Bucket List Update

One of the items on my "Bucket List" was to take some frame quality photos. Saturday, Ron and I went shopping and bought a new camera. I am scheduled for my first class in May. It is actually just a basic class, but it's a start.

I will have to say, I have some beautiful subjects to practice on.

Happy Birthday Kay

Kay's birthday is February 28th! To surprise Kay, Amber cooked dinner for Kay, Jim, Ron and I.

Even though we live only about 15 miles apart, Kay and I never seem to find or make the time to visit each other.

Of my 3 sisters, Kay and I are closest in age. We went to school together, at one time we worked in the same shopping center. Kay worked at Krogers, I worked next door at TG&Y(pre-WalMart) Our future husbands were roommates at one time. And, we had a double wedding!

FYI We did not have a double honeymoon!

We had our kids 11 months apart.(Kay did not cooperate and have that 3rd)

When our kids were little, we got together for play dates for the kids. Then, when our kids were older, we were going to activities for them. Next, we worked while while our kids were starting their own families.

Now when we see each other, we are usually having a family event and playing with our grandchildren. I know Kay wouldn't change a thing, and I sure wouldn't, but we have not spent time together.

My sisters are my best friends! I have decided as an addition to my "Bucket List", I will be spending some one on one time with my sisters!

I was so excited when Amber asked if we could come to dinner. That was just what I had been wanting.

So, Amber prepared a delicious meal of chicken enchiladas, mex rice, bean dip and a yummy chocalate cake. And she hosted at her house, with fresh flowers, no less, welcomed us, then her, Randy and Ethan went out. I felt like we were at a 5 star restaurant.

Thank you Amber, Randy and Ethan!

Attention Sisters! I want some more time with each one of you!

We Have Sound!

Ron and I bought a big TV when we did our house remodel. I love the picture on this TV. We have seen details that we had basically never seen in our old TV. But we never have been happy with the sound. Ron wears hearing aids and even he couldn't hear half of what was said on TV. We were constantly, well, I was constantly replaying shows to try to determine what was said. Sometimes we never did know what was supposed to be so funny or so sad.

I had the Geek Squad set up our sound bar, it was supposed to give us sounds. It didn't help.

Well, I ordered these Sony headphones! It took us weeks to determine how to hook them up, I tried, Paula tried. Ron finally, in desperation, started plugging and unplugging cords and finally!

WE HAVE SOUND!

Now I am hearing things I have never heard before. I can hear background noise that I could not hear when I took the headphones off.

Now, we don't have to worry that the neighbors will be able to hear our TV because it was so loud before.

Temple Grandin and Parenting

I watched the most amazing show on HBO, the biography of Temple Grandin. She is an animal science professor and an autism advocate. And she is autistic. If you know someone or love someone with autism, you probably know her name. She has written books and done studies about animal care and how it relates to her autism.
As she describes herself, "I'm not like other people. I think in pictures. And I connect them."
You can google "Temple Grandin" and get a review of the HBO bio or read about her. Claire Danes plays Temple in the bio. It's a very interesting biography.
I have a great niece with autism. I knew her before diagnosis and after. It is such a hard to understand diagnosis. The bio shed some light on how people with autism think and feel.
I had actually read one of her books about the animal studies and found it to be interesting, but didn't really understand her lack of emotion. The book was full of information and her views, but her lack of feeling about the animals was strange to me. She developed a way for cattle to be slaughtered in a more humane manner. Even if you love to eat beef, you don't really want to know about the hoof to table details.
I don't know if the bio was true to her life, I assume it was, but it opened my eyes a little.
The interesting thing was that learning about her life made me think about raising a child. You find out early in the bio that in the 1960's, children with autism were not thought to improve. But Temple's mother refused to believe that her daughter could not learn, she taught her at home, pushing, yet accepting who Temple was. Like she only ate jello and pudding! Now what mother would let her child get away with only eating jello and pudding. And Temple went to college. What mother would make a child go to college and live in a dorm, when that was obviously so painful for her.
I don't see myself letting my kids only eat jello and pudding. But then again, they loved food, so it was never an issue. But could I have really made them do something that they didn't want to do.
Well, NO!
I had a kid that was not autistic, but who was different that I was, actually, all three of my kids were different from me. And I couldn't force my way of doing things on them.
And I am glad I couldn't.
I could encourage them, but ultimately they had to make a choice.
Now, they did have to go to school, brush their teeth, go to bed, do their homework, go to church and behave in a socially acceptable manner. But in the end, they had to decide what to do in life and how they did it.
So, we encouraged, we provided the means, we made them try almost everything; music, dance, sports, reading, writing, art. We had a piano, flute, baseball, softball, batting tee, batting cage.....
I took them to lessons. I played baseball and softball, when it was obvious that I did not know how to throw a ball. Or run or even understand the game. We went to pro ball games, the opera and even the ballet. Brad doesn't believe me when I say he watched the ballet, turned to me and told me he wanted to do that. We took them to church, prayed with them, prayed for them.
All those activities took so much of our time! And money and energy! But I can't imagine how overwhelming it was for Temple's mother got her just to talk! The simple skills most kids learn without effort, walking, talking, enjoying activities, was a major ordeal for Temple and her mother. And she didn't just learn how to talk, she excelled in her field!
Somehow we parents have to learn to encourage our children to learn skills, grow, achieve and become functioning adults at whatever level they are capable of. Even when they are grown, they have gone to school, played sports, sang, danced or whatever their passion became, as parents, we still question, "Did we do it right? Did we push just enough? Did we praise enough? Are they happy? Did they reach their potential?"
I am so proud of my children for the adults they have become! I think they experienced life in positive manner. They are happy, pretty well adjusted adults, so I guess we didn't fail them.
But through all this, maybe the most important is "Did they learn to love the Lord? Do they serve God?" From the bio of Temple, you don't really know if she knew about God, when an animal died, then later her teacher, she said, "where did they go"? Good question.
Our reward for the investment in our children is to observe them parent their children, and work and have relationships! And what a glorious reward it it! And see if they can answer, "Where did they go?'

Bucket List

Andrea forwarded an email about a "Bucket List", you were to check off what you had done and forward it to your friends. I thought it was very interesting. I was pleased to see that I had done many of the things on the bucket list, and very sad about some of them also. Seeing a person die was not really on my list of things I wanted to do, but sadly, I did experience that. Some of my bucket list things were not on the list. So I thought I would come up with my own "Bucket List".
These are not in order of importance.

1. travel to Hawaii
2. travel to Alaska
3. travel travel travel in the continental US!!! too many places to list
4. write a childrens book
5. learn to play the piano
6. learn to take awesome pictures worthy of framing
7. learn to watercolor, mostly flower and bird pictures
8. celebrate 50 years of marriage
9.get healthy, lose weight, blah blah blah
10.live long enough to see great grandchild
11. semi retire, so that we can travel more
12. wittnessing my grandchilden accepting the Lord as savior
13. snow ski


Hummm, so how to achieve those items on my bucket list.

1. work harder to make more money so we can travel
2. work at getting healthy so we can live long enough to travel and see great grandchildren
3.get busy taking some lessons!!! watercolor, photography, something
4. teach children Bible lessons
5.get Ron busy getting healthy too

Ok, so my goals are not that unattainable. I feel really blessed to know that so many things on that original "Bucket List" I have already done.
I have seen grandchildren.
I am able to see those grandchildren several times a week
I have seen the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
I have been to Canada, Mexico and Turkey
I have flown
I have a double oven and big kitchen for family dinners
I actually have the life of my dreams!
Thank you Lord!

Simple Pleasures

Paula and Andrea added a "Simple Pleasures" Post, so I thought I would come up with some of my own.


reading a book to one of the grandchildren that they requested by title

seeing a child smile

having a grandchild reach their little hands up for me to pick them up

finding a cute outfit for one of the grandchildren

seeing a childsize handprint on the window, even when the kids have gone home

just about anything related to my grandchildren

teaching Bible lessons, and hearing a parent tell me their child told them what the lesson was

hearing a child say their Bible verse

coffee, especially the first cup of the day

grinding coffee beans at night in the anticipation of morning coffee

birds at the feeder

the first flowers of spring

flower buds on trees in anticipation of spring

planting a tree

waking to the singing of birds

sharing a laugh with my husband

sharing a really good dessert with my husband

clean sheets

smelling dial bath soap, especially on my husband

Christmas cards, sending and receiving

decorating for Christmas

buying new ornaments

shopping

reading blogs

playing scrabble on my iphone

Happy Birthday Poppa!

For Ron's 60th Birthday, we took the whole family to Disney World! All 14 1/2 of us, 8 adults, 6 kids and baby yet to be born! I just realized that you can't see Phoenix in that picture!

I have been saving up for this for quite a while. I am very proud of the fact that half of the trip was paid for with reward dollars, meaning it was free! I bought some new Christmas ornaments with my reward dollars and they were free!

We had the deluxe dinning plan, if you ever go to Disney, this a really a good bargin, you have three meals a day and a snack, and it doesn't matter if you order a cheeseburger or a prime rib dinner! We all loved that.

Seeing the characters and the rides through the eyes of our grandchildren was so exciting! I like the rides and think the characters are fun, but seeing the kids enjoy that was priceless!

The fireworks, parades, shows, I don't know what was best. We watched Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King, Nemo, a Bird Show! I loved the playgrounds, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Pooh's playground and Minnies House. At Epcot we saw Talk Time with Crush!, had German food, sang a poolka! I bought German Christmas ornaments!

It was fun despite the crying, the blisters, the sprained ankle, the stomach virus, getting up early, the aching joints of the old people! We spent too much money, they babies were too young, but when I look at the pictures, it was all worth it!

I have already starting saving for the next trip!

Violet

Violet pretty much did not like those Disney characters! We watched the Animal Kingdom parade and she finally slapped the hand of one of the craziest scariest characters of all!

We don't have a picture, but Veronika is afraid of dark places and dark rides, speed is OK, but not dark and loud, like Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Usula was pretty scary. By the last night, she road Pirates of the Carribean! and wasn't afraid!

Jackson, Tucker and the Brazillian Beauties

Ron and I took Jackson and Tucker on the Toy Story Mania ride, while Tucker was shopping for his Baby Woody, this woman asked me if her girls could have their picture taken with Woody and Buzz, they thought they were SO CUTE!
Well, I thought about making sure that was OK with Brad and Paula, but decided they would love it, and they did, Brad was so PROUD!
The woman said they were cheerleaders from Brazil! The picture doesn't do justice to how cute they were, the girls and the boys.

Evie and Pluto

Evie kissing Pluto!

Buzz and Woody Meeting Buzz and Woody

Jackson and Tucker were in full costume for meeting Buzz and Woody, I think the workers really enjoyed setting up their meeting, especially since Tucker had his baby Woody. Jackson decided on the baby Buzz later in the trip! The girls bringing the kids into the room made a big production of Jackson an Tucker surprising Buzz and Woody with their costumes.

Grumpy

Ron and I have very few "good" photos together! Why does he say he loves to go to Disney World and then have a grumpy smile?

Just for the record, he had a great time, he rocked babies to sleep, fed babies and toddlers, carried them, rode the rides with them and pushed the strollers too!

Babes in Toyland "DisneyWorld"

Phoenix aka "Little Steve"

Evie aka "Little Josh"

Three babies in Disney World is crazy, there was a lot of crying, diapers and napping. But the trip was still wonderful.

Disney 2010

Tucker and Slinky

Mickey kissing Phoenix

Violet on the Bug at the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground!

Josh, Amanda and Evie at Hollywood

Jackson taking care of Evie at the airport at the beginning of the trip.

New Year

A new year brings so many possibilities! A new beginning for so many goals, whatever our goals may be. And so many possibilities for new experiences.

I am so excited about the New Year! Like celebrating Ron's 60th birthday. We will be taking a family trip to celebrate!

I plan to have a portrait taken of us. This age is it, we will record this age for the future. Like the driver's license photo, I always think it's such a bad picture, until I have to get a new photo 4 years later! Uhgg. So I think it is time to record this age before we get any older.

I am excited about new gardening opportunities. I love gardening so much that I included the garden picture! And it is not even mine, I borrowed the picture from Ann's picture file. Thanks Sister! I really enjoy my gardening and bird watching. What can I say, it was the first day of the year and rather than put up my Christmas decorations, I worked on my bird feeders.

I am exited about the opportunities to share the love of Jesus with children. I was showing Jackson the kids Nativitiy scene and he started asking questions about what I was telling him. That reminded me of how important my responbilities as a Christian, a teacher at church and as a grandmother are. What a blessing to be able to share the love of Jesus!

After Christmas Fun

After opening presents and eating breakfast we went outside to play for a little while. The tire swing is the same tire swing we hung up when Brad was little.

Trimming the Tree

I didn't actually have the kids help me decorate the tree, I just staged these pictures. But I do think next year I want to get a better camera and actually let the grandkids help me decorate the tree. It makes for some pretty pictures!

Ron's Christmas Gift

I bought Ron a train set for Christmas. Ron doesn't get excited about much, but he went right to work putting the train together to have it ready for the grandkids! He says we have Brad's train set up in the attic, but I don't remember seeing it for years! I hope we don't pack this one away and forget about it.

Merry Christmas 2009

For the last few years I have bought the grandkids Christmas pajamas and taken a picture of them all together. It is really hard to get 6 kids smiling all at the same time. Next year we get to try to get 7 kids smiling all at the same time.

I did realize it doesn't matter if they all smile or look at the camera, the beauty of it all is just that they are so CUTE!

Thanksgiving in Baton Rouge

Movie night for the kids and grandmothers! And Radio Flyers from Wal Mart!

Thanksgiving in Baton Rouge

Ann and family hosted my family for a Thanksgiving weekend in Baton Rouge. We enjoyed the best food and the best company. Fried turkey, pumpkin bread, corn casserole, shrimp boil, boudan, and more! After feasting for three days, most of the young adults went to the LA/AR football game. I know they had a great time. Ann and I, with the help of Ron, Daniel, Chad and Stacy took care of 7 children, my 6 grandchildren and 1 of Ann's.

We played games, visited, did some crafts, mostly just had a great time.

Thank you Ann and Daniel for hosting our Thanksgiving!

Getting Old and Pickles

Ron is going to turn 60 in 2010! I have been making arrangements for his celebrations, we are going to celebrate all year in fact.

Sometimes I worry about getting old!

I love the Pickles Cartoon. The old couple have been married for 50 years. They are so funny and so real!

Getting old sometimes seems really bad. I can' see very well. I have so many aches and pains. I don't know where all these wrinkles came from! And the grey hair...!

But getting old has it's rewards too. Our kids are grown and out of the house. We get to spend our money on ourselves or the grandkids, because that is really fun too. Cooking for two is easy.
The peace and quite is wonderful, no fighting!

Young parents, do not dispair, your reward will come in 20 years or so!

I love this!

Snapdragon

This picture doesn't really show how it works, but if squeeze the sides of the flower, it opens and closes, like a mouth, a dragon mouth.

Memories

It has been over a year since my Mom died. April 13, 2008. I haven't been to the cemetary to visit her grave. Friday night I was coming home from some errands in Benton and Bryant, and decided to drive down Highway 5. It's such a peaceful drive and I can check out landscaping along the way. I guess because night comes late, the gates to Pinecrest were still open. I decided it was time to visit my mother's grave.
It may seem strange to visit a cemetary, but we were raised to visit the cemetary several times a year. Our brother had died at a young age. I guess our parents wanted us to remember him and honor his memory. He died before the three youngest of us were born. My parents had Robert and Anita, my Mom was pregnant with Ann, when they had the wreck.
It was always a big event to visit the cemetary, we took flowers to decorate the graves of my grandparents, my brother, several uncles, and cousins. Then my Dad died and we continued to take our Mother to visit. It was a part of our life.
Now my parents are not here to tell me to visit the cemetary. I went, but didn't have any flowers. I paid my respects to my family. I have had a little guilt about not going this past year.
I decided that I do not have to visit the cemetary to remember and honor my family that have gone on before me. I remember them all the time.
When I work in my garden I think about how much my father loved working in his garden. My sisters and I dug up plants out of his garden before we sold the house we grew up in. I have iris, buttercups, and 4 o'clocks that came from his garden. Some of the 4'oclocks came to me by way of Ann's house. I brought his round stepping stones from the front yard and placed them in my garden. I step on them whenever I do yard work.
My Dad built a chest when he was in the navy. I have had it in storage for years. Ron got it out for me and fixed the broke legs. I am in the process of sanding and restoring it.
My Mom, in her younger days, laid a slate rock patio. Last week I was making a rock walkway, and I thought of that patio. I guess I always loved growing things. My Mom helped me plant radishes when I was young, my garden was maybe a 2 foot square, I have vivid memories of watching them grow.
I am in the process now of helping my children and grandchildren make those memories. Monday, I had Jackson and Tucker help me plant some cosmos seeds. And they got to pick fresh blueberries from my bushes. Veronika had a dance recital tonight, I was able to pick her an orange lily from my garden.
I want the memories of my family to be full of happy times, that they will know how much I love them. And they will remember the times we spent together. I want to be at every ball game, every recital, every party and I feel so blessed to be invited and able to particiapate in these events.
Paula told me a funny story. I had taken Veronika, Jackson and Tucker to a play at the Childrens Theater. We sat in the garden waiting for the show. I picked a snapdragon and showed it to the kids. Paula said when she cut a muffin sideways, the boys said , "Oh, that looks like a snapdragon, like Dodi showed us."

MOPS

The last MOPS meeting for the year was last Wednesday. The moms had a short meeting, then they had the volunteers come to the Life Center to thank them for taking care of their kids during the year. Then the MOPPETS sang. This is Brother Marks version of Deep and Wide. Jackson and Tucker think it is hilarious!

Hummingbirds

This is from August 2008. We have hummingbirds, but not this many yet. They usually increase in the numbers in the heat of summer.

Getting Tagged

I, of course, will goof up this getting tagged thing, but here goes.

First, 8 things I look forward to:
Having a new grandson, Phoenix.
Spending time with my grandchildren.
Growing flowers, especially sunflowers, zinnia, cosmos, morning glories, and food like, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, etc. and perennials.
Getting to swim this summer, especially with the grandchildren.
Getting my house finished so that we will have more room to enjoy the grandchildren and the enhanced view of the garden and birds.
Planning Ron's 60th birthday celebration.
Waking up each day, enjoying the first cup of coffee while watching birds at the feeders.

8 things I did yesterday
birdwatched(I can't hardly get dressed for watching the birds)
worked
enjoyed my coffee
went to Jackson's TBall game, sat in the van in pouring rain until it was cancelled
ate dinner at East End Cafe
remembered why I do not like dinner at East End Cafe
read the newpaper
went to bed, but couldn't sleep, so watched TV until 2:00, which actually was today, which caused me to be sluggish all day today

8 TV shows I watch
American Idol, 1st year for me and I have really enjoyed it
Scrubs
Ugly Betty
Office
30 Rock
How I Met Your Mother
Big Bang
Chuck
(when I watch TV I also read the paper, home decorating or gardening magazines and play solitare on my iphone, which would explain why I don't get ANY house work done, even though all we have right now is the pool house and bedroom.)

8 people I tag
any and everyone who might read this

Awana is over for the year!

Veronika is in Sparks. She received the First Book Award. I know that Veronika worked really hard to learn her Bible verses to complete the book.

Jackson received his first year award. These kids learn the Bible at Awana! They have Bible time, devotion time, play time and snacks.

Awana stands for "Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed". This program teaches Bible scripture to kids. I have not really worked with the actual Awana program, just the Pre-Cubbies, the kids too young for Awana.

This is my 6th year teaching Awana. I still love it, but I still feel like I do not know what I am doing, it's hectic, crazy, kids everywhere. Some nights all we do is feed them, take them to the bathroom, change a diaper or two, and try to keep them from hurting each other.

Every Wednesday night I just pray they received a little bit of the love of Jesus amid the chaos! By the end of the year they amazed me with what they knew. They start the year learning to talk, by the spring, they can tell you that Jesus died for them!

This year we had 13 children! Andrea, Amanda and Paula have all helped this year, along with several other mothers of the children. Thank goodness for the help, it takes every hand available to help these little ones.

Awana Cubbies

This is Jackson's Cubbie awards.

Awana

This is the PreCubbies singing at the Awana closing on Sunday night.

Happy Birthday Tucker

Tucker will turn 3 on April 29! He is such a sweet heart! I love hearing his voice, so soft and sweet. He has such a huge vocabulary, he can carry on quite a conversation!

I have been keeping him all by himself during Jackson's TBall practice. It has been a special time for us because we get to visit with just him.

I love seeing all the grandkids play and interact, but one on one time is pretty fun too!

Happy Birthday Violet

Violet turned 1 on Tuesday. What a great year it has been. This little girl is such a joy! I have loved watching her grow this past year.

Hummingbird, first sighting April 4

April 4, the first hummingbird of the year! I was sitting in the carport, rocking Evie, and I saw the first little hummer. This is always exciting for me. Spring is just the best time of the year.
I immediately tried to fill up a feeder. Well, we are in the middle of remodeling our house. So I couldn't find the box with sugar. Evie would not let me put her down. So I realized the hummingbird could wait, they certainly exist without my help. They fly to Mexico during the winter, so they could wait a few hours.
Evie and I went about our business, me walking her around the house and showing her all the different plants. Me feeding her lunch, then her playing happily on the floor for a whole hour.
When she took her nap, I rushed around, found the sugar, make some nectar, got a couple of feeders out and was still able to rest before she woke up.
Jackson and Tucker came over later, while Brad and Paula went out. They helped me fill my birdseed feeders, and of course Poppa took them for a ride on the four wheeler.
Sunday morning, I saw Violet when they were taking her to the nursery. She cried for me when Andrea and Steve took her upstairs.
I just love for my grandchildren to like me! I have the best time with them.
I have spent my Sunday afternoon in research for the MOPS Wiser Older Woman panel. I need to read me Bible everyday of course, but this is helping me in my study.
I get distracted by my little hummingbirds, and the goldfinch! The goldfinch have turned a beautiful bright yellow now. They will be leaving me soon, usually around Mothers Day. But God provides by replacing them with the lovely little ruby throated hummingbirds!

Wiser Older Woman

The MOPS, (Mothers of Preschoolers), group at our church, has invited several older women to host a panel for the younger moms to ask questions about parenting, marriage and the spiritual life of their family.
Paula has been attending MOPS for several year, Andrea and Amanda started this year since they are home with preschoolers. And I have helped with the preschoolers for a couple of years also. The Moms have a meeting, the preschoolers have a Bible class and playtime.
I feel honored to be asked to be on this panel. Not that I am wise, but I have experienced many of the same situations that concern these Moms.
The Moms submitted a list of questions and concerns for the panel. I am so excited to be able to share some things that helped me when I was home with preschoolers.
This has inspired me to examine my own spiritual life, and do some intense Bible study.
Also to remember the woman I consider to be my mentor in my walk with Christ. Patsy Jackson was my children's first Sunday School teacher. Patsy taught the 2 year olds at Woodhaven. I still remember her teaching Brad "God Made The Birds That Fly In The Sky". I now have the honor of teaching my children's children and more children that song.
One of the first scriptures that I went to in my Bible study was Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman. She works from the rising sun to the setting sun, grows her own food, makes her own clothes, is kind to others, her family praises her. How can we even begin to be a virtuous woman?
Thankfully, Jesus loves us even when we are not that virtuous woman. The love that Jesus gave, unconditional love, eternal love, we need only to accept it to receive the peace that passeth understanding.
Somehow I want to share with those Moms what Jesus has given me. The gift of salvation, the love of Jesus has helped me grow and find happiness. I have been poor, I have been sad, I have yelled at my children, and husband, I have been despondent, embrassed, ashamed, I have sinned. But I know that Christ has forgiven my past, present and future sins.
Please pray for me as I prepare with prayer and Bible study for this panel, that I will be able to share and help these young Moms as they strive to be Godly women.
Also, please share with me your favorite scriptures that help you and guide you.

March 5, 1977

(Istanbul Turkey 2008)

Happy Anniversary Kay and Jim!

Ron and I along with Kay and Jim, will celebrate our 32nd anniversary Thursday, March 5.

What a great adventure this has been! The years have gone by so fast.

Three children, three homes, three weddings, 5 1/2 grandchildren! So many blessings! So many experiences, happy and sad, that we have shared.

I don't feel like a 53 year old woman that has been married over 30 years, my mind tells me that I am still young. But then I remember how much more I know now. I have experience and knowledge that only comes with living for 53 years and being married to the same man for 32 years. I have so much knowledge to share. I know it all, just ask me! Just joking! People just tell me I am a know it all. The older I get the more I realize what all I don't know.

But I will be happy to share a little of what I have learned about being married for so long.

Have God in your marriage. God will direct your path in marriage as in other parts of your life.

Marry your best friend. You will be spending a lot of time together, you should really like each other.

Be quick to forgive, back to having God in your marriage, he tells us to forgive. You have to even if you don't want to, and you may be the one needing to be forgiven next.

Laugh a lot, at yourself and with your loved one. I fell in love with Ron because he made me laugh! He still does.

Don't take yourself to seriously, think, 30 years from now, will this matter.

Treasure each day, we never know how long we have together.

One last bit of advice, marry a good person!

I wrote on my profile that Ron is a good man, I have called him a lot of things, not always nice, but he is a good man. I think that is a nice thing to say about him. Ron is one of the few people that I know that has read the Bible front front to back, every word.

Ron obviously loves his family. His favorite vacation is to take the kids and grandkids anywhere. It doesn't matter where, he just enjoys being with them all.

Ron has built a business that even he never could have imagined. He works hard, works smart and attributes any and all success to the grace of God.

Ron is patient, kind, compassionate, funny and I think he is still pretty cute.

And for some reason, he still loves me, even though he knows all of my many faults.

Arkansas Flower and Garden Show

Once a year Little Rock hosts the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. I can't interest anyone in attending with me, but I go anyway and have a great time. I visit with the vendors and other gardeners, buy some unsual plants and generally get excited about spring!

I bought another Japanese Maple, some ferns, Hellebore(Lenten Rose), Hostas, gardening gloves, succulents, a bird feeder and a bird house. I placed some bids on the silent auction for several interesting items. Then left and went shopping for bird seed, potting soil and the necessities of life. While at WalMart I started receiving phone calls about the aution items I had WON! WOW, I WON something!

Well, I won them, but I had to pay for them. I "WON" a weeping Japanese Maple, a bromeliad, and a cute pot full of goodies.

I felt like a kid at Christmas, so much to see and learn and smell; lilies, worms, little goats, fairy gardens, landscapes, iron statues, mulch, yard trash, and more.

It was a really great day, a great way to spend a cold rainy Saturday. When I left, snow had started falling. I came home, Ron had built a fire in the fireplace. I am ready for Spring, but really enjoying the end of Winter!

Babes in Disneyland

Those babies were so much fun!

Pixar Parade

Tucker telling me to watch!

Happy Place Happy Children

All the kids were so happy while on the trip! They were up late, out and about all day, and they were still happy. They all such good travelers!

The smiles make us so happy!

Look, Dodi Look!

Tucker was so excited about the parade! He kept telling me to look, but I kept watching him watch the parade.

Disney Fun

Don't be confused, that is Violet riding with Amanda, Evie was taking a nap, and that is just Veronika dressed as Aurora, and that big green chair that Jackson is sitting in is in Toontown, not our hotel.

Toontown

Ron can't pass up a radiator shop, we even found one in Toontown.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey with Aurora, Minnie, Buzz Lightyear and friends.

Woody

Pixie Hollow

Disney Memories

Home from Disney

We came home Monday evening and went straight to work. At least Ron and I did, I worked for a while then started nodding off at my desk. The rest of the week has been just as busy trying to catch up.
But it is all worth it. I couldn't load my pictures, but I wanted to share some of my favorite memories. The first morning, we had breakfast with Chip and Dale. Evie loved them, she grabbed his nose and tried to bite it. Violet became a shy girl and wouldn't get close to the characters. Veronika got to meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends in Pixie Hollow. Jackson and Tucker wanted to see "It's a Small World" again. Ron and I were pushing them in the stroller, they were singing the song over and over.
Sunday we watched the Pixar Parade. Tucker was on Brad's shoulders, he kept saying "Look Dodi Look!" but I wanted to look at him to see his face so excited. Late Sunday night we watched the fireworks, after a long day, Evie was sound asleep in her stroller, Violet was still going strong.
We all loved seeing "Aladdin" live and PlayHouse Disney.
All those things were great, but what made it special was being with my family.

Disney Update

Wow, we have had a busy couple of days.
The kids arrived Friday morning. We picked them up at the airport, ate breakfast and went straight to Disneyland. The rain started soon after. It rained most of the day, but we still stayed at the park and rode rides.
One of my favorites was "It's a Small World", the ride has been updated and is really cute. Veronika has gotten to visit with all of the princesses. Jackson and Tucker have seen Woody.
It has been so much fun to watch the grandkids have fun. Even the Violet and Evie have watched shows and enjoyed the characters, those babies can just keep on going and still be happy.
This has been such fun even though we are all exhauted.

Vacation Delay

The kids were to arrive in Los Angeles tonight. The plane leaving Little Rock was delayed so they would miss the connecting flight in Dallas. So there was a lot of panic, lots of calls, lots of details to reschedule the trip.
Everything worked out and the will fly in Friday morning and still have time for a full day at Disneyland.
All in all this was just a minor situation in the big picture.
I feel so blessed to be able to have this time with our kids and grandkids. Ron has built this business that has allowed us to travel to so many locations on business. And we are able to have some really great experiences along the way.

Chip or Dale?

Disney Dairy Day 2

Today we visited the trade show. It was not our usual group of vendors. This was an automation expo along with packaging and several other industries. Like medical technology! I don't know the connection with all these vendors, but it was interesting.
The most interesting booth was a university in China that is testing a self scanning breast monitor/examiner, or looking for industry to test it. I tried to buy it, but they said it was a prototype and in development.
I am very excited that in the future our daughters may be able to self check their breast regularly, with something like a home mammogram. Maybe preventing/detecting breast cancers early.
We met one of our vendors, Sophia, from China, that we buy fittings from. She gave us green tea from her home. I am very excited about that gift.
Ron didn't make me stay all day, we came back to the hotel, he slept, I went for a swim in the heated pool, and soaked in the hot tub. What a nice day! To start the day we enjoyed the breakfast buffet with Chip and Dale, I got a hug from one of them and a kiss to I think?

Disney Diary

After a long flight to Los Angeles, a long drive to Disneyland Grand Californian, we are at Disneyland. The traffic is just like what everyone said it would be, 28 miles took a full hour to drive. But after that drive, you turn into Disneyland and enter a different world.
What a happy place, everyone is so nice! It is a fantasy land! I think that is why we have always liked visiting DisneyWorld.
Everyone is so happy. You can escape from work for a few days and feel like a princess, even if your Prince Charming is your 58 year old husband.
I don't even mind going to the trade show for two days. Ron can walk those exhibits! He will walk for hours examining all the different products. I don't understand why he will walk for miles when he is shopping for work related products. He will not shop for clothes, furniture, anything.
I, on the other hand, can walk those malls and the garden centers!
Speaking of garden centers, this place is so beautiful, the plants are blooming, lantana, hibiscus, it was too dark to see all of it, but such beautiful gardens. And that includes Los Angeles. We haven't even see the blooming gardens of Disneyland yet!

"Read to Me"

Brad's first sentence was "Read to Me"! He would bring us a pile of books, more than he could carry and expect us to read them all, everynight. And we usually did. Same for Andrea and Amanda.

By the time Brad and Andrea were a little older, I was reading novels to them. (Amanda ran wild around the house then). I loved reading to my kids, and I attribute their intelligence to the reading we did. And I say that because Ron and I did not consider ourselves to be the "best students" while in school. I will say that Ron is actually very intelligent, he just wasn't the best student, but has amazing intelligence.

I love to read. I read before bed, while eating, while watching TV.
Now I have the blessing to get to read to my grandkids.

I take great pleasure in reading the newspaper everyday. I save the "Style" section for last, and save the comics for the last of that section.
Today's "ZITS" was about the mother finding her teenage sons childhood books in a box. She pulls the books out one by one, starts telling him about the books, and gets to "Harold and the Purple Crayon". Mother and son tell the story together, by the last frame, the teenage boy is sitting in his Mom's lap saying "Start from the beginning".

That just brings back so many memories. Parenting has been such a great adventure. I love trips down memory lane. And I love sharing moments with my grandkids that bring back those memories.

I attached the link here, but it may only show the current days comic. Anyway, read to the children in your life, you will both be blessed.

http://www.arcamax.com/zits

Resolutions

One of my New Year Resolutions was to be more organized at work. So to keep myself off the internet I work, I bought an "aircard" today. Now I can "surf the net" at night while watching TV. I had a hard time waiting while using dial up. I was thinking about that this weekend. I do not like to watch TV unless it is recorded on DVR, so I can fast forward through commercials. Funny thing is, some commercials are interesting.
I have actually been working more focused, trying to get my work finished on time. Ever since Amanda had Evie, and quit work, I have been behind on my paperwork, like getting the bills paid on time. Vendors really appreciate getting paid!
I have been drinking water too. I really think that so many health issues are related to drinking enough water, getting even a little exercise, and resting. But I have always handled the resting pretty good.
I have been reading some blogs that the writers share their thoughts, so there you go, I shared my thoughts.

New Year Resolutions

My New Year Resolutions:

spend more time in Bible study

get organized at work

drink 3 bottles of water every day

ride my recumbent bike

plant more camelias(they bloom in the dreary winter)

have more organized play time with the grandchildren; zoo, museums, parks