Are we ready yet? Nooooo ... not quite!

Rachel has a list -- rather, she has LISTS!! How many? I'm not sure but she has to have one of those biggy type of paper clips to hold it together. It's funny - we drive down the road and she's asking herself (and sometimes answers), "Let's see -- where is the church list?" Last night, it was chasing down chocolate fountains ... two of them. I'm not sure I have ever checked out the big metropolis of Spiceland but I did last night. Population - 750. My brother, Joel, claims it may have climbed to 800 by now! Actually, it's small enough that little kids are walking up and down sidewalks without fear .. neighbors are standing outside talking.

While I am writing, Rachel is telling me what we need to do. Pull everything out ... what does that mean? Well, she's been up in the attic (I didn't go as I probably couldn't have gotten up there much less gotten back down!), she's dug up enough frames and photos of Shara to go on all the tables ... (she's talking to herself again), card tables, more food stuff than you can imagine!

She has six themed tables planned for today -- Cake table, Candy table, Picnic table, Dip table (with spinach dip and cheeseballs); Vegetable table, Chocolate fountain(s) table. Sandi helped her put it all together so we have another list to follow for that. I'm not a list person by nature -- but I'm sure glad she knows what we are doing.

I think I better quit while I am ahead -- she's circling the table trying to make sure she has everything in order. (I don't ever worry -- she's a great person of 'order' .. I just follow her 'orders' and it works well!)

Have a great Friday -- I keep thinking it's Saturday so probably by tomorrow, I will be thinking it's Sunday. Especially since Shara's graduation is at a church!!

The Saga Continues ... oh, where, oh where ....

(If you haven't read the post below, you may want to read it before this one ... backwards, I know!)

It seems like whatever we are looking for has disappeared somewhere!! Rachel, Shara and I ran today to finish up some of the shopping we needed to get done for Shara's reception tomorrow night. Remember the skewers? Well, now it's a store ...

We stopped by JoAnn Fabrics and Rachel asked Shara if she would run down to the Dollar Tree which has been located in the strip mall -- long strip mall!! Shara headed out and walked quite a ways and when she realized she hadn't passed it, she walked out into the park still couldn't find it. So she sent Rachel a text, "Am I dumb or is there really not a Dollar Tree here?" Ooops ... Rachel had forgotten that the store had moved! Oh, well ... we are definitely making memories!!

"Looking for skewers in all the wrong places ..."

Okay, I'm not a very good song writer .... but yesterday was quite comical as I tried to find bamboo skewers in the local Kroger's. Sandi had bought them at the Kroger's here in the Beech Grove area (maybe I should say 'there' since I am now in the New Castle, IN area!) Anyway, she told me where she had found them before and was fairly certain that they would be there this time.

So, with her instructions buzzing around in my head -- "go into the store, behind the cash registers, to the left" -- I tried to find those silly things as I looked up and down the aisles and then called Sandi again. "Now where are they?" Where she said, they weren't .. and I couldn't seem to locate them anywhere!! So, I decided to do the easy thing and ask a manager type lady. (At least, it seemed she was.) She said, "Well, I just saw them. I think they are over here." So, I followed her to the picnic area. Nope, we couldn't find them anywhere. She said, "Well, we are doing a remodel, let me call 'Richard'." I assumed he was a main manager. After a little while, she came back. "He says they are here somewhere -- do you see them anywhere?" Nope, looked everywhere -- can't find them.

About that time, Richard appears. The lady manager told him, "We can't find them." He came to where we were and pointed to a space where no merchandise was hanging but very nicely carried a sign, "Bamboo skewers". Well, guess they don't have any.

She said, "No, we're not done yet. I know there are some here somewhere. I've seen them. I just can't remember where." We went to the next aisle and asked a stocking employee if she had seen them. Well, she thought she had and maybe they were on aisle 4. So, off we went again. No skewers -- now there are three of us! Me, manager lady and stocking person. (That sounds like she is wearing hose on her head or something!) But, then the stocking person thought they might be one other place -- but all she found was a bamboo tray. Don't think that will work for dipping stuff in a chocolate fountain!!

We were about ready to give up when we found yet another stocking person. "Have you seen bamboo skewers?" "Welllll ... no, but here are some metal ones." Nope, not what I need. I started to say that I would check another Kroger's when the first stocking person say, "I found some." At the end of the next row, she had found one package of 50. Well, that was a start.

Second stocking person was working up on a small ladder and said, "Hey, I found these -- there are 100 in this package .. is this what you want?" A big sigh of relief as she handed me three packages and I was able to walk out of the store with the proclamation, "Mission Accomplished"!!!

Green Thumb? Definitely not me!!!

I arrived in Indianapolis safe and sound and stopped by my mother-in-law's on my way to Rachel's with a stop at my dad's. (How's that for rambling???!) I'm always amazed that an 88 year old lady has as green a thumb now as she did years ago! Every year, her garden flourishes and we reap the benefits! No, I'm afraid I don't pick the vegetables -- but I do enjoy them!! So, I thought I would share a few photos of her handiwork (with some help from her two daughters, Betty and Linda, and their husbands.) Needless to say, she spends much time in her garden! I've tried to do the 'garden' thing and all I got were a whole lot of weeds!

Can I go see God for a little while?

That was 5 year old RJ's question to Shonna. It seems that he had some questions for God and thought maybe he could make a short visit to him. He said that after all, "he lives right up there" and pointed to the sky. Shonna explained that when he goes to visit God he might have to stay there. He accepted that. Then he told her she hadn't let him do something when she was in school ... she was a little confused by what he was saying so he added, "You know, when I was still up there with God." You just never know what these kids will say next!!

"Stolen Innocence"

I am about halfway through the book written by Elissa Wall -- "Stolen Innocence". This is her 'story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride and breaking free of Warren Jeffs.' It is one of those books you find hard to put down -- but it takes you a while to comprehend everything you are reading!

Two + Two + Two = Six??

Holidays seem to bring about family reunions -- at least, mini-reunion when families live a distance away. For some reason, this year is a little different for the Boynton family. We seem to be celebrating in two's ... in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Florida. This seemed of particular interest to our dad -- he really likes us to be together as much as we can.

So ... Indianapolis -- Mark and Joel (and his daughter, Jacinta) were together yesterday to celebrate Memorial Day (a day early) with a cookout with Mark's family in Greenwood, IN.

Atlanta ... Tim, Susan and their boys welcome Rachel, Allen and their kids. The Southerland clan arrived on Friday evening and will head back towards home tomorrow morning. I understand they are 'grilling out' today there at Tim and Susan's home. A special treat for Rachel and family was attending the church where Tim's family goes -- the worship is led by Casting Crowns and Mark Hall is Michael's youth pastor.

And here in Florida -- Thad arrived in Florida last Wednesday and will leave for home (Indiana) tomorrow. So, today he will join us at Tim and Sandi's for our Memorial Day celebration -- a low key get-together with just family and some close friends. He visited our church yesterday morning and then Thad and I did something we don't remember doing in many years -- we went out to dinner -- just the two of us! Usually there are others with us -- this was a very special time with my 'little' brother who stands about 6'3" at least!!

Hope it doesn't rain since we seem to be in 'two's' ... would hate to have to board an ark! Oh, well -- pretty sad humor, huh??

We did head out to the beach this morning and were pleasantly surprised at the small amount of people at the beach ... until we got ready to leave -- and almost all the parking places had been taken! I'm glad we went when we did! It's a gorgeous day -- a little windy but the kids love to run through the waves!!

Since I don't have any photos of our celebrations yet (Allen, please send me some of Atlanta) .. I'll just add a couple that Mark sent me.