My Son's Room!

I ventured into my son's room today to see how I could straighten it out a just a little bit~put away the socks-check! Put away the undershirts-check! And then I saw the dust, the papers strewn about, the empty water bottles under the bed, and the final straw were the board games that had tumbled out of the closet!!! No!!!!! Grabbed the dust rags, the vacuum cleaner and began working.

Our youngest son is 19 years old. He has been away from home for about two weeks attending a video game convention and visiting with his girlfriend's family in the Los Angeles area. Before he left I said, "Son, clean your room before you leave." He replied, "It's clean, mom. Besides, I'll close the door for the "party" on the 26th - no one needs to come into my room." "Ok, son." And he was gone. :)

This morning I opened the door and shook my head... ARGHHHH!!!!!.

Let me tell you about my son. He is our youngest and I'm sure we spoil him to a degree. He is very respectful to us, rarely gets mad, and loves talking with his brother, his sister and brother-in-law. He has written for a video game website since he was a junior in high school. He is an excellent writer - amazes me. In return the website sends him to Comic Con in San Diego on a press pass and recently send him to the E-3 convention in Los Angeles. He attends college (received all A's and B's his first year). Has a part time job as a math tutor at a junior high during the school year and budgets carefully. He is a good son, like his brother and sister. He really looks up to them.

BUT he can not keep his room clean! The least of my worries. :)

Back to work!! (His girlfriend is very tidy, there is hope :)

Happy Father's Day!

We had a very nice Father's Day celebration yesterday with our children. We spend the weekend (mostly my husband) working on the yard in preparation for a memorial jam we will be hosting this next weekend. The yard looks very nice. :) We were thinking of grilling, but then I remembered the brand new rotisserie still sitting in the box in the garage. On Saturday night, I asked my husband if he could put it together for me. "Sure, I can." What a sweetheart. He brought out this big box from the garage and we carefully took it out and voila! It was already put together! HA! It had been sitting in our garage for about a year because we hadn't had time "to put it together" - so funny. I made a rub with different spices for the chickens and let them sit in the fridge over night and we "rotisseried" them for two hours - OMG! they were delicious. We ate every little bit. What a success :). Thanks son for a great present (He was happy to see that we had finally used it :). I love my family ~ I am so blessed.

Ummmm. . . rice

We went out early today in search of the perfect pan to make my rice in. My old pan is getting too old and I'm almost embarrassed to use it. My mom commented on how old it was and she's right - I need to get a new one. We stopped at Ross on our way to Denny's for breakfast. Had a nice breakfast with my sister-in-law (love her!).Then we made a few other stops, test drove a Sonota (nice car :), stopped at Marshall's - too pricey, stopped at A.J. Wright - nothing, so we came home. Ahhhhhh ...nice to be home. But now looking at the picture of the rice up above, I want to make rice! A taco of rice with a little bit of salsa -- I'd be in heaven -- yum! I need a new pan!! (I'll keep using my old one till I find one).

My first day of vacation -- loved it! Thanks honey :).

Summer Vacation Is Almost Here!!

You can tell I have time on my hands when I can blog daily :). Ha! Two more days of school and I'm so excited at all I'll be able to do during my break. I want to clean my house thoroughly, help my honey with his flowers and plants, catch up on my photo albums, visit with my mama and take her shopping, sleep!, read a good book or two, blog :), watch shows I missed on the "On Demand" channel, AND train our parrot to talk!! Right now he's staring at me wondering why I'm looking at him :). I'm trying to teach him how to say "Hungry!" or "Hello" or anything really. I think he is beginning to say "Hello." I will say hello to him and he responds with a sound that sounds like "hel-lo."

He's beginning to squawk loudly during certain times of the day, especially when he hears my voice. Talk to me, Bird!!!! Don't just squawk!!

So my hands are full this summer -- I have a lot to do.

And so I begin by saying "Hello" to our parrot ~ "Hello!" and he remains quiet ~ for now. :)

Our Beloved Parents

My Rememberer

My forgetter's getting better
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there"
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Often times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain
A zero, is my score.

There was a time when our parents were very much alert and ready for anything. We went to them for advise and friendly conversation. Time has taken much of these qualities away from them and the sadness is left behind. Confusion reigns. I am perplexed at the outcome of a life which was once so full. All I can do is reassure and comfort. I am left to wonder if someday I will be there, also. My hope is that I will not ~ I will try to keep my mind busy and ready. Although the poem up above is somewhat humorous, it gets the point across.

My mind is tired now. Sleep.

Two more days of school left with my little ones -- I sure am going to miss this group. They have been a joy to have.

On a down note, however, a child who had been placed in my room for discipline problems was send home today for slapping another child, also in my classroom, during recess when I could not monitor him. He almost made it. DARN!! I was disappointed to say the least. I feel bad for him because he is just a child. The psychologist has said he doesn't stop to think of what he is doing. Kind of hard to explain that to the other child's parents. Too sad.

BUT -- we are almost on vacation -- WOO-HOO!!! So excited to know I'll be able to sleep in at least for the first couple of days, then I'm hitting the gym and walking as much as I can. Time to lose all this excess weight :). Wish me luck!! And I'm going to read ... I have my books lined up. And I'm going to enjoy life... yes.

A Year Gone By ...

I think about a year that has come to an end and wonder where has it gone? Many a day I have driven home in tears missing the sound of my sister's voice calling me to ask if I was on my way home from work. A little chit-chat ~ enough to touch bases with each other ~ nothing major, but sufficient.

Today we gathered in her memory to look at pictures, to talk of her life, and to hug each other. We miss her dearly and we realize she is in a good place now with our Lord. Our lives are not the same anymore and never will be, but we are good, continue to heal, have our moments, but we move on with life. I finally feel a peacefulness if only for a moment, but a peacefulness just the same. She loved me, this I know and I loved her ~ dearly.

I think I will begin to look at life in a different way now ~ I will look everyday for something to make me smile and be happy ~ again.

I miss you, Sister, and always will. God bless us all.