Well, Thursday night and Friday were hell for me. I know it was hard on my husband and the girls too. Ryan had moved out and I wasn't prepared... Everytime I thought about it I teared up and reached for anything absorbent, my shirt, paper towel, anything.
Ryan wanted to participate with the 4H state fair style show on Saturday after all, which really surprised me. I thought he had turned his back on everything we supported him on... Guess not! So since he's car-less (he wants no controlling factor from us) I drove him down to Des Moines, then killed time garage saling, shopping for crafts and went to a church picnic (no I didn't crash it!).
On the drive down, we had a good talk and I'm coming to realize that this "move" was probably the best thing to help him grow up. He's living in the basement of a house with 2 other friends. The floor gets wet on a regular basis whenever it rains and there is a drain in the middle of it. He has to keep everything off the floor. First time for everything!!! I'm feeling much better about this. JUST about ready to clean his old room out and give it to one of the girls, but I think we better wait the obligatory month until we're sure this is going to stick.
In the afternoon, Meri and I went back to the fairgrounds and I finally got to see the famous Butter Cow, Butter Astronaut and this year .. a Butter TV! Who've thought?
We walked in solid rain from the car to the fair (I measured later, it was .8 miles...) It wasn't raining when we parked. The Snake's Alive shed was ok but extremely creepy because of the creepy snakes... Meri took pictures of each and every one of those things! maybe she'll do a poster on snakes for next years 4H!
I don't know why but Meri wears inappropriate shoes every time we've gone to the fair this year and we've had to buy her something new when we get there. On Thursday, she had worn flip flops that were giving her blisters, so Robb found a tent where they sold cowboy boots and bought her some low cut things that look VERY comfortable. They were $50...
Yesterday, because her little canvas shoes got soaked, she said they were shrinking and they hurt so bad! So from our experience on Thursday we had found a booth that sold rubber clogs and sandals. So I bought her a pair of shoes there. They fit while we were at the booth, then she started complaining about those too. Her original pair were more comfortable, so after riding the sky glider back across the fair grounds, she switched back to her old shoes.
We watched Ryan in the style show and boy is my son handsome! I'm not biased or anything! He really is! He didn't win anything but during the course of the day made so many more friends and he was glad he came. He was very pleasant to talk to and enjoyed telling us about his new home and the guys there.
So far he has bought some groceries, but hasn't had to dig into them yet. His girlfriend brought him a McD sandwich for a 10am breakfast on Friday. A roommate brought him a 6 inch sub for lunch and his other roommate brought him leftover chimichangas from his date at supper... My son is like the Elijah of the Bible!!! God provided for him and sent him food via birds. Or in this case, friends... It may not last like that... but I'm glad his friends are looking out for him. I did warn him that the honeymoon period wouldn't last very long...
He went to church with us this morning and got a call from his grandma about a job that he was needed at desperately at a hotel nearby. So now he has a good job too! God's watching out for him... I don't need to worry.
But I know I will...
