Sixth Grade Recognition

Tonight was Sixth Grade Recognition. Our school's version of elementary graduation.

You are looking at the recipient of the Art Creativity Award! She was so excited!! ( Kaite : Art is my best subject!) She absolutely never expected to get one award. Her art teacher summed it well - this award was given to the kids that showed creativity and free thinking, as she put it - "the world needs more of them". More free thinkers. More of those that dare to challenge traditional ways of seeing the world. People who are willing to paint pink trees and orange sky.

The award is now sitting next to her bed. I did make sure to remind her that she didn't need an award to be special and that she is special to us every day.

I will save my " I hate academic awards ceremonies" speech. Even though Kaite got an award - doesn't change my opinion. I really am not fond of our need as a society to constantly reaffirm and praise the over achievers, who are typically already receiving accolades and more respect than those students who happen to have to work a bit harder and may not meet the bar, or the quiet respectful average child who doesn't make waves. Oh - I did say I would save it didn't I?
The best award ever ? Every teacher Kaite has had has told me how sweet, kind, willing to help, friendly and what a pleasure my daughter is to have in class.

Kaite also officially received her Promotional Certificate. You know what that means? She is a seventh grader now. Has the Boyertown Jr High t-shirt to wear and everything!

Where have the last seven years gone? Where is that chubby faced little girl that could barely peek out of the bus windows? What has happened!? Man- what a ride the last seven years have been. All I keep hearing in my head - "Please keep your hands inside the ride at all times. Please hold onto the bar. Enjoy the ride!" when I think of the next six years. Class of 2012. The principal said that and I think you could hear a collective gasp in the room. A new chapter starting. More of her story. I know how I would love to see it written. Doesn't every parent have those big dreams for their children. But the hardest part of being a parent is not being able to write it word for word. I can guide, suggest , recommend, and pray, but the rest is up to Kaite. Which paths will she follow? One lesson I have learned is that all I can hope for is that they are the best that they can be in everything that they do. My biggest wish is that they are happy, successful in what they do, and find their sweet spot in life - the spot that will be most rewarding and happy for them. Here we go - buckle up! The ride is about to begin!

Wheew!

I asked Jim tonight as I was looking into this weekend's pictures, if he realilzes how much we have packed into this month!? Wheew- Is all I can say! Not to mention the things we packed into this weekend!! Forgive me - the pictures loaded backwards onto the blog, and I do not have the patience to delete them and start over. I will start at the end - this is where Jim and I conceeded defeat. The hole beat us down - got the better of us - and yes, we both had to admit, we just can't do it. So the call has been made, to the local contractor working on our friend's house (Hi A.! ) We started Saturday am with renting a desodder - and spent the rest of Sat and Sunday hauling, moving and replacing sod. You see - turfing it up for the pool wasn't enough for us! Noooo - Jim decided while we had such nice pieces we might as well take the opportunity to replace some of the horrible bare spots in our yard, and around the patio. I swear if I see one more piece of sod, I may scream. Christopher was allowed to drive the tractor to help pull Daddy's make shift "trailer" - aka sledding saucer - to help move the sod. This of course, with Mom walking right next to the tractor. Thought he was a big man though! After moving all the sod, today started the attempt to dig out the hole to level it for the pool. 8 hours later, this is all that was finished - and both of us were beat down. Jim was running the tiller to loosen the dirt, and I was shovelin' and haulin' (which also was another aha moment - if we had all this great top soil- let's schlep it to the front yard to fill in the thatch spots so we can reseed - yet another step to the process) We have both had it. We are calling in the troops! Woohooo!
We did find time to have some fun! I wish there was more photo space here for sharing. After all that yard work - I grilled for the family Saturday night, and wound up (long story) getting together with a old old old friend! Haven't seen this gal in nearly 25 years! Believe it or not! We were best friends as children, as our families were friends. Lost touch when my parent's split up. It was like time has never passed. Quite an incredible experience, and we can garuntee that time and distance will not keep us apart now.
Sunday nite - we had our best friends over for dinner and smores. Kaite's face pretty much sums that up! We always have a nice relaxing fun time with the Gorman's. We have literally been friends as long as Jim and I have been together. Seemed to be a weekend with good old friends. Monday nite - after I threw my hands in the air and conceeded defeat to tho hole - I did manage to take the kids to see Over the Hedge. Cute. Not as funny as the comic strip - but good. The kids liked it - no adult humor but lots of pop culture references in all the right places. Made me laugh out loud a few times. So that is it - our weekend, part work part play - as usual - too much packed into too few days.
This is Me, Sherry, and my sister. We were friends when we were Kaite's age. It is indescribable how incredible it was to see her, and eventually the rest of her family later than night.
Christopher on the tractor. He is getting way too big way too fast!
Last but not least, my worker bee. Gotta love a man who isn't afraid of a bit of hard work. Chris and Kaite said he looked like a pharoah when he but the cloth under his hat. No pictures of grundgy sweaty me working .....I think Kaite managed to get one, but of course I am the web master so it will never be seen here!! Bwahahahahaa!!!

It is actually happening!

So - it has begun. Digging for the pool! Yes - we are getting a pool! There will be no extra money for the rest of the year, but vacation is paid for, and we have the spending money saved up - so we'll be ok - barring any more pinched nerves or other major issues! Have faith right? The kids are staying home this summer with a college baby sitter and I wanted them to be able to swim here at home. Plus as a family we'll use this far more often then we would go to the public pool.

The backhoe guy couldn't get here for two more weeks. Therefore - Jim decides we can dig ourselves. And didn't I journal a couple of weeks ago how glad we were that there were no major physical labor projects left to do around here? Last night Jim started taking up the sod. Chris, as is typical, was all over helping. If it involves using a tool the kid is there! Couldn't wait to get his hands on a pick axe! Not easy to take up sod, and I am was not surprised to here Jim say that he was renting a desodder tomorrow! Then all we have to do is dig the 12 in or so difference, only it is spread over 24 ft in a circle! That is a ton of dirt!! But we are the original do it yourselfers!

Zoey was also quite the helper! I am not sure you can see how dirty her face is in this picture but she was in the dirt nose and all. When we pushed the shovel under the sod and pushed it up, she thought there was something under there and went crazy digging and barking. She even got up hunks of sod and was tossing them around! Only problem is that we were trying to move the pieces of sod to a bare spot near the deck and she kept trying to dig them up!

So yet again - we spend another Memorial Day weekend in our work clothes. Last year , we laid the patio, this year a pool! Man - if you came into our backyard you would think we have money!! Ha! Free hot tub - do it yourself budget cutting - it's all good!

Better be fair

In the interest of being fair I also have to share a layout of Kaite-even though it is going to be weird I posted Chris' layout first but this one is going to appear first - anyhow..... this is the layout I completed of Kaite last week on Poker Night. I was just messing around with the camera one day - trying out different framing angles. I think I posted some of the pictures here already. I love how they really captured the real Kaite - not the silly cheesy smile Kaite that I usually get in pictures. She is so much more intense and serious than Chris is.
I used the lyrics of the song Unwritten for the layout.....I try to tell Kaite she is the master of her own future. It is unwritten, waiting for her to finish it. Pretty much - for all of us - no matter what we have been given, or to use my poker night theme - dealt in life. How we play the cards and end the hand is completely up to us. So I thought the words to the song suited the pictures very well. On the right side of the layout, I used some word stickers that I had to use on the layout, and described her personality now. Then at the bottom I put - "but what will you be?" No matter how well I know my children, I don't know what they will be. I know my hopes and dreams for them, but that is as far as I can take it. The rest is up to them. I can only hope that I have gotten them started out on the right way. At some point, I can't control it anymore. I think that may be the worst and most rewarding moment of my life - the day they take over and do it themselves. I am so not ready for it but I can't wait to read the rest of their story.
Ok that is a lot of thinking just to share a layout!

Poker Night

I am starting to love poker night. Jim has started going on Wednesday nights.

I put the kids to bed, and I head to my scrap table. Tonight I finished this layout of Chris for the monthly contest at memory lane, pa.

Christopher's smile. Ever present. Doesn't need much coaxing. Man - I love that smile. Nothing can melt my heart faster than that little face looking up at me with that smile. As I was going through some pictures, I realized there were so many pictures of that face,s o I thought I would immortalize it in a layout.

Love ya dude.

well....

I think I can safely say I will not be getting the Mother of the Year Award anytime soon.

The guinea pig died today.

Poor thing.

I am just praying that I did not have anything to do with it.
Coincidently, he died while he was outside getting some fresh air. A nice breezy sunny day. I can not see any reason why it would hurt him, but stranger things have happened. His water was still there, his food was eaten....but alas, he was not alive when I went back out to get him. Funny - I was going out to get him to give him a nice bath, toe nail trim and hair cut.

*sigh Kaite is, of course, devastated. Chris kind of took it all in stride, but has been quiet. He wanted to know more of the how's, Kaite wanted to know more of the why's. She is a bit upset with me because we won't take it to the vet to find out why it died. Sorry - no guinea pig autopsy here.

Here is where I lose my Mother of the Year Award.Don't get me wrong, I am consoling my children and my heart breaks for them. They are sad, understandably so. But as I console them, I have to bite my tongue to keep from reminding them that no one has paid the poor thing one minute of attention in nearly a year. Yup - no Mother of the Year here. But thankfully, I do not say it allowed. I was tempted to test my "it would take them weeks to realize he is gone theory" - but stopped myself. See - I am not all bad.

I, on the other hand, will miss the little bugger. No more squeaking when I open the refrigerator and dig in the lettuce drawer. Zoey I think will have a tough time too. She has been back and forth between his empty cage and the back yard a million times in the last half hour...she saw him in the box, and now I don't think she realizes where he is. No more licking his ears while I change his cage.

So tonight, we had the graveside service at the Fishlock Memorial Pet Cemetary by the garden in the back yard, where he will join the miriad of fish and hamsters buried there. There will be ice cream at Longacre's after the service. That should get my Mother of the Year status back - and I do get credit for not thinking out loud.

RIP Doodle - I will miss you.

Chuckle for the day....

Oh if were so easy!!

Wel I am off to start counting points again!

Our weekend-warning - lots of pictures

sorry - the pictures are way out of order! NO deep thoughts in this weekends post!

What can I say but - wheew!! We packed a lot into this weekend. These are only highlights! There was much more!

Saturday was the first one in forever that Jim was able to hang with us for all of the kid's "stuff". So his wonderful suggestion was to start the day with breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We haven't been out for breakfast since Shady maple over a year ago! This is possibly the only thing that could get the kids out of this house before 8 am in the morning! Kaite got her beloved pancakes. Chris of course had , what else? Cereal. Yup. All the way to Cracker Barrel for cereal. But he did steal one of Daddy's pancakes. I think they go just for the real maple syrup. Kaite begs to buy some for home, but for as quickly as we go through syrup around here I can't spend $8 a bottle!

Then off to the bowling tournament we went! Both of the kids did great. We won't find out if they placed high enough for scholarship awards for a few weeks yet. Kaite had a panick moment when she realized that she and Chris were 16 lanes apart. But thankfully Jim was with us, so I didn't have to run back and forth between the two lanes. We swapped every game or so. Boy did I realize there are some die hard kids and families out there! Those 'intense' parents are not just on the soccer fields. There was a little boy maybe 7 or so...toweled off his ball every time it came out of the return. Had a seperate spare ball and all. This was our first year, I am so proud that they both made the finals - with borrowed and lane balls. But as you can see, we did make a stop on the way home. Jim was with us, so of course, we came home with brand new balls, bags on wheels (suddenly after Jim was the one carrying that bag in and out of the alley!), powder bags and towels. (He will be working next saturday by the way!) Man - we are set now!! Chris picked one that looked like fire..way cool...even got to watch the man drill it out. His biggest thrill was the size of the drill bits on that press! Kaite picked a cool turquoise and purple one after we talked her out of the $125 one she wanted. That's my girl!

After dropping Kaite at my sister's for Jess's birthday make up party, I headed off for some retail and horticulture therapy all on one! One of my favorite things to do - shop in the nursery! Came home, planted some pots and a few new perennials in the garden. Gotta love digging in the dirt! Jim painted out the circle for the 'imaginary' pool in the yard. The picture of Zoey shows what happens when Jim forgets to check where the dog is before he tested the spray paint can. I don't know if it is obvious but she is splattered across her face, and down her right side and back. Thankfully he at least took a minute to check and make sure there were no kids near by!
When Kaite and I treated ourselves to pedicures with the Mary Kay pedicure set I bought yesterday. We sat on the edge of the tub and "fizzied" our feet, "masked" our feet and made them soft and cute. Painted our nails today.
Then we watched Dr Doolittle 3 - very cute movie by the way!
Today church - met our new neighbors, very nice, Kaite already hung out with the oldest daughter - and then we were invited to dinner by some friends that Jim helped with some electric work. So free dinner! Woohooo!!!

Happy busy fun! It was tremendously terrific to spend the weekend together. Need to do that more often!

PS thanks to everyone that has told me how much they are enjoying the blog. I am having fun with it, and enjoying the journalling. Jim is even trying to keep up with reading it. I say it is his secret little look inside my head and way of thinking. (that could be scary!) It was kind of sweet to watch him read it today and smile, and laugh a little. Mission accomplished!

Mark down this date

It is 9:47 pm - and this is the first time I have opened my computer today.

Yup.

Hope you were sitting down.

Busy full family day today. I promise I will post pictures tomorrow.

Stuck in my head

Watching ER last night - one of the last scenes was between Dr Pratt and Neela who had just buried her soldier husband. What they say to each other has stuck with me through the night, so I guess it needs to spill out here. I just want to remember it.

She is sitting by her husband's grave - the funeral scenes were the only ones that made me cry last night - and she says to Dr Pratt. "Is this something I will ever get over?" His reply to her -
"No. This is something that find a place to put. So you can go on and live your life and let it make you stronger."

Wow.

So true.

Who is this girl?

Who is this girl??

She came home from the hair dresser with me.

It has been a long time since I saw that face.

Yes - entirely her choice and at her request Kaite cut her hair. she had wanted it long and has been growing it for the last two years, but the longer it gets, the curlier and bushier it got. I have been wanting her to cut it for the last six months, but didnt' say so. It had to be her decision. She hates taking care of those curls. So - she decided to do it.

I love it.

She likes it but isn't sure yet, I think.

She said to me on the way home, "Now people won't notice me anymore."

That made me stop. It occured to me. So many people, me included, have always made such a big deal out of her hair....how curly it is, how full it is etc. It has in a way become her identity. Her mark. It was incredibly couragous of her to cut it. Once again, I stood in awe of my daughter.

I reminded her that now they won't see her hair as much, but they will get to see "her" - the real Kaite - her face. To me, that is so much nicer. I so long for people to see the real Kaite behind the hair. The fun silly passionate kind sweet Kaite.

She is so much more than a head of curly hair.

Yes - I love this new hair cut.

Just because

This made me chuckle, so I had to share it. There is a bit of truth to it. You have to understand that the little girl's pet in the last block is a horse. :::chuckle::: Makes you rethink that old adage, huh?

Happy Mother's Day

What to say? what to say?
So much floating around my head today.

Hallmark and every diamond retailer from the east to the west coast want us to believe that this day is supposed to be mom's day to be lauded, pampered, appreciated, wined, dined, showered with gifts and do nothing but rest and relax.

Reality has other things to say about it! Thank goodness we live in a real world.

No dozen roses - I got a beautful hanging petunia (that Kaite painstakingly picked out last night while we happened to stop at WalMart for something else- so sweetly tried her best to hide it from me until we got to the check out. So yes, I got my gift in the check out line at WalMart. Can we be anymore redneck?) and a potted petunia that Chris made me in Sunday School.

Breakfast in bed then you say? Nope - I already made pancakes and bacon while everyone else was still in bed.Chocolate chip, cause I rock as a mom!

Wined and Dined, that must be it! - Well ....I had a hot dog at the bowling alley, and we did order white russion sandwiches from the pub - so I didn't cook after breakfast.

Rest and relaxation - Jim promised me I wouldn't have to lift a finger all day! (teeheee) Yeah. Right. We took the kids bowling to practice for their tournament. We went pool shopping. I did two loads of laundry and a sinkful of dishes.

Well, then...what did I get??? Jim did follow through on his promise to give me lots of extra physical affection. I got lots of extra hugs and kisses from the kids. I got to spend the day with the three people I care about the most doing something that we all enjoy. As an added bonus, I commandered the tv this evening and watch what I, yes - ME and only ME, wanted to watch....cooking shows and HGTV! I got the remote! ::::dancing:::: And I bowled awesome. Life is good!

Jim has never been known to be a planner, and also not very tolerant of crowded restaurants on a holiday. After years of anticipating what wonderful things lay in store for Mother's Day and my birthday, and disappointment after disappointment, I have come to accept that that is just not going to happen around here. At the risk of sounding terribly sunshiny and sweet, I don't care anymore. There is more to life than gifts and the "picture perfect" day. They asked that anyone who was a mother stand in church today to receive and special gift. I was taken aback by the number of women older than I, that did not stand. Being a mother has been one of the most challenging and most difficult things I have ever done. Yet, as cliche as I could ever be, "the most rewarding" blahblah blah....... I would rather spend a 100 Mother's Days eating hot dogs in a bowling alley, than never having had a mother's day to celebrate.

My one prayer is that by next year, I can celebrate the day with my best friend, who hopefully by then, will be a mother also.

One track mind

This would be my car.

In the garage.

I have been using this tennis ball to park since we moved in FIVE years ago.

Tonight, I hear Jim outside sawing and drilling. Mind you - not mentioning to me that he would be outside sawing and drilling.

Me: watcha doin'?
J: Nothin'
I hate that look.
Me: Could you please just answer my question the first time? ( and he gets mad at the kids when he has to repeat himself)
J: I am building something.
Me: *sigh What?
J: Just something.
Me: *sigh again...more insistent now...WHAT?
J: A new parking block for the garage.
Me: That thing is not going in the garage!

So - now is the point where you assume as some point the ball must have failed us. There had to have been an incident where I hit the wall. You would think! But no - in five years, I have never hit the wall. So - then my question was - Why do we need to spend two hours rigging up something else?

Just because - we need a fail safe.

----insert laughter of several family members here-----

If you know Jim, you would be nodding.

So now - not only do I have the tennis ball, there is now an 8 ft 6x6 bolted to the floor in the garage. Yes - I said BOLTED to the floor

Remember what I said about marriage being about tolerance??? So - if it makes him happy......
Now if he could be so passionate about finishing the lattice around the deck, we would be in great shape!

Chuckle for today

Because there is nothing exciting going on around here.....

This made me chuckle today!

May you find someone a bit "overzealous" in bed tonight!!

Yesterday, Jim FINALLY took Christopher fishing. They went with Christopher's best friend and his dad.

He loved it!

This is the 15 and 1/4 in. (don't forget the 1/4 in!) trout that he caught.

He caught it but wanted to parts of eating it!

Will share more pictures later.

He was irresistable when I came home. All american quintessential boy cute. Shades on. Hat turned backwards. Baggy jeans.

Man - I could eat him alive.

But still not too grown up to give me lots of hugs and cuddles. Gotta love that!

My weekend

Sixth Grade youth group retreat.
Words are not going to give this weekend justice.

Nothing can make you feel younger or older then you are faster than 12 pre-teens. http://twinpines.gospelcom.net
A really great camp for kids and reteats!

These are some great kids. It was terrific getting to spend the weekend getting to know them. These are some of the kids that Kaite is going to spend the next 6 years hopefully hanging out with and getting to know better. They were sweet and polite, and rather easy group.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the youth group activities. It has been nearly 6 or so years since Jim and I taught youth group at our other church.

I got to play more flashlight tag, keep away games, tag games, shuffleboard, "nuke um", basketball and hockey than any 37 year old should do in one weekend.

I got to hike longer and higher (these kids too me up a nearly 45 degree slope for "the perfect picture" - not once but twice!) than any 37 year old should do in one weekend. Crawling would define some portions of the hike better than "climbing".

I got too little sleep on a harder cot than any 37 year old should sleep on for two nights.

I can barely move. My legs are sore from hiking. I have bruises on my left arm from hockey. I have scratches on my legs from running through a pricker bush in the dark last night playing flashlight tag.

But - I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else this weekend.

I got to start each morning off stepping out onto the deck to have quiet time, watching the birds in the trees with a view of the valley all the way into NJ.

I got to laugh more than ever. Enjoy the sunshine. I got to see kids that were just thrilled that adults wanted to hang out and play with them. I hiked with, and talked to these kids. Asked about them. Chatted with the girls about the boys and how they are going to come to realize that boys to stupid things, act before they think and will never be easy to understand.

I got to see, through my tears, Kaite take her first communion and actually understand what it was all about. Wow. She said it was sad and exciting all at one time.

I got to help to start the process to help these kids into a phase of their life that is going to be very rough. I got to see them realize what a good friend is, and how important a circle of good Christian friends is going to be to help them navigate the years to come. These kids are straddling such a huge chasm between their childhood and adulthood. They want to be so mature, but I was amazed how quickly they jumped at the chance to play with the play-doh the pastor used for the potter-clay illustration.

Our church is very blessed to have a children's pastor and youth pastor that sincerely care about these kids, and what challenges lie ahead. They know that these kids need to connect and make friends in order to stay in the church and youth group, and how important this is going to be in helping to make good choices later on. They care enough to go out of thier way to get that message across to as many as possible.

It was a "coincidence" (but those of you that know me know I don't believe in them) that I had the opportunity to experience this weekend. I believe it was God's guidance. Since Jim and I have joined the church, we haven't really "settled" into a niche. I have been praying for God to help me to know what purpose I have there. Maybe this is it. I don't know. Youth orientation is next Friday nite. I will see where I may fit into the picture.

For now - This old "dude" is very happy to have been able to keep up but is going now to soak in the hot tub and take some advil.

Random again

Today's thoughts are random again! But I am heading out for a few days and felt the need to post before I go.

Have an unexpected weekend with Kaite.
She was supposed to be going on a Sixth grade retreat with church. This is their way of easing the sixth graders into youth group and get to know each other. Kaite gets VERY nervous about new situations, especially with new people. So, to say she was apprehensive would be an understatement. But after talking with us, and our explaining to her that we never force her to do anything, but we felt strongly about this and would never ask her to do something we didnt' think was important and good for her, she agreed. well, the children's pastor called me the other day, the female who was supposed to chaperone had to cancel and he needed a woman to come. I was last on his list ( had to tease him a bit about being last on the list) Could I come? I paused. I purposely had not offered to come to enable Kaite to do this on her own. He says, "There really is no one else".....so after getting him to agree that she and I would not be paired up for activities, I would come. She was delighted. I am not so sure! Jim and I taught youth group for years before the kids were born and when they were young, but is has been a long time since I did a sleep over retreat! Bunk beds. Cabin showers. I am packing the tylenol. Dont' plan on sleeping much. I was stressing over what to pack. I think I have lost my "cool". I was cool to teenagers 10 years ago. We'll see how cool I still am!?

Spent the day today with Chris at a field trip to the Perkiomen Watershed. Spent the morning turning rocks over in the creek looking for living creatures. Caught some crayfish. Way cool. No pictures though. Can't carry the digital and keep 9 year olds dry at the same time! So he got his mommy time before I go for the weekend.

This picture is another of Chris once again making something into a boat. Here he has turned his skateboard into a boat and is using a bat to "row". Pretending to be a boat got him nearly killed the other night. He was upstairs at bedtime, and wound up sitting in a laundry basket and was "rowing" around on the carpet up there. I was in the bathroom washing my face, and changing.....next thing I hear is someone thumping down the stairs, followed by screaming. Needless to say, we all ran. Happy to report, other than a dent in the freshly painted front door and a mark on the wall, all is ok. Apparently, Chris was trying to get out of the basket in the hall at the top of the stairs. He was one foot in and one foot out, and it started to slide. Kaite was upset that she couldn't catch him. My first thought was that he tried to slide down on purpose. But Kaite confirmed his story. I think what saved him was being half out of the basket. Otherwise, he would have flown. This way he just slid.

Never a dull moment here! So the girls are off to hang out together this weekend. I love spending time alone with Kaite. And the boys are home to play! Which I am certain will involve using tools in some way or another, grunting and lots of junk food.

Perserverence

Meet one of the most interesting and incredible couples I have ever met.

Love them.

Mr and Mrs Wagner.

If ever there is someone that personifies perserverence, it would be Mr Wagner.

I met them a little over two years ago. Mr Wagner had a brain tumor. Benign. After that surgery, you couldn't even tell he had surgery. Unfortunately , as sometimes happens, he got an infection. This has left him basically hemiplegic. His right side is severely affected.

He has been through every complication imaginable from seizures, to repairing the hole the surgeon left in his skull, and even last summer three months of recovery after gall bladder surgery where the gall bladder was wrapped around his small intestine and sever pancreatitis.

He has been in a coma. He has seen the light and been in the tunnel. He had two buddies he lost in Korea tell him he had to go home because there wasn't a bunk for him. He was given last rites twice. Yet, with only good solid medical care, no heroics, he is still here. And you know what? With each and every set back, has come back kicking. He stays positive. Dont' get me wrong. He has days when he says he should have just died and done with it. Who can blame him? He wants nothing more than to be able to get in a boat and cast a fishing rod again, which he has been practicing! He still teases me when I am there, treats me like family, and raises hell out on the block on his scooter. The secret according to him? He was a marine. "We don't go easy".

He amazes me.

She amazes me.

They have been married 56 years. She is a tiny thing, but does her best, and a darn good job of it, taking care of him. Strong does not begin to describe her.

They are poster children for making the most of what we have. He may not have the life he wants, but he does make it a full life, and enjoys his family and they enjoy him. Totally changes my perception of human euthenasia.

I have once again discharged him. My job is to get him ready for outpatient therapy, then discharge him. I, of course, have had to promise to stop by for lunch, which I will do. I am a bit nervous. It seems each time we progress to outpatient therapy, he has a set back. We are praying this time is different. When I told them I wanted a picture for my journal, they couldn't understand why I would want to have a picture of them. Humble. I want to be able to look back at this picture every now and then, and remember everything I have learned from them. Living the best we can with what we are given. Making the most of every day.

Thought I would just share some random pictures......this is Chris practicing his guitar. He is really starting to like it. He has a favorite cord. I don't know all the names. He likes the one that sounds like the beginning guitar strum in old gun fight movies. It's a testosterone thing I am sure. This weekend we got to spend a lot of time with the cousins. My sister kept the kids while Jim and I went out to celebrate our anniversary. Then we brough them back here Sunday to spend the afternoon. Chris and Sarah spent the day pretty much in seperable, as did Kaite and Jess. They never seem to tire of each other. They are coming over tonight for a few hours which was greated by a round of "yay" when I told Kaite and Chris.
Kaite took these pictures. She really loves to take pictures and wants a video camera very much. She is going on a youth retreat this weekend. An introduction to the church youth group and other sixth graders. She was dreading it. The child is not fond of unfamiliar situations...absolutely nothing like me at that age...let's say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. But knowing my daughter, I asked the children's pastor if he could give her a "job" for the weekend. She LOVES to help. Without suggestion from me, he immediately said she could be the official photographer and use the church digital. Well - can I say the child now literally chomping at the bit to get there! Thank God!

We are so blessed to be so close to my sister and the kids. Not having a large extended family can be hard sometimes, but it also leads to close relationships with our few close family. My nieces and nephew are almost like siblings to my kids. What a blessing. We certainly miss my brother and his family terribly, as well as Jim's parent's and brother. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't wish they were all here. The time goes by so quickly and the kids grow so fast. It makes me sad that they can't be a part of the every day lives of the kids, but am also grateful that it makes the times we do visit even more special.

Right now we are literally just enjoying the activity that has come with the kids getting older. Which means they are happy healthy children. I wouldn't trade that for all the free time in the world. Soon my house will be empty, and I will have the free time and quiet I crave some days, and I will most certainly complain and hate it. So for now, I will enjoy the organized chaos that is our life. Enjoying the every day things.