Lazy Saturday

So this is what it feels like to have a Saturday that's not jam-packed with a million and one things to do and hours spent at the ballfields. I read today...yes, pages out of an actual book. I don't remember the last time I read without doing it in 5 minute bathroom increments...sorry to be so informational. I stayed in my PJ's for a good part of the day...tinkering around...yes, I said tinkering. Tinkering is good...very good and it's been way too long since I've tinkered.

We only had one thing on our calendar today, and it was Cody's 8pm Allstar game in Fort Worth. But you know what? God even took that off my to do list. He sent the most delicious rainstorm just after we arrived in Fort Worth and just in time to call the game. So we spent a wonderful night in downtown Fort Worth just BEING.

We went to eat and went to a movie, and were just being our family...talking to each other and listening to each other...with no schedule to keep. Laughing, crying (and it wasn't me this time!) and just having fun together. I felt like God was whispering to me, "Don't miss this. This is good." I know time is flying. Thank you God for every drop of rain that fell tonight and every precious minute with my family.


Best line of the movie: "There's no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness." Priceless.

Prisons and Other Happy Places

The boys pooled their money and purchased "Prison Tycoon" last week. This is the computer game where you actually build your own prison and handle inmates, much like the acclaimed Zoo Tycoon and Rollercoaster Tycoon, except zoos and rollercoasters are cheerful, happy places. This is practically harmless and the guard dogs are the cutest things ever. This was a conversation between Caleb and Steve in the car tonight while Caleb was describing his new prison to him.

Caleb: I figured out how you make money in your prison. The inmates pay the guards when they get released.

Steve: So they want you to give them parole early so you can make more money?

Caleb: Oh, I never give anyone parole.

Steve: Good boy.

And you'd never see this in most people's houses, but it's a fairly common occurrence in mine.


I think I smell a trend.

This Matters

Most likely this post will sound a little morbid. But I'm intrigued by the human body...and its will to live. In my mom's care home, there is a lady there that is in the process of dying...and it will be soon...that we know. She is no longer coherent and is just having her pain managed at this time. She is peaceful...not fighting to breathe...but her breathing is slowing down minute by minute and she is currently taking about 5 breaths per minute.

We've seen this process several times now at the Home. It shouldn't surprise me, but it always does at how well they can be one day, and then when death comes calling, it can come on you quickly. I say "well", because most of the people have dementias at varying degrees and some have other ailments...but most 'appear' healthy. This lady came to us with some serious problems already. But she is ready...she has told my mom more than once she's ready to go to Heaven. I think that is the neatest thing...when you understand that your last breath here ushers you to the greatest place ever.

What amazes me is that this could go on for days. I've been in the room when you watch someone who is in the process...and you watch them breathe and think every breath...okay, this is it...it's over...and then they'll almost gulp for one more. One of my mom's friends in Houston whose mother had Alzheimers lasted for 19 days in this process...no food, no water...just pain management. That amazes me. It gives the family time to grieve, say goodbye, and hope for that day when they will reconnect.

It's become something my family has gotten accustomed to. Even our kids have been there to see this process...and I have to say, I think we all view death completely different in some ways now. It's almost always more of a joyful time...not in the happy, gleeful way...but in the way of knowing they're so much better off where they're going.

We've heard some of the neatest stories of what kind of impact these people made on everyone they touched. And it gets you thinking of what you spend your life doing...it really matters...I mean really, really matters. Not one family member of any of the families we've gone through this with has mentioned how big their houses were, or what kind of car they drove. Clothes seriously do not matter at this point...and most of them are not wearing any jewelry at all. Most of the conversations had in this process of dying are about how they impacted people's lives...how many years they taught Sunday School, or how they served at their church, or how many souls they won to the Lord. This matters.

Note to Self: Live your life so that at the end that's what my family and friends say about me...how I invested my life in other people, how I volunteered for good things even when I was busy, how I used my money for eternal things. Time flies. This matters.

I'm a New Mom...to a Hamster

Yes, the day has arrived...the day when I gave up my pie in the sky dream of a warm, inviting house that smelled of fresh laundry and vanilla scented candles...to the house where not only a big, black, shedding dog lives...but now a hamster. Yes, I gave in so I could be the cool mom of boys...knowing that's what boys need...right, RIGHT? I mean all the "boy" manuals say they need to be surrounded by things that smell bad and breed bacteria...and things that leave a trail of hair. If I've asked "have you washed your hands...with soap?" once this week, I've asked it a million times.

So, here is our newest family member...Larry Boy. The original name was Perry, but I had flashbacks of the nerdiest kid I used to know named Perry and I just couldn't let Hammy get stuck with that kind of legacy...so they changed it.

The boys paid for this pet with their own money. In fact, they started talking about buying a fish about 3 weeks ago, and knowing that they usually make hasty decisions when they have a buck in their pocket, we made them wait two weeks before making a final decision. I just knew they'd come across a much better plan for spending their money in that two weeks...and while they did come up with a different plan, it was not necessary a better plan...because fish don't have hair or closely resemble rats. That's how good my plan was.

I'm not sure if Abby is scared of him...or wants to eat him for a snack. Here's hoping they're on the same shedding schedule.

Happy Birthday Caleb

My little man...9 years today. How in the world did you get to be 9? Time went way too fast. You're supposed to be my baby...the one who stays little forever. Remember that pact you made with me?

The first day I laid eyes on you...not knowing what you were going to be...only knowing that you were BIG...was an exciting day. God knew I needed another little boy in my life...and although you were born with the same mom and dad, you are totally different from your brother. And you still have that cutest little cleft in your chin...melts me.

We had a family birthday lunch at Buck n Loons where you were totally embarrassed when the waiters and waitresses came in to sing to you. Then we picked up your buds that evening for a slumber party...at which there was very little slumbering going on...just lots of giggles and farts...and other boy stuff.

Then on Monday, we all went to Hawaiian Falls to celebrate. You and your friends celebrated by going down all the slides and tubes...and I celebrated by getting a ferocious sunburn...for which I am still paying for. We had so much fun and you have such good friends.

Some things that make me smile when I think back:

*You LOVED books. You always said to me, "Ana luk a book," which translated is "I wanna look {at} a book."

*You had your own vocabulary which none of us knew where it came from. It included words like schlock, hayco, shibish, and lala.

*You started praying at about 4 years old, and still to this day start every prayer with "Thank you God for happy hearts and that we are together." I still love it...and it's true.

*You're my McGuyver. Whenever something needs to be solved...you can do it. If something needs to be fixed, you can fix it. You can build things without directions.

*You love Jesus and want to serve Him.

Some things I am proud of: your sensitivity, you're a gentleman and open the door for me, you love your pets with a passion and you are a hard worker. Caleb, you are precious to me. I know God is going to do great things through you and I can't wait to see it! I love you...to the moon and back.

To My Baby Daddy

What can I say except...YOU ARE GOOD! Check out the masterpieces you and I made (along with some Supernatural help!) Seriously, you amaze me with your "Daddyness," and yes, I just made that word up. From letting them be "wild at heart" to teaching them the meaning of all things right...you are an amazing dad. They will never doubt your love for them and I will never doubt that everything you do, you do with the boys in mind. So for all the woodworking lessons, treehouse building, bedtime wrestling, tent assembling, fishing lessons...and for teaching them there is a battle to fight and an adventure to live...I thank you...and love you madly.

Happy Father's Day

To my dad...who is the "Master of All Things Breakfast". That is one of his many gifts. He is the epitome of a morning person...which honestly goes against everything I stand for...but he performs his role well. In fact, he is not only a morning person, but an afternoon person...and an evening person except for the fact that pretty much after 9 pm he can fall asleep at will. When I say he is a "anytime of the day" person, I mean he is happy, jovial, carefree...all the time. Oh, that's not to say he doesn't get upset sometimes...I've seen him upset...but it's very rare...and it's usually because someone didn't load the dishwasher correctly or he gets a phone call from some irritating person who pushes his buttons. But within seconds...he is happy again...seriously...irritatingly happy. I only say 'irritatingly' because on more than one occasion he has been known to be "overly jovial" with us non-morning people IN THE MORNING. That is not the least bit funny.

But this is one of the things that most people think of when they think of my dad...that he's happy all the time...and he loves to laugh and have fun. He's the only person I know that can get away with laughing at a funeral...and I know sometimes it's because he's trying to fight back tears...but the laughter gets him through. There has been more than one kid who wanted to be adopted into our family because they thought all we did was have fun 24-7...and as I think back into my limited memory of my childhood...we did have ALOT of fun...and most of it was attributed to my dad and his opinion that we shouldn't take things too seriously.

But he could take things seriously...and he did when it counted. He took raising me and my sisters seriously...to love Jesus and serve Him no matter what...and when you make a mistake, get up and go again. He took his ministry seriously...and served people (honestly the most thankless job there is) for, well, basically his whole life. He took work seriously...oh the tales we could tell of delivering donuts, fruitcakes, and bread. He took marriage seriously and has loved my mom for over 49 years now. So dad...I love you. I'm glad that I've had you in my life for 44 years, and I'm sorry that you had to live without your dad for so many years. Thank you for making our life fun and giving me and my sisters memories of that...and I'm sorry that you didn't get to make loads and loads of memories with your brother. Thank you for the way you love my boys...all three of them...and for being the best Pawpaw ever. You make life fun...but seriously...I won't ever forgive you for ringing the doorbell until I got out of bed...that was NOT FUNNY.

Happy Father's Day...I love you.

A Day in the Life

As in most families, there are many conversations had in our car. Some involve me...some do not. Today in the car I learned that there is indeed a "Booger Cycle." It appears that when you take a booger out of your nose and wipe it on the car seat...there is a purpose. For in the 2nd stage of the cycle, the booger dries...and then in the 3rd and final stage, when the windows are down, the booger flies out the window. And then, of course, the cycle repeats. Turns out it's much like the water cycle...just nastier.

Steve has been a cop for 13 years now. He loves his job...and one of the things that has brought him alot of job satisfaction over the years is helping people. Turns out lately that something else that has brought him alot of job satisfaction is making sure that the punks of this world get their fair share. Soccer moms...you're pretty safe right now...because more than likely, you pay for insurance for your car(s), you don't vandalize buildings or vehicles for fun, and overall, you're pretty responsible. Lately...he's loving giving tickets and towing cars for all those people who don't think it's necessary to have insurance for their cars...or who can't seem to remember how many warrants they have for this or that. Yes...a little job satisfaction goes a long way.

And one for the "Mother of the Year" award nominations...gotta love it when Cody walks in this afternoon and says "Oh, the cleaning ladies were here today!" like there's absolutely no way this house looks this clean otherwise.

City Tourney Update

I am not a soccer mom...I am a total BASEBALL MOM!...and I love every minute of it. Both boys had a great year. The White Sox are still winning in the City Tournament. They played the Cardinals last Saturday...Cody pitched...and they won 10-5 (I think if I remember right). He was so "on" with his pitching...it's so much fun to watch.
He got the game ball for his pitching.
Tonight we moved on to the next game and played the Mudcats. We played them the very first night of the tournament and lost against them (see earlier post)...but we whooped up on 'em tonight...check out the final score! We only had to play 4 innings because we were ahead by 10 runs. Cody played mostly first base, but ended the night up as catcher.
GO WHITE SOX!