Faded Photographs & Memories - My Babies

I just had to go open a large envelope with old photos that my mom left a few weeks ago. When you're in the midst of raising youngin's, seems you look forward to the day they are independent. When they're independent, seems you look back and wish they were little once again.

first: Nathan- age 3 (1999), second: Elizabeth & Ann - ages 10 & 5 (1995)
third: Elizabeth & Patrick - ages 2 & 5 (1987), fourth: Ann age 3 (1992)

But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children
Psalm 103:17

Biting My Tongue - Jeopardy Style

Answer:

What is ...

1. a courtesy flush
2. thinking like a dog
3. asking for help when reading directions on foreign made, self assembly items
4. remaining calm
5. patience, patience, patience

Question: Things I wish I had the nerve to say to hubby (OK, a few of these items I've already nagged about several times).

Seen on a country church's marque today:

Exercise regularly ... Walk with the Lord

Ode To Summer

AAAAHHH (big sigh) As the summer of '07 winds down, let me take a deep breath and drink in the last of the warm days without the hustle of the previous months' weight upon my shoulders (another big sigh ... aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) I'M A SURVIVOR! (barely)

With the kids heading back to school next week ... and the prospect of routine, routine, boring, lovely, much needed routine, I'm loving the thought. This new season (fall) that is soon to be here is my all time favorite time of the year. Preparing for winter, gathering pantry items, making a nice nest for the family, and tooling around town without worry of everyone's schedules is my driving force to sanity. There is so much to look forward to: warm fires, hot cocoa, leisurely visits with hubby and soldier boy. A good book, baking cookies, scents of pot roast and cold weather food wafting through the house.

Farewell summer
hello fall, my dear old friend!

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!"
Proverbs 6:6 (NIV)

Just for laughs - a recent google search for "something's eating my roses" landed this link to my blog:

1. Whatever Happened To
   
   Take time to smell the roses today ... stop eating deer poop" ... Something's Screwy. April (10) Sunday Dinner At Grandma's. Excuse My Absence ...
   scentedgeranium.blogspot.com - 106k -

Hot Diggitty and Happy Birthday

A warm wish is sent today to Miss Terry. Happy Birthday you sweet Canadian friend ... Oh great one that spreads sunshine 24/7 and never misses a beat when it comes to encouraging her friends with her glad heart. Take time to smell the roses today ... for soon the frost will be upon us and their scent will be only a sweet memory. Happy Birthday!

Getting Whipped Into Shape

The Home Front: With hubby home for a two week stretch, things are shaping up around here. The moving/storage boxes are dwindling; the garage is a work in progress; and the little details that were driving me insane (touch up painting, caulking, etc, etc.) are all getting done. The only sore spot to me with our new home is the basement's laundry room floor that will need to be tiled over the poorly stained concrete job. Window blinds have been ordered and I'm waiting anxiously to get them put up. This hasn't been a top priority as we live in the country and don't have neighbors in our direct window view (at least I'm hoping so ;).

The past two days brought much needed rain to our area. Our ground has been so parched that the threat of wild fire has been on my mind. Our state has a great problem this year with fires.

Thursday is a day off for hubby and me. We plan on taking a trip a few hours south to visit an aunt of mine that I haven't seen in over thirty years.

Hoping you have a blessed week,

Mrs. Mac

The Dog Daze of Summer

1. summer camp
2. pick up hubby from airport on 8/16
3. mow lawn
4. pick veggies and fruit at farm
5. buy a freezer
6. order a quarter of beef or buffalo for freezer
7. whack weeds
8. buy school clothes
9. keep up with daily chores
10. put up window shades
11. fertilize the lawn
12. train dog with new doggy fence
13. laundry, laundry, and more laundry
14. put up some jam
15. wash truck

And you wonder where I've been?

Motherhood Really Stinks

Just gag me with a spoon already! Sometimes mothers have the yuckiest jobs on earth. We change the baby's diapers, wipe up their spit-up and vomit. Wash the dirty laundry, investigate strange odors from under kids' beds and inside closets. Today I have had it up to my eyeballs with the nasties of life relating to all things children and dogs. My youngest son held his legs crossed so tight so as not to have to use the potty at camp ... only to come home crawl under his bed covers (freshly changed) and mess his britches ... he was too embarrassed to have me help him to the bathroom upon his return from said camp because we had a strange workman in the house ... he held it for so long that he complained his ears hurt. The dog on the other hand decided to retch her guts out on the garage floor (we're talking major puddle here) ... then I discovered why her dog kennel down in the basement didn't smell quite kosher ... she had done the same deed during the night ... at least it was contained and didn't end up on my new carpet ... if I've told that dog once, I've told her twice ... "stop eating deer poop"!! Her new gained freedom (wireless fenced yard) is coming at a cost to her digestive system. Now I have piles of laundry sitting in the basement laundry room, a freshly hosed out garage, and a kennel that still needs to be cleaned out. It's no wonder I've lost my appetite for dinner tonight what with dunking dirty soiled clothes in the toilet and all ... maybe later I'll pull out a box of cereal and call it quits for the day ... now excuse me while I go wash my hands.

"All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth." Isaiah 28:8
"As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Proverbs 6:11

A Quiet Spell

Rest, peaceful rest. If you need to reach me, try finding me out back on the hammock. But please, please don't make me get up to greet you at the front door ... just mosey 'round back, tip-toe if need be. If my eyes are shut, wait a spell; I'm recharging my batteries.

One thing I do a lot of is GET UP AND DOWN. There's not much time during the day to sit a spell and ponder life with a special needs child at home ... and a "needy" pooch. I did find my hammock last week ... so I'm off to search for the hooks (somewhere in the garage) .

This morning my parents headed out of town on their way to Wyoming. My oldest son left last week. Now it's time to settle back into a rhythmic pattern, one that will re-establish Nathan's need for routine. The ebb and flow of life ... it gives a person balance and brings one back to earth.

"Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest."
Exodus 34:21

Summer Vacation At Home (part 2)

More pictures of our adventures at home and and around town.











Photos:Stopping by the "Snake Pit" for lunch; my oldest children and my folks @ TGIF's; grandson fabulous Jake (age 4 months); Nathan off to camp; Patrick BBQing; Mom and Pop goofing off.

How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation (at home, part 1)

Who says you need to travel great distances, board airplanes, trains and buses to explore this great land of ours? The past few weeks my visiting family and I have gone to places in our own backyard (of course they have traveled great lengths to get here). First to arrive was my soldier boy on military leave ... and overlapping a few days of his visit my parents made their way here for a stop over on the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Needless to say, we've been a coming and a going ;)

In two weeks DH arrives and boy, do I have a list a mile long for him to work on! Our basement and storage room were carpeted; the ensuing mess from this project is nearly cleaned up. Of course when hubby is here, he's sure to rearrange stuff again.

My dad has been a tremendous help with hauling decorative rock from a large pile to the various flower beds. All the sprinkler lines are hooked up ... the dog's wireless fence is working its magic keeping Miss Holly on our acreage.

The rhythm of summer is hectic at times ... I have worn many different "hats" the past few weeks for the jobs at hand; but having the time to spend with my family has been great!

Little Nathan has been kept busy around town with his day camp activities. He comes home tuckered out from swimming, field trips, field games, and making new friends.

The a/c was finally fixed the day before my parents arrived (thank you Lord).

I look forward to catching up on everyone's blogs.

Blessings,

Mrs. Mac

Photos: Patrick and his grandmother (my mom); truck bed filled with perennials to plant; flowerbed after plants and rocks added; Mission Of The Sacred Heart; Mrs. Mac and Elizabeth (daughter) inside the mission ... more photos soon.