It's a boy!!

Do you see any resemblance?

Back to packing

Back to reality. The reality is that I hate to pack. One would think I would either move less, or refrain from collecting "stuff" But stuff is so interesting. I have things that remind me of people and special occasions. I am never bored at home. I can read, I can putter around the house, I can amuse myself for hours. Sometimes I will come across something that reminds me of soomeone, so I call them, but by the time they answer the phone, I forgot what I wanted to tell them.

If I ever get Alzheimer's how will anyone ever know?

So, I just realized that I said "back to reality" but you, my dear reader, probably didn't know that I have been in an altered reality for about the last 36-48 hours. Thanks to doing family history work, and especially thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to meet, via the internet and telephone two brothers I didn't even know I had until recently. And I was even more of a surprise to them! They sent me a picture of our father, and told me about him. This is such a miracle. They seem to be kind, intelligent, thoughtful men. I hope I will have the opportunity to get to know them better--from what I've learned so far, I think I would like to have them as friends whether they were realated or not. Anyway, I am still processing the whole deal, and I have trouble believing this really happened. Then I go back and reread the emails. Amazing. Just amazing.

My big brother Lee's birthday was earlier this week. I miss him so much. Last week his brand new granddaughter was born. Anyway, my heart was hurting so much, I wonder if he guided me to my "new" brothers.

Earlier this week, I was driving and praying (no I was not praying about my driving) and just talking to God about my difficulties with the whole father thing, and asking for help in healing that hole in my soul, because I feel that it interferes with my relationship with Him. Then this happens. Coincidence? I think not. LOL.

Oh my goodness--as I sit here at the computer, outside the wind is howling and the rain is just pouring down. The local radio predicted heavy rain and wind--15-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. My kind of weather. I love to hear the rain and the wind. I even enjoy the power going out for brief periods of time. After 3 or 4 days it gets a little old. I am going to miss this when I am away from the peninsula. In the meantime, I am just enjoying the mini-storm. I baked oatmeal cokies earlier this evening (gotta use up all that oatmeal, sugar & flour before I move ya know) I left the first batch in the oven a little too long, and they are really crisp.I will leave them out overnight, and they will probably absorb moisture.One of the many fringe benefits of living at the beach. Most places you leave cookies out, and they get dry. Not here.

Better get busy. There is still so much to get ready to put somewhere. It is so hard to stay focused and on task. I keep slipping into puttering mode. I bet I will be really amusing when I get really old. Maybe I could have a reality show for old people, but if they were like me, they would get distracted and forget to tune in.

WOW!

I wish I could make this picture bigger. The man in the snappy uniform is probably a close relative. This tracing your family tree thing is amazing!

progress: slow but pretty sure

It has been a rough couple of days in some ways. For a few moments, I didn't want to play anymore, but I got this sense of Someone saying to me "We did not bring you this far to have you give up now! You have work to do." So I got over myself (for now, at least) and I am back on track. The testimonies in church this morning seemed like messages for me and they helped. I hope others got as much out of the testimonies as I did. I could really feel the spirit. I taught RS lesson today. During my talk, I said "they aren't one of us" and then I stopped and said "Did you hear that? I said one of us. I called myself one of us!" At the end of the session, I tried to say goodbye to the sisters, and couldn't--every time I went to say something I couldn't stop crying. That was crazy & more than a little bit embarrassing. Is having a sensitive spirit really a gift??? Had a great talk with our president after church. I brought brownies (not the girl scout kind) so he wouldn't starve since today was Fast Sunday. It was a great way to break the fast. **smile** I really love and admire our branch president and his wife. Actually, I love all the members of our branch. Those people loved me into the church. I am so blessed to have known them, and I really hope it is God's plan to have me return to the beach.

I GOT MY PASSPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel so cosmopolitan...a world traveler, you know....are you impressed? Probably not half as much as I am impressed with myself (teehee)

I think once I get through this part of the change process, things will be much easier. I hope. For once, I really don't want to move. If going to NZ was not so important to me, I would not leave the beach. This community feels like home. BUT--and it is a huge part of the equation--I am excited about the new adventures coming up. Returning to old friends, welcoming a new grandchild, and going to NZ and getting to spend quality time with Tanisha, Phillip and their boys (my exquisite grandsons!) I am putting my stuff in storage here on the peninsula because I want to return here after my "reverse mission".

My dear friend Sharon (AKA Shay-Shay Jones) came this weekend and helped me sort and pack my books. If she and I combined our literary loot, we could have a respectable bookstore. Anyway, I love my friend, too. She is always in my corner and willing to lend a helping hand. She had to be firm with me--I kept getting distracted and she would say "You need to finish _____" whatever task I was supposed to be doing. I needed that. So, in case you ever read this blog THANK YOU SHARON!

OK, time to take a nap. I am not sleeping well, and I am very sleepy now, so I will strike while the iron is hot, or the pillow is soft, as the case may be!