No Place Like It.

A rundown of one busy weekend at home...

Thursday:

Isaac flys in from Mayport, FL!
BWI arrival, then on to Annapolis.
Big and Little Sister to the rescue in helping him unpack his summer belongings (were these socks once white? why do you have 24 Tide-to-Go pens?)
Six hours in Annapolis; five and a half hours of sneaking around Bancroft Hall.
Sweeping, tidying, and helping Isaac get ready for senior year.
Nate needs help with his Eagle Project.
Has anyone heard from Stephen yet?
Yours Truly needs a new scrapbook- Ah, Michaels, how I've missed you.

Friday:

Coffee with cousin! Catching up is always much more fun in person.
Josh is packing for Junior High Summer Camp with church. He's nervous. We assure him he'll make plenty of new friends.
Grandmother is in the hospital- does anyone know what's going on?
Courtney feeds the neighbor's pets (morning and evening). The house smells like urine and I last only 15 seconds in the foyer.
Babysitting Lil Sis and Ty with Courtney. They call us Miss Courtney and Miss Emily and I feel 85 years old. (Best way to entertain two kids under five? Pick up rocks and throw them in the creek for two hours. Little Sister is fantastic with kids.)
Josh makes it to camp; forgets one of his bags.
Mom tracks down a way to get said bag to him.
Nate and Dad work on the Eagle Project.
Shopping at the Redskin's Store. Hello Mall!
10:20 showing of "District 9." Peter Jackson produces- how can you go wrong?
We're early (of course).
A quick stop in Starbucks- Isaac treats!
Driving home a little after midnight, in bed by 1am.

Saturday:

Desmond wants to play- chases his tail, drinks from the kitchen sink, shows off other new tricks (like chasing deer in the backyard).
Josh and his bag are reunited somewhere at the beach. All reports indicate he's extremely relieved.
Saturday morning breakfast.
The smell of bacon wakes me up and I wonder why I ever left home.
Laundry and chores. Breakfast dishes, too.
Anyone heard from Stephen yet?
It's time to leave for a wedding!
Two friends, 11 years- and finally the big day.
A perfect summer wedding on a spectacular August evening.
Champagne, dancing, photos from high school, and roses galore.
Does anyone actually enjoy the bouquet toss?
Dinner at Chick-fil-A post-wedding; analyzing everything with my own friend of 11 years.
Driving home with the windows down, and Taylor Swift on the radio.
Ah, summer nights. Hot diggety.
Home again, and a campfire is smoking in the backyard.
S'mores. Mmm mmm good.

Sunday:

Piling into the car for church.
How are we still squished in the car, despite missing two family members?
Church in Virginia, and a timely sermon on finding calm in the midst of the storm.
"Maybe God won't change the circumstances. Instead He might change you in the circumstances."
Visiting with friends in the church lobby afterward.
Are you dating?
No.
Do you have a job?
No.
Is it appropriate to say "Bugger off" at church?
Geordie shows up in the lobby! Brunch at J. Gilbert's follows.
Sunday afternoon at home.
Stephen calls! with updates galore from Rhode Island!
No word from Josh- must be making all kinds of new friends at camp.
Nate and Isaac work on the Eagle Project.
Target, anyone? Are you kidding!
Geordie wants to hang out- well, bring movies then.
"The Chronicles of Riddick" with Vin Diesel. Sis is in Heaven.
Desmond bites, Geordie takes flight- what a sight.

Monday:

Time to go. Leaving Maryland.
Heading for Manhattan.
The bus seems too quiet.
The City is too noisy.
I'm just grumbling out of homesickness.
I'm just missing all those scalawags.
No place like Home.