Good times

We have had an amazing weekend so far.  We went to Wichita.  We went to the rehearsal dinner for Stanley and Julia’s wedding.  I took a few pictures of the church where they were married. Church if the Magdalene.  It is an enormous church with giant beams and rock pillars and perhaps the strangest crucifix I have ever seen.  It is probably 8-10 feet tall.  If you can’t see what I found strange about it, maybe scroll in on Jesus’ hands.  Or maybe I am easily amused.  To my untrained eye, it looks like one side is making a gun and one side was giving a thumbs up.  I’m sure that wasn’t intentional but I found it a tiny bit amusing.  So I guess when we have the penance service I shall be in line, although I’m not sure I’m sorry….I would guess that the God who created me has a strong sense of humor.  

Mallory rode down with us, and we all crashed at Colin and Spencer’s house.  We had so much fun visiting with them, playing with the pups, and maybe…..perhaps we stopped to look at some puppies.  It would have been a nice Christmas gift for someone but we channeled in our compulsive dog buying ideas.  

Every time is see Grace, I swear we should take a picture together and we never do it.  Today, we were matchy so it was a good day to not forget! Thirty-two years of friendship, pointing out that we have known each other longer than either of us have known our respective husbands, and I absolutely love my Grace!  She is an amazing example of God’s love and her commitment to living a good life is inspiring.  I’m so thankful for our friendship.  

The wedding was beautiful.  The dinner and reception were fun, and Jim and I neither one fell down or did anything embarrassing when we brought up the offertory. My Godson and his bride looked incredibly happy!   I hope they have a long and happy life together!  

Non-wedding related side note.  Last year, I thought we needed a new, bigger Christmas tree.  After the holidays, I looked for one on sale.  I found several, but I fell in love with this pink tree.  It had white lights and silver decorations. It was so beautiful.  When I showed it to Jim, he wasn’t really overjoyed about it.  I think he was worried I would grow tired of the pink after a year or 2.   He was probably not wrong, but I still really loved it.  I ended up buying nothing.  Today, while shopping with Spencer and Mallory, I was telling them about my pink tree and how pretty I thought it was.  We happened to run into a craft store (the one I usually don’t shop at because of their stance on a few political issues).  Spencer pointed out this little pink tree.  Additionally, they had tiny little silver decorations to put on it. I found a small strand of tiny white lights.  It was all 50% off.  So yes, I walked out of there with all the stuff to make my pink tree a tiny little reality. And honesty, I think I love the tiny tree more than I would have liked a big one.  It is perfect on my kitchen counter. I’d still like to get a new, bigger tree, but that can wait for the after Christmas sales!  

Cameron is 24 plus plans

Today is Cameron's 24th birthday.  I am sad I won't get to see him today, but happy that they will be home in a couple of weeks!  I miss Cameron (and Lauren), and although I am super proud of them, I hope they don't stay out of state too much longer!  (no pressure).  I am thankful to Lauren for getting Cameron a cake, and for occasionally hiding some vegetables in his food so that he gets a few vitamins once in a while.  It is absolutely crazy to me that this kid is 24.  He was born the day after my great-grandpa passed away.  He was like a promise that good always comes back around.  Cameron is a kid who takes advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, and I am proud of him for taking life by the horns so to speak.  He has grown into a great man, who I have thoroughly enjoyed watching grow up!  I love you Cameron - I hope you have a great birthday!  

This has been another one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants type of weeks.  Too many things going on, too much year end stuff piling up at work, too much insanity in life.  I won't say what I accomplished, because I am not entirely sure there would be anything to put on the list.  I am happy that the grandkids give me something to look forward to every day!  Evelyn has decided that she loves picking up trash on the sidewalk outside my office in the mornings.  She knows not to go into the street, and she checks in once in a while, so I allow it.  Not to mention, it makes me happy that she wants to clean up the town!  This morning, she asked me if I could print her off a werewolf mask.  I did.  My maintenance man then came in requesting help with his phone, so while I was fixing him up, he helped Evelyn cut out her mask.  Next thing I know, he had taped it to her head.  This may or may not have been a good idea.  It certainly kept the mask on her face, however when it was time for school, getting the tape out of her hair was not very much fun.  She had a great time walking around, picking up trash and growling at people!  Beware the trash werewolf I guess!  :)  

Thirty two years ago, I moved to college.  I was living in the 4-H scholarship house, Clovia.  I met this girl named Grace, and we immediately hit it off, mostly because it was funny to be Hope and Grace.  At Clovia, the rent was reduced because we took care of the house with certain duties that you were assigned by the semester.  We cooked all of our own meals, cleaned everything, and maintained the house in exchange for lesser rent.  First semester of my freshman year, I had a cook duty with Grace.  Now, I grew up cooking all the time.  My parents were busy running a farm, my mom worked a few jobs outside the home, and sometimes the cooking fell to me.  I knew how to cook.  For 6, or 10.  I did not know how to cook for 60!  But surely it was not going to be hard, and I would figure it out.  Grace was also assigned as a cook on the same night.  We were culinary wizards in that kitchen.  We had zero idea what we were doing, but we both had a love of food, a desire to not give anyone food poisoning, and zero fear of running equipment that was there for us!  To say it was not a fiasco would be a lie, but we seriously did create some amazing meals, and nobody died from eating our cooking.  It was also a great amount of fun.  Days I wish I could go back to!  Grace had a way of cracking me up.  Every minute we were in the kitchen working our butts off, was also a ton of fun.  We laughed, we made huge messes, and we occasionally called her mom or my grandma for advice.  We bonded.  We became actual sisters.  We connected on a level that I didn't know was possible.  I love Grace.  When I got married, and left KSU, I made a promise that I would keep in contact.  We have done more than that.  We have intertwined our lives.  We stood up at each other's weddings.  She is a Godmother for some of our kids, she and her husband are both Godparents to Quincy.  Jim and I are the Godparents to her son Stanley.  We have traveled together, cried together, laughed together, showed up for each other and more than once, she has helped me when I got in over my head with projects.  I am thankful for her friendship and blessed that she has been in my life all these years.  Stanley is getting married this weekend.  Jim and I were honored to be asked to bring the gifts up in the wedding.  I am excited about the wedding.  

And honesty, I love weddings.  There is just something about the blind faith of stepping before all your family, friends, and God himself, and pledging to love someone, live with them, and bind your lives to them forever.  Nobody, and I do mean nobody, on their wedding day, can say for certain that it is a good idea.  Nobody knows what you are actually getting into.  Nobody can know that you will have days where you literally want to beat the person you married into a bloody pulp with a frying pan, but you refrain because well...because murder is wrong.  And nobody can know the rewards of it either.  The extreme of how deep a love can go.   The way you come to rely on your spouse, the way you know you can trust them with your life, with your children, with your heart. The days you brought people into the world, and the days when you had to say goodbye to someone you love, with that person at your side.  I know we have done a lot of stuff that we might choose to do differently, but I would definitely not choose a different person to do life with.  I think the reason I love weddings is because I love marriage....my own included.   I will continue to pray for Stanley, as I have done since he was a tiny baby who was entrusted to my Godmothering, and I will now pray for his wife as well.  My prayer for them is that they will be successful at learning to love each other, and will stay the course, even on the bad days, knowing that the rewards of marriage are worth the sacrifices.  I will also pray that the 'frying pan' days are minimal for them!  :)  

Saige’s turn

Tonight was Saige’s band concert.  Like a lot of nights, we had a very time sensitive, and extremely laid out plan for getting everyone where they needed to be.  We got off the bus, slam dunked chores, I was cooking dinner while Saige  got ready. Everything was going according to plan but then the phone rang.  It was Madison. She was crying and screaming.  Evelyn was crying and hysterical, and the baby was crying.  The dogs were barking and it sounded Ike absolute chaos.  I finally extracted that the dog was having a seizure, but I couldn’t get Madison to answer any of my questions.  I told her I would be there in 15.   I yelled at the girls - for Saige to get into the car, and for Harper to finish cooking dinner.  Since we were going where Saige needed to be, taking her seemed logical, but I was also supposed to stop for Jim and Mallory on my way.  I called Jim and he told me he would take care of that part of things.  By the time I got to Madison’s, the dog was ok. I did what I know to do for him- electrolytes and peanut butter.  I sincerely hope he will be ok!  

We went on to the concert.  Saige’s band sounded pretty good.  Especially if you stop to consider that they have only been playing for a little over a year.  I enjoyed listening to them.  

I believe the fan club was also glad to listen to some band music!  

Saige is in a bit of a rough group of kids in her grade.  There is a lot of drama, a lot of inappropriate behavior, and a lot of kids with behavioral issues.  I am proud of her for working hard and trying to do what is right.   

Evelyn’s 5th birthday party

Today we celebrated Evelyn turning 5 years old. Our tiny little surprise baby is no longer a baby at all.  If I thought my kids grew up fast, I was mistaken compared to how fast the grandkids are growing.  Evie is a true blessing in our lives. She is oblivious to any bad day, and she drags   everyone into her happiness.  She is light, and  rainbows, and sugar, and amazingness.  We are all wrapped around her fingers, and smitten with this little person with the huge personality.  

And not to be outdone in the growing up to quicky department, this little nugget turned 5 months old today!  She is all of the things listed above, but in a non verbal body.  Wrenley Kay does not need to be verbal, her face expresses all of her feelings loud and clear.  Grandkids are awesome.  

Evie had an LOL doll party.  Uncle Colin brought her a giant fish.  Uncle PP was here too!  She was thrilled.  

Uncle PP  held up the piñata!  Brave, brave uncle Preston!  

Happy early birthday sweet girl!   We love you!   

Unbridled craziness

With the new furniture, I decided we also needed some light in the corner.  I have thought this for some time, but the sectional sofa didn’t give a lot of options for space.  I have a real problem with Menard’s.  I know it is weird because I literally hate big box stores, and huge places usually overwhelm me and make me run in horror.  But I love, love, love Menard’s.  They have EVERYTHING I have ever wanted there.  They have EVERYTHING I never knew I needed. And they run amazing sales and daily deals which I always find exciting.   It’s a weird obsession for me, and one that Jim seems to share as well.  Anyway back to my need for a table and lamp.  Menard’s was having an end table sale.  I found some I love for our bedroom for prices that I bet I couldn’t beat at garage sales, and one that was also under $20 for the living room.  Jim agreed it was a great idea, and we ordered them.   Then we went in search of a table lamp.  I hate lamps - they always remind me of a grandma house decoration.  They are ugly, or weird shaped, or did I mention ugly?   Anyway as we were looking, Jim ran across this elephant lamp.  I told him for some reason it screamed his dad’s name to me.  He said that he agreed, it looked like a Ken special.  I loved it immediately.  Jim quickly decided it was the only lamp we both liked, and it was only available online, so he ordered that as well.  It came this week.  Jim took it out of the box, realized it needed assembly, and set it aside for later.  He threw the box away.   Later, we went to assemble it and realized his tail is broken.  I was sort of sad, but without the box, I don’t think we can send it back, so I am going to glue it.  I am also going to retouch some of the paint because the paint job is messy and bothersome. I still absolutely love this!   I am excited to get it on the table we got. Unfortunately, when we went to pick up the tables last night, they were not delivered as we were told. They should be in later next week.   

I was sad about the tables, but I was showing Jim the daily special was some Barbie size princess dolls for $3.99.  I thought we should get them for Evie for Christmas.  That lead to buying a few other things I needed, and hitting up a few sales!   Cameron got a light-up beanie hat from Lauren’s mom.  I’m pretty sure he thought it was cool because he likes strange things.  I immediately thought how great it would be on the dark mornings when the girls and I are fumbling around doing chores at 5:45 before the sun comes up!  Menard’s had them on sale!   I loaded the cart up!  Jim might have questioned my sanity, but the girls were so excited!  They are afraid of reaching into a feed bag and finding a possum!   This will be so much more convenient than holding cell phone flashlights!   And hey- we like stylin while we chore!  

At first glance this week, I didn’t think we had much going on.  I’ve been doing this for how long?  I know I shouldn’t even have those thoughts.  We threw in mud, crappy weather, work drama, a band concert I didn’t know about, a confirmation guest speaker that the girls had to go to Baldwin to listen to, and to put a cherry on top, I got called in for random drug  testing on the same day as I had to go get my DOT physical.  I mean, who doesn’t want to pee in a cup twice in the same day?  Honesty, I get called so many times a year, if they have test day and I don’t get called I sort of feel left out.  I tried to explain to my boss if you always call the same driver, it isn’t random.  He laughed and told me to be at the nurse’s office at 8 anyway.  I also undertook a fairly large project at my day job and managed to get it finished, which was a big relief.  I feel like I earned every single minute of downtime I am getting on this Saturday!   Of course, when I say downtime, what I mean is time at home to clean, catch up laundry and cook for the masses.   At least working at home can be done in my pj’s!  

I think my desire to get organized and sorted is rubbing off on this guy.  He seems excited about my plans for some upcoming projects.  I found out yesterday I am getting a Christmas bonus, so now my Christmas break plans are definitely happening.  I hope Preston and Cameron come home for break with an  excitement for shelf building!