And all of heaven is dancing...

Today our loss is heaven's celebration as my sweet friend, Sherri, has gone home to be with Our Lord. I will miss her greatly, but I know that I will see her again some day.

I had the great privilege to have a little "one on one" time with her in May when I traveled to Minnesota to see her. I left her with this...

I believe that God sends us angels here

to help us, walk with us, protecting those dear.

These angels aren't always just those from above.

sometimes they're people we know and love.

He sends them at just the right times, you know,

It's His plan, His timing, His "one man show".

Sometimes it's too hard with our human eyes

to see that these angels are in our lives.

But sometimes He sends you a special one

to laugh with, to love with, and to learn from.

You know they're an angel, it's easy to see

Your life is so blessed in their company.

I thank God He sent me an angel named Sherri;

A good friend with faith that is extraordinary!

An example of Jesus' love day after day,

A servant's huge heart, pure in every way.

This legacy she's left me, so when we're apart

she'll always be etched so deep in my heart...

her laughter, her wisdom, her humor, her love;

most definitely an angel sent from above!

My forever friend...I give you this with much gratitude and love, Patty

Every Little Girl Needs a Hero

I remember when my three little bird girls were really little and they had issues with sleeping at night. For some reason they thought that there were monsters in the closets. They slept on the second floor of a Cape Cod, so there were a lot of small storage areas with doors all through their room.

My honey came upstairs before bedtime and "scared" all the monsters away by stomping his feet and banging on the walls while shouting "all you monsters, get out of here!" It seemed to work, as they slept well after that night. Every little girl needs a hero, and their daddy was just that.

After the squirrel fiasco (see last blog) Cailyn has been scared that the little critters are going to return and come into her room again. She fretted about this for several days, and nothing I said seemed to reassure her. Then...I got an idea.

Cailyn came with me to ask my honey if he could go get his "magic sprayer" out of the barn and spay upstairs to keep all the squirrels and other furry creatures away. He of course knew exactly which sprayer I was referring to, and got up immediately to go to the barn and retrieve it.

After about 5 minutes he returned with the sprayer strapped to his back and took Cailyn with him upstairs to spray away the critters.



And...since that night she has not had one fretful night about those pesty creatures! I am so glad that after all these years my honey still has the "magic" touch and can make our special grandlittle bird feel safe and secure, just like he did for our little birds so long ago.

Thanks for being our hero. Love you honey!!!

It's alive!

When my little birds were really little birds my mother-in-law...aka Namby...used to tie up a man's handkerchief into this "shape", and play a game with them. She would hold the hankie in her hand and pet it like "a little mouse" and when the little birds would come close to pet it she would make it "jump" up her arm. This, of course, has caused much laughing AND screeching over the years!! Every little bird in the family has had a visit from this mouse at one time or another.



Well, the other night grandlittle bird, Cailyn, was visiting with Namby and D'dad and was introduced to the "little mouse". She of course screeched each time the mouse would "jump" up Namby's arm. Finally, Namby untied the hankie to show her that it was not real. After that grandlittle told everyone about the "little mouse". She even talked Namby into letting her sleep with it. She snuggled with it in her arm all night!

Tonight grandlittle went upstairs to get ready for bed when she suddenly screeched to her mommy that something was running around in her bedroom...and it must be the "little mouse...it's really alive!" Our littlebird, of course, screeched for her "daddy" to come and rescue them. And so begins a very comical 15 minutes or so.

After determining that the "hankie...little mouse" was maybe a "little chipmunk", my honey came downstairs and got a broom. He wanted me upstairs...for support I guess...as Cailyn was screeching...my littlebird was screeching...and I was supposed to calm them down. Well, I climbed up on my littlebird's bed where the girls were hiding and explained to grandlittle what was running around in her bedroom. It was not the "hankie...little mouse" but a little chipmunk like the ones she sees running around outside in the flower beds. It wasn't going to hurt her, and it was just as scared of her as she was of it. GP would get it, not to worry. I turned to leave and shut the bedroom door. Uh-oh...I forgot that the door "locks" and can not open once you shut it tight.

Why this is an uh-oh is because all the rooms connect upstairs...that was the only door that provided an escape route without having to pass through where the chipmunk was "cornered". My littlebird was beginning to get a bit screechy again. So what did I do...I bailed!!!!! I went back downstairs and thought I would just leave the master chipmunk catcher to do his task. What did he need me there for???

After a few minutes I heard littlebird calling for me to bring up a bucket. Here's when it really gets funny. I am sorry now that I did not record any of this! I took the bucket upstairs and found that my honey had blocked himself and the chipmunk...which at this point has been correctly identified as a small squirrel...in one section of the bathroom. In this small section of the bathroom is a toilet and a sink, closed off with two pocket doors. There is not much room in there! All I could hear was my honey jumping around and laughing while whacking the floor with the broom!

I told him I had the bucket so he slid open one of the pocket doors to get it and...oh no!!!!...out comes "Rocky"...right towards me. So now I'm screeching and jumping on grandlittle bird's bed. "Rocky" obviously was not the brightest squirrel in town as he turned and ran right back into the section with the pocket doors. Trapped again!!

My honey in his ever-so calm manor, managed to capture "Rocky" and send him for a swim down the toilet towards the septic tank. We knew this was the right course of action because if you remember back when we first purchased the BlessInn, our realtor told us to periodically throw a groundhog into the septic to keep it working properly (see "Not This Groundhog's Day -July 2009). Although this squirrel was quite a bit smaller than a groundhog, my honey figured it could help out somewhat...given we have been having septic issues lately!

So, my honey saved the day once more! Oh, wait...littlebird and grandlittle bird are still locked in the bedroom. A hero's work is never done! It took him just a few seconds to "unlock" the door, save his princesses and save the day.

I hope grandlittle bird can fall asleep in her room tonight. Maybe she and Mommy will have to snuggle together in mommy's bed. I am sure that is where I will find them in the morning!

Menopausal Insanity

I have heard it said many times that once you reach menopause you begin to become even more forgetful. This fact has always been a little unsettling for me because I already suffer from daily memory loss...sometimes making life a bit scary for anyone living with me. LOL!

My latest brain hiccup happened just a few days ago. It struck me as so comical, I thought it worth a blog. Here goes...

Jessie, #3 littlebird, has a computer that crashed a long time ago. I kept telling her to bring it to the house, and I would take it to my favorite computer shop in our little town, but she kept forgetting. (Maybe this thing is hereditary...yikees!) Anyway, I knew this particular shop had done a lot of work at the church, and they are dependable.

Well, one day...several weeks ago, when I was picking up #3 at her apartment she surprised me by remembering her computer. I placed it in the back of the TBird, behind the seat, knowing one day I would just drop it off when I was out and about.

About a week ago I passed the shop, but it was pouring rain and I had a miserable cold. I chose not to stop. Wouldn't you know I saw Jessie that very next day and she asked it I had dropped off her computer yet for repair. I sheepishly told her no, but that I would...I promise!

Yesterday I made an appointment at the doctor's right after work to FINALLY take care of lingering symptoms from that cold I mentioned. I had a few extra minutes and knew I would pass right by the computer shop, so I planned to stop.

All the way there I was thinking about #3's computer...how I did not have a power cord for it, and maybe I would have to buy one before they could even get started...and also how I did not know her password to sign on to the computer, and would that be needed. These thoughts consumed my mind all the way to the shop.

I soon arrived, and parked on the street outside the shop. I turned to get the computer from behind my seat. Now take a moment here and get this visual...it is so important! I just spent the last 5 minutes obsessing about the computer and the issues I may incur when I got there to drop it off. I parked the car, turned it off...and turned around in my seat to grab the computer in its place where I had tucked it away several weeks earlier. OK...stop right there.

Here's when I realized my mind was not with me that day. I was not driving the TBird. I drove my honey's car to work that day. No TBird = no computer.

And definitely NO MIND!!!

See you later!

This past Saturday my mom passed away peacefully around noon. Because it was so sudden, I have been trying to process it all, and I must say, struggling a bit while working it through. She led a good, long and busy life, 88 years, but had not been ill, so this passing took us by surprise.

My little birds all came home to the mother nest. Of course. Funny thing about the timing...this past week we had already planned to be together. We were going to a family friend's wedding, and little birds Leigh and Will had already taken off work and planned to come home. I guess "Mimi" decided now was a good time to check into her new room, since we were already gathering.

My very smart grand littlebird Cailyn, has been trying to figure out what is going on. She will be four in just a few days, so it is a bit challenging to explain. Here are a few conversations she has had over the last couple of days. She never ceases to amaze me with her ability to process information...well beyond her years.

Cailyn "Mommy, why are you crying?"
Mommy, "Because Mimi died today and went to heaven to be with Carter."
Cailyn, "Oh. Well, some people go to the dentist, some people go to the doctors, and some people die."

Auntie Leigh, "Tomorrow we will go to see Mimi".
Cailyn, "How do we get there?" (after all, Mimi is in heaven, she was told)
Auntie Leigh, "Well, her heart and spirit are in heaven. Do you know what a spirit is?"
Cailyn, "No,maam."
Auntie Leigh, "Well your spirit is all your love and feelings...that's what is in heaven with Carter. Mimi's body is still here, asleep."
Cailyn, "Where is her head?"
Auntie Leigh, "With her body."

Cailyn, "Grandy, we are going to see Mimi today."
Grandy, "Well, actually you won't be able to see Mimi. She is asleep in a pretty shiny grey box. But the lid will be closed so you can't actually see her."
Cailyn, "Is it like a bed box?" (having been told Mimi's body is asleep)
Grandy, "Yes, just like a bed box. There is pretty pillow inside, and a blanket with roses on it. It looks just like a bed inside."

She has certainly helped to bring a smile to our faces these last few days,and made it all just a bit more bearable.

The other thing that makes this all bearable is this. My daily devotion on the day my Mom passed said that as Christians we never have to say goodbye. We can instead simply say see you later.

So..."See ya later, Mom!"

Crazy August Days

This summer sure has been an odd one, at least weather wise. We have had such a wet summer. Hot, then wet, then cooler, then hot again. It has also been an historical summer given we have had an earthquake and a hurricane within a week!!! I know my friends from MN (the two L's)who relocated here must be wondering 'just where in the heck are we living!'

Last Tuesday I took my Mom to the doctors, so I left work early. After her appointment I went back to the church to finish up a few things before I called it a day. As I was sitting at my desk I suddenly felt "dizzy"...like I was swaying unsteady on my feet...only...I was sitting down. I didn't think a lot about it at the time as I am a diabetic and thought I was experiencing some sort of "sugar dive". Not until I got home did I realize what I had felt was an earthquake! Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced one here on the east coast. As my friends on Facebook were saying, it gave new meaning to Carol King's hit "I Feel the Earth Move"! Most bizarre!

Then, on Saturday and Sunday we experienced the effects of Hurricane Irene. We were so fortunate here at the BlessInn, compared to some of my friends along the east coast that have experienced some damage from flooding and hurricane force winds. Other than being without power for 17 hours...and a soggy yard full of branches...we got through the weekend unscathed.

I posted a few pictures below of our creek and yard on Sunday. My honey has been busy with clean-up and reinforcing the levy he has been working on all summer to hold back most of the water when the creek floods...which is several times a year. All of the water this weekend continued on its way to contribute to the flooding of the Delaware River.

We are...once again...counting our blessings, knowing it could have been much worse!

Whoopsie Daisy!

My honey and I took a trip to MN for a wedding and to visit old friends. The traveling part was filled with frustrating moments. I feel a pattern here with my family and traveling. Maybe it's time to just settle in at the BlessInn and let everyone visit us. I kind of like that idea!

So we head out of our little local airport and when we arrive there was a delay with takeoff. Of course. We finally got on our way, but since we were going through Chicago we were already concerned. We do not have a great track record at Chicago. Nope...not at all. After checking our tickets we realized we had only 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight. This can't be good.

So my honey and I made a plan. He is the KING OF CARRY ON! I like to check anything I possibly can. So his bag was stored under the plane because nobody's bags really fit in the overhead compartment, now do they? I am totally confused by the CARRY ON concept...other than it is free! But you then have to stand in line and wait for them to retrieve your bag...kind of like a mini version of the luggage carousel.

So, here was the plan...I would "run ahead" and tell them at our connecting flight that they needed to wait for my honey...and of course his golf clubs...while he waited for his bag. Sounds simple. We were at a gate at the far end of G and I had to get to a gate at the far end of H. So off I went "running" out of the gate as fast as a 50-something...out of shape...over weight woman can run while carrying her tote full of everything she might possibly need for a 4 hour travel day. Do you have the visual?

So I'm plugging along...huffing and puffing...going as fast as I can...when uh-oh...my rubber soled sneaker stuck to the floor and the momentum kept my body moving forward. I know I am about to fall...but typical in a time like this...it is all in V..E..R..Y....S..L..O..W....M..O..T..I..O..N. I finally landed...first knees...then elbows...then kind of rolled on to my belly. Geesh...I hate when that happens! I looked up and at least 400 pairs of eyes were looking at me sprawled on the floor. I quickly jumped up...laughing...saying I'm ok...I'm ok! I really did not know if I was ok...but everything seemed to be in place. I picked up my bag and off I went....realizing "OJ Simpson, I am not!"

I arrived at the gate, out of breath, saying "did I miss the flight!?" The gate keeper said "no" and hurriedly opened the door for me. I asked them to please wait for my honey....who was right behind me...and of course his golf clubs that just had to make it on this plane. He had a 3:30 tee time after all! I got to the plane and asked the flight attendant for a glass of water. As I am walking down the aisle of this very large and FULL plane...drink in hand...every person looked like I was next on their "hit list". I figured they were upset thinking the plane was being held for this woman who just came from the bar! As I approached my seat apologizing for having arrived so late someone said..."well, we aren't going anywhere anyway...the generator is not working!" So...why was I running again????

My honey finally arrived and settled in next to me and I shared the good news of our delay...and the story of my "trip" to the gate. At this point I was beginning to feel every point of contact with the floor...and places that hadn't hit the floor! After waiting for an hour for the generator to be fixed they had us deplane. They moved us to another gate where another plane sat waiting for us...a miracle for Chicago airport!

Oh, I forgot to mention that once again I had coordinated flights so that we could meet our little bird, Carrie, in MN...landing at the same time. My honey kept stressing to her that she had better be at the luggage carousel waiting for us because we had a 2 hour drive to Alexandria...and he had a 3:30 tee time! Well, she was at the luggage carousel...and we were still in Chicago sitting on a broken airplane! The best made plans...

We finally did arrive in MN safely, met our little bird and got on the road arriving just in time for my honey's tee time.

I am a little sore...no a lot sore...but happy to have arrived and to visit with the friends I missed so much!