i confess

Ever wondered if there's anything I need to 'fess up to?

I didn't think so.

But just in case there is, I'm joining MamaKat's writing workshop this week, and 'fessing up is the prompt I chose.

So! Things I may or may not need to 'fess up to:

• I take a nap every day. 

Sounds lazy doesn't it? Truth is, if I didn't have to, I wouldn't. Needing one irritates me, and I'd much rather sew or read or get some house cleaning done. Unfortunately, if I skip it, I get sick (usually a migraine). Because of my stomach issues, I can't take pain medication, and it continues to get more complicated from there. I'll spare you the details. But now you know that this blogger is also a napper.

• I went to see the King Tut exhibit this last week ... 

and I'm totally in love with some of the jewelry that the queens wore back in that era. I'm thinking one of them would completely solve all of my financial problems. If I got away with stealing it, I'd be set financially. If not, I'd still be set. Jailhouses feed and clothe their inmates, right?


Seriously though. I was amazed at the intricate detail of one particular solid gold necklace. It was massive, and oh so dainty, all at the same time. Simply incredible. 


When the exhibit is in your area, be sure to go (but leave your camera at home - no pictures allowed). You'll especially love seeing the sarcophagus that held King Tut's stomach!! Eww!

• The best article I've read this week is called "Social Media and Digital Discernment."

If you blog, read blogs, Facebook, Tweet, etc., this article is for you. It'll really keep things in perspective ... if you can have an honest opinion about yourself. 'Nuff said about that. You be the judge.

•  I want a grandbaby.

To love, cherish, kiss on the cheek (over and over and over), make a quilt for,  photograph, be his/her Grandma. Or Meemaw. Or Grammy. Or Marmie. Or whatever he/she wants to call me. He/she can call me Frank for all I care. As long as I can love him/her and sing "Jesus Loves Me" to him/her while bouncing on my knee, I'm good.

No pressure, Ashlee and Daniel.

And last one ....

•  My New Year's Resolution is simple: Get a new header!

Mine is sooo outdated. I think Andrew has literally grown 10 inches since that picture of him in the water. Ashlee's married now, Jessie has short hair, and Shaun and I never kiss like that.

I'm kidding!

We basically look the same. Perhaps a little more gray in our hair(s).

If you have any uber cool (should be read as free) sites that you know of that are good for customizing headers, will you let me know? It's been so long since I put the current one together, that I forgot where I got it from.

Pathetic, I know.

That's all the 'fessing up I have for now. Dangerous life I live, eh?

P.S. I realized after writing this that the pic up on the header isn't the one of Shaun and I kissing.

Stop laughing.

This is simply proof that I'm losing my mind and am therefore Grandma material! 

Boomerang Kid

Last April, this pretty lady took flight. She's no longer nestled under my wing ... under my watchcare ... in my nest. But in a sense, she'll always be mine. And even though I miss her sunkissed freckles and her ocean blue eyes, I know she's where she ought to be.

In the meantime, I'm choosing to think of her as my Boomerang Kid. Because she'll always come back to me.

Kids do that ... 

Right? 

 

**Feel free to join in the "Boomerang Kid" discussion over in My Community in the sidebar, first BlogFrog widget.

my calling

I don't have a career.

And in my (almost) 21 years of marriage, I have never had a career. I've done a few odd jobs ... provided daycare for a few months, cleaned a few houses ... but I've purposely tried to focus on raising a family.

In five years, it'll all be over. My youngest will be all grown and well on his way to becoming independant.

I can't say I've never become distracted from my goal. I've volunteered too much at a few churches. I've spent too much time with friends. I've been selfish with my time. But as a whole, Shaun and I have kept our eye on the goal. The bullseye of us raising our kids, and not the school system or the babysitter.

As the school year starts once again in a few weeks, I've been reminding myself of our goal to stick it out until the end. Homeschooling a teenage boy can be God's #1 tool for sanctifying me. But I've come to realize that it's worth every second. I don't want to raise a kid that blends in well with the crowd. I want to raise a kid that sticks out because of his unusual, but healthy dose of character. A boy whose Christian beliefs have taken root and have changed the way he looks from other kids.

Of course it's not just homeschooling that keeps me home. I know without a doubt that all the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and loving my husband would go out the window if I were to pick up a career and run with it. I'm simply unable to physically keep up with working outside the home. Granted, that may be because of my health issues. But that simply strengthens my resolve to be a keeper of the home. I know my limitations, and I am simply reminding myself of them as I step into another year of homeschooling.

My limitations are something I've learned to embrace, and not fight against. And if that means less money, and thereby windows without frilly curtains, driving a few clunkers, and limiting our eating out ... then so be it.

I know I'm doing the right thing ... my life's calling.

How 'bout you? What is your life calling? Are you sure of it? Do you rest in knowing you are in the right place, doing God's will for your life, even if all the little details aren't what you'd like them to be?

Wedding Rehearsal

Sometimes ... when things aren't working out ... ya' just gotta pout. Like when your baloons don't behave.

Decorating the tables ....

My sister-in-law and her hubby. The two older girls were Ashlee's flower girls. And they did a darn good job of it!

Point the camera at Jessie, and you're never sure what face you'll get. I don't know where she comes up with all of them...

The pew decorations. I think they were my favorite part of the decor in the chapel. So simple, and yet so pretty!

The very talented bridesmaid, Dennae.

Father of the bride (left), and father of the groom (right).

I totally dig this picture of the groom and best man. Shows their personalities and goofiness.

This makes me smile every time I see it. I love Eric (best man) smiling, Jessie trying to pay attention, and Ashlee in the background making sure that everyone is hopping to. ;)

Ian, the ring bearer. He took his job very seriously, as you can see.

And so did the best man and groomsman!

Andrew, Peter, and Jessie at rehearsal dinner. Andrew is behaving himself, as usual.

The happy couple.

Love the look of enjoyment on each of their faces. Makes me happy, happy, happy!

I was able to send a lot of the wedding gifts off to Ashlee and Daniel today. I will say that it was hard to let go of the quilt that Daniel's Aunt Myrna made them. Oh, and the KitchenAid that the best man's parents gave. But Jessie and Peter eventually pryed each item from my snow white knuckles and snuck them out the door and off to the Post Office.

They're uber helpful like that.

That's it! Well, for now anyway. I still have the reception and sending off pics to show. So stay tuned!

~Brenda

Snail Mail, Snot, And The Springs

Snail Mail

In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten back to the old art of letter writing. And sending them snail mail. You know, the kind where you use a pen, jot a few lines down, place it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it, and walk it out to the mail.

Sounds like a pain, huh?

Well, yes. It kind of is. It's harder than whipping up an email and hitting the send button. But it's so much more rewarding. Not just for the recipient, but for the sender. To me, there's nothing better than getting a handwritten note in my mailbox. Even if it's a one-liner. It means someone took the time to sit down and think about me. I hope that's the message I'm conveying when I send my little notes and letters. I just want folks to know I'm thinking of them, praying for them, or to let them know what it is that I appreciate about them.

So try your hand (pun intended!) at old fashioned letter writing like the old Pioneer women on the Prairie used to do! You (and those you send them to) will be glad you did!

Snot

And lots of it, folks! My face has been a faucet dripping with it since Wednesday. Thanks to a friend's suggestion, I'm getting better.

What did she suggest?
She suggested snorting salt up my snout! How silly is that?! Surprisingly, it was a successful suggestion that led to less sniffing, sneezing, and stuffy sinuses! What a sweetie!

Sorry - alliteration bug bit me!

The Springs

If you live in Colorado, you'd know what I meant by the Springs. If not, then I'll tell you I mean Colorado Springs. You know, where the famous Focus on the Family headquarters are ... and the Air Force Academy (that my beloved, future son-in-law graduated from) is? Yeah, that one! That's where I took a little trip to today to retrieve my darling daughters and Peter from (see side bar pics). The best man in the wedding is moving there, so they figured they would help him out by traveling there, unloading the truck, then making the hop to home. Point is -  Ashlee is finally home with us once again! April 24th is two weeks away, and much preparation is needed to get this wedding on the up and up. However, we're together now, and that makes everything so much better. Working together means progress. Working 2,000 miles apart means chaos. Ha! So welcome home, Ashlee! Now let's get to work!

More to come on the wedding plans, and my little life in general. In the meantime, dig out your handy dandy stationery, and jot a note to someone you love. It's hard to find the time! As a mother of the bride, I know this. But sometimes the rewards far outweigh the sacrifice of time.

Until next time,

~Brenda

Psalm 25:11 - A word fitly spoken (or written!) is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (parenthetical comment mine)

Destination Revealed

Wow! I have a whoppin' 30 minutes to write you a blog post! I'm sooo excited! I've missed my Lovely Lurkers. Thanks for hopping on over, and not giving up on me.

My love for blogging has not ceased, thank you very much. But unfortunately, a lot of my blogging time has.

Anyway, glad to be back in the saddle again. Out here on the prairie. With my hair flappin' in the wind, the breeze and sunshine whisping across my face ....

Ahem!

Back to reality ...

Ashlee is thousands of miles in the air as I "speak." I'm excited for her to be back from her trip ...

But I'm not sure the feeling is mutual.

Boys do that to young girls.

That's right. She went to see a boy.

An Airman.

She's been in the south, far away from this prairie, far away from everything she's ever known, but not far from my thoughts.

However, I'm not so sure but what we were far from her thoughts.

Why?

Because young love is terribly distracting. It makes you forget your cell phone. It makes you not answer your cell phone when your mother texts you. And it makes you downright ....

Twitterpated.

Yep, that's right. Ashlee's gone off the deep end. Into the sea of suffocating romance and smooshyness.

What's that? You want to meet him?

Suuuuure!!

Here he is when he came to visit last April - or perhaps it was May. I lose track.




His name is Daniel (hence the attempt to get just his name in the above pic) and we've known him since he was about seven.

His father was our Pastor for nearly ten years.

His mother played a crucial role in my life from the time I was a VERY young mother to my late twenties.

His sister and I used to play the piano together in church.

He used to turn my music pages for me as a little boy - and he did a darn good job of it!

He's about to make Captain in the Air Force.

He's 26.

He's a strong Christian.

He's fun to be around.

He's respectful towards Shaun and I.

He's very affectionate.

He's very sentimental.

He's very giving.

He's smarter than a whip.

My point?

My point is that I like him.

Excuse me while I grovel in that ... but honestly, I haven't like most of the boys Ashlee has brought home. So this is new and refreshing to me.

And I think they're cute together, to boot.

Don't you?



So please excuse me while I relish in my thankfulness to the Lord for bringing them together. And trust me ... it WAS Him that did this.

But that, my Lovely Lurkers, is another blog post!!!

~Brenda

A Week of Firsts ... And A Guessing Game

I love "firsts."

First kisses.

First day of school.

First tooth.

Well this week, we had a few of our own firsts!

Our first snow. Andrew was kind enough to pose for me outside, even though he had a bit of "electric" hair:







And Ashlee went on her first plane ride. Her first trip to an airport. And her first lessson in baggage care: Bring a strap so you can roll your baggage instead of carrying it.

She carried it low:

She carried it high:

She rolled it, scooted it, carried it with Jessie, and dropped it over and over. Unfortunately, I was laughing too hard to get most of it on camera:

That oh so important task of printing a ticket:

After getting rid of our baggage, so to speak, we stopped off and got a bit of coffee and breakfast at Caribou Coffee. Nothin' like a ton of little caffeine for a post baggage boost:

A few pics taken by Jessie - because she thinks my new camera is uber special:

We were cuttin' up so much, we got a few strange looks. But we just took that as confirmation that we were having the time of our lives. This picture is only funny because it's so absurd that I would actually drink coffee. And no, I didn't actually do any slurping. ;)

Me going ballistic with my uber nice camera:

After we burned two hours of free time (we were a little paranoid about getting there in time), drank two coffees, ate one cherry danish roll, and bought a really cute pink hoody, I put my oldest baby through security ...

And on to her gate to board ....

She looks sad, but she was sooooo excited to go on this trip.

What's that?

You want to know where she's going?

Off to college?

Uhm, no.

To see her grandmother?

Nooooo.

On a mission's trip?

I think not!

Tell ya' what. You tell me where you think she's going. First person to get it right gets ...

Gets ...

Well, you get the enjoyment of getting it right!

Note to family: Since you know the exact location and what Ashlee is making this trip for, you are automatically disqualified. And please don't divulge her destination.

For the rest of my Lovely Lurkers ... I'm not asking you to tell me an exact location. I'm asking you to guess the purpose for her first flight, her first trip away from home, and her first trip .... without ME!

Happy guessing!!

~Brenda, the empty nesting Mama on the Prairie

Ch-Ch-Ch-Change!

My poor, sweet, Lovely Lurkers. My blogging has been scarce lately!! I've probably lost most of you, but hopefully, I'll win your little hearts back.

Truth be told, family comes before blogging, and family has needed me. So until that changes, a couple of posts a week is what you can expect, rather than the four or five that I was posting.

Ah hem!

Now that we have that straight ...

The winds of change have been blowing out here on the Prairie. In the last couple of months, I've experienced these changes:

• I'm officially empty nesting. Ashlee has gone and gotten her own tree to hug camp under. It's been coming for months, and really, I'm ok with it. Everyone is on good terms. I didn't have to give her the boot. I didn't even want to give her the boot. But I don't suppose that makes it any easier. Perhaps it's a bit hard to swallow, because of everything else that is transpiring. If you're an empty nester, give me a holler. We need to talk. No, you need to talk. I need to listen.
• My mother-in-law was diagnosed with brain cancer. If you've not read about that, just scroll down to the last three or four posts. It's all there.
• There's been a ch-ch-ch-change (or shall I say, decline) in my health, but not much progress in finding a solution. I do go in for some tests this week (and possibly next) that will hopefully give us a better idea of how we can accomplish getting me some more food/nutrition. I'm ready for drastic measures, even if that means more ch-ch-ch-change.
• Shaun has begun seminary classes. You know what that means? It means that I will someday be a Mrs. Pastor. And if that's not a huge ch-ch-ch-change, I don't know what is!!! It's almost funny, really. I feel like Sarah, when she heard people talking about how she would have a child in her old age. She, of course, laughed. I have never laughed out loud about being a Mrs. Pastor. I simply snicker inwardly, and say, yeah right ... me?? Nevertheless, Mrs. Pastorhood is the road I'm treading down, and I am trying to adjust and be supportive. Honestly, most days I'm excited. Other days, I laugh. Hysterically.
• Jessie cut her hair. All of it. Off. Gone. Kaputt. She walked out with hair nearly touching her waist, and came back with hair just a touch below her ear. It's cute!!! And while I like the long hair better, she pulls off a short do pretty well. A lady at church asked, "Did she cry?" I said, "No ... but I think she was trying to make ME cry!" Ha! I didn't cry. But it's more ch-ch-ch-change to get accustomed to, which seems to be my calling as of late. To adjust, adjust, adjust.

There's more, but nothing more I can really share. I know you'll either hope that one day, I'll be able to share, or you will shrug your shoulders, go about your day, and never think of it again.

Either scenario is quite alright with me.

Now all this ch-ch-ch-change talk has worn me out. So I'm going to bed.

I wonder what ch-ch-ch-change I will encounter tomorrow ....

~Brenda

Summer Snippets

It's been an incredibly busy Summer and I think I'm looking forward to school starting, just so we are required to stay home and get our work done.

However, here's some Summer Snippets of our little Prairie Life that you might enjoy:

***Jessie got her drivers license - and her new car. So I am no longer a taxi mom for her, which is both helpful - and sad. Helpful because I am somewhat freed up, and sad because I haven't seen her as much.

Sniff, sniff.

Kids do grow up, and start doing their own thing. And I think I may have officially begun the empty nesting process. Fortunately, for me, it's been a slow process. My kids (so far) haven't packed their bags and headed off to college (dorm life). Ashlee graduated as an EMT, but while living at home. Jessie is currently saving to go to college - at home. So I'm seeing less and less of them ... but they're still here. With me. Where they belong.

At least for a little while longer.

A little proof of ownership?

Sure!

The car's name is Penelope, by the way. Penny, for short.

Oh ... and the creepy shadow behind her? That's a friend. And he's really not too creepy.

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***My very sweet friend, Beth, dropped by the other day to give me this belated birthday gift:




Indeed, a girl after my own heart. She's a quilt lover and so am I. So she rolled up these beautiful fabrics, placed them in an adorable bucket, along with the little elephant she picked up on her trip to Cambodia, and viola!!

Happy Birthday to me.

I don't have any pictures of Beth and I, but next time she comes over (in August), I'm going to take some. We'll be sewing some little quilted make-up bags, and I can't wait!!

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***Next is the Creative Catcher, Carston. He's Andrew's sidekick in baseball. He's who Andrew feels the most comfortable with when he's pitching wickedly fast strikes .

And he's very creative with baseball sun reflector makeup.

Don't you think?




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***And then there's me. The new Bionic Woman.





Well, in my dreams I am.

I returned the heart monitor yesterday. No word back yet as to whether they see the flutters I am feeling. The monitor supposedly picks up much more than the pacemaker does, so hopefully the monitor will come through for me. I experienced plenty of skipped beats, flutters, etc. the two days it was on, so I'm hoping ...

I mean, really. I didn't walk around with that contraption on for two days, looking like a Bionic Woman Wannabe for nothin'!

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How 'bout you? Have you blogged about any of your Summer Snippets? If so, leave a comment and link so we can all read about it!

~Brenda