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.

Goodwill

We went to a few Goodwill stores last weekend because my husband was hoping to find a few old roleplaying game books. Somebody on one of his forums had found an amazing find at a Goodwill - for just a couple of books he bought a few books that were worth over a thousand dollars. My husband did not have that sort of luck unfortunately. It wasn't a waste though - I was able to find a blue striped Aeropostale dress shirt for my 16 year old for just $2.99 and a pair of Old Navy khakis for $3.49. We are going to a wedding next weekend and he needed dress clothes - I was THRILLED by the savings! And the clothes look like they had never been worn. The only inconvenient part was sorting through rack upon rack of khaki pants hung in no particular order looking for an elusive pair of 34x34s.

PROM!

Tonight my oldest son is at prom. (He's the one on the far right) It's been a crazy two weeks getting prepared. Everyone says the boys have it easy - but we had to come up with the money for the tickets and the after prom tickets, and make reservations (and come up with the money for the dinner as well) and he had to rent a tux... and get a haircut... and buy the corsage... and new swim trunks for the after prom... Now, to be fair, he didn't need to actually start getting ready today until 5 pm and his date's mother told me that she started getting ready at 10 AM! Of course she had to get her hair and nails done - but they all looked so nice and so grown up.

I never had a prom myself, my school didn't have them (no dancing allowed!) So I hope I'm not living TOO vicariously through my child! Anyhow, they were going out to dinner (where they would meet the third girl) at 7. Prom began at 9 PM at the country club, and after prom will begin at 12:30 AM. After the after prom they are going out for breakfast and then I expect he will sleep the rest of the day!

He did tell me he expected the music to be "lame" because the principal was selecting it and he is very "old". Um... I think the principal is MY age!

What a weekend

Very stressful weekend - my husband has pneumonia and has been so sick. He couldn't even watch tv this weekend or eat or anything. I should've taken him to Urgent Care on Saturday but my mother had a medical emergency. She was in the hospital for stomach surgery which went very well. I was so relieved because, for some reason, I was dreading her surgery and felt very anxious about it. Then Saturday Dad called - both of her lungs had collapsed, she was bleeding internally and had overdosed on the morphine from the pain pump and for a moment they thought they had lost her. I was just frantic! One of my brothers went to the hospital to be with my Dad - neither were allowed to see her of course. I just worried at home. On Sunday the situation had stabilized and we were allowed to visit with her in the ICU briefly.

Meanwhile, my poor husband was at home with a fever of 103.9. Monday I took him to the Dr and he walked out with FIVE prescriptions. Thank goodness for health insurance - we paid $86 but without the insurance we would've had to pay nearly $400!

Mom is now in the ICU step down unit and is able to take phone calls (I've talked to her every day) and might be able to come home this weekend.

My husband was actually back to work today although several co-workers chastised me for "letting" him come in.

Hopefully both mom and my husband will continue to improve.