It's Been A BUSY Two Months

... since my last post.

We have had gardens to put in, company ... and my little granddaughter had heart surgery.  Many times I have come here and have not known what to write.  Ideas flying out my head .. then out the window as well.  Life takes turns and sometimes the ride is a roller coaster; I don't 'do' roller coasters.  But .. lately .. I've been along for the ride.

How can summer be just a few weeks away.  I've yearned for this season since last January while snow bound at home pouring over seed catalogs daydreaming.  The garden has been planted except for one type of seed .. morning glories.  It may not be too late to stick some seeds along the fence line and hope they have time to sprout and mature in our short growing season.

The grass needs to be mowed .. and so do the weeds.  Somehow, we have had several rainy days this past week giving me a break with watering the garden ... yet causing the grass to grow with wild abandon adding to the job of mowing.

This is the last week of junior high school for Nathan ... then he gets promoted to high school.  He's excited and prepared to make the step up.  School is serving him well as he is learning many life skills that are important to his current and future life. 

There is so much life to live in our short summer months.  Staying outdoors .. tending the veggie/fruit patches .. summer camp for Nathan .. watching the grand kids grow .. and soaking in the fresh mountain air.  It's time to get the kayaks and bikes out.  BBQ past 7 PM.  Star gaze around the fire pit.  Make homemade ice cream outside with chipped ice and salt, and listening to the cricket serenade.  How about you; what's up in your world?

Fond Memories of Palm Fronds

The Easter season brings back so many happy childhood memories. I was raised with many religious traditions.  Ash Wednesday .. Lent .. Palm Sunday .. Easter Sunday.  These traditions made a lasting impression and really do serve a purpose to remind and reflect tangibly on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The arrival of Easter meant a shiny new outfit.  For girls there were frilly chiffon dresses with ribbon ties, patten leather shoes, white gloves, straw hats and purses adorned with silk flowers.  What little girl wouldn't enjoy that?  The boys wore dress suits or button down dress shirts and a knit pullover vest.  The excitement of getting ready on Easter morning was almost too much to bear!

Religion took front and center stage over the secular Easter Bunny theme in our home, although he did pay us a visit .. which added to the thrill of such an important day.  Our baskets were assembled at home by our parents with real colored chicken eggs, speckled malt eggs, spiced gum drops and chocolate.  A little trinket gift could be found .. I remember getting a necklace/bracelet set.

Dinner was formal with a tablecloth and the best China dishes and stemware used.   Ham, potatoes, lime green Jello with canned pears, a green salad, green beans, rolls .. and a cake with coconut frosting.  We would eat at my grandparents home and visit with relatives.  The day was as pretty as a shiny new penny.  In all of the rush to prepare the meal, you had to be certain to have all of your supplies as the grocery stores were closed.  The day had national importance.

Today is Palm Sunday.  The day we remember Jesus arriving on a donkey in Jerusalem... also known as His Triumphal Entry.  Matthew 21:9-11 says, The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!, Hosanna in the highest!"  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"  The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."  


This is the Sunday we would get new palm fronds at mass and save them until the following year.  Ours were always stuck at the corner of a picture frame .. as a visual reminder.  The church would burn some of the leftover fronds and use to place a smudge on your forehead when attending church on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. 

I suppose this post is just a way to reflect on the importance of the Holy Season and how much that significance has (sadly) changed in today's more secular society.  It's even more important for Christian parents to teach their children while they are young because they certainly wont' find en mass community support.  Times have changed.

vintage clip art here

The Birthday Boy

... a few days late.

Nathan had his 16th birthday ten days ago.  He has come so far.  Happy is written all over his face (as well as some of his dinner;)   He's been bugging us for a dinosaur shirt for the past three months.  Was he surprised .. even the ball has the mouth of a dinosaur with teeth showing.   Pants and shoes to match were also requested (LOL).  He is the biggest walking commercial addict I know.  Anything Disney or Universal Studios makes him happy.

When Men Are Boys

during a sudden snow storm.

Note to hubby:  Don't let the snow pile up past six inches if you plan on snow-blowing.  Don't drive the truck in deep snow.   Don't try to plow in deep snow.  Over and out. 

One Year

... to make a difference.

Nathan had intensive behavior intervention (IBI) for one year.   Somehow, with all of the work involved, a light was switched on and family life has resumed to normal.  I LIKE the new normal.  Maturing has been a big help.  But, all of the little gimmicks we used to 'train' up our child have been dropped (for the most part) and new (much improved) behavior has been firmly established.

Nathan .. Ready for a ride

I no longer live and breath in fear and for that, I praise God.  Nathan continually brings home notes from his teacher that he had a good day.  He plays hard at P.E. ... is learning to use his iPad for communication at school, attends an after school program twice a week .. and is awaiting anxiously for spring so he can start his developmental (horseback) riding lessons.  And this from a boy that had to be pulled through the horse barn just two years ago at the fair!  A few summers ago he 'went through' three or four summer camp aides ... two days of Nathan was enough to send them looking for another job or be reassigned.  That's the summer we met Miss Paula (an interventionist).. and our journey began with IBI.

If you are the parent of a special needs child needing behavior modifications, have a talk with your pediatrician by mentioning your concerns.  We would have never gotten help had I not spoken up during a routine yearly medical exam; that's when our doctor recommended IBI.

The Babysitter ... aka ...

Grandma.

I'm heading out the door to babysit my grandchildren ... including the youngest .. with medical needs.

Having had a child of my own with 'hardware' attached soon after birth (feeding tube & ileostomy bag), I know how hard it is to find and trust a sitter.  My daughter (the mommy) needs a little break to visit the dentist.  She promised to come straight home .... and that makes me happy :)

Happy Birthday ... Papa

Today I want honor my Pop on his birthday.  He's 83 years young and has been part of my life since he scooped up my little divorced mama and her three young children 43 years ago.  His love for us has been the best blessing to our family this side of heaven.  It was not an easy task to step in and be an instant parent having never been one before marrying my mom.  There would be a huge void in my life without him that is hard to even imagine.

For all you are and all you've done for our family, thank you Papa.

Love,

Your Forever Daughter