Public Notice

Be all ye here informed.

I will no longer be traveling to the other side of town due to the traffic snarled that have ensued because of the million dollar study that led the powers to be to spend years "improving" what can only ever be a two lane ingress and egress between the two sections of our town. 

If you need me, you know where to find me.  

Disclaimer....due in part to some directional difficulties of the writer she is unaware as to the direction of either section of town.  North? South? Northeast? Northwest?  Please don't hold it against me.  The Pennsylvania hills make it challenging.  Or at least that is the excuse I am sticking with. 

A Message from the Divine?

Over the years I have heard of images appearing in clouds, trees, even on toast.  This morning I had an experience I won't soon forget.  When I staggered to make my breakfast as I always do in the wee hours of morn, I opened the pantry door.  As I grabbed for my container of oatmeal (Grandpa you should be so proud of me eating oatmeal every day!) I dropped it on the floor.  The end result was as follows:

As I wearily grabbed the broom and dustpan to clean it up, this appear to me in the flakes, no hulls, no meal, whatever you call a single oatmeal piece.

I will heed this warning and urge others to do the same.

New BFF

As you may or may not know, I have always enjoyed brushing my teeth.  Sometimes perhaps I go at it a little too vigorously and after advice of my dentist have been trying to remedy this in the last few years (much to my gums' happiness).  Last July after having braces cemented to my teeth, having clean teeth became even more important to me.  No one understands "Do I have any food in my teeth?" better than my husband after me eating something containing spinach while wearing braces.  It wasn't pretty.

To sum up.....me....teeth clean freak....braces....even freakier....always looking for new and improved methods of cleaning.

Enter.....last year's Mother's Day gift.  Some mothers may want expensive chocolate, diamonds, perfumes, but not me.  I asked for a powered toothbrush that I had been admiring from a distance at the dentist office.  I can be a bit shy at first, warming up slowly to someone before smothering them with my needy personality so shifted into a snail's pace.  I held the sample in my hand, even went so far as to take a coupon home.  But I waited, wondering if I was worth it.  Weighing the pros and cons.  Also unfortunately she was a wee bit expensive.  The term champagne tastes on a beer income comes to mind.  But on Mother's Day when asked what I wanted, I threw it out there.  "Really?" my husband asked.  "Yes.  I am ready to take the plunge."

Enter....my new BFF.  I love her.  She has been there for me morning, afternoon and night.  Actually anytime that I feel the need to be freshened up.  At first I was a bit sensitive to her moves.  Apparently I have ticklish lips.  Now we have settled into a well-oiled give and take relationship.   Okay,  I am taking most of the time, but she is just so doggone generous.  She gently massages my gums and cleans my teeth, even late at night when I don't have the energy to offer much.   I just prop myself against the wall and let her have at it.

Best....Mother's....Day....gift....ever.  The gift that keeps on cleaning?

Here's a couple shots of us doing what BFFs do...sipping tea and laughing at the Facebook posts.

Double or Nothing

My sister in law, Rose, has a wonderful father.  He is sweet, full of life and fun to be around.  I thought of him tonight as he taught high school English for an unknown number of years and was often heard to recite the importance of the 5 P's.  His P's are as follows:  Proper planning prevents poor performance.  Words of wisdom, me thinks.   

I thought of him as I was standing at the kitchen counter placing pasta in baggies filled with alcohol and dye, my mind wandered as it does.  Sometimes my mind wanders somewhat similar to the pathway taken by the little children in the popular comic, The Family Circus.  This way.  That way.  Here.  There.  Everywhere. 

Anyhow, my mind wandered his 5 P's which I altered to the 10 P's related to my task.  Proper planning prepares pretty pink partially purple pasta por preschool.  Not 5, but 10.  I doubled it.  Yea baby. 

Okay. I may be stretching it with the por. 

Here's a picture of my inspiration:   Pretty pasta por preschool.

I want to end with a P word that means AWESOME but my brain can't wander in that direction.  Please insert own P word here.


'ppreciate it.

Boo!

 

Here are Ben Obi Wan Kenobi (yes it is a modified Duck Dynasty beard).  Apparently Obi Wan discovered Grecian formula in his older years.  Then there is Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings.  After trick or treating Ethan returned and exclaimed, "I AM NOT DUMBLEDORE!"  I guess he was a victim of mistaken identity.   Finally we have Bob Chandler.  Who you say?  Well, Will's best buddy Ethan has enlightened him to the ways of said B. Chandler, the inventor of Bigfoot, the first monster truck.  Will did not want to wear a beard but was tickled to carry Big Foot 5 around town...complete with working headlights and a license plate.  Oh yeah!

Don't Sign Me Up

The alarm goes off and after several hits of the snooze button I emerge, sleepy-eyed and not quite at my best mental game.  I meander to the kitchen to turn on the tea kettle then if I need to be somewhere that day I make my way to the shower. 

It's true.  I shower every day.  People could say I am a clean person because of it.  However, the recent conversations I have been privy to have informed me that I am dirty on the inside. 

Cleanses.  Everybody seems to be doing them.  10 day.  25 day.  I am sure there are more days.  You have special drinks and can only eat certain things for a certain length of time.  All this to rid yourself of your inner toxins.  Toxins?  Who knew? 

My toxins have been serving me well thus far.  Maybe I don't want to see them go.  My toxins and I are on a first name basis.  We have a co-dependent relationship.  What oh what would we do without one another? An image comes to mind of the birds that live on hippos and eat the parasites off of the hippos.  I guess I don't really like comparing myself to a hippopotamus, but you get the idea.

Perhaps I am just living in my bubble that I don't really need an inner cleanse.  Am I in denial?  Maybe.  That and I don't want to fork over hundreds of dollars to stock my refrigerator with "Fiber Drinks".  Sounds delicious. 

Until the test results come back "positive" for my inner toxicity, I will choose to carry on drinking tea, eating vegetables when possible and sneaking treats here and there. 

 Toxins Smoxins.  What evs.

Reluctant Hostess

I am not the hostess with the mostest.

Unless it is the hostess with the mostest anxiety.

Hello my name is Sally and I am a nervous hostess.  I worry that everyone is having a good time.  I worry that the food is good.  I worry that the kids are behaving properly.  I worry that the house is clean. 

The other day as I was walking with an empty stroller to pick up Will from preschool (only two comments this time..."Where's the baby? and "You forgot your baby.")  I was pondering....where are all the parties?  Why are we not partying more? 

I decided it was due in part to certain friends moving.  The party planners.  The organizers.  The "hey come on over and hang we will make due with bugles and wine" people. 

I think to myself, "I need to take a lesson from them."  Mind you, slow, methodical lessons.  I plan, I mull it over and see what I think.  Usually I do this for so long and the event calling for the party has come and gone.

I tell my husband that I am a "thinker" and "planner"  "follow througher" not so much. 

Rolling around in my brain currently..."Pumpkin Party"  maybe....maybe not.  One week and a half until Halloween.  I'm sure I can think up until the time for trick or treating.

Looking back I didn't plan to use so many quotations this post.  Just "happened".

Changes Changes

I am not really a blogger.

I mean, I blog.

But really....don't feel I can categorize myself amongst the true bloggers who actually know what they are doing.

I fell into this act based on advice from dear writer friend, Kim who said, "Go ahead. You should do it."  So I did.

I don't play around with my site.  Sometimes I open up the layout button and just start clicking things to see what happens.  Perhaps I should invest in a "Blogging for dummies" book because, as I admitted earlier, I don't really blog.

Somehow now I have changed my background to big.  Okay, fine.  No worries.  I will make it look intentional for Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

Somehow now I have removed a picture of Ben, that in all honesty I didn't even know was there until I saw it today.  Oops.  Gone. 

Also little tools that I don't know what they mean....perhaps to the tech savvy they mean something important...they have disappeared.  Farewell.  Didn't know what you meant anyhow.

I am feeling a bit weary carrying the title "Jack of all Trades Master (or Mistress) of none".  There seems to be a lack of time and enthusiasm to do much of anything or of mastering (mistressing?) anything. 

Blah.

Oh fraggle, those little tools are still there. Are they supposed to be there? How do I get rid of them?

Feeling like I want to lay in bed and stare at the ceiling for hours.  Perhaps I can master that.

Strange Noises Heard Around the House

 

 

If you hear some strange sounds coming from our house, it might be......the newest trumpeteer, our ten year old.  Here's a look at practice time.  You may not hear anything because I can't seem to make the sounds.  Stay tuned.  I will keep working on it.

 

 

First Grade

In case any one needed a good chuckle for the day, I have been practicing my scanning skills.  (I have been thinking that it is very important for my tech man, Kevin, not to feel too needed around here.)  During this process I came across this beauty of me in First Grade. 

 

My uneven bangs tells me that perhaps my mother was trying to save money by doing it herself.  Also, thrifty Sarah, made the dress which I have in my possession since we came across in the attic. 

 

Look at all that natural curl.  Wow.  Not enough curl to be curly and not enough straight to be straight.  That's me....stuck in the middle.  



 

 

My memories of First Grade include a big crush on Daniel K. who was always getting his desk put in the front of the room under the chalkboard by the teacher.  Also we sanded a wooden cutting board pig for our Mom's for Mother's Day.   On the first day of school I wore this rockin' navy blue sailor dress with a red tie.  Sweetness. 

 

The funniest part of this story however is that in the course of scanning I accidently sent it to my facebook account and not my e-mail.  PANIC.  Since I never post anything on FB I was genuinely concerned that now there would be a large young photo of me that I would have no idea how to remove.  Luckily I didn't see it anywhere.  Please tell me it is not out there.  Gotta call the tech man.

Christmas in October?

Last Tuesday after story hour at our local library, Will and I decided to picnic in the park.  We packed our lunch and threw down our blanket nibbling on salami sandwiches and salad as the red Pin Oak leaves fell to the ground from above our heads.  It was glorious.  A beautiful 70 degree and sunny day.  The leaves are just turning here and it is a perfect time of year, according to me. 

At noon the church bells started to chime...I looked at Will...."What is that tune?  It's familiar....oh, 'Silent Night Holy Night'....hmmmm"  Seemed a little out of place on such a picture perfect fall day.  I wonder if the church bell programmer deliberately set it on "Christmas Tunes" so that we would start planning now.  Only so many shopping days left!   I do aspire to complete shopping early this year.  It makes the holiday season so much more enjoyable when you don't have to be amongst the grouchy holiday people a/k/a shoppers.

After we came home I found this photo of my mom.  She is standing on the very bridge where we had our picnic.  The back of the photo is marked "Sarah Varner 1946"  therefore I know that someone must have given it to her.  An organizer of photos she was not.   I knew Will and I were sensing good karma in that space.  Maybe she sent us a message via an unorthodox song selection so say "Hello.  I see you.  I'm doing fine." 

Merry Christmas in October Mom.  Love, Us

Tissues May Be Required

At bedtime last night, I was more than ready to have the little cherubs asleep and resting in their beds whilst I could be elsewhere.  Impressive use of the word whilst I might add.  As I lay reading books with Mr. Willpot, our independent goes by the beat of his own drum 4 year old who doesn't take much crap from anyone, when he asks me...

"Mommy what's that called when you throw a penny and make a wish?"

"A wishing well?"

"Yeah.  Next time I make a wish I'm going to ask for Mimi to be alive again."

Got me right there.  Didn't see it coming.  I cried and said, "Yeah.  That would be great.  I really miss Mimi."  He hugged me and said, "It's alright."

Most times I try to appear composed as I swallow my tears and worry that my boys are going to remember be as a sad mommy, as one who cries at the drop of the hat, as one who seems to be WAY more impatient that she used to be.  I have changed. 

I know.  I'm sorry guys.  I'm grieving.  It's a process.  I'm riding the waves through it.  Sometimes I crash and burn.  Others I right on the white caps and think such happy thoughts of how lucky I was to have had such a good relationship with my mom. 

On Monday nights I have been attending a Griefshare group at church.  Thus far I am not much into the sharing.  I am a hestitant open person.  You must win my trust before I open up.  Therefore my role is to listen and internally reflect hoping to encourage the healing in my heart.

My whole reality has be altered.  I am searching for a new normal for me.  One which doesn't include my Mom.  My thoughts are that stinks and I don't want to do it.

There.  I shared.  Bring on the healing.  Just a bit.  Teeny tiny bit.  I'm not greedy.  
  

Rules to Live by....according to 10 year old

I found this list titled "Golden Rules" scribbled in Ethan's handwriting.

1.  Don't party with psychos.
2.  Do not have a fancy party in a sewage pipe.
3.  Don't have a glass yard sale at a football game.
4.  Don't swim in armor.
5.  Do not go out in a storm while fixing a lightning rod.
6.  Do not hide something from the Hulk.
7.  Don't take a bath in toxic waste.
8.  Don't play dodge ball with bowling balls.
9.  Don't go sledding in a landslide.
10.  Never make undies out of poison ivy.
11.  Never stand out in the open in a meteor shower.
12.  Never play jump rope in the middle of a war.
13.  Never play hide and seek with the invisible man.
14.  Never play tag with the flash.
15.  Don't play football with giants.
16.  Don't play tug of war with superman.
17.  Do not have a huge picnic by an ant hill.
18.  Don't box with the Hulk.
19.  Never have a blind person drive your car.
20.  Never set a rocket in self-destruct mode.
21.  Never have church in a demolition site.

These are unedited "Dos and Don'ts" from my son.

Apparently we are teaching well in the ways of the world.

A 3 Hour Tour

Today was the first day that I was without kids for a few hours.  What to do? What to do?  I tried to get a little exercise.  Got a little teary-eyed at the gym when a woman was helping her elderly father walk across to therapy.  Hit me right smack in the middle of my chest.  Too many memories of helping my mom over those last months.  Once when I was trying to figure out how to get her out of the car and into a wheelchair to go to a doctor's appointment I was concerned that she would roll away because the hospital chair brakes seemed a bit untrustworthy.  Also Will was crawling in the back of the van refusing to get out.  Therefore I enlisted the help of some 20 something man in a muscle shirt on his way to the gym.  Lovely fella.  Held on to Mimi while I manhandled Will out of the van. 

Next project, I worked on finding good music for our preschool class when they need to get up and MOVE (which is most of the time).  There seems to be an abundance of goofy music out there.  I also like to do a lot of extra school work at home because of the overtime pay.  It really helps with the monthly budget.

Then I moved on to cleaning.  YAWN.  I have discovered that I still find little to no satisfaction in cleaning.  Once as a teenager I noticed the mixer my mom took out of the cupboard had a few splattered dough marks.  I asked, "Why?"  My mom's reply, "There are so many more interesting things to do than clean."  I remember that ALL the time.  Today, however, I did clean the dust from the top of the ceiling fan blades and cleaned the kitchen windows.  There's an hour of my life I won't get back.

Not much else to say, just wanted to keep posting.  Post on!! 

Summer....in a nutshell

Haven't felt much like posting lately.   Feeling down and unmotivated to share anything.  So today I thought...JUST DO IT!  So here I am, pulling myself up by the bootstraps.  Trying to find some semblance of happiness in the every day.  An every day that is drastically different for me without my mom around.

Here's some scenes of summer that make me smile. 

Good friend Michelle and I sporting some of the highest heels that I have ever set eyes or feet upon.  We wore them around Target and picked us up a couple of good-lookin' men  (okay, okay our husbands).

 



 Uncle Extraordinaire JE with cousin dog extraordinaire, Finn.

 Fishing with Grandpa.  You should've seen the one that got away! 

Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park in Cincinnati.  

Mini-golf with the dudes.

Arcade jackpot.....1,000 tickets.  With our earnings we picked out some lovely plastic objects and a small deck of cards.  We only needed 10,000 tickets for Momma to take home a crock pot.  That is a true statement.   One of the prizes that you could "buy" with your ticket earnings at an arcade was a crock pot.  I bet those are just flying off the shelves by your average arcade frequenting 12-13 year old.

Crazy hair boy.

 

T-P ing car innocently parked in front of our house and belonging to dear H-D friends who were visiting neighbors of ours.  Hey, that's the risk you take for coming in the 'hood!! 

 

Will pot.

Riding the coaster bike with determination.

Ben learns to ride a two wheeler overcoming his fears of going "too fast" and "not being able to stop".

Lego museum of sorts.  "Plastic Brick museum" in Bellaire, Ohio.  It was fun and the boys had a blast.  The museum was in an old school house so I felt like we were rummaging through someone's basement and attic.

Braces off lady.

 

 

Kevin and good friend Noah playing basketball with kids.  They had to play using T-Rex arms.

 



 

 

Well, there you have it.  No deep revealing insights into my current mental status (You are welcome.) but at least a small update on our lives.

 

Tally ho.

Rain Day Run

The boys pulled out their running shoes (what training??) and ran for the Rain Day Fun Run.  All three completed the one mile course!!  Will's first run found this assertive four year old sprinting at the starting line and then shouting "So long slowpoke" to the runners he passed by.  His runner partner (aka Daddy) kindly suggested that perhaps he ought to tone it down a little as they may pass him by later on.

Will finished around 25th in a pack of 50...the first 4 year old to finish!  He placed fourth as his category was 5 and under and apparently there are some speedy 5 year olds around.  Ben also did a great job completing first in the family.  He blew his running partner (aka Mommy) away at the end as she breathlessly shouted, "Go ahead Ben.  Run. Be free."  Ben finished fourth in his category of 6-7 year olds.  Ethan brought home the trophy this year placing third in 8-9 year olds.  His running partner (aka cousin Garrett) kept him focused and on track pushing through the pain. 

All in all a positive experience and hopefully good motivator for the boys to continue healthy exercise habits.  I think it is good for them to know they CAN run a mile. 

Go team Maxwell!!

Happy belated 4th

We sparkled.

 We shined.

  We flashed.

  We oohed and ahhed.

  We danced.

 

 

 

And watched our first drive-in movie in our jammas.

 

Good friends = Good times.

Under the Solar Bag

If you take a hot sunny day, lots of kids, sunscreen and popsicles and mix it together with the solar bag, the results are the following...

 



Pretty awesome.

Lego-morial

This is a picture of the lego man quilt square memorial that Ethan, Ben and Will made for Mimi.

Love through Legos.

Pretty cool.

Emotions

It's hard to blog when you are sad.

It's hard to parent when you are sad.

It's hard to do a lot when you are sad.

My mom passed away June 7th.

I am sad.

Update

Mom in hospital again.  Severe edema in legs and is on IV diuretic.

I am too tired to write but thought I'd post a few pictures from the last few months.

Ethan the beekeeper

 Preschool Carnival

 Just hangin' around

Heartfelt Thanks

Not much to write about when one spends a majority of the day sitting in a hospital room.

I have had time to reflect though.  Lots of time to reflect.

These are my thoughts:

I married a saint.  Okay, maybe not quite that level but close.  While sitting with my mom she said, "Poor Kevin having to raise those boys alone.  He's doing a good job."  I replied, "Well, I'd like to think I have something to do with it Mom."  She looks at me blankly, "Well, I'm not so sure."

Also, I have the best in-laws.  No doubter abouter.  K's sister and brother-in-law came for a weekend and played with the boys, mowed the grass and attempted to do all of the laundry.  Susan's comment, "I keep thinking I have done all of it and then I turn the corner and find another basket!!"  I KNOW.  Laundry just keeps on coming and coming and coming.....It was such a blessing to have them here.

K's parents just left yesterday after planning my meals for the next week and doing grocery shopping.  K's dad also helped clean the gutters and spread some mulch.  Yard work has been put on the back burner around here.

I am feeling a bit pulled like warm taffy.  Wanting to be in one place and needing to be in another.  This care giving is hard work. 

So a shout out to those friends and family that have gone above and beyond.  Thanks.  I can't express how much it means.

Me....version 2.0

I was working on the computer when I couldn't find my document.  "Where is it?  Ugh, this frustrates me that I can't ever find anything," I complain to my tech savvy husband.

"Oh."  He says.  "Here's the problem.  Remember a couple of years back when your desktop died and I had to create a Sally version 2?"

"Wha?" I say.  He had recreated me on the computer.  I laugh it off and say, "That's what I want to do in real life.  Throw away the old version and create a new one."

A newer sporty model. 

One that has boundless energy and enthusiasm for life's challenges and takes everything in stride.

One that can control her emotions and not cry at the grocery store when someone asks, "How are you?"

One that has all the patience in the world for her children and their little idiosyncriseese.

One that knows how to spell idiosyncrasies.

Of course, I would be a lot more expensive.  Perhaps taller.  Auburn hair. 

Watch out.  Coming soon.  To a store near you.

It was a tough morning.  I stared into my mother's eyes as she cried, "I'm sick.  I'm really sick." 

"I know, Mom.  You aren't feeling well.  You are nauseated." 

"I don't understand why I can't get better."

I am at a loss for words.  I held her close and said comforting thoughts that came to mind, "Remember yesterday, you didn't feel well in the morning and then later, you felt much better.  Maybe today is the same thing." 

She said, "What did I do to deserve this?  Did I do something wrong?" 

"No no. Of course not.  You did everything right Mom.  You are a great mother and grandmother.  Everyone loves you.  You are the best."  

"I feel like the worst."

I hugged her tight and said "I love you" and prayed for her to feel better.  "Do you want me to get you anything?  Can you eat some crackers?  Some jello? Some tea?" 

"Maybe some tea." 

I force fed her a few bits of jello and some poached egg.  I fixed tea the way she likes, 5 minutes of brewing, a spoonful of sugar in the raw and some organic milk.  "Just sit it down on the dresser and I'll drink it.  Right now I just want to sleep."

And so I left her.  To sleep.  Which she did.  I went outside and picked spring violets the way I used to when I was little.  Gently plucking each one from the ground with the longest stem possible.  I returned them to her house and put them in the basket vase that her Grandmother gave her.  Just like she used to when I presented her my childhood bouquets.

 I returned this evening to find her better.  She had eaten well the rest of the day.  I soaked her a lavender bubble bath and got her ready for bed.  "You have plenty of other things to do besides take care of me.  I'm sure you are sick of it." 

"I'm not," I assured her.  "I do for you the same that you would do for me if things were reversed.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, Mom, I like being around you." 

She smiled and said, "Good night.  Be careful driving home." 

Maybe it was the tea.  Maybe it was the prayer.  Maybe it was the violets.  Whatever it was I am thankful for it and want to bottle it up to use again in those moments when I feel helpless.

The Orchid Whisperer

My mom has taught me a lot of things, one of them being how to get an orchid to rebloom.  Three simple ice cubes a week and look what happened! 

We have tried to keep orchids alive and blooming for years and finally discovered this trick.

My mom has been feeling pretty bad for a while.  Hopefully the spring weather and blooms aplenty will help her recover more easily.

Calling all Prayers

Asking for prayers for my mom.

Toughest lady east of the Mississippi.

Fight and get better!!

Headin' West

Will and I are taking a road trip. 

We are trekking to Seattle to see dear friends who moved last summer.  We are excited....well, as much as a four year old can comprehend.

Always a bit scary to leave family at home.  Especially as of late because I have been giving care to my mom.  It's not that I think I am indispensable....because I am sure everyone will get along without me just fine.

Looking forward to sipping tea and chatting, walking in rain, seeing the ocean and enjoying good company.

Here we go!!

Happy Birthday Science Style

WILL TURNS FOUR !!!! 

Woo Woo Woo Woo !!!!

In honor of the occasion we hosted a "science" birthday and invited friends over for brunch, cake and ice cream and a little dabble of science. 

The kids circled the kitchen table eagerly awaited.   First came an air pressure experiment placing a peeled hard boiled egg on top of a glass jar. Then you light a piece of newspaper, quickly slip it into the lip of the jar and return the egg to the top.  After the flame goes out the egg wibbles and wobbles and then goes into the jar with a dramatic thump.  "Again! Again!"  We did it again and discussed the science behind it.  The cold air outside the jar has more pressure and pushes the egg into the jar.  The air inside of the jar has less pressure because it is hot.    We even figured out how to get the egg out of the jar with the help of one eager parent.  I never wanted to do that step because I didn't want to get smoke and ashes in my face.  I, apparently, am a lightweight.

Then the kids were awed by the salt water powered car that drove over everyone's fingers in monster truck style.  Will is very into monster trucks these days, due in part to the influence of his dear pal, E.

Then gravity assisted an uncooked egg dropping into a water-filled mason jar and not breaking.  Someone with a fast hand yanks out a small piece of cardboard from beneath a medicine bottle holding the egg on top.  The theory is similar to the magician pulling a tablecloth out from under the place settings.

Will's friend L shared her volcano and exploded it 2-3 times appeasing the "Again! Again!" chants of the crowd.

 

 

At Will's well-visit appointment this week we learned that he grew FOUR inches last year.  Wow!! 

 

I was chatting with Will telling him all the names that go with William....Will....Bill....Billy....Liam...Will-I-Am.  I asked him if he wanted to change his name and go by "Liam" now.  In typical Will fashion he just smiled and said, "I just want to leave it the way that it is." 

 

Happy Birthday Will!    

Fer Sure

It has been a roller coaster of a week.  There has been some time to reflect about things that I know for certain.  Here goes:

1.  I am lucky to have 3 healthy and generally happy boys in my family. For certain they wrestle. For certain they argue. For certain they drive me crazy. For certain they are my whole world.

2.  It feels certain that I get just as many pimples now as I did when I was in Jr. High.  Also, just as embarrassing.  I keep saying when I am in my 80's I will be happy to have such youthful skin.  Not sure.  May invest in concealer.

3.  It is scary and feels out of control when someone you love is sick. 

4.  My mom loves me even though she can only respond "same to you" when I tell her.

5.  I am blessed with wonderful, caring people in my life.  As I laid in bed sick on Thursday I cried on the phone anytime someone called to check on me.  I, for certain, was a mess.  But I am also certain that I appreciated it.

6.  I am certain that some of my favorite words are "We are bringing you dinner."  It was fantastic!  And I LOVED not thinking about what to feed the troops or making it.  Thank you.

7.  I married a "good one".  There have been several moments in my life when I just sparkle with love for my man.  This one is silly but true.  I was driving to the hospital to visit my mom and wanting to listen to some music.  Searched the ipod and my spouse had downloaded a song that I have been enjoying on the radio.  He listens to me AND he takes action.  What a man.  I sang my heart out to Pink like nobody's business.

8.  Two out of three isn't bad.  Our first attempt at our children sleeping over at a friend's house only ended with one coming home early.  Can you guess which one??  He woke up instantly regretting his decision.

9.  It might have been a good idea to get some medical training as I have learned to give my mom shots in the abdomen and now how to learn to give IV antibiotics through a Picc line.  Say wha?  I guess I should have followed my sixth grade dream of becoming a nurse. Maybe then I could do it without closing my eyes. 

10.  I so appreciate having my sister near by to help during these health scare moments.  DCT you know who you are and you rock.

11.  Hospitals overcharge you for simple stuff.  TV was $5.00 a day!  THEN I went to get a bottle of water in the snack shop and it was empty.  Walked to the other side of the hospital and it was $.50 more expensive.  What a racket.  Also parking....$3.00 a day.  C'mon people. 

12.  I am going to be late for church.  Again.  For certain.

Lack of it All

Perhaps my lack of blogging reflects my thoughts about this month.

February.  Gray or grey as the Brits write. 

Blah. 

Lack of sun.

Lack of energy.

Lack of patience.

Lack of time.

Lack of desire to plan and prepare meals.

Lack of enthusiasm to clean another dust speck in the house.

Lacky.

Lacky.

Lacky.

For my Father-In-Law

This Thanksgiving my father-in-law discovered this in his garden....
Snowflakes on his roses blooming in late November. 
Crazy and beautiful!!