IT'S DONE !

Yesterday was the end of what has been a five year journey for Bruce on his road to becoming Grand Commander Knights Templar of Minnesota and ending this term of office. For the last several months we have been planning for this weekend. With high hopes we would be able to pull off a great session. Without a lot of input for the other grand ladies, I went about planning for the hospitality room, ladies luncheon, decorations for the Grand Banquet and the new sports banquet. My efforts were rewarded this weekend with many compliments for all that I had done.

I do need to take a moment to thank Jenny for all of her hard work with weekend. Without her, I don't think the Hospitality Room would have flowed as easily as it did. She wouldn't let me do anything execpt put the stuff in the room. She took care of everything - setting things up each morning with breakfast items, replenishing and adding items as the morning and afternoon progressed, making coffee and even served strawberry shortcake to about 125 people after the banquet. She did an awesome job and both Bruce and I are happy she was there to help.

The next thank you goes to our grandchildren, Max, Colby and Sarah. They were so well behaved. They had their moments but for the most part everyone thought they behaved quite nicely (especially for being cooped up in a hotel room for a good share of Friday). They have a earned a trip to the waterpark in Apple Valley on Friday as a thank you from Nana for being so good. Sarah was the Resident Princess at the Ladies Luncheon with her pink tiara and white dress. She drew names for the door prizes and then delivered them to each one whose name was drawn. She did a great job.

Thank you goes to our good friends Dave and Rita for their journey out to attend the Grand Banquet as well as Bruce's brother Dean and his wife, Carol. It was awesome to be able to share the end of this journey with them. I think Dean has a new appreciation for what Bruce has been doing over the last 30+ years of Masonry. As for Dave, (and Rita) he has been at almost every important event in my life and I love sharing it with him.

It has been a long journey and one that both Bruce and I are glad is over. It was an experience unlike any other we have had. We are looking forward to the rest of the summer with no particular plans to do anything except what might come our way. My red cord has changed to purple (signifies me as a Past Grand Commander's Lady) and it will hang with the swords at the end of the hall rady for me to wear when it is deemed necessary.

Yes, the end of June is finally here and I am so glad. It's done!

BE SAFE

As I hugged my son-in-law goodbye on Sunday, all I could say to him was "be safe". Tears were starting to well and I had to get out of area fast so that he wouldn't see them. He's leaving for Indiana tomorrow morning to finish his training before he goes to Afghanistan next month.

His unit, the 114th Transportation Company - The Wolf Pack, Army National Guard. Their job is resupplying mobile combat units and move loads of ammunition and all classes of supply, shelters and containers. This can be very dangerous as many of the targets are the convoys. He is strong and he is brave and I am very proud of him.

Saying goodbye to him was a very hard thing for me to do, but I can't even imagine what it is like for his wife, my daughter, Jenny to do. Knowing she will not be able to touch him for over a year, having to make decisions they would normally make together and having to take care of three young children who aren't quite sure why Daddy has to leave. This is a strong family.

Max will be "the man of the house" now that John is gone, Colby will miss his hero yet still be Daddy's "little man" and Sarah will be the "pink" in Daddy's Cami World. these are what the sweatshirts say that Jenny bought them. She is proud of her husband yet knows he will be putting his life on the line every day for the next year. What does her shirt say? "surviving my 2nd deployment" as this is the second time John has done this tour.

Maybe what I should have said to John was "come home", but then that could a number of things. the best thing I could say to him was "Be Safe". Be Safe Sgt. John Karline, come home to us the way you left and know that we all love you and will be praying for you to "Be Safe".

BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS

Sometimes receiving bad news can actually be good news. How is that possible? I got a call on Sunday from my daughter, Leanna. She called to tell me she had been let go from yet another job. Apparently, they want the job done a certain way, don't tell you what that way is and then fire you because you're not doing it the "right" way. I don't think I would want to work there anyway. So that's the bad news.

The good news (at least to me) is that Leanna is applying for jobs in Minnesota again. As of Monday, she had applied for 5 jobs all in the Twin Cities area. This is good news to my ears but I know she has mixed feelings about it.

Leanna and Stacy talked quite a bit yesterday and came to a decision to continue on the path she was taking and hope it led them to where they are suppose to be at this time in their lives. This may mean living apart for maybe a year, but Leanna figures, if Jenny can do it, so can she. It makes my heart happy she is looking here in MN, but I also don't want to get my hopes up. I did that last time and it didn't pan out. Now, I just want her to be able to work, pay bills, have fun with her kids, and all the other stuff that makes for a happily ever after.

Bad news can sometimes be good. In this case, it is definitely good for me and maybe just "so-so" for Leanna.