Can we all say S-u-r-v-i-v-e-d........

Actually, if I may quote my grandsons, I had a good time. God knew what He was doing when he turned a woman's biological clock off or at least on standby at an early age. I just couldn't move fast enough to really catch them when they did something I had just said no to. I tried to train them to give me a heads up if they planned to disobey but that was fruitless. I finally found when I gave them permission to do something only if they were willing to take the consequences did they start to make good choices. Joshua and I had to come to an agreement. He was not cooperating and he looked at me quite calmly and stated "you not in charge" quite confident that he had the last word. This was a pivotal point in our week ahead so I firmly pulled him from the tub sorta like giving birth and slapped his backside to see if he was breathing. At which he looked at me and stated "me and Namuel are big and we in charge" and promptly sat on the floor ala nude with a defiant look and we were headed for the battlefield. Now 59 with bad back and knees I had to choose the battle I needed to win. So I left him there on the cold tile and Sam and I went to watch a movie on the TV with the instruction to Joshua to get clothes on and join us if not we would see him in a couple of hours. I looked up later and he is carrying mis matched pajama's.

I remember a little girl one time saying to me when she was in trouble and I started to count 1, you need to stop, 2 get out of there, I am almost to three, 2, come on get in here, at which she promptly turned with hand on hip and said "i'll wait till you get to 10" Put a pair of pigtails on that little head of Josh and you have Kim's twin. Ha

As the years pass you forget the time spent trying to raise your children. I have even said I don't remember John, Tom, and Kim acting that way. Well, memories fade and when placed in the same environment I recalled those days gone by. Each boy has their own personality and they have needs for attention. Joshua I decided just screams louder and longer, (kim's same determination) ha. Sam is quiet and is a peace maker and gives in and up rather than fight. He has a low frustration rate. Sam is a deep thinker after this episode with Josh he said to me "MOP, when someone is yelling and getting in trouble it makes me feel like crying" at which he put his head down and cried. He seem to struggle the most with his parents gone. Although he didn't talk about their absence, he was definitely having moments of missing them.

Kim's computer would not work while there, I know what you are thinking, how do you survive without the internet. My answer, ok. We established eating out each night, then putting on our pajama's, reading the book Samuel had for homework, watching something they should not watch and saying our prayers and going to bed. Sam I do believe will be a preacher, he is very serious and told me I needed to go to Sunday School so I can go to Heaven and I needed to join Weight Watchers. So I am taking both suggestions under advisement.

I loved the hugs, and the impromptu shows of laughter and just being silly. I love to hear them talk about each other and how they hugged each other right before they punched the other. The last day I was putting on Joshua's shoes, after giving him the choice to go barefooted, he looked up and said " you know what?" I said "what" "I love you".

The only other problem was my getting sick which did not help me cope at times. Or that something had dumped the the trash all over the yard and the neighbors. My experience at my Work and Witness was rewarding. I enjoyed the hugs and if you are single that is something you can't do alone. So ask me if I would do it again.

Africa ..

Well, Kim and Wayne landed in Africa, it is official, she called my dad and we received an email giving us an update. It was dark when they got there so I expect they were unable to see much but hopefully they will be great reporters and bring back pictures and stories. They will be doing some construction work and visiting an orphanage and possibly a short safari. Kim bought baby blankets and wash clothes things listed on the web site. Mom and dad are doing their work and witness mission, they are watching the two amigos. As all kids at 6 and 3 will do they have chased each other and just found unusual ways to entertain themselves. For two little guys who's parents are in a foreign land they are doing ok. I will take my shift on Wednesday and be with them when the travelers come home.

What a once in a lifetime experience. When Kim first asked what I thought about her going to Africa I was thrilled, I suppose I thought this will probably not be so exciting as the reality of the trip gets closer. But if you know Kim she is driven by what she decides to do. She sees no obstacles, no barriers, just inconveniences. She has always been that way. As a kid we would go fishing, well, I went as an observer, she would bait her hook and throw in the line and say, with a smile, "I am going to catch a fish", sure enough out of the water came her fishing line and a good size fish hanging-on flopping in the breeze. When she played ball she would say "I am going to get a hit" sure enough up to bat she would go and there she would go to the next base off the hit. So this trip's evolution was a sure thing once she made the decision.

She has a heart of a missionary. She loves to help and give. Some people misunderstand her efforts as trying to take over or that she doesn't feel they can do a good job. But she just wants to help and as Mark Lowry says " she wants to be a blessing". So as she and Wayne, wake up in the morning and start this two weeks of service we need to pray for the work they are doing and that they both will come back with a new perspective and a better understanding of what it means to be called to service.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family,,,,hummmmmm...

Well, the unofficial official family get together happened over the weekend. I am not sure just how many were there but I can tell you there was plenty of food and many mouths to eat it. There were the seniors of the family from the high eighties to the low 60's. Then the next level was the high 50's down to the low twenties. Our most important group was the high teens to the little unborn child. Many of us told little white lies like "you haven't changed in the last 10 years" but what we meant to say was " wow aging doesn't become you" or "you look so nice in that spandix" but we really meant " what were you thinking when you put that on". Only joking.

We have the neatest mix of relatives. They came from Michigan, Tennessee and all over Ohio. Everyone greeted each other with hugs and kisses sometimes several times by those who didn't remember they had hugged you twice before. Some couldn't remember who you were but trusted you were related. M&K made sure we were welcome in their home and made each person feel special. They decorated with fall items and just let people roam all over the place and they do have nice digs to roam in. The little kids played together and the teens talked to each other, I know I was surprised too.

Some couldn't come this year and yet more were here this year than last. This whole get together started with a small group last year talking about getting together and over 40 people showed up at M&K's house. The one nice part of our family is the musical side and even though it was difficult to get people to gather in we still sang a few old hymns and my mom and cousin's daughter played guitars and my cousin played the key board. We even had a harmonica player and hand tamborine. Some may have thought we were Salvation Army, we finally took the bell from Kelly and removed the big bucket. ( ha )

I guess I say all this to also interject these are special times of catching up on what is happening before we go to someones funeral and have to ask "now how are they related?" It is a busy world and as you sat back and looked around at all those who came, you had a sense of wow, this is something to actually ( sam's favorite word) know that this 60 some people are your family. Some of us, who can still recall past events, shared some stories about when we were younger, some of us talked about retirement, like it can't come fast enough. Others talked about their homes, what things have been going on and just laughing with others even when we had no idea what they were laughing about. I think we all agreed that grey hair is probably going to come back as a fashion statement this year and large sized clothes in dark colors do help make you look slimmer. Most of us could not read fine print so no one shared any written material. At the end of the day as everyone hobbled to their cars and strapped the kids and themselves to go home they were glad they made the trip and hope they can remember to come back next year. Those who can't will say " it's time to get ready to go to Marsha's" "who" "Marsha"s" "where" "you know Marsha's house"
"why do you want to go there" " we go there every year" "what" " you remember we go there to see everyone" "why" " never mind, just get in the car" " I don't know why you're so mad" " if you would have said we were going to go to their house I would have gotten ready" .....------ something like that is sure to happen to the best of us.

So to M&K thank you, thank you for all your hard work to let us invade your home and have a GRATE DAY!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU