Mid-summer Madness and Update

The days have have zoomed by and I should catch this up before we depart on Saturday, July 26.
The many projects I wrote about earlier are behind me now, thank heavens. Hooray!! It's now major packing mode at our house, and preparing the home to be away for two++ weeks. An exciting time.

PAINTING of the lanai, the railing upstairs, the mailbox, and some stucco dark spots on columns and our entry has gone well the past two weekends. It's a fresher look and will be good to come home to also. I'm sure some might say, "a second grader could do that better" [Dianna's sections, not Bill's] but there weren't any second graders around to ask!!!! Give me a cleaning brush, not a paintbrush, anyday.

SEWING projects were completed, and that's always a challenge here as the nearest fabric store is 45 minutes away. The better ones are an hour away. After 3 trips, I had everything I needed. Erin's baby will have a comforter...we'll tie it with yarn when we get there.

ORGANIZING for classes...that will happen a little more on the trip/flights. I'm glad the draft for each class is nearly complete. Just some fine tuning left on those. We have a few shared projects to work on while flying and visiting. Always something for us to keep busy. Maybe we'll even get to read a book or two while we're away...unless baby is there already, of course.

HOME ORGANIZATION isn't that bad at the moment...except for the four suitcases setting out that need to be readjusted and filled. We're taking lots for baby, etc., but should be able to return with much lighter bags. Having company earlier in the month and having spring and summer semesters off has been a big help to me in this department. "Keep up" is so much easier than "Catch up. " It will be nice to have Betty and friends here to keep Megan company and enjoy the house. We surely hope the weather is cooperative for them, too.

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE . . . That's the sign at SUBWAY. It seems to be needing even more time for updating their soggy computer system, and some say it could be several months before reopening. It is sad for Megan especially since this was the job she actually enjoyed...the people, working for a short time with customers, and pleasant surroundings and employer, responsibility given. Her trip away to Puget Sound with Jenny and Aaron to vacation last week gave her a welcome summer retreat. Sounds like a good place for us to get away sometime. Not sure if anyone around here wants to hire a "sandwich artist" for just 6 weeks. The job thing just didn't work well this summer, but might be a good springboard for work she might find on or near campus in SLC. We'll see. . . I have a feeling these remaining weeks will even be encouraging her more to get away since they may be passing slowly.

FUN TIMES and SERENDIPITY We'd planned to see MAMMA MIA when it came out , to see if we wanted to see the play in May when it comes to Honolulu. After our Saturday morning painting party we went to Mililani to see it and have some popcorn, of course. It was fun, for sure, and we loved the music. I'm sure you've heard that not all critics like it. But we did enjoy the music, country side views...I heard it was set in Greece, but filmed in Croatia--I'll have to check that out further.

With Megan in Washington with Jenny and Aaron, we got a taste of what it may be like when the "empty nest" comes for us in September. It seems like just yesterday we had 3 then 4 young children and would have to plan any Monday night [or other] getaways in the van--treats, activities, who'd sit where, which radio channel we'd settle for, if we got drinks, who'd share with whom, etc. just to go for ice cream or a beach walk on the north shore. What a contrast--Monday night following our after-work catnaps, the two of us made a quick decision, headed to Kaneohe for Bill's haircut and were home 2 hours later. That was a new experience. We even read a book out loud along the way until dark. So that's what life without kids in the car may be like. He reminded me we did this for 5 years before Lindsey was born. But do you know what? I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT FAR BACK to those days. So this empty nesting will all be new to me.

In August postings I hope to share new experiences from down under and impressions of life for Erin, Wil, and new little baby Howe. Back to the packing!!!

Helaman 3:35 . . .wax stronger and stronger . . . firmer and firmer. . .