Elena 
Join Jen and the other Quicktakers over at the Conversion Diary
1.Another reason to be happy to live in Ohio – the awesome Ohio State Marching Band! This routine is incredible!
2. Why is Izzy so happy!? Well probably because WE ARE IN OUR LAST TWO WEEKS OF SOCCER! and her team made it into the championships. I can’t believe that we honestly made it through the season as leaders of the league!
3. Our new kitty Molly has finally made peace with Sophie our dog – or at least as much peace as a cat and dog can share. I think they are out of the fearful/caution stage and moving into different ways to push each other’s buttons.
4. I mentioned to a friend of mine (waves to Carey!) that I was thinking about changing my diet to help treat my ulcerative colitis without expensive (and somewhat scary) medications. She sent me this link to the Maria Mind Body Health Blog. I know that I have a lot to learn about eating this way, but Maria’s blog makes it seem worth the trouble to learn! Check this beautiful cake out- all without wheat products
5. I was going through my cross country banquet pictures last week, and found this great picture of Noah. When did he become such a young man?
This is how my mind’s eye still sees him!
6. A young friend of mine is in the midst of a schism with her only brother. I want her to reconcile with him so badly but of course it takes two to patch up a relationship.
The whole thing reminds me of my grandfather and his brother Elmer. Apparently Uncle Elmer and my grandfather had had their ups and downs regarding money that was borrowed and then slowly paid back, or perhaps even not paid back at all. I knew that my grandfather loved his brother, but I know that some of the things his brother did really irritated him. I think anyone with a sibling can relate to that.
My grandfather collapsed unexpectedly and without warning in 1986, and was rushed to the hospital for a ruptured diverticulum that spread infection throughout his abdomen and even after surgery and intensive medical care, his condition was very grave. As I waited vigil at my grandfather’s bedside, a nurse came to tell me that there was a phone call for him, and could I please come to the desk and take it.
I went to the nurse’s station and picked up the phone. It was Uncle Elmer on the other end, very very concerned about what was going on with his brother. I gave him all of the information that I had about what happened, what was being done and that grandpa was not expected to survive.
There was no sound on the other end of the line. And then I heard a sob, and through tears and anguish that tried persistently to silence my Uncle’s voice, he managed to choke out, “Please Elena, tell him that I called. Tell him that I love him so much. Tell him that I love him.” And I promised that I surely would do just that as soon as I could.
When I went back to my grandfather’s room, he was still in a drug-induced coma although he could react somewhat to sounds and questions. I went up to him and said, “Grandpa, Uncle Elmer just called. He wanted me to tell you that he loves you, and that he is praying for you and that he wants you to get well OK? He loves you and he wanted me to tell you that.”
I could see my grandpa try to open his eyes. I watched his eyeballs rolling around under the lids and I thought he tried to speak for a second, but he didn’t have the strength to break through to answer back. But I am positive that he heard me, and later that week at the funeral, I was able to tell that to Uncle Elmer.
So the lesson I wish I could share with my young friend and her brother is that we never know the time we have left, and we never know when all of our opportunities will be lost – but we need to reconcile with our loved ones, especially family members, and particularly siblings.
7. This is a piece from a performance we did last May, but we just got permission to make it public on Youtube – so here you have it – Trust in the Lord by the Peace Together Choir
7.
