Where Does The Time Go?

When Bill arrived on Thursday night, it felt like we had just so much time! He left today at 5pmand I am here wondering, "Where does all the time go?" The visit is over in a flash!

Still, a lot was accomplished and we had a lovely time as a family. Bill met with his future boss on Friday morning and they had breakfast. It was a very nice and productive meeting and I think Bill is getting excited to begin a new phase of his life. That evening we took my mom out for dinner and had a lot of fun. Grace was in a wonderfully creative, ahem, albeit silly mood and I was just so happy we still had 2 and a half more days together!

Saturday was a day of hard work! We cleaned out the storage room and re-arranged everything. We have been here 5 years and that is the longest we have ever lived in one home! Things begin to pile up don't they? How does THAT happen!? Hmmmm....well. After much effort, it all looks great!

It is almost open & roomy enough for me to rent out space! Okay, so I AM exaggerating but hey, Bill, Grace and I actually did a little dancing in it! There was room! A little soft shoe....tappity tap....

Bill took 3 vans full of things to Goodwill. Some really nice things....out grown clothes, household things that we no longer need or want, decorations that we no longer use...you get the picture. Things I know that someone will find useful or just love. At least I hope so.

We cleaned up the basement/family room and it, once again, looks like a cozy part of the house, not a repository for Christmas decorations and household items we have no room to put anywhere upstairs!

If I had done all of the work alone, it would have taken days (and nights!) and not been a bit of fun. But with all of us pitching in, it went quickly and was a lot a silly fun too. Oh how I wish I had taken a picture of Bill wearing The Wiggles, "Dorothy the Dinosaur" hat! Now that would have been a keeper!

After we cleaned up a bit, we ordered a Doubleday's Monster Pizza and fixed a Caesar salad.

One of my buddies dropped by and she ate with us. After dinner, we all settled in and watched, "Akeelah and the Bee". If you have not seen it, we would heartily recommend it to you and your family! Sweet, uplifting and so well done. The little girl who plays Akeelah will tug at your heartstrings until you think they will break! Grace simply adored this film, as did all of us.

I was happy because I still had a full day and a half left!

Sunday was an early to rise day. We picked up Mom and headed to church. We were all becoming members of our new church and there were photos they wanted taken. We then went to our last membership class while Grace tried Sunday School again. She is finally coming out of her shell a

bit where it is concerned!

At 11am we all went to the sanctuary for the service and our group was welcomed as new members. A really nice group of folks who can not seem to wait to be of use in the community and service to the church. That is wonderful to see. The minister asked us all to wait in a receiving line to be greeted after services ended. Now, Grace is usually no shrinking violet anymore but hates doing such things. Still, she acquiesced and stood there....bouncing back and forth on her toes and heels. The minister was just to Bill's left and he was getting a real kick out of her behavior. And oh what a kick he got when she said, in a voice just loud enough for ALL to hear, "Mommy! Do we hafta do this every Sunday? 'Cause if I do, I will just faint!" Diva in training? Nope...Diva already experienced and well practiced I am afraid!

When a very dear elderly parishioner asked Grace what she liked best about the church, our sensitive princess answered, " You guys gots really good doughnuts!" Thankfully the lady had a good sense of humor!

Our minister leaned in and tried to explain that she was just being welcomed by everyone since her family were among the *newest members* of the church. Now, this is where we wonder what goes through her head and what words she still has trouble understanding. She shot him a VERY perplexed

expression, rolled her eyes and said, "Well, my parents never tell me anything! I can't believe we bought a whole church!!"

So, she is good for a few guffaws if nothing else!

We had lunch at O'Charley's, ran a few errands and took Mom home. It was so cold....the wind was fierce and the temperatures were really dropping. Just a few snow flakes dancing on the cold breezes but oh how frigid they were. I had chosen to wear a skirt out and regretted that decision the minute we stepped from of the van in the church parking lot! Whoa! I almost did a Marilyn Monroe, "Seven Year Itch" number! Except I was colder, not on a street grate and not quite as body beautiful as Marilyn was! Other than that you get the picture I am sure!

Mom had the family over for dinner later that evening. Chili and all the fixings...so good, especially on such a cold night.

We watched a lot of the "Red Carpet" shenanigans

at The Screen Actor's Guild Awards show...even our Daniel got into a bit of critiquing! But it seems he just did not find a problem with all that actress cleavage like his Grandma did! Imagine that! A 24 year old young man who did NOT find that objectionable! Amazing!

And I was happy because I still had a whole half day left...

I had Mallory today of course but Bill and I played with her together. When she went down for her first nap, Bill went out to run a few errands. He brought home "Chipotle" for lunch. Oh how I LOVE their food. He got some for Grace and Dan too and they chowed down when they each came in this afternoon. Oh how Grace loves her guacamole!

All too soon it was time for Bill to drag the suitcase back out to the car and head for the airport. Yes, he will be back in 10 days. Yes, he will only have to go back one more time after that visit. Yes, at the end of February he will be home to stay. Still, I am a bit blue and wondering, "where did all the time go?"

I miss you Billy....hurry back!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Stay well and enjoy your week ahead....it is almost February!

Hugs,

Suzie Q