Heavenly Hug for Friday

What a surprise to get this in the mail today! It's gorgeous! Thanks sweet, friend!!!

Another friend gave me a gorgeous box to store tea, some new tea and a darling, whimsical tray... (these pictures taken at 4 a.m. - may as well redeem these early hours if Stacia is going to be UP! LOL)

Since Stacia is determined to be in the photo....

Produce Anyone?

Heather snapped this photo for us.

Here's my share of produce for the week.

A Bosch Kind of Day

Two packages arrived today...one from Kitchen Resources (Bosch) and one from Urban Homemaker. I can make smoothies in the morning.

Stacia's Bear

Mike sent a package....oops that reminds me I need to do some wrapping tomorrow. He had a voice box for a bear in the package for Stacia's gift. She's still at an age where we can let her pick out her Christmas gift...so we headed to the Snuggle Factory and she picked out this bear.
When you hug the bear he says, "Hi Stacia, I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be. Love you, Stacia!" She was so excited when it began talking....so I hid the bear so that we can capture it on film on Christmas day. But I can post pictures of the bear here - she'll not guess. LOL

Friday recap....

~Day began with prayer to hear from girls and that they would be safe....

~Phone call from Mike

~Phone call from girls

~Speech Therapy for Nolan

~Pick up produce for co-op

~Sort and such with co-op

~Nice visit with Heather as she waited for Adrienne to pick up produce

~Arielle got to go play with Ashley

~Bike ride- missed it this a.m. and the weather is predicted to get COLD the next few days...I may not make 500 miles by the end of the 25th - we'll see.

~Several phone calls organizing both co-ops and picking up grain order

~Emma dropped by with "mesquite jelly" and a great homemade potholder....the boys say that mesquite jelly sounds scary. ::snort::

~BBQ meatballs, rice, salad, watermelon for dinner

~TRYING to dehydrate bananas and pineapple. Tricia's are crisp - really yummy. I suspect my dehydrator isn't holding a high temp....hers were in overnight and were done....mine have been in 29 hours and are still chewy. I guess the cracked housing IS making a difference. ::snort::

~Thought about Christmas letter some more.....

~Read about 8 letters today.....and received several great packages....Isn't it great when you get something unexpected in the mail? Almost seems like a heavenly hug and certainly a good day for it.

~Watched Nine Dog Christmas and Santa Clause 2 is on now as I wait for Stacia to crash so that I can crash as well......

~The girls called at 7:00 p.m. to say that the 5:30 bus was almost ready to leave Denver. There are still quite a few of them who started out in Spokane. Bre said they have "many guardian angels" and she'll explain when they get here. I could hear others commenting on her conversation to me. ::snort:: She said that the group from Spokane is determined that they will all make it on this bus. She said 55 can get on....they "barely made it" but will get on and that there are 100's behind them in the line hoping to get on the bus. They've met several who had been waiting since Wed at the airport....Once they get on the bus they are guessing there are 16 more driving hours left on their ticket. Bre was saying that at least they know there will be no more snow once they get out of CO....I told her that there is a new storm predicted to hit TX tomorrow....60% snow....that is hard to believe!

~Josiah had the night off so he'd be able to meet the girls. It is looking like they will get in about the time he begins work tomorrow. Bummer. His boss said, "Why are you complaining, I gave you three days in a row off this week!" (Closed due to water outage in town). Josiah said, "Yes, but I'm getting 35 hours in 3 days!" His boss that that was hilarious - I'm not sure why.

PARENTING ~ Give it up; it's a myth; it doesn't get easier as they mature! ::snort::

The girls are in Denver. There is a bus leaving for TX in 2 hours. They are not sure they'll be able to get on it as the lines are long....but they're about 16 driving hours away now. LOL Yes, I considered going to get them but Mike explained that that was not a bright idea! ::snort:: I think having two daughters to worry about is about as much as he wants on his plate...he doesn't want the rest of us out there too. ::snort::

GIRLS ARE ON THE BUS!

I just received a call and Bre said, "We're on the bus". The really great thing is that Mike was on the line when the call came and so I was able to tell him immediately.

Here's what happened. Red Cross looked all night and couldn't find them. They were SLEEPING in the SHELTER. Bre stressed they had not left the shelter and that the phone was on. They slept so soundly they didn't hear it. They hadn't filled out all the paperwork that was needed and so that is what started the alarm last night.....however, after I assured the agent that the girls had no plan of staying anywhere but the shelter, the situation became more alarming. No need to go there - they are fine.

The girls have lots of common sense...but very little street smarts. Krista is in TKD and so can "take care of herself". I could see them going out for a walk and not coming back so when the shelter was SURE they were NOT there - I knew they either did something totally out of character and went to someone's house for the night, or they had wandered out for a walk, or they were just fine and the shelter couldn't find them. LOL

The amazing thing to me is that I did not panic. I was ticked but all was forgiven the minute I heard my oldest daughter's voice and knew they had done nothing wrong. LOL It was to late when I got the call to call any of my local friends. But the Friend who is closer than a brother is always available. I quoted James to myself....and then Phil...I certainly was anxious hearing the alarm in the man's voice....and so I prayed...and God's peace was real...the comfort and presence of the Holy Spirit was real.....I slept. I have a very active imagination. This was a work of God's grace in my life. Mike, on the other hand, reports a few new gray hairs. Actually, I know this is bizarre, but, I KNEW Mike would be up during the night....so I emailed him what was going on....prayed and slept...knowing that God and Mike would be on the watch. ::snort:: Bre had calls from Red Cross agents, Mike and myself when she checked the phone this a.m. Stacia woke up at 3:30 and I tried calling but then when I couldn't reach them I went back to sleep.

Cindy, they have a trac phone so the minutes are simply used up when they are used up. They are double when out of your area.....you are right that they don't have to pick up....but I think the fear was running down the battery...which Mike and I had decided must be why they weren't answering the phone. LOL Our vacations have always involved lots of hiking, camping and such...not air, plane or bus travel on other's schedules. I'm thinking that vacations need to be scheduled in now as a "life skill" part of our curriculum. Actually, the boys managed to get themselves to Alaska last summer....

I literally have to run now to make it to speech but wanted to update everyone...would someone please copy this to SHS or let SHS know that things are well. The girls have left Casper...a car would be here in 18 hours...with a bus and roads - who knows???? but they are headed this way again. ::snort::