CHECKING THIS OFF THE LIST ... now on to THAT!!

We started a new book yesterday afternoon at our small group.  We hadn't met for a month or so, and so it was time to resume.  Now that it is winter, I think we should start our group an hour earlier - like at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.  It's a nice way to end the Sabbath, but as it is now - Sabbath is over when we start.

Never-the-less we read a couple of chapters and then ended with prayer.  People seemed to linger, which was fine.  We visited and one of the topics that came up was about things you could and could not take on an airplane.  Medications - over the counter - etc.  One person was ticked because they took her hive medicine - another said they had a large container of eucalyptus oil that they were able to take on (after some testing). 

From there we talked about some of the benefits of eucalyptus oil - rubbing it on a diabetic's sore feet was what this particular couple used it for.  Seemed to alieviate the pain of it for awhile.  Hmmm?  Something deep inside my memory - seemed to recall (YEARS ago) buying a big thing of eucalyptus oil.  Where is it?? 

Most of the crowd left - I needed to go to Blaine's for some buttermints for the shower.  Another of the ladies wanted to go to Walmart and look at a camera and wished Randy would look at it with her.  So we decided to do that.  Then a third lady decided "I wanna go!!" -- so her husband headed home and the four of us (with Randy as our chauffeur) headed out on a fast paced - fun filled Saturday night of adventure.
Started with a stop and the nearest convenience store for a soda all around (except the driver - who #1: was the designated driver after all, and #2: hates carbonation!).

Then to Walmart we went ... oooohhhh..... ahhhhhh.  Even got let out at the door!  We walked around in there and did our own individual shopping - including a couple of cake mixes for my baby shower cupcakes, they got baby shower gifts, no camera was purchased ... and then we headed to Blaine's for the buttermints.  Nope!  They were closed.  Boo-hisss!!!  Now what?  Well, we did the most logical thing that four old people in a car could do!

We headed home!  We took Marian to her house and dropped her off.  Then we took Barb back to our house where her car was.  Randy and I came in the house.  Whew!  It was nearly 9:30 p.m.  I mixed up and baked my cupcakes - 2 boxes of mix worth - and went to bed.

In the morning today I came down to check my email.  My mom had sent a forwarded email about ... EUCALYPTUS OIL.  Go figure!  The talk the night before and now an email.  WHOA!!!!!  This is spooky weird, right?  Admit it!  *wink*    So here I was with a sore throat that I thought was getting better, but isn't.  And coughing.  And sneezing.  Do I really have eucalyptus oil?  Where is it?

I found the oil - took a shower, used the neti-pot (ahhhh!!!) and then rubbed eucalyptus oil on my feet and covered them with my socks.  I also rubbed some on my neck (sore throat inside, remember?).  I went about getting ready for the shower - and felt pretty good.  A few hours later I started coughing again.  More E.Oil on the feet, added socks - and did just fine.

Crazy day!  If I'd seen a Panda Bear somewhere in my house (don't they only eat eucalyptus leaves?) - I wouldn't have been a bit surprised.

So the time for the shower came -- 2 p.m.   I had wondered if, planted in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, anyone would come.  And yet there they were - the few, the proud, the ... - well people came!  I was so relieved.  But no guest of honor.  No mommy, no baby, no daddy (I thought he was going to come with them), no 5 year old sister ... at 2:10 p.m. with people sitting there waiting for it to begin -- I called them.  No answer.  BUT they called back and said they were about to leave.  Okay...about 2:30 p.m. they showed up.  Two cars containing 6 people.  We had us a baby, a mommy, a daddy, a 5 year old sister and some other relatives -- ready set GUESS WHAT KIND OF BABYFOOD IS IN THIS LABEL-less JAR!!!!

We ate cupcakes and nuts and buttermints (I went back to Blaine's early this a.m.) and punch.  We opened gifts.  People visited and got to know the family a bit better. 

Mom and Joy - you were not there physically but you WERE there.  Gilbert's sister was one of the relatives.  Her name is Erma (pronounced AIR-ma).  A number of years ago she attended church.  Her and four little kids.  She remembers BOTH of you clearly.  Said she thought Joy was so pretty and nice.  Talked about Colton who was little - she had a little one about his same age.  Said my mom was so nice and she liked talking to her.  She even seemed to know Mark.  Anyway she said to say 'hi'. 

Their little girls were getting bored with the 'shower scene' and began to roam the house.  Could they go on the deck, could they look at my house, could they go upstairs, could they go in the basement, could they jump on my furniture?????  I'm nice.  I'm friendly.  I'm pretty sure I can overlook most things.  But I said "no, you can't jump on my furniture" - then I asked "You don't jump on your furniture at home do you?"  They got sort of 'deer in headlight' looks on their faces -- which I interpreted to mean -- "Sure we do, doesn't everyone?!" 

But seriously all in all it was a really nice shower ... and weekend.
V