Thursday Thirteen

This was supposed to be my TT two weeks ago. It never got published due to events. So belatedly I give you:

My Boo turns seven this week.How time flies when you’re having fun.

Thirteen things I love about Boo

1. His head of curls. No matter where we go someone has to comment on his wonderful hair. And, no, he isn’t tired of it or embarrassed by it. He loves the attention.

2. He is my husband’s “mini-me.” Want to know what my husband looks like, acts like, thinks like? Just look at Boo.

3. He is my Peter Pan. There is something in him that realizes just how good it is to be a child and he has no desire to be a grown-up.

4. He loves to perform. Whether at a piano, in dance class, at home when there’s music, with his new cache of magic tricks or telling jokes, the child is always “on.” The bigger the audience, the better.

5. I love how gentle he is with animals. He’s never been one of those children who squish and drag around pets. He’s always been content to sit quietly by them and stroke their fur. And he seems to find just the right place, because they will sit by him for as long as he’s willing to pay attention to them.

6. While he is gentle with animals, he is a super-hero in disguise. He will explode through the house, high-kicking and leaping, making all manner of noises to fend off the foes that are threatening the universe.

7. He knows how to shake hands. And he knows when to turn on the “good boy” mode. There’s been more than one adult comment on what a nice, respectful young man he is—they’ve never seen him in action at home, and I refuse to disabuse them of their delusions.

8. He likes to share. He would give away anything to anyone. He likes to make people happy.

9. He’s learned to enjoy reading. But, unlike his mother and brother, fiction isn’t the favorite. He’s discovered you can learn facts in books and likes historical books and science type books. But he’s come to be a fan of reading. I am sure the right fiction will catch his fancy too.

10. He marches to his own drummer. There is no sense in telling Boo he must do something. You can tell him—but he will get to it when he is good and ready. Until then, beat your head on the wall if you must, but it won’t happen until he sees the benefit. Why do I love this trait??? Well, while it causes me some stress now, I see that he won’t follow the crowd so easily. He weighs things and makes his own decision. This will be a good thing to hang on to as he grows.

11. He loves old T.V. shows. It is fun to watch “I Love Lucy,” “Gilligan’s Island,” and other old shows with him and his brother.

12. He likes to be helpful. He likes to know he has made my day easier and almost always is willing to do what is asked of him.

13. He doesn’t think he is too big to sit on my lap in the morning before we start our day. Those skinny, long legs may not quite fit as well as when they were pudgy toddler legs, but we somehow manage to squish him up to cuddle for just a little bit.

THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE THURSDAY THIRTEEN:The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. What do you do? Write Thirteen things about yourself, summarize your week in one entry, make it easy for other bloggers to get to know you on a weekly basis. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! The TT Hub.

Wordless Wednesday

Silverback

Visit HQ for more Wordless Wednesdays.

Children's Book Monday--Frances

We've had these for a long time. And truth be told they are not politically correct. And of course my children quote the least PC line of the book Bedtime for Frances, “Whack and smack. Whack and smack…” which is followed IN THE BOOK by, “made Frances think of a sp@nking” but no………my children will run around and giggle and hysterically laugh, “Sounds like a sp@nking to ME!!!” Leading people not familiar with our lives to think I must apply that method to our children. BUT I DON’T. Really. Honestly. But what we do is read these wonderful books by Russell and Lillian Hoban.

Bedtime for Frances, Best Friends for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances. We love Frances. Now if you look at the age recommendations my boys are getting to old for Frances. The fact that Boo had been given Bedtime for Frances as his reading assignment and Roo loudly volunteered, “Can I read it too him??!!” might make you realize just how engaging these books are.
Frances is a stubborn little badger. Frances tests her parents at every turn. Father and Mother are witty and wonderful and loving and in charge. They are creative too. With humor and compassion the Frances stories are full of lessons and fun. They are oft requested and much loved at my house.

Other Frances books include A Bargain for Frances, A Birthday for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances.

Children’s Book Monday is hosted by Elise at A Path Made Straight. Please visit her and check out her wonderful reading recommendations.
What is your family reading today?

Grains of Gratitude

Landing—

I feel like I have returned from another planet. And I feel like I have been gone a lifetime. So much happened in such a relatively short period of time.

There were times when I thought five or six hours had gone by and was surprised that only twenty minutes had passed. Other times I was sure that I had only been somewhere for a moment and hours had gone by.

My computer sat untouched from Tuesday morning until Friday evening. That does not happen in my “normal” life. In any other circumstances I would have had withdrawal, but I would think, “Oh! Maybe I can sit with my computer.” And there was just never time. Between planning and paper work, feeding and schooling children, sorting through my mother’s things there was just never time.

To all my friends who have sent cards, called, e-mailed, hugged me and most of all held my family up in prayer, I am truly amazed, blessed and grateful. The number of times someone was “there” on the phone, in body or on the web was amazing. I received what I needed just at the right time.

The LORD has blessed me with an amazing family. Oh sure, we are our own brand of dysfunctional, I suppose. But we fit and we care deeply for each other. We were there for each other in our own special way. To have someone who you could just say a certain word or give a certain look and they knew exactly what we each were thinking was a relief.

I am grateful for all the people who took the time to express their love for my mother and their sympathy for my family. The number of people at the visitation was mind boggling. I had people tell me that they tried to come, but needed to be elsewhere also and the line was so long they couldn’t wait. I looked behind the car in the procession and could not believe how many cars followed us to the gravesite. People took off work, traveled distances and took the time to be kind. Love and friendship cause people to do amazing things.

Memories are wonderful. Sorting through pictures with my sister and our children to put together a collage was very healing. We were able to laugh and turn back the clock for a moment and there was much peace in that.

Once more my husband welcomed us home with little to do but unload. And told me he was happy to see me when I was sweaty, road weary and very verbal. I babbled at him for two or three hours when he got home from work. And then he told me AGAIN how glad he was I was back. I am so, so blessed.

I will be back to blogging and all of my normal life activities this week. Not only did I leave my computer alone, I did not crack one book open to read. I put my children back to school work on Tuesday to restore some order to their lives. But I am anxious to put myself back into a routine.

My heart is still heavy, the first words typed were the hardest, but now they seem to be flowing more freely. You will likely have to endure some more commentary about my mother, my family and the last week, but I know that this too is a season.

Be blessed.

Visit Christine at Brady's Bunch, the originator of Grains of Gratitude. There are several who start their week off gratefully.

What are you grateful for?

Grains of Gratitude

What a difference a week makes.

To quote another cliché, life changes in a blink of an eye. One breath you have both feet on earth and the next breath can be drawn on the other side, hopefully in heaven, meeting the LORD.

My mother changed her address this week from a shell on earth to glory in heaven. I am grateful for the life she led and I hope I can learn from her example. After over three years of fighting with colon cancer her body had fought enough. Doctors and family agreed that there were no more avenues to try.

I received a call Wednesday afternoon and was very thankful that my bags were left packed from the previous weekend. Thursday in the late afternoon, I held her hand while she took her last breath here and her first in the light of the LORD. For that I am forever grateful.

My father showed such love and devotion and was with her for the last weeks almost without respite. He taught our family about faithfulness and commitment. How can I be anything but grateful.

My sister has been a support to me through all of this. We’ve gone from adult children to adults. Preparing funeral arrangements and such has always been our mother’s area. She and her sister always took care of “those things.” She has been by my side through this and kept me focused on what needs accomplished and we’ve even managed to laugh at good memories.

My children have been so precious and free with their love this week. They have given me something to hold on to when I really didn’t want to do much other than crawl in bed. But who can resist such sweet love? My Roo chose to say goodbye to Grandma in ICU and gave her a kiss and told her he loved her. Though my heart broke, I knew it was a gift for all of us.

My dear husband has been such a rock for me. It is with him that I am “real.” I know he knows me and there is no pretending. I can say anything. What a blessing he has been. He is giving my father a gift of playing for my mom’s funeral.

Pastor Al and his wife Ella have once again blessed our family. They are family. Without their support and guidance and comfort we would have been adrift on our little raft this week.

The ICU staff, medical professionals, doctors and all the unexpected “angels” at the hospital made my mother more comfortable, tried to do their utmost to relieve her of her ailments, and at the same time were so compassionate to us. There is no way of repaying them.

I cannot say enough about the friends and family members who have been blessing us this week with prayer, food, fellowship and hugs. To go through life alone, without the aid and blessing of people such as these would be ungrateful.

For all these and so much more, I am grateful.

Grains of Gratitude has been a gift that was started by Christine at Brady’s Bunch. When I started participating I had no idea what an outlet and blessing it would be to stop each week and remember to count my blessings. I am grateful for this too.

Hug your family today for me.

Peace, joy and comfort for the journey for this week.

Amazing Satisfaction

Homeschool catalogs can be my downfall. They can confuse me with their wonderful & tempting book list. They can convince me that if I use their method of teaching my children will become “more educated” even though their educational style does not mesh with my children’s style of learning or my style of teaching. Most of all they make me feel like I need to spend more money. That said, I love to look at them and have gleaned a wealth of information from them. So they are a mixed bag in my reality.

The other night, thanks to a diet coke, I was highly caffeinated and could not sleep. So at midnight I went through all of our materials. Yes, yes…we started school after again a short while back. Yes, yes…logically I should have done this first. But I’ve never claimed to be logical.

So as I was saying…I was going through our materials. And after spreading everything out between the dining room table and living room floor, I was amazed to find that I liked everything we had and all of our goals could be met with the materials we owned. Oh, it’s not as slick and fancy as some of the catalog curriculum. I will be filling in with some library choices, but most of those things are things that aren’t necessary to own. They would be one or two time uses at the most.

It was just one of those blessings, those unexpected blessings, when you feel things come together and you say, “I am content.”

I hope I can remind myself of this in a few weeks.

Grains of Gratitude—Delayed Edition

Christine says she is going to make onion soup with the onions that she’s been given. I think that is a good plan. And I actually like onion soup.

Christine is the originator of Grains of Gratitude and I have been so thankful to participate in this meme. Grains has caused me to pause and peer up from my downward, “woe is me” focus many times and look around me and then upward to the magnificent Father who bestows wonderful blessings in my life to speak to me of His love.

So, belatedly, but still grateful, I am thankful for safe travel. My van is getting up there in years and miles, but it is comfortable to drive and comfortable to ride in. I am grateful to have it to get around in. It got a workout on this last trip.

I am grateful for a husband who missed me and his boys while we were gone. He greeted me with a warm welcome, clean tub, vacuumed living room and a great supper. He had to work this weekend, but managed to do things that made coming home very special.

There is no place like home, your own sheets and knowing just where everything is. I am thankful for my nest.

Our trip had a two-fold purpose—Boo is turning 7 this week!! 7. I cannot believe it. So part of the trip was to celebrate his birthday with his cousins, something we always do. For the past six birthdays Grandma and Grandpa were with us. This year Grandma is in ICU and Grandpa came home for a nap and had cake with Boo. The second purpose of this trip, of course was to visit with Grandpa, and to allow me to see Grandma—my mom. I am thankful for the chance to do that. But it was a bittersweet celebration for me.

My mother is one of the toughest people I know. She is in ICU. She has had several procedures, some termed “heroic.” She’s gotten through them and when I left Sunday afternoon appeared to be getting stronger. She has more to go through, much, much more. But she’s got a will that is unbelievable. I am grateful for my time there with her. It gave me hope.

I am grateful for my father, who has sat beside her as much as humanly possible, and continues to do so. I am grateful I was able to take watch for a bit and give him a chance to rest and recharge. My boys spent a good portion of Sunday with him and I think they all were glad for that. And I am grateful for the ICU staff who are incredible. Their knowledge, compassion and talent are beyond compare.

The list, once started, is surprisingly long. There are so many things I am grateful for, I could write about it all day.

Thanks for coming back to visit after my mini break. It means so much to me. I am truly grateful.

What are you grateful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Sleeping Tiger

This photo, while over 25 years old is still one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken.

For more WW.

Works for Me Wednesday--Remember the Water

Summer’s almost over. Time to think of apple cider and hot chocolate, right?

But wait!! I don’t know about you, but we have hotter weather now than we’ve had all year. Don’t be fooled by the back to school sales and all the sweaters and the clearances on barbeques. It’s still summer.

My WFMW tip—don’t forget the water, for you or for the children.

Water is more important than food. It is just less important than the air we breathe. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigue and joint pain. Many people think they are hungry when, in fact, they are really thirsty. Water is good for your skin, dry skin, eczema many skin ailments can be improved with hydration from the inside as well as the outside. Water is good for weight loss!!

Don’t forget the water.

Also, don’t forget to visit Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer. You can’t believe how many good ideas are found there.

Children's Book for Monday

Horatio’s Bed by Camilla Ashforth

Beautiful watercolor illustrations and soft gentle prose make this an ideal book for young children. Horatio, a stuffed bunny can’t sleep. And his tenderhearted, but very particular teddy bear friend, James is trying to help him.

Somehow Ashforth manages to squeeze humor and sweet friendship into the few pages of this book. Her illustrations beg to be framed and her words are well chosen.

This book teaches about friendship, but it also quietly includes a lesson about giving someone what we think they need, our perception, versus what they really want and need.

Horatio’s Bed is and ideal picture book for young children.

What books are you recommending?