Friday, September 30, 2016

Watch the nachos

The boys are off at a father son camp out with church and S had to play at homecoming, so G and I had plans to make.  There was a painting party for moms and daughters at church, but she decided she wanted to be outside and watch ball and the band with her friends.  So we dropped sister off and parker our rear ends in the stadium way earlier than we needed to be there.  But we got our pick of seats.  G sat with me for a good while until a friend asked her to come over to the student section with her.  I couldn't deny her the opportunity,   Before she left with her friends, she kindly went to concessions and got me a treat.  I am not a cheese eater as most of my people know, but she got me some nachos.  It doesn't really taste like cheese to me, so I accepted said nachos.  I was also quite hungry, so a shoe would have tasted alright.  The last chip I ate, there was a different kind of crunch.  Not a chip crunch, but more like a sweet tart or gravel crunch.  Once I discreetly cleared what I thought was the sharp chip out of my tooth, I realized that the sharpness was my tooth, now broken.  Molar, missing about 1/4 of its mass.  I have never had such a thing happen before.  It is not a happy feeling.  My oldest and her friend both inspected it and said it was putting me in the stereotypical hillbilly category.  Ugh.  I plan to raid the orthodontic wax supply in this house and try to cover this mess so I won't cut my tongue open.

There's a visual to leave you with as you go to bed.

Night all.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Snapchat crazy

Social media and I have a love hate relationship. News can spread quickly which is good and bad. Lots of positives, but a whole lot of negatives. So since my oldest has Instagram and Snapchat, I have gotten accounts as well to follow her activities. Snapchat has become very entertaining recently. I have been shown, by my children, the filters you can put on your face. Depending on the day, there are different ones. My son found one today that made his face into a bunny face and changed his voice. He sounded like a hippie bunny who loved carrots. We have laughed all afternoon about that filter and his little bunny voice. We send faces to my daughter and other friends with the app. Just what I need...another thing to suck my time away. But I'll use it all the time to see my son belly laugh at himself. That is priceless.

Night all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Time slow down

My girl is 15 years old today. 15. Years. Old. That means she can get behind the wheel of a car and learn how to drive it. And oh is she ready to do it. She went to school with her new bare teeth before and had boys, yes BOYS, tell her she looked pretty and nice. Arrrgghhh. She had friends celebrate with her all day and feast on cupcakes with her at church tonight. She is one lucky girl. And we are lucky parents to have such a nice young woman for a daughter. But she can slow down a little...please?

Night all.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

No more metal

Well, my oldest had a big day today. He metal that she has been carrying around in her mouth for two years was ripped out today. She was polished up and sent home with a bag full of candy items that were taboo during the brace face years. I can't get over how she looks. We were driving to her early birthday dinner and I caught a glance of her out of the corner of my eye. It took my breath away. She looked so grown up. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it is going to happen whether I want it to or not.

My little brace faced girl is no more...tomorrow she will be a 15 year old young lady. Sigh.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, September 26, 2016

Soccer and debates

The A team at the middle school had their Monday game tonight and it was a rough one. The girls fought hard and are going to be sore tomorrow, but the pulled out a W. G was a beast in the goal and is now feeling awfully crippled with a hip injury. Poor thing. I hate it, but she intimidated the heck out of those girls coming at her. Her teammates were beasts as well and I sure wouldn't have messed with them one bit. Proud of those girls...they played hard and clean.

I am currently typing this as I watch the debate. I don't know what to say, friends. It has already turned into a circus, both of them. God help our country. My head hurts already and, as much as I enjoy Lester Holt, he needs to gain control. He is a referee who has let the game get out of control already. Cheap shots and the world is sitting back with a bowl of popcorn laughing. Both of them need to, oh I don't know anymore....

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Soccer and Sweetness

Busy work morning today as always. Working down a staff member, but I'm grateful for willing volunteers who jump in at the last minute. We had an afternoon futbol match for G and it was lively as always. The game ended up in a tie, but I was glad for that. You always hope that everyone shares your feelings about sportsmanship and general decency. We are finding that more and more to not be the case. Today's match was no exception. When last we played this team(who we play all the time), they did not have the correct amount of girls, 11, to make up a team. They had 9, so we took two of ours away and made it even. After half time, 4 of their left to go play another game somewhere else. We dropped four as well to keep it even once again. Today, this team had their 11 and had supplied their own ref. We had 10. They did not drop a player and they screamed at their own ref and our parents and our girls because we came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie. When the players are looking at their parents to stop and shut up, you know it is bad. Our girls are rough, but they play clean. Just disappointed in grown ups.

After the game, we went to a restaurant for a special event. Some of our dear friends are adopting three children from South America to add to the three they already have at home. Some members of their church own a restaurant and offered to have a fundraiser for them and provide a meal. It was sweet to see so many people there to support the family and get excited about welcoming these three sweethearts to their forever home in a few short months. We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet them and shower them with love.

Time to finish Mythbusters with the kids.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Come, Fall weather, come

Two soccer games and a band competition later, I am sporting my usual Phantom of the Opera sunburn mask as I sit here and type. First team was a no show, but the kids had the best time playing a pick up game with their coach. That is the place where his gifts really shine and his coaching genius comes through. The second game was not so positive. We played a team who always beats us and the kids had to listen to the other team's parents mock them and make derogatory comments. Really? To a bunch of 8 and 9 year olds? Such a sad statement on the perspective lost when it comes to parents watching their CHILDREN play sports. Um, I don't see one scout out there ready to whisk them away to Spain or Italy to become the next Lionel Messi. Get a life, people.

After we cleaned up from the game, we went to the booming metropolis of Clinton, TN to watch our oldest's school marching band in a competition. I thought they did a great job...especially the cute blonde on the vibraphone. We left before the awards were handed out. I can't take that part and the hub's back couldn't take anymore metal bleachers. So we split. We'll get the rundown here soon enough.

I'm now showered and watching The Big Lebowski. Work is tomorrow. 'Nuf said.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, September 23, 2016

Chaperoning

It's Friday night. Do you know where your children are? My oldest will be at church tonight for high school night...and I get to be a responsible adult. That's kind of funny. Last time I was a responsible adult, I got to pelt unsuspecting youth with balled up socks while they were running around church in the dark. It was great fun I must say. I kind of hope that we get to do that again. They will be playing Underground Church again tonight, so who knows? I have sewn up three bunny carcasses to take and stuff while I am there watching dodgeball or bubble ball or whatever they may get into tonight. I'm going to be the embarrassing mom tonight...but then again I probably always am. But I can throw a mean sock ball. Watch out kids...

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Ice cream tummy

So once again I have purchased ice cream that may or may not be on the the recall list for Listeria contamination. And, of course, we purchased two half gallons and have consumed one already. Now I have psychological listeria tummy today. Actually, I ate out at a restaurant for staff lunch on Tuesday and my tummy has not been happy since. I think my burger may have been made in the ice cream factory. Gurgle gurgle. It may be a while before I try their delicacies again.

I have gotten addicted to a podcast discussing criminal cases, both known and unknown. It reexamines evidence and botched detective and forensic work. Fascinating. Jim Clemente has always been someone I have enjoyed hearing speak. Now he and Laura Richards, of New Scotland Yard and the FBI, have reworked the JonBenet case, the Making a Murderer case and some of the OJ case. So very interesting. I have always been so fascinated by crime scene investigation, FBI profilers and everything that comes with that. A childhood friend of mine is a chief of a section at the FBI and I envy her scientific mind and abilities. She has worked hard to get to where she is and has helped many people. Exciting work.

Time to get my boy and go to another soccer game.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Ugh

Middle school is no better the second or third time around. It is a time of life that you just have to survive and it is really unfortunate. Mix in with interpersonal crap the shake up of a schedule and a teacher who is leaving and blaming a class for her departure...you have a powder keg of a kid ready to explode on somebody....or everybody. Kids these days have so much more crap on their plates than I did. I thought I had a lot, but with smart phones and texting and Snapchat and all that junk, well, it just becomes almost suffocating. These kids need to have a mental break in the worst way. Poor things. Now they have unloaded their brains and emotions on me and can fall quickly to sleep, unburdened for the night. I will not sleep, but will gladly bear that load to make their load lighter.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Under construction

I'm a working on bears tonight. It looks like the aftermath of a bomb at a teddy bear factory. I have one completed, one currently being stuffed and one waiting to be turned and stuffed. These have all come from the same quilt that has been loved quite a bit. It gives them character for sure, but makes them tricky to sew up. Each has their own personality as they sit on the table and wait to be taken to their new homes. I hope they brighten up the space they occupy and bring joy to their new families. Night all.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sleepy Laundromat

I was the laundry maid today...woohoo! I was so tired today and needed to be lazy, so I took advantage of the laundry situation and sought sleepy refuge in the basement. I got the laundry done, started a new to me Netflix series and took a little snooze in the dark with the whirring washer next to me. It was nice.

I worked childcare tonight at church. One of the girls was sick, so I filled in while the boy was upstairs at his scout meeting. S was dropped off from band and joined us. It was a wingding of a time.

The hub and I are currently watching part two of Jim Clemente's reinvesting action of the JonBenet Ramsey case. Not to sound morbid, but it is fascinating. I hope justice can be served in this case...even 20 years later.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Rainy rain rain

I think my potato barrel is singing a hymn of praise this afternoon. We have been without rain for a good while and those taters are thirsty! G was supposed to have a soccer game this afternoon. Thankfully the other team didn't have enough players and it got cancelled. I think there was a collective "YIPPEE" that rang out across the county when we all found out. I love to watch a good game, even sometimes when it is a little wet. Not when it is pouring and we risk watching someone get hurt. So for the first time since probably July, we all just sat together and got to be vegetables for a little bit. That was lovely. The serenity was broken when, somehow, a bottle of nail polish exploded all over a wall. So I spent a good while fixing that problem. Then the freezer kind of exploded, so I had to clean that out. Then one of the kids threw up, so serenity over. I have Lysoled the bathroom and am praying it was just a big burp gone rogue instead of stomach virus. Please, dear Lord, let it be a rogue burp.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Rafting and kicking

This is a short post. I am so tired and need to get sleep for work tomorrow. The boy played a soccer game today right next to the big wedding tent at the soccer fields. It was a successful game, thankfully, and the boy even scored a goal. I wa proud of him. As usual, we played a team with a coach who obviously feel that this game of 8 and 9 year olds must have college scouts in attendance. Good grief. Chill out, man. The girls went with the youth group to whitewater raft on the Ocoee River. It was G's first time, so I was a little nervous. They have arrived home safely and still speaking to each other. They'll be sore tomorrow, but they had a great time today. I am so glad they have these opportunities to get away and enjoy nature and God and their friends.

It was a good day.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, September 16, 2016

What is next?

G had soccer practice tonight and you never know what you are going to find when you get there. A year ago or less, less I guess, our soccer club head made a big leap and leased a sport field complex that has been owned by a family for quite a while. Their coach is a dreamer and wants so many things and you have to admire him, on one hand, for his dreams to make the place return to its former glory. From a parent's standpoint, he tends to make us crazy 90% of the time. While he is a soccer savant and know how to coach these kids, he is fairly scattered and disorganized and a yeller and frustrating to plan your calendar by and so many other things. BUT, he can teach the beautiful game like no one else. Teaching and coaching are two different things and people in any sport know what that means. During his time leasing this sports complex, he has really done a great job getting it back in shape...it has a long way to go. He has gotten the baseball fields looking much better, build a sand soccer/volleyball court, cleaned up and amped up the concession stand into a gourmet grill, hosted several tournaments, given disadvantaged kids a safe place to hang out and still managed to have soccer go on. There is a lot of dysfunction there and we are constantly shaking our heads at what we find sometimes, but his heart is in the right place. I have to give him that. If any child wants to play soccer, regardless of financial abilities, he will take them on.

All that being said, we honestly never know what we are going to run up on when we arrive: softball, baseball, adult softball, adult kickball...take a guess. Today when we were parked, a man drove by and said, "Is this where the wedding rehearsal is?" After a rather strange conversation, we steered him to the only place we thought it could be and then kind of forgot about the conversation. The hub, the boy and I walked up the hill to check on the girls and monitor their water intake and then....we saw it. This white mass on the horizon that we are not used to seeing. We walked towards it, the boy running in front of us in hope that the grill would be open. A huge tent was constructed, like a tent big enough to house a good amount of people. This tent was adjacent to one of the baseball diamonds. The diamond had white chairs set up on it with an aisle running from second base al the way to home plate. That is where the vows will be exchanged. I heard a noise and see D, our coach, riding up the hill on a mower with a trailer behind it. "So can we add wedding planner to your resume' now?" He laughed and nodded. The hub and I were watching the set up when I heard my name. I turned around to see the coach showering fully clothed under the new outdoor shower head he had installed. He chose this time to explain that the wedding was for a girl whose grandfather ran the complex for 30+ years before he took it over. It was a sweet gesture to honor her dearly departed grandfather and weird for us to watch. There will also be a dance floor somewhere and a larger reception under the tent. Not what I expected to see as my daughter was body slamming high school boys in a rough pick up game less than a football field away.

Never dull at that field.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Put a W down

I have been cleaning and straightening today. Just trying to get a handle on this house, if that is possible. The children noticed I cleaned out the glass cabinet, so that's good I guess. While I was dusting and straightening the TV room, I watched the last installment of the Jon Benet miniseries. That is some messed up stuff for sure. It made me kind of ill. My own fault.

After picking people up and getting most people where they needed to be, we got G to the fields for her second middle school game of the season. I had to watch a bit, leave and get the marching band girl and then go back to see the exciting conclusion. It was a nice win for the girls: 8-0. Thankful for that. The girls needed one. Of course I missed G's goal when I was gone, but she was pleased to get one. The boy was at soccer practice getting beaten up with a hard practice. S had been at band practice getting screamed at by the band director. I think they could have used some sort of goal as well. They'll have their day.

I'm kind of tired, friends, so I may go to bed soon.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

A quick one for hump day

I have been deep cleaning the kids' rooms today. Here is my plan: get their rooms the way I want, take pictures of their arrangement and then make the kids match their rooms to the picture. Is that crazy? It is either that or go into complete beast mode and strip them down to a mattress and a sheet and one outfit. They will be doing their homework on an abacus and beating their laundry against a rock to wash it. They'll carry their laundry in a pail like Laura Ingalls and attempt to watch their allotted TV amount on a tube Zenith with tin foil on the rabbit ears. Yeah. I'm done.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

T-Bone time!!

G is having her first audition for band opportunity tomorrow. It was supposed to be today and then, well, it didn't work out for reasons that are sure to make you fall asleep...so I'll skip that part. So tonight she is going to practice again and work on her skills. I was a woodwind player, so I don't know slide positions or anything other than how to make a noise that sounds like a constipated elephant. I love to hear her play. She has a darn good ear, I must say. My dream is for her to play the theme to "The Prisoner"(the trombone part) or "Peter Gunn" or anything Chicago has done. She of course rolls her eyes when I say that and play her the clips. I get it...it's okay. But she better play one of those for me someday.

I'm currently watching the Paralympics from Rio. I want to complain about my life. Good grief. These men and women are just absolute beasts in their fields. I am in awe of what they can do with their bodies. Shame on me for not doing a fraction of what I should do with a functional, yet frumpy, body. Amazing.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, September 12, 2016

We survived!

The boy and I led his den meeting for the Webelos I group. This is part of the requirements they have to fulfill to achieve their rank. The boy had to teach his fellow Cubs about assembling a home first aid kit and "Hurry Cases" and how to treat victims. Great idea in theory. Trying to teach about rescue breathing and abdominal thrusts and the stroke symptoms is admirable, but virtually impossible. These boys, including my own, have been in school all day. A couple of them were no longer working with the benefits of the Ritalin they had received that morning. I think the things, or key words, they took away were: spurting blood(another adult nicely shared that term), vomit, "eating bug killer" and "Staying Alive". I played the Bee Gees so they could see how fast one should do chest compressions. They boogied down while I did fake chest compressions on my child. And, no, I mimed the compressions. I did not want to kill my child during a demonstration. It was quite exhausting, but I think the kids learned a bit. And the boy checked off some requirements.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Busy, busy, busy

It has been a busy work day with lots of running and craziness. We had a nursery full of happy babies, which I love. So stinkin' cute! After I got home, I took the oldest and my car to a car wash where her friends on the high school soccer team were trying to raise money for their homecoming queen candidate. You could also buy some doughnuts if you wanted since it was in the Krispy Kreme parking lot...but we did not. We then ran to Kroger for ice cream toppings for a high school youth event. THEN, we went to G's soccer game. Let me tell you something: that was a crazy and rough game. By the last few minutes of the game, we were playing 5v5 from a 10v10 game. Our 11th girl has a broken foot. The other team only had 9 and then 3 of them left at half time. Then their keeper took a beating and another player did as well. G took a heck of a beating, but truly had the game of her life. I wear mom goggles, I know I do, but she was a dynamo out there and I was really proud. Now she has field burn on her shins and wrecked knees. She was so proud of herself. Her teammates fought like beasts. They were great. I'm just glad they all walked, or limped, away.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Here we go

The Battle at Bristol is a little less than 15 minutes away. Our beloved Hokies are playing the Tennessee Vols at the Bristol Motor Speedway. It has been an event hyped beyond all imagination for years now. Sure, I would love to have our team win, but I realize that no matter the result we will have to maintain radio silence regardless. I can't get into football arguments for months following a game. It is just ridiculous. So as usual, I am going to not watch the game and instead binge watch "The Office" until probably 8:30 and then go to sleep. Tomorrow is a work day and I need to steel myself for whatever might hit me in the morning.

I just hope everyone stays safe and is not caught in a traffic snarl for 57 hours...but they will. Go Hokies!!!

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Bonita Dr,Knoxville,United States

Friday, September 9, 2016

Cheese adventure

The hub was off today as he is every other Friday. We usually have some sort of little adventure or get into some sort of project while the children are gone to school. Today, after he had his check up at the doctor, we went out to run a few errands, Put money in the bank for the soccer team and go look about a newer iPad to replace this dying one I currently am using, pick up batteries at Kroger. We were sad, in a way, that it wasn't Saturday. Ace Hardware is one of our favorite stores and they make the best popcorn in town, but only on Saturday. We were headed that direction when I remembered a store that had opened fairly recently and we had yet to visit it. So I said, "Well, do you want to go to Cheddar Holler?". I think my husband just about drove off the road when I made the suggestion. As most who read this know, I am not a cheese eater at all, so to suggest we go to a cheese store...well you get it. Not a huge selection, but he more than happily bought some blocks, one orange and one white. Like that technical cheese talk?

Tomorrow is the big Battle at Bristol where our beloved Hokies are playing the hometown team of the Tennessee Vols. The hub and I have chosen to go radio silent on the subject for the most part. Strangers in a strange land are not afforded much grace during times like this. We went to eat tonight and a rather drunk couple saw the VT on B's shirt and started to sing the "Hokie Pokie". Then we watched in terror as they drove off into the night and prayed they didn't kill someone. The game should be interesting. We will be watching from the climate controlled comfort of our house.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Don't Bring Me Down

Got some ukulele time in today, which was needed for my mental health. I have been working on Ricky Nelson's "Traveling Man". It is a fun song and one of my favorites...even if he turned out to be kind of a drug hazed sex addict. But he could write a heck of a catchy song. And don't we all need one of those every now and then? I needed one today. Just a bad day at the glue factory. it was rough. When I picked up my sweet children today, it made everything a lot better. The boy even did a little jig and dabbed while I played some Elvis. He's got some moves.

I'm going to finish the day watching "60 Days In" and praying my children never go to jail. It is terrifying and disturbing. Great way to end the night before I go to sleep.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Super happy Girl

I took my oldest to the orthodontist today. Lots of ibuprofen, Christmas tree brushes and rubber bands have gotten us to this point: the appointment before THE appointment. She had two minuscule little gaps between her top teeth that they wanted to address, so the hygienist got to work. She took something that looked like clear stretchy string and wound it in and out of her braces. Then, she tied a knot and pulled really hard. And when I say hard, I mean I think she all but took her foot and placed it on her chest to get enough leverage to pull it as tight as possible. Then the doc came over to assess the work, gave his approval for molds to be made and then left. She chose her flavor of mold goo, not sure what it was...but cotton candy was one of the favors. Blech. Molds were made for permanent retainers and then we were off to schedule an 80 minute appointment. What will the 80 minute appointment entail? Only one thing that matters to her: THE BRACES COME OFF!!!!!!!. And they come off the day before her birthday, so her learner's permit will have her "bare teeth" on it. Learner's permit...I can't talk about that right now.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

It's dead, Jim...well, almost.

I am a very fortunate woman. I have luxuries that many people do not and I am grateful for what I have. One of the items I have that I have owned for many years, have taken good care of and have gotten way more than I paid out it is my iPad. I have an iPad 2, I think, which I got when my oldest(a high school sophomore) was in 4th grade I believe. It has been my right hand in many ways as it has helped me pass the hundreds of hours in school pick up lines and waiting rooms and lessons and sick kid nights. Well, friends, I think we are in the last days of this iPad. It dies 10 times an evening...only to resurrect itself 10 more times. I think I heard it cough a minute ago. Last time I took birthday and consignment sale money and bought a new one. I feel like I am going to test its longevity like Kramer did with the gas in the car her test drove. Let's see how far it goes. But then again, more lessons are starting, more soccer practices and games that make me too nervous to watch, more concerts and performances are starting...can it survive the busy season? We'll see. Either way, it sure has been a trooper all these years. An antique in the technology world. It will get pampered until the day it displays its last black screen of death with the white Apple on it.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, September 5, 2016

Basement dweller

Labor Day has been a rather ho hum day around here, but that is really okay with me. I made a trip to return shoes, pick up supplies at the Office Depot and got dinner makings at Kroger. After putting all of that stuff away, I descended into the basement to become a troll for the afternoon. I am in bear making mode for a friend. I haven't made a whole lot of them since my grandmother passed away. It kind of just took the wind out of my sails...but she wouldn't want that to happen. I learned so I could pass on the tradition to my children. I set the iPad up with Netflix on and got to sewing. There's something about the whir of the machine that lulls me into a trance. I hope that the end result of my efforts will be received well and pleasing. I've got to say that whenever I start to cut up someone's beloved quilt, I tend to break into a cold sweat and make one last call to the quilt owner to make sure they really want me to put scissors to cloth. I can cut them up and make something new out of them, but I'm not much of one to put them back together nicely. Luckily, no one has come after my hide yet. Thank goodness.

Back to whirring that machine.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Lesson Day

G had her first lesson of many, I hope, with Dr. Sean Greene today. He is a super tuba master and a band director and so many things. today he was G's trombone teacher along with his wife. They had a great time while she was there and she was really pumped up when she left their house. She showed me how she does a chromatic scale and worked very hard. The Greene family was very complimentary of her work and were so kind to build her confidence up. It was a good boost for the afternoon. She also got new keeper gloves which made her very happy.

Tonight the hub and I went to dinner with my brother and sister in law and had a lovely time. We haven't been out as adults in a long time and it felt nice. We even saw our former pastor and his wife, who are expecting a baby, there. It was nice to see him and catch up. A lovely evening after an emotionally draining weekend.

I'm going to bed.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Quite a day

We went to our friend's funeral today. It was tough, but a beautiful service. The family kindly asked all of the nursery staff to sit together up front with the family. We were all quite honored and humbled to be asked. Everyone processes these things in life differently. My oldest sit quietly and contemplates each thought and word. She isn't one to cry much, preferring to hold it in. G wears her heart on her sleeve. I honestly don't think she really processed everything until today when she saw everything laid out in the sanctuary. She was standoffish with the first few family members and then suddenly lost her composure when we got to Erin's aunt. She wept the rest of our time at church. Seeing others in pain is something she cannot bear. Her sister is the same way...just shows it differently. The boy, normally a chatterbox, goes radio silent. He shook hands, nodded politely and hugged people, but looked angry. And he was and is. We sat together, watching others go through the line until it was time for the family leave and gather themselves before the service started. From the moment they entered, we were blessed with a wonderful celebration of life. She was such an inspiration to so many and I am so grateful to have known her. My children are better for knowing her and seeing her example of perseverance through difficult circumstances. When they closing hymn "Victory in Jesus" was played and her mom threw up her hands in love and acknowledgement of the message in the song, I think there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

A moving afternoon.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, September 2, 2016

First home game

We sat through the first home game of the season and boy did we get our rear ends handed to us. Was it shocking that we lost? No. That team has a reputation of being a powerhouse right now. Nothing we could do but just take it. Our oldest played in the band tonight. They sounded good, I thought. I wish they would put a microphone on the front ensemble where she plays. When people are yapping and milling around for nachos and a pretzel, it is hard to hear a vibraphone or marimba being played. Those kids work so hard...they should be heard.

Tomorrow we got to church for Erin's funeral. I cannot imagine the pain her parents are in, but pray they can find peace and reassurance in this horrible situation. Send a few extra prayers their way. It is going to be a rough day tomorrow and won't be easier for a long time.

Night all.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Care package mode

My friend WE's son broke his leg in a big way on Saturday...I think I mentioned it. After getting checked yesterday, it was determined that a surgery was needed today to put screws in so it would heal properly. Having had a kid who had surgery, I know it is a big deal for everybody from the patient to the parents to the siblings. So I was in the mood for a distraction and made a care package to send him. I did it not because I'm a great person; I did it to get to look at silly get well cards. Okay, I'm somewhat of a nice person and I know my kids always love a care package. Who doesn't like a treat in the mail when they are post surgery? Hopefully he'll enjoy it when it arrives sometime on Saturday.

I also mailed a envelope of cards to the parents of our friend who passed away yesterday. The children in one of the church groups made sweet cards for them. This was one of my favorites:



So sweet. The children really get it...I can learn a lot from them.

Night all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad