The Latest in News

First of all, I have to tell you something I find funny! It seems that quite frequently someone will tell me or maybe Dave that they read my blog. It just cracks me right up!! I never knew I was of the popular sect!! Oh wait - I'm not....those people are just bored!! Anyway, I do find it funny and for me right now, I will take whatever laughs I can get!!
The big news of the week is that Carrie is now the proud owner of her very first car! I would post a picture but you will have to wait a few days. My camera and her car are very rarely in the same spot!! We are very happy for her and also very excited that there is no debt for the car! Well, not unless you count the debt to her parents!! But - she has a 1990 White Nissan Maxima with tinted windows, a sunroof, cold air and the completely necessary awesome stereo!! Just one more step down that road of independence! And no, I am not crying about that! Josh may be since he doesn't have to drive her places anymore!!!! Anyway, a very definite answer to prayer this week!
Life is definitely interesting I will say that. There seems to be a lot going on and sometimes I wonder how some things will turn out. I have learned one thing - you never know what some people are going through. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in our own struggles that we forget how others are hurting. Sometimes it looks like people have it all together on the outside but there is another entirely different story going on on the inside. I have been asking God to help me see the hurts people are feeling for I know what it is like to feel "passed by". Sometimes all it takes is to just step out of the box and let someone know we care.
Anyway, that is the latest news from here! I know - profound, huh???

Confession and Compliments

First - the Confession!
Here's a newsflash for you - I HATE, HATE, HATE car shopping! I am of the opinion that you should be able to just blindfold yourself, throw a dart and bam! the perfect car is ready for you! I can't remember what I said about it before but since David bought his dad's truck, we are getting close to desperate for another vehicle. Not desperate yet but getting close - as in 10 days to total despair!! See - Dave is leaving on June 5th so that is when the car shopping HAS to be done! So this past Saturday we went car shopping. Yuck and double yuck! The only fun part about that was that we went as a family and had free hamburgers at one dealership and a nice meal courtesy of Carrie and Ashley! We thought we had found a car for Carrie but the little turkey's at the dealership thought that car was worth about $1000 more than it actually was so no deal! Then we went again yesterday which wasn't completely useless but we will see what happens today. However, once again, for the record and in case you didn't get it the first time, I HATE car shopping!!
Now for the Compliment!!
Once again - I am so thankful for the husband that I have! I am so glad that this kind of stuff is something he can handle quite well. It didn't phase him one little bit to look at the salesman on Saturday and say, "No thanks!" He just has no struggles whatsoever with telling them what he needed to! Just another reason why I love that man!! I am so very thankful that God has given me the husband he has! For more reasons than one and right now, this is a VERY good reason why I am glad that I have him!!!!! Of course, the hard work he is putting into my dining room is another reason I love him!!!!!

I Live!!

I know - I know, I am sooooooo far behind! It has literally taken me about 3 days just to get some pictures in order and in the right place. I finally have just decided to post a few that I took of our family and am going to let it go at that. More actual "blog" will be at the bottom of the pictures so you can read on if you want!
Last Tuesday evening, Ashley was inducted into the National Honor Society. We are very proud of her! She works hard to keep her grades up and is consistently in the top 5 of her class!

Here is a picture of the entire family! We seem to just be getting bigger! In order there is David, Christa, Ashley, Dave, Leah, Carrie and Josh!

This is the happily engaged couple planning a wedding on August 16th!

Josh and Carrie! I get the feeling that Josh will be sticking around for awhile!! :)

As mush as I love all my family, I think this ranks as the best picture I took that entire day! I just can't say this is my baby anymore! Ashley has definitely grown up!

Sunday after church and before dinner, I think that Ashley was feeling down so she received a hug from everyone! And yes, I was standing on the couch!

We had a really good time with everyone while they were here! I am learning things about this new phase of my life that is called "dealing with adult children"! And I am pretty sure that all of my kids would tell you I am just doing a bang-up job! No, that is NOT a compliment!!! It's a good thing that my kids are all patient for the most part!!!!!
The news of this week is that I no longer have a dining room! Want the rest of the story? Well, there has been a problem with the dining room floor for quite some time! One corner was completely busted up and the door wouldn't even open the whole way. So, Dave and the maintenance crew came down last week and looked things over and decided that something had to be done before the new hurricane season starts. What was to be a small job has turned into a rather big one. At this moment, there is no wall on the front of my house unless you count the three sheets of plywood that are temporarily nailed there! A small section of the ceiling is gone, and the floor is down to the concrete! Anyway, they are hoping to pour concrete tomorrow - LEVEL concrete that is - and then build the wall on Tuesday and finish the project after that! For some reason I guess I won't be having any company for a while!! Hmmm.....wonder where they would sit?!?! See - you have access in the living room to Dave's chair and 4 dining room chairs and the computer and that is it! Thankfully, I can still get to the kitchen which is very helpful! So, one of these days when it is all done I will post some pictures of the finished project!
There - the update is complete! I am sure that I have left out lots of details but that is all this very tired and weary brain can handle right now!!

A Promise

Ok - so there have been no new blogs for awhile! I know that is just heart-breaking!! Yea - that was a little overboard! So - I am only working half day today and going home after my quick almost daily jaunt to Wal-Mart! I get to spend the evening with my family before David and Christa leave in the morning!
But - before I can get all sappy with my family, I think there are about 110 loads of laundry in my house to get done! So - I am going to sit down at the computer in between loads and work on pictures and I am hoping to get them all where I need them so that I can blog either sometime this afternoon or tomorrow! I have a camera card that was emptied onto my husband's laptop that I need to get moved to the big computer, I have another bunch from family pictures that we took Saturday that I need to take care of and who knows what else I might turn up!
So - I guess this is just the promise to get it done but I certainly am not promising perfection! THAT is something I simply CANNOT deliver on!!!! :))

The Mothers In My World

So, yes I am behind and no, I don't have pictures and yes, I will see what I can do about that sometime later. For now, on with the words!!

First of all, I must say that I have a wonderful Mom! I am the baby of 5 kids and she saved the very best till last! I know - some of my family...no, ALL of my family...would strongly disagree with me!! But - the truth hurts!! :) Anyway, this isn't about them - its about her!!! :) My Mom is a wonderful example of God's grace! One thing about my mom that NO ONE can ever doubt is that she loves the Lord with all her heart! She has endured much in her life but I have never doubted her love for me or anyone else in her family! She has always loved her kids, loved their spouses like her own, and spoiled her grandkids rotten! (I know you would never admit it, Mom but its true!!) My Mom taught me a lot about cleaning house and cooking and taking care of kids but the main thing she taught me was the value of prayer and for that I am eternally grateful!!

Somewhere along the way - about 22 years ago this past January, I met a wonderful lady who had the best son in the world! I can only imagine how "thrilled" she was when this short little gal came along and stole her baby boy's heart but she accepted me anyway!! One thing that my mother-in-law has taught me is the value of helping others. We often laugh and joke about Mom never being able to pass a Wal-Mart or a Goodwill but the truth is, most of what she buys is always for someone else! Mom is a fantastic seamstress and her family has all benefited from her efforts! She has made the grandkids blankets and I have two daughters that never sleep without theirs! My son probably would sleep with his but either it has shrunk or he has grown an awful lot! I also know that Mom prays for her family every single day and we all know it! I don't have mother-in-law "horror" stories to tell you - I love her and thank her for her son!!!

There are some great Moms I know that are close to me and it is so neat to see how God makes Moms of all kinds! I know that sounds a little silly but its true! Some are funnier than others, some are more serious, some are hyper, some are calm, some are vocal spiritual giants, some have a quiet strength that is immeasurable, some are tall, some are short (me!!), some are skinny (not me!!), some are pleasantly plump(me again!!)! See - it takes all kinds but the one thing they all have in common is an undying love and fierce protection for her family!

Yes - there are more pictures and more blogs to come. I mean really - I have a house full of kids and all kinds of stuff happening! I must admit that I am as thankful as can be that no one took a picture of my house before 10pm yesterday! Oh wow!!!! That was soooooo bad!!!! Anyway, stay tuned for the "rest of the story"!!

"Stalkers" of the Cloth!

It has often been said to me that living in Hobe Sound is like living in a fish bowl! You can't go anywhere or do anything without someone seeing you and then telling everyone they meet exactly what you were doing and where you were doing it and who you were doing it with. That has become quite evident to me in the last couple of days!
See the young man "chasing" someone on the three wheeler in the picture? Well, this is our pastor and man, he shows up at the weirdest times!! For instance, Thursday evening Dave and I went to the Gardens Mall and we were walking through Macy's (not to shop let me tell you!) on our way to the car and guess who showed up behind us?? Yep - the Pastor!! Then - it happened again on Friday night when Dave and I decided to go out to eat. He dropped me off at the door of the restaurant and I went in to get a table. My short little body climbed up on the chair at a high top and what to my wondering eyes did appear over the wall but - you guessed it - the Pastor and his wife! I mean really - what is going on?!?! Two nights in a row? I am scared to death about where he will show up next!
Thank you Mary Ellen for letting me steal the picture although I didn't really ask for permission and I look forward to the comments - especially one!!

TheTwo's

Two Names You Go By:
1. Mom
2. "Love"

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. White Shirt with a gold star
2. Usual Friday Red Skirt

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. Go out on dates with my husband.
2. Have all my kids at home!

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. For it to be 5:00
2. For 10 AM to come in the morning!!

Two pets you had/have:
1. Patches - my beagle growing up!
2. Do kids count as pets?!?!

Two people who will fill this out:
1. Mary Ellen (alread did!)
2. Angie Davis - at least she had better or I will tell about our thread on myholiness!!!!!

Two things you did last night:
1. Some Laundry
2. Went to the Gardens Mall with Dave.

Two things you have eaten today:
1. Hostess Snack Cake
2. Weight Watchers Smart One

Two people you last talked To:
1. David
2. Donna

Two Things You're doing tomorrow:
1. Cleaning the house before 10 AM
2. Welcoming home my Marine and newest daughter!!!

What were your longest car rides:
1. Indiana to Nebraska
2. Florida to anywhere

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving

Two favorite beverages:
1. Tea with Splenda
2. Water (if absolutely necessary!)

What did you do today:
1. Worked and did two blogs!
2. Cleaned an office, going to dinner with Dave and getting groceries to feed my family!!!

Just Blabbering

Someone asked me a little earlier today when they were visiting me at work if I had updated my blog yet and I said "No" and they seemed so disappointed!!!! So - here goes - an update!
Dave is busy keeping up with his work and traveling schedule and his wife!! He is so good at that! It's a good thing he is around or this woman would be worse than she already is! David and Christa will be here in the morning and we are all excited about that! I am pretty sure this is going to be a great Mothers Day!! Carrie is pretty much permanently attached to Josh and vice-versa! I know that I NEVER acted that way when I was her age! But then of course when I was her age, I was married and had a child and therefore, I will NOT complain!!!! She is actually thanking God that finals are next week and college will be done for awhile! Ashley is playing catch-up still from being gone from school for homecoming so there have been lots of tests to study for. She is a busy girl but thankfully still takes the time to hug her Mommy every once in awhile!!!!!
For the record and to simply annoy her, Donna is being a good girl and sharing her lunch with her better half! I am so proud of her today - so far she has only messed up less than 5 times and it is just barely after noon!!!
Ok - yes this post has been pointless but at least it is new!!!! You are welcome, Josh!!!

Spring Cleaning - Sort Of?!?!

Ok - here is a confession. If the furniture in my house stays in one place for too long, I have serious issues with it so I move it around - a lot! Just ask my family! Usually when Dave is gone for awhile, right before he gets home he will ask me what I have done so that he is somewhat prepared for the changes when he walks in the door. As a side note, a piece of advice! If you are going to move the stuff around especially in the living room, make sure you warn him if he is going to arrive back home in the evening when the lights will be out! Anyway, I have been in the mood for some rearranging recently so that is what I did Thursday night and some on Friday night and even some on Saturday. It took me awhile to get it figured out but I finally did and the living room is different once again! I feel so much better!
Which brings to me the real point of my blog today. I am sure that you all remember those dreaded spring cleaning days as a child. I certainly do and since my mom reads this I am sure that our memories will not match! I HATED wiping down paneling with Murphy's Oil Soap and can still smell that stuff to this day! I hated having to clean out my closets and drawers. It was annoying!! I could never figure out why all that cleaning had to be done anyway but every spring and every fall, we cleaned and I mean we cleaned. Now, my sister would probably tell you that she cleaned and I played ball which is probably pretty close to the truth but I still remember dreading those times! As a matter of fact, I am not one who plans those spring and fall "cleanings" at all! I clean when it needs it and I am in the mood! Other than that, don't look too close at the dirt!
Lately, I have been working on some other "cleaning" around me and that is the cleaning that goes on on the inside. I have been working on getting rid of some "clutter" in my life. For instance, my husband preaches a message about going into your prayer closet and some things that could hinder you from doing that. Sometimes we do not go into our prayer closet because there is too much junk in there - like hurt feelings and family struggles and old smelly attitudes. Anyway, recently I feel that God has been talking to me about my level of commitment to Him and the things in my life that are hindering that commitment. So - I have been doing some cleaning and "decluttering". I am making progress but I will say that I am not there yet. I think that I still have quite a ways to go actually! Sometimes letting go of past hurts and struggles is almost like getting rid of old clothes. I wish I could let go of some of that stuff as easy as it is for me to get rid of clothes I can't wear anymore since I am losing weight. It is interesting that some things are so easy to get rid of and other things just seem to hang around for awhile.
I am really not sure if this makes much sense but I wanted to put it down in writing! I am very thankful that God chooses to still speak to me on the issues that He sees in my life that do not please Him! Sometimes when I am cleaning, I cut my fingers up or put some bruises on my body! It can be a painful experience! In the same way, the cleaning out that God needs to do can be just as painful and that I know for a fact! But in the end, when the house is all done and the cleaning has been accomplished, I feel so much better! I am sure that when this "cleaning" is done, I will feel a lot better too!