Hang on to Your Hats!

Daniel is my little firecracker!  He is all boy, which is just as it should be. He loves being outside, playing good guys/ bad guys with his brother and sisters, running around, jumping off of things that he probably shouldn’t, and doing other boy things.  He is also a little snuggle bug.  He loves to crawl into my bed early in the morning and cuddle up to me, or sit in my lap and get “hugs and snugs.”   I love capturing his sunny smile.  Here he is holding on to his fireman’s hat so it doesn’t blow away.  I love this little guy!



I know that one day, all too soon, he is going to grow up and charm some little girl who will eventually become his wife.  I’m just giving you plenty of warning—hang on to your hats! :)

Remembering Gramy

I mentioned about two weeks ago that my paternal grandmother, otherwise known as Gramy to all of her grandchildren, went home to be with the Lord.  Our meetings were close to the area where she lived, so I was able to attend the funeral.  I had the distinct privilege of playing and singing with my family during the service.  My Gramy loved music, and many of my early memories of her were of her playing the piano and singing.  I know that she is now in the heavenly choir, praising her Savior.  I am thankful for my Gramy, and all that I learned from her life.

 

Scrapping on the Road

I have mentioned my love of scrapbooking in the past, and I know some of you are also die-hard scrapbookers as well.  I will say, it has been so hard not being able to create layouts and make beautiful pages in the several months since we moved.  (I had to put most of my scrap supplies in storage because there was not enough room for them in the trailer, if you can imagine that!)

 

I decided that I had gone without scrapping long enough, and when we had an eleven-hour drive on Monday, I grabbed my basic supplies, my box of photos, and stuffed it into the cab of the truck all around me—not an easy feat.  I am pleased to announce that I was able to put together eight layouts (minus journaling and a few embellishments I didn’t have with me because of space restrictions) on our drive.  I loved coaxing the creative juices to flow once again and being pleased with most of what I did.  Here is a sample of my work.

 

 

 

I am back in the groove, and I am looking forward to my next long trip!  What do you do in the car on a long trip?

4-Generation Chick Trip

For some time, my girls have been broaching the subject of getting their ears pierced.  While I do not necessarily have a problem with this, having had my own pierced since the age of four, I wanted them to be ready for it.  So, after having exaggerated the pain involved, the care required, and all other dissuading factors, my arguments made no serious impression.  I told them I would discuss it with their dad, and the matter was dropped for the time being. 

 

In the meantime, I began to plot.  Paul said it was fine for them to have it done, so I wanted to make it really special.  I knew we were going to be spending a few days with my mom, so I called her, and we found a place in the mall that pierced ears.  My grandma got in on the action as well, and came with my mom to pick us up.  I did not tell the girls where we were going until we got into the car.  The looks on their faces say it all.

 

 

After we reached the mall, we went in and started snapping pictures of the girls in front of the store where we intended to have the piercings done.  A store manager came bustling out and told us we were not allowed to take pictures in the store.  First of all, we were in the middle of the mall walkway, not in the store.  Second, I do not intend to use my photos for corporate espionage.  Third, why in the world would anyone want to pirate their cheap, Chinese junk—especially I?  I was not very pleased upon our first encounter, and decided that if they were going to be ugly, I would take my business elsewhere.  I told the manager that I was coming to have my daughters’ ears pierced, and that I would be taking pictures, and if she didn’t like that, I would give someone else my business.  She backed down and said that I could take them at the piercing station inside the store, doubtless seeing the dollar signs disappearing along with my camera.  I was somewhat appeased, but rather distrustful at this point, but  I quietly put aside my objections and decided to be nice as long as she behaved.  :)

 

The girls by this time had grown rather quiet, and perhaps a bit apprehensive.  Abigail went first, climbing into the chair, and after getting prepped and marked, she bravely smiled through the whole process.

 

 

Esther entered the chair with a bit more trepidation, even though she had a stellar example of courage in her older sister.  She sat quietly in the chair, having her ears prepped and marked.  When the first ear was pierced, her eyes got rather large, and she said in a very small voice, “Ouch.”  The girl doing the work quickly did the other ear, and when the second hole was made, the tears began to flow down Esther’s cheeks.  However, she wiped them away just as fast as they came, and a big smile was plastered on her face.  I told her she was very brave (I remember screaming when I had mine done) and that I was proud of her.

 

 

After the painful process was over, we did a little shopping and I let them pick out some earrings for when they are able to take out the starter studs.  It was a lot of fun.  I even found a pair that I liked… I will show them to you later.

We all posed for a picture, or rather, a series of pictures as we left the store.  It was a memorable trip for all of us, made special by being able to share it with family.  Here we are—four generations on a chick trip!

 

Goodbye, Gramy

I received word this week, that my Gramy has gone to be with the Lord.  While it was rather sudden, she had been in poor health for quite some time, and I was not really surprised at the news.  I am glad that I was able to see her a few months ago when our family was in the area.  I will miss the fun-loving, piano-playing, mischievous woman that she was.  I thank the Lord for allowing me to have her in my life and share my husband and children with her. 

Here are some pictures of the last time I saw her.  (L to R) My mom, Gramy, and me in her kitchen, a place where many wonderful memories were made and shared.

I am glad that my children were able to meet and know their great-grandma for at least a short time.

While I am saddened by her loss, I also know that she is in Heaven, and that I will see her again some day.  She will be reunited with her mother, and also her son—my dad, and my son.  How precious to know that we will all be together again one day, free from pain, sickness, and suffering.  Goodbye, Gramy.  I look forward to seeing you again.  I love you!

Not Much Here…

You probably have noticed that I haven’t been posting much lately.  That’s because my life has been so BORING!  I wouldn’t want to read about it, if I were you.  It is pretty much the same hum-drum everyday, banal existence of the home-schooling housewife and mother.

 

I have had a few moments of intense excitement this past week.  I was the victim of a “purse snatching” while at Kroger the other night.  I went around 10 pm after church on Wednesday, just picking up a few things for lunch.  I have mentioned how much I love Kroger, and they have a special clearance section that seems to pull me with a force stronger than gravity whenever I go in there.  I was rooting around in the shelves, inwardly exclaiming over the good deals, when I heard the “burglar alarm” on my purse (a metal tag on the outside that clangs in a most annoying manner whenever I move the purse – the result is that I sound like a one-woman band while walking).  I instantly knew that my purse (sitting in the cart behind me) was being touched by someone other than me!  I whirled around and started to punch the man who had his hands on my purse, but stopped short when I saw the smirking face of our pastor!  What a story that would have been!  I would have been a sermon illustration for a long time, I think! :)  However, I think he will think twice about ever touching my purse again!  Not that there is really anything worth stealing in it-it is just the principle of the thing!

 

This week has been rather overcast and at times breaking into torrential downpours.  I was, once again, at Kroger.  I really don’t live there, but sometimes it seems like I do, since it is just next door to us!  I came out with my cart full of groceries in time to see a deluge break forth.  I was only parked a little ways away from the main entrance, but I knew I was going to get very wet.  I gathered my courage, and sprinted into the storm, pushing my loaded cart.  I managed to lose my shoe in a very deep puddle, and had to leave my cart and run back for it.  After it came off a second time, I just threw my sandals into the cart and ran barefoot through the parking lot.  I loaded my groceries in the truck as fast as I could, and then climbed into the driver’s seat soaked to the skin and shivering.  The temperature had dropped, and my short-sleeved tee shirt just wasn’t very warm, especially since there was not a dry spot on it.  Thankfully, I was very close to home, so I was able to get dried out pretty quickly.  My hair was a disaster, though.  It was one of those infrequent good hair days, until the outdoor shower.  Next time, I will just have to make sure that my umbrella is in tow!

Beginning of the End

Well, after several months of waiting, it would seem that we are coming to the end.  Our realtor called last week, and it looks as if our house in Indiana will close at the end of this month! Glory, Hallelujah!  I am trying not to get too excited, since things can always fall through at the last minute, but already it is a futile attempt.  I am excited!

 

Now we can begin to seriously look for a home here in Mississippi.  All the joys, trials, and perils of home ownership are about to be ours again!  We have our eyes on a house that needs some TLC, but nothing major.  We actually even went through it with a realtor.  I like it.  Paul likes it.  It has great potential for our family.  Now the next waiting game begins.  I tell myself that if this it the house the Lord has for us, no one else is going to get it.  The hard part is when you think you know which direction to go and the Lord gently turns you in another direction.  So, as we wait and pray about this situation, would pray with us?  We need wisdom and direction for this major decision.  The best part about it is that we are not in a time crunch to find a house.  We are comfortably (more or less) living in our “home on wheels” for the time being.  We can wait for the right house!  That is, if I don’t go crazy waiting… :)