Here's our pictures from NYC!

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I'm Home, Physically...

But "I left my heart in New York City"...oops, wrong tune, isn't it????

Seriously, DH and I had an AMAZING time in the Big Apple. I'm going to recount some of it here and I'll add pics once I get them uploaded.

First of all, I am a total baby when I fly. I'm OK when I get up there; it's the take-offs and landings that make me a wreck. The thought of flying with my dh while the kids are on the ground, makes me even more of a wreck....I know, I know, it's a bit of a "sickness" called "CONTROL"! I told DH that I would fly to help me get over my issues....and I'm SO GLAD that he followed through on it. Having him next to me was much better than flying alone...which is what I usually do.

It took us TWO hours to make the 30 minute trip into the city from the Newark Airport on Wednesday afternoon. I had to face another one of my issues as we inched our way through the Lincoln Tunnel on a bus with other buses, taxis, cars, and tunnel walls only inches on either side of us. Again, not so bad with DH by my side.

DH told me that most of the shows had been sold out and some right up through March. He asked if I wanted to know "Plan B"...and he brought out the tickets for three shows. I LOVE the theater...and was totally excited about this part of our trip.

Wednesday night, we ate a magnificent meal and then we saw,
Monty Python's Spamalot a 2005 Tony Award Winner. Now, I am not a Monty Python fan, but this show WAS funny!! I enjoyed it. We walked to our little "home" on 42nd Ave. and 2nd St. It was quite a ways...but what a view as we passed through Times Square, Grant Park, and Grand Central Station.

Thursday, we went down to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. The line to get tickets for the ferry stretched forever. So, we skipped waiting all day in the line, looked at the Statue from the shore and walked down Broadway. We saw Ground Zero and went into a deli across from the former South Tower. AMAZING! We also enjoyed walking through a mini-museum that has been created at the site. It was sobering to see artifacts from that horrible day. People were so quiet. Some cried. No one was loud. And no one moved fast. It was just a stillness in that place.

We saw Canal street....it was PACKED with people. We enjoyed visiting a local pub to rest our feet and people watch. We got back just in time to prepare for another MAGNIFICENT meal and head to The Producers starring Tony Danza. It was even funnier than Spamalot (in my opinion). I hadn't seen the movie and only sort of knew the music. It was GREAT fun!

Yesterday, we bought a bus tour for my sore tired feet. I wore new shoes the first night and I totally DO NOT understand how people walk around in their Prada shoes on the streets of New York. (And, Heather, I totally know how your Mother broke her leg there!!) So, to give my blisters a break, we took the tour. Anyway, we saw all of Uptown and Harlem, Downtown Manhattan, and Brooklyn on this. It was quite informative and a great way to cram a lot of "sites" into a short amount of time.

Last night, we ate at a great restaurant (dh did a GREAT job planning dinners)! It was another quaint restaurant with fantastic food. Then, it was on to the most coveted tickets we had....for WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have the CD for this show and LOVE the music.

It was stunning! I was riveted throughout. The scenery, the vocals, the theater....it was all....well....PERFECT!!! In fact, I want to go grab tickets to see it in February here (C, C, and Mom, let's stop talking about it and DO IT!). There simply was no way to stay in your seat after it was over....it screamed ovation. WOW!!

As with most "dreams" it all ended too soon...but probably right on time. I have a little head cold and definitely noticed the place getting more and more crowded in preparation for the Times Square festivities tomorrow. There is NO WAY I would be caught dead in that crowd. Walking through crowded Times Square two nights ago and imagining that number magnified by thousands, again confirmed that to me.

If I didn't say it before, I'll say it here...DH and I never really had a Honeymoon. We have not really gone on a true vacation together alone in 20 years. After these glorious three days, I know that we will not wait another 20 years to do it again.

I love you, hon!! And, to quote another song,

"Thanks for the Memory!!"

Start Spreadin' the News....

I'm going to be a part of it..............

New York, New York!!

DH whisked me away to New York City. We will see three Broadway Shows in three nights. Our days are pretty open so we can explore this city. Last night, we saw Monty Python's Spamalot. Tonight we will see The Producers....And tomorrow night???

WICKED!!!

I am so excited to see all these shows. I have no idea HOW DH got tickets to all these sold-out shows...but I'm glad he did!

I've gotta' go....I'll blog more later...and maybe post some pics when I can.

Where AM I Going????

DH is taking me away for a few days. The kids are all nestled in with the Grandparents...OK maybe not nestled...but it seems like the right word for this time of year. And actually, only DS 4 is "nestled in" anyway. DSs 1 - 3 are scattered from pillar to post with their friends...and will be using Grandma and Grandpa as "home base".

Now, the BIG question is: WHERE AM I GOING?

I have no idea. We leave in less than 10 hours and I STILL do NOT know where we are going. DH took me shopping today. I have almost a completely new wardrobe. I must admit, I was SHOCKED when DH didn't pack ONE pair of blue jeans in his suitcase. Nope. Only suit coats and pants, nice pants and sweaters, and his new overcoat. He's wearing ONE pair of black jeans tomorrow to travel in...other than that, it's pretty much Docker type during the other days.

I must say I am a bit perplexed! I am starting to think there may have been an alien abduction. But, who am I to judge?

I'll blog tomorrow and let you know where we end up...although I am thinking that information will only be the tip of an iceberg.

We are wearing "classy casual" during the day and "dressy" at night. I have three nice "dressy" outfits and jewelry to match. I have been told the "high" is 50 and the "low" is 30...so I got a new coat, too.

So.....where do YOU think I'm going???? Hmmmm??????

The good news is...we'll have a laptop with us so hopefully I'll be able to blog and let you know the answer soon.

Merry Christmas

Merry Merry Christmas!! To friends online and friends and family near and far, I pray that your Christmas is filled with special times with your loved ones. God bless all of you! Susan

Zoo Fun....

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Thursday Thirteen #37

Thanks to Amy for the TT header!

Thirteen Things SUSAN Still Has to Do BEFORE Christmas....

1. Finish those pesky Christmas cards!! If your last name starts with V-Z (and you're on my list) I haven't mailed yours yet.

2. Finish shopping.

3. Take the kids to Busch Gardens--thanks, Mom for the free tickets.

4. CLEAN my house!! I took a whole van full of STUFF to Goodwill yesterday. DS 4's room is the only one that is ready right now.

5. PLAN the menu for Christmas dinner....does everyone always have turkey? We're trying to be different this year....it's hard to break away from tradition.

6. WRAP presents...I don't know how we lived without gift bags.

7. Before I wrap, I need to take an inventory of what I got everyone so that I can be sure I haven't missed or skimped on anyone.

8. Bake cookies.

9. Take my mentee out to the movies. I promised her I'd get her over the holiday...she missed going to ICE with us due to the adults in her life. I'm getting her tomorrow to "hang out".

10. Get my hair and nails done----just a moment of indulgence for me.

11. PACK for a trip going to somewhere I don't know....DH is taking me away after the holiday. He only told me he'd tell me WHAT to pack.

12. WATCH my FAVORITE Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"....probably alone since no one in my family thinks that ANY movie should be black and white.

13. Attend all the Church services on Christmas Eve. DS 2 will be playing in several that day. I believe DS 1 will be doing the 11:00pm service.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Wordless Wednesday

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year...

Where in the World has Susan Been?

The past few weeks have gone by in a blur. The flurry of activity around my house has been absolutely unbelievable. Our pace seems more quickened than ever. The kids are all busy...but they are ALL going in four different directions. I've checked in on blogs, responded VERY little if at all over the past couple of weeks...and have only now taken the time to sit down and update my OWN place in cyberspace!

What is it about our world that makes it so frenzied? Did our Mothers sense the same overwhelmed feeling when we were growing up? How about their mothers before them? I am sure there was a "busy-ness" and "hustle bustle" that came naturally with the season and preparing for it...but I also think it's more complex now.

Remember when you could only shop 6 days a week? And remember when the shops ALL closed at night (no 24 hour stuff)? Remember when families really stayed at home in the evenings and watched Cronkite with or after dinner? Remember when sitting at a table didn't seem like an "event"?

There are so many things I wouldn't trade about my life. I love my boys. I love their activities. I love my job and all the activity it brings. One moment to just sit and reflect, though, it seems priceless to me. One quiet moment to breathe and enjoy everything and everyone.

I had a bit of that yesterday as my family took the day to go to the ICE! exhibit at The Gaylord Palms hotel.

The "ice" part wasn't quite as big as I expected, but we made a day of it and enjoyed each other's company. Here are some of our pictures:


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I'd say "THIS is what the season is all about, Charlie Brown!" I'll be back soon!

Clarifications and Conversations

First of all, I need to clarify that my DH is not leaving the Pastorate against his will. God has simply taken him in a new direction that extends to the church as a whole. He is coaching churches in transformation around the country. This means he helps them look at their organization and think about how to bring it into this century and meet the needs of their local communities. (I am sure that he'll think that oversimplifies it....but it's close.)

Last night DS 4 and I attended the Spaghetti Dinner and Book Fair at his school. We sat down to eat and a young man (fourth grader) sat down next to us. He seemed alone. He started speaking to me. I was struck by his articulate conversation. He asked me if I worked at the school. I told him yes. He asked what I do. I explained. Then I asked him if he was new. He said yes. I asked him his grade level. He said, "I'm in fourth grade. I'm supposed to be in the Fifth Grade. The only reason I had to stay back is because I wasn't ready to go on. I had to repeat the grade. I am pretty sure that if I had been here at this school, I would never have been held back. Those other schools weren't good for me. This place has been wonderful."

Wow. What a compliment by a young person!!

I asked where his family was. I meant only where were they last night, I was not asking about his family history--but I got the history and not the location last night. He took a deep breath and continued, "My Mom and Grandma are here. We live together. I have lived in (this city) and (this city). I wouldn't have been kicked out of my last school except that someone hit me and I hit them back. It was HIS fault though, not mine. I'm glad I got kicked out though, because I got to come here. But you asked about my family....I have family from Ireland, England and Cleveland." I must have looked puzzled as I am now thinking he is pulling the wool over my eyes. He continued without missing a beat, "My Daddy lives in Cleveland. His family all lives there. I was born there. Actually, he's incarcerated in the jail up there. He is on the sex offender list, but then that is really none of your business. I came down here and we do not see him. And....now I forgot what you even asked me to start with." Then he took a deep breath as he stopped to think about what started our conversation anyway.

You don't get these kinds of conversations just anywhere! In schools like mine, though, you DO hear them. And you have to non-chalantly keep eating, breathing, smiling, (or whatever you are doing) and say something like, "It sounds like you really know now how to make good choices and are on the right track." He said, "Yes, I am." And off he went.

And as I reflected I thought, I am so blessed! I get to be in a place where children are allowed to be who they are and are helped everyday to grow to their potential. I know I am called to the work I do and there could be no better confirmation of it than a child trusting you to listen as they reveal who they are.

Our Weekend Happenings

It's been a busy weekend. DS 2 had a soccer game on Friday at 8:00pm. His GF came up for it. It was COLD...OK it was COLD for Florida. We all had blankets, but we were pretty cold when we got home. They lost the game....but DS 2 played very well.

Yesterday, DS 4 had a game. This was the final weekend of his season, so they ended up having to play today at 12:00. This is hard because our church is a 35 mile drive. I thought about going to the second service (we usually go to the third), but decided that he and I (and DS 3) would go up here. So, I set out to find a church to visit last night.

For those of you who don't know, my DH will no longer be appointed to a church come January. This will be the first time in almost 20 years of marriage that we will have to look for our own church AND that my DH won't be my pastor. It's a strange feeling...especially when you LOVE listening to him. We will be looking for a new church where we can worship. DH will also continue traveling around the country coaching churches in transformation.

I had my eyes on a church about 30 minutes north of us. But somehow I ended up on the Internet last night and found one that is right in my backyard!! It is literally less than 10 minutes from my house. DSs 3 & 4 and I went to visit this morning. I am blown away!! This church is ONLY 8 weeks old. It is meeting in a school cafeteria...but it reminds me of our current church in so many ways...and I felt so at home.

Could it be that it is going to be "that easy" to find a new church? Amazing.

Today, I called three people I know that are looking for a church in the area and invited them to go to this one. I know so many people who are looking for a church in our area...our current church is just a HUGE drive.

DS 4's team made it to the final game. They lost in that game....but they played a GREAT game. It was evident that the parents were far more into it than the kids....but isn't that the way it goes sometimes?

Now, I am trying to gear up for the last week of school before our two week break. I am READY!!!

Have a GREAT week....

As I promised, I want to share some of my Nativities with the blogging world.
Over to the right, you'll see (starting from the top left) a stocking hanger, a box that holds Nativity ornaments (it's too interesting to put away) and a candle holder. On the second row, you'll see one that one of the boys bought me in their school fundraiser one year. The second one on that row is one that a dear friend gave me. It was made out of one piece of clay. The figures were carved out of the "clay clump". On the bottom shelf, you'll see the ornaments that came out of the box on the top shelf. These are made out of sculpting clay. And on the right, is another small one that one of the boys bought (in a different year) from a different fund raiser.

In the picture directly under this, you'll see one that I bought for myself at an "After-Christmas" sale a few years ago. I love Veggie Tales! They have been an integral part of my boys' childhood years. We have many of the movies. I never took it out of the box because I can think of no better way to display it.

This shelf on the left is also in the family room. Starting on the top is a small tree with Nativity ornaments. Just to the right of it is a snow globe with the Precious Moments figures in it. On the second shelf--to the left is one that a family bought us when we cared for their dog one year. It was purchased in Mexico and is very interesting.

The one to the right on the second shelf was made for me by a friend from our previous church, Sue, who was learning to use the scroll saw (I think that's the right tool). On the bottom row, you'll see two of the smallest ones I have. The one on the left (is white) and very intricate inside. DH's former District Superintendent and his family brought back for us after a trip overseas.

The one on the right on the bottom shelf is in a small walnut shell. It is really special to me. Each year, DH and I have hosted an Open House during the holidays for our church family. This is kind of how the whole Nativity thing began. People would come over and see the ones that we had and then they kind of started adding to the collection as they would see one somewhere.

The little walnut was brought over one year during the Open House. The man who brought it was a WWII vet and when he handed it to me, he said, "I got this when I was serving in the war. I was stationed in Germany. I thought it was so unique, and so I bought it. I knew it needed somewhere special to be, so I am giving it to you." I have displayed it proudly each year since that day. He is gone now...that makes it even more special to me.

This photo shows three more that were given to me by other people. The one on the left was given to me by DH when he went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The snow globe and the center was given to me by DH one Christmas. And the one on the right was given to me by my Dad and StepMom. I believe it's from Phoenix.

This nativity in the photo on the right, was cut out by a man who was in our church in South Tampa. His name was Rick. He also loved looking at our Nativities each year when he would come to Open House. He cut them out and his wife, Vickie, who was quite an artist, painted them. I have always loved this set. It has such character.

I love them below the window painting that is displayed above them. This reminds me of being little and laying awake waiting to hear "sleigh bells in the (ahem) sand"...what can I say? I was raised in Florida...no snow here.

Finally, the shelf in the photo below holds one that was also made for me by Rick. The one on the top shelf that is shaped like a half-circle. It was the first one that he made for me. This served as a pattern later on for my Grandfather as he learned to cut them. He loved this piece, too. The one on the bottom shelf in the picture above is another one made for me by Sue and her husband. They used a wood burning kit on it. It's really neat.

We have only scratched the "tip" of the Nativity "iceberg" that is at my house. There are also ornaments on each tree that have been given to us over the years. The Nativities in this blog entry are all displayed in the family room.

I realize that these are a little like "Home Movies". If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I'll try to get the Living Room photographed and shared in the next day or so.

Thursday Thirteen #36

Thirteen things about visiting a Housing Project...I went with a colleague to visit a local housing project today. It was to get a "feel" for the situation of a family we are adopting at school for the holidays.

1. I've been TO the projects before...but never IN them. It was QUITE an experience. I don't really "want" to go back--although I will I'm sure.

2. I had to step over three condom packages just to get from the car to the door of the lady's house.

3. She is living in the project with three of her FIVE sons. They are in the minority racially in this project and are scared because of it. One of the boys was "jumped" coming from the bus by a drug dealer and had his collar bone broken.

4. If you really want to know what "milling about" means, then driving into the housing project is a great way to describe it. There were a lot of people just "milling about". I had to wonder about the kids that looked like they should have been in school?????

5. Everyone had a "watchful eye" as we pulled up in a large SUV, though. I had to wonder what thoughts were running through their heads. I know many people approach those areas with an "I need to save them" attitude. I hope they didn't think that about us....I mean people are people in my opinion.

6. The walls are made of cinder blocks. To hang things on them and make the space look "livable" you have to drill into the wall. This was a three bedroom two story apartment. The stairs are concrete.

7. There is one window downstairs. It is at the backside of the project with a fence going behind it. No lights back there. The window slides like a small sliding glass door. She has been broken into twice and is scared "they" are coming back. So she stays up at night to make the house look "active" and then sleeps during the day while the boys are in school.

8. Some people living in the projects are doing the best with what they have. She has decorated well and has kept the place clean and tidy. I have to wonder, though, about things like cigarettes, tattoos, and body piercings. Who is paying for those? And what SHOULD that money be used for?

9. She is a Christian and knows about grace and love...but she is afraid to go to church. She is agoraphobic. I wonder which came first...living in the housing project....or the anxiety and fear?

10. The boys wish for the holidays was for a sports bottle for drinks so that they can use them when they have to sleep in the car to avoid drug deals and such. They are also hoping they can get their "OWN" bath towel. Right now, they share.

11. There are broken things everywhere. Her stove has been broken for months. They keep saying they'll come fix it...but they haven't. So she and the kids eat TV dinners everynight cooked in the microwave.

12. I had to wonder what they looked like in the beginning. Sure they must have still looked institutional...but the broken stuff wouldn't have been there.

13. It is NOT a life I would EVER want to live. It DOES remind me just how blessed I am...and it makes me want to reach out to others out of my own abundance.

In some ways, adopting this family has reminded me just what a skeptic I am sometimes. Working with the population my school serves, I know that there are people who use and abuse "the system". My visit today let me know that there is a need and that it is legitimate...But the things I learned went MUCH MUCH deeper than that. May we all find some way to reach out to those in need this season. Blessings.

Monday Memories...become Tuesday's Treasures

I started this post Monday morning. I've come back to it three times. Now, it's past 9:30 and I'm thinking it may have morphed from Monday Memories to a Tuesday Treasure. Whenever you read it...have a great day.

I can't think of just ONE memory to share, so today I'm going to share my "Memory Tree". This is the tree that sits in our family room. It has all the kids' pictures and handmade decorations on it. It's FILLED with memories. Each year as I put it up, it takes me back to when they were younger and when I was younger.

Our living room tree (shared yesterday) has all burgundy and gold on it. It includes all of our Nativity ornaments (that are wood or folksy) and other collectible ornaments. I love decorating it and sitting in front of it.

The family room tree almost pulls me up close to it, though. I want to touch each ornament and think about who gave it to us, who made it, and/or what it means to me.

Another thing I love putting together, is my village. These pieces have been collected over the years. My favorite holiday movie is "It's a Wonderful Life". I have several houses and buildings that are replicas from the movie. A few years ago, I got a train station that is called "Lexington Station". I bought it because I LOVED the time we lived in Lexington, KY.

Things are coming together at my house...thank goodness!!

Happy Preparing!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Here's our formal Living Room tree with two different amounts of lights. I took the first one on the left with a flash...and the second on the right without. I was feeling rather sorry for myself that I was decorating alone...then DSs 3 and 4 came home to help out. Suddenly it was more fun!!

DS 3 and I hung a garland along the sliding glass window behind the tree last night. I'll try and take that photo later.

I have our other tree (with family ornaments on it) up in our Family Room--thanks to DS 4's help. I'll post photos of that later.

I have to get all of my Nativities up. For those of you who don't know me IRL, I collect them. I think I have almost 75 now. Each one has a special place in my heart. Yesterday when DSs 3 & 4 and I were out getting an angel, we rounded the corner with a BUNCH of Nativities and DS 3 quickly put his hands out to hide the shelf and said, "Oh, Mom...this is a restricted zone. Only employees beyond this point." He knew that we could potentially be there a while if I had the chance to look for "just one more".

Speaking of that angel...my tree topper died last year. I went on an angel hunt. I never dreamed it would be quite the undertaking it was. We started at Target...they had them...but they all had those fiber optic wings. Sorry if I offend anyone...but I can't stand that fiber optic stuff. We went to KMart and finally went to the mall. The FIFTH store we went into in the mall was Macys. Thank goodness for Macys...because we found her...and she was on SALE for half price!!

I'm off for more decorating. More later. Happy Preparation Days!!!

What Happened???

I use Blogger Beta. I cannot insert pictures. I want to insert pictures of my Christmas tree. It's like the buttons are all gone. Is anyone else having problems with this? It makes me a little cranky!!! (Updated to add...if this happens to you, it seems that hitting F5 and then the refresh button is the answer. It worked as you can see above. There is also a suggestion to empty the cache after you do this.)