14 09 15

Tori said she must really have Josh attached to this family. He was really sorry he couldn't come.

My turkey turned out really good. I just hadn't roasted a turkey in years. I hadn't ever brined one. I followed Alton Brown's instructions, and really turned out the best roast turkey I think I've ever eaten. The crock pot stuffing was good, too. Not exactly the way I remember my mothers, and not quite as good stuffing in the turkey, but very good. Used a Jazz apple in the turkey, by the way. The Summer Pudding was the biggest surprise of the night. The Meyer-Lemon cake may be my new favorite dessert. 

Juicing night. Served left overs on paper plates to minimize after-supper cleanup, and then we started juicing. Beverly and I got a little system going on the carrots, and when JA came home from work he joined us in the kitchen, even before he ate supper. Barry showed us how to fold the stuff up into the bags, and showed JA how to work the press. Shawn came and hung around the kitchen, curious about the taste of things, and maybe about the laughter that was happening. 

14 09 15

Willo, "What's next?"

Younger kids playing with Willo.

Faith on the sofa with her cell phone.

Four very lonely tables last night. Finally scrunched them in a little.

John, hug and thank you as soon as he opened his card. Chris thank you.

Chris, John, Shawn, Beverly and JA helped me.

Beverly, doing the dishes even when her legs were tired.

14 09 09

Fun conversations at the dinner table, with Beverly, JA, Chris and the boys.

Chris went and got Willo Saturday afternoon and she spent the night. She ran through the house, looking for everyone.

14 08 06

Chris happy about Beth telling him that he was doing good. He said she is very strong.

JA - cookie day. (JA to Beverly: "We get to be here for cookie day!"

Chris happy re the kids and prep.

14-08-11

SomeTime in the Summertime was a lot of fun. I am more and more in favor of my idea. It was really more fun than Thanksgiving. For starters, I wasn't worn out from cooking and coordinating.

JA went and got the ice and iced the drinks for me.

Barry made meatballs for meatball sandwiches, and cooked corn on the cob. Everybody loved the meatballs. He helped me things cleaned up and ready, and it was fun for it to feel like a together thing.

He also fixed the volleyball net. We didn't end up playing volleyball though. The kids headed straight for the pool, and the big kids mostly stayed in the air conditioning.

Willo wanting Beverly to help her change clothes.

Shawn and Zak, hanging out.

Brittany had fun in Florida.

Beverly offering to help Barry with the difficult part of juicing.

17 04 25

Coffee with Beverly and JA. 

14 07 23

Beverly and J.A stopped by. They couldn't stay long --- they were meeting Mike, to talk about doing some work to Molly's shop, but I got to see them, and get hugs, and that made me happy. 

14-06-25

JA got the job.

Kennedy came to see us.

"Noah pay n pay part." (I have no idea what I meant by that.

14 07 19

Saturday. Neither one had to be at work on Monday. Out loud, they agreed that if they saw anything that interested them, they would stop. Unspoken, they agreed that they would be driving through. Home, a magnet.

Tori josh Bentley canoe.  Beverly said that Tor, Ange, Josh, and Ryan were going to go out in the canoe, but Bentley changed that. Josh said, "He's mad at me for taking his seat," so they set up an inner tube for Josh to float in. And then Tori got out of the boat and swam to Josh. And there was some kissing, which prompted Ryan to say, "I don't like that." Beverly said protective, as he is of his own little sister.

14-06-03

Annette had her doctor's appointment yesterday. Cancer surgeon, re: the melanoma. The day she told me about the diagnosis and appointment, I called her back, and told her I didn't want to be intrusive, but if she didn't need me for anything else that day, I'd like to go to the appointment with her and Andrew. She said, "You can come! I don't mind at all!" As it happened, Andrew had an emergency at work and had to leave after the appointment, and I stayed with her while she had her pre-op tests done. She sent me a text aftewards and said, "Thank you for coming with me today. It meant so much. Love you." And that made me happy. I'm never exactly sure when and where I am supposed to be, but it seems I made the right choice that day.

~Beverly sent me a message and said, "JA and Tori are on the phone right now, talking about how important the joy journals are."