" Just A Suggestion"

I'd like to suggest that everyone head on over to my daugher Ginny's blog today. I'm not into advertising but she posted yesterday about nine things we can all do to make ourselves and other people smile. It's clever and insightful. I think you'll enjoy reading it.

The look on Jack's face when he saw me yesterday!

It didn't take too long this time for him to warm up to me.

I loved this photo because you can see the new tooth so well!

Nap time.

And finally I couldn't leave without a photo of baby feet! I can see my husband shaking his head at me now. I don't care, I love baby feet!

" Perks Of Being Over Fifty"

Some of you may have already seen this, but I love it so here goes.


For those of you who are over 50 and for those of you who are not, you can see what you have to look forward to in life!

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run-anywhere.
4. People call you at 9:00p.m. and ask "Did I wake you??"
5. people no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4:00p.m.
9. You can live without sex but not without your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into a room.
13. You sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won't get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
19. You can't remember who sent you this list.
20. And you notice that these are all in large print for your convenience.
    

" Bittersweet"

Since my Katie has been in school I have driven her to and from each day. I wake up every morning at 5:20 a.m. so that I can have some coffee, walk the dogs and wake up a little bit before I wake Katie at 6:15a.m. I need that time before I can deal face to face with anyone. Each and every morning when Katie wakes up I cook her breakfast. I've done this for her for 14 years.

After some thinking and some discussion with my husband, I decided (notice I said, that I decided) that when Katie started high school, I think she would be the right age to start getting up on her own with the aid of an actual mechanical or electrical alarm clock. As opposed to a human one! There is no reason a girl of 14 can't get up on her own and even fix herself a little breakfast. Really all I do is wake her and hand her food. And of coarse transport to and from school.

As I thought about this, and after telling Katie what I decided we should do, I started to feel a little excited at the prospect of sleeping in a little later and not having to cook breakfast everyday anymore. I mean really, she can get up on her own, fix a little food on her own, take her shower and walk 2 blocks to school on her own. My oldest child, well man child, is 31. So that means that I have been doing this mom ritual for as many years.

Today as I was sitting in my car waiting for Katie to get out of school, I was thinking how nice it will be when I don't have to leave the house at 3:20 every day. At that time I am usually starting dinner and have to stop to leave. Or wait until we get home to start cooking when we're both starving. So, it would be much more convenient not to have to leave the house.

Today as I was sitting in my car waiting for Katie to get out of school, I was thinking , and I was crying, because it will only be four and a half weeks and I won't have to pick her up anymore. I won't have to get up early for her anymore. And I won't have to cook every morning anymore. Bittersweet.

" Ginny's Coming Home!"

31 more days. In 31 more days I will get to be with my daughter again. It will only be for three days, but I'll take it. My daughter Katie will be graduating (must put box of tissue on my shopping list) the 8th grade on May 30th. So big sis is going to come to visit for the occasion.

Ginny lives in North Carolina, and we in Illinois. We only get to see each other once or twice a year if we're lucky. Usually we get to visit a little longer but this time she has no vacation days to use so it's going to be a quick visit for us. However, her little sis gets to go back to Raleigh with her for a week. What a wonderful gift for Kate! They are both very excited.

I also get to meet for the first time, her loving counterpart. I don't think that" boyfriend" sounds quite right at this point in their lives. And I am excited about that as well. I'll try to remember to keep my normal crazy self in the closet that weekend. I have a slightly toned down version for just such occasions!

Ginny has promised to help me with some of my computer issues while she's here. However, three days does not a computer genius make so don't get to excited. Trying to do the computer thing over the phone does not work for me. But I'm hoping we can fit in maybe an hour or so. By the way, did I mention that she blogs for a living? How cool is that? Actually it's a little more complicated then that but it's still cool.

I feel bad sometimes when Ginny comes to visit because she has to visit with everyone while she's here and is usually running around like crazy. This time won't be any different, so I am preparing myself for a short visit. Every time she leaves, it hurts as much as the first. But she is happy and that's what we all want for our children.

Ginny has always had, since she was born, an aura of happiness around her. When people are around her, they feel happier. I remember when she was a little girl, I was going through many difficult times. But no matter how low I was feeling, all I had to do was be with her and I would start to feel better. This is not to say that my other children aren't special in their own ways. But I truly believe that what Ginny has is a special gift from God. She just makes you feel good. And it's not just me. It happens when she's around other people as well.

One of our favorite things to do together is shop at all of the second hand stores for special treasures. We always manage to find something! I'm afraid we won't have the time this visit. I have yet to get Katie to indulge in this with me yet. She's at the stage in her life that everything has to be new, but she's quite new herself so I understand. I am fortunate enough to have a daughter-in-law that also shares this interest with me.

The last time I saw my daughter was after my first stroke last November. She came home right away to be with me and her sister. This visit will be a happier one.

I am probably rambling, but the days are swiftly going by. It's getting hard to contain the anticipation, not only for my last child's graduation, but to be able to see Ginny again.

Gloomy Monday

Tis very gloomy today. What an odd sounding word, at least it is to me as I repeat it to myself. Glue me. There was a tiny bit of rain, more later they say. I could have worked in my yard this morning but I was very gloomy as well. Not sad gloomy, just tired gloomy. So I chose to do much of nothing. And I am going to continue doing much of nothing until I pick Kate up from school. Maybe I should have titled this "Lazy Monday"! I took a photo of my neighbors tulip tree that has started to bloom. It's very beautiful I think. My husband thinks that someday it will fall on our house! How negative is that! Besides, that's what insurance is for.

It's an excellent day for a nap. Maybe I should have titled this "Nappy Monday". No that doesn't make any sense. I washed my hair today.

Maybe Tuesday will be terrific. I just hope it's not terrible or terrifying. The latter would be awful. Only time will tell.

Wednesday may be wonderful. I hope it's not worse. Whatever it will be, I hope I won't be filled with woe.

Thursday, Mmmmm, o.k. yeah.

Friday, finally I'll get to be with my Jacob for a few days!

Saturday, so much to do in the yard. Shopping perhaps?

Sunday, sitting outside for service at church. No rain please. Sunny Sunday only.

" Ruby's Story" - Part Two

Kate and I would often see our old neighbor. We'll call him Harry, because that really is his name, Harry. He lived right next door to the library, where Kate and I would visit about once a week. Usually on our way out or on our way in we would stop for a little visit with Harry and his pug Blossom. It was always an experience because Harry also had hens and roosters as well as rabbits roaming the yard. I missed watching the chickens wander my yard as I washed the dishes. I didn't miss them eating my seeds! Blossom was always happy to see us and we all, including my husband, started to grow fond of this breed of dog.

On one particular visit we were introduced to Willie, Harry's new pug. I know, I told you life is funny sometimes. Also coincidental. Remember, my old dogs' name was Willie too. Willie was a black pug and Blossom a fawn. And you probably have already concluded that they had a huge wedding and lived happily ever after! Well sort of. There was no wedding. There was however, sometime later, several beautiful, tiny pug puppies. There were black ones and fawn ones. There were girl ones and boy ones. And Katie wanted anyone!

After the puppies were born, it became more and more difficult for Kate. I think there were a few days that I avoided going to the library because those beautiful puppies were becoming too hard for Kate to resist. Harry's regular prodding for us to get another dog wasn't helping. I kept telling Kate that a new puppy is just like having a baby. There is a lot of responsibility that comes along with having one. As I tried so hard to discourage her I realized that I was also trying to discourage myself as well. By now I have gotten to know the personality of this breed. Very sweet, very happy, eager to please and those eyes. Those eyes that I once thought were U-G-L-Y, were now, in my eyes, full of every emotion that a dog could be possible of showing. Most of all love.

As you know by my blogger header, I broke down. Seeing the puppies every week, well lets just say that I still have a little girl inside of me. This is why I have five cats and two dogs. I would probably have more if I could, but a girl has to know her limitations. I have since reached mine. Ruby was born on June 25,2006. Six weeks later, we brought her home.

Homecoming.
Kate and I were well prepared. We bought a little doggy bed, collar, leash, water bowl,and food, all in anticipation of bringing our new puppy home. On one of our now once daily visits, Harry told us that we could go ahead and take her home. Kate was so excited, I was, well for lack of a better phrase, freaked out! I felt like I was being sent home from the hospital with my first child. She was so tiny. Did we have the house puppy proofed well enough? I put on a really good front as I acted excited like Kate was. In reality I was scared. I think because it had been so long since we had a baby of any species in our house. Into the car we went, with Kate ever so gently holding the new puppy. We still hadn't decided on a name, though we had a few ready to choose from. It came down to a toss up between Penny and Ruby. I chose Ruby. It had always been a name that I loved.

Ruby quickly became the center of our attention. Whenever she would eat or drink her hind end would completely leave the floor. She tried so very hard to make friends with the cats, but to this day there is only one that will go near her. Spooky. He's a lover boy. Looking back I can see that we spoiled her, but then I spoiled my children as well. Pugs are descended from Chinese royalty. I suspect Ruby somehow knows this. And while she fully believes that she is a princess and we here subjects, She couldn't be more loved than she is in this house.

Pugs are beautiful. If you don't think they are on the outside then you don't know them inside. Just ask my husband. This large man who always wanted only large dogs, I believe loves her more (If possible) then Kate and I do.