snapdragons, snappeas, or is it go fish??

I started an online album at Snapfish.com yesterday. I even shared pictures with some of my friends! Now how savvy is that? The only problem is that I can't remember the name of the site. Whoever had the ingenious idea of bookmarking your sites on computer should get an award of some type. As long as I'm at our computer I'm set. If I come to your house and you want to look at my pictures you'll have to wait until I get home to my favorites list. I was actually pretty impressed with myself and only had to ask Bethany's help once. I was adding all my pictures to the same album and I wanted different ones. She figured it out in about 10 seconds or less; I hope I remember how she did it next time I want to add pictures.

Of course I have to steal my kids' pics. I don't have any of my own. I don't even have a digital camera so unless someone here can figure out how to hook my old "regular" camera up to download the pictures I'll keep swiping them. I do try to be nice about it and ask most times if I can use them. I have gotten in trouble for posting pictures I didn't ask about. I guess since they are readily accessible to me I took advantage of it. So if you ever see a picture one day and it's gone the next you'll know I got in trouble and had to delete it.

This time last week we were on our way to San Antonio. It's funny how I think back like that. For example: "I'd rather be on the road to San Antonio than here in the grocery store." Then I think about Andrew and Amanda and that they've been married almost a week now. I know I've mentioned the wedding, but it was absolutely perfect. I think about them in Scotland on their honeymoon and it still seems like a fairytale wedding to me.

I've got to get busy. I've got laundry and dinner to start. I'll probably have to pick up Ben and maybe Daniel. I did get our bathroom cleaned and our bed made. The rest of the day has been spent running errands and reminding myself that I need to get busy. I guess it's kinda like remembering GoFishdotcom or whatever that name is. Maybe I need a mental image of snapping a goldfish cracker in two pieces. Maybe that will help me remember. If you've got a better idea please leave me a comment. Thanks!

mental images

I have been working on Ben's graduation announcements. I'm also feeling very melancholy at the moment. Not melancholy as being depressed, but rather as "given to or marked by long, quiet thinking."

When thinking of our children growing up I have a mental image of each of them. In fact, they are much like the photos I'm sharing here.


Rebekah was always very much the "big sister" to each of her siblings. She also fits the description of the "first born" category in the birth order definitions that I've read. She had a very vivid imagination which I credit to no television and reading countless books to her.

Bethany was practically born smiling. It's as though the world was made just for her enjoyment. I love that about her. She is still very sociable and loving. She wouldn't even let Donald rock her to sleep. She would tolerate it for a few moments, then reach out for her bed. She loved following Rebekah around and the attention that her sister lavished upon her. Later she showed the same kind of attention to her younger siblings.
Benjamin was the first son born into a family of girls. He had to kind of break me into the world of boys, including the noises toy trucks and cars made and the fact that anything could become a gun. I wouldn't let our sons play with toy guns for the longest. Finally I relented and they had their holsters and toy guns, and rode a hole into the arm of my new couch pretending it was their horse. He absolutely melted my heart rather quickly.

Daniel was born prematurely and we made many a trek to the hospital taking him breast milk and visiting. I can still remember his sisters and brother lined up on the other side of the glass in the nursery to get a glimpse of him! I had many a long night of feedings every three hours. It took him an hour to eat so those were nights of little sleep. The doctor's didn't give us a lot of hope at first that he would live. God had other plans for him though! God saved Daniel out of the lions' den so to speak and he is healthy and quite a young man.

Hannah is our "youngest." She has never liked being called the baby of the family. She was our mischievous one, always into something. I remember distinctly the day she shaved her upper lip with a disposable razor. She was fine, but I just sat in the floor and cried. She didn't know what to make of that and was concerned for a few seconds until she lost interest in me and found something better to do.

Raising children has certainly been the most challenging thing I have ever done. I wouldn't take any amount of money for the years I've had being at home and teaching them. It was/is my calling in life. I have tried to fulfill it to the best of my abilities. Have I made a lot of mistakes? You better believe it. Has it been hard?? You betcha. Was it worth it? Most definitely!!

Psalm 127:3-5

Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep. (The Message)

courtship then a wedding

We had the most wonderful get away. We went to Castle Avalon for Andrew and Amanda's fairytale wedding. Once you entered the gates you drove down a long road and ended up seeing this sight.....

It was complete with dragons and knights and even a royal throne. What made it so spectacular though was the bride and groom and their wedding attendants. The guys were dressed in white tuxes with pale green vests. The young women wore pale green dresses. The bride and groom were dressed totally in white and shared their first kiss after becoming husband and wife. It was like taking part in a fairy tale, except it really happened and we were witnesses.

I always watch the groom instead of watching for the bride. I like to see his face when he sees his bride. Andrew did not disappoint me! His face lit up with a wonderful smile I won't forget. The ceremony was simple, but focused on the covenant they were making. You may question whether courtship works; let me tell you it does. Amanda and Andrew are a perfect example!

clouds

Here's some pictures of the clouds yesterday. They were awesome! Hannah and I went shopping right before the storm blew over and people were out taking pictures of them in the shopping center. I have NEVER seen clouds like these before. They are incredible! God is incredible!!

Once again, thanks goes to Hannah for the photos. The two on the bottom are actually the ones she took first. I put them in the wrong order, but don't have time to redo it.

(And yes, Erica, Daniel looks very much like Donald to me! In fact they have the same weird sense of humor! LOL)

no cruises please

Is it really possible I have been married for thirty-two years? On one hand it seems like I have spent my whole life loving Donald. Then again there were almost twenty years of my life when I didn't even know him. We lived about five miles from each other, went to schools in different towns, and never met. I was immediately smitten from the first time I spoke to him. He was so cute and so nice and I really really wanted to know him.

I sometimes still can't believe he chose me. I am so very thrilled because he did. I am blessed beyond measure; he is the most wonderful man a woman could want. We have had our ups and downs of course, like any relationship. We have a good life with wonderful children. We have a nice home, food to eat, cars to drive, and many extras. We have a God who loves us and blesses us with peace, joy, and hope.

Donald has always helped with the kids and even the housework when they were small. He changed their diapers, gave them baths, soothed their tears, played with them, and prayed for them. He works faithfully to provide for us and spends time with us. I'm not sure they are fully aware of how blessed they are. He's a good man, a faithful man, and most of all a Godly man.

Happy Anniversary, Donald. And please don't ever plan to take me on a cruise for an anniversary gift. You probably already know that, but just in case, I want you to know that's totally not something I want to do.

I love you!

thanks for a wonderful evening

Have you ever invited yourself over to some one's house? It's a huge blessing to be that close to someone that you feel comfortable doing that very thing. Partly because you love being with them, but mostly because you know they will honestly tell you if it's not going to work for you to be there.

Donald needed to spray our house and yard for bugs. The stuff is wet and it takes time for it to dry and he always insists that we remove our bodies from the house while he does it. The problem is the house is still wet by the time he reaches the yard. The other way around produces the same results.

It doesn't exactly work to take B-dog to Wal-Mart or shopping while it dries. We used to ride around, but with gas being so expensive we couldn't afford to do that for several hours. We are going out of town Friday and can use all the gas in our tank!

So we just called Connie and Eddie and asked if we could bring Bright over and use their back yard. Now being in their back yard is pure joy anyway. It is so lovely. B-dog thought so also. He ran around for hours sniffing and doing his thing. He was totally exhausted when we got home!

(If anyone doesn't know, Bright is a Golden Retriever. So it's not exactly like asking to bring your chihuahua or poodle over. Donald says it's like living with a Shetland pony. He's an inside dog and doesn't spend much time outdoors unless we are out there with him; he's very much a "people person,"..... er dog. Donald also says one day he's going to realize he's a dog. I have my doubts about that though.)

Thanks Connie and Eddie. We had such a wonderful time. You're the best-est of the best and we love you dearly, even B-dog! I think he enjoyed it even more that we did, if that's possible.

flabbergasted

Yesterday Donald was in the living room with the kids. They were laughing and cutting up. Hannah came into the kitchen, looked at me rather seriously and asked, "Why DID you marry him?" At a total loss for words I just started laughing. Even Donald laughed; hopefully I didn't offend him by not having a ready answer! I hardly ever am at a loss for words~! It was absolutely the funniest thing I have heard in a long time. Gotta love that girl!

(Thanks to Shiela for the picture of us.)

around and around i go

I am still around; in fact I am meeting myself coming and going. This has been a really busy week. So much for my plans to get caught up with grading papers, watching algebra tapes, cleaning the bathroom, etc. etc.

Ben is leaving for San Antonio this morning. By himself. It's hard to let him grow up. Now he's driven there before, only someone was with him. He is going down early because Andrew and Amanda are getting married a week from tomorrow. He's in their wedding so there are reasons he wants/needs to be there. In fact, our whole family will be leaving next Friday to attend. It's been several years since we've all been out of town at the same time. B-dog will be so sad. He's staying at Room and Groom. I miss him just thinking about it.

Bethany is leaving Sunday with the Franklands. They will meet us in San Antonio next week for the wedding.

I have another really busy day planned today. Maybe I'll have time to think of something to blog about later.

Just in case you're interested..... my tomatoes are growing! I am so excited I even bought another house plant last night at Home Depot. I am expecting great things from it (meaning that it will live, not that it will bear tomatoes!)

Catch you later.

the way I should go

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

I love that verse. It gives me such rest. It truly is true. It happened to me just yesterday. I had my day all planned. I knew what I was going to do and set out to do it. I made a phone call and heard myself asking someone a question I had even thought about asking. Fast forward a bit and God does it again. It wasn't in my plans, but it ended up being the most wonderful afternoon I have had in quite a while.

The most enjoyable part of it was being able to help someone I love and being with those I love. That was just an added benefit that God threw in there for me. He loves me and loves to direct my steps. In fact, sometimes I find Him putting words in my mouth!

Last week I had a really hard day. I was miserable for most of it. There were snatches of victory in in, but overall it was not an enjoyable day. I realized later that I used to live most of my days in that manner. I became fully aware of how much God has done for me and how much I want to be with Him. Now He never leaves me, but sometimes I take a detour away from Him.

Of course, He was patiently waiting for me.

Jude 1: 20-21 (The Message)

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

mulching around

This has been such a wonderful day. I have been outdoors for almost all of it! The weather has been perfect today and I got some yard work done. Hannah and I did a project outdoors this afternoon and it was great to spend time with her. We came home and I hopped in the shower while Ben started dinner for me. It is such a blessing for him to be such a good cook!

Now I am in pajamas eating dinner and blogging. Multi-tasking I suppose. Hopefully there will be a basketball game on tonight. I am so going to miss basketball once the season is over. I really don't like baseball; it's too slow for me. The only time I like it is when they show the reruns. Now we are going to a game in Houston this summer on our family reunion, but that will be different. If I get bored in the game then I can people watch. My sister-in-law got a great deal on the tickets also! It will be great getting to spend time with Donald's brothers and sisters and their families. All our kiddos are going also.

Just so you don't get too impressed..........the picture above is NOT my yard. It looks like something my friends Susan or Barb would do though. That ought to count for something.

don't try this at home

Last night I watched the Spurs beat the Hornets. Donald watched till half time then went to sleep. I turned off the sound and watched the second half in silence. I enjoyed being in my comfy bed with Donald near. If I want to yell I just raise my arm instead. It's much easier to be silent if my Mavs aren't playing, but I'm sure glad the other guys from Texas had a good game. Michael Finley made a lot of threes; he's one of my favorites who used to play with my team. He was traded due to his contract costing the Mavs a lot of money they didn't want to spend on him (I don't understand all the financial stuff, I don't like that part of it either. Like losing Steve Nash for $65 mil or whatever it was. I just loved my "little Stevie" and now he's playing for Phoenix. So I became a Phoenix fan, but I don't like their coach and I'd much rather have Marion than Shaq.)

Late in the fourth during a commercial I got up to brush my teeth and decided I would just use the dim night light and not turn on the bright lights. The lights shine in your face if you're in bed. I am really considerate that way. Now I had gone to the dentist the day before and they had given me a small tube of new toothpaste to try for my sensitive teeth. Still in the dark, I opened the drawer and squeezed it from the tube onto my toothbrush. I began brushing my teeth with antibiotic ointment instead! Yuck! Horrible!! Quick, spit it out and rinse, rinse, rinse my toothbrush with HOT HOT water and start over. This time I grabbed the big tube of Aqua Fresh and tried to scrub the horrid taste out of my mouth.

Now who would keep antibiotic ointment in the toothpaste drawer??? Not I, but my dear husband, sleeping soundly in bed, unaware that his considerate wife nearly poisoned herself trying not to wake him. Some things just aren't right and that is one of them! Maybe he'll read this and move it to another drawer.

this is growing in my backyard

The words "Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day" keep going through my head. Yesterday is gone and it's a new day with new possibilities. What an awesome God to come up with the concept of new beginnings.

Yesterday was a hard day. I don't even want to go there.

I didn't get up till almost 9:00 this morning. I was awake, but I was so relaxed and Donald's little fan was blowing in my face and I didn't have anything pressing. After yesterday I needed the respite. Even the sticky floor and counter and sink full of dirty dishes didn't dampen my joy. Now the distance formula is buzzing through my brain and I'm still happy. (We are working on algebra just so you know I've not lost it!)

Matthew West - Only Grace

There is no guilt here

There is no shame

No pointing fingers

There is no blame

What happened yesterday has disappeared

The dirt has washed away

And now it's clear

There's only grace

There's only love

There's only mercy

And believe me it's enough

Your sins are gone

Without a trace

There's nothing left now

There's only grace

You're starting over now

Under the sun

You're stepping forward now

A new life has begun

Your new life has begun

And if you should fall again

Get back up, get back up

Reach out and take my hand

Get back up, get back up

Get back up again Get back up again

So get back up, get back up again

hemmed in

This has already been one of those trying days. I was struggling to keep my joy because of a recurring situation. I know God is in control, but I sure wish He would take care of this one a bit sooner. I have no other choice but to trust Him. Pastor Paul keeps talking to us about trust. Pastor Ron was here Sunday and gave a wonderful word to us. It was so perfect for us. I guess I should of seen the testing coming, but once again I didn't.

It is a wonderfully cool day outside, one of those kind that come right after a big spring rain. I have the windows open, but the cool seems to stay out there. I got my Bible and went outside and started reading Psalms 139. Verse 5 just really jumped out at me.....

You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (NIV)

Oh, what comfort. What an incredible God! We don't have to walk through the trying circumstances of our lives alone. I especially like the idea of being hemmed in by God. If you sew at all you will get this. Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives this definition of hemmed;

1. The border of a garment, doubled and sewed to strengthen it and prevent the raveling of the threads.

I needed to be prevented from coming unraveled today. God did that for me. Notice how it says "doubled and sewed to strengthen it." I truly believe our trials and testings will do that if we allow God to control our lives. Now I know ultimately He does just that (control our lives). But think of it this way. You can walk your dog where he trots right along beside you. Or he can become obstinate and sit down and you have to pull on the leash. He may even try to run away if he sees another dog or something else that interests him.

I know I do God that way also. Or at least I try to. I want things my way, to my liking, in my time frame. He doesn't do it though. So I can either trust Him and walk with Him, or I can pull on the leash so to speak and strangle myself. Thank God I wasn't strangled today!

Sing it again

Bethany wanted Strawberry Pie for her birthday.

Bright still hoping for a bite. Isn't he sitting pretty?

Daniel was excited about his cap, even if he did pick it out himself!

Ben representing the Union and Daniel the Confederacy.

Birthday kiddos! Bethany and Daniel

Now I only have to wait until August. Ben's birthday is the 11th, Rebekah's the 12th, and Donald's is the 15th. What a busy week that will be~!

town crier, sort of

My children know me too well. I have ventured out with yet another past time. I have planted tomatoes in pots and squash in my flower bed in the back yard. I went out to check on them

this morning and I HAVE TOMATOES GROWING!!!!!!!!

I immediately ran inside and yelled to whoever was around, "I HAVE TOMATOES GROWING!"

Thankfully it was lunch time and everyone was home! Donald even pampered me and got up to see. He agreed they were a sight to behold and congratulated me on my success. Hannah came out with her camera. I had just told Donald that Hannah would have to take a picture of them for my blog. She knows me well. Each of the kids have gotten to view them; while showing Rebekah she actually bowed and said, "Hail the Garden Goddess."

Now the thing that is so exciting is that I usually kill stuff. When we were studying adjectives Daniel gave me an example of "dead plant." When I bring in a new plant the kids laugh and say something along the lines of "another one for her to kill." Rebekah had a plant die and I told her she had my green thumb, but she decided it was more like a brown thumb. I am not noted for growing things although I do have a lot of other great qualities.

I had already decided I want a vegetable garden in the back yard. We have mostly weeds anyway so I won't have to worry about killing the grass. These green tomatoes have definitely whetted my appetite for a garden. I can almost taste my success.

HGTV

I have a new past time. If there's not a basketball game on I love to watch the HGTV channel. It is amazing the things I have learned. Like I'm totally convinced if I had some power tools I could do great wonders. I have learned that I want to power wash my sidewalk and stain it. I have learned while painting if you make a W or a V it makes the paint go farther. I have learned that the kitchen and bathroom are VERY important if you want to sell your home; clutter is a huge NO NO, even things you use every day like diapers and schoolbooks and toys for your children.

I'm glad we aren't trying to sell our home. It's exhausting thinking of all that would need to be done.

Now I don't enjoy clutter. I don't really think the school books on the dining table make a great centerpiece. It's just that we use them every day and I am always in the middle of something. I just push them aside or put the newspaper on top of them while I eat. If we all sit down together we do clear the table. I don't particularly care for the ironing board that has been up for three days now; it's just that I still haven't finished my ironing. By the time I almost get to the bottom of the basket I do laundry again and it starts filling back up.

I used to clean the whole house - EVERYTHING - the same day. I haven't done that in years. It's like it's a "s-l-o-w" work in progress. If someone tells me there's a cobweb I just tell them to take care of it or turn off the light so they can't see it. Out of sight, out of mind.

I'm totally glad I've chilled out about things. Maybe it's because I'm older/wiser or just don't have the energy I used to have. Life is great; even with the cobwebs!


"I don't get tired of housework. I don't do any."
Maxine

Happy Birthday Bethany