Amelia seemed as excited to see us as we were to see her. We got lots of hugs and kisses and she told us over and over that she had come to take care of us. She talked non-stop during the four hour trip home, but we enjoyed every bit of it. When we got home, she immediately started playing with all the toys we keep here for her. She also enjoyed painting the bird houses, I had bought her.
On Sunday after her favorite breakfast of pancakes and bacon, we got ready and went to church. The church we attend does not have a large membership. In fact, Amelia was the only child in attendance that morning. That did not stop her from going down for the children's message. She answered all the questions and was delighted that she was permitted to hold the microphone.
That evening was a Community Wide Fifth Sunday Sing at the Baptist Church. Amelia and I went because I wanted her to see the church her mom attended when she was growing up and where she played the piano for many years. Amelia was interested in meeting everyone. She enjoyed meeting the pastor who performed Amy and Darryl's wedding.
During the service she observed many people from other churches raising their hands. She asked me why they were raising their hands and I explained that was a way some people feel like they need to use to praise the Lord. "Can I do it?", she asked. "If you feel like you want to, you can", I told her. It wasn't long until she was raising her hands and swaying to the music. (Sometimes I wish that I wasn't so inhibited in worship services.)
Help in the kitchen was also forthcoming from my precious granddaughter. She helped set the table and put things away. She helped me make brownies for our camping trip and she especially delighted in the making of corn muffins all by herself.
Immediately upon arriving at St. George Island on Tuesday, we rode over to the beach to check things out. Amelia wanted to wade and before we knew it, she was soaked including her hair. I don't think that was "on accident". I had to go back to the trailer to get a towel. After a shower and dry clothes we went to Bayside Burgers for supper and to the local dollar store to rent some movies. Over the next few nights, we watched Maleficent and Into the Woods.
The next two days were spent on the beach where conditions were perfect. There were gently rolling waves and the water was beautiful and clear. Amelia takes after her mother in her love for being in the water -- not only in it, but under it much of the time. The days were bright and sunny so it was a challenge to keep enough sun screen on her but we succeeded. I'm the only one who got a little sunburn. I stayed in the water with her most of the time.
One day she met Tripp, a ten year old boy from Georgia, and they enjoyed looking for things under the water together. They found a starfish and had to show it to his parents and to us before they threw it back in. After Tripp and his family left the beach, she began playing with two other little boys. She doesn't meet a stranger.
We played Amelia's first game of Scrabble on this trip. I didn't think she was old enough, but she did really well and held her own. We quit while she was ahead.
We made s'mores on Wednesday night and Thursday night. Amelia loves them and I have to admit they were pretty good.
Wednesday was our last beach day. We came in, showered off the salt water outside, ate supper, got the truck backed up to the trailer, etc. when Amelia and I had the bright idea that we would walk back to the beach for one last swim. I emphasized to Amelia that it would have to be shorter than usual and the walk was kind of long, but she was ready to go. We took a noodle and a towel and set off leaving Bubba watching the news. The water was nice and the sun was just starting to set. We were peacefully enjoying the water when I looked up to see Bubba on the shore. He had walked down to keep an eye on us.
Friday was spent driving home and unloading the trailer. Amelia amused herself by creating a holiday. Apparently she thinks that all it takes to make a holiday is writing it on a calendar. She put "Neighbor Day" on the calendar for Sunday, June 7. Then she began making various presents for everyone in the family. She made all kinds of things out of paper and appropriated a couple of items from my jewelry box for her mother and me. All that was fine, but on Saturday she began to get a little whiny. She was worried that she was not going to get a gift for "Neighbor Day". It was a little rough for a while, but I think she had reached the point of being homesick. That, plus if she was half as tired as Bubba and I were from the camping trip, she was exhausted and needed a good night's sleep. About this time I asked her if she would like to watch "The Wizard of Oz" and we had popped corn and then followed up the original movie with an animated movie, "Return to Oz".
Note: One thing I never expected to hear was Bubba saying, "Amelia, take the remote out of your mouth!" (Kind of funny, I think.)
We visited our neighbors, The Pattersons, a couple of times during the week. Mr. Patterson's health has declined over the past six months. He has a couple of tubes and drainage bags attached to him and has to use a walker. Amelia was not intimidated by this medical gear at all. She went right to him for a hug. She hugs Mrs. Patterson a lot and I think she eats it up. She looked over Amelia's head at me and said, "I think she must know how much I need a hug."
Amelia told Mr. Patterson that she was going to get him some of the special bread from the church and that would help him feel better. She mentioned several times that she needed to get that bread for him. We didn't go to church the next Sunday, but I convinced her that if she made him some corn muffins that they would probably help him feel better also. So she did.
Sunday afternoon we went to the beach (5th time this week) to give Amelia one last swim for this visit. After all the beautiful weather at St. George Island, we had to wait for it to quit raining at Mexico Beach. It was a dreary afternoon, but Amelia didn't care because she was swimming.
Amy arrived late Sunday afternoon and I can assure you that there was a lot of hugging and kissing going on. That little girl was happy to see her mom!
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