When it rains it pours, and in my world there’s a tropical storm overhead.

Well, nothing truly that catastropic, just a LOT going on in a lot of directions.

Putting together a major special report, preparing to sing in front of a crowd of 100,000, and getting ready to host family members for Thanksgiving,  while keeping up with the daily chores, my husband’s busy travel schedule, daily pre-school runs, and 4 newscasts-per-day, should be plenty to keep me busy.

 Sunday it got even wilder.

We were having such a NICE weekend.  Visiting old friends in Champaign-Urbana Saturday, and enjoying a lazy Sunday at home, Ian cooking up a storm in the kitchen and the kids playing, for the most part, happily.

   Then came the scream.

2-year-old Clara had fallen from a chair and hit the back of her head. “Is that blood?” Ian asked. Yes. And soon it was everywhere. I took a look at the gash and realized we would not be enjoying that meal any time soon. We were heading to the ER.

     After we finally FOUND the nearest ER (in spite of our near-panic and only with the help of some really cool firefighters - which is a whole other story) Clara declared that she was “all better now” in spite of her blood-soaked sweater and hair.  After a about an hour-and-a-half in a very white room, our little one wound up with 4 Frankenstein-like staples in the back of her head.  As she tells the story, “I put my head on a pillow. Doctor fix the owie. I dintt LIKE it!”

     Ian and I liked it even less. So hard to see your child hurting.  It sure did make me grateful though, for the very sweet doctor and nurse, the firefighters who helped point us to the hospital,  for insurance, and for how darned fast kids bounce back.

    Little Frankenstein is back to her normal, hilarious self. 

I’m trying not to wonder… what’s next?

Trish

One reason I was so happy to move to Indianapolis was that I would finally be able to experience all four seasons.  Living in Texas for five years was nice.  But there isn’t much of a fall or spring, and the winters are cold and quick.  I grew up in Maryland, so I’m used to a cold Winter, warm Spring , hot Summer and cool Fall.  And the changing colors of the leaves - well, that may have been what I missed most of all.  So for the past several weeks I’ve been telling my daughter “Look Kennedy!  Look.! The leaves are changing color!  The leaves are changing color.!!!  See the bright red, orange and yellow colors??!!”  I guess the enthusiasm is not contagious because all my 3 year old would say was “Daddy, why do you keep telling  me that?!”

  It didn’t matter.  I was happy and enjoing every minute.  For the past five years I had longed for this kind of climate, and now I finally have it.  But— be oh so careful what you wish for.   You see, I began to notice that the leaves, ever so slowly, began to fall to the ground.  Not a lot at first.  In fact, just enough to appreciate.  Of course I knew this would happen.  I just didn’t think about it… that is until we got hit by that thunderstorm last week.  Just like that, all of the leaves on our trees were now on the ground.  And guess who has to rake them all and pick them up.  Well, not my daughter. She’ll probably just jump in the piles.  And certainly not my wife.  (I don’t like sleeping on the couch).  Yup, yours truly.  Ok.  Ok.  It’s not a lot.  Certainly it can all be done in a couple of days.   It’s just that sometimes when you romanticize about stuff, you forget that the devil truly is in the details.

And of course, winter is right around the corner.

Every once in a while you see something that absolutely stops you in your tracks and gives you instant perspective.

It happened to me this morning at Forest Glen Elementary School in Lawrence Twp.

I was invited by a friend to watch the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda perform.

I didn’t know until we were there that these children are all AIDS orphans.

I couldn’t see the very beginning of the performance because there were tears in my eyes.  Their dancing and singing was so full of sheer joy and enormous energy, I was stunned. These kids have endured poverty and loss like people in our culture can never imagine, yet they have passion, hope, and heart like you rarely see in every day life in the U.S. 

    They invited the Forest Glen kids to dance along with them - my 2-year-old-Clara had her hands in the air too.

You absolutely could not help but be moved.

If you’d like to see them, they have several free performances in Indy this week:

Tues Nov 6th: Charity Tabernacle 2700 Tibbs Ave. 7pm

Weds Nov 7th   Brookville Rd. Community Church , 7480 W US 52 New Palestine 7pm

Thurs Nov 8th First Assembly of God 435 Lynnhurst Dr Indianapolis 7pm

Have a wonderful day!

TS

THE game is almost here and I can hardly stand it!!!  One minute I’m completely confident the Colts will win.  The next, I’m a nervous wreck.  What gives?  Well, for me, I’m just not used to having such a dominant team to support.   The rest of you are probably used to the Colts winning ways so you have that “they can do anything against anyone” confidence.  Me?  I’m confident but some teams still concern me - like THOSE Patriots. 

By the way, if it’s in the fourth quarter and things aren’t going well - I do have a back up plan.  If Brady is back in the pocket and someone gets a shot to, uh, tackle him… make it count.  Ya know?  I’m not advocating violence but if he has to stand on the sidelines to gather himself and wait for the stars to stop circling his head- so be it.  Ok. Ok.  I’m only kidding.  He, and of course Manning, are great to watch. 

It should be a great game.  I can’t wait until it starts and when it’s over. 

Is anyone else out there feeling pregame jitters?  Let me know.  Maybe we can start a support group. :-)