How can we say goodbye?

That is the title of the song the Tift County Chorus sings at the end of every school year. I think it is very appropriate as we watch Carol and Joe drive off towards the mountains, littering the way with discarded possessions but taking all the memories with them.

In my childhood Carol was the one who got us in trouble.

I know it was she who convinced Jimmy to be a monkey and swing from branch to branch till he lay there dangling and gasping for air. I had to share in the spanking that followed. She was the queen of the bedroom we three shared. She arranged it and assigned spots. That is why I can sleep on the floor with only a thin blanket to throw over my shivering body. In our teen years she designed and sewed our wardrobe. We had swatches to indicate our choice for the day since we all wore the same size. Guess who got first choice? She introduced me to the wild side of life when I visited her in Jacksonville after graduating high school. I don't think I was quite ready for bar hopping.

When I became a mother, she sent clothes for Jennifer and flew me and Jen down so I could show off my baby to everyone. She was with me when Helen was born and still bears the mark in her palms to prove it. She has kept my children at various times when I was dealing with family crisis elsewhere. I would still be stuck in PA if she hadn't come up and driven the car back down for us. I think everyone knows from her blog the things she has done concerning Timothy.

Ours has not been a perfect relationship. We have had our moments. I certainly don't want to diminish Susan in any way either. To me the definition of family is to know the faults and overlook them and to love in spite of. I hope we will always be "of one heart."

A Cross Between Jen and Carol

Jen has been talking about books and Carol has been getting rid of a lot of them. G-dad is cleaning out to make room for some from CArol so I have those which I will pass along to Susan or Helen. Get all that? The ones from G-dad are cookbooks. That got me thinking about how that is one thing I share with G-mom. I love "reading " cookbooks. That is about the only thing I read these days besides stuff for seminary. I know it drives my familly crazy but I am always looking for something new and different to cook. I often hear "what is wrong with the way you used to do it?" At least I am sociable when I am cooking. I have become very selective about my cookbook collection. I love the little regional books put out by schools. In the ones Dad gave me were a collection published by Relief Society sisters way back in the sixties. I also have one from the boy scout troop in PA that Dave and Donald belonged to, a school in Alaska from Donald's aunt, and one from the American Legion post in Waycross. My cookbooks are a type of family history if one takes time to look and listen to the stories behind them. Maybe one of the great granddaughters will carry on this family tradition.

Timber!

There is a tree by the G-parents house that has been getting way to big for its space. We decided yesterday was sthe day for it to begin to come down. Dave climbed up a ladder onto the roof with a chainsaw and began the process of trimming branches. Yes, Eileen and Dave have insurance. Eileen needs to blog about that family joke. Donald climbed up on the overhang to assist Dave. The rest of us stood around cheering them on and praying, and praying, etc. G-dad told us how when he was sixteen he could cut a tree to go precisely where he wanted it to go. Luckily the only mess up has been the disconnecting of the bat-phone line in the gathering area.

Video Link

http://www.sgasports.net/new/images/stories/shine/movingwall.wmv

If you follow this link you can view a terrific video made by a local gentleman. I hope Susan doesn't mind me listing this, I just wanted to make sure everyone sees it. It is of the Moving Wall and has a great closeup of the Grandparents.

Has It been That Long?

Life gets away from me fast these days. I had a great birthday. Lots of chocolate I didn't need but loved anyway. Donald and Dave haven't quite finished the new butcher block counter tops and cabinets from Ikea but at least I can use the new five burner range top now. Pecans are falling like crazy which is one reason I haven't posted in a bit. Every spare momoent is spent picking the dang nuts up before the squirrels or even worse the dogs do. What is it about pecans that gives dogs that awful stomach problem. Poor Tebow let loose right before Jed said prayer the other night and Jed could barely think straight since he was in the direct line of fire.
On a different note, a big shout out to Susan for the greaat job on the wall. Just the act of getting all the flags in place was a feat in its self. I know she had a lot of help but just getting it all going took a lot of gumption. The perfect end to a week of good times was the children's sacrament program today. Stella and Amelia did great speaking their parts. Stella memorized a huge scripture. I was impressed! You can really tell how the kids in the ward have grown when you watch them do their parts.

Don't Criticize Mom!!

David has issue with my cooking more than one meal in a day and cooking before noon. I have gotten into the habit of cooking on Monday because Donald has to reheat all his meals anyway with him working nights. Donald doesn't complain, he knows it beats a candy bar from the vending machine at work. Once Monday is gone, my days are very unpredicable. Today for example; I got Home from seminary, did a little housework, took G-dad by the bank and then on to the doctor. By time we got home it was time to go to the Wall for lunch. Luckily Dave volunteered to take them, maybe he figured he would get a hot fresh meal there. Anyway, I threw together a dinner for Donald because I decided to not cook everything yesterday. Then I had to run to the family history center where I spent the next two hours bringing people home and picking people up. Most of my days are that way. So to Dave, I say, learn to enjoy old cold meals or cook it yourself!

A Serious Blog

Those of you who may have listened to the Sunday morning conference broadcast may have noticed the choir sang Timothy's song also known as "I Feel My Savior's Love." If you missed it, it is archived at the church website. The new media player has all the music as well as talks from conference. Christina Ruberson played it on her flute graveside for the burial. With the recent death of Uncle Lorin and now, Joe, Granddad's cousin, and the fact that we are studying the last week of Christ's life in seminary, I was touched when the song was sung. If you have not listened to the words lately go to www.lds.org and hear it again.

How lucky am I?

I finally have an oven that meets my needs again. Actually I have two ovens! Dave and Donald finished installing it yesterday. I have cooked cookies in the bottom and an angel food cake in the top so I am open for business. I know it will be heaven. When something like this happens I wonder how I managed for the last ten years. I have fed a lot of people in this house! I think it is because we woman make do. We take what we are given and make it work. Or maybe I just don't demand enough from life. All I know is I have to start making a list of what to do with all the free time I will have now that I can do a whole days cooking in one hour. By the way, if anyone needs to "borrow" it come on over.

Snakes, skunks, and other critters

We have lived at this place for ten years now. In that entire time we have seen very few unwelcome predators. Since Dave and Eileen moved here we have had invasion of ants, two snakes, a chicken eating hawk, and lately....I have been smelling skunks. Can I tell you how this makes me feel knowing that each night usually after dark, I have to make the walk out to the poolhouse in the semi-darkness!! I am putting aside my supply of milk and tomato juice JUST IN CASE! I believe if you are prepared, you shall not fear. I wonder how Shelly feels about cats with white stripes down their back. She is not to fond of the ordinary kind.

Who Lives Here Now?

When I was growing up, we had people living with us occasionally who were not family members. Some of them, like Joan Allen became family, others we would rather forget. Carol can elaborate on that, her memory is lots better than mine. Our home now has always been open to others. My kids can say whether their lives were affected or not, but I feel nuturing souls is one of my life's callings. This all came to mind when I realized only a year ago we were a household of teenagers with Andrea, Jed, Tabi and Matthew. Now we are a household of little children. (Don't take that too personally Dave) That got me to thinking about all the people who have come and gone through Donald and mine homes.

There was Tom Silvia in Virginia shortly after we got married. He adored Jennifer. He later married a first cousin. Last we heard he was living in Valdosta. Pat Davis, Donald's used to be BFF until he got his feelings hurt and cut off contact with us, was living with us when I got pregnant with Helen. Aunt Susan and family lived with us a couple of times. That was always an adventure, especially when she would sneak around the corner of the waterbed and rear up her head hoping to scare the daylights out of me. Then there was Mel, who loved David. She suffered a mental breakdown because of stuff guys in the squadron put her through and other issues in her life, but boy was she fun! Remember Cindy? She didn't get along with her Dad after her mom passed away. There were a couple of women fleeing abusive husbands who spent a couple of days with us. Uncle Jimmy lived with us for a few months before I had David. Since we have been in Tifton we have had Kevin who stayed with us when his parents moved to Texas his senior year. He fell asleep at the wheel of the suburban driving home from Valdosta one night.
He introduced Matthew to the joys of having tv video games in the home. Tom Stayed with us briefly before he and Aunt Susan got married. Ryan stayed here a lot while he and Helen were dating. Matthew had a couple of friends who thought they lived here. All this has been preparing me for my career if Dad goes to the big guest house in the sky before me. I figure I can run a boarding house. I hear they are making a come back in these desperate financial times. I think I am qualified as long as I get a good accountant. ( That would be you, Rich) I can cook, I just happen to be a big softie as evidenced by this blog.

Hidden Talents

I was in the kitchen today and a fly flew by. I reached out and smashed it violently between my two hands. Helen remarked what a wonderful talent that is. I've got to admit I do get a lot of flies with my bare hands. We started talking about hidden talents of the weird nature. I would like to hear from all you bloggers out there. Who has the most unusual hidden talent?

Happy Anniversary

Tomorrow will be mine and Donald's thirty-second wedding anniversary. I was twenty years old when we got married and Donald had just turned twenty-one in July. When you have been together more years than you have been apart is when you realize how two can be one eternally.

We passed that landmark a few years ago. But if you think we are bored with each other, think again. We may be boring and not much fun and old stick in the mud's, but be assured we love each other in a deep old fashioned way. We can ignore each others embarrassing little "things" that happen when least expected. We take pleasure in small things and are happy just being in the same room with each other.

One of the things we have done through the years was brought to mind by Carol's video mentioned in her last blog. I have always longed to be a dancer gliding across the floor in my partner's arms. It always looks so romantic; being held close and gazing into one another's eye's. One of our first dates was to a dance at ABAC. I was thrilled to find out Donald could dance. My former boyfriend always looked like a chicken with his head cut off, when he danced. Slow dancing consisted of rocking side to side with our arms wrapped around one another. Now Donald thinks he can't dance but considering I try to lead half the time, I think we do quite well. It has been one of the ways we have shown our children how their parents still find each other attractive after all these years. We hold each other close and sway and spin around, throwing in an occasional kiss for effect. The reaction we rarely fail to get is as they say "priceless." Lots of "ugh's and get a room comments" I have lost a lot of memories in the last few years due to a couple of near emotional breakdowns. Donald has been very supportive of me doing what I have to do to take care of myself. He will be glad to know that the memories of the early years of our courtship and marriage are still clear and wonderful to me. The secret to our years together is that he has always made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the entire world. He says I married him just to get out of Brookfield but in truth I married him because who could resist a guy who changed himself so much and looked so great when he walked up the steps of the house in Brookfield in his Navy whites. (think Richard Gere in Officer and Gentleman) I knew he knew the meaning of the word commitment when he gave up having his family at our wedding just so we could be married in the temple in Washington D.C. for time and all eternity.

Just Because

Just because I am sitting here in the family history center waiting on Dad i will go ahead and comment on Carol's blog. I eat ice cream just because I like it and don't care what happens to my body as a result. The biggest thing I do is take a nap in the afternoon just because it makes me a better person for the rest of the day. My most daring thing today was to eat the free chicken sandwich Eileen brought back from MacDonald's instead of saving it for Donald just because I was hungry.

my Boring Life

I personally find it very exciting teaching seminary. I love getting up in the wee hours of the morning. So much gets done before noon even arrives. The down side is I don't watch tv or socialize in the evenings anymore. Evening begins about 6:00. If I blog about my students, they might get upset. It is like a doctor, patient relationship you know. I have been having big times with the chickens. Maybe I will take some pictures tomorrow. I don't think I have anywhere to go or any obligations after I get home from seminary. Anyway, Dave and Eileen brought their chickens down from Atlanta and Monica Brown brought some more over bringing the total to about twenty. For a girl who didn't grow up around animals, I feel very close to my roots in the pen. I go out and gather the eggs in my little basket and bring them in annoucing to everyone the count for the day. The "girls" (not to be confused with Carol's girls) have been very upset by the weather. We were getting nine or so eggs a day and are down to three. I have been forced to climb over the fence onto the neighbors property to see if any have been laid in the tall grass there. I am sure I presented quite the sight hitting the ground in front of me with a long stick and singing to scare away any snakes or other critters that might be hiding!

RE: Celebrity Sightings and other odds and ends

Thanks to all who have responded. I have enjoyed all the stories of which I am sure there are many more. Those of us who live in Tifton area are going to get together with Carol for a blogging class. She keeps finding little things to make the blogs more fun. Rich has offered a photo class also. I realized as I was taking a break from ironing the other day to pull the fresh baked bread from the oven, that it might be time to take a step or two forward in time. I am typing a blog though so don't make to much fun of me.

Aliens in the House

No, I am not talking about any family members! I was sitting in the living room at 6:00 this morning waiting for Jed to wake up and get ready for seminary. Suddenly I heard an awful sound, truly undescribable except like something from a sci-fi movie. I really wanted to turn it off before it woke all the sleeping bodies but I didn't know where the sound was coming from. Gretchen started crying and Jed's alarm started beeping. Turns out it was Stella's alarm clock, a present from one of her uncles. It turns on at the appointed time and if not turned off within a specific amount of time it rolls off the table and all over the room forcing one to chase it down to stop the noise! Who invented this thing? It says "wide eye" on it and I guarantee that is what you will be when it goes off!!

Back to School

The dreaded day is almost here! I start Seminary in the morning. For someone who has been sleeping in until 7:30, 5:30 is going to come real early. I am putting out the word now. I will promise dreadful punishment to anyone who calls before 10:00 on Saturday morning since that is the only day Donald and I both can lay in bed late. I sometimes try to wait up till he gets home at 2:30 am on SAturday mornings. I love teaching Seminary. It is the greatest calling because you have to study the scriptures every day and because you can't teach without the Spirit, your life has got to be in constant " trying to be like Jesus" mode.
I didn't accomplish a lot this summer aside from completely rearranging the house and poolhouse, making salsa, preparing to teach seminary (which included many hours of on-line training), and doing a little family history with the help of Jen, James, and Jed.
The highlight of my summer was the relaxing time I spent with Donald. In spite of everything we were able to spend a good bit of quality time relaxing, swimming, in the moonlight, ............

Celebrity sightings

We all know I have sung on national tv with Richard Simmons. Well, while watching the fabulous online Pioneer Day Tribute featuring the Osmonds, the subject came up of meeting famous people. I couldn't quite remember all the details about your date with one of them, Carol, so how about a blog from everyone on famous people we have crossed paths with. Donald has a picture of Cher he snapped in the days before paparazzi. She was at the same hotel he was at for a convention while in high school. Of course anyone who has seen Sarah's blog lately knows who she has been seen with!

They're Here!!

Dave and Eileen are almost all moved in. Eileen and the girls will be staying more than less, especially with school rapidly approaching. For those who have not stopped by, once again we are a marvel to behold. We have four adults, one teenager, three children, two dogs, one cat, one rat, eleven chickens, one duck. Almost sounds like the entire food chain doesn't it? We have two refrigerators, four sofas, three tv's, one pool table, one computer (Dave does have a laptop). So far no fights, I think they call this the honeymoon period. The biggest laugh has been when Eileen walked in on Donald a few minutes after he entered the bathroom. We have been closing the door since the babies can crawl and walk all over now. I have been locking the door since Nathan learned to turn the knob. I could say we have four children since Donald rode the motorcycle down from Atlanta. Speaking of, Happy Birthday (tomorrow) you wild thing!!

Herbal Essence

Helen and Ryan took the pictures. The wreaths were made from clippings from my herb garden. More pics will come at a later time. Oh, the herb used was basil. No one should be bothered by mosquitos for a week (if they didn't wash their head)