Good Afternoon Company Girls!
A little late today....I had to be out the door by 8:30 a.m. today and didn't have time to do a blog post before I left! What got me out the door at such an early hour...not to mention there happened to be a snow blizzard going on at the time...what else could do it but quilting!! (Although I was out even earlier on Tuesday to take Emma to a doctor's appointment) Not my usual class which is on Monday mornings but this was a different one at another church, a bit further away . I went to it because the teacher there was going to show us how to do applique. I've always been a little intimidated by applique but this teacher took the mystery out of it and made it quite simple, really...except I was a little disappointed when she says she doesn't usually do needle turn applique, which appeals to me, but, since she doesn't like doing it...guess I'll have to look up some videos on the computer. Anyways, it was interesting to learn something new...I liked it...it will take a few lessons to complete the little wall hanging but it looks like it will be a nice experience.
This weekend hubby plans on working on my quilt room...last weekend he got the walls prepped and the ceiling painted....this weekend the walls! I'm actually giving him a little extra work because I saw on this other blog...I think it's called the lettered cottage....they put these wide, about 12" wide, horizontal strips around the wall...I thought that would add some interest to a small room...it's only 8' x 10'...but of course it's extra work. I went to Home Depot and got a paint chip card that had three shades of yellow on it...so the lightest is on the ceiling and the medium will go on the walls and the darkest will be the horizontal stripes! I can't wait!!! I'm hoping that by next week I'll be able to set it up the way I want it to look....I've already been drawing out a floor plan....I have never had anything like this before!!! Very exciting!
On Sunday we have an important lunch meeting after morning service...I'm kind of apprehensive about it. Eldest daughter and I handed in our resignations from leading the Sunday school program at our church. We've done it for the last three years. We're tired out.
Unfortunately,..and I imagine it's like this at a lot of churches, we can't get the parents to contribute to helping out with the program....we've begged, we've pleaded....everybody has an excuse....I've even joked that Sunday school should be run as a co-op! The trouble is there's a lot of parents that just wouldn't bring their kids if that was the protocol. I know...sad but true. They'll do anything to get their child to a hockey practice but not to Sunday school...not just picking on hockey...but anything else that kids are involved in. It would seem that if parents have to pay for it than they make it a priority. Anyways, the meeting is to let all the parents, (who have been specifically invited) to inform them that we are no longer doing the program as of June and to find out from them just what they're willing to do to have the program continue under new leadership. Even though daughter and I are not leading this meeting, I'm not really comfortable with it...I'm not a person that cares for confrontation. We have been assured that the leaders will keep a tight reign that it's not going to have a lot of negativity...I hope not. We shall see.
So, that's my weekend...what about yours...great things planned?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
It's a Beautiful Day in the neighborhood.....
Of course when will I ever learn to load the pics in backwards order!! This is Maya and the other two girls on the team of ten young people that went down to Costa Rica....this pic was actually taken when they were coming home.....
Here's Maya and one of the many friends that she made in Costa Rica....
One of many beautiful sunset pictures she took...they even have a specific 'sunset time' on the schedule where they all gather at a certain spot and sing praise choruses and pray..every day...neat eh?
The cabins that the team stayed in...
...and this is a very scared Maya getting ready for take off on her very first plane ride....
Here's Maya and one of the many friends that she made in Costa Rica....
One of many beautiful sunset pictures she took...they even have a specific 'sunset time' on the schedule where they all gather at a certain spot and sing praise choruses and pray..every day...neat eh?
The cabins that the team stayed in...
...and this is a very scared Maya getting ready for take off on her very first plane ride....
Good Morning Company Girls!
Well, it's a beautiful, sunny in Southern Ontario...when the kids left for school it was a whole 8 degrees Celsius...which is about 46 Fahrenheit....I know not overly warm but a lot nicer than some of the frigid ones we've had lately....according to my little weather thingy on my sidebar, we're actually warmer than Seattle right now!...but then again they're three hours behind us so they will probably catch up!
So, that's the weather covered...what else...well, it's a long weekend here....some parts of Canada celebrate Family Day...that's a holiday that government felt we needed in the middle of February to help get us through our looooooooong winter! You are suppose to do family type things on Monday...I think this is like the third or fourth year for it...last year hubby didn't even get it off because his company decided to give us an extra day at the July 1st holiday...Canada Day....yeah I know the Americans celebrate on the 4th....anyways, sufficient to say we really didn't do anything and this year we have nothing planned...probably just working around the house...hey...that can be a family thing right?
Saw a great status on Facebook yesterday....I think it was on commenter LydiaCate's....she was repeating something she heard on a radio program....one of those things that stop and give you pause....'Are you courageous enough to let God write the testimony of your child's life'? Ya...makes you stop and think doesn't it.....my second oldest son is still in jail...he grew up in our family...learned about God just as all the kids have...accepted Jesus into his heart..just like all the kids have.....but...yet...he's in jail...for the third time.....he's twenty-seven years old....there are some kids that I will admit that it's harder to let God write their testimony.....you want to step in...you want to fix it....you can't.
Today is hubby's Friday off....maybe we'll mosey on down to Niagara-on-the-Lake for awhile...maybe have tea in the Irish shoppe...like to connect with my Irish roots every now and then...it's the closest I'll ever get to Ireland to be sure! Of course, if it's hubby's Friday off, it must be grocery day....good grief..means buying food again.....my kids at home are already all taller than me...you'd think I could stop feeding them now! Maybe we'll be able to get the paint for my quilt room today...now, that is shopping to look forward to!
So, have a great weekend...take care!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Our House...part two...
It's been an interesting time in our household these last few weeks. Emotions have been up and down....Maya was thousands of miles away, working in a camp....wasn't sure deep down how I felt about that...some kids are harder to let go more than others...there's a certain kind of vulnerability about Maya that makes you apprehensive for her....that makes you concerned about the people out there set on taking advantage of her....when there were about 4-5 days that I did not have any communication from her, while she was thousands of miles away, that I did a little panic...deep down inside me....the kind that only hubby sees....and God. She was fine...just on a little camping trip to experience waterfalls, volcanoes and rainforests....but I didn't know that at the time.
.....now our thoughts travel to what she will do in the fall...her internship is done the end of April, she hopes to work the summer at one of the camps she's at now....but the fall....then what....
We finally got Ben's room done...looks pretty good and he loves it...with moving him back in his room..well then we were ready for the big shuffle......there are three bedrooms downstairs..all in various sizes....the medium size one was for older son Paul but also a guest room since he was already in the army when it was completed and so wasn't home too often. When he resigned from the army and moved back home, he acquired a girlfriend(well, actually he had the girlfriend for awhile.....so even though he was home...he really wasn't. So, after a year, we asked if we could put some of his stuff into storage...we needed the space...he agreed. When we started on Ben's room well he went to stay in Paul's room for what I hoped was a couple of weeks...turned out to be a couple of months.....in Paul's room, the one that Ben was staying was a double size bed....passed on when an aunt died....so it's Aunt Edith's bed...that's what we call it....double was good for when Ryan and Jenn came visiting....but then Ryan and Jenn grew, they already had a big dog but then they had Sweet William and now we are eagerly looking forward to another grandbaby in August...changes had to be made....medium size room was not big enough for two adults, a toddler in a playpen and a large dog....so....when Ben moved back to his room last Saturday, to his brand new double bed I might add,....we decided to move Aunt Edith's bed into the largest room...which is Emma's...at first she didn't like the idea...but after it was set up and she had the bed made up looking ever so nice,..she admitted that she really did like it.
Now Emma's old twin size bed was in better condition then Megan's bed (which was upstairs in Megan's room, the room next to ours) So..we moved Emma's old bed into the medium size room.....by then it was after 11 p.m. and we were done in.
The next afternoon, I spoke to Megan.....she had been moping around, wondering when something was going to be done in her room.....so, I said to her..."Megan...you know how Ben just got this nice new room done....'ya'....and Emma just got the flooring done in her room and the double bed put in there....'ya'.....well,...how would you like a different room too? " Well, her eyes lit up, she clapped her hands 'yes. yes, yes'!! We could move your stuff down to Paul's room if you like...more squeals...more yeses!! So, we did.
All this to say...it's very different in our house now...the atmosphere is different...it's like hubby and I have claimed back our house...weird eh? I wasn't anticipating that feeling at all...and I'm sure it'll change once again when Maya finishes her internship and comes home in April..but for now...it's different.
Oh...and if Paul still needs a place to lay his head the odd night that he's not at the girlfriend's family house...well, there will be room....we haven't forgotten him....but..he's not the homebody anymore...the guy that didn't leave his computer for days on end...he's out and about, he has a life...just as it should be for a grown man...another change in this mother's heart....letting them go...one of the hardest things....but you put on your game face and you forge ahead....sometimes they get upset when you make these plans without them...but, as mom you have to....in their mind, they want to move on but they don't seem to like it too much when you do....they don't like seeing you make changes that don't include them..they feel you are shutting them out...you're not....but just as they are moving on, so must you...it's the circle of life....everything is in motion, and you go with the flow....
...all for now, from this old house.....and this old mom.....
.....now our thoughts travel to what she will do in the fall...her internship is done the end of April, she hopes to work the summer at one of the camps she's at now....but the fall....then what....
We finally got Ben's room done...looks pretty good and he loves it...with moving him back in his room..well then we were ready for the big shuffle......there are three bedrooms downstairs..all in various sizes....the medium size one was for older son Paul but also a guest room since he was already in the army when it was completed and so wasn't home too often. When he resigned from the army and moved back home, he acquired a girlfriend(well, actually he had the girlfriend for awhile.....so even though he was home...he really wasn't. So, after a year, we asked if we could put some of his stuff into storage...we needed the space...he agreed. When we started on Ben's room well he went to stay in Paul's room for what I hoped was a couple of weeks...turned out to be a couple of months.....in Paul's room, the one that Ben was staying was a double size bed....passed on when an aunt died....so it's Aunt Edith's bed...that's what we call it....double was good for when Ryan and Jenn came visiting....but then Ryan and Jenn grew, they already had a big dog but then they had Sweet William and now we are eagerly looking forward to another grandbaby in August...changes had to be made....medium size room was not big enough for two adults, a toddler in a playpen and a large dog....so....when Ben moved back to his room last Saturday, to his brand new double bed I might add,....we decided to move Aunt Edith's bed into the largest room...which is Emma's...at first she didn't like the idea...but after it was set up and she had the bed made up looking ever so nice,..she admitted that she really did like it.
Now Emma's old twin size bed was in better condition then Megan's bed (which was upstairs in Megan's room, the room next to ours) So..we moved Emma's old bed into the medium size room.....by then it was after 11 p.m. and we were done in.
The next afternoon, I spoke to Megan.....she had been moping around, wondering when something was going to be done in her room.....so, I said to her..."Megan...you know how Ben just got this nice new room done....'ya'....and Emma just got the flooring done in her room and the double bed put in there....'ya'.....well,...how would you like a different room too? " Well, her eyes lit up, she clapped her hands 'yes. yes, yes'!! We could move your stuff down to Paul's room if you like...more squeals...more yeses!! So, we did.
All this to say...it's very different in our house now...the atmosphere is different...it's like hubby and I have claimed back our house...weird eh? I wasn't anticipating that feeling at all...and I'm sure it'll change once again when Maya finishes her internship and comes home in April..but for now...it's different.
Oh...and if Paul still needs a place to lay his head the odd night that he's not at the girlfriend's family house...well, there will be room....we haven't forgotten him....but..he's not the homebody anymore...the guy that didn't leave his computer for days on end...he's out and about, he has a life...just as it should be for a grown man...another change in this mother's heart....letting them go...one of the hardest things....but you put on your game face and you forge ahead....sometimes they get upset when you make these plans without them...but, as mom you have to....in their mind, they want to move on but they don't seem to like it too much when you do....they don't like seeing you make changes that don't include them..they feel you are shutting them out...you're not....but just as they are moving on, so must you...it's the circle of life....everything is in motion, and you go with the flow....
...all for now, from this old house.....and this old mom.....
Friday, February 11, 2011
My house....it's a very, very fine house..with...
Good Morning Company Girls!
I'm quite annoyed with myself because I just realized that I forgot to get Maya's Costa Rica pics put on my computer so I could show you some! Next Week For Sure! Some of the pics are quite good...she got better at photography as time went on....she has some amazing sunset pics ....they have incredible sunsets there in Costa Rica...in fact, the camp program has a definite activity each day...entitle 'sunset'...everyone gathers in one area, watches the sunset and sings praise choruses...neat eh? Maya had a wonderful time and would have loved to have stayed longer...she wasn't minding the temps in the high 70's, low 80's at all! It took her forever to get home though....it would seem that Houston was having some problems with ice....and since they don't get that very often they struggled with getting their planes off the ground...Maya's travel route was thru Houston..so, the the morning of departure they left camp at 5 a.m. to catch a 7:30am flight out of San Jose.....which meant of course they were up by 4:30am....when they got to the airport they found that their flight had been cancelled from Houston's standpoint...they sat at the airport all day and got on a 4 pm flight...landed in Houston just after 7pm.....then waited til 8am the following morning for their flight to Detroit! Maya found that the floor at Houston airport isn't really conducive to very much sleep! They landed in Detroit about 11am and then started the long drive home...she should have been in our area about 4:30pm for pick up but due to snow and highway conditions, didn't arrive til 7:30pm...then it took us a whole hour to get home from the pick up! All in all, she was travelling for 39 hours! ....and she still had a smile on her face...that's our Maya!
So, this week we're putting the finishing touches on Ben's room...it's taken forever...we moved the guy out into another room sometime in November....but hubby only has so many hours in the day..when you add in his day job, his teaching job and doing the churches 'books'....well, I think he's done pretty well at getting it all done....we just have to get Ben a new mattress and boxspring...he now has a double size bed instead of a twin...and he should be able to move back in! I'm in the middle of painting the logo for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team on one wall...Ben is a big fan and especially asked for it....it wont be of the same caliber as Rachels work but Ben likes it, so I guess that's all that matters!
We had a tiny bit of money left from our deck project, the deck that didn't happen.....quick recap...since we put on the additions on our house almost five years ago I've wanted to enlarge the deck..right now it's just 12' x 12' and when you put up the table and chairs..well, there isn't room for anything else...I wanted some sitting/lounging area...so last year out income tax refund was larger than usual and we set aside some of it to do just that...well, summer came and went and the job didn't get done (see last paragraph indicating hubby's busy timetable)..then in the fall...both vehicles needed new tires....8 tires are a ton of money...didn't know what to do...you have to be safe...so...I quickly weighed safety over lounging and safety won...there went the deck money! When we did Ben's room, which is in the basement, it, of course, has a concrete floor....I was going to paint it but the guy at Home Depot described this complicated procedure for 'pargeing' the floor before you paint...it sounded very intense..the guy must have seen the panic look in my eyes because he took me to the flooring area and showed me some vinyl flooring..you put it down similar to a laminate..and it's good for moist conditions...it does look really nice on Ben's floor..we opted for a non-wood look...kind of a dark grey with bits of blue in it....he loves it!
Well, in this great bedroom turnaround ...that we haven't explained to the kids yet....Emma's room...which is also in the basement....will become Emma's/guest room...we are moving a double size bed into her room (that is now in a smaller room..which is too small for when Jenn and Ryan and baby and doggie visit)....so, I said to hubby last weekend...'is there any money left in the deck account?'...he said 'a little'...I said, 'enough to put that vinyl flooring in Emma's/guest room?' he thought so...yea!...So yesterday, I purchased the required product and hopefully this Saturday hubby will get a good start on it! Once he gets started it really doesn't take a long time to get down......then...the great bedroom shuffle will begin! I am thrilled to my toes!!!! You see...we have a small bungalow, built about 60 years ago with three small bedrooms on the main floor.....as our family grew we worked on the basement unfinished space and put in 2 bedrooms and a 3 piece bath....then, when we put on the additions, we dug out the foundation also....under one addition we put another bedroom (the other is just a storage room)...so...that gives us three up and three down.....the bedrooms on the main floor are ours, Megan and Maya's.....well, unbeknownst to Megan...she will be moving to the new bedroom downstairs...aka Paul's/guest room, that Ben is using right now (it has the old double bed).....but that double bed will be going into Emma's room...which is a larger bedroom, to become the Emma's/guest bedroom...with me so far?....then Megan's room will become my quilting room!!!! Now do you see why I'm thrilled to my toes....yes!!! I haven't explained all this to the girls yet....it'll just start 50 million questions that I prefer to delay for as long as possible....
So, ya..that's what's going on at my house...how's things at yours?
I'm quite annoyed with myself because I just realized that I forgot to get Maya's Costa Rica pics put on my computer so I could show you some! Next Week For Sure! Some of the pics are quite good...she got better at photography as time went on....she has some amazing sunset pics ....they have incredible sunsets there in Costa Rica...in fact, the camp program has a definite activity each day...entitle 'sunset'...everyone gathers in one area, watches the sunset and sings praise choruses...neat eh? Maya had a wonderful time and would have loved to have stayed longer...she wasn't minding the temps in the high 70's, low 80's at all! It took her forever to get home though....it would seem that Houston was having some problems with ice....and since they don't get that very often they struggled with getting their planes off the ground...Maya's travel route was thru Houston..so, the the morning of departure they left camp at 5 a.m. to catch a 7:30am flight out of San Jose.....which meant of course they were up by 4:30am....when they got to the airport they found that their flight had been cancelled from Houston's standpoint...they sat at the airport all day and got on a 4 pm flight...landed in Houston just after 7pm.....then waited til 8am the following morning for their flight to Detroit! Maya found that the floor at Houston airport isn't really conducive to very much sleep! They landed in Detroit about 11am and then started the long drive home...she should have been in our area about 4:30pm for pick up but due to snow and highway conditions, didn't arrive til 7:30pm...then it took us a whole hour to get home from the pick up! All in all, she was travelling for 39 hours! ....and she still had a smile on her face...that's our Maya!
So, this week we're putting the finishing touches on Ben's room...it's taken forever...we moved the guy out into another room sometime in November....but hubby only has so many hours in the day..when you add in his day job, his teaching job and doing the churches 'books'....well, I think he's done pretty well at getting it all done....we just have to get Ben a new mattress and boxspring...he now has a double size bed instead of a twin...and he should be able to move back in! I'm in the middle of painting the logo for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team on one wall...Ben is a big fan and especially asked for it....it wont be of the same caliber as Rachels work but Ben likes it, so I guess that's all that matters!
We had a tiny bit of money left from our deck project, the deck that didn't happen.....quick recap...since we put on the additions on our house almost five years ago I've wanted to enlarge the deck..right now it's just 12' x 12' and when you put up the table and chairs..well, there isn't room for anything else...I wanted some sitting/lounging area...so last year out income tax refund was larger than usual and we set aside some of it to do just that...well, summer came and went and the job didn't get done (see last paragraph indicating hubby's busy timetable)..then in the fall...both vehicles needed new tires....8 tires are a ton of money...didn't know what to do...you have to be safe...so...I quickly weighed safety over lounging and safety won...there went the deck money! When we did Ben's room, which is in the basement, it, of course, has a concrete floor....I was going to paint it but the guy at Home Depot described this complicated procedure for 'pargeing' the floor before you paint...it sounded very intense..the guy must have seen the panic look in my eyes because he took me to the flooring area and showed me some vinyl flooring..you put it down similar to a laminate..and it's good for moist conditions...it does look really nice on Ben's floor..we opted for a non-wood look...kind of a dark grey with bits of blue in it....he loves it!
Well, in this great bedroom turnaround ...that we haven't explained to the kids yet....Emma's room...which is also in the basement....will become Emma's/guest room...we are moving a double size bed into her room (that is now in a smaller room..which is too small for when Jenn and Ryan and baby and doggie visit)....so, I said to hubby last weekend...'is there any money left in the deck account?'...he said 'a little'...I said, 'enough to put that vinyl flooring in Emma's/guest room?' he thought so...yea!...So yesterday, I purchased the required product and hopefully this Saturday hubby will get a good start on it! Once he gets started it really doesn't take a long time to get down......then...the great bedroom shuffle will begin! I am thrilled to my toes!!!! You see...we have a small bungalow, built about 60 years ago with three small bedrooms on the main floor.....as our family grew we worked on the basement unfinished space and put in 2 bedrooms and a 3 piece bath....then, when we put on the additions, we dug out the foundation also....under one addition we put another bedroom (the other is just a storage room)...so...that gives us three up and three down.....the bedrooms on the main floor are ours, Megan and Maya's.....well, unbeknownst to Megan...she will be moving to the new bedroom downstairs...aka Paul's/guest room, that Ben is using right now (it has the old double bed).....but that double bed will be going into Emma's room...which is a larger bedroom, to become the Emma's/guest bedroom...with me so far?....then Megan's room will become my quilting room!!!! Now do you see why I'm thrilled to my toes....yes!!! I haven't explained all this to the girls yet....it'll just start 50 million questions that I prefer to delay for as long as possible....
So, ya..that's what's going on at my house...how's things at yours?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Checking in...
Good Morning Company Girls!
How is everyone today? We had our big storm this week...left us with about a foot of snow...thank the Lord it was the day before the kids were due back to school...by the next day everything was cleaned up enough for them to start their second semester!!! Yay!!!! It is the most wonderful time of the year....
Beautiful Maya is coming home today!!! I can't wait to see her and hear all about Costa Rica...I've been doing a little mom panic the last few days cause I haven't heard anything from her, directly thu Facebook IM or indirectly thru their blog...since last Friday night....I know she'll have mixed feelings about leaving the beautiful place she's been in and coming back to these minus temperatures...but at least she wont be scared to fly today! They are scheduled to fly into Detroit at 6 p.m. today, so they probably wont hit our area til going on midnight....sounds like a late night tonight! She says she's taken lots of pictures so I'll have to get them on my computer and show you some.
Other than that there's not too much going on..son Corey is still in jail...wont be released til April....I hope he learns something from this, this time...but I doubt it....time will tell.
Hope you guys have a great weekend!
How is everyone today? We had our big storm this week...left us with about a foot of snow...thank the Lord it was the day before the kids were due back to school...by the next day everything was cleaned up enough for them to start their second semester!!! Yay!!!! It is the most wonderful time of the year....
Beautiful Maya is coming home today!!! I can't wait to see her and hear all about Costa Rica...I've been doing a little mom panic the last few days cause I haven't heard anything from her, directly thu Facebook IM or indirectly thru their blog...since last Friday night....I know she'll have mixed feelings about leaving the beautiful place she's been in and coming back to these minus temperatures...but at least she wont be scared to fly today! They are scheduled to fly into Detroit at 6 p.m. today, so they probably wont hit our area til going on midnight....sounds like a late night tonight! She says she's taken lots of pictures so I'll have to get them on my computer and show you some.
Other than that there's not too much going on..son Corey is still in jail...wont be released til April....I hope he learns something from this, this time...but I doubt it....time will tell.
Hope you guys have a great weekend!
Friday, January 28, 2011
What would you really....
Good Morning Company Girls!
When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money...I can vividly remember my dad coming home with a smile on his face....he reached into his pocket and came out with ....chocolate bars....oh, the excitement....four chocolate bars, displayed in his hand, in an arc, like a deck of cards....sister and I were so excited!! My dad worked hard at a steel company and at a coke ovens...he'd come home covered in black soot...I remember him washing up at the kitchen sink...getting all clean. When we moved out to the 'country'..(now it's the suburbs that everyone wants to live in)...he would work all day, come home at the stroke of 5 p.m., and we'd sit down to eat. Supper was suppose to be ready at 5, cause dad had work to do....he'd usually spend any remaining daylight hours working outside.....doing yard work, rototilling the soil....
.....today, most men have different days, days filled with stuff that usually of course, our fathers didn't have..it wasn't even invented yet....computers...televisions...oh yes, we had televisions, but they were black and white, you might get 2 or 3 stations, you had to get up off your duff to change the station...you actually had to wait for the t.v. to 'warm up' after you turned it on before you could watch anything! Now, you can actually work on your computer while you watch the t.v.! Quite often, that's what my hubby is doing....because he wants to spend time with me, he'll often bring his laptop , sit down beside me and 'watch' the t.v. too. He doesn't go out and rotortil the garden but he does work in the evenings...just different kind of work..but works, just the same....
Hubby and I don't have a lot of money either...of course, our kids think we do...they think we are holding out on them.....that if we really wanted to help them, we'd just give it to them...or buy them this, or that.....which I'd really love to do....if I could....I'd also love to be able to give more to more charities...there are so many worthwhile ones out there..especially the ones in other countries that help children.....
I watched some guys on tv last night claim their lottery prize...that they won 7-8 years ago....apparently the small convenience store owners that sold them the ticket, cheated them out of their winnings..they were eventually found out and sent to jail....the guys were finally able o collect...over 2 million each!! What would I do with that much money???
Well, first...I'd pay off our mortgage, line of credit, charge cards....have absolutely no debt..wouldn't that be a wonder after almost 38 years of marriage! Then I'd go down my kids, one by one, all nine of them, and take care of their debt...school loans are a biggy....then I'd want to get a professional family photograph portrait done...(they're sooo expensive), then I'd take all the kids, and grandkids on a holiday...somewhere, something really special....then I'd give to the charities that I always wanted to give...sponsor some more Compassion kids...then,...whatever was left would go for our retirement (something that is a concern right now since we have virtually nothing saved and people, we are getting up there ya know!)
So, where is that pin to pop that bubble? Hubby and I don't ever play the lottery...so, there's really no chance of ever winning and doing all that...but some days, it's nice to dream..just for a few minutes.....then we get on with real life.....stretching the pennies to get from one pay check to another, trying to see how many days I can go without moving the van so the gas gauge needle doesn't go even lower, trying to meet the material needs of four teens....not easy....for instance, every month Megan comes home from school and for several days 'reminds' me that teacher wants the snack money.....in the special needs class that her and Ben attend, they shop for snacks every month and then the kids are learning about shopping and preparing snack food.....the 'donation' is the term they use at the beginning of the year...but every month the teacher is at the kids to bring their money in...well, sometimes I just don't have an extra $40 in the budget...so, I just ignore it...maybe next month...I really think they need to change their word terminology here though cause obviously it's not a donation.!
So, financially, this is my life and I'm okay with that....I grew up with it....it's fun to dream sometimes as long as we don't let the dreams rule us and spoil our joy....we do get little and big perks along the way...the Lord gives us these little pleasures just as we would want to do it for our kids..if we could...I hope they realize that if we could that we'd do it in a heart beat...but if I could do stuff like that for them, I'd rather do these things...I'd get more students for Leslie's Musikgarten classes, I'd find Ryan a teaching job, I'd fine some way to keep Corey out of jail and functioning in a 'regular' life, I'd pay off Lauren's debt and help her go back to school, I'd help Paul find the perfect job that would satisfy his heart, I'd help Ben find a really nice group home to live in and a job that would make him feel good about himself, I'd help Maya find a full time job when she was done with this internship that she's on, something to encourage her and make her feel good about herself, I'd help Emma to find out who she really is, that she's worth more than she thinks she is and she wouldn't settle for second rate, and I'd help Megan find a lovely group home that she would feel at home in and loved.
That's what I'd really like to do....just the musings of my heart and mind today...what would you really like to do?
When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money...I can vividly remember my dad coming home with a smile on his face....he reached into his pocket and came out with ....chocolate bars....oh, the excitement....four chocolate bars, displayed in his hand, in an arc, like a deck of cards....sister and I were so excited!! My dad worked hard at a steel company and at a coke ovens...he'd come home covered in black soot...I remember him washing up at the kitchen sink...getting all clean. When we moved out to the 'country'..(now it's the suburbs that everyone wants to live in)...he would work all day, come home at the stroke of 5 p.m., and we'd sit down to eat. Supper was suppose to be ready at 5, cause dad had work to do....he'd usually spend any remaining daylight hours working outside.....doing yard work, rototilling the soil....
.....today, most men have different days, days filled with stuff that usually of course, our fathers didn't have..it wasn't even invented yet....computers...televisions...oh yes, we had televisions, but they were black and white, you might get 2 or 3 stations, you had to get up off your duff to change the station...you actually had to wait for the t.v. to 'warm up' after you turned it on before you could watch anything! Now, you can actually work on your computer while you watch the t.v.! Quite often, that's what my hubby is doing....because he wants to spend time with me, he'll often bring his laptop , sit down beside me and 'watch' the t.v. too. He doesn't go out and rotortil the garden but he does work in the evenings...just different kind of work..but works, just the same....
Hubby and I don't have a lot of money either...of course, our kids think we do...they think we are holding out on them.....that if we really wanted to help them, we'd just give it to them...or buy them this, or that.....which I'd really love to do....if I could....I'd also love to be able to give more to more charities...there are so many worthwhile ones out there..especially the ones in other countries that help children.....
I watched some guys on tv last night claim their lottery prize...that they won 7-8 years ago....apparently the small convenience store owners that sold them the ticket, cheated them out of their winnings..they were eventually found out and sent to jail....the guys were finally able o collect...over 2 million each!! What would I do with that much money???
Well, first...I'd pay off our mortgage, line of credit, charge cards....have absolutely no debt..wouldn't that be a wonder after almost 38 years of marriage! Then I'd go down my kids, one by one, all nine of them, and take care of their debt...school loans are a biggy....then I'd want to get a professional family photograph portrait done...(they're sooo expensive), then I'd take all the kids, and grandkids on a holiday...somewhere, something really special....then I'd give to the charities that I always wanted to give...sponsor some more Compassion kids...then,...whatever was left would go for our retirement (something that is a concern right now since we have virtually nothing saved and people, we are getting up there ya know!)
So, where is that pin to pop that bubble? Hubby and I don't ever play the lottery...so, there's really no chance of ever winning and doing all that...but some days, it's nice to dream..just for a few minutes.....then we get on with real life.....stretching the pennies to get from one pay check to another, trying to see how many days I can go without moving the van so the gas gauge needle doesn't go even lower, trying to meet the material needs of four teens....not easy....for instance, every month Megan comes home from school and for several days 'reminds' me that teacher wants the snack money.....in the special needs class that her and Ben attend, they shop for snacks every month and then the kids are learning about shopping and preparing snack food.....the 'donation' is the term they use at the beginning of the year...but every month the teacher is at the kids to bring their money in...well, sometimes I just don't have an extra $40 in the budget...so, I just ignore it...maybe next month...I really think they need to change their word terminology here though cause obviously it's not a donation.!
So, financially, this is my life and I'm okay with that....I grew up with it....it's fun to dream sometimes as long as we don't let the dreams rule us and spoil our joy....we do get little and big perks along the way...the Lord gives us these little pleasures just as we would want to do it for our kids..if we could...I hope they realize that if we could that we'd do it in a heart beat...but if I could do stuff like that for them, I'd rather do these things...I'd get more students for Leslie's Musikgarten classes, I'd find Ryan a teaching job, I'd fine some way to keep Corey out of jail and functioning in a 'regular' life, I'd pay off Lauren's debt and help her go back to school, I'd help Paul find the perfect job that would satisfy his heart, I'd help Ben find a really nice group home to live in and a job that would make him feel good about himself, I'd help Maya find a full time job when she was done with this internship that she's on, something to encourage her and make her feel good about herself, I'd help Emma to find out who she really is, that she's worth more than she thinks she is and she wouldn't settle for second rate, and I'd help Megan find a lovely group home that she would feel at home in and loved.
That's what I'd really like to do....just the musings of my heart and mind today...what would you really like to do?
Friday, January 21, 2011
'Big Huge Elephant Feet running thru my mind....
Good Morning Company Girls!
Sorry, I just finished my morning tea, so I'll just get into my post....my hubby just asked me what I was going to write about....I'm not sure...a lot of things going on in my brain! Today is his Friday off but he has a dentist appointment this morning...I'm not sure what we'll do with the rest of the day yet.....with this super cold weather we've been having it really doesn't make my thoughts willing to do anything that requires going outdoors!
This week started out with a confirmation of something that I've been wondering about for a few weeks now....I heard that my son, Corey has been in jail since before Christmas....our phone system that we use doesn't accept collect calls and since that's the only way you can call someone from the jail, he wasn't able to call us, we found out through a friend of his on Monday afternoon. On Monday evening I went to see him....it was hard....not sure how long he'll be in this time....
On Tuesday I went for a massage....since my muscle tone is so poor I have to have these fairly regularly, every 3 weeks or so, ....I've been having this tightness that I couldn't get rid of in/under my left shoulder blade.....the therapist says I've popped a rib! She worked at it but I'm still not sure if it's back in...she recommends getting to the chiropractor....sigh...always something with this body of mind....and you can throw in a dilly of a sinus infection too....sections of my left cheek keep feeling numb...quite painful...hubby brought home some Aleve...said..'give it a try'...so I did...not sure about it yet...do any of you use it?....I usually just do a combo of Tylenol and Advil. 2 of each, extra strength at a time...but of course they wear off after a few hours.....
My mom has wanted to go to Bermuda for a very long time...before my dad became too ill to travel they used to go quite regularly...there's a lovely resort there called Willowbank...it's quite peaceful....hubby and I've been a couple of times.....
Since my dad died, she's been constant in her desire to get there....sister and I thought we should try before her mind becomes so bad that it wouldn't do any good.....sister and her hubby decided to take her...this past week, my mom was talking about it and said to me...why don't you come too....I was quite surprised ....sounds weird, I know but I'm kind of undecided....it's weird cause normally if someone hands you a trip to Bermuda (she'd pay) you would jump at it....me..well...you see,...I really dislike going places without hubby(he can't get the time off) ....but on the other hand....it would be nice to go with my mom..help out sister and her hubby...I'm sure that there will be times when mom will be too weary to go anywhere and that would mean sister and hubby would have to stay at the resort too.....if I went then I could stay with her while they went and did the touristy thing....in my mother's current state of dementia, she couldn't be left alone...she's already said that she'd have no problem catching the bus on her own to get to that village to catch the ferry.....oh, the terror of it all......I could read the headlines now 'Missing Elderly Canadian Woman in Bermuda'!!....so these thoughts are running through my mind.....
What else is there...well....hubby and I have our big, once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii the end of May....which is fabulous I know...but have you ever tried to get someone to teen sit for twelve days?? They're not really lining up at the door, ya know! So, that's a concern....I can't even parcel them out cause they still have school to get to and I can't expect someone to drive them....they have to stay home but I can't think of anyone that could move in for that time period.
This week I had to take Ben to see a social worker at the Children's Aid Society.....I forget what they call that in the states...something with the letter D in it I think....Ben needed another letter from a professional, confirming that he understood the finality of having a vasectomy done...ya, you read that right...Ben will be 20 in March...and yes that's a tad young..but believe me...you really don't want a delayed person procreating with another delayed person....that only equals 'another delayed child that gets put into the system' again.....that's not fair to the child or to Ben....my kids that have delays, like Maya, get very upset at their birth parents ....they blame the birth parents for having to cope with these delays...and it's not fair to Ben...Ben loves little kids..he's a great uncle....but he could never safely parent a child....they would just apprehend any offspring of Ben...and that would hurt him more. He accepts that this surgery has to be done. When you have delayed kids you not only have to protect them now but in the future also.
It's a hard call...but a necessary one.
Tomorrow, hubby and I are suppose to take my mom out for lunch...I hope she wants to go...when my brother wanted to take her out before Christmas she was upset cause the retirement home was having her favourite ....'liver and onions' ...ugh...and she was going to miss it...how anyone would get upset about missing liver is beyond me..but hey..each to their own....hubby and I've wanted to take her to this really nice restaurant for some time...in fact we wanted to take her and dad last Christmas but the dad became too ill to go....so...hopefully, tomorrow works just fine...I haven't told her yet ..I figured she'd just forget anyways....
So, ya...that's the things 'running through this old brain'.....for the next two weeks the kids are off...so to speak.....exams, the end of semester one, semester turn around and the beginning of semester two at the highschool...all take place in the next two weeks....if you're the praying type I would appreciate your consideration.....two weeks of Emma is really more that the mind can bear!
....oh...and hubby informed me yesterday that there's a really good chance that he'll be in Longbeach..ya, California...the first week of February for negotiations with work....he asked me if that thought would convince me to go to Bermuda...hmmmmmmm....
Sorry, I just finished my morning tea, so I'll just get into my post....my hubby just asked me what I was going to write about....I'm not sure...a lot of things going on in my brain! Today is his Friday off but he has a dentist appointment this morning...I'm not sure what we'll do with the rest of the day yet.....with this super cold weather we've been having it really doesn't make my thoughts willing to do anything that requires going outdoors!
This week started out with a confirmation of something that I've been wondering about for a few weeks now....I heard that my son, Corey has been in jail since before Christmas....our phone system that we use doesn't accept collect calls and since that's the only way you can call someone from the jail, he wasn't able to call us, we found out through a friend of his on Monday afternoon. On Monday evening I went to see him....it was hard....not sure how long he'll be in this time....
On Tuesday I went for a massage....since my muscle tone is so poor I have to have these fairly regularly, every 3 weeks or so, ....I've been having this tightness that I couldn't get rid of in/under my left shoulder blade.....the therapist says I've popped a rib! She worked at it but I'm still not sure if it's back in...she recommends getting to the chiropractor....sigh...always something with this body of mind....and you can throw in a dilly of a sinus infection too....sections of my left cheek keep feeling numb...quite painful...hubby brought home some Aleve...said..'give it a try'...so I did...not sure about it yet...do any of you use it?....I usually just do a combo of Tylenol and Advil. 2 of each, extra strength at a time...but of course they wear off after a few hours.....
My mom has wanted to go to Bermuda for a very long time...before my dad became too ill to travel they used to go quite regularly...there's a lovely resort there called Willowbank...it's quite peaceful....hubby and I've been a couple of times.....
Since my dad died, she's been constant in her desire to get there....sister and I thought we should try before her mind becomes so bad that it wouldn't do any good.....sister and her hubby decided to take her...this past week, my mom was talking about it and said to me...why don't you come too....I was quite surprised ....sounds weird, I know but I'm kind of undecided....it's weird cause normally if someone hands you a trip to Bermuda (she'd pay) you would jump at it....me..well...you see,...I really dislike going places without hubby(he can't get the time off) ....but on the other hand....it would be nice to go with my mom..help out sister and her hubby...I'm sure that there will be times when mom will be too weary to go anywhere and that would mean sister and hubby would have to stay at the resort too.....if I went then I could stay with her while they went and did the touristy thing....in my mother's current state of dementia, she couldn't be left alone...she's already said that she'd have no problem catching the bus on her own to get to that village to catch the ferry.....oh, the terror of it all......I could read the headlines now 'Missing Elderly Canadian Woman in Bermuda'!!....so these thoughts are running through my mind.....
What else is there...well....hubby and I have our big, once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii the end of May....which is fabulous I know...but have you ever tried to get someone to teen sit for twelve days?? They're not really lining up at the door, ya know! So, that's a concern....I can't even parcel them out cause they still have school to get to and I can't expect someone to drive them....they have to stay home but I can't think of anyone that could move in for that time period.
This week I had to take Ben to see a social worker at the Children's Aid Society.....I forget what they call that in the states...something with the letter D in it I think....Ben needed another letter from a professional, confirming that he understood the finality of having a vasectomy done...ya, you read that right...Ben will be 20 in March...and yes that's a tad young..but believe me...you really don't want a delayed person procreating with another delayed person....that only equals 'another delayed child that gets put into the system' again.....that's not fair to the child or to Ben....my kids that have delays, like Maya, get very upset at their birth parents ....they blame the birth parents for having to cope with these delays...and it's not fair to Ben...Ben loves little kids..he's a great uncle....but he could never safely parent a child....they would just apprehend any offspring of Ben...and that would hurt him more. He accepts that this surgery has to be done. When you have delayed kids you not only have to protect them now but in the future also.
It's a hard call...but a necessary one.
Tomorrow, hubby and I are suppose to take my mom out for lunch...I hope she wants to go...when my brother wanted to take her out before Christmas she was upset cause the retirement home was having her favourite ....'liver and onions' ...ugh...and she was going to miss it...how anyone would get upset about missing liver is beyond me..but hey..each to their own....hubby and I've wanted to take her to this really nice restaurant for some time...in fact we wanted to take her and dad last Christmas but the dad became too ill to go....so...hopefully, tomorrow works just fine...I haven't told her yet ..I figured she'd just forget anyways....
So, ya...that's the things 'running through this old brain'.....for the next two weeks the kids are off...so to speak.....exams, the end of semester one, semester turn around and the beginning of semester two at the highschool...all take place in the next two weeks....if you're the praying type I would appreciate your consideration.....two weeks of Emma is really more that the mind can bear!
....oh...and hubby informed me yesterday that there's a really good chance that he'll be in Longbeach..ya, California...the first week of February for negotiations with work....he asked me if that thought would convince me to go to Bermuda...hmmmmmmm....
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