A Proud Mom

Again, my sweet girl made me so proud this week.  Her school awards were this past Tuesday and she was given awards for the highest average in every single class.  I was always thankful with everyone of my children when they started school and there were no learning problems.  Having taught school for many years, I realized what a struggle these students as well as their parents went through.  

I finally had to have another wisdom tooth pulled this week.  Not pleasant but not that bad either.  The biggest  problem is that I really want some substantial food and am only supposed to have very soft food for a few days.  

I’m thrilled that school is out now.  It’s not only a break for Julia but for the rest of us as well.  I have made up my mind that I will not set the alarm clock.  Though I’m naturally an early riser, I’m going to try to sleep a little later for a few days.  I’m hoping to get in a few outdoor activities now that I will have a little more time.  Seems a shame to live in such  a beautiful part of the country and not take the time to take in beauty around us.

Reunion

As many of you know, my mom was very sick a few weeks ago and spent several weeks in the hospital.   I made several trips to SC to be with her in the hospital as well as stay with her for a fews days after she went home.  So, my blog has paid the price.  Sitting down to write has not been a priority for me.  But hopefully I’m back on track and will be posting a little more regularly.

I also planned and attended my 30 year high school reunion during this time.  What a blessing to be able to visit with my friends from high school.  It was funny how we all talked with each other as if no time at all had passed.  They are a great group of men and women and I’m so thrilled that I got to see them all.  

 

A Special Time Just for Him

One of the most painful experiences I have ever had in my lifetime is the loss of my precious dad.  When I try to describe the experience, the best way to say it is that I felt almost incomplete.  Like a little part of me was missing.  At the time I thought I’d never get over it.  But as time passed, I noticed that I was thinking about his loss less and less.  After a while, I even noticed that an entire day would pass and I hadn’t thought about him even once.  Of course, this was a welcome change from he constant grieving so I viewed it as a good thing.  But I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life never contemplating on the wonderful memories I had of him.  So I would set aside a time every now and then where I would just think about him.  But with this time the tears came with it.  But it was so worth it.  To stop and think about what a wonderful man he was and how much he loved us was so bittersweet.  Now, the times I choose to do this usually come on his birthday and on Father’s Day.  It’s something I need to do to keep his memory alive in me.

When I was a little girl there was one point in my life that I realized the sacrifice that was made for me on hill called Calvary.  It is not pleasant for me to sit down and just let my mind go through the events of those 3 days.  In fact, it brings tears.  It makes me want to just put it out of my mind.  But unless I sit and contemplate these events, the importance of these events become stagnant in my own life.  I don’t want this to happen any more than I want the memory of my own father to become a smaller part of me.  His sacrifice was big. It has made all the difference in me.  How can I take that for granted.  How can I not take this time of the year to walk that road with my precious Lord.  How can I just forget.  I can not.  This week I will be on that road with Him, at the foot of the cross as He hangs there dying, and at the opening of that tomb and He emerges resurrected and complete.

Seems Like Yesterday

Next month will be the 30 year anniversary of my high school graduation.  I have been frantically trying to contact all my classmates and have had the joy of reconnecting with some I haven’t seen in many years.  So much can happen in 30 years, so much of which I have not had the time to hear about yet.  So I am so looking forward to seeing them all. 

But I was thinking today after I had talked to one of the girls I went to school with on the phone about the reunion, that it seems like yesterday I was talking to this very same girl in a classroom of high school students.  Our first reunion seemed a little unnecessary because after all it wasn’t that long ago that we were in class together.  Then at 20 years it still seemed like yesterday.  At thirty years, it still seems like yesterday.  But it wasn’t.  It was 30 years ago.  And because the years will be gone before we know it, I need to take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with these folks that I spent so many of my teen days with.  That I shared a special friendship and bond with.  

And not just these Tabernacle Christian School 1979 graduates,  but the family members that mean so much to me, and the friends that help me get through my week.  All these have made an impact on my life in one way or another. Relationships of any kind take work.  And so many times I am not willing to be the one to make the effort.  But I don’t want another 10 years to pass having not kept in contact with those who are important to me.

Stupid Cat

I am just now getting over loosing my little ferret, Amber.  But I must admit, she was my favorite of the many animals in our house.  But now, our poor cat is sick and I will be making the trek to the vet to see what the problem is.  Unfortunantly he is not the best cat we have ever owned.  In fact we never really named him but just called him “stupid cat”.  (He didn’t seem to mind).  But I don’t want him to hurt and he does appear to be in pain.  I tried to prepare Julia before she left for school today and a few tears were shed then.  So, a little later today I’ll find out.

I’ll just end on a positive note.  This cat is great at catching bugs and mice.  We have not had any since we got him several years ago.  He might be a stupid cat but he is good at one thing.

 

UPDATE:  Just got back from the vet.  I’ll spare the details but had to have our kitty put to sleep.  It’s going to be hard telling Julia when I pick her up today.

One of the Most Beautiful

Here in WV we get a lot of snow, but this March 09 snow was one of the most beautiful I have seen since we have lived here.  My first thought yesterday morning was to take a few pictures to capture this beautiful sight.  These are from around our house and church.  

My Last One

I often say after raising 2 boys  that we never really turn our children over to God completely until that first time they drive out of our driveway by themselves.   I have experienced this fully with Nathan and James and will soon go through that very same thing with Julia.  Today, her dad and I took her to the DMV to take the test for the learners permit.  And she passed on the first try.  Here is a little picture journal of our day.

Waiting to pay for the Learners Permit

Waiting to get picture taken

Getting picture made 

Signing her name

The new permit

A celebration dinner

A Fun Visit

Just a few things…we had another big snow yesterday and today so Julia was out of school today.  We kind of just took the day and spent it together as a family.  We have new cell phones and I played with mine for a while today.  It’s a fun new toy.  

We had Don and Josh come up Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a little father/son time and then Larry and Lynn came up to go skiing.   We were able to have lunch with them Sunday afternoon after church.

Valentine’s Day

I had a wonderful time today with my sweetheart.  We were able to go out for a very nice dinner.  He didn’t even complain about the wait or the crowd.  There’s no one on earth I’d rather spend time with.  Even after all these years.  This is actually the anniversary of our first date.  26 years and praying for many more.  I am so blessed.

 

Updates

The month of January is over and we are well into February, but we are still trying to stay on the spending fast.  I am determined not to spend anything on groceries till I have cleaned out my freezer and pantry completely.  It’s actually been kind of fun.  I love a challenge and it has certainly been that.  I’m really  amazed at how creative I can be with meals when I have too.

We have been bombarded with snow the last few weeks and then beautiful warm weather the last few days has been a refreshing change.  I find myself craving the sunshine.  But, I know that we are not even close to Spring.  I’m sure we are in for a few more winter storms before this season is over.  

We are looking forward to a short trip to SC at the end of the month.  I so love and cherish every moment we get to spend with our family.  I miss them all terribly.