July 4th celebration at church

After Christmas, my church's July 4th celebration is my favorite service. My parents offered to take me this year (couldn't afford to refuel my car) so I happily accepted. I wore my America flag tee from Kohl's, Lorene wore her Old Navy flag tee, PJ didn't have one that still fit but wore a blue and white striped polo - close enough!

The service was excellent, as usual. A local color guard presented the flag. Both kids were mesmerized by the marching soldiers. We then said the pledge of allegiance and sang the national anthem. Scenic pictures of America flashed on the overhead screens - Lorene kept pointing and exclaiming over them. Then we were seated and sat back to listen to the choir, the orchestra ensemble and the handbell choir perform patriotic anthems - including My Country Tis of Thee, God Bless America, America the Beautiful and When Johnny Comes Marching Home (PJ especially enjoyed this one). As always, my favorite part was the salute to the armed forces. The orchestra and choir performed the official song for each branch of the armed services and every one who had served (or would serve - we have a few recruits in the congregation) would go forward and we would clap. I was surprised that the Navy had the largest number of women who had served.

A country song about letters from home was then sung while the overhead screens projected pictures of the sons (no daughters) of church members who were currently serving. Next was a audio clip of the words of our founding fathers. At this point Lorene was restless having lost interest in the overhead screens and having scribbled on all the available scrap paper. I took her to walk the halls (along with about a dozen toddlers and their parents) while the congregation sang "God Bless the USA". We returned in time to see the color guard remove the flag and to hear the ensemble play a very rousing "Stars and Stripes Forever".

Afterwards we had vanilla cake and chocolate ice cream and lemonade in the fellowship hall. PJ was happy because each piece of cake had a sparkly star stuck into it. Unfortunately he lost his in Papa's car on the way home.

28 miles

Worth of gas in the tank... no money until payday (Monday) so we are stuck this weekend! Of course suddenly there are all kinds of things we could do... my cousin is in town with her new baby, my church is having their big July 4th celebration Sunday, my mom wanted me to run an errand for her today (picking up pictures at the mall)... but no go. Stupid $4/gal gas! And I just read that they are forecasting gas going to $7/gal within 2 years. Wow I hope not. I like being able to afford groceries...

Small world at work

At my work it really pays to watch what you say about another employee until you know who they are and who they are related to! I work alongside my sister-in-law and my husband. We are not the only husband and wife team! I also work with a brother and a sister and a pair of sisters, many sets of long time friends and in the past we've had parent/child relationships and in-law relationships! The joke is whenever a new hire starts is to figure out who they are related to. When I started back to work, the other girl in orientation was someone's niece!

I have a new manager now - it seemed at first that he didn't know anyone ... but it turns out he was a substitute teacher at the very small school I graduated from years ago, and where my niece attends now. Also, his daughter was classmates with one of the men in my department! And my middle school principal is my sister-in-law's boss... and one of my best friend's from elemenary school's dad was also an employee. It really is a small world!

Gentle gentle

19 month old Lorene is having a *small* problem with hitting her older brother PJ. Her Dr. advised that the next time Lorene hit him, to take her hand and make her pet him, saying "Gentle gentle". The Dr. thought this would get the idea across better than reprimanding her. So we tried this Saturday. Lorene hit PJ. I said "Gentle gentle" and made her pet him. She looked at me like I was insane. Then, looking me square in the eye, she hit PJ again. Again, I picked up her hand and said "Gentle gentle" and made her pet him. This time she threw her head back with a hearty laugh, then looked at me and whacked him again! Poor PJ. So now we're back to "No hit" and removing her from PJ's vicinity.