Quirky morning banter

Conversation at breakfast this morning:

Nicholas asked, "How long does it take to get through college?"

"It depends on what your major is," said Andrew.

"Usually around four years if you go full-time, but if you have to work sometimes it takes longer," I said.  I was not about to bring up the fact that college can take longer if you are having too much fun.

"Well, I want to go so I can get the best job in the world."

"What would that be?" Katie asked.

"Working at McDonald's," Nicholas answered proudly.

"Oh my gosh, Nicholas!  That's not the best job," Andrew corrected.

At the same time, Katie said, "Nicholas, you don't have to go to college to work at McDonald's."

Nicholas defended himself, "But I could get all the happy meals and toys I want, AND free french fries whenever I want!"

Not in California, I thought.

"Maybe you can work there during high school.  It could be your very first job," I said with a smile.

The conversation was like a little commercial; quick and to the point.  Then it was time to get ready for the last day of school before the Christmas holidays. 

**********

Pete had gone to work before we woke up this morning, so I took the kids to school.  On the way, I called my mom to say 'Good Morning' because we usually talk around eight.  My dad has been feeling bad, so I asked her how he was doing.  Then I asked my mom if he was playing golf today.  (My dad usually plays golf four or five times a week now that he is retired.  When he is not playing golf, he is practicing at the driving range).  Mom said he was not playing today, which meant he REALLY felt like crud. 

When I got off the phone, Nicholas was the first one to speak.

"Is Papa playing golf today?"

"Not today," I answered.

"That's weird," said Katie.

 "Yeah, because he is always playing golf," Nicholas said.

"Well, he's not feeling up to PAR right now," I said, oblivious to the pun; but my sharp kids picked up on it.  They burst out in laughter.

"Up to PAR... that's clever, Mom," Andrew pointed out.

I decided to keep it a secret that what I said was unintentional and smiled.

I am so ready to have my children home with me for two weeks!

A sweet story

'Friends are God's way of taking care of us.'

This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the quickie mart building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat) , and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying 'I don't want my kids to see me crying! So we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. I asked, 'And you were praying?' That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me.'

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left two months ago, and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have the money to pay rent Jan. 1, and finally, in desperation had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about five years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said,

'So, are you like an angel or something?'

This definitely made me cry. I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to have it checked, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'