Our table

It's not often that hubby and I get to go out to eat.
If we take Sam out anywhere, it has to be somewhere with french fries.
So, a special evening out is really a treat.
Last night was a huge treat.
We went to a place called Table 2 in nearby City by the River.
Above is a photo of where we were seated.
It was a beautiful booth with huge fabric panels draped on the outside.
Cozy, romantic, and a place to be able to soak in the ambiance of the restaurant.
They had a three piece jazz ensemble playing light jazz.
The Pinot Noir was wonderful.
But the best treat was their Hot Rock Surf and Turf as an appetizer.
They heat a small square slab of smooth volcanic rock at 900 degrees over eight hours
then bring it on a tray with cubes of delicious samplings of Hawaiian fish, along
with strips of Kobe beef which you cook right there over the stone to your liking.
There were little cups of lemon, sweet and sour, and soy sauce, along with a steak sauce
to dip your morsels in before popping the exquisite bites into your mouth.
We both had a filet for our entree and it was served with a neat triangular shaped
piece of layered potatoes Au gratin along with a broccolini.
That, along with the jazz and the rich colors of the atmosphere made for a very special
evening indeed. I am still smiling and am so glad we have these times now and again.

God in Hiding

(Because I thought this was so beautiful and wanted to share it...
thanks to Katie for posting it.)

"God in Hiding"

A legend tells how, at the beginning of time, God resolved to hide
himself within his own creation.
As God was wondering how best to do this, the angels gathered round him.
"I want to hide myself in my creation," he told them.
"I need to find a place that is not too easily discovered, for it is in their
search for me that my creatures will grow in spirit and understanding."

"Why don't you hide yourself deep in their earth?" the first angel suggested.
God pondered for a while, then replied, "No. It will not be long
before they learn how to mine the earth and discover all the
treasures that it contains. They will discover me too quickly, and
they will not have had enough time to do their growing."

"Why don't you hide yourself on their moon?" a second angel suggested.
God thought about this idea for a while, and then replied,
"No. It will take a little longer, but before long they will learn how to
fly through space. They will arrive on the moon and explore it's
secrets, and they will discover me too soon, before they have had
enough time to do their growing."

The angels were at a loss to know what hiding places to suggest.
There was a long silence.

"I know," piped up one angel, finally.
"Why don't you hide yourself within their own hearts?
They will never think of looking there!"

"That's it!" said God, delighted to have found the perfect hiding
place. And so it is that God hides secretly deep within the heart of
every one of God's creatures, until that creature has grown enough
in spirit and in understanding to risk the great journey into the
secret core of it's own being.

And there, the creature discovers it's creator, and is rejoined to God for all eternity.

(from "One Hundred Wisdom Stories from Around the World" by Margaret Silf)

Yes, snow in GA

Just to prove that indeed, we did have a "dusting"
last week and that the birdies were enjoying it.
This little song chipping sparrow was having a treat on the ground
underneath the feeders.

Holy Picasa!

So, we've been using Photoshop for years now.

It can do a myriad of things, no doubt.
But, it is somewhat technical, and if you don't use
it on a regular basis, you soon forget steps to take
to achieve the desired results. For professional
people, it is a dream in terms of what all it can do.
If you are just a typical photographer who wants to
tweak your photos a bit, it can be really intimidating.

I had heard about Google's Picasa Photo Album, but my tech
hubby read that they now have a Picasa (beta) photo editing program
that will now also run on an iMac, and which was so simple to use.
He downloaded it the other day, and WOW.
Can I just say after using a number of photo programs, this one
is a pure and utter joy? And, the results are really stunning!
Give it a whirl, and see what you think.

The definition of spunk

Is there a spunkier little bird than the Carolina Wren?
For its size, it gives most birds a run for their money!

Yellow-throated finch

... just kidding, of course!
My, but the goldfinches seem to be molting a bit soon, don't they?

(You'd think lately that this is a bird and nature blog or something...
sure helped to move my feeders a bit closer in!)

Aren't I handsome girls?

The male house finches really seem to be getting
into their breeding plumage now.
This guy was simply gleaming in the sun.

"tsee-day-day-day"

I have had a veritable flock of Tufted Titmice
this winter. At any given time, there are eight or more
at the feeders, quickly stealing a seed, and then
finding a sturdy limb on which to crack it open.

Creative Crow

After the little dusting of snow we had, there
were several puddles of water on the driveway.
I looked out to see this crow walking towards the puddle
and then laughed when he found a creative way to drink!

Jumping Juncos

They were scampering along the ground so
quickly, I had a hard time getting a photo!
I love watching them and seeing all the shades of gray.
Sweet little winter friends...

I laughed as I saw this Junco enjoying a mouthful of
some suet dough that had fallen to the ground!

Seedpod scavenger

This little Pine Siskin was thoroughly enjoying the
seed pods of this Rose of Sharon while the rest of his
flock was fighting over some sunflower chips.
Smart little guy!

Another random things meme

37 Random Things About Me (because Anne just knew I'd play!)

1. Do you like blue cheese? No, nada, nein! Bleh!
2. Have you ever smoked? Puffed once when I was 12?
3. Do you own a gun? No
4. What flavor Kool Aid is your favorite? Grape
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like them (grilled) now and again with the works
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Watching The Polar Express with Sam
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, coffee, coffee...
9. Can you do push-ups? Uh, can I get back to you on that one?
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My cross I wear every single day
11. Favorite hobby? Blogging?
12. Do you have A.D.D? No, though I do claim anal retentiveness... in a good way...ahem
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Have a drugstore pair of 1.25's at work just for taking out sutures
14. Middle name? Lynn
15. Name thoughts at this moment? Boy, am I glad it's 37 degrees since it rained and I need to get to church this morning. (Meme done Sunday morning)
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee, water, wine.
17. Current worry? Getting a new car
18. Current hate right now? The state of this country after the last eight years
19. Favorite place to be? Right here, in front of the computer, right now.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Stayed up until 12:02, said Happy New Year to everyone I love, and then snoozed.
21. Where would you like to go? Ireland, Scotland, England
22. Name three people who will complete this? Anyone who feels inclined or is brain dead for blog fodder at the moment
23. Do you own slippers? LLBean Wicked Good Clogs... best in the universe!
24 What color shirt are you wearing? Navy sweatshirt with the Episcopal shield on it
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Had them on a waterbed once...not very cozy
26. Can you whistle? Why, yes I can!
27. Favorite Color? Blue, blues, blue hues
28. What songs do you sing in the shower? Sing along in the bath with a CD playing
29. Would you be a pirate? Nope, can't take from others
30. Favorite Girl's Name? If I'd had one... Lauren Elizabeth
31. Favorite boy's name? Easy! Samuel Preston :c)
32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Jon Stewart's entire show
34. What vehicle do you drive? 2001 Infiniti I-30
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Right deltoid strain/tear
36. Do you love where you live? Yes
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Ack, this is embarrassing... 5?

Well, duh...

Might take me a while, but sooner or later, I get it. I've been pretty disappointed by the photo results I've been getting with the camera I got for my birthday last year. Many times, I would see photos on other blogs and wonder why mine were never that sharp when I had a pretty good camera. Well, this weekend it finally hit me that even though I have a honking lens, I was expecting way too much from it and the camera.

The thing is that most of my feeders are probably 30-40ft from the back deck, and a majority of the photos I take are taken from the deck using the 100-400mm lens. Yes, I can get a closer shot, but then I still feel the need to crop a bit, and well... there you go. Loss of clarity and sharpness generally follows.

This past weekend, I took a good number of photos through the kitchen window (like the Goldfinch above) and was amazed at the crispness and clarity, and that was when it finally dawned on me (duh!) that I have truly been too far away from those things I was trying to photograph. I was asking way too much of my camera and of my lens. Well now... doesn't that just change things! I am thinking I may just move most of my feeders a wee bit closer. Live and learn, and take better photos!

Hello girlie

A plethora of Pine Siskins and Goldfinches were
in this platform feeder outside the kitchen window,
when whooosh... she flew in scattering them all!

Well, hello there girlie! How have you been?
Eat some sunflower seed while I snap some photos.
Thanks!

Fifth photo meme

Got this fun meme from Betsy.
The rules are to open a document or file picture folder.
Then click on the fifth folder and then the fifth photo.
Post the photo and describe it. Then tag 5 other Bloggers.

This is a photo of some of the dahlias I used to grow.
We had a patient once who used to bring us bouquets
of her beautiful dahlias and I decided to plant six of them.
I pretty much ignored all the high maintenance stuff
you are supposed to do to help them thrive, and still they
produced flowers in abundance for me!

I won't tag anyone specifically, but all are welcome
to participate in this fun meme.
Have a beautiful Saturday.

Fairway honkers

I was looking through some old photo files, and found
this one I took waaaaay back in 2003 when hubby took
me to Brasstown Valley. These guys were just
lollying and honking out on the golf course.

And, speaking of these honkers, kudos to pilot Chesley
Sullenberger who apparently flew though a flock
and safely landed that US Airways jet in the Hudson River.
Wow.

Sing me a song

I am looking forward to the sunshine,
the green leaves,
the smell of flowers blooming,
and my buddy above singing
his little heart out in the warmth.

Choral music anytime, all the time

For those who might be interested,
years ago, when I was active on Beliefnet's
Anglican/Episcopal message boards,
one of the posters told us about a
site maintained by a group in Dallas, TX.
The Episcopal Singles Group there has
a web site with streaming choral music
you can listen to anytime you'd like.

On the left sidebar, just click on
"Click Here to Listen"
and then close your eyes to soak in the beauty.

We shall walk through the valley

Because it was a really depressing day at work yesterday,
I wanted to focus today on something that would uplift me.
Here is the anthem we will sing this coming Sunday at church...
sung by the Tower Choir on YouTube. Hope we can do it justice.
And I hope everyone has a beautiful day.

Lord, we shall walk, shall walk in peace.
We shall walk through the valley in peace.
If Jesus, himself shall be our leader,
We shall walk through the valley in peace.
Lord, we shall walk, shall walk in peace.

There will be no trials there.
If Jesus, himself shall be our leader,
We shall walk through the valley in peace.
Lord, we shall walk, shall walk in peace.

--Undine Smith Moore

We are not immune

"...Manufacturing lost the most jobs in December - 149,000. The professional and business-service category, which includes temporary staffing companies, came in second, with 113,000 jobs lost. Health care continued to post the highest gains, adding 32,000 jobs. All told for 2008, the economy racked up a 2.6-million job loss, the most since 1945, Bloomberg said..."

It's been a stressful time at work this past week. Health care, just like every other industry has been hit. You'd think that people still get sick, but the reality is, as our CEO told the local newspaper this week, "squeezed by the economic recession, many patients are delaying elective surgeries and other procedures that can bring in money for a hospital. At the same time, layoffs are resulting in more uninsured patients and greater levels of bad debt for hospitals nationwide."

To that end, we've not received a raise since 2007. We knew in 2008, that we'd have to wait and see how the fiscal year went, and might get a late cost of living increase the first of this year. That's pretty much out of the picture now. There is a hiring freeze on, and there will be jobs eliminated, mostly from non-clinical areas. But still, people I know will be let go.

What we were told, however, is that there is full expectation our department's productivity should be 100% and remain at 100%, or else hospital management will make changes to make that happen. We've been at 84ish% for some time now because our patient numbers are down as well. Sigh. We're scrambling to think of ways we can tweak our schedule, stagger times we come in, have people leave early, etc. to achieve this mandate. It worries me that our nurses may want to look elsewhere for more consistent hours, and we can't use PRN or relief pool people very easily. Wound care is a specialty area, and it takes a good while to train nurses and get them up to speed.

I know things will get better, and compared to other areas in the job sector, we are less apt to close our doors, but still... it's a scary time. It's hard to even wrap your brain around isn't it? ... 2.6 million lost jobs in 2008. Scary, scary times.

Pine cawing

This crow was up in the pines the other day
cawing for all he was worth in the rain.
I wondered what on earth he was looking for?
Or, maybe he was checking out someone behind the tree?

Words to live by

In the end what matters most is
How well did you live
How well did you love
How well did you learn to let go.


from the
Acacia Catalog

On the kitchen table

OK, so I couldn't resist!
I was at the grocery store, looked over in
the floral section, and there they were.
Pots and pots of spring bulbs blooming!
The hyacinth aroma is simply delicious.
And, in only weeks, we will see them here again.

Double whammies

I took Sam for his regular cleaning at Dr. N's office on Tuesday. He has a new partner, Dr. G, and he was the one there today. We'd not met him, and after Sam's cleaning, they had me go back to chat with him. He was a very kind mannered person, smiled warmly while introducing himself to me, and then told me he had "some issues" to discuss with me about Sam's teeth. Oh, drats! I was thinking he was going to tell me we finally ran out of luck and had a cavity.

Instead, he began to tell me about how the enamel on Sam's 6 yr. molars was significantly worn off. This, he told me kindly, was a sure sign of issues with acid reflux. Had Sam ever complained about any symptoms? Uh, no. Well, maybe I needed to take him to see a pediatric gastroenterologist to get tested. Uh, yeah, right. Autism and endoscopy. Great recipe. Instead I asked him if it would not be at least worth starting on some Prilosec to see if things improved. Yes, I know all about potential erosive esophagitis, but I also know he's not complained one iota. However, my mom and my sister both have GERD, so there is a family history.

Then, after we discussed that "issue" he threw out the double whammy. "And mom, his wisdom teeth are definitely going to have to come out." I am sure he saw my shoulders visibly slump. Ack. Oh, fun times. Even more fun than the prospect of an endoscopy. "How much time do we have?" I asked. He showed me the xrays. "Well, I'd definitely do it within the next year." Time. I like time. Summer. Definitely summer vacation stuff. Sigh.

Once we left, I started thinking about times Sam has complained about his teeth hurting out of the blue. I always chalked it up to his flossing too aggressively, as I'd look in his mouth, and see nothing. Sighing again. Poor baby. His teeth have become really sensitive apparently due to the erosion of the dentin on his molars. So, I had a talk with him when we got home. I told him we finally had a reason for why his teeth had been hurting. I gave him some Aquafresh Sensitive Toothpaste to use, told him about starting a new pill (Prilosec), and told him we'd get a new pillow to elevate his head while he sleeps. I also explained to him that he'd need to go easy on the carbonated beverages until things got better.

And the wisdom teeth bit of information? Saved for another day... Mom had enough for one day, and Sam is already grieving his Diet Mountain Dew.

Rainy day suet feast

We awoke last weekend to a rainy
and foggy morning, but that did
not stop the activity at the feeders.

As I went out to fill the feeders, and add
some suet to a cup, I had a bit left over...

So, I simply slapped it on the top beam
of the swing, and then sat back to
enjoy watching the ensuing feast!

RLP has done it again

It's the argument I've felt inside myself for as long as
I can remember in terms of people who profess
that they alone know the truth.

Again, Gordon Atkinson of Real Live Preacher has
taken this issue to task, and written brilliantly about
the perplexity of some religious belief systems.
If I ever make it to San Antonio, I am so going
to look him up and give him a hug.

Beautiful photos... and words

(Bernie's Angelic Osprey)

Blogging has been such a blessing to me...
and it's always so wonderful to find yet another site
that showers blessings and beauty upon us.

A comment by Bernie on my blog led me to visit his
Natural Moments: Bird and Wildlife Photography
blog, and oh, what joy it has brought me.

For, not only does Bernie see the beauty through his
lens, he uses words beautifully to add thought and inspiration.

It's like joy that I want to soak up with a sponge each day.
Pay him a visit and be prepared to smile.

Sadness and tragedy

Jett Travolta (1992-2008)

I have lots of feelings surrounding the tragic announcement about the death of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett, who was only four months older than my Sam. For years and years, the autism community was flummoxed by their seemingly intense desire not to acknowledge Jett's apparent issues with autism. In 1996, when we were doing our intensive ABA program for Sam, I came to know another mom in Maryland, who had become friends with a mom in LA who started one of the early premier autism awareness/advocacy groups of that time. She and her husband worked in the entertainment industry, knew John and Kelly, and were dealing with the diagnosis and treatment for their own son.

It was common knowledge, even then, that the Travolta family, for whatever reason, was in denial about their son's autism. And, it was sad. Sad because an opportunity was lost for awareness and advocacy that their stature in the media might bring at a time when so little was known and the media ignored the now epidemic rise in cases. But, knowing what a painful realization it is, I respected their need to believe what they wanted to believe about Jett. However, each time I'd see a photo of him with them, or even a video clip, it made me more sad. Denial is a powerful thing, and I wondered how hard it must be to go on seeing what you wanted to see other than the painful reality.

Regardless, now his tragic and early death has brought all this out to light again. Seizure disorders are not uncommon in autism, especially during adolescence. My guess is they will find he had a seizure and then fell, hitting his head, which caused him to become unconscious and put his airway at risk. My heart goes out to the family, for I am sure they will feel like they failed him in some way since he was found the next morning, already long gone. Then again, some things happen for a reason, and maybe it was just Jett's time to leave this earth. Sometimes, ours is not to understand, only to offer solace to the living and to know that he is at peace.

Year in review meme

Thanks to Songbird for the idea...
Blog the first line of your first post of each month for the past year.

January: I came home from work yesterday and husband
told me he had a "surprise" for me to see.

February: In these last dreary weeks of winter, we know one thing for sure...

March: We woke up at 4:30 this morning for some reason.

April: This past weekend, husband and I were looking
through all the movies to rent on the Apple TV when we
saw the listing for Death at a Funeral.

May: Aunt B asked about the bluebird babies, and truthfully,
I did not see them for a week or so.

June: The day I was at my sister's house waiting for the
Great Crested Flycatcher to come back, we saw a form
fly to the weeping cherry in her yard.

July: And so the sun sets on another day...

August: I was at the grill yesterday afternoon when the sky
was getting dark and the wind was whipping up to
warn of an approaching storm front.

September: Within the next couple of hours Louisiana will be hit.

October: I was at the kitchen table, when
I saw her out of the corner of my eye.

November: When Sam got into the car at school yesterday,
his parapro Ms E said, "Ask him to see his hand!"

December: It's that time of year again!

Blogiversay Day

(From Mary's View back in May 2007)

It was three years ago today that my Journey Through Grace was created. I can not even believe it's been three years! What started as a way to challenge myself to be more creative, and to engage in the world a bit more has turned into one of the single best blessings of my life.

The people I have "met" and the Blogger community I feel so blessed to be a part of, has enriched my life in ways I simply can not express. I find myself talking about you all to others now and again, and I'll say, "My friend so and so in (fill in the state)....." And yet, I've only met one person in real life. But the thing is, you all ARE my friends, and I DO feel so close to you, as I've shared your lives and journeys in your blogs. It's like my friend Beth says, "You are the nicest people I've never met."

My life path has been one of isolation in many ways since autism has been a part of our daily existence, and my being able to sit here and visit with you all has been a lifeline of sorts. I've never shared the life experiences those with typical kids share, and in many ways, my journey has been a very lonely one, in more ways than I can even discuss here. But know this... your embracing me, and reaching out to give support and love has been yet another way I know that I am indeed bathed in grace. Bless you all for sharing this journey with me.

Happy 2009

~~~ Happy New Year! ~~~

Give us the kindness to hear with compassion,
to offer support,
loving comfort, and care.

Give us the courage to do what is needed,
the wisdom to choose
what is right and fair.

Give us the vision to see what is possible.

Give us the faith
that will help pave the way
for a present that is hopeful,
a future that is peaceful—

Give us a heart to bring joy to each day.

(from Hallmark, Inc.)