 90 minutes. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and by the time she got there she passed the blood alcohol test and had blood sugar low enough for her defense. In other words, she got off. Whether she was drunk or not is between her and God, but she was impaired enough, in one way or another, to run a stop sign and roll out into a state route with cars speeding by at 55 mph. We are furious that she walked away with just a ticket. Low blood sugar is apparently a common drunken driving defense (first I ever heard of it) so we feel justice was not done. But we need to get over it and forgive. Unfortunately, the car is totaled and the process is taking a long time.

I'm trying not to stress about it, but Monday was a wash, with phone calls to insurance agents (another thing -- she had no proof of insurance -- a law in Ohio, and she was from out-of-state and not driving her own car), rental car agencies, tow truck drivers, body shops, etc. Hopefully the accident taught Noah a lesson about the danger of driving, not to mention drinking and driving. He was quite shaken up since the car was spun around and ended up off the road headed the wrong direction.

After Monday, we tried to forget about it and just deal with the calls and decisions as they came.



This photo is from Saturday before dinner. It is a Poor Man's Cake, a recipe from my grandma†,
but we enjoy it on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi as St. Francis' Tonsure Cake.





I also made Leila's Ginger cookies, and they were a huge hit.





I took photos on Wednesday for Yarn Along, but just didn't get it together for a post. I am glad I had this shawl to work on this week. Nice even rows of knitting therapy were necessary. The yarn is Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in purple rain. I love this yarn. It's so soft and nice to work with, and the fact that it was hand dyed by a woman in Uruguay makes it that much more dear.




Pictured is the the center of the shawl. The pattern is very simple, with only a yarn over at each end and two in the center, there is not much to remember. I have, however, messed up the rows which have the garter stitch on the right side. It's supposed to be rows 8, 12, 14, and 16. I started that way and then three patterns in I switched to 6, 12, 14, and 16. I did it that way for six patterns and then switched back to the 8th row because I forgot it on the 6th. Oh, well. I think the yarn is busy enough to forgive the mistakes. And I'm the only one who will know. 

I bought some yarn to make another in solid gray, and I'll have to pay closer attention to my rows.




My afternoon tea, without which I'm not sure I could make it through dinner. It's decaf, but so tasty and unique. It tastes like cinnamon fire balls without the heat. Yum.





I planted a variety of mums this year and they are all just now starting to bloom. It's rather chilly out and the leaves are turning and falling. We are most definitely having autumn in central Ohio.





I didn't mention my current read in my Yarn Along pics. It's actually Faith's school read, Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff, but one I am thoroughly enjoying and actually only allowing myself a chapter a day. It is the kind of book I would have gobbled up at Faith's age. Not being a reader, she reads the assigned pages. Sigh. 

Though it is a worldly book in some aspects, it is not risqué. Faith did not know what a foster home was, so that was an education of sorts, as foster homes can be good or bad. The book doesn't get into much detail, just that Hollis' life has not been easy. 



I guess this was not a brief catch-up post, but then I have never been accused of being brief. I am praying that the week ahead is very dull, and not news-worthy at all.

Praying you have a week full of gorgeous blue October skies, brief chilly breezes, and stunningly colorful leaves to crunch below your feet...and possibly some Ginger Cookies.








21 comments:

  1. So glad no one was injured. Didn't know about that low blood sugar excuse, hmmm, must ask the husband. I love the mums, the yellow one in particular. You are in my daily prayers!

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  2. Thank goodness your son and his girlfriend are OK. I'm sure they still felt the effects in the days after. I didn't know that about low blood sugar, either. Interesting.

    Your mums are beautiful. I have a couple in pots, but would be fun to have some actually planted around the yard. Maybe next year.

    Good to see your post. I've been trying...but haven't succeeded, yet.

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    1. My mums are all in pots. Sometimes I try to transplant them into the garden to see if they'll come back but they never do.

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  3. I was missing you this week and sending prayers just in case. Glad everyone is ok. I never heard of the low blood sugar excuse, either. I think it's sad that a mother would try to do a cover up.

    Love the shawl and flowers. Every time I see your pics they are just an inspiration for beauty.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the prayers. Yes, it is sad about the mother -- and the three other passengers, one of whom is a guy the driver lives with (you can find a lot of info on the internet with names, phone number and addresses AND motivation). The mother, believe it or not, is a professor at Indiana State. Takes all kinds! She was in her wedding dress at the scene.

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  4. I am sorry about the car accident. I am so glad that no one was injured. Interestingly, I had felt called to add you to my morning prayers and have been doing so for exactly one week.

    That teapot is beautiful! And the tea looks delicious too. I have been wanting to order tea, but don't know where to begin.

    The first picture of the mums is absolutely breathtaking. Such lovely photos! No fall flowers here, I haven't figured out the planting times in Germany. Maybe I should just go buy some already in pots and just sit them out on the patio? Flowers make me happy and it has been very rainy the last couple of days.

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    1. Gosh, I'm so grateful for the prayers. That must be why I calmed down and decided not to let it get to me.

      The teapot is a sweet little Japanese teapot made of enameled cast iron. I love it. It was a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law and I use it all the time. I was buying some good chamomile from amazon and saw a review for the cinnamon tea. It's so good. It's my treat at 4 pm!

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  5. You've got my prayers! I emailed you; didn't want to take over the combox :)

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  6. OH MAN...I would be one upset mother if some drunk/dumb butt almost killed my kid. You are too kind with your words. That is too bad all this has to happen but so blessed it could have been so much worse. Thank you angels for watching over them.

    Your mums are so puuurty!

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    Replies
    1. If it makes you feel better, in real life I have not been too kind with my words. ;-)

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    2. PS my mums have made me so very happy this year. I just needed some pretty flowers and when I bought them they were all tight little buds...anticipation!

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  7. Ok, I'm totally ticked off. every time I go to leave a comment and I'm not logged into gmail, it deletes the email when I log in and get back to the com box. Grrrrrrr.

    Ditto what everyone else said. because I'm too lazy to retype.
    xo

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    Replies
    1. Sara, that is happening to me all the time, too. I think because we have five google accounts in our household and if someone else is signed in on the computer, I'm signed out. I have lost a ton of comments, too. You'd think I'd learn and remember to check first, but no. Ugh.

      Thanks for your support, anyway. :-)

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    2. When I have to sign in after writing a comment, I highlight and copy the comment first! At least, I try to...

      I'm so sorry about the accident!! God brings good out of evil, but still this momma's cross gets HEAVY. Love you. ♥

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    3. Good tip, Margaret! I'll have to remember that!

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  8. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the accident. I am glad your son and his girlfriend are OK. It is hard to find peace when something so unjust occurs, especially when it involves a child. An injustice happened to one of my kids recently (obviously on a much smaller scale than a car accident), and it was hard to let go ... Praying for peace for you and your family!

    P.S. There is no hurry on the rosaries, etc.! Just so you know!!

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  9. Oh, my goodness! What a week. I'm so sorry your family had such a horrible experience! So thankful no one was injured! Praying you find peace in the midst of such (scary!) trials.
    ps your flowers are so lovely! so many colors

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  10. I'm really behind reading blogs!
    And I am SO sorry this happened to your son! Praise God he is alright!

    The story of the girl? Oh my gosh. I have no words!!!

    All of those flowers are magnificent, Barbara! Hoping this week is going better.

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  11. I am so happy your son is OK, and his girlfriend too. Wow, those kind of things really shake us up...makes you wonder why...was it for this girl, how will this effect her? Hopefully she won't drink and drive again.

    Your flowers are amazing!!

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  12. I know low blood sugar in Type 1 diabetics gives a drunken like behavior...but never heard of it in non diabetics. Hopefully the accident was enough to shake her up and make her not drink and drive again. (since there are no consequences!!!)

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!