Dancing Anson Style...Memories of my Childhood

As you know, I took the kids to see The Nutcracker on Sunday. It's a beautiful ballet...I can't say I'd ever been to a "gen-u-ine" ballet before. I did go to Hillary's ballet recital when she was only 4, but I don't think that counts. But when Lisa and I were younger we would pretend to be ballerinas. We made our nephews join us. Mother had a collection of old albums of the classics and several of the songs from The Nutcracker were on that, so we would gather in the living room (the forbidden room...no playing in the living room) and dance. I remember loving the "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" and "The Flight of the Bumblebees". We whirled and twirled and jumped and laughed. I was always the leader, so I'm almost positive that I was in charge of the choreography. Thinking back, I had no idea what these songs were from. I had no knowledge of The Nutcracker, so I have no idea how I knew to "boss" my fellow dancers into a frenzy of whirls and twirls and ungraceful leaps. None of us had any type of formal dancing instruction. We were just "country bumpkins" with huge imaginations. However we danced our hearts out. Now, I really don't even know how we were allowed to dance in the living room. Our parents must have been involved in some serious Wahoo game or maybe a game of 42 or 84. If they had known we were dancing in the living room....we would have been in major trouble. WE WERE FROM ANSON AND THERE WAS NO DANCING IN ANSON, much less in the living room.

Our other favorite dance and act was to our favorite album "The Royal Guardsmen" and their songs "Snoopy and the Red Baron" , "The Battle of New Orleans", "Peanut Butter" and our all time favorite "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance". We actually acted these songs out...so they were much more "religiously correct" than the dancing we did to the classical songs. Jeff and Greg were more eager to play along in these songs. We entertained ourselves for hours with the songs on this album.

Life was simple then. Thank goodness for our imaginations...and for parents who would occasionally forget the NO PLAYING IN THE LIVING ROOM RULE! Oh the memories of childhood!

Tristin and Maddie

Couldn't resist sharing a picture of Tristin and Maddie! Aren't they just adorable? Tristin was so excited to see someone more "his age" when he woke up! He was so happy to see her and she was just as happy! It was a fun morning!

Silly Dilly

We went to San Saba on Saturday to watch Dillan play basketball. Afterwards we went to Harry's. Donald's brother owns this store so we thought we'd stop by to check out the boots and hats and other western wear. I wanted boots, but couldn't find any that I could afford! Dillan found lots of hats. He had a blast trying them own....didn't buy one, but he did try on quite a few and we had fun while we were at it!

Christmas and The Nutcracker

Denver, Madilyn and Averi after seeing The Nutcracker in Austin on Sunday afternoon. Do you think the kids were a little exhausted after sitting through the ballet? Can you tell they are working hard on posing??? My sister and her daughters, Bonnie and Brianna; Gina, Denver and Averi; Hillary and Maddie,;Cari (Tristin got to stay with his daddy!) and I all went to see the ballet! The kids looked adorable and we all had a wonderful time. We drove back to Cari's in Buda afterwards and we let Averi open some of her birthday gifts.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas!

Police Alert -"One Officer on Duty"

Tonight we had FCAS (Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Students) at the house and we really had a wonderful time. About 20 kids showed up for Hot Dogs with Chili, Beans, Chips and .......mmmmmmmmmmm Smores! The kids were all so pleasant and grateful! Sheriff Bewley came to give them a speech about good choices and commented on the "one officer" on duty tonight. Well, after the group left, I decided I needed a Coke from Sonic...you know I have that Bulldog Card and I get a Rt. 44 for only $1.07 anytime I feel the urge for a little caffeine. Well, wouldn't you know...I found the "one officer" on duty! As I turned off Henry, (and yes, I did have my blinker on), the car that I was meeting turned behind me with FLASHING LIGHTS! OMG! What had I done? I was on the phone with my sister, Lisa, and I told her I was being stopped, so we hung up. The "one officer" came to my window...all the while I'm trying to figure out what I had done wrong. Well, come to find out, I had not put my blinker on at the proper "100 yard blinker turn on time". I'm not even sure I know where 100 yards is, especially at night! Anyway, he took my DL and went to his patrol car to check me out! When he returned, he told me he was only giving me a warning...thank goodness. I told him the sheriff had supper with us...and had given the speech at FCAS....He sorta laughed and didn't seem too impressed. I was hoping some 18 wheeler wasn't speeding through town while he was giving me my "talking to" or that some druggie wasn't making a drug run through town! Oh well...I guess I learned my lesson. And let this be a warning to all of you....Don't forget to turn your blinker on 100 yards before you turn OR the "one officer on duty" just might get you, too!

Calf Fries...hmmmmm

I was reading Kaley's blog and she mentioned....bull nuts...what I refer to as calf fries/mountain oysters or my favorite...as Kaley put it "fried nastiness"! It reminded me of a story....a true story (honest to goodness) that happened at Crossfire Cafe last year. Once I started working at Crossfire, I began to notice our "regular customers" and I began to look forward to seeing them. Some of my favorite customers are these "regulars"! One family comes in from the Dallas area, so they are what I call "city folk". They have land near Cranfills Gap, but they always come to eat with us when they come to the "country". I've come to love this family.... The first time they came in, I noticed that their daughters (about 9 and 12) must go to private schools....they came in eager eyed, dressed in their navy/khaki skirts topped by white polo tops....so cute! I was lucky enough to get to wait on them and each time they came afterwards, I would get their table. I quickly learned what they wanted to order on each visit! He would always drink tea...she drank white zinfandel...the girls got water....but they always ordered appetizers....Shooters (jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese and grilled over the fire) and Calf Fries (fried nastiness). Then they would order steaks for supper, and top it off with dessert...peach cobbler with ice cream on the side and chocolate cake. We would always visit about their plans for the weekend and I would talk to the girls about school. After about six visits, this adorable family came back once again and once again I got to wait on them. I was always happy to do this...they began to order the usual...tea, wine, 2 waters, shooters and calf fries. But this particular night, he quite innocently asked me, "Cheri, just what part of the calf do the calf fries come from?" Now, I know the color from my face must have disappeared. I replied, "You really don't know?" (I knew they were from the city, but they had been eating the "fried nastiness" for months!) The sweet wife was sipping her wine and she quickly looked at me and said,"OH, NO! Is it bad?" I tried to explain without letting those precious girls not really realize what they were munching away on....He just looked at me and shook his head....she nearly slid under the table (with wine in hand) and I was waiting for her to throw up....the girls kept munching....oblivious to it all! I think she ordered another glass of wine after that...I noticed she didn't eat much of her steak....
I haven't seen them in a while...and I've missed seeing them....I do know that when they come back to see us, calf fries won't be ordered!

Houses

A few weekends ago, I was blessed to have both daughters, their sweet husbands and adorable babies spend the weekend with me. I was absolutley ecstatic! It was wonderful. Dillan joined the crowd, as did Gina and her two. We sat cramped in the living room, laughing and visiting and watching the kids (all but Tristin) run through the house like they were race cars at the Daytona 500! Around and around they went...from the living room to the front hall to the hall to the kitchen to the dining room and then back to the living room! It reminded me of the days of my youth, when my sister, Lisa and I would race through Mother and Daddy's house while we chased my older sister's, (Barbara) two older sons...my nephews. They were only a few years younger than Lisa and I. We loved the chase! It's one of my favorite memories...later my younger nephews and nieces, and then my kids made the same chase through the house while the adults played cards or dominoes around the kitchen table. Denver, Averi and Maddie also love the chase! It was exhillerating...to say the least! That night, I realized we needed an extra bedroom...so we let Hillary and Dennis sleep in our room and Donald graciously bedded down on the twin bed in the sunroom. I took my place in the recliner with Tristen (I get night duty when he's here! It's wonderful to rock and let him sleep on my chest!) until he awoke at 2:00 and Cari fed him and took him to bed with her and Kevin. I crawled into the twin bed and we slept til the sun began casting sunbeams in through the french doors. I decided we needed a new house...a bigger house...I wanted everyone to have their own room and to have a place to be comfortable. We had looked at a "hogantic" house and I decided we needed to look again and just take the plunge. It has a beautiful yard with massive oak trees and two acres of yard...four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas...my mind raced. I could just see the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room! The kitchen was big...there would be no "butt bumping" as I cooked...there were two bathtubs (my house has zero bathtubs) for the grandkids to bath in...and for me to relax in. The only problem was....our house was not even on the market...but they would do a lease purchase and give us 6 months to sell our house. However, after much contemplation and a long visit with Cari....we decided it was just too risky to jump into the bigger home. What if we don't sell this house and we have to move back after 6 months....eeeeeeeeeeekkkkk! We'll stay in this home, where we are cozy and quite happy! Donald and I talked about it and I think a big weight was taken off our shoulders. He had literally developed fever blisters worrying about it! And that's what is so great....we can discuss and focus on what we really need. I think we both got the cart before the horse! Anyway, he called the realtor and told them we had changed our mind and they were very nice about it. We will just work on our current home...putting in a bathtub and maybe enlarging the kitchen at some point. We're also going to buy a sleeper sofa to put in the sunroom for an extra bed! I've lived in several houses in the past few years and I've turned them all into my "home"....I really don't need lots of fancy stuff to make it a home (however I would like a bathtub!).....I think it's just the love you put into a house that makes it a home...bathtub or not!!!!!

Salem Witch Trials

Dillan has been working on a research paper about the Salem Witch Trials.......hmmm......the pictures are of him AFTER he completed this project tonight!

Really, I started playing with my iPhone and I found a new app and this was one of the examples I was able to make! After making it I thought it looked a bit bewitching. I thought of the tragedies that occurred during the 1692 witch hunts. If you've never read about these tragedies it might be something you want to research. I had never really read about this...if I did, I don't remember! I'm still in awe of what happened and why!

The story began when two young girls became sick and began complaining of being bitten and pinched by something invisible. Some believed these strange fits occurred after a group of girls met in the woods to "divine what sort of men their future husbands might be." After this the girls began showing strange symptoms and having "fits". Doctors began to watch these girls. One doctor decided it must be witchcraft and convinced one of the slaves, Tituba to make a "witch cake"....made of rye meal and urine from the girls. The cake was fed to a dog....if the dog began displaying the same strange symptoms, then they were bewitched! This scared the girls and their strange behavior worsened. (Tituba was an Indian with African background and was familiar with African influences of the occult.) The girls accused three women of tormenting them and the women were arrested. Two of the women denied the charges, but then Tituba confessed to being a witch, and accused others of causing the "afflictions" on the girls. Some of the accused were not liked by people in the town, but soon "good church goers" were being accused and taken to jail and many of them were hung. Those who confessed to witchcraft were given reduced sentences, yet those who denied any witchcraft were hung. Strange, huh? Many times witchcraft offered an explanation to many of the sicknesses that the doctors were unable to cure. Some even compared the fits of hysteria to the "quaking" of the Quakers.

I'm not sure anyone has ever come up with answers. I do know it must have been a great tragedy....women and men were hung...some chose hanging over lieing about being a witch! All in all, I enjoyed reading the information. Sometimes we think we live in the "worst of times" but after reading about the Salem Witch Trials, I'm reminded that life has not always been perfect. We will always face trials....some will be easy to overcome, but some will be quite fearful...just as these Salem residents!

Fun Times in LaGrange

I thought I might share some of the fun pictures we took of our new "friend"! These masks only cost a dollar, but they were worth a million dollars in laugh!

My niece Bonnie even joined the fun!

Lisa wore her mask proudly...even though she was embarrassed when I wore the mask around the WalMart parking lot and waved at all the customers!

Dillan and the little 'uns

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Dillan and his two nephews and two nieces! I was so glad he went to Austin with me the day Tristin was born! He was so excited about our newest addition!

How Could I Resist?

For some reason I have ballooned! That's right...it's like someone just blew me up! It's really irritating. I think I must have gained about 10 pounds since last year. Every time I decide to lose it, someone tempts me. Yes...THEY tempt me. Today, Darby, our wonderful volunteer prepared delicious nachos...complete with chips, salsa, shredded cheese, velveeta cheese dip, and chili. Oh, don't let me forget the desserts...cakes and cookies. How could I resist?
Last night, Donald and I went to eat at Ortegas. We ordered my fav...quesadillas...we usually share an order, but last night I was on the phone when he ordered.....low and behold, he ordered me a full order! How could I resist?
On Monday, we surprised Jennifer with food for boss's day.....we had desserts and salads. I tried to stick with the salads but the desserts were so enticing...how could I resist? That night, Donald worked until dark, so I made one of our favorite quick meals... grilled scrambled egg sandwiches on oat bread....yummy! How could I resist?
Sunday I had Mexican food again....quesadillas of course....chips and dips....I salivate just thinking of it....How could I resist?
Saturday we got up early to go garage sale shopping! We had our coffee and English muffins, which was healthy enough. But all that shopping made us hungry so we drove out to Kool Beans and ordered my usual...low fat sugar free vanilla latte and chowed down on French toast and apple scones...How could I resist?
The week before we celebrated Teresa's last treatment for her breast cancer (yea!) and we feasted on every type of pink food and pink dessert known to man (and woman of course). It was a beautiful spread for a beautiful woman....How could I resist?
The week Tristin was born I went to stay with Cari....I made a chicken pot pie that was to die for. I'm afraid to make it here...I'm afraid I will eat the whole pie! I also made several other dishes for her to freeze and eat later....we had chicken and spaghetti and a chocolate cake from Kevin's mom...delish...and of course I couldn't leave without making cookies for the new family and their neighbors.....How could I resist?
Oh, the lists of food goes on and on.....and I realize now that there must be a little devil sitting on my shoulder saying "How can YOU resist?" After seeing all the good food I've been eating, I think I understand why I've gained weight! Well, I'm getting control of myself. Tomorrow I'm starting my new diet/way of eating......I've got to or I'll be buying an entire wardrobe! So I'll be making better food choices....no Cokes or Dr. Peppers....no sweets....no chips and dips....no quesadillas (that's gonna be hard)....but I've got to do it! How can I resist??????

Life

Life....confusing as it is...it is what it is! Days come and go...some are good, some are bad, but all in all they combine together to make what we call LIFE. I always thought my life would be perfect. That was my dream. I wanted my children's lives to be perfect...that was my dream. But the older I became, the more I realized there is no perfect life. Things happen...sicknesses, heartbreak, happiness, sorrow, death, births, divorce, marriage....life. My life is not and will not be perfect. It is what it is. My children's lives will not be perfect. As much as I want their lives to be without sorrow or pain....I know I cannot prevent tears any more than I can prevent smiles! I can't....tears happen...they come and go like thieves in the darkest night. We become disappointed. We lose faith in those we love. People who some think are perfect, fall from their high pedestals like autumn leaves falling from trees in a forest. We are then raked away and put into a compost pile to rot away, by the self righteous. We wander from what we know is right, and once we return, we find that we are not always wanted. We are shunned....Those who have stayed high on their pedestals look down on us and shake their heads and fingers as if we are murderers. "I told you so!" they exclaim as they look down their self-righteous noses at those of us who have fallen. "Tssk, tssk, tssk...." they whisper as they shake their heads and look the other way. We are not perfect....I am not perfect...That is what my Lord came for. He came to be perfect. He came to take my sin and my debt....He nailed it to the cross and He died for me. He died so that when I (we) mess up, we can have His grace....He knew I would fall from that pedestal....He knew I would be raked away by some...raked away to rot...in their eyes. I pray we can all love each other....accept each other....forgive each other....this is what life is.....loving and forgiving......knowing we aren't perfect. I pray I don't look down on others. Life....It's hard, but so worth it. So worth all the happy times....holding a new grandson and smelling his sweet breath....seeing your granddaughter and watching her run to you as fast as she can to give you a hug...catching a granddaughter's shy smile and hugging her...flashing the "I love you" sign to a grandson as you see him in the hall at school.....seeing your son walk down the hall to ask you for a favor......giving advice to your daughters on the phone about raising children.......gabbing for hours to your sister and brothers about the old days....taking your husbands hand in yours and knowing he knows how you feel.....angry words shared with a loved one....all of this is what life is about.....good or bad....we take it one day at a time....This is what life is!

Tristin Hunter....October 1, 2009

He's here! Tristin arrived about 5:00 p.m.! Cari called me this morning about 6:15 as we were walking. I've been taking my phone with me on my morning walks...just in case...and sure enough, we heard the phone as we were chatting along in the dark...we looked at each other and shouted, "Cari!". We knew it had to be time. She was on her way to the hospital so we cut our walk about 30 minutes short and headed back to the casa. I started calling and texting everyone I could think of to let them know of her condition and that I would not be at school! I told Dillan I wanted to make sure they were going to keep her, but I promised him I would pick him up by 10:00. That seemed to satisfy him and it gave me time to get things together and to gather my senses!!!! We left about 10:15 and drove with my flashers on all the way...what fun! Luckily I didn't see a cop! Once we got there, she had dilated to a four and had been given an epidural. Dillan and I went to eat at one of his favorite spots...Steak and Shake...and by the time we got back, Cari decided she would try to nap. I left Dillan to nap with her...and I went to Walgreen's to get Chapstick for Cari and snacks for Kevin. Once I returned, we watched HGTV and the fetal monitor....by 4:00 the contractions were regular and I "suggested" to the nurse that they check her. She seemed shocked that no one had checked her since noon, and sure enough...a mother's instinct was true...Cari had dilated all the way and was ready to push! They hurried us out of the room. While Cari pushed, a crowd gathered....grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends! Trisitn Hunter was born about 5:10 and they finally let us in to see him about 7:00. He was beautiful! And just as soon as I saw him...I fell in love again! At first, I thought he looked like Kevin, but then I realized he really looked like Kevin's dad, Eugene! He is definitely an Ulrich! We are so blessed to have this little fella join our family. He is just as perfect as the others! We took lots of pictures and held him and ooohed and ahhhed over him like he was the only baby in the world! I got to change his dirty diaper and by then, the little munchkin was hungry again. We left him in good hands...Cari was ready to nurse him again and Kevin was standing guard like any proud papa would! Congratulations Cari and Kevin! You did a great job!

Grandchildren

As of today...I still only have 3 grandchildren (Cari hasn't had Tristin yet!). And let me just say....when I say grandchildren...I mean GRANDchildren. They are all just grand..wonderful...fabulous...sensational...glorious...splendid...magnificent...I could go on and on! All three are completely different! I guess that's what makes them so special and makes me love them in a special way.

Denver Dwain Poe....what a wonderful kid! He's my first grandson. I remember the day he was born. We (about 20 of us!) gathered in the waiting room for the grand arrival. We thought HE was going to be a SHE until just a few days before he was born. (I had purchased hundreds of dollars of little pink outfits for who we thought was going to be Averi Grace.) We couldn't wait to see this precious little boy. Oh...he was certainly worth the wait! When I saw him all I could see was a miniature Gina! I thought he looked just like his momma! I expected him to look like Derek, but I could not see an ounce of Derek in that adorable baby boy! Needless to say, I fell in love! Denver has been a treasure to our family. When Denver comes over he keeps me busy...usually playing a game of baseball or basketball. Honestly, there is nothing he can't do! I love to watch him play sports already! My favorite sport to watch him play is soccer! He is awesome! He plays with the intensity of a pro! I get to see Denver every day now because he is in first grade and his classroom is across the hall from me! What a joy to hear, "Nana!" as I'm at school and to top it off with a hug and a kiss!

Next we were blessed with my first granddaughter....Averi Grace! This time I got to keep all the little pink outfits (I had returned the others and exchanged them for blue!) that I had purchased and Gina got to use the name she planned to use with Denver. Derek and Gina once more had a beautiful baby and once again, I fell in love! She was(and is) everything you could order in a little girl. I didn't get to the hospital in time for the actual birth....however, we did make a practice run to the hospital the week before she was born. Derek had gone hunting and Gina thought she was in labor, so I got to drive the "getaway car" to Waco...only to be told she wasn't ready to come. She was also, certainly worth the wait. We were a little worried how Denver would react, but he fell right in to the role of a big brother! Averi has a beautiful smile and she is already a "little mother". She is such a nurturer and she loves to take care of her brother! She loves to come to Nana's and play. She tends to be a bit shy but as soon as she gets on her tricycle...you'd better get out of the way. She's not at all shy once she gets behind the "wheel"! One of her favorite things to do is to help me sweep when she comes over....so I always get to do a little tidying up when she visits. She'll be in kindergarten next year...so I'll be blessed with two of my little sweetie peetie, tootie pootie, honey bunny, sugar bugars at school!!!

Madilyn Bryce is my third grandchild! She is just a joy! Hillary and Dennis certainly combined their genes when they created this little creature! The day she was born there was a gigantic halo around the sun! I think it was a sign telling us that she was going to be a special little girl. I made it to the hospital before she was born and was waiting in the waiting room when she arrived. I fell in love once again! The family gathered once more and we all agreed that she was a "keeper". Maddie is a bundle of energy and love. Some days she looks like her mother, and then a second later she's the image of her daddy! She has a beatiful head of auburn curls! Her personality is just like Hillary's....she's strong willed and full of energy. There's never a dull moment when Maddie is around! She is usually going 100 m.p.h.! She received a bicycle on her 2nd birthday and she began riding it immediately! She loves to play with her "Denber" and "Avewi" and they love to play with her. It's so much fun to see the three of them together...and Madilyn usually keeps them in line! She spent the week with us this past summer after she had surgery on her thumbs for "trigger thumb". I walked in one day to find her trying to cut her cast off with a pair of scissors! That's our Maddie!

Now, I'm waiting on grandchild number 4....Tristin Hunter Ulrich. He will also certainly be "worth the wait" and I am positive that once again....I will fall in love...and I can't wait!

Senior Ring

Yesterday, my "baby" son, Dillan, who is 16 1/2 came sauntering down the elementary hall with a quirky smile upon his face....he raised his right hand high into the air, as if to greet me with a high five, so I in return raised my right hand to "high five" him. Hands met in the air...and he ever so slightly grasped my hand, as our hands fell to our sides. It was a good feeling...one I don't feel very often...sixteen year old boys don't really like to "touch" their mother's hand...that is an activity that disappeared years ago. Once upon a time, my little boy didn't mind grasping my hand. We would walk hand in hand...swinging them between us as we discussed why butterflies flutter from flower to flower or maybe just talking about what he might want to be when he grew up. I wanted to hug him...but I knew better than to try that...you know he is sixteen and he really doesn't like to hug his mom(even though I want to squeeze him like he's still a baby!).

Anyway, he turned to walk with me back down the hall to my classroom and he began to ask me what I had planned...hmmm...this might mean he has homework that he needs some help with (don't let it be math or Spanish!)...but his request came as a big surprise! He wanted me to go help him pick out his Senior ring. I got a lump in my throat...I didn't know it was time to order Senior rings...can he really be old enough?..."Yes," I tell myself. Of course he's old enough. He has his driver's license...he's a Junior in high school...could he really be ready for a Senior ring? It seems like just yesterday he was born... He was such a fat baby boy...rolls and rolls of fat around his legs...he was full of "sugar" and he smelled like heaven to me. But look at him now...he's taller than I am and he is slim and handsome...he doesn't have chubby little cheeks that drip with sugar...his face is that of a young man, not a bouncing baby!

And what was it that he wanted? Oh, yes, a SENIOR RING! I quizzed him and asked him if he really wanted a Senior ring. "Oh, yes," he replied. "Everyone is getting one!" Well, I wanted to retort the old saying, "Well if everyone was jumping off the roof, would you?", but I knew better. He wouldn't find that humorous...he was excited about the prospect of being a Senior! How could I refuse? We climbed into my dirty black Honda and cruised over to the high school to see what we could find.

There were other parents standing in line waiting to make the purchase of "a lifetime"...all of us had these weird looks on our faces and I'm sure every one's heart was skipping a beat...just wondering how we got to this place! We all agreed that "just yesterday we were starting 1st grade!". Luckily, the people who waited on us knew all the right questions to ask. That made it much easier for Dillan to make his decision. I could tell the man who waited on him, could probably fill out the form with his eyes closed. It was so nice to have him making his suggestions. Otherwise, we may have still been sitting there going through the catalogue trying to decide on just which symbols should be placed on the Senior ring! Dillan chose the least expensive metal (thank you!), black onyx stone placed in the crestview style. He has 2011 on one side and DILLAN on the other side of the stone. He placed a bulldog beneath his name and chose the symbols for basketball, baseball, and football ("I'm playing football next year" he told me) to be placed beneath his graduating year. I wrote a check for $50.00....to be followed by $300.00 more before Christmas.

We turned to leave...and I asked Dillan if he was pleased with his choice. He was, he said. I'm pleased, too. My baby boy has grown up into a funny, appreciative, and kind young man. I'm pleased because he knew he could come to me to ask for his Senior ring. I got to help him pick it out...he valued my opinion and that gave me such comfort! As we left the high school, I wished I could grab his hand and discuss the butterflies and what he wanted to be...but I knew I couldn't. I would just walk next to him...."Thanks," he said... I walked away, but turned to look at him as I got to the corner of the school so I could get one more glimpse of him. I caught his eye as he was climbing into his white pickup....there it was...a million dollar smile and a thumb's up.....now if he can just wait for the Senior ring to get here!

Reflections

I rushed home from school today to see what all I had missed on Facebook. Well, I had a major shock when I looked at my computer and I saw the reflection of a face....at first I didn't recognize it as mine, because it looked just like my mom was looking back at me! I began to laugh out loud and I realized it was ME! This is not the first time I've seen my mom when I should have seen myself. Now, my mom died about seven years ago, so I would really love to see her, but not when I should see ME!

I've been shopping before when I've seen her. The first time that happened I was in the middle of Dillard's (one of Mother's favorite stores as I recall). I was shocked to see "her" standing across from me, so I quickly glanced at her face again, only to realize I was looking at my own relection in a mirror!

I've also seen her when I've brushed my teeth and I see my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I tend to stand like she did as she brushed her teeth. I've noticed that I clench my left fist as I brush my teeth with my right hand.....just like dear old Mom!

Mother always stood with her hands on her hips (that's called "akimbo"...standing with hands on your hips....I learned that when I read "Strawberry Girl" by Lois Lenski....I had to look that word up in the dictionary!) I also stand "akimbo" quite often. I've seen her standing akimbo when I've seen my reflection in mirrors more times than I can even count!

This summer my family had a family reunion.....Mother would have loved it! As I looked at the pictures we took, I saw Mother along with us! She was there in my sisters' faces..... Barbara and Lisa...... and me! I miss my mom and it was really good to see her....even though it was just a reflection!

Fall

My favorite time of the year is fall! I love the cool mornings and evenings....the scent of leaves burning on a fall afternoon....the cheers of a crowd at a football game...the leaves on the trees turning from bright green to an array of golden yellow, orange and red....pumpkins sitting in front of the grocery stores waiting to be placed on porches or even made into pumpkin pies.... shops are filled with the latest fall fashions.....pear trees are overloaded with fruit....kitchens are filled with the aroma of spices and warm pies baked from the bounty of the fall harvest...Halloween decorations adorn front porches and youngsters plan and purchase the scariest costume they can find. What's not to love about fall?

When Dillan was only about four, I walked outside one fall afternoon to find our front yard strung with toilet paper. I had wondered what was keeping him so busy outdoors. White streams of Charmin were blowing in the breeze from shrubs and the lower branches of the trees. His riding toys were wrapped like mummies in an Egyptian tomb. I was amazed and confused as to why he had done this to our yard! He promptly informed me that "It's fall! You're supposed to put toilet paper in the yard!" I had to laugh because I knew that each year of his short life he had witnessed me pulling toilet paper from trees after his older brother's and sisters' friends had wrapped our house on Halloween night.

A few days later, he flew out the door with one of my fruit baskets and ran to our pear tree. He wanted to pick the pears that were heavily hanging from the branches of our pear tree. He had somehow remembered the year before, when I had taken the same basket out to the back yard and picked pears (the ones that hadn't been pecked on by birds!) to make pear cobbler.

Good memories...however one memory of fall that rests in my mind and heart is not so happy. The year before Dillan was born, I had a baby girl on October 1. I named her Autumn Rose. She was born with anecephaly...she had no brain. I was heartbroken. She was born when I was only 4 1/2 months pregnant with her. I never saw her or even held her. She was quickly taken away from me. I believe the doctor thought it would upset me more to see her. She would have been a senior in high school this year. It took me months to recover from her loss but God had plans for me...I had Dillan a year and a half later....a true blessing from God. He was and still is "perfect"!

And so today...after all the good and bad, happy times and sad times, I know that fall is the perfect time of year! I was blessed with her...even though I never knew her. God continues to bless me with the beauty of this....my favorite time of year...FALL!

Garage Sales

I love garage sales! There's nothing better than to dig around in someone else's rubbish and find the perfect item to add to your own collection of future rubbish. I set my alarm for 7:00 this morning intending to hop up, make a pot of coffee, grab a cup and set out on an exciting venture. My allotted garage sale money was waiting to be spent! Unfortunately, I dozed off and didn't get out until about 9:00. I threw on my jeans and my favorite "Life is Good" t-shirt, tied my tennis shoes into double knots and dashed out the door, with a full coffee cup and money in hand. I just knew that all the "good stuff" had already been purchased and hauled off to another person's home. It was a perfect morning for our search of treasures! The clouds and the breeze kept the temperature just right for a fall morning. We took the pick up truck, just in case we found something we couldn't live without. Our first stop was a little disappointing, but we had high hopes as we climbed back into the truck and set off on our adventure. House Two was better. We found riding toys for the grand kids! Now, mind you, we already have two big wheels, a tricycle, a pink bike, two Little Tyke trucks and a John Deere tractor! But the big wheels are Denver and Averi's. Maddie really needed the little pink big wheel that we found at House Two so we bought it for $5.00. Sitting next to it was the cutest little car for a toddler....now I know that Tristin hasn't even been born yet, but I knew that by next spring/summer, that precious little boy would be needing his own little vehicle to scoot around on at Nana's house, so we plopped down another $3.00 for it! (What a steal!) The morning was already a success! We traveled out of town to House Three and found a table with two benches that, sadly to say, had just been purchased. Oh well, we decided we didn't even have a place for it! I did find a really cute crock with blue hearts on it and an adorable old creamer decorated with a bluebird ( I love bluebirds) so I snatched those two items like they were sale items from a Neiman Marcus! My morning was good. I knew my "Life is Good" t-shirt would bring me good luck! We were running out of coffee, but we decided to try House Four. Now House Four was not pleasant. The odor was rank to say the least. An old couple had lived there for years and I honestly believe they had every crystal ash tray known to man. Boxes of greasy kitchen utensils sat on the floor...stacks of old record albums cried, "Play me, please, just play me one more time!" as I sifted through them hoping to find an old Beatles album! However, as much as I searched for treasures, I realized it was mainly just trash. We left with nothing but a faint odor that lingered on our clothes. House Five was near Aleman. We drove and drove for miles only to find we had passed it! As we crept up the lane toward it, we decided they had already closed for the day. I checked the paper to confirm the address and realized that House Five would not have it's garage sale until next week! We laughed and agreed we both needed another fresh cup of coffee, so we headed back to the house. We placed the riding toys next to the other 7 that we own and I sprinted into the house to find the perfect spot for my crock and creamer. Hmmmmmmm! A sense of accomplishment fell upon me. I did find some goodies on my treasure hunt! All is well! We're planning on visiting House Five first next week on our Garage Sale trip! I just know they have some "good stuff"!

Nesting

I remember when I got ready to have my babies, I would nest. I spent my time cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen.....that included mopping floors and cleaning out the refrigerator...and organizing the pantry(canned goods in alphabetical order). I would clean every drawer in the house and cringe when anyone went near a drawer to even consider taking something out of it. My silverware (well, it wasn't really silver...stainless) was neatly placed in their little cubicles. Pots and pans were arranged in the cabinets and all my bowls were stacked like the stacking cups my children loved to play with. I scrubbed with Ajax and Spic and Span...used gallons of Pine Sol....scrubbed toilets as if I planned to drink from them! Windows were shining and the smell of Windex filled the house. I would make sure all the clothes were clean and ironed (yikes...) and folded and neatly stacked away in their specific spot. I made sure the garage was clean (heaven forbid someone seeing a messy garage) and the yard was perfectly groomed. This huge task would surely get me ready for labor and the precious arrival I was expecting from the stork. Well, today, I suppose I was nesting for Cari. She is due any day now and I want to be ready. Instead of getting my house ready for the big day, I tried to get my classroom ready. I've written lesson plans for the next three weeks! I have all my papers run off...hot off the press! They are hidden away in folders that I've labeled for that specific day. I have lesson plans for the day on top, followed by an attendance page, class lists for each class, and a daily schedule. Under these I've placed my daily papers. I've informed my teaching buddies where my teacher manuals are. The science experiment for Wednesday is ready and waiting! Salt, food coloring, cups, paintbrushes and paper...are all there. We'll be studying "solutions" and the class will mix the salt with water and food color and then they'll paint a picture with the solution of salt, water, and food color. Hopefully, when their masterpieces dry, the salt will be left on their paper! I'll have the sub (or me if I'm still there) to hang them like an art museum full of Van Gogh's work. All is ready and waiting! Now, if my nesting was in vain, I'll be extra ready for myself and I'll do the entire "nesting" activity all over again for the next week!

Out of the mouths of third graders....

Last Friday was "Grandparent's Day" and we had more grandmas and grandpas than you could shake a stick at! They came from all over the great state of Texas! There were smiles everywhere! They all came to eat with their precious grandchildren and enjoy fine dining in the cafeteria! Not sure about 5 star dining, but the atmosphere was wonderful! Everyone was happy....that is until my sweet little darlings came back to my classroom after 30 minutes of dining and visiting. One set of grandparents wanted to come to my room to see where their precious grandchild spent most of his waking hours. "Mr. and Mrs. Grandparent" happily walked in and one of my curious students sauntered up to us and politely asked, "Are you Mrs. Jordan's grandparents?". Well, I wanted to find something to crawl under but decided that I wouldn't fit under my desk....I promptly said, "No, sweetheart. Please sit down," all the while hoping and praying (yes...we do still pray in school!) that the kind couple (who are only about 5 years older than me) didn't hear her. Well, that didn't satisfy her and she politely asked the SAME question again....this time, "Mrs. Grandma" said, "What did she say? Did she ask if I was YOUR grandma?" and then "Mr. Grandpa" asked, "Does she think we're YOUR grandparents?". I started apologizing and quickly escorted the pair out of the room before anyone else could question them on their status! I did not tell my little sweet darlin' that I'M a grandma myself! I spent the next few minutes wondering why she even asked that question! Oh well...out of the mouths of third graders........

Dressing Up

Personally, I hate to dress up. Today I wore a navy pencil skirt, starched white blouse topped off with a red jacket. That's right....I looked just like a flag. All I needed was a star on my chest and I could have been hung on a flagpole! I opted not to wear heels...however I did wear navy flats. I've tried wearing heels, but OMG, they hurt my feet. I was uncomfortable all day long in my skirt and blouse. It felt like my shirt was coming untucked and I hate that. Pencil skirts are hard to sit in and I had a hard time sitting! Donald told me that I looked really pretty and professional this morning. I tried to tell him that I don't enjoy dressing this way and I compared it to him wearing a suit and tie every day. He got it! That was the only comparison I could think of to let him know how I hate to dress up. I don't think I'm a better teacher if I dress up at all. I can do a great job teaching when I wear jeans. Now, I don't mind wearing dress jeans, and I can even "dress" up my jeans, but we can only wear jeans on Fridays unless we have the much coveted "jean coupon". I love to get "jean coupons" and I tuck them away in a safe spot so I can use them later. Then at the end of my teaching year, I find all these unused coupons and I don't even need them for my summer vacation because I can wear jeans anytime I want during the summer! So, my goal this year is to use my "jean coupons" and not hide them away like an old miser hides her $100 bills under a mattress! I will of course continue to dress up, because so many of my clothes that I've bought are "dressy". I will put on my "big girl panties" on my "dress up" days and endure the pencil skirts and blouses. I will plaster a smile on my face and graciously thank those who comment on how "nice" I look. I will, however, secretly wish I was wearing my jeans. I do own some skirts and dresses that aren't so dressy. And when the weather is warm, I don't mind wearing a more casual skirt or dress. They are cooler than a pair of pants or jeans. But the past few days, my room has been freezing and I've had recess duty. I've had to wear my jacket in the room and even take a blanket out to the playground to cover my exposed legs (covered in goose bumps!). I'm looking forward to Friday...jean day! I plan to wear my new black jeans and my new t-shirt (it has 3/4 length sleeves and it looks like a snake skin) that I bought last night at Express. So on Friday, instead of looking like a starless flag, I'll look just like a boa constrictor slithering down the hall and I'll be a happy teacher! Hissssssssssssss!

There's no place like home...

Donald just returned from Kansas. Kansas, as he expected, was wet! It rained 7 inches before he could even leave THE COX MOTEL....he was stranded for several hours, waiting for the rainwater to subside on the roads. He didn't get to see Dorothy and ToTo but he actually saw a tornado! He showed me pictures he took of it. The first pictures showed funnels dipping from the black, eerie sky. Then, WHAM! TOUCHDOWN...a tornado! He returned home, driving in the rain all along the way with lots of pictures of the flood he witnessed, his old apartment at the auction and pictures of one of his best friends, Maggie. Maggie is Donald's dog...she's a talented border collie and Donald loves her as much as Maggie loves him. When he drove up to the auction, she ran to him "crying"! I've heard her cry! He hadn't seen her in weeks, so Maggie's cries were quite expected! Donald had to leave Maggie in Kansas. I know he wanted to bring her to Hamilton, but we don't have a fenced backyard. And Maggie loves to be around cattle or sheep and neither live in our backyard! She loves to herd and help at the auction. I wish we could find someone near who needed a hard working border collie. I know he hated to drive away from her. But, he's home....and I'm glad. He was glad to finally get here...It's a long drive and once you've gone away, and then return...you know that "there's no place like home!"

THIS IS IT

Tonight I am somewhat weary. I realize that as a teacher, things I do or say can become so misunderstood! I consider these children "mine"! My goal is always to teach, comfort, console, laugh with, and open their eyes to the wonder of a world full of hope. My responsibility is greater than I sometimes feel I can carry! But each year I open my heart and arms to new children whose eyes are wide and minds are ready to be filled with knowledge! I attempt to make learning fun...I want them to love school. They have to have a love of school and a yearning to come each day ready to embark on new voyages! My prayer each day is to give them tools to use each day of their life....not just so they can pass a test at the end of the year, but so they will become successful in life. And I ask myself...how can I ensure that they receive these tools for life? What can I do to make sure they go home with something they've learned and then can use it tomorrow or even years from now? I always tell my students that we are like a family in my classroom. They sometimes spend more of their waking hours at school than they do at home, so we have to create a setting that is safe and rewarding. So, my weariness will send me to bed tonight....hoping for a bright new day that will give me another chance to provide all the knowledge and care to every child I teach. I pray for each child and for their parents or caretakers and for all teachers everywhere. Remember....THIS IS IT!

HOMEWORK

As soon as school was out today, I headed toward Waco so I could take Hillary birthday shopping. I like to take my girls out to shop, so I can get them something they really like. I had just pulled into the gas station in McGregor ($2.35 a gallon...woohoo!), when Dillan called to ask me what I was doing. Now, I always know what this means....he has HOMEWORK. And this call was no different. He had English homework that he wanted my assistance(synonym for help) with. Naturally, I called Hillary and postponed our shopping date and headed back towards H-town to help my youngest with his HOMEWORK. He arrived about 7:00, hungry as a horse, so I hopped into the car to buy one of his favorite meals...chicken from Chicken Express. 7 piece meal, fries, roll and a large Dr. Pepper. (I suggested Crossfire and a chicken fried steak, but he said he had too much HOMEWORK....eeeewwww). He inhaled his greasy food and we got started on his paper. Now, my new computer does not have Word (yet), so he didn't have the help of the computer's thesaurus. I didn't realize how convenient that silly Thesaurus was! He spent the next hour and a half looking up words in an old Thesaurus I have....thank goodness I could find it! He quickly discovered he used try or tried way too many times! So he substituted attempt, strive, execute, undertake, struggle, endeavor, sampled for all twelve times he attempted to not use the words try/tried. He struggled with that! Other words incorporated into his paper were labor, reimburse, bestow, impart, obtain, seize, sacrifice, forfeit, execute, affixed, allot, acquire, approaches, poses, fetch, oblige, craves....wow, I'm exhausted after all that! After reading it over, it certainly did not sound like words he usually uses, but it was more interesting after all those substitutions! Hopefully, he acquired some knowledge by using interesting vocabulary as he composed his composition! Ha ha! We had a great time...his right shoulder started hurting after he had written for such a lengthy time (in the same place mine hurts after I write or sew or paint), so I gave him a good ole neck rub...he has knots in his shoulder just like I do...stress knots! He still had Spanish HOMEWORK, so he went to his dad's to finish that and go to bed. I'm so glad he came over!

BEAUTIFUL

Today, I asked my friend and neighbor "across the hall" if she would help me with my blog. I've been trying for two days (seems like two years) to change my background. Shelley worked on it tonight and it is BEAUTIFUL! I love it! Thank you so much for creating such a BEAUTIFUL background! I owe you so much, however I don't have much! But, if you need anything, please let me know. As long as you don't ask me to help with your blog decor, I may be able to help! Thanks....it's BEAUTIFUL!!!

All alone

Tonight I am alone...all by my lonesome...no one here...nada...single....by myself....lonely...solo... uno..."One is the loneliest number that you ever knew! Two could be as bad as one, it's the loneliest number since the number one.... oooooo." I feel like Tiny Tim in The Christmas Carol! "I'm all alone, alone in the world. I'm all alone in the world. Millions of (something) la la in the world, I'm all alone in the world." Well, darn, I've forgotten the words to that song! I'm alone because Donald has gone to Kansas...gone to see Dorothy and ToTo...gone to find the Wizard and the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow. (Now that I've seen Wicked, I'm not too worried about him running into the Wicked Witch!) Gone to the land of rain, where the rain falls like torrents from the dark rumbling sky and tornadoes that dip from the black sky like a thief in the night! He's gone to the fields of amber grain and rolling hills. Gone to see the Amish and follow them as they plod along in their horse drawn buggies as they go home to their homes filled with lanterns and battery operated generators and cell phones (used only for business of course). Gone to see his twin brother and to look at auctions in Kansas.....the state that taxes you for each roll of toilet paper you own and any extras you might dare to buy or possess! oooooooooooohhhhhhhhh! He did call to say he found a cheap motel ($35) with a room that is the size of a matchbox! Well, not really that small, but he did compare it to our laundry room! He said it had a bed and it was clean and an American ran it! (Score!!!) He also said the name of the motel was...get this...THE COX MOTEL! How cool is that! Cox is my maiden name! He may have found some of my long lost kin! He also found a little hole in the wall to dine in that sold a $5.95 roast beef sandwich, so he was fed and happy! I miss him. I don't know why I haven't gone to bed and tried to get some sleep! He has already gone to sleep...he's probably dreaming...about one of his weird dreams where he loses something or is walking around without his shoes on in a muddy pasture chasing cattle! Instead, I piddled in my yard, talked on the phone to anyone who would talk to me, registered Dillan for the SAT test (which took forever!), checked on Cari (she's better), checked facebook and FINALLY graded papers! So, after such an unproductive night, I decided to try to make my blog look "pretty" only I became frustrated when it wouldn't work. So I will settle for an ugly background. If you are reading this, just imagine a beautiful shabby chic background and Jason Castro or Carly Simon or James Taylor or Jason Mraz singing sweet love songs in the background. Close your eyes...imagine...close your eyes....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Ooops...just fell asleep...going to my lonely bed!

Too late tonight

I think I said earlier that I wasn't envious enough to take something away from someone, but if I knew how to take my sister's background and music off her blog and put it on mine, I'm sad to say, I would. I've already called her tonight to share an amusingly, sad email :-):-( that I received today and she didn't even tell me of her blogging antics. I want music and I want a pretty background, but I think it's too late tonight to get that done. I want to post pictures of Hillary's party and write funny stories, but I think it's too late tonight. I want to use special words...the ones that writers use to make people smile and ponder, but I think it's too late tonight. I want to read all the blogs that I follow, but I think it's too late tonight. The truth of the matter is.....is that it is (is that correct or did I use is too many times this late at night?) too late tonight to get all that I want to get done. So I will close my blog tonight and continue again tomorrow. I am waiting on Cari to call me. She is sitting in the ER in Austin, Tx waiting to find out why she feels so bad. I hope she doesn't have the flu! I will close for now, and I will wait for her call...a call that is never too late at night to get!

Hillary's 30th Birthday

Next Saturday, September 12, will be my oldest daughter's 30th birthday. Hillary Ann (Hitchery Dan - that's another story) will be 30! That's hard for me to believe, because as old as I am, I still feel like I should be about 30! Isn't that crazy??? Anyway, we decided to throw a surprise party. Our secret plans began weeks ago...whispering and wondering and making lists and plans...soooooo much fun! But we realized that we would not be able to celebrate her birthday on the 12th....I would not be in town and Cari would be only 3 weeks from her due date. So, this weekend, Dove Festival Weekend...Homecoming Weekend...would be the perfect weekend to throw the party! Dennis, Hillary, and Maddie would come home. Cari and Kevin would be in town...hopefully most of Hillary's friends would be here. So the plans began! I tried to find email addresses and Cari sent out e-vites. I found phone numbers and called friends. Some email addresses were wrong and unfortunately didn't go through but we had a blast planning! I wasn't sure how I could pull this surprise off. Hillary was at my house for most of today. Luckily, she and Maddie took a long nap while I got the final stages of the party together! Now, Dennis is not very good at telling lies or keeping secrets, so I think she was beginning to get a little suspicious on their way to the party, but all in all, we pulled it off until she saw all the cars and pick ups and recognized them. We had a wonderful time! I was so happy to see her smile! It was good to see her friends and their kiddos! Maddie had a wonderful time playing with her cousins, Denver and Averi, and her momma's friend's girls! We ate watermelon, chips and dip, and had crackers with cream cheese dip and some wonderful birthday cake (thanks Leanne!). It was great to see all my kids together and to see all my grandkids. It was really more like a party for me! I don't get to see my kids all together very often. So this was extra special for me! The kids got to swim and run around acting like horses and laugh together. It was just great to see everyone! So, Hillary, I hope you enjoyed your party as much as I enjoyed seeing you there!

envy and competition

I am not always envious of others BUT I am very competitive. Last night I got home from a long night at Crossfire and I found that my sister had started a blog! I was amazed, impressed, pleased, and JEALOUS! Not the type of jealousy that makes me want to take something away from someone or say mean things to the other person....but just enough jealousy to get my competitive nature going! And, I must add, I'm not really competing with Lisa...I just want to blog with her. My youngest daughter, Cari, and my daughter-in-law, Gina, both blog, so I decided to join the "blog club". Now, Lisa's blog was wonderful and I won't even be able to come close to her first entries. They brought tears to my eyes and gave me some really special and funny memories. So, here's to blogging! May we all learn from each other and add some humor or different outlook to our readers' lives!