Officially Retired!

Allan reached a new milestone with his birthday this weekend - retired! His social security checks will begin arriving after the first of the year. Good for him! And good for us because no new job is looming on the horizon yet.

We had a festive weekend with a neighborhood party Saturday night and a church spaghetti dinner on Sunday night. We had a dozen family members over for birthday cake and ice cream afterwards. Allan's oldest son, Tom, is in town for a seminar and joined us. He will stay with us for a few nights.

We've got cake!

When tragedy strikes - strike back with cake! How can you worry when your kitchen smells so wonderful and you can hardly wait to frost and eat your new masterpiece warm from the oven. So many wonderful childhood memories involve cake, especially my grandmother and I whipping up some favorites like coconut layer cake or devils food with fudge frosting or strawberry layer cake. YUM!

When I was a teenager, I discovered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. My mother bakes me one each year on my birthday. Life is definitely better with carrot cake and cream cheese frosting. I'll go back to worrying when the cake is gone.

Next Step

I wish I knew what the next step will be. My husbands job was eliminated today. A lot of peoples jobs are going away right now. I do not know how I feel...just numb right now. And scared. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I can't even worry yet. Because I don't know what is waiting further down the road for us.

I think I will probably go into survival mode. Food and shelter will be priority one. Then cars, electric, and water. Everything else, I don't know. I just want to know that Allan and I will be alright.

We knew that this could happen. We knew the company was going through looking at every position....with the intent of cutting jobs, to save money. I prayed. We both prayed. On Saturday night, at the concert, I relaxed. Allan still had his job. Maybe this awful thing would pass us by. Other co-workers agreed. Afterall, who would want Allans job.

Maybe, by some miracle, this will be good and everything will turn out better. They say that when a door closes, a window opens. I hope that happens for us.

To my family and friends, please pray for us. Don't be afraid to reach out to us. We will keep you in the loop, we will ask if we have needs. Help us only if you can. We truly love each of you.
Thank you.

Passing time...

I'm stuck inside with a bad cold, instead of enjoying the beautiful weather outside. Allan was sick first...he's better now. I don't know if I caught what he had or if it is just a mild reaction from my flu shot. But I just lie around. My head hurts; I feel achy.
The fresh breeze coming in through the open windows is amazing. I watch the curtains flutter in the moving air. I hear the birds singing and people passing in the street. The sky, from the window, is brilliant blue and crystal clear. There are no clouds.
This is my kind of weather!

Beach Outing

Since we discovered Caddy's on the Beach on Treasure Island, it makes going to the beach a lot easier. We buy our meal (on this trip- breakfast) eat, and talk, and then lie in the sun on their loungers and chairs. What could be easier! We usually go early before it gets crowded so we get a good spot and have the beach to ourselves. The water was great- calm, cool, and no seaweed! We like to spend the summer holidays at the beach as a family!

Family Fun

Our visit with Melanie and the boys could not have been more fun!
Okay, maybe a little less rain. But we stayed busy with family
cookouts, ice cream parties, trips to swimming pools and local
parks, and an indoor mall. And Target. Although the boys were NOT
interested in sleeping much, they were up for anything else-
especially the toy closet and eating everything in sight.

On Saturday we drove to Jacksonville to see the Lewis cousins. It was a special birthday celebration for Dawn and Rose. Everyone had a blast! Lots of babies to cuddle, presents to open, food to eat, and family to visit with. Melanie and the boys stayed to visit longer and I left to drive back home. Know she is having fun seeing all her family and friends before she flies back to Nebraska at the end of the week.

Glad you were able to come, Mel! Miss you already!

Playtime with twins Jane & Joy

Dawn and Rose with new birthday Barbies!

Company's Coming!

Setting up the portacrib!

Mel and her two boys are coming for a visit!
Elijah gets to sleep in the guest room with Mel.
Isaiah gets his own room (Allan's office).
They fly in next Tuesday and leave for Jax. on Saturday.

I am working on the schedule of events while they are here.
For those of you in the area- call me if there is a time
or event you would like to see happen and we can add
it to the calendar.

So far the Pier, Northshore pool, and maybe breakfast at
Caddy's on Sunset Beach top the list.
With the heat and the weather,I'm keeping the schedule
flexible. We will probably hang out at the house the most.
If you are free, stop by. She wants to see everyone!

Cleaning up the baby equipment!

Dusting off the toys in the toy closet!