Retreat

Retreat...a time to draw back, to get away,to relax,to let your mind rest. Our church had its semi annual staff retreat last week at Blue Lake in Alabama. It was nice to get away for a while. The camp is sat on about 1000 acres of pristine land about 15 miles from Andulasia, AL. The very first thing I noticed was how incredibly quiet it was. There was no noise at all. No cars no music no people no stop lights no nothing. It was incredibly surreal almost like Cindy (the gal) I rode with and I were all that exsisted. We got there late and everyone else was already in class upstairs. Cindy and I both had to give our depositions in a case for divorce which of course includes children and money. I will write more on this later as it un folds. We talked alot about the Beatitudes and how each one truely works in our lives and in turn allows us to work in others lives. The speaker talked alot about how we need to have a mission inside of the church and also outside of the church. We have alot to digest from this speaker. On the day we left it started to snow, yes I said snow!! It was incredibly beautiful and just made this a wonderful experience. Several of our staff had a snowball fight and that was cool. On the ride home Cindy and I discussed alot of what we had learned and how to apply it to our daily lives. I am glad I went and glad I took the time for myself.
Ed left today for Tuson, Arizona for 10 days. I will miss him so much but I know he has to go with the planes when they go. Last night we said our vows again at church. There was about 100 couples there with us. It was so special and I am glad that we are still in love with each other and want to stay together. We have been married now for 32 years and some times it seems like yesterday and some times it seems forever. Funny how life is like that!

Back to work

Today I am going back to work, its time and I do feel better. I am still a bit wheezy today but that is ok too. Had a great Crisis Care meeting last night and then had a good visit with a friend who really needed to just talk. It is very rainy today and we have the lakes forming in the backyard again, boy I think we need more rain! A bright spot of news is that Jerry finally got a job yesterday at Backyard burgers as a cook...Yeah Jerry! I had a lengthy telephone call from Ms.T.Ford Jerry's senior advisor yesterday. I think we have come to some sort of understanding about him and his schedule and life after H.S. any way I will say that I hope we have.
Looked at pictures of Ellijay and the surrounding properties for sale yesterday on the computer and had a fun time dreaming about one day possibly owning a little getaway place there. The prices continue to fall and what a great time to buy, but as usual it won't be now.....ah but it is fun to dream. Dear God, please take care of my Mom today and keep her safe and in a happy mood. Thank you that you give us the ability to dream.

Thoughts of another place and time

Retirement...That one word can bring on a whole multitude of thoughts and feelings such as can we really ever retire, can we financially or mentally retire, can we do any of the things we once thought so important, can we travel, can we have a get away place, could we still have all our facilities about us,could we be around each other 24/7 ??? All good thoughts to ponder on. There was a time that we thought we would love to travel when Ed finally retired. We would get to see the rest of the USA and reconnect with all our other retired friends and love just getting out and about. We dreamed of returning to Paris and taking the time to see the Louve' and all the treasures it holds. We wanted to go back to MontMatTree' and spend a whole day at the Seccour' the Church on the Hill. We want to go and walk in the American cemetary and pay our respects to those who gave their lives to liberate France. We would love to return to the Cotswolds in England and find a tiny village to spend a month or a year there...or forever. Now we wonder like everyone else if any of these dreams will come true. We would also like to take a cruise to Alaska now that is a real dream for us. We have had a few talks lately on retirement and if and when Ed plans to retire. He had told me for a long time that he was on the work til you drop plan...now he is at least thinking sometime within the next ten years. I wonder in 10 years how our health will be, could we do those long walks and long drives in the US will we even want to. It is funny to me how your thoughts can change over time. What once was a "must do or must see" is now a well lets think about it. Maybe those think about it thoughts will turn into lets just do it...who knows only time will tell. Dear God, Thank you for allowing us to delve deeper into our thoughts. Amen

Jerry and the SAT or ACT or is it the just shoot me!

Jerry is now in the last 4 months of his high school life. He is being given information overload at a rate of warp-speed everyday. Today this laid back kid told me "Mom you need to get me registered for the SAT." Umm Jerry you have asked me this since last year and each time you change your mind and don't go. Yeah I know Mom but now I think I really need to just take it to get some kind of score. Are you really going to do it this time?? Pause..yeah I think so. Jerry the workshop is $125.00. If I pay this it is no refunds so you will have to go and it is for 4 afternoons but it will give you an edge. No, I think I will just take the test. Ha..I dont know about this kid and trying to explain anything to him is about as fruitful as talking to the dog. Nat tells me to just let him take it and fail to which he responded yeah but I get another chance, one more time. Hello wall and how are you today? Now he thinks he will go to the college here in town...Northwest Florida State College. Great idea but he either has to present them with an SAT or ACT score or take the entrance exam...will he ever "get" it? Lord I hope so, I mean all we want for our kids is a chance at a great life with a loving spouse and good friends and the means to support themselves. I know...patience, patience! Dear Lord please help him to find his way and please help me to keep my sanity in the process.

Dr again

Ok I realized today that maybe I am not getting better or maybe I just need another antibiotic. I realized this when I drug myself into work and my boss Dave said "Grace dont be offended by this but you look like hell" Please go home! So after groveling about how long it took me to get dressed and there I did just that, I returned home. I did not pass go or collect $100, I simply went home. I have been home forever it seems and I think I am going a little stir crazy. I called the Dr's office and left a message about the still coughing and wheezing, snap crackle pop in my lungs and could they just call me something new in to fix it? The call came back with the dreaded "the Dr. wants you to come back in for a chest x-ray and blood work. Another drive over the bridge to the doc and more questions and why didn't I just get all this last week when I was there??? I told him it came on really quick like overnite and was the H1N1 still around etc. Knowing my luck everything will be clear tomorrow and I will just have to live on Mucinex the rest of my life or something crazy like that. I do have to admit that the drug Avelox is very hard to take and makes me very sick for about 2 hrs afterwards, food or no food, it does not seem to matter. Maybe this was not the right one for me and maybe all I really need is just another drug to kill whatever is there off. I do want to feel better so I can get back to doing life. I have not seen my Mom for 7 days now and that is too long for me and for her. I cringe to think how she will be whenever I finally get over being sick so I can see her again. They ask us not to come when we are sick as the elderly can get so sick so fast. I pray the angels will watch over her and keep her safe.