A Season of Changes

It seems that there will continue to be a lot of changes in the lives of my family.  And we couldn't be happier about them.  While Michelle and Shawn were away in Disney World they became engaged.  Prior to their leaving, Shawn had spoken to both Jim and I and asked our permission which of course we granted, so we knew that it was in the works, but we didn't know exactly when.  While we spoke with them several times during their trip they never let anything on. It turns out that he popped the question on their first night there and Michelle didn't want to share it with anyone (other than Shawn's sister Courtney who they were with), she preferred to just keep it to themselves for the time being.  That's so very Michelle. 

The Happy Couple!

They haven't set a date as of yet but are hoping for the Spring, April or May.  They had a really great trip and had a wonderful time.  They are anxious to go back and bring the kids, hopefully on their honeymoon if things go as planned even if it is a delayed honeymoon.  (After school gets out.) 

Isabella and Aiden are thrilled!  They were told on Friday night after Aiden's birthday celebration.  The Grands, Jim and I and Rex and Della (Shawn's parents) were invited over to their house to celebrate the birthday and when the kids went up to bed Michelle and Shawn went up to speak to them.  We heart lots of cheering coming from upstairs, so we thought the kids were taking the news well.  Shortly Aiden came bounding down the stairs yelling "We're getting married!" followed by Bella who war piroutting down the steps singing "They're getting married!"  She followed that up by telling us that "Yeah!  And I'm going to be the Maiden of Honor and Aiden's going to be the Perfect Boy.  Or something like that."  We all got a kick our of that.  Isabella and Aiden will be the honorary Maid of Honor and Best Man.  They are well suited for their jobs! 

Then the kids realized that they would be brother and sister and they were thrilled about that!  Bella looked at Shawn and said she'd have a Dad.  Not sure who was happier about that, but then Aiden looked at Michelle and seemed a bit confused.  He has a Mom.  And he said "Miss Michelle will be my..." And I filled in with 'How about Miss Michelle can be your 'Bonus Mom' Aiden, will that work?"  He smiled and said "Miss Michelle you can be my 'Bonus Mom!'" 

It was very cute and they couldn't stop smiling.

So, it's on to helping to plan a wedding for me!  I am very happy for all of them.  Michelle and Shawn are a delightful couple who so enjoy one another, it will be a joy to see them take this step together.

Catching Up

I know I've got a lot of catching up to do!  I've had lots going on and just haven't had a chance to get on the computer.  Really.  So, what have I been up to since last I posted? 

Well, aside from the usual which keeps me busy enough-there has been lots!  Thursday night Michelle and I headed on over to the Fairgrounds to see Darius Rucker.  He put on an amazing concert and was very well received.  The fans just loved him-Michelle and I included! 

That's Michelle, leaning right up against the stage hoping to get a guitar pick.  No luck!

Friday is traditionally kids day at the fair and as such, the county schools are closed for the day.  That's what it's like to live in a small, rural farm town.  Over the years as more and more city people have moved in, there have been numerous complaints, and lots of people have tried to change it, but the tradition still stands.  So, Bella spent the day with Granddaddy and in the evening, Michelle and I took her to  her first concert at the fair.  Billy Currington was playing and one of Bella's favorite country songs is 'People are Crazy' by Billy Currington, so we thought it might be a good one to start her out with.  We did start to worry about the weather though as it rained off and on for most of the day, but it stopped in time for the concert and despite the horrendous humidity, the concert was a HUGE success!  Bella had a great time and danced and sang along, and at the end of the show she went to the stage with Michelle and during the encore, Billy held Bella's hand during one of his songs.  She was thrilled!  (I was too far away to even see it let along photograph it!)

Bella and Michelle before the concert.  Bella had to change into her new Billy Currington T-shirt!

Michelle and Bella rocking it out!

Saturday I had another great day and had a massage.  Oh!  How I love to start my day with a massage.  Actually, I don't really care where in my day one happens to fall.  I'd take it in any part of the day.  I just really enjoy getting a massage.  I felt totally refreshed, renewed and re-energized afterwards and went to the grocery store before I headed home and cleaned the house and did several loads of laundry and some ironing.  Then when Jim got home he wanted to go out to try and find a dresser for Bella's room in our  house and we stopped at several stores without any luck and then came home.  I checked on Craigslist because I had seen something on there in Hagerstown and so I called about it and we headed up there to look at it and hopefully purchase it.  Only to get there to find out that the guys brother had already sold it!  Luckily, they purchase stuff from estate sales and had a lot of stuff and we were able to get something else that worked for us.  It wasn't exactly what we wanted, but it will work and it was only $60.  Perfect!

Yesterday morning we met Michelle, Shawn and Bella for breakfast and then after we took Bella home with us while Michelle and Shawn headed for the airport.  They are going to Disney for a few days alone.  Which means we get Bella for a few days alone!  Works out good all around. 

After they left, my cousin came up to the house with her little girl Tory who is the same age as Bella and we took the girls to a local pumpkin patch.  They had a great time playing together. 

They loved the corn maze, but it was a bit muddy for our taste!!

 

It was also hotter than we had expected it to be. 

Bella quickly found a way to solve  her problem of being to hot.  She just dumped a bottle of water over her head!  Problem solved. 

Needless to say, between the mud, the water, corn, sweat, and everything else, they were a bit of a mess by the time we got  home.  Thank goodness for nice clean showers!  Had her smelling sweet in no time flat.

So tomorrow morning its back to work and school for us.  I think I might be glad for a little boring routine.  As a matter of fact, I think I'm looking forward to it!

A New Direction

My kids are moving in a new direction.  Tim is off in DC working hard to get the restaurant off and running and from what I can tell, he is doing a mighty fine job of it.  I'm a proud momma.  He's done a lot of growing up, made a lot of changes, made mistakes along the way with more to come I'm sure.  But he's charting his course, he knows where he wants to go and he's trying to get there.  Although he doesn't know what his final destination will be, or who he is destined to share his journey with yet, he is moving forward and making inroads and doing it in such a way that makes me feel really good about the man that he is becoming.  The man that he has become.  He's my son.  I am his mother.  He is a child of God and a Godly man.  I am so proud of my child.
Michelle moved out over the weekend.  It was something to see.  The move was so organized and rather systematic, especially considering that they did it themselves.  (No professionals.)  Michelle had the place looking like they lived there by the end of the first day.  Everything was cleaned, unpacked, and put away, boxes were broken down and put out for recycling, the kids were showered and in their pj's by 7:00 PM.  It was rather amazing.  That's Michelle.  She is a hard worker!  She too is working hard at her job.  She is successful in her field, she enjoys her work, and  I am proud of her.  She's worked so hard to get where she is today.  She's made mistakes along the way, she's done a lot of growing and a lot of changing, she's learned to swerve and she's become a wonderful mother.  She too, is on her way to a new life and she is making her way there.  Her course seems clearer to her now and she believes that through His perfect timing, God has shown her who she is to share her journey with.  She and Shawn are planting seeds for their future, and beginning their life together in the same home was one of them.  Hopefully, their will be more to follow.   She has become a strong and beautiful woman.  She is my daughter, I am her mother.  She is a child of God, a Godly woman.  I am so proud of my child.
My prayers continue for them, for both of them.  They have so much life ahead of them, so much more to see and do, so much more love to feel, to loose, to know.  And when they think that their hearts are as full as they can possibly be, that nothing can make them feel fuller or stronger or more aware, that is when they will know the warmth of another's touch when they're feeling alone, their childs' cry in the still night air, a stranger's pain will lead them to God or a silent prayer can set them free.  Our prayers for our children never stop.  We never get over parenting them and they never get too old for our love or our concern-despite what they might like to believe.  But what I have come to motice as my children mature is that the prayers are different, the worry is different and I am different.  Naturally, our concerns are all less carefree, that is to be expected.  It is a deeper, more heartfelt feeling.  Almost indescribable.  Deep down, in the pit of your stomach kind of a prayer, that bubbles up, fills me up and washes over me, spreading a warmth and a light through me that carries me and gives me strength and peace.  And I want that for my children.  It has taken me a long time to identify what that is, but I think that now I  know what it is.  That feeling. 
 
                                                                      It  is
                                                                                                                                      LOVE.


I want that for them.  That love CAN be found in a book.  But you have to search for it.  You have to search within yourself, but you can have it.  It's there for the taking.  It's free.  You just have to want it.  The book?
The Bible.  Open it, you'll be drawn in.  It there. 

I'm heading in a new direction too.  It's one that I guess I hadn't really anticipated when I was 20 or 30 to be heading into as I was approaching 50.  Empty Nester.  Had I thought about it, well it would have occurred to me, but I didn't think about it.  Now, as it is here smacking me in the face saying 'Look, You're 50!  You're kids are grown and gone,.  Now what?!'  It's left me with a big question staring me in the face.  See it?  Yeah.  NOW WHAT? 
I'm not really sure to tell you the truth.  I feel like I should be having some type of epiphany about now, but truth is-I got nothing!  Am I supposed to just go on status quo?  Or is this the point in life where I'm supposed to do something big, make a statement big?  Let's not get crazy here, I'm not going to run for office or start a cult or anything.  I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of running (hell walking who am I kidding) a 5K or sleeping naked (yeah, don't do that with kids in the house and let's face it don't feel comfortable enough in my own skin to wanna see my own skin!)  So there you have it.  My options -so far.
I'll let you know what I decide unless anyone has any better ideas?  I'm open to suggestions.
 

Adjustments

It's been a while, I know.  There always seems to be such a flurry of activity that surrounds me and yet I can't seem to put my finger on a reason why.  It's not that I have six small children, or work a few jobs, or travel a lot, it's just a lot of little things that when combined, create a lot of stuff.  Some of the stuff that has been keeping me away has required some adjustments on my part and though it is not always my strong suite, I am trying to go with the flow.  So to catch you up on what's been going on, here's a brief review:

     * I finally got my new car as evidenced in my last post.  It has required many new adjustments on my part, most notably reading the owners manual!  The thing has so many gizmos and gadjets that just operating the radio required an entire chapter in the manual.  I went to get gas and left the manual at home and sat in the gas station for 10 minutes before I could figure out how to open up the gas tank!  Next week we are going to a class on the care and feeding of the vehicle, hopefully that will help us....

     * Isabella has started the second grade.  UGH!  (Talk about feeling old, wasn't it just yesterday that it was my babies going off to elementary school?)  Anyway, with Michelle's new job requiring her to work more hours until an assistant is found, Jim and I are helping pick up Bella from school, get homework done and get her to dance class when needed.  After a summer of fun it is an adjustment to get into a routine again but luckily she is a very easy and disciplined child who enjoys school and loves learning.  It makes it way easier!

     * After careful thought and consideration, Michelle and Shawn have decided to share their love and their home together.  They found a very nice place close to Michelle's work, close to us and Bella's school and much closer to Shawn's work than he was and they will move in on Saturday.  Michelle has been busy packing in between working and after getting Bella to bed.  They got the keys last night and can't wait to  move in!  Their place is adorable and I'm sure they will put their own personal stamp on it before too long.  Jim and I are both very excited for them as we know that this is a new beginning for them and a good move for them, but at the same time an adjustment for us.  We have become so accustomed to having our darling Bella with us and of course Michelle too.  But having a little one is different, she brings a renewed life into our home, a different attitude, she reminds us not to take ourselves too seriosly.  It's the little, everyday things that I'll miss the most, the kisses goodnight, the way she skips down the hallway and wraps her arms around my legs saying GaGa when I get home from work, the chatter at the dinner table, the warm sleepies, silly giggles, the toothless grins and the 'I love you's.  I  know I'll still see her a lot and I know she is close by and I count my blessings for that, but it will still be an adjustment.

     * I guess another thing that I'll have to adjust to is being an 'empty nester'!  Being alone with my husband again.  OMG!  What will we talk about, what will we do?  Hmmm?  Maybe I can think of a thing or two.  But really, is he going to expect me to like sit with him all the time?  'Cuz that won't be happening.  Togetherness is one thing, I'm all for it don't get me wrong.  But I draw the line at being tied at the hip!  No sir, not me, get yourself another.  Because this one might write a song about it, but I'm not gonna live it, put me on the next train. 

     * One other adjustment and perhaps the biggest of all that I have to get used to is the one that my body goes through at this time of year.  It is difficult at times to comes to terms with the fact that I am not the person that I once was.  That my body does not respond to the demands that my brain asks of it.  The things that we take for granted.  Simple things, like standing unaided, or bending down and getting back up, opening your hand to release a grip.  Relaxing.  Somewhere along the way, my body has forgotten the route and chooses instead the road less traveled and that makes all the difference, but not in a good way.   It's a period of re-adjustment as I get used to the limitations that I must learn to accept. 

So, that's about it for now.  Lot's of changes with more to come I'm sure.  Fall is quickly approaching and before long we'll be thinking about the holidays! 

I have a picture to share with you before I go, here is Bella after her first day of Second Grade. She had a great day and was so happy to be back in school!

Wordless Wednesday

2011 Toyota Sienna

I can get in and out with ease-rest for tired legs.

Lumbar support and heated seats!

Other unnecessary accoutraments.

More later.

The fun never ends!

How I wish that I really meant that!  I have had a rather exciting couple of days, to say the least.  Friday I left work a few hours early to take Isabella to her Open House at school so that she could meet her new teacher and see her classroom.  Michelle couldn't leave work and Jim was working, she had asked if I would take her and I happily obliged.  But it was not to be so.  On my way home, I encountered a bit of difficulty.  I was on the highway coming to an area of construction, the vehicles in front of me and myself we all tapping our brakes to slow down, and we were averaging about 35 mph at that time.  The vehicle ahead of me was a commercile van and I could not see around it, he put his brakes on and released again and suddenly I realized that he had hit the vehicle ahead of him, but it was too late for me to stop in time and I then hit him!  It turned out that it was a line of six vehicles that were involved and I was the last one in the line, so I only sustained damage to my front end, none of the vehicles involved deployed air bags.  Most of the vehicles were trucks or large vehicles, the first in the line was a car and then mine which is technically a cross-over.  The van that I hit, his rear bumper had a slight dent that the driver said he would probably just bang out.  This is what my car looks like:

It is TOTALLED!!!!!

Because it is considered a total loss, my insurance company will only authorize a rental for three days.  The good news is that because another person who was in the accident has the same insurance carrier as I do, my deductable is waived.  That is one of the benefits of my insurance company.  So, I'm going to be buying a new car.  Just what I didn't want to  be doing. 
Got to sit along side of the highway for two hours while the police and the EMT's and the firemen and tow trucks sorted everything out.  It was a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon.  I'm sure all the other commuters liked it as well!  My car was not drivable, wouldn't even turn on.  So, Michelle called Shawn and he came and picked me up.  (Cue the music. Ahhhh-haa)  Love that boy!  He earned major, major brownie points from me.  Might just have to order M & M's with his face on them for him to show him the love!  Anyway, he came from work in his commercial van and it's BIG.  He practically had to help me get into the darn thing.  So he pulls into the driveway and I'm just so glad to be home at this point I just want to get inside and take a shower and maybe cry a little, you  know normal stuff.  So I go to get out of his van but I forgot what kind of vehicle I was in and just got out, and fell flat on my arse on the driveway and then smashed my head in the garden-luckily a lantana plant was there to cushion the blow.  Shawn was so stunned he just looked over at me and said 'Are you okay?' and started laughing, then he came around to help me up.  I was cracking up and couldn't even think of how to get up.  It was just too much!  When I finally did get inside and in the shower, I had flowers everywhere, in my hair, all over my back, in my bra-don't even want to guess how they got down there!  What a mess! 

Luckily I wasn't hurt too badly.  Just sore and stressed and SORE and a hell of a headache!  I slept most of the day on Saturday, as I could hardly move, and by Sunday I was feeling somewhat better.  Went in to work on Monday and my insurance company called to say the adjuster was going to go out to see the car.  Then the adjuster called to tell me that the car was totalled and I felt worse again!  Ha!  So I had to traipse up to Jefferson to the storage lot and get everything out of George (my car) and take the licence plates off, which was no easy feat let me tell you-I had to get the guy from the service station to help me and he had to use a hammer and a chisel to get the rear plate off.  Anyway by the time I was done I felt like I'd gone through the ringer.  I was hot, tired, stressed out and grumpy to boot.  So, I did what any red-blooded American woman would do-I went for a mani-pedi.  Boy did I feel better!

Because I was in the house all weekend though, I did get a few cards made.  Bella's first day of school was yesterday and I wanted to make something that she could take in for her teacher.  She and Aiden had made a little container of chocolate covered animal crackers for their teachers and I made them a tag that read ' Looking forward to a year full of Wild Adventures!' and they signed them.  But I also wanted to make something else for the teacher so I put together these:

Just a little something.

So that's about all for now. 

Guess, I have to start car shopping, I'll let you know what I find.

Where Were You?

Historically, this question has come up on a number of times.  Where were you when:

• JFK was shot?
• The first man walked on the moon?
• Elvis died?
• The space shuttle disaster?
• Ronald Reagan was shot?
• John Lennon was killed?
• On 9/11?

These are moments that for many of us, have imprinted themselves on our memory.  Moments that time will never take away, no matter how hard we try.  I remember being in the multi-purpose room at my school, crowded in there away from the classroom.  The excitement in the air was palpable, mostly the adults were excited as first graders sitting on the floor, we were just hoping that no one threw up.  We all waited, and watched the one small screen, knowing what was about to happen, but not really sure that it would.  But then he appeared on that little ladder and put his foot down on that bumpy surface called the moon.  We didn't know just what it meant, but we knew it was big.

I was eight months pregnant, sitting on the couch while my four year old played on the floor at my feet.  Folding laundry as I watched the Challenger take off, it was a beautiful day in Florida for a shuttle launch.  Then only 73 seconds after liftoff, disaster struck as the shuttle exploded and all seven crew members aboard were killed.  A  young mother by the name of Christa McAuliffe was the first member of the Teacher is Space Project was a member of the crew that day and the media coverage was especially high.  I remember it so well.  I just couldn't believe it was real.  A photograph forever imprinted.

There are others, so many others.  Good and bad, happy, not so happy.  Joyous occasions and ones filled with sadness and loss, lonlieness and tears, love, hope, anticipation, pain, sorrow and fear.  These are the moments that make up are lives, the moments that stand out in time.  The snapshots, that frame by frame, help to define who we are.  Right?  Are you following me?

Stay with me here, because I do have a point.  For many of us, especially those of us who live in the Virginia/DC/Metro Area, Tuesday was a 'Where were you' kind of a day.  Tuesday, August 23, 2011  will now and forever more (most likely) be known as the day a 5.8  Earthquake Shook the Pants Off the Politicians in the Pentagon.  Or something equally as catchy, but maybe without the aliteration.  Here is a picture of how it registered according to the VT seismogram.

I can say two things with certainty: I was at work and People are crazy!  Or stupid.  Or both.  So I'm on the third floor and we feel it rumble a little, then the rumbling grows and my computer begins to shake and the next thing I notice my chair begins to roll away from my desk.  I look up and the ceiling is shaking and the noise is really LOUD!  Now the fire alarm goes off and most of my co-workers begin to exist the building.  I say most, not all.  Later after we were cleared to go back in the building I returned to my desk to retrieve six voice mails from co-workers asking if the fire alarms were real or if it was a drill and what should they do.  Really?  Do they think I could make a drill that good that I could make the building shake and sway?!  I mean, I know I threaten them with my super powers but I didn't think they really believed me! 

Bottom Line:  All fine.  No damage.  Excitement I don't need to go through again.  Thank you, but no.

I do have 2 cards to show you.  And if you have lasted this long, I should have made a Congratulations!  card for you, but I didn't so you'll just have to live with it.

First up, a birthday card:

This was for Mom's birthday.  Only problem is she was 72 not 73!  I just hate it when I do things like that.  She didn't mind though, she just said she'd save it for next year because she liked the card.  How's that?

This is for my friend Durinda.  She makes the most beautiful cards I almost hate to send her mine anymore!  A thank you for making Bella's visit so extrardinarry!  By the way, my little almost Southern girl is now saying tomatoe like she is from Britain .(ta-mah-to) Ha!

All supplies from Papertrey ink.

So, that was my excitement.  Tell me about yours, I'd love to hear it!  Did the earth move?  Did you feel anything at all?  What did you think?  Chime in!