Capturing the moments

Pastor greeting folks after ThanksLiving Day worship, It was a lovely day!
Worship was also as lovely as the weather, wish more could have been there to share it, but for those of us who were, the Lord blessed our time together!

Here's a nice shot of Kathy and Brian, mentioned occasionally in the blog, two of the strong suits in our choir. Kathy is an excellent alto, and Brian, a great tenor, both greatly beneficial to the choir and for heartwarming purposes! Kathy called me Wednesday to report she's mixing me a CD of her favorite Christian music, since I shocked her by saying I didn't listen to Christian radio or CDs!

ThanksLiving Day con't.

All the meal prep was completed, except for microwaving the veggies, which is what I was doing when Pastor Kuske arrived. He brought with him a gift that he'd received that day, and I asked him, jokingly, if he was a "re-gifter". He laughed and said he brought it along for me to see, because he knew I'd like it. Jayne and Brett had given him a plaque made by someone near Frankenmuth, MI, using clay "forms" afixed to a horizontal board. He asked if I could tell what it was and in a second I could see it was the Lord's Prayer, expressed in symbols vs. words. It was amazing, I'd love to have such a thing! I'm going to ask Jayne how to get one because it is important for me. Lovely! He said it would be a valuable tool to use in confirmation class, to help kids get the visual from the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer. What a great gift!

*

Justin and Pastor chatted in the family room as we waited for our friends to arrive. Previously I'd removed the turkey from its baking bag and cut it up, placing it on the pre-heated steel tray to keep it warm. Just before serving I poured a bit of chicken broth over the top of it which sizzled like on a fajita pan. Yummy! My baked mashed potatoes and the stuffing were ready to go to the table as soon as the elevator dinged. Here come my friends, Owen and Olivia!!! I had the hot food on the table since Sandy called from the corner to tell us she was nearly there. All we needed then was Sandy who was parking the car, something Owen was not allowed to do evidently. He said he wanted to do it but was sent upstairs instead. Oh, it was wonderful to see them again!

*
I'd poured the real wine and fake wine, telling folks they could mix and match the glasses accordingly, rather than leave the wine pouring until all were seated. Most took the fake wine but a few liked the fake stuff better. As do I! Justin was concerned that the turkey breast I baked wouldn't be enough for us, but we even ended up with leftovers, just like the feeding of the 5000! My mashed potatoes, which were runny but good, and the stuffing, which was made with chopped celery and slivered almonds added, received rave reviews. I love nothing better than having people at my table and not gagging!!!!

"No Crying Over Spilled Milk"

ThanksLiving Day was wonderful, aside from being awakened by screams for help when it was still dark....Robbie played much of the service on the organ, when his usual instrument of choice is the piano. We used the Morning Praise Liturgy, one of my favorites, which I wished we'd use more often. After I took attendance, finding myself somewhat dismayed at the empty seats, I joined Justin in the pew. A few moments into the service. on Florida time, several more people arrived, including one family of six. Justin and I had to scoot in for one woman who came without her family. The lady that was going to join us for our feast later on, however, was nowhere to be seen, nor did I ever hear from her on ThanksLiving Day. Hmmm......I'd estimate we had just over 50 people there for worship, a bit shy of Sunday numbers. Someone commented that having church on a holiday was not such a good idea because it conflicted with meal preparations...........I'll just pretend I didn't hear that!

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Wednesday, when I was out and about running my errands and cleaning at church, I'd decided to run in at ABC Liquor for a fresh bottle of Fire Fly, the tea flavored vodka I love so much. The last of my other bottle was used up the night I had dinner with Chardonnay when I simply poured the remainder into a jug of lemonade to take with me. One less thing to carry, you see. All I purchased in that shop was the bottle of Fire Fly and I felt a bit conspicuous as others were leaving with boxes of wine and other beverages. Never apologize for having simple needs! I placed my purchase in the backseat with my Creative Memories bag (remind me to go get that from my car later on.....) and went to Wal-Mart.

*

I couldn't carry all my groceries upstairs in one trip, but then Dave the Doorman met me in the parking lot and helped me get things to my condo. I could have grabbed the vodka, then, if I'd known I'd have help.

*

After worship yesterday, I was back here before Justin as he was stopping at Walgreens to get soda for us, a deal at 5 for $10. The trick however, was the cases were only 8-packs and not 12 for that price. Whatever, just get me the soda! I grabbed my purse and camera from the front seat and then pulled open the backseat door, when BAMM! CRASH!!, out rolled the bottle of Fire Fly onto the blacktop parking lot. Audibly I said, "Aw, no!" as I bent over to start picking up the shards of glass, but my head instantly went to "Don't cry over spilled vodka!"

*

Of course, shards of glass leads one immediately to imagine the damage one can do to a finger as she tries to scoop it into the bag........'twas merely a flesh wound, but I did manage to get much of the glass collected and put into the paper bag. There is a very good reason to use plastic vs. paper bags, let me tell you this right now! I figured to come back down with a bucket to swish the glass and vodka away from the two cars, mine and my neighbors, but Justin used the garden hose on the building to wash the black top and picked up the remaining pieces he could see.

*

As we sat at the table with Hilchey's and Pastor Kuske, whose plans had changed and could join us, I told the story of broken vodka bottle. Justin piped up about crying over spilled vodka and I just had to laugh as I told how that was the first thing that popped into my mind as I was cleaning it up! Are we related or what??? Pastor wondered if I'd be able to replace it before CHRISTmas and I assured him that I'd certainly get some again, if not from ABC Liquor then from my next-door neighbor, Ed, with the grille. Don't cry over spilled vodka!

A very early start to ThanksLiving Day

When Lynn, Lisa and family were here in August during our tropical storm, Faye, we had our windows and doors open for ventilation, especially when there was no electricity. People were coming around fairly regularly to check on us, see if we were leaking, asking of we needed anything as they headed out to Target. Hollaring from floor to floor, neighbor-stuff.

Afterwards, when I was in WI to help out with my father-in-law, I'd jokingly mentioned that Lynn should come down here to live, and Mom, too, of course, not joking. Lynn said no, it was too noisy in my building for her tastes. What? I am not aware of too much noise----noise, yes, sounds, yes, but usually not TOO much. I am aware when my upstairs neighbors arrive home and walk across the floor wearing hard-soled shoes, or slide their glass doors open but it certainly isn't on a level where it bothers me. Once in awhile I'll hear the downstairs neighbors talking on their balcony which is open air, but again, not bothersome.

*

Well, this morning, I was awakened by a man shouting, calling out for help in a frantic fashion. Since I sleep with my TV on all night long it could have been from there but once I was more awake, I realized it was not from TV but instead, coming through the wall of the unit next door to mine! That has never, ever happened before, never hearing side to side sounds. I wondered what was going on and then remembered that their master bedroom backs up to mine. The elderly man who is recovering from a stroke occasionally gets agitated and is quite restless so his wife sleeps in another room in order to get proper rest. Evidently Jack needed to get up for the bathroom or something, or was frantically trying to get his wife's attention. Wow, it was a startling way to start my ThanksLiving Day! I know his wife gives thanks because her husband has survived all his maladies and lives another day, but I'll guess she wishes he'd start his day just a couple hours later!

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My evening got a bit screwed up last night as the plans to share worship and pie with Justin at Victory were changed. He called me, a bit upset, around 5:00 to report that his father and his girlfriend were going to attend church over there, too. I told Justin it was fine, I'd stay home and take care of a few meal preparations, but he said it was not fine, he knew I'd love the worship and Pastor's sermon so much. Justin knew he'd be uncomfortable in that situation and it hurts my heart to have him put there. He also told me, then, that he'd planned to come back over here with me after church and stay the night so we could go to church together today, but now he'd just go home and sleep. Nuts!

*

He called me immediately after church on his way home and was excited about the singing and the sermon. He kept saying, "You'd have loved it! You'd be crying!" Does he know his mama or what? The sermon text was the story of the Prodigal Son, how ironic! Justin said he saved a service folder for me because it has funny things on the cover for which to be thankful, like "chocolate shakes, warm sweatshirts, people who bring out the best in you"..............He said he knew that one would get me, bring on the tears! Rachel, the music director, played a wonderful intro and accompaniment for "Now Thank We All Our God", one of Mom's funeral hymns, and Justin said again, how much I missed. I realize our worship service today won't quite match the grandiosity of Victory's service because we don't have the amazing organ or the powerful speaker, but we do have the same Word, the same Gospel and the same hymnal---to God be the glory!

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.

*

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!

*

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.

*

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!

*

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!

*

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!

*

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!

*

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!!!!!

A picture of snowfall in Sheboygan, WI

You're correct if you think it "looks" pretty, the first one usually does. After another foot or so, the vision somewhat changes. We will have low 70's on the weekend, something I look forward to greatly!

"He has a certain jerk quotient......"

What kind of statement is that? One of the announcers on Monday Night Football remarked how one of the Saints has this reputation. Bet his mama is proud! Yes, it is the Packer vs. Saints tonight and I only hope I can hang in there long enough to see half-time!

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For some unknown reason, I had a dilly of a time falling to sleep last night which makes for a weary girl today. If I took a nap during the day, it might interfere with my sleep tonight so avoided actually falling asleep during my rest. Having "Seinfeld" "extras" play while I am resting is sort of self-defeating, because I can't look away, particularly for the deleted scenes and such. Too funny to miss anything even though they aren't going anywhere, you know?

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It's chilly here in the family room so I am delighted that the computer generates heat from the bottom to warm at least my lap! Something I realized yesterday was it was the first time since Judy left that I'd even been in the family room, over a week without using this room. Probably for a number of reasons, not the least being my bedroom/office is so much warmer than is this room! Something must have happened on the river or else there are drills taking place because helicopters are going up and down on a regular basis with a spot light, since before dark. At one point I even saw one of those huge Army choppers with the hatch in the back fly over, but it was only a one-way trip, not the forth and back the others are doing.

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Last week I was excited about the nuclear carrier coming to Mayport but now I guess there is some controversy regarding this decision. It seems other naval bases want a crack at having the carrier in their communities so now the games begin. The best thing that could happen for our part of the world would be to have the carrier and its battle group stationed here, the residual effects would be a blessing to the economy.

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On the way to Bible study this morning, I stopped at the Post Office to purchase stamps to mail the Advent calendars to the congregation's children. CHRISTmas stamps must be relative because I had little to select from, limited to only a Madonna and Christ-child or nutcrackers. I took half and half, planning to use the Botticelli-styled stamps for my personal cards and letters. Here comes another helicopter again....I'm getting curiouser and curiouser about what's going on out there. Anyway, after the P.O. stop I headed to class for one of our last Bible studies of the year. We have only two classes in December and then that's it until next year. Doesn't that sound weird to be saying already? Time must go by more quickly after the age of 50!

*

Of course, we ended up at Longhorn for our lunch, to be met by Jackie, who wasn't in class at all! She stayed home to watch the news, CNN, because her niece was being interviewed regarding the markets. She is a hedge fund manager and must be well-respected because she is also going to be on "60 Minutes" this coming Sunday. In her inimitable style, Jackie wondered aloud just from where this family member got her smarts. She claims no one else in her family seems to have any sense at all---funny, isn't it? Just like a mom, doubting or second-guessing what the kids are capable of doing.

*

While dining, I was sort of back-to-back with a couple guys, but we are so engrossed in our own conversations that I didn't pay much attention. When they got up to leave I caught sight of one guy whom I knew, our "old" concrete guy. We hugged each other and he gave me his card so I now have his contact info again. I'd kept much of that when I moved from The Preserve house, but the Daytimer it was written in got thoroughly soaked during Hurricane Charley back in 2004. I then lost much of my contractor and supplier information when water backed up into the garage/storage area at the lake house and ruined many items, including my contacts' book. Stuff of little value survived, go figure!

*

After lunch, we ladies' parted company until ThanksLiving Day services on Thursday. I was off to the post office again after applying the postage to the cards; the Christian bookstore to get something for the baby shower on Saturday for my niece, Tina's, new baby; to the bank; to McDonald's for a soda; and then to the 'booty' shop for a haircut. I arrived ahead of schedule so dug through the storage hump in my car to see what was all in there. Such an incredible bunch of paper napkins and stuff in there, even cords for phones I don't have any more. Weird, since the car is only two years old!

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On the way back to Fleming Island, I placed a call to Publix to warn them I was coming and they'd better get my turkey out of the freezer for me. The nice man in the meat department told me they'd already pulled them out and had one put aside for me----without even getting my name---they'd secured a bird for my uses! Gotta love that excellent customer service. I am definitely a Publix girl. Chardonnay says she is a Winn-Dixie girl but I'd sooner drive 5 miles than make WD my go-to spot for groceries. I'll run to WD if I just need something quickly but is not the first choice for me. One of our members works at this closest WD so it's nice to go in occasionally to say "hi", "always workin'", as Linda would say!

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When I got to the car with my groceries, I discovered Justin had returned my laundry basket for me, which worked great for carrying my stuff upstairs. Heavy, heavy load, but got it all in one trip, including the other stuff from my outings. From church, I borrowed the big stapler for assembling the booklets for the Ladies' Advent service. I was warned to have it back there by Wednesday so plan to get the booklets put together and take the stapler back with me Tuesday night for Bible study. Don't want any trouble, right? Our Sunday service folders are now printed and stapled in such a way that no loose pages fall out, due to some complaints from parishioners. Whatever....

*

For some reason, could be the weariness, I find myself fighting a headache tonight, even after taking some pain relievers. Hmmm, might need to just call it a night and miss the end of this most exciting game. Quite a different story from yesterday's horrendous display! Such a good game, shame to go to sleep now, even though it's already 10:30 pm. My eyes might be tired because I worked on the newsletters all afternoon after getting home again, except for the brief rest before 5:00 pm. There is so much to do before the end of the month, with the two newsletters due out and all the stuff to orchestrate for the Advent service. Really, that part is taking care of itself, with the musicians lined up and music divvied up, ladies planning what to make for dessert, tables will be decorated on Sunday before the event.....I just have to print off the rest of the Scripture readings from biblegateway.com and we're good to go. Tonight I addressed the postcard invitations, will stamp and mail them tomorrow. Sure don't want anyone to miss out on this wonderful preparation for the Advent/CHRISTmas seasons!