Wednesday, June 30, 2010

June 30

Things are really quiet around here. Little S soaked up the attention the first two days that Teen & Tween have been gone.

Saturday morning was his last T-Ball game. Then that night we took him to his first ever drive-in movie (Toy Story 3). He had a blast and cannot wait to go back. That night Little S and daddy slept on the couch after staying up way too late.

By the way - Pixar did an amazing job with the story. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but it was the best happy/sad ending anyone could have asked for. If you haven't seen it, and you have seen the first two, it is an absolute must see!

Sunday we went to church and then just hung out here for a little while. Sunday afternoon he had a pool party/birthday party to go to. About an hour into the party, it started to rumble thunder so we had to leave. That night he slept in bed with me while daddy slept on the couch again.

Monday we went to my friend Kandy's house to get some VBS stuff done and he ended up staying the night there.

Tuesday morning I ran some errands and got a few things picked up from the craft store for VBS and went back Kandy's to do some prop painting while the kids swam and played. After we left there, we came back home and made dinner for daddy. When we got done eating, he called his Gma Retta and decided he was going to spend the night at her place and go to breakfast with her at Eat 'n Park in the morning. Not sure she was planning to go there, but she took him this morning anyhow ;)

Today I am getting caught up on a few things and then probably working on more VBS stuff. It doesn't start for another week and a half, but I am already ready for it to be over...lol

Stacy

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

June 29

Today's Prompt: In what ways have you become 'green' in the past few years? Do you think that it has made a difference?

I really can't think of anything that I have done to become greener. Perhaps keep the a/c set a little higher and the heat set a little lower. I try to keep lights/tv's off when not being used. And not run the water while we are brushing our teeth. Other than those few things, I can't think of anything major we have done. How about you?

Stacy

Monday, June 28, 2010

June 28

Today's Prompt: How do you feel about the name given to you at birth?

I can remember a time in elementary school when I aware that my name was given to me and I wasn't sure I liked it. I believe my mum heard the name on the radio and liked it so that's where it came from.

I like my name now. Perhaps it's because I am 39 and just so used to it. The only thing I don't like about my name is how everyone misspells it. I like the way my mum spelled it, but everyone insists on putting an 'e' in it.

Do you like you name?

(Today's question is actually Friday's - I didn't really know much about today's: Tell us everything you know about the day you were born. Perhaps my mum can fill me in on that one later and I can tell you more.)

Stacy

Sunday, June 27, 2010

June 27

Happy Sunday! The boys and youth are almost to their destination as I type this. They stopped at 1880 Town. I had never heard of the place before I got a text from them but it looks like a nice place to learn a lot of history. And there are plenty of props from Dances With Wolves for them to look at.

I am so glad they had a nice safe trip out there. They will be staying in Rapid City, SD and traveling onto the reservation daily. Tween text me earlier and said that he got a lot of nice pictures. He is amazed at the difference in the area compared to the little hilly town we live in.

Thanks for the prayers while they traveled out. Continued prayers while they are there and for their travels home is much appreciated.

Stacy

Saturday, June 26, 2010

June 26

The boys (and the youth group) have made it to Sioux City, IA for the night. They stopped at the entry of each state and took a group pic around the state sign.

Not sure if I mentioned it earlier but both of the youth directors (& wives) had babies last year. One will be a year old next week and one will be a year next month. The babies are on the trip as well. The one youth directors wife's parents are following behind in their own truck and will be taking care of the babies while they are all working. Anyhow, when I talked to the boyz, they said the babies did great. They rode all that way and never got cranky or fussy until the last half hour of the trip. I am so thankful for that as I am not sure how a van full of teens would have handled a crying baby for many many miles.

Thank you all for your prayers. They have another 9 hours tomorrow to get to their final destination of Rapid City, SD. Please continue to keep all of them in your prayers.

Stacy

Friday, June 25, 2010

June 25

Tonight at 3 am (Saturday morning) my Teen & Tween will be leaving for South Dakota on a mission trip with their youth group. This is a 21 hour trip. There are 20 people going and they are taking 2 (15) fifteen passenger vans.

They should get into Sioux City, Iowa sometime tomorrow evening around 9pm. They will stay in a hotle for the night to get some rest. They will get up early Sunday morning and make it to Rapid City, SD by about 4pm. They will be staying just outside of Rapid City near an Indian Reservation.

They will start out bright and early Monday morning on the Indian Reservation. During the morning hours they will be helping to run a Vacation Bible School program. Their group is responsible for the snack, crafts and testimonials for the week. In the afternoon and early evening hours they will be helping to repair homes on the reservation.

The last few times that Teen has gone away there has been a death in the family. During the last missions trip that he went on in 2007 his great-grandfather passed away. I contacted the youth leader and they didn't tell him, but they made it home in time for Teen to make it to the second visitation and services.

There have been two other trips that he went on and someone passed away as well. This is a constant burden in the back of his mind any time he goes on a trip.

As we were joking around last evening, I said I was going to cry when they leave. He said to me 'Just don't break my heart when I get back home'. I felt sick remembering how many times he has come home all excited from a trip only for Hubby and I to have to sit down and tell him that someone died.

So if you would all do me a favor and pray this week, first of all for traveling mercies and safety. And second for not only the health of those on the trip but for the health and safety of those left behind. And lastly for peace for the boyz as they travel, knowing that they are doing God's work and that what ever does happen back here at home, we'll get through it one step at a time.

Stacy

Thursday, June 24, 2010

June 24

Happy Birthday today to Teen! He is 17 today. I'm not quite sure when that happened or where I was for the last 17 years, but the flew by.

A few highlights from the last year:

Prom:

Disney:


Band Banquet:

Easter Sunday:

Just being TJ:

I love you kid! So proud of you!
Stacy

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

June 23

Today's Prompt was actually an assignment of sorts and I didn't have a chance to do what they asked so I am going to just share some pics from Monday.

Monday Tween and Little S and I went to our friend H's house. H has 2 kids and then our other friend K came over with her 3 kids. While us adults planned VBS and our Jr Youth schedule, the kids swam in the in ground heated pool. Teen and the GF came over a little later after he was done with class.

I actually took almost 300 pictures that day. Some were great action shots and others were blurred. I also caught a good cameo or two. Here is a pic of each of the boyz from that day.
This is Little S coming down the slide:
The older kids were getting crazy. They put the floating mattresses out in the middle and tried to jump on them from the diving board and stand up. This is Tween trying his best to stay up:
This is Teen trying the same move and making some goofy face:
The kids had a blast and we got a little accomplished. Not much, but a little.
Stacy

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

June 22

Today's Prompt: Do you think it's ever permissible to cheat?

Ok, so the answer here should be a definite 'NO', but I guess it depends on what you are cheating on.

If you are cheating on your spouse - NO NO NO NO!!!!!

If you are cheating on your state boards - NO NO NO!!

If you are cheating on your taxes - No, unless you want to go to jail.

If you are cheating on your diet - Um, well, you are only hurting yourself in the end, but sometimes I think there are just occasions that call for it. Like Weddings, Funerals, Graduations, Vacations, Weekends, Making it through the work day, Lunch time, etc. Ok, maybe those last few were stretching it a little...lol

Stacy

Monday, June 21, 2010

June 21

Today's Prompt: What was the worst job you ever had?

I would have to say that I pretty much liked the jobs I have had and each served a purpose at the time. If I had to pick though it would hands down be when I tended bar. And it wasn't because of the atmosphere or the customers, it was the boss.

You see once upon a time when I tended bar I was about 120# soaking wet. So were all of the other bar tenders/cocktail waitresses. We were required to wear short short skirts and high high heels with low cut tops (get the picture?).

Not only that but Paul (the boss) had OCD and a black permanent marker. When we would leave each night there was a list of things that had to be done. I am all for cleaning the place, I mean we are serving food and drinks right? But he went to the extreme in the clean.

See after we left each night at say 3:00 am, he would come in at 7:00 am and go through the whole restaurant bar with his black permanent marker. He would check the sinks, counters, floors, bathrooms, etc for any sign of dirt and then take his big black permanent marker and circle it. Even water marks are unacceptable so if he looked in one of the sinks and there were water marks, he would circle them with the marker. Then he would call us when he was done and we would have to go in and scrub the marker off of where ever he put it.

Other than that it wasn't a bad place to work and the people I worked with were great. In fact I am still friends with a few of them 20 years later.

What was your worst job? And why?

Stacy

Sunday, June 20, 2010

June 20

Happy Father's Day to all of those fathers out there.

I have been blessed with more than one father in my life and it has been a great joy getting to know them and a greater hardship when I had to lose any of them.

Most of you know that my dad died of cancer just shy of my 19th birthday. I only knew him as child and never got to get to know him as a friend. I wish I had gotten to know him better and learned more about him before he died. It was 20 years in February that he passed and sometimes it still feels like the other day. There are some things that I will always miss, especially our fishing trips and the fires he built in our fireplace. I am thankful that I got to say good-bye.

My father-in-law died 2-1/2 years ago, 2 days before Christmas. We all took that one pretty hard. One of the first things I remember him saying to me shortly after we were married was that he would be my dad now since my dad had died. I never knew him when I was little but I got to know him as an adult and my friend. He died quite suddenly and without warning from a blood clot to his heart. There will always be a void in my heart from losing him and not being able to say good-bye.

My step-dad has been a great blessing in my life and my mothers. He came into her life at just the right time and has done so much for her and my sister and I. He never had children of his own and treats us like his daughters. I can't remember him once calling me his step-daughter in conversation, he has always called me his daughter. When they got married Teen was about 4 and Tween was 1 so they have always just known him as Grandpa T. He has treated my Mum as a Queen and does so much for her. And of course my sister and I are just as, if not more, spoiled by him than my Mum sometimes. And that is a lot, believe me.

I hope that you have been as blessed by one father as much as I have been blessed by 3.

Stacy

Saturday, June 19, 2010

June 19

I had a great 2 days with the girls. There were 8 of us from church that went.

We had an amazing speaker Jane Rubietta. She was hilarious. You really made me think about some things and brought humor to the story.

She is a wife and mother of 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. She is the shortest member of her family at 5'11-1/2". Her youngest son is 6' 5". And she was skinny as a rail. And when she talked she used the best body language. She would bend in the funniest ways. She reminded me of on of those human being clip art figures.

If you get a chance jump on over to her site: Jane Rubietta and check her out. If your church group or ladies ministry is looking for a speaker I would highly recommend her.

What's going on in your neck of the woods this weekend?

Stacy

Friday, June 18, 2010

June 18

Today's Prompt: What's the one food you feel like you couldn't live without? What's the one food you'd rather die than put in your mouth?

I probably couldn't live with out bread. I was just thinking this morning about that Dr. Gott's diet. No sugar, No flour. I could probably live without the sugar. But there is no way I could live without flour. I love breads.

There are probably a lot of things I would rather die than eat. Deer meat, Squid, Escargot, Caviar, Squirrel. I could go on forever. From the looks of my list though I am thinking it's a good thing I am middle class. I couldn't eat off of the land and I couldn't eat that high class stuff either...lol

What about you?

Stacy

Thursday, June 17, 2010

June 17

Today's Prompt: If you could take a train journey through any part of the world, where would you go?

I would love to go through Europe on a train. I have a friend from church that took each of his kids as they graduated and the things they saw and people they met just amaze me.

Where would you go?

Stacy

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

June 16

Today's Prompt: What's your greatest fear?

I have a lot of fears.

Some of these stem from experiences and others I just can't figure out.

Spiders - I think I can trace back to when I was a little girl and my grandma told me to slowly slide off of the arm chair and come to her and then my pappap killed a big spider that was just over my head moments earlier.

Public speaking - I am not sure what makes me so afraid to speak in front of others. It can even be people I know and it still makes me sick to do it. Cotton mouth, upset stomach, shakes, you name it.

Losing someone close to me without saying good-bye - I am not sure what brought this on. Perhaps it because the first real death that I understood was my dad dying of cancer when I was just a few weeks shy of 19. By the time my dad passed I was ready for it as he had suffered for so long I couldn't stand it any longer. I think when you lose someone that close so young it makes you think a lot about death. I used to fear that something would also happen to my mum after that. I would have terrible dreams and have to call her at all hours to make sure she was okay.

Something happening to my children - I think this also stems from losing my dad at a young age. When we had a miscarriage with our third child this fear became a reality.

Public Restrooms - I am not sure where this one comes from but I CAN.NOT stand to use them. I will avoid them at all costs. I have been know to go 10+ hours because there wasn't access to a private bathroom.

What are some of your fears?

Stacy

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

June 15

Today's Prompt: What's your superpower?

This is a funny one. When I saw the prompt this morning I had no idea what I was going to write. I even thought that I would make something up. But as I pondered the question at work I realized I do have a superpower. Ready?

I have the ability to tell when my parents either sit down to dinner or walk into the bathroom. Seriously, watch the comments, they'll confirm it.

I told them that I had camera's installed in the house...lol

What is your superpower?

Stacy

Monday, June 14, 2010

June 14

Today's Prompt: What are the five best bands you've seen play live?

Well, I have only ever been to one real concert. I was about 18 or 19 and I went to see DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince w/ Salt-N-Pepa at a little club in Pittsburgh. This was before they hit it big. My friend Sue (Amy) and I went with her fiance Todd (I don't think you were married yet). It was a lot of fun.

{Sue - do you remember going? -Lynn}

What bands have you seen play live?

Stacy

Sunday, June 13, 2010

June 13

Tween is an amazing singer with an amazing voice who is one day going to do great things with the gift he has been given. We are all so very proud of him.

There was about a 6 month period while his voice was changing that he struggled and I felt so bad. But he has adjusted and I am once again in awe of his voice and courage to stand up in front of everyone and sing.

He came in a little early but soon got it corrected and did a beautiful job. He made his mother cry with pride.

So without further adieu, here is my Tween singing "Who Am I":

Stacy

Saturday, June 12, 2010

June 12

Busy, busy day today.

First we have the church work day and clean up in the morning. While I am doing that, the older two have to be at church for their final training session for their mission trip (tell you more about that soon).

Then Little S has a T-Ball game at 11. They are so darn cute at this age. Just learning, confused, trying too hard, not trying enough, watching clouds and airplanes instead of the ball, picking daisy's, etc.

Next up is the graduation party for Teen's girlfriend. She is actually having 2 as her parents are divorced and cannot be in the same room with each other. I find that very sad. I think that when it comes to kids with divorced parents, the parents should find some way to work things out that they can at least be in the same room together. I know it doesn't happen that way, just wish it could.

Finally we are having a picnic at the church this evening to get to know a prospective pastor. The church board is interviewing him at 4, while I watch 4 of his 5 boys. After the interview at 5ish, we are having a picnic to get to know him and be able to ask questions ourselves before any final decisions are made.

As a mother of 3 boyz myself, if they can handle 5 of them, they have my vote! :)

Hope your day isn't as busy as ours and you can relax and enjoy!

Stacy

Friday, June 11, 2010

June 11

Today's Prompt: Tell us about your first kiss.

My first kiss...hmmmm...I was probably 5 and I was in love with my neighbor Patrick. My mom and his mom were good friends and we played together all of the time.

What about yours?

Stacy

Thursday, June 10, 2010

June 10

Today's Prompt: If you could go back in time and meet your 16-year-old self, what three things would you tell yourself?

I have been pondering this question all day.

#1. Your life is going to have so many twists and turns in the next few years. It may seem like the worst time of your life, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep your head up and stay strong. And most of all hold on to your Faith, always!

#2. Your future is not anything you can imagine right now. It will be so different than what you have planned out in your head, but it will be more wonderful than you can imagine. Even through all the ups and downs and disappointments, there will be shining stars to help you through it all.

#3. Enjoy every second of your time with family. You will be blessed with beautiful little souls to care for. They will be the highlight of your life and it will fill your heart to over flowing. Remember that in the end they are what matters most.

What would you tell yourself?

Stacy

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

June 9

Today's Prompt: Japanese lore suggests that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. What would your wish be, and what would you be willing to do 1,000 times to get it?

This is another easy one for me.

I would wish for my family and extended family to become and always be financially stable. I have struggled and watched my family members struggle for too many years. I don't wish that they be rich beyond words, although that would be nice :), just that they never have to worry about buying groceries or how they are going to pay the repair man.

What would your wish be?

Stacy

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

June 8

Today's Prompt: You've just been given a million dollars. You are not allowed to keep it or give it to anyone you know personally. What do you do with it and why?

This one is probably pretty easy for me. I think it would actually be harder if I could keep it or give it to someone I knew.

I would donate it to several charities that are near and dear to my heart.

First would be The American Cancer Society. I have watched too many people both struggle with and lose the battle with cancer. I know there is a cure out there somewhere and hopefully it will be found in my lifetime.

Second would be Susan G Komen for the Cure. This is another cancer organization but is specifically for Breast Cancer. Most of you know my friend Laurel has struggled with breast cancer for many years now. I also have Hubby's Aunt Mary who had it, his Grandma Mickey, and our realtor Kathy who died from it.

Then I would give part to Make a Wish Foundation. As an adult we have so many chances to do what ever we want in life. There are so many children that have terminal illnesses or very serious medical conditions that will never allow them the chance to do the things they dream about. That is where Make A Wish comes into the picture. It grants wishes to children. This charity just makes my heart swell.

And the last thing I would do with it is pass it out anonymously to small charities that are local to me. Such as the Women's Shelter, the Homeless Men's Shelter, the Community Food Warehouse, and any other little struggling charities that aer helping those in need in my area. I would add in the local churches, but I think that may be against the rules as I know people that go there.

What would you do?

Stacy

Monday, June 7, 2010

June 7

Today's Prompt: Do you owe an apology to anyone? Why?

Wow! What a hard questions. And thought provoking too.

I am sure I an apology to someone somewhere. I may have to think about this one and get back to you. Very busy day today and rushing around this am. So I am going to think about this today and post my answer later or tomorrow.

How about you? Can you think of someone you owe and apology to?

Stacy

Sunday, June 6, 2010

June 6

Random Pictures from the last week:
One day last week, Teen wasn't home and I was mad at Hubby so I put Tween and Little S in the car and we drove. I ended up at a little park down the road. I had a lawn chair in the back of the van and my book in my bag so I sat and read in the shade while the other two played. There was a creek nearby also that they walked along.
This picture is not the above said creek. I captured this while the boys were walking the creek bed while waiting for the Memorial Day parade to start last week. I love the clear water and how they are just being brothers (and getting along :)
My boyz love to dance in the rain. Not sure what else makes a boy so happy except maybe mud pies.
Little S loves to set up car washes on the side walk. He had all of his trucks and tractors out there lined up to clean and string on one of the buckets were tangled so Daddy was helping him out.

And what can I say about this precious picture. What mother couldn't love a face like that?

Hope you had a great week!

Stacy

Saturday, June 5, 2010

June 5

Happy Birthday Brenda!

I have a sister who is 3 years younger than me. We don't see each other too often as she lives about 5 hours away in West Virginia.
I looked but couldn't find any pictures of us on the computer. I will have to get one next time we are together.
I keep hoping one of these days she will get online. Something about living in the hills of WV and cable not readily available.
Stacy

Friday, June 4, 2010

June 4

Today's Prompt: What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of your father?

My dad's jacket hanging in my closet. Fishing. Beer.

Stacy

Thursday, June 3, 2010

June 3

Today's prompt: Define 'FREEDOM'

Websters has 17 definitions for the word. Seventeen!
So how do I define 'Freedom'?

With these pictures:
Because of these brave: (This is our Honor wall at my house)
And these brave:
And they were proudly honored Monday by these students and many citizens:

And finished by playing Taps on the hill.

Teen is the far one on the left. His friend John was the first player and my son was the echo. We were so proud of him. My heart swelled until the tears fell from my eyes that day. I cried not only because of the pride I had for my son, but also for what so many have done for us.
Stacy

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

June 2

Today's prompt: What is your favorite poem?

I'm not quite sure I have a favorite poem. Although I am not big on poetry, I can pick a few that I do like for various reasons.

Naturally there is Robert Frost - The Road Not Taken - I think everyone at one time or another had to read this in school. And this poem is also used a lot in Commencement speeches.

I have always been fascinated with darker subjects as well, which brings me to Edgar Allan Poe - The Raven - This is not his only work that I like. He is probably the poet/author I remember most from Literature classes. Perhaps reading him in high school is where I got my love of horror movies. I loved reading - The Cask of Amontillado, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher (and the movie with Vincent Price was good too), and who doesn't know The Tell-Tale Heart?

Then there are the complete opposite with Emily Dickinson - Hope is the Thing With Feathers how beautiful and thought provoking are her poems.

But one I remember reading the most (besides Poe) has to be Helen Steiner Rice - This Too Shall Pass. Her poems were everywhere at my Grandma's. I may even still have a poetry book of hers on the shelf from my Grandma's collection. I remember also reading her work in a magazine I think was called Reflections?

And of course the poems that I read the most now would have to be the Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible.

Even though I couldn't pick just one poem, is there one that is your favorite?

Stacy

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June 1

I have really gotten out of the habit of blogging a few times a week lately and have fallen more into the once a month. I want to change that and go back to blogging more often. So I am going to try to do the June NaBloPoMo to get me going again. The theme for June is Now and they are also giving daily prompts. That can be a big help if I get stuck. This month will be sprinkled with some of the prompts and some of my own stuff.

I'll start with a prompt though: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Hmmm....I can remember wanting to be a teacher. I played school a lot. I remember the girl down the street, Kelly, who had a blackboard and everything in her playroom and we would trade off being the student and the teacher.

I can also remember wanting to be a mom. But that is probably most girls dreams.

And a funny one I remember wanting to be was a private investigator. It was the time of Remington Steele (who, btw, I was going to marry) and Moonlighting.

One thing I didn't want to be was a nurse. My mum is a nurse and I heard too many horror stories. Not just about patients, but the doctors and the industry in general.

The funny part about that last one is when I worked in the orthodontist office, I really really loved it. I loved the patients and the constant change but yet the same.

I have considered taking classes to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) but as much as I love the elderly and would love talking with them and helping them, changing adult diapers and bathing them does not appeal to me in the least.

So for now I will work in an office until I can find a way to get where I want to be. I recently figured that out, just have to see how it plays out in the future.

So, when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Stacy