I can't wait to put my feet up tonight, or my entire body, for that matter. It's been a long, long day, beginning with Bible study and worship. Some of our 'seldom seens' were there this a.m., I can't help but wonder if they came due to receiving their "Keeping the Faith" letter I sent out earlier in the week. Perhaps it was a coincidence to have them come, drawn by the church picnic or whatever, but it was good to have them back in worship with the flock again.
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Between Sunday school and worship we have a social time at which volunteers donate crumbless treats to enjoy with their coffee. As I drove down Wells Road, it crossed my mind, "Oh, I hope it wasn't my turn to bring donut holes today.....". It was then I remembered NOT bringing my cole slaw for the church picnic! Rats! It was going to be soooo good, too, with pineapple tidbits and walnut pieces in it....There is more than I can eat so will offer some to my neighbors to enjoy with their dinners tomorrow. Justin isn't a big fan so won't even offer. And, no, it was not my turn to bring the donuts---next week instead.
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I got into Bible class just a minute or two late so missed the beginning of it. Sort of glad about that because the lesson we were looking at involved a Shunamite (?) woman whose son died suddenly and she went off without telling her husband about it, to find Elisha. Wow! It's not possible for me to read a story about this type of thing and not project myself and/or Timmy into it, not possible. Fortunately, the prophet was able, with the Lord's power, to restore life into this child. Our worksheet asked some questions that I'd have loved to answer but wasn't in the, shall we say?, frame of mind to speak. My mascara held up nicely and I was none the worse for the wear.
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Immediately following worship was our church picnic. There was an inflatable water slide set up for the little ones and they had great fun playing on it. The temperature was in the low 90's and the prospect of that water slide was mighty appealing to even the adults! No one missed my dish of cole slaw, there was plenty of foods and other salads to fill the gap. Although it was "casual dress" today, I had to wear my regular church clothes as I was going straight to a Debutante event at my neighbor's house, for Olivia.
Whee! Here comes Sarah down the water slide....Paul is looking on from the right.*
I was one of the first guests to arrive and the woman whose home was being used was most gracious to me. We'd met before, and acted like she did remember me. Mary made sure I had a bottle of water, yes, water, and found me a chair. She wanted to make sure I found people to talk with but later she came through and told Sandy that she knew I didn't have a problem mingling! All the mothers of the Deb's and their daughters were attired in lovely summer dresses, wore a corsage, and little white gloves! White gloves, imagine that! Olivia and Sandy both looked gorgeous, as did all the moms/daughters. I got to see many, many St. Johns ladies, teachers, moms, their daughters, even my neighbor showed up. It was impressive, as is this home. The Hostess, whose family owned and operated the majority of the convenience stores and gas stations in the area, lives right near the entrance to The Club in a Spanish revival-style home, also gorgeous. It was a treat to be invited to this Tea and to have free run of her home.
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We made plans to meet for dinner tonight but when Olivia got to Blu Grotto (yes, again!), she found it closed. Should have known that but wasn't thinking when we set it up. Instead we went to Koko's with Justin in tow. The two young people yakked and yakked while us "old" folks did the same. We always have such fun with them, I love 'em!
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I was showing Owen something in the back of my car where some soda bottles had leaked due to the heat (I have to keep in mind when I buy bottled soda---take it upstairs right away or it will blow!). I had picked up a couple items from the cemetary today and had them in the carrying box from the soda. Owen was moving the box when he got excited and pointed out a black widow spider just inside the box! Evidently it came out of the stuff I picked up. That's all Justin had to see! He was extremely upset, and I thought it was nice how he worried about his mama riding around with poisonous spiders in her car------oh, no siree! He accused me of trying to kill him by making him ride in my bug-infested car! Justin is so afraid of spiders, the same way I am about mice! If we'd seen a mouse in the car-----I'd be calling a cab before I'd get back in! Owen, our hero!!!! He flipped the spider out with one of the Matchbox cars, and then stomped on it. Olivia made him scrape his shoe along so none of the guts stayed on his shoes. Whew! That was close!!!!
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When I got home from the Tea, my feet were screaming for mercy. I wore flat sandles with elastic bands across the ankle and around the back of my foot. I got into my bedroom, pried the shoes from my swollen feet and tossed them into the wastebasket. That was just enough!!! When we got to Koko's, Sandy was getting out of the car yet, so I went over by her (they were in my car, my Big Red Car, which Olivia now drives!). She had put socks on with her clogs because she had huge blisters on both feet from her dress shoes which she wore all afternoon, standing in the reception line and mingling later. Owen said he told her to throw them out, and I told him that I tossed mine when I got home. Ouch!
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So, now it's time to go put those puppies up for the rest of the night. Prayers, please, for the recovery from surgery for my sister, Kerry, who had her hernia repaired, and for Linda, who has a brand-new knee! Good night all!!!!
