I rejoice!! My table will be full!

Whew, the morning began with a flurry of activity and I am so glad I was dressed when this fun started. The first phone call was from the church secretary, asking where "her" big stapler was put....nuts! I'd meant to take it back over Tuesday night but Bible study was cancelled again, and no trip was made to church. I'd already taken it to my car and all I had to do was put shoes on to head to church. Jackie was there sorting the pages from the new church directory so I gave her the stapler. The secretary sidled over (a "Seinfeld" reference) and took the stapler from her, used it, and then handed me the very first, hot off the press, new edition of the directory. Pastor got the second one.

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As I headed out again, the secretary, who was working on the calendar and such, said she nearly put me on the schedule for church cleaning two weeks in a row, but caught the boo-boo and changed it. Good! It was then I remembered this is my week to clean--again--twice in one month!, and since we have worship tomorrow, I'd better do it now. So glad I grabbed a can of soda as I headed out my door this a.m.! While folding up chairs and carrying them to the back of the church, I was also talking on the phone with Justin about the carpet cleaning at the "old" place. Evidently the Realtor told them to have the carpeting professionally cleaned by the end of the month, Sunday. Yikes!

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Justin was lamenting to me, wondering why this stuff always falls to him to arrange (and then trickled down to his mama!) but since I have that sort of contact, I made the phone call and got the First Coast Restoration people all lined up to take care of it. I guess the actual owners of the condo will have the electricity put in their name on Monday so if they need to schedule the shampooing for Monday, it's still okay with the Realtor. I hope that's the case anyway.

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A pair of herons are flying along just above the water further out in the basin, quite beautiful. A boat or two dot the river as well, appearing to be fishing rather than just joy riding. I think, but am not certain, that the resident alligator is swimming diagonally across the basin toward the south. It's busy without being busy in the river today. So far no helicopters!

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Since I was out and about this a.m. I decided to go pick up my Rx refills at WalMart and shop for some CHRISTmas presents for a little boy I've "adopted" through Art Guild, a child in foster care. A Wish List was sent to me for him and this guy, Austin, is a huge Spiderman fan. He also needed a jacket besides the other things on his list and I was hoping to find a Spiderman jacket for him, but not to be had. I got him a movie, pjs, and an art project in keeping with the theme on his List. Shopping for little boys in that particular department was usually quite difficult for me but today I managed nicely. A couple weeks ago I was helping Dee locate fabric for making banners at her church, and searched the fabric dept. in two different stores. Normally I avoided looking at fabric because often I'd see the kids' prints Mom used to make outfits for my two guys. Fortunately, the banner fabric is separate from the juvenile bolts, and I was 'proud' of myself for braving it and going in!!!! Time passing seems to make a difference, little by little by little, and not everyday!

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After cleaning at church, as I headed toward WalMart, I remembered to call Hilcheys to find out when they were coming into town. Here they were in a service garage in Tifton, GA, getting work done on the car (not my big red car), after having car troubles on their way home last night. Guess they must have a hotel or motel in Tifton where they slept. Sandy had her daughter, Olivia, and another girl who attends college nearby riding back with her. I can only imagine how that went for them, going 10 miles an hour on the freeeway until they could find a service station!

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The Hilchey family will be joining us at our festive table tomorrow and for this, I rejoice! I was so wanting to fill all the seats at my table and now, it will be! Pastor's family will be flying in to Jax ThanksLiving afternoon and they are having a pre-ordered feast from Publix for their dinner. I asked him if he'd like to come and have lunch with us, fill another chair. He said he'd probably have to go home after church and clean up the house, as his family has been away since last weekend. I can just see that!

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Joanne just called and said she won't be coming into Jax at all tomorrow as she flies south from MI. Her flight lands in Orlando and then she needs only come as far north as Welaka where she is staying these days. I hope she is able to help her clients find something to buy as she works hard for them over the weekend. I told her to sell them MY condo, would be the second time I sold something to this couple, but they want to live at the beach instead. Wouldn't that have been just too much?!?!? This family had bought my home in The Preserve, then sold it and moved to CA, and now are coming back. I can't imagine anything more perfect than them buying my condo on the river. Too bad their minds are made up about living at the beach, but will plan to drive their son all the way over here to St. Johns....makes little sense to me. It would be incredibly convenient to live here at The Palace and be only a few minutes from the school. Come on, Joanne, you do your thing!

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Mmmm, I just removed my two pies from the oven, one pumpkin and one apple. Besides my home smelling good, the heat from the oven as it cools down will feel good. The temperature is in the sixties by now, but the sun is behind the clouds and not warming me right this minute. Later I will steam my potatoes and get them mashed for our festive dinner. I like to do as much ahead of time as is possible to not having much rushing about to do before and when company arrives. The bird will gets its baking done when I am at church, needing only three and half hours to do its thing, unattended. Tonight I am going to Victory with Justin, at his invitation, for worship and then for a pie social afterward. Love it! After getting home from that, I can get my dishes out for serving and table setting, keeping the cat away from the dining room by closing the doors all the way around the room. I am ready to have a feast with my friends and my precious lamb, Justin!!!!!