08.10.09
relaxing
I promise I did some relaxing this summer.
So far I have blogged about the “stuff” that I did, but I also took some time to just be.
After hanging out with Maxine in DC, Lauren (college roommate) flew into DC, and Marylyn (college roommate) picked us up and took us to her new home in Virginia.
We didn’t really do anything besides just be together. It was so nice, so effortless to be with sweet friends who know my heart better than anyone. It was good to see Marylyn’s new home and see what her life is like, to hear all about marriage from Lauren, and to share about all of my summer adventures.
It was a nice, relaxing time. A much needed break from life for us all.
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Earlier this summer (the week after Poland, camp, and camp), I had planned to go to the lake for a relaxing weekend with my family and celebrating Daddy’s birthday. I was really excited, anticipating lots of sleeping, reading, swimming, and fishing. But as I was driving to the lake, I got a phone call from my mom, who informed me that we would be installing a sprinkler system that my father had been designing.
If it seems strange to you that we would be celebrating a birthday by installing a sprinkler system, then clearly you don’t know my family. My dad’s idea of family togetherness is manual labor. I have spent countless Memorial Days and Labor Days clearing land. One Thanksgiving we built a retaining wall. Another Thanksgiving we built (concreted? cemented? I don’t know the appropriate verb here.) a boat ramp. For Christmas we once painted walls and installed baseboards. So it only makes sense that we celebrate Daddy’s birthday by installing a sprinkler system.
Now, I can’t complain. (I know, it sounds like I am complaining. Keep reading.) As a result of all of this family togetherness, I have learned to be pretty handy. Daddy has taught me a lot of useful skills, how to use a lot of tools, and how a lot of things work. For example, I now know how to build a sprinkler manifold and exactly how much Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue it takes to attach a PVC pipe to a coupling.
But most importantly, I have discovered a long list of careers in which I am NOT interested. Ditch digger, concrete mixer, fence builder, electrician, plumber, painter, woodworker, concrete mixer (oh, did I already mention that one?), lawn mower…and concrete mixer. You see, the manual labor was always paired with lectures about the value of obtaining a college degree. If it weren’t for those life lessons I might have become a concrete mixer. A really miserable one. I have also learned to value the people in our society with these jobs, like my grandfather who was an electrician. They work really hard doing things that are not fun (in my opinion, at least) to provide for their families. If I didn’t have this experience I would probably take these people for granted.
Back to the story…after several days in the 100 degree weather digging ditches and cementing PVC pipes, (and NOT fishing, sleeping late, or reading) I insisted that we schedule another – RELAXING – trip to the lake. Upon returning from DC and Virginia, we did just that. I joined my parents and the college kids they teach at the lake. We swam, rode in the boat, slept late, played cards, chatted, and just relaxed. It was nice. And relaxing.
See? I don’t just go and do. I also take some time to relax. (And install the occasional sprinkler system!)
03.09.09
Shreveport Visit
A few weekends ago (the aforementioned “weekend of fun”) I made good on my Christmas promise to Grandy – to come for a weekend visit to Shreveport. It was a great time!
There were several highlights.
First of all, it was Wojtek’s first road trip!
Sometimes he just laid there very quietly.
Other times he…
…kinda went crazy.
Saturday morning we went to visit Grandaddy. Even though he has Alzheimer’s he is still just as sweet as ever. He made a few jokes, and was very happy to have visitors. It is very sweet how he depends on Grandy. He loves to see her, and she goes to visit him twice a day. They are very devoted to one another.
And my relatives from Bryan suprised us by being in town on the same weekend, and stopping by to see Grandaddy at the same time as us!
Then we had lunch with my Aunt Robin and went to see her new lake house. It is so beautiful! Aunt Robin is a very fun and free-spirited person. I love being around her.
I also got to see my cousin’s wife and kids (but sadly not him). His wife, Naomi is British, so automatic cool points. Her accent is adorable. Since the last time I went to Shreveport, there has been a new addition to their family!
So I got to see the older two kids (Molly and Josh) as well as my…2nd cousins?…I don’t know what you call them…my cousin’s kids (Owen and Emily). I love the babies!
That night Grandy and I went through some family heirlooms and read a few entries in Gram’s (my great-grandma) diary. HILARIOUS! She faithfully wrote 3-4 sentences every single day for about 5 years. She always referred to Pa (her boyfriend/fiance/husband during the course of this diary) as “my ‘honey’” or “my ’sweetie’” or “my ‘darling’” or other adorable little pet names. She never referred to him by is actual name. I loved one entry in particular. It went something like this…
This evening my “honey” and I went to church. Then we came back to the house and…oh those kisses!
Haha, my Gram, the epitome of modesty, using the “dot dot dot”. Reminds me of Mamma Mia! Hilarious!!
The next morning we went to Simple Church, which has two services in the movie theatre, and one service in Buffalo Wild Wings. It was great – they really draw a crowd that would not typically feel comfortable in church. I was especially excited that Naomi and the kids came with us. The sermon was legit – it was about love and sacrifice. After church was lunch as Fuddruckers, and then good-bye and the long drive home.
It was a great weekend of relaxing and enjoying family!
01.14.09
Happy Birthday, Momma!
Today is my momma’s birthday. Isn’t she pretty?
I have a lot of reasons to be thankful for my momma. Here are just a few things I love about her:
She stayed home to raise the three of us.
While we were growing up, she read with us constantly.
She taught us to love Jesus. And to sing Jesus Loves Me. A lot. This happens in every scene of every home video.
She loves and respects my father tremendously.
She unconsciously types on the table while people are talking.
She went to “Mean Mommy School.”
She knows how to use Towanda.
She loves God’s Word. John 15 inspires her to tears and kitchen remodeling.
She is an awesome cook.
She buys really personal, thoughtful, functional gifts.
She knows how to laugh at herself and be goofy. For example…when she dresses like this or this
She taught me how to find Jesus in the Old Testament.
She made me take responsibility for being a bratty little girl, “put on my big girl panties”, and grow up.
She can do this hilarious lizard-esque thing with her tongue that I can’t describe, but you must see. Hilarious!
She is an excellent story teller.
Well…I could continue, but I think you get the point. I am blessed to call her my Momma!
Happy Birthday Momma!
Love, me
11.14.08
quotable kids
This week my students were writing essays about “The Best Meal Ever”. They had to describe what it looks like, how it smells, how it tastes, and how it makes them feel.
One student described his meal. I told him to write how it made him feel. He wrote “It made me feel happy.” I asked him to add “because…” He said, “…because I said so!”
I am guessing he has heard that a time or two from his mom. It was pretty funny.
My kids are pretty fascinated with my age. They ask me all the time how old I am. I usually ignore the question, dismiss it, and refocus on whatever I am teaching.
Once I asked them to guess. All guesses were in the 40s. Hmm…quite different from the norm. I usually get mistaken for a high school student!
Finally this week I just said, “I am 107.” One girl said, “Wow, you are older than my mom!” That’s it. No one disagreed. They all believed me.
Just to put this in perspective, let’s do a comparative analysis.
Me (in my 20s) with my mom (in her 40s) in May (also, with my charming father):
My mom (in her 40s) with my great-great-great aunt (105) last year:
Lovely ladies in my family, wouldn’t you agree? I guess if I am going to look 107, I sure am lucky to be coming from a family of women who age gracefully.
My kids really do say the funniest things.
