MARYLAND IN NOVEMBER

I took a month off.


REALLY took it off.



Went to Maryland and hung around with my oldest daughter and grandkids.



I slept... a LOT. I had the perfect excuse - "Hey, I'm still on Arizona time!"




I ate... a LOT. Calories don't count when you're on vacation, right?




I read... a LOT. My daughter had a bunch of books for me, and I had one from my book club that I needed to finish.




It was nice.

TAKING THE KIDS TO CHURCH

Being with a 7 and 10 year old during LDS church services offers a different set of challenges.

Instead of sitting quietly, there is a lot more movement.

And discussion. Of just about anything, during the time you are trying to be quiet.


And usage of paper.

And pencils.




But some great pictures to take home at the end of services.

And a greater appreciation of what their parents go through every week.

And some good memories.

HOME SWEET SWEET HOME

Yes, I had a perfectly lovely time in Southern California with my daughter's family.

I got to sleep on a MUCH more expensive and nicer mattress than what I have at home.

I played with my grand kids, and watched way too episodes of "American's Funniest Home Videos" (which still seems to me to be nothing but repeated shots of men getting painfully hit in the groin).

I ate In 'N Out burgers every single chance I got, and learned to love Jersey Mike's subs.

I learned my ten-year-old grandson can give pretty good directions to a lot of places in and around Oceanside.

But I'm back with my same old slightly lumpy mattress with my favorite two green blankets and my best pillow.

I have a crazy dog dancing around every time she sees me.

I have a cat curled up immediately in my lap when ever I sit down.

I have a horse which whinnies anytime he sees me outside.

I have eighteen episodes of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Colbert Report, Modern Family and Elementary to watch.

And I still have half of a left-over pizza in the fridge for breakfast and lunch tomorrow.

I am happy to be back home.

PREPARING FOR BATTLE

I am accustomed to several things at home on Sundays.

No. 1 - I have someone who almost every week does not want to go to church.

No. 2 - I must leave for church at least 35-40 minutes in advance to get there in time.

and No. 3... well, I can't think of a No. 3 at the moment.

Today?

I had two children who were eager and willing to attend church.

I had a three minute drive to church.

And it was a very relaxing experience being in church and not having to DO anything -

- To not have to be prepared to substitute in Jr. or Sr. Primary

- To be ready to conduct any one of the three hymns in our sacrament meeting

- And mostly to not have to deal with someone who really didn't want to be there.

Instead, I had a granddaughter who drew me several marvelous landscapes of horses and snow and pumpkin patches -- I had a grandson who sat quietly and listened to the testimonies born - I didn't have to do ANYthing in either of the classes I attended other than introduce myself as a visitor.

I think I like Sundays here.

HEAD OVER HEELS

AREN'T GRANDKIDS JUST THE BEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE?