Updates

I think I've said this before recently, but it's been a very long few weeks. I have lots going on in my head and my heart right now, so I am thanking you in advance for letting me vent and apologizing if this doesn't make any sense.

My dad is doing better every day. He's in therapy five times a day, and I was able to see firsthand how hard he is working last week. I know he's better today than he was a few weeks ago, but it's still very difficult for this 35 year-old to see her daddy in the condition he's in. It just is.

I cry often, out-of-the-blue and at weird moments, because I just miss him. My sweet husband has been very supportive, though sometimes he doesn't understand the tears. Well, ok, most of the time he doesn't understand.

Friday night he and I went on a much-needed date, and I finally satisfied my craving for boiled crawfish. They were sooooo good, and I will be going back soon. Then we went to the outlet mall and landed a 40% off sale at Gap. I got lots of goodies, which I don't get to do often. And to end the evening off on a wonderful note, I decided to show him how much I loved my iTrip and played him two songs that made me sob harder than I had in months.

One was this song by Taylor Swift. She wrote it for her mom, and every time I hear it I weep. Did I mention that Friday was also the day before my daughter's high school graduation? Yeah.

I think my exact words when plugging in my iphone were, "Let's cry, shall we?"

Then I played this song by Paul Simon. My dad bought me his greatest hits cd a few years ago specifically for that song, and considering what's going on, that song pushed me directly into the ugly-nobodyshouldeverseemelikethis cry.

The line from the song that sent me over the edge.... "As long as one and one make two, there will never be a father love his daughter more than I love you."

One day he'll be able to say those words to me again.

Saturday was my daughter's high school graduation, party at my SIL and BIL's restaurant, and project graduation. That's for a whole other post.

Right now I'm going to finish my glass of wine on the deck and pray that my 16 year-old that's learning to drive comes home from the gas station safely.

Have a great night!

My baby girl

As the day of my oldest child's high school graduation nears, I think about how much she has grown up. How she's not a little girl anymore.

Yes, I still cook her meals and wash her clothes, but she could easily do those things on her own.


My aunt tells me often that though I'm sad that my girl is growing up and moving on to college, it's a good thing that she can take care of herself. I've raised a child who really can become a productive member of society (thanks for pointing that out, Jenie), and I should be proud of that.


Lately I have been.


Until I got this picture on my cell phone last night.




Now, the whole story behind the picture doesn't freak me out, (She was only trying them on, by the way. Not the real thing. Yet.) because we know that this is going to happen-- probably sooner than later.


Yes, she's only 18 and though I would never encourage her to get married this young, I know how much I've prayed for this young man and I would love it if she married him.


I've prayed for her husband since she was a little girl (just as my mom did for mine), and God pulled an Ephesians 3:20 on this situation. He is a hard worker. He has goals. He's funny. He's respectful. He loves the Lord. His loves family--his and mine. He is kind to my sons, and he takes care of my son with Autism. He is smart. He is handsome. He has an amazing family that has melded right into ours.


He genuinely loves my daughter with everything in him.


So why oh why would I listen to the people who tell me she's too young to even think about marriage and encourage her to wait and find someone later in life when this young man is everything (and more) that I have prayed for?


Yesterday was this young couple's one year anniversary, and his parents took them out to a very fancy dinner to celebrate. Then they went to look at rings.


This morning as I sat on the deck drinking my coffee, she told me about her fun night and about the different kinds of rings she tried on. The different shapes she liked and what she knew she didn't want.


But as I listened to her, I wasn't thinking about how much she's grown up and how she will be commuting to college soon and getting a job and preparing to start a life of her own.

I was thinking, "That's my baby girl, talking about engagement rings. Is this really happening?"


Looking at that picture doesn't change my heart about the situation, though. It makes me smile and thankful that my God gives me the desires of my heart.

Blah week. Good day.

It's been a very long week. Eleven days, actually.

I've debated on whether or not to blog about this, but today has been one of those days when - though I have lots of people to talk to and cry with - I just don't wanna.

(And please don't take offense, all of you sweet friends who have offered to let me do just that. I appreciate every one of you. Sometimes a girl just has to cry on her own, though. Ya know?)

But writing it all out just seems like what I need to do at this point.

Almost two weeks ago, my dad had a stroke. My mom called me early Tuesday morning to tell me that they were on their way to the hospital. She asked him a question. He couldn't speak.

She asked me to pray.

I began contacting those closest to us to pray and kept up with his progress all day via texts and phone calls from my mom. (More on these people later. I am in AWE!)

It was a very. long. day.

(But I have to say a very BIG thank you to my very special friend who let me ramble, cry, text, call, vent, talk, etc. from that very first moment on. You don't know how very much I needed your listening ear and how very, very much I appreciate you!!! You are the best!!!)

It turned out that my dad's blood pressure was through the roof. It's always been high, and he has not taken his medicine like he should have.

He's had two CT Scans, an MRI, an EKG and numerous blood tests. Everything else looks fine.

But then there's the stroke.

It has affected his ability to speak. He can sing anything he wants, but speaking an isolated word is often impossible. He can walk, though it's a struggle, and he isn't doing it much right now.

He is also emotional. Sometimes it's because he can't help it, and sometimes it's because that's just who he is.

And if you knew my dad, you would know that not speaking is just not him. He's always talking, laughing, picking on somebody. Today it hit me that I haven't actually had a conversation with him in 2.5 weeks. We talk on the phone often, and today I just really, really missed hearing his voice.

I went to see him the day after it happened and stayed for two days. I feel like I did nothing productive while I was there, except for going to the grocery store for my mom, but I was very glad to be there. I needed to see him. To tell him that I loved him. To not let my mom be alone.

My very sweet physical therapist husband passed me on the highway as he went to visit my dad and I went back home to the kids. I don't think any of us could ever thank him enough for all that he did that weekend.

He evaluated my dad. He explained things so my mom would understand and know what was normal and what was not. He talked to the doctors. He helped (and was committed to stay there until) my dad get into a rehab hospital.

He prayed for him. He encouraged him. He laughed with him when my mom was driving him crazy.

At this point, Dad is receiving LOTS of therapy at an excellent facility that's supposed to be one of the best in the state. He is receiving LOTS of cards, e-mails, and phone calls from friends and family who love him and are praying for him.

(Honestly, the love everyone has shown my family these past couple of weeks is overwhelming and often times what is holding me up. I can't thank them enough!!)

Tuesday I'm going back down to visit for a couple of days. I hope to see progress, but really I just want to see my dad.

Today was a rough day for me. I haven't cried too much in the past couple of weeks, but sometimes it just hits me. Today was one of those days.

And then there's real life stuff that doesn't go away when tragedy strikes.

My oldest child is graduting from high school in one week from today. She's going to college in the fall but (thankfully) living at home for now. Unfortunately, the college expects us to pay for tuition.

I'm thinking of sending my youngest back to school next year after being homeschooled 4.5 years. My middle child is learning to drive. We are in the middle of refinancing our house.

But in the midst of my pity party today, something good happened. Totally unrelated to my dad.

My son, who hasn't been to a movie theater since The Cat in the Hat (my other son informed me of this fact), went and watched Shrek with his dad and brother today. This is a HUGE deal for him, because he has never liked the theater. He'll watch movies on tv, but he's never liked the dark room with the loud sounds.

I was so proud of him!!

So...

If you will, please pray for my dad's quick recovery and healing. His therapists give him great hope that he will be back to "normal" one day soon. Pray for my mom to rest and eat and get through this stronger than she was before.

I will update on here as I can and feel like I need to.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Motherhood

Kristen at We Are That Family is doing a giveaway this weekend for a picture that most repesents motherhood. To me motherhood is...

Big Month

January is always an exciting month for us around here, but it is especially so this year.

Today my baby boy turns 14. My baby boy - who is the tallest of my three children and way taller than his mama.

As you probably know, the older your kids get, the smaller and more expensive their birthday requests are. This year he wanted an ipod. He loves music and he loves to sing, so we were happy to oblige. (We're talking about a kid who never asks for anything, except for maybe this.)

In a couple of weeks, my oldest (and only daughter) will be turning 18. Blegh!! I don't even like typing those words, much less saying them. She informed me - gleefully- that now she can buy lottery tickets and dip. Should I be concerned??

We won't be having a party for her until the end of January, because she will be out of town the weekend of her birthday. (School trip.) But we will have her party on the day my middle child (and oldest son) will be in his first school play since going back to public school this year. He got the part of Schroeder in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and I am itching to watch it!! Lots of family is coming in for the show, and we'll have fun celebrating many things that weekend.

I hope you had a special time bringing in the new year and reflecting on all of the many wonderful things the Lord has done for you, in you, and through you. Just so you know... He's not finished with you yet.

Have a fabulous day!!

Precious little boys

One of the sweetest things in the world to me is hearing children pray. There's a reason God tells us to have child-like faith.

It's because children believe with all of their hearts that God is going to do what they ask of Him.

My nephews (ages six and twenty months) came over to stay with us yesterday and ended up spending the night. We don't get to see them very much, so I love having some time to spend with them.

An hour or so after they arrived, my living room was proof that they were there. I found cars and Kinex pieces in places that shocked me, and dinosaurs covered my carpet.

It was awesome!

Once the baby was down for bed last night, I helped the six year-old get ready. He stayed in his cousin's (A) bedroom, though A was at church camp, and he asked me to sit with him when he said his prayers.

They all started out, "Please God..." and were precious. After lifting up his requests, he said, "And I am very, very thankful for my entire family. In Jesus' name, amen."

Wow, talk about touching my heart! It was a very sweet moment.

We also loved hearing the baby walking around saying, "I want cheese" and "yeah" to every question we asked him. It was hilarious!

Today at lunch after church, our friends' always vocal four year-old recited the pledges he says at school every day. Listening him talk about pledging to the Bible, God's Holy Word, and to the Christian flag, my heart was warmed yet again.

Maybe he doesn't fully understand those pledges now, but I believe they are seeds being firmly planted in his heart.

These kiddos in my life are growing up way too quickly, and it is such a joy to be around them when they are tiny and innocent and full of life. What a blessing!

Have a great Monday!

Watching them grow

Right now I am watching my youngest son fill out a sheet of information about himself. We are doing this every day so that eventually these things will click for him and he will remember the information on his own. Things like our cell phone numbers, what his grandparents' names are and where they live, emergency contacts, etc.

When he first started filling this sheet out last week (it's the same one every day), I asked him who he could call in an emergency. He was having a hard time giving me a name, so I asked him if maybe somebody from church could help in an emergency and he told me he would call God.

Pretty smart kid, huh?

We've noticed some great changes with him lately, partly due to diet and supplement changes and off course due to prayer. He seems more focused, and he's asking frequent and pertinent questions. His skin seems to be clearing up as well, which is an added bonus.

An awesome thing happened this morning, though, and I am still amazed. I have blogged before about how obsessed my son has been with the State Fair. This is the first year we haven't gone as a family, and I thought we were going to make it through without any drama because up until last week C hasn't even mentioned the fair.

But then he did. He wanted another stuffed Sonic plush, and he only wants the one from the State Fair. (I found one online for $20 yesterday but he said "no thanks", because it's not from Toy Network.)

So I was trying to figure out how - in the middle of my insane schedule this week- I was going to take a break and drive to the fair with him, and spend the least amount of money winning him a Tails.

Then I remembered that my hubby and a friend are going to the UT/OU game on Saturday and they can go and win him one. They have a much better chance at it than I do, and I honestly don't have the time.

So I started discussions with C yesterday about us not going and Dad going instead to win him one. You have to understand that with him, these kinds of talks last all day. Lots of mumbling and questions and him telling me that he's worried about the State Fair. It is a very big ordeal, I promise.

But last night my husband talked to him about the whole situation and explained that he will try really hard to win, and this morning he woke up without asking any questions. He's happy and hasn't said anything about the fair at all, which is huge!!

My other two kiddos are doing great things, too, but more on that later...

The "S" in Cookies

I am having lots of fun making cookies and learning the art of decorating them well. They're still not without flaws, but I believe I improve with each new batch.

My brother and sister-in-law gave me the coolest gifts for my birthday this year. (Ok, I'm pretty sure it was all my SIL's idea, but she did sign his name on the card.) They gave me this cookie press and a very cute apron.

Look closely at what it says.

Isn't that great? She is so creative and thoughtful. Her gifts (and cards) always speak straight to my heart.

Several years ago she bought me a gluten-free cookbook when we put our youngest son on that diet. (Which we're about to go back to.) She bought me a beautiful robe when we moved into our new house and some classic books when I was on my all-I-want-to-do-is-read kick a few years ago.

I appreciate her so much.


Though I did use my apron today to make cookies today, I am still trying to figure out the cookie press. There seems to be a trick to it that I'm just not getting.

So instead of being little spritz cookies, I rolled out the dough and used a cookie cutter. They were great with a big cup of coffee. Or that's what my family told me.

I make 'em, but I don't eat 'em.

We'll be getting back into the swing of things this week. I believe my youngest son and I will be making a Whole Foods/Costco trip tomorrow, and I have lots of cleaning to do before my mom and aunt get in Friday night. We will head to Trade Days on Saturday morning and eat at my favorite restaurant Saturday night. Fun, fun!

Have a wonderful week!

We survived the first day

When my son, A, was in 1st grade, his teacher pulled me aside one day to show me a picture he drew. I held my breath before I looked at it because with him, you never really knew what he would come up with.

She had asked her students to draw a picture of how they saw themselves. He drew Superman.

Today, on his first day as a sophomore in high school, knowing no-one in any of his classes, his health teacher asked the students to write their name on a piece of paper and on the back write one word that they thought described them.

He wrote "talented".

I'm thinking he's going to do all right.

To say that my heart is overjoyed this afternoon that he had a great day back at school would be an understatement. It still shocked me a little that he left the house with his sister this morning, but I truly had a peace about his decision all day.

(Of course I stayed reeeeeally busy, too, but that's beside the point.)

I know that his day was great because of all of the prayers, so to those of you who have prayed for us these past few days thank you very, very much.

Yesterday we (all of us + my daughter's boyfriend) went school shopping. For a child who has never really cared about what his clothes looked like, he thoroughly enjoyed the new wardrobe we bought him. Clothes, shoes, backpack, belt, etc. He is looking sharp!

Tonight is Spirit Night at the stadium, and he asked if we could go. In previous years, we've had to make him attend this event.

This boy is blossoming before my eyes, and I am just in awe.

Coming soon.... Pictures of a very special birthday present from my very creative SIL and a new sweet recipe.

I guess it's really happening

My 15 year-old that I have home schooled the past four years just enrolled in public school.

I honestly can't believe I just typed that. I think I'm still in shock.

I pulled him out of public school after fifth grade because he kept asking me to. He wasn't a very good student and he had some issues staying focused.

(There are still focusing issues, but his schooling has improved.)

We tried school at home for a year and both loved it, and we decided to keep going. Every year I would ask him if he was ready to go back to public school and he always said "no". Even in May of this year he said "no".

But Wednesday, FIVE DAYS before the new school year started, he decided to tell us that he really wanted to go back to school.

(I really think God did this to me on purpose so I wouldn't have a long time to worry about him. In case you've ever wondered about God's sense of humor, I'm here to tell you that He does, in fact, have one.)

My husband and I talked to A for a long time. We prayed, we asked him lots of questions, and I honestly couldn't argue with his responses. He sat up very straight while he talked to us and seemed very confident about his decision.

Anyone who knows my son knows that he is a researcher. When there is a subject that interests him, he learns everything there is to learn about it. And I mean everything.

So after talking to him the past couple of days, I realized that he has been thinking about this decision for a while. He just decided to keep it to himself for some reason.

So now, he's enrolled. He will ride to school with his sister on Monday morning. And I will be praying all. day. loooooooong.

Miss Lizzy

A few days before we left for vacation, a tiny little kitten showed up on our doorstep. I am not a big cat lover, but this kitten captured our hearts pretty quickly.

She was so cute and loved all of the attention she was getting, of course. We fed her, named her, and decided to keep her has an outside cat.

The day before we left, my husband followed his usual routine before going to work in the morning and took the dog outside while he watered the flowers. When he walked out the front door, this kitten cried and ran out to him. (She had been sleeping behind our flower pots--and sometimes in them.) As usual, he picked her up. But when he did, a hawk that was on a limb on a big tree in our front yard screeched and flew away.

If my husband had not told me that, I would have left that kitten home and hoped it was still here when we got back, but I just could not imagine the thought of that little kitty being lunch for that big, mean bird.

So, we brought her in the house and bathed her with yellow Joy dishwashing liquid (because I learned from a lady at Wal-Mart that that kills the fleas. And it does!), and we took her with us on vacation.

I laid a towel out on the console in our suburban, and she slept most of the four hour trip to my parents' house. Trying to eat lunch in the car was a little tricky, but it all worked out. (I gave her a little cat food and a little of my chicken. She ate both very quickly.)

Once we arrived at my my parents' house, most of my family was either there or on their way. My 22 month-old niece saw the kitten and got very excited. I didn't know that her parents had been looking for a cat for a while, and I realized then that this kitten belonged to her.

They named her Miss Lizzy, and she fits right into their family. Miss Lizzy has already been to the vet and quickly adapted to her litter box. The vet said that he thought she was about nine weeks old, which surprised me because she was so little.

My husband and I spent Thursday night at my brother's house, and it was fun watching my niece with her new friend. No matter if the kitten was jumping on her or not, my niece walks around saying, "No kitty." It's pretty funny. She's learning how to carry her by her tummy instead of her neck, and the kitten has become a good "babysitter". I think her mom is liking the new distraction. =)

I am very happy that this sweet kitten has found a very sweet home.

Almost time to come home...

...but not quite yet.

I haven't blogged in a while because we have been staying at my parents' house this week. Between all the swimming, golfing, shopping, laughing, card-playing, and domino games there has been very little time for blogging.

Tonight my husband and I will be staying with my brother and his family to make room for new guests here. And because they invited us over. I can't ever get enough lovin' on my nieces, so I am excited about going to their house.

This trip has been a little different than other vacations because we brought an extra kid with us: my daughter's boyfriend. I am pleased to say that he has been a wonderful addition to our time here, and my family absolutely loves him.

Honestly, I didn't expect anything less.

Yesterday we spent all day at Schlitterbahn. I mean all day. Like from opening to closing. Needless to say we had a ball. I am always a little apprehensive about my youngest son riding rides where he is on his own, but thankfully he has a daddy that helps him do things that I am scared to let him do.

That boy rode every single water slide yesterday, some of them twice, and he loved it!! I was very proud of him. (And of myself for surviving his rides as well.)

Tomorrow we will head in the direction of home, but we are making a pit-stop to visit some longtime friends for the afternoon. It will be very enjoyable, I am sure.

Hope your week has been wonderful and your weekend is even better!

My first college campus visit.

Of course, I was there for my daughter, but it was fun to experience it with her. And her boyfriend.

We went to The University of Texas in Austin on Thursday, and when we left my girl was even more excited about UT.

We listened to someone share information on admissions, financial aid, housing, etc. Then we took a walking tour of the campus. Why I waited until now to do this, I'm not sure.

July + Texas = VERY HOT!!

Anyhoo, we had a lot of fun and I'm glad we went. (Even though I seriously thought it would be the three of us and a tour guide, not 100+ potential students and their moms, but whatever.)

Tomorrow I am meeting a friend halfway between here and the desert to pick up a friend of my 15 year-old's. They haven't seen each other in two years, and though he lives in Colorado he's visiting family in West Texas. I am very happy that we get to have him over for a few days.

Then we start packing for vacation at my parent's house. They just put in a brand new pool (which you should aready know because I'm sure you read my last post), so it's like our own little free resort. :)

Have a happy Sunday!

My very sweet mother...

...wrote a very sweet post about my youngest son. Please go read it here.

TGIF

It's Friday morning and my youngest son and I are watching The Nutty Professor. He found it at Blockbuster and he didn't want to watch it last night. Instead, my husband and I watched Madea Goes to Jail.

I love Tyler Perry's movies!

My son and I have been visiting with family all week in Central Texas and got home yesterday afternoon. I love being there, but it was very good to be home.

And today my oldest two are coming home from church camp. I miss those kids like crazy!

While I was in the hill country, I was able to spend lots of time visiting with my aunt and cousin. I have always been close to my aunt, and I love the fact that she is a big dreamer like I am.

I also spent some time with my parents, though my visits with them are never long enough. It's funny how the older I get, the more I just love to sit and talk to them.

I hope my daughter says that about me one day.

I also spent lots of time with my brother and his family. I can never get enough of his two baby girls, and I treasure my time with my SIL.

My oldest niece is 21 months-old and she is so precious! She has two parents who love the Beatles and Bob Marley, so she listens to them all the time. (She has this cd that she listens to when she sleeps. It is so sweet and would be a great gift for somebody with a baby/toddler. You can listen to parts of the songs online.)

As I was trying to score points with her and play her songs on my Itouch, I asked what she wanted to hear.

Penny Lane, All You Need is Love, Yellow Submarine, Hello Good-bye... That's what she requested. I'm not kidding, y'all! It was too cute.

She's been talking for a long time, but this visit I noticed how she was putting phrases together. We cracked up when she copied me after I said, "Oh my goodness."

She loves reading books, and when she's sitting in my lap letting me read to her I can think of few other things that make me so happy.

The baby is getting big and is smiling and cooing and so sweet, and when we go back next month for a week she will be probably doing even more.

I'm still loving my Itouch, but I will be taking it in to exchange it soon. I got it on Saturday and on Monday it froze. I brought it in Best Buy and the guy reset it for me, but he told me to exchange it if it did it again within my 30 day return period.

It did it again on Wednesday.

It is still amazing, though. While I was searching Youtube for the Beatles for my niece, I also found videos of both of my brothers. One is in a band now and one used to be in a band.

I never would have thought I would be watching music videos of each of my brothers on something the size of a phone. (Or on anything, for that matter.)

It was very cool.

Today I need to balance the checkbook, do some laundry, and cook chicken fettucine alfredo for my kids for dinner. (That's what was requested.)

Have a fabulous weekend!

It's all about the graphics.

What are your teenage boys doing this week?

Swimming? Fishing? Looking for job?

My 15 year-old has been looking forward to this for months.

He talks about it. He sets the dvr to record.

He nearly drools when talking about it.

Just a guess, but I'm thinking his future has something to do with this field.

It's pretty interesting to hear him talk about it.

During commercials, of course.

Little boys

My kids have been able to take care of their own basic needs for years now.

I tell them to come down for dinner, they come down and eat and clean their plates and put them in the sink.

I tell them to get in the car so we can go somewhere, they get in the car.

I don't have any car seats. I don't worry about whether or not I have enough diapers (or wipes). I don't have to think about nap times.

Today I picked up my two nephews (ages five and 14 months) for the weekend. All those things that I don't have to think about on a regular basis, I have to think about when I have them.

And though it's only 3:30 and I'm completely exhausted, I am loving having them around.

We went to the park today and rode scooters and bicycles. We had grilled cheeses for lunch, and we tried to get a little one to take a nap. (He didn't cry, but he didn't sleep either.)

The five year-old thinks my 15 year-old is the coolest thing on the planet. Usually when they are together, I only hear from them when they're hungry.

The baby is running around the living room, bringing me remote controls and toys and saying things that I don't understand. I swear he's the happiest child on the planet.

(And I wouldn't tell anybody this if it wasn't so sweet, but he thinks my husband hung the moon. When he's around, I become invisible.)

He's the kid that makes my husband want another baby.

Tonight, I'm guessing I'll be in bed early. Tomorrow night I'll still have the boys but I'll be at their house instead.

Sunday is church and a Rangers game. Woo hoo!

Have a great weekend!

I'm a proud mama!

My youngest son got two ribbons in the art show this weekend, and we were all very excited!!

Is it Sunday yet?

I don't really mean that.

I am excited about prom. I am excited about prom. I am excited about prom.

No really, I am. My girl will have fun. We have a big breakfast planned when all the kids get back here. I still have four sets of sheets to wash and groceries to buy, but I am excited about prom.

Today I'm hoping to get some fellowship with my local homeschool moms. I need the adult interaction and sanity before my crazy weekend.

The preparations have begun, friends. My girl got a spray tan last night by an actual person, which means it's a lot darker than the ones she's gotten in a booth, which is where she's been going to get her tan on because I won't let her go to the tanning beds.

You would not believe how tan she is.

Ok, if you knew how white she was before, you would not believe how tan she is. Her aunt is going to freak when she comes over here on Saturday to do her make-up.

Every time she walks by the mirror in the hall, she startles herself. It's hilarious.

Today she's out of school, and she's going with a bunch of friends to get a pedicure. Then she has a softball game later this afternoon.

Tomorrow she has hair and make-up, and then it's the real thing.

I'm trying to decide what to do about the camera issue. See, mine died, and if I wasn't being ruled by Dave Ramsey right now, I would go out and buy a new one.

But the budget dictates no.

So, I don't know if I should use my pathetic disposable camera and take pictures of everybody before prom and then have the pictures printed out and scan them Saturday night. (To post here and on Facebook, of course.)

Or, should I just wait until Sunday night and use my daugher's fancy camera that we bought her for Christmas?

(Because God knows she will have 5,000 pictures to choose from that night.)

I just know that my family will be itching to see pictures. Family, what do you think?
Either way, I'll have cool pictures this weekend. So check back.
Have a fabulous Friday!

Originally posted April 2009 @ Mom in Transition

It's funny how things work out

When my children were babies, I imagined that my daughter would be like a princess and love to wear frilly dresses and makeup and jewelry. My boys would be athletes like their father and we would watch them play t-ball and soccer.

Today, I had to giggle at the things that were going on in my house with my children.
My daughter is our athlete. She was a cheerleader for a few years, but she has also played softball and volleyball each year in high school.

After she came home from softball practice this evening, she jumped right into the ab routine her dad and I were doing as part of our workout, without missing a beat.

My oldest son, who could care less about sports, was upstairs singing his heart out. He has an amazing voice, and he was playing Rock Band in his room and I think he sang every song in the game.

My youngest son is very coordinated, but he isn't interested in sports either. Swimming and riding his scooter, yes. Running, no. He has Autism, and though others might not expect him to do too much, I have a stack of paintings created by him this past year that bless my socks off.
He also spent some of his day on his computer, looking up Sonic the Hedgehog games and teaching himself to play Mario. He searches for all things Sonic and tells me when he finds one he wants.

My kids have not turned out like I dreamed they would when they were young.

They've turned out even better.

Originally posted March 2009 @ Mom in Transition