A Busy, Beautiful, Nice Spring Day

Another busy, beautiful, and nice spring day! The weather was very nice; the children were reasonably nice, and Hubby was his usual nice. I think even I was nice, but you’d have to ask one of them! The two oldest grandchildren had their Taekwondo belt test at noon. I couldn’t attend because I took the youngest one to a birthday party but I heard from several reliable, although quite partial, sources that they did great. Their grandpa video taped if for me and their mom. They are both currently ranked Senior Green Belts and were testing for their Blue Belts. I was glad that several other family members were able to attend and I know the kids were really happy about it. They should receive their new rank at a ceremony next week.

The birthday party was for one of our 3-year old granddaughter’s classmates at Mother’s Day Out. It was a princess party at a place called ‘Glitz and Glam.’ After up-dos for their hair (hairpiece included), make-up on their innocent little faces, and polish on their finger nails, the little girls donned princess gowns, crowns, and slippers. They were adorable and had so much fun dressing up and drinking pink lemonade out of plastic wine glasses! On the road, our little 'Sleeping Beauty' zonked out in the car dreaming of make believe soon to be awakened by her prince charming, her Daddy.

Later in the afternoon the youngest two went home with their dad, memaw, and pawpaw for the rest of the weekend (sorry - I’m sure I messed up the spelling on memaw and pawpaw). I took the oldest granddaughter to get her a manicure and a pedicure, compliments of her reading tutor for her commended performance on the reading portion of the TAKS test. Yea!!! I hope she does as well on the math and science portion. As I waited for her, I decided to get a badly-needed pedicure for myself. She is really enjoying the teal blue toe polish, complete with flowers on the big toenails. The fingernails are a lovely shade of hot pink with white polka dots. And I thought the bright red polish on my toes was bold! We had a lot of fun and I so enjoyed a little bit of special time alone with my first born grandchild.

Hubby and I worked in the yard for a couple of hours and made a small dent in the flower beds, finally. After cleaning up, we went to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse, using Hubby’s birthday gift card from our youngest daughter. Thanks again, J and E. Then we headed for the movie theater to see ‘Horton Hears a Who.” Unfortunately, Hubby dozed off and I had to walk around a bit because my RLS started acting up but the granddaughter thought it was a great movie. We got home late but…it was a really nice day.

The Perfect Inappropriate Word

My second grade grandson came home from school with a slip from his teacher informing us that he lost a conduct point today for using inappropriate language. Calm but somewhat concerned, I asked him to explain what he said, who he said it to, and why he said it. He replied, “I didn’t say it to anyone, I just said, ‘that sucks,’ and I said it because I had to do double digit subtraction against my friend, who is a girl.” “Why would you say that word?” I asked. “I couldn’t think of any other word to use,” he explained. Considering that he hates double digit subtraction and his friend was a girl he’s sweet on who happens to be fast at working math problems, I’m thinking the word probably expressed his feelings perfectly. But to tell him what I was thinking would also be inappropriate so I suggested that he doesn’t always need to voice his opinion about things, especially with language such as that. Of course, he had to justify it by saying that his older sister says it all the time. I told him I’d speak to her about it but that he is not to use that word. When I spoke to his sister later she explained to me that it wasn’t a bad word for fifth graders. “Everybody says it”. You will be glad to know that I didn’t reply with the “well, if everybody jumped off a cliff,” speech. Instead, I asked her to watch her language, especially around her younger siblings. She and her brother were both bewildered that this commonly used phrase was not permissible. I’m sure they were thinking, “That sucks!” Perhaps Hubby and I can resurrect an old phrase of ours, “Bummer!” Or what’s wrong with Swiper’s favorite phrase, “Ah, man!” For those of you who do not watch Dora the Explorer, Swiper is a crafty fox who is always trying to swipe things from Dora and her monkey friend, Boots (he wears red boots). He is always thwarted by Dora and her kid audience. Sorry, I digressed. See what hanging around with a toddler all day does to you?

How Much Can Be Crammed Into Spring Break?

I thought it was about time I started posting again. It’s been a busy week and a half! Did anyone miss me? I last posted at the airport in Columbus, Ohio, waiting for my ever-so delayed flight. I didn’t get home until 10:00 that night. We had planned to leave the next morning, Wednesday, for our spring break camping trip to New Braunfels (well, it wasn’t exactly camping but it was close enough for me). Needless to say, I wasn’t ready to go in the morning and spent more than half the day doing laundry and packing clothes and food. Oh, and we had to get the Explorer cleaned up because the three year old threw up in it while they were waiting to pick me up at the airport. Once we finally got going, we had a pretty good time. Hubby made quick friends with the neighboring campers and hung out with them quite a bit. Annoyed at first, I decided to make the best of it and relax in one of my favorite ways, working a jigsaw puzzle. Since he doesn’t enjoy jigsaw puzzles and I don’t enjoy spending precious time with perfect strangers, it worked out okay. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t totally anti-social and I did go over and say hello a few times. The grandchildren played with the neighbors’ kids and they had a great time. The highlight of the trip for Hubby and the two oldest grandkids was the three hour raft trip down the Guadalupe River. They had a blast. The outfit wouldn’t allow the three year old to go so she and I hung out on the riverbank waiting for them to row past us. Our cabin was right on the river and we had seen rafters go by earlier in the day so we expected they would come right by us. After about an hour of throwing rocks into the river and picking flowers that were really weeds, I decided they may have dropped them off upriver somewhere. Since the little one was getting a little pink and needed a nap we went inside. I sat in the open doorway watching for them. No sooner had the baby snuggled in for a nap when I heard my husband’s shrill whistle beckoning us back to the river to take a picture. It brought back memories of my dad whistling for his children to come home. Hubby’s whistle could hardly compete with my dad’s perfectly loud and clear one, but it worked (photo above).

We arrived home in the late afternoon on Good Friday. After unloading, Kirk rushed off to usher at church and I unpacked and started laundry again. I had hoped to attend the Good Friday service but just couldn’t see my way clear to do so. Eldest daughter and her two dogs arrived later that evening from Dallas, just in time to make her bed with the freshly laundered sheets I had stripped off the bed earlier in the evening. “I’m really tired,” I thought as I collapsed into bed that night. Youngest daughter and a friend came the next morning. Hubby and I both had short meetings at church. I took three year old to a birthday party in the afternoon, complete with an Easter egg hunt (saga of the golden egg to be told later). I also managed to do a little shopping. Coloring eggs came in the evening as well as preparing for Easter morning. “I’m really tired,” I thought as I collapsed into bed. I was up early the next morning getting ready to attend church. I worked the tech booth visuals and lighting for the first two services and had to be there by 7:30 am. The rest of the family attended the second service. The Easter Services are always my favorite. The music and the message were so uplifting. After church, we went out to eat Mexican food since I had vowed not to cook the whole weekend. We had a relaxing afternoon - watched a good movie and ate too much chocolate. Overall, it was a nice day…but as I collapsed into bed Sunday night I thought, “I’m really tired.”

The Wrong Side of the Bed

“I fell off the wrong side of the bed,” my six year old nephew said, explaining his mood to his mom. "Hmm," I thought with a smile as she relayed this misquoted cliché to family around the table. “I can use this!” I exclaimed. My brother frowned and said, “How?” Not being a fan of my blogspot yet, he brushed off my explanation. But my mind was racing. Little Dalton’s version was not only cute but oh how true it can be. We can get up on the wrong side of the bed, choosing to go about our day being a grump because something is bothering us, we didn’t sleep well, or... whatever. Or, we can fall off the side of the bed, not expecting what hits us as the day goes on; no electricity or hot water as we get ready for work (Jen), a delayed flight (I’m sitting at the Columbus airport waiting for the weather to clear as I write this), or ...you name it. Regardless if I get up or fall off the wrong side of the bed (or the right side of the bed, for that matter) I can trust that God is working on me, refining me, and all will be well if I continue to look to Him and not my surroundings and circumstances. Thanks, Dalton!

I wish I could say that my aunt’s funeral went well. I guess, as funerals go, it was okay. She looked beautiful, much like her mother, the most beautiful person I ever knew. There were the usual words of condolences, hugs, and greetings for and from people I hadn’t seen in a long time. But there was definitely some tension in the room. As I walked out of the funeral home, I prayed that God would heal the anger and resentments that were obviously hindering the true comfort of loved ones gathered together there. Climbing in beside my brother in the front seat of his new Bronco, I was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness and began to cry. I was quickly reminded; however, that our awesome God truly answers prayers if we will only notice it. He even works through little children. As I sobbed, my nine year old niece, Shelby, leaned over from the back seat and ever so gently started patting my arm. My anxiety began to subside immediately and hope returned. God was already at work! Thanks, Shel!

Thank you to my in-laws for the transportation to and from the airport, for the delicious ham and potato salad, for the use of your warm and comfortable spare bed, and for putting up with my endless coughing. Love you!

Psalm 66:10b Thou hast refined us as silver is refined.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Family in WV

I arrived at the Columbus airport Saturday afternoon and was greeted by my mother and father-in-law. We chatted pretty much non-stop all the way back to WV. We made a short stop in Little Hocking to see my niece, her husband, and three of their sweet children. I stayed the evening and overnight with my brother, my sister-in-law, my great-niece and Shaggy the dog. During the course of the evening, other family members stopped by to say hello: two of my sisters, three of my nieces, and two of my great-nephews. I loved it! Took a billion pictures.

I slept very well for about 12 hours (yep, 12 hours!) then hung out talking with my brother and sis-in-law (and my great-niece, of course). Finally got out of my PJs in the afternoon sometime shortly before more company started showing up: my other two sisters, a brother-in-law I had never met, a brother-in-law I have met, my youngest brother, his wife and son, two more nieces, another great-niece (and her friend), and my oldest niece's hubby whom I had never met. Returning from the previous day were one of the sisters, one of the nieces, and the great-nephews. I hope I didn't forget anyone! Took another billion pictures. I had a wonderful day. Thank you, so much B & D for providing a place for me to see relatives I haven't seen in a couple of years. D - I know you are in a lot of pain and also grieving for Aunt Shirley and would have been better off without so much company. And brother B - You do so much to make me feel at home. Thanks for the rides. I really appreciate you guys! You're the best!

Hubby, tell grandson I'm bringing home bearded lizard skin he can look at under his microscope, compliments of Uncle B. He has a new pet that sheds skin. Yuck! I also took pictures for him to see but he can't get any ideas!

Tomorrow evening is my aunt's funeral, which is why I'm here. I'm feeling a little guilty that I have been enjoying my family so much while her family is suffering so in their loss, especially my uncle. Since there is no visitation until tomorrow, I haven't seen any of them yet. I pray all goes well.

In the morning, (wait, it is morning) I mean in a few hours, I hope to go with my mother-in-law to purchase a Middleton doll for my youngest granddaughter for Christmas. Also hoping to visit with Kirk's grandma for a little bit and to visit Mom, Dad, and Grandma's graves, all before going to the funeral home around three. So I better get to bed...Later.

Happy Birthday, Kirk!

To the love of my life and my best friend! Don't know what I'd do without you! You are an awesome husband, dad, and grandpa! I hope you are having a blessed day so far. We love you, Your family - GR, SD, JB, BD, BD, and MR

The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us. Psalm 115:12

A few quotes from the little people around our house:
"That sure is a big bow in her hair!" 11 Year Old about 3 Year Old's Picture
"I know who the Easter Bunny really is, it's God." 8 Year Old
"I want to sleep up-side-down" 3 Year Old (she means with her head at the foot of the bed, is there a word for that?) Also, "You always call me Sweetie Pie!" and "I'm not a sugar!"

Another Emotion...Sadness

My Aunt Shirley passed away this morning. She was my dad's youngest sibling and one of my favorite aunts. She's been so ill lately and suffered with emphysema for years. So it's probably for the best but it's going to be very hard on my uncle, who is not well himself. Please keep him and the rest of her family in your prayers. I will be flying home Saturday to attend the funeral. It's odd to call a place home when you haven't lived there for 27 years. I suppose that's because my folks finally started growing roots there after a long career in the Air Force...not to mention that most of my relatives and most of my husband's relatives live there. I'm thinkin' that home, like church, is really the people and not so much the place, don't you think? Although hubby and I have established a new home base for our daughters and our grandchildren, a part of me will continue to call WV home. Sadly, I seem to travel there more for funerals than anything else these days. But I look forward to seeing family again. It's a bittersweet time of life.

My two oldest grandchildren were so sweet to me this morning. After I'd received the news about my aunt's death, I became a little teary-eyed and they both put their arms around me to comfort me. At dinner they actually asked me how my day went and if I thought about "it" much (no one explained what "it" was so I guess they didn't want to mention one of the d words). I don't recall any time that they have ask me how my day went. It's usually me trying to drag it out of them. Anyway, have I mentioned that I love my grandchildren?

More March Birthdays and More on Anger

Happy Birthday, to my sisters – number 4 girl child (March 10) and number 3 girl child (March 13). Yep, more birthdays in March, and it’s not even half over! And a thought just occurred to me. I’m probably going to miss someone’s birthday. Feel free to scold me when that happens (notice I said when and not if).

By the way, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am not mad at God after all. Never was. However; I realize that I avoid Him when I get angry at anyone else. Instead of talking to Him, I vent to my friends and to my brother’s wife. Most of my friends (and my brother’s wife, who is one of my best friends) are sympathetic to my cause (or they pretend to be because they love me) and I feel all justified in my anger. There are a few who will call me on the carpet and will make me look at things from a different perspective (like what’s at my part in it or what’s real and what’s imaginary). But I know who they are and will call them or not depending on the type of response I desire. So, I’m thinkin’, “That’s why I avoid God when I’m ticked off! He’ll make me see my part in it and I’ll have to repent when I don’t want to!” So maybe from now on I’ll try to start off by venting to God and leave the rest of you poor people alone. I’ll try. I’m relieved to know that I’m not angry at God.

Anger...Yuck!

I’m going through a 12-session, 10-week course that is meant to be a healing journey. Quite honestly, the reason I’m attending this course is because I was hoping it would help me learn how to help other people who are in need of healing. After all, I’ve been on a healing journey for the past two years. God has helped me to overcome many of the hurts of my past. I’ve spilled my guts to close friends and relatives. I’ve cried until I thought I had no more tears. And I’ve been feeling pretty good lately. But now, it appears that I have some anger issues (doesn’t everyone). I’ve always viewed anger as a bad thing, a very strong emotion that can cause a lot of damage to relationships, which it does. So when I get angry, I try to get rid of it as quickly as possible, at all costs. I’m not talking about the irritations that cause me to yell at the kids, although I hate that, too. No, I’m talking about the blood-boiling anger that causes you to tremble from the inside, out. When I get that angry, I retreat, I shut-down, I refuse to talk and I withdraw into myself. I’m sure most people have been there, done that. Of course, the healthy thing to do after an episode like that would be to talk about it after I’ve calmed down, preferably with the person who is the focus of my anger. Unfortunately, unless someone pursues me, I usually just calm down and act like nothing happened. Not good, I’ve discovered. You can only swallow so much anger. After a while, you’ll vomit it up - usually all over someone who doesn’t deserve it.

Now I’ll get to my point in writing this. I think I’m mad at God. There, I’ve typed it. No lightening bolts yet! My brain says, “How can you be angry at your Creator, your LORD and Savior? That’s so wrong, so disrespectful, so ungrateful, and on and on.” So now I want to beat myself up because I’m ticked off at me! I don’t want to be angry at Him. What if He gets angry at me for being angry at Him? I don’t want anyone to be mad at me, especially God! But the signs are there. I can’t believe I haven’t noticed them before now. I’ve withdrawn from Him. I’ve ignored Him. I’ve even run from Him. I’ve been reading my Bible and praying out of a sense of obligation (it’s the right thing to do). How legalistic is that! So I think I’ll get off of here and try to do the healthy thing.

Ephesians 4:26-27 In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

In memory of my mom

My mother's birthday is tomorrow. She went to be with the Lord in December, 1991. Wow, it's hard to believe it's been that long ago. She was only a few years older than I am now. I recently went through some old photographs that were stored away and found this one taken when she was quite young. I realize she's a bit serious but it's a passport photo. After she died, I thought the pain in my heart would never go away. It has. I also thought that I would never stop thinking about her. I have. So I am grateful for times such as birthdays when I am able to commemorate my deceased loved ones with a thought and a prayer (and now a blog) . So, Happy Birthday, Mom! I miss you!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.

Colorblind?

My eight year old grandson was eating a snack of carrots and ranch dressing after school today. He says very matter-of-factly, "These carrots will help my eye."

"What's the matter with your eye?" I asked.

"I got hit in the face with a soccer ball. It knocked me down and all I could see was black and white. I was colorblind."

"Colorblind? You mean you were seeing stars?"

"No, all I could see was black and white."

"Oh," I said, wondering if this was even a possibility. He was very convincing. "What happened?"

"I told you. I got hit in the eye."

"No, I mean after that. Did someone come to help you?"

"Yes, my PE teacher. The boy that kicked the ball said he was sorry about 20 times! He thought he broke my color vessels."

"Your color vessels?"

"Yes, you know, in my eye."

"Oh," I said again, actually wondering if we have color vessels in our eyes. "Well, are you okay now?"

"Yeah, the color's coming back. It's just a little black and white now."

I frown, trying to decide if I have enough time to take him to the doctor to get it checked out. I don't. I start to struggle with my overprotective nature but decide to wait and see what comes of it. At dinner, he asks his older sister (who sits across from him) if his eye is crossed and explains his eye condition, which apparently now includes being able to see in two directions. I mention that I should probably take him to get his eyes examined anyway. Oldest granddaughter exclaims, "Good, now he'll have to wear glasses, too!" He smiles.

After dinner I practiced my multi-tasking skills and I asked him to read a chapter in his book to me as I loaded the dishwasher. He read beautifully. Well, I'm thinking, "At least his vision isn't blurred!"

I love my grandchildren!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

On March 4, 1979, I gave birth to my youngest daughter. On March 4, 2005, that same daughter gave birth to her youngest daughter. What a special date for our family. Happy Birthday, again, JB. Tell E. I said congratulations on her special birthday, as well.

We had a lovely but very busy day. Granddaughter #2 and I started off the day shopping for white shoes and tights for her to wear with her Easter dress, which she also wore for her three year old picture today. Then we went off to the portrait studio (not a good place for grandmas on a budget). Generally, this child loves to frown when you want her to smile. Honestly, I just don’t know where she gets this “wanting to be in control” thing! Anyway, I stooped to bribery to get her to cooperate; a trip to Build-A-Bear to get a new outfit for her lamb. You would have thought she was a model! And yes, I bought lots of pictures. Afterwards, we traveled downtown to pick her mommy up for a very nice lunch at Olive Garden. We met some of her work friends after lunch then hopped back on the freeway to rush home just in time to meet up with the older kids after school. Then we had the normal rash of after-school activities, homework, snack, homework, dinner, dishes, homework, TaeKwonDo, and a trip to the mall to pick up a birthday cookie for school tomorrow. We managed after dinner to give the birthday girl her tricycle, which she loves. She also loves the flower and the baby doll her mama gave her this afternoon. The rest of the presents will have to wait until her party this Saturday.

Oldest granddaughter takes an important reading test at school tomorrow (TAKS). Please say a little prayer for her. She’s been struggling in reading and math and has needed a tutor to help her along. She’s doing much better but if a fifth grader doesn’t pass this test, he or she does not go on to sixth grade.

Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Happy Birthday, Niece!

Today's my niece's birthday. This is a picture of her and two of her children taken last year. Her third child is in the picture too but he was born shortly after this was taken! I have a more recent photo but it was taken right after he was born. She will appreciate me not posting it. Anyway, if you see this, Sweetie, "Happy Birthday!" I love you!

Sunday, Sunday!

Our youngest granddaughter, age 3, went to Sunday school for the first time today. She did well except I forgot to show her where the rest room was (oops!). Since she didn’t know the teachers, she didn’t tell them she needed to go. One of the other kids noticed a puddle in the floor under her and told one of the teachers. She told me she had an askcadent. We’ll try again next week.

Our grandson, age 8, helped his Papaw usher in church. He likes to wear his suit when it’s “their turn” to usher. I bought him a new shirt to wear that didn’t really go well with the suit jacket, but he insisted. He takes the training quite serious. He’ll make a fine usher some day.

Our oldest granddaughter, age 11, got her new glasses this weekend. She says she can see much better. Yeah! Just in time for TAKS tests! Cool glasses, too!

Kirk enjoyed boating and fishing yesterday with some friends. The weather was so nice! I’m pleased he went. He rarely does anything for himself. He’s such a blessing. I hate when I take him for granted.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph. 5:1-2.

What's in a name?

I promised my eldest daughter an explanation of my nickname. So here goes it… I have reached a time in my life that is bittersweet in so many ways, a combination of pain and pleasure filling each day. First of all, there’s this age thing. I am ever so grateful to wake up each morning, especially when I’ve actually sleep more than a few hours at a time. I am not so grateful that my body aches all over when I get out of bed. I am delighted that I can dye and highlight my hair to look younger yet I cringe at how much it costs to keep it up. I absolutely love being a grandma…no words can describe it. Having to discipline my three grandchildren breaks my heart (my eldest granddaughter tells me I was more fun when they didn’t live with me).

Next, there’s the adjustment of giving up a career to stay at home to care for my youngest granddaughter. I used to dream about what it would be like not to work outside my home; I’d be gardening, cross-stitching, scrap booking, shopping, reading, writing, and volunteering at the church. Yeah, right! Two year old toddlers are not easy to care for when you are 51 years old! But staying in my pajamas as long as I want to on most mornings is wonderful! And watching Mickey Mouse again brings back fond memories. But I do miss my work buddies. I met with a couple of them yesterday evening for dinner and margaritas. I had a blast, my friends.

The last thing I’ll mention is the regret of the lost years apart from my family of origin and my husband’s family. Although moving half way across the county was a good career move for my husband, we have grown apart from loved ones. It makes me sad when I think about it. But the good friends I have made while living in Texas have been a sweet blessing from God.