(Updated June 2)
I had an amazing weekend at home in Brentwood celebrating my little brother's graduation!
First things first, here are all my pictures:
by stinaberlin
The short update:
Had some complications getting home, but everything worked out just fine and I was incredibly thankful. I landed in Nashville at 6:30pm and was greeted by my family, and lots of hugging ensued. :) Afterwards we had dinner at Chili's, then I crashed.
Saturday was Jim's graduation party, so we spent the morning prepping for that. We made the house look nice and pretty, including the garden, where Mom and I did a little planting. :) The party was a blast. Lots of friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. came and we all had fun. I had a great time talking and hangin' out with "the usuals" like Ms. Medlin (forensics coach) and the Clakrs, as well as people I didn't know beforehand, like my bro's girlfriend Brittany. We also catered from Qdoba, and there are still leftovers at my house that my family is still eating! After the party I went over to Amber McLeod's to spend a few hours chatting and catching up with a very special friend. It was soooo good to hug her!
Sunday morning I went to church with Mom, which of course was great. My pastor is doing a series on "Front Porch Living" and they actually built a porch on the stage in the sanctuary. It's kinda crazy, but cool. (Haha sounds like my pastor!) Afterward we picked up the boys and headed off to the big graduation ceremony, which was great. Only mishap was that my bro's name got read wrong! Poor Mrs. Huddleston felt so bad. There's a kid in his name whose last name is Loudermilk, and she knew them both, and whaddya know, when Jim walked across the stage she said, "James Marshall Loudermilk. Uhm, James Marshall LORDEMAN!" It was funny, he was amused. Apparently some kid brought a rat and let it out on the floor during the calling of names. Silly kids. :) After the ceremony we had an early dinner at Maggiano's, and Brittany came along. :) Later in the evening, Mom and I drove around delivering graduation gifts to some girls who were on the forensics team with me. We got them these really funny boxes for laundry detergent at Butler's (in Berlin! I am going to miss that store!) and filled them with everything you need for doing laundry - Bounce sheets, Tide detergent, a bleach pen, a pen that's kinda like a Shout wipe but it's a pen, etc.
Monday morning I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel with Mom, Dad, Alan and Kimmy. I needed some yummy country-cookin'! We had fun. Afterward, Mom and I did a little shoe-shopping and stopped at Kroger to get barbecue sauce and Mountain Dew for the Heimlichs, then headed to Chili's to meet the Maguires for lunch. They are growing up so fast, especially Mack! We had a blast, and Mom and I were totally stuffed after that. :) From there we picked up a few more things from Walmart that I wanted to take back, and then it was time to go home, pack, and head to the airport. My flight was delayed, so the four of us had a little more hang-out time in the airport before I left. I made it back to Berlin safely around 3:30pm Berlin time on Tuesday.
It was a great, action-packed weekend and it was totally worth the flying time. Hopefully worth the money for my parents too. :) I'd totally do it again, especially if there's skipping class and absurd amounts of Mexican food involved. Hehehe...
Here's something random I wrote on the plane from Nashville to Chicago, if anyone cares to read any of my "deep" thoughts when I was feeling contemplative and sleepy. :) http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/clorde/flighttochicago.jpg
That was my update on my trip! Hard to believe I will be moving back home in two months from today... Time really flies!
5 comments:
by the way... be sure to let me know if you want me to bring anything from the states. only 2.5 weeks!!!
I can't believe you let us talk you into Chili's again......you fly all the way from Berlin and eat at Chili's twice......that is too funny
Your random thoughts on the plane were interesting.....I always take out this poem from Robert Frost when I come to a crossroad.....
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
I love the line that says "though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same". Either choice you make at this crossroad will lead you somewhere.....one may not be better than the other, but they are choices we all have to make.
It makes me think that you can travel down either path, but it's what you take along with you that matters.....God, faith, family. Make a choice and don't look back!!
I love the random musings and Martin's response. You guys are really encouraging. I've learned to not be anxious about where the Lord is going to take me in life because He will make that place "home." He also makes it home for my family. He is good.
Alan
By the way, Martin, you did not "talk me into" Chili's. I could've objected if I wanted to. Having been in Germany as long as I have though, you have no idea how good Chili's is... it's like the essence of what Germany does NOT have. It's those simple things you take for granted until you don't have them... and instead you have salsa from a jar that tastes like ketchup... hehehe.
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