Billy Graham

I flew to North Carolina a few years ago to attend a writing weekend in Montreat. The retreat was held in a beautiful home snug on the side of a steep mountain. During our first dinner together, one of the other attendees asked the home owner if she knew where Billy and Ruth lived. The home owner casually mentioned their address and that it was just a mile up the road.

Oh my. In a moment I turned from Writing Retreat Attendee to Billy Graham Fan-with-a-Plan. The next afternoon, during a chunk of free time I set out "for a walk."

The thing about North Carolina is that up the road is actually up. The road was so steep, and I regretted my flip flop footwear. I hiked that hill all the way to an open wooden gate. I had arrived.

I remember standing at the gate, marked with a sign that read private drive. Ahead was more road and more trees and I wondered how many other super fans had made this very pilgrimage. I also wondered what my plan had been when I arrived at his place.

As I thought about these things, three black SUV's drove through the gate and up towards the house. I smiled at the tinted black windows. I wondered if Billy or Ruth had been in one of those SUV's. I wondered if this was common for them to find random Christians standing at their gate.

The gate was open but I turned around and walked back down the steep hill. I respected the sign. I also figured out by the sound of the SUV's that the house was still way up the hill. So I set back, this time seriously regretting my flip flops, digging between my toes.

I have appreciated Billy Graham for a long time. I love that he has been a pastor to so many of our presidents from both political parties. I miss him lately, his wisdom and voice speaking to our country. I love that he seemed revered by lots of denominations. He was most definitely Baptist, but first a Christian.

Today I was painting the window trim in our living room while the kids were at my mom's. I had the Today show on and Kathy Lee Gifford shared why Billy Graham has been her greatest inspiration.

Click here to watch her segment. It's so good.

trick or treat

Treat: Watching Ivar grasp trick-or-treating. He loved it. Uncle Kyle and I took him from house to house and he was a very happy boy. And I was full of bliss. I adore trick-or-treating (meeting neighbors, candy, cute kids all dressed up...) and have waited since I retired my game at age 16 to get back into it.

Trick: Going to the doctor earlier that day and being told the sores all over Elsie's mouth and hands and feet (and knees and bottom) were in fact, hand, foot and mouth disease. She and her dad stayed in that night and went to bed extra early.

Treat: Halloween at Lisa's. Lisa is always above and beyond and halloween is no different: mummy dogs, minion pumpkins, dumb dumb stuck into a pumpkin, cupcakes with eyes, pumpkin krispie bars, amazing decor, full size candy bars, music, white chicken chili...all of it. I LOVE going to her house for halloween.

Trick: Jack, dressed as Mr. Fox with Betsy as Mrs. Fox, said to me, "oh fun, Thomas the Train. Is that like one of those pregnancy costumes?" Bwahaha. The Thomas head was right at my belly. I hiked it a little higher and made a special note that when I am pregnant again I should wear this costume.

special friend day

A week ago we had friends over and their first grade son, Andrew, asked me if I would be his Special Friend on Special Friend Day at his school.

Oh brother. Would I? My heart swelled and I was so honored.

Before I had kids I used to be a favorite with most children but since having my own, I'm not able to pour into other kids as much...so when Andrew asked if I'd come, it meant so much to me! He saw me as a worthy special friend!

I brought Ivar because I knew he'd love it. And he did. He wore his new outfit from Mimi and looked very big to me. He ate his whole lunch, sat through an entire Mass, and now believes that when kids go to school they sit on a carpet and play with cars and legos with other kids.

When we left he said to me, "I would like to go back to Andrew's school sometime. Maybe tomorrow!"

the first snow

When I went to bed last night I was thinking about the forecast for snow, noting that it is November 6. The last time it snowed was May 2nd, when we got over a foot. If we have another winter like last year, we are looking at a full six months of snow season ahead of us. Six months.

It also means that we only had six months of spring/summer/fall before heading into another winter. It made my heart sink a bit. That wasn't long enough.

But this afternoon I took both kids out in the black sled and we walked around our property for a half an hour. The kids were delighted, my heart was pumping and the whole world was sparkling around me as the sun began to set.

And that's when I thought it: Winter, I am going to kick your butt so hard this year you will not know what has hit you. I have joined the Y. I have a daughter who begs to go outside and a son who loves the sled. I have a big window that fills my living room with light. And I am taking a multivitamin. 

So bring it.

george and katherine

Our former neighbors and dear friends, George and Katherine, came to visit a few days before Ivar's birthday. It made me miss them dearly. They love our kids so well and Ivar and Elsie adore them. They brought Ivar a basket ball and Elsie her very first red-headed baby doll. We named her Georgina Katherine.