Rick's Tales from the Front

As many of you know, Rick has been battling the hospital and the insurance company to get his gall bladder operation scheduled. Because he's going through a private hospital, not NHS (National Health Service), and because they can, the hospital wanted payment up front. They would accept a guarantee of payment from the insurance company, but the insurance company would not provide a guarantee of payment until he was admitted, and the hospital would not admit him until they got a guarantee. Classic catch-22.

So how to come up with 9,000.00? We went down several roads, and eventually got a loan, freeing him for surgery. We signed the papers, and called the hospital to see how they wanted the check made out and who to deliver it to.

Surprise! They had worked things out with the insurance company!

So we are good to go. No out of pocket for now, and pleased to know that our signature alone can buy us at least 9,000.00 on any given day.

Surgery tomorrow!

Ta-Da!!!

Homecoming Pictures

In an unexpected move, both children went to the homecoming dance. Most kids went in groups not with dates, so almost everyone goes. And dresses up. Julie is in several pictures nad Joe is in a couple. I think it's fun to see the dresses. Here's the link - just paste into your browser..

http://www.mhil-ehs.eu.dodea.edu/images/Homecoming_17Oct2009/index.htm

SmithlutzleetherJESUSblog?

Youth Drama - Tyler as Jesus. Standing ovation for our youth! They have performed it twice in public for our two churches that have teamed up on this; they hit the road in November for a by request performance from another church.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuAexOBQgCM

Julie and Joe's latest achievements

Julie is proving to be a star in her French course getting lots of 100's on her tests. She has also been assigned to advanced seminar which gives her time during school to work on whatever she wants due to her outstanding performance.
Class President Joe was presented an award today for his outstanding achievement on his summer job and was also given a hat by the women at the University of MD college here on the base.

Don't Be Afraid...

to be brutally honest...

Having dipped a tentative toe into the water by contacting our district rep, who wants to talk me out of applying for seminary?

By all means, bring up the time and the expense (so not cheap), and anything else you can
think of on the negative side.

Just the application process can take up to a year, before you even get to think about
an actual class... and then it's a five year process after that, and then a three year probationary period after that, so almost a ten year process before you actually get to do anything with it.
Plus working full-time...

Mondays

Having Mondays off somehow seems like playing hooky - no matter how many hours I've put in in a week. Today has been a 'puttering' kind of day which is really doublespeak for 'not getting anything completely done'

Enjoying the beautiful day. I keep wandering out to the deck in my puttering mode to soak up some sun.

Happy Monday to everyone!