I need to start

I need to stop. Actually, I need to start. Stop procrastinating. Start writing. Its been a good long time since I've been here and woof. SO MUCH has happened. Let's start with I'm back in school. Yes. School. At 54 years of age. Yes. Hours and hours of class time and then hours of homework. I really enjoy it, and there are no regrets because its something I WANT to do. Its for the future and its so important. It's also hard as all get out. The son jr. joined the Marines and hadn't been home for a solid 506 days. He finally came home last week, and it is just not enough time. We military moms have to put up with people telling us things that are so inappropriate. People say things like, " I know what you mean, when my child left for college, it was so hard." I am so very sure it was hard and cannot minimize your heart. But they get to call you everyday. They get to come home on every break if they want to. For months at a time sometimes. They are not training to go out there and possibly die. Please don't compare. Not that I'm bitter. I'm not. I am very proud of him and his decision. But it is hard. Hard on this momma's heart. Hard on the family. And hard when we have to smile and nod on those well meaning souls. Because they truly are well meaning. So. Let's Go Brandon. Because reality is, we are circling the toilet bowl. And yes. With this one, I am very bitter. The emotional society has won, and society in general has lost. Badly. The girlies are awesome. NOT perfect, but amazing in their own way. The grandbabies are such a joy. Can't get enough of them. The man is God's gift to me. He is not the best out there, but the best for me. There are times when I am so done with him, and I'm sure vice versa, but we come back. Comeback to the ancient paths and there comeback to HIM. I pray you have an amazing New Year celebration. Whether it is a huge glittery loud party, or quiet in teh comfort of your livingroom in sweatpants. Place GOD in the center of your universe, and walk therein.

Our reality

The reality of life is that life is hard.  

Don't get me wrong.  Its oh so very good.  But it's hard.

Which is why I make it a point to instill in the children...make a fool out of yourself at least once a day.

Unless, of course, you have a camera and some filters.

GOLLY guys!  Let's go all out!!!!

My mother always said I had big eyes.  I now believe her.

JS is teaching the art of saying CHEEEEEEEZE.

I almost died.  Or wet my pants.  Or both.

But then his happened.  And my stomach started to hurt from the underused muscles.

She talks too much.

This is what happened when you are too busy watching tv and are not paying attention.

I got nothing. Not true.  I got grandchildren who are willing...

She may be mortified at this when she is a teenager.

All to say, people.  Live a little.

Live a lot.

Find the joy.

Take a picture.

Give of yourself.

Make a friend.

Take the time.

And most importantly...

...laugh at yourself or others will do it for you.

Never ever would I...

I have watched all the Jurassic Park movies more times that I could count.

Not that I would count, but...

And when I say watch, I hardly ever SIT down to watch them, I am doing something else, while listening and looking up every so often.

And the books?  Michael  Crichton... Was a GENIUS.  Reread them several times as well.  The movies and the books are nothing alike.  But they are both great in their own right.

So, I was washing dishes and watching The Fallen World again, and I cried.

Again.

Yes, people  I cried.  I knew what was going to happen.  I have seen it a lot.  Still gets to me.

jok

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To hear the brontosaurus bellowing as he is dying.

Gets me every time.

Now, that being said.  Never would I ever want to live where dinosaurs roam free.  Watching them on a big screen is enough thank you.

Now THAT being said, I just found out that there is a Jurassic Park park...in Hawaii!!!!

I have never ever wanted to go to Hawaii.  It's not my thing. I'm  a mountain person. Show me mountains, my heart races with love. Beach?  Eh. Hawaii? Eh.  Even if we won a trip, I would make some phone calls to see if we would be able to change the destination.

Alaska, anyone? Banff? Iceland, again?  Yes, please.

But alas.  Jurassic Park is now on my bucket list.  Will we ever go there?  No.

But I will enjoy the pictures of other people being there.  Follow the park on Instagram. Continue to watch the movies.  Cry at some scenes. Introduce them to the grandchildren. Buy their dino shirts. And thank GOD these amazing creatures no longer roam the world.
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Show me the...picture.

I have to remember.

SO

MANY

THINGS.

I am a forgetful person.

Take this blog for example.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

About the only thing I am consistent about on social media is instagram.  Because lets face it.  I have always been a picture person.

I love pictures.  I'm the friend you took those 3,147 pictures on your trip for.  Yes, I would LOVE to see your pictures.  Your trip through your eyes.  I'm that person, who when I walk into someone's home, I will stop doing everything or talking when I spot a picture and will walk over there and look at it.  Or them.  And if you want to tell me about them, I am ready to listen.

Pictures capture a moment in time.

They show LIFE!

GOD's amazing creation.  The eyes of a person tell so much.  That goofy smile on my son when he was 5.  The dog looking at me like 'just pet me, woman'. Christmas joys. Family life. Growing up/ growing older.

Documenting memories.  Documenting life.

Who doesn't want to walk life, visually?

In a weird game I played once with the teens of our youth group, I got a question that asked: would you rather be blind or deaf?

Deaf.

Hands down.

That being said, here is life for the past few months:

Yes, it looks like I married some guy I found living in a cave in the mountains.

Moving on.

They sure are beautiful. <3

Always trying to fit a hike while doing life.

Checking out the new animal babies at the living farm.

I'm learning new things with hair!!!!1

When cousins are besties and besties are cousins.

Vacation in NH.

We have to go again.

The mountain man resting.

They went to an arcade for the first time in their lives.

This could become a problem.  LOL

Memorizing scripture.  She did 47 verses.  Her sister did 31.

How much do I love this? Let me count the ways.

My mom's birthday gift  that was made from one of her granddaughters.

Chickens are fine.

Mountain man needs a tan. 

Mission trip. Church night time devotionals.

Father and son.

Newest addition. 

Meet Indiana. 

She is quite adventurous.

Jack Russells are amazing.

And active.  :)

What will this Day be like?

I wonder.

No.  Not really.  School, running around.  Story of my life.

That being said, cool things happen.  Crappy things happen.

Today was a crappy things happen morning.  Not because it was Monday.  I love Mondays.  Because I had to take the dumb cat to get fixed.  I wiped down the carrier and put it back together again.  Grabbed the cat before she could eat or drink anything, and went out the door.  At 7:15 in the morning.  When it was pouring horribly outside.

Evidently, I didn't snap one of the snaps back into place properly and she squeezed herself through that little sliver and took off.  In the pouring rain.  At 7:15 in the morning.

I hate cats.

They are the democratic liberals of the animal kingdom.  Self centered. Don't give a rip about anyone or anything.  Demand everything. Wreck havoc and walk off like its your problem.  Think they deserve everything.  Do what they want, go where they want.  They are so obnoxious.

I know. I know.  I need to calm down.

But seriously, people.  I hate cats.  I won't hurt them. But I hate them.

Rescheduled her appointment.  When I called, the receptionist actually thought it was funny.

I should go someplace else.

Moving on.

We had the oldest daughter's younger 2 for the weekend.  It was incredible.  I never realized how fun they were.  And how easy it was.  I even made it to church on time.  Someone pat me in the back.  Granted, I woke up at 6 am to make it happen LOL.

I haven't started the garden yet.  So frustrating.  Its been too cold at night still.  Yes, below or right at freezing.    Its usually in by now.  Starting to look great and hopeful.  Not this year.

I should start planting tomorrow.  Seeing as how today was a wash out.  No pun intended.  But if I intended it, it would have been perfect.

Good news coming!  Stay tuned!

And seek HIM.  Deeply.

Someone thought it was a good idea that I teach the high school government class. Probably because I am a government addict. But now I am all in. We have a phenomenal textbook, and even though it’s a college text book, the kids can read it just fine, and understand it well. I love this stuff. 

It is my true belief that every single child that is graduating high school should have a solid knowledge of our constitution( maybe even read it 😜 ) and understand how it works. Maybe we wouldn’t  have so many problems in our nation today. 

Now don’t get me wrong. Though I am a part of a certain political party, all people, regardless of party affiliations should know their rights, and know their rules. I’m all for freedom of choice. But don’t make statements that are so blatantly ignorant because you have ‘ heard’ what people are saying, as opposed to knowing the real facts.   

Facts don’t care about your feelings. 

We are now a nation of feelings. 

Which is why we are weak and wrecked. 

Ok. Off my soap box. Because people, I could have a whole daily blog on politics. 

So there you go. 

On a better note, my 4th child turned 11 yesterday!!! 

Eleven. That’s 2 years from teen years. Five years from a drivers permit. Seven years from being a legal adult. All these numbers are less than the 8 years she has been embedded in our hearts. And people, THAT TIME FLEW BY!!!!

My little girl is becoming a young lady. Smart and gentle. Loves her GOD and seeks to be a better human. Her strength is in her perseverance and her hope is in her surrender. 

What’s not to love. 

She’s not perfect. But she is ours. And she is perfect for our family. 

We gave her The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy for her birthday. ( other things too ) and she just about ran to her room to get started. 

Because she has wanted to read them for forever. 

So. I was reading the news this morning and according to a combination of statistics, they came up with the most dangerous state. I know what you’re thinking. NJ for sure. Right?  Wrong! I know!  I was shocked, too!  It’s Alaska!  

What the what?!?

It’s to darn cold to be dangerous. Well. There you go. NJ didn’t even make it to the top 5.  Go figure. We are shocked. We’re used to the mockery and out downs. Eh. Rolls off our backs. If they’re true , we own it. If they’re not, we know we’re talking to stupid people or worth wasting our time trying to convince them of the truth. But still.  Alaska?!?   Really?!??

Ok.  Girls are done with their grammar. Back to schooling.  Be good. Be holy. Be true. 

Oxy. Moron.

Sometimes I wonder about my philosophy.

I am one of those Christian, conservative, stay at home, skirt wearing, mission minded, old school, hymn loving/singing, baptist, homeschool mom.

I am also a big fan of Ink Masters.  I have a couple of tattoos, that I did not get when I was young and stupid.  My first one I got four months before I became a grandmother.

What the what?!?!

Who knows.

And to make it worse, my girlies are my side kicks when I watch the show.  We judge and pick tattoos and artists. We critique everything.  We are seriously considering checking out the Ink Masters house, since we live half hour from there.  It is something we all dream about. My girls would be over the moon if we did that!

So.  This season...there is actually a homeschool kid.  😳 It never even occurred to me that that would ever happen!



Pray for me.




So. On another note, all of us, minus the man, are going to the JCC this year.  Why did I wait so long?!?  The girls are loving it.  I am needing it, the Son Jr. is appreciating it.  He goes almost everyday.  Since he can't get to the boxing class because of work, he has replaced it with this.  Good option.

I like the JCC. Most of our friends go to the Y.  The Y is so enormous.  I rather like the JCC.  It's more family.  The gym doesn't feel like a gym.   They have state of the art equipment, but its full of non gym rats.  Nothing to prove, but everything to offer.  My kind of place.  It's a little more pricey than the Y, but it works for us.

Our show is about to start.

There is a homeschool kid.  There is a yarmulke-wearing Jewish man.  There are oddballs that we like and normals we aren't crazy about.  It should be an interesting season!

On that note, be HIS.  You won't regret it.