Welcome back, Sunshine!

You were missed!!!! And now you are playing peek a boo with us behind some threatening clouds, casting yellow streaks across the grey river. Nice touch!

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Yesterday on the way back from Middleburg I needed a Diet Coke, other than the five cases in my backseat, so stopped at Hardee's. Before Justin got his driver's license,I was his wheel-man and would take him to school every day. Then I would follow a morning routine which included stopping at Hardee's to get a large Diet Coke, stop at the cemetery, and then proceed to church to work in the office, or run other errands when I was not working for the church. Daily, I got a drink at Hardee's. Back when I was expecting Justin, I had a hankerin' for Hardee's 1/4 pound cheeseburgers, and would slip across town (we are talking about Manitowoc here) to get one. So, yesterday, I thought, "Hmmm...I wonder if they still have those burgers..." Well, they are no longer 1/4 pound, but actually considered 1/3 pounders. Wow! Need I report the mess that ensued as I attempted eating this monster burger as I navigated through the construction mess on Blanding in Middleburg???? My washer is in the spin cycle, taking care of the removal of the stains, hopefully, from my nice Coldwater Creek top, which was on the receiving end of onions and mustard raining down on it from my burger! Make a note: No trying to eat 1/3 pound burgers while wearing a nice top and driving on Blanding!!! And, yes, the Diet Coke was just as delicious as I remember!

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While at the nail salon yesterday, Lisa had several people come in, waiting their turn to get nail work performed. One rather robust woman (this is the pot calling the kettle black!) came in with her own kit for Lisa to do her nails. It was glitter acrylic for artificial nails. It turns out this woman is a graduate of the clown schools in WI, including one she attended in LaCrosse. She told about climbing up Granddad's Bluff and looking out over three states, and how beautiful the area was. I will be going there in late May, traversing the river to get to Winona to see Judy as well. Anyway, the clown lady does face painting and balloon bending at a restaurant on T-ball and little league nights.

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I moved my bouquet of flowers from Justin into the river room so that I can gaze upon them as I work. Some of the petals from the roses have dropped off already but the rest of the flowers look fresh yet. Justin told me that he has one more present coming for me but I won't get it until we are with my sister, Lori. Hmmm, I wonder what it could be....a necklace perhaps? Really, the movie and lunch treat, the flowers and card, and more importantly, attending church with me, is more than enough, but who am I to refuse a gift from my son?

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Thankfully the sun shined across my face, waking me from a rather unusual dream. I was evidently building a new home with now former, then current, spouse, and the Douglas family was over, looking at the project. Our family room had a little stage at one end for the boys to put on plays or whatever (not my boys, strangly enough, but Lisa's boys). The area where the kitchen normally be instead had a snack bar with prep sink and already had a bed in place. I remember looking at the area, wondering how we would get a dinette table stuck into such a small space. I also felt as though I was drifting through the scenes, not an active part of the dream. Hmmm....It may have been more like our cottage in Door County rather than a permanent home, because I guess we can all agree there is no such thing as permanent!

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I so enjoyed my time spent at home last night, writing and watching back to back to back episodes of "House", some of which I had seen before. I was a spoiler Sunday when I was talking to Justin about "House", as he was the one who got me into watching a first-run TV program (normally re-runs of old programs for me). We had seen in the opening scenes of "Star Trek" a mom giving birth to her first child. She was in the throes of labor, as they were being evacuated from their starship. The mom giving birth looked familiar and I whispered to Justin that it was Cameron, from "House". At first he doubted me, but thanks to his iPhone, was able to pull it up and sure 'nuff, I was right! Later, at home, we were talking about something else related to "House", where I expressed how strange it was that even the two engaged people referred to each other by their last names all the time. He did not know Cameron's first name was Allison, and I mentioned something about the episode where Kutner died....WHAT???? Kutner died? Oh, wow! Justin had no clue as he is so far behind in his viewing that he did not even know this tidbit yet! Oops, I'm a spoiler!

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Lisa, the nail lady, is married to my friends son, and is about 24 years old. An old lady as far as she is concerned. A young pup, if you ask me. She had asked me some questions about Justin and I filled her in on the "lost semester" Justin experienced and how he is now trying to make up for lost time, earn enough credits at least to get an AA degree. She kept saying about him being young and doing foolish things, not having his act together, how it might be good to let him have his fun, etc., etc., etc. I found this rather amusing since Jason and she are only a couple years older than Jesse and Justin, and yet she was talking like she was much older. She HAS been self-employed for several years already, and granted, has had room and board pretty much provided, with the Woodruff's being her only family in this area. As I mentioned to Lisa, although Justin is just shy of genius on the IQ scale, that will not make him smart, and I must be genius enough to realize I cannot be smart FOR him. This is a tough tough pill to swallow. I also do not have to encourage foolishness or approve of it, but must accept that sometimes stupidity and childish thinking are simply out of my control. Lisa told me I was right, and that was all I needed to hear! She asked me why he was thinking of moving to Miami and going to school there (higher costs of living, more dangerous, etc.) and I said he told me "because it will be more fun...". She said, "That's all those kids think about, what is going to fun." Again, an inside chuckle because she is not much older age wise, but is a lifetime older experience-wise. I told her I needed to have him come in and get a pedicure and perhaps he would listen to her "sage advice", if not mine!

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In reading my "Grandma" book this morning (thank you, Judy!), some of the passages were perfect subject matter. The chapters were about dealing with the things life brings us, basically being Proverbs 31 women (like Linda!) "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Or in Proverbs 17: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." I do not want dry bones, I want to laugh! In Psalms we are reminded "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. The Lord has done great things for them." I have confidence in the Lord, in His control of all matters, remembering that our time here on earth is merely a blink of an eye. I also believe that our heavenly Father will watch over Justin, and will guide His ways, even if he is out of my sight.

Proverbs 27 says "Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt."