The beginnings of THE HULK!!!

Fantastic Reunion!

We invited Auntie Irene... She is the Matriarch of the family now. The only one left from their generation. I think she really enjoyed it and we sure enjoyed her!

We had so many show up that we needed more chairs. Thank goodness Frank and Jane live just up the street (and, they had more chairs they could get!)

And surprise, surprise, Lee came from California... Eleven hours of driving each way for 4 or 5 hours with his family... He must really love us! It was so great to see him (and hug him).

Kim brought her paints and did faces and tattoos. She is really good!

If I do this right the rest of the pictures will follow... If not, they will probably be at the top and I will be cussing!

Mother's Day?????

I have never really liked Mother's Day since I quit going to my Mother's house for the day.
For some reason I sit at church and realize what a bad mother I am...
I don't do all those great things they talk about at church.
I kill every plant they hand out to mothers after church.
I miss being a mother with small children.

And, this year is the first Mother's Day without my mother.
Now I know there are at least 5 others who are in the same boat...
But, in order to really spend the whole day feeling sorry for myself, I didn't call any of them to see how they were doing.

Well, this year, Orville went off with friends to brand calves.
Chelsie and Raegan called me about noon.
Then I spent the rest of the day looking at all the pictures of my
younger family that I should be scrapbooking.
To be honest, I did put a lot onto cardstock although they are not decorated.

Then I ran across this picture...

It was a few years ago, but I like it!
Six kids and a MOTHER!
A REAL mother who tried her whole life to be that Mother they talk about at church...
When I went to church with her I thought she did a great job of being that mother.
Then, when she lived with me years later, she made the
same comments to me about Mother's Day.
She didn't think she had done very well.
I assured her she had.
She even admitted to never being able to keep the plants alive...

I absolutely did not agree with her that she wasn't a good Mother!!!
I felt she was,
and still do!!!
I have always been very proud of her and have tried to let her know that...

She was very patient.
She always listened.
Even when I had to tell her things that would break her heart,
she would hug me and tell me all would be OK.
She helped with homework
whether it was learning geometry or make a volcano that really exploded.
She sewed clothing for her kids because her budget was not very big.
She did not like to sew, but she did...

She loved her children more than anything else in the world.
She loved all her children's spouses.
If necessary, she worked on it.
It goes without saying that she loved her grandkids... That is easy!!!

I can do that can't I?
I think I have learned a lot about patience.
I know I love my children more than anything else in the world.
And I love their spouses.
If necessary, I work on it!
I am not too good at Geometry but I can sew you a wedding dress. I love to sew.
And, I have made a volcano that exploded!
And, of course, I love my grandkids!!!

Well, maybe Mother's Day is for spurring Mothers on...
Doing your best to become like your own Mother...
Thinking about how great of a Mother she was and what I can do to become more like her...

So, I am at work.
Thinking about my Mother.
Not feeling sorry for myself because it"s not Mother's Day anymore...

The whole school, but me, went to Hogle Zoo...
I got left here...
My phone in my office won't call out...
I can't get into my email...
I left my cell phone home...
It is Frank's birthday and it's Chelsie's birthday.

Time to move on...
Time to smile...
It's going to be a GREAT Monday!

I think this is one of the best thoughts I have seen in a long time.
It makes me feel like there is still hope in this crazy world.
Not the Obama kind of hope,
but the hope that goes with our faith in our Father in Heaven
and his love for each of us.

Being a Mom is an Eternal Career. And, I wouldn't give up the job for all the tea in China!!! But I have to admit I laughed long and loud when Jenn sent me this video... I hope I have posted it right so you can watch it... I would love to give credit to whoever is singing it but I don't know who it is...
Enjoy!

I Can See the Light.... Sunlight!

When my flower catalogs started to come...
I remembered what Mom used to do this time of year.

She ordered lots of flower catalogs.

Sometimes she ordered flowers and sometimes she just looked...

I guess I am not quite as imaginative as she is... I ordered them!
These are some of the ones I ordered...

They say they will grow here...
I think that means I have to water them and keep the weeds out.

I am not usually very good at doing that in the heat of summer but I WILL try!



At least it is fun to dream in January...

As soon as the daffodils and tulips come up I will be OK!

Looking for Spring!!!