Questioning

The Captain coming home was such a delight, that when other thoughts tried to ride herd on my spirit of gratefulness this week, I kept returning to the picture of that little red head flying down the hall at the airport.
Now, in spite of myself, my thoughts are moving ahead to yet another good-bye, and again the spring seems very far away. I can't help myself, these questions that go roly poly, pall mall, tumble bumble through my mind.  Why are we still there?  How do folks come to such a state and how is it possible that ten years worth of help hasn't brought them along.  Why does it have to be my kid that has to go?
Ugh.
( I wrote this a week ago. He left Monday and arrived yesterday, without much delays, thank the Lord.)
And on the home front, more questions.  Did you read in the paper about the woman that abandoned the six year old at the store. The store worker literally ran out in the parking lot with the girl and mother ran shouting "Call 911, I don't want her anymore."  Rae, much like her mama, grew up wanting to be a mama more than she wanted anything else.  I watched her through the years with first one little one and then another and I knew she was cut out for that job.  But as happens in this life, things don't go quite like we plan.  If you recall, after a nearly text book perfect natural delivery, Rae nearly died from blood loss.  It is quite possibly the most terrified I've ever been.  While we praised God for that beautiful new boy, with a Mama snatched from death's door, I thought, "Oh no, what now?"  Was this a one time thing?  Can they fix it?  I knew she had carried a life long desire for a big family and I so wanted that for her. It turns out they can't fix her problem and since they can't, they advised her to find a different way of becoming Ol' Mother Hubbard II.  Rae was broken hearted, and me for her, though I never wanted her to go through that experience again.  She had always entertained the notion of adoption.  She was never concerned by which method a baby arrived in her arms, or what color or ethnicity said baby happened to be, but that right attitude doesn't get you a baby.
 It is a long road.
 She'd been to Ethiopia, but the cost for an overseas adoption was out of the question.  Now, here we are again, at the end of a long nine months of classes, and questions, filling out reams of paper, and more questions, and some interesting situations,  like the drug tests even my 92 year old auntie had to have that should have cost 300, but they ordered the wrong tests and the bill was 1600, or messing up Rae and Aunt Lois's fingerprints, setting things back, and on and on.  Finally, they are in the home stretch to be put on the list.
First, I'd like to ask for your prayers for this sweet family and a precious child to find each other.
Secondly, they are hoping to raise funds for this very expensive endeavor.  Like Handy Man and I, they aren't the salesman sort. We couldn't talk you into a cheap blanket on a zero night.  I've never even tried a  yard sale, I just haul it to the Salvation Army.
They've chosen a coffee fund raising project-https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/GrowingBaileys/

I've already ordered several different kinds of coffee to test for myself.  Probably, if I see you, I'll give you a sample. I ordered on Saturday and the coffee arrived on Thursday.  Both ones we've tried so far yummy.  I love that these owners offer this possibility to adoptive parents. They've adopted themselves and the coffee production and those it benefits are very appealing to me- fair trade, shade grown, practically perfect.
If you are interested, just click on the link and choose a coffee.
Every time you drink a cup, say a prayer for their new baby and a mama somewhere that has a hard decision to make, and know you made my day.
All my coffee drinking people will likely be getting coffee for Christmas. Sorry about the spoiler.

Candy, Candy Everywhere

The Gingerbread Party was full and noisy, and colorful and fun.  In all these 26 years, I never really tire of the kiddos enjoying the freedom to eat and decorate however they choose. Aunt Tish brought lots of lovely sugars and special treats, Aunt SuZQ brought her great grands, oh my!

Aunt Lois looks on as Giddy-up is eating yet another piece of candy, thinking surely he's dreaming. All this yummy stuff can't be real.  He walked around all day yelling, "Eat,"  though regular food was not what he was referring to.

This was Sigh-sigh first visit and he was equally enthralled.  I myself am wee bit incredulous, as it only seems like yesterday that his momma was a three year old sitting at my table, decorating a house.

Old faithful, Jakester, comes now just to make his Aunt Kim smile, and it works.

Many moons ago I had the privilege of working with this wonderful teacher.  My gramerlings were just a twinkle in the Captain's eye.  I learned so very much from her about how to teach little children.  How blessed Bean and Bugg have been to both have her for a teacher.  At the time I taught with her, she had a wee boy and I invited them to the party. They've been coming ever since. Her boy is 15 now and quite a bit taller than me.  Missy Bugg adores her.

I told the Handy Man today that in addition to great compost and yummy eggs, these chickie girls sure have provided endless entertainment to my wee folk.

Bean was proud to catch a fluff ball for Missy Antebellie to love on.  That smile is winning isn't it?

Great day. So much play, so much candy, so much leaves, creek, swinging and crafting,  so much fun!

New Little Ones, Old Traditions

 Post Thanksgiving turkey salad and loaded potato soup.
Setting up the kid friendly nativity.
"Is that my Daddy playing guitar?" Miss Button asks.

 "It is my Daddy."  Gee, she looks so big sitting here, but in reality she is tiny little thing.

Giddy-up thinks an  orange with a peppermint stick is delightful.

 But this Advent Truck, awesome.

Bring on the Gingerbread House Party.

Chilly

We both woke up around three thirty this morning because we were freezing. The power was out.  Since I knew we weren't having a storm or hurricane winds, I just snuggled up, confident it would be on shortly, which is the usual case in our area.  We stayed cocooned until the sun was well up, but still no power.  I dare say most folks would just jump in their clothes and head to the nearest pancake house, or whatever, but once you've had fresh chicken eggs, it's insulting to have those Walmart eggs Miss Bugg detests so.  So, what to do-

I felt all pioneerish and  it was dee-wish- is.
By about 9:30 though, my thoughts were wandering to my two  frigs, full of leftovers, when everything flickered and came to life.
 The Handy Man and I headed out on our favorite date. Please do not laugh.  I love Family Dollar and Dollar General Stores.  I love how all that stuff is in this wee store, where you can park right by the door and be in and out in a flash and a new one opened on the way to the Library- be still my heart. So our hot date consisted of dropping items at Salvation Army (check), dropping my favorite red coats at the dry cleaners ( I have like 7 red coats, but I digress) (check), the Family Dollar where important things like duct tape and peppermint sticks to go in Bugg's oranges were found, and lastly to the library, with a slight homeward bound detour through McD's for a diet coke. Then home for leftovers, an afternoon of reading and a nap.  A wonderful day of rest.
Congrats to Shari, Kc and Wonderful Eyes who will be recipients of Hallmark recordable cards.
Kc and Shari, e-mail me your address at kp1979@msn.com.
Can I just say, I love me some 4 day weekends.

Thankful

Much to be thankful for today.  For a daughter helping in the  early preparations. For a grandboy to entertain me whilst I worked.  For a Handy Man being Handy.

 For the opportunity to say there was a holiday this year with the Cpt. that we didn't miss.

 That my mama and Aunt Lois were able to be here.

And for proof to Auntie SuZQ that Aunt Lois' beautiful shirt left in as pristine shape as it came in.
Loved the family and friends and poopies to smooch and squeeze. A soft sad place for those who weren't here.
Thank you Lord for all blessings, great and small.

Cooking Up a Storm

Ahh, so grateful that there is no school today. It seems the older I get the longer it takes to pull off Thanksgiving.  The big bird went in the oven at 6:30.  There is a bit smaller one for the turkey fryer tomorrow.
The Captain was able to come to for awhile Monday morning and visit each classroom at our little school.  You would have thought Elvis entered the building.  I have always tried to involve lots of real experiences and real people in my students lives.  Still, I'm surprised at the difference in getting ideas when the person sharing the ideas is standing right in front of them. No comparison to a text lesson.  I was very thankful he made time for that.

Well, the kitchen is calling.  Speaking of the kitchen, Auntie G-Lou stitched up some fun aprons for my little corkers  cookers.

 Oooh, a surprise from Auntie G-Lou.

Time for some experimenting with flour, rice and food coloring.

 Clean up, clean up, everybody do their part.

Look Who Came for Breakfast

Last night was our big school fund raising night out.  I was surprised when I got a call from Phil.
 Good news!
The Captain was at the airport and Ceece, Bean and Bugg were on their way to get him.  When he left he told us not to plan on seeing him for a year.  We knew he'd get a leave a some point, but didn't know if he'd be able to get back home. We never said one word to the kids for fear of it not happening.
He wasn't allowed to tell his whereabouts until he was stateside.   He said, still at the first of the week, he wasn't sure it was going to happen.  After four days and seven stops, he made it, praise the Lord!!!

At the school's big event are, of course, the teachers I work with and many of my student's parents.  Between our service project and Veteran's Day they are all very aware of him, so there were lots of happy tears and squeals and the question, "Why are still here?"  "You are going aren't you?"
 Never having experienced this before, I wasn't sure how I'd feel, or what I'd do.  Now I know.  I think there has been a place inside of me holding it's breath for seven months and while it felt wonderful to take a deep cleansing breath, I also could have crawled into some dark spot and sobbed like a baby.
It's funny, they never grow so old that you think of them as anything but your child, still, he is grown up with a wife and children. Honestly, I was so completely content knowing they had a hold of him, that it was quite enough.

Ceece told them they were going to pick up her BFF from Florida. She then said something happened and she didn't make her flight or whatever.  She told them to keep watching, maybe they'd know someone who got the plane.

Umm, wait I do know that soldier.

These pictures are priceless. They've missed that daddy so.

I know my kid though, and I suspected when I'd hear from him. Yep, first thing this morning. Would I make him a good egg?  My pleasure.  An egg?  Six eggs, over easy.  He got to lay his backpack down after seven months and pick up a six year old, who seems to have no plans of turning him loose anytime soon.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed!

Airport piks from Ceece's friend Tracy.