In an attempt to get over myself... and my stupidity of deleting 86 pictures into oblivion, I will try and blog and be grateful for the memories, even though I don't have pics to share and remind me of them.
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My husband wasn't phased at all, and his supporting comments were "at least you didn't pay for the film and ruin the pictures too, good thing it is digital". I am still trying to figure that out... I guess I didn't spend $4.00 on film, that's the good news. Hmmmmmm! Yeah, they are not usually much help in this area, I know better than to expect anything different. But it did help that he didn't yell and get mad at me and cry too! He is always really good about that end of the support team.
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So when I picked up my teenager from the airport, the plane was 45min late... and while I had contacts near computers I could call and check on it from my cell phone without going inside the airport, we couldn't figure out what exactly made him late, or how late he would be. (this would be where I inserted pictures of the runway of all the planes landing and taking off... it was really cool). So by the time I actually got him on his cell phone, I was a tiny bit anxious. One thing about teenagers is they have their own agenda of anxiety... and it is certainly not reaching their parents on the cell phone!
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So that was our first conversation... while I am paying for the cell phone, it will be on at every available opportunity, and when someone is waiting for you... CALL THEM, BEFORE THEY GET WORRIED!
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The next conversation was about the great looking new duds he was wearing home from Seattle. He loves doing his Christmas clothes shopping there! I am eternally grateful to my Mom and Sister for taking him... because while my Mother equates him to being just as particular as I was at that age, I am certain he is much much more... I call it "hard to please"! (he gets that from his Dad btw)
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Taylor (the new black lab puppy) is growing so fast. 2J's couldn't believe how big she had gotten when he came home (more cute pictures would have been here).
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It was fun to drive home and hear about all his experiences on vacation. He had a great trip, and lots of fun, quality time and game playing with my family. I was even a little more comfortable with him behind the wheel on the freeway driving home.
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As soon as he arrived home, he immediately began unpacking and re-packing for an overnight abominable snowman camp-out... and before I knew it, he was off again! This time out into the freezing cold, with a storm moving in, in the dark, without a tent. I was assured they would bring him home safely... but I tell you I did allot of praying while he was gone this time.
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So the job he took on to take care of the neighbors dog while they were out of town, became my job (I intend on collecting my share of the earnings too). Shiro (Shiro means white in Japanese)is the cutest White Carin terrier. (more cute pictures would have been here). He did really good while his family was away, only got sick on the floor once and only went without eating any food for 2 days... he began eating again the night before they came home. He seemed to trust me being there with him, but gave me "the look" at times when I would go outside to watch him potty. They assured me he could not get under any fences, but nothing was going to happen to him on my watch, so I just went out with him to be sure... it appeared he wasn't used to company out there, but he got over it easy enough.
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2J's made it home safe and sound, everything he owned was soaking wet, but telling the sledding stories of his life! I have learned this is usually how snow camp outs go... I worry endlessly about death, injuries, lost kids, and they come home having had the time of their lives.
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Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear from an Area Authority from the Quorum of the 70 in our church. It is a fairly rare occasion when they might come visit, but it certainly made for a wonderful addition to our service. Then having a calling in the Stake Youth Program, I was able to go listen to him speak to the 16,17,18 year olds in another Ward too... and since it had been snowing, I had to bring my husband along to drive me, so he stayed for this class and take advantage of hearing what this man would have some of the youth in our Stake hear. We knew it would be valuable and very worthwhile, but we would have no idea how fullfilling and uplifting it would be to hear him in this setting. I am so very grateful for this, it was amazing! He had grown up and graduated from the local high school here in 1961, so the stories he told of his adventures all took place around here and when he would talk about going down by the lake.... the kids had all experienced those same places, and it seemed to help make it so much more powerful!
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This morning we woke up to more snow! (some cool new snow pictures would have been here) It came down pretty heavily for a few hours, leaving us with snow packed roads. But everyone was off to school and work ontime.
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So you see I have many many things to be grateful for... it was a fabulous weekend... and other than my little mishap with the deleted pictures, it was starting off to be a good productive Monday.
