We had a sweet time

Last night Justin finally got his wish---he took his mama to Sweet Pete's Candy Store. They were having a special deal for the month of September, offered only on Monday-Wednesday and it was tough finding a night when it worked for us to go, and for Terri to join us. She had been before, as well, and loved it. The deal was getting a $5 box of candy for $3, bulk, our choice. Wow, the decisions we had to make!! 

 Terri and I posing with our purchases on the beautiful chairs on the porch 

 Does this chandelier make me look fat????

It almost looks like my house in here!

I chose dark chocolate covered cashews plus bought nonpareils in addition to black cherry cotton candy. Nonpareils are among my all time favorites so I was pleased as punch. Justin got something mint and Terri got malted milk balls plus they each bought other stuff. I got what I came for, except for chocolate covered cherries and angel food. Guess I still have to go to Manitowoc for them!

  I don't usually do selfies but did allow Terri to take this one, a 'groupie'!

 These chandeliers took my breath away!  So did the steps in the store!

We dined on the porch after our shopping and that was wonderful also. This place is really a special treat type of experience. As much as Justin likes to think 'the ladies' would love it, my suspicion is that few of the church ladies would be as taken by it as we three were!! 

God Lives Under the Bed

Shared with me by my neighbor, Kay

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED 

I envy Kevin.  

My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed.   

At least that's what I heard him say one night. 

He was  praying out loud in  his dark bedroom,  and I stopped to listen,   

'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you?  

Oh,   I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.  

Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement.

But that night something else lingered long after the humor.

I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. 

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled

as a result of difficulties during labor.

Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2),

there are few ways in which he is an  adult.

 He reasons and communicates with the capabilities

of a 7-year-old,  and he always will. 

He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed,

that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space

under our tree every Christmas

and that airplanes  stay up in the sky

because angels carry  them. 

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.

Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? 

Up before dawn each day,

off to work at a workshop for the  disabled, 

home to walk our cocker spaniel,

return  to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner,

and later to bed. 

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry,

when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine

like a mother with her newborn  child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, e

ager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly

while the water boils on the stove before dinner,

and he stays up late twice a week

to gather our dirty laundry

for his next day's laundry chores. 

And   Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays!
That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the  airport
to have a  soft drink,  watch the planes  land, 

and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger  inside.

'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!  'Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great
he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals
and weekend field trips.
 
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

 His life is simple.


He   will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, 

and he does  not care what brand of clothing
he wears or  what kind of food he  eats.
His needs have always been met,
and he never worries that one day they may not  be.

His hands are diligent. 

Kevin is never more happy than when he is working. 

When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, 

his heart is completely in it.
  
He   does not shrink from a job when it is begun,
and he does not leave a job until it is finished.
When his tasks are done,   Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work
or the work  of others.  His heart is pure. 

He   still believes everyone tells the truth,
promises must be kept, and when you are wrong,
you apologize instead of argue.  

Free   from pride and unconcerned with appearances,

Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. 

He is always transparent, always sincere.
And he trusts God. 

Not   confined by intellectual reasoning,
when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.
Kevin seems to know God -
to really be friends with Him
in a way that is difficult

for an 'educated' person to  grasp. 

God is his closest companion.  

In my  moments of doubt and  frustrations with Christianity,  

I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. 
 
It is then that I am most willing to admit

that he has some divine knowledge

that rises above my mortal  questions. 

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not
the one with the handicap.     I am.
My obligations, my fear, my pride,
my circumstances - they all become disabilities
when I do not trust them to God's   care. 
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn?  

After all, he has spent his whole life
in that kind of innocence,
praying after dark and soaking up
the goodness and love of God. 

And   one day,
when the  mysteries of heaven are opened,
and we are  all amazed at how close
God really  is to our hearts,
I'll  realize that
God heard  the simple prayers
of a boy  who believed that
God lived  under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised  at all! 

Lots of thinking going on

This afternoon, after lunch with the Monday ladies, I came home to wait for a phone call from a financial adviser. It was time for my review, and I opted to do it over the phone. Much to my embarrassment, my time with Frank was meant to be in person, and not a phone review as had been originally planned. Ugh! After logging in a number of times to access my records, we finally were able to look at things together, each on our own screens. Thankful for modern technology which allows us to do this, miles apart. Glad that's out of the way for another year, or 6 months, whichever comes first (ha ha).

One thing he asked me to think about, however, is a bit upsetting. Not really upsetting, but really gives me pause for consideration. What might be generally simple for some folks seems to cause me angst.  At present my dear boy stands to inherit from me when I shuffle off this mortal coil. I am cool with that, as is he, primarily hoping to live a long time in this condo after I'm gone. But, Frank asked me who gets my stuff, my estate, if something happens to Justin (may the Lord forbid!!!), or if something happens to us when we're together. Gulp! I have been asked to assign a back-up beneficiary(ies) for just such circumstances. Now, I struggle....who or what should I select? This is tough!

Painting With A Twist

Today a group of ladies from church gathered for a Fellowship event at 'Painting With A Twist'. The 'twist' part of that name comes from the opportunity for folks to enjoy adult beverages, or what have you, prior to and during our time in the studio. Many of us brought refreshments to share, with me contributing muffaletta and crackers. They proved quite popular with me sending the balance of them home with Janet. Lynn even asked me for the recipe, and when I mentioned I got it at Basketique, she told me she'd never been there. We have to fix that!  

Tamara had organized the event with two other ladies, and had requested my friend, Sonya, to be our teacher, but she was unavailable today. Instead Becky did a good job handling us and everyone had a nice time. One lady brought her mom along who went rogue, painting another picture she saw in the room that she liked better. Did a nice job, too!

 One group of painters hard at it! 

 My friend, Nancy, drying her canvas after the background was painted

This shot shows Lynn, Betty, and Ellen working on their palm trees, and Nancy on the opposite side

Here is our entire group posing at the end of the event. One of these things is not like the others....

My finished piece which Justin snickered at. This is a whimsical piece and I had fun, which is all that matters. I have promised it to someone in WI so they will appreciate it in their home, I hope!

On her way home

This morning Linda and I were up early, even before Justin, to head out to the airport. I checked her flight first to make sure it was on time so we didn't waste a trip. We successfully got the luggage into the trunk, having gotten all the soda carried upstairs (16+ cases!), freeing up the space. Will need to restock!

We had the roads pretty much to ourselves and successfully got her delivered to the kiosk. A nice older man came over to help get her luggage out of the trunk and off she went. She texted me from the gate area, saying she was good to go. The best part of having to rebook was now she was changing planes in ATL rather than Denver, making for a shorter flight for her.

Justin, Linda, and I ventured out for dinner last night, the winds having quieted. Linda had not been to La Nopalera since she arrived so that was our destination. We left after The Five was over which proved too late for getting a parking place at La Nop. Cars and trucks were pulled up on the grass with no spots being available. Justin pulled right back onto the street and I directed him to the next driveway, which was Metro Diner. We had dined here for breakfast last Saturday but dinner is different. I had the patty melt, Justin the Vortex burger (two grilled cheese sandwiches, 1/4 pound meat patty, slaw, formed into a burger), and Linda ordered the stuffed beefsteak tomato. It had chicken salad in it. Justin and I ate half our sandwiches and took our side of soup home with us, too. Love their broccoli cheddar soup!

Linda and I had started watching "Les Miserables" but neither of us got into it. The run time was 2 1/2 hours but after about 45 minutes, we shut it off. They lost me with the teeth pulling scene---ugh! I can watch Law & Order episodes and not blink, but not teeth pulling. The DVD was a gift to me from Jackie V. for my birthday. I wonder if she's seen it. I should offer it to her for viewing at home. 

Time for me to go meet my lady friends at Grumpy's for breakfast before they head to church to clean. Good for them, for their dedication and ability to still do so. Terri had gotten some shots in her knees and seems to be doing better, for which I rejoice for her. Welcome relief! I'm feeling Grumpy today, especially after saying good-bye to my friend at the airport this a.m.

Weathering the storm

Linda's flight was cancelled so she didn't leave this a.m. as originally intended. Last night she was able to re-book for Saturday morning which was a relief. I was concerned about us venturing out in the midst of the storm to get her to the airport only to find the flight was cancelled or something. Whew! 

During the night, or quite early this a.m. I heard this shrieking sound. At first I couldn't identify it, but then thought it was a smoke detector. I got up to investigate and sure enough, it was my water alarm going off in the living room. Water was coming in behind the TV. Before Justin went to bed I asked him to get the roasters off the shelf of the pantry closet, which he did, grudgingly. He thought I was worrying needlessly but alas, I was not. 

I got him up to help me, as I'd already pulled the TV table out and turned the carpet back away from the wetness. Nuts! I was so hoping this wouldn't happen any longer. I am so thankful I opted to not replace the ceiling in this room the last time we had major leaks. Would have been a terrible shame! I am so thankful for the water alarm, which were a gift from Justin. 

The paint is bubbled on the wall, too, as you can see,  but hopefully will be okay once it dries

Fortunately, Linda never heard the alarm nor us up and about in the living room, far enough away from her room for it to bother her. I lined the enamel roasters with placemats to avoid hearing the drip, drip, drip. Justin laid dry beach towels down under the roasters after mopping up, and we went to bed. I was wakeful all night, waiting for the alarm to go off again if the leak spread to the French doorway, as its done in the past. Glad that didn't happen but I was still upset. Justin seemed to think we'd have no leaks since the storm was coming from the west, and I was also hopeful of such. But, that proved optimistic. Glad it wasn't worse than it was. We have a fan running to dry the area in hopes of saving the floor boards from additional damage. We shall see! Good thing it's behind the TV. 

A distinct honor

This morning I was greeted by this lovely and expressive sky. It reminds me of a herd of seahorses galloping toward the south. Others on Facebook said they looked like dragons. Yes, I can see that, too.

The water exercise class had to be conducted in the teens' pool as the pump had failed on the adult pool. Evidently this was discovered on Sunday late morning so I am glad I didn't venture out after getting home from lunch. The new pump was on its way, but until then, we were in the other pool. Good thing it was a smaller class today or we'd have been crowded. Kristy, the lifeguard, moved a speaker close enough to allow for music to accompany our exercises, which I am sure all The Palace got to enjoy, too. 

Some of us decided to stay after class to have lunch, moving back up to the other end so Marlena would have less 'traveling' to do with our meals, etc. As we sat around the table waiting for our meals the sky kept getting darker and darker. When we heard a clap of thunder, we grabbed our stuff and headed into the cabana. In another minute, big fat raindrops started falling, and the wind blew some of those drops into the cabana. Good thing we were in our swimwear! Kristy grabbed a patio umbrella and ran out to greet Marlena as she came from The Club with our food in boxes. She didn't even know it was raining until she came out!

I was just having fries today, ordering a double. I got enough for four people! The last time I had fries they were steak fries and a double order was enough for a meal. These were regular fries so I had a bounty! The other ladies had salads, of course, two of the meals coming with tempura shrimp. Debbie had the grilled vegetable salad, her favorite. And a double order of fries rounded our choices. 

I sent Justin a text message to ask if he was getting wet and his reply was 'no'. It's so funny the way storms happen here, with one area not getting a drop while we could not see across the river at one point. When the storm let up we ladies headed out, in full sunshine. Before we did, however, we saw the pump people go past the cabana on the street side, and soon The Club maintenance man came through. The adult's pool would be up and running for class in the morning!!! 

This afternoon my plans were to go to the Thrasher Horne Center for a check presentation from the ATT Pioneers to St. Johns State College, establishing a scholarship for PACE. Terri is the president of the Pioneers in this area. In the meanwhile, Justin actually did get rained out, rather, lightninged out, from work. Now he'll have to work on Saturday for a few hours to make up for it. His friends, Ron and Sarah, are supposed to have their baby today, with Sarah being induced so Justin wanted to use my car to drive to the hospital. Kay, my neighbor, was attending the event, too, so she drove us to the PACE event. 

                                 

Terri Thompson, President of the ATT Pioneers, and Destini Shaddrick, Executive Director of PACE Clay. 

There were about a dozen people there including some from a Pioneer luncheon where earlier they'd presented a check to another charity they'd raised money for during the golf tournament, TPC, in the spring. Terri's boss came and representatives from the college. One of Kay's friends from the Rotary club to which she belongs has been instrumental in getting our young friend, Tay, into St. Johns State College. Ann has assigned a person from St. Johns to serve PACE which will be an awesome advantage for the girls wishing to move into higher education. 

Tay looked so nice, wearing all black with a cotton jacket over her outfit which she wears for work. Another friend from Rotary got Tay a job in a flower shop, the same shop we use for our church bouquets. How about that? The main part of the event, aside from the presentation of the check, was the photo portion. Many different groups were photographed, and Destini requested a photo of only Tay and me. I was so touched. And I was honored to be included in this momentous event for the girls at PACE. 

Kay and I offered to drop Tay at home so Destini didn't have to run over there, as it's on our way. Kay offered to take Tay to the store if she needed anything so we stopped at Dollar General so she could run in for a few things before we dropped her at her sister's house. Tay is having some transportation problems for getting to work and potentially to school so we have our thinking caps on to see what can be done to help her out. Perhaps Kay's Rotarians will have a workable solution. It seems no buses run where she needs to go. 

When Kay and I got home, I saw that my car was still there. Justin was going to get a haircut before going to the hospital but he changed his mind and plans. The baby hadn't come yet and a friend knows someone in beauty school who needs people to practice on, so no haircut either. He ordered pizza for our dinner, complete with garlic knots, so we were all set! Justin and I watched 'Wheel...' and then Jeopardy! before retiring to our rooms. It was a very good day, and humbling as well. So much for which to be thankful!