But wait....there is MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was even more to my trip! I did get to spend almost a week with Christy, Jenny and Josh in JAX. The Savannah trip was just a couple of days of that visit. One of my favorite things was going to the pool on base...that is where the picture of those two bathing beauties was taken. We also explored the wonderful world of knitting on circular needles...I achieved a simple victory by actually finishing a little hat! I'm not sure how many hats a FLA baby is going to need, but I guess we will find out as Christy and Josh have a baby due in December! I got to go to their drs. appt and see my "grandbaby in progress"! Such amazing changes in prenatal care. One last special event was to have breakfast with Christy's friend, Chelsea who is a pilot. This was also a wonderful event....I have known Chelsea since she was a "youngster" at the academy. She is a wonderful young woman. Wasn't this a great trip?

Beautiful Savannah....

After 25 years, I finally got to return to Savannah. I lived there in the late 70's/early 80's when I played with the Savannah Symphony. Christy and I got to share a "blast from the past" by visiting some of the places I used to frequent. I was so pleased...we drove into town and I knew exactly where to go. Within minutes, we were at Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House for lunch! If you aren't familar with Mrs. Wilkes', it is southern cooking personified. Oh my, some of the tastes almost brought tears to my eyes...yes, because it was that good, but because it was a taste that I hadn't experienced since I left Savannah. We drove over to Whitfield Sq. and visited the gazebo where Christy's father and I were married. Nothing looks any different there at all. What did look different was the house where I used to live on Gaston St. It was all grown over and looked kind of unlived in. I took Christy through the back alley to see the courtyard and it was like a fortress had been built there. Very bizarre. We had a wonderful room at the Hyatt on the riverfront which i purchased for an EXCEPTIONAL price on priceline....we walked the riverfront, ate at the Pirate's House and then to top the day off, took a twilight carriage ride through the city. The next day we had some time for shopping and then a visit to the Civil Rights museum. It was a wonderful time.

Sunny days in FLA!

Two beautiful girls....maybe we could break into a chorus of "Sisters, sisters..."

What a wonderful thing to see these two together.

Finally..........

Wow...packing up one classroom is one thing, packing up two is something else entirely. But it is finished. Finally. Hooray. Hallelujah. Ta Da.....etc. etc. etc. AMEN!

Jam Packed Worship!

Yesterday was one of the best worship experiences we've had for awhile. It was jam packed with special events and each one seemed designed to go with the others. Admittedly, I was about ready to throw up by the time the service began because there was much chaos in the planning or lack there of by certain parties...you know, it was probably more of a lack of communication than planning...however, the results were the same...but once things started, it was grand. The choir sounded beautiful, Jimmy did a great job with praise, we had a commissioning service for our mission's team and then a baptism. I so appreciated what the minister had to say prior to the baptism...his words about Lydia were perfect. I am a firm believer in if an elephant is in the room, introduce him, and he did...in a loving, honest, supportive way. His sermon about the prodigal was very good. After the main service, we had the meeting and then the dedication of the farmhouse addition...THEN a lunch! WOW....I was busy running around offering key tabs for donations for the mission's team and missed the food. HOWEVER...my friend showed up unexpectedly and off we went to lunch. The best of everything. A grand Sunday.

Incredible weekend....

I think I have now seen the most perfect hideaway on the entire eastern shore. One of the teachers at Primary, hosted our end of the year party at her parent's cottage on the Nanticoke. It was a magnificent setting, with fantastic food and wonderful people. A breeze kept things cool, jello shooters kept things bouncing and the roost's fried chicken kept things tasty. Crabs and shrimp for the non-allergic (not me), tons of tasty side dishes and desserts AND a dandy boat ride. The sunset was beautiful and I have to say I can't remember when I had a nicer time. THANKS!

Anysoldier update...

Have you ever gotten a letter from far away that didn't even need a stamp?? Military stationed in a "war zone" can send letters for free! They just write "free mail" where the stamp goes and it starts it's journey across the sea. The first time I got one of these letters, I just stared at it...it had come such a long way! Anyway, I got one of those very special letters and it absolutely made my day. I had sent some greeting cards (for the troops to send to families) and a DVD that my kids at school had put together. I am always seriously touched when someone who is in such a difficult position takes time to write to ME and thanks ME for what I've done. I think they've got it just a bit backwards! This very kind LTC told me that we had brightened their days and that I was to tell the kids their production beat Radio City Music Hall any day. How sweet was that? God bless them and protect them.......

Hooray for Hollywood...

Westside style....Monday evening was the 5th grade promotion celebration at my school. This is not something I'd usually write about as I was not all that pleased to be there...not that I have anything against 5th graders being promoted...I just hate giving up an evening!!! Anyway..I was sitting up on the stage where I had a birdseye view of the kids as they came through the curtain after hearing their name and their awards read. Most of the kids looked happy..some kind of embarassed....some were dressed to the 9's....some were dressed very kid appropriate, some were...well, maybe not so appropriate. But one child in particular struck me....she came out on stage, kind of gangly, braces, not a "looker" by the traditional teenybopper standard...by oh my...the look on her face brought me to tears. It had everything combined into one look... She was a combination of innocence, trust, excitement and hope all rolled into one. Her look at that moment was the personification of all that is good in a 5th grade child. It was a look and a moment I will long remember. Definately made it worth giving up an evening.

Amazing Grace....

I know there is a book title called, "What's so amazing about grace?" or something along those lines. Well....without grace, basically we're screwed. To live without experiencing the grace God gave us and then being able to pass it along...well, I think that is about the only thing that makes life bearable. Just some thoughts....to live without grace, both received and given, is not to live. Or it is to live consumed by bitterness.

Drum roll please..........................

We are pleased to announce that my wonderful son is an official college grad. HOORAY for him. He stuck with it. He took care of his own finances. He worked while he was in school. I am EXTREMELY proud of him and I wish him all the best in his job searches!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matchmaker, matchmaker...

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match
Find me a find, catch me a catch....

That's how the song goes and.....ta dum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best and ONLY attempt at matchmaking has resulted in a wonderful, happily engaged young couple. I am SOOOOOOOOOO pleased for David and Alyssa. I think the world of both of them and I wish them all the happiness in the world. Hmmmmm....maybe I should consider a new career!!!!!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2008

O Trinity of love and power!

Our brethren shield in danger's hour;

From rock and tempest, fire and foe,

Protect them wheresoe'er they go;

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,

Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Thank you to all who have served and who do serve. God bless you.

Puzzled Pooch!

I saw my crazy dog, Oliver, totally bemused this evening. I was watching a tv show about WCBOE awards and they had a spot about me and my music teacher award. They showed me in my classroom, singing and playing the guitar. Well, Oliver heard that and seemed to be greatly perplexed. He looked at the TV and watched and listened and just seemed somewhat transfixed that I was able to fit into that little box. I guess you kind of had to be there, but it really made me laugh.....(Some days, it doesn't take much!)

One of my favorite things....

http://www.anysoldier.com/

This is one of my favorite things....supporting the troops is kind of a passion I guess, but I have gotten so much more back than I could ever give. I'm not talking about tangible stuff, though I have gotten a couple of pretty cool t-shirts. Two of my groups did give me an incredible honor by sending me a flag from their duty posts...one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. When I received those packages, I looked at the mailing label and thought about the hands that took it to the post office so incredibly far away. I thought about the different stars that they see at night, and the length of time they have been away from their families, and the danger they have been in. I thought about how we will probably never, ever meet...but yet we've had this bond. That feels really good. So...if you feel inclined to help out, check out that link. All sorts of folks to choose from...every branch of service. I promise you will get much more than you give.....

The blog that no one knows....

If someone blogs and no one reads it, are the words really there?? ha ha. No one knows i even have this blog yet, so putting something on it is really pretty silly...but the whole blogging concept is pretty silly anyway so it works for me.

My 3 amazing children...all stepping out into life in different ways. I don't think modeling will be one of them.