Friday, October 30, 2009

Trunk Or Treat / Shoebox Ministry

Tomorrow is Trunk or Treat at our church. Sandi is directing it and their vehicle will turn into some sort of pirate ship and they'll hand out some goodies from their trunk! They are hoping to have quite a few cars in the church parking lot and lots of kids, too. And added treat for the kids is a 19'x40' jumper .. I think the adults may want to get in there, too!! Me? I'll stay far away!!

The kids are even more excited about the upcoming Shoebox Packing Party on November 14th. Samaritan Ministries and Veggie Tales are partnering in the Operation Christmas Child this year. There's excitement in the air and it's such an encouragement to know the kids are so excited about giving -- even more than getting the treats!! I'll be away on that day to Come to the Fire Conference in Atlanta .. but sort of wish I could be here for that, too!!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas is right around the corner!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Mom's Taxi


Mom's Taxi was put into service again today. Wow, I thought I had shed my taxi uniform long ago when the girls were finally able to drive. But, not necessarily so .. and it was just fine.

Tyler spends Mondays with me often as that is Sandi's primary workday at the church (Clearwater First Nazarene). Today, Tim (her husband) was also flying home from Indiana after attending a funeral there over the weekend. So, Tyler and I donned our uniforms (okay, so we were at least dressed!) and headed out. We delivered Sandi successfully to the church although Tyler had to take a bathroom break there. At least, it wasn't while we were driving across the Courtney Campbell bridge! Just as we were driving into the airport (and that is a challenge now with all the new roads / bridges), Tim called to say he had arrived and was on the tram to the main terminal.

He wasn't outside when I arrived so we took a tour of the airport basically going in one big circle to bring us back to the blue terminal which hosts US Airways. (Tampa airport is different from orlando -- we are color coordinated, they just have A and B terminals. Okay, it's been a long time since I've been there so maybe it has changed but probably not!) I didn't see Tim at first - started to dial his number on my cell phone, looked up and there he was calling me. So, mission accomplished! At least, that part of it.

Shonna called and asked if I could possibly pick RJ up from school. She had a TV repairman coming so needed to be home. Of course since today was the day for Mom's Taxi -- you may not get it this way again so grab it while you can! So, off Tyler and I went around 2:45pm headed towards Keswick Christian School where RJ is in the first grade. (Tyler is homeschooled so he will have a full four days of study this week.) RJ didn't know I was the one picking him up so when he saw my van, he came flying -- arms waving and jumping up and down, yelling, "Nana!" So excited -- and I was so thrilled to know my grandkids are excited to see me. Not that I wouldn't expect it but I know some kids who don't necessarily jump for joy when grandparents come around. For this, I am blessed ...

Tyler and I, still in our uniforms (lol), delivered RJ safely to his home although he was not one bit amused that he wasn't making a stop at my house. "Why am I not going to your house today?" That happens about once a week when I am home so he wasn't too amused that we were not going there today! We delivered him safely to his mother and were on our way once again.

Tyler and I headed to the grocery store -- he informed me on the way that he would love a comic book -- I told him I really didn't want to buy one today. He explained, "No, we pick one up when we get into the store and I look through it and put it back when I am done -- you know, sort of like going to a library." (Which he loves to do -- he inherited his mother's love for books!)

We shopped, he read .. well, I shopped and he read .. he had about two pages left when we got to the front and he had actually read quite a lot of it. He's a fast reader! We left it there and went home to throw something for dinner into the oven. Don't you just love that description -- like we actually 'throw' anything into the oven. Of course not! But, I did make a meatloaf, put it into a pan, carefully placed it in the oven and made sure the temperature was accurate.

Since that was done, Tyler and I headed out once again -- and I thought how I hated (disliked a lot) that the gas prices are a little higher -- maybe a lot higher -- right now. But, we headed back toward the church to pick up Sandi since Tim was working a little later than usual today -- because he had gotten in mid-morning rather than starting his day early as he would usually do. Okay, so that's not important information here today but I was typing as I thought and just included it. I'm sure you are now rather bored by it all ...

We've had dinner, the dishes are not done yet (well, since we used paper plates, there are not many to do) and I am seated comfortably at my computer typing this ... and now I am running out of things to say -- and anyone who believes that can stand on your head for a while -- but I will stop! Right now ... really!

By the way, where did the phrase "you can go stand on your head" come from? I have no clue!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Cousins ... brothers ...

I love grandkids .. and they have some of the funniest things to say! Tyler usually comes up with some really funny stuff -- you just have to listen closely. I commented about a Tyler (not him) who had a fiance and our Tyler said, "I don't have a fiance. I'm too young!" He's the same one who told Sandi and me after a homeschooling session of reading, "I've talked so much my uvula hurts!" I asked him if he knew what that was and he assured me he did. "It's that thing that hangs down at the back of your throat." Okay then ...

It's always interesting when one of the other grandsons comes to our house. Each of our girls has one boy. Since Teri lives in Winter Haven, it is a mix of the three boys here -- Kamen, 11; Tyler, 9; RJ, 6. This week, it was Tyler and RJ. They love each other .. love to be together -- most of the time. However, after about an hour or less, you will usually hear some sort of conflict between them .. oh, my! It seems like a typical brotherly spat!! It will last for a little while and then things are great -- and they hate to leave! Oh, well ...