Good friends and good food

I feel sort of sad for the football player with his imaginary girlfriend and his being 'found out' with this supposed hoax. Or was it a hoax, or a lie he just couldn't stop telling? Anyway, I have many 'Friends' via Facebook whom I have never physically met and I am going on trust that they actually exist. Most of them are shared with mutual friends who do exist, so I feel pretty confident about them. 

The ones I am Friends with off-line as well I know exist (at least in my world!) and it's great to get and give hugs when seeing them in the flesh. This happened for me when in WI and I got to see many of those FB friends, and sing with them in church, or sit across a table during Bible study, or share a meal with them. Or, wave at each other across a crowded theater before a sacred concert.

At The Club the other night I got to share a hug one of my local FB Friends who serves on the Board. We had our annual member's meeting and Kat greeted me when I came in. She had left a comment on my status the day before when I wrote about Brenda and I having lunch together, remarking we were two of her favorite people. Of course, being in real estate, these ladies know each other---again, shared friendships!

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After work Wednesday, Justin stopped at Walgreen's and got the 'cheap' soda, Diet Pepsi. Not my first choice but the price is right. When I came in from the meeting, he greeted me at the door and said, "Close your eyes and hold out your hand---palm down." This meant it was not more Easter eggs...He sprayed my hand and told me to sniff it. It seems he found this knock-off of Obsession, my perfume of choice. He was so pleased to have gotten it for $12 for 'this big bottle!' when I pay that much for the little bottle which fits in my travel case. The scent is very similar to the real thing as far as I can tell, and he was so pleased to have gotten it for me, I can't help but wear it sometimes! He is such a sweetheart...

Today we had a very enjoyable and beneficial Bible study. Using Advent yet as the theme of the study, we discussed intimacy in relationships. Each chapter usually begins with a hymn stanza or two, which in the past we have sung a capella, but today we did not sing it. The hymn was "Of the Father's Love Begotten" which may have been more difficult to do. The text is rich, however, and had more impact in reading it than singing, I believe.

To begin the 'conversation' we went around the table giving the name of the person we consider our best friend. First Judy listed Lucy, who was sitting across the table from us, and then it was my turn. "Linda!", and Pastor nodded, as he expected that to be my answer. 

My friend, Linda

One lady flatly and matter-of-factly said she had no one close enough to her (or she allowed close enough) to be considered her best friend, not even her husband. Gulp! One lady has a twin sister with whom she is most intimately connected, as Pastor said, they shared a womb! This tied perfectly into the story of when Mary went to see Elizabeth, and how John leapt in her womb upon hearing Mary's voice, the mother of his Savior. Very cool! 

We discussed the relationship between Mary and her cousin, and between the two pre-born babies who would forever change the world. One would preach repentance and the other bring salvation...Like Justin said the other day, he would come to this class every day if he could!

The folks, or many of them, were going to a bbq place for lunch and asked me to join them. Sometimes I do go along but today was not one of them. I decided to go home and eat my leftovers. Once home, I fired up the computer, and then reheated the last of my delicious (if I do say so myself!) sloppy joes for lunch. 

No sooner did I start scooping it into my mouth, I got an instant message from Lee. She said she knew I had been at Bible study and it was short notice but did I want to have lunch at The Club? Sure!!! I put my plate in the fridge and put my shoes back on. Away I went! There is a mini-buffet on Thursdays, and this week was home-made pizza, pasta casserole, and WI cheese soup. Heaven! 

My friend, Lee

Wednesday night was a meeting of The Club members where we could offer our input into happenings, events, and menus, etc. I had written to Chef last week about the sliders and he assured me they would be back. During the meeting, the staff circulated with trays of appetizers for the members. Nothing they brought around was something I would eat but after the meeting, Chef came to me and whispered, "I have some beef coming out for you shortly..." 

The waiter came through with tiny Chinese take-out boxes which had mini-meat loaves, cut up, with onion straws on top. Yum! I though this was what Chef meant and I had two of these little treats. 

I had started to say good-bye to those around me, refusing a refill of my soda glass. Well, here came Chef with a rectangular shaped plate holding several of the mini-meat loaves not cut up, covered with a wine-flavored gravy, and roasted potatoes. No one else got that, only me! When Julius saw that he asked, "You want a refill now, don't you?", and I did! Carol was seated next to me and I asked Julius to get her a fork, so she could help me. Talk about delicious, and talk about being spoiled!

Today, Chef had the Hostess send a large foam cup of the WI beer cheese soup home with me. That will be my dinner and I look forward to enjoying that later on. I have such good friends, real ones, like Lee, and the ones I have never met but extend their hugs and good thoughts to me through this sometimes difficult week. 

People can be nice even if they have no idea what is going with someone, and that matters greatly! Go, and do thou likewise!

Mystery solved!

Love to multi-task and am doing so now with this typing going on as the printer spits out newsletters. These are the newsletters which I send, if I am faithful, every other month to our members away from the congregation. Sometimes there is simply not enough newsworthy or I don't have photos to include with the letter. 

This newsletter is in addition to the monthly one they might receive via e-mail or have snail-mailed to them. One side of the page is text, and the opposite page has photos taken during the time between issues. Being gone during the holidays has provided me a lot of blanks where pictures should be! Might have to reach out to those who were in town to ask for pictures.

Yesterday afternoon I went to see my lady friends at Great Hang Ups. I saw Dee and Julia briefly at The Club Sunday when I was over there for the art show. Since we did not much time to just chat while there, I went up to the shop. Dee couldn't stay long, but before she ran off to feed her husband, she said, "I phantomed you..." 

I didn't know what that meant so she told me she was the one who brought me the box of cherries. I should have known!!! She gets me some every year, but the dark grey van Connie described did not match up with Dee. I forgot she had gotten a new vehicle. Mystery solved, and candy consumed!!!

                                                  

What is it about lunch that makes one sleepy? I am so ready for a snooze but it's too early in the afternoon for that. My morning sleep was fraught with nasty dreams including snakes and dealing with concrete pourers. Yes, I am back at work trying to schedule contractors, and no, the concrete guys were not snakes. Same dream, different problems!

Easter during Epiphany

Justin was out and about yesterday running some errands, including going on a soda run. CVS Pharmacy has Diet Coke advertised at 3 for $9 so he was on a mission! Then, he sent me the dreaded text message---complete with a photo---bare shelves in the soda department. Rats! Sold out!

                                             

He did say he had some good news for me though but I wouldn't find out until he got home again. He unpacked the bags of groceries from Winn Dixie, where he paid a bit more for Pepsi products than the deal offered at CVS. I asked him to get cheese and milk for a recipe I am trying (yes, you read that correctly!), and put them in the fridge. 

                                                  

He had me hold out my hand and he placed there three of my favorite dark chocolate coconut eggs! Oh my! Usually found at Easter, he found them during Epiphany. I only hope they aren't leftover from last year, but I am fairly certain I got them all....

What a week I am having----first someone dropped off a box of dark chocolate covered cherries (I still don't know who did it!), and now three of these eggs. Life is good!

Timmy's anniversary day

Justin holding baby brother on the day Timmy was brought home from the hospital. When we first told Justin I was going to have a baby he said, "I get my wish!"

 The boys needed a nap!

 Timmy with his playmate, Linda

 Timmy and his friend, Rachel, at VBS at church. He is wearing the lady bug outfit his grandma made for him

Posing for the camera at the Eagle Harbor pool. A funny story about his swimming lessons (ironic, isn't it?): I told Timmy to go to the bathroom before the class began. I looked up from my seat at the table and saw his white butt as he peed in the bushes. That is NOT what I meant, Timmy!!!!!

Ready for bed

Last night was a late one, and a disappointing one, with the Packer loss. Shoot! It's hard to win a game when the team is defeating itself. At first the teams would swap scores, tying it up four different times, but then the Packers lost their rhythm and ability to hang onto the ball.

If they were Jaguars, heads would be rolling, as happened in the past couple weeks. The General Manager was let go, and as soon as the new one came on board, away went the coach. He had been here only a year, "rebuilding", and now we will spend the next season rebuilding yet again, I imagine. 

The Packers, at least, made it to the post-season which is laudable in itself. Next year!!!!

Justin took this photo of me cheering for the Packers last night (and yet, they didn't win????)

My family!

....or some of them! 

Dad, Jill, Kim, Kerry, and Mom

Another treasure found in the box at Mom's house was this picture taken by a semi-professional photographer friend of our family. If memory serves me, this was taken New Year's Eve, in the late 1960's, at our friend's house. They were church members with us and we likely went to their house after church. 

My smile and Mom's look the same!  Plus, Jill and I have matching dresses, which we did often, though she is 16 months younger than I am. Even then she was taller! Love my cat eye glasses! I imagine my two older sisters were babysitting that night, being a big night for folks going out. 

Time spent in reflection

One of my pastor friends on Facebook posted the link to some articles in our Synod's monthly periodical regarding grief and loss. Since I no longer subscribe to the magazine I had missed reading these. The pastor who wrote the two articles I read had lost a teen-aged son to suicide. Fortunately, the boy had a chance to repent and profess his faith in the Lord before he closed his eyes for the last time. 

It is quite moving to read the words, the emotions they felt were too familiar. The second article in the series talks about how the father had changed since his son's death, changes for the good, how it became a blessing for him in helping others. Yes.

                                          

It so happens that I know this boy's mother, and his aunt, both of whom went to high school with me. In fact, the uncle of the young man sat at my table for ThanksLiving in 2011. The story was not new to me, reading it here, as I had heard about it from others. I give these parents, and the Lord, a good deal of credit for being able to carry on in the ministry like they are, and sharing "the reason for the hope that we have." 

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Another FB Friend, a pastor's wife, shared a couple poignant articles which I read. One was about today's moms being so distracted by their hand-held communication devices, not paying full attention to their little ones. I can see that! I have thought about that when taking pictures---how one can be more about the photo being captured than about the moment itself. As my friend, Judy R. would say, "things that make you go hmmmm....".       
                                                  

Another friend linked to an article about the things a child must learn or know before they leave home. I was reduced to tears! As one reads the article, there is music playing softly in the background, which helps to stir the emotions. My son has left home more than once, so I am used to it. I am being falsely brave when saying this. It sure does help to be reading the book about the effect a mom has on her son! Wow, no pressure there!

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Tuesday before he and I went grocery shopping, we went to Hurricane's for lunch. He had a coupon to use from his Jaguar Bucks. Justin insisted we try the garlic parmesan fries, which I hated to tell him did not blow me away. His friend's mom can eat two orders of them in a sitting. She is a butter lover, like I am. But she is thin!

                                            

I ordered the chicken sandwich for my entree which came with homemade chips, but I ate none of them. In fact, I did eat the entire sandwich, no leftovers! It was fantastic, once I removed the lettuce and tomatoes from the bun. Next time I will order it more plainly, with pickles and mayo. It might have to be soon!!!