There is Such a Thing as Too Clean!

Staying Busy? That is my response to anyone who asks how I'm doing, and it's true. I'm staying busy. Almost every night is filled with engagements, friendly dinners, or a camp related meeting or event. It might be an excuse, but for now, it's mine. The last few days, in particular, have been centered around Grace Adventures Day Camp (the camp we're starting at my church). Yesterday camp and the church's children's ministry sponsored a Family Fun Day...a first for Grace Community Church. More than 400 people came to play on our beach (or volleyball sand pit), toss water balloons, kick soccer balls, bounce on the moon, eat hot dogs, and pet cattle (unexpected surprise as the church's neighbors have a dairy farm and the cows decided to come see what all the fuss was about.) It was a great day, except for the fact that the boys and I all ended up sunburned (yes, I am a stupid mom for not dousing my boys in sunscreen). I'd just like to give a shout out to Wes & Katy who took it upon themselves to watch the boys during the event, thus allowing me to focus on important tasks like helping little ones up onto the moon bounce and replenishing bags of chips. They ended up coming back to the house with us (Neil went kayaking and missed all the fun) for chinese takeout and cheap box wine.

So anyways, Friday night, I thought it might be a good idea to wash my jeans (since I'd been wearing them for a week straight). Thanks to my four weeks of no exercise, they are the only ones that comfortably fit me. When I went to put the clothes in the dryer Saturday morning, I found a little surprise in the washer...my cell phone. Yes, I washed my cell phone. You don't know true panic until you wash your cell phone the morning of a huge event. Literally, I'm thinking in my mind how I'm going to get to the T-Mobile store to get a new phone without interfering in the million tasks of my day. Luckily, I remembered that I still had my old phone in a box under the desk. Normally I sell them on ebay, but just had too much going on recently. So I plugged in my old phone to charge it up and went on about my business. Of course I lost about 50 numbers, so if you don't hear from me in a while, it's not because I don't love you, it's because I'm a loser who washed her phone. Who does that anyways? Except for my pastor, T.J., who did the same thing...only someone gave him an Iphone when he did it. Lucky Duck!

Although this may turn out to be a good thing. Why? Because I've been wanting a PDA, and since I'm not eligible for an upgrade on a phone until 2010 (cause I just got my waterlogged phone two months ago), I just bought a Palm PDA on ebay for super cheap. Now, since I'm now in the market for a new phone, maybe I could just kill two birds with one stone and get one of them combo phones. Huge step up for me, by the way. I normally only use my phone to talk. I don't even know how to text (which cost me .15 every time someone texts me, so please don't). Then I can resell the super cheap Palm on ebay for at least what I paid for it.

So I've been staying busy, but when the busyness stops, my mind returns to Augusta and my dad. Friday night, I was sitting on a bench outside the church waiting for Neil. Since I don't like to just sit and do nothing, I opened my phone and started scrolling through the phonebook looking for someone to call. It wasn't long before I saw Dad's number. For a split second, I thought I'd call Dad for a quick chat. Then I remembered...and tears welled up in my eyes and that all familiar lump began to form in the back of my throat. I tried to delete the number, but I couldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead I sat on the bench and cried; a good cry; a needed cry. I miss my dad, and I still can't seem to grasp the fact that he's gone. I was there and still can't wrap my brain around it. I can't imagine what it's like for my sisters and brother who weren't there; is it just as surreal for them?

I think we're all staying busy, Rebecca, Alex, Richie, Sherry, myself...because the busyness allows us to climb up out of the sadness and live our lives. I've never been so happy to have a long, unaccomplishable to-do list before in my life. It's a distraction from my heart ache and I welcome it...at least for now.

I'll be sending out evites today or tomorrow for a Pampered Chef catalog show in order to raise money for the American Cancer Society in Dad's memory (including my commission). If you'd like to receive an evite and I don't have your email addy, just let me know. My email is hills4neil@msn.com! Thanks!