A SUMMER MEMORY

Wanted to share a memory of my childhood.

Eating a popsicle I just bought from the icecream man - while sitting on the curb - I drop it, but I pick it up real fast - blow on it - and keep on eating. The red juice dripping on my bare toes.

WHO AM I TO ARGUE?

My daughter, Tori, wants to wait on getting her permit. She said she is not ready.

(She has been told it is a huge responsibility driving a car - I don't think she knows it yet, but she is being very responsible by making the decision to wait.)

YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?

The question asked by my son.


What did I want him to do?


Use soap and shampoo.

Marriage....the second time.

Steve and I have been married three months as of June 14th.

We are learning a lot about each other and marriage the second time around. We both have insecurities and have experienced bumps--some painful along the way.

Imagine two people who have been single for 10 years each...getting married....the letting go of everything single...both of us so badly bruised and scarred from our first marriages...learning to trust.....not be so independent....etc.

We love each other and the bumps bring us closer. God has blessed us so much and continues to do. Steve is who I am supposed to be with - it is not by accident we are together.

BELATED FATHER'S DAY THOUGHTS.....

Last Sunday June 15th we celebrated Father's Day. Tori and Sam were excited to call their Dad and grandfather to wish them Happy Father's Day. They were excited to give Steve a new lunch cooler full of goodies for him to enjoy. Steve's boys and his father came over later in the day for a Spaghetti supper. We had a good time.

I thought about my dad a lot that day and have been thinking about him a lot this past week. I miss him so - I have written about him before - you can do a search in this blog to find out more about the man I loved so much. (It was six years two weeks ago when he died)

Growing up, he would wake me up for school - and he would have me a cup of tea and two pieces of toast ready along with the newspaper. It was a morning ritual-that only stopped when I moved out.

He read his Bible daily - he was in Isaiah devotionally when he could read no longer-Alzheimer's taking it's toll. I picked up where he left off and read to him when I would visit him in the hospital and nursing home. His Bible was taped together - all of us at one time or the other would buy him another Bible - but he returned to his blue Bible - NIV - the pages worn.

He had a garden - and was proud of every piece of produce that came out of it. I on the other grew tired of shelling peas every summer. Surely I was the only teenage girl made to do so-and to insult to injury-I wasn't allowed to watch Luke and Laura or any of the other soap operas while shelling - soap operas were not allowed in our house (to this day I have never watched soap operas-I don't think I am missing much). I didn't mind the strawberries so much - because I like strawberries. One for the bucket, one for me, one for the bucket, two for me....... He grew grapes - I loved that scent when the grapes were ripe and ready for picking - the sweet smell drifting in through the windows. Okra was a pain to pick - it always made you itch. Squash and cucumbers were kind of okay - if you were to get over your fear of snakes in the vines. Ugh.

He used to laugh at me when I would run from the garden real fast because I thought I saw some critter. (he learned..you can the girl out of the city..but can't take the city out of the girl)

He was a 49er fan. If you weren't you were wrong. He barely tolerated the Atlanta Falcons.

Harry S. Truman was his favorite President.

He drank his coffee black from the same orange Tupperware cup everyday. Not filled all the way up - he didn't want to burn his lip with the first sip.

He could "fix" anything.

He took me to the library every week. He was my Friday night date for years-taking me to the movies and dinner.

There is so much more I could tell you...... some of it I have written before...some I am sure I left out.

He loved all of us so much...wasnt' perfect....worked hard....provided for us...protected us....loved God...loved us.

I miss him so.

APPRECIATIVE

I am ever so appreciative of our home. God continues to bless us and give us so much.

This past week - we received via a friend of Steve's dad - a dining room set. Last week when we got the call "I know you don't have a dining room set yet, I know this fellow that says you can have his old set" We figured it wouldn't look that great-because who gets rid of anything good - but hey we were going to take it - because we didn't have one-and it would be nice to have a place for people to sit. Well, let me tell you - it looks great! (Two of the chairs were still in plastic) I am so proud of it. What a blessing! It it is just the right size - as if it were made for the room. I was able to put a red flower arrangement on the table.

From Steve's family we inherited about a 60 year old solid cherry bedroom suite - it is gorgeous! Tori, from her great-grandmother was given a solid walnut bedroom suite - it looks great!

(I think we have moved furniture every weekend since we have been married - I think we are through now!)

God continues to give us so much. It is so nice having your little corner of the world - a place to call you own - a place to call home.

(I will post pictures soon!)

HONEYSUCKLE

One of my favorite scents is Honeysuckle. I love sitting on the porch and the scent of honeysuckle finds it way to you by the way of a gentle breeze. (where we live - no matter where you are - you can smell honeysuckle)

Or when you are on the drive home from a long day - with the windows down-you realize you are close to home when the scent of honeysuckle reaches the inside of your car.

REORGANIZATION

The company I work for is going through a "reorganization" - a scary word. I know we will be moving from the office we are in. Positions are being eliminated.

Pray for us - a lot of this will be final June 27th.

This is a RipStik. This is what we gave Sam for his birthday. It is a comination of a skateboard, surf board and snowboard on two wheels.

Yes, I know, it is an injury waiting to happen.

He is mastering it. He tries, falls, tries, falls, and just keeps getting up. He finally got it. Or so I thought. He was showing me all he learned, he took a tumble, he completely flipped, lost some skin on his elbows and knees (who needs skin) - my heart sunk to my feet and then leaped to my throat as I watched the fall. He cried for a bit - he did get hurt - but he got back on it in the driveway and garage. Today I am going to buy knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet. Wish I could pad the whole drive and street. He is so proud of it, he loves it. (Just about every kid in the neighborhood has one - so he really is appreciative of it!)

I am suffering total mother guilt - for not buying all the protective gear in the first place.

Well, pray for me!

I am going to let Tori get her permit in June.

Have I lost my mind or what?

Double Digits

My Sam turned 10 yesterday, May 6th. He is so excited to be in the Double Digits - we called him "Double D" all day.

We had cake and ice cream last night - just the 4 of us. Saturday we are having a big party - a Nerf Gun Party.

10-years old. Wow.

Let me tell you about Sam...

He is very funny....a dry sense of humor with a very quick wit and quick to respond.

He loves everything Army.

He is protective of his mother.

His favorite foods are hamburgers and chocolate ice cream.

He refuses to tie his shoes.

Hates to brush his teeth.

He is quick to share with his friends.

Like his mother, he is not very patient.

Understands the election- has a definite opinion on who he thinks should win.

He is the only one who can pick on his sister, Tori.

I love him so much.

Happy Birthday, Sam I Am!

Musical...

The musical was awesome this past Sunday night. The kids were perfect. I was so proud of them.

Now we will begin practicing for July 4th stuff. Whew.

It is hard work but so much fun...can't imagine not doing it.

"Hey, Babe..."


My daughter received a phone call the other night on her cell - she had it on speaker. The caller, identified only as yet another teenage boy I don't like, said "Hey, Babe, what's up?"

Hmmph

My daughter is not a babe, his babe, or any one's babe.

So there.

(It has been forever and a day since I have written - sorry!)

Observations from our home....


Me: "Sam, you really must wear deodorant - your underarms really do smell."
Sam: "Yeah, I know, don't you love it?"
Me: "Um, no, I don't."
Sam: "Well, it is a good thing, your nose is not on my face."

Tori is so 15. Her heart was broken last week by a boy she has liked for some time now (note: her mother and all her friends can't stand the boy - but hey what do we know?) so, being a true woman, burned all their notes, etc in the kitchen sink, she left me the ashes.

Both kids are playing soccer. Whew. But they are having fun. Tori is planning on trying out for color guard (Flag) for the band - she is excited at the prospect. Sam is enjoying living in an actual neighborhood - I came home the other night and had 7 boys between the ages of 6-11 in my yard, they were shirtless, shoeless, dirty, but having a ton of fun.

The children's musical at church is this weekend - the kids look and sound great - I am excited. We are performing "Simon Says" - I can't wait - tonight we are putting up the set.

I am home sick - female problems - I am in pain. Pray for me!

Last Friday night - Steve, Sam and I went to a very crowded school carnival. We decided to divide and conquer. I stood in line for almost an hour for cotton candy - Steve went to booths with Sam. I happened to look up and saw my sweet husband sitting with my son in the middle of hundreds of kids eating pizza. I fell in love all over again.

An observation from my honeymoon.....

During the drive to Branson - we drove through Arkansas. I needed a Wal-Mart.

The home state of Wal-Mart-and we drove through town after town - no Wal-Mart - I mean I literally live 20 minutes North and South of two different Wal-Mart's. Good grief.

We drove what seemed like forever until we saw that blue and white sign. I was starting to worry. Whew.

I mean doesn't everyone need polish remover on a trip?

I am sure I have written about it before......

But please explain to me....

Why a 38-year old woman - heck an almost 40 year old woman -still has pimples? I don't get it? I really don't.

Ahhh to be 15....

She is constantly taking pictures of herself for her myspace and such...last night she had her eyes painted like...ummm...I can't even describe it.

She can have two phone conversations (house and cell) going on at the same time and keep up with them both.

She can somehow have 2 outfits, 3 additional shirts, 1 sock in the dirty clothes...and I just washed all the laundry.

Ahhhh to be 15............

My husband helped with dishes and such for the past two nights - I've never had that.

Wow.

A Neighborhood.....


We live in a subdivision - we have neighbors - a neighborhood.

Let me explain.

For years we have lived in the "country" - rural - no people around. No kids to play with. Though my son is real good about entertaining himself - creative when it comes to playing, building things - he longed for neighbors.

My son is so enjoying having neighbors. Yesterday when I got home he was playing with about 12 other kids and having the time of his life.

What a blessing.

All Blondes Be Aware.....

My soon to be 10 year old son is telling blonde jokes.

And you can't help but laugh.