How I Spent My Summer Vaca – Part 2

Raspberries:  It has been a bumper crop this year.  Thanks to the Curves ladies I was able to raise over $200 for our missionary friend Luis and his family.  I also gave a lot away to friends and family and made lots of jam to sell later for fundraising.  We’re still picking, but things are slowing down.  I won’t miss all the time it has demanded.

July has been a pretty dry month.  Finally, we have gotten a few inches but until then it was taking a lot of time to keep my plants happy – especially the newest plantings.  Can you believe one more day and it's August?  Time flies when you’re having fun.

Heidi Jo: Melissa and the girls needed haircuts and she got it in her head that only Heidi would do.  But, Heidi is working very part time this summer and couldn’t afford the gas to come up from NH for a visit.  Problem solved when Melissa offered to pay her way in exchange for the haircuts. 

So we all came together for a Thursday afternoon BBQ.  Loved the fact that Dan, Jeremy, Kevin, and Bob could join us.  Almost looked like we were all so financially independent that no one needed to work.  We were livin’ the life. 

It was a busy day, nevertheless, as huge dump trucks were hauling in dirt for new septic systems for Dan and Jeremy’s dad – plus a new driveway for the Walls.  The compound is really changing this summer. 

The grandkids were prepared for all the company.  Entrepreneurs that they are, they had some painted rocks for sale.  Some with flags, some with landscapes… the three I bought look great in my new flower beds.

Dave and Marge Wall:  Dan’s parents have been here from Manitoba for a couple of weeks.  His sister Sharon, and husband Jesse came last week from Toronto to join them for a few days.  We went to play mini golf with them Monday night.  It was an unusual experience.  Students were there from local summer youth camps and they thought they had complete charge of the place.  We’d be making our shots and they would be making theirs – right on our hole!  When we spoke to them about it they said they had every right to play that way or some would complain to their staff person – who was behaving in the same rude way.  It was unbelievable. 

Speaking of mini-golf, Crysten and Loralei joined some friends for a girl’s night of it last week and Loralei got the first three holes as a hole-in-one!  Which reminds me of the time I took the boys and Isaac kept calling back his score to me – “I got a hole in three, Nana!” or a hole in 4 or whatever he had gotten.  So cute.

Graduations and anniversaries:  Luke Vashon’s family had a big gathering for his graduation from high school.  Luke finished in three years and is not exactly sure what he’ll do next.  Hopes to go to Guate in November.  There were tons of things to keep everyone happy, even in the much-needed rain that came.

Melissa and Dan celebrated their 10^th anniversary on the 17^th… the same day as the Heidi BBQ.  They are contemplating a special trip at a later date to celebrate. 

Bettina Dobbs celebrated her 65^th anniversary on the 16^th without her Sydney who passed away last month.  Think about that… she was married longer than I’ve been born.  65 years is a long time.  Pray for her during these days of adjustment. 

Sea Dogs: Each year we organize a group from church to go to a game.  This year we got down there, but a huge storm came up and the game got postponed to the next day.  A group of us went to Cabela’s before heading home.  Crysten, Bob and I also stopped to pick up some things at LL Bean’s.  Good thing we did.  We just got on the road and got a call from Jeremy.  Their Jetta died just after the toll booth in Augusta and they needed a tow.

We were able to use our AAA card and give them a ride to our house and let them drive our car home.  We arrived here around midnight.  The next morning Loralei had it back in my yard by 7:30 AM.  She and Erika were going lawnsaling and they sure start early.  Erika scored BIG finding items she’ll need for her parsonage in CT. 

Kathy and I went to our friend Paula’s the other day to steal some of her Perennials.  She is moving and said we could take what we wanted.  I came home and worked on planting them even though it was very windy and showery. 

My neighbor called in the late afternoon and asked if I’d heard about the tornado watch.  I hadn’t.  I picked up the pace and called Crysten to see if she had heard.  Then Lisa called and said Barnstead had been hit hard.  (Turns out it was Locke Lake where Jen and Ed used to live.)  Wow, this didn’t sound like Maine.  The Walls were in N. Conway – right in the path of the warnings.  Bob was away for the night.

Crysten and I quickly put away anything that could launch in a heavy wind and she joined me here for supper and news reports.  In the end, the storm passed way south and north of us so we were spared.  The Walls were spared any damage, but the unsettled weather was a spoiler for them as they vacationed there with Dan’s family.

On Friday night our men played Wayne’s brother’s church in baseball.  We didn’t do so well, but it was fun to see old friends and enjoy the game. 

Justin update:  My nephew, Justin, has been suffering with constant headache for over a year now.  He came here for treatment for 8 weeks, but went home without complete success.

When he got home they took him to a neurologist who spent considerable time with him talking and observing and wondering why he had never seen a case like his before.  He had him read, which makes the headaches their worst.  This has deteriorated Justin’s health and ability to sleep and eat properly. 

They gave him an MRI but nothing was apparent.  Thankfully, they were able to find a clinic that did them for half price and the stimulus check was God’s provision for the fees.  They had to be paid up front. 

Justin continues to need our prayers.  They don’t know where to go from here.

I ran into my friend Sue the other day and her brother is going to be on the next version of the Survivor show.   He’s a teacher in Gorham.  You’ll probably hear some publicity about him as Sept. 18 rolls around when the show airs. 

Family flashback:  We have Christian farmer friends who live across the river from us.  This summer their daughter got married and she wanted to have the reception under a big tent at the farm.  Seeing it go up brought back many memories of the summer of ’94 when Jen insisted on the same.  I had my doubts with flies and weather, but I must say that tent receptions are now my favorite. 

One more story and then I’ll quit.  I looked back in church a couple of weeks ago.  We were all standing and singing worship songs.  There was Faith and Megan singing their hearts out, arm and arm, with their heads leaning on each other.  They were as close and intertwining as they could possibly be.  I could almost hear Faith’s body language saying “I promise I’ll never leave you again, Megan.”  The cousins are still appreciating living as neighbors once again.  They are really something. 

This ends How I Spent My Summer Vacation.  Aren’t you glad?

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