Possibilities

The weekend before last I drove my three youngest to Hendersonville, N.C., where my dad lives so they could go to camp.  My dad feels it was a valuable experience he had and so he sent me and my sister to camp as well as the grand-kids. This year my sister Cathron's kids are going to camp with my kids, she stayed the week with my dad and then took my kids home with her to Indiana until July 7th when she is coming to Florida. I came home after a few days in N.C. because Stef was supposed to be moved from Shands Jacksonville to Shands Gainsville and we didn't know how soon they would do surgery.

Between going to a funeral  last week and visiting Stef at the hospital in Gainsville I haven't felt a wide expanse of free time that one would generally feel if three of their four children weren't at home. I made a list of possible projects I should work on over the next couple of weeks...so far nothing has been checked off.


That funeral really put me in a funk.

I'm sure the Holland family is feeling it way more than I am but I guess I'm just surprised how it has affected me.
I didn't even really know her.
A couple of years ago we were in a small group with her and her husband, then the next year when small groups changed we were in one with her daughter and her husband but that's been over two years ago since then.
Sigh.
The week before taking the kids to camp/the last week of school, I spent four out of the five days hanging with Stef at the hospital here in Jacksonville.  We had a couple of good talks about what salvation means to her and I helped her fill out her living will.  She initiated the conversations.  She told me she was scared and it all went from there.
Sigh.
She's asked for a chaplain every day since going to Gainsville and one hasn't come by yet.  I've got the name and number of a pastor that might be able to go by and see her before her surgery tomorrow.
The surgeons are giving her very good odds of coming through the surgery but the reality of how weak her heart and lungs are do not lend itself to confident expectations.

I didn't go over yesterday and I won't go over there today, all the family has arrived back....they came 10 days ago when the last surgery was scheduled but went home when the surgery was  then cancelled in pre-op because the surgeon wanted someone with congenital heart defect experience to operate.

 I'll go over tomorrow after I do my morning run.
I may be signing up to do a marathon in December.
Craig has been talking about doing one and then a bunch of gals from church just signed up for one and that has kinda motivated me to think of it as a possibility.

Remember singing that song when you were a kid...
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.


I just wish it was more clear what I'm supposed to be.


How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139 : 17-18 

Macaroni!"

A few weeks ago we were driving to pick up John-Thomas from school when I hear Elise yell out
"Macaroni!"
"Macaroni?" I ask?
"No mom, not macaroni, Mat Kearny."
much laughter
Duh, if I was listening to the radio I would've realised that "Down" was playing on the radio.
"Hey Mama" had been our favorite since May when it was released.  We played it a half dozen times singing and dancing in our little house instead of doing school.
Now whenever he comes on the radio, we shout "Macaroni!" It brings a smile to my face every time.

And another thing

My sister and brother-in-law excel at

1. hospitality, ie...regularly sharing dinner with friends
2. after dinner devotions

Pictured here are my sister and 3 of her kids, me and 2 of mine and 3 guests also with a child. Not pictured is the giggles that happened during devotions. It was a scene straight out of my childhood. Elise got the giggles and was trying to control herself while Dave was reading Thessalonians. She composed herself until I looked up at her and she looked at me, while Cathron was looking at both of us, and immediately Elise bust out uncontrollably again. I don't know how many times I got in trouble when I was her age for laughing uncontrollably at dinner. All it took was my eyes locking on Cathron's to get me started. Nothing said, no funny look...
I can't explain it and if it hadn't happened just that way during Dave's valorous attempt at sharing the word then I might have explained it away that Cathron must have given me a funny look to make me laugh so....but no, just something unspoken in the eyes.
This is what I was remembering yesterday about my week in Indiana.

Chronic

Saturday we used up the last bit on Josh's AMC gift card to see Night at the Museum 2. Then after lunch we headed to the downtown library. We had forgotten that the Jazz festival was going on and so we ended up walking around downtown and taking the Skyway Express across the river and back...why? because it was free and the kids enjoyed it. We did end up filling up our library bags...lots of Garfield comic books for the boys and barbie books for Elise. Nothing for me.....well, I did place a hold on the latest Sisters Grimm book...which technically would be for Stewart because he asked but you know I love that series too.

Yesterday during my jog on the treadmill I found this song by Third Day encouraging me to run not walk.
Today I latched onto a line from Caedmon's Call song Thankful

But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

Yesterday there was much sneezing and Benedryl taking which also meant much sleeping and eating so I didn't get nauseated...
Today I put a scripture card in front of me but found it hard to focus on the words while combating my inner voice yelling at me that she hates exercising and wants to stop and then there's the lyrics to the songs vying for attention. Maybe a different verse would work better I don't know. I am chronically a failure but as the song goes:
I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

Tut, Tut, Looks like rain

This morning there was steady rain which formed rivulets down our road. With no thunder or lightening to be heard, Elise and Emmett headed out to play in the rain and ensuing mud. What a wonderfully rainy day.

While on vacation we swam almost every day and twice I went for a jog...absolutely nothing since we've been back. So, I picked up a shovel and started digging as well. I managed to dig a nice little drainage rut so the water would drain off our road to lower ground. The blisters on my palms said I did too much. My aching back says go to bed. It was a nice distraction from an email a "friend" sent who unloaded some pressure to join in on a MultiLevel Marketing/pyramid business.

YUCK.

Instead of thinking about that though I tried to remember all those summers I spent at my grandparent's home outside Blairsville, GA digging in their stream and making dams. One year my dad even bought some cement for us to make a more formidable dam. That water was so cold and there were skinks everywhere.

When my grandparents bought the property there was a trough at the bottom of the spring and we used to put watermelon in there to chill.

Then and now I thoroughly dislike the sticky watermelon juice running all down my face and hands. While we were out on the boat this summer everyone was gladly taking their watermelon wedge, but I offered to cut my own and then sliced and diced bite sized pieces. I don't mind having mud head to toe from digging but heaven forbid some watermelon juice touches my skin.

Shrimp Anyone?

Several days ago I took some shrimp out of the freezer to thaw for when Josh's parent's visit. There was still 5 lbs of shrimp up in the freezer that was for John and Anne to take home.
Yesterday or the day before I mentioned to Josh about the stink in the fridge, and noted that they must be thawing. Our fridge isn't that big and we have to move stuff all the time to get at what we need at the moment, and the shrimp were at the top front because that was the only place a frozen bag of shrimp would fit. Surely he must've seen it at some point.

Fast forward to this afternoon.
Josh, the boys and his parents go out while Elise takes a nap. I peel the shrimp, make a salad, cut up some fruit, and bake an angel food cake. Then Elise woke up and she wanted to plant some seeds so out we went. Projects done, kitchen tidied up, I'm feelin good.

Then Josh comes home and chops up the peppers and onions and starts sauteing. He also uses my big pot of water, that I had set out to cook the kid's pasta, to boil some shrimp. Now he's ready for the shrimp, I tell him it's in the green Tupperware bowl. That's not 5lbs he says.
Uh, oh.
For days he's been thinking that I took down his parents shrimp to cook for them and planning on some shrimp feast to beat all feasts but I not knowing how much shrimp is in the bags....just knowing I'm sick of it in my freezer/fridge thought there was enough for them. After all the kids weren't eating it, they were having spaghetti sauce w/rotini.
Uh, oh.
Glad we had just gone to a marriage conference and we didn't need to have someone to blame or need to get upset over not enough food for our guests. Whatever.
I made more salad and Josh sauteed some healthy rotini in the sauce left over from the shrimp and there was enough.
My angel food cake wasn't a fluffy sponge cake...more like an absorbent one but it tasted good with some strawberries. So that's my silly story for today. Hope you had a blessed Lord's Day.

Swamp Visit

This morning we had to be at the Gainesville Rock Gym by 9 am for John-Thomas's first rock climbing competition. Brought snacks and drinks and my Northanger Abbey book to read but didn't remember the CAMERA. Fortunately the G.R.G. has lots of photos on their website. That place is incredible. The kids who climbed were unbelievable. I'm spent after 3 or 4 easy climbs and these kids climbed 8-10 hard climbs, sometimes falling over and over again and then succeeding. One kid not any bigger than Emmett struggled to get to the top and I had tears in my eyes when he made it, I watched the same kid another time and teared up a second time. God must feel that way when we are having a hard time and yet persevere.

I was supposed to watching my own kid and I was clapping and cheering on that other boy. Crazy. I only got nervous for my own son once but definitely felt his disappointment when in the end he was too tired to try anymore. 3 and 1/2 hrs of climbing is plenty. Several times my heart was racing like I was watching an intense movie. In the end he came in 5th. The other boy from our rock gym came in 7th so that tickled our son's mild competitive side. In three weeks there will be a competition at our gym, hopefully I will get some pictures then.

Inaugural Easter Egg Hunt

Since the boys are getting too big to participate in local Easter Egg hunts I decided to have one at my house and invite some friends. A while back Gloria gave me some kite kits and potato sack race bags that we put to good use along with over 150 eggs of our own. The Pierson's and Billman's joined us as well as Yohanna and my mom.

That was yesterday...I started the post and then never finished it.

Today was off to a good start. Woke up on my own at 5:30, so even though my plan was to only serve cereal this morning, I had time to make Resurrection Rolls for the kids and some awesome scrambled eggs with sweet peppers, onions and feta cheese for Josh and I. There was time to prep the Ham Loaf, wash the dishes and be out the door by 8:15 to pick up Yohanna's dad on the way to church. After the wonderful Resurrection Service there was a Continental breakfast.

Side note time....

Remember when you were 12 & 1/2 and no one understood you or played by your rules and nothing could make you happy...well that possessed my son through one of the danishes after church today and kept possession of him all through the day.

Fortunately my friend Susan brought her Easter Pinata over today and all sorts of Easter Funness. My friend Tracy and my mom also joined in our Easter lunch, each bringing something yummy for us to indulge. Tracy brought Corn Souffle, my mom brought Asparagus, Potato Salad and Strawberry Pies, and Susan brought some fresh Turnip/Mustard Greens. I provided our family's traditional Ham Loaf, deviled eggs and Broccoli Salad for the kids.

So, Tavia, here is my lovely Easter picture.

Emmett is finding the whole thing amusing because he isn't the one in trouble. Stewart is making a note to self to not be possessed by evil danishes while Josh is trying to do the exorcism. Elise isn't in the picture because she went to church with my mom so that we would have room in the car to bring Yohanna and his dad to our church.

Beware, your time of silliness may be replaced by strange danish possesions (aka hormones).

Robin, do you have any pictures like this yet?

7 years ago

The top right of the waterfall picture has a covered bridge peeking out of the trees and that is where the picture of Emmett was taken. Emmett turns 7 tomorrow. For some reason I think he is turning 5. Wonder why that is? Seven years ago Josh and I went to see the movie Finding Forrester in a packed theater... the only two seats available were the very topleft and though I'm sure Josh thought about splitting up to avoid such dreadful seats he didn't. After the relaxing movie we went home and I had a LARGE rootbeer float while Josh took apart the washing machine that wasn't working. After I finished my float I went out into the garage to find Josh with all the parts spread across the garage floor to tell him my water broke, there was meconium and we needed to go to the hospital right away. When we called Josh's sister to tell her she thought we were joking because he had just been down to Vero for the movie.
I am so thankful for quick deliveries because the drama involved with his birth seemed to last an eternity...He tried to be born with the cord wrapped around his neck and then looped around his shoulder. There was also a true knot in the cord, a crazy child even in the womb. Three days in the Nicu from meconium aspiration and we got to bring our third and final boy home. He wants to go iceskating on his birthday, we went last year but haven't been back. Last year we went with Josh's dad and this year Emmett has asked Gramma. It will be a nice ending to our little winter break.

Dupont State Forest

Today we walked over two miles through the Dupont State Forest near Hendersonville. We saw Hooker Falls and High Falls, a covered bridge and a nice blanket of snow that was becoming mushy by the time we headed back to my dad's for lunch. Don't think we'll be doing any jump roping today. Josh carried Elise much of the way. The kids and I have been here before and splashed in the water durring warmer weather, it was so nice to finally be able to explore w/Josh...and have someone else to take pictures.

God Rest ye merry Gentleman

We had planned to go to Sebastian for Christmas but in the craziness that was the week before Christmas we opted to stay at home all by ourselves and it was such a relaxed day. I stayed in my pj's until 11 and in between our one present an hour marathon unwrapping I fixed our lunch/dinner. Around 5 my mom poped in for a visit...she didn't know we had stayed in town and we didn't know she was home either so the kids only thought they were done with presents. Tonight Gloria hosted a get together for our highschool gang. I remembered to take my camera but didn't remember to take it out until Tavia had already left...that doesn't sound right...but that was just how it happened. Jenette, Gloria, Tavia, Ron and myself all still involved in church and working out our faith...if someone would've told me that in Highschool I would've said of course we'll all still be belivers but seeing people come in and out of the faith over the years makes me grateful for God's abounding grace in our lives. Now I just wish I could add a picture w/out distorting it.

13 years and counting

This morning I made sausage links, sausage gravy, drop biscuits and eggs even though traditionally we celebrate our anniversary at Cracker Barrel where Josh and I met. We figured maybe it cost us $7 to feed the family this morning instead of the $30+ that dining out would have set us back....not to mention that Josh wanted to order an Uncle Hershel's which would have cost us a new pair of pants because he wouldn't be able to fit into the ones he has after eating all that food. More than remember the day we got married I am remembering the first time I met Josh. Refilling my sugar containers w/ equal amounts of sugar packets, equal and sweetnlow Josh asked me out on a date. I really don't remember actually meeting him before that but I do remember hastily saying yes just so I wouldn't get sidetracked remembering everything I had to do at that new waitress job. We went to Chili's on our date and while we were waiting for our table we had a great discussion about politics and religion and I remember thinking he is the easiest person in the world to talk to. He still is. We went to see Sleepless in Seattle after dinner and then we went to Julie's bar where all the Cracker Barrel employees hung out. It was a wonderful date and a wonderful 13 years.

Redneck Thanksgiving

It rained/drizzled until noon so we set up some redneck tents. The skies cleared by 1 so we brought the food outside and had a nice buffet. Josh's sister Stefani fried a turkey to add to my turkey. Mom gave me some brine to soak the turkey in and I basted it with butter and it came out wonderful. The brine was $10 but worth every penny...I highly recommend it! After all the eating and cleaning we packed up and went to Little Talbot Island to camp for two days with the Troisis (our friends from Palm Bay). Friday, Josh's dad and Anne joined us on a visit to Ft. Clinch in Fernandina, Fl. We spent 4 wonderful hours at the fort. We explored all over and then we joined a "soldier" on a historic tour. Several times he commented how inappropriately I was dressed with exposed ankles. He told us about everything from blacksmiths to washerwomen duties to lice races. We also heard a critter talk on the beach side of Little Talbot Island and learned about the Chuck Willls bird and Bob Cats. Jennifer was good enough to make some question sheets about all our education activities this weekend so we will claiming those hours for FLVA. This was our second Thanksgiving with the Troisi family, my mom and Josh's folks and I hope we have many more to come.

Death by Broccoli

12 years ago today I was waiting for the unknown evil effects of Patosin to kick in. Visiting with Mike and Robin when they droped off a Classic Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal and a crib mirror I think. Then Brian and Wendy stoped by and my mom was there and Josh was in and out until he needed to not leave unless he wanted to die. Our first baby boy born durring hurricane Opal, the electricity went out at Tallahassee Memorial after he was born and there was almost no light in the hospital...ah the joys of learning how to nurse without being able to see. Enough about me, John-Thomas woke up at 5:30 by himself eager start the birthday festivities. I had to take Stewart to get blood drawn at 6:15 this morning...well check up related. Then we picked up the rest of the gang and went to Chik-Fil-A for chicken minis...Yum...the coffee was horrible though. He asked for fish sticks and broccoli salad for lunch. I made broccoli salad for the first time last weekend and my non-vegetable eater plowed through it. This week we will have gone through a 3lb bag of broccoli florets from Sams. We took a cake to rock climbing class today and had a mini celebration there, Josh was able to stop by on his rounds and see him blow out the candles and then tonight John-Thomas has asked that I put pinapple and ham on the kids pizza. Took the day off from school, between computer time, legos and Mexican Train Dominoes it has been a good day.

French Toast

Ever ironed sheets? I've been told stories about my grandmother on ironing day, that once a week endeavor when there was one lone Cocal Cola in the ice box. Now we have soda in the fridge for whenever because it is a rare event indeed when I break out my iron. Tonight however when I took Elise's Ooh, La, La Land of Nod sheet out of the dryer it was seriously wrinkled. Flashbacks to my dear sweet grandmother's diligent housekeeping gently told me what had to be done. Thanks Cathron for getting Elise such pretty sheets. ;-) The song Popular added to my playlist was from the play Wicked Cathron saw in Chicago. She said several of the songs were funny, What is this feeling? is a funny song but they didn't have it on playlist. Josh and I have had a fun night laughing over music we've found. Speaking of funny, Josh downloaded a song a few years back that cracks up the whole family : Toast by Heywood Banks. I found him on youtube, we never knew he was actually playing a toaster! It ends a little different than we're used to, almost didn't post it. The first time I heard it I didn't think it was all that funny but it is amazing what you'll think is funny if you're kids are laughing. What do you think is funny? Ironing sheets? Or toast? Josh didn't blog tonight but he has been helping me write this, does that count?

Junior Ranger

Today we met Stewart's friend Sam and his mom out at the Ribault Club/Kingsley Plantation to hear a talk on Shark's Teeth. The blurb on the Park's website said it was going to tell you when and where to find them...turns out we already know...low tide near the WhiteShell Fish Camp. That's where we went with my cousin last year and Susan and were estatic to find 10 until we found out my cousin had found 100. Anyway, after the shark teeth talk we walked around the Ribault club looking at the exhibits and while in the bookstore the park ranger set us up with the Junior Ranger program. We had to read the exhibits and answer the questions, fortunate for us we had been there a handful of times so we almost knew the answers by memory. Then we had to drive down to Kingsley Plantation to answer some questions down there. Of course I forgot my camera AGAIN. They had a wonderful garden set up with Sea Island cotton that looked like a neat form of Hibiscus, and they had indigo plants and some other flowers that I don't remember. The kids got their Ranger Pins and then John-Thomas and Stewart were invited home with Sam so I stoped by to see my aunt since I was almost across the street from her house and I hadn't seen her in a month. I am pooped, it's been an active week.

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun

It was Beach day. The waves were gentle, no undertow, and light sun. We remembered to reapply our sun screen before we got burnt. The boys all tried the surfboard a little more diligently than they have before because there was surf camp going on with some very successful kids. Unfortunately I forgot the fins again for the surfboard making any attempts challenging. One of the kids from swim team that we met up with at the beach took the board to a surf instructor asking for tips and even he had a hard time with the board.

Dashed to the downtown library to pick up some wonderful peaches from Susan that her parents had brought back from Georgia for me. MMMMM, nothing better than a peach the size of your palm with juice dripping off your hand as you take your first bite. Can't get that from the store, at least my Publix purchases have failed me this summer.

Now it's Friday night Pizza time and I need to go watch my crusts that they don't get too burned. Am making a homemade sauce tonight because I am out of spaghetti sauce. My hands smell like garlic, hopefully the pizza will be great. Ate some chips and salsa while I was getting the pizza together so I don't know how much pizza I'll even be able to eat. Walked two miles last night and two on Monday, hoping for another 2 tonight but right now it is storming so I'm not too optimistic.