Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Home again

Well, I've arrived safely home. After being taken to the airport by T's 1 and 2, I was checking in my luggage for the flight home when the clerk requested my license. A few minutes of frantic searching failed to reveal the elusive identification. He accepted other I.D. in the form of my college student card, but warned me that the airline officials would not be so readily persuadable. Taking this warning to heart, I spent the next ten minutes digging through my purse and bags for the license, without luck despite my appellation. With trembling heart and failing knees, I approached the formidable officials to explain my predicament. They accredited my explanations and my three other forms of identification (a credit card, a college I.D., and my state childcare license). This was a great relief, and after successfully threading my way through the security checkpoints, I called my mother to relay the relief I felt. :) (Later I found my Driver's License in a purse that I had put in my "check-in" bag, which was of great relief to everyone.)



I had planned to relax on my first day home, but I learned while in the airport that my aunt and uncle were moving to Arkansas to pastor. This was a shock to me, for he had never been a preacher and this was rather sudden. Of course, I learned that my mother had known for months, and had thought that she had already informed me of this interesting development. So, Thursday was spent packing all of my aunt's knick-knacks and "priceless" mementos of her grandchildren (this, of course, means the ten year-old birthday cards and Christmas tree decorations that were falling apart). So Thursday was spent in that way, with Friday being not much better.



A couple's wedding was planned for Friday evening, and being the wonderful person I am, I attended with a glad heart and merry smile..... (yeah, whatever) and found it a rather interesting experience as all wedding are (to females). The reception was the highlight of the wedding, with many delectable foods served. Included in the dishes were such things as venison steak, chicken jambalaya, elk meat, and some macaroni salads. But the best of the food, was the chocolate fountain, served with fruits and pretzels. After the reception, the wedding party had to rush to the church to remove the decorations and clean the church for the deadline of nine. This left the kitchen of the reception, a total disaster. Because my mother was a server for the meal, she was already in the kitchen. She and Miss Laurel (my teacher for all of my home school years) felt obligated to assist in the clean-up, and so, by extension, all of their children were obligated as well. For several hours, all of the teens washed pots and pans, dished food into containers, and bleached counter tops and ovens. Many of the helpers teased me about the "welcome-home reception" in which I was currently participating (washing the large pots). We all left at midnight, making our weary way home.



Saturday was the graduation of one of my best friends, and one of my pastor's grandsons. My family was enlisted in the reception committee, and after setting up we barely made it to the graduation. Arriving in time to make it through the doors before they locked them for the procession, we found seats with the rest of our group. Several speeches later, the triumphant graduates walked back down the aisle, and we made our way to the reception at the park. The potluck was good, and I was able to borrow AVT's camera and brand-new lens for some experimentation. (He told me I need to start getting into photography, which from him is a great compliment, as usually he just makes fun of my attempts......maybe it was the improvements I made by experimentation with T1's camera) He took several pictures of me with his monstrosity he calls his camera, and they are quite amusing....I'll have to get them from him sometime.



Sunday was an honorary service for the Noble Hunts for their fifty years of service in ministry. Returning home, we prepared the Sunday dinner, and I cooked! yay! The rest of the day was spent in relaxation and attending the night service.



Monday we relaxed and read our books, including my dad, who rarely finds time to read. Dad and I read Emilie Loring and Mother read a christian thriller. It was very peaceful, and we enjoyed it. K was at a friend's house playing games all day and grilling hamburgers and having fun. Bre spent the day on the computer and finishing her Bible classes for the year. I was somewhat disappointed not to be able to go jet-skiing and boating as per our normal custom, but the day turned out well in spite of that disappointment. :)
Until next time,