Enjoying the 4-Day

We had a great time having Jonathon home for the Memorial Day holiday. For him it was a four day holiday. He was given both Monday and Tuesday off, making for a four-day weekend. He left Fort Huachuca Friday afternoon and traveled with some of his army buddies to the Phoenix airport. He left Phoenix just after 11 Friday night, and arrived in Charlotte, NC about 6 Saturday morning. After a 3 hour layover he flew into Atlanta, where we picked him up about 11 AM.

The first thing he wanted to do was go by Truett's in McDonough for breakfast. He missed both the food and the friends there. While Terri and I settled into a table, Jon was in the kitchen renewing old friendships. When we got home he spent a few hours playing video games with Andre. Since Andre was going to the movies with the middle school boys from FBC Hampton, Jon decided he's go to the movies too. He went to see Prince Caspian, but wasn't able to find the group from FBC Hampton while he was there.

Around 5 PM he got home from the movies, and Catherine got home from a birthday celebration with her boyfriend Nick. It was a great reunion for the two of them, and they spent the evening playing video games with Andre.

It took some doing to stir the three night owls to get ready for church the next morning, but in spite of being tired they all had a good attitude about it. Jon had agreed to be my color guard for a special Memorial Day presentation during the service, but he forgot part of his uniform. I was very disappointed, but he did it anyway in civies, and did a great job. I was very proud of the way he Marched, and of the respect he showed for the flag. It didn't matter what kind of clothing he had on, there was no doubt that it was a soldier carrying that flag. Between the video, the music, and Jonathon's awesome show of patriotism and respect, I was weeping like the mother of the bride. It was an awesome service.

Sunday night after church we churned home made ice cream in the fellowship hall. Catherine and Jonathon made chocolate chip mint. Although I tried 3 or 4 different flavors, I must say I liked theirs best. Really, I'm not just saying that because they are the greatest kids a dad ever had.

Monday was a day to sleep in, but in the early afternoon we managed to find our way to see the latest Indiana Jones flick. It was a fun movie, but not the best of family time as the theatre was crowded and we weren't able to all sit together. Afterwards we came home and did the traditional Memorial Day cookout, grilling both hamburgers and hot dogs. After that the challenge was just getting the kids to go to bed around 11, so I could get them up in time to leave for the airport at 6 the next morning. Jon had an 8:06 flight. He wanted one more taste of Chick-fil-a, so we stopped at the Jonesboro store and got biscuits. He got two. He ate one, and said he was taking the other to Arizona, since there are no Chick-fil-a restaurants there.

It was a great weekend, but not nearly long enough. Two and a half days is just enough to wet your appetite for spending time with a son you haven't seen in five months. The good news is that we are going to go out to Arizona to visit him in July. That's a four-day holiday for him also, but we'll be able to fly out the day before and fly back the day after, giving us all four days together. We can't wait.

A visit from Mom.

My mother, Peggy, spent the night with us last night, and then went to church with us this morning. We had originally planned to visit with her this afternoon, but it just so happened she was in the neighborhood, so she came up our way.

Mom was a florist in my hometown of Eastman, Georgia for over 20 years. She sold her store a couple of years ago, and now works part-time as a bank teller at the dawn of her retirement years. However, while in the business she made friends with a florist in Barnesville, GA, just about 30 minutes from our house. This past weekend she came up and worked for the florist in Barnesville, helping her with the Mother's Day rush. When she got through arranging flowers Saturday afternoon she just ran over to our house. We really enjoyed her company.

The people at church are always really nice to Mom when she comes up. The only problem is I have a hard time convincing them that she's my mother and not my younger sister. Two or three asked me how such a pretty lady could have a son who looked like, well like me. I guess sometimes kids get their looks from their parents, and some parents get to keep their looks. Mom's one of the lucky one's who got to keep hers. I hope you and your family had a great Mother's Day.