Snow on the Beach

This is not a commentary on a Taylor Swift song.  This is about my latest adventure.  Shortly after the New Year, my friend and co-worker, Emily, talked about taking a needed little vacay from her family and work.  Emily is the mom of three adorable and creative preschoolers as well as the busy assistant director of our preschool. I volunteered to be her driver.  We considered a variety of warm destinations landing on Folly Beach just outside of Charleston SC for Jan 23-26.  We had no idea that this (and all the other considered destinations) would be hit by the Southern Snowstorm just before our trip! We headed out Thursday morning knowing that icy bridges could be a problem.   But thanks to Google Maps we found a way that avoided major bridges and brought us to our beachfront hotel without any slipping or sliding.  It was a real treat to see snow on the beach.  We even built a snowman on Friday.  By Saturday roads and bridges were clear enough that we went into Charleston.

Emily and I had never done anything outside of work so we joked that 4 days together was pretty risky.  The conclusion is that we made good traveling companions, traveling at a similar speed.  We were both happy to be in our comfy clothes early in the evening,  talking, working on a puzzle, or playing Genius Star.  Though we talked at school, we each had lots of untold stories thus there was lots of conversation.  It was a great little getaway and snow on the beach was a bonus.

57

This past week, I had a birthday. I feel about thirty in my soul, but my body often agrees with the 1968 on my birth certificate.  January 16 was a sweet day. There were many birthday texts on my phone.  The advantage of working in a preschool is that small children greatly value a birthday. They love proclaiming "Happy Birthday" so I received many well wishes. I was gifted several other sweet treats throughout the day. 

For the family celebration, Mom made a Mexican dinner at her house. When I arrived her living room was full of helium balloons. This was Peter's contribution. Originally there were 57 helium balloons but it sounds like they all did not make it to Mom's house. They had quite the story about the two of them getting the balloons to mom's house. We had a good meal and fun conversations. A couple of days before my birthday, Mom took me shopping so the gifts were really "just what I wanted" as I had picked them out. I got about 2/3 of the balloons in my car to take to my house. That includes the one trailing home behind the car. The celebration continues as the balloons bounce around my house in various states of deflation.

My house Thursday

My house today
I am finding them in every room of the house!

I'm grateful for another year of life. It was a year of good adventures and making memories. And I'm so glad for my friends and family with whom I shared it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It has been a sweet couple of weeks.  It began with Mom and I joining friends May and Kevin at Litchfield Beach.  On the way, we stopped by to visit one of mom's former neighbors who recently moved to the NC coast to live with her daughter.  We had a great visit with Syd and her family.

On to Litchfield Beach, we had plans to stay in the same Condo as last year.  But a little mix-up allowed us an upgrade that was even bigger and closer to the water.  It was a lovely kafuffle.

Our daily quest was to brave the cold and search for shells, specifically the Pawley's shell.  We three ladies all found at least one.  Mom found hers in the last minutes of our searching just before we left.

Mosst of the time the sun was shining but it was cold!

We worked on puzzles, played games, ate good food, took fun little outings, built a gingerbread nativity, and had a delightful time.

   

It was another great Christmas at the beach.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were quiet and restful.  It was nice for us three to all be together at Mom's.

For the holidays, I have had a special companion.  I am keeping Lincoln while his family is away.  He is the best dog and I have enjoyed his company.  It has been a fun little addition to my holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

Friends and Family, a bunch of picturew

This is mainly pictures.  There is little biological family in these pictures. Yet some are people who have grafted me into their families.  All are dear people to me.  I just wanted to share these special people and fun moments.

My friend Jade and I had our annual pre-Christmas outing to hear Karen Peck and New River.  It is always a toe-tapping and uplifting event.

I met Abby at church. She then came to work at my preschool. For the past several months she worked in the kitchen/laundry room next to the resource room where my "office" is.  We became friends.  This was our outing to Trader Joe's.  She had never been and was very excited when I offered to take her.  We also wore the same T-shirt one day and took a twin photo. Very recently, Abby moved several hours away with her parents .  I will miss our food tastings in the kitchen and our conversations.

One day, Mom ended up at my house for an impromptu meal.  My house is much colder than hers.  I loaned her my Georgia sweatshirt.  (A hand me down from Peter.)  We took the picture for him because we knew he would be so proud to see her sporting his team.

Last weekend was the Adam's girls pre-Christmas getaway.  This is the family that grafted me in 34 years ago.  May (a resident of NC) has been my dear friend all these years. This year, May and I with Daughters Anna and Haley, DIL Ava Taylor, and 6 of her 12 grands met up at the mountain house near Galax VA. (Kelsey, I missed your being with us!) 

I met up with Anna and the kids in SC to make the rest of the journey.

May and I on the porch

Beautiful view from the house.

Loved chatting with the girls, 

and crafting. 

Haley, Avery, Livie, and I walked to an old church nearby

And it was so fun to play with the little people

I loved seeing the cousins love, big ones playing with the littles.

The exciting thing about this goodbye hug is this time it was a "see you soon."  Mom and I will join May and her husband Kevin in just a few days at Litchfield Beach for our 2nd annual Christmas beach trip.