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Seven significant scenes from this past week.
Can you picture a house sitting here, looking out at the mountain? I can. It will be our house. RJ and I started an adventure in house-building last summer. It is January 25 and we've yet to break ground. When we started looking for land on which to build, we settled on this 10 acres very quickly. It is gorgeous! The very back of the property is a huge field, and the r
est of it is wooded and fairly flat. From the very beginning, I could see our three children growing up on this property, playing in the woods, running in the field, and enjoying the outdoors. Toward the back of the property there is a slight rise of the earth which would make the perfect spot for the house. That's where this picture was taken. We bought this property before really looking at any other pieces of land, contracted a builder, picked out a house plan, signed a contract, had the building site cleared of trees, and had a date for the building to begin.
ed to crumble before our very eyes. Today, plan B is history. As much as I resisted plan B when it started, it was hard to watch it fall apart. The developer of our original 10 acres is backing out of the deal, which means we can't buy the 4 acres, which means we're back to plan A. I like plan A. Here is our future home site - the place my children will grow up. We loved it the first time we saw it, and it's easy to come back to now. We hope to close on the construction loan within 2 weeks and start building by the end of February. I'll keep you posted.
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This is not an exciting or even terribly interesting post. But, hey, at least it's a post. I'm taking baby steps back to the blog. |
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It's hard to believe that the Thursday Thirteen meme has been around for 102 editions! Some people, like my mom at Daddy's Roses, have written posts for almost ALL of these editions! Wow, I'm in awe of that! I've written a whopping 11 Thursday Thirteen posts, and haven't written a new one for several weeks. Here are 13 reasons I haven't written a TT in weeks. 1. I can't think of anything else to write about! I hate to think that I've only got 11 ideas in my head, but that seems to be cold, hard fact.
2. I haven't been able to write anything lately. I don't know what's up, but the computer and blogging time just haven't floated my boat lately. I've enjoyed reading other blogs, but can't seem to write on my own. 3. Woops! There's only 2 reasons - not 13. See what I mean?
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Where do I begin?! It's been an incredible week! Here are a few of the highlights.1. We were able to go and see my family last weekend. We had fun visiting.
2. We brought our nephew home. He's a trip! We had a wonderful time taking him to basketball camp each day. We were able to see his final scrimmage and awards program. He won top score for the week in the daily hot shots contest they had! He did great and it was fun to see him play basketball! The kid can hit a shot from anywhere on the court!
3. Each afternoon after the camp, the boys and I would take a fun "field trip." We had fun skating, bowling, painting pottery, and playing at Chuck E. Cheese! But, some of the most fun we had was playing video games together at home!
4. My girls stayed with my parents for the week. They had a blast playing with their cousins and seeing family. They were able to go swimming and bowling, see Rae play basketball and LaD play tennis!
5. We've had a roller coaster of a week involving some property we want to purchase. It's 10 beautiful acres that could be a great sight for a future home. However, we've run into some snags with the survey. The deal's been on again and off again all week - frustrating and emotional, but we want to make sure it's the correct survey before we purchase. Thank goodness RJ caught the mistake on the original survey!
6. We worked together in the basement yesterday. I have worked this summer to get the upstairs cleaned out and organized. Now that the upstairs is looking good, the basement needs the same treatment. It's going to be a huge job, but now we've officially started.
7. We are five again. Years ago when E was three years old, our oldest daughter went on a camping trip with her girl scout troop. E has always been fascinated with numbers and was very aware that our family was not all together. We did some shopping the night B left and E sat in the shopping cart and repeatedly said, "We're not 5. We're 4." Our family of 5 was missing one and it bothered him. Well, we're 5 again after being apart this week. It feels wonderful to be back together.
In Art class, E's kindergarten group had been studying different mediums when he created his masterpiece. He used paint as his water background. Then, he used textured paper and crayons to make the lily pads that he cut out and glued on the painted water. He envisions the lily pads drifting across the water as the wind is blowing. E's art work adorns our living room in along with B's and N's.
N's art class had been studying house designs when she used chalk to create her masterpiece. The students had looked at many unusual houses and unique architectural designs, and N had even taken a photograph to class that she had snapped in Florida of a dome-shaped beach house. The children were instructed to create their own houses, and N designed hers primarily in her favorite color - yellow. We bought her art work from First Art Works, too, and have hung it proudly above the piano with B's and E's.
In her 4th grade art class this year, B was studying landscapes and shadows. This is a landscape she created with oil pastels. She entitled her masterpiece "Dark Shadow." First Art Works is a company that framed one art piece from each of our students, displayed them, and sold them to parents. This piece is proudly hung above our piano in a arrangement with N's and E's art works which will be shown in future posts.
My daughters are 12 1/2 months apart in age, and my niece was born within that 12 month period. So, with three girls in the family born within one year, they are very close and love to be together! Usually, it's a giggle-fest when they see each other. They always "pick-up where they left off" and play together like they haven't been apart. They love to dress up, play with make-up, sing songs and put on little concerts, play kickball, practice cheers, and "hang out." Their personalities are very different, and that may be the main reason they get along so well. I'm thrilled that they have each other for friends and hope they continue to be confidants throughout their lives. They don't know, yet, how fortunate they are to have each other!
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I read a theory once that claimed that every person has 7-8 defining events in his life. The article explained that if a person can identify her own, personal defining events, she will understand much about her own personality. These events would help a person understand why she eats too much, or why he's depressed, etc. I don't remember many of the details of the theory, but I found it to be an interesting concept - defining moments - things that shape and define our personalities, characters, and actions. Our anniversary was this week. We've been married 13 years! There are many defining events in our marriage - moments that have shaped our relationship, defined who we are as a couple, and made our union strong. Here are some defining moments from our 13 years. 1. 1994 - There's an old saying, "Anything that doesn't kill you will make you stronger." I think this adequately describes surviving the wedding and first year of marriage! New house, new neighborhood, new community, new job, new church, new roommate. Life was exciting and happy, but also full of uncertainties and new challenges. There were so many changes and so many things to get used to, that the first year together was quite an adjustment! A good adjustment, but an adjustment none-the-less. We learned to compromise, talk about things, and include each other in our dreams, hopes and aspirations. 2. 1995 - We bought our first house together. We searched together, we talked about our dream houses together, we toured the house we chose several times together, we packed together, we moved together, we unpacked together, and we made millions of little house decisions together. I don't remember a single argument, but I remember many nights spent talking and dreaming about our future together. 3. 1996 - After many tests, repeated exams with different doctors, and medications to try to determine why we were having such difficulty getting pregnant, I had surgery. This was our first opportunity to join forces and overcome a very personal, intimate, emotional struggle together. 4. 1997 - B was born. Our first child was desperately wanted and difficult to get into this world. I hemorrahged at 26 weeks putting both the baby and myself in jeopardy. After that, I was put on complete bed rest for the remainder of the preganancy. I was allowed to sit up in bed for 30 minutes a day - 10 minutes per meal. RJ waited on me hand and foot, and did many things that I never thought I'd ever have to ask someone to do for me. He used to bring a bucket into our room, and I'd lie sideways on the bed with my head off the side so he could wash my hair! RJ's dad was diagnosed with Congestive heart failure and told the average life span of a person with his difficulties was 5 years. 5. 1998 - N was born. We were surprised and scared to death when we found out we were expecting! What if I had to go to bed with this pregnacy, too? With a tiny baby, being put on bed rest would be much harder this time. RJ is always very calm in these situations and was very matter-of-fact about it. We'd simply cross the bed-rest bridge when we got to it and thank goodness, we never got to it. He was my calm presence in a time of swirling activity and uncertainty. This pregnancy went by without a hitch and N was a beautiful, wonderful addition to our growing family! 6-7. 1999 -2000- Life changed drastically! It was exciting and wonderful to watch the girls grow! These two years are somewhat of a blur because there was basically no sleep. It seemed like B never slept and N had colic and cried from 8:00- midnight every night. Although we still attended church regularly, RJ and I slowly dropped out of our leadership roles and committee obligations at the church and concentrated on our lives at home. Our relationship changed dramatically. We were tired, but happy parents, and not just a couple anymore. We relied on each other for logistics of day-to-day life. 8. 2001 - E was born. The boy entered this world like a bolt of lightning and hasn't slowed down yet. Life felt full and our family felt complete. We were not trying to have a boy after having 2 girls. We've been asked that question many times. But, for some reason, 3 children felt right and IS right. We were at peace and at home with our family of 5. We had routines down pat and our teamwork made life clicked along well. Then, RJ's mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, had surgery, and told that most women in her condition live 4-5 years. My mom had gall bladder surgery that was terribly botched and had several more surgeries to repair the damage. She fought to recover as RJ's mom began chemotherapy and fought for her life. 9. 2002 - After a fairly routine heart cath procedure, my dad was sent directly to the hospital for quadruple bypass surgery. 10. 2003 - Family time was top priority. 11. 2004 - We, along with RJ's brother's family and sister's family, bought a farm house to use as a hunting lodge and weekend get-away. It was a good investment, and a wonderful place to go to escape from the daily hassles of life. Again, we found ourselves decorating a house, planning, and budgeting money. 12. 2005 - RJ's mom passed away. Our hearts were broken, and we clung together to get through the pain of losing her. We work together to keep her alive to our children who were very young at the time of her death. 13. 2006 - RJ's dad passed away. Again, our hearts were broken and we clung to each other. How do people get through tragedies like this without God and people they love to help them through it? Conclusions? Our defining moments have made our relationship stronger. We have a deep, abiding love for each other cultivated by mutual respect. We are stongly committed to each other. We are happily content in each other's company. We are aware that life is fragile and that family is a gift from God and very precious. We support each other and compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses well. I thank God for our 13 years together and look forward to the next 13! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
ites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan. Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 Dinars for it." "But I paid a million Dinars for it," the King protested. "Don't you know who I am? I am the king!" Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."
e forever if they were fed a steady diet of seagulls. One day, his supply of the birds ran out so he had to go out and trap some more. On the way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road. Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.
examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on."
d the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant, and the first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.
This was a wonderful week and there are many highlights for which I am thankful! Here are seven.
I grew up playing softball. As a matter of fact, some of my fondest childhood memories are being at the ball park all day long. I played. My brother played. And my father played. We'd go to my dad's tournaments, and my brother and I would play pick-up games of cup ball all day behind the bleachers. I loved watching my brother play in college, long after I had quit playing the game seriously. 
Now, I watch my children play. And let me tell you, the game is the same, but the festivities that surround the game have changed! My precious N has made All-Stars. I made All-Stars several times as a kid, and my brother made All-Stars many times. We were thrilled to get the opportunity to keep playing ball for another month. I really don't remember any frills that came with the extra games and practices. But now, All-Stars seems to be mostly frills with some ball games thrown in for good measure. I think the kids still enjoy just playing. We are in a league that keeps extra spending and frills to a minimum compared to other teams we have seen at the tournaments. This has been a learning experience for me, and N has thoroughly enjoyed playing. 
As All-Stars each girl on our team was provided with a face mask, a new bat bag personalized with her name, shin guards, a cute color-coordinated hair bow to wear to games, a T-shirt to wear while at the ball park but not playing, a set of temporary tattoos sporting the team name to wear to games, and a new water bottle. They also received beautiful, glossy new uniforms. The girls look fantastic! 
E came along and we approached him with the same philosophy. He was always offered dolls and balls, and although the enjoys both, he strongly prefers balls. The child could dribble a basketball at a very young age. He has played on organized basketball and baseball teams and is currently registered to play soccer. He doesn't see dolls as "girly" and will still play with them occasionally. I find it interesting that he almost always has a ball at hand, but every so often - once every couple of months - he picks up a doll and carries it around while he plays ball. Today was one of those days. He's been dribbling a soccer ball through the house off and on all morning. Each time he has come through the kitchen this morning, he has had Claire on his shoulder. 
I am fortunate that my life is filled with children. I have the incredible opportunity to work with children daily, and I have a wonderful, large family full of children. I am truly blessed to have 9 of the most special children in the world in my life. Today's Sunday Seven is dedicated to my children, my nieces, and my nephews. |
1 - 2. All paper products - paper towels, napkins, paper plates, toilet paper, paper cups, Kleenex, wipes, etc. 3. Chicken breasts and salmon steaks. 4. Soft Soap to go beside every sink in our house. 5. Fresh fruit - apples, grapes, strawberries, oranges 6. pencils and notebook paper for school 7. Excedrin - Big bottles to use to refill all of my small ones stashed everywhere - one bottle for my car, one for my purse, one for my desk drawer, one for the medicine cabinet at home. 8. Toiletries - toothpaste, hairspray, floss, shampoo, even toothbrushes when needed 9. Snacks for ball teams, school activities, etc. 10. Drinks - water bottles, juice, Gatorade, soft drinks, Diet Lipton Green Tea 11. Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken soup. I use them in tons of things. 12. Ramen noodles - My kids love to eat these for lunch - quick and easy! 13. Batteries - In a house with three children, you can never have enough batteries for all the toys, games, and gadgets!
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"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" in response to urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.-- David Sarnoff' Associates
"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make," -- Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies 
"I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself." --the head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox
My mom also made two special dresses with similar red and yellow material. She made one for me and one for my cousin. My cousin and I are very close in age and loved to be together and play. To the left, you can see my cousin and me in our similar dresses many years ago.
