Rock, Paper, Bomb?

Unbeknownst to me the time-honored game of Rock, Paper, Scissors has been altered.  John-Heath informed me of the change when I challenged him to a match while waiting in the car for his dad one night last week.  John always runs into someone he knows so we always get to play our fair share of this and other time-filling favorites, like “Thumb-wrestling” and “I Spy with My Little Eye”.

It seems there are now some other choices when choosing a force of destruction…bomb, knife, and gun - which, in a way, make much more sense than paper.  Honestly, I never understood that one.  Paper?  Who picks that?

Tyla

According to My Son…

…who told me so while looking out a window this past week…

…his favorite days are when

the birds are singing, the sun is out, the clouds are high in the sky and the grass is green.

Those days are the best.

Happy Monday, friends!  

Tyla

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Birthday Eyes

Continuing with a little tradition I started during the first year of blogging...my eyes...at 42. And do you know what stands out to me the most, other than the fact that my camera lens has been much more kind than the magnifying mirror I use every morning? My nose. It's crooked! You would have thought at some during the last four decades I would have noticed that. Oh well, at least it's still sucking air. ;)

Can He Get Any Sweeter?

John-Heath giving his Pa Gene a big hug one night last summer.

My son is one of the rowdiest, most inquisitive, talkative, full of energy, always into to something boys you will ever meet. As the saying goes he is ALL boy. He is also one of the sweetest little rascals you will meet.

This morning as we were getting ready for school he asked if I could take him. You see, since his sister has had her own car she has been a great time-saver for me, as she can drop him off on her way to school (which is like a whopping 100 yards or so from my own school).

Well, he asked so sweetly I just had to try and get ready a little faster so that I could. On the way to school I asked why it was he wanted me to take him today instead of Ren and he said, "Well, we haven't got to see each other a lot lately and I wanted to spend some time with you."

I ask you, is that not sweet? I would have never thought that the five minute drive he and I shared each morning meant so much to him and was something he missed when I was no longer taking him to school.

Yep, my heart melted right there. It just slid down through my clothes and spilled out all over the floorboard of the car.

April 15, 1912

Lent for a While

Though it often happens, one of the most unnatural things in life is when a parent must bury their child.

Tuesday night, as I joined John in his study for a few minutes before bedtime, he recounted a news article which told of the horrific, accidental death of a little six-year-old boy in Connecticut earlier that same day. I felt an immediate and intense sorrow and had a difficult time falling asleep that night.

The next morning, as I watched my own sweet boy - also six and in the first grade - take his shower and get ready for school, I was still thinking of the little boy from the night before and the nightmare in which his family now finds themselves, and I was reminded of a poem my sister received in a card several years ago when her teenage son was killed in an automobile accident. It is a feeling I hope I never have to know first hand.

Lent for a While

"I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said,
"for you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
but will you till I call him back take care of him for Me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief, you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return,
but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide-world over in my search for teachers true, and from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.

Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain, nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done. For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may, and for the happiness we have known, forever grateful stay.

And should the angels call for him much sooner than we've planned, we'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

- Author Unknown -

In memory of Jeffrey B. and all those who have left this world too soon.

Easter Recap 2012…Part 2…The Extended Family Arrives

 In addition to celebrating this most wonderful holiday with my immediate family, I have also long been able to share it with extended family on my dad’s side. 

My dad’s family – minus a few.

We would usually gather at my Aunt Fair’s house.  “Fair” is short for Fairdenia.  Isn’t that just a wonderful Southern name?  It always reminded me of a flower and was the perfect name for my aunt who had such a gentle nature.  Once Aunt Fair was no longer able to host the lunch, and in the years since her death, it has moved around from place to place. 

I think John and I have had it for three of the last four years.  I would say four out of the last four years but two years ago we had to cancel when several of us became sick and/or hurt at the last minute, including yours truly who came within a minute of puking on the piano bench at church and spent the rest of the day in bed. 

Daddy – now the eldest of the bunch.

Now, my dad’s side of the family enjoys its fun and games so we always have a good time.  There is the traditional egg hunt - which has the potential to win you lots of prizes and/or some $$$, followed by an egg toss for those daring enough to participate.  Plus, we’ve been known to have some good relays now and then and the occasional pageant.  You can’t appreciate true beauty until you’ve seen a loved one dressed as a rabbit – or in drag.

Speaking of drag, I remember the first time I hosted our get-together.  Each year, everyone tries to bring a bunch of loot to be offered as prizes for the egg hunt.  Typically, this will include mostly items the youngest kids will enjoy – kites, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and the such – but there are other prizes, too, including small bottles of lotion, stationery, cards, etc. 

Getting ready to eat and Megan’s festive cookies (she asked that I include them in my blog.  Well, Megan, here you go.)

As I was saying, the first year the celebration was at my house I happened to have a large stack of new CDs (still in cellophane wrappers) that I had won at some event, so I decided to go through them and pick out the ones I thought the kids might enjoy to use as prizes.  There was only one that fit the bill…a soundtrack to some kiddie movie.

Well, smack dab in the middle of the prize giveaway I heard an adult voice exclaim Whaaaat!!! Who brought THAT as a prize?  One of our wee lads had just won himself the copy of my donated soundtrack…The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Turns out, it wasn’t a kiddie movie after all.  I was horrified (pardon the pun).

Clockwise from top left:  Tossing eggs, lined up for the egg toss, numbering prizes, kids hunting eggs, cousin Tammy dividing $$$ for the prize eggs.

I learned a valuable lesson that Easter…before donating movie soundtracks to be used as prizes for children, ALWAYS find out the plot first. ;)

Easter Recap 2012…Part 1

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a most blessed, wonderful Easter. We did. Not only did I get to spend the day with family, but our school system was also out for Good Friday and yesterday, which made the weekend even better.

Ren and John-Heath posing for traditional Easter pics…

Easter mornings are always somewhat rushed around our house. Oh, who am I kidding…every morning feels rushed in our house, so I guess I should have said more rushed. Of course, there was the little matter of taking pictures of the kids with their Easter baskets and dressed in their new Easter duds. Plus, John and I were busy taking care of some last minute items for the big get-together we hosted for my dad’s side of my family. To be honest, by the time we were ready to take a few pictures I was pretty stressed. I think I said something to the kids like, “Now hurry up and get out here so I can take your picture. It’s tradition! Now smile!”

Another tradition in our family consists of the Easter bunny refilling the kids’ baskets each year. Ren has the same basket she has always had and John-Heath has the same one he’s had since he was two. I think even long after my kids move from our house the EB will surely make a stop to fill them. Of course, as John-Heath observed, he is slipping a bit as “he” gave him something he already had. That bunny’s memory just isn’t what it use to be.

…with their baskets

While going to church on any Sunday is commonplace for us, Easter Sundays always seem more special…from the hymns of atonement such as “The Old Rugged Cross” to my dad often bringing the message to wearing an outfit bought new for the day. I will forever be grateful for all the Easter services I have been able to share with my family.

…and on the altar at church. 

Tyla

P.S.  Sorry about the blurry pics.  Not sure what's going on there.

 

Happy Easter!

Easter blessings to you all. I hope your day was filled with joy and peace and was spent with those you hold most dear.

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Soapbox #11

Well said.

Well said.

Things I Hate…

At different times throughout the year I remember just how much I hate certain things. In the spring, I am reminded that I simply loathe the following…

and

which seem to be in full attack mode in Middle Tennessee right now.

Houston, We Have a Car!

The search for my daughter a car is finally, and by finally I mean thank the good Lord I don't have to go through that again for ten more years, over! Seriously, it's a good thing John-Heath is ten years her junior because I think it will take that amount of time for me to get in the mood to car shop for a teenager again.

After one unsuccessful estate sale and pouring over Craigslists and online used car inventories for every car dealership in a hundred mile radius for the past several weeks we were finally able to check that little project off our to-do list this past Saturday.

Ren with her new car - which she named "Jeanie".

Ren is now the proud owner (well, primary driver) of a VW Jetta - used, of course. Considering on her first trip to the local Sonic she exited in the opposite direction as everyone else we figured it was best she get one already a little "broken in".