What if...

It's good to be back...we've had computer issues for a few days. I resorted to going to the public library to check email. I say "resorted" not because I dislike my library, but the library's internet is just not the same. I couldn't visit Craig's List, which I do regularly (I guess the library blocks it because of the personals??), I stayed away from online banking and I chose not to spend my limited computer time reading or writing blogs so I'm out of the loop!

I have not blogged about Elevation in quite awhile. That might give the impression that nothing much is going on but in fact, the opposite is true. SO MUCH is happening at and through and with Elevation right now that each time I think of typing an update I feel overwhelmed. So I have avoided the task all together. Shame on me. I still can not even begin to pick up where I last left off (I think my last "update" was an August post about our new children's curriculum...which by the way has been HUGELY successful!). But, I have to share some of what's going on...it's too exciting not to talk about, and honestly, everyone at Elevation and in our area is, so this is more for you out-of-towners!

Check out this link to the front page news and then this link to see for yourself!

Side note: David called early this morning to reprimand me for my earlier post. He said something to the effect of "There are people about to run out of water and you want the rain to stop?! You shouldn't say that!" Maybe my exclamation points are a stretch. He probably kept his typical intonation. Anyway, on behalf of my husband, I am sorry. And it is still raining.

I know our area desperately needed rain, along with the entire southeastern US. I'm sure what we've received the past few days doesn't even put a dent in the drought. However...

When measured by the drops that have pelted my head and face as I've buckled and unbuckled carseats, times I've scolded my kids for stomping in the puddles in their good shoes, and dustpans I have filled with the wet yard mess we've tracked inside, it has been quite enough.

Love:

• Publix (Publix is a great grocery store...love the bakery, love the Boar's Head meats, love the subs!)


• No such thing as a "nonsmoking section" because there is NO such thing as a "smoking section"


• Swimming in October (pools in FL don't close like NC...swimming is handled with common sense, you quit swimming when it gets to cold to enjoy, usually around November, then back to the pool by late March/early April!)

• Humidity. All my life I heard "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" and never understood what that meant. In mid-August, it is the stinkin' heat, not matter what the humidity is like. But in fall, humidity makes all the difference. It's heavy like an old lady's thick shawl is thrown over your shoulders the minute you step outside. And it makes my hair a mess.


• Fire ants. I know we have them here but I was bit by more ants in my 4 days in FL than I have been in nearly 2 years here.


• Frogs. I really hate frogs, this applies to toads as well. I have seen 2 here in NC, total, and they were from a distance (in the road). That's an average of one per year. I can handle one per year. I do not like frogs and toads waiting at the doorstep, or taunting me with their croaks after a rain like they do in Florida. Florida is frog infested, like an Egyptian plague.

I'm sure you've gathered by now that our family traveled to Florida last week/weekend to attend a wedding. I love weddings. Love the dresses, love the food, love crazy ring bearers, love 'em. David, not so much, but he does enjoy the opportunity to visit friends and family so we both had a great time. The bride was bee-u-tee-ful...and the groom not so bad ;) Raina and Dennis are hopefully enjoying a lovely time in St. Lucia this very moment. I hope they're not getting the rain we have been...but they're honeymooning so does it matter?

Back to FL...it was a nice trip all together. Often we try and cram so much into the short time that we end up feeling we've really done a disservice to everyone, including ourselves, by not giving anyone a quality visit. It's like that speed-dating trend, 1 minute, then move on to the next. Only we're not dating, we're speed visiting: Hi! How are ya? Yep, kids are growin' up fast. NC is lovely. Yes, it's cooler than FL. Elevation is great, God is good. See ya next visit. Move on to the next relative. This visit, our goal was to attend Raina and Dennis' wedding. We wanted to be a part of their special day. If we achieved that, our visit would be a success, so everything else was just icing. We slept in, we took naps, we goofed off with the kids. Sure we could have used another day or two to squeeze in a tad bit more, but overall, I think we spent our days well. Aside from Luke getting sick for a brief period of time and the causality on the drive home, it was a near perfect visit. And I was reminded of all the things I love and hate about FL...stay tuned.

We're back home after a great long weekend in Florida. And there are so many things about the weekend I need to blog about...the beautiful wedding we attended, the many friends and family we connected with, sleeping in, afternoon naps...all the things that make a great getaway. But I just have to share this while it's fresh...

About 75 miles from home, cruising down interstate at about 75 miles an hour...we heard a large thud. The kind that makes you cringe. David and I looked at each other, examined the road ahead and behind...nothing.The Explorer continued to drive fine, no shaking or rattling. We just kept going and didn't give it another thought, until...

We arrived home about 9:45pm, David began unloading the back and I began cleaning out the backseat which looked like our toy box and snack drawer had exploded. I also barked orders to the kids...head upstairs, brush your teeth, get your pjs on...it was a chaotic time. A few minutes later, I saw David head to the mailbox. On his way back up to the house a terrible look crossed his face and he did a little heebie-jeebie shiver as he darted away from the front of the vehicle. (We had backed in, so going to the mailbox was his first glimpse of the front of the SUV.) I yelled, What's wrong? and much to my dismay, he said, You know that noise we heard on interstate? It's still on our car.

Uggghhhh.

I won't gross you out with the details. Let's just say, smaller than a breadbox but bigger than a loaf of bread. It wasn't at all gory, it just seemed stuck. Yuck. All I could say was, We're like the dad-gum Griswolds. Only, if this had really been a Lampoon's movie, the critter would have resurrected and attached itself to Chevy Chase's head.

David is no wimp, but dead animals are not his thing. He's no hunter, you won't catch him going after a snake with a shovel, just not that kind of guy. He doesn't like live critters much less dead ones. But I'm so proud, with no complaints he boxed and bagged our grill-mounted creature. About 10 minutes after we made our discovery it hit me that we had gone through the Chick-Fil-A drive thru about 30 minutes after the thud. I wonder what they were thinking!?! I'm just so thankful we found it before I filed into the carpool line this morning!

We had a full day planned. Right now I should be headed to church with my parents. I'm not. I'm here posting this quick thought...there is no vacation from motherhood. I'll post more about where we've been and what we've been doing in a future post, but today, I'm not on vacation anymore. Today, I'm caring for a vomiting child. All plans out the window, in a flash...down the toilet, literally. Don't get me wrong, I don't resent my little one for being sick. He can't help it, he'd rather be off having a good time too. To be very southern, shall I say, Bless his heart! I feel so bad for him, begging for more food and drink, not understanding why I'm "neglecting" his most basic needs.

Motherhood is indeed the job with no vacation but tons of sick time...caring for others who are sick.

Just a quick post to say I will be taking a blog break for the next several days, maybe. I say maybe because as sure as I say there will be no new post, something worthy of an immediate post will occur...

Next week I'll fill you in on what we'll be up to this weekend. Our "weekend" starts tomorrow :)