We are having Christmas in July!

ACHHOOO!!! Summer colds are cruel and unusual punishment! ACHHHOO! They are a complete oxymoron! Colds should be for winter...when you can put on your fuzzy robe and bunny slippers and snuggle up with hot chocolate and your box of Kleenex! They should not be happening when the sun is shining and the water rides at Dollywood are calling!

The Summer Cold has hit us like a snowstorm in July! It all started with Landry. He started coughing BEFORE we left for vacation. It hung around the whole time that we were vacationing. (Our vacation started in Jackson, TN where we attended Tiffany McCoys wedding...then we headed to Mt. Vernon, IL and let the boys have some hotel swimming time. My WONDERFUL husband got the boys an adjoining hotel room so the two of us could have our OWN room. I love him! The adjoining doors stayed propped open the whole time...I was a little nervous with them over there, AND I snuck Landry into our room after he fell asleep, just in case he woke in the night. They swam until their toes were wrinkled and got their fill of Animal Planet. Then we headed to Laura's house in Plano. We ate, laughed, rested, had a day in Chicago, worked on Meg's wedding plans, picnicked, fished, had family portraits taken, churched, picnicked and fished some more. I got to thrift shop - ALONE - and get a pedi and mani with Amy!! And Clark also got to golf AND jet ski - without 3 boys tagging along! It was a wonderful, wonderful vacation!) On the looong drive home, Clark's throat started hurting and he sounded like he voice lowered several decibels. Once we got home Landry's cough got worse, and Clark went and spent what little vacation money we had left at the Pharmacy.

The next day I took Landry to the doctor to find out the he had bronchitis and a sinus infection. Clark continued to cough and sneeze. In the midst of all of this my mom has been diagnosed with another wintertime ailment - PNEUMONIA! She has been extremely sick. Riley and I started our sore throats,chills, cough and drippy noses yesterday.

THEREFORE, I am rebelling against summer! Last night, I got out my warm fuzzy robe and thick purple socks. I made hot chocolate for our sore throats, and have pulled out extra blankets for us to stay bundled up in. SO while the rest of you are enjoying the fun of summer...the Pressons are experiencing mid-December. I have even considering stringing some Christmas lights. KIDDING! AACHHHOOO!

Road Trip with the Trendsetters

We have a busy group at our church that always seem to be into something new and exciting. They are the senior citizens. Please, don't dare call them senior citizens, because they are too busy to know that they are. They are called the Trendsetters. Due to the illness of my parents, Clark and I were able to attend a Trendsetter trip in their place. We had a fun day, and learned that the FAC Trendsetters are much like the energizer bunny. They keep going and going and going and going...

We all piled on the bus at 8:00 a.m. sharp. I received many wonderful compliments on how young I looked for my "senior citizen" age. A dozen compliments is a great way to start the day. Clark and I got on the bus with a big cup of coffee. However, I soon learned that most Trendsetters travel with a thermos of coffee and they drink it all day and long into the night. Perhaps that is the reason they are able to keep going and going! We first went to Waynesville, NC. It is a quaint little mountain town with shops that I could have spent the entire day in. Art, antiques, furniture, and even a thrift store. It was wonderful! However, I did not buy anything except for gifts, so Clark was proud of me! Our wonderful group leader, Bro. Zehender told us to pack snacks, and so I packed a small bag with nuts, some chocolate, and a couple of cereal bars. I felt I had really prepared for the trip. Wrong again! When the Trendsetters pack snacks they bring coolers full of delectables. Ham rolls, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, candy in all forms, carrots, apples, bananas, and even sushi! Not only do they practically pack a complete grocery store, but they also share every snack that gets pulled out of the magic coolers. We were continually passing snacks to the back of the bus, and around to the front again. Needless to say, we did not go hungry.

After our lunch at Ryans (a Trendsetter Favorite) we headed to Cherokee, NC. Our first stop was the Oconaluftee Indian Village. It takes you back to 1759, a time that you get to witness the challenges of Cherokee life. Have I mentioned that the challenges of 2009 are a breeze? We watched villagers hull canoes, make pottery, weave baskets, and participate in their daily activities. We toured this in the midst of a mountain downpour. I was very glad that I had packed an umbrella (thanks for the tip, Bro. Z) Many of our especially trendy Trendsetter ladies made this soggy trek in their hose and high heels. I was loving my untrendy flats! I enjoyed my tour with Ray Bryant as he pointed out which of the villagers were not real Indians. I was afraid he was going to start a real Indian war with a few of them, and I had left my tomahawk at home! We all enjoyed the talk with John Walkingstick. He pointed out many things about the Cherokee beliefs...such as they believe there is only ONE Great Spirit, the number of completion in seven, they only dance in times of thanksgiving and times of requesting needs from their Great Spirit. I was having to hold Clark back, because he was feeling a preaching spirit coming on. Sheila and I also decided that we were a part of the Long Hair Tribe.

We also toured The Museum of the Cherokee Indian. When Clark is in a museum it is a LONG and painful experience. He reads every little sign, and stands in front of each display for hours to soak it all in. I was thankful Bro. Z had us on a schedule. While in the museum I saw Yoko standing for a long time in front of one display. At first I thought she had caught Clark's museumitis, however, she stood there so long that I started to worry about her. I walked over and asked her what was wrong. In her broken Japanese/English she said, "I push dis button to see what dis does. I keep waitin, keep waitin, and no pocus a-focus!" I explained that it was out of order. She was very disappointed! I will never say "hocus pocus" again, "pocus a-focus" is much more fun! (Yoko was also the one who brought the sushi - Bro. Carpenter had some with his morning coffee!)

Later that evening we watched the outdoor drama, Unto These Hills. It centers on the arrival of Europeans and the forced exile of the Cherokees to Oklahoma on the infamous Trail of Tears in 1838-1839. It was very sad to know that what you were watching had really happened. Bro. Z recommended that we bring a cushion since the mountainside theatre seats were not comfortable. I did not heed this advice, due to the fact that I felt I had plenty of "natural" cushion, however, I recommend TAKING A CUSHION! It is a long drama for the behind. One unforgettable moment was the eagle dance. I was very worried that the loin cloths were going to give us a glimpse of a little more Indian than we had bargained for!

Once we were on the bus...you guessed it, more snacks and coffee! Clark and I slept some, however, Faye and Ray were just as spirited as when we had gotten on the bus that morning. The very BEST part of the day was that Clark and I got to spend several hours together without focusing our every second on an 11, 8 & 4 year old. It was wonderful to just be with each other! We even held hands on the bus like teenagers :)! We got home at 1:40 a.m. the next morning. A trip with the Trendsetters is not for the weak. You must be able to keep going and going and going!