Gotta start this post with my favorite picture of the week. I was driving home from Walmart last Thursday evening and saw the most amazing sunset against the heavy clouds. I REALLY wanted a picture of it, and as I approached a stop sign there was a car behind me, so I decided to turn left and pull off the road to get the picture. Turns out I was right at a meadow with cows grazing in the foreground. PERFECT!!
It seems like a long time since I've seen a beautiful morning sky. I usually get up at 6:15, so for months the sun had already risen by the time I got to the kitchen. That is no longer the case, but we have had SO MUCH cloudy, rainy weather the past two weeks. So as soon as I spied a beautiful morning sky on Tuesday morning, you'd better believe I was out there on my front porch to get a picture of it!
Last week my hanging plants on the front porch hit a lovely peek. I love opening the front door and seeing them!
Then I took a couple of pictures of flowers. First my knockout rose bush, which has really gotten bigger this year. We planted it two years ago after our previous one died.
I'm always thrilled to see some late lilies still blooming.
I took this picture of Destiny's impatiens this morning at her front door. They are getting so huge and beautiful! I wish we had planted more, but I remember having qualms about how much we spent on annuals back in early June.
On Saturday morning we hit the road for Lancaster. J'von plays football for Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology. Little man thought he needed sunglasses, so I gave him a pair of mine. Of course they stayed on for just a minute or two!
It turned out to be a hotter afternoon than we were expecting. The only bleachers were on one side of the field, and the rest rooms and concession stand were on the other. We made that walk in the hot sun several times.
Frank was there too with Jada, Alaya, and V'anni. After the game we went to La CoCinca, an authentic Spanish restaurant in downtown Lancaster, to eat together. That was fun, and the food was scrumptious!!
My life has become interesting, to say the least, this week. Alex is currently hospitalized to get help with some mental health troubles. I'm almost afraid to even put that in writing because of the stigma attached to such things. Also, I will not be linking this post to Facebook in order to avoid sensational comments there. Your prayers are very appreciated!
Due to his absence, I am now Elizer's babysitter when Destiny is at work until there is an opening at a daycare. We are managing so far. I have had to become creative with appointments this week. My hair appointment on Tuesday was at 10:00, Destiny starts work at 11:00. So we met at her parking garage to transfer Elizer from her car to mine. Today I had a pre-surgery (cataract) physical at 12 noon. I picked up Dick at work on my way there, and he took Elizer for some McDonalds while I was at my appointment. That worked out great! Elizer is absolutely crazy about Pawpaw, and Dick was able to take his lunch hour in a much more fun way than usual!
So lots of Elizer pictures this week!
And of course, some really great videos!
"If You're Happy and You Know it...."
Stinky feet are SO funny!
So is the word "elbow"!!
Yesterday was Destiny's 22nd birthday. I was there at her birth! Here's a picture of Frank holding her soon after her birth.
We had a special day planned yesterday. Destiny got off work at 12:30 so we could go to her favorite hairdresser in Lancaster. She hadn't had her hair cut and colored for a whole year!
When we got in the car to pick Destiny up, I recorded this "Happy Birthday" for her. Elizer mostly giggled. He hasn't found his singing voice yet, much to my surprise.
We had a good trip, about two-and-a-half hours. When we arrived, I realized her hairdresser was in the Golden Meadows business complex. WAY back in the day the Lancaster Aquatic Club was housed in this building. Jeremy swam with that team for a year or two when he was probably in 6th and 7th grades. We spent a good bit of time in this building. Of course I had to send a picture of it to Jeremy. I think it is now a realty office.
There is a huge building behind it now. Destiny's hairdresser is one of many businesses there. I took this picture from Google Maps.
After I dropped Destiny off I took Elizer to my sister Mary Ellen's house, just a few miles away. But oh my, so much traffic. I really am not used to that anymore. Mary Ellen is such a good sport! She was out there in the hot sun throwing ball and frisbee with Elizer! We spent some time in the house too, but it was not relaxing with Elizer exploring every new thing.
From there I went to a Weis Markets to buy a small birthday cake for Destiny. Then I went back to the hairdresser. Destiny's mom had come to sit with her and catch up, and she of course wanted to see Elizer before she had to leave for work. I regret I did not get any pictures of them together.
It was a long procedure since Destiny's hair had not been done in such a long time, so Elizer and I did a whole lot of walking all around the big building several times. At one point we went inside the salon, and he found a circle that he could run and run and run. I gave him rides on the little chairs on wheels that were in the pedicure station. Destiny and her hairdresser were the only ones there, so it really didn't matter.
Finished at last and happy! As you can see, she has gone a bit red! She felt so good getting the weight of her long hair off. Her hair is naturally curly, but she had it straightened. That will last till she washes it, lol!
Just as she was finishing up, Alex's dad, brother Ozias, sister Odalys, and her little son Jiryah came to the salon to see Destiny and Elizer!! Somehow I missed getting a picture of Odalys. She is such a beautiful, lovely person.
Alex's dad had so much fun playing with the boys. Lots of running and shouting - perfect timing because most of the businesses were already closed and there was almost no car traffic or people.
Look at these little cousins chasing each other around the tree!
It's good to be a young, strong grandpa when you have two active grandsons! Alex's brother Ozias is 12, I think, and he loves playing with his nephews too.
We finally said our goodbyes to them. We stopped at a Sheetz gas station to get food to eat on the trip home. I got some coffee too, since it was getting rather late. We made good time. It was 8:00 when we left Sheetz and 10:30 when I got home. And that was with taking Destiny and Elizer home first.
We never did have a chance for the birthday cake, so hopefully we can have it this evening when she gets here after work to pick up Elizer.
A few cute pictures from today and I'll finish up here.
I was taking him for a walk late this afternoon when a familiar truck came along! Since we were on our own street, we let him sit in the truck with Pawpaw the rest of the drive to our house. He loved it of course!
And that's all till the next time I get a chance to do this!
2 comments:
Hi Jean. Wow - you had a very busy week. Happy belated birthday to Destiny. She looks beautiful with her new hair style. So glad you could be there to help out with Elizer. I love the beautiful sunset pictures at the beginning of the post. I hope that all goes well with your cataract surgery. See you again soon!
Every time I read one of your posts, the love you have for people just shines through. God bless you, and I'll pray for Alex. (Destiny is beautiful, her hair looks nice!). And as always, Elizer is adorable.
Della
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