Thankfully everyone in the house has a better attitude this week. Yeah! I think we will survive the teenhood that descended upon us. (at least for now.) I agree Mel, prayer and toughness is the only thing we can do. I always tell moms to take their vitamins and buck up.
My sister says "yes," but daily I doubt her. Our boys long to be trusted with freedom and responsibilities. When we deny them, they groan. When we give them freedom, they blow it. How to strike a happy balance is eluding me.
Then comes the punishments for not handling the freedom. When consequences are handed down, they act like it is the most unfair thing in the world. I hear comments like, "I would never knowingly disobey you," and "Why punish my mistakes; I was not willfully disobedient." Oh they know how to spin it.
Yes, our aloneness was nice and we definitely needed it. With Austin now attending public school along with Robb, and Scott being at FC, we might have a few more alone moments than what we have experienced in the past 20 years. They are nice and necessary for a blissful married life. But that doesn't mean I don't still love a crowd.
Since the whole family loves a crowd we try to have people over most Sunday nights after church. We have what we call "a bring your own." No one has to cook, and we do not have to worry about having a potluck worthy dish to share. People just bring sandwiches or leftovers from home or they pick up fast food. The adults visit and the kids play XBox or go to the park behind our house. We love it and everyone.
Tomorrow night we will deviate from the normal bring your own and make Belgian waffles for everyone. They are a staple food in our house! Wish you were all close by and could join us.
The photographer lets the school keep the $15 sitting fee, then they put together a package of 3 different shots - like school pictures. When the customer picks up their free 11x14, they can buy more sheets at a reasonable rate from their package, or order more prints of various sizes. The photographer said if the book 50 families, the sales are usually between 3-5K and the school gets 3% or more if a larger number of sittings are booked. I don't know how you can find out if any photographers do this in your area.
Hi. Dawn found you on pleo. It's sp nice to read about you. How long has it been? Where are you now? As Dawn said we are in UT. Dawn has been here for 8yrs. I moved here 2 1/2 yrs. ago. Thins were and are getting hard for me so Dawn felt best I come here. I love it! I like the snow.Anyway, I don't know anything about you, kids etc. Tell me all about your life & where are MOM & Dad?
Please email me (email address on my home page) a dedication, thought or scripture that you would like put on the dedication page of the cookbook. We are also encluding camp directors etc. Thanks.
Well, Scott is at FC, and Robb and Austin are in school today. Amazingly, we do not have any overnight guests. Berry does not have to go to the office today, nor I am volunteering at the school today. So.....we actually have a day to ourselves. We took a long walk and who knows what the day will bring.....Who cares....we will be alone. A truly rare occurrence for the past 6 months.
Now, do not get me wrong. I absolutely love company and am my most fulfilled with a house full of people. It is just that this morning I woke up and realized this "aloneness" had not happen in months due to one thing or another. It seems that Berry was constantly having to work Fridays (a normal day off for him) or he was out of town or someone was visiting.
So I will get off the computer and enjoy our aloneness.
Very busy here. Don't guess it will let up anytime soon. Lisa's gotten all the curriculum for homeschooling and will be starting the day after Labor Day. Everybody's looking forward to that!
Btw, make sure Berry checks his email. I just sent him a message.
Hi, dear. That sounds like a lovely day! I had a most wonderful email from you while I was out of town recently. I'm planning to answer it, but I've been a little swamped with various moves and peoples ever since we got home. :) Joseph and Lauren load their truck in the morning, and pull out for Chicago on Thursday morning. I'm a muddle of various emotions. I love you!
Scott looks so happy, and he's so sweet to treat me like a mom and run up and hug me every time I see him!
Tomorrow the boys go to camp for the week, and Berry and I will take a few days off to be together. Normally we drive to Kansas City and eat. Yes eat. We learned years ago that it is our favorite shared past time. In KC we love to eat at LC's Bar-b-que, Sweet Tomatoes and Cheesecake Factory. Just thinking about those places makes my stomach growl.
This year we will save on gas and roam around here in NWA. We will have to find a few new local restaurants to spice up the week. I have Berry convinced to go camping at Devil's Den for a night. Yippee for me as I love camping. His idea of camping is Motel 6 so I am thankful for his compliance. Our air conditioning is currently out so camping doesn't sound so bad to him. We will take a morning hike, enjoy the scenery and being together.
Scott will be at camp in Indiana. I cannot wait to here all about it. He had a great time at the GA camp this past week.
We love camping too. Lord willing, this coming spring we're going to take a 2 week vacation to west Texas and NM. We'll stay in hotels some, but most of the time will be tent camping in State Parks. Hiking and camping...doesn't get much better than that!
I'm with Berry...I love to camp, too, in a plush 5th wheel! ;) Laura begins the first of her camps this Wednesday. I am going to miss her but am looking forward to some "down" time to get some projects done around here...
It was nice to visit with you again. I'm guessing you are home safely and will be able to catch up on some rest? When do the boys start school?
I found the meeting very beneficial. It already has helped me dissect a few chapters in my bible class. Wish I would have learned these things when I was a teenager!
Thank you! I think just realzing and actually hearing from people helps me deal with this as much as anything. The "feeding us well" is VERY tempting! ha
