Adios for a Momento

Camp Neena ended yesterday and although we have pictures to share on the closing, camp internet is still down. I am in the big city now at Daughter # 2's house. Hopefully, soon we will share our pictures. A GREAT TIME was had and the next Camper, R is expected to report on or around July 28 for Session II. Neena can't wait. She already misses CPM but we will all be together soon when we go to the beach. I am being forced to wait on some new cable outlets in my house and they can' t be installed until July 11. Which is really ok because I am going to be heading to West Texas next week for baby J's birth and to pamper and wait on my daughter-in-love. So, I am stepping out of blogging until I'm back. I'll have lots to write about then. Most of you have my email and/or phone so I'll be at Mom's checking email . Write when you can and keep me posted on you. BE GOOD AND I'll MISS YALL! Until then, ride your bikes, decorate your new offices, rock your grandbabies, take lots of snapshots, love on your families. Enjoy the 4th. Myself? I'll be thankful I am not in the STARFLIGHT helicopter enroute to Heart Hospital like I was last 4th. I just want to see a firework this year not be one!

Camp Neena, Day 3

This is Ashley, Camp Reporter coming LIVE to you from Houston, Texas.

Camp Neena has run into a little technical difficulty during the HGTV portion of the camp. Camp Neena administrator, Neena, thought that while relocating her office to another room would be a cinch...it wouldn't be for the Time Warner Cable people. In other words....when they came to hook up the new computer they realized that they couldn't do what they needed to do until July 11th. So Camp Neena is officially "Off Air". While they are still having loads of fun, eating tons of popsicles, and swimming everyday until they prune up....there will be no pictures or blogging about it until after July 11th.

I still find it hilarious that Mom, I mean Neena, isn't going to have computer access until July 11th. Poor Dad, withdrawls are going to be bad...

Ashley A.
Camp Neena News

Tuesday Thoughts

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  He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.—Albert Einstein

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

by Diane Loomans

(author of Full Steam Ahead,100 Ways to Build Self Esteem in Children and Adults copyright 1994)

If I had my child to raise all over again,I'd finger-paint more and point the finger less

I'd do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I'd run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

• One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.—Chinese Proverb

• When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.—Louis Pasteur

• Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.—Mother Teresa

• Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you Before you were here an hour I would die for you This is the miracle of life.—Maureen Hawkins

Today is going to be busy. I can only share this with you today...........It's only Tuesday at Camp Neena and each night this week I have snuggled tightly and fallen asleep in the arms of a trusting child. I have danced around with the innocent sound of a precious child's laughter, answered daily "Why's" with what little I have come to know of life, and listened to the most honest prayers break through the gates of Heaven. Just some thoughts from Neena ~ 2007

Let Me Tell You - It Never Ends Here

The learning never stops at Camp Neena.



Let me tell you, there is a fine art to tree trimming. It is all in the wrist. Safety first. NEVER NEVER NEVER, well you get the picture. Just remember the safety first part.

Once you get the limbs trimmed, of course, you load up in the wagon to the burn pile. We will have a big bon fire when the rain stops. Only practicing the utmost fire safety. Because Papaw is a firefighter and he knows everything about fires.

Now in the cooking department, Neena is the champ. But, we are using "Aunt Becky's" famous meatloaf recipe. Please don't talk to us about hygiene. Or the frogs in the bucket. Or the fact that we have not gotton the tangles out of our hair yet. We have been very busy at Camp Neena.

CAMP NEENA in FULL SWING

Day 2 of CAMP NEENA has been a busy day. We started the day rushing around, as usual, getting ready for church. Everyone was very glad to see CPM was visiting and especially glad to hear of her CAMP NEENA fun. We ate a yummy lunch off the camp grounds today! We ate lunch with Nana and Poppi. Aunt JoJo and Jim were there too. Everything was extra good.

We hurried home because the sun was shining finally! CPM jumped into her bathing suit and hit the pool for some Sunday free time. We swam and played. Then it was time to get out for a popsicle break. This camp is well stocked in popsicles. We like to eat them by 2's. Is it possible to go through a box of 100 in 2 days? Not really!

Yesterday, Neena the Camp director was pretty certain that 5 year olds do not take naps but today we found out that they do. CPM got out her colors and color books while camp Director Neena layed down on the couch for a few minutes. Pretty soon both campers were snuggled up and sleeping.

We couldn't sleep long because last night we found some "pets" on the campground that have to be cared for. CPM is NOT afraid of anything. We found 2 baby bull frogs. CPM caught them! We set up an aquarium and are diligently working take care of Petunia and Wally. We are making sure they have a proper and natural surrounding to live in while Camp Neena is in process. We found some shrimp pellets and are throwing bugs in the tank. She gets them out of their tank on occasion to "kiss" them against my warning. I think she is watching too many Disney princess movies! But, if she gets warts on her lips this might be her last year allowed to attend this prestigious camp. However, we learned on the computer that we are going to have to let them go back to nature when camp is over. Frogs have to live in the wild where they can find food plus they might miss their mommies like CPM does. But, so far no tears! From the frogs or CPM.

CAMP NEENA - Day One Registration

Today is the first official day of CAMP NEENA. Camp Counselor Neena has been very excited about camp this year. The day is going great so far. Our number one camper, Campus Princess Macy ( CPM ) started off the day with a bowl of Cheerios and 4 popsicles in assorted colors and flavors. There has been a week of wonderful and fun activities planned to keep CPM all excited. I think though at this point we have gone all the way through Thursday and it's not even 2 PM on the first day. Counselor Neena may to rethink her curriculum. Also, 5 year olds do NOT take naps.

Then we moved on the manicure/pedicure session in the den which was scheduled for 11 AM. CPM decided on pink polka dot toe nails and decided she would like a french manicure like mine for her hands. It was similar to trying to paint the hoofs of a wild hyena. She did mention that her mommy always sat like a statue when she got hers done. CPM does NOT sit like a statue. After letting polish dry for 5 seconds we had sat still long enough.

So,we headed out to the pool for 5 minutes of splashing and getting Neena, the camp counselor, all wet. With that fun action completed she decided it was time for something else. So, we dried off and went off a hunt for snails and roly poly's in the yard. CPM is not scared of bugs, snails, creepy crawly things, and she said NOT EVEN SNAKES. All of which she likes to collect in her bug basket. We did not find snakes, thankfully, but whe did find 2 baby frogs. It wasn't 3 minutes and we tired of that and CPM got very hungry.

She thought she "was going to die" she was so hungry. So, Head Camper Neena quickly prepared a delicious lunch of grapes, cantaloupe, carrot sticks and a hot dog. It was quickly consumed by hungry CPM. Then she decided we forgot the watermelon. So, we cut up the watermelon and it is very tasty too! Now, Counselor Neena needs to go clean the kitchen. We'll keep you posted ! Finding Nemo comes on tonight at 7PM so we are going to try to have our jammies on and ready for that!

So Elementary, Dear Watson

ANALOGY

An analogy is a comparison between two different things, in order to highlight some form of similarity.

I love analogies. More and more they pop up around me and always invoke some real “life” message to me. Maybe it’s one good thing that comes age and experience because I haven’t found a lot more! It can be something so simple but it thunders a message to me that just parallels something I am going through, have gone through, or know I’ll go through!

Especially in my spiritual life I love analogies. It seems like everything in GOD’S UNIVERSE, including me, can be summed up by something you can’t really explain but it’s there. I heard a reference one time, probably in a sermon, about one analogy that I just keep drawing on and expanding on in my mind. It applies so much to things I feel, read and see. Yet, it is so elementary.

The basis of this analogy is this:

Restlessness, with which I am very familiar with, comes from not being contented with your surroundings. Don’t get me wrong. I love my life. I love my beautiful “things”, my home, my family ( OH MY GOODNESS, I love my family ), my awesome friends ( OH MY GOODNESS, I love my awesome friends) , the grass, the trees, the ocean, the sky. I love to go places, do things….you get it now? But, these things are so temporary. In a world where everything has an expiration date on it all these things do too. So, not seeing the future, ( thankfully) all these things only content me for a time being. I am working so hard on not holding onto these earthly things because I know they won’t pack up to Heaven. With the exception of my family and friends! Pour Bibles tells us..........(paraphrased) “Lay not up your treasures on earth.”

So, the analogy is something like this…………..watch a goldfish swimming so happily in his bowl. Get a net and pull him out and lie him on the table. See how uncontent he is ? That table is NOT his world.

The water is his world. For as long as you leave him on that table a little of him will die. Much like we do in the world. That table is not where he longs to be. He longs to be HOME….in the water where he belongs. We are like the goldfish……the bowl, whichi is his ocean of water is like Heaven to us.



We, as humans, will never be content or continously happy on this earth. We are not supposed to be. We are fish out of water. We won’t be content until we are in the waters of Heaven. If all this happiness, peace and perfection came to us on earth, why would we long to go to Heaven. Then there will be true peace and happiness beyond our wildest dreams. We can not expect the world who fell to sin so long ago to provide us all the happiness we think we deserve.

This world is not my home

I'm just a-passing through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from Heaven's Open Door

And I can't feel at home in this World anymore."

Which Way?

Basically I feel pretty overwhelmed and confused like this picture. I cannot seem to make any decisions. Not even what to blog about. Therefore I can not find the brain cells to blog about anything of importance. There is alot of very emotional things swirling through my thoughts. Maybe I am on blogger break. So, you are much better off letting me share these words with you from someone else that were way stronger than any I could have conveyed. I wouldn't just throw out anyone's words or thoughts but only some of the best of my collection. Ones that are sure to move you in some way. I hope you enjoy them.

"It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be."

authored by Anne Frank June 1929-March 1945

WEDNESDAY WISDOM - It Bears Repeating

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya Angelou

I Was Paying Attention Mrs. Adams!

I love English, grammar, and writing. I love all the thought processes and the story starters. When I learned to type (and I am fast, thanks Mrs. A'cik for sitting me by the boys in typing. I had to type fast because they kept pulling my paper out of the typewriter ) the words in my brain started coming out of my fingertips. My biggest fault in my writing is that I write like I talk. Too fast ,scattered and random! I am going to be working on that organization. Because you know what? My high school English teacher reads my blog! Do you know how fun it is to be grown and still get an A + ? I used to "help" write all my own kids and their friends research papers. Ashley says that when she was in high school, my alma mater too, everytime she turned in a writing assigment the teacher would say, "Tell your mom she did good again!" But, Mrs. Adams, or Connie as she is now known to me, is the one who always encouraged me about my writing and being creative. Not only did she encourage my writing but she has encouraged a lot of my spiritual gifts. On more than one occasion, I have spoken publicly at some of our women's retreats.She fought over a front row seat with my mother. I didn't know who to smile at first!

So, all my blogger friends, thanks for being in my invisible world. Your encouragement spoken or unspoken is felt. Sometimes the comments are more fun than the post! So as we say in Texas, "Yall don't be strangers now, ya hear?"

Blessed Again!

Happy parents before 2007 drama! My nephew and niece-in-love, the subject of your many blessed prayers! With Big Brother, Jack in charge there is nothing to fear!

THE BEST NEWS .....Samuel Ray is here! I've been waiting for my sister, Giggi, to post photos but I think she has collapsed in a heap somewhere after all these long months of waiting, caring for everyone, and trying to be normal. But, he is here. All 3 pounds 14 ounces. 16 inches long. With his little legs curled up his other precious MIMI said he is about as long as a ruler! Beautiful baby, head full of hair and perfectly formed. The NICU was all in the room on standby to rush him off in the special bed but he gulped a big breath of room air and God said "IT IS GOOD!" He's been breathing on his own since. Amid a room of tears he was walked down to the NICU where he will be until sometime in August when he was actually due to arrive. Maybe home sooner if things keep going great. I wasn't there and when I talked to Kathy ( my sister, Sam and Jack's Giggi, she was sobbing with happiness and that made me cry so mostly we just rejoiced with each other silently! Big brother Jack is not sure what to think yet! There were a few scary moments today like there has been since Tine got sick in January, but God was and is in control as we have known all along. THANKS to all of you who prayed and cared. Maybe pics tomorrow.

It's almost midnight and I would love to tell you that I have had a most productive day! NOT. I have had fun though. I had a manicure, had my hair touched up (?) whatever, then spent the afternoon with a friend's 8 year old daughter and laughed myself silly! I took her to tumbling class.....I could never do those things even when I was 8. Back flips, front flips, round offs...I was exhausted when we left from watching. Then we came home where she realizes the rules are lax at my house. We watched movies, played SORRY, swam, ate everything she could find and nothing nutritious. Her mom and dad had a night out and just picked her up about 15 minutes ago. I should have kept her overnight because those big brown eyes were starting to bat viciously to stay awake. I am trying to get in practice because my precious Macy is coming to stay the entire week next week! I can NOT wait. Reid and Heather are going to church camp so there will be some 1 on 1 around here with her. Unless of course Mitch and JD call me that baby Jaxon is on her way and then it's off to Abilene ( 5 hours ) again with Macy as my sidekick! It's never a dull minute no matter what I say. Can you say CRAZY?

*** Check out my daughter, Heather's, special prayer request for a friend.

Whatever Shall I Do?

In all actuality, Monday marks the 2nd week of my retirement. But, I spent all last week away from home, not really on a vacation. So, I am officially proclaiming Monday, June 18th my 1st official day of wandering the house wondering what I am going to do next. First of all I will wake up, let's see, when would be a good time? I can't waller in bed like I used to do because body parts and muscles start screaming to get up before my brain wakes up. I'll proceed from the bed to the coffee pot which is pretty standard routine. Shall I turn on the TV? I have never watched daytime TV. Does Price is Right still come on? I am not even going to start the TV thing, besides Bob Barker makes me feel old. Maybe I'll print off the list of projects that are specifically time lined from start dates to completion dates. Or I could just change the day I am going to start the first one to next Monday instead of tomorrow. After all, I need to have 1 day off. How do you work this lazy, no good, retirement stuff?

***** Don't forget BABY SAM is coming to earth today, June 18th! Please pray hard.

My Daddy is Better Than Your Daddy...nah nah nah

There is no doubt about it. My Daddy is smarter than the average bear. These are not just admiring words coming from the mouth of his oldest and adoring daughter either. You just ask anyone within a 1000 mile radius of this county and they'll say, "Oh, you are not just a kidding that guy is "da" bomb." And it's true. Not even three weeks ago he sat in with me on an important financial planning session concerning my retirement. He knows that when I don't understand something that I just QUIT paying attention but I still have that look in my eyes that says I crave to hear about your wonderful plan. When in all actuality I have NO idea what they are talking about. That is where Daddy comes in handy. He gets it. He gets it all. I consider this brag when I tell you that my Daddy will soon, in August, turn 85 years old.

He is still the sharpest dresser in the world. Especially that this county has seen. He owns more sport coats, suits and ties than I own shoes and purses. He dresses like that EVERYDAY because he still works full time. Not just for kicks either. He is an integral part of the B. County District Court System. He is officed with the District Clerks but he is the one who organizes the daily court dockets, keeps the judges happy, the juries entertained and full of coffee and snacks. He is adored by an office full of girls who try to claim him as their own daddy. His idea of relaxing is mowing his yard at 1:00 PM in the hottest time of the Texas sunshine. Proving once again that he is immune to having a heat stroke because he is really some sort of Superpower. It would take another blog in itself to tell you all the things that this man does that even a much younger man would NOT attempt. They are things that scare me witless. It involves ladders and saws. Or steep roof lines. He is stubborn but he is proud. Besides the day job that he commutes to in his new Chevy, he also makes sure that our church building and all the souls within are cared for and prayed for. This is a job that he does not take lightly. And this man, is humble. A word I can't really relate too. He is the guy behind the scenes that gets everything done and NO ONE can figure out who did it. But, then they realize that Mr. W has been on the premises. Quietly and humbly on the premise. He will not accept praise and does not accept compliments very well. He does not do any of those things for his own glory. But, whatever job he is doing you can bet that it is to the best of his ability and not done for outside admiration! Oh, he could quit the county probably but he would never "quit" his church flock. He is our shepherd and our spiritual presence in this world where presences of this type are hard to find. Almost extinct. He doesn't just solve my problems or my sisters or his grandchildren, he solves the problems and carries the load for many many people. We just happen to be lucky to be the chosen ones for him. You know from the fact that we are the fruit of his loins! WHATEVER!

My Daddy is a very handsome and distinguished man. If you met him once, you would never forget him. He has a witty side that until the last few years he kept within our family......there used to be a time ( and still ) that I would do anything to hear my Daddy crack up laughing. He loved Yogi and BooBoo. He went hysterical with Barney Fife. He almost was a double for Johnny Carson. The things and phrases he has made my Mother live with are almost unprintable yet precious and priceless. Unless, you want to hear his private version of Flopsy and Mopsy. He can do a word jumble or a crossword in record time. Usually, while I am still looking for a pencil. And he LOVES.....I mean LOVES you to tell him stories. Especially the 3 Bears. I know for him it just means that someone is going to sit beside him long enough to tell him! Last year for his birthday I wrote him his own personal 3 bear story and I'll publish it here someday to share with you. But today....fathers everywhere across the land are being honored. FATHER'S DAY. When I was so young that I could only look up at my daddy I thought I had the most handsome father in the world. When he was in his Air Force uniform he looked so dignified and important. And he was. He still fits in that uniform too! Then he taught. He taught in the same high school where I attended! But, even then, I never cringed that he was part of that scene with me.

How blessed I am to share this day with the one Daddy who is the most amazingly gentle, spiritual, encouraging, supportive, loving, sharing, wisest, funniest, handsome, stubborn, clever, witty man in the universe. Not just the world. His grandchildren adore, respect and love him. His great grandchildren can't wait to be at his house for adventures. Everything he does is special. He still calls me everyday, several times, to see if I have any kind words for him. The kindest words that I can ever come up with are just so simple but so true, " I love you Daddy with all my heart. And you are....smarter than the average bear." But, loved way more.

HMMMMM.....

I think I figured out one good thing about retirement today. I haven't had to think all day. Oh sure, I've thought, but I haven't had to. Not about really important stuff. Wearing a thinking cap has NOT always been my favorite thing to do anyway. When I was growing up (?????) and would come home with loads of homework, some I just couldn't fathom, my dad's favorite words to me were, "Just put your thinking cap on." Or, "Where is your thinking cap?" Now, had I had one of those mystical hats or known where mine was I wouldn't have been asking for help, would I? Then out would come the infamous card table, 2 freshly sharpened # 2 pencils, the green fluorescent desk lamp, fresh, crisp and clean notebook paper, 2 folding chairs and my cute little Daddy, with his thinking cap on. Who was a teacher. Who thought he could teach me math. Or make me think harder. Even my children were privileged to sit at that card table with Poppi and be tutored. Actually, that hat would have been pretty handy to have to wear on several occasions in my life since then. But, no more. I don't plan on thinking or wearing my thinking cap for at least a few months. Then, if I choose, I might think again. Only if it involves visiting my children, going to see my sissies, shopping, eating, reading, girly road trips, floating in the pool or rocking babies.

HI BABY SAM

GOO GOO GA GA GOO GOO GA GA

I've asked several times before for prayers for our neice-in-love Christine who has been very sick since December with a pregnancy related condition called hyperemesis. The last 6 months have not been kind to Tine and she has suffered for most of those months. She has been in the hospital more than she has been out. She has been poked and prodded and poked some more. She has been in extreme pain with nothing to relieve her. She has been a trooper. Her precious little family has been totally out of sync with any type of normal life they were used to. Both Mimi and Giggi, along with the PaPaws, have taken big brother Jack so that Matt can be the wonderful husband he is to Tine. No one would have had it any other way. But, no one has had rest.....no one has had normalcy. They have bought a house that they have never lived in yet.........this is the one I posted previously that their friends and family did an EXTREME MAKEOVER on. That was an amazing effort of love.

Once again, our family asks for your prayers. Baby Sam is coming into our lives on Monday, June 18th. We know he weighs around 4 pounds and will most likely have to stay a little longer than his Mommy will in the hospital. But, our prayer requests are for his safe delivery and health and of course, that Christine will experience a relief for her tired body upon his delivery. She is exhausted. She is sick of being sick. She wants her life back. Matt wants his wife back. Jack wants his mommy back. And Baby Sam wants to come home. Welcome to the world Baby Sam....we love you! We can't wait to meet you.

HOME AGAIN......jiggety something.

As we drove off of Squirrel Ranch last week, I worried that the pesky little fellows called "the squirrels" would make themselves home on my newly redecorated deck and take up shredding the slipcovers, as they like to do when I am gone. When we first moved to the country amid the 50 + pecan trees, I thought the squirrels were adorable. I knew they were going to be part of our lives. We were after all moving into their terriority. It was better than worrying about something else evil lurking the woods. It was nothing to see 20 or so frolicking through our yard and carrying off pecans and making little stashes. Some we could lure over and hand feed. We even tried to raise a couple of babies that fell high from the safety of their treetop nests. Then a war began between me and the squirrels. They got a little too brave and started theiving my personal items! I found my swimming pool net chair in shreds high up in their tree to be used as a part of a nest. Then the stuffing started disappearing out of some older chairs I had on the deck. Those little rodents are fearless. So, we went to IRON furniture. Not too comfy for long periods of lounging or lying out in the sun. After I finished re-doing the deck last week I was determined to buy some more comfortable furniture to put out there. But, I know I am asking for trouble. I waging an all out war now. It's me or them. I am sorry all you animal lovers but.....I'll spare you the details. If they would just learn their boundaries and stay in their trees and their "area" . They are after all, in the rat family. Sneaky little tree rodents. I know one of my blogger friends loves rats. But, even rats/squirrels can't be allowed to destroy my habitat. I will be gentle in my tactics but I am going to win! This deck is where I plan to spend alot of my time from now on and I can't be picking up wicker furniture and upholstery shreds all day. If anyone has any suggestions on squirrel control, I'd appreciate hearing them. So, HELP! I'm really not a violent person but........c'mon. Do you blame me?


When we got to Abilene we kept ourselves busy finishing the nursery and getting ready for baby Jaxon to move in. Furniture had to painted. Things had to washed and organized. Of course, a little decorating from mom and Neena. She is still on schedule the dr. says. June 30th! I'll be headed back soon. Everything looks great in the pregnancy and JD looks radiant. She is so beautiful! I know she doesn't feel it but she is. I know she is ready to have these last few weeks pass quickly. Especially in the HOT west Texas weather.



I did get to catch a little football action as Mitch's Abilene High Eagles played a little 7 on 7 on the ACU campus Monday night. It was confusing to me but it looked like they were having alot of fun. It seems so weird after all those years watching my son as the athlete now watching him coach. He is the guy in the middle with the orange ACU 7 on 7 shirt and his hands on his hips. His trademark! We are really looking forward to his coaching move over to Abilene High. If you know this area of West Texas you know it is a football town. And the EAGLES ARE THE BEST. I plan to start a collection of black and gold Tshirts or whatever because I plan to catch as many games as I can.

In our "spare" time in Abilene when we weren't working on the nursery, going to games, or shopping, the guys put down wood flooring. I was very impressed! It looks great, don't you think? They saved alot of money doing it themselves. JD's dad, Randy helped Mitch and even Gordon got a crash course. Everyone complained of sore knees from scooting around. After they were through JD and I headed out to the mall to our favorite store and bought a few decorating accessories and put the finishing touches on their cozy little home. Hurry up Jaxon, my little love, I can't wait to meet you.


But, I am so glad to be home. I know they are glad to have their little house back to themselves too! I love to go visit my children in "their" adult lives. It is such a glimpse to me of who they are now. Of their dreams, their likes, their habits, and their relationships. They are amazing children with amazing futures. I am a very proud mom! Proud of all of them.

NO MORE!

As of this time tomorrow I will be OFFICIALLY retired. My "master" keys that have hung on my keychain for 30 years to the front door of the school will be officially turned over to the "new girl". I had one meltdown this week but tonight I am filled with excitement, relief, and anticipation. I don't look at this as the end of any journey but the beginning of an ever greater one. I am going to miss the children and my friends at school. I am going to miss all the funny stories, the coloring pages, the hugs and the excitement. Everyday was something new. But, this is it folks.................."NO MORE homework, no more books...no more teacher's dirty looks".....remember that jump rope jingle, girls????


***** Upcoming events that are keeping me busy?


Mother and Daddy celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary........try and top that!

Macy is coming to stay with me for a week while Heather and Reid go to church camp

Baby Jaxon is coming into our lives and hearts around the end of June. I plan to be in Abilene alot the month of June!


Then........drum roll please........

In about a month we are headed to the beach! I can not wait. All 12 of us and hopefully Mother and Daddy too! New babies and all. I am just so excited!

Don't you think baby Avery is ready for the beach and hasn't she grown? She is almost 8 weeks and has brought alot of joy in our family that I can't even explain! She is anxiously awaiting her new cousin, Jaxon to come from Heaven. I think they will get in a lot of mischief together. Macy and Reid are each going to have a baby to hold now and they are pretty excited themselves.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Sometime around Christmas one of "my other daughters", Tara stopped by our house to visit with the girls. We chatted and talked but don't ask me how our subject turned up to her love of this product. She went on and on and on about how wonderful this soap was and how her skin had never felt better. Tara is so beautiful anyway we all immediately thought we'd look like her if we started using it! Anyway, she just happened to have a CASE of it in her trunk and went out and brought us in all kinds of products. We are all now HOOKED too. It has even helped my OLD skin! You can get it scented or not. We all like the scent. It smells so clean! I am always one to try something new especially if it's going to make me look younger. But, goat soap?

This information is off their website........

" Goat's milk has long been recognized as a natural skin moisturizer and rejuvenator. Goat's milk is also naturally homogenized. In the preparation of our soaps and skin care products, we only use fresh goat's milk. Many goat's milk skin care products utilize powdered milk which is stable and far easier to store. We feel that the high heat used in the dehydration process somehow changes the structure of the milk, and that using fresh milk produces a better feeling on the skin."

Have you ever tried it?

Resident Meterologist

"It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a "freshly stained deck." quote by Dave Barry but adapted to fit my situation.......

We hurried home from church last night to make a run to Walmart and purchase yet another color of stain to go over the last color that I did not like. On the way back we noticed some omnious black clouds off to the north but hubby having the built in meterologist radars that he thinks he has , mumbled something like, " It won't come this way it is going around us." This sixth sense he has comes from 1.) being a man and knowing everything 2.) His ranching background. He can stick his finger in the air and tell direction. He can see a herd of cattle and predict the weather by their mannerisms. He is the plethora of the Farmers Journal book of knowledge. He knows grasses, weeds, wild animal calls, mating rituals, river routes, tractor engines, he plants by seasons/moons. He will pull an armadillo out of hole with his bare hands. He hunts wild animals. He is the fire ants worst nightmare. He knows pesticides, poisons, and weed killers. Well you get what I mean. Weather watching goes along with that. We grabbed a quick supper at Schlotzkey's and headed home listening to the rumbling of thunder and lightening off in the distance of the storm that was "going to go around us". Although it was almost 8:30ish when we hit the driveway I turned on the whine, excuse me, the precious charm, and said something like, "Puhleeeeeeeeeeze can't we (you) just finish staining the deck before dark so I can see if I like this color? Puhleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze. There is enough porch light to be able to see. After all the storm is going around us." I mean I had just painted 3 million spindles and I'm ready to get this project behind me so I can start another one! Have I mentioned that I have a little restlessness when a project nears completion? So, knowing he is no match against me when this is the situation, he started rolling on the stain. No sooner, and I swear not a millisecond after he rolled the last little plank, the heavens opened and it rained like it hasn't rained in say, 2 weeks! Except this time the thunder and lightening came with it and had I had any sense I would have been scared out of my wits. Then, no sooner had we ( he ) washed the roller out by the porch light, the power went out. So, for the next 2 hours I shone my flashlight out on the deck to see what it looked like. No power was on until sometime in the middle of the night. I finally gave up trekking to the door with my Mighty Magna Light to sneak a peek, and went to bed amid the thunderous roars and lightening streaks that were threatening to ruin my freshly stained deck. It's a covered deck but a small portion is not and rain like we had does blow on, in and around! It's 6AM and I am waiting for the first ray of morning light to see if our stain withheld the beating of Mother Nature. I hope it's okay. I sure would hate for him to have to stain again since the storm didn't go around us. I knew it wouldn't.

I can't read these words without thinking of sitting in chapel at ACU and hearing the voices around me sing this song. Or sitting in a large assembly while this song is being sung. I can barely sing for listening. It is one of the most awesome and soul stirring moments. Today, worship God with other Christians...........share a like faith.

I AM AN HGTV Addict

OUCH....that hurt. Confession though feels free! I am the queen of too many projects at one time. It stems from late night hours of watching HGTV and all the easy do it yourself project that can be done. These projects can be completed in 1 hour segments while never breaking a sweat and wearing your best khakis. My big strong and virile son came home for 2 days to help me complete "some" of these projects knowing full well his mother was as usual, "biting off more than she could chew".

My intentions are so very good though. My house is my CASTLE and my refuge!

We rented sanders, bought paint, brushes, and drop cloths and started to refinish and stain the deck around the pool. This area is my sanctuary and I felt it needed a face lift. For the first day and a half I pretty much just stayed in the way. ( as usual ) He whirred and sanded and sweated. Occassionally, he shot me a dirty look. I had forgotton what that felt like so I lurked inside watching HGTV. We only had the BIG sander rented for 24 hours and he used it about 12! There were areas that the big thing couldn't get to so the next day we rented a smaller version and he rode that thing around the deck for about 6 hours. I think he remembers now why he left home and went to college to get a degree. Anyway, when he pulled away on Friday evening he was all apologetic that he couldn't stay and finish but I assured him that the hardest part was done and I could complete the rest, NO PROBLEM.

I stayed up late Friday night and by the light of the moon and the porch I started painting little white spindles. I just had to have these CUTE little white spindles around the deck. Saturday morning I'm up and at 'em again painting little white spindles. WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN? WHERE IS THE HIRED HELP? I JUST GOT MY NAILS DONE! My mantra has been to look only 3 spindles ahead and mutter, "Oh, only 3 more to go!" Not letting myself see the other 75,000,000 ahead! I am inside the house now. After 4 hours. I am ready to curl up in a ball. So......left to be done is:

• Touch up ( at least 6 hours worth ) of spindles, railings and dropped paint splatters. Did I mention that I am the messiest and sloppiest painter in the world? I hate to paint. Even Tawana stopped by and took pity on me and joined me in painting for a couple of hours. Friends are wonderful. Then she mentioned something about having to pull out her wisdom teeth with a pair of rusty pliers and running bamboo splinters under her toenails so she had to leave.
• Finish taping around little panes on 2 sets of French door windows to be able to paint doors.
• Paint the steps on both sides of the deck while promising God that I will never start another home improvement project without His blessing and a lot of money in the bank to hire it to be done. OOOOOOH did I say promise? I meant I would pray about it more before I started one.
• WHINE AND MUMBLE really pitifully so that hubby will come out and reach the high parts so I don't have to climb up and down the ladder. Clutch my chest.
• Go back to Home Depot and get more paint for the trim because I ran out. I can not accurately calculate anything. It looked like enough.
• Let it all dry completely for 6 weeks or more.
• Roll the stain over the deck. Let dry 12 more weeks or more.
• Call and beg my son to back again. Have him bring friends. Have him bring the football team. And the baseball team.
• Go to the bank and borrow 5 million dollars to finish this project
• Call my other children and tell them what a wonderful mother I was and why aren't they all here to help me????
• Take the front door down and paint it along with the porch swing. This only took 30 minutes on HGTV.
• Doctor the wasp stings on my ankles from trying to take the porch swing down by myself yesterday . DANG those things hurt.
• Call the travel agency and get on this.
  
  And when we get back I need to start ripping up the carpet in the house so that we can lay new flooring. Anyone got some extra vacation time to spare to give an old lady a hand?

***** Update at 7 PM

Things progressed nicely. Tawana came back and we went to Home Depot and got the extra gallon of paint. We painted and touched up for a couple of hours and called it quits for the day. I am now headed for the shower to see if I can get this paint off me. Hopefully, by Monday I'll be able to roll on the decking stain. Then after that dries.....how long I don't know, I will go to Walmart and buy me some lovely new outdoor furniture. I'll pitch all the "junk" and I'll make HGTV wish they had been in on this multimillion dollar project with $ 1.00 under budget! Pictures to follow.

PANIC MODE

Just when I felt an upcoming panic mode on recent decisions about my future I flipped over my little daily calendar. These words did NOT fall on a deaf heart.

" May you grasp how wide and long and high and deep My love is; a love that surpasses knowledge....you cannot ask or imagine the things I am planning for you." Ephesians 3:16-21

Love,

Your Heavenly Father