37 Years

   I have started a tradition. As I have already mentioned, today (July 26th - it's past midnight now so this will look like we went on the 27th) would be mine and Erick's 37th wedding anniversary. If he were here, of course we would have celebrated it in some way. So, Nathan, Cindy and I went to a Jersey Boys musical tonight. These are songs Erick used to sing, and I must add, he sang them much better than the cast that sang them tonight.

   After Erick died, it took me several years before I could listen to men's singing voices without crying. So tonight, the main thing I thought about was Erick and his voice. He had a beautiful voice and could have gone professional had he ever decided to, I totally believe.

   So, every year on our anniversary, I plan to do something that we would have done to celebrate it together.

   Happy anniversary, Erick.

The Car, the Anniversary, the Birthday, the Baptism, the Cool Cat

   Yep, so I blew it. We drove to my brother's house and, of course, Emry always serves yummy food, and what did I do? - made a piggy-wiggy of myself and ate potato chips and sloppy joes on white bread! This might not seem like any big deal to anyone but me, but I know what's going to happen now! Tomorrow I'm going to weigh 50 lbs more!

                       

Wayne and Emry did something pretty special for
the twins ...... BOUGHT THEM A CAR.They are so good to us in every way. Of course you know that the twins are in 7th heaven! I don't think they believed it at first. After dinner Wayne sent the twins and Chloe out to go buy ice cream and told them to take the Kia because the "other" car wasn't working right. Chloe drove and then on the way back handed the keys to the twins ... Chloe said the look on their faces was priceless.

It's a 2003 Kia Spectra (newer than mine!) 

   


 On another note - today would be our 37th wedding anniversary, he was 27 and I was 22! Erick and I had a great gift on our 10th anniversary when Michael Ray Jones was born, who is 27 years old today. And there he is (middle), playing a character in one of the church Bible videos :-) .

Happy birthday, Michael!    

And look who was baptized by his daddy today! Brickman!! :-) 

And this is Jackson, the cool cat, in a swimming pool this morning - :-) 

I...Can...Do...This...!

   I have a few moments as my fingers click away. For what reason, I do not know, but my fingers do the walking as I type on this page. But, I don't have much to say, so maybe I will quit writing and go jog around in my backyard before the temperature gets any hotter on this beautiful day. My mind goes flipping through its files as I consider what to do - nope, can't find anything in there to stall what I don't want to do ... but must do ... exercise time .... *sigh*

White Coat Ceremony

One proud mom ..... 

   Tommy flew in over the weekend to support Nathan in his future endeavors towards medical school. The University of Arizone College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony was held on Friday and it was wonderful to attend as I watched my son's face glow with excitement and pride at finally accomplishing the first step towards his dreams of becoming a doctor. Emrie's family, Richard's family,  Tommy, and I were in attendance. The twins were chopping and hauling wood up in the mountains for the week so they weren't there. I was able to meet Nathan's co-worker, Lee, finally. He's been associated with her for about 10 years and would talk about her fairly often. She's been a great support for him. I really like her but, unfortunately, I didn't converse with her much because she was a bit teary-eyed and emotional and I was trying understand her body language and mannerisms for some reason.  

My beautiful family. 

   After the ceremony we ran off to have dinner at the Village Inn since every place else looked booked for a Friday night. It was interesting to watch my family interact with each other as they teased and competed and looked after grandchildren. The family dynamics are pretty interesting at times. I've never heard Jackson cry as much as he did during the ceremony. I believe there was too  much commotion for his tender little spirit. The other grandchildren, naturally, tried to overwhelm him in their excitement of cooing and touching, but Jackson was not up to it and he was very tired. Richard and Jena were trying to shield him which worked for a little bit, but Jackson was needing sleep. There were enough adults around that I decided not to be so possessive and try to keep him to myself. It was Tommy's first time to interact with his newest nephew. 

   Richard is now considered an MS2, which means he's a second year medical student, and Nathan is now an MS1. I am so proud of my children in their educational endeavors. This has been a dream come true for Nathan and I can't express enough how happy I am for him and his family. It will be a long road but I hope he keeps up his appreciative attitude. Our family is continually blessed, over and over again. I am positive Erick is watching over us and joyful for each family member's successes. 

   
 to coo and touch, but Jackson isn't up to too much of that yet so Richard and Jena were trying to shield him which worked a little bit of the time. There were enough adults around that I decided I couldn't be too possessive, and this was the first time Tommy was able to interact with his new, little nephew

 

   

A Heartfelt Mystery.

   On Tuesday morning something extraordinary happened. Two pairs of red, trimmed in navy blue, Lebron special edition basketball shoes ended up at our front door. Hansan and Dallan were freaked-out ecstatic. We have no idea who they came from. I happened to look out my bathroom window in time to see a Federal Express truck backing off of our driveway and I couldn't think of anything I had ordered. I told Dallan to go check the front door in case a package was delivered. Sure enough, there set a Foot Locker bag of brand new shoes. We were confused at first because they were not wrapped in a package for mail, they were only in a store bag with no note or a receipt. I finally decided that someone must be friends with the FedEx guy and he was probably asked to hand deliver the shoes so we wouldn't find out who gifted them to the boys. I asked all of my children but no one has a clue. Man oh man!

Putting two-and-two together, this reminded me of the Wonder Woman socks I received around Mother's Day. They were delivered through Amazon and we never figured out who sent them, and now I wonder if the same person is involved. It has been a big mystery ...
                                 
                ❤      ❤      ❤


All I know is this: Every single day, literally, we are blessed by other human beings. I am humbled and grateful for the love and generosity that surrounds us continually. Whether it be a simple smile, or a lending hand, I am overwhelmed by the goodness and example of human angels who touch our lives. 

Shackled and Chained.

   Tuesday morning. No school, but plenty of homework, unbelievable amount, overwhelming amount. I am chained to my education. Got to keep going. Some don't understand. Why can't you do this or that? Why? Because I am chained to my homework. I am a slave. I have to do it. There is no other way out. It has to be done. I wish you understood. I am doing this for my future, for my children's future. I don't want to be dependent, to cause hardship on someone else. Plus, I want my education even though this is not an easy route. I think of my grandchildren. I love my family. I need more time with them. But, this is the best route not to become a burden. Besides, I have worked hard and hope this is a good example to my family. But the homework, it is there whether I want to do it or not, I have to. Homework. I am a slave. I am bound, chained, shackled, imprisoned, in bondage. I can do it; I will do it. Now. Today. All day. Almost every day.

   Even so, I am thankful for this wonderful opportunity to obtain a masters degree, so keep going.

Sleeping Beauty

   Ashlynn, my oldest granddaughter, is such a lovely, sweet 11-year-old. I've had the privilege of having her over for a couple of nights. Time certainly flies, I remember the glorious day when she was born. I don't care what anyone else thinks, I believe she looks most like her daddy.

   With Ashlynn's help we organized the pot/pan cupboard and cleaned up my bedroom; we colored pictures and in the evening I took her to the theater to see Malificent -- a take off the classic story of Sleeping Beauty. Yesterday I studied in the morning before we went to Emrie's for Masie's 6th birthday, swim party. Emrie actually sat next to me and talked with me. Once the twins arrived home from chopping/hauling wood up in the mountains for 4 days, Dallan played with her in our pool, and then the boys took her with them to run errands (basically, they just wanted to go drive the car). Ashlynn fell asleep while watching a DVD with them so I moved her up to bed with me.

Masie turned 6!! 

   Right now, at 8:30 a.m., Ashlynn is still sleeping as I sit beside her typing this up. I have a meeting at 10:30 with Sunshine Acres Children's Home and I will take her with me. The boys left at 6:00 a.m. and won't get back home from a youth lake trip until 4:00 p.m., at which time I will let them spread their wings and drive Ashlynn all the way home to Maricopa. I will miss her sweet little spirit.

Update: the boys didn't make it home until about 6:00 p.m. last night. They had fun water boarding but Dallan was frustrated because he was the only one that couldn't get up on the board. I think he just needed a little more time to work it out - he's completely capable, for sure. After our meeting with Sunshine Acres Ashlynn asked if we could go to IHop so I treated her to pancakes there. Cindy came and picked her up around 2:00 p.m. and then Ashlynn was suddenly gone. *sigh* Although I was sorry to see her go, I probably enjoyed our time together more than she did. I had plenty of homework to do after she left, but it was fun having her with me for a couple of days.

Sleep Beauty :-) 

Curfews! and You Think You Know?

   A rather humorous situation occurred last night with the twins. Most of my children remember (or should I say, all of my children remember) that I am a stickler when it comes to curfews. The boys went on a triple date to the movies and then to the football field at the high school to play games. Of course, the boys had to be home no later than 11:30 p.m., and they knew not to be one minute late, or else!

   The group was playing at the high school field when Hansan and Dallan herded everyone towards the car so they could get one of the girls home by her curfew at 11:00 p.m. The other guy didn't want to leave but by the skin of their teeth, the girl was home on time. Afterwards, they had to get the other two girls home pronto to ensure that the twins were in by their curfew. By this point, this would be a challenging task.

   So, there I am, sitting in the living room, waiting, at 11:30 p.m.- no boys; 11:31- no boys; 11:35- no boys; 11:38- no boys; 11:40- I finally hear the door open. Hansan came in first acting happy as a lark, as if there's no care in the world, as if he wasn't a whopping10 minutes late; Dallan came bounding along behind him with a happy smile on his face. I mentally made note that both boys didn't seem concerned about the time. Now, look, I realize that 10 minutes late is only 10 minutes late, but in THIS household, 10 minutes late is definitely past curfew.

   I said, "Hm, you are late", and then do you know what miracle occurred? Both boys' phones read 11:28 p.m., so you see, wonder of all wonders, they were not late! Ha ha ha ha ha--imagine that, my computer and my phone read 11:40 p.m. I wonder how THAT happened? Sometimes kids think parents were born yesterday, I swear.

   So, what happened next, you wonder ... well, I let them dig their holes deeper and deeper as they stuck to their guns while I listened intently (alright, I admit it, amusingly is a better word), trying to be the angel mother I was meant to be; this went on for another 10 minutes, and I was quiet as a butterfly as I listened to them weaving their web. Once all was quiet and there were no more words spewing from these two creatures, I said, "Hmm, interesting that your phones are both 10, or should I say, 12 minutes behind all the other clocks in the house, or perhaps, even within the whole world. I mean, maybe your satellite frequency is picking up from martian time zones, unlike all others." At that point, the sweat on their foreheads, which encases their tiny little teenage brains, became very apparent.

   It was rather interesting as I sent them off to bed, letting them wallow in the confusion of does she know, or doesn't she, does she believe us, or doesn't she, is she mad, or isn't she? Then the beans came rolling out of their tiny little mouths with Hansan going first: "Mom, we aren't telling the truth." In my mind I'm thinking, no kidding! But, being the angel mother that I am, instead I said, "Really?" And then Dallan spoke up and proceeded to say that it was just a BIG JOKE. Ooops, we were almost there, but then they go and blow it farther down into the deepening hole! *sigh*

   Both boys said they were on the way home and told the driver about how worried they felt because mom will be upset about missing the curfew, but the driver-friend had an easy solution, just change the time on the phones - brilliant! Of course, Hansan and Dallan thought it an ingenious suggestion and hopped right on it.

   I told them that being late was not good, but lying about it definitely makes it much worse and that I was disappointed in them for lying to me. By this time it was a little after midnight and both boys went on upstairs to bed. I was still sitting on the couch reading 30 minutes later when Hansan came back downstairs looking anguished and repentant. He told me he was very, very sorry and that he wouldn't do it again. Now, how on earth can a mother's heart not soften up to that? It was only a minor thing, and I certainly don't want to make it seem bigger than it is, but the lessons of honesty, integrity, obedience, forgiveness, and repentance are huge for future decisions.

   There's more to this little story, but I will leave it at this. I realize these are two good boys who want to be respectful and obedient and do the right thing. I love them very much, and maybe, just maybe, in the next life I will become that angel mother they deserve .... *sigh*

   Oh, and, teenagers make the world go round! :-)
_________________________________________________

  So you think you know what's really going on? I feel the judgement, the condescending attitude. I try to pretend it's not there, but it is. You assume to know, but you don't.

   Reminder to self: Don't judge others. There is an old saying about not judging someone until you've walked in their shoes, but I say, even if you think you've walked in their shoes, do not judge.

   An example: I was driving down the road in LA many years ago. A guy in front of me was driving ridiculously below the speed limit and I could not get around him; I was in a hurry. After about 15 minutes, to say the least, I was not a happy camper. Come to find out, this guy was a friend, and his wife had just had a miscarriage and he was very sadly upset. Had I known the full facts, would I have felt so impatient? No.

   Another example: A young lady didn't have enough money to feed her kids, yet she always wore new clothes. One might sit in judgement thinking how dare she, she's on welfare, yet she can afford to buy those fancy clothes? Well, come to find out, one of her sisters couldn't give her money to help feed her sister's kids, but she could share nice hand-me-downs that she was given by one of her friends.

   So, really, how do you know what's really going on? And that's not even the point, the point is, do not judge. Please don't help out if you feel it's your right to be judge and jury and bask in a pool of self-righteous indignation as you snit around with your nose up in the air!

   The End.

 

Independence Day 2014

   We had an enjoyable family time for the 4th of July. Nathan's family and Richard's family were here, plus TAYLOR! surprised me by flying in for the weekend as well; it was wonderful to see him and have him near. As Taylor was trying to land the flight was diverted to Yuma for a couple of hours because of a big sandstorm, along with winds, lightening and a little rain - a haboob,  that hit the Phoenix area. It was a beautiful day on the 4th despite the storm on the night before.

The Haboob: No wonder Taylor's flight was diverted for a couple of hours!