Summons, Friends, Odds & Ends...

...not necessarily in that order.

*P.K. left last Monday for three weeks of job related training. I spent most of the first week he was gone getting our furnace fixed. I think Marine Wife sent her gremlins my way.

Since he is well over 300 miles away, he wasn't planning on coming home until the end of his training. However, on Thursday he called to tell me he was going to come home and bring a friend. There is another chaplain who lives in Texas attending the training and P.K. thought it would be nice for him to come along to hang out and do his laundry. Is that what life will be like around here when the kids go off to college? I sure hope so. P.K.'s step mom once told me the greatest compliment she could receive is for someone to feel at home enough in her home that they are comfortable going through the kitchen cabinets to find what they need. I hope our kids see our home as a place of peace and refuge and a place they would like to bring their friends.

P.K. and Jarrod (his friend) didn't get in until about 11 p.m. Friday night. I got up early and made banana pancakes and turkey bacon. Jarrod said he slept really well and that he usually doesn't being in an unfamiliar home. That was a huge compliment.

The weather Saturday was gorgeous. We decided to take the kids to a park Hannah and I had driven by a couple weeks ago. The kids loved it.

I was trying to get a picture of Rachel on the monkey bars, but my camera has a delay. I think this picture is cool because it caught her in mid-air.

She's such a monkey.

The kids were giving Daddy a spin on this contraption. I think this was every one's favorite part.

Rachel and Aaron had a race up the slide. If I had a nickel for every time I have had to say, "Please go down the slide on your bottom" I would be a wealthy woman. Racing up the slide had to be a P.K. idea.

P.K. and Jarrod

*We left the park and went home for lunch. After lunch I went outside to check the mail and imagine my surprise when I found not one, but two jury summons in the mail for me. I've only been in this state for two months! I've never had to serve jury duty before. I received a summons once in California, and had to show up but the defendant decided to take the plea bargain. Thank goodness. It was going to be a six week trial! I had two preschoolers at the time, but the powers that be wouldn't excuse me. I'm hoping our current state is a little more gracious. I really do not have anyone to watch Hannah. P.K. would have to take off time from his job that he has been at for two months. I filled out the affidavit that states I am the primary caregiver for a child under the age of 6 and do not have reasonable alternative childcare. I had to pay to have it notarized and faxed. I really would like to serve on a jury at some point and see the whole process in action, but not for six weeks and not when I don't have anyone to watch my kids.

*The time change...I was thankful for the extra hour of sleep and the fact that it is no longer dark when I leave to take my kids to school in the morning. I don't like that it gets dark so early and I feel like going to bed at 5:00 p.m.

*We all attended church together on Sunday. Since P.K.'s new work schedule has him working every Sunday, this doesn't happen often anymore. It was nice to have him there and worship together. I was cracking up at my car full of hungry passengers as I was driving home. I think it started when we drove by Cracker Barrel and Jarrod asked if we have ever eaten at Cracker Barrel. Before I knew it everyone was talking about their favorite restaurants and foods. As soon as I got home I threw my chicken that had been marinating for fajitas on the grill and fed that hungry bunch. P.K. and Jarrod had to head off right after lunch. It was nice to have P.K. home, but I hated to see him go again. At least it broke up the three weeks a bit. I don't have a lot of adult conversation around here so let me tell you I'm sure I talked their ears off.

*My mom called last night to tell me my grandmother's brother is not doing well. I'm sure I don't have the details correct, but from what I understand he fell at some point this past week and broke his hip. He hasn't been in the best of health anyway. He has emphysema and now I think pneumonia on top of that. I talked to my mom this afternoon and she said his hands and feet are starting to swell. I'm not sure how old he is. He has always seemed old to me. :) My grandmother will be 89 in December and this is her younger brother. Although, it is an emotional time to know someone is near death, what really opens up the flood gates and lets the tears flow is when I think of him walking through the gates of Heaven and being greeted by his parents, his siblings who died before him, his first wife, my grandpa, my brother and
... King Jesus! To quote an old hymn, "What a day that will be."

I grew up with the majority of my extended family living nearby. I know what it is like to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on a regular basis. I miss that for my kids. When I was telling P.K. about the situation with Uncle Melvin (my grandma's brother) we were talking about the benefits of having family nearby. My family (as crazy as my family may be...yes, I said it...you all know it is true...) has the integrity (the old time family values) that not only says you call every family member when someone is sick or dying and you try your best to make it to the hospital to show your respect and support for the other family members, but you work hard for what you have, you believe in God, stand up for what is right and even if one family member decides to say bad things about another family member, non family members are not allowed. :):)

Hannah and I were just talking about Uncle Melvin the other day when she had dress like a farmer day because he always wore bib overalls. That is how my kids remember him. Since before I could remember he called me Jody Blond and the Purty Flower. He would say flower in one syllable without the "w." I would have to say it to explain it. That got me thinking about other southern Indiana pronunciations and phrases:

Aint...Aunt
Warsh...Wash (as in warsh the clothes)
J'eat?...Did you eat?
Long pants...Not just pants
Supper...The evening meal

The list could probably go on and on but my kiddos are wanting some supper!