Yesterday was my birthday and I didn't plan for it to be anything special. It was cold and dreary outside and I was babysitting for the day. My husband came home with a beautiful, romantic card and a "mini" birthday cake and I got a lot of calls, cards and emails from friends and family.
We had planned to go to dinner in the evening with Scott and he called and said he wanted to come over early so he got here around 3:00. I always love his cards and he always gets me two. One that tells me how special I am and how much he loves having me as a mom, and one that is funny.
When he came in, he said my present was in the garage because he didn't wrap it so I had to close my eyes while he brought it in. He set it on the couch next to me and told me to feel of it and tell him what it was.
Well, it was a box and I was feeling of it and my husband was laughing. I said, "It's a box! How can I guess what's in it?!" I opened my eyes to see a toy that is a replica of one my father bought me when I was a little girl!
I had recently told him about it around Christmas time when we were talking about past holidays. My father had bought my sisters and I a toy called "Mr. Machine". It looked like a robot-type guy that was clear and showed all of the gears inside. You had to wind it up with a big key on the back and he would roll around with his arms swinging, his mouth opening and a bell ringing.
It came with a small wrench and an assembly book because you could take it apart and put it back together! Being somewhat of a tomboy at that age, I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and it was a fairly expensive toy for my parents to be buying in those days. It sold for about $12.00.
You can see him at www.theplaymakers.com/welcome/archives/000094.html
I can't wait to show it to my grandsons! We were watching it roll around and listening to all of the noise it makes and I realized that it may have been one of those toys that my mother eventually "disposed of" to be free of the racket it made. :)
A memorable birthday! I have an awesome son!
January 24, 2006
January 13, 2006
(from Aug. 25, 2005)
August 25, 2005
Wow! Where did the time go?! I have completely forgotten that I started this and it was just tucked away on my desktop. It is unbelievable how much has happened.
Character Quest was awesome! I was sooo tired every day when I got home but I really enjoyed the week and the girls in my group. I had 8 nine year-olds and they were a very mixed group. Some tiny, some as big as me, some quiet, some funny and all lovable. They did very well as first year “campers” and my teen helper was so great! I’m sure I will volunteer again next year.
The week started badly with an altercation with Gina over what time she was supposed to drop Sarah off. It was pretty ugly and I am still trying to get past what happened and the fact that I have had to back away from my friendship with her. I continue to pray for God’s help in that. I miss Sarah and am torn about not seeing her, but I can’t continue to let her mother to treat me with disrespect. It is very sad.
Robbin has been home now for 2 months and has been dating Gary. She seems happy and is doing well and it is so great to see her looking good and putting all of the past behind her. I am also praying for her and her future relationship, whether it will be with Gary or someone else. I pray that she puts God first and doesn’t fall away from His care now that she is out and doesn’t feel such an urgent need to have Him in her day to day life. I think she has just been caught up in the adjustment to being out and living normally again. At least, I hope that is all it is and she get herself in church somewhere on a regular basis.
We are all so easily distracted from the things of God and we tend to not seek Him until we have a crisis in our life. It makes me wonder how He can continue to love us when we are so messed up!
We took Austin to the Wilson County Fair on Tuesday night and had a great time watching him take in all of the excitement. He had so much fun and was so tired when we took him home, he asked Brandy if he could go to bed as soon as he walked in the door! Then the next day, he told us he wrote 34 sentences in his journal at school about the fair. I think he is required to write four, so that was pretty cool. I couldn’t talk him into riding the ferris wheel though! He said it was just too high! His mother was the same way when she was his age. She just didn't like heights.
We had a small birthday celebration for Austin here at the house when he turned seven. Cole will be 3 at the end of September and he is so funny right now! He told Brandy and Jason that Tojo was his dog when they came over for dinner, and last night he negotiated with Robbin for her tiger-striped blanket in place of the plain gray one he was using.
Scott has a new girlfriend and seems to be enjoying himself. We haven’t met her yet and they have conflicting schedules so it may be awhile before he gets her over her. I have been praying for God to put someone in his life that he can love and will love him. I don’t know if this girl is the one, but I do so want to see him find that special someone. I also am praying that whoever it is, she and him will find God in their lives. I wish I could make him understand what it took me so long to accept. Of course, I wish that for Brandy and Jason also; as well as the rest of my family.
It’s late…after midnight and I am tired. Ronald is at work and I think we may have a good day on Friday with nothing planned that has to be done right away. We have a dinner to go to at the church for the volunteers from Character Quest. Maybe we’ll get to go bike riding in the morning, if I get in bed and get some rest! Maybe I won’t forget for two months that I have started journaling and will add to this soon. ~~~
Wow! Where did the time go?! I have completely forgotten that I started this and it was just tucked away on my desktop. It is unbelievable how much has happened.
Character Quest was awesome! I was sooo tired every day when I got home but I really enjoyed the week and the girls in my group. I had 8 nine year-olds and they were a very mixed group. Some tiny, some as big as me, some quiet, some funny and all lovable. They did very well as first year “campers” and my teen helper was so great! I’m sure I will volunteer again next year.
The week started badly with an altercation with Gina over what time she was supposed to drop Sarah off. It was pretty ugly and I am still trying to get past what happened and the fact that I have had to back away from my friendship with her. I continue to pray for God’s help in that. I miss Sarah and am torn about not seeing her, but I can’t continue to let her mother to treat me with disrespect. It is very sad.
Robbin has been home now for 2 months and has been dating Gary. She seems happy and is doing well and it is so great to see her looking good and putting all of the past behind her. I am also praying for her and her future relationship, whether it will be with Gary or someone else. I pray that she puts God first and doesn’t fall away from His care now that she is out and doesn’t feel such an urgent need to have Him in her day to day life. I think she has just been caught up in the adjustment to being out and living normally again. At least, I hope that is all it is and she get herself in church somewhere on a regular basis.
We are all so easily distracted from the things of God and we tend to not seek Him until we have a crisis in our life. It makes me wonder how He can continue to love us when we are so messed up!
We took Austin to the Wilson County Fair on Tuesday night and had a great time watching him take in all of the excitement. He had so much fun and was so tired when we took him home, he asked Brandy if he could go to bed as soon as he walked in the door! Then the next day, he told us he wrote 34 sentences in his journal at school about the fair. I think he is required to write four, so that was pretty cool. I couldn’t talk him into riding the ferris wheel though! He said it was just too high! His mother was the same way when she was his age. She just didn't like heights.
We had a small birthday celebration for Austin here at the house when he turned seven. Cole will be 3 at the end of September and he is so funny right now! He told Brandy and Jason that Tojo was his dog when they came over for dinner, and last night he negotiated with Robbin for her tiger-striped blanket in place of the plain gray one he was using.
Scott has a new girlfriend and seems to be enjoying himself. We haven’t met her yet and they have conflicting schedules so it may be awhile before he gets her over her. I have been praying for God to put someone in his life that he can love and will love him. I don’t know if this girl is the one, but I do so want to see him find that special someone. I also am praying that whoever it is, she and him will find God in their lives. I wish I could make him understand what it took me so long to accept. Of course, I wish that for Brandy and Jason also; as well as the rest of my family.
It’s late…after midnight and I am tired. Ronald is at work and I think we may have a good day on Friday with nothing planned that has to be done right away. We have a dinner to go to at the church for the volunteers from Character Quest. Maybe we’ll get to go bike riding in the morning, if I get in bed and get some rest! Maybe I won’t forget for two months that I have started journaling and will add to this soon. ~~~
(from June 17, 2005)
June 17th
I probably should just go to bed…it is after midnight and I am keyed up, there is just so much on my mind. Robbin is coming home in a few days and I am excited and anxious. I so want to see her happy and safe and living a normal life. My prayers are for her future.
There is a lot going on with my niece and I am trying hard not to be depressed about Erin all together. I love her dearly and I’m sure I always will, but I am so concerned for her well-being. She is just so angry and so needy in so many ways. Surely God wants her back, I know He does! He must weep, as I do; for her and her rebellious spirit.
Gneis is recovering from shoulder surgery and needs quiet and rest. I worry about her health and her peace of mind. I wish she would get back in a church that she enjoys somewhere and build a good relationship with other Christains. It would be so good for her. I know I wasted many, many years before I discovered the peace and the love that comes with being in God’s house. Maybe it would help her not worry about Erin so much.
Sheila had a shot in her back to help with the pain she continues to have since her surgery. Bless her heart, I pray that she gets some relief and will be healed completely.
Ronald is working tonight and I am tired. We have had Austin all week and have had a lot of fun with both him and Cole and one day with Sarah too. It’s been a busy week though and we have had little time to ourselves. Next week is Character Quest at church and I am looking forward to and dreading it at the same time. Well, maybe not dreading it; but concerned about getting worn out with the full week of it. (I shouldn’t even think, much less say that. That is inviting the thought to be true. I keep forgetting what I have learned about “speaking curses into our lives”). I know I will be blessed and learn a lot in that week, as much as the children.
I need some down time with my honey. I will have to be careful this weekend, and make sure we get at least a little bit of “just us” time. Sunday is Father’s Day and we will take the futon to Scott’s and go out to an early dinner before the evening service.
One especially great moment with Austin…last night as I was talking to him and trying to get him settled down for the night, we were lying in bed upstairs with the windows open. Ronald had gone to bed and I was making pretty good progress until we started hearing "crunching" noises outside!
We decided to have an adventure and investigate, so I got up and got our big flashlight and we were shining it out of the upstairs window into the back yard and saw shiny little eyes under a tree where we have the squirrel feeder that hold ears of corn.
There was a HUGE raccoon attached to the shiny little eyes and he just kept on munching on the corn that had fallen on the ground. Austin was so impressed...actually, I was pretty intrigued myself! Austin said he has always wanted to see a raccoon, so I helped make a little boy's dream come true last night. I am high on his list of cool people for that. What more could I ask for?!! :) These are the important things in life! God is good! ~
I probably should just go to bed…it is after midnight and I am keyed up, there is just so much on my mind. Robbin is coming home in a few days and I am excited and anxious. I so want to see her happy and safe and living a normal life. My prayers are for her future.
There is a lot going on with my niece and I am trying hard not to be depressed about Erin all together. I love her dearly and I’m sure I always will, but I am so concerned for her well-being. She is just so angry and so needy in so many ways. Surely God wants her back, I know He does! He must weep, as I do; for her and her rebellious spirit.
Gneis is recovering from shoulder surgery and needs quiet and rest. I worry about her health and her peace of mind. I wish she would get back in a church that she enjoys somewhere and build a good relationship with other Christains. It would be so good for her. I know I wasted many, many years before I discovered the peace and the love that comes with being in God’s house. Maybe it would help her not worry about Erin so much.
Sheila had a shot in her back to help with the pain she continues to have since her surgery. Bless her heart, I pray that she gets some relief and will be healed completely.
Ronald is working tonight and I am tired. We have had Austin all week and have had a lot of fun with both him and Cole and one day with Sarah too. It’s been a busy week though and we have had little time to ourselves. Next week is Character Quest at church and I am looking forward to and dreading it at the same time. Well, maybe not dreading it; but concerned about getting worn out with the full week of it. (I shouldn’t even think, much less say that. That is inviting the thought to be true. I keep forgetting what I have learned about “speaking curses into our lives”). I know I will be blessed and learn a lot in that week, as much as the children.
I need some down time with my honey. I will have to be careful this weekend, and make sure we get at least a little bit of “just us” time. Sunday is Father’s Day and we will take the futon to Scott’s and go out to an early dinner before the evening service.
One especially great moment with Austin…last night as I was talking to him and trying to get him settled down for the night, we were lying in bed upstairs with the windows open. Ronald had gone to bed and I was making pretty good progress until we started hearing "crunching" noises outside!
We decided to have an adventure and investigate, so I got up and got our big flashlight and we were shining it out of the upstairs window into the back yard and saw shiny little eyes under a tree where we have the squirrel feeder that hold ears of corn.
There was a HUGE raccoon attached to the shiny little eyes and he just kept on munching on the corn that had fallen on the ground. Austin was so impressed...actually, I was pretty intrigued myself! Austin said he has always wanted to see a raccoon, so I helped make a little boy's dream come true last night. I am high on his list of cool people for that. What more could I ask for?!! :) These are the important things in life! God is good! ~
(from May 2005)
My Journal (started May 9, 2005)
I finally have gotten around to at least starting this journal after planning to dozens of times. Today I attended a funeral, an event that always sets my mind in motion on things that often get pushed to the back of it for long periods of time. Then there will be one of those life-changing events that bring them all back.
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. My Aunt Polly was buried today, the last surviving member of my maternal family. She was the 6th of eight children and outlived her parents and her siblings as well as one of her children and a grandchild.
Her passing brought a flood of memories back to me. A lot of them have been about my aunt and her part in my life. Most of them have been about my own mother. It has been 24 years since she died and I was 27 years old at the time. Her death, the events surrounding it and the responsibility I was forced to take in the planning of her funeral arrangements were some of the most difficult days in my life.
If she had lived, my mother would have been 70 years old this month. I wonder what kind of person she would have grown to be at that age? I think about the grandchildren that she had that were born after her death and how proud she would have been of them. She knew Scott and C.J. (although they were“Scottie and Carey” to her) She was gone before Erin, Travis and Jamie came along. All of them red-heads, like herself! Isn’t that strange? What kind of memories would they have made with her if she had lived? Not to mention the great-grandchildren that have come along also.
I have often missed her as I have grown up, so much more than I was at 27 years old! I have often thought of things we could have done together as I have matured in life. I think of the conversations I would have liked to have had with her; conversations that I was too young to think about having when she was here.
After the funeral today, I went to my cousin Brenda’s house and spent some time with her and Cherry and their children. We had such a good visit, sharing stories and just being with each other. I think God often puts some good stuff in with the hard stuff in our lives. It was a good time and I have always treasured my family ties. Sometimes they are so hard to hang on to as we all go in different directions in our lives.
Today I am thankful for my family and the fact that I can be with them and be a part of their lives. I am so proud of my husband and my son, who are always there for me. Scott looked so nice today and as we were standing at the gravesite for the prayer, he slipped in behind me and gave me just a little hug and let me know he was there thinking about me.
Of course, Ronald did all of the things he needed to do, and all of the things he doesn’t have to do that make me feel loved and “taken care of”. He worked until noon, rushing around to get his job done so he could be at the funeral and be with me until everything was over. Then he had to rush home and change and go back to work for the rest of the evening.
I sat through the service, which was very nice and listened to the pastor talk first about my aunt and then about our places in eternity if we believe and accept Jesus. I thought of all of the funerals I attended when I was young. I always wanted the preacher to say what needed to be said about the deceased and then pray and be finished. I didn’t think they should go on and on about salvation and all that comes with it and I was always ready to leave as soon as I could because of that.
Having experienced many life lessons since that time, today I thought of how good it felt to listen to that service and know that I have a place in eternity with God; and how I wanted the same for every person in that room. I thought about how much peace and love God has brought into my life in the past few years; as I started seeking Him with a desire to learn and know all that I can about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I so desperately want that feeling of God’s unconditional love for those I love.
My prayers are for their hearts to reach out to God for His grace and love (whether they know salvation or not) because I know now that there is so much more to God than just repenting and being forgiven. He is so real in my life! I never knew that could be possible when I was living my life for me and thought I was doing just fine.
My prayers are for God’s guidance and His wisdom in me, that I may be able to show them, or tell them in a way that they will understand. I want them to know now what it took me so long to learn! I hope God will set opportunities before me and I will recognize them when they come.~
I finally have gotten around to at least starting this journal after planning to dozens of times. Today I attended a funeral, an event that always sets my mind in motion on things that often get pushed to the back of it for long periods of time. Then there will be one of those life-changing events that bring them all back.
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. My Aunt Polly was buried today, the last surviving member of my maternal family. She was the 6th of eight children and outlived her parents and her siblings as well as one of her children and a grandchild.
Her passing brought a flood of memories back to me. A lot of them have been about my aunt and her part in my life. Most of them have been about my own mother. It has been 24 years since she died and I was 27 years old at the time. Her death, the events surrounding it and the responsibility I was forced to take in the planning of her funeral arrangements were some of the most difficult days in my life.
If she had lived, my mother would have been 70 years old this month. I wonder what kind of person she would have grown to be at that age? I think about the grandchildren that she had that were born after her death and how proud she would have been of them. She knew Scott and C.J. (although they were“Scottie and Carey” to her) She was gone before Erin, Travis and Jamie came along. All of them red-heads, like herself! Isn’t that strange? What kind of memories would they have made with her if she had lived? Not to mention the great-grandchildren that have come along also.
I have often missed her as I have grown up, so much more than I was at 27 years old! I have often thought of things we could have done together as I have matured in life. I think of the conversations I would have liked to have had with her; conversations that I was too young to think about having when she was here.
After the funeral today, I went to my cousin Brenda’s house and spent some time with her and Cherry and their children. We had such a good visit, sharing stories and just being with each other. I think God often puts some good stuff in with the hard stuff in our lives. It was a good time and I have always treasured my family ties. Sometimes they are so hard to hang on to as we all go in different directions in our lives.
Today I am thankful for my family and the fact that I can be with them and be a part of their lives. I am so proud of my husband and my son, who are always there for me. Scott looked so nice today and as we were standing at the gravesite for the prayer, he slipped in behind me and gave me just a little hug and let me know he was there thinking about me.
Of course, Ronald did all of the things he needed to do, and all of the things he doesn’t have to do that make me feel loved and “taken care of”. He worked until noon, rushing around to get his job done so he could be at the funeral and be with me until everything was over. Then he had to rush home and change and go back to work for the rest of the evening.
I sat through the service, which was very nice and listened to the pastor talk first about my aunt and then about our places in eternity if we believe and accept Jesus. I thought of all of the funerals I attended when I was young. I always wanted the preacher to say what needed to be said about the deceased and then pray and be finished. I didn’t think they should go on and on about salvation and all that comes with it and I was always ready to leave as soon as I could because of that.
Having experienced many life lessons since that time, today I thought of how good it felt to listen to that service and know that I have a place in eternity with God; and how I wanted the same for every person in that room. I thought about how much peace and love God has brought into my life in the past few years; as I started seeking Him with a desire to learn and know all that I can about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I so desperately want that feeling of God’s unconditional love for those I love.
My prayers are for their hearts to reach out to God for His grace and love (whether they know salvation or not) because I know now that there is so much more to God than just repenting and being forgiven. He is so real in my life! I never knew that could be possible when I was living my life for me and thought I was doing just fine.
My prayers are for God’s guidance and His wisdom in me, that I may be able to show them, or tell them in a way that they will understand. I want them to know now what it took me so long to learn! I hope God will set opportunities before me and I will recognize them when they come.~
My blog is for....?
I have been giving some thought as to what I want to use this blog for. I really don't have time to post everyday stuff on a regular basis but I do like having the blog to put my thoughts down. I have always like to write down my feelings, thoughts, ideas, etc. It helps me to organize my mind, as much as that is possible for me.
Back in the summer of last year (2005) I started journaling a little and just did it on a Word document temporarily. I've decided to transfer that stuff here even though it is not recent and to add to it as I have time to spend on it.
I enjoy reading the blogs of my online friends and learning more about their lives but I'm not good at keeping up with my own. LOL I've been "tagged" by other bloggers with some interesting assignments but haven't taken the time to follow thru with them. I keep thinking I'll get to it but then Life happens...
Maybe I will do better now that the holidays have passed. We shall see....
The next few entries are from my notes started last year.
Back in the summer of last year (2005) I started journaling a little and just did it on a Word document temporarily. I've decided to transfer that stuff here even though it is not recent and to add to it as I have time to spend on it.
I enjoy reading the blogs of my online friends and learning more about their lives but I'm not good at keeping up with my own. LOL I've been "tagged" by other bloggers with some interesting assignments but haven't taken the time to follow thru with them. I keep thinking I'll get to it but then Life happens...
Maybe I will do better now that the holidays have passed. We shall see....
The next few entries are from my notes started last year.
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