A 5th Grader and a Junior in high school..........

The school year is over. Summer break has begun.

Sam is going into the 5th grade - and trust me when I say he had to be pushed, pulled and drug there this year. :)

Tori is now a Junior. She had a great year in school.

Updates...

I am at the new job now almost a month. Worrying whether or not I can do the job to their satisfaction - if they like me, all that kind of stuff.

Tori is officially working a McDonald's. She is liking it. Her grandparents are giving her a car - we will be getting it soon and taking her to get her license.

My sister is looking for a job - our skills and such are a lot alike - so everyone keep your eyes and ears open.

Sam's knee is slowly healing - it still looks horrible and I think it will be one of those knees that will ache when it rains.

The Lg VU is definitely an awesome phone.

Memorial Day is this weekend - no special plans - just hanging out. (I work Saturday-but am off Tuesday)

I bought our first watermelon of the season this week- it was good! Also someone gave us some home grown tomatoes - so we had BLT's the other night.

I miss my dad a lot today for some reason.

I need a haircut.

Have a good weekend!

13 Stitches.....that's all

Yesterday, I receive a call at work. "Sam has fallen on the playground, he is hurt, they are working on him now." Now how is a mom supposed to react?

I rush out - start driving to the school-receive a call back from his teacher - "It is knee, it is pretty bad, he will need stitches." I start breathing again. (He was running fell on broken concrete)

I check him out - get him to the doctor - it is bad - I see it for the first time and turn white. Blood every where - ugh. No mom likes to her see her child's blood.

They numb his knee - start cleaning it out- that process alone takes 30 minutes. A lot of dirt, rock, asphalt. The hole is bigger and deeper than originally thought.

They numb his knee again - 3 hours later - he has 13 stitches in his right knee.

He had a rough night pain wise-the knee looks terrible (though not as bad as it did pre-stitches)
He has to be very careful with the stitches. We go back to the doctor on Monday. Then he will have the stitches for 2 weeks. Pray he doesn't get an infection! (He is on antibiotics)

Well, I have completed my first week at my new job. I think we all "fit" each other - if that makes sense. It is a new industry - but with the same principals as the one I left. I will learn from this new job and hopefully I can teach them some things.

It has been an adjustment...me going back to work. The kids were used to me being home when they got out of school, with dinner ready, able to help with homework right away - but now we must adjust again.

While off, I would sometimes go back to bed about twice a week and sleep late - so that has been a major adjustment and me not doing the housework during the day. Whew - back to evening and weekend cleaning.

In other news...................


Sam turns 11 this week - we are having his party tomorrow. A water gun party. I am having hot dogs and cupcakes. We got him a BB gun and are pretty sure we will get him a prepaid cell phone to see how he will handle taking care of it. He is enjoying Flag Football - where he is an awesome player! Go Sam!

Tori will be working at the Golden Arches (McDonalds) soon - she was hired this week. She is excited. She broke up with her boyfriend - hmmph - he was too jealous and possessive of her anyway. She was elected President-Elect of her local FCCLA chapter. This means she will train her junior year and be President her Senior year - she also won a couple of awards this week and is totally excited.

Now I must go clean this house!

WHOO HOO!

I GOT THE JOB I INTERVIEWED FOR YESTERDAY! I START THIS COMING MONDAY!

I AM SO EXCITED!

THANK YOU TO TORI AND SAM FOR BEING SO COOL ABOUT EVERYTHING. THANKS TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT! AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO MY SWEET HUSBAND FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE, ENCOURAGING AND PATIENT. I LOVE YOU.

The "goings on" in my life......

*I had a job interview last week - it was a strange one that is for sure! Whew!

*Spring Break was last week - Steve and I had the week to ourselves. We ate out, went mall walking, and enjoyed hanging out together. It was nice. (The kids visited their dad in Nashville)

*I had my eyes checked last week. I now wear glasses...bifocals...all the time...I will post a picture of my new eyes soon. I feel old.

*I have a job interview today (Wed)- this one is very promising and I am very encouraged. (They have already checked my references - found this lead through someone at church!)

*I am learning Quick Books Pro - but am having computer difficulties - very frustrating.

*I have started Christmas shopping. Yes Christmas shopping. I have finished for Steve's family. I have found the best deals on winter stuff! Totally cool!

*We are getting Sam a BB gun for his birthday. He will be 11 in a couple of weeks.

*Looks like Tori will be working soon...and after that driving regularly.

Now, I have to go get ready for my interview.

Easter Pictures...

Steve bought me a chocolate bunny and a chocolate egg! The first one for me in years - I just put them on my dresser to enjoy looking at them.

Here is a picture of my goodies as I found them next to the kids Easter Baskets Sunday morning...

Tori and Sam....

Sam dying eggs.....Tori decided she is too old!

Resurrection eggs....a wonderful way to explain how and why Jesus died for us. I have used them over the years teaching Sunday School and Children's Choir - but this year we sat down as a family and we took turns opening eggs and explaining the meaning of each.

Me and Steve....

Updates...

I will post some Easter Pictures soon!

Still looking for a job - in the Memphis market it keeps getting tighter and tighter with more layoffs. When will it get better. I emailed my resume yesterday to a job I had applied to before - and I said in the email "See, you should have hired me the first time!" Maybe that will catch their eye. :)

I am very discouraged on the job search front. Obviously, prospective employers don't know what they are missing. Ha!

(This is me trying so very hard not to be depressed)

ANIMAL TALES

Well Marmie - your mouse story got me to thinking....so let's talk about a few memories of animals from my past.

Bonnie - A lab- she was my dad's dog - how the two loved each other. My dad really grieved when she died - he never had another dog after her. She would walk laps with him as he mowed the yard - ride in his truck - they would sit on the porch together. He would take her fishing, hunting and for walks in the woods.

Skeeter - A Boston Terrier - he always hiked his leg and tinkled on my shoes or clothes. But he would curl up with me on the couch. He had epilepsy -but lived about 11 years. He was a character

Robin - A Lhaso Alpso-He only liked me. Had to give him up after Tori was born - he was very jealous of her.

Snoopy - A hound dog - howled all night - neighbors didn't like us. So we gave him to a friend who lived deep in the country on a farm - Snoopy was already used to city living-unsure of all the night sounds I am sure and ran away never to be seen again.

Molly - A border collier - She was terrified of rain and doubly terrified of storms - would run away every time-we would have to chase her down in the rain - she would jump the fence. She was Tori's dog - Tori doesn't like storms that much - so maybe they were meant to be buds.

A blue gold fish - electrocuted himself jumping into his light on his tank - he liked clean water and we just changed his water-he was celebrating. He felt like a brick!

A hamster - given to us by my niece - we had to give him away - 2-year old Sam would try to stuff him into his toy cars-and you would hear the hamster squealing and squeaking all over the house and I was worried Sam would get bit, and neighbors would call the hamster police. (I forgot to mention he would run on his blasted wheel from about 10:00 at night until 6:00 a.m. - I would put him in the spare bathroom - behind the shower curtain - close the door so we couldn't hear that wheel turn)

Fat Albert - a gold fish - if you research my blog you will find a post about him - but he lived a long, happy, healthy life. He was a birthday gift for Sam - and he was fun to have.

Cats - oh the cats - we have never never never ever been able to keep a cat. And let me tell you we spoil them. I don't know if was because we lived in the country and they would run away, if bigger critters would get to them, if they hated us, but I have given up on cats. Sam has allergies - so they could never stay inside all the time. I can say stray cats love us - maybe because now I refuse to get emotionally attached.

Current pets:

China - she is our 16 year old dog - she just sleeps all day. She is very spoiled.

Flippers - Sam's beta fish he bought with Christmas money

So there you go.... a few memories of pets past.

Weekend trip.....

Steve and I took a last minute trip to Nashville this weekend. We visited The Country Music Hall of Fame and took a tour of Studio B - it was great! I am a huge fan of Country Music. You could literally spend all day at this place. Totally cool!

The time Steve and I had together was sweet!

Interview....

I had an interview yesterday. I think it went real well on my end. Say a prayer!

What kind of furniture store is this??????????????????????


Yesterday I went into a local furniture store looking for an entertainment center for our living room. (This is to be an anniversary gift for both of us - we received a "bonus" check in the mail and decided to buy one).

I was innocently walking around and what in front of my wandering eyes should appear? A girl scout cookie display! Someone was selling them for her daughter. I was so excited at the thought of another box of thin mints....I go to buy them....and guess what...NO THIN MINTS.

Really, what kind of furniture store is that place?!

(I did find the entertainment center though and provided laughter to everyone there with my protests about the thin mints!)

Ya think?


I was watching a local news channel the other day, unfortunately there was a murder. They were interviewing local law enforcement and here is the quote.

"We found a body in his apartment - and knew right then it was suspicious."

Ya Think?

'Okay, turn in your woman card."

That is what I told a friend of my daughter, we call her "Mo."

Why did I tell her to turn in her woman card?

She told me....gasp.....I'm still in shock....that she doesn't like...(hurts me now just to type it)
CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hire me!

That is what I want to say on my resumes and cover letters. Hire me! I can and will do the job!

One year...

This Saturday Steve and I will be married one year. I have learned a lot - we both have. It has not been easy - this blending of lives, habits, traditions and families, but the love is still there-stronger and wiser than before.

Remembering....

Last night a girl I graduated with was killed in a car accident. We sat beside each other during Senior English. I used to admire her long nails. We were in other classes and clubs together - she was always smiling. She was married to her high school sweetheart.

As I was cleaning Sam's room this morning, I couldn't help but think of her kids - one of them in the same grade at the same school as Sam. I know how my kids would feel. It is hard as an adult to lose a parent - I cannot imagine what it is like as a child.

Please pray for her family.

I am still looking for a job and trying so hard not to be depressed. I like to work. I want to work. The right job is out there.

Today, however, I worked hard at being lazy. Hmmph.

ANIMAL STORIES

Flippers the flying...jumping fish...

With Christmas money, Sam bought himself a Beta Fish. He named him Flippers. We were cleaning out Flippers bowl this morning...we put him in a temporary cup for the cleaning...he jumped out of it. Sam rescued it. Whew.

China...the bring me breakfast in bed dog....

China, our dog is old - but still gets around. However, she is taking advantage of her senior years and our sympathy. She will now eat only if we bring her food to her in bed. Oh brother. (She still walks, does an occasional running lap around the yard, etc...so she could walk to the food bowl, she just chooses not too) Like I said, oh, brother. (We do love her!)