3 Amigos

So, on with the updating. I will start with the children. The oldest is now married and a mother. That makes me a grandmother for those of you paying close attention. LOL. We went through some rocky times. Sometimes a rocky road will lead you to a rewarding place. That is what I am hoping for with all three of my children. The middle child has graduated from high school. Hallelujah!!! School never was never his favorite. Recess and lunch were his best subjects. Too bad, recess ended with grammar school. He is enrolled in the local community college. Fingers crossed, we are hoping for the best. My baby is now old enough to start high school. What? How can this be?

That's my Reader's Digest edition of the update on my family life. Now, for the pictorial...

Poor quality picture, but, top quality memories. This was taken during one of our "snow days"

You've come a long way, baby.

Even this picture is now "old" and "out of date". (Like their mother)

A brand new life!

Welcome to the world, little one.

The graduate and myself. (Braces for mom: that's another story)

Just chillin' on this bridge looking beautiful.

Did I Fall Off the Face of the Earth?

So, so long since the last post. Friends may have wondered if I fell off the face of the Earth. No, I didn't,  even though I may have felt that way myself at times. Many things have changed since I last updated. I will share some of them over the next few posts.

My family is currently celebrating my son's high school graduation. He chose Orlando, Florida for his senior trip. Unlike the first of my children that graduated,  he is not quite ready to fly the nest. He will live at home and attend community college in the fall.

Hello to my old readers and welcome to any new ones. I am happy you have decided to visit my blog. I will make short and frequent updates over the next few days to get you all caught up. Thanks for joining me in my journey.

Family

April. Probably the last time we all sat together at the table in our home with all members present. The past 10 months have held so many changes for our family. I sometimes feel as though I am hanging on by a thread. Change is inevitable and it will come no matter what, but I am trying to keep it from sending me over the edge.

When you stay at home for the purpose of raising a family, is it harder when the babies leave the nest? After all, this is the first one, not everyone at once. Maybe it is just that I can see where I failed to transfer some life skills and how that failure can affect the outcome on someone else's life. Did I do too much myself instead of training them to do things for themselves? Probably. Some things will have to be learn as you go. Some things will have to be, "My Mother was right," realizations, but months or years down the road. And that Proverb about when you train up a child in the ways of the Lord and they won't depart from it? I think I didn't get the concept that often times they will travel other paths before returning to the ways of the Lord or I at least didn't fathom how hard it is to watch your offspring traveling down the path. I think that is the hardest, the watching. I can see it, but feel like I don't have any influence on the outcome, yet, I know I have done the majority of my part in laying a foundation.

So, now I will wait while the foundation settles and becomes firm enough to build upon. I will bide my time with prayer and thanksgiving for all the many blessings I have been given.  I will surround myself with the support of others who believe as I believe. And I will learn from my mistakes. I will encourage independence, forthright living, and a love of the Lord. And I will anticipate more family times filled with love and appreciation for everyone gathered around the table.

First Day of School

Look at these two!! I can't believe I got a shot of them before school. Last year, I got nothing from him and a hurried pouty-face from her.

They change so fast. Just can't believe how grown-up they are.

Hope is home from school just now as I am typing. So I am hopping off here to talk about her day and soon to pick up Casey who wants to pick up some more job applications.

Photo of my boy

Here is his picture. Wow! He looks much older than he actually is, doesn't he?

Why, yes, Mr. Clean, I do believe it is summer after all

Well, it has been over 100 degrees for several days now. The incessant rains from spring are long ago evaporated. My last post questioned if it was summer yet, and, now, I am sure it is. How can I tell? Let's see, I have made the 13 hour trip home to Alabama. Summer school has been completed by sonny boy. Hope has been to girl scout camp. Hope has swimmer's ear, always a must-do for summer. Molly has been arguing with her brother enough to just about drive me mad, and, my husband has returned from a 10 day fishing trip to Canada.

 Today, Casey decided to shave is head. That's right, he's completely bald! He comes and knocks on the bathroom door and says, "Can you come help me?" I reply, "I am busy, just a minute." Less than five minutes later, he is now in his bathroom. I go knock on the door and say, "What did you need help with?" "Never mind," he replies. So, I go about my business. Next thing I know, he appears in the doorway with just the top of his head shaved down to about a fourth of an inch, except for the spots where it is all the way down to the scalp. He has decided to shave his head apparently. Great, we are due for an appointment in less than an hour. I searched out the hair clippers that I thought we had. Located them and opened up the box. I've never actually used them. I don't even know how to put the attachment on. So, anyway, after some fumbling, I figure it out and get them going. I started cutting his hair with them and, finally, I have is all even and it looks O. K., not great. (Except for the few spots on top that he has down to the scalp.) Thinking, this is over, I go ahead and get myself ready while he takes a shower. Twenty minutes before appointment time, I knock on the door and say we need to be leaving. A few minutes later, he comes to the kitchen ready to go. Only now, he decided to shave his head with a razor and he is partly bald, but with large unruly patches of hair on the back of his head. Aye, ya, ya! Just put on a cap, we have to go.

 It was tuna salad and cold fruit for dinner at my house. I couldn't bear to turn on the stove in this heat. I also waited until 7:30 P. M. to start doing the laundry. I am trying to not heat up the house any more than possible during the hottest part of the day. We also keep having to fill the rain barrel up with the water hose so that it can be added to the decorative pond the next day. There are fish in there and the water keeps evaporating in this heat. My water bill is going to be outrageous!

So, to sum it all up;  I am melting in this heat, Mr. Clean now lives at my house, and I am draining Beaver Lake to fill a small pond in my yard. Yep, it is definitely, summer, and insanity is just around the corner.

Is it Summer Yet?

After a winter of seemingly endless snow and extreme cold, I am just wondering, is it summer, yet? I am ready for a break from having to get up and help kids get off to school. Tomorrow is the last day of school, finally! But, wait, I think one teenaged boy middle child will be attending summer school. So, no break just yet. No buses will be running him to and from school other than my own mini-van. Maybe a break in July?? Mama is about to hit the burnout range.

I am just feeling a little tired, but then the Duggar family ( www.duggarfamily.com) is on the Today Show this morning and I am thinking, tired? Who am I to be tired? Now Michelle is talking about teaching her children to all get along with each other. Oops! mine obviously haven't learned this so well. I feel kind of incompetent  when I listen to Michelle.

The yard is beginning to show signs of summer. Flowers are blooming and shrubs are growing. The backyard, grass-less just a few weeks ago, is greening up very nicely. My husband apparently has his heart set on some fried green tomatoes. He has three tomato plants out on the deck. This is the guy who loves tomatoes, but is allergic to them if they are ripe and uncooked?! The water lettuce on the pond has multiplied to cover almost the entire surface. This from about 10 plants I bought about a month ago! Wow, anyone need any water lettuce or tomatoes?

It's getting hot outside. The plants are in bloom. School is coming to a close for most. It looks like summer, but I'm not feeling it yet. Maybe next week.