What do your kids play with in the bath?

First Day of School

Bay Freshman

Bobby 4th Grade

Bob & his awesome dad :)

Bob & his amazing mamma ;)

William Pre-K

William wanted to take a pic of me :P

 Took my happy pill, fed the kids and just got back from a long walk with my ipod. Going to drink this big glass of water (pictured above), shower and then clean...Sounds like a good time, right? Yeah, I cannot wait! Ha!  

Happy Seahawk Sunday :)

Goal for today...

Starting today...less FB & more blogging....

 

 

 

 

 Wonderful overnight with my husband...

 

 

 Ten Years next month!

 Our covered wagon...I love it.

Old Growth Forest

 Stud

 Copper???

 Beauty

 Camping & Steak

 Worm that looks like a leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Last Sleepover With Grandma

On February 9, 2013, sometime around 2:10 pm, my grandma went to be with Jesus <3

I wrote the following on my car ride home from the hospice home that she passed away in and was honored to have read it allowed at her funeral. I love you, grandma.

My Last Sleepover With Grandma

When I was a little girl, blonde hair, blue eyes, a dimple in my left cheek and freckles across my nose… I was a princess.

I slept on a fluffy, white bear skinned rug. I was served a soft boiled egg and juice in bed. I played with porcelain dolls and was chauffeured around in a white limo, at least that’s what it felt like to me.

When I received the call that there wasn’t much time left, I was taken back to those days. The days when my grandma made me feel like I was a princess…

As I rushed to be by her side I began to recall all the memories that I had misplaced. The remembrances of all the time spent with my grandma.

Oh my gosh… I never told her “thank you”. Thank you for everything that she had done for me. The immeasurable love, forgiveness and generosity that she had shown to me. I am so sorry that I didn’t visit more. Sorry that, as I grew older, I didn’t make you more of a priority in my life.

I couldn’t get to her fast enough…

When I finally arrived, which seemed to take forever, she was lying there in a painless sleep. Her heart was pumping like crazy but her mind was already fast asleep.

Was she dreaming? Was she already making her glorious appearance in Heaven? Could she hear me if I spoke to her? What should I say to her? “Grandma, it is okay. You rest now. You have paved a beautiful path for us, we will all be just fine. You have lived your life, a full life. Full of great adventures. Now it is time for you to go on the greatest journey of your life! No more pain. No more needles or insolent. No more worry or anxiety. Grandma, take a deep breath and rest.”

My last night with grandma was such a special night.

There were a total of six of us who stayed the night with her. And while grandma lay there taking her last breaths, maybe checking into heaven, the rest of us visited and actually laughed until wee hours of the next morning. I know that if grandma were listening to all of us she would have been very happy, and probably reassured that we were going to be okay.

Not wanting to close my eyes, as I may miss her last breath, I laid down on the floor next to grandma’s bed, just like when I was her “little princess”. I know that grandma loved that last night together, as I did.

It wasn’t until the next day that grandma took her final breath. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there, as much as I wanted to be, I do know that EVERYTHING happens for a reason, and honestly, I’m not sure that I would have been able to watch her take that final breath. One thing that I am sure of is that my grandma is all checked into Heaven and watching over all of us now.

Thank you for that one last sleep over grandma…

I love you!

I had to share these photos. I am fascinated by my surroundings right now. God, you are an amazing artist!

 LIVING LIFE

Life is not a race-but indeed a journey.

 Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy.

Say "thank you". "I love you", and "great job" to someone each day.

Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.

Let your handshake mean more than a pen and paper.

Love your life and what you've been given,

it is not accidental-search for your purpose and do it as best you can.

Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.

Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.

Some of the best things really are free.

Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming.

Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself-plan for longevity.

Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. 

Live for today, enjoy the moment.

-Bonnie Mohr

I love this! I want to hang it everywhere in my house to be reminded daily!!!

So, basically since I can remember, I have wanted to be a foster parent. Well, this past week I was given a glimpse as to what it would possibly be like. I was asked to care for five girls for one week. With the approval from my husband, I said "yes".  I know these girls through my church, and had had them stay with me New Year's Eve, as my daughter was living it up in Maui. 

All the girls arrived at my house Sunday afternoon with plenty of luggage to last at least one week :) I set the four older girls in my step daughter's room...that's where they wanted to stay. The youngest was asked to sleep with my oldest daughter, and of course, she accepted. 

It was late before the girls went to bed, but they were all up and ready for school the next morning, including "Little Miss" (who is six). I took all the girls to school and had a talk with the youngest telling her to be good at school and I would be to pick her up after school. 

After school I picked them all up. Little Miss had an excellent day, even with having a late night. We all went home visited, played, hung out and ate dinner. 

At  7 pm I received a phone call from a state worker that said that someone would be out to get "Little Miss" that night...no idea what time, but someone would be out to pick her up. I cannot even begin to explain the emotions that ran through me. "Why? Why would she need to leave? Her foster sisters are here? She had a great day at school? I told her she was going to stay with me for the week. She knows me." No reasons were given as to why they were coming to get her...

"Little Miss" was picked up at 9 pm Monday night. Past her bedtime. I was told that she would not be going to school on Tuesday. Come to find out that she did not attend school all week....

I've become very attached to "Little Miss". We started hanging out the day after Christmas this past year...so it has only been a few weeks. She has already stolen my heart, though.  I am making it a point to spend time with her while she is in the care of her current foster parents. They are older, grandparents, and then they have older foster girls: ages eleven to seventeen. 

I really enjoyed spending the week with the four older girls...hearing their stories and listening to them talk about the only family they have, but rarely see. Wow...sometimes I think that we all should be reminded of what we have, and what we have to offer others...

I took the girls "home" today...no one has heard from "Little Miss" and probably won't until Tuesday, because it is a holiday weekend. 

I miss her and continue to pray that she is being taken care of. How I wish that I could take her under my wing and give her the life and family that she deserves...

This week has opened my eyes to the reality of Foster Parenting. I'm not sure that I could do it...I could, but am I strong enough to say good-bye in a matter of minutes...just like that...?