Back from Vacation

Well we flew home last night and everything is still standing in relatively good shape. Our fist time leaving the boys home alone went ok. Jim and I had a really nice time in North Carolina. The first evening there was a fancy reception with wine and hors dourves at the hotel. The hotel was very fancy-down comforters, dual shower heads, terry robes. Jim was at the conference all day, so I slept in and then started exploring. When Jim finished up, we would go out to dinner. Charlotte is a really nice town, but expensive. Most of the restaurants had sidewalk cafe seating and the weather was nice, so we enjoyed that. The only thing that saved my diet, was all the walking you do when you are downtown. I was going to go to the Billy Graham Library one day, but getting around was tougher than I thought and the weather couldn't have been more perfect that day. After walking a couple of blocks and getting some breakfast, I decided to sit in the park and read instead. I didn't regret it one bit-it was the first day that felt like summer to me! I also thought about getting a massage at the hotel, but after spending $10 for a GLASS of wine one evening, I changed my mind. The prices weren't listed for the spa services-and that is never a good thing!

After the conference was done, we drove to Asheville. We took the scenic route, driving up into the mountains. It was lovely, until we discovered that a retaining wall had washed out and the road was closed. We had to turn around and drive clear back down the mountain and around to finally get there. Our bed and breakfast was a beautiful 100 year old southern home. We would get up and have a wonderful breakfast and then head out for the day, returning at 5 pm for appetizers and wine on the veranda (we northerners call it the front porch), and then into town for dinner. We had some fabulous food in Asheville! We visited Biltmore Estate one day. That is something I always wanted to see. It was huge and very beautiful. Spent the entire day there and didn't see many of the things we had hoped (the stables, the farm, the surrounding village, ran through the winery just to get to the tasting (hmmm... sensing a theme here). Our last morning we explored a few craft shops. Jim bought me a beautiful silver handmade bracelet. It has a pansy on it. Very pretty. I wish we had more time-Asheville is a really neat town and we didn't even scratch the surface of all there was to see. Mark Twain said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness" and I understand. I feel like my horizons were broadened by this trip and look forward to taking many more.

Our flights were good-thankful for that. There were a couple of big storms while we were gone-no damage here, again very thankful. Last night a horrible storm blew through and two teens were killed as a huge tree fell on their car. Lots of damage around town. Thinking about going camping for the 4th of July, but we have had such bad weather that I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

Otherwise, not much is new. I rode the library float in the local parade again. It was not as fun as last year because they didn't get our registration and so they put us at the end of the parade. I had to lock Nate out of the computer today, so he will get off and look for a job. It is not going over real well. Have to start figuring out Noah's stuff for college in the fall. He still doesn't have a place to live!

Just checking

Hey-is there anyone out there that is reading this? I never hear from anyone so I'm just wondering if keeping up on this blog is worthwhile.

We had another close brush with tornados this week. The tornado sirens went off for about an hour and a half. We were out watching the storm clouds. Several times they began swirling over our house and we started to take cover indoors, and then it broke up. Unfortunately, the Boy Scout camp about 40 miles away was not so lucky. They took a direct hit from the tornado and four scouts were killed. It has been a hard week hearing stories of what happened. Three of the boys were from the metro.

Yesterday I volunteered with TBH for the first time. It was really great. I was paired up with a young girl. Her dad had died. She made a comfort pillow out of her dad's favorite sweatshirt, a memory box with her dad's picture on top, a garden stone, a bracelet with her dad's name on it, a sock puppet, a father's day card, and she had her face painted. As we got to know each other, she talked with me about her dad, her feelings, and we even laughed as she shared some good memories of her dad. I think she had a good time and I hope it helped her too. I really look forward to volunteering again!

Today, I am upset. My boys are shutting us right out of their lives. They NEVER bring friends over. When I ask why-they say because there's nothing to do. I ask what they do at their friend's houses. Other than watch cable tv (which we don't have), they could do the same things here as they do there. Nate wouldn't even introduce us to his new girlfriend. I finally went up to her door and introduced myself when I picked Nate up! I ask if we embarrass them or our house embarrasses them. They say no. Noah has a friend from college staying with us for a few days. He was here for less than a half hour when they left to go to a friend's house to watch the game. They were watching the game on our tv before they left! It is father's day and both our boys took off! That is another sore spot. One son has no money, so I suggested two things he could do for his father that wouldn't cost him anything. He could clean his car out or he could pick cherries from our tree. He decided to do nothing-and then whine to his father that he doesn't have any money (same excuse I heard the past two mother's days)..... His brother hadn't said a thing other than groan about his awful sunburn. At three thirty, I called him at home and asked if he even knew what today was. He said he knew. At four he called me from the grocery store where he works and asked if his dad likes Merlot or Chardonnay. I said neither. He went on to say he was just going to get the fancy Merlot glasses because his friend's parents (where he is hanging out tonight) had them and they were classy. Now this rubbed me wrong for a couple of reasons. First of all, he ran to the store and just bought something to give to his father without much thought or reason. Second, he thinks so highly of his friend's parents and so little of us. We have red wine glasses. We don't need them-but because his friend's parents have them they are classy. We aren't classy enough I guess. If it were just this, I'd let it pass, but it is so obvious that he adores and prefers them. He wants to be a doctor like his friend's father, not so he can help people or go on missions trips (like his mother had taught him), but so he can have a sweet black Mercedes just like this doctor. He makes me feel so little because I can't compete with this family. I tell him to wear sunscreen and he rolls his eyes at me and tells me to stop mothering him. He gets a blistering sunburn and his other friend's father (also a doctor) talks with him about the increased chances of developing melanoma after getting a bad sunburn (something his mother has told him and tried to help him prevent) and he listens and respects what he has to say. I'm just really disappointed with our boys and they way they treat us. They have really rich friends and they like to pretend they are rich too and I guess when they look at their parents and their home, it is a reality check. So instead of accepting us and appreciating us for who we are and what we do have to offer-they run away and so they can keep pretending. It really hurts to be treated so poorly. I sure do miss my mom at times like these. You could bounce these kind of things off her and she would tell you if this is a normal stage and it will pass. She would remind me that I did these things too. Without her I feel so lost.

Belle had an accident this week. We'll have to keep an eye on her. If it keeps happening, I know it is time to put her down.

Well, I need to sign off and get to bed. One more week of work and then vacation!

Stormy Start

Well June is off to a stormy start. Rain is in the forecast for every day this entire week! We are already waterlogged. Last night at 2:30 am, sirens went off and a tornado touched down nearby. Unfortunately, we slept through the whole thing! That is rather scary! Thankfully, the Lord protected us and the others that were affected by the storm. There were no serious injuries and even though there is damage, it is not too bad. They were calling for clean up volunteers at church today, so Noah decided to help out. He found where they were supposed to meet, but couldn't find anyone from church. The city had the place closed off and wouldn't let him in, so he wound up coming home. He wanted to take Jim's chainsaw and was shocked and disgusted that I told him "NO". He said he was an adult and I was treating him like a child. When I asked him how much experience he had with a chainsaw he said, "Plenty, I ran the chainsaw when Dad cut down all those trees in our yard". He was between 6-10 years old when we cut those trees down-please....... He said Dad would let him take the chainsaw; so I called Jim and asked him what he thought about that idea. He thought it was a bad idea too. Guess I'm not so stupid after all.

The furniture came on Friday and we are working on putting the rooms back together. It sure looks nice; just wish I'd got the rooms painted first. I'll have to work on that in the fall. I did dig out my old rotting whiskey barrel and replace it. Planted flowers (looks like one plant is rotting out with all the rain) and am pleased with my efforts. I haven't had flowers in a few years. Got some more to plant flower boxes for the front deck. We had a garage sale over the weekend. While others in the area did well, I didn't have many people even stop, much less buy anything. I only had some big ticket items for sale-the bunk beds & matching dresser, the pool, the tent, a victorian christmas village, Noah's paintball gun. Going to have the boys help me post them on Craig's list and hopefully unload some of this stuff.

Work is going ok. It is busy, but not obnoxiously crazy like it usually is during the summer. I've managed to keep up with my other duties this week, so I'm thankful. Please pray for my co-worker, Pam. Her brother is very ill, and she is very stressed out. I have been exercising everyday for two weeks now. The weight loss is slowing, but I am continuing on. Yesterday, I finally dropped below a weight I haven't seen since I moved here. It was a big goal and it felt good to see that number. So far I have lost 44lbs. We bought a memory foam mattress topper for our bed last week. I am having alot of problems with pressure points. I laid on a memory foam mattress and it was oh so nice-but not affordable. My Beautyrest mattress is only 4 years old. It has a pillowtop, but it obviously isn't enough for me. I feel like the princess from the Princess and the Pea story! Anyhow, the memory foam topper is nice and seems to be helping. I toss and turn less often and feel more comfortable.

Noah messed up his checking account for the first time and bounced 5 items. The overdraft fees used up his entire first paycheck. Hard way to learn that lesson! Nate has been doing some odd jobs and earning a little money. He now has a girlfriend. Her name is Vickie and I met her once (because I went up and forced my son to introduce me). He goes over her house in the evenings, when her mom is home, to spend some time with her. Supposedly she is leaving for a couple of months soon, so he is putting off getting his hair cut or getting a job until she leaves. We'll see.....

Well, that's all for now. I have to get going on my laundry and install a new faucet on the tub. Noah has a friend from college coming this week for the College World Series next week and I have alot to get done before he arrives!