This will come as a shock to many of you, especially those of you whom know me well. Be prepared to laugh, so don't take a sip of coffee at this very moment: I am sick of winter. There, I said it. It feels very freeing to finally say it in public. I am sick of taking deep breaths, in order to prepare for the ensuing cold toilet seat. I am tired of looking out the window, day dreaming of flowers and butterflies and flowers. Everything looks sad out there. It's all shriveled up and boring. Yes, I still do like the break in the hot temperatures, but this last cold front about set me over the edge. Yes, we are back in the 50's again, and the 60's will be here tomorrow, but the winter dreary is still out there. The short days hover over me, in such a harsh and uncaring way. I just about go into convulsions the week prior to "falling back" with the clocks.
Nonetheless, I do keep a positive attitude and dabble in lots of indoor projects. But the cold leather seats in the van, are unappealing. The shortened days are like being in a timed torture chamber, that starts just after 5pm. I know, things could be worse. I always know that, because I know how blessed I am, but I think a little humorous ranting does a body good. It's all in fun, But the real fun won't begin again until March or April. Blossoms will abound and birds will be singing. It will paradise once more, at least until July. Ha ha!
Have a blessed day, ya'll. Take the time to laugh at it all.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Summer Wrap-Up
I know, I haven't posted on my blog in forever. It has just been the craziest summer ever recorded in the Braud household, and I could never really find the time or the words to write. Since we have just celebrated a momentous occasion, I feel I can not wait any longer.
We spent much of the summer doing a lot of "lasts" with Andrew. It will go down in history as the summer before Andrew went to the United States Air Force. We had a fabulous going away party for him. Over 50 people were in attendance and I was told more than once it was the best party ever. I had an absolute blast. All of it was fun. The planning, the prep, the cooking, the decorating and best of all, the prizes! I bought tons of prizes and most of them had a patriotic theme to them. I smoked chicken and shredded it for BBQ sandwiches, homemade potato salad, baked beans and a wonderful cake with a chocolate mascarpone cheese filling! Oh, and punch! The punch was the hit of the party. How could I forget that? Truly, it was momentous, at least to me.
Flash forward just a bit, surviving boot camp was no easy task.....for me. I am sure Andrew could say the same, but for different reasons! Ha ha! Basically, we were unable to talk to Andrew the whole time he was in boot camp. He was allowed to call twice, but they were timed calls and it was crazy. I wrote to him almost every day, and he even wrote a few times, also. In October, we made the 18 hour drive to San Antonia and had the best time ever. It was so special and meaningful and emotional and all those other types of emotions. All good. I have never felt so proud as when I got to see Andrew marching in his dress blues. He is now stationed at Beale Air Force Base, in California. He will be flying back and forth to Korea once his specialized training is complete. I feel certain he will get to visit my sister whom lives out there, and that would be wonderful!
Our summer was very full, with several house guests. I love having friends come to visit, and was so thankful that several of our really close friends were able to visit. I swear, I have no greater pleasure than to cook for friends and then eat with them. LOVED IT.
Michael and James have been enjoying having less people to share their goodies with, as Chris also moved out in late August. He made an attempt at living just off campus in a small apartment. Unfortunately, the job market was lousy and he was unable to become gainfully employed. He is back home now and we are all adjusting nicely.
We lost Keith's dad in September. It was very sad and very emotional and we just totally miss him. When we were in Louisiana for the funeral, the house felt so empty without him. The guys and I pray for his wife and Keith's sisters often. He was one of a kind!
Well, I am now realizing this blog post is sort of "meh", but if I don't post something soon, I fear it will just fade into the sunset. I really do want to keep blogging, if for no other reason than to record important events for the guys. I feel certain one day they will actually treasure this blog. One day.
We spent much of the summer doing a lot of "lasts" with Andrew. It will go down in history as the summer before Andrew went to the United States Air Force. We had a fabulous going away party for him. Over 50 people were in attendance and I was told more than once it was the best party ever. I had an absolute blast. All of it was fun. The planning, the prep, the cooking, the decorating and best of all, the prizes! I bought tons of prizes and most of them had a patriotic theme to them. I smoked chicken and shredded it for BBQ sandwiches, homemade potato salad, baked beans and a wonderful cake with a chocolate mascarpone cheese filling! Oh, and punch! The punch was the hit of the party. How could I forget that? Truly, it was momentous, at least to me.
Flash forward just a bit, surviving boot camp was no easy task.....for me. I am sure Andrew could say the same, but for different reasons! Ha ha! Basically, we were unable to talk to Andrew the whole time he was in boot camp. He was allowed to call twice, but they were timed calls and it was crazy. I wrote to him almost every day, and he even wrote a few times, also. In October, we made the 18 hour drive to San Antonia and had the best time ever. It was so special and meaningful and emotional and all those other types of emotions. All good. I have never felt so proud as when I got to see Andrew marching in his dress blues. He is now stationed at Beale Air Force Base, in California. He will be flying back and forth to Korea once his specialized training is complete. I feel certain he will get to visit my sister whom lives out there, and that would be wonderful!
Our summer was very full, with several house guests. I love having friends come to visit, and was so thankful that several of our really close friends were able to visit. I swear, I have no greater pleasure than to cook for friends and then eat with them. LOVED IT.
Michael and James have been enjoying having less people to share their goodies with, as Chris also moved out in late August. He made an attempt at living just off campus in a small apartment. Unfortunately, the job market was lousy and he was unable to become gainfully employed. He is back home now and we are all adjusting nicely.
We lost Keith's dad in September. It was very sad and very emotional and we just totally miss him. When we were in Louisiana for the funeral, the house felt so empty without him. The guys and I pray for his wife and Keith's sisters often. He was one of a kind!
Well, I am now realizing this blog post is sort of "meh", but if I don't post something soon, I fear it will just fade into the sunset. I really do want to keep blogging, if for no other reason than to record important events for the guys. I feel certain one day they will actually treasure this blog. One day.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Introspection on Introverts
I'm going to make an attempt to tell you everything you ever needed to know about introverts, but were too afraid to ask. It's not like we would answer you anyway, but if we did, we might tell you some of the following tidbits... "Might" being the key word. And the reason I am making this educational post is because I just think some of you extroverts don't get "us". Okay, I'm not really going to tell you everything, but it may be just enough to help you understand us a little better.
First of all, we are not rude simply because we choose to remain quiet. It doesn't mean we are lacking for words, either. We are just very selective about with whom we share our jewels of information. Extroverts love anybody, but introverts tend to love only special people. People who accept them for their quietness, and people who have put forth the effort to give them a safe place to share. Keith and I are both introverts, which means we kind of created introverted offspring. It works for us, most of the time. There are times, though, when a whole family of introverts can have some serious disadvantages. Trust me, it's not that we choose to be this way, it is just how we are. Believe it or not, we like being introverts. We aren't secretly wishing we could be extroverts and we just don't know how to do it. We LIKE sitting in the background to observe and listen.
As a young girl, I can remember hearing people in the background always referring to me as shy, as if it were some kind of disease. In my mind, I really didn't care for that label, because to me it has a negative connotation. I would rather not be singled out, especially when I just wanted to be unnoticed and have no attention drawn to me. I was content to only have two or three "best" friends growing up. Even on Facebook, I carefully consider friend requests and "unfriend" when I realize there is no real connection. In fact, I was so "shy", when Keith and I had our wedding ceremony, there were the required two witnesses, the Justice of the Peace and a photographer. For me, I just couldn't imagine walking down an aisle with all eyes on me and then have them listen to me tearfully recite my vows... That was just too personal for me and I didn't know Keith's family well enough to allow them to see me cry.
All four of the guys have a degree of introvert-ism... some more than others. I have been told they are rude because they don't talk to others. Not only is that hurtful, but it is dead wrong. I am pretty sure the person that said this is an extrovert. They don't get us at all. Too bad they can't offer us some grace, because we sure offer it to them. We will quietly sit back and let them whoop and holler and keep the spotlight on them and we dare not tell them they are wild or obnoxious. We keep it to ourselves and allow them to be.
In fact, both of my guys have graduated from high school, and both of them did not want a party or to send out announcements or to advertise their milestone at all (not that there is anything wrong with that if you do choose to send out announcements). No fanfare, and no banner waving, but a private celebration with family was all they wanted. Sounds great to me.
I could easily write an entire chapter about introverts, because I have first hand knowledge about them. I am one. And I make no apologies for it. When I meet an introvert, I understand if I want to get to know them, I will have to work for it. I also know that once I gain their trust, I will have the most loyal and sincere friend ever. Introverts may seem shy or rude, but what you don't know is, they are sizing you up to see if you are worth their time. They want to be sure you won't capitalize on their weaknesses or share their secrets. It's not something we do on purpose, it just is.
Have you hugged an introvert lately? If you did, it must mean you are special!
Here is a little snipit I found on Pinterest that explains it better than I can:
Ya'll have a blessed day!
First of all, we are not rude simply because we choose to remain quiet. It doesn't mean we are lacking for words, either. We are just very selective about with whom we share our jewels of information. Extroverts love anybody, but introverts tend to love only special people. People who accept them for their quietness, and people who have put forth the effort to give them a safe place to share. Keith and I are both introverts, which means we kind of created introverted offspring. It works for us, most of the time. There are times, though, when a whole family of introverts can have some serious disadvantages. Trust me, it's not that we choose to be this way, it is just how we are. Believe it or not, we like being introverts. We aren't secretly wishing we could be extroverts and we just don't know how to do it. We LIKE sitting in the background to observe and listen.
As a young girl, I can remember hearing people in the background always referring to me as shy, as if it were some kind of disease. In my mind, I really didn't care for that label, because to me it has a negative connotation. I would rather not be singled out, especially when I just wanted to be unnoticed and have no attention drawn to me. I was content to only have two or three "best" friends growing up. Even on Facebook, I carefully consider friend requests and "unfriend" when I realize there is no real connection. In fact, I was so "shy", when Keith and I had our wedding ceremony, there were the required two witnesses, the Justice of the Peace and a photographer. For me, I just couldn't imagine walking down an aisle with all eyes on me and then have them listen to me tearfully recite my vows... That was just too personal for me and I didn't know Keith's family well enough to allow them to see me cry.
All four of the guys have a degree of introvert-ism... some more than others. I have been told they are rude because they don't talk to others. Not only is that hurtful, but it is dead wrong. I am pretty sure the person that said this is an extrovert. They don't get us at all. Too bad they can't offer us some grace, because we sure offer it to them. We will quietly sit back and let them whoop and holler and keep the spotlight on them and we dare not tell them they are wild or obnoxious. We keep it to ourselves and allow them to be.
In fact, both of my guys have graduated from high school, and both of them did not want a party or to send out announcements or to advertise their milestone at all (not that there is anything wrong with that if you do choose to send out announcements). No fanfare, and no banner waving, but a private celebration with family was all they wanted. Sounds great to me.
I could easily write an entire chapter about introverts, because I have first hand knowledge about them. I am one. And I make no apologies for it. When I meet an introvert, I understand if I want to get to know them, I will have to work for it. I also know that once I gain their trust, I will have the most loyal and sincere friend ever. Introverts may seem shy or rude, but what you don't know is, they are sizing you up to see if you are worth their time. They want to be sure you won't capitalize on their weaknesses or share their secrets. It's not something we do on purpose, it just is.
Have you hugged an introvert lately? If you did, it must mean you are special!
Here is a little snipit I found on Pinterest that explains it better than I can:
Ya'll have a blessed day!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Time Flies
Another school year coming to a close and another son graduating from home education! What a journey! Honestly, if you had asked me ten or so years ago if we had plans of home schooling all the way to graduation, I probably would have said, "I have no idea". Now that we are about to graduate another son, I can honestly say, "I am so glad we did it for the long haul". It has never been easy, that is for sure, but it has been worthwhile. We have had many adventures, much freedom and I wouldn't trade one second of it.
Chris is finishing up his second year of college. He is one of those students that gets A's with little effort and B's when he is distracted. He has always been gifted with a photographic memory and I am thankful I can rely on him at any time to recall a past event or conversation. It seems he is going to continue majoring in accounting and has his sites set on becoming a CPA. I appreciate him in so many ways, especially as he has been maturing over the last year. He often gives sound advice and I can always count on him to do a job well. I am proud of you, son, for all that you have tackled this year at school and on the job! I pray the Lord's blessing of abundance and holiness upon you.
Our graduating senior, Andrew, will be headed to San Antonio on August 6th to begin his basic training in the United State Air Force. Since he was a toddler, he has always talked about becoming a soldier. As he learned and progressed through Civil Air Patrol, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, he realized the Air Force was the better branch in which to enlist. In fact, since achieving 2nd Lieutenant, he will be able to enlist as an E-3, which is the equivalent of serving about two years. He has been assigned the job of tactical aircraft crewchief. Although at first he had hoped to land the broadcasting position he auditioned for, he has become very excited about the idea of working with the fighter jets. He has been teaching himself some computer programming in his spare time, and has even built a couple of computers from scratch. It is amazing what someone will do when they want to do it. I still say he has a fabulous radio voice, but that can wait for later. I am proud to have a son willing to serve our country and I pray the Lord will place a shield of protection around him and his comrades. Job well done, Andrew!
Michael has been an excellent student this year. He seems to earn A's almost as easily as Chris. He has always had a gift of drawing, like his father, and has often told me that he finds math to be fun. With those two talents put together, we enrolled him in a drafting class this past fall. His teacher says he is very good at it, and from what I know about Michael, I am certain it comes to him naturally. Out of the four guys, Michael has always had the more beautiful hand writing. Even when he was first learning to write, his penmanship was always very neat an uniform. It seems this auto-cad class has fueled his desire to continue on and he will most likely enroll in college to be a draftsman. I am very proud of you, Michael. I pray the Lord will surround you with Godly friends and instill wisdom into all of your decisions.
James is finishing up his seventh year of school. He does very well in his subjects and always gets smiley faces on his papers. I am thankful for his easy-going nature and his positive attitude. There is no pressure on him yet to make any lasting decisions about the future. For now, he just likes to have fun with his friends and play games. He is eager to gain some height and for his voice to change, but in due time, that will all happen. I have survived three teenage guys and on May 19th, I will be getting the final teen in the home. It has been a pleasure having you as my student, James, and I pray that you will increase in wisdom and Godly character over the coming years.
We have made a short trip to Louisiana a couple of months back. Keith's dad has been having some issues with his health and we wanted to travel as a family of six, since it may be our last time with Andrew's departure. The weather was perfect and we were able to visit with Dad some, but his condition kept it limited. Aunt Tootie spent the day with us and it was wonderful. Aunt Len made her fabulous coconut cake. It had been over six years since we last ate at TJ Ribs and we met several friends there for an evening of good food. We were not disappointed and it was worth the wait.
Last month we accompanied Keith on a business trip to Atlanta. I love Atlanta. It is so clean and full of rich history. I was amazed at how incredibly friendly the people were! Living in the Bible belt has its rewards. One can always depend on getting their heart blessed at any given moment, by any stranger on the street, even in Atlanta! I am looking forward to a return trip to Atlanta for some more sight seeing and good food.
Tax season is over and the flower beds have been begging for attention. Each day, I tackle another project, trying to get things tidied up from the winter. I love watching things come into bloom, with each blossom taking its turn in the spotlight, and then stepping aside to allow another show to begin. The irises are showing off right now. We have tons of them and I can seem some blooming out of almost every window. Yes, I am blessed and I never take one minute of it for granted.
Keith has transitioned quite well to a multi-product plant. The new product is a hit and it seems they are selling it as fast as they are making it. He continues to beautify the plant and the grounds as funds allow. We often go out there and clean his offices and work the landscaping for him. I am so thankful for his job that he loves. He is very good at what he does and I am very proud of him!!!
I am looking forward to seeing some good friends this summer and of course, I so enjoy riding bikes with Keith and sipping coffee at Rembrandt's. I am thankful for the coming break and pray the Lord will bless our time of transition with Andrew and any other things that are thrown our way. Thanks for stopping by - come and visit any time!
Ya'll have a blessed day!
Chris is finishing up his second year of college. He is one of those students that gets A's with little effort and B's when he is distracted. He has always been gifted with a photographic memory and I am thankful I can rely on him at any time to recall a past event or conversation. It seems he is going to continue majoring in accounting and has his sites set on becoming a CPA. I appreciate him in so many ways, especially as he has been maturing over the last year. He often gives sound advice and I can always count on him to do a job well. I am proud of you, son, for all that you have tackled this year at school and on the job! I pray the Lord's blessing of abundance and holiness upon you.
Our graduating senior, Andrew, will be headed to San Antonio on August 6th to begin his basic training in the United State Air Force. Since he was a toddler, he has always talked about becoming a soldier. As he learned and progressed through Civil Air Patrol, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, he realized the Air Force was the better branch in which to enlist. In fact, since achieving 2nd Lieutenant, he will be able to enlist as an E-3, which is the equivalent of serving about two years. He has been assigned the job of tactical aircraft crewchief. Although at first he had hoped to land the broadcasting position he auditioned for, he has become very excited about the idea of working with the fighter jets. He has been teaching himself some computer programming in his spare time, and has even built a couple of computers from scratch. It is amazing what someone will do when they want to do it. I still say he has a fabulous radio voice, but that can wait for later. I am proud to have a son willing to serve our country and I pray the Lord will place a shield of protection around him and his comrades. Job well done, Andrew!
Michael has been an excellent student this year. He seems to earn A's almost as easily as Chris. He has always had a gift of drawing, like his father, and has often told me that he finds math to be fun. With those two talents put together, we enrolled him in a drafting class this past fall. His teacher says he is very good at it, and from what I know about Michael, I am certain it comes to him naturally. Out of the four guys, Michael has always had the more beautiful hand writing. Even when he was first learning to write, his penmanship was always very neat an uniform. It seems this auto-cad class has fueled his desire to continue on and he will most likely enroll in college to be a draftsman. I am very proud of you, Michael. I pray the Lord will surround you with Godly friends and instill wisdom into all of your decisions.
James is finishing up his seventh year of school. He does very well in his subjects and always gets smiley faces on his papers. I am thankful for his easy-going nature and his positive attitude. There is no pressure on him yet to make any lasting decisions about the future. For now, he just likes to have fun with his friends and play games. He is eager to gain some height and for his voice to change, but in due time, that will all happen. I have survived three teenage guys and on May 19th, I will be getting the final teen in the home. It has been a pleasure having you as my student, James, and I pray that you will increase in wisdom and Godly character over the coming years.
We have made a short trip to Louisiana a couple of months back. Keith's dad has been having some issues with his health and we wanted to travel as a family of six, since it may be our last time with Andrew's departure. The weather was perfect and we were able to visit with Dad some, but his condition kept it limited. Aunt Tootie spent the day with us and it was wonderful. Aunt Len made her fabulous coconut cake. It had been over six years since we last ate at TJ Ribs and we met several friends there for an evening of good food. We were not disappointed and it was worth the wait.
Last month we accompanied Keith on a business trip to Atlanta. I love Atlanta. It is so clean and full of rich history. I was amazed at how incredibly friendly the people were! Living in the Bible belt has its rewards. One can always depend on getting their heart blessed at any given moment, by any stranger on the street, even in Atlanta! I am looking forward to a return trip to Atlanta for some more sight seeing and good food.
Tax season is over and the flower beds have been begging for attention. Each day, I tackle another project, trying to get things tidied up from the winter. I love watching things come into bloom, with each blossom taking its turn in the spotlight, and then stepping aside to allow another show to begin. The irises are showing off right now. We have tons of them and I can seem some blooming out of almost every window. Yes, I am blessed and I never take one minute of it for granted.
Keith has transitioned quite well to a multi-product plant. The new product is a hit and it seems they are selling it as fast as they are making it. He continues to beautify the plant and the grounds as funds allow. We often go out there and clean his offices and work the landscaping for him. I am so thankful for his job that he loves. He is very good at what he does and I am very proud of him!!!
I am looking forward to seeing some good friends this summer and of course, I so enjoy riding bikes with Keith and sipping coffee at Rembrandt's. I am thankful for the coming break and pray the Lord will bless our time of transition with Andrew and any other things that are thrown our way. Thanks for stopping by - come and visit any time!
Ya'll have a blessed day!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Big Reveal
We finally got our new bathroom. When we first looked at this house over six years ago, we knew the master bathroom was horrid. We figured we would redo it one day, but it just never rose to the top of the list since we knew it would be costly and inconvenient. Thankfully, we now get to enjoy a nice, new bathroom in which Keith and I can be in at the same time. Keith and I were talking and we realized neither of us had ever had a nice bathroom our whole life. Oh, sure, we had better than an outhouse and all of our bathrooms were functional, but none of them were nice.
In Louisiana, our first house was a shack home, built off the ground and very primitive. We were newlyweds and didn't really notice. Our next two homes in Louisiana had very old, small and outdated bathrooms. But upon moving here, we went into an ever smaller bathroom (5' x 8') and constructed with junk fixtures. Keith wanted to just change out the fixtures and flooring, but, well, I am too much of a visionary for that. I kept telling him we needed to wait until we could afford to do it right and make it bigger!
We demolished the wall that separated the bathroom and our closet. Now we had 8' x 11' of space! Keith has a good relationship with a contractor and in less than two weeks, we had a finished bathroom. It was loud and messy and cramped for those two weeks, but so worth it! I still would like to get some wall art and a few other items, but I can wait for those things. It feels so great to have my own sink!!
I wasn't going to post the before pictures because I am so embarrassed of it, but I guess it does have more meaning if you can see the whole story. I praise God for a job done ON BUDGET!!!
Ya'll have a blessed day!
In Louisiana, our first house was a shack home, built off the ground and very primitive. We were newlyweds and didn't really notice. Our next two homes in Louisiana had very old, small and outdated bathrooms. But upon moving here, we went into an ever smaller bathroom (5' x 8') and constructed with junk fixtures. Keith wanted to just change out the fixtures and flooring, but, well, I am too much of a visionary for that. I kept telling him we needed to wait until we could afford to do it right and make it bigger!
We demolished the wall that separated the bathroom and our closet. Now we had 8' x 11' of space! Keith has a good relationship with a contractor and in less than two weeks, we had a finished bathroom. It was loud and messy and cramped for those two weeks, but so worth it! I still would like to get some wall art and a few other items, but I can wait for those things. It feels so great to have my own sink!!
I wasn't going to post the before pictures because I am so embarrassed of it, but I guess it does have more meaning if you can see the whole story. I praise God for a job done ON BUDGET!!!
Ya'll have a blessed day!
Before....
Tiny sink for two....
A roomy shower!
My very own sink with no whiskers in it!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
20
I love the number 20. It is even and round and just a great number, especially today. Today, Keith and I have been married 20 years. Whew! In some ways, that is a LONG time, and in other ways, it seems so short. I feel like I have always been married, or at least I feel like my married life has been the most meaningful. We have had our share of bumps and victories, but ultimately, the Lord has been the glue, the duct tape and the substance that makes it all worthwhile.
Keith and I met at work in Maryland. He even remembers when I came in for the job interview with my hair in a bun, glasses on and briefcase in hand. I so wanted this job, since it was just down the road from my house. I had been commuting to Washington, D.C. for almost four years and I was anxious to work closer to home. We locked eyes a few times, but I never once thought, "future husband".
I did not believe in dating co-workers and I tried several times to explain this to Keith. I managed to convince him that we could not pursue a relationship, although it was very challenging. Keith would leave little notes on my desk (yes, I still have them) and he would continue to ask me out. I turned him down so many times, I figured he would give up. After nearly two years of this, I finally agreed to shoot pool with him, but only as friends. I made it very clear that we were not dating. We went roller skating, hiking, more games of pool and even out to a nice dinner. It didn't take long and I was sucked into his southern charm and manly cowboy boots. I knew he was coming down the hall by the sound of his boots.
I got to where my heart would flutter when I heard his boots and I knew things were going to be changing. I resisted the best I could, I promise. In as few words as possible, I am going to summarize our first twenty years together:
Chloe, my cat, and I drove to Louisiana, got married and within five months was surprised to be pregnant. Nine months after Chris's birth, another surprise pregnancy with Andrew. Twelve months after Andrew's birth, another shocker pregnancy with Michael. Deep breaths were enjoyed by all while we waited three years to have James. It felt like a whirlwind and I felt as if diapers and nursing bras would never go away.
We grieved some very important peoples' deaths, celebrated a few marriages and births and survived some very rocky roads along the way. God was good all along and we grew closer to Him and each other. We began dating each other again since we never really dated prior to getting married and we have been having lots of fun. The simple things delight us most. Coffee, shopping, hiking and just playing games together. Sometimes we just stay home and enjoy holding hands while on the couch.
I was chatting with a friend the other day and telling her how excited I was about our planned anniversary celebration. We will be staying at a B & B in Chattanooga in our favorite Art District. We go there often and sip coffee, walk the Riverwalk and sometimes get bread. My friend suggested we get bread and eat it in our bed. In a way, that does sound fun, but she was implying that the thrill is gone after twenty years. I wish I could explain it, but I will simply say that Keith still makes my heart flutter. He is my rock, my steady and my best friend.
UPDATE: We had a blast at the Bluffview Inn. We ate at The Back Inn and I thoroughly enjoyed the Icelandic Arctic Char! We walked the Walnut Street Bridge, had Rembrandt's coffee and some lovely chocolate dipped strawberries. The next morning we took a 20 mile bike ride and it was so fun! The used bikes we got last week have proven to be an excellent buy!! We exchanged heartfelt letters and I surprised Keith with a new wedding band. The one he had was showing its age. It had lost its luster, its design was rubbed off, and it looked like it had been through battle....
We enjoyed having an urban style anniversary celebration, but we are so thankful to live in the country. It was very noisy in the city!
Happy Anniversary, my beloved! The best is yet to come!
Keith and I met at work in Maryland. He even remembers when I came in for the job interview with my hair in a bun, glasses on and briefcase in hand. I so wanted this job, since it was just down the road from my house. I had been commuting to Washington, D.C. for almost four years and I was anxious to work closer to home. We locked eyes a few times, but I never once thought, "future husband".
I did not believe in dating co-workers and I tried several times to explain this to Keith. I managed to convince him that we could not pursue a relationship, although it was very challenging. Keith would leave little notes on my desk (yes, I still have them) and he would continue to ask me out. I turned him down so many times, I figured he would give up. After nearly two years of this, I finally agreed to shoot pool with him, but only as friends. I made it very clear that we were not dating. We went roller skating, hiking, more games of pool and even out to a nice dinner. It didn't take long and I was sucked into his southern charm and manly cowboy boots. I knew he was coming down the hall by the sound of his boots.
I got to where my heart would flutter when I heard his boots and I knew things were going to be changing. I resisted the best I could, I promise. In as few words as possible, I am going to summarize our first twenty years together:
Chloe, my cat, and I drove to Louisiana, got married and within five months was surprised to be pregnant. Nine months after Chris's birth, another surprise pregnancy with Andrew. Twelve months after Andrew's birth, another shocker pregnancy with Michael. Deep breaths were enjoyed by all while we waited three years to have James. It felt like a whirlwind and I felt as if diapers and nursing bras would never go away.
We grieved some very important peoples' deaths, celebrated a few marriages and births and survived some very rocky roads along the way. God was good all along and we grew closer to Him and each other. We began dating each other again since we never really dated prior to getting married and we have been having lots of fun. The simple things delight us most. Coffee, shopping, hiking and just playing games together. Sometimes we just stay home and enjoy holding hands while on the couch.
I was chatting with a friend the other day and telling her how excited I was about our planned anniversary celebration. We will be staying at a B & B in Chattanooga in our favorite Art District. We go there often and sip coffee, walk the Riverwalk and sometimes get bread. My friend suggested we get bread and eat it in our bed. In a way, that does sound fun, but she was implying that the thrill is gone after twenty years. I wish I could explain it, but I will simply say that Keith still makes my heart flutter. He is my rock, my steady and my best friend.
UPDATE: We had a blast at the Bluffview Inn. We ate at The Back Inn and I thoroughly enjoyed the Icelandic Arctic Char! We walked the Walnut Street Bridge, had Rembrandt's coffee and some lovely chocolate dipped strawberries. The next morning we took a 20 mile bike ride and it was so fun! The used bikes we got last week have proven to be an excellent buy!! We exchanged heartfelt letters and I surprised Keith with a new wedding band. The one he had was showing its age. It had lost its luster, its design was rubbed off, and it looked like it had been through battle....
We enjoyed having an urban style anniversary celebration, but we are so thankful to live in the country. It was very noisy in the city!
Happy Anniversary, my beloved! The best is yet to come!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Long & Short of it
We began a new school year, as of Monday. Last week, we took a mini-vacation to Callaway Gardens and had a refreshing time of togetherness and leisure and junk food. Chris had taken on a full-time day job at the beginning of summer and had a night class, so we had no opportunity to take a vacation together. We barely squeezed this one in, but I am glad we did.
Callaway is about a 3 hour drive south from us. The resort information made it sound like a great little getaway, and it was, although I felt like it was rather overpriced. We stayed in a very nice cottage that accommodated us well. The junk we brought along was quite fun: gummy bears, pretzel M & M's, pop-tarts, pop and chips. Yes, you are still reading my blog. I realize it may come as a shock to you, but we do, on occasion, eat junk. I am known to have a penchant for twizzlers and malted milk balls. Stay on topic.... The first thing we did when we arrived was ascertain the skill level and chicken level needed in order to brave their Tree Top Adventure. Three of us ascertained that we were chicken, while we watched in awe, the other three brave souls that zipped across the sky and maneuvered frightening obstacles, all while perched about 50-60 feet off of the ground. The course takes about 90 minutes to complete, so it really did offer a challenge.
The resort had a very nice beach, laser tag, mini-golf (let it go on the record that I won the game we played), ping-pong, kayaking, bike rentals and several lakes. They also had some historic areas, lush gardens and a huge butterfly exhibit. It sprawled across 13,000 acres and was very well kept. Their golf courses looked very professional and manicured. It was not a very exciting vaca, but we all agreed it was just right. The crowds had dissipated and we had the place all to ourselves. The town of Pine Mountain offered some very pleasurable shopping for me, and so my obsession began with my new Thyme's Frasier Fir cleaning spray. I am cleaning things that don't need cleaned, just to catch a whiff of the lovely fir.
Moving on, Andrew was sworn into the United States Air Force and will be called to serve any time after April, 2013. We are still waiting to hear how his screen test went for the radio/broadcast position. He felt like he did really well. The other fellow who screened with him was told to pick another career in the Air Force, so I am thinking they would have told Andrew something similar if his chances didn't look promising. We should know in another week or two. Whatever is in the Lord's will for Andrew, we are fine no matter what.
Chris began his sophomore year in college. I suspect he will prove to be the Ace man again. He makes it look so easy! His photographic memory and attention to detail surely are assets for him. This year, he will be taking some of his business classes since most of his liberal arts subjects have been completed. I think he will find the business classes are much more interesting for him!
Michael has reluctantly signed up for a 3D Drafting class that is being taught by a veteran architect. Michael does not realize it, but being in 10th grade means you need to be thinking about your future. I am praying he will enjoy the class and see the talents the Lord has gifted him in his drawing. His drawing abilities are very impressive and I think this class will spark a few embers that may have been burning coolly.
James continues to play deck hockey with our good friends. He really looks forward to hockey nights and is improving a lot in only one year of playing. It seems he has a better attitude about school this year, and for that I give all of the glory to the Lord.
Keith is knee deep, actually probably deeper than that, in that new expansion I mentioned a while back. It is full steam ahead and he is working longer hours than usual. I know the challenges will be many for him and his crew, but I am praying that the blessings will be more abundant than the problems. I also pray for the safety and prosperity of all involved on this project. I am thinking the next several months will not lack for excitement out there. Lord, please be with them!
I got back my king sized quilt back yesterday from the quilter. I had been working on it early in the summer and it really looks great quilted! I still have to make and apply the binding. It is a remake of the same pattern I used when I made Keith a wedding gift nearly 20 years ago (our anniversary is in September). I guess if the Lord wills it, I will make another one in 20 years for our 40th anniversary. I am looking forward to finishing it and getting it onto our bed and then on to make matching window treatments. This was my first, and hopefully last, king sized quilt. Queen sized and smaller are much easier to manage.... Nonetheless, I am very glad to have made it - it is very special to both of us!!
Libby, our newest family member is really quite something! I've never had a small dog before and I really am enjoying her!! She trained easily and has a very affectionate personality. Everyone that meets her, loves her!! I feel so blessed that we were able to get her!
Yes, indeed, I am enjoying these cooler mornings!! Bring it on!!! Ya'll have a blessed day!!!
Callaway is about a 3 hour drive south from us. The resort information made it sound like a great little getaway, and it was, although I felt like it was rather overpriced. We stayed in a very nice cottage that accommodated us well. The junk we brought along was quite fun: gummy bears, pretzel M & M's, pop-tarts, pop and chips. Yes, you are still reading my blog. I realize it may come as a shock to you, but we do, on occasion, eat junk. I am known to have a penchant for twizzlers and malted milk balls. Stay on topic.... The first thing we did when we arrived was ascertain the skill level and chicken level needed in order to brave their Tree Top Adventure. Three of us ascertained that we were chicken, while we watched in awe, the other three brave souls that zipped across the sky and maneuvered frightening obstacles, all while perched about 50-60 feet off of the ground. The course takes about 90 minutes to complete, so it really did offer a challenge.
The resort had a very nice beach, laser tag, mini-golf (let it go on the record that I won the game we played), ping-pong, kayaking, bike rentals and several lakes. They also had some historic areas, lush gardens and a huge butterfly exhibit. It sprawled across 13,000 acres and was very well kept. Their golf courses looked very professional and manicured. It was not a very exciting vaca, but we all agreed it was just right. The crowds had dissipated and we had the place all to ourselves. The town of Pine Mountain offered some very pleasurable shopping for me, and so my obsession began with my new Thyme's Frasier Fir cleaning spray. I am cleaning things that don't need cleaned, just to catch a whiff of the lovely fir.
Moving on, Andrew was sworn into the United States Air Force and will be called to serve any time after April, 2013. We are still waiting to hear how his screen test went for the radio/broadcast position. He felt like he did really well. The other fellow who screened with him was told to pick another career in the Air Force, so I am thinking they would have told Andrew something similar if his chances didn't look promising. We should know in another week or two. Whatever is in the Lord's will for Andrew, we are fine no matter what.
Chris began his sophomore year in college. I suspect he will prove to be the Ace man again. He makes it look so easy! His photographic memory and attention to detail surely are assets for him. This year, he will be taking some of his business classes since most of his liberal arts subjects have been completed. I think he will find the business classes are much more interesting for him!
Michael has reluctantly signed up for a 3D Drafting class that is being taught by a veteran architect. Michael does not realize it, but being in 10th grade means you need to be thinking about your future. I am praying he will enjoy the class and see the talents the Lord has gifted him in his drawing. His drawing abilities are very impressive and I think this class will spark a few embers that may have been burning coolly.
James continues to play deck hockey with our good friends. He really looks forward to hockey nights and is improving a lot in only one year of playing. It seems he has a better attitude about school this year, and for that I give all of the glory to the Lord.
Keith is knee deep, actually probably deeper than that, in that new expansion I mentioned a while back. It is full steam ahead and he is working longer hours than usual. I know the challenges will be many for him and his crew, but I am praying that the blessings will be more abundant than the problems. I also pray for the safety and prosperity of all involved on this project. I am thinking the next several months will not lack for excitement out there. Lord, please be with them!
Libby, our newest family member is really quite something! I've never had a small dog before and I really am enjoying her!! She trained easily and has a very affectionate personality. Everyone that meets her, loves her!! I feel so blessed that we were able to get her!
Yes, indeed, I am enjoying these cooler mornings!! Bring it on!!! Ya'll have a blessed day!!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Random Randomness
Chris is milking a friend's cow again this week. He has such a great attitude about it and it makes me proud. You can learn right here and now that milking a cow is not done in five minutes. Well, if you have a milking machine, sure. But hand milking? It is an hour long job. A hand cramping hour long JOB. Virginia is a very sweet heifer and is very patient.
Chris is also taking one summer class at college. He needed to reach 30 credit hours in order to qualify for HOPE scholarship funds. It is so nice of the State of Georgia to treat home schoolers in such a discriminatory manner. I loved knowing that all of the government schooled kids get immediate access to HOPE funds. Why is there no outrage over this BLATANT discrimination??? Don't get me started. But, he is taking it like a man and doing so well in college!!!
Andrew is getting closer to the date of his advanced pilot training classes in Del Rio, TX. It should be very fun and educational. He will be staying on the Laughlin Air Force Base and should get to fly the slick little E-1 if he plays his cards right. When he returns, we plan on meeting with the recruiter and getting the ball rolling on his Air Force career. He is hoping to get into Dalton State this fall and take about 15 credits to help him get into the Air Force.... Please, pray for this for us. We need all the prayer we can get!
Michael finished the year with all A's and one B. He is the typical middle child. Easy going, go with the flow and pretty much, he stays out of trouble. He is always quick to apologize for any offenses and he is always the fastest at trying to right any wrongs. I can remember when he was very young, he used to tire me out, but in his teen years, he has been an absolute ANGEL. Thank you, Lord!!!!
James is my constant. He can ride the waves, go with the flow and just be constant through it all. Although he is doing well in his school work, he tends to skip things and avoid things. I have to stay on top of him and really check his work.... Such a weasel.
Keith is still hoping this expansion at the plant is going to happen. The company has invested huge amounts of money in the pre-expansion..... We are only days or weeks away from the final decision. If it be His will, we say bring it on. This would surely open up the opportunity for one of our sons to work there, and of course it would make Keith's plant very attractive. They would be making a newly marketed product that promises to be a profit maker.
I am finally working on our king sized quilt. We've had the same quilt on our bed for almost 19 years and it is showing its age. Our 20th anniversary is in September and so I am doing a remake of the quilt I made for Keith as a wedding gift. I think it is going to be very pretty and will be sure to post a picture once it is completed.
Ok, I've got to get busy - we have Keith's sisters due to arrive tomorrow and there are lots of last minute things to do. I love how deeply cleaned I get the house when people come in to stay!!! Keith and Chris painted our front porch banisters (ARGH, was that a long, tedious job!!!) and we're ready for the glove test! LOL! I am really looking forward to visiting with them! Safe travels, ladies!
Ya'll have a blessed day!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
A Mom Worth Remembering
I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have had a fantastic mom. She was the most selfless and hardest working person I have ever met. Although she has been gone over 22 years now, not a day goes by that I don't think of her. Just about 5 feet high, beckoning brown eye and had one of the best senses of humor on the planet. She and my dad both loved to laugh, and I guess they passed that love of laughter onto their twelve children, because that is how I remember all of our gatherings. Full of laughter. Some people might say she never worked a day in her life, since she never held a paying job. We all know how false that statement would be. I rarely saw her sit down, and she was always the last to eat. She would handwash the dishes every night with no help. Nope, not even from me. I honestly thought she enjoyed it and I rarely offered to help. The kitchen was her domain. I would often cook and bake with her, but cleaning up? Nah. Sorry, mom, I figured you wanted it done your way and by the way you would often sing, I figured you liked it.
In my early years, I remember my mom wore mostly dresses and fancy white gloves. When she started wearing pants, it was the topic of conversation until we were all used to it. Poor thing had to have all of her pants hemmed since she had such short legs. She was always reminding me to sit like a lady and would give table manner lessons to me and my nephews. Good manners were important to her and I can remember her saying often, "you are never too poor, or too rich to have good manners and a good sense of humor." Brilliant.
Mom was a true "stay at home mom". She never obtained a driver's license, which I think probably saved us on car repairs and auto insurance..... That's all I'm going to say about that. But being at home every day was her calling. She loved taking care of the home, taking care of our dad and putting good food on the table. I am sure she complained occasionally, but I simply don't remember much complaining coming from her. Yes, I tend to memorialize her with only the good memories, but to me, she was nearly perfect. She had an easy laugh and a devilishness about her that I have never seen in any other person. To this day, no one has ever come close to being as special as she was to me.
Some of the attributes she had that I am most thankful for are: her humility, her sympathy and her listening and compassionate ear. She never tooted her horn about what she could do, and she would give graciously to others, never asking for anything in return. It seemed like she would listen to me ramble for hours and really listen. And she had this amazing ability to feel your feelings alongside you. In many ways, since I was the youngest, we were so close I often felt as if we were one. Nothing really mattered to me until I shared it with her, even the simplest thing was such fun to share with her. I remember the day I got that dreaded phone call that she had died, I immediately knew my life would never be the same. And it hasn't been. I do praise God, however, that He blessed me with my hubby and four sons. They give me a measure of hope and delight that I could have never known. But, nobody loves you like your mother, and I knew this to be true all of my life.
I praise you, God, for the many gifts you gave me through my mom. She taught me what real, unconditional love was and it lead me to You. I pray for all of my friends whom are mothers and I lift them up to your throne for a special measure of blessing that moms need. Happy Mother's Day, Ya'll!
In my early years, I remember my mom wore mostly dresses and fancy white gloves. When she started wearing pants, it was the topic of conversation until we were all used to it. Poor thing had to have all of her pants hemmed since she had such short legs. She was always reminding me to sit like a lady and would give table manner lessons to me and my nephews. Good manners were important to her and I can remember her saying often, "you are never too poor, or too rich to have good manners and a good sense of humor." Brilliant.
Mom was a true "stay at home mom". She never obtained a driver's license, which I think probably saved us on car repairs and auto insurance..... That's all I'm going to say about that. But being at home every day was her calling. She loved taking care of the home, taking care of our dad and putting good food on the table. I am sure she complained occasionally, but I simply don't remember much complaining coming from her. Yes, I tend to memorialize her with only the good memories, but to me, she was nearly perfect. She had an easy laugh and a devilishness about her that I have never seen in any other person. To this day, no one has ever come close to being as special as she was to me.
Some of the attributes she had that I am most thankful for are: her humility, her sympathy and her listening and compassionate ear. She never tooted her horn about what she could do, and she would give graciously to others, never asking for anything in return. It seemed like she would listen to me ramble for hours and really listen. And she had this amazing ability to feel your feelings alongside you. In many ways, since I was the youngest, we were so close I often felt as if we were one. Nothing really mattered to me until I shared it with her, even the simplest thing was such fun to share with her. I remember the day I got that dreaded phone call that she had died, I immediately knew my life would never be the same. And it hasn't been. I do praise God, however, that He blessed me with my hubby and four sons. They give me a measure of hope and delight that I could have never known. But, nobody loves you like your mother, and I knew this to be true all of my life.
I praise you, God, for the many gifts you gave me through my mom. She taught me what real, unconditional love was and it lead me to You. I pray for all of my friends whom are mothers and I lift them up to your throne for a special measure of blessing that moms need. Happy Mother's Day, Ya'll!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Life on the Bleachers
Typically, I don't go very deep on this blog. I like to chronicle a few things, for the sake of my sons. One day, they will treasure this blog and when that day comes, I hope they also learn a little bit of stuff that will touch their hearts. Most of you don't know this about me, because I keep most private things to myself, but I had arthritis as a child. I had it fairly badly, and I had to sit most of my childhood days on the bleachers. I was in and out of doctors' offices and was admitted to the hospital several times. To my knowledge, they never did determine how I contracted it, but they theorized it may have come from a virus. They were also able to diagnose (I have no idea how) that I would most likely outgrow it when I reached my teens. In my mid teens, I started noticing that I could walk more easily. It came on gradually, but I did notice, nonetheless.
I remember my second grade teacher sent a note home for my mom and wanted to know why I was limping. That's when the fun started. I went to the doctor and he would contort my body this way and that way looking for range of motion. I remember crying my eyes out from how painful it was. He sent us to Pittsburgh for more advanced medical care and I stayed in the hospital for about a week. My roommate taught me how to play 500 Rum and we would play all day, since I was not allowed out of bed. I can remember teams of interns poking on me, getting EKG's and having many tests run. The wheelchair was great fun, though, and was one of my best memories. I learned to not dread the blood tests, the x-rays and the mercury thermometer.
When I returned home, I really wasn't told much, but I would listen to my mom tell her sisters that I had arthritis. My mom was a very empathetic person, and I could tell that she was very worried for me. It was at that point that I decided I would try to hide my pain as much as I could and I would lie to the doctors and act as if everything were okay. I had seen enough in my life from my eleven siblings, and I did not want to be another person making my mom upset. I was only eight years old, so I was not exactly a good actor, but I did decide that I would act as normally as I could. I remember practicing trying to walk without limping, but it hurt so badly, I would often fail. Adults were always asking me why I was walking so funny, and I would shrug them off. I so wanted to be invisible. All of my major joints were affected and I can especially remember that my shoulders, elbows and hips hurt the most, and especially my knees.
In the winter, it seemed to be at its worst. I can remember many snowy mornings, my mom would tiptoe into my room and tell me to stay in bed. She would say I could have the "blue flu" and we would bake cookies and watch Julia Child. I will never forget how soft her voice was when she would come to me in the morning.
Many simple tasks were very challenging for me. I used to hate when my teacher would gather the class to sit on the floor and read stories. Getting on the floor was the worst, and my bones were simply not able to sit "Indian style". I wanted to blend in, not stick out in the crowd. I always made sure I would sit next to a desk so I could use the desk to lift myself up from the floor. I always felt like I was looking around, trying to see if anyone saw how much trouble I was having. If no one was watching, I would feel victorious. Raising my arms to put on a shirt was also on my "worst" list. I made sure I never let anyone see me, especially my mom, putting on a shirt. I am certain it looked very strange, because my arms just could not lift very high. As I recall, those were the two most painful things that I had to deal with, but walking up and down stairs was also quite painful. I would come down slowly so my mom couldn't hear my wincing.
Even though I hated being singled out on the bleachers, I look back on ALL of these things and I am thankful. In fact, I am glad I had arthritis. It taught me so many things, and all of them have proven to make me a much more empathetic person as an adult. I don't dare to think that had I not had arthritis, I might not be as sensitive to others' pains. I am also thankful that I was unable to run like a normal child and do all the things that kids do, because when I was raising my young sons, I would always get out there with them and play. I would get on the slides, swings and climb trees any chance I could. In many ways, I felt like I was being a child along my own children. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the park and climbing all of the great play structures, often for the first time in my life.
When I look back on all of this, I can honestly say, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for teaching me that suffering for a time is nothing compared to how so many people suffer their whole life. You cured me and you made me even better by making my heart softened. You taught me to get out there any play with my sons and enjoy them. And I also thank you for showing me that physical suffering is nothing compared to spiritual suffering."
What I want most for my sons to learn from this is simple: we all have choices to make. Even in adversity, you can choose joy. God has placed challenges in our lives for a purpose:
"And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. " Romans 5:2-4
God bless each of you in your afflictions, and may He give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.
I remember my second grade teacher sent a note home for my mom and wanted to know why I was limping. That's when the fun started. I went to the doctor and he would contort my body this way and that way looking for range of motion. I remember crying my eyes out from how painful it was. He sent us to Pittsburgh for more advanced medical care and I stayed in the hospital for about a week. My roommate taught me how to play 500 Rum and we would play all day, since I was not allowed out of bed. I can remember teams of interns poking on me, getting EKG's and having many tests run. The wheelchair was great fun, though, and was one of my best memories. I learned to not dread the blood tests, the x-rays and the mercury thermometer.
When I returned home, I really wasn't told much, but I would listen to my mom tell her sisters that I had arthritis. My mom was a very empathetic person, and I could tell that she was very worried for me. It was at that point that I decided I would try to hide my pain as much as I could and I would lie to the doctors and act as if everything were okay. I had seen enough in my life from my eleven siblings, and I did not want to be another person making my mom upset. I was only eight years old, so I was not exactly a good actor, but I did decide that I would act as normally as I could. I remember practicing trying to walk without limping, but it hurt so badly, I would often fail. Adults were always asking me why I was walking so funny, and I would shrug them off. I so wanted to be invisible. All of my major joints were affected and I can especially remember that my shoulders, elbows and hips hurt the most, and especially my knees.
In the winter, it seemed to be at its worst. I can remember many snowy mornings, my mom would tiptoe into my room and tell me to stay in bed. She would say I could have the "blue flu" and we would bake cookies and watch Julia Child. I will never forget how soft her voice was when she would come to me in the morning.
Many simple tasks were very challenging for me. I used to hate when my teacher would gather the class to sit on the floor and read stories. Getting on the floor was the worst, and my bones were simply not able to sit "Indian style". I wanted to blend in, not stick out in the crowd. I always made sure I would sit next to a desk so I could use the desk to lift myself up from the floor. I always felt like I was looking around, trying to see if anyone saw how much trouble I was having. If no one was watching, I would feel victorious. Raising my arms to put on a shirt was also on my "worst" list. I made sure I never let anyone see me, especially my mom, putting on a shirt. I am certain it looked very strange, because my arms just could not lift very high. As I recall, those were the two most painful things that I had to deal with, but walking up and down stairs was also quite painful. I would come down slowly so my mom couldn't hear my wincing.
Even though I hated being singled out on the bleachers, I look back on ALL of these things and I am thankful. In fact, I am glad I had arthritis. It taught me so many things, and all of them have proven to make me a much more empathetic person as an adult. I don't dare to think that had I not had arthritis, I might not be as sensitive to others' pains. I am also thankful that I was unable to run like a normal child and do all the things that kids do, because when I was raising my young sons, I would always get out there with them and play. I would get on the slides, swings and climb trees any chance I could. In many ways, I felt like I was being a child along my own children. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the park and climbing all of the great play structures, often for the first time in my life.
When I look back on all of this, I can honestly say, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for teaching me that suffering for a time is nothing compared to how so many people suffer their whole life. You cured me and you made me even better by making my heart softened. You taught me to get out there any play with my sons and enjoy them. And I also thank you for showing me that physical suffering is nothing compared to spiritual suffering."
What I want most for my sons to learn from this is simple: we all have choices to make. Even in adversity, you can choose joy. God has placed challenges in our lives for a purpose:
"And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. " Romans 5:2-4
God bless each of you in your afflictions, and may He give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Monday, February 13, 2012
A Friendly Game of Tag
Tag, you are it! I thought it would be fun to make a top 10 list and tag a couple of my blogging friends for them to make a top 10 list as well. Jowanna might need to get a new password because she hasn't blogged in years, but maybe she could just make one top 10 list for us to enjoy. Keep it simple, light-hearted and enjoy! You can make as many lists as you want, but, please at least make one. I really would love to know a top 10 list you hold dear!
Oh, and I tag the following bloggers: Sam, Susan (come out of the cobwebs!), Michelle O., Jowanna (surely you can make one little list), Dale (yes, you can!), Jimmy, Kris B., Joe, Jill, Journee and anyone else who needs to lighten things up a bit. I can't wait to see what you wrote!
My Top 10 Female Actresses:
1. Meryl Streep (she captivates me)
2. Judy Dench (Oh, my, she just has it)
3. Betty White (I like her devilish side and she reminds me of my mom)
4. Andy McDowell (she personifies the girl next door)
5. Sally Field (go ahead and watch Places in The Heart again, you'll see)
6. Julia Roberts (old Julia, not her new stuff)
7. Keri Russell (The Magic of Ordinary Days)
8. Dolly Parton (I know she's not much of an actress, but when she acts, I love to watch her)
9. Renee Zelweger (before all the plastic surgery)
10. Kathy Bates (she ain't purty, but she can act!)
Top 10 Actors
1. Skeet Ulrich (The Magic of Ordinary Days, and you will be hooked)
2. Steve Martin ('nough said - he's genious!)
3. Harrison Ford (he makes every movie what it is)
4. Johnny Depp (I know, he is a bad boy, but I like his acting abilities)
5. Liam Neeson (no one can resist that accent and his tallness)
6. Tom Hanks (he is just a great actor, but don't care for his politics)
7. Jon Voight (just for his political views, I had to add him; plus he's a good actor)
8. Gerard Depardieu (I just loved him in Green Card!)
9. Cuba Gooding, Jr. (He was superb in Radio and Snow Dogs, as simple as it is, was very fun to watch)
10. Charlton Heston (HIS VOICE!!! Oh, my, that voice!)
If I get time later, I will add a few more lists. I've got to get to school. I hope some of you will play along and I look forward to reading your lists! You can make any list you want!
Have a blessed day!
Oh, and I tag the following bloggers: Sam, Susan (come out of the cobwebs!), Michelle O., Jowanna (surely you can make one little list), Dale (yes, you can!), Jimmy, Kris B., Joe, Jill, Journee and anyone else who needs to lighten things up a bit. I can't wait to see what you wrote!
My Top 10 Female Actresses:
1. Meryl Streep (she captivates me)
2. Judy Dench (Oh, my, she just has it)
3. Betty White (I like her devilish side and she reminds me of my mom)
4. Andy McDowell (she personifies the girl next door)
5. Sally Field (go ahead and watch Places in The Heart again, you'll see)
6. Julia Roberts (old Julia, not her new stuff)
7. Keri Russell (The Magic of Ordinary Days)
8. Dolly Parton (I know she's not much of an actress, but when she acts, I love to watch her)
9. Renee Zelweger (before all the plastic surgery)
10. Kathy Bates (she ain't purty, but she can act!)
Top 10 Actors
1. Skeet Ulrich (The Magic of Ordinary Days, and you will be hooked)
2. Steve Martin ('nough said - he's genious!)
3. Harrison Ford (he makes every movie what it is)
4. Johnny Depp (I know, he is a bad boy, but I like his acting abilities)
5. Liam Neeson (no one can resist that accent and his tallness)
6. Tom Hanks (he is just a great actor, but don't care for his politics)
7. Jon Voight (just for his political views, I had to add him; plus he's a good actor)
8. Gerard Depardieu (I just loved him in Green Card!)
9. Cuba Gooding, Jr. (He was superb in Radio and Snow Dogs, as simple as it is, was very fun to watch)
10. Charlton Heston (HIS VOICE!!! Oh, my, that voice!)
If I get time later, I will add a few more lists. I've got to get to school. I hope some of you will play along and I look forward to reading your lists! You can make any list you want!
Have a blessed day!
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Winter of our Discontent
Winter, if you could call it that, has been a huge let down for me this year. Last year we had roughly nine snowfalls. I love winter. I anticipate the possibility of a flurry or even some accumulation. I search the weather channel daily, hoping to see a little snowflake emblem. When we lived in Louisiana, I would often call home to Pennsylvania to live vicariously through my family and friends. I wanted details about how much snow they were getting, how much was on the ground and how much were they expecting. In some ways, it was euphoric. It reminded me of days long ago when I would spend the winter sledding and sliding and frolicking about with my dear friends. Hot chocolate, warming your mittens on the heater and rosy, red cheeks were the daily norm. This winter has been strange. It has been grey and dreary and thundery and WARM. Last night the wind was whipping about and flashes of lightening lit up the room. The storms sent Levi, our dog, into a panic and kept me awake.
As I lay awake, listening to the storm, it dawned on me that spring could very easily arrive early and then we could get hit with some frost, thus killing our any new greenery. I really hope that doesn't happen, because that would mean we were not only robbed of our winter, but may also be robbed of our spring.
I know you can't control the weather, but this is one time I wish I could. I would send a blustery day, full of large, wet snowflakes. I want to make some snowballs and some snowmen. I want to slide down our hill at least once. Just once, that is all I ask. There is still hope, but if we Georgians get slighted, we will look ahead to next winter with hope.
I hope you are enjoying your winter time! Here's to gumbo weather for all!
As I lay awake, listening to the storm, it dawned on me that spring could very easily arrive early and then we could get hit with some frost, thus killing our any new greenery. I really hope that doesn't happen, because that would mean we were not only robbed of our winter, but may also be robbed of our spring.
I know you can't control the weather, but this is one time I wish I could. I would send a blustery day, full of large, wet snowflakes. I want to make some snowballs and some snowmen. I want to slide down our hill at least once. Just once, that is all I ask. There is still hope, but if we Georgians get slighted, we will look ahead to next winter with hope.
I hope you are enjoying your winter time! Here's to gumbo weather for all!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Epic Milestones
At least they are epic to us. Chris turned 18 this month, graduated from high school and finished his first semester of college. Epic, I tell you, epic. We now have three adult aged people in the house, and occasionally, one or two of us will act like an adult, but never simultaneously... That would be too dull. Chris registered to vote and got his adult driver's license all on the same day. Epic.
Andrew now has his learner's permit and is working hard towards earning his Mitchell promotion in Civil Air Patrol. This will give him the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, an officer, and will give him the epic ability to enlist in the United States Air Force as an E3, which is the equivalent to being in the Air Force for about two years. They will even register him as having served for two years, thus allowing him many benefits and privileges. Epic and honoring, all at once... at least to me.
Michael finished out his first semester of high school with great success. He is not certain what direction he wants to take later in life, and thankfully, he doesn't have to decide yet. He has really blossomed into a young man lately and is so honoring and respectful to me and Keith. He has such a good heart and still adores James in an epic way.
James is playing rink hockey (I know this is very surprising, especially if you know James) but he loves it. He has scored two goals and has some assists. I think he prefers playing defense, but is flexible and and humble enough to play where needed. We try to all go as a family and cheer him on each week. Epic.
Keith, now well into his 50th year, cackle, cackle, has the plant looking and running epically. He has changed virtually every building, railroad track, vessel, gear and all that other plant stuff over the nearly five years he has been there. If you could see all of the before and after pictures, you would be epically impressed. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but this time it looks more tangible: an expansion is on the books!!! The company has hired an architect firm and some engineers to begin the early phase of expanding. This would be epic, indeed. It would also open the door of opportunity to one or more of our sons to work with their dad at the plant. Epic.
Me? Nothing epic to report, but I do feel in my heart that I am blessed beyond epic proportions. We are all healthy, we have fabulous friends, and we are not hungry. I've made a few quilts this fall and knitted a few things here and there, but mainly I dedicate much of my life to completing this marathon of being a mom at home. Perhaps that is sort of epic, but for now I will simply call it life.
Happy New Year to all of you! I pray for health and wisdom for each of you, and if you are lucky, maybe you will also have an epic year.
Andrew now has his learner's permit and is working hard towards earning his Mitchell promotion in Civil Air Patrol. This will give him the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, an officer, and will give him the epic ability to enlist in the United States Air Force as an E3, which is the equivalent to being in the Air Force for about two years. They will even register him as having served for two years, thus allowing him many benefits and privileges. Epic and honoring, all at once... at least to me.
Michael finished out his first semester of high school with great success. He is not certain what direction he wants to take later in life, and thankfully, he doesn't have to decide yet. He has really blossomed into a young man lately and is so honoring and respectful to me and Keith. He has such a good heart and still adores James in an epic way.
James is playing rink hockey (I know this is very surprising, especially if you know James) but he loves it. He has scored two goals and has some assists. I think he prefers playing defense, but is flexible and and humble enough to play where needed. We try to all go as a family and cheer him on each week. Epic.
Keith, now well into his 50th year, cackle, cackle, has the plant looking and running epically. He has changed virtually every building, railroad track, vessel, gear and all that other plant stuff over the nearly five years he has been there. If you could see all of the before and after pictures, you would be epically impressed. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but this time it looks more tangible: an expansion is on the books!!! The company has hired an architect firm and some engineers to begin the early phase of expanding. This would be epic, indeed. It would also open the door of opportunity to one or more of our sons to work with their dad at the plant. Epic.
Me? Nothing epic to report, but I do feel in my heart that I am blessed beyond epic proportions. We are all healthy, we have fabulous friends, and we are not hungry. I've made a few quilts this fall and knitted a few things here and there, but mainly I dedicate much of my life to completing this marathon of being a mom at home. Perhaps that is sort of epic, but for now I will simply call it life.
Happy New Year to all of you! I pray for health and wisdom for each of you, and if you are lucky, maybe you will also have an epic year.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
WINNER!
I typed in all of the names using random.org's raffle feature. It really was quite easy if you ever need to do something similarly. The winner is Marj Thomas! Marj please e-mail me so I will know you have received this information. I have your address and will ship the quilt as soon as I get the binding applied.... I got it back from the quilter yesterday and it looks fabulous!!! I really think you will love it.
MANY, MANY thanks to all who helped me to multiply the amount I was able to give. It really is a blessing to know so many compassionate, generous people. I give all of the glory to God for equipping each of us in this loving endeavor. Let us continue to pray for this family.
God Bless you all!
MANY, MANY thanks to all who helped me to multiply the amount I was able to give. It really is a blessing to know so many compassionate, generous people. I give all of the glory to God for equipping each of us in this loving endeavor. Let us continue to pray for this family.
God Bless you all!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Quilt Raffle Closed!
Please do not send any more contributions - the quilt raffle has been closed! We have gathered a total of $530 to bless the Hooker family!! I am so full of sincere gratitude and thankfulness from each of you who contributed! I truly wish I could send each of you a homemade gift, but I think my husband would kill me. I will use random.org to shuffle all of the names and I will announce a winner in the morning!!
Again, thank you so very much! I am overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness!
God Bless each of you!!!
Many thanks,
Elizabeth
Again, thank you so very much! I am overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness!
God Bless each of you!!!
Many thanks,
Elizabeth
Monday, November 7, 2011
Quilt Raffle to benefit local family
Dear friends, our home school community was rocked last month at the sudden death of a dear home school mom to five daughters. Christina was the Proverbial woman in every sense. I only met her a few times, but everyone who knew her echoes the same sentiment about her. She was an adoring wife to Christian, whom is no doubt devastated with her loss. Although I did not know her well, several of my close friends are in deep mourning. I have been praying and praying for all of them and have felt so helpless. I would imagine any monetary help is greatly appreciated and I think a raffle would increase the amount our family could contribute to them. Please consider a $10 donation and you also get a chance to win this quilt. For every $10 you donate, you will get another chance. $50 would be five chances!!!
Here is the quilt:
It would be perfect for any young girl or teen, or any young at heart woman. The blocks contain unique graphics of a girl or princess, and is a 60" square. It is very whimsical and HAPPY!! I pieced this by hand using fabric from our local quilt store, Sew Bee It!, and will have it professionally machine quilted. The quilt will be back from the quilter on December 13th and I will then apply the binding, having it completed in time for a Christmas gift!
I can receive entries up until the 13th of December and will announce a winner on Wednesday, the 14th in the morning. Please e-mail me and I will forward my mailing address so you can send a check, or click the "chip-in" button and pay with Paypal.
Thank you so much for helping this family. 100% of all donation money will go directly to the Hooker family. God Bless you all!
Ps: I will ship the quilt anywhere in the US at no charge. If this quilt is not your style, donate anyway and I will give the quilt to the Hooker family. Thanks!
Here is the quilt:
It would be perfect for any young girl or teen, or any young at heart woman. The blocks contain unique graphics of a girl or princess, and is a 60" square. It is very whimsical and HAPPY!! I pieced this by hand using fabric from our local quilt store, Sew Bee It!, and will have it professionally machine quilted. The quilt will be back from the quilter on December 13th and I will then apply the binding, having it completed in time for a Christmas gift!
I can receive entries up until the 13th of December and will announce a winner on Wednesday, the 14th in the morning. Please e-mail me and I will forward my mailing address so you can send a check, or click the "chip-in" button and pay with Paypal.
Thank you so much for helping this family. 100% of all donation money will go directly to the Hooker family. God Bless you all!
Ps: I will ship the quilt anywhere in the US at no charge. If this quilt is not your style, donate anyway and I will give the quilt to the Hooker family. Thanks!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A Date to Remember
Last night, Keith and I attended "A Date to Remember". It is put on by the same people who organize "A Weekend to Remember". It is just a fun time for married couples to sit back and enjoy a good laugh about marriage. Mark Gungor was the main speaker and he had our cheeks hurting from laughter! He has written several books and has videos out as well. I would say he is best known for his, "Laugh Your Way to a Happier Marriage". Yes, you will laugh, and then you will wonder if he has been secretly video taping you and your husband.... He just knows the male/female characteristics so well and can find the humor in it all. Check him out on the web - he has several little things you can listen to at no cost. I will never look at smiley faces the same way again.... Oh, and please pray for his wife whom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
I also wanted to put in a plug for Chick-fil-A. They sponsored the event and went ALL OUT! As you know, they are strong Christians. They put their money and their feet where their mouth is: they want strong Christian families! The president of Chick-fil-A and his brother briefly spoke last night, and offered a prayer. I was most impressed with them and think I may have to start choosing Chick-fil-A over Bojangles.... The kids might not be too happy about this, but we need to support people who are trying to make a positive difference in our society, for His glory.
A big thank you to First Things First and Chick-fil-A for a lovely evening with the hubby. Chris will be thrilled when I take him to get the two free chicken sandwiches that were handed out last night.
I also wanted to put in a plug for Chick-fil-A. They sponsored the event and went ALL OUT! As you know, they are strong Christians. They put their money and their feet where their mouth is: they want strong Christian families! The president of Chick-fil-A and his brother briefly spoke last night, and offered a prayer. I was most impressed with them and think I may have to start choosing Chick-fil-A over Bojangles.... The kids might not be too happy about this, but we need to support people who are trying to make a positive difference in our society, for His glory.
A big thank you to First Things First and Chick-fil-A for a lovely evening with the hubby. Chris will be thrilled when I take him to get the two free chicken sandwiches that were handed out last night.
Monday, October 10, 2011
I Protest!
All I have to say about those goons on Wall Street are this: you are protesting the wrong people. It was Obama that bailed out Wall Street, go protest HIM. His failed policies are the reason unemployment remains high. I guarantee if we repealed Obummercare, the job market would surge. That MESS of a law has killed jobs and has INCREASED health insurance costs. Our health insurance premiums DOUBLED last year and I am scared to see what they are going to be this year. Obama said our health insurance premiums would go down and we should ask our employer for a raise. What a joke! And these Wall Street people are trashing the place, being lawless and saying such nice things as, "Eat the Rich". Such friendly folks.
EVERY time the Tea Party held a rally, they cleaned up when they were finished and NONE were ever arrested. NONE. I believe in a good protest, but some common sense manners and consideration should be paramount.
Oh, and while I am at it, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY endorse Mr. Herman Cain! He is the real deal!! I've been listening to him on the radio for over five years and he is not only brilliant, but he is a fine man. He is genuine and compassionate. If you have never gotten to know him, please check him out. I guarantee you will like him!
EVERY time the Tea Party held a rally, they cleaned up when they were finished and NONE were ever arrested. NONE. I believe in a good protest, but some common sense manners and consideration should be paramount.
Oh, and while I am at it, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY endorse Mr. Herman Cain! He is the real deal!! I've been listening to him on the radio for over five years and he is not only brilliant, but he is a fine man. He is genuine and compassionate. If you have never gotten to know him, please check him out. I guarantee you will like him!
Two Month Blog Hiatus
Hello ya'll! I am guessing nobody really reads this thing anymore, especially since I haven't posted in over two months. It has simply been an interesting period in our lives. Chris began college the first week of August. He is doing amazingly well and I am so proud of him! Dalton State is known for being a "hard" school, and he has risen to the challenge. Chris is a natural scholar and just seems to do well effortlessly. He is also a natural accountant and will be one of the best!
Andrew and Michael are in high school. Andrew is trying to get the credits he needs to enlist in the Air Force this spring, which would put him heading to boot camp in the summer of 2014. He will also enroll in Dalton State next year to get a few college credits under his belt. The Air Force likes you to have a minimum of 15 college credits. Michael is still undecided about his future plans, and that is okay! There is plenty of time,Lord willing.
James is devouring books right now. Who'd of thought that?? He is also partaking in playing some good old fashioned rink hockey. He really loves it, which just surprises us. He is the least aggressive child we have, but he loves the hockey. I am thankful for some fabulous friends that run it and mentor James each week.
Keith and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary last month. In some ways it seems like we have always been together and in other ways, it seems like yesterday. I love being married, although it isn't always easy. We do hit many peaks and valleys, but the Lord has blessed us with an unshakable commitment. I am incredibly thankful for Keith and his loving support.
Me? Well, I will spare you the details, but I have been having an interesting time lately. I could group about 10 negative experiences I have endured over the last two months, between sever back pain to teenagers to teenagers and then more teenagers and throw in some bumps in the road and, well, it has been interesting. But the Lord is faithful. His mercies are new every morning. I rest upon Him and begin each day with Him and pray for the best. Teenagers. They are an interesting breed. I hope they don't kill me.
Andrew and Michael are in high school. Andrew is trying to get the credits he needs to enlist in the Air Force this spring, which would put him heading to boot camp in the summer of 2014. He will also enroll in Dalton State next year to get a few college credits under his belt. The Air Force likes you to have a minimum of 15 college credits. Michael is still undecided about his future plans, and that is okay! There is plenty of time,Lord willing.
James is devouring books right now. Who'd of thought that?? He is also partaking in playing some good old fashioned rink hockey. He really loves it, which just surprises us. He is the least aggressive child we have, but he loves the hockey. I am thankful for some fabulous friends that run it and mentor James each week.
Keith and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary last month. In some ways it seems like we have always been together and in other ways, it seems like yesterday. I love being married, although it isn't always easy. We do hit many peaks and valleys, but the Lord has blessed us with an unshakable commitment. I am incredibly thankful for Keith and his loving support.
Me? Well, I will spare you the details, but I have been having an interesting time lately. I could group about 10 negative experiences I have endured over the last two months, between sever back pain to teenagers to teenagers and then more teenagers and throw in some bumps in the road and, well, it has been interesting. But the Lord is faithful. His mercies are new every morning. I rest upon Him and begin each day with Him and pray for the best. Teenagers. They are an interesting breed. I hope they don't kill me.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Some Things are so Overrated
For instance, stainless steel appliances. Sure, they look great and they do add value to your home, but they are highly overrated. They smudge so easily and cost upwards of $200+ more per appliance just to have a stainless front. Every single time you touch them, the fingerprints look awful. If we weren't planning on selling in about 4 years, I would be perfectly content with white!
Front loader washing machines. Again, they look amazing. But they harbor skanky water in the door rim. They don't really clean any better than traditional washers and they cost LOTS more. The pedestals cost over $200 each, and you totally need them, unless you are REALLY short. I will not be buying them again, that is for sure. If it hadn't been for the great deal we got on repo units, no way would I have forked out the cash for these.
Granite counter tops. We don't have these, but based on horror stories I have heard, I am thankful this was one status symbol I didn't buy into. They crack and dull easily. You can see fingerprints very easily. They need sealed twice a year and they are WAY pricey!
It is unfortunate our society has become obsessed with status symbols that seemingly represent that you have money. Our parents were so content years ago with much less. They would get their broken appliances repaired and make them last. Now we just dispose of everything and get a new one.
What overrated item did you purchase that you wish you hadn't? I'd love to have your wisdom!
Front loader washing machines. Again, they look amazing. But they harbor skanky water in the door rim. They don't really clean any better than traditional washers and they cost LOTS more. The pedestals cost over $200 each, and you totally need them, unless you are REALLY short. I will not be buying them again, that is for sure. If it hadn't been for the great deal we got on repo units, no way would I have forked out the cash for these.
Granite counter tops. We don't have these, but based on horror stories I have heard, I am thankful this was one status symbol I didn't buy into. They crack and dull easily. You can see fingerprints very easily. They need sealed twice a year and they are WAY pricey!
It is unfortunate our society has become obsessed with status symbols that seemingly represent that you have money. Our parents were so content years ago with much less. They would get their broken appliances repaired and make them last. Now we just dispose of everything and get a new one.
What overrated item did you purchase that you wish you hadn't? I'd love to have your wisdom!
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