Turkey Days

Jared here, stealing the blog for a night to promote my own agenda. Now I need to go ask Kimmy what my agenda is.... Oh yes the annual pilgrimage to The Monastery of the Holy Spirit just south of Conyers, GA. (http://www.trappist.net/) aka Uncle Dee’s Place. The trip down was great…rained a majority of the way which helps in keeping me awake due to Kimmy constantly doing the hoky poky as I drive. She keeps putting her right hand forward and screaming something. We purchased a dual screen DVD system for the boys to watch dvd’s on the drive down. Made the trip quick for them and relaxing for us as well. Kimmy was able to get a wide variety of dvds from the library. We drove the majority of the way the first night. We had a grand plan of simply stopping and sleeping in the back of the mini van for a few hours. Then wake up drive the next two hours to the Lego store north east of Atlanta. After that on to the monastery an hour farther. Well we stopped at a northern GA walmart just off the highway where the boys and I hopped out while Kimmy did the bed prep. Kimmy was sort of shaking her head and the amount of room expected did not equal the actual amount of space available. The boys laid across the back and then Kimmy and I shoe horned ourselves in the remaining amount of room. I could lay on my side… so could kimmy and with legs bent we had our spot. We both at about the same time busted out laughing as it was quite the scene….no pictures but it was funny. We managed to get a little sleep. Woke up quite sore, but still laughing like crazy. What a night. We headed on to the lego store and then we arrived safe and sound at the Monastery, we saw the new signs, read them, and followed them to the family guest house. We enjoyed a very relaxing 4 or so days. Mom and Dad were already there when we arrived, she brought her sewing machine to med some garments for the monks. Uncle Rick arrived a few hours after we did. Uncle Rick brought enough Dallas Stars “stuff” to load the van down nicely for the ride home. However there was one beautiful Red Wings puck in the mix. The thunder sticks have already been brought out for various sword fights. I think we’ve gone through 4 or 5 so far… Mom had the apple pie machine tuned to perfection and put out at least 4 apple pies, maybe 5, one rhubarb and one sweet potato pie. I think we ate turkey and other items but I remember the pie and ice cream. Once again Uncle Rick taught the boys how to eat ice cream for breakfast. They thought that was pretty darn cool. We also spent some time on the screen porch where Jacob and Adam invited us to a picnic at their restaurant. Uncle Dee had the best rutabaga he’d ever had. They served us wonderful pretend meals and deserts too. We made several trips to their restaurant during our days there. Mom presented Eli with a beautiful quilt, wall hanging and pillow. She also whipped up a pillow case in a matter of seconds. I think she can split the space time continuum with her new sewing machine as the speed in which she accomplishes these things seem to be quite impressive. Mom also had the pancake machine tuned to perfection as well and we ate Grandmas pancakes for breakfast each and every morning. Saturday afternoon Adam out of the blue asked Uncle Dee if he’d take him to see the church and gold fish. So Uncle Dee took Kimmy, Jacob, Adam, Eli and myself up to the church to see the goldfish in the monastic cloister. Adam (and Jacob) really loved that. We made the annual trip to where the old pine board monastery building use to stand and looked for more colored glass. This year Uncle Dee seeded the area a tad. Lots off cool old and new glass was found. We played in the leaves of the Chestnut trees, climbed the chestnut trees, got hurt by the chestnut hulls, scattered fire ant mounds, ate biscotii mistakes, visited with the monks here and there. We talked with Father Matt, Father James, Brother James, Father A. (can’t remember his name at the moment), Br. Shamanad, Br. Peter Dameon, Br Mario, Br Hugh, Br ET, Father Edwardo….I might be forgetting one or two. A nice relaxing time none the less. On Sunday we left for Mom and Dad’s house in Indianapolis. The drive took 2 -3 hrs longer than it should of due to traffic. The trip from Chattanooga TN to Louisville KY was not a quick one to say the least. But we made it and spend the night in a much more comfortable location then the back of a mini van. We got up and drove the rest of the way Monday morning. Home again home again riggiddy jig and we didn’t buy no fat pig.