GladiTuesday! North Carolina Style

Howdy!  Time for a gladitude haiku:

North Carolina

Not bloggy friends, but heart friends

Sharing our stories

I can't really capture my time in NC because, really, it was so normal in some ways, yet so extraordinary in others.  I went from quiet moments to lurvely-lively moments.  All in a blink.  All blessed.  All with a sweetly earned lack of sleep.  I got to watch, and participate.  Rest and receive.  Some memories which make me ever so glad are not limited to, but include:

1.  Sharing (well, I TRIED to share) one of the largest, most delicious bowls of guacamole EVAH on my first night in NC.  LVCG picked me up from the airport, and we high-tailed it here for dinner with the CPQ.  CPQ thought it needed just a wee bit more salt, and I was happy to oblige, but between you and me, I could've rolled around in it like a little pig, and been happy w/or w/o said salt.

2.  She wore a raspbery beret (hand made by my friend, the CPQ):

3.  5 of the most precious children, ever.  Love you, A, G, T, T, and J.  I learned about Star Wars--what I really learned is that I have to ship my boy to both houses to be with hard-to-come-by-around-here Star Wars afficionados. I increased my love of Target whilst taking a "field trip" with everyone--Mr. T. leading the way with his sassy orange walker and his overflowing enthusiasm for all things the big, red Bull's Eye has to offer.  Sweet G, the only girl in the pack of testosterone, took me aside and told me, "You're beautiful, Miss Gretchen.".  I should've immediately said, "Thank you!", but instead, I thought I hadn't heard her correctly, and said, "What?"  And then I found my manners and a lump in my throat and said, "Thank you!". She's almost small enough for me to tuck into my carry-on.  And I might've, if her mom wasn't watching.  Ahem.  Of course, if you read this, you know she might've been lost forever if I had done that. ;)

4.  Dinner and wine with LVCG, wherein she made a fabulous soup, and we had fabulous wine (from WA), and we just...hung.out. Literally.  Because we changed into our jammies.  Being that you can never have enough of a good thing...we also made us some more guacamole. 

5.  Seeing Duke Chapel was so amazing.  Stupid funny story about myself...I saw this, and wondered when/why the church had started using Greek symbols.  And whatever could they mean?

I know...DUH.  I should not be allowed to raise children, nor own and operate a car.

6.  I met Kona-the-Wonder-Mutt.  And of course I had to text pics back to my dog-loving children at home.

Kona's the perfect dog for my kids.  She's somebody else's responsibility.  They loved her.

7.  Bloggy friends lunch...So nice to visit with Gretchen of the East, the Yarn Whisperer, and the Mother of Squishy Baby Girl (and 3 other sweet past-their-squishy-stage kiddos).  And the food was to die for.  I even had sweet tea, since I'm Southern and all, now.  I happen to be the only one w/o a picture of that day, but I'm sure one of them will come by, read this, and feel appropriately guilted enough to send me one.  Don't you hate it when folks have problems with passive-aggression?  Seriously. 

8.  I heard "yes, ma'am."

9.  I got to simply SEE things...like where LVCG goes to church.  Where CPQ's boys go to school.  Etc.

10.  I stretched my palate, and ate lamb, falafel, and the best carrot cake ever. Well, the carrot cake wasn't a stretch.  But the other two were, and they were delish.

Yes...I am blessed.  Would lurve to have you join in, either in the comments or on your blog and tell me what gladifies you today.