One of my "can't sleep" moments

Here it is, 5:17 AM and I am so wide awake you'd think that it was time to get up. I get tired of just lying there so sometimes I get up, like today, and find something productive to do. Then I may go back to bed and get a few more hours of sleep before rising for the day. I checked all of the blogs to be sure I was up to date. Saw that hilarious email pic from Tag of the winner in the dog obedience class. I am still laughing from it.

It is getting close to Spring and we are going to have to bite the bullet and shave Cadie's hide to get rid of all the mats within her 6 inch long fur. We have been dreading it because we do not have sheep shears and that is probably what would be the best thing to use... It must get done before we go to AZ the last of April, that's all there is to it. Hope to have before and after pics because one may not recognize her when she is clipped that closely. She has really enjoyed Eddie's presence in the house. They play frequently and she adores this. but then every time he comes out of his bedroom suddenly, she jumps up and barks loudly and scares my ears!! (an expression Bonnie used to say when a loud noise sounded off in her ears as a young toddler).

We visited my cousin, Anna, last weekend in Huntersville (now truly a suburb of Charlotte). Had a great time. We went to Charlotte's brand new Ikea! Yeaaa! And we also went to one of three Trader Joe's! Isn't that the greatest? Anna says she is impressed with Trader Joe's and plans to go again. Mmmmm, no surprise, huh? They drove us all over Charlotte and I nearly flipped! I don't even recognize this city any more. Except for the same street names I am just flabbergasted at the many changes that have been made. I did shoot some pics but haven't imported them into my iPhoto yet and my camera is not in here in the room with me. Don't want to wake others so, will post the best ones later. They have (a sometimes) elevated electric driven train going thru town for commuters. Can you believe it? We gotta make another trip to this city and look over all of these many changes again. The Carolina Panthers stadium is smack in the middle of town covering the ground that the first company Wayne worked for back in 1961, used to sit on. We were just in culture shock.

Guess that is enough rambling around for now. Need to get back to bed and catch some more zzzzzzzzs.

A Thorn in His Crown and "my flesh"

Three days ago Wayne was outside cutting away brush from our large crab apple tree in our side yard. In the process he inadvertently backed into a large thorn on the limb of one of the many trees that have thorns on our land. A thorn broke off and lodged in the top of his head. I caled the doc's office before 5 to see if we could get seen as I had not been able to get this hard thorn out with any of my tools at home. The first picture shows you the size of an entire thorn. The second picture shows the actual piece of thorn that the doctor removed from his scalp. It may not seem impressive to some but it was a real booger to remove and we were at the doctor's for quite a while last night. We had not had supper so on the way home we stopped at the first and only cheapo food place (McDonald's, ugh) and grabbed a quick burger and salad. Then we started our 25 mile treck home. We were almost to the last exit of the interstate and with only 7 miles to go realized that I had left my purse at the restaurant. I was mortified. We called (Mary did for us) to alert them and we turned around and started back to the restaurant. They said they did not see anything in their lobby. I began to envision having to replace all of my bankcards, insurance cards, Costco, library, etc.... Not to mention that I had my last $10.00 in my new wallet that was in my leather purse. yada, yada, yada.... So I prayed in tears all the way back. I ran into the restaurant and there my purse was right on the seat where i had left it. I thanked God and we went home. Needless to say, it was after 10 PM by the time we got home.

Pondering in my heart

How can it be said that one "feels your pain" when this statement is made? Well, if it is your child, I think the bond between parents and their children creates this. Nothing makes me any sadder than when I feel the pain or stress that I know any one or more of my children are suffering. As a parent, I think we must just feel so guilty that we cannot make it go away just like when your children are/were little and get a skinned knee. We did make that pain "better," so to speak by tending to it. That's physical pain and much of the pain we are all having today is psychological pain or stresses.... Much harder to "make it all better." Feelings of helplessness abound from both sides. Love keeps us strong and helps us to carry on. What else can I say? I love them so much, it hurts!

Been too long

I did have a more recent blog (back when Windee, also known as Peewee) was injured by the coyotes. It almost didn't save for some reason so in my attempts to keep from losing all I had typed and the two pictures I had posted with it, it saved weirdly and no one could find the comment poster so I just deleted it. It was ugly in the format that I saved it with.

This is starting out to be a bit of a "down" day. Two of my children are so down in the dumps (for justifiable reasons) that I feel their pain so I am blue, too. I did get a lift when my child, who no longer blogs, called me yesterday. I also got a lift with my child who is waking up his creativity and starting to really get serious about writing again... I do so love all my children. They are just so dear to me. They all have children and I know they know what it means to feel the pains of being a parent with no control over life's dealings of your children, especially when life gets so sucky (coining that from a daughter) as it is right now for so many more people in the world than just my children.

Hope to find a creative picture to write abut soon, but not today I feel... :(

Twas Three Days Before Christmas

Twas three days before Christmas when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,

The doggies were outside enjoying the cold,
While I alone was within, trying not to feel old,

When out on the lawn there arose such a chatter,
Of doggies barking intensely, oh my, what was the matter?

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Not a miniature sleigh nor eight tiny reindeer,

As I peered out my window, such a sight to behold,
Was a strange looking creature standing so bold,

By my deck he was starring not uttering a sound,
Looking toward my back door, hummm, what had he found?

Where were my doggies? I thought with distress,
They had now stopped barking, oh, I was a mess,

As I opened my door my doggies burst through,
They rushed right past me, well, wouldn’t you?

This creature just stood there in his brown and white coat,
With thick horns on his head, why, he was a goat,

I ran for my camera to get a quick shot,
But when I returned, the goat he was not,

So I opened the door in hopes I could see
Where he had run to, where could he be?

Oops, there was the goat right up on my deck
I shuttered then said, oh, what the heck?


So I grabbed two quick pics before he hurried away,

Feeling nothing I could do would get him to stay,

And so I exclaimed as he walked out of sight,
He’s just Richard’s pet goat, so no need for freight.

Great Grandchildren Thanksgiving 2008

The two oldest great grands shown here with their proud grandmom.

Here's Madison. The September baby of Josh and Felicia.

I thought this was Staton the 4 month old son of Andy and Jessica but I am having second thoughts. Comments, anyone?

This is Lola. She's 2 years + 2 months and cute as a button.

Thanksgiving 2008

Here we are with our three daughters on Thanksgiving Day! We had lots of fun with each other and all of those other family members who came as well. Some could not come. Some were ill, some were working. We missed them very much. You will have seen the great grandchildren as they looked on that day in the next blog. As you can see, I caught Dad napping. No surprise there. :)