What can I give?

My mom used to deliver meals on wheels to an assisted living type facility. She would take me along with her sometimes and I have very good memories of doing that with her to this day. My mom would also sometimes make an extra plate of food at Thanksgiving for people who might need a good meal or might be alone on that day. I went once with my dad to deliver it. You remember these things and how good it made you feel. Two years ago at Christmas, our family delivered Christmas meals to 2 different families through volunteering that was set up by a local church. I loved being able to expose the boys to the spirit of helping people. You never know when you might be the one who needs help someday! We also participate in Operation Christmas Child which delivers shoeboxes of toys to underprivileged kids in other countries and of course giving our things we don't need anymore to Goodwill. However, sometimes we or you might not have the extra money to spend on charity stuff but would like to participate somehow. You can always give your time. Sometimes that is the only way we can help other people but I wish someday for enough "extra" to really make a difference in a few lives. At least I would like to think that is what I would do with enough "extra"...  ;)

Be all you can be

Today I am thinking about all the things I want to teach my kids while they are still listening! :) I made a list some time ago of the things that I wanted to make sure and teach my children one day. Then, I asked them what things did they want mom or dad to teach them? The abundance of answers I got was amazing! One said he wanted to know how to turn a cartwheel really good...the other said he needs to know how to cook like a chef. Both wanted to learn about growing things in a garden and both had interests in learning everything they could about animals such as dogs and snakes. I also heard from one that he wants to know about China and what it is like there and how to speak a little Chinese. My point is I could not believe what happened when I just asked them! They would list a thing or two and I would say..is that all..anything else? Then the list would continue and continue...I worked on their lists for a little while but have neglected them lately. I am determined to get back to teaching them the things that they are hoping to learn from me plus a few more that I want them to know. Here are some of the topics we are covering: China, anatomy of a human, dog breeds, snakes, cooking..including reading a recipe, become familiar with different types of music, car parts/mechanics, tool identification and use, healthy living..including different exercise they can practice, Bible stories, etc. We haven't gotten to all the topics yet but we are working our way through them. I want them to be the best they can be but I am careful to not push too hard or expect too much.....afterall I do realize we are dealing with a 5 year old and an 8 year old here :) Keeping it age appropriate is the key to success here! I want to mention that they're not going to excel in every area or love every topic. However, it does help to identify their natural interests and strengths.

Being Content

Okay folks, this is an area where I really struggle I am sorry to admit. I am one of those "dreamers" who is constantly looking toward the future  for the next best thing. It is not easy to admit this but it is true. I sometimes rob myself of today's joy by focusing on tomorrow's possibilities. Example: There was a time when we lived in an apartment just starting out but we didn't live there long because I wanted less neighbors and more space. So we moved into a duplex that was in a great location because from the front porch I got a view every morning of a beautiful lake. It was also very roomy and by most peoples standards a nice place to live...but we didn't stay there long because I wanted even more privacy and an even bigger space and my own house. We moved about a year later into our first home in a different city than we were in before. It was a brand new home that was all brick with lots of nice builder details like a whirlpool tub and his and hers walk-in closets with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and by most peoples standards not a starter home at all! But in my mind that is exactly what it was. A place to start not to stay and so when about 3 years later we got transfered to a new city I was not wanting to move but loving the possibililty of an even bigger and better place than before. You see what is happening here? Instead of being content in each phase of my life, I tend to rush each phase to get to the next one...the finish line. But you know what? No matter how nice my house or life is there will always be someone out there who has a bigger or newer or nicer place than me. It's that way for everyone pretty much. We can't all be the top dog of the world. We have to learn to be content where we are because otherwise we will live our whole lives and miss all the small joys while we were waiting on happiness. In the Bible, Paul states that he has ....learned to be content in whatever circumstances he is in (paraphrase) from Phillipians. This is something that I am still striving for. I am not saying that you shouldn't dream or set goals for yourself...I think there is a difference when it becomes such a longing that you are no longer content with your life and are left feeling unhappy. As for me, I have that bigger house...the biggest we've lived in yet...it just happens to be 30 years older than the last one we lived in and without those bells and whistles ;)....you see what I mean!? There I go again.

Thankful for...

In no particular order and by all means only a partial list :)
God, electricity, family, friends, home, clean water, air conditioners and heaters, ovens, toilets, cars, pets, laptops, internet, facebook, books, overhead lighting, holidays, happy days, church, Jesus, hometown, ink pens, Bible, Sharpie markers, blankets, pillows, good food, pictures, digital cameras, cell phones, comfortable shoes, snow days, sunny days, rainy days, windy days, jobs, sunsets, good music...the list goes on

Change

I have a strange relationship with change. I need it and then I get anxious if there is too much of it. I like certain things to change frequently and others to stay the same. My blog colors and background for one will probably always be changing because I like it that way. I also like to change my profile picture, my haircolor, my clothes, my surroundings but NOT what I eat for breakfast, what I like to drink, my Thursday night routine, my certain parking aisle at Walmart...you get the point. How can I be so flexible on some things and then so...well...not flexible on others? I took this pic of a little frog that lived in a birdhouse in my mom's backyard this summer...at least until he changed his mind!  :)

This is for my daddy :)

 Five years ago I lost my dad suddenly to a brain aneurysm. It was a hard thing to go through. He was so full of life and personality that when he was suddenly gone it was a real shock to me. My dad and I would spend time together at his store, Jones Furn. and  Western Auto. I worked there since before I could drive! I had stopped working there in 1999 which is the year that I got married.  We had our little rituals that I miss such as every Sat. eating 1/2 a chicken from Ramey's BBQ for lunch. His desk was next to mine and we would sit and eat lunch and talk. We also both liked going out to eat but disagreed on our taste in music. He loved gospel and old time country and I love a little bit of everything now but then not gospel or old time country. He liked to frequent antique shops and flea markets and I love doing that too. He could see the potential in an old piece of furniture and he passed that trait on to me also. Daddy loved to fish but not hunt unless it was for squirrels. He did teach me how to shoot a bow and arrow and a gun although I haven't shot either in years. Dad was a deacon at church and a Sunday School teacher for as long as I can remember. He would have been a great example for my boys to follow and learn from today. I am sad that they won't have that opportunity. Carson was 2 when he died and Roman was on the way...they never met. I sometimes talk about him and his store to them because I want them to feel like they knew him. I miss 2 things most of all...talking to him and getting that peck on the forehead when he greeted me followed by "How's my baby?". His baby is 33 now and misses him terribly but has finally reached the point where she knows it's gonna be okay. I can think of him now and smile :)

Patience and brotherly love/war

Someone once told me to never ask God for patience because to learn patience you will have to learn to wait which is why you were needing patience in the first place. Their point was that you might not like how the lesson is learned. However, I do need a lesson in patience. I am one of those right now people who do not enjoy delayed gratification but rather instant gratification is more my thing. Also, I need patience in dealing with my boys. They are having issues with getting along and I really would like to have more of a house of peace rather than one of well...war. I am not sure how to accomplish this so any suggestions are welcome. Day 2 of fall break and I realize that I am not looking forward to spending every day for the next 2 weeks being a referee! Uh-oh better go get my whistle...til next time. :)

Me and Fall- A Great Love Affair

Fall is my favorite season and I am so happy that it is getting to be that time of year! I love the colors of fall, watching the leaves change and fall from the trees, burning scented candles, covering up with a blanket while sitting outside next to a fire, chili time..yum..etc.  I even have caramel scented hand sanitizer for this time of year :) Today I lit my first autumn smelling candle of this season and I am going to put up my autumn wreaths on the door.  I love visiting pumpkin patches and going on hayrides. I like it when the evenings start getting chilly. I love love love carving pumpkins around Halloween. Ok I'll stop gushing...also, I am starting a new book - Eat Pray Love and I'll have to let you know how I like it.

Shiloh- Civil War Battlefield Trip

In July, my mom and I took the boys to Shiloh to tour the Civil War battlefield and museum. We did this because Carson is very interested in wars and army men and thought it would be a good time to get a little history lesson in. It was a HOT day!!

Here the boys are trying on some uniforms from the North and South. Carson is on the left and Roman is on the right...ages 8 and 5.

Our Story

This is the story of our son Roman and his journey with a congential heart defect. At 2 months old, Roman was diagnosed with a congential heart defect called coarctation of the aorta and also bicuspid aortic valve. They are 2 different conditions that can be found apart or they can occur together...he has both conditions. Coarc as I will call it, was the most serious of the 2. It is a fatal condition when left untreated especially to the degree that Roman had it. It means that his aorta was narrowed down to the point of like a pencil in one spot instead of being nice and wide the whole way through. It caused his heart to work extra hard to pump the blood out because it had to push it through such a small opening. Half of his heart became enlarged because of this and his blood pressure was high except in his legs which was so low that they couldn't register it at all in one leg. The aorta delivers blood to the lower part of your body and his lower part of his body had been deprived of enough blood up until it was fixed by surgery. He was diagnosed after being sent to a ped. cardiologist for some tests when his pediatrician heard a murmur that wasn't present at birth and had trouble finding his pulse in his legs at 2 months. We went to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and they confirmed the diagnosis and then decided to do heart surgery the next day. They took out the narrow part of his aorta and stitched the wide parts back together. He was in the hospital for about a week. Recovery at home was a little longer...couldn't pick him up under his arms and he had meds that had to be adminstered at certain times through the day. He spent one night in the red pod which is critical and then the green pod which is still critical but a little better and then finally got his own room at the hospital. Neal and I stayed with him and never left until he did. We say now that it was the week that time stood still. Nothing mattered anymore. Just our son. We remained very calm and had faith that he would be okay. Lots of people were praying for us and it really gave us a peace that is hard to describe. He still has bicuspid aortic valve disorder and they monitor it yearly at VCH as well as keep an eye on his aorta to make sure the narrowing does not reoccur. We had our checkup there this week and they did a heart ultrasound and an EKG and gave him a very thorough work up. They found that his aorta is getting stronger and his valve isn't leaking like it was at the last visit. It is the best news we could have received. I don't understand why our family has been picked to go through this but I do know that God is in control and it has given us fresh eyes to what is really important in life. Through Roman's journey we were introduced to a wonderful charity, Saving Little Hearts. They brought us a surgery care package while we were in the hospital with him  that was filled with hospital survival necessaties and info on his condition. They even gave us a camera and a journal to record our time there! Saving Little Hearts raises awareness of congenital heart defects and provides surgery care packages to young heart patients at a lot of different hospitals. For more info on them you can google them..they have a website with items available for purchase. Roman has 2 scars that serve as reminders of the miracle of what we went through. If you know him personally, don't mention his scars because he has become self-conscious about them. We are working on fixing that! Thanks for taking the time to read our story. Hope it helps someone!

Hitting the Polls with the Boys

Today I took the kids with me to vote. I always vote in the big elections such as presidential elections but to be honest when we first moved here and didn't know anyone I didn't vote in the local ones simply because I didn't know who to vote for at the time. The boys were aware that school was out today due to elections and I wanted to set a good example for them and exercise my right to vote. I took them with me and prepped them a little on the way to not be loud, keep hands off of the election equipment, etc. They usually are very well behaved and do not cause problems in public. Can you see where this is going? It was a short line and I thought "we've got this..no problem" as I walked in. Overconfidence can sometimes be a downfall for people. Isn't there a saying that pride comes before the fall? A stranger who I'll call Chatty Cathy became the turning point. She kept talking to me and asking questions in line and the boys began to think...hmmm this might be a good time to pick each other up in the air, etc. When we are distracted is when kids seize their little opportunities. Nipped it in the bud and then headed to the booth where the little old man began to go through the process with me. After all that coaching on not touching the equipment...five little fingers reached out repeatedly and kept grabbing at the buttons. Luckily he didn't reach any. The boys started fighting over who was standing closer to me so I told them to go look out the window behind us at the playground outside. The little old man then said..."BOYS! I need you to move around to the side of the table over there. No one is allowed behind the voter." I quickly wrapped it up and headed for the door. I was proud of myself for going as we left walking down the sidewalk past the campaigners. When I reached my car I exercised another right of mine... :)

Back To School

Wow! Can't believe we are back to school already! The baby of the family has started Kind. this year and the oldest is in 3rd grade. Roman loves his new backpack and wears it around all the time. Carson has already started learning multiplication tables and is starting on cursive writing. I think it's gonna be a big year of learning for him! We are trying to get back into the routine of school but so far the mornings are still hectic. I think I'm gonna have to start getting all of us up earlier in the morning. The kids are just moving too slow and I am having to rush them (which stresses me out). We have been putting them to bed a little earlier since it is taking them so long to wind down in the evenings. I don't get it! I know Carson in particular is so tired but he fights sleep so much. Roman is doing half-days this week but will start full days next Monday. It was hard yesterday because he had to walk in by himself (except with Carson). He just seems awful little to be getting out at the curb and finding the gym. He says he can do it himself and he doesn't want Carson to help him. I have told Carson to walk with him to the gym every morning and it's sweet to see him put his arm around his little brother and walk a little slower so he can keep up. I think I am raising 2 very good boys!

Summertime

Well we are getting ready for our yearly 4th of July celebration. We always have a big cook-out PARTY at my mom's. There is swimming, a parade around the pool by the grandkids and some of us big kids :), dancing to patriotic and summertime party music (by grandkids mostly), a big cook-out with usually around 20 - 25 people, more swimming, a family firework buying event at the local firework stands, and then a firework display that could rival some professional events in the last couple of years. That is in part due to me and my nephew Sam plus my niece Anna planning the fireworks display :) I have been trying to officially pass the torch of firework display coordinator to my nephew Sam for a year or two. Last year I told him that was it for me and I had faith that I had trained him well. If he was reading this, which I know he is not, he would be getting a kick out of this post! I have been taking my 2 older nephews and my oldest 2 nieces for as long as I had a drivers license to purchase fireworks. The group has grown now with the addition of my own children and more nieces and nephews (which does make the shopping experience a little more difficult (scratch that) fun. It is always hot, sometimes raining, and always fun. This year I bought some glow in the dark sticks for all the kids to run around with at night. I usually try to get some patriotic hats or headbands but this year I am simplifying a little. My mom always fixes brownies with little flags in them and she has her backyard and deck totally red white and blued out! We are talking streamers people, and lights in the shape of stars, table top decorations and matching plates, napkins, etc You get the point. We kinda go all out.

New Laundry System

I got this idea from another blog. Thought I would give it a try and it really works for me. Here's my new system:
I have one laundry basket per family member labeled with that person's name. They stay lined up in the hallway outside the laundry room(this is because we don't have a big enough laundry room to line them up in). When I fold the clothes I put them directly into the correct basket. When the basket gets about half full I say "BASKETS" and the kids know to go get their basket, take it to their room and put their clothes away. They put all undies, socks, jammies, and shorts/pants in the correct drawers. All shirts are hung up in the closet by the kids themselves. They then must bring the laundry basket back downstairs to the hall. For the dirty clothes- a hamper is provided in the boys room and when it gets full they bring it down and dump it in the laundry room. This has helped me a lot!!! My problem was the clothes would get "stuck" once they were clean and folded. I had trouble putting them away. I would pile them up in clean piles but not put them away. This way everyone is responsible for putting away their own clothes(including me). My kids are 5 and 8 and once I showed them how to do it they have done a great job with hanging things up themselves...may not always be perfect but hey...I'm far from perfect myself.

Our Trip

We just got back from a trip to the Smokies. First time for Roman and first time that Carson can remember! It was a fast one but so fun! We stayed at the Clarion Inn Willow River this time and it looked like an old southern plantation house instead of a hotel. The back of the hotel very closely resembled the White House. Very impressive! It had an indoor pool with a hot tub(which the boys loved) and an outdoor pool with a lazy river(which I loved). It was a bit far out from the main attractions of Pigeon Forge...it was in Sevierville and about 10 miles from the red light to go to Dollywood. We went to the Wonderworks Museum and it was fun for the kids and Neal especially! Neal and the boys all climbed a rock wall while I took pictures. We got to experience what hurricane force winds feel like in this one simulator. It was mostly a science type museum which is right up Carson's alley. For supper that night we were in search of a Pancake house. We couldn't find any that were open except the chain IHOP....so we ate there. The kids devoured their breakfast for supper so it was a good idea to stop there. We had eaten earlier for lunch at Fudrucker's and the kids didn't hardly touch their burgers. Dollywood was HOT the day we went. It was in the nineties that day with some passing thunderstorms. They had to stop the rides twice for thunder and lightening while we were there. We all loved the River Battle the best I believe. You get soaked! The boys (and me I will admit) loved shooting the water guns at people. We all rode Blazing Fury which ended up being a bit much for Roman we found out too late. It was a little scary since it was indoor roller coaster and mostly in the dark. Roman however LOVED Daredevil Falls which scared Carson and I quite a bit! The rampage was shut down while we were there so that was disappointing but overall a good hot day. Except for when we got poop splattered on us from ducks flying overhead...it was so disgusting!! It covered this family sitting on a bench as we walked by and we got the leftover splatters. Thought Carson was gonna throw up on the spot. We washed off in a bathroom and headed for a water ride to help get cleaned up. On the way home, we stopped in at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and it was neat to watch the fish swim. Neal and the boys LOVE going there and I actually don't mind it either. Reminds me a little of my dad's store growing up I used to work there. We were all so exhausted from the trip that we slept at least 8 hours the night we got home. The boys slept about 10!

The baby graduates today from Pre-K! Can't believe it! Trying to get a plan for the summer for our family. It usually works best when we keep some sort of structure to our days. Thinking about doing the summer reading program again at the local library. Also want to take the kids on some educational day trips. The area around here is rich with history and great stories for the kids to hear. I am wanting to get fishing licenses for all of us this year so we can take the boys to the lake and let them fish over the summer. We haven't fished here...usually save that for when we visit my mom or my husband's family. I love summertime and having boys running around in the evening catching fireflies :) We currently have a jar of tadpoles on the backdeck that came from the top of my mom's pool before they opened it. We are hoping that some of them will make it to adulthood. So far we have 1 with 2 back legs! Don't know if we should feed them something or not. We put a big rock for them to stand on when they are able and having been checking on them daily. I want to start walking again in the evenings like last summer. I think it would do us all good to walk about 30 min everyday. But first, we must get through this week of end of the year school stuff.

Pinewood Derby

Tonight my oldest son competed in the RA racers and won 2nd place! Yay Carson! I am so proud of him and especially happy to see him so proud and happy of himself. He went with a flatter racecar design this year painted red and light blue. He put three stripes on the spoiler on the back and an RA sticker on the hood plus the number 1. Not 01 like his dad recommended but just plain 1. He won a medal that looks like something off of the Olympics. Little bro did a great job of watching and waiting and cheering him on.

Long time no writing

Carson has turned 8 now and Roman has turned 5! Registered Roman for Kind. last week and can't believe my baby is going to be that big! We have had a busy winter of Upward basketball with Carson and I was an Upward Cheerleading coach this year for the first time. Spring time for us has meant that our weekends have settled down a bit but our weeks are still busy. Mom was supposed to come visit last weekend but luckily she didn't...it ended up being horrible weather.