While it seems I've been "away"...

A quick update:
My grandmother died on February 24th. While I'm thankful her suffering only lasted 12 days, we're learning to live here without her, and I miss her. I keep glancing at the photo that I last posted here, and her smile is comforting to me. Comforting because I KNOW she's now walking with Jesus and indeed smiling in an eternal heaven. That is, indeed, comforting to me!

Her celebration of life and burial was February 28th. That weekend was filled with special moments and visits with friends and family, and and I remain thankful for that time. Aside from these special times during the loss of a loved one, we have these moments in which to look forward. It remains a blessing, along with the comfort of knowing that she knew our Lord and Savior, and that she rests in heaven!

Then we had a birthday to celebrate. Caroline turned 14 on March 3rd. I know it's a cliche, but "where does the time go?" I thank God, also for my precious daughter and for all the times we have had with her. I can't believe it's already been 14 years, but at the same time, I can't believe it's only been 14 years!

Mom came to visit the day of Caroline's birthday, and she stayed with us for a week. We had a great visit, and I was thankful that she opted to take some time away from home and spend it with us. While she was here, she was able to catch a lacrosse game of Reid's and a softball scrimmage of Caroline's. Because she has been the caregiver to my grandmother for 3 years, the available times to catch these games were few and far between. It's now bittersweet, but she will now be more available to see such things as this. In fact, she's coming back in May to see two chorus concerts.

Then there was some time spent playing catch-up and plan for a catering job for 70 people. I'll spare all the details, however I will add that I had some tremendous assistance in preparation for this first, official catering job, and last night was a great success! (I'll have to post some photos of that event.)

Lastly, I began this blog under "marina turmoil." However, I can now announce that Joel and I are now and again, "happy" (used loosely) marina owners. Joel has been spending the past month, 3 days a week, turning the marina back into good-working order. This requires physical labor in getting the grounds cleaned up, administrative work in collecting past-due balances and the like, plus much mental labor in sorting through it all. This all happened the week my grandmother's health took a turn for the worse. (Joel had returned from Alabama on Wednesday night, and on Thursday morning, February 12th, I was to begin collection calls. Needless to say, I haven't yet had the time to do that, however it all starts tomorrow (Monday, March 16th).

Joel and I are traveling to Alabama tomorrow to spend 3 days. (It's my turn now to be indoctrinated into this mess.) My priority will be getting the office into "ship-shape" (excuse the pun), but I'm sure Joel has his priorities for me as well. I will let you all know.

None of this, except for Caroline's birthday, is how I would have written this story - my grandmother's and ours with the marina. But I put my trust, hope and faith in an ever-living, ever-present God, and I know that He has nothing but the best planned out for us. I walk this road with Him beside me. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans for hope and for a future." Jeremiah 29;11

May God richly bless you all as we endure the calamities of this world.
In Christ's loving arms,
Elizabeth

Today - February 12, 2009

For those of you not on facebook, below is a note that I posted today:

Hello, fb friends! Thank you to my two dear friends, Lu and Jenn, who updated my status twice today. (I don't have internet on my cell phone, and I didn't have the text number to update my status.) Because of that, so many of you have reached out with prayers and good wishes for me, my grandmother and my mother. Thank you so very much! One really doesn't know how valuable a tool this is (even though I do love it!) until something like this happens. Actually, fb took on another meaning today. (I'm telling you - I could be the fb poster child!)

Here's a brief update - at 835am today, I received a phone call from my mother that my grandmother had had a stroke during the night and was unresponsive. In less than 20 minutes, I was packed and in the car. I endured the 4 hour drive by using the cell phone to connect with my mom, family and friends.I arrived in Demopolis around noon central time.

Growing up in a small town has its privileges, as upon walking into the hospital and up to the room, I was greeted by so many people who knew why I had come to town. Anyway, I entered my grandmother's room, and she appeared to just be sleeping. I sat alongside her and grabbed her hand, and announced my arrival, and she squeezed my hand. This surprised me! I asked her if she did that on purpose if she could do it again - which she did! Well, that appears to be a good sign, but at the same time a sad one, because that means she can hear me, but she could not speak nor open her eyes or anythiing else.

Since I said I would give you a brief update, I'll cut to the chase. Visitors have come and gone. To some she's opened her eyes. To others she's squeezed their hands. At one point, she finally was able to look me in the eyes. She has beautiful blue eyes! I could see the hurt in them. Right now, she and I are alone in the room, and there are more periods of her opening her eyes and looking into mine. There are no words that she can speak. That's sad to me. She lifts her head, she adjusts her covers or gown, she wipes back her hair, she grabs her now usless arm, or she keeps looking toward something and wanting something, and I cannot oblige because I do not know what her desire is. It breaks my heart. However, I am most thankful that I could run out the door this morning to be by her side.

I don't know what God's plan is for her. I do feel like she will not be able to go back to live at my mother's unless there is some drastic change, and I do know that my God can do that, I just don't know if that's His plan. We're waiting.As I've been in the process of typing this, I have been trying to aid her apparentuncomfortableness. (a word?) All I can do is try. I see her frustration in her eyes, and all I can do is try. However, I have God's promises, and I have my friends who are all doing more than trying; you all are being my friends, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Lunch with my Big Sis

In my previous post, I mentioned making connections with two specific people that I had visits with last week. The second visit was with my sorority big sister.

I was surprised one day to see a "friend request" from Leigh Ann. I cannot tell you when we last communicated, but I can tell you that I hadn't seen her since she graduated in the Spring of 1986. So this was a shock to see her name in front of me!

LAK, as I always referred to her in print, had gone to high school with friend of mine from Decatur. She noticed my name (which I have included using my maiden name) among Heather's facebook friends so she sent a message to me. Of course, I was ecstatic to include her as one of my friends. We exchanged numbers immediately and discovered that we lived only 40 minutes apart. Plans were then made for lunch, and we held to our appointment and met this past Friday.

Again, I cannot emphasize the blessings this online social networking tool has provided in my life. It's a precious reminder of the things that are really important in my life. Ma Bell didn't know what it really meant to "reach out and touch someone." Facebook has allowed me to do just that!

The only thing missing at lunch was a beer in each hand! Otherwise, I felt like we were back at school!

Roll Tide!

Thanks facebook!

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting with two friends that I haven't seen in years. Both of these visits were made possible through reconnecting through facebook - the online social networking tool. Their tagline is: "Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life." Indeed, this is what I have been able to accomplish through this site.

While employed as an American Airlines flight attendant, I had established a few very close friendships. This is an obvious benefit of any employment. To this day, we still communicate via email and Christmas cards, but since I've pulled out of that environment, I haven't had the benefit of frequenting their locales and keeping up a personal relationship. There were two friends in particular, Deborah and Belinda, whom I was close, mostly due to our parallel lives of commuting and working together. I was the first to get pregnant, and I flew my last trip with them. Then they immediately followed my pregnancy, and we all delivered girls into this world within several months of each other. Upon the completion of my leaves, I could not return to the life of a commuting flight attendant, however, they both have now entered their second decades of service with American Airlines. Let me tell you, this is an amazing accomplishment! I know; I've lived it, but not with children. In fact, a couple of years later, we all three delivered boys, again within several months of each other! (And Belinda went on to deliver a third child!) These ladies have endured years of this lifestyle - an uncertain one at best. (Just ask Belinda - this past week, a 3-day trip turned into a 6-day one, I believe, when she was stuck for 4 days in Brussels due to a 3-time cancelled flight. Yeah, you would think that's not a bad place to get stuck, but ask the mother of a daughter who was having her 9th birthday, and momma wasn't home to finalize the preparations and to wake up on the morning of Alison's birthday, as was the plan. She finally returned home the night of Alison's birthday.) Anyway, I digress, but I celebrate with my friend's accomplishments.

But, back to facebook... I learned of Deborah's planned visit with a friend who lives just up the street from me. So, she agreed to come into town early, and we planned on an afternoon visit here at my home. In honor of our history together, I decided I wanted to prepare a celebration of an English afternoon tea. I prepared homemade cranberry-lemon scones complete with clotted cream (may not sound delightful, but let me assure you that it is the best, thickest whipped cream). I also had a jar of English black currant jam, sent to me from another f/a friend, Victoria. We prepared plates of scones, cream, jam, and strawberries along with some Earl Grey tea. It was delightful, but I'm telling you, it didn't compare to the special time that Deborah and I had to reconnect and reestablish our friendship! The only thing missing was Belinda - but she was stuck in Brussels. However, I know that they have flying privileges, and we can agree on another time, and we can gather another time and maybe with our children.

Time has continued, however, facebook has allowed us to pick up the pieces and create more stories. Yes, I'm a people person, and YES I love facebook for what it has allowed me to accomplish, even if it's only communicating online. There are so many more stories to come, and I am excited for what's around the corner!

Traveling?

Are you planning on a vacation anytime soon? If so, and you plan to check the internet for fares, will you give my site a try first? Or give me a call, and I'll be happy to do the research for you.

www.ytbtravel.com/ejenkins

Thanks!

He walks!

Just shy of his first birthday, Jay is walking! He has been preparing for this great new adventure of his for a few weeks now, and as you can tell in this video, he is doing quite well at this new feat. And his momma says that he is now cruising all over the house! Take a look at these precious steps!

Roll Tide!

For our first jaunt of the new year, I headed down to Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon for Caroline and a friend, Claudette, to attend a 3-hour softball hitting clinic at The University of Alabama on Saturday. On that cloudy, cold morning, we were thrilled that the event was being held inside the Hank Crispin Indoor Facility. This is the indoor football practice field, and I will tell you that it was inspiring to be able to be inside such hallowed walls! (If only the walls could talk!)

The entire Alabama softball team and its coaches were on hand to share with hundreds of young women the techniques that they use that carry them on to the World Series of fastpitch softball. And last summer, Caroline had attended a summer camp with some of these players, and she was eager to return to reacquaint herself with a couple of the girls she admired. Fortunately, one of those players led her in the bunting station, and she even used Caroline's bat to demonstrate! That was exciting for Caroline to witness! I was on hand to witness this lesson, and even I was impressed with what was shared.

I can tell you that my takeaway was that if Caroline wants to entertain the idea of playing on a college level, we have long roads of lessons and practice ahead of us. There are many improvements and accomplishments to achieve. Whatever the case, attending these opportunities are a privilege, and invaluable lessons can be learned and applied in life.

And doses of some Crimson Tide spirit can never hurt! Roll Tide!

Coach Pat Murphy, a.k.a "Murph"

Outfielder Brittany Rogers

3rd Base"woman", Kelley "Monty" Montalvo