Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown

Before I explain the title of today's blog entry, I need to update from the last weeks.........
Last weekend, Jerry and the girls came out to my house so that we could go 4-wheeling for Chloe's birthday (yes, so much like her father). On Friday night, we wanted to take them to a bluff near my house (which we would pass the next day), called Buzzard's Bluff.

As soon as we parked, they were out and on the bluff !!! Jerry is explaining what they are looking at .................. check out their concentration. I love this picture for some reason, maybe b/c they didn't know I was taking it and that the sunset is in the background. While up there, I had Joshua take some pictures of Jerry and I on the bluff................

I thought this one was completely goofy and made Joshua take the next picture too. I tend to like them both.

Our "up close and personal" picture......................
There is a story behind this next picture. Joshua is SCARED to death of heights and had ventured out of the car so that he was not upstaged by Chloe and Olivia. I was very proud of him for facing that fear !!! He was proud of himself too.

Chloe, Joshua, and Olivia............

Our first stop the next day....................... my little cheezers !!!

Yes, this is me........... Yes, I am in Camo, from head to toe, and NO I didn't care. I was warm and toasty inside this camo/fleece ensemble that Jerry let me borrow (no it isn't my camo).
***********Olivia, me, and Chloe taking our own picture.

Fast forward to Thursday evening, Dec. 6th......... Joshua had a JV basketball game. His Grandma, sister, and Mommy were able to come and I know it meant alot to him to have them there. He did Really well, ran hard, had some great rebounds, assists, and passes !!! I did see some "skill" in that boy !!

Joshua is Number 5........... waiting for the other team to mess up so he can take it down court.

I guess he is trying to befuddle the opposing team ........ (he is the one closest to you).
I am soooooooooooooooo proud of Joshua. He is still doing well. We still have our moments, which may or may not consist of a "tune-up". I have had several parents tell me how polite he is and will tell me different stories that make me even prouder of him.

Yesterday, after a week of sniffles, congestion, coughing, blowing, and whining, I dragged myself to the doctor. Diagnosis............. ear and sinus infection. After a 2 hour wait, steroid shot in the butt, nasal spray, and antibiotic Rx, I was on my way home to start getting better.
All I can say today is that I have been up since 6:30, have rearranged Joshua's bedroom, and put up my "Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. Now for my poem that will express my true thoughts on stringing the stinkin' lights...............

Ode to Lights

It started with a bang and a clatter.

Maddi ran in to see what was the matter.

She noticed Joshua's bedroom was in disarray,

She knew Christmas decorating was going to consume our day.

I began to pull out pieces and parts of the tree,

Then the strings of lights started scaring me.

I knew what was next after the assembling was done.

I knew stringing those stinkin' lights were not going to be Fun!!

I fought with the lights and Maddi most of the day.

My thoughts and feelings are simple you'd say.

The moral of my day and poem is simple you see,

All I want for next year is a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree.

Maddi lurking from the side of the tree.

Maddi feeling my pain over the lights.

One ornament was harmed during the day.

The finished product..........

I think you can click on the picture and it will make it bigger in another screen, which will only intensify the "Helen Keller meets Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree!!!

**********Click at your own risk!!

Soon to be Pre-Lit Puddle Splasher

The Food Network Thanksgivning

Thanksgiving Day at Mom and Dad's was FUN !! They had a houseful, but it didn't seem that it bothered them one bit !! Anne had suggested we each find a dish or two from the Food Network and replace our traditional sidedishes...... little did we know that our turkey was Cajun, stuffed with rice and baby shrimps. Different but good ---- My favorite dish was the green bean bundles Anne made. Yummy Yummy......
Daddy had designated seating for everyone ahead of time -----
*Jerry, the girls, and I were banished to the kitchen "kids" table.
*Kathy and all the other kids were sent to the "adult" table in the (formal) dining room.
*Mom, Dad, Anne, and Steven dined in the living room.
Jerry bonding with Kathy and Anne while dinner is getting ready.
Is that Joseph helping prepare dinner???

Running off our Thanksgiving meal......
What is Arissa running from????

I think Arissa was almost hit with the football !!

Chloe "slam dunks" the ball !!!

Then Arissa ..................................

Then Olivia................... Such talent in these ladies !!

I am Thankful For.....................

* my healthy mind and semi-healthy body.
* my family......... where would I be without them?
* my friends........... new and old.......... the old friends are still there and the new ones have added insight and advice I needed when I needed it.
* the fact that I get a 5 day Holiday weekend.................Wednesday thru Sunday !!!
* Joshua being in my life. Even though we don't always see eye to eye, he is a brilliant, caring, young man with more insight than I realized. We will survive his teenager years!!!
* Jerry being placed in my life and showing me how Love is supposed to be.......that someone can care about me, unconditionally. He loves me for me.
* Maddi (MadDog)............. even though she works my nerves and licks Joshua's ears when he won't get up.................. we still love her and she can be so sweet, especially when she curls up in a ball on the bed and snores!!!

***** Anything else I have forgot to mention.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving...............................

The Thankful Puddle Splasher

Hey...Wait!! Is that Jon and Kate???

Why yes it is...................... Thanks to Kathy and her internet surfing abilities, she found out that Jon and Kate Gosselin ("Jon and Kate + 8") were going to be speaking at a local church. She snagged us seats for the 6:30 session last nite!! Before attending the much awaited speaking engagement, we met at O'Chucks for an early dinner. It has been a while since Mom and her 3 grown daughters have been out in public. I enjoyed the time with them...... cutting up with each other and laughing.

Of course when we get to the church, we immediately find the best seats............call us "front row joe's"......... we tested my camera skills, asking the lady next to us to take our picture.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of our heroes......... Jon and Kate

Jon and Kate's story was amazing !! I got much more out of it than I thought I would. They talked about things not shown on the show. They also spoke of how God deserves all the glory they recieve each day......... what we all get each day. Nothing is possible without God and He has a plan for us ........ even when we don't realize it. I have realized that lately. When God sent me through the trial of battling an eating disorder (which is still a daily struggle), He knew what would happen and what and who was waiting for me around the corner................. I couldn't see it then. I wasn't supposed to. I was supposed to trust in Him. I feel like I can do that now. Trust in God and live each day of my life to the fullest. We are not guarenteed a tomorrow.....................

Mom telling Jon about Daddy wanting to hug Aiden (the professor). Sorry Jon's eyes are closed. You can't get a decent photographer these days !!!

Today I am walking in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer. The last 2 years I have walked in Honor Mr. Hoskins. Today I will walk in Memory of him ......... As I walk, he will be with me, in my heart and in my memories.

Here we are ............... fired up and ready to walk!!!

The Walking Pea...........

Looking forward...............

If you know anything about me, you know the last year has been full of ups and downs for me, a soul-searching time. Last Thursday marked my 1-year anniversary of the first day of the rest of my life. I knew it was coming, the dreaded November 1st. I woke up that morning feeling alright, not really thinking about "a year ago". My morning was good. Then the afternoon came............. and I recieved a card. It was a card from a dear friend with whom I have lost touch. She told me how proud she was of me.......... that she knew it was an important day for me and that she loved me. It was then and there I fell apart. It was a good come apart........... I realized that I cannot ask for anything more in my life. I have my amazing family, old friends and new friends, and to top it off, my incredible boyfriend, Jerry. I would not be who I am today if I had not been through the last year. I would not be able to be happy and healthy (as I can be) and be able to love someone the way I do him. He is very understanding and was supportive on Thursday, even though he only knows the ME of today.

I am thankful for my life, every moment spent with friends and family. And as for that friend, she knows what she means to me and I feel that afternoon we began making baby steps towards a new kind of friendship................. she will always be my angel.

I spent Halloween trick or treating with Jerry and the Princess and the BumbleBee....Olivia and Chloe.

It was so neat to see them so excited. They were literally leaping from house to house. I was glad I was able to go and spend that time with them. Joshua was able to attend a church function with some friends and ended up winning $50 from a drawing they had. He had a wonderful time, even though I know Kathy is having a hard time letting him grow up, so am I !!!

The past weekend was relaxing yet busy, if that makes any sense. I went to Lafollette again for the weekend so that Jerry could hunt.............. woooohooooo......... what did this mean for me? Hanging out with Becky and Jerry's girls, playing and sitting around until he got back, which was around 10 that morning. We had a good time watching Jerry and Scott work on the building and be silly. Sunday, Jerry and I managed to take some time with the girls and ride down to the river bank at Norris.

After packing up, we were headed to Jerry's where his dad had cooked fried chicken and stuff............... yum yum and then it was nap time. I am still worn out today, especially because of the time change.

On a sadder note, a dear man passed way yesterday after battling cancer for about 3 years. Sam Hoskins was the principal who hired me at Oakdale and became someone I could depend on and talk to about anything. He could bring a smile to anyone's face and would do anything for anyone. He will be dearly missed.