We're Back.

My beayootifful niece!

We had as lovely dinner tonight at a beautiful Italian restaurant.It was a high end event with one of those enormous 3 figure tickets at the end of the evening. I had lamb chops that were perfect. We had appetizers something I can't even pronounce, a type of torte, and calamari. They kept fresh tomato and basil bruchetta coming, with wonderful thick crusted old world style breads. Everybody sampled and tasted what each other ordered. The birthday boy had swordfish in a lemon white wine sauce with capers, it was fabulous. My nephew is hilarious, he could make it in stand up comedy. when he got his little piece of torte, he forked one large white bean and said, "I've got a bean. OK this is it?" He's way over 6ft and lean, he was looking to get full not sample a taste. He did get full but did not appreciate the little anise cookies at the end of our meal. "Yuk, that's licorice!" I was falling off my seat.

My Dad and his wife did not come. My brother looked so happy with his family all around and his children.We laughed and howled, and ate, and ate some more. We had a tray of Tiramasu for ten to go. That was decadent.

.....it poured down rain all afternoon, through dinner and into the night. The sky out in the distance was cloudy and very dark, ...thunder rumbled and lightening flashed across the ocean sky, looking ominously beautiful. The roll of thunder, flashes of lightening and the sounds of the waves hitting the beach made a beautiful symphony together.

Oddly how different the elements come together to create beauty and stir up storms. It's been so clear to me how these visual pictures in my life are painting the truth about things we experience with broad brushstrokes of nature; and showing in those pictures the very hand of God.

My brother decided the best way to chase away a storm was to have fun. BIG fun in the form of para-sailing and jet skiing! At the last minute Tigger opted out, but Piglet flew in the sky! Talk about a baby birdie, she really looked like a little peanut up there in that parachute. They had a blast. The sun was out no thunder or lightening that fine day.

We decided to take two days to drive home it's a long drive. Sunday we had a home church time of reading and sharing. All of us sat around in a circle and read favorite scriptures and shared from our hearts. My Dad showed up part way through and participated. He mentioned that his pastor spoke on reconciliation that morning.
At least we hugged goodbye.

The best part of the trip was the kids. Getting close to my nephews and niece again, laughing our heads off, eating way to much food; was priceless. In spite of hulabaloo, chiggers, and cranky maids, we had a memorable time. You could feel the love! Those crazy kids think WE are normal! They made comments about how great it was to have some "normal" family. Those poor kids are really in bad shape if they think that about us, or maybe we just fooled them. Ya'll know better!

We came home to our house in great shape, our friends had stayed here and made the funniest video of their little baby, while here, it could seriously win $10,000 on America's funniest videos. We were all falling off our seats and slapping our knees. His Daddy was trying to play for him on the guitar and he was making the most expressive faces, and he wasn't feelin the music either.

Lu is in heat, I am so not prepared for this. We are home for two days and then back on the road for a business convention. It's a busy month! How are ya'll? By the way the Ban roll on worked, and even better I sprayed my feet and legs with "Off" the relief was instant. Chiggers can make a preacher cuss.