Grandkids are the Best

Last weekend we had 4 children join us while their parents took a trip to California. I think we have the best grandchildren in the world. They are fun, obedient, happy, helpful and cute.

Andy and I left NJ at 2:00 pm on Thursday afternoon and headed on over to PA. C & C were already gone, but the children were with their other grandparents. So we made the transfer, packing all their stuff in C & C's van because all those car seats and kids wouldn't have fit in our car. And so our adventure began.

We got back to our house in time to throw some pizza in the oven - thanks to Trader Joe's! All of us were hungry enough to finish off 3 pizzas, even though they had spinach on them. After dinner there was still time for wrestling with Poppop and reading stories with Grammy and eating ice cream with everyone. The kids all slept in the upstairs apartment - nice and cozy.

On Friday morning, Dawn & Kira came over to stay with the kids for an hour while I went to the office to do my emails and a few things to prepare for my helpers who were covering for me. When I got back home, the kids and I went outside to pick up sticks from the driveway and yard. The recent windiness had made a mess out there. The kids all worked diligently and happily, even 2 year old Asher. In the afternoon, I had to go back to the church to do a few more things. Andy came home for lunch, so when he was ready to go back to church, we all went with him. He had the kids help him with a few projects around the Nativity site - cleaning up trash, etc. while I did my office work. Again, they were so helpful and eager to do whatever we asked them to. They enjoyed playing in the gym and Andy took them on rides in the golf carts that we use for handicapped/disabled people who visit the Nativity. The rest of the day was spent in fixing dinner, eating dinner, watching some Andy Griffith reruns, eating ice cream, getting ready for bed, reading more bed time stories.

On Saturday morning, I fixed blueberry pancakes for the kids. Andy had to leave early in the morning, but I asked him to come back home around 9:00 so I could make a run to the store. When I got back, I made a baked ziti casserole that the kids could have for their dinner. Dawn & Kira came over around lunchtime to hang out with us, then stay with the kids again while I went to the church to "man" the phones on the first night of Nativity.

I got to the church around 2:00 pm, then was fairly busy with providing help to different workers: running copies, checking the signups, taking calls. Around 6:30, the phones were quiet and things were running smoothly, so I decided to walk out to the lobby to check how things were going. I talked to a few people and started feeling a little funny. On my way back to the office, the room started spinning and I was feeling even funnier - not funny ha,ha, but funny strange. When I got in the office, I put my head on my desk, but things were still spinning, so I actually lay down on the floor. That helped but I could tell things were not going to improve, so I groped in my purse for my phone and called Andy to come to the office quick. He did and took one look at me and decided I needed to get home. He had to practically carry me out because my body was so weak and woozy. He got me home and in the house, but I no sooner sat on the couch than I had this awful feeling that I was going to "lose my lunch." I put my hand to my mouth and Andy quickly ran to the kitchen to grab a bowl. Oh, I don't know when I've felt so bad. It was pretty embarrassing to throw up in front of the kids. I think I felt worse from that than actually...well, maybe not. Both were awful. Thankfully, Dawn was still there, so she took the kids into the other room and they prayed for me. See what I mean about the goodness of those kids? They were scared for me, but still empathetic enough to think of me above themselves and their own comfort.

Dawn took care of getting the kids ready for bed while I lay on the couch the rest of the evening. My head hurt so much that even if I turned it to look at someone, I felt like I was going to throw up again. Well, whatever it was, it hit me hard and fast, but by Sunday morning, I felt almost back to normal. I was still somewhat tired and weak, but my head and stomach felt fine. I didn't go to church, and Christian's parents came to get the kids. I took it easy all morning and afternoon.

Then that evening, I felt good enough to go back over to the church to enjoy the Nativity with Dawn, Tommy, Kira, Amy, Ricky, Chase, Joanna & Katy. I didn't actually walk through all the scenes since it was so cold and windy, but I enjoyed seeing them all at the beginning and end.

The rest of the week has been lacking in drama which suits me just fine! I suppose it's good to sometimes feel sick so we can appreciate our good health when we have it. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word...It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:67, 71)