Today is all about miscellaneous family news including a working daughter, a fabulous husband, a picture of our grandson’s mother and a picture of our doggy’s grandson!
Last year Sarah worked in the gift shop of a local restaurant but she wasn’t able to get as many hours as she needed. We weren’t sure what we were going to do about a summer job for her and then out of the blue, a friend who manages a department at our local grocery store (Food Lion) asked Sarah if she’d like to come and work for her.
It was perfect timing and it’s a job very well suited to Sarah—low pressure and perfect for someone who is diligent, organized and detail-oriented.
Basically, Sarah has a little cart she pushes around and one of those little laser gun thingies that you point at bar codes to get prices. She checks the price listed on the shelf and compares it with the price that comes up on the gun; she also changes out stickers on items as they go on (and off) sale.
This week she’s had to be there at 7:30 a.m.and so today, instead of just dropping her off and making the 20-minute trek back home, I went inside with her and got my grocery shopping done. How lovely to shop in a store that’s mostly empty; I’ll have to do that more often.
(Side note: As I was shopping I couldn’t help but notice a guy standing forlornly in front of the feminine products display. He looked overwhelmed. And also embarrassed. I wanted to pat him on the back and shake his hand for his bravery in making the Dreaded Grocery Store Trip that at some point, comes into the life of every man. Instead of the hand shake, I just sent “kudo vibes” his way as I passed.)
I’m sure you’ve probably figured out by now that it would have been impossible for me to skulk around a grocery store that my daughter was working at without sneaking into her aisle and snapping a picture or two. (Because we all know that if I didn’t take a picture of it, it didn’t happen. Right?)
Isn’t that the cutest price checker you’ve ever seen?
This week she’s working 16 hours but over the next couple of weeks, she’ll work up to 30 hours a week. Since she’s diligently saving up for her first car, those extra hours will make a big difference when the Big Car Buying Day comes along. (Which I’m hoping won’t happen until she’s somewhere in her fifties.)
And speaking of cars, Sarah starts Driver’s Ed next week. She’ll go four hours in the morning and then work four hours in the afternoon. A busy gal who is growing up way, way too fast. (Can you believe she’ll be eighteen years old in just nine weeks?)
I want to take a moment to give a shout out to my very own Mister Smith for the way he helped me last week when I was sick. (I felt so bad I never got out of my pajamas even one time between Wednesday night and Sunday morning.)
Here is a list of the things that he did for me while I was out of commission:
1. Brought me breakfast in bed on Saturday which consisted of his famous cheese omelet, toast with two kinds of jelly, ice water and orange juice all delivered on a lovely tray right to my room.
2. Did three loads of laundry
3. Took Sarah shopping for the tennis shoes and khaki pants she needed for her new job.
4. Listened patiently while I enumerated my list of woeful symptoms to him. More than once.
5. Prayed for me (out loud) every single day for strength and healing.
6. Asked me several times a day if he could bring me anything .
7. Told me I could stay home from church on Sunday morning if I needed to. I compromised and went for band rehearsal and the music segment of the service and then came home when my piano playing part was done. (A pastor’s wife playing hooky. What is the world coming to?)
8. Stopped and picked up prescriptions for me in a little teeny window of time he had between a 9-hour day on the road and an evening rehearsal.
9. Took Sarah to work several times.
10. Picked up groceries.
So, what do you think? Is this a fabulous guy, or what?
He’s made the last thirty-one years the best years of my life.
This is Meagan and a friend of hers at church. Meagan is 20 weeks pregnant and her friend is 40 weeks.
That’s part of the fun of pregnancy–getting to compare baby bumps.
We are planning a trip to Florida during the first part of August so that we can see our grandson’s pregnant mama in person and also attend the baby shower their church is throwing for them. Good times!
Summer’s former owner emailed me yesterday to say how much she enjoyed my recent post about Summer. She included this photo of one of Summer’s grandsons named Blakely.
After receiving this picture it occurred to me that Summer and I differ quite a little bit on one particular aspect of being grandmothers. I have every intent of posting a thousand pictures of MY grandson on my blog, on Facebook, and Twitter; I am also planning to take out some full-page ads in USA Today and rent one of the marquees in Times Square.
Summer, on the other hand, took one little look at the picture of HER grandson and promptly fell asleep.
No big deal. No hysteria. No hype. Just, “Yep, that’s my grandson, alrighty. I think I’ll have a nap now.”
Could it be possible that by the end of Noah’s first year (and the ten thousandth picture), you’re all going to be desperately wishing I would take more after Summer?
Probably. 🙂
Never!! I can’t wait for all the pictures of Noah in the months and years to come. We’ve come to know his parents so well that it would be unnatural for us not to get to know him as well. Please let us know when Megan and Nathan pick out their baby goods. I want to send a baby gift to them.
Lisa,
You are so sweet. That just warms my heart to think that you will continue following the Smith Saga all the way through baby Noah! And since a few others have asked, I’ll post where they are registering when I find out. Thank you!
never in a million yrs, i keep saying i hope megan and nate take tons of pics and send them to you so you can share them with us.
Becky,
Hard to believe we’re actually talking about photos of a grandson, here! i can’t wait for the first glimpse and many, many glimpses beyond that. 🙂
Wait, wait wait…did you say 18??? Ok, now I feel old, lol. When I first started to follow you guys Sarah was like 6! I was 23. She is like an adult now! I thought my body was feeling old lately, lol. Congrats on the job Sarah!
Alyssa,
I never stop being amazed that there are actually people like you who have been following our story since Sarah was SIX years old. (I think there about a dozen long timers.) Thank you, thank you, thank for hanging around with us–we appreciate you! (And no, you are NOT old!) 🙂
Same here, Alyssa. I was in college when I first found Sarah’s Spot and now I’m nearly 32. It’s crazy. I can’t wrap my head around it! 🙂
Ellen,
And YOU are another reader that I am amazed by–someone who has stuck around all these years. Thank you!!
Way to go Sarah. So many of our teens have had a hard time looking for a summer job. I think I noticed that Steve was sticking his tongue out while working on the car. Well, if it helped Michael Jordan make a basket, it surely will help Steve in what he had to do. :>)
Sharyn,
You noticed correctly. Steve takes after his dad when it comes to sticking out his tongue while he’s concentrating. He says it really helps! 🙂
looks like your family can’t claim a “dingbat” as one of its members…
that’s super that Sarah has a new job, and is venturing forth to get that driver’s license.
Sarah: 18 and Summer: a Grandmother… I’m feeling a tad older now.
Mrs. Pam,
Yes, there seem to be those things that take place in the course of our lives that make us feel just a wee bit older. Sarah turning 18 is just about unfathomable to me!
18??!!!!??? When did that happen? So glad it is….There are very, very few like Steve, know that for a fact….love the baby bumps and there is nothing more fun than a baby shower, especially for your very OWN grandson…and, Blakely, you are cute but BRING ON THE PICTURES OF Noah in the hundreds of thousands if possible. I understand that unquenchable desire to show the world the greatness of a grandchild….I can not wait for the show to begin.
Mary,
So happy to know that you are ready to patiently look at photos of Noah when the come along. As you said, having a grandson of your own gives you a much deeper understanding of the joy of the grandbaby photos!
It will be such fun to see all of you getting to know the newest Smith and seeing his handsome self. Babies are just the best. Heck, when my older daughter was born, her dad took so many pictures the first few days, you could easily stack them, flip them and they moved like a video! Every nano-second, there was a new photo taken. Now, with the second child…..well, we all know that story.
Mary,
Love the line, “they moved like a video.” That’s a great way of describing the First Child Picture Syndrome! 🙂