DECEMBER FIFTEENTH?!? (fast forward)

How sad is that? I haven't posted a thing, here on my blog since December 15, 2015? Wow. I knew that the holidays were a mess and I sorta shut down, but I had no idea I hadn't been back here in all that time.
A lot of things happened last year. We joyously welcomed Hunter Reed Cooper into our lives on March 30th. We celebrated an absolutely wonderful day, when Shawn and Lacy finally got married on May 1st. Then the world came crashing down when we lost Shawn on May 28th. Everything kind of spiraled after that. The summer came and went. So did fall. Every month, every day brought new heartaches as we though of all the things we'd planned and weren't able to fulfill due to Shawn's death. I tried to keep my head, but often that didn't work.
Everyone dealt with Shawn's death differently. We tried to hold it together. We tried to be supportive. We tried to help when we could. Sometimes things just didn't work. I don't want to blame anyone here, publicly. It just is what it is.

Thanksgiving everything just BLEW UP! For the first time, in my life, 55 years, I left my mom's before dinner, didn't spend Thanksgiving with my family and didn't intend to spend Christmas there either. And we didn't.
Freddy and I chose to go to Florida for Christmas. One of the hardest choices we've ever made. Didn't want to be home. Didn't want to be at Mom's. Didn't want to be with either of the girls, for VERY different reasons. So we bailed. We went somewhere that reminded us of no one. Somewhere completely new and different and NOTHING like Minnesota at Christmastime. It was wonderful and terrible. We had a great time and forgot about all our troubles and strife... for a little while. Christmas was really hard, without the family and chaos. I'd never do it again, like that. But it was worthwhile to get away from everything and everyone this year.

But we came back to all of the same'ole'same. So, it was just a respite. And it took several months for things to begin to figure themselves out. We saw Kolten in January, for lunch and a movie. My therapist told me to write Lacy a letter, so we wouldn't get into a verbal argument and I could say all of the things I'd been needing to say. I did. And then I re-did and re-did and re-did. It began as a thrashing, getting it all out, blaming her for everything. Then I rewrote several times and even had my therapist look it over and change several things. It had to be about my feelings because that's what hadn't been taken into account. I couldn't blame her for how I felt, but she needed to know how her actions made me feel. I gave it to her and told her that we didn't have to discuss it until she was ready. Guessing that will be, never.
Anne and Tyler figured out that they'd gotten way in over their heads in ND and decided that they had to make a move. Their seller graciously allowed them to get out of the contract and move by March 31st. Lacy and Kolten were getting on with their new "normals" and doing a pretty, darned good job. Lacy reached out to Anne and attempted to mend fences for their sake and the sake of the cousins. We started to come back together, as a family. So far, so good.
Anne, Tyler, Caddie and Hunter (oh yes, and Gauge) came to live with us in between houses. They found a nice place in MacGregor, IA. A good hour closer than Valley City, ND, thank goodness. Still too far away for Grammy, but closer.
And we lost BettyJane two weeks ago. Wow. She went into the hospital on March 6th, with pneumonia and respiratory and heart failure. Three days later, we put her in hospice, thinking it was only a matter of days. Well, that spunky, spicy, little spitfire pulled out an additional three weeks. She wasn't happy, but she just didn't want to die............ and then she did. She was so weak. She was so unhappy. She wanted to be with her Jackie again. We had a beautiful service for her, right at the Fountains, where she last lived. The Atrium was FULL! It was so moving to see so many people who really loved her.

So, now you are where we are. It's April in Minnesota. One day gorgeous, windows open, in the 70s. The next day (or previous) you're back in your winter coat! Gotta love it here. I'll try to keep up more often. I'll try to show off some more scrap layouts and kits. I'm on five different CTs (creative teams) is several different capacities, so I don't do nearly as much designing anymore as there are SO many who do it better than I.
That's All.
Love and Blessings.
Stay Safe.

Back on the Picture Track.....Day 09 – A picture that motivates you to do more (Day 09 A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most)

Sorry, I've been gone for quite awhile. For better or worse, our youngest daughter enlisted in the Marines last March with a ship date of November 2011. She received her orders on June 15th, for a ship date of June 20!!! WOW! All of a sudden, we were faced with having a grad party (originally scheduled for July 9th) and getting her ready to leave (2-4 months early!!!) and calming our "fears" and "anxiety" and sadness regarding her leaving...........

Now I'm back................

Remember (maybe) that when I started this, I'd found two lists that were slightly different, so I tweaked them together.......so some days have two pix. This is one of them.

Okay, this may get a little boring for y'all cuz my favs and my inspirations and my closest's all seem to be the same people.............with slight variations.

KOLTEN. Yep, the picture that motivates me to do more is Kolten, my bubba. Also just lucky to be included is my hubby, Freddy. He, by far, has gotten me thru the most. Now, bear in mind, my MOM is one of my best friends and is always there for me, no matter what. I chose Freddy to go thru life with 30 years ago! We've been thru a lot together. It hasn't always been easy; don't let anyone tell you it is, but he's always there; we always do it together.

So this is a pretty cool picture that covers both "days".

I also noticed on another blog, that the person included the list (and names of the pix) on each blog............so I'm gonna do that here too. The nice thing about that is that I can just look at "yesterday" to see what I need to blog about "today".

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Day 01 - A recent picture of yourself (Day 01 A recent picture of yourself with ten facts)...Mom-me-Jen

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest...me & Kerry, me & Mom

Day 03 - A picture of your inspiration for weight loss...Kolten

Day 04 - A picture of the cast of your favorite TV show (Day 04 A picture of your favorite color)...Grey's Anatomy, Kolten w/Green cake all over

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite animal (Day 05 A picture of your favorite memory)...Bailey (duh), Mom & Daddy dancing at anniversary

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day...Bill Gates

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item...my scrapbooks

Day 08 - A picture of your favorite color (Day 08 A picture that makes you laugh)...my REAL fav color, Corvette Red & Kolten w/a mohawk

Day 09 – A picture that motivates you to do more (Day 09 A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most)...Kolten&Grandpa in Marine gear & Mom

Day 10 - A picture of your closest friend

Day 11 - A picture of your IPOD or other music playing device on shuffle, and then list the first 10 songs that play. (Day 11 A picture of something you hate)

Day 12 – A picture that defines you (Day 12 A picture of something you love)

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 – A picture of you now (Day 14 A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without)

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity, and the reasons why it is the biggest

Day 19 - A picture of your nicknames you have; why do you have them.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 – A picture of an exercise you can’t do, but would like to try (and then try it if you want to)

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book; why is it your favorite?

Day 24 - A picture of what I would find in your bag (Day 24 A picture of something you wish you could change)

Day 25 - A picture of your favorite super hero and why

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

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Love and Blessings.

Day 08...A picture of your favorite color (Day 08...A picture that makes you laugh)

Another tweak in the system........from two of these lists melded together...........

My favorite color is Corvette Red.

And something that makes me laugh..............oh, you gotta be kidding..............how could you not laugh, smile, giggle, grin at this face?!?!?!

Another day down...........trying to catch up before the end of the month....yeah, right!

Love and Blessings.

Day 07...A picture of your most treasured item

I'm blatantly stealing this idea from another Sparker, MCLAFLIN. My most treasured item(s) are my scrapbooks. I've got all of the digital files on a flash and I'm working somewhat sporadically at getting all of the older paper books scanned so the flash can be put into a safe deposit box.

That's all for this one.

Love and Blessings.

Day 6...Person I'd Like to Trade Places With for One Day

This was really tough. I looked at several other's blogs about who they'd like to change places with and just wasn't inspired............not that they're choices didn't inspire me, but that I still couldn't come up with anyone. Well, I can't tell you precisely who it was, but someone wanted to change places with Oprah for a lot of reasons, but the one that struck me was being able to get things done with the money and influence she had.

Money and Influence...........

I've always thought that you can have too much money. I love the way Bill Gates and his wife give theirs away. Their Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in the world. And they've been credited as the 2 most generous philanthropists in America. Okay, so I really, really like them.

It occurred to me that if I could trade place with Bill Gates for one day, I could get some of that money for my pet charities, like the American Cancer Society, the Girl Scouts of America and my church..............and because we're in such dire straits here at home, I'd probably have to grab just a little bit of that money for myself to get us out of debt so we could start over. A little selfish? Yep!

So, that's it for this one. Maybe I'll do Day, 7, 8, and 9 to try to catch up a little.....

Love and Blessings.

Day 5 - A picture of your favorite animal OR your favorite memory

Okay, my favorite animal in general (dog) or my favorite dog in particular, Bailey. I love dogs. I was raised with dogs. We always had a dog (or two or three) in the house. We have Bailey. Mom has Sunny (a yellow lab) and both brothers have their canines, one a weimaraner, the other an english spaniel and a springer. We've gone through cockers, poodles, gordons, and brittanys. We're dog people. And here's one of the reasons.......

My favorite memory is simply of my mom and dad together. They were the epitome of love in my book. They were also some of the best parents I've ever known. Not just my own, but any parents I've ever known. Mom's still one of my best friends and dad was just always......there. They were unconditionally loving to each other and to us. They were fair, though us kids didn't always believe it. They were fiercely loyal and completely supportive.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been "there" for almost 13 years now. Gosh, that's just amazing to think about....when I think about it. It seems like only yesterday that he died and then it seems like forever ago. I miss him so much. You know how they say that it gets easier with time? Nah, it doesn't get easier.....the times just get further apart. When I stop..............................and think about him, I miss him just as much and I cry just as much and it's just as hard not to have him here. The difference is that there are so many more times now that I can think about him and laugh.

So that's it for today......not days in a row, but still on a roll. Gonna get these 30 days-30 pix done............eventually.

Love and Blessings.

Day 4...my first little tweak of the list.....

Okay, here's the first tweak. One of the lists I found says today I should post a pic of my fav TV show......and that's okay, but I don't know that that tells a lot about me. Here it is anyway.....I rarely miss a week of Grey's and I'll be sad if it ever goes off the air..... I don't know that my favorite color tells a lot about me either BUT, my favorite color changed as of yesterday! Take a look.

I am totally in love with green................as long as it's on the face of my little one-year-old pumpkin!!! We had so much fun yesterday. Kolten really didn't know what all the fuss was about. He just knew there was fuss and he was LOVIN' IT!!! as the commercial says........... He also did have a grand 'ole time once he figured out that all of those pretty bags and boxes on the window seat were for HIM! Then he wanted them all and he wanted them now! Mind you, he didn't care what was inside..........he wanted the bags and boxes.... ; )

Happy 1st Birthday, little man!

Love and Blessings.

Day 3...My Inspiration for Weight Loss

People who already know me well will reply............duh! For those who don't, this is my Kolten. My only grandchild is the love of my life, light in my world. He's going to be 1 year old tomorrow! My how the year has flown. He is such a joy and we're so blessed that, due to circumstances, Kolten and Mommy live with us. I have to admit, I'm not good at this weight-loss thin g. I'm really going for the healthy-living thing. I watch what I eat. I move more daily than I ever have before (with the exception of HS and college). I'm trying, but I hate labels and restrictions so I refuse to say that I have to do "this" or "that". I just do my best at living the best way I can. Kolten has been my most recent inspiration because I want to be around for his baseball games, graduations, and marriage and kids like my mom is.

Love and Blessings.

Day 2...I'm on a Roll!

The person I'm closest to...for the longest. Well, my very first thought was my very, best friend, Kerry. I met her when we were 3 years old. We grew up next door to each other and walked in and out of each other's home like they were our own. She's only 6 months younger than me but, due to birth dates, we were one grade apart. We got married two month apart and lived within 5 miles of each other all but 8 years of our lives (and three of them were before we met)!!!

Now I have to mention that THE person I'm closest to......and obviously have known for the longest is my mom.

She's absolutely the greatest. Okay, so she's a great mom, but she's also a really neat person. We haven't always gotten along (duh, I was a teenager at one time), but she's always been there for me through thick and thin. She listens more than she talks and only gives advice when I ask. We live far too far away from each other and that's only 53.6 miles. Yeah, so I've tracked it! So what?!?!

ciao for now!

Love and Blessings.

THE most valuable lesson I can share..................

THE most valuable lesson I can share..................

When nothing seems to be going right.................GO LEFT.

Oh my, this is something I've tried to live by all my life, teach my daughters, share with friends. It's kind of that "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality that I was raised with. You CAN change your circumstances. You CAN start over. I'm absolutely crazy about quotes and adages, sayings and words of wisdom. I speak "cliche", so get ready, here it comes.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about Dancing in the Rain." ~Tiffany Wilson

"It doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." ~Vince Lombardi

I truly believe that every day we get up is an opportunity to start over. We have a choice to believe we're going to have a good day or a bad day. If we start the day thinking that it's going to be bad, there's very little hope for the day turning out "good". But, if we start each day thinking, 'THIS is going to be a GREAT day!' then, even if things go "bad", we have a better chance of dealing with them in a positive way. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!

I remember reading one of those perpetual email stories a long time ago. It was called "ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING". I saved it. I read it periodically when I need a lift. Bottom line, guy was shot in an armed robbery. The last several paragraphs of his story are:

-----After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door", Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?", I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?", I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me", said Jerry. She asked if I was allergic to anything. "Yes", I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, "Bullets!" Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." -----

I think we all have to OPERATE as if we're going to LIVE, not die.

"Live, Live, LIVE! Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving!" ~Auntie Mame

Love and Blessings,
Stay Gold,

I've Been Tagged...........

I guess I'm supposed to post this picture and explain 'cuz I've been tagged by Karilee at http://blessedmemoriesscrapbooksbykarrilee.blogspot.com/2009/01/ive-been-tagged.html

This is a very special picture to our family. I'll show you the whole story in a minute. Anne was calling her Auntie Chelle immediately after receiving passing marks to earn her Black Belt in Kung Fu in July 2007. That grin was contagious. Uncle Clint (the cop) and cousin Lexi were there as was Uncle Curtis, Auntie Jen, cousin Alex, Mom, Dad, sister Lacy and her boyfriend, Trent. She had a fan club. Unfortunately (or otherwise) Auntie Chelle was cousin Cole's basketball coach and they had a big game that night.

So, below is the competition. She had to do many things, but some of the highlights were when she had to show take-down techniques and used her friend James as her attacker. Her forms were very strong and she happens to be one of the best kickers in the school. Her upper foot on her scissors kick is over 7' and her lower foot is consistantly 2.5-3 feet off of the floor. And, yes, I'm just a little prejudiced. : ) The handsome hunk teaching her how to properly tie her Black Belt is Lama, the instructors son and one of Lacy's good, good friends and has also become one of Anne's chief supporters.

Now, I believe I have to tag six additional people, but I'm not at all sure how to do that, so for now..............................................beware, it could be you next.

Love and Blessings.

Carla

Teaching

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -- William Arthur Ward

That's a good one. It's been another several weeks and I'm trying not to get discouraged by this particular website. There are many things I like about this format. It's very easy to personalize this blog, but I've found no contacts at all and there's no EASY way to contact others and make friends. I have another blog on K102 and I've got lots of friends that I talk to regularly. I feel like I'm part of a community there. I feel like I'm alone here. So, maybe that's okay and I will use this as a diary since so few people will ever see it. We'll see.

Anyway, what's happened since July 18? Well, on the 19th we took off for Duluth for the day to watch the AirShow. We were a little concerned about the weather as we drove smack into a fog bank coming over the hill into Duluth, but we hung around the canal for a bit and then headed up to the airport and the SUN BROKE THROUGH!!!

Everything flew that day including the BLUE ANGELS!!! OMG! They were awesome.

Relay For Life was wonderful. The evening was gorgeous and Anne and I raised over $700 and the event is over $50,000 so far. Our event closes August 30, so we're still accepting donations. Then that Sunday, the 27th, we shipped Anne off to Just For Kix Dance Camp and we left for "parts unknown". Three days with no kids, no dog, just me and my buddy. No plans, no reservations, just drive. We ended up in Brainerd, Gull Lake, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Whitefish, and Pine River. Tuesday morning we woke up in a little cabin on a quiet lake with no one else around. It was so peaceful, nothing but the birds, insects, wind and frogs. We drove back to Mom's Tuesday night so I could be there Wednesday morning to take her, Curtis, Jen and Alex to the airport for ALASKA!! I am so jealous. I got home Wednesday afternoon after Fred had gone to work and the house was so quiet. I missed Anne so bad. She came home Wednesday night. She'd had a blast. We had a couple of days with basically nothing to do so we cleaned out her old room and moved her down into Lacy's old room. Then we moved the big bed from my office up to the new guestroom (Anne's old room) and moved the futon down to the office...............soooooooooooo much more room!

Tuesday August 5th, we had our 2nd Annual National Night Out party and it was GREAT! We have such a cool neighborhood. Jill offered her house, Denny made an 8-pound hamburger, and we had a blast. And so we're just about caught up, I guess. See ya in a month or so...school will have started by then so I'll have more to talk about I'm sure.

The God I Forgot About

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

It seems that God, again, just has to hit me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention.

I had the most wonderful evening with my friend Cheryl on Friday. Where we normally see each other for dinner or lunch for about 2-3 hours every 3-4 months or so, we spent 6 HOURS at Houlihans on Friday night. The staff was fantastic and left us ALONE (we tip very well) unless we signaled that we needed sustenance or drink. (the drinks were non-alcoholic) We sat and talked and talked and talked and worked out the entire world's problems..........well at least most of ours. I UNLOADED about all of the crap with the OC (oldest child) and she gave me what I've needed most, affirmation that we're not the most horrible parents in the world and we have to spend this time looking out for Anne and not worry about our decisions.

So the God part of it is that He has put Cheryl in my life, He has been providing daily inspiration via loving my hubby, the internet, the phone, and even the horoscopes (yes, I read them but don't spend my life by them). But the greatest thing is that they have been telling us to slow down and evaluate and not worry and oh my gosh! it's spot on!!!! I believe that He puts various forms of information in front of us regularly to remind us that He's there and He'll use whatever will get our attention at this time. He's a marvelous God and He knows what we need.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

She just walked in the door like she still lives here and can come and go as she pleases. I bit my tongue being pleasant to her. "I just came to get my mail." Great. Thanks for that.

The bible verse was on my home page today when I opened it. It was just what I needed. Be strong for I will be with you. Lord, I need you with me. I need to start over and love her unconditionally and let it be. I will let You handle her and hope and pray that someday she will realize we tried to do what was best for all. Thank you Lord, for carrying me.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Yup, that sure says it. Well, Lacy left last Saturday and I've been between crying and screaming ever since. When I saw her empty room, I dissolved into tears. Then when I tried to contact her (by text, darn it!) to get some information for insurance, she was so rude and contemptuous! I alternate between worrying about her and wishing her good riddance. I can't help it. I love her so much and I despise the way she acts!

Anne wants to move down into Lacy's old room and I'm inclined to let her. Fred is beside himself and can't let her. He still believes there's some chance of getting through to Lacy and she'll magically change and want to come home and "play nice". It ain't gonna happen. Fred lives in this dreamworld where it's the 50's and he's Father Knows Best. That's what we used to look like when we were all together and father did know best. I miss those days.

The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous.- - Margaret Fontey

Keep on walkin’ with rocks in your shoes.....

Fancy meeting you here again so soon..... I really thought I'd be so busy that I'd only get back to journal once or twice a week. Well, that may be how it eventually works, but for now, I'm taking the time I do have available to add entries. Rocks In Your Shoes is a country song (which is where I'm spending most of my time lately) sung by Emily West that refers to staying on course even when life smacks you in the face and tries to knock you down, if not out. That's what I'm feeling like this minute.
The point right now is that we're seriously informing the OC (oldest child) that she needs to leave the house. We love her so much and we just can't figure out WHAT we've done wrong that she's become so selfish and rude and inconsiderate that she thinks she can live here and be that way. She's decided to blame us for everything wrong in her life and acts like she is going to hold it against us even while living here, rent-free, come-and-go-as-you-please. We've set down some "Rules for Getting Along Together" and she's basically chosen to pick and choose the ones she wants to follow or not. By seriously I'm mean that I've told the OC that she's "moving out" several times in the past 6 months due to the above infractions, but I never follow-through. I've let her get away with completely disregarding me, her dad and her sister AND calling me several very ugly names last week. With school coming to a close, I just wanted to relax a few days and then address it next week. I was going to ask her to leave, but last night Fred had had enough and, when she got home, he told her that she had one week. She began crying and ended up leaving to spend the night at the boyfriend's (he was at his graduation-all-night-party). Wonder what she told his mom about that?!? Before she left she actually had the gaul to ask her sister, "Do you have any idea why Dad is making me leave?" She didn't respond.
Gotta run....I'll return with updates after softball with the TA (teen-ager)....the one who stills likes us.......................
Rocks In Your Shoes by Emily West
So you had some bad luck, life sucks
Can’t do nothin’ right
You took some wrong turns,
Got burned way too many times
And so you fall back with all that
hurt that just don’t wanna heal
So then you do the why me,
This can’t be happenin’ again
Hey what’s the deal man
I can’t take much more of this
You put your time in
Payed your dues
Believe me I know how you feel


I guess you gotta make a choice
When it hits the fan
You can get a little down or get a little mad
When there’s stones in the road
only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!


I heard some good lies from bad guys
Makin’ me their mark
They did a drive by bang, bang
Big hole in my heart
Needed a crash cart, CPR
Sister I was fadin’ fast
I had a poor me trophy
Kept it on a shelf
Did the too proud,
Too cool to ask for any help
But when I gave in prayin’
I only got what answered back
And He said,
I guess you gotta make a choice
When it hits the fan
You can get a little down or get a little mad
When there’s stones in the road only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!
Bitter’s like a weed
If you let it grow
It’s gonna trip you up, yeah
Somewhere down the road
To get where you’re going
There’s only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
You better learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!
Keep on walkin’ with rocks in your shoes

This song talks to me about continuing to love her and persevere through her anger and mine. And, I'd hope it spoke to her about taking responsibility for her own actions and decisions and discontinue blaming "everyone else". Not that she'll ever read this. I don't think she knows that I have a blog. Another great country song right now that completely applies is, Back When I Knew It All by Montgomery Gentry. Maybe I'll put that in tomorrow.

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
That's right, school's out for summer! No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks.................well, okay, I'm the teacher, so I can still give the dirty looks, just not to those particular students. I hope I've spent the year teachiing them things that will help them pass life's test.

It's actually been a tough year for me too. I had no idea what it would be like to raise children of my own. The line between teacher and parent has been very thin this year and it's been tough on all of us. Sometimes I contemplate giving up the teacher-parent thing and other times I want to give up the parent thing altogether! Really! So, this is "me" doin' a jig down the hallway on the way out the door to v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n! in the summertime!

I'm sure I'll see you along the way, but don't be surprised if it's a few miles in-between!

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather.

Okay, I'll try that. There's no such thing as bad weather, there's no such thing as bad weather, there's no such thing as bad weather, there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.....yeah, whatever. The weather in Minnesota right now is incredibly irritating. Summer has yet to arrive in any way, shape or form. It teases us with beautiful, warm, sunshiny days in the 70s and then snaps us back into dreary, rainy, cold. It's May 29th, for heaven's sake. Oh my! It's May 29th!! It's our 27th anniversary today. We celebrated with Fred's folks on Tuesday, so I guess we forgot about today. We've talked at least 5 times on the phone today and neither one of us said anything. Man, at 20 I didn't think I'd do anything for 27 straight years and the very next year I snagged Freddy. 27 years, two kids, two dogs, four moves, and at least 17 vehicles later and look at us..............we're still happy!! WooHoo!! Happy Anniversary, Babe, I love you more today than yesterday and not as much as tomorrow.

If you are losing your leisure, you may be losing your soul.

This is where I'm headed................................................ HAVE A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY

And don't forget to take a minute (or more) to remember why we get to enjoy a three-day weekend every year at the end of May............