Everything Changes

After working today, I journeyed to the local mall to pick up a birthday card for a friend. A coworker had recommended a new bbq place in the food court area. Having not had lunch yet, I decided to give it a try. I love bbq & figured it couldn't be bad. I had not been near that part of the mall since Christmas time so I was very surprised to see that a diner had been added, McDonald's was gone & now, the bbq place was in it's spot. My how much things change in just a short amount of time. I recall as kids, my Cousin Chanda & I getting dropped off at the mall to "hang out." Our time there mostly consisted of us riding up & down the elevators for entertainment (specifically the elevator that was in SEARS), visiting Mr. Bulky's for Candy & also eating at Sbarros Pizza & Pasta (once Taco Bell was added, we ate there a lot because we had little money). Oddly enough, Sbarro's is one of the only remaining eating establishments at the mall that was there when we were young (did I really just say that? Am I getting old or what?). As I ate my bbq (which, by the way, was very good), I thought about all of our times there as pre-teens. Then, as I was leaving, I saw the huge DSW store across from the mall that replaced Dierbergs (grocery store) after many years. During my years at One Way at Mid Rivers (where I was hired on at & spent my first 4 years with One Way), I would oftentimes walk to Dierbergs to get a soda or snack. Now, Dierbergs is no longer there--it's just down the road from our home instead. I had done my shopping at the mall (I found the perfect card & was also able to buy a MIZZOU t-shirt with my gift card I received from someone) & was driving home. I thought about all of the changes that have taken place over the years. 15-16 (I forget) years ago, when my parents built this house, the land behind us was just that-land. My best friend, Stacey, & I would walk through the fields or around & up to HUCKS to get Clearly Canadian Flavored Sparkling Water. Today, the land behind us is home to a custard stand, Sonic, a plaza that includes a Chinese restaurant as well as Subway, insurance companies, etc. When we look out our windows, we no longer see SaltLick Road...we see a privacy fence between us & Sonic. Sometimes, I miss the way things used to be.

So Long, Farewell....

After a week of food, fun & fellowship with Jon & Jen, the time had come for us to say goodbye & return to St. Louis. Haley & I gave Jon & Micah hugs & "I love You's" & loaded up the car with our luggage. Jen went to Lisa's house to pick her up & we went into Raleigh for an early lunch before dropping Haley off at the airport. Once we had let Haley out, we still had 2 hours to kill before I would need to check in for my flight (for those curious, Haley & I had different flights because I purchased mine long before she did & when she tried to get on the same flights, the cost had went up immensely). Jen decided to take me to Duke University to look at their chapel. Unfortunately, we did not have a map with us & her memory was not serving her too well. I think we took the long way in getting there. At least we made it though. The campus of Duke was gorgeous as was the chapel. Our time at Duke was fast but hey, it was something to do & somewhere I had never been. I was pleased to have seen it. I did tell her that should I return to NC, we will need to find the exact location of UNC so that we can head to Chapel Hill & I can see what the campus looks like there. For now, I'm a Tarheel fan! We wandered back to the car & hit the highway going back to the airport. Jen let me out & gave me a big hug & I was rolling my suitcase on in through the doors. I watched a little of the news while I waited for the plane to arrive--heard more about the Chinese gymnast age scandal. I was hoping to snooze on the plane ride home. Such is fairly impossible when you have a kid behind you digging their knees into your seat & pounding on it with their hands. Not to mention, he talked from the moment we boarded the plane till the moment we got off. Oh well, at least I would have the next day off from work & could rest up then! I am glad that I had the opportunity to go & spend time with such dear friends. Even more special, I was able to do so with someone I love very much..my sister. This trip was probably our last trip together for a long time so I will look back on this for a long time in thankfulness.

Roamin' Round Raleigh

Having talked for days about shaving his head, Jon decided it was time to quit talking & do some acting. Jen was out for a run with her mom & I volunteered to assist Jon. Haley, wondering why, asked Jon why he was agreeing to letting me shave his head. He made a valid point when he stated that I couldn't mess it up. I mean, it's not like he was just wanting a trim, he was shaving it all. Only way I could have screwed up is if I gashed his head open while using the razor. I had not been in the barbor business until that moment & quite frankly, I just wanted to make Jon look funny for a moment. So, once I had my few seconds of fun with it, I was bored & ready to dart from my duties as his assistant. I allowed him to finish off his shaving. After lunch, we spent our final fully day in Raleigh visiting the capitol & eating supper at a pizza parlor. When Haley visited Jon & Jen in the spring of '07, she & Jen went to the capitol but arrived right before closing time so they were not able to see much. Fortunately, we had plenty of time. Though much smaller than our capitol building here in Missouri, North Carolina's capitol building is still beautiful within. Jon & Jen had taken Haley to a pizza place called the Mellow Mushroom & she was hoping that I would get to see it as it's very psychedellic & "groovy". A friend of Jen's had recommended another pizza place to try though so that's what we did. Jon had been to this place before & said something about the workers being a "different kind of crowd." I wasn't sure what to expect. The building itself reminded me a lot of many of the eating establishments you would find down in the Loop (for those that live in St. Louis) & the workers did as well. So, for Haley & myself, we were not to taken aback by what we saw in the place. More than the Loop, it really made me think of some of the people & places I saw in Seattle...the grunge crowd, artistic atmosphere, etc. We ordered our pizzas (2 of them-one for Haley & me & then Jon & Jen ordered one for themselves) & they were huge. Haley & I had leftovers. Hopefully someone ate the remaining pieces after we returned home to St. Louis. Tired from roaming around, we went back to the house where Jon all of a sudden had come down with a severe cold or something. In fact, we didn't know if he was going to make it through the night. I had even said my goodbyes. But, by the grace of God, God performed a miracle & Jon was still alive before my very own eyes the next morning. How happy were we all to see Jon up & walking...Kleenex free & all.

**No, Jon was not really on death's door. He just tired to get a lot of pity from us all. He had Kleenex hanging out of his nostrils & whined like a baby. Quite the actor.**

Family Time

On Sunday morning, we went to Coats Baptist Church for their traditional service. While the service was good, it seemed so different than the norm for us since it had been sometime since I'd been in a "traditional" service (Haley & I attend the contemporary service at our church as our Sunday School hour is during the traditional service time slot). After church, we went to Jen's parents house for lunch with her folks, her sister & niece & nephew. I had the honor of sitting by Jen's niece, Sydney during lunch. Sydney is 5 (I believe that's right--Jen, tell me if I'm wrong). She is North Carolina born & bred & has the cutest little southern drawl when she speaks. Sydney instructed me to mix my corn & green beans together because it taste good. I never did try doing so though. We had a good meal but even better was the dessert we had..Blueberry Cobbler. I thought if funny when Jen's sister & kids prepared to leave that Sydney said we (she & I) were going to have our picture taken together. I had not talked to her a whole lot but I guess she felt she had made a new friend. I told her that she could come to St. Louis to see me anytime. She let me know that she would & when she does, I can buy her a present. Kids are so funny. Later in the day, Haley & I rode with Jen to deliver blueberries to the homebound or elderly. During our outing, we paid her grandparents a visit. I really enjoyed meeting them--especially her grandma. Jen's grandfather sufferes from Alzheimers & fortunately, he was having a fairly good day while we were there. As Jen & I went into the kitchen with her grandma to try some of her Peach Cobbler, Haley talked to her grandpa in the other room. She said that several times, her grandpa told her he served in the NAVY for 6 years. Yet, with each story, his exit out of the NAVY was different. He kept telling us all that he wanted to go home. He does not understand that the house in which they live, is his home--has been for 60+ years. I was moved by Jen's grandma's love & dedication to her husband. As hard as it is for her, she refuses to put the man that she pledged her love to 67 years ago in a nursing home. She trusts that God will give her the grace & strength to make it through. Once we had visited a while, Jen's got a couple of carrots out to take & feed Dolly (their horse). Micah fed Dolly one & then it was my turn. Due to my panic & hurriedness in feeding Dolly, Haley did not have enough time to snap a picture. I was scared that Dolly might go for a larger bite & think my hand was part of her afternoon snack. Once we said our goodbyes to Jen's grandparents, we went back to the house where Jon was preparing Bulgoki (a Korean dish). We ate quickly & returned to church to hear the youth report on their mission trip to Buffalo, NY. I was pleased to listen to the youth talk of the joy that had in sharing Jesus with people. All in all, good day.

Day is Done

Trolley rides, Palace Tours, PEPSI-Cola & Moo cows...we were near the end of our journey for the day. We wanted to go down by the waterfront before we left though. We parked right by the water where seagulls & pigeons were covering the ground. Though Jen & I got out & began to walk, Haley was left in the car clamoring in fear as she is deathly afraid of birds (I guess that might happen if a bird decides to unload on you-twice). Finally, Jen & I turned to see her covering her head with her backpack & running as fast as a lightning bolt. We did not stay long--just long enough to take a few pictures (until our batteries died). After a quick stop at the Rite Aid heading out of New Bern (I needed some more Benadryl for my itchy legs thanks to those darn bug bites!), we were on our way back to Jon & Micah. We had a wonderful day seeing new things & spending time together but I also enjoyed our ride back. The three of us had some really good conversations as we discussed church & church life. We also ventured into the subject of dating, relationships, marriage. Though Jen is married, obviously, neither Haley or I are. Jen inquired as to what I am looking for in a future mate. Such is not a topic that I frequently discuss with people-doesn't get brought up often. It was nice to share with her & receive encouragement in waiting for God's best & not settling for anything less than that. I am glad that we were able to have such a nice day one with another.

MOOoo Good Time

We could not leave New Bern without ice cream. So, before we headed back to Coats, we stopped into the Cow Cafe. Decorated in Moo cows like crazy, I was so excited; like a kid in candy store (only this was ice cream--much better). I never order ice cream cones because I don't have the proper etiquette to eat them & I realize I need to act like a lady. On this particular day, I decided to forget my manners & go for the gold. I ordered 2 scoops of a chocolate (had brownies, fudge, nuts, etc.) ice cream in a waffle cone. As is typical, I did not find a neat way to eat it & looked like one big mess. I find myself funny though so I was getting a good laugh from the ice cream all over my face. My sister & Jen kept encouraging me to wipe it off but I figured it would make more sense to clean myself up when I was done--not in the middle of my cone. Jen had a banana split & when she received it, the banana had split..it went a different way because it was not with her ice cream. After pointing it out to the workers, they kindly added the banana for her. Once we finished the creamy milk ice cream, we walked to the back of the place. Do you ever go somewhere & you just know that the things that are there are not meant for you but they are way too enticing for you to pass them up? That's how we felt about the kids room at the back. Everything back there was calling our names. So, despite the fact that the room was to be used for children, we saw fit to play too. We're kids too right? Granted we might be big kids, we are kids. We had a MOOoo good time at the Cow Cafe.

Not Quite a Shack

Tryon Palace was the home of the first capitol of North Carolina as well as the Governor's Mansion. Before we entered in to the luxurious kingdom, we smiled for the camera outdoors. Like most historic sites, we were instructed that the use of cameras within the building was prohibited. Someone (won't mention any names...her name does start with a "H", end with a "Y" & has an "A-L-E" in the middle though), snuck a few photos though. Sadly, those few did not turn out well. Could that be that it was punishment for doing something she should not have? I think it's a possibility. Anyway, back to the lil' shack....we enjoyed looking at the 18th Century Furniture as well as hearing about what a day would have been like back then. In addition to touring the palace, we also toured 2 other homes--one of which housed an imprisoned Confederate spy during the Civil War. With our tour, we were also able to tour the garden outdoors. Though the heat had killed the majority of the flowers, the garden was still pretty. As you can see, we had ourselves a grand time.