Baby Hedgehog

Found this photo on flickr... one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

You guys have to watch this. This little guy is only 3 years old. Too cute! I only wish I could have watched the whole talk. This was posted on the Flickr Jehovah's Witnesses group. He's Asian, but speaking Italian (you can tell by the gestures!)

My earrings walked into the hall before I did.

So, I realize fully that there are much more important things happening in the world than my jewelry. I know we are all saddened by the news from Haiti, and our brothers there are just trying to grieve the tremendous loss they are experiencing and trying to just survive. They read the statement at the meeting last night, and even though I read it at home before the meeting, I couldn't help but cry when it was read at the Hall. I think sitting there with all the dear brothers in my own congregation and thinking that the number of deaths could easily represent the majority that were there last night, including the little ones, was really hard to think about. I never cry in public, so it kinda caught me off guard. But I know the many fervent prayers in their behalf, including my own, guarantees Jehovah's loving care to get them through this.

Now, that having been said, I just wanted to update you on a much lighter subject. As I mentioned earlier, I made a pact with a sister in our Hall to wear our biggest earrings to the meeting on Thursday. I held up my end of the bargain, but, I'm sorry to say, she left me hangin'! (So-to-speak ;-) Apparently she was getting ready to go out of town today, and so wasn't there last night. So I wore my great big earrings and found that they actually changed my mannerisms. Not because I felt particularly hot with them on, but for an entirely different reason. I found that if I moved my head too fast the earrings didn't quit swinging for about five minutes. So I nodded a little less fervently, disagreed a little less negatively and in general walked around like my spine was permanently fused at the neck. But it was fun to wear them anyway. And yes this is my exciting life. I even have photos to prove it.

Sad News

For those of you that know her, Esther Reynolds passed away early this morning. Even though it was expected, it is still always too soon to say goodbye. Esther faithfully was going to as many meetings as she could up until a couple of weeks ago. And always with a smile. Her emphysema had progressively become much worse, but even then she would always manage to read a scripture at the Watchtower study. We went to see Art while we were out in service today, and he's doing as well as can be expected. Exhausted, sad but a little relieved I think. There should be a memorial for her at our Kingdom Hall a week from Saturday.

Also, if anyone hears any updates from our brothers in Haiti you are welcome to post it here. I looked on a satellite map, and it looks like the branch is some miles north of where the city was hardest hit. I 'heard', from an unconfirmed source, the all in the bethel family and the 24 MTS students at the branch are all okay. But I'm sure a lot of publishers have been devastated. I'm curious if the disaster relief crews from Louisiana and Florida will be involved in any relief work or rebuilding? I hope we get to have a more active part in helping these brothers, similar to how the friends in Italy and France were able to directly provide aid to brothers in Africa. I'm sure we'll hear more in the days to come. Of course our prayers are with our 'family' there as they try to endure the next few days.

I wore my new necklace!

After much fashion advice from Lala, I finally had the nerve to wear my new bling-ey necklace to the meeting last Sunday. (Darla, I think next time I'll try a higher neckline with an open jacket. I tried it with the button up but felt way too stuffy) My, my you would think the circus had come to town! Suffice to say the necklace was a hit. I just really didn't think it would stir up that much excitement. I even had the older brothers stopping me in the isle to get a closer look at that necklace. It was a riot! One of the sisters in our hall with the biggest personality said she could never pull off wearing something like it. I said 'pish-posh' and let her wear the necklace... for a few minutes. (By the way she looked fabulous in it!) Because the big jewelry was so much fun, this same sister and I made a pact to both wear the biggest earrings we have to the meeting this Thursday. We are both afraid to wear them, so we figure together we might be brave enough. I'll keep you posted.

(Oh and the meeting was excellent too... I was paying attention!)

Just for Darla I got a picture before leaving for the meeting. Ughh!

New Songs At the Meetings

So we did our first real set of new songs at the meeting this week. How did your congregation do? Dewey usually has great singing but this week was pretty quiet. The nice part is that we all just laughed it off. I didn't realize how second nature it is to sing the songs we've had for the past 30 years till we had to sing new ones! Even singing "From House to House" was crazy with a different melody. My brain kept going back to the old melody, even while the song was playing! But this is good! New synapses in the brain. And of course the songs are beautiful!

By the way, does anyone know the theme for the convention this year?

So what do you write on a blog? I promise you guys not to talk about myself nonstop.. how boring is that? Oh and by the way, you all are set as authors so feel free to post your own comments about absolutely whatever. Of course if you are like me you will stare at the blank screen wondering what in the world in your life or day was so fascinating that you feel compelled to share it with less than a dozen other people.

The most exciting thing that happened today is that I had an early visit in my room from a yellow jacket. Not the kind of yellow jacket that I got rid of when the 80's were finally over. But the kind that are painful. (Well, I guess that could apply to the 80's jacket too:-D) Of course I killed it after several attempts, and not a few girlie screams. But what especially noteworthy about the visit from this little monster is that it was another reminder how our winter right now is suspiciously disguised as fall. 55 degrees today! That feels good after months of cold and snow, but I've had precious few opportunities to wear my cute winter clothes. I finally have boots people! Maybe I'll just live constant denial and go out all bundled up everywhere I go. That would make life interesting... and maybe I'd sweat off a few pounds.