St. Augustine

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For Dean's birthday, this year, we took a trip to St. Augustine. We had seen the city as children, but of course, those memories were rather "old". We stayed on St. Augustine Beach, and though it was cold, we walked everyday. This beach is wide enough for cars to drive on, and it was the first time I can remember walking on the beach in a trenchcoat and furlined boots!!!
The "oldest town" in America provided us with lots of "touristy" moments. Of course, I had to visit the oldest school house. I didn't realize friends, they had a time out room back in those days...It was a little room under the stairwell!! I think the most interesting buildings were the museums and Flagler College...They used to be magnificent hotels across the street from each other...You had to rent your room for 90 days, whether you stayed that long or not! Flagler built one...they had spas, pools,restaurants, etc.... They were quite the showplaces in their day, and still beautiful today!
There were many good places to eat...even the Columbia has a restaurant there. A local favorite was also ours...Osteens...great shrimp!!

Flip's Birthday

For the last couple of years, Dean and I have tried to take each grandchild on an individual birthday "bonding" excursion. You really get to know each one in a special way, when they are one-to-two...AND the little "beggars" are so much easier to control!!!!

This year, the grandfolks seem to be getting older???? When did that happen? Dean's back was out again, and rather than disappoint Flip...Grandma was on her own..OK..first mistake..."Where would you like to go, Flip?" (He's five) "I want to go to your house in Monticello." Well, that is, a bit of a drive so I suggested a couple of other maybes..maybe Busch Gardens, maybe Mosi, maybe The Florida Aquarium, maybe Chuck E. Cheese.... after a small debate, (Flip wanted to spend the entire 5 hours in C.E. Cheese...just shoot me now!) we settled on the Aquarium and then the Cheese palace!!


When we got over to Tampa, there seemed to be a larger than normal group of folks at the Aquarium...I am not kidding, it took me until the next morning to put together the answer as to why....The Super Bowl!

Flip really enjoyed the Aquarium, though I don't believe he trusted my suggestion at first. He liked lying on top of the glass floor, pretending to swim with the sharks, the black lights, that made his socks look "purple", the really "BIG" fish that Papa (Joe) would like to catch, touching the starfish and the anemone, AND the "Dipping Dots". Before we left, we completed another tradition of picking out a "prize" for the others...You will have to ask the other kids, but I think he picked out special things for his brother and sisters...Flip also picked out a lovely emery board for Lori, and a hammerhead shark "grabbie-thingie" for Adam.

Then, it was back over the bridge for a lovely pizza meal and games at Chuck E. Cheese. For the life of me, I do NOT see (or taste) what kids see in Cheese pizza.
We got really lucky on a couple of machines, (actually, there are workers wandering around, helping bedraggled grandparents win tickets for the little ones!)and Flip and I ended up with over 900 tickets! ("If Grandpa had been here we would have over a thousand.")Anyway...that's a lot...but, since he had already gotten prizes for everyone at the Aquarium, he settled on some "big" things for himself! Lori, I am SO sorry about the Spiderman foam gun thing...I didn't know what it was 'til I opened it up... I told him that if he pointed it at any human child or beloved pet, I would take it away..oh well, I'm sure it's history now, anyway...

I am complete agreement with Lori, Flip is a real sweetie!!! BUT...they are just getting too old too quickly!

God's World

When I was working, I agreed with my friend Elaine's observation: "Independently wealthy means never HAVING to see a sunrise!!" Since retirement, I have found that I am still an early riser. I still enjoy the quiet times of the morning...and though I don't HAVE to see the sunrise...I think you can tell why I took a picture of this one!! God has certainly created a beautiful world for us..and you know?..I really believe that He was walking with me that particular morning and enjoyed this sight as much as I did!

Happy New Year

And...finally, I catch up with my "blogging"! Yes!! I stayed up for my second annual New Year's Eve. For those who know me well....I just have NEVER stayed up...My routine has been...go to bed at my normal time..Dean wakes me up 2 minutes before midnight..and we watch the ball drop on TV...listen to fireworks..kiss and wish each other a Happy New Year. That is, UNTIL last year...We attended the First Annual Monticello Opera House,"New Year's Eve Gala". This year it was repeated, with the theme of the "Roaring Twenties". We repeated, along with Mike and Adie Price (From Debary, FL) and Dave and Katrina Fitzsimmons (Chicago, IL). This year, the band was "Encore", aka The Purvis Boys! Mike and his brothers can play anything from Gospel to Rock to 20's era...you ask it, they can play and sing it! In between sets, a DJ spun some records...oh I doubt they were records, just aged myself!! Dinner was prime rib with all the "fixins"...There was a wonderful stage show( local talent) upstairs in the Opera House...and Dancing dancing dancing back downstairs. Our table vows to meet back here again next year!!!

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Ruthie's Birthday

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Backing up again...we took Ruthie for her Birthday a little before Christmas. She turned nine on December 8th. This year, she asked her friend Emily to join us on a trip to the "Theatuh". The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center had performances of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang,
After a wonderful lunch at Ya Ya's (One of Ruthie's favorite), we headed for Tampa. Our pre-show snacks consisited of pretzels and water...MAN these girls are healthy. Of course, both have sinced advanced to Level 4 in Gymnastics...This is the level at which they began actual competition.
The show was a little slow in the first segment, and we offered them a change of venue at intermission....Thankfully they wanted to stay and see the second half, as it was much more entertaining!!
Before delivering dinner to Adam, the girls finally had some "good" snacks!! Ruthie admitted her "addiction" to ice cream, Emily concurred, SOOOOOOO two Wendy's Frosties capped off the afternoon!

Christmas 2008

Christmas, 2008...I am blogging well after the fact, as it has been a busy season. We began on Christmas Eve, attending a most delightful service at the Northside Baptist Church. Ruthie sang a solo in the children's portion of the service. I have yet to figure out how to post the "clip"..so, just know it was the most beautiful sound, sung by a beautiful young lady...poised and talented! I know there were angels all around and tears of love flowed freely! Ellie took a picture of me and one of her Daddy before the service.






We had Christmas Eve dinner at Chili's and then opened presents with Adam and Lori and the grands. I think Ellie's dolly and Flip's dinosaur provided great entertainment to all! Dean and I especially enjoyed the handcrafted ornaments that now adorn our tree. We also loved the beautiful picture that Gwen made, with many pictures of "Our Jerglets", and especially enjoyed our new slippers!! We will also be enjoying our fruit shipments for the next few months...we can celebrate Christmas for a little longer!!





The next morning, we had Christmas Brunch at Mom's house.
This was the second Christmas she has spent without Dad. She also lost another dear friend at the beginning of the week. Dean really provides her with great strength and comfort, and I know that she also helped him through this difficult time with lots of memories and stories. While I napped, the two of them headed to the cemetery with poinsettias....wonderful bonding time.



On Friday, we got to go over and play with the grands and their new toys! Mom went with us and also enjoyed playing with, and trying to understand all the new gizmos!!



















On our return from St. Pete, Karen and Greg invited us to enjoy a traditional Polish dinner. We joined Margaret and Daddy, and Bill and Johanna, in a lovely dinner, rousing games of Taboo, and wonderful company. Daddy had a wonderful visit with his grands and as usual, "My best Christmas, ever!" Daddy has spent 12 Christmases without Mama....we miss her smiling face and love for this special season and her family.

Bethlehem In Monticello

This weekend marked the busiest weekend for us in December. We have a live Nativity, commemorating the birth of Jesus. Over 60 church members participate as actors, musicians, and workers in this two night production. Margaret and I work with our friend, Lynn, in costumes. Dean works before, with many men from the church, setting up the town; he is a "wise guy" during the production, and then, he and the "crew" tear it all down on Sunday. Over a thousand people traveled through the road, along with three wise men, two camels, and Mary and Joseph,on a donkey, looking for a room in the Inn. There are carpenters, marketplace sellers, a census taker, shepherds, angels, a story teller, an innkeeper, women at the well,townspeople, a beggar and a star over the manger, where the baby sleeps.

This labor of love continues in our Family Ministry Center, where ladies of the church have spent weeks collecting cookies and then serve them with love, and hot chocolate or hot apple cider. While our visitors are eating and sharing, they are "royally" entertained by guitarists, pianists, flautists, clarinetists, violinists, and singer"ists" !

On Sunday night, we all go out to the Finlayson's house for their Christmas "Sing"! This tops off a great weekend, that prepares our hearts for the season to come.

Here are some of the things that will be in my memory from Bethlehem 2008:
1. Maddie Powell, our young friend who loves the horses, transformed from a
"cow girl" into a beautiful angel.
2. Bob Freeland, age 97, singing Ave Maria.
3. Marjorie Finlayson, the hostess with the "mostest" singing O Holy Night.
4. My friend, Sheila and I, staying in tune on our clarinet duet
5. Seeing our friends from St. Pete, Fred and Joanne and Laurie Harrison,enjoying the camels and donkeys.
6. Our friends, Ed and Sylvia Russell, who have now moved to Monticello,enjoying
their first Bethelehem.
7. Dean Jerger, my most favorite "wise guy".
8.Caroline Mueller ...she rode in her homecoming parade, as a first time contestant,and she rode on a donkey as a first time Mary...beautiful both times!
9. Sitting next to Daddy, as he sang along with " I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
10. Watching the entire Finlayson Family share their love for each other and their God, with the entire community.
11. All the children's faces, as they traveled the torchlit streets of Bethlehem.
12. The costume ladies, as they tried to fit all kinds of bodies into a variety of costumes...Margaret, kind of reminded me of wrapping Christmas presents at Russell's :)
Finally, the Cook family, our pastor Wayne (storyteller), his wife Janet(towns person), son, John(Joseph, leading the donkey) and daughter, Lindsay....what a wonderful addition to our church family...they are always there, adding hope, faith and love to every "family outing"...Thank you, Cooks!!

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