Raise Them Up: 2016 Brings A New Phase

Life seldom warns you when one phase ends and another begins.  More often than not, you wake up one day and realize that things are not as they were.  The rules have changed, and so has your role in your family. 

 

Others can see it quite easily as they see changes in your children.  But the changes are not so obvious to a mother.  We are too busy packing lunches, picking up socks and going about all the things a mom does.  Until one day we look up, literally, to see grown children.

 

 

I started blogging when my boys were all young.  This picture was taken that year, in 2008.  There were countless stories to share about our daily life, then.  I would sit down with a cup of coffee while they played in the other room, and share all of the funny stories with you.  We would laugh together and comment on each other's lives, give advice where we could, and prayers when there were no words.  The blogging community was such a blessing to me.  God used so many of you as you encouraged me each day.  As a stay-at-home mom, I looked forward to that time I set aside to share and catch up!

 

Only fellow bloggers can understand how real blogger friendships become.  I would talk about one or another of you in this state or that, and my boys would chuckle and shake their heads saying that for a minute, they thought I knew you.  In real life.  As though it were different somehow. 

 

But it wasn't.  Not for me.  You all were very real.  And still are.  I don't know how many times I think about you and wonder how things are going in your busy lives.  Is your life as crazy as mine?  Are you in a different phase as well?  Are you still blogging?  Are your children changing as much as mine are??

* * *

 

My family is entering a whole new phase.  This picture was taken a few weeks ago on a visit to Longwood Gardens while we were out East to pick up my mom.

 

 

My oldest graduates this year.  He played soccer in the fall, is a swimmer now, and will run track in the spring.  He has a part-time job, plans for college, and a girlfriend who is truly beautiful both inside and out.  He has changed so much!  I barely see him these days.

 

My middle son has grown up, too.  He is a junior in high school and working very hard to put himself in a position to play soccer in college.  He just got his driver's permit and is looking for a job in order to save up for a car. But he still makes me giggle.

 

My little guy is now in the fifth grade, and not so little anymore.  He still loves soccer.  But this year, he has added basketball to his life and is loving it!  He no longer needs me in the same tangible ways that all three needed me back when I started blogging.  He has left his shy little box behind like a locust leaves it's shell.  I LOVE seeing his little personality blossom!  And I'm going to treasure the time I have left before he, too, moves completely into a new phase.

 

My mom, as I said, is staying with us for a few months.  It has been several years since Dad went home to be with the Lord.  And she is taking things one day at a time.  We've been having a Downton Abby marathon since Christmas, trying to watch all 5 seasons again before the last (sniff, sniff) season begins.  It's so nice to have her here!  :)

 

My husband is still working hard at the same job.  His responsibilities have grown, along with the hours he puts in each day.  Finding time together is something we need to be intentional about if it is to happen.

 

Knowing so much has changed, makes me sad and nostalgic sometimes.  However, I do enjoy the new relationship I have with my nearly grown sons. There are lots of things to balance.  And landmines to navigate, for sure.  But it's such a blessing to remain their sounding board and prayer warrior.  I will always cheer them on, even when sports are left behind. 

 

* * *

 

My older boys aren't the only ones entering a new phase of life.  After 18 years at home raising my boys, I am reentering the classroom!  Boy! So much in education has changed!  But the children are still the same.  And teaching still makes me happy! 

 

I started substitute teaching in our district this fall, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has fallen into my lap.  I will be taking my little guy's 5th grade class for 7 weeks during his teacher's maternity leave starting in February.   I'm am so excited!  I'm also worried about whether I'll be able to step so quickly back into full swing.  Substituting is one thing.  Long-term substituting is quite another. 

 

The only thing that keeps me steady is the fact that I've watched God work throughout the last few months, opening doors, and rekindling my love for teaching.  Will it be a lot of work?  Absolutely.  But my mom has promised to help me grade papers.  :)  And my husband has promised to help share the taxi service we provide for our boys and all of their activities. 

 

Will my youngest be embarrassed to have his mom teach the class?  Probably, lol!  But this is a gift that I think both of us will remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.

 

Where will blogging fit into this new phase?  I have no idea!  But I'd like to figure it out, and I hope you'll join me.  Maybe I'll even be blessed with new friends as I begin this new phase of my life. 

 

Happy New Year, friends! 

May we each trust God

with the plans He has for us

in 2016!



Spring At Our House

I can’t remember the last time I shared pictures just for fun.  So today, I want to take you on a walk around our yard.  Are you up for it?

This is the row of trees out by the road.  My husband planted them as little 18 inch sticks 12 years ago.  The blooms on our red bud tree in contrast are just beautiful!  And if you look closely just past the line of trees, you can see my neighbor’s white dog wood trees in bloom.

I took the next picture standing in our driveway and looking across our front yard.  The burgundy barberry, lavender creeping phlox and flowering crab apple tree look so nice together!

One of my favorite places, though, is out back.  If you walk out behind our house and through the woods a little bit, you come to our neighbor’s pond.  My husband helped him build it and so he welcomes us any time we like to enjoy it.  It’s so peaceful!

 

If you walk just past the big tree above and look out to the left, there is a big field of clover.  It is SO pretty, especially under a clear blue sky.

Did you notice that the sides of the pictures are blurred just a bit?  That’s because I was experimenting a little bit in preparation for taking pictures for my oldest son’s prom, lol! 

Yes, I said prom.  My oldest son’s girlfriend is a senior and so he got to take her to the senior prom.  I’m hoping to get a few of those pictures posted very soon!  That is, if any of you are interested!

Flying Boots and Hallway Makeovers

We have two hallways.  One leads to the bedrooms, the other to the garage.

The bedroom hallway is close to 40 feet long.  I should have painted it when we moved in, because I’m pretty sure it only had primer on it.  However, I kept pushing it off.  (Because it’s 40 feet long.)  Twelve years and the-constant-abuse-of-three-active-boys later it was still occupying the bottom spot on my to-do list.

So when the wall directly across from my oldest son’s bedroom received a shoe sized hole, eh hem, I decided it was time. 

A very nice friend of the family gave my son lessons in drywall repair.  And for the next two weekends, my son got plenty of painting practice. 

To my way of thinking, if you are going to pitch a boot and have to touch up one repaired place, you might as well repair the rest of the dings and dents and paint the whole hall. 

That, and whatever else needs to be painted. 

He did a wonderful job!  No joke.  And had a great attitude while making things right.  Plus, I’m pretty sure his boots won’t hit the wall again anytime soon! 

The paint I picked out was white with a touch of blue/grey in it.

While my painter was busy, I cleaned our dusty hall spot lights.  I know it’s hard to see any difference, but trust me.  It is much brighter and looks worlds better.  No more scuffs, dents and handprints.  We’ll see how long it lasts.

Because I’m a true slave driver we had all the painting supplies out, I decided the garage hallway needed to be freshened up, too. 

That hall was dusty mauve when we moved in.  At the time, I painted it a neutral beige which looked some better.  But it still felt dark. 

Since we liked how the bedroom hall turned out, we decided to use the same light blue/grey.

Painting walls with high ceilings are a bit of a pain.  I hate ladders.  But using an extension rod and roller makes it SO much easier.  If you have high ceilings, I highly recommend picking up an extension pole from your local paint department.  (Wal-Mart stocks several lengths and they are very reasonable.)  I also recommend a rectangular paint pad with wall guard.  It makes cutting in go much faster.  And at those heights, that’s a good thing!  You can even put it on the extension pole, at least for certain angles.

I think it made a big difference!  Don’t you?  It’s so much brighter! 

It sure is exciting what can happen when a boot hits the wall!  I can hardly wait for one of my darling boys to let something else fly!  Lol!

Easter Fun 2015

Last week, a family friend graciously offered to bring Mom out to Indiana.  Mom used to babysit him when he was little and the two of us grew up like siblings.  It was fun to catch up with him.  And it is WONDERFUL to have Mom staying with us again!

I can’t remember the last time we celebrated Easter together.  So it was really special. 

Saturday, my youngest son had his first soccer game of the season.  My oldest son and his girlfriend came along to cheer and we all froze together on the sidelines.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I need to get my car stocked back up with hats, gloves, scarves, and sleeping bags. 

When we got home, we made tacos, watched the basket ball game, and decorated Easter Eggs.

This year, I decided to blow eggs out and use permanent markers to color on them.  I had blown out a dozen or more before the soccer game.  So they were all dry and ready to go.

I have to say, this was the most fun we’ve had decorating eggs in a long time.  We each grabbed an egg and sat around the coffee table in the living room, watching the game while we colored, talked, and ate jelly beans. 

My Dad’s mom introduced us to the process of blowing out eggs when I was little.  All I remember is my cheeks hurting from blowing and blowing!  Lol!  But it wasn’t bad at all this time. 

I had my son do the blowing!!  Live and learn.

Then Sunday after church, we had a traditional ham dinner with Mom and went for a walk in the evening.  The spring flowers are just beautiful!  My son went to his girlfriend’s house.  So we may or may not have texted him a picture staged to show my Mom raiding his Easter Basket.  Ha!

What did your family do this year to celebrate Easter?

Why I Am So Proud Of My 73 Year Old Mom

Around Christmas, Mom started having trouble with her cable company.  Every two or three days, they would turn off her phone and cable.  Calling them got her nowhere.  So each time, my brother would have to take her and her canceled check to the regional office. 

After four frustrating trips, she switched to another service provider.  

And…added…INTERNET!  Yep.  My 73 year old mom got internet to use with her tablet.

She now has faster internet than we do!  Of course my boys are jealous.

The day after she had it installed, I called her up and talked her through how to sign into face book.  She was hesitant at first, but we got it done.  It totally makes me smile now to see her like something someone posted.

Next, I helped her install Messenger.  It was comical at times, because  her operating system is slightly different than what I have on my phone and it puts things in different places.  Plus, I was learning about Messenger right along with her!  I would ask her what she was seeing and then have to figure out where she was and what she had done.  I seriously expected her to give up.

But she didn’t!

After our very first phone lesson, she sent me this picture all by herself!

Meet Ralph, the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her porch.

I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of her!!

Since then, we’ve exchanged countless messages, videos and pictures.  It’s nice, because I can usually send messages even when I don’t have any signal to make or receive calls.

I’ve sent her soccer pictures, pictures of awards ceremonies, silly hellos and even pictures of my chickens.  Why not?  I love my girls.

Then came Words With Friends. 

It wasn’t long before she had EIGHT games going on at once with me. 

And she began NUDGING me when I took too long to play!   Haha!  

Just the other night, I got up to use the bathroom and decided to play a word in one of the games before I fell back to sleep.  Within seconds, she played right back.  Surprised that she was up, I messaged her and we were able to chat at a time she wouldn’t have dreamed of calling.  And that was nice, because I know sometimes the nights are long and lonely for her.

Earlier this week, she sent me this picture of the not-so-big-snow.  :)

It’s wonderful to be able to connect in this new way.  For so many older people, technology is a daunting thing.  And it certainly still is in many ways for Mom.  But she is trying new things, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. 

I guess if there is a moral to this story, it would be, don’t give up on the older people in your life!  If my mom can do this, anyone can!

And now, I need your help!

Mom has lots of the puzzle and solitaire type games.  But do any of you have any other favorite games or apps where two people can play?   

I’m getting worded-out.  ;p

Full-Fledged Denial

I didn’t announce it on Face Book.

I didn’t text my friends or tweet a tweet.

I didn’t even take a picture to put in a scrapbook.

The only person we called was my mom.  And sadly, she let me down with a totally inappropriate response.  I let my son do the calling, but I could hear her excited voice just as plain as day.

My oldest son got his learner’s permit last night.  He passed his test, they took a picture, and I paid the fee.  End of story.

Most of me wants to relegate it as a nonevent.  Because if it’s no big deal, I can go on thinking my first baby boy isn’t changing as fast as he is. 

He’s not growing facial hair and texting girls non-stop.

He’s not getting serious about what college to attend.

And most importantly, he’s not going to be sitting in a seat surrounded by 2000 pounds of certain death if he doesn’t pay attention.

I’ll be ok.  I know I can’t stop the clock.  And I’m as proud as can be of the young man he is becoming.  I just need a moment (or ten) to dig my way out of this pile of denial.

Sigh.

Easy and Delicious Crock Pot Apple Crisp…That You Can Make While You Camp!

What could be better than savoring a spoonful of warm apple crisp as you sit around the campfire with friends and family?? 

This was the first time I tried this and I will definitely be making it again!  

Crock Pot Apple Crisp (Great for Fall Camping!!)

• 6-8 medium baking apples,
• 1 tsp lemon juice (to toss the prepared apples in to keep them fresh),

…Crumb Topping

• 2/3 cup quick-cooking oats,
• 2/3 cup flour,
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon,
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg,
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (not melted)

And if you like your apple crisp sweet…

• a container of sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on the apples before you add the topping, or on each serving once it’s cooked to suit your taste. 

Before you leave home, use a pastry blender to combine the butter and dry ingredients, then toss the mixture into a zip lock bag and put it into the cooler to take with you. 

At the campsite, peel and slice 6-8 apples right into the crock pot. (If you use a liner, you won’t even have to clean the crock pot afterwards!)  We skipped the lemon juice since our cooler space was limited. Sprinkle the apple slices with sugar and cinnamon and stir them up if you like your crisp a little sweeter.

Dump the crumb mixture on top of the apples, place a double paper towel between the lid and the crock to absorb moisture, and cook on high for 2 hours, or until apples are tender. 

Scoop, sprinkle with more sugar and cinnamon to taste, and enjoy! 

Yep, I have a pretty major sweet tooth, lol!

A Picture Journal of Our Camping Trip to Hardy Lake State Park

Last week was fall break, and we spent it camping with friends at Hardy Lake State Park.  It was absolutely beautiful!  

The guys hung out fishing on our friends’ pontoon boat and giving their electronics a break.  Um… Well, they fished, at least.  :)  My little guy caught the most.  Might be because he wasn’t texting every other minute.  ;)

These were out campsites.  Our little Jayco Pop up is the one on the right.  The trees were just beautiful!

Directly behind our camper there was a short path that lead down to the lake where we could tie the boat. I took this after the guys pushed off for one of their fishing trips.

My oldest son and a friend slept on the boat one night.  It was all good until about 4 in the morning when a cold front brought wind and rain sending them back to the campers.   

I took this on a walk between the lake and our camp site.

Greta, as usual, enjoyed being a part of everything.  She loves camping as much as we do!

There were several UNO games…

as well as our annual pumpkin carvings. 

We took our bikes and enjoyed riding around the park.  We also used them to ride to the comfort station, which was a good ways away.

The only bathroom close to us was a vault/pit style restroom.  NOT something I wanted to brave in the middle of the night.  Once in the daylight confirmed that.  I was not about to slice through those cobwebs in the middle of the night.  Nope. NOT HAPPENING.

But I had looked at the campground map before we left and knew we were staying in a more remote area.  So, I bought a pop up hunting blind from Rural King to take along.

In spite of the boys’ objections that the blind was too cool to pee in, I plunked my little porta-pot inside, strung some lights,and hung a roll of toilet paper.  I must say, it made a happy little potty hut!  I think it was much nicer than those stand alone outdoor shower shelters I saw on line.

I have NO idea why I didn’t do this LOOOONG ago.  Seriously.  It stayed nice and dry inside and as an added bonus, I could change in it when the boys beat me to the camper.  Greta even napped there from time to time.  It was worth every penny.

Here’s a picture of my boys chill’in in the camper. I applied my phone’s water color effect just for fun.  :)

One day, my hubby and I made some crock pot apple crisp.  It was SOOOO good!  And easy, too!  Tomorrow, I’ll share the recipe, so be sure to stop back!

It was a fun time, for sure! 

What have you been doing to enjoy your fall?

What My Middle Son Did to Make Me Cry

Mom made it home safe and sound last week.  Which is good!  She was getting homesick.  But it’s also bad.  I miss her!  It was really nice having another female in the house.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked down the hall ready to laugh with her about something only to stop short at the sight of her empty chair or room.  This was taken right before she left.

That said, I was already feeling a tiny bit emotional when I heard arguing and slamming-of-doors at the other end of the house. 

Middle Man was determined to boot his little brother out of his space into Grandmom’s newly emptied bedroom.  And Little Guy was making it perfectly clear that he did NOT want to go. 

There were tears.

There was drama.

And there was no reasoning with either son.

Little Guy went and hid himself in the sunroom. 

Middle Man looked at me, dropped his shoulders, and sighed.   

That’s when my up-to-now-unreasonable middle son did something that made me super proud of him.  He told me he was going to work non-stop till he had made his little brother’s new space SO cool that he, himself, would be jealous.

And he did.

He hung soccer jerseys, Chelsea flags, and Colts gear.   He hung posters of Lamborghinis, and tucked well-loved stuffed animals around the room.  He put water guns in the shower,  a beach ball on the bookshelf, and a battle ax by the toilet.  He created a drawing nook and hung Christmas lights.  He even thought to download Little Guy’s favorite music to his tablet and set it to play.  And as a final touch, he built a tunnel-fort under the table. 

It was a little boy’s dream room.

I wish you could have seen my little guy’s face when we finally got him to come and see.  Because it was priceless. 

And it brought tears to my eyes.  :) 

He absolutely loved it!!!

And later, all by himself, my Little Guy did his big brother’s chores.

Those, friends, are the kind of things that Mamas tuck away to smile over when no one is looking.

So, where did I find my Little Guy this morning? In Big Brother’s room, of course. 

It made me smile.  They’ve been hanging out in each other’s rooms most of the day.

My little guy has a pretty awesome big brother! 

However, I’m not allowed to post this without clarifying that Little Guy still thinks his big brother is annoying. 

Of course he does. 

And I’m sure the feeling is mutual. 

I love my guys. ;)

Please Allow Me To Ramble On For An Entire Post and Share Random Highlights Of Our Summer As I Fall Woefully Short Of Organizing Any Thoughts…

I hate that it’s been so long since I’ve posted here.  Summer went and flew away before I could lasso it and slow it down.  :)

In June, we took a trip to Pennsylvania and Maryland to see family.  First, we visited with my husband’s family in Chestertown Maryland.  Then we headed up to my Mom’s house in Pennsylvania, where we cut down her field of bamboo.  (It was not fun work. But it really needed to be cleared.) 

This year, we took our pop-up so our moms didn’t have to worry about where to put us all.  It gave us a place to crash, and also tickled my little guy who wanted to go camping in the worst way! 

The day after we cut down the bamboo, the guys went to Hershey Park with my husband and a family friend.  They had a blast experiencing the park I grew up loving. 

Mom and I stayed at her place, and I used the time to paint some of the trim on Mom’s front porch.

When it was time to head back to Indiana, we brought Mom home with us. That’s one of the reason’s I’ve let blogging go for so long.  I hate spending time on the computer when I can be visiting and doing things with her and the boys. 

Speaking of the boys, they went to soccer camp the very next day after we got back.  It was the first time we went to the Ben Elo Soccer camp, and they really had a great time. 

After that, high school soccer practices began, along with  weight training.  And the summer fell into a busy routine of mowing, practices, gardening and canning.

Canning.  This summer, I made two kinds of relish, lots of ketchup, and tons of salsa.  I also froze enough zucchini to have zucchini bread all winter long.  It feels great to have all that stored away!

School has been in session here for almost two months.  I now have a junior, a sophomore and a 4th grader. 

The two older boys play soccer for the High School, and my youngest still plays for his travel league.  As always, the schedule is crazy and it’s hard to keep up.  But it’s a fun kind of crazy.  I love watching my boys play!

Last week, my two older boys’ team played an incredible game against their biggest rival.  It was so intense, I’m pretty sure a few of the parents (besides me) lost their voices, lol! 

The game ended in a 1-1 tie, and because a conference game cannot end in a tie, it went into overtime. Still tied at the end of overtime, it went to PKs.  (If you are not familiar with soccer, both teams pick five players to shoot one on one against the goalie and the team with the most goals at the end wins.) 

It was a long and hard fought game.  But we finally won in PKs!  What a great night of soccer!  And the icing on the cake?  My middle son was one of the players who scored a PK in the end!

Like I said, I love watching my boys play.  :)

A photographer from the local paper tweeted this picture taken during the game…

Number 13 is my oldest son.  I feel bad for the player who caught his teammate’s high kick with his chin.  However, I’m incredibly glad my son’s face missed the action! (And glad, too, that I didn’t see it happen!!  Who knows what I might have shouted!  Ha!)  The other player in white is my middle son.  My oldest told me he was cleaning up the mess my middle son left by not sticking to the man he was supposed to be covering, lol!

They each played great games and I enjoy listening to them laugh and banter back and forth. 

Where is my mom in all this soccer, you ask?  She has been coming along to some of the games when it isn’t too hot or cold, and when there isn’t too much walking involved.  She enjoys watching, too.  But she is ready to go home to Pennsylvania.  Once I get my little guys’ soccer schedule added into my master calendar, I hope to be able to squeeze in a trip east with Mom. 

Anyone want to be my driving buddy?  :)

I’ve missed this little space and the chance it gives me to catch up with my “virtual” friends.  So hopefully, with the boys back at school, I can carve out a regular time to catch up with you all! 

What kept you busy this summer??

The Hard Thing About What Our Schools Are Doing To Make Up All The Extra Snow Days

Thanks to Friday’s 7 inches, 2014 is now the snowiest winter on record in Indiana.  And thanks to the polar vortex, it ranks 11th as being the coldest winter in history. 

Our school district has piled up eight snow-days, thirteen two-hour-delays, and one early dismissal.

I’ve appreciated every call (well, at least the first two), and so have my kids.  We welcomed the extra sleep, if not the overabundance of family bonding, and I’ve appreciated that they put safety first. 

Like many officials, our school board has had to figure out how to make up the time.  

Beginning tomorrow and continuing through March, they have decided to add an hour to the end of each school day.

My teens will get home at 3:45 and my third grader at 4:50.

Although this isn’t my first choice for how to make up the time, I’ll do my best to support the school board and their difficult decision. 

I wonder, though, if any of them remember having small school-age children.  I wonder if they realize how hard they are about to make the lives of those poor souls who teach Kindergarten through 4th grade.

Can you imagine trying to escort an entire class of cherubs through the bewitching hour?  

Every mom knows exactly what I’m talking about. 

There is a tiny little clock built into each and every child that springs a sprocket at 4:00 without fail.  It’s so predictable it’s like magic.  Not the good kind of magic.  That’s why moms call it the bewitching hour.    

My youngest still melts down.  Do I blame him?  No.  By four o’clock, he’s tired.  He’s hungry.  He has to pee—badly—because he’s held it all day.  He hates the bus.  He hates the sun.  He hates his brothers.  He hates the car. He hates his homework.  He hates his classmates.  And he even hates me. 

Although the attitude will pass with a little TLC, it goes without saying that his ability to think rationally closes up shop at four.  

I’ve learned the hard way with my boys not to make eye contact or engage in unnecessary conversation when they get off the bus until they have hit the bathroom, had a snack, and kicked a ball.  In that order.

I was encouraged to see a note yesterday which said all elementary aged students would be given a snack during that last hour.  Thank the Lord someone must have talked to a MOM.

Still, pray for those poor teachers and bus drivers.  They’re going to need extra grace to get through the extended days of the next few weeks. 

On the other hand, for the first time in 16 and 1/2 years, I will be able to prepare dinner in blessed silence.  BLESSED SILENCE.

No interruptions.  No juggling homework, breaking up wrestling matches and conducting frantic searches for soccer gear while dinner sets off the smoke alarm.

I wonder what that will be like?  ;) 

What do you think of the idea of extending the school day to make up snow days?  How are schools in your area handling the missed time?

Hope Your Valentines Day is OUTTA THIS WORLD!

This was my third graders entry in the creative Valentines box contest.  :)  The lights alone have to win him something, right?  Right??

For his flying saucer, he used packing foam, low temp hot glue, permanent markers and two short strands of battery operated LED lights strategically taped in place.  :)

He had so much fun working on this project! 

This afternoon, I’ll be helping out with his class Valentines party and I can’t wait to see what the moms in charge have dreamed up to do with the kids. 

Last year we had relay races with candy sweethearts on spoons, aiming/tossing games with candy sweethearts and  heart-shaped picture frames decorated with, you guessed it, candy sweethearts!  The food police would be horrified, I’m sure, Lol!

Long live candy sweethearts!  ;)

Have a wonderful day with your family! 

Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

Jeremiah 31:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Snowbuddies!

I sent my youngest out to gather eggs yesterday and noticed an hour later that he hadn’t come back.   It was a balmy 12 degrees (a virtual heat wave for us).  So I wasn’t too worried about the cold—just more curious about what he was doing. 

I found my boy sticking out of a snow mound left by the snow plow.

And he wasn’t alone, lol!  Is there anything more fun than building a snow fort with a friend?

When I was his age, my friends and I would build fabulous forts on opposite sides of our sidewalk.  There would be lookout windows, hideaways, and even shelves stocked with snowballs!  I wasn’t much of a snowball thrower, but I LOVED making the forts!  It was always fun to play out there with my brother and neighbors.  Well, until the ice balls started flying!  Lol!

I’m glad my little guy had someone to build with!  :)  They cracked me up as they both tried to fit into the hole. 

Gotta love my snow buddies!

Nice Night For A Walk

During last week’s winter storm, I found myself watching out a back window.  The spotlight my husband installed over the summer gave the perfect view of the blowing snow. 

It reminded me of standing by the front window of our old farm house in Pennsylvania waiting for the blizzards to start.  And then watching the snow pile up.

I wish I knew how to take better nighttime pictures of snow with my camera.  It was a beautiful, though. 

I was dying to go for a walk.  But my crazy boys had absolutely no interest.  They barely even acknowledged my invitation from beneath their piles of blankets in front of the TV. 

So I texted my friend to invite her and her husband.  And guess what?? She loves nighttime snow walks as much as I do!  My husband and I bundled up and set out to meet them on the road.  And my little guy decided to tag along at the last minute.  

The snow was coming down at least an inch or two an hour.  I love how quiet it is during a snow storm.

We stopped several times to talk to neighbors on tractors who were doing their best to keep our private road open.  They said our city didn’t even own a single plow.  Can you believe that?  No wonder the roads in town are always packed down and icy.  It seems crazy to me!  But it also explains all the delays and closings in our school district.  With roads and sidewalks so slick, the little ones that walk to school are safer if it’s daylight for their trek.

As you can see, we still have our “party lights” going on, lol!  They stay up till the flowers bloom and I can tackle the job in my shorts. 

It’s tradition!  

As pretty as the snow was for us, the ice is STILL causing headaches in Pennsylvania.   Mom says it may be Wednesday or later till she gets her electric and phone back. 

She called yesterday afternoon to tell me my brother borrowed a generator and hooked it up for her.  She was able to take a shower, run some more water and charge her cell phone.  She also told me she had a walkie-talkie she was using to stay in touch with my brother.  That was such a great idea!  I think that’s the thing I worried about most was her having no way to call someone if she needed help.  I’m so glad they live close enough to each other for this to work!

This winter has sure been one to remember!  What will stand out for you about this year’s winter?

Missing Mom

When we invited Mom to come in December, we told her to stay as long as she liked.  It’s possible that someday Mom will decide to sell her home in Pa to come and live with us in Indiana permanently.

So her visit was kind of a test run to see how things would go.

By things, I mean dynamics.

Two teenagers and a nine-year-old drama king create the dynamics of an ocean.   One minute it’s calm.  And the next there are waves threatening to bash our family boat into the rocks.   

I wasn’t sure how I would feel when a storm rolled in for mom to witness.  In the end, we did weather a few storms in front of her.  

Balance

During one heated argument, Mom quietly left the couch and went to her bedroom. 

I wondered if the irrational waves of my 16 year old were going to drown us all. Or if it was really my white-knuckled grip on our rules that would kill us.  I pictured myself clinging to the anchor as it sunk beneath the surface.  Should I just let go?  

Later, she and I talked about it.  She had wanted to give us privacy and I understood.  But I told her that my husband and I wanted her to feel free to share (or not share) as she felt lead.  Her insight would always be welcome.  She needn’t retreat.  We intended to treat her like one of the family.  Because she is. 

As far as the boys go, the trick is to find that balance where they feel free to be themselves but know the rules don’t change just because Grandmom is visiting.  And to keep my expectations real.

Balancing these dynamics was one of the hardest parts of having Mom here.  

Power-shopping

Thankfully, there were way more fun times than storms.  Mom kept me company through most of the boys’ soccer practices and games.

The Saturday before the Big Freeze, she and I took the hour and a half between games to find her some warmer clothes at a nearby Goodwill. 

We zoomed though the isles grabbing anything warm in her size.  When we had a cart full, she headed to the dressing room where I’m pretty sure she set a record for the most clothes tried on in a ten minute span.  She came out with 5 keepers and about 25 not-happenings. 

We flew through the checkout and sped back to the gym where my impatient and fuming young soccer players jogged in just in time for their next game.

As Mom and I slumped into our seats to watch the game, I looked over at her.  Her hair was still wild from yanking clothes on and off, and I couldn’t snorting a laugh. 

“I’m exHAUSted.” She said. 

And we laughed until tears were running down our faces. 

Pleasant Snowed-In Very Cold Days

The boys had an extra week off because of the frigid temps and snow.  We played some scrabble, put together a few puzzles, watched seasons 1-3 of Downton Abby, and I tried to keep up with Mom as she flew through several good books from our kindle library.

It was so nice having her company those five weeks.  The time went by way too quickly. 

She has a ton of wisdom and life experiences that my boys were only just beginning to tap.

I can honestly say, my mom is the sweetest lady I know.  I wouldn’t trade her for anything. 

And I’m already wondering when I can make the trip to go get her again.  :)

I know she needed to get home. 

But miss her.  It was nice having another female in the house.

With her power and phone lines down from the ice storm, I’ve only been able to talk to her once since Monday.  She is in the area hardest hit in Pennsylvania.  She’s fine.  But keep all those lineman in prayer!  I can’t imagine the dangerous mess they have to deal with.

I’m so ready for SPRING!!  :)

How Many Spaces After A Period?

I sat down to finally write a blog post and made the mistake of opening face book instead.   A link to this three-year-old article was at the top of my feed:  Two spaces after a period: Why you should never, ever do it. 

And I had to go and read it. 

You might as well, too.

My 9th grade typing teacher, Miss Sweet, taught me to always put two spaces after a period.  This is the very first time I have ever even heard of using only one.  And I have to admit, although it makes a smidge of sense when you consider today’s fonts, it still feels like I am betraying Miss Sweet.

And my thumbs.

The truth is, after reading that article, I tried to type using only one space after a period.  And I just can’t do it.  My thumbs won’t have it any other way. 

I type a sentence and there it is.  Tap, tap. 

Even when I think about it and try to stop it, my thumbs are too quick. 

And it’s entirely counterproductive to backspace once you’ve double-tapped. 

So, instead of writing a personal update, I’m sitting here trying to defend the way I’ve typed for decades. 

So, I’ve come to a conclusion. 

I’m going to keep right on using two spaces after a period.  No matter who says what.  Because I’m old-school. 

And a little bit of a rebel. 

And my thumbs can’t learn new tricks.

Are you a two-spacer or a one?

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts. 

Just don’t try to convert me, lol!

Come Have a Cup of Coffee With Me!

Boy!  The last month has gone by so quickly!  Having Mom here has been wonderful!  It’s the first time in I don’t know how many years that we actually had family at our house for Christmas.  And I think she has survived our chaos with a fair amount of her sanity in tact, lol!  And that’s saying a lot.  Because the kids’ Christmas break ended up being THREE WEEKS LONG, thanks to the polar blast or whatever they called it. 

We got a foot of snow, followed by the coldest temperatures I have ever experienced.  One night it got down to –16, with a high of –5!  I know it is probably nothing compared to our neighbors to the north.  But it was cold enough for me! That’s for sure!

We didn’t lose power, and our wood stove kept the house fairly warm.  So I have a lot to be thankful for!  The only thing we lost was the satellite signal for our T.V.  The snow stuck to the dish and I had to ask my hubby and oldest son to get out a ladder and pretty please clean it off.  Yes, I did.  There was no way I was going to miss the opener for Downton Abbey!  Lol!  Aren’t they good guys??

My ladies in the hen house made out just fine.  I worried a little that they might freeze to death.  But we put a heat lamp and water heater in the coop and it kept it decently warm in there.  I’m pretty sure they spent the whole week basking in the heat of the lamp and welcoming every mouse within 20 miles to their house party.  We’re still trying to crash the party.  Sigh.

It was nice towards the end of last week to finally start seeing a little improvement in the roads.  It’s amazing how subzero weather makes the ice just cling to the highways!  Saturday was the first day we made it out anywhere.  Thank goodness there were soccer games to go to.  My guys were more than ready to burn off some steam.  Let me tell ya!

The snow was beautiful.  But I’m almost ready for Spring.  :)

Saturday, my friend and I are leaving to take Mom home.  I’ll miss her!  But she has some things that she needs to take care of and I’m sure she is ready for a little peace and quiet.  :)  Pray for a safe trip if you think about it.  This time of year, a little clipper system can make traveling dicey, and the forecast is for just such a system to follow us east. 

I’m hoping to be home later next week and maybe even pick back up on the blogging.  Gasp!  Lol!  I know, you’ll believe it when you see it!  Seriously, I’ve missed visiting with you all, and I’m truly looking forward to catching up and getting back on a respectable schedule.  Love you all!

Merry Christmas!

Can’t believe Christmas is here already!  Or that I’m the first one up!  But I wanted to take just a minute to thank you all for your prayers.

Our trip last week went very well!  We had a lot of fun!  Wednesday night we even got to watch a Hallmark movie without anyone making fun of it, lol!

My friend and I took turns driving back, which made it so much more relaxing. In Bentleyville, we stopped at a restaurant we’ve never visited before.  It was called King’s Family Restaurant. 

Their menu had everything you could imagine and was so reasonable!  On our trips to and from Pennsylvania, we always end up eating at the Olive Garden by Cabelas in Wheeling.  I honestly can’t believe we’ve been missing out on this!  Can’t wait to take my family the next time we are passing through.  There are actually quite a few of these restaurants.  So if there is one near you, check it out!

I texted my boys a picture of the desert menu, lol!  I couldn’t resist!   

We got home Friday afternoon after enjoying 3 beautiful days of traveling weather.  God is good!  It’s wonderful to have Mom here.  :)  I told my brother I’m keeping her, lol!

God is so good!  Merry Christmas Friends!  May you enjoy some time with your loved ones during this season!

Three More Weeks…

Three weeks from today, a friend and I fly out to Pennsylvania to get my mom.  Our plan is to drive Mom’s car back here to Indiana.  That way she can bring what she needs in order to stay a month or two.

I’m so glad she is coming!  For months, she gave herself entirely to the job of caring for Dad.  It couldn’t have been easy.  And most of the time, I know she was physically and emotionally exhausted.  But she was the picture of patience and love.  Dad sure was thankful for her!  And I admired her always kind heart.

Christmas will be hard no matter where she is.  And she may find herself climbing the walls with all of our craziness!  Lol!  But I hope she’ll find some measure of relaxation and distraction while she is with us.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve been working on making her room a haven.  I want her to have a place of her own to retreat to when she needs a little peace and quiet.   

I’m not done yet.  But aren’t these flowers pretty?

I found two matching arrangements at the Goodwill the other day and I knew they were the perfect thing to brighten her room! 

The little kitties  on the shelf are two of the ones Dad made for me when I got my first apartment.  He made tons of them!

And the puzzles in the cubbies are ones I’ve started collecting for mom to work on while she is here.  She loves puzzles!   I just need to find a small table to put in her room.  :)

I took the blue chair from the boys’ sunroom/game room.  It’s not the most comfortable of chairs, and I’m keeping my eyes out for something better.  But I wanted her to have a place to sit and read.  This is the sunniest room in the house during the afternoon, and I think it will be perfect.

The tablet you see next to the light is Mom’s Christmas present.  We gave her one two years ago and she surprised us by totally loving it.  However, she’s been frustrated that it won’t charge anymore.   I ordered it early so I would have time to load it with her favorite games and a bunch of books.  I think she will be tickled!  Her first tablet helped her pass many a sleepless nights.  And I’m hopeful she’ll find this one just as useful.

SOOOOOOO, can you recommend any games you enjoy on your phone or tablet?  I’ve got word searches, mahjongs, solitaire and freecell.  I’ve also got several translations downloaded in the Bible app.  But I would love to download a few more!  Let me know what your family enjoys!

Lost In The Clutter

I bet you think I’ve been slacking.  But I promise you I haven’t.  I’ve been on a mission…lost in a “sorting and purging” prison. 

Let me start at the beginning.

When Mom comes for Christmas in a few weeks (still not sure how we’re getting her here), we want her to have the room most suited for her needs.  And since it will likely be an extended stay, and a test run for a more permanent arrangement, we decided to dive in with that in mind.

The three options:

1. My oldest son’s room.  Too small and has no bathroom. 
2. My little guy’s room (which has always been the guest room).  Big enough.  However, the tub poses a hazard for Mom.  With Dad no longer there to steady her, I would worry about her slipping and falling.
3. My middle guy’s room.  Plenty big, plus, it has a walk in shower. 

Decided. 

Grandmom gets the middle son’s room, which incidentally, is also the middle room in the hallway.  And the middle son takes the younger son’s room on the corner, which he will share (happily) with his little brother whenever we have visitors. 

I wish it were as easy as it sounds.  In reality, it’s been crazy.  And the boys have had mixed emotions about it.

This is the room I’ve been cleaning out in order to make it accommodate two boys.  (The older of which was really dreading the pink carpet, lol!)  But, you should have seen the wild color scheme before we moved in!  At least we tamed the walls!

So, this was my work list over the last two weeks.

• Clean out the little guy’s closet.
• Sort through boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff.  He has a huge walk in closet.  Good, because it can hold a lot of household stuff.  Bad, because it can hold a lot of household stuff, lol! 
• Purge everything not loved.
• Repeat in middle son’s middle room.
• Empty both rooms of non-essential furniture and floor clutter.
• Move all furniture from Little Guy’s room.
• Replace the horrible-we’re-all-so-happy-it’s-gone-now-pink carpet.
• Move my middle son and his STUFF into his “new room” and help him establish a corner for his temporarily (possibly permanently) sort of homeless little brother.
• Help each organize their “half” of the closet.
• Settle territorial squabbles.
• Breath a sigh of relief. 

One room done. 

Both boys are doing really well with the arrangement. 

The little guy is sleeping on a camp cot while we search for a twin bed--two of them actually.  Because we want to replace the full bed in Mom’s new room to make room for a reading chair.

Didn’t my little guy do a great job decorating his corner?  :)

Now on to making the middle room a retreat for Mom.  :)  And tackling all the miscellaneous boxes that wound up there.

Hopefully, I’ll have some before and after pictures of that room as well.