Step by step

I'm not usually a negative person. I must be having a rough week. I crushed my toe yesterday- I didn't bump it, hit it, stub it... no, I crushed it. I possibly broke it. It's really not much to complain about, though it's purple and swollen, and I'm walking with a limp. I actually had a great morning! The daughter of a previous pastor of mine called me to ask if I wanted to come over and spend time with her, her son, and a mutual friend. Dominic had never met Jack before and, considering Dominic's current cohort (mostly bullies, girls, or babies) this seemed especially promising. Dominic and Jack got along so wonderfully that I wish I could see this friend every other day. They played with each other, they shared nicely, they ran in circles and had only one short-lived snatching incident. They are two sweet-natured, cheerful, relatively quiet boys, almost a year apart. Finally! (read: sigh of relief)

Conversations with Lindsey and Katie always leave me thinking after the fact. Lindsey is so careful to watch her words and speak honorably of all people at all times that it makes me more consious of doing the same. I am reminded of a quote (popularly credited to a Tobias S. Gibson) that I once heard: "Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people." Katie and Lindsey are idea people. And to top it off, they're refreshingly educated (grad students) and devoutly Christian.

I've recently decided to take up a new hobby- Copperplate Calligraphy. I have always enjoyed trying my hand at new letterforms and scripts. I was surprised to learn on one of my last trips to Miami, that my abuela Yolanda had won awards for her penmanship in Cuba. Maybe it's in the blood. I'm very excited to devote myself to this new skill! It was a font that reached its height during the 18th century (Declaration of Independance...) used in most legal, business, and social transactions, though most of its use today is limited to wedding invitations. I will need to buy pens with "nibs" and special ink and paper and a protractor. These kinds of purchases always make me nervous.

I'm happy to report that Gio has accepted a position with Americorp in Apopka, that my good friend Jessica has arrived safely in Honduras for her mission trip, and that Thais has arrived safely in Venezuela where she is visiting family before the school year starts back in Dade County. Tomorrow I have a pool date with my friend Leslie and her twin daughters, and with the wife of the pastor at Forest Heights, a homeschooling mom of two girls (10 and 7) and a baby boy of 1 year. In other news, I'm experimenting this evening with a crock pot roast made with a-1 sauce and a slew of baby carrots. I'm really wishing that potato hadn't rotted... I hope this works!