Last Friday afternoon, I picked up my good friend, Bonnie, and we set off on an adventure.  It has been a while since we had been able to get together.  We wanted get away this summer, but life just didn’t cooperate.  So, she suggested that we go to Rosemary Beach, Florida and tour the Coastal Living Magazine’s Ultimate Beach House.  Well, I thought this was a great idea and so we put it on our calendars.  It so happened that the planets aligned and good luck was with us, because nothing came up to spoil our plans, we went, we saw it and it was beautiful!

Of course, that’s not all we did.  I mean, why waste a perfectly good trip to the beach and not do but one thing!  Silliness!  We went out to eat when we got there on Friday night and then we discovered we had just enough time to shop one store before closing time.  What did we choose?  A shop jam packed with wonderful clothes for babies and children!  Oh, such fun.  We both managed to leave there minus some cash!  Then, we sat up talking till the wee hours.  Bonnie is the director of the school I taught at for 20 years.  She is still there…they will NEVER let her retire!  So, I had to catch up on each and every one of the teachers. (Girls, were your ears burning?)  Then I had to find out the goings on at the school.  And she had to find out about the people and things in my life.  Then we got onto our families and there was much to discuss there.  She has a yummy grandson named Cal who is 2 weeks older than Levi.  We had to talk about all the wonderful things they each were doing!   And, we wore ourselves out and headed to bed.

Up early the next morning, we headed to THE most delightful old highway that runs along the coast…30-A.  Along this highway are the beach towns of Seaside, Watersound, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, along with others all the way to Destin!  We made Seaside our first stop and had breakfast at an open air cafe.  It was divine!  And, then we felt that it was only right to explore some of their shops as well.  And, once again, we helped out the economy of this small village!  There are such wonderful little walkways and gardens and galleries to explore there.  We posed for a few pics and then made our way back to the car.

On to Rosemary Beach where the ‘house’ was located.  I had never driven back into this area before and it was wonderful.  We finally found the show house and eagerly went inside.  It was unbelievable!  Already sold for 2.7 million dollars before it was even built, it was indeed the ULTIMATE beach house!  It was impeccably furnished with flooring and furniture and art…most of which has been bought by the new owners as well.  We went from room to room exploring the upstairs and downstairs and the most wonderful courtyard.

Yes, we really enjoyed that courtyard and pool area!  Here are a few more pics of that area.  Notice the unusual open window cut into the side wall.

And some inside the house…den/dining…lovely linens…..beautiful bedrooms….and a cute little web footed mirror that I can not get to turn right side up for the life of me…

I just tried again and it will not budge.  Just ignore the sideways lady in the mirror and look at the cute feet!

Anyway, if you would like to see more of the house go to the October issue of Coastal Living magazine, and prepare to be wowed!   But, the pictures do not do the house justice.  It is much better in person!   (We know the twin sister of the decorator.  She lives in Dothan, and her children went to our school…the sister, not the decorator).  Or, if you are near the area, hurry down and see it.  I think it is only open a few more weeks!

We stopped at an interesting place or two on the way out of the area and then set our sights toward Dothan.  Ran into ugly rain off and on, but made it safely.  It was such a lovely trip with a dear, sweet friend.  And, I, for one, will not let it take as long for us to set off again!

May I just tell you, my dear friends, I have ‘been there and done that’ concerning my cataract surgery.  And, I didn’t even get a T-shirt!  The cataracts are gone…and all that’s left for me to do is put drops in my eyes for another month!

Now, I want to be real honest with you about this procedure.  I’m gonna tell you exactly how it was…and is.  But, first, a disclaimer:  Everyone’s surgery experiences are different and just because I tell you it is this way for me doesn’t mean it will be this way for you!  You and your doctor should make all decisions concerning your health.  I just want to share with you the things I experienced.  OK?  OK.

Joy took me in for the first surgery.  Everything went fine.  All the nurses who got me ready and prepared my eyes were super.  The anesthesioligist and the doctor were tops.  But, the surgical nurse who came to roll me down to the OR was a nasty little twit.

SHE:  So you are going to be put to sleep?  There’s really no need for that.

ME:  My doctor and I decided that this would be the best thing for me.

SHE:  Well, we do this surgery every day and we don’t usually put someone to sleep.  It’s really unnecessary.  (all this while she is rolling me along to surgery)

ME:  (getting a little miffed)  What is your name again?

SHE:  Sandy

ME:  Well, Sandy, I’ll be sure to tell Dr K that you think the decisions he made for my surgery are all wrong.  I’m sure he’d like to know what you think.

SHE:  Now, hon, don’t go getting nervous and upset on me.  You just have to do what’s right for you.

Yeah, she changed her tune quite quickly!  And, by the way, I didn’t tell on her, but I should have.  None of her business!  Anyway, I was returned to Joy who put me in the car and headed home.  I was fine but feeling a little ‘loopy’.  And…I did see some things quite amusing on my way home from the hospital.

ME:  Joy, I feel like I am hallucinating.  I keep seeing things I know are not there.

JOY:  Things like what, Sweet Sister of Mine?

ME:  I actually think I’m seeing PINK ELEPHANTS!

JOY:  Why, Darling Sister, you know that is impossible!  We are in Alabama and the only elephants here are RED (ROLL TIDE)!  Besides, I don’t think they like to walk along a busy highway such as this.

I pulled out my telephone and snapped away.  You see them, too, don’t you?

 Today (8-24) is Joy’s birthday.  I’m only sad that everyone cannot have a sister as special as mine.  She is gentle and kind and always available to anyone in need.  The best gift my parents ever gave me was her as my sister!

So, home to recuperate, and to prepare for phase 2.    There was no pain.  But, the glasses I had were not right anymore and I had to go a week without really seeing well.  But, that passed and it was time for us to head back.  That is until Joy called me late Sunday evening and told me she had just come from the doctor and was very ill with a nasty URI.  So, Don had to be called into escort duty.  We went up to Birmingham a day early and were able to have a very nice dinner with Ian.

The second surgery went well.  Sandy was no where in sight, thank goodness!  And, recovery went well.  No pain…just trying to remember not to lift anything and not to bend over.  More drops all day and trying to adjust to a ‘new normal’ with my eyes.  I have much better distance vision, but all my close up vision is gone.  I didn’t realize this would happen and I am not dealing with it too well.  I  need my glasses to see  anything up close…anything. I can’t read my cell phone, or a prescription bottle or anything close to me at all.   I was used to bifocals before the surgery, and wore my glasses all the time.  Now it’s just hard to remember to keep glasses around my neck or on my head or in my purse or …you get it.  And, I will, too.  I’m thankful for my vision and the cataracts had to come off.  So, I just have to ‘get a grip’ and adjust.  God is good and I am thankful I have eyes to see.

And, for the record… you remember I said I wouldn’t wear the glasses?  Well, I did wear them home from the hospital…just in the car and to go into the motel…but I held my head down.  And, then I fixed them in case I had to wear them again.  Don’t you think they look better now?

Well..I didn’t wear them again.  So, if YOU are having cataract surgery and want to borrow them…I’ll be happy to share!

I haven’t spoken about the Creekhouse in quite a while.  And, for a very good reason…there has been nothing new to speak about.  But, I saw a picture recently and it made me laugh because of how I feel about….kitchens!

I never wanted a big kitchen.  I did however want a kitchen with character.  And, I am happy to say I have that.  The kitchen we built is small next to almost everyone’s…but it is just the right size for us.  There is very little I would change about it……just one set of doors to my pantry.  Not the funky orange screen doors…I still love them.  But, the only problem is that since ALL the food is in the pantry…those doors stay open all the time and I don’t get to enjoy these as much as I would like to.  Also, the other set of doors that leads out to the foyer and my studio tend to stay open for the reason of convenience to go to that part of the house.  So, I would swap the orange doors for the plain doors…and get rid of the plain doors all together.  Yes.  That is what I would like to do.  In my dreams!

This is never going to happen, however.  And, I bring it up as a matter of fact, not a matter of complaint.  My DH believes that unless something is broken, you do not mess with it.  And, it’s not broken…it was just an oversight on my part, when we were building, as to the way the doors would operate.  So—it is what it is.

And, I would not even bother to bring up kitchens at all…seeing as how it is the most unpleasant room in the house…(That’s just me, I know).  But, I saw a picture that I found purely delightful.  It is of a kitchen…to be sure…but one I think I could even grow to like!  What do you think?

Now…that’s a kitchen I think I could love! I suppose you could put your ‘kitchen’ in any room you like!   Isn’t it just the most amazing use of space?  I would imagine there would have to be a pantry somewhere to hold food.   But, honestly, it has all the things I think I would need…except maybe a freezer for necessities like ice cream and ice!

And, speaking of ice cream (we were speaking of ice cream, weren’t we?) Here is another nifty device…for those who have to contend with an infestation of ICE CREAM THIEFS at your house.  And, especially if you enjoy the ‘cream of the day’ is small carton form…this could be a necessity!

Introducing the Ben & Jerry’s combination Pint Lock, a brilliant idea for anyone who has a son or a spouse who doesn’t understand that if he eats one more bite of your Chocolate Fudge Brownie you’re totally going to do something unkind..just saying!

So that’s my post…pure fluff!  Hope it made you smile….OH!  Happy Cooking!

Someone said to me today, “I check your blog everyday…but there’s nothing new there.”  And it’s true.  I haven’t written to update my blog in way too long.  There are several reasons why.  And, I’m going to share them with you.  But, I bet you knew that, didn’t you?  After all, you did ask, didn’t you?  Thought so.

1…..There are few things so vile and dastardly as that cruel, unrelenting curse that is the stomach virus…AKA ‘stomach crud’.  We started with sweet Levi.  Bless his heart after the vomitting stopped, the diarrhea started.  He was with his parents for the vomitting.  So, you know what that left for me…the other end!  We managed and he got better.  But, when Suzanne came home from school a few days later…she couldn’t make it past my couch.  She was so sick with it.  That same night, it decided to visit Adam.   We tried to keep the baby away from them as much as we could.  I had day duty and Levi’s other grandmother, Mia, had nights.  They eventually got better as well.  Then, one night soon after, Don woke me and said he was dying.  Only, he wasn’t…he just wouldn’t have minded if he had.  Four days dedicated to him.  But, on the second day…Alex cheered us with the news that he had joined the Up and Down Club!  We were on our 3rd week with this stuff.  And, who held out and nursed the others and cheated death by willingly exposing herself to the ‘bug’?  That would be moi!  And, who succumbed, finally, to the plague that it is?  That would also be moi!  I should have lost a good 5 pounds, if you know what I mean.

2…..DH and I have been taking care of some out of town business.  And, through the process, I have learned something.  You should keep your social security card in a safe place.  How have I lived these many years without knowing that?  Or maybe I did know it at one time and just forgot.  Whatever…I did not have it when I needed it.  I know I have it somewhere.  I have even seen it recently.  But, the exact place eludes me.  So, the next thing I needed was a birth certificate.  I know I have one.  I even know where I put it…..right into DH’s hand.  Because the last time we used it, he said “Let me have that and I will put it in a safe place with our other papers.”  And, I did.  I know for positive I did!  But, he can not find it.  He doesn’t even remember what he said.  So, I have had to spend the morning at the Health Department getting a new birth certificate.  It’s fine…I ‘m good.  But, listen to me, please, and be witness of the fact….I took the certificate to him and then I left it with him.  I gave it to him at work, and it did not leave the building with me.   I swear and attest to this fact, being of sound mind and all on the 30th day of the month of May in the year of 2012!

3….I’m a big scaredy cat!  At least that’s what DH says to me!  I don’t think there are that many things that scare me,  except lightning, and bugs (SPIDERS).    And, drowning or getting so far away from the shore that I can not see it or get to it in a few hops.  I can go  fishing if we stay right up next to the shore.   And, I prefer one of those air conditioned boats with the cover over the top and a cute guy to bait the hook and remove the damage.

 

Last Sunday,  5/6/13, was a special Sunday at our church.  It is the Sunday that Senior Adults are celebrated at Southside.  There were special speakers and singers…all of the senior variety.  And then there was a presentation of the Senior Adult of the Year.  And, guess who it was for this year?  It was Pop!

Joy and I learned of this honor a month or so ago and had made plans for the day.  Both of her girls and their families were there.  Ian drove in from Birmingham, Adam and Suzanne came, and Alex made a heroic effort and was able to go, as well.  Pop came into church and was surprised to see all of Joy’s family.  While Lori and Ben attend Southside, Tara, Will and Little John Thomas attend church in their little town of Abbeville.  He did not seem to think it odd at all that they were all there.  Then, he walked over to where we sit.  There sat Ian, And Alex.  He was very surprised to see them both.  And, while he was standing there…here comes Adam and Suzanne!  Still, he thought it just happenstance.  We sent him back to sit with the ‘girls’….that way he would be closer to where the presentation would take place.

The service started. And soon came time for the presentation.  Following is what our Director to Sr. Adults and close family friend, Rhonda Grandstaff read………

In May of each year, we recognize and celebrate Senior Adults in our church. We make an attempt to show them just how much they are loved and appreciated.  We do this by recognizing them in the Sunday morning service and providing a luncheon for them on their special day – Sr. Adult Day.

Also, each year the members of the Sr. Adult Committee nominate a Sr. Adult to be the recipient of Southside’s Sr. Adult of the year. This is done by secret ballot.

The recipient of the award this year joined Southside in 1963  and has been a faithful member for a total of 49 years.  He has held many positions in our dear church – some of which include:  adult counselor to Southside’s Youth Council, deacon, member of the budget committee, committee on committees,  insurance and safety committee, church training director,  missions committee, nominating committee, brotherhood director, trustee for the church,  and department director.  As a department director, he continues to be an advocate for the Senior Adults by encouraging them to avail themselves of all the opportunities that Southside offers.  He also takes great pride in being a friend to the young people of our church.

 He is a strong supporter for missions.  This has been evident in his giving and serving.  He has been on 8 trips to over 31 countries and has demonstrated a genuine love for the Southern Baptist missionaries and their work (by building churches, doing home repairs, funding radio stations, and befriending missionary kids in many ways.)

 He has always been a strong and faithful family man.  He was married to the love of his life for 58 years.  His wife was extremely involved in missions for much of their married life – leading the Southside ladies in annual mission trips. He has 2 daughters who are active members of Southside Baptist Church.  God has blessed him with 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

It was a unanamous decision by the Sr. Adult Council to recommend Mr. Clyde Townsend as Southside’s Sr. Adult of the Year.

Join me in expressing our appreciation for his hard work and dedication to our church but more importantly to our Lord.

We all know that Mrs. Ella would have been so proud of this deserving honor bestowed on him.

And about halfway through, he realized they were talking about him.  So surprised, he said he didn’t realize there had been a standing ovation until looking at the pictures and talking to us.  He walked up and received his plaque from our Pastor, Brother Stacy, and a beautiful rose for his lapel.  The children of the church had made him a snuggly blanket to keep in his reading chair.   But, he still didn’t put it together why all his grandchildren were there.  The church provided a wonderful luncheon for all the Seniors in the church, and they had a head table set up for our family…15 places with high chairs on either end!  And that’s when he said…”That’s why you all came today!”  We had a delicious lunch, and enjoyed visiting with each other as well as with many of our friends.  So many people came over and said such nice things to Pop.   He is so dear to us, but he is special to others as well.

Southside has had its share of hard times through the years…I think most churches go through some of this.  Pop has seen things firsthand since he joined Southside in 1963.  We have dealt with situations that required finesse, we have had to perform unpleasant tasks, we have  had to take away, and build back up.  We have had years full of blessings and years when the going was more difficult.  We have grown and failed to grow.  We have been been stolen from in more ways than one.  But, this great church has stood.  It has taken its blows and it has become stronger from its wounds.  It has produced preachers, teachers, ministers of music and education, and missionaries…and business men and women and mothers and fathers and on and on and on.   It has produced strong men and women from its boys and girls.  They have gone and continue to go out into various communities all over our country and others.

Southside is strong and has been strong, and will continue to be strong because of the great men and women who have stood firm through good times and bad. This is the legacy those of my generation have been given.  This is the legacy we stand on as we strive to follow in the paths that the seniors  still among us, as well as those who have gone to Glory, have left to us.   This is the the legacy we will, in turn, leave to our children.

I write all these deep thoughts to say to all those seniors in our church, “Thank you for showing us the way to build a church…not just telling us.  Thank you for showing us how to live when we had differences and disagreements with one another…not just telling us.  Thank you for showing us how to revere and appreciate our church…not just telling us.  Thank you for being examples that we are blessed to follow.  Thank you for showing a Christ-like attitude and loving forgiveness to those who seemed intent on harming the spirit of our fellowship.

So, though my Pop was the recipitent this year of this honor…and I am so proud of him…I wish to honor all the seniors of our great church.

It was a good day.  Pop is still talking about his honor!  He’s so happy!  To the Sr. Adult Committee we say ‘Thank-you, from our hearts.”

And, I add..”Thank you to all the seniors for your stedfastness, wisdom and guidance.”

“The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”     Proverbs 20:29

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor;  It is attained by a righteous life.”    Proverbs 16:31

“…the older women should then teach the younger…”     Titus 2:4

“To the older men; be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”  1 Peter 5:1-4