Jeremy mastering the skimboard 

John catching a good ride 

I'm back - with a sore back!

My 7 day stay in NJ turned out to be 9 days. The airline called me on Thursday night, the day after I arrived, to tell me there was a change in flight times. I had a choice to take a 1-stop flight which would have had me traveling all day long or a non stop two days later. I chose the "stay in NJ longer" option, which my husband supported and Laurie did a dance around the living room in celebration. In retrospect, my "work" trip was loads of fun which I wasn't expecting.

When I arrived at Laurie's, I saw the writing on the wall. She told me she had started to pack and in her dining room were three packed boxes! I said, "that's great, Laurie". (And I thought to myself "we just have 6 rooms on the first floor, bathroom, linen closet, a full finished basement with numerous closets filled to capacity, Walter's office and laundry room to go.) But, we did it, we got it all done. My dear friend and walking partner even lent a hand (as well as a strong back and her minivan) and we got all the boxes from every room packed up and moved into the new house. The furniture and odds & ends got moved on Saturday, the day after I left. I consider that mission accomplished.

I wasn't expecting to have time for the beach but, being a firm believer in Murphy's Law, I packed one bathing suit. The boys and I managed two beach days! The second time we went, John & Jeremy spent the entire time in the warm and mildly rough water. The conditions were perfect for John to boogie board and body surf and Jeremy spent a lot of time practicing skimboarding.

The theatre was so much fun, too. Laney, Laurie & I left for the city at 4:oo PM as planned thanks to Laurie's hubby and Laney's mother-in-law. We went for dinner, which was delicious, and laughed so much the waitress asked Laney "Are you going to a show or are you the show?" We only laughed harder then. The show was excellent and very funny - the next day Laurie said, "I had so much fun last night I am still in a good mood." That about sums it up. The mood lingered through the work and preparation for Tom's dedication which was quite well done. The beautiful family glowed as the pastor prayer for Tom and his parents.

I managed to get in a visit with dear Miss Toni, too.

Oh, and about my back? Good News! The chiropractor said I'll probably only need about six visits to get me back to where I was before I pulled all the grandsons in the huge wagon and aggravated it by packing and moving.

Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits-
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:2-5

Thanks for getting me, Jess

5 Things

Laney called me today and told me I had to blog, Jess tagged me. So, OK, now I'm blogging.

5 Things I plan (Lord willing) to do before I die:
1. See "my boys" give their lives to Jesus
2. Have a good attitude (be wise & kind) all the time
3. Finish scrapbooking
4. Take my husband, Paddy-Joe, to Ireland
5. Learn to draw

5 Things I can do:
1. See a need and lend a hand
2. Be a friend
3. Speak publicly
4. Work hard & long
5. Shop

5 Things I cannot do (yet):(and I add, may never)
1. Drive slow
2. Work slow
3. Pray without ceasing
4. Snap my fingers (and I really want to)
5. Snorkel

5 Things that attract me to the opposite sex:
1. Smiling eyes
2. Sense of Humor
3. Integrity
4. A love for God
5. Humility

5 Things I say most often:
1. I love you
2. I don't know (my answer to dear husband's endless rhetorical questions about politics)
3. Oh, my!
4. How are the boys? and How is Tom?
5. PAAAAT (calling for my dear husband, Patrick, which I do loudly and often)

5 Celebrity crushes: (not crushes but faces I enjoy watching)
1. Kevin Costner (it's his smile)
2. Hugh Grant (again, the smile)
3. Bob Coy (my pastor, I love this guy!)
4.
5.

5 People I want to do this:
1. Cara
2. Jfur
3. Sleepless In Oklahoma
4. Laurie ( ditto on this from Laney, fix the computer already!!!)
5. Anyone else who cares to, feel free to tag yourself and let me know.

Home is where the heart is...

...and my heart is longing to be with my children and grandchildren and I'm heading there right now. By 9:00 AM I will be in New Jersey and by 10 AM I will be with John, Jeremy, Joe, Tom, Laurie & Laney. Then tomorrow I will be with my son Jon, too. Aaahhhh!

My girls have my work cut out for me, I know. Laurie is moving into her new house and I am helping with the packing, Laney's husband is still out of town working and I'm planning on giving her some breathing time. The funniest part of this is, both the girls think I am doing them great favors - they just don't get that when I am helping them and spending time with the grandsons, I couldn't be happier. I want them to WORK ME TO DEATH!
See you in a week!

"You are my God and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you."
Psalm 118:28

A beach day?

Yesterday, I felt so lonely. I blogged about it, but I didn't tell my husband because it makes him sad if I'm not happy.

This morning my husband awoke as I was having my quiet time, made himself a cup of coffee, and commented on the weather - we have had rain every day since Katrina blew through here 11 days ago. I told him the Weather Channel said there were 5 feet waves on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale and I thought it would be nice to have breakfast out on the pier and watch the waves. Much to my delight, he said, "why don't we go there now". WOW! I shed my nightgown, put on clothes and grabbed my umbrella in a flash.

This pier is a fishing wharf off the beach which one accesses by walking through the aisle of a small diner. You can choose to sit at the counter inside, or sit at a booth outside where you can have breakfast and enjoy the ocean breeze as well as the view.

Today, however, there was wind spraying rain on the tables, seats and diners which made people go inside but my husband dried off the seats for us and arranged our umbrellas in such a way that we were keeping dry without having our view spoiled. There we sat, having breakfast, drinking coffee, watching surfers ride the big waves. What a way to begin a day!

Now the waitress, who has been there for 34 years, came to the table grumbling about having to dry the tables, napkin holders and salt & pepper shakers for the third time. When I asked if she would serve us, she replied, "If you're willing to sit and eat in the rain, I'll bring it to you".
With that, she took our order, and became quite pleasant, to my surprise.

After she served us refills on our coffee, she sat down next to me and said "There's something I have to know. Are you two married?"
"Yes, we are", I replied.
"Well, usually only single people will do this. Married men will say, 'What, are you crazy, it's raining' and won't go out."
"Oh, he's a special guy", said I.
He is, isn't he?
"The Lord remembers us and will bless us." Psalm 115:12

Feeling Lonely

Today, I am feeling lonely. I miss my children.
Friday was Laney's birthday and for the first time, I wasn't with her to celebrate it.
I haven't seen baby Tom for a month and I fear that he will not remember his grandmother, who loves him dearly.
I miss my son, Jon, who has been away since June.