I cannot believe that our youngest born turns 35 years old today. Many weeks ago, I offered to take them on a vacation for their 35th birthday. You know when a child doesn't want to be ungrateful for the offer but does not say yes at the same time. They didn't commit to a vacation with mom for their birthday celebration. Part of me gets that but part of me doesn't understand that either. See, when I was their age, I was married, and we had 2 children. Not the life to just pick up and go travel. I know, if I wasn't married and with not having 2 children I don't know if I would have said yes to my mom taking me on a birthday vacation if I can be real with you. So, we finally have the conversation even with me using the kind of guilt phrase, but I gave birth to you they graciously and lovingly declined, and I get it.
As time moves on, we were all invited to my great niece's First Holy Communion mass and celebration the same exact weekend in Ohio. I tried several times to figure out a way to attend but it was like nothing door wise was opening up for me to go to Ohio. I sent her lovely gifts, which included a sentimental heart shaped box of my mothers for her to place her trinkets and treasures in it. I tucked cash and a piece of jewelry I bought for her inside the box. I purchased a typical 1st communion card and jazzed it up, but I also made her one of my cards so I could write a note to her about Nana's trinket box. I even earned throughout the years from being a Russell Stover's loyalty customer a 3-pound box of chocolates. I sent that also for them to enjoy at the registration table for the luncheon. I did get permission from my niece prior to sending the chocolates. You know, you just cannot presume someone would want them. Oh my gosh. When I submitted my rewards at the register, I think I saw somewhere that box of chocolates if purchased in the store was like 59.00 or 69.00. I would not pay that amount for a box of chocolates but free of course I would accept them.
Our child put their priorities together and decided to go visit their father on their 35th birthday back in Ohio. I am telling you that is a mature young man. I do not know if he will take his moms suggestion, but I thought he should go to Corbo's Bakery in Little Italy and purchase a cassata cake for his birthday or get a cake their father likes and treat them on their birthday if that makes sense. I sent their birthday gift in the mail because I also included a 3 & 5 birthday candles for them to take to place on a cake on their birthday. So, while in town they may be able to make the mass and possibly a little bit of the luncheon celebration afterward. Our eldest lives in Ohio and already responded they will be attending. Our children were truly raised with the importance of family and attending family functions. So glad to see they follow through when it comes to family.
I was going to book a flight then rent a car but there were no flights that appealed to me from Nashville. I really do not like their airport and their parking options also. In Atlanta I am told there are places you pay maybe 12.00 or so a day but Nashville is ripping off people with their onsite parking choices. It is such a hassle to park offsite then you have to take a shuttle to the airport back and forth on your trip. Another thing, I have to place my luggage in and out of my car and then in the airport. I even tossed around the idea of driving to Atlanta and taking a flight with one of my children so they could handle the luggage for me. Did not work out. So, option 2 was to rent a comfortable mid-size SUV and drive there. In reality 9 hours is just too long of a drive to do by yourself. If there was someone in the vehicle as a passenger that somehow makes the time go by faster just to talk with someone. I have made this trip a couple of times by myself. I then began thinking that these newer vehicles don't have CD players in them, and I did not want to have to try and fiddle around with finding local Christian music radio stations to listen to. I like to just bring my Christian music CDs with me and play them in the CD player. The younger kids will tell you just get Bluetooth and download your music. Nope, I like putting that CD in the CD player and playing the music and selecting "repeat" mode if I really feel the anointing on that song for the driving trip. There have been times that I have done that very thing with 1 song playing and me praying in tongues also. Those are the type of road trips I like to take.
So, both of our children are together this weekend in Ohio, and I am back home where I live. I am sure there will be pictures and video clips sent to me to enjoy but there is just something missing when you can't be there in person to celebrate with them.
Hey, a friend of mine is scheduled to come for a visit in a few weeks. There was a group of us that met and became friends when we all worked for a certain organization years ago. We are getting together for lunch and that will be fun. I also have a tentative weekend trip planned to go to GA too. But I really want to go to the beach, I want to sit by the water and enjoy the sunshine and that will be. It is all God's timing, it truly is. Until then, I keep planting my flowers & vegetables, treating the 2 widows with sweet treats for them to enjoy and work on little projects around the house. The last time I saw my one friend was when I went to a retreat in Gatlinburg maybe it was 2019, so it will be good to see them again. This particular friend of mine used to live closer in TN and when we would be heading home from work, we would pray together on the phone. That was a challenging job for me but everyone said I was great at it, and I would keep asking for prayer. We were prayer partners.
You know what. I think I am getting bored with a longer hair type of haircut. I might want to go back to a sassy looking short haircut, I got to think about this. What do you think?
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