A Sunday flashback....

Sunday at church, I was busily getting things arranged on a table in the breezeway, one which I actually dragged out and set up. Usually I never mess with the long tables, for fear of aggravating my back, but this time I had to do it myself. No men were around yet.

*

Anyway, I heard shuffling behind me and turned to see Suzanne with her two kids, heading into the fellowship hall. It seems that poor Daniel had troubles with his shirt sticking to his chest. The villain? Syrup! Suzanne had often told me the smell of syrup reminded her of Timmy, because when he'd come into Sunday school and hugged her, he smelled of syrup! That child loved his pancakes and waffles, as does Daniel. She knew this information would trigger memories, which it did, but fond ones. Suzanne commented that Daniel does many things which remind her of Timmy (Daniel is the boy who was found sleeping with the knives in his bed!). Oh dear!

I'd rather take a nap---oh, wait--I did!!!

But, I didn't mean to! After getting home from Bible study, eating, and shopping, I checked my e-mails quickly and then retired to the family room to watch an episode or two of "What Not to Wear". The next thing I knew, something entirely different was on the TV, perhaps the program about the single women all living in a house in Miami----oh, oh, oh, I remember, The Golden Girls! Evidently I dozed off and missed most of WNTW. Must have been more tired than I thought!

We had a nice group of ladies for Bible study this a.m., no men showed up this week. The topic covered was about how to use the story of Mary and Elizabeth when discussing right to life decisions, arguing against abortion, and about when life actually begins. Remember, our study is "Being Prepared to Answer" when sensitive subjects come up in conversation. Janet shared a lovely story about her cousin who gave birth to an extremely handicapped child with brain damage. The couple kept her at home with them, would wheel her to the front of church for the children's sermon, read her Bible stories, and treat her as though she could process what they are saying. She said it's inspirational to others, witnessing (overhearing) the message of salvation being shared with their daughter. Brought tears, I dare say!

Six of us went to Longhorn for lunch and had a great time, everyone talking at once, of course. Jackie chided me about never finishing my meal, reminded me of Mom, because Mom always liked to say, "You're not going to eat all that!" Janet nailed it though, saying this way I don't have to cook anything for the next meal!! And, just call me a liar---Jackie didn't know that my family was coming!!! How did THAT happen???? Janet said she's anxious to meet Lynn, although I think she did when Lynn was here at CHRISTmas time.

Twila and Ellen were going to Hobby Lobby afterward and asked me to join them---fantastico!! Ellen is just getting started in the fun so needed some guidance on what tools and supplies to buy. Two novice scrapbookers in one week's time--such joy! (This is the last two words in "La Traviatta": Such joy!!) On the ride home I took a phone call from Lisa who was letting me know how much Gabe is enjoying VBS. First, he asked her to stay with him the first day, but once acclimated to the classroom, told her she could leave now. Well, how 'bout that? What a fabulous summer these boys are having!

Twila dropped me off at Longhorn to get my car and I headed for home. I'd meant to stop at the cemetery but got into the turning lane so was committed to going up Wells Road. Maybe tomorrow I'll get over there, if I have time. In the morning is water aerobics, followed by Ellen and me going up to Great Hang Ups to have some photos restored, and then lunch at Koko's. We are going to have a wonderful time! Ellen has a picture taken at her wedding where she's posing with her brothers and her mom, the only group shot she has, BUT, she's sticking out her tongue!!! I hope I didn't oversell Dee's abilities to make the appropriate restoration and put her tongue back into her mouth! I'd told Ellen how Dee was able to transplant my closed eyes with open ones in the photo taken with Giavanni, my friend from the Italian restaurant at Epcot.

I don't think I ever mentioned seeing the movie on Saturday with Justin.....We saw our "supposed" movie filmed in Santorini, and it was our own stupid fault having our expectations set way too high. The trailers showed footage only of Santorini, but the majority of the story takes place away from there! Oh, nuts! The movie was good, however, and I would watch it again, this time with modified expectations. Afterwards we went to Steak 'n Shake where we used coupons he had along with him. I had half my patty melt and fries, while Justin had soup and chicken sandwich. He relieved me of the second part of my melt.

We arrived at Victory about 30 minutes early so sat on the bench outside to wait, even though Brent invited us to come in out of the heat. Not a problem for me, I don't mind the heat. Pastor Hoyer is on vacation these past two weeks so between Brent and Joel, the services were handled. Both did fabulous jobs, and I let them know this.

After worship I stuck around to chat but Justin took off, having made plans for the evening with his friends. When the lights started to be turned off, we had to leave so I came home to watch the Jaguar game. It was still early so I joined my neighbors on the sundeck for a while. Hugh checked the TV listings and said he didn't see the game listed on the directory. Pat thought it might not be shown because it was preseason and I didn't bother checking either, merely assuming it was aired. There were four F-14 jets circling around the area, waiting to do the fly-over when the national anthem concluded. They kept coming around and around, and Hugh made us laugh by pretending to give them directions to the stadium, as though they were lost. It got funnier each time!

When it was time to go upstairs, I turned on the TV and sure enough--there was the Jaguar game! I missed the first quarter so dived right into the spirit of the game. There were some bags left to be labeled for Travis so that's what I did while watching the game, at least until I ran out of bags! The Jaguars ended up winning at the very end, it could have ended in a tie and gone to overtime. The team looked promising but, of course, these games are intended to sort the keepers from the ones who are not, so I'd better not get too attached.

On another football story: After worship Saturday night, Brent told me that he had returned a Call to serve a church in Green Bay. He said, "Now Green Bay has lost two Brents!!"

Oh, it's nearly time to get ready to go!

Now, I'm as patriotic as the next person is but I am a tiny bit upset having the Olympics showing on the station where JAG is usually broadcast! I didn't realize a station other than NBC would have the Games, although I do know NBC owns USA. All these abbreviations!!! Since I don't ordinarily watch first-run programs, it was not going to be a problem having the Olympics on the broadcast network. Now, it is a "problem" because it's messing with my morning routine! I had no excuse but to get up and start my day instead of lolling on the bed in the sunshine. It's now time to be getting dressed and brushing teeth to head toward church for Bible study. I must be prepared to give an answer for the hope I have!

*

Thanks to all for sending your Comments! Remember please I answer them in the same Comment area.......

*

Blessings on your day today everyone!

My people better hurry up and get here......

......before someone kills me! I've resorted to stopping cars on the street to tell them my family is coming to town! I should put it in the paper and be done with it, I guess. I told folks down at the pool, in the cabana, at church, on the sundeck, and in the elevator----and they didn't even know me!

*

So, yeah, I'm a little excited!

*

Judy R.!!! I was talking about you at church today---were your ears ringing? One of the ladies had her friend from MI visiting again, she'd been here in January, too, and had joined me for lunch the week of Timmy's anniversary. They were trying to keep me busy so I didn't "dwell" too much. Anyway, Karen and Janet look so much alike, they could be sisters. Everyone thinks they are related but only through their hearts! Janet asked to me tell Karen what I said about you: "We've been best friends for all these years but were only formally introduced last year!" Karen said that's the way it was with Janet, too, they just clicked!

*

I just came inside from the sundeck, even though the sun left us hours ago. It was just lovely out there and people kept coming and going so I stayed. After all, I had to tell them about my family coming!!! Maybe that's why people kept leaving.....hmmm, ya think?

*

One of the ladies who'd been at the pool with me came to see if I had her telephone. Well, no, I didn't, but I think she must have left it by the pool. She stayed out longer than I did, perched on the edge of the children's pool when I came up. I didn't see what she did with it but she really needs to find it, because, being a Realtor, it has her life inside of it! I will go down in the morning when it's light to see if I can see it, because my eyes won't be blurred by chardonnay like hers ............................I feel like a bad friend for not staying with her but she was talking with another lady and thought she was okay.

*

Last night while watching the Jaguar game, I used my stove! I browned some hamburger and made a sort of sloppy joe concoction. It didn't taste as delicious as it smelled, however, probably due to using caraway rye bread instead of a hamburger bun. Tonight I added a can of Bush's beans and made it quite delicious. And they say I don't know beans!

*

Somebody today was telling me how to heat something in the oven and I couldn't help but think of the time just before Prange's arrived when some one's glass front oven door exploded when it was in use. I think it was the same year as mine is, so I look at it out of the corner of my eye when I pass through the kitchen, wondering if it's ready to blow! Another thing to put on my grave marker: "She was killed by her oven door!" I'd do great out west where they put such fun things on the graves, like I saw in Deadwood, SD.

*

Oh, I was so incredibly thirsty today, I could hardly stand it! In fact, I had two adult beverages at the pool which is extremely rare for me. I guess what I really needed was, yes, I'm going to say it, water! I had two sodas and two strawberry margaritas in a five hour time frame and was just so thirsty. Nothing seemed to satisfy. Once upstairs I consumed three or four of my little bottles of water, so I think I'll be caught up for the night, and up for the night! Timing is everything!

*

I'd meant to be down on the sundeck much earlier this evening but I was on the telephone with a man from church for over an hour. We'd done a survey regarding the times and types of Sunday fellowship to enjoy and he'd sent me the results. Both of us are talkers so it went on and on, touching every subject, some of it church matters. He's my Elder, too, so it was good to have the time to chat things up.

*

The temperature outside is right around 80 degrees above zero with the high being closer to 90. The pool water was quite refreshing. I enjoyed the company of some folks who are usually seated elsewhere but today sat at the table I adopted. They greeted me by name which was nice and asked me to sit with them. We talked the afternoon away and really hit it off. I shared with the husband the recent episode of "Seinfeld" I'd seen, because it was the one about those jack-booted thugs from Pottery Barn who kept sending the catalogs. "Frank" was a letter carrier and got a kick out of the part where Wilford Brimley, as Postmaster General, comes to New York to convince Kramer to accept his mail again. He hated to leave his golf game to come up to NYC just to reprimand Kramer for bricking in his mailbox.....

"They're bricks. I bricked it up!"

"Well, where'd you get the bricks from?"

"Jerry, the whole building is brick." (Add eyebrows bobbing up and down......)

I am having the best time watching those re-runs and scaring my cat half to pieces with my outbursts!!!

During my chat with Linda this morning.....

.........we were talking about the wonderful things that go on in our lives, the simple pleasures that others miss out on, especially those where we can say, "Thank you, Lord!".

*

I told her that in my blog posting today I mentioned some of the things which have lifted my spirits recently, and remembered a very valuable and profound statement made by Justin. He was talking to me about a girl he knows, actually a woman, who "never has anything wise to say". My eyebrows went up because, gulp!, is that me he is talking about???? When I said something like that to him, immediately he came back, (himself being very wise!), saying, "Oh, no, you always have something wise to say!" Whew! I may not be very smart, but wise goes a long way. I told Linda I'd like that on my grave marker: "She always had something wise to say----wise aleck, wise _ _ _, or just plain wise!!" Make a note of that someone, please. Or, the marker could read: She always had something to say--period!

*

This will be my goal, to make sure I always have something wise to say. I told Linda, after she told me about a sermon Pastor Hahm gave from Proverbs, that I am going to make Proverbs my project, starting tomorrow. So there! Oh, you're going to hear it now, folks, hang on to your hats, we're going for a ride!

*

To all my Proverbs 31 friends!

Let the games begin!!

How fabulous were those opening ceremonies last night?? Wow!!!!

*

A small group of us watched on an antennae-less TV at church last night as we scrapbooked. Having a clearer picture would have made the fireworks and light shows that much more spectacular but we got the basic idea of the grandeur of this amazing spectacle. Of course, my favorite part was the song sung by Sarah Brightman and a partner. Several people called me during the song to make sure I was watching the program and not missing her performance. That was quite touching, to have so many people "in the know" and care whether I missed seeing my favorite singer!!!!

*

Twila ran out of pictures to mount so we decided to pack it in somewhat earlier than usual and headed home to watch the introduction of the nations. One of our croppers was a "virgin", with last night being her very first venture into the world of scrapbooking!!!! It was exciting for the rest of us to see her take the first steps into the "web" of this most excellent pasttime! Sheila came part way by bus, stopping first at Michael's to buy adhesive for her photos, and then proceeded to walk from that plaza all the way to church, getting caught in the rain in the process. I wish she'd have called me, I'd have been glad to swing down there and collect her. All in the name of our craft! I took her home by car afterwards.

*

Mom was lamenting there not being any news to sink her teeth into these days, having grown weary hearing about the Brett Favre debacle. Since she cares not about football, Brett, and all the ramifications this mess brings to the Packers and their history, she wants some solid news. Well, beside the Olympic stories, bombing is taking place in Russia/Georgia (my poor novice cropper thought it was the USA's Georgia!), John Edwards' extra-martial affair being exposed, and the missing child from Orlando should provide something to distract from Brett Favre for awhile.

*

On Fox and Friends, one the "teasers" for an upcoming story is "what does John Edwards' wife think about his affair?" What an incredible question to ask!!! She's already had to bury one of her children, is raising some little ones yet, all the while bolstering her husband's political ambition and, oh yes, battling cancer------hhhmmmm, I wonder what she thinks......I LOVED his remarks about being caught up in the power of the moment and behaving quite narcissistic during the campaign for president. Ya think???? Getting stroked by the public, told over and over how great you are, being married to a less-than svelte, albeit faithful, woman...yeah, something's gotta give!!!! John Edwards as a victim......go figure!

*

I've had some rather uplifting moments in recent days, aiding in raising my sagging spirit. One day I opened a thank-you card from a lady at church which went on for two sides of the note, giving me almost embarrassing compliments and thanks for the things I do at church, etc. Holy cow! If it's going to be like this, I'll bring pizza to church more often! Seriously, though, this lady is a dear and I'm truly flattered by her appreciation and thanks.

*

My friend, Brenda W., told me on Tuesday that she never did anything or went anywhere until I came into her life, later adjusting this to include my former business, opening doors for her. She'd never flown before she met us, she never went on a cruise before, and once, when she was having a bad day at work, I coerced her into taking a day off so we could go to St. Augustine for a day on the "Parrot Head" with the other Brenda and her friend, Carey. This was the first time Brenda W. was ever a tourist in St. Augustine, being born and raised in the Jacksonville/Clay County area!!!

*

Two different people contacted me via e-mail asking for my counsel on something, one about a Bible reference and another about dealing with her babysitter arrangements. I couldn't help Lisa with her question because instead of sitting at my desk to help her, I found myself at the pool chatting it up with some other guests. She called later to say she'd made her own decision and it went well. Good! But I am flattered she thought enough of my advice to ask first!

*

Having the prospect of the family coming also makes my heart sing, only a week now before they arrive. I am trying to plan a Ladies' Group breakfast outing but the restaurant we chose cannot accommodate us. The social would be the morning my family gets here so there's time between events, no worries as far as this goes. I might call Holiday Inn to see if they have a buffet breakfast we can take advantage of instead of Grumpy's. Nuts! Lisa was telling me that the boys keep talking about "Kim, Kim in Floooreeeda" so I have to try my best not to disappoint them! Even though they have a car reserved, I am thinking I might go out to help haul peoples or luggage since traveling by car vs. mini-van is a big difference room-wise. They go to Milwaukee by van and leave JAX in a regular car, 5 people plus luggage. I just want to see them first, that's all! I don't know if Justin is coming that day or not, but if he is, perhaps he'd swing by the airport and bring his auntie Lynn and some "bags" here with him......

*

Justin and I are spending the day together again, this time starting with a movie "Traveling Pants 2", which is filmed in Santorini. I may have mentioned this before.........He wants to see it badly but can't ask his buddies to go see it, not cool, you know? After the movie he thinks we'll have time for a nibble at Steak 'n Shake before heading over to church at Victory. Following worship I'll go home to watch the preseason football game in the comfort of my family room. No sports bar for me, not for pres-season anyway. By the way, Lynn wants me to get some tickets for the December 14th game, Jags vs. Packers, and she'll come down again to attend the game!!! Help me get tickets everybody, please???

*

Justin and I met at the bank yesterday to open a checking account and get a credit card for his use. Justin has no credit history so we must get some established so I won't have to co-sign the lease again for their condo. I hate being the only grown-up on the lease, with the possibility of me getting "stuck" with it if the other guys wouldn't pay their share. I'd rather it be Justin's battle than mine, isn't that thoughtful of me? Just another service I offer, accountability! The little bank man helping us offered a way for me to access his accounts to add money or simply monitor transactions, which at first was a good idea. Justin said, "Oh, she'd love that" at the same time I was saying, "No, I don't think so." GULP!!!! This is huge for me, HUGE!!!! Justin was as blown away as I was, but I was the only one tearing up....of course.

*

He thanked me for helping get his account set up and putting in the seed money, so he took me to lunch. We were going to lunch anyway but it sounded good at the time. He had a gift card to use at Chili's so I had my chix fingers and he this enormous southwestern salad. Yummy!

*

I hit my Publish button by mistake so forgive me for that.....I had one more thing to mention about the Olympics production last night. I was moved to tears by the sight of the little boy walking alongside the very tall basket player (I know I should be familiar with him!). The little fella had been buried in the rubble of the recent earthquake and was able to be rescued. And, once rescued, he went back to help dig for his classmates because "he was a classroom leader and had to help them". 20 of his thirty classmates perished in the quake. If he needs someone to adopt him, I am throwing my name into the hat for him!

*

I am sad about one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, from The Bucket List. First he was in a serious car accident, badly injured, and now he's getting a divorce from his wife of 24 years. I reallllllllllyyyyy have a problem with that! And now Bernie Mac died, being publicized only minutes ago. He had made some bad jokes at an Obama rally not long ago and took some heat for it, and now is dead, from pneumonia. It is so fleeting sometimes, fleeting.

Two posts today, in case you didn't notice!!!!!!