Aloha, Kody!

My 17 year old grandson, Kody, leaves for Hawaii Thursday with his high school band. Wow, what an opportunity! I'm so pleased he gets to take advantage of this fantastic trip. We had a party for him yesterday to celebrate his birthday and wish him a fond Aloha. Here are the Polynesian dancers we hired for the event.
Postscript: The worked pretty cheap, mainly they just like the outfits.

This one is for Judy

In my life I have been blessed with a few GOOD friends. The kind that hold your hand when you need it, cry with you, laugh at and with you, hold your hair when you are sick and give you serious reality checks when you've skated to close to the edge of reason. I think all my friends know who they are, however, the group of friends I have that I feel like a could call on for any reason number the digits of my right hand. Helen (who has gone to be with God), Karen, Linda, Judy and Sam. These 5 people have made my life an easier place to reside in.
Judy recently retired from teaching and I was thinking about her last night and about all the things that we have shared. I just had to pay tribute to a friend who has always stuck by me and share my memories.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Hanging from the backstop fence at baseball games with you.
Sorority trips in your car particularly the one where you brought me back down the "pigtrail."
"Those" magazines.
The fighting couple in the hallway of the motel.
Defining "Frenzy & Fluffy" (you know the rest).
The fun trip to TenKiller and the wild ride home.
Steven hanging from your leg like a ragdoll and crying whenever you got 2 feet away from him.
The suicidal Monarch butterfly annual event.
Riding up and down the highway between Greenwood and Fort Smith in our Halloween costumes.
All the cub scout art projects that your cat ate.
The birthday cake your cat ate - great job hiding it with icing by the way!
The conviction that combining the 2 of us into 1 person would create an amazingly voluptuous woman.
Your addiction to Chuck Norris.
Living with you during the big separation.
All the money you gave me when I was broke on my butt.
Den meetings, Spook-a-ree, Christmas parades, Blue and Gold banquets (especially the one with the 12 days of scouting song), Pinewood Derby and RANGER RICK.
You finally getting the recognition you deserved as Den Leader of the Year.
Your kindness to my children which continues to this day.
Your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and meet someone new.
Your recognition of the fine man my other friend Sam is.
The marriage that combined 2 of my best friends into 1 super friend.
Your huge generous heart.
Your willingness to forgive me when I'm thoughtless.
Your loyalty.
All these and so many more that I can never forget. You are truly special to me and loved beyond measure.

Relationship Killers

Am I the only one that thinks it is possible that all this new technology (which I confess - I love) could be killing our ability to build and maintain good inter-personal relationships?
I've felt this way for a while now but lately it seems to be ringing more true than ever.
Something that began as a good tool to be able to connect us has caused its' own short circuit - disconnecting instead of the original purpose.
If you have ever gotten an email from me I'm sure you think - good grief, the woman cannot shut up! However, I have found that if a person does not border on gushing in emails you run the risk of offending someone or hurting their feelings.
Now we have thrown text messaging into the mix and because of the limited space and time to accomplish it - we use technology's special shorthand to communicate.
The problem with both of these forms of "communicating" and I use the term lightly is that they are both absent of emotion. They are toneless messages sent between people who cannot hear a voice inflection or see another person's eyes which goes a long way in driving home our messages and intent. They are short, curt and lacking feeling which are important components in making messages misunderstood.
Imagine if you will someone looking at you with a twinkle in their eye telling you "you are such a butthead." Because of that "twinkle" and the smile on their face you know they are teasing and you respond in kind. Now take away that twinkle and smile and read " U R such a butthd." Well, okay......now you are slightly miffed if not downright pissed.
Also because of the convenience of texting, people think you are available to "correspond" with them 24 - 7. No one should have this level of constant contact with someone else. Its' not healthy. Good relationships are built by people having something to talk about face to face at the end of the day. There is a certain mystery to learning about someone over time. Texting makes us learn them too quickly in too sterile an environment and can often nip a perfectly good relationship in the bud before it has a chance to develop.
Roger and I recently observed a teenage girl in a restaurant who for 1/2 an hour before being seated had her phone pressed to her ear. All through her dinner, she ignored the girl across the table from her and continued to merely "listen" to whoever was on the other end. I felt so bad for the other girl sitting there counting the holes in ceiling tiles while her dinner companion could not or would not disconnet from a device. Instead she chose to disconnect from a living breathing person. Continued texting and cell phone usage in the presence of other people is the highest form of disrespect. And before you go all postal on me let me assure you that I have been known to use mine around other people - but I do try to be very in tune to where I am and whose feelings I might be hurting by ignoring them to be on the phone. It is just something to think about and I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts as well.

Jon and Kate need a break

Just watched the season opener for J&K+8. Admittedly, part of the reason I watched was due to all the media frenzy of late surrounding the did he cheat, does she cheat stuff. Honestly I know that the media can whip anything into a big hairball and leave people reeling, picking up the pieces and wondering what in the crap happened.
However, that being said, I have to make a few observations.
First of all, what started out as a good idea took on a life of its' own and just like a snowball rolling downhill turned into an avalanche that consumed a family.
Secondly, I have had some problems with the way Kate interacts with her husband for quite some time now. Saying that, I realize that having 8 children demands that you be super-organized and in charge. However, a truly smart woman knows how to stay in charge while making her husband think he is. Jon is belittled at every turn, criticized and countermanded in every thing he does. If you are a student of people and body language you would have noticed him over the past year shrinking into himself. He all but flinches when she speaks.
I think maybe Kate has fallen in love with her own press and notoriety. I think she likes being the center of attention. I noticed in tonight's show how many times she made a point of saying "I'm doing this all by myself." Come on now....she hasn't done anything all by herself for years. Her over the top hyperactive demeanor at the birthday party was painful to watch.
If she is truly "in this" for her children would this not have been a perfect opportunity to reach out to their father (who looked lost as lost can be.)
I have always been impressed with how happy and well rounded those children are, but look out! This will have rippling repercussions if not handled right.
I will say this....it sure made me think about the way I speak to my own husband and how I make him feel at times. Let's face it, men are pretty inept most of the time but we don't have to point it out and make them feel small. I found myself wishing Jon would just say "Kate, shut the hell up for a minute!" Who knows, she just might have done it, or she would have bitch slapped him for his trouble. Either way, something would have happened.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Kaylee and I worked in the dressing room at the recital last night. I've already posted about the challenges in this situation but last night was a new low in trying to do a good thing and getting your head on the chopping block for the trouble.
Excitement is high in those dressing rooms for performance night. And no one has a higher excitement level than the mother of a 4 - 5 or 6 year old dancing on stage for probably the first time. You would think that they were all raising a potential Hannah Montana instead of normal little girls who most of the time could not care less. What the kids know is that they are bored, hungry, thirsty, in need of a potty trip and just downright tired.
One particularly Diva Mom showed up at about 10 minutes to curtain with her child not dressed and no appropriate stage hairdo. She promptly announced that her daughter did not have her costume hat and she had no idea how to put the child's hair in a bun. Fortunately for her, Kaylee had found the hat on dress rehearsal night in spite of the fact that the woman chewed her down to the bone because the little girls "ears" fell off during the ballet routine. Of course the woman had not bothered on that night to make sure she included bobby pins with her child's wardrobe, but it was Kaylee's fault all the same. So Kaylee managed to wrestle the child's hair into a quick little loose bun which did not last the night because of no hair product to "glue" it with.
One little group of girls did not dance at all until after intermission and their level of boredom, frustration and exhaustion made them cranky and whiny.
Kaylee spent the entire evening leading groups of little girls to the "potty" and I'm sure a lot of them went just to have something to do.
One innovative mother brought a 3 gal size container of Goldfish crackers which promptly were dropped and spilled and ground into the carpet of the room we were in. Said room had to be cleaned up by us after recital - what FUN! And the little girls in that group insisted those crackers were just for their group which caused all the other kids to whine and cry. Thanks Mom - those crackers were a great help.
Then we had the legions of people who felt the need to stroll in and out of the room visiting dancers and standing around chatting with each other while 3 workers were trying desperately to get little girls in and out of costumes. And all the children who had decided that it was okay for their mothers to not be there and we truly weren't going to throw them out the window, became whiny and needy and suddenly didn't want "mommy" to leave. Come on people once an evening is enough of this - keep your ass in the audience where it belongs. Sorry for the language but I am truly hacked on this subject.
The hip hop girls did not disappoint - they flipped and ran, kicked and swirled, hopped and spun and eventually injured at least a couple of the little girls causing tears, pleas for "mommy" and required holding for a time.
But the highlight of my evening happened during intermission when it looked like feeding day at the zoo. Everyone and their dogs felt the need to stroll in and out, visiting, snapping photos and just in general getting in the way.
Please remember the 3 of us that were working were specifically tasked with making sure some strolling pervert did not manage to get their hands on a child and leave with them.
There were 3 women standing by one door talking and the door opened and a little girl made a break for the door. I saw her and ran (as quickly as I'm able) over to the door and caught her and said "Baby, you can't go out into the hallway." There were literally hundreds of people milling around in the hallway at this time. One of 3 lovely women standing there snapped at me "That is MY child." To which I replied, "Okay, but she's not supposed to leave the room unattended." "Well, she's my child and you don't have the right to tell her what to do." I said "Ma'am, first of all - I had no idea she was your child and surely you would not want me to allow YOUR child to go running out into a hallway packed with people unattended." "She's my child." was her response. Okay......this is a new one on me - I've been reprimanded for trying to keep a child safe.
This is why people don't volunteer for things anymore. Instead of "Oh thank you for watching these children so carefully." I got my butt chewed. Leaving me no choice but to state "No good deed goes unpunished."

Tippy Tappy Ballerina Biscuit

Last night, my Biscuit (Ms. Audrey) had her very first dance recital. OMG is this my grandchild or what!? She absolutely seemed to LOVE being on stage! She knew her dances and was appropriately graceful in ballet and anyone who missed her twisting off stage in the tap routine has been deprived of a memorable moment. I know she is wanting to take gymnastics next year, but I hate to see her not dance because she is obviously very good at it and likes it as well.
She looked so pretty. She reminds me so much of Kaylee at that age that it makes my heart hurt to look at her. It is like seeing my baby all over again. Audrey had a pretty good turnout to watch her strut her stuff and a big thank you goes out to those who made her feel special.
I am posting a couple of pictures from last night. Maybe one of these days I'll get brave and post the one Audrey took of her mom and me. Strangely enough it is in focus but wow it is a barn burner. In these pictures you are seeing Audrey and her parents - Matt and Kaylee. Audrey all by her beautiful self and my two super kids, Kaylee and Tommy Jack with Audrey.
Out of the mouths of babes.............Yesterday I took the little Edwards girls to school and while we were waiting to go, Genevieve and I were discussing the fact that her teddy bear smelled funny. Then she said "But I smell other funny things too." I remarked that it might be me she was smelling to which she replied "Yeah, maybe, you smell kinda like earwax." OKAY......now I'm paranoid.........I go around asking people "Do I smell funny?" EARWAX?! What the heck?

Mouse ears, tears and the potty train

Dress rehearsal night for the Saturday performance of the Grayce DeWitt Dance Recital.
And where was I you ask. Was I cooling my heels front row center watching darling cherubs flit across the stage. Not even! I was in the "green" room with approximately 50 5 and 6 year olds trying to wrestle them in and out of costumes in time to line them up to head back on stage.
Ice this cake with about 20 pre-teen "hip-hop" dancers who spent the better part of the evening running the length of the room, standing on their heads against the wall and in general working the 5 and 6 year olds into a frenzy and you have a masterpiece of potential meltdown.
One little group of sweeties had these precious costumes but after their tap routine, their hats had to come off and they had to don mouse ears (with elastic), a velvet bowtie (also with elastic) and a tail that needed to be pinned on their costume. First of all, all elastic was too long requiring us to tie it in knots, wrap it around hair buns or in the case of one innovative mother, cut it off (we knew this wasn't a good idea) but what do you do. No one had included a safety pin with their tail so that was an experience. What makes matters really interesting is some of these little girls are actually 4 and are so petrified they can't remember their own name. This makes lining them up interesting - I'm thinking of suggesting they all come tattooed next year.
We had about 3 who cried, clung to their mothers and didn't want to dance, 2 that were allergic to their costumes, a few who were late and several that just didn't bother to show up at all.
There was a water fountain in the room with paper cups and that was a big no-no. They drank water like camels who had been lost in the Sahara for months and then they ALL had to go potty. Poor Kaylee had a hard time accomplishing anything other than leading strings of little girls to the bathroom. Remember, they are all wearing costumes that have to be pulled down or taken off, tights, etc. Suddenly nude dancing doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
And then you have the mothers who jump your case because her daughter's mouse ears fell off during the dance. Are you kidding me, lady! Please feel free to volunteer to do this any old time you would like and see if you can get them out of one rig into another and make sure all their parts are on their costume, shoes tied, strings tucked in, pottied and ready to dance! And did you by any chance think ahead to include objects that would secure loose items, like safety pins, bobby pins, etc. No, you just want to take issue with the people helping because your child lost her ears. Crap, Audrey shuffled so hard at her rehearsal Wed. night that her tap shoe came off and flew into the audience. She was our miniature version of Gallagher. At least she wasn't smashing watermelons.
All in all it went pretty well so I'm hopeful that Sat night will pass without a major crisis. All helpers are supposed to wear fairy wings, crowns and have their magic wands. I'm opting for a wicked step-mother hat complete with whip and chair.
Valap, valap, valap ball change shuffle!

People With Loads of Nerve

Today I received a call from an ex-associate whom I have not heard from in months wanting me to step back into an old situation and fix something for them. I am usually all over the helping out thing (I secretly have a deep seeded desire to be a hero.) I was sooooo proud of myself when I surprised myself by saying "Nah, I'm not interested in getting involved in that again." Wow! What an empowering word NO is! I didn't even make any excuses for saying no.
After I hung up the phone I started to get angry that someone would think so little of me after such a long association that they would try to continue to take advantage of me and my usual willingness to help.
It just reinforces for me that no one will take advantage of you like a so-called friend. Notice I didn't say simply "friend" for a good friend tries hard to make sure that the balance of favors stays pretty equally distributed. It is those fair weather, fly by night, smile to your face and stab you in the back friends that will get to you every time.
It made me stop and count my "true" friends and remind myself how lucky I am to have them. So to all my good and true friends, thank you heaps and I love you!

Taking up Knitting

I guess I will re-learn to knit now that DWTS is over for the 8th season. What will I do with my Monday and Tuesday nights? I could clean.........no.....that wouldn't be good.
I'm not happy with the way the show turned out. Poor Melissa turned out in 3rd place - it seems she is destined to always be a bridesmaid and never a bride. And how in the name of all that's holy could Gilles not have won? I knew I should have voted last night, but I was just too tired to keep hitting redial.
I've just found out that my ex-boss's mother in law is in very bad health so please pray for her. She is the epitome of grandmother - she has spent her years of retirement from being a surgical nurse at St. Ed's to being available all the time for her grandchildren. When you petition heaven, please mention Wanda's name in your prayers.
Short post tonight, I am absolutely wiped out and am headed to bed.
Love, love, love you all - blogs and kisses!

Ugly People

For several months I have been following a blog called Kelly's Korner. Kelly is the mother of Harper who we all prayed for several months ago. Kelly's testimony about her faith in God is the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed. She prayed for a baby and rejoiced when she found out she was pregnant. The baby was born big and beautiful. Then she developed problems. They kept Harper in a coma state for quite a while giving her lungs time to develop. During this point, Kelly's faith in the healing powers of God never waivered. And not only did she pray for her own child, she prayed fervently for the other children in the NICU and even for the girls who still hadn't conceived a baby of their own. I honestly think Kelly's knees have calluses on them from petition heaven so often.
Harper finally thrived enough to go home from the hospital and is doing quite well. She is finally sleeping through the night. Recently Kelly posted on her blog how great it was to have Harper sleeping peacefully through the night for everyone's sake. She received some really hateful comments about how she shouldn't be complaining about anything concerning her child.
Give me a break. Not only is it good for parents to have a happy peaceful child who can rest through the night, it is also good for the child. Anyone who has 1/2 a brain can read Kelly's posts and see her heart and faith shining through like a beacon.
I guess the adage that opinion are like ___________ everyone has one is certainly true. I guess I should be more careful, if people can take offense to Kelly, I would really set their hair on fire.

Daily Dilbert

I've added a widgit for Dilbert's cartoon strip. If you like Dilbert and think you work in the same place now he is easy to find. Just scroll down and there he is above the Woot! of the day. Woot! is also a great place to find good bargains. I buy Roger's bluetooth headsets here for $8.00 each. On Toofer Tuesday you get 2 of whatever the daily Woot! is.

Hooray for Judy!

I just found out that my BFF Judy is retiring from teaching. I am so thrilled for her! I'm glad that she will have time to do all those things that always have to take a back seat to a show up job. She will have time for her new husband, time to garden, swim in her pool, fish in her pond and do hundreds of things she didn't have a lot of time for. I know she will be taking loads of trips to see her grandkids who are the lights of her life. The only losers in this situation will be the kids that Judy teaches. She is a well loved teacher who threw herself into her job with zest and imagination. She genuinely loved teaching and loved the kids she taught.
Thanks Judy for being one of few teachers who truly love what they do and want to do it above and beyond what is required.
I love you and am very proud of your accomplishments. I wish you a wonderful retirement!
Lavetta

Just Photos

I was trying out the digital camera I bought for my mom this evening. I have to be really familiar with it when I go to see her in June or I'll never teach her how to use it and it will be a waste of time and money.
I snapped off this shot of Jessie with a bunch of "Faded Roses."
Also, I've included a picture I restored of some of my way past family. The lady on the right side of the photo is my great-great grandmother Bridget McGirk Littlepage Eaves. The young girls in the picture are Bridget's children from her 2nd marriage, she had 3 girls from her previous marriage to Thomas Littlepage who died. I think the girls in this picture are really pretty. The girl holding the little boy looks like Liv Tyler IMO.
Oh, and all of you who know me well, know that any stray dog within 3 miles will eventually find its' way to me. Today, it was 2 gorgeous labs, one chocolate and one black, soaking wet and wild as March hares. But true to form, they LOVED me. Loved me enough to completely ruin the clothes I was wearing and make me smell like wet dog. However, I was lucky enough to find someone answering the phone at the vet clinic their tags were tied to and their owner came and reclaimed them. If you are interested their names were Hannah and Molly, however I didn't know that at the time because their names weren't on their tags. What a shame dogs can't tell you their names and addresses! :)

Learning to Lean

Today our new daughter-in-law got a lesson in learning to lean. She called me looking for her husband because she was having a crisis and needed him and couldn't raise him on the phone. I immediately put out a 911 call to Roger and he found "son" and sent him on his way to meet his bride. Then Roger went as well.
Tonight she called and kept apologizing for the issue. She doesn't understand how our family works. We may fight like puppies and kittens among ourselves but we tend to circle our wagons and shoot real bullets if we feel one of our own is in trouble.
I never want anyone who has joined this family to feel unwanted, unloved or neglected. We may not have much but we can embrace with open arms and accept new additions with joy and love.
Speaking from experience I know how hard it is when you are used to doing everything yourself to let go and ask someone for something. That first experience of seeking out can be the one that sets the tone for your future relationship. I could no more refuse to be involved than I would have been if it had been my own flesh and blood. I want my family to think of me as the "go-to girl." I may not always be able to get gone but I'll sure give it my best shot.
After I thought about this today it occurred to me that as we are learning to lean on each other we are teaching ourselves and others about our faith in God. God did not put us here to operate independently of others. He intended us to lean first on Him and then to seek out each other for help, comfort and the creature needs of the world. It is in propping each other up that makes us stronger against the prevailing winds that buffet us about each and every day.
My prayer today is that God will always make me aware that I must lean on Him for my strength and then I must share that with others and allow them to lean against me when they are too tired to stand on their own.

DWTS Update

Well, Ty took his final ride tonight. He certainly hung on for more than the usual 8 seconds. I don't think I am alone in my amazement that he lasted as long as he did. Not because he didn't have talent because he certainly did. The whole bullrider thing just is about as far across the axis from ballroom dancing as it can be. What continued to astound me about him was his gracefulness in certain dances. It was only when he was required to "shake his hips" or his shoulders that he seemed to have a disconnect. Adorably cute because of his down to earth personality, I really enjoyed him on this show. However, it was time. I really would have liked to see a final with Melissa, Gilles and Lil Kim but my wishes were not granted. I will stay with my pick. The hunka hunka hot frenchman Gilles has my vote to take it all. Only time will prove me right or wrong. But I have done pretty well in my analysis this season. To my BFF Judy - I'm sorry your little cowpoke has hit the trail - hopefully you will throw your support to either Gilles or Melissa (death to the Batchleturd).

Eenie Meenie Chili Beanie......

Okay.......here goes.........my DWTS prediction. Flip a coin, Shawn or Ty, either one could be next to fly.
I really think this will come down to Melissa VS Gilles (or it should anyway.) And I have to say that Gilles and Cheryl heated up the dance floor like never before. Melissa is pretty and graceful but it is almost like it comes too easy for her. She just doesn't throw her whole heart into it. I'm picking Gilles to take it all. This is most distressing to me...there are 2 more episodes of The Tudors left and DWTS is almost over as well. It's going to be a long hot summer folks. Do you have any idea how long I wait for those 2 shows? Heaven's I will be drafted into the daily, nightly never ending Cardinal watching soon. Which is semi-okay. I love baseball, and I really love those redbirds but I just can't watch baseball religiously day in and day out like Roger can.
This past week, I have attended 2 band concerts for my oldest grandchildren and may I say they played beautifully. Very proud of those two. Genevieve and Audrey are playing softball (is it every night or does it just seem like it?) Audrey has dance recital this month and I'm looking forward to her debut as a ballerina/tap dancer.
Busy times the end of the school year, but this year for the 1st time in almost 20 years, I had no prom to work and no graduation to work either. Wow! reality check time.

Repost of The Beshears Karma

Now that it is too late for Jennie to back out on becoming one of us - I thought I would repost this lesson in Beshearshood. Read it and weep, Jennie, it's too late you have officially been afflicted.

The Beshears Karma
Anyone in our family can tell you that as a group we have the most unusual Karma. Take us to a restaurant no matter how classy and if there is one obnoxious A**hole in the place we will be seated next to them. Actually this rule applies to all public events and functions as well.
Projects are afflicted with the need to make at least a dozen trips to various stores to obtain tools, parts, etc. that we already have but can no longer locate. Which means our projects never truly end and the cycle of beginning, restocking, running out of time just repeats over and over again in a dizzying circle.
Trips are the best though. Any trip involving any member of the Beshears family can prove to be something that could be filmed for a revival of the Three Stooges. We might forget to obtain sufficient cash for our trip, leave our debit card at home and then experience a car part failure of epic proportions. We are capable of getting lost in places we have been before. We have engaged the house alarm only to go back in to retrieve something quickly and drive off leaving our home alarm alerting, police, firemen, etc. while we are blissfully oblivious of the chaos that ensues at home.
We have been known to set off our household smoke alarm while merely taking a shower. The fire department finally quit coming so if we ever have a legitimate fire, we are losing everything we own due to "crying wolf" waaaay too many times.
We have welded items of jewelry to our bodies while changing a car battery.
We have hammered our fingers & banged our heads (sometimes twice on the same object within 5 minutes.)
We (meaning I) have bagged a seemingly dead possum in a force flex trash bag only to have the possum escape taking trash bag with it. This one still really bothers me.
We (meaning I) have trapped my car inside the garage with a broken garage door which meant I couldn't get my car out.
We (meaning I) have gotten my big fat butt stuck atop a 6 foot privacy fence trying to retrieve a dumb dog that can't stay in her own yard (shame there's no pictures.) However, I did have severely bruised inner thighs to show for that one.
We are dangerous to ourselves and other living creatures and yet we survive. However, approach us with caution. Because if we don't kill you with our Karma, you might just die laughing.

To My Children on Mother's Day

My Son, although life has not been easy and we have to constantly wrestle out our relationship over and over again, there has never been a moment when I didn't love you completely. You were the answer to my prayers and the most fun I had ever had when you were little. You were the living breathing reason I could tolerate my life. You've always been smart and funny and capable of enormous good kindhearted moments. I regret that I was "learning" with you and made so many mistakes that might have made things play out much differently for you if I had only known how to be a better mother. Truly we should be given a "practice" child before being trusted on a "really for truly" boy. But I want you to know that even though I am angry with you at times - I love you always. I am proud of how far you have come and the hope that you will continue to grow in wisdom remains with me. Always try to remember that even though life presents difficulties, it is still a great life. Nothing is worth having that comes easily and the work toward being better everyday is what makes us important in the grand scheme of things. I hope that you will continue to grow in loving your God, loving your family and that you will ultimately learn to love yourself for you are truly worth loving. Love, Mom

Darling Daughter - sometimes I feel that even though I "practiced" on your brother, I still needed more time to perfect the parenting thing. You were the child I never thought I would have but was blessed with all the same. I think it might surprise you to know that sometimes I ache for you to come and sit in my lap, wrap your arms around my neck and snuggle into me. I miss this even though you are a woman grown with children of your own. You were always such a loving little girl and I knew when you were small that I was your hero. You always made me want to be better. I am in awe of your abilities as a mother. I pray that you will make the most of the time you have with the "littles" while they are small for one day you will miss them so much it will hurt. You possess an amazing spirit and a great capacity for love. You truly have the kindest heart and the unflinching dedication to doing the right thing. You amaze me, you inspire me, you give me reason to think I might have done something right as a mother after all. Everyone who comes in contact with you may not always see what lies hidden in your heart. Most of the time it is because they do not care to look. However, I know where you have been, where you are and where you are headed. And I know that the world is blessed because you are part of it. I wish you a happy life, full of the love of the ones you wish it from. And always remember that I am proud to be your mother and that I love you to the very center of my heart. Love, Mom

Over a Thousand

When I first started my blog I was never sure if anyone visited or not. Then I got smart and put a counter on it. Today I noticed that I have had over 1000 visits to my blog! Of course I realize that probably 888 of those are me going back and forth with myself but I was still happy to see that number.
It has been a strange day. I didn't feel 100% all day which usually makes me cranky. Then I somehow managed to have a 2 hour long inane conversation about something that didn't matter in the slightest. I was pulled off task more than several times today which frustrates me because I usually have a goal for the day (things I want to get accomplished) and then in spite of being worn out, I went to Southside's Band Concert which was also senior night. Kody was playing and I love to hear his band perform so that was good. However, on to my daily rant.
Southside had over 50 seniors who have almost all managed to accumulate tremendous honors, awards and scholarships. These are wonderful things and those kids deserve all the praise in the world. However, after sitting through almost 2 hours of music (enjoyable) but boy is it hard to sit that long, they brought each senior up on stage. Then they proceeded to read where they were going to college, what their major would be and how many dollars in scholarships each was getting. Okay, let's do the math 52 seniors + 1 minute of talking points each = almost 1 full hour. Then it was back to the music. The various band directors could have shaved at least 1/2 hour off this evening by not having to ALL stand up and make little funny comments and repeat the things they say at EVERY single band event. If I were asked (and assuredly I won't be) I would recommend that they bring the seniors on stage and announce their names, applause, applause, applause, sit down. All the information they read could be in print form and inserted into the program that is handed out at the event. Again, I am blown away with the quality of kids they have in their band program and I applaud their accomplishments, but really, most people couldn't give a rat's patoot about anyone other than the person they came to see perform. And on the offhand chance they do, having that information printed would give them the chance to have that knowledge but they could also share it with other interested people since it would be in print. I just think 3 hours is a bit much to ask people to endure on a work day/school night.
The various bands sounded great though and the music was really enjoyable. I wish I hadn't had the worst case of "creepy leg" I'm sure people sitting around me were convinced I had Tourettes.

There's Always Room For More!

Roger and I have just this evening gained a new daughter-in-law and 2 more grandchildren. Of course, we were already counting these in our family but we are happy to be able to make it official now. Larin married the beautiful Jennie and brought her and the exuberant Lauren and the sweet and talented Nicholas into our bowl of mixed nuts that is family.
The human heart is an amazing instrument. It can break and heal. It can love over and over again without getting worn out. And it can stretch to reach around great groups of people and then open up and encompass even more.
Our pride in Larin and the strides he has made in becoming the man he is is boundless. He has stepped outside himself into a world that is full of huge challenges and endless rewards. The role of an alternate parent is not an easy one. The tightrope you walk can bring great performances and can also be the source of pain beyond belief.
My prayer for Larin, Jennie, Nicholas and Lauren is that they will be able to knit themselves into a tightly woven fabric of family. And that each of them will be able to draw from the family pool exactly what they need to be happy and productive.
Every mother wants for her daughter a good strong, kind, compassionate man who can make that daughter's life everything it needs to be. Likewise, a mother wants for her son a sweet, caring and gentle soul to continue the nurturing her son has gotten too old to enjoy from his mom. I am pleased with Larin's choice, I couldn't have chosen better for him if I'd tried. And I am equally pleased that Jennie saw in Larin all of his great talents and traits and wanted to make him part of her life and entrusted him with her most precious gifts, her children.

Criminal Injustice

Okay, once again I am wrong. DWTS turned in a travesty tonight in eliminating Lil Kim. I mean come on people.........liking someone is one thing, but this is supposed to be about who is the best dancer. I personally don't like Lil Kim but there is no denying that she dances circles around Ty. Love him, cute as can be and those dimples are to die for but in no universe is he half the dancer she is.
Now I am completely bumfuzzled since there should be 4 really good dancers in the semi finals next week so viewing audiences can have an opportunity to see what those pros can do with their stars. Not to mention that Roger is bereft knowing that he will no longer get to view all that junk in the trunk!
I'm going to bed to contemplate just how out of whack the cosmos is.

DWTS Prediction

I know some of you will hate me for this (Judy). But, I think Ty's days on DWTS are nearing a close. As badly as I hate to see him go (he is just too cute for words) he got his chaps danced off tonight. Although he has a pretty big fan base, he just can't hang with the others. Goodness, I've never seen a better competition. It will go down to the wire and from here on out everyone who gets eliminated will be a real shame. Roger (who secretly watches while grousing about me watching) likes Lil Kim ALOT. I suspect he is really hoping for a wardrobe malfunction. He thinks Cheryl Burke is the best dancer but he hates Gilles (probably because I've told him I would leave him for Gilles :)
I am really pulling for Melissa - I want something good to happen for her after the whole icky little Batchleturd issue.
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. However, I was wrong last week for the first time so I've broken my no hitter so anything could happen.
Tune in tomorrow to see what I have to say about the elimination!
Much as I like the rain, I'm ready to see ole SOL for a while. I'm afraid my newly planted flowers are going to drown!!

Rainy Days

In spite of the fact that I truly love to be outside......I really love the rain. It has a very peaceful and calming effect on me. Everything slows down and moves at a snails pace in the rain. We have had several (seriously, several) days of gentle straight down soaking rain. You know the kind that really does some good. Of course we have also had the booming claps of thunder and flashing cracks of lightening too, but for the most part just good old rain. I can remember being a little girl and laying upstairs in my grandmother's farmhouse and listening to the rain drum on the roof. That sound coupled with the quiet clatter of an old metal oscillating fan was the prettiest lullabye I ever heard. The next morning, the haze would be settled into the low areas of the farmland and from down along the creek you could hear the call of the "mourning" doves. I can't think about it without tears coming to my eyes. It was the most peaceful, innocent and happy time of my youth. I guess I am really nostalgic because we have just put April to bed and April is the month I lost my grandmother. My grandma was a farmer's wife and she never had time to devote to just being a grandma, but my memories of her are as vivid as can be. Even though she was busy, she taught me to crochet, sew, do laundry and iron. She taught these things to me because she included me in her daily tasks. And then some days, she would set down whatever she was working on - grab her old beat up straw hat and say "Let's go fishing." We'd scoot out to the garden and dig down by the water tank fed by the windmill and turn up a bunch of big fat worms. We'd throw the cane poles in the old Ford truck with a jug of water and go bouncing along the bumpy roads to the "crick." To this day, I can't ever remember catching much of anything or even talking much. I think this was her "run away" her way to bring some peace when she was stressed and over taxed. My grandmother was my hero. Not because of anything she ever bought me, or for the hours she spent playing with me. She was my hero because she was always my biggest supporter. In her eyes, I could do no wrong. If I had made a mistake or gotten myself into a pickle, she was absolutely positive that I had a perfectly good reason for it.
Everyone needs someone in their life that gives them that level of approval (even if it is sometimes unmerited).
I hope someday my grandchildren will look back on this hopelessly flawed person that is their grandmother and be able to say that I supported them and loved them no matter what.
I may not have a lot of money to spend. And I may not always be available to go and do as I might like. I might not always be available to babysit or hundreds of other challenges I'm faced with. But I can love unconditionally and support their decision even if I don't completely understand or approve.
If you read this and your grandmother is still living, please let her know how much you love her. You never know when she will be taken from you and all you will have left is your memories.

Tag I'm It!

Got tagged by the mom of the Dowler Boys so I'll see if I have anything interesting to report.

8 things I look forward to:
1. Spending "alone" time with my husband
2. Spending even one hour with my daughter.
3. Seeing my grandkids.
4. Going out to eat with my BFF Judy.
5. See my dogs and realizing that they are ALWAYS happy to see me.
6. My one little bowl of ice cream, chocolate syrup and nuts a day.
7. Someone leaving a comment on my blog.
8. One day feeling like I am truly the best person I can be.

8 things I did yesterday (and today bc I remember what all I did yesterday!):
1. Marked and tagged my new jewelry arrival.
2. Wrote a bunch of checks.
3. Got my feelings hurt.
4. Talked to my mom.
5. Walked my dog.
6. Laundry.
7. Spent too much time on the computer.
8. Worked on my genealogy stuff.

8 shows I watch. Goodness - just 8?!
1. Dancing With The Stars
2. The Tudors
3. Law & Order SVU
4. Y & R
5. Clean House
6. Trading Spouses
7. Deal or no Deal
8. The Real Housewives of _________________________(you name it I watch them)

I don't know who to tag because alot of the people who read my blog are very good at remaining unknown. Therefore I guess everyone is free from tagging on my end.
Getting ready to go to the movies now to see Obsessed.