Chandeliers, Car Rider Lines, De Montfort Crew…

Today started early with a walk as the sun made an appearance and the fog lifted. I had my morning devotion and prayer. Zoey my constant furry companion sniffed every lamppost along our way this morning giving me extra time for refection. The air felt good on my face and the music flowed loudly in my ears; Pandora chose my playlist this morning. We walked two miles in what felt like two minutes.. My prayers were longer today before my travels to Charleston.

I look forward to Charleston trips. I always spend my time with my sister, Margaret Ann staying in her guest room on Johns Island is the best vacation ever. My trips lately have been to visit MUSC for medical visits and my sister has been an informed nurse and hand holder. However, it is a vacation that I get to take because Charleston is awesome place to visit….and my sister lives there!! So it is just a bonus that I get to visit Charleston every time I see my sister!

Margaret Ann lives there with her husband, John Paul and her daughter Annie. They also have the cutest dalmations: Kit Love and Morse. Morse is the male and he is also deaf. They are brother and sister. Both are playful, full of energy, so loving and I cannot get enough of them!

Margaret Ann has a polished interior with gleaming chandeliers throughout that brighten and bring a prismatic glow. The way that she has decorated with antiques and relics from our Morris and Rankin past makes you feel right at home. I love the kitchen, the open floor plan her office, her closet is a masterpiece and Annie’s bedroom is a haven for a thirteen year old. Margaret has done an incredible job from picking out tile… to making sure that the pillows on the guest bed match. The location is even better than the actual house- The view is spectacular from the second floor deck- I have spent a lot of time here watching the birds, the tide roll in and out from the marsh, sunrises, sunsets, the little dipper, the big dipper, and just star gazing. The marsh view first thing in the morning upstairs from the master bedroom watching is the best! There are three faithful egrets constantly looking for shrimp during low tide you can catch a glimpse of from the third floor it is phenomenal; the dogs enjoy it as well.

The ride is so easy from my door to her door there are a couple of turns to HWY 17 and to 1-26 a couple of long stoplights and quick turns before her neighborhood all in under two hours. Today was so easy… even though it was not from my door to hers it was an easy ride. Although I did have to travel over the Ravenel Bridge which makes me break a sweat. That thing is HUGE.

Physical therapy at noon with Select Therapy here in Charleston and so far so good. This was my second visit and today there was a lot of work involved. A lot of burn and I am thinking that all of that posture work is going to hurt tomorrow. Just therapy homework tomorrow and then back at Thursday before I head back north. I am hoping that all of this posture work will help and I will not have to have surgery.

After therapy I officially moved in to the guest room. Margaret was in her garage when I arrived- and was able to help with all of my bags. (and cooler) The dogs know me as the treat lady so the inspection of every bag ensued as soon as they were put down. I grabbed the bag of dental stix that I brought them and we greeted each other as we normally do- hug and kisses after treats LOLOLOLOL. They do love me!!!

Life in this household means I get to do things that my sister or BIL normally do- so as 1:45 approaches I know that is it time for me to go get my little LOVIE . So that means it is time to go get in the car rider line and sit for nine thousand hours to pick up Annie. Okay, I am exaggerating a little not much.. but a little. Annie is so talented, soft-spoken, sweet and addicted to the phone like all teenagers. She is always happy to see me and down to hang and with her YAYA!! However, the ride home is a silent one. Silent meaning Annie doesn’t talk- I still sing and dance as much as I can to XMFLY all the way home and enjoy all of the side eye!! I love that little so much. Sometimes we stop and by candy and junk food. Occasionally we stop for an early and long dinner. Once and a while we go wherever she wants for an Auntie talk… I revel in these moments with her.

Being a part of this household brings so many wonderful moments in my life… We laugh around the table- on the couch. We have cried, and hugged each other through pain – argued about things and made circumstances right. I am apart of the De Montfort CREW and I am proud. I bask in the participation of familial duties because it means that they trust me to complete the tasks as they would. To love as they would. To care as they would. To protect as they would. To be as they would… I am proud they see me as they are – I love that.

Love one Another as I have loved you JOHN 13:34

Be Blessed. Love to all.