Great news in the River City

The announcement was made today that Mayport Naval Station will be getting a nuclear air craft carrier based here, perhaps even the USS George Bush. This can bring nearly 3000 families to our area, and even though it's not close to Fleming Island at all, jobs is jobs! These people will be needing homes, food, clothing, schools, services of all shapes and sizes, and the economy will once again flourish! It's a blessed day!

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Sunday was also blessed, as I mentioned having a little chat with Caleb and receiving greetings from Chris in NC during a snow storm. For our Bible study period we spent time going through the new Supplement, practicing singing the psalms and new/old liturgies. It seems ages old liturgies were being re-introduced through the Christian Worship Supplement (CWS), all this being spelled out on the bottoms of the pages for historical reference. It is all so interesting to think about, knowing the monks may have chanted or sung these same refrains 500 years ago...Robbie, the maestro, jumped between the MIDI and the organ to help us learn the melodies.

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As part of worship, Robbie also sang the hymn solo, a single stanza, two-page Call to Worship from the CW. Immediately following the Words of Institution, the choir sang a communion hymn from the CWS and then went almost as a group to the Lord's table. A moving message in the stanzas and lovely refrain which the congregation joined in singing with us.

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After worship I had to talk to a couple people before they ran off and it certainly felt good to have my choir robe on once we stepped outside! Layers, thank the Lord for layers! Since I'd missed the Building Committee meeting Thursday, playing hookie by going to see "Seinfeld" instead, I had to catch up on what is and is not happening on the classroom building. Ugh! I should have been at the meeting.......Anyway, some of the members were on the job today, painting the walls, helping to move the project along so we can get some stuff into the rooms. It costs us a small fortune to have those two temporary trailers which have since grown roots, so the sooner we get then emptied, the better!

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It was my job to clean up after Holy Communion but both Emily and Debbie told me to take off, so I did! Judy J. waited around for me as I put a few of the items, the cloths and tables and carried the heavier things into the kitchen for Debbie. She uses a cane all the time now so has troubles carrying things without both hands available. Judy and I then headed over to Bob Evans Restaurant because she was hungry for comfort food. After a wait of 20 minutes or so, we were seated and placed our orders. Oddly, she didn't order any foods with mashed potatoes, which is what she was hungry for in the first place! My meal was meat loaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, and guess what! I ate every morsel on my plate! Only one other time did that occur in recent history and that was also the meat loaf, but from Cracker Barrel that time. Must be the meat loaf! Not as good as Mom's but close, very close!

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On the way to church, I gave a call to B & B to schedule the move for Justin and Grove next weekend. The voice that answered certainly sounded like my Turkish friend, Saban, but there was not one understandable word of English from his phone to mine. I gave my name and telephone number, asking that Saban call me when he gets the message. About 20 minutes later before church started, Saban called me back and was apologizing right and left. Somehow or another he forgot and was speaking to me in Turkish, since he only got back here from there 2 days prior! We had a good laugh about that, especially after I told him I thought something was wrong with my telephone. I also told him I was only having him move Justin so soon because I wanted to see him again. I'd not seen Saban since he brought me my Turkish flag last fall, it bugged him that I had Greek stuff but no Turkish!

Photos sent by Judy

Justin and I having wwaayy too much fun in the decorated Clark's Fish Camp, for Judy's mini-reunion with her niece, Chrissie, and family. Isn't he a handsome young man?

On Friday night, the 14th, the scrapbooking ladies were able to witness the launch of space shuttle Endeavor. Judy's camera captured the flames as the sky devoured the Endeavor! I once again have camera envy, because I just love the shots her Canon can take!

This shot Judy took as she enjoyed her "early morning from the river room when I had my coffee and fast breakings". Doesn't she have a fine way with words?!
This is a shot of the moon rising over Mandarin the same night we witnessed the shuttle launch. As lovely as this is, I think our moon on Thursday night when we were leaving for "Seinfeld" was the most stunning. Gorgeous either way!

Some more pictures.........

On Wednesday, Judy and I went to the Thrasher-Horne Center to view the Art Guild display and see my piece hung in the show. I even received a "report card" from the Judge of the show, with my 'scores' average and above. Whew!!!! I wish I remembered what method I used to paint this one because it was done in no time at all!

Friday night I hosted the ladies for scrapbooking, while Judy visited with her niece, Chrissie, and knitted while the rest of us cropped and chatted. We had the wonderful opportunity of watching the space shuttle Endeavor launch just before 8:00 pm and it was spectacular. Judy was able to capture it on her camera, which re-ignited my camera envy again! Seated are Judy J., Chrissie, Judy knitting, Kelly T., and Twila.
This is a different angle of the group, better showing the "mess" on the table. No worries, we all know what belongs to whom when it's all over. I shared my supplies with Chrissie who is a novice cropper. It will be great to keep getting together with her and plug away at her album. Her mom is coming into town in January so it will be fun getting to know her as well. She is Judy's sister, Diane, from Arkansas, and will be sewing the dress for Chrissie's wedding which is in March.

A closer look at Chrissie first completed page in her album! It's a proud moment!!!!
Here's a photo of Tex Chappell, who many know as Daniel. Suzanne's family visited their friends' ranch recently and got to spend some time communing with nature and animals. Daniel wasn't wearing his fancy cowboy boots today but instead wearing some tough hiking boots to climb the fences. No flashing lights on these boots!!!

I am trying to get warm here!

I can't believe what's happening with the weather since Judy left! Our temperatures have dropped dramatically, with our high being "only" 62 expected today. Now do you get it, Judy? You know how wonderful it was last week when you were here, in the low 80's on Friday, dining el fresco, and then you went home..............

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Many of my church family asked about the visit with my friend, if she got home alright and if she had a good time. Judy was well received by my friends who had some time with her. I am sorry that Christine and Brenda W. missed out on meeting and spending time with her but maybe next time, when they possibly come back for Chrissie's wedding in March!

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A couple wonderful things happened at church this morning, one of which began when greeted by Cliff Douglas. He asked about my time with Judy and then mentioned that he spoke with his son in NC, Chris. He reported that it was snowing and the temps were in the 20's......oh, by the way, "tell Ms. Kim I say "hello"". Awww, I love it! Carol had shown me a photo taken of Chris's daughters at Halloween and I can't get over how big they're getting!

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My dear friend, Jennifer, has a darling little boy whom I drive nuts by fussing over him so I am keeping my distance so I don't freak him out. I can't help it! Caleb is so adorable and just reminds me of someone I used to know, if you get my drift. Between Sunday school and worship, I was looking at the bulletin board in church and Caleb came toward where I was standing, a bit hesitantly. I looked up and said to him, "Don't worry, I won't talk to you" as he got closer to me. I figured he was going past me but instead Caleb came up to show me his little stuffed animal toy, a webkin bat. He wanted me to see it, explained that he can play computer games with it, and let me hold the furry bat in my hands so I could unfold the wings and such. I was so touched, this was big for him but bigger yet for me!! A day topper, in my opinion, a real blessing. I'll still be careful with him, because I don't want to scare him off again, but will simply admire Caleb from afar. The first time his family came to my house for the Super Bowl Party, Mom was here and she was taken with him, too. He asked to me come to his house and sleep over night. Haven't had many of those offers in recent years so his invitation is the most special!

And now my heart is raised again!

Only yesterday morning Judy and I were talking about my dear friends in Mexico, as I told her that more than once, when I've talked about them or even thought of them, ta da!, I hear from Rafi. Tonight, as I was posting my blog for the day, up popped an e-mail from them, complete with a photo of little Rafi learning how to ski. What a way to brighten my day and my heart! See, Judy....I told you this might happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They want to know when I am coming to Mexico......hmmmm........let me think 'bout that!

"I've cried that cry...."

Safe and snug back in my own home after a day spent driving and seminaring (is that a word???). Very early this morning I was up, showered, and dressed before heading over to church to meet the rest of the group for our long ride to Tallahassee. Lynne drove her mini-van which fit our six attendees comfortably. At least, I was comfortable anyway! On the way over to "Tally" I was able to ride in the second row of seats next to Brian, while Jim rode in the front seat with the driver and Pastor and Rick in the way back. My cooler fit nicely between the feet of Brian and me, ready access is everything to me. On the way over I'd stopped at Sonic for my big drink which held me nearly all the way to Faith Lutheran.

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We had such great showing from our church, while the host congregation had better attendance, as would be expected. Another area church had three men, interestingly enough, all Marines at one point in their lives. How fun! We went quickly through our prepared materials, with our group being the presenters' first time doing so. He came all the way from TN to do this so hopefully he's satisfied with how it went. Once finished with the material, we were encouraged to go through the workbook and make some plans for future reachings into the community. It was not a truly rich class as far as big ideas or direction, but it was beneficial to be reminded and encouraged to think "outside the box" when it comes to who is our community.

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For the ride home, the guys hustled back into the van, leaving me to sit in the front seat, totally separated from my cooler. We did discuss briefly some of the high points picked up from the seminar but so many of my highly interesting remarks leaned more toward inreach programs, which means, that is where I need to focus. It's my favorite opportunity to serve so should run with that, I guess!

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Brian and I decided to go have dinner after we got back to church, so he called Cathy B. to see if she'd like to join us, too. Lynne overheard our conversation so said she wished to come as well, since her hubby was working late. Only the four of us went to Olive Garden and after a short wait, were seated. Oh, it was just great to have this relaxing down time with them over some delicious pasta and salad. Yes, I had some salad tonight which tasted wonderful. There is just something about the tossed salad at Olive Garden!

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Before long, I was home again, coming into my empty house----a reminder that my friend is gone! Boo hoo hoo! Now I am ensconced in my nightie and caftan, warming myself with my heating pad, and gazing over the river with the moon reflecting across the water. We had such great laughs tonight over dinner and all week long, it was marvelous! Thank the Lord I was blessed with a good memory!

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Friday, when Judy was here, we had plans to go to a movie and then to lunch, perhaps to be joined by Judy J. Before heading into the theater, though, we decided to go look in the bookstore for a certain children's book she'd told me about. After some time in the store amid the shelves, it was time for us to go buy our tickets for "The Secret Life of Bees". I'd looked up the information on-line first so found the afternoon showing to be at 1:15. When I ordered them, the cashier said the show began at 2:05, and wondered where we got the information. Evidently another group of women also thought it began earlier, so I didn't feel too stupid. We went to try "5 Guys" burgers which recently opened but the other Judy couldn't make it on such short notice. Too bad about that but she did think she'd come by in the evening when we were cropping.

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Soon it was time to try again for the movie, arriving in time to see some previews. Judy offered to treat to the snacks but since we'd just had lunch, I only took a soda. She had determined at home already that she was getting Junior Mints after reading the "Coffee Table Book" about "Seinfeld". It was a good snack to have a couple pieces of mint but just a couple were enough for me.

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The movie was fantastic, very very good. At one point in the storyline, one of the main chararcters is so upset about something that happened to another character, and disappeared. The family and friends went out in search of their slightly unbalanced sister and she was discovered floating face up in a stream, apparently a suicide. The older sister pulled her from the water and I was hanging onto Judy as hard as I could. She'd forgotten about the drowning, making it impossible to give me a heads-up so it totally caught me off guard. And to hear the caretaker sister making the sounds only a horribly grieving mother can make..........Judy squeezed my hand as I whispered to her, "I have cried that cry....", which she acknowledged.

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Later, when talking about it to Justin, he, too, said he had forgotten about the drowning but also said it was better to not be expecting it. He'd read the book this movie was based upon when he was in the 11th grade for required reading so is not in a big hurry to see the movie. I am incredibly glad Judy was with me at the movie and will miss holding her hand now that she is gone back to her sweet husband/best friend, Jer Bear!

The Seinfeld Chronicles

Here we are, Judy and I, watching the second to the last episode of "Seinfeld" before heading to the movies. This segment is called "The Chronicles" as it sums up the series' 9 years on the air, showing the highlights of each season in vignettes. The original title of the series was going to be "The Seinfeld Chronicles" which is why this hour long episode is so named. There ya go!

We already watched this once a couple days ago but it's on the same disc as "The Puerto Rican Day Parade" which I'd never seen. I wasn't totally blown away by that episode but truly like watching The Chronicle, especially prior to watching "The Finale". I don't want to talk about anything related to anything being final because, tonight, Judy goes home with her niece who will then take her to the airport Saturday morning. Ouch! Judy tells me that if she didn't have someone as wonderful as her Jer Bear to go home to...........................well, I guess I understand.

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Okay, now to the LIVE show we saw last night---it was a major hoot! It was all I could do to contain myself all afternoon, except when I took my little nap before our big night. Emily came here right from work while Justin met us at the Times Union Center. I almost couldn't wait to go in to find our seats and tick off the minutes until the show began. The first man to come out and warm the audience before Jerry's set was a man of color named Mario. He was funny, too, but I couldn't wait for the star to come out!

When it was Jerry's turn, he just came running in, exactly the way I expected him to appear. Much of the material was newer to me and almost all of it terribly funny. Some of the more memorable bits were about his mother in the minimum security assisted living facility where they get to watch the 24 hour prescription channel. Jerry goes on at some length about cell phones and our addiction to them, especially when it comes to the arrogance of the iPhone users and worse yet, the (sinister sound now...) Blackberry. A Blackberry doesn't allow people to have face to face conversations anymore, because even if a live person is in front of them, the Blackberry person pays more attention to the typed word vs. spoken word. Justin took offense, not really, about the iPhone jokes but even as Jerry joked about Blackberry users, the girl in front of us was text messaging to someone during his performance! Point made!

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Seinfeld touched on many everyday situations including attending the endless stream of children's birthday parties, feeling sorry for his single friends, which he doesn't have anymore because he's married, attacking a package of cookies, trying to take only one but ending up eating the entire column and then looking at the next row "over the wall".....you had to be there!

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Well, now I can't write anymore fun stuff because my heart is heavy----Judy has left my home. Her niece, Chrissie, has taken her across the bridge to Mandarin to spend the night. Saying good-bye was quite difficult, culminating an evening with a nice houseful of scrap booking friends. We even got to watch the space shuttle go up and Judy caught some great photos of it in the night sky. My camera refused to do so. As icing on the cake, we had a racoon climbing up and down the palm tree immediately outside my patio. My heart hurts tonight and I think I'll go cry myself to sleep, and soon, I hope, as I have an early start tomorrow for the Outreach Conference in Tallahassee!