Tired but Home

We're home! Finally! We made it. Last night, Tuesday, dh and I arrived at Newark airport at 7:00 p.m. and checked in with JetBlue for our 8:55 p.m. flight back to Ft. Lauderdale. We landed in Ft. Lauderdale at 4:55 a.m. Due to high winds, Newark Airport stopped all landing and arriving flights for hours and hours while we sat at the gate and waited. We told our friend not to worry about picking us up (although he was willing to wait) and got a taxi to take us home - the ride cost us $54.70! At that point, we just wanted to be home.

Our Thanksgiving was quite lovely. We all gathered at my sister Kathy's house. By all (25 of us) I mean two of my sisters & their families, three of my brothers and their families (I am one of eight), Laney & her family and my son, Jon. I made a 21+ pound turkey with lots of sides and worried if we would have enough meat. We just made it! Our kids are growing up and have adult sized appetites now, a fact I failed to consider when planning dinner. Note to self: Next year, more meat. The family time was really good, the kids had a blast in the hot tub, and we picked our grab bag names for the traditional family fun night on Christmas Eve.

I love this time of year. I am so thankful that I had a Mom and Dad who treasured their family and instilled it's value into their children. Now, I see my children, my nieces and nephews, our next generation, assuming our family traditions, and it thrills my heart. I am certain that this was the desire of my Dad's heart. He lives on in our celebration.

I spent a wild time of Christmas shopping while in NJ. It was a well executed plan in which my daughters played a significant role. We shopped till we dropped, literally! Now, most of my gifts are purchased, some wrapped, and waiting for me when I return to NJ for Christmas. Thanks girls.

My husband and I attended a Murder Mystery Dinner at our friend's home the weekend after Thanksgiving. They planned this party for when we would be in NJ because they say "we are lots of fun!" Well, the truth is, we are. We received invitations in the mail which revealed our characters and we dressed the part. The setting was Chicago 1926 and Patrick was a millionaire gambler named Ernie G. Ambler, nicknamed Betsamillion. I was Molly Awbster, a socialite from NY who moved to Chicago because I wanted more fun and night life, I was a flapper. We had a blast. There were eight of us for dinner and we stayed in character all night. Thankfully, I am not sleeping with a murderer but now I can't get him out of the character. He keeps saying things like, "lets go to the track, baby" and "how about the Casino" Only kidding!

The very best part of my trip to NJ, as always, was spending time with my daughters and their families. My sons-in-laws are very gracious and kind to me, my grandsons are more than delightful. John & Jeremy & me spent an evening out. We saw the movie, Zathura, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The sounds of little Joe's "Hi Gramma" and baby Tom's laughter, singing, and humming while eating keeps replaying in my memory and it makes me smile.

I am blessed!

No TV

Since hurricane Wilma hit south Florida on October 24th, the cable TV in our community has been out. As you may know, I do not watch television. I find many interesting things to do with my time and very rarely think of turning on the TV. BUT, my neighbors are not like me!
They are getting impatient to the point that they are worrisome. They gather outside in small groups angrily talking about the cable company. They compare amounts of phone calls made to the cable company and complain about poor customer service. Each one is certain that they are the most bored and most in need of television for a variety of reasons. I don't like going outside if anyone is out there. They want to ask me if I have cable yet, if I called Comcast to complain, and generally get me to join forces with them. I almost expect to see them carrying brooms and rakes over their shoulders and heading to the Comcast offices. They are that upset. Watch for them on the 6:00 News!

Back Home Again

Yes, I know it's been a while. I was supposed to be in NJ from Oct.14 to Oct 24. Then Wilma threatened south Florida and my flight was cancelled and rescheduled. Then Wilma swept through south Florida and my flight was cancelled again. Dear husband rode out the storm bravely by himself but did call me during the hurricane to tell me that we might lose our patio. The windows were shaking badly and he did all he could to secure them. Fortunately for us, my husband, the Duct Tape poster boy, saved the day with his creative taping - not to mention God's favor was with us. We didn't lose any windows at all.

I arrived back in Florida on Friday night, five days after the storm hit, and couldn't believe what I saw - or didn't see because the city was in darkness, no traffic lights were working, fallen trees lined the sidewalks and blocked some streets. There were over four million customers without electric and there are thousands of homes that have been declared unfit for habitation.

On Sunday morning we went to early service and heard that Samaritan's Purse set up a station in the Church parking lot and was looking for volunteers to help people hit hard by Wilma.
My husband and I volunteered that morning and reported for duty on Monday. We joined the work crews that put tarps on roofs for people, to keep them dry and safe, and cleared away trees that had been knocked down. We also distributed water and ice, gave Bibles, signed by each volunteer, to the homeowner and asked if we could pray with and for them before leaving. To my knowledge, not one person declined to pray.

We spent every day but one last week working with Samaritans Purse. I went out with the crews 2 days and the other three days I became the "Girl Friday" at the station in the parking lot. I answered the phones and filled out work orders for people who needed a tarp on their roof, helped distribute tarps and materials to install the tarps to people as they came for them, processed volunteers for the work crews, etc. It was one of the most rewarding and blessed weeks I have spent in a long time. I listened as people told me their story of how they came through the storm and the loss they suffered. My husband went with the work crews each day.

Monday this week, I needed to catch up on all the house stuff - dear husband went one more day with the crew.

While trying to get back into the routine I realized that I really don't have a routine here. Each time I get back from NJ a new situation arises that takes most of my time and attention and the time flies.

So, I thank God that we are fine and our condo is intact even though there are so few beautiful trees left standing. I am thankful I haven't been electrocuted by the fallen power lines I have accidentally stepped on while walking. I am also thankful that my husband has this laptop with some sort of wireless connection through his cell phone which enables me to get online. We still don't have cable and may not until the end of November. I have become so dependent on the internet, it's hard to live without it!

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2