Graduation Weekend in Searcy

We headed to Henderson on Friday the 13th for a short visit with Jon and Kristin. We celebrated Jon's birthday with a dinner out together and then we stayed in our very beautiful "guest room" in our former home. The house and yard looked amazing. There is now a fountain to go along with the hammock under the trees. Very tranquil, something I never believed I would say about a home belonging to Jon:) I enjoyed a nice visit with my dear friend, Dana, who gifted me with a special book and other goodies. Our visit was too short, as always. The following morning we left for Searcy for my niece, Jessica's, graduation from Harding. We shared a lovely dinner, with most of my family having travelled to celebrate the special occasion. We stayed at Mona Lee's guest house ( a favorite cottage:). On Sunday we worshipped with the Westside congregation, and Sunday night with the College church, followed by grilled cheese at Kevin and Lori's. Having baby Jonah there was an added treat! There is never enough time to catch up with dear friends from the past. It had been many years since we had been to Westside, where Terry had served as an elder, and where our teenagers were nurtured and cared for during some really important years. It was also where our little boys were welcomed into our family. I wish we had had more time to spend there, but it was a wonderful reminder of how great Heaven will be. No more goodbyes.I was able to fit in a nice visit with Mona Lee, share some books together, and leave encouraged and edified. Monday we made the llooonnngggg trip home. A blessed weekend.

Paint job in Cabin

This is for you, Chelsea:) Do you see the sign you gave me on the mantel?

Sonlight- Core G

There's nothing more exciting for a homeschooling mother than the arrival of the new school years' curriculum. Everything is color coded and on the shelves waiting for our new year to begin. This year we will be starting World History-1 with Sonlight, Apologia Press' Anatomy and General Science, First Year Latin, Easy Grammar, and Teaching Textbooks Math. The day it arrived I emptied the box and then filled it back up with last years materials and took them to the post office to mail to an e-bayer:) Thanks to Tim and Katie's help, I was able to list some items on e-bay and sell them...and make over $400. Definitely worth the hassle of mailing!

Soccer Season 2011

The boys spring season was a success. After several not-so-great seasons, the team came together and ended on a great note. The boys' last game was won 9-4 and Jordan scored two goals (one was a beautiful header) and Christian scored four. We had the team over for a cookout on Saturday. We had a great turnout and got to know some fellow "Wetumpkians" better. One couple stayed on for several hours, and we enjoyed hearing of their lives in England before arriving in Montgomery. The boys' coach awarded each of the boys a medallion to celebrate their great finish.

Montgomery Zoo

I've gotten behind with all the many activities this month. Closing out the school year and the soccer season involved some extra "busyness", but we had a lot of fun with family and friends. Last Thursday, the 19th, was our daughter's 30th birthday AND our last day of school for the year. Katie, Tim and children came for the evening to celebrate and then we all went to the Montgomery Zoo the next day. It was our last scheduled activity with our Homeschool Co-op. The boys enjoyed their time hanging out with their friends and eating at the cafeteria- and  getting their first yearbook. We enjoyed the time with our precious grandchildren, riding the train around the park, and then playing out in the yard while their Mom and Dad enjoyed an afternoon out together. I really enjoy the days where we do "nothing" with the grandchildren. I enjoy watching them color, wander around the yard, playing in the playhouse, playing table tennis. I love the calmness of simple moments together watering the garden, pulling weeds in the front beds, picking squash. Times when we're not rushing,trying to cram in all the "memories" we can in a few precious hours. A few days later, Kristin and Charlotte came for the day so that I could do some dress alterations for Kristin for a wedding she is in. These are the moments I never dared to dream of. Kristin is such a sweet wife and mother. She completes Brandon in a way only God could have arranged. So when the days get hectic, and certain adolescent boys are acting like adolescent boys, it is a gift to be reminded of what a difference just a few years makes in the lives of our children. And though there is something special at each age, I must say that the years where they are being rewarded for good decisions are some of the best years of all.

Knit Together by Debbie Macomber

I love those "grace notes" that God blesses us with, so often through the thoughtfulness of others. I was on the receiving end today, and what a blessing it was. Honestly, I had had a rough day. I had had to deal with a discipline issue with a child who needed to control his attitude, and was questioning my resolve with this whole parenting thing. I realize that Mother's Day weekend is not the best time to decide to quit mothering:) Maybe it's the fact that I have a daughter who will be 30 in a few days, but it sometimes feels like I have been doing this forever. I was tired and discouraged. I read God's word, prayed, and took a lovely walk down our road with my husband. And then this morning as I was watering my rose bushes, watering can in hand, the postwoman drove up my drive and said she had a package for me. I knew I had not ordered anything. It was a gift from my cousin's wife, Brenda. We had shared a nice visit together Easter weekend in Tallahassee with my Aunt Zula (her mother-in-law). During our visit I mentioned that I enjoyed Debbie Macomber's books. Brenda had gone to a booksigning event and met her. She sent me an autographed copy of her first non-fiction book, an adorable luggage tag, a bookmark and a newsletter. Now, if that doesn't put a smile on your face, what will? P.S. The boy with the attitude has come and made it right, folded my load of laundry and asked if I'd like him to make dinner. Nothing a new book and a truckload of mother-guilt can't accomplish!

Dandelion Cottage

On Monday of this week, my son-in-law Tim had to go to Boston on business. We invited Katie and the children to come and see us for a few days. We had such a good time. Katie cooked the meals while she was here ( because of a child's corn allergies) and I basically got to play with my grandchildren. Nothing earth-shattering exciting. Just quiet days at home. Walking down our road in the evenings, watering the gardens, reupholstering a chair, oohing and ahhing over coloring book pages, bedtime stories, and a lot of imaginary play. A big project was finishing the girls playhouse. I'm including before and after pictures. We still have some painting touchups to do, and need to finish up the rafters and loft area, but at least it is a more inviting place to play. Katie gave it the perfect touch. We named it "Dandelion Cottage" and she handpainted me a little sign to hang over the door. It is whimsical, delightful and perfect. Just like my children and grandchildren:)

McWane Science Center Field Trip

Our Wetumpka Homeschool Co-op group had an end of the school year field trip to Birmingham's McWane Science Center. We have a great group of families, and it was nice to be with a group of well behaved children. We made an initial stop at the Ronald McDonald House for a tour of their facilities. They provide such a wonderful service for hurting families. The boys were much more daring on this trip, and for once I had my camera to catch the moment when they dared to ride the bicycle over the deep drop (with a safety net:) We shared a lunch together and then visited the Imax theater for a show on monkey sanctuaries. I've known mothers that were not as attentive to their human babies as these caretakers were to their monkeys! We headed back home with the Lyons family after the show in order to make it in time for soccer practices. I have really enjoyed getting to spend time together with Jana, Wendy, Neely and Karin- along with many others from our Co-op group, and enjoyed our day out together.

Easter 2011

We shared such a wonderful Easter celebration this year. I love having children and grandchildren close enough by to have an excuse to decorate with bunnies and eggs, and cupcakes with jellybeans. We went and spent Friday night and Saturday in Tallahassee with David and Karen. Terry and the boys spent the day fishing...with a whopping one fish caught between them:) Karen and I crammed a lot in , in a little bit of time. We visited the family gravesite, drove by our old homes in Tallahassee, and visited Thomasville, GA's lovely little shops. We shared an amazing lunch with my niece, Jaime, topped off with an incredible creme brulee'. It was one of my favorite vacations ever. We arrived home around 9pm, and Katie and family arrived about 30 minutes behind us. The Easter bunny made his appearance, we shared a wonderful meal...and best of all...when I woke from my nap, Katie had cleaned my refrigerator and done the dishes! It doesn't get much better than this.