It is Wednesday evening and I have just sat down to rest. I know…I said I was going to sleep all day, BUT…I should have known better!
My program went very well last night. The children sang their best…well, most of them, anyway. A few had to act out, as usual, but overall, I was very pleased. It is strange how from year to year there is a different ‘feel’ to the class as a whole…actually 4 classes. This class has always been a little reserved. And some years, it seems as if they all are high energy. But, whatever, they are all precious. It is a privilege indeed to be able to help guide their steps. Our program this year was called “Follow the Shepherd”. It is one of my favorites. I wrote 3 of the songs and 3 poems for it, and the rest I compiled. After the program, our director, Bonnie, presented me with this beautiful painting! How appropriate…it will look perfect in my new house! And look at that frame! Thanks so much, Bonnie! You, and my new painting, are fabulous!

This is my friend, Debbie, who is my pianist and dear friend! She is a mighty prayer warrior and we seem to see most things the same way…the world is full of ‘crazies’ and they all need to come to us for advice! She is a pastor’s wife, and she would NEVER say that, but I will! Forgive me, Deb. 🙂

This is my new friend, Andi, who has been an aide for me the past few months. She is a breath of fresh air and a boost to my spirit. She has helped me tremendously, as well as shared 2 of her 3 little boys with me! I am blessed by her so often.

So, since I was so wiped out yesterday and last night, I did not finish cleaning out my room. Nor, did I get my things to my car that I needed to bring home. SOOOOO, I had to go in this morning and get that completed. Ian and Adam came by to load it up for me, and finally, I was through.

I managed to get into the car to head home, and our friend, Ron, called to say the new cars were in and my lease was up. I needed to come in today and look. So, Don picked me up and off we went to the Honda dealership. I have been driving a Pilot for several years, but the new ones are larger and it costs so blamed much to put the ‘go juice’ in them, that Don really wanted me to go with something smaller. So, I drove a CRV and then an Accord. I picked the CRV because I am just not ready to give up my SUV and having that extra space. So, tomorrow, I will go and pick up my new car. I had several colors to choose from, but settled on a new, funky green. Haven’t seen any others this color. I’ll show you a pic tomorrow. Now I have to go and clean out all the stuff in the inner recesses of the Pilot. YUCK!

OK…while we were there…Don got a call we needed to go check on something at the house…so, off we went to see about that. Here is a picture of the outside chimney…so you can see the mortar wash. I think it is going to be very pretty, especially when accented with another tone a little darker.

THEN…can you believe there is another THEN?…Ian met us at the new house and was starving! Moving is such hard work. and he has been unloading this truck for 2 days.
He is all moved in, except for stocking his kitchen. But, he and his roommate are leaving on their road trip to NYC Sunday, and all his cash is in lock-down mode. So, off we went for a late lunch. How very handy to live in the same town as Mom and Dad…!

NOW, I am home and sitting on the bed…filling you all in on my day. I will make no predictions on tomorrow…because I would most likely be wrong. But, soon…very soon…I am going to have that ‘day of rest!’

Whew! It’s nice to catch my breath! We had a busy week-end in Birmingham with Ian, and his graduation. I drove his car to Dothan and Don left to go to a meeting in Callaway Gardens. Today, was my next to last day of school, and we had program practice. Kinda had a snafu with practice times, so it threw us all off. The kids were tired, and did not practice as well as I would have liked. Then when school was over, Don called me to go to the new house and we ended up staying there for a couple of hours. We are trying to get the mortar wash right on the brick. I don’t want it too heavy where it looks like stucco, but I don’t want it so light that it looks like painted brick. Trying to explain this to a group of men who do not speak English is not easy! I need my sister-friend Shirley…she has taught Spanish for about forever. Then the man came to talk about the sound system and security system and computer and TV stuff. Why does this have to be so complicated? I would like to just go to Wal-mart and get me a boom box and be done with it! LOL! At least I would know how to work that! Then we had some flooring issues, and some other things to work out. Don and I grabbed a bite to eat and Ian just called and said he’s on the way home with a U-Haul full of his furniture…and it has to be turned back in tomorrow. Tomorrow is my last day of school and my big program is tomorrow night. Then on Wednesday, I think I’ll sleep all day!

This is Ian and his roommate for the past 6 years, Houston. He is from Dothan also, but the boys did not really know each other during high school When Ian heard Houston was going to Samford, he called him and asked him to meet him for lunch. They then made plans to room together. At Samford, you have to live on campus unless you are married or your family lives in Birmingham. Somehow, Ian managed to get them assigned to the same room, and their great friendship began. They pledged the same fraternity, Sigma Nu, and managed to stay roommates for all but 1 semester. They moved out after graduation, and into an apt. They then started another 2 years of grad school.

It has been a blessing that these 2 boys have hit it off so well. Houston is quiet…Ian is not. But, they tend to balance each other out. They have the same kind of families and were both brought up going to church and learning important family values and morals. They have looked after each other thru sicknesses these 6 years, and have studied together, played together, partied together, and cleaned house together….but not too much of that last one.

And, so, it has been a BEAUTIFUL THING to watch their friendship grow into a strong and lasting relationship. His Mom and I were talking yesterday and we said that we both felt they would be friends for life. We both agreed that we had been blessed tremendously that they had had each other for 6 years…God worked it out and gave them both a Christian friend to lean on. They are going their separate ways this week. Ian is moving back to Dothan to begin learning more of our family business, which will one day be his. Houston is going to work with a firm in Birmingham. But, they are managing to have 1 last fling. Next week, they are taking a road trip up thru NC, Washington, DC., Boston, New York and Maine…or as long as their money holds out! But, then…they both have to face the real world! And the contribution they make will be significant! May God bless them both as they begin their careers. May they always put Him first.

And, they are both so handsome…that’s a BEAUTIFUL THING, too!

Donald and I with Ian today at Graduation. Do we look proud, or what?

This is my youngest,Ian, who will graduate on Friday with his MBA in Business from The Brock School of Business at Samford University. He has worked hard…played hard…and has met his goal. I am so proud!