Life beyond Retirement

Getting very excited

2011-08-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

Last October, we signed up to go on The Cradle of Christianity Cruise with RC Sproul. At the time, it seems a long way off, and now it is in 2 weeks from today. How fun, I am really excited. At this point, all our clothes are in order and laying on the twin beds. We have downloaded and printed all the materials we needed, signed up on-line pre-boarding for the cruise, ordered our plane tickets, thank God we have kept up with computer skills. So most of the stuff is done and now we just have to do a few last minute things, like get some Euros, where does one go to get them.......we'll figure it out.
So in two weeks we board a plane in Charleston, fly to Dulles then over night to Rome. We get in there 8:30 am (or 2:30am) our time....We get bussed to our hotel...we will be going on a tour in the afternoon, then touring all day the next day and then boarding the ship on the 3rd of September.
We are a sea for 3 days then dock at Haifa, for 2 days of touring, then at Ashdod for 2 days in Jerusalem. Then on to Turkey, Mykonis and Naples and then back to Rome......this is definitely a trip of a lifetime...and so excited to share it with our best friends, Marshal and Jackie......I will have so much to look at and do and photograph.......it will be great. I have to pinch myself that I am really doing this....

Parents of the Groom

2011-08-02T16:09:00.000-04:00

Today, I see a posting on Facebook regarding a girl thanking her parents for all the help they gave her and her family during the delivery of her new baby and taking care of her family for 16 days. The cooking, cleaning, playing, encouraging....and I'm happy about that, but it brings a hugh lump in my throat for the parents of the man. No mention, not able to help, but I'm here to say that we are treated terribly during these times. I wool have been more than willing to do anything when my grandchildren were born, but as the parent of the man, I was kicked to the curb abruptly and quickly by the mother of the girl. She was rude and exasperating to me. And I have listened to these stories so many times from my friends, who are mothers of daughters, how they are so quick to criticize the parents of the man. I hate it for me and I hate it for all other parents of the groom.....we surely get the raw and short end of the stick. It started way back in the pre-wedding planning and I suppose it will continue till the day I die. Where can I go to resign as a mother in law.........

Leisure Days of Retirement

2011-07-28T19:46:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel guilty just putzing around the house. Like today for example, I got up at 8am, drank a couple of cups of coffee and browsed on the computer, just reading all kinds of things till 10:30am. Bob had gone to Presbytery with Bill, so I had the day to myself. Then I got in the car and went to Lowes. Just browsed throughout the store, looked at new kitchen appliances, new knobs for my cabinets, paint department and curtains, then went out and bought some plants. Piling this all in the car, I drove over to Starbucks and bought a mocha frappicino. After I got home, I planted the plants, installed a new shower head I had bought and also installed a new kitchen knob to try out the color. Then got the computer back out, played Cityville and some other game, then read stuff....First Place 4 Health, etc. Bob came in and we ordered a pizza for dinner.
That has been this day, my house is clean, the laundry is done, to hot to work in the yard, so I have just puzzled around. Id that OK when you are retired? Nurses are task oriented, so it is hard for me not to work to a list and accomplish stuff day in day out....

Celebrating Aunt Mary's 92 Birthday

2011-07-16T15:28:00.000-04:00

In May we go to Penna. to celebrate Aunt Mary's birthday with her. She always enjoys us coming up to fuss over her. It is fun to take her around to places she doesn't get to see very much anymore. And we go out to eat a lot and she likes that. Then we have a birthday party at the WaterHole, her favorite place to go. This year while we were there we saw Mary Jane and Paul, Novie and Jere, Jane, Ron, Ralph, Churck and Jean and also went to Aunt Mary's church with her. We stayed in one of the cottages on the campus at Passavant. It was Ok, especially cheaper than a hotel in Cranberry.
Aunt Mary was still pretty spry but is getting pretty forgetful and has lost a lot of weight.
She is the matriarch of the Lehman Family. I do honor her and love her a lot. She is a wonderful woman and has so many friends, young and old who respect her so much. It is always a good trip to see her.

Kaitlyn's 11 Birthday

2011-07-16T15:21:00.002-04:00

Last night we celebrated Kaitlyn's birthday....it was fun. The girls played American Idol and sang and performed with a mic and amplifier. There were judges and prizes. I had fun shopping for Kaitlyn, as I always do. I lost my job in the kitchen, I have helped with the cake and ice cream for 10 years and last night I was pre-empted by Mr. Roger. They seem to be new adopted grandparents. My feelings were hurt, but there is nothing I can do about it. Kaitlyn is a beautiful girl with many talents, I pray God that you will bless her with good decisions and that she will diligently follow you all of her life.