It has been awhile

I lost my password, so it has been awhile since I have been here. I hope to do better. As I face different phases in my life, it seems I do alot of reflecting. Since Michael left to join the Army, I have thought much about this country. Our grandparents generation rallied to the call when the United States entered WWII. I know my grandparents had 5 sons enlisted at one time, 3 of them were even able to met in France a few times. I have made a collage of pictures of the men in our families who have answered this call. Everytime I pass it, I feel such gratitude to them, for their sacrifices. And now my son is among those noble ranks. I don't agree with war, but as a mother I am respectful and proud of his decision to serve. It is funny, but even when he spent a year in Iraq with the National Guard, I knew he would still be returning to my home. This time, it is the oppisite. Even when he gets out of the Army, whether it is in 3 years or 30, he will probably never livein my home again. That realization has been hard for me. But that is the plan, we bring children into our family, we teach them the best we can, we pray for them and watch them grow, then we let them go. Having one more leave makes me miss all of them more. The other day I was looking thru pictures taken when friends of our children filled our house. Sometimes those friends would come even when our children were not home. I miss that houseful of cheerfullnes that they always brought. So thank you to all my children, for the years of laughter and love.

New School Picture

Palisade

I thought I had better put up pictures of the other girls too. They had so much fun. In fact Ivy asked if we could camp overnight by the lake. That will have to wait until next year.

Palisade

Sage loved to sit on her towel and watch her sisters play in the water. Isn't it funny how 3 girls in the same family can have such different attitudes about water. Ivy is a fish. She should have been born with gills! Jade is ok with water, but likes getting out to play, then back in, then out. Sage on the other hand, will get wet up to her knees. Even when we put the pool up in the back yard, she will get in, stand there for a minute, then get out. So this picture is soooo Sage. She has to make sure the blanket is spread out, and no one better mess it up!

Is it still July?

We can see how often I update this. June is gone, and tonight July will be history. Where has the summer gone. We have been busy with the girls here all summer-so no projects got done. What is that saying that housework will always be there, but children won't ( or something like that!) I try to remember that every time I think of all that I am not getting done.
Forrest and I had a wonderful week in Midway in July. We did absolutly nothing, and it was wonderful! We needed the break, and it did the trick!
I can hardly believe the summer is almost gone, where did it go to? School will be starting in a few weeks, and then comes the cold and snow. I don't even want to think about it. As I sit here and type, Forrest and Regina are in California, and I certianly hope they visit the beach for me. How I wish I were there!
All is well, or at least as well as can be expected. Days march right along whether I am paying attention or not.
I found a distant cousin, prevously unknown to us-this is what I call "living genealogy". It has been wonderful writing to her. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing? Oh I think I am rambling on.

JUNE????

Our garden is a bust this year-I finally planted 6 tomatoes in pots, the ground never got cleared and is overgrown with weeds! I feel bad, but I have been so overwhelmed that one more thing would have broken the camels back.
Oh please, somebody tell me that the calendar got changed by accident. It can't already be the middle of June! Where did the months fly to? We are a day away from the beginging of Pageant. Here we go again. Things will be much different this year. Forrest will be at the high school from 12:00-8:30, so no more helping with foriegn language. We have done that for so many years that I feel guilty not being there this year. His speech and drama students will also be selling hamburgers at the food court-so anyone who comes drop over and get a hamburger. Thank goodness for parents willing to supervise since Forrest will not be there. So gang, here we go again.