Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Of Church and Kisses

I didn't dream while we were in California; or I did but was so deep in sleep that upon waking I didn't recall them. Since I've been home I've dreamed every night about driving and food.



Sunday morning dawned in fair and lovely fashion. I could get used to the notion of a summer full of clear, bright mornings. There was coffee, oh, excellent coffee, and the household puttering about in various stages of awakening.

Sling and I sat on the porch (of course), hands wrapped around our coffee mugs, and started talking about things like grace and provision, life lessons and gratitude, about God's love.

I'm not an evangelist in the strict sense of the word. I believe and own what I believe and folks either dig it or not. I have lots of dear friends who aren't particularly of the believing persuasion; they get that I do and I get that they don't and it's all good. But I admit to feeling a little sanctified, sitting there and talking with my good friend; there was a lovely communion about it all that words don't properly convey. Unless, of course, you're Sling. At one point he leaned in and looked at me and said, "You know we're having church right now, right?"

Wherever two or more are gathered, baby.

And to further sanctify the moment, in short order he and LK took us off to the casino for breakfast. Because there's nothing quite like taking the good Catholic girl and her underage daughter out for breakfast at the casino, now is there?



Little Newt was busy with his camera all weekend. Kid has a pretty good eye, too. He and
The Child figured out how to take pictures on a timer and he gathered us all around for a shot. I'm still waiting for my copy or I'd show it to you. What's important about that particular photo is that all weekend Newt kept calling it "the picture of the family".
How sweet is that? What makes it even more sweet is that is EXACTLY how the weekend felt. We love our Sling and it was important and awesome to be able to be with him, to hear his laugh and guitar, to learn that he hums when he's happy and all the other little details that only meeting can reveal. But to also feel very much part of the family, welcomed and loved by all in his household? That's your ginger buttercream icing on the applesauce cake, my friends.

Our meal at the casino ended (mmmmm....coconut shrimp) we took a few more photos, and engaged in a round of hugs and kisses. Then Sling and Co. climbed into LK's big new shiny truck and we girls back into our little Fergie. LK led us out to the direction of the freeway and with a wave the boys turned to home and we were wending our way toward Alameda.

Labels: , ,

15 Comments:

Blogger Mom opined...

Some of my best times "at church" have been on the front porch. Hallelujah!

June 26, 2008 11:45 AM  
Blogger sageweb opined...

Church on the porch sounds cool, praise the lord, pass the whiskey.

I love the kissing Sling picture.

June 26, 2008 12:22 PM  
Blogger Anne opined...

The whole church-on-the-porch was a great set-up for breakfast at the casino! LOL

June 26, 2008 12:42 PM  
Blogger Eric opined...

Coconut Shrimp for breakfast????

June 26, 2008 2:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

Ba Ha Ha Ha (Note no W)

For awhile I thought you had brought back too much sun with you. And while it hasn't rained since your return there have been no record highs posted (in what the weather people said is supposed to be a very cool and damp summer) yet. It did look like that could have happened for awhile but it appears as though we have dodged that bullet.

Well, perfect you say? Haw!!

What about our firemans Fourth of July when it rains well on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd? Hmmm. The extended says no such luck. This is far less than perfect.

Therefore you need to consider the creation of some metaphysical phenomenon in order to obtain such.

Thanks again for including the child (though she could have been more smiley), and as usuall sn inspired posting. Whatever is said thingy that you autographed anyway?

Peace

:+}

June 26, 2008 2:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

Your vacation has become the highlight of MY summer.

And tell The Child to stop growing.

June 26, 2008 3:02 PM  
Blogger LostInColor opined...

Family - thats really nice.

June 26, 2008 3:23 PM  
Blogger Kimberly Ann opined...

Sounds like a wonderful Sunday.

June 26, 2008 4:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

Best.Picture.Ever.

June 26, 2008 5:28 PM  
Blogger Sling opined...

I love the pic of the two of you smackin' my cheeks!..er..you know.
And the one of you and The Child standing by the slot machine.
I'm going to hell,aren't I?

June 26, 2008 6:25 PM  
Blogger Miss Healthypants opined...

I loved, loved, loved the whole church-on-the-porch moment!--and especially your comment about "wherever two or more are gathered, baby." Awesome! *smiles*

Also, the Child is looking less like a child these days and more like a teenager. But I'm sure you already noticed that. Your little girl is growing up! :)

June 26, 2008 7:57 PM  
Blogger Doralong opined...

I like to think the family you make for yourself is just as important as the one you get stuck with by birth..

June 27, 2008 4:04 AM  
Blogger Blogger opined...

Breakfast at a casino! DEFINITELY something that's got to be done at least once.

June 27, 2008 4:24 AM  
Blogger Unknown opined...

I am honored to have been included on your trip!
Thanks for sharing!

June 27, 2008 10:25 AM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Amen, Mom.

See, Sage, that's the cool thing about church on the porch. All the brown liquor you want. Or black coffee. Whichever.

Anne, right? Oh, that just delighted Hat and Sling no end.

Here's the thing, honey; the casino usually has a brunch but since it was Father's Day (and since they were feeding a lot of the firefighters who were working on the Humbolt fire) there was more emphasis on surf and turf than eggs and bacon. But that coconut shrimp was DIVINE!

Just wait for the weekend, Anonyba.

JP, that's just because you never leave the house when you go on vacation.

And I have. She won't listen. Teenagers.

Lost, it really is.

One of the best, KA.

Hat, I know, right? That Sling is just the cutest thing ever.

Sling, I have it on pretty good authority that there are better candidates for hell than you. Plus, I hear the coconut shrimp in Heaven is better.

MHP, and what made it really special was that at no time did anyone say, "Turn to page whatever in the blue Gather book".

She's really not the same little kid that was in Chicago last summer, is she? Amazing.

Doralong, I couldn't agree more.

DA, yes; while it didn't have the same cache of, say, a coissant at a sidewalk cafe, it was a memorable experience all its own.

You're welcome, Greeny. Always room in the backseat for another traveller.

June 27, 2008 4:48 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home