iheartfaces contest - "A Slice of Life"

Two kids and a Studebaker, minus the dog in this photo, pretty much sums up a slice of my life as I know it.

My Mom's Début on Television

It is slightly disturbing to see your family on the news picking up storm damage. Susan is my mom! If you watch all the video you will also see my dad's red truck pulling a tree away. Everyone was ok!
Hamilton County storm damage: "The Wednesday night storms ripped across central Indiana leaving Hamilton County damage in their wake."

Where is Macey

We went for a walk late last night because it was nice, then we we came home all of us went our own ways. I looked at the clock an it was twenty after nine. Wow! I had no idea, then it struck me that it was really quiet. There was no yelling or fighting. I went to tell the kids it was time for bed. Macey is like clock work...she goes to be at 9 on the dot...she is tired and ready to sleep. I figured she was sleeping in her bed or our bed....but she wasn't. Gavin was on the computer, but where was Macey?

I remembered where I saw her last in her cardboard castle that Santa brought her. She couldn't still be there...or could she?

A Spring Day

Rain to come in tonight and back to cooler weather, but tonight we went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Camera Lesson

Assignment #1: Get to know your camera and read your camera’s manual

New cameras can be intimidating and overwhelming for any new user. My friend got a new SLR camera for Christmas and she just doesn’t know how to use it. She is not alone. I’ve been thinking about sharing some of my camera tips with my readers for awhile and decided that I am going to take a go at it. I don’t know how articulate I will be at sharing with you all the technical knowledge I have stored in my head. All I know is that we are going to start simple and work our way up, which won’t be very far because I still have much to learn. But maybe in just covering the basic I can share with you a little of my passion.

This week’s lesson is about as simple as it gets…use your camera. Don’t be intimated by all the buttons and knobs…break it out of its case and get to know it. The other half of this assignment will most likely require more than a week of your time, but it is simply a must if you want to take good images…read your camera’s manual.

People hand me their camera’s all the time because they know I have spent my fair share of time behind the lens, but even I need to read the camera’s manual. In fact if I go on a shoot I always have my manual with me, because sometimes things happen. The manual is an essential bible. Just like you usually leave your car manual in the glove box of your car, don’t ever leave your manual far behind. If you have lost your manual most manufactures will be able to supply you with a new one if you contact them.

I challenge all of you to break out the camera and take at least 30 photos this week. They don’t have to be masterpieces. Remember why you bought the camera in the first place. Did you buy it to capture landscapes, a vacation, children, family events, for a hobby? Everyone has to start somewhere, so start today! Look at something through the lenses of your camera and take the picture.



p.s. Happy 1st Day of Spring. I don't know about you, but already I feel rejuvenated! My magnolia tree is even starting to bloom!

Great Neighbors

It is wonderful to have neighbors, friends on your street, that you can call on in the early morning hours to ask if they have any baking soda as you have just been bombed by a skunk. Even more wonderful they ask if they can get you anything, laugh with you, wish you luck and tell you the benefits about having a skunk in your yard.

We've told you about the squirrels, and how they have been gnawing on the kids swing set. Paul has been setting the trap and catching them, sending them off to a new home.

However this mornings catch was not what we were wanting...but a skunk, and of course Jack found the skunk first.




I cannot make this stuff up, but just so you guys would believe me I snap a distant shot of our visitor. What are the odds? As miserable as it has been on our noses, and Jack... we've already got a good laugh out of it. Gavin says this is the best weekend he's had in a long time. Leave it to a boy to think this was about as fun as Christmas.

A Day

So, I thought my day was starting out bad only because I wanted to sleep in past 6:21 a.m. but really after all the things I learned today...waking up at 6 am is great...at least I woke up.

Macey was going to get me out of bed...at all cost! Bless her heart. Because of this now I have implemented new rules about getting up at our house.

Paul and I got the news that our favorite bartender died yesterday. I cannot wrap my head around it...nor can Paul. Cheers to you Mike, Sonka's just will never be the same without your presence.

Still the kids and I went to the Indianapolis Art Museum to check out the new 100 acres woods. Even more of a surprise is that I had arranged with my mom for her and dad to come and meet us. They even brought a picnic lunch!











Instead of observing art...we ended up observing people. Wow! Our eyes got an eyeful today. Our local Wal-mart had nothing on the charters that we observed at the art museum, and Macey could not get over how many naked bodies were painted or sculpted.

We had a great day. On the way home Macey said "I wish we could get up again tomorrow and start this whole day over...I had so much fun!"

Paul is out on the veranda sitting in silence drinking a beer in honor of his late friend.

Life is such a funny thing. Always moving forward with our without you...

Questions and Answers with Taylor P

For those of you who do not know Taylor she is my beautiful step-daughter. If you remember a little while back I featured a questions and answers session with my son Gavin.



Me: Anything rebelliously fun that you wish you could do and get away with? If you could pull it off without getting caught, getting in trouble, or suffer any ill effects what would this activity be?
Taylor: (evil smile) can I pass this question?
Me: Yes, but I still want you to tell me later..promise I won't post it on the blog.
side note,no such answers was given!

Me: Name something quirky you do.
Taylor: I don't let my foods touch together on the plate. And when I play solitaire I have to have my aces in a certain order at the top (hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs).

Me: Name something you laughed about really hard this year!
Taylor: Well it would have to include Jenna. What I remember didn't happen this year.
Me: Ok.
Taylor: Jenna attempting to skate board in the busy Walmart on Black Friday in her slip and fall shoes. The same shoes that she fell down in at school in the lunch line with her Toy Story lunch box.
Me: Do you have a lunch box?
Taylor: No.
Me: Do you want a Toy Story lunch box?
Taylor: No, I would never use it.




Me: What is your favorite book?
Taylor: Twisted Summer was really good, but I don't remember who wrote it.

Me: Do you think you will have children someday?
Taylor: "Ya know, I'd say no right now, but you never know."

Me: Best high school memory?
Taylor: Playing in Walmart with Jenna, driving around, and bear growling at people we drive by on the street.



Me: What family member do you think you act most like?
Taylor: Hum..... (time passes)...."Well, I think I just act like me."
(Although side note that her dad also has to have his aces in a certain order when playing solitaire which are hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades).

Me: A place you want to visit someday.
Taylor: Texas, specifically Amarillo

Hope

This last week my mind has been consumed with what is happening in Japan. I have prayed for people I don’t even know, and my heart goes out to them. Mostly, I just think of normal mom’s like me who took their kids to school or day care, said good-bye and then went to work without a thought of impending disaster. You know there are families that are separated one from each other, and no way of finding or reach them. The thought of displaced children, homeless families, all of life’s possession both tangible and irreplaceable haunt me.

Sitting so far away on the side lines there is a sense of helplessness in seeing so much vulnerability shaken and swept away. For how can we truly separate ourselves from another when the unthinkable is happening?

In witnessing the horror on my television that only Stephen King could conjure up in his imagination I almost feel guilty that right now my life is ok. I have the flu, and big deal..they make over the counter medication for such discomforts, right up to extra soft Kleenex tissue to heating pads and Vicks vapor rub. All of which I have purchased by getting into my car and driving down cleared roads to stocked grocery stores, and back to the comforts of my own bed.

We say it so casually that when it is your time to go, it is your time to go. And maybe it is not so much the going as it is the not knowing. I cannot imagine looking for my lost love ones on lists consisting of names or descriptions of individuals.

Gavin told me last week that he wished no one had to die, and I agreed with him. I don’t wish to die, nor do I wish to say good bye to anyone I know. But what if life were perfect? Then I guess we really could ask ourselves “what is the point?” If we never faced sadness would we ever know true happiness when it appeared before us? If we were never challenged how would we learn our true capacity? If everything was handed to us, would we be bored, would we reach out to help others? I guess this is where faith steps in and gives us hope to hang on, reminding us that just as the good times pass, so do the bad times.


In honor of hope here are a few pics...

Spring is in bloom my spiderwart plant already green and growing...
I noticed tonight the Magnolia tree is blooming as well as my Stellas, and Iris. Finally after a long winter!


And who can't be hopeful when looking at their own child?
Even if you don't have children, love what you do have and count your blessings!

Iheartfaces contest - Sun Flair

Just one of those beautiful Indian Summer days at the end of February start of March where the weather gives you a taste of days to come...

Magnolia Tree

I've been daydreaming about my favorite tree in our backyard. I've been watching to see if it is starting to bud...I cannot wait to see it bloom. I wish it flowered all summer long.

Continued...CraZy things my kiDs sAy & Do

While eating lunch out today Macey starts crossing her eyes, trying to roll them into the back of her head. Her daddy and I asked her what she was doing and she said "What does the back of your brain look like? I was just trying to see for myself." (Macey age 5)

"Don't you ever just fall asleep singing?" (Macey age 5....see I told you she was the singer!)

"I don't only want to buy things that are black." (Macey age 5 on Black Friday)

After Macey had gone to chapel one afternoon at school they must have had a lesson about the fruits of God and his spirit. She asked me if we had fruit in our heart. She really though we had actual fruit growing inside our hearts and wanted to know what kind, strawberries, bananas, or apples? (Macey age 4)

“Welcome to meet you, my name is Macey.” (Macey age 4)

After Gavin’s dental appointment the Dr. gave me and Gavin the same old lecture about bad brushing habits. He told Gavin that he had lots of calcium deposits on his teeth. Gavin told the dentist that it wasn’t because he didn’t brush, but because he is lactose intolerant. (Gavin age 10)

Aunt Jessica asked Macey how she got so cute. Macey told her that God made her that way. Jessica told her that she would have to send God a thank you card, and Macey said I don’t know his last name, I only know him by God. (Macey age 4)

Gavin was talking to Grammy about how far away her childhood home was from Papa’s (Maine to Indiana) and said that when they were babies it would have taken even longer since they had to travel by horse and wagon. (Gavin age 10)

Macey asked a waiter that she was flirting with at Cheeseburger in Paradise “Can we order you again?” (Macey age 5)

Are snowcrabs really made out of snow? (Macey age 3)

Macey was talking about a boy she knows Adam...and I told her that I knew who Adam was. She was surprised and asked how I knew him. I told her it was her sister's sister Kelsy's husband's brother. She just gave me the blankest stare. I said you don't get it...she said "No." So we went through it again your sister Taylor's sister Kelsy, married Billy who has a brother who's name is Adam. I could see the wheels turning, and she got it. That is hard even when you are my age (Macey age 5)!

After Paul went to get his haircut Macey asked him if Amy our hairdresser could do anything about his "kissing spot," and she kissed the bald spot on the back of his head. (Macey age 5)

Macey wanted to know why eyebrows were made of hair. (Macey age 5)

Macey told Grammy "I'm glad God made you." My dad wanted to know how you top that compliment. I asked if mom had just bought her something, and Dad told me that she hadn't, but she did after that. (Macey 4 yrs)

I was shaving my legs in the bathroom sink since I forgot my razor in the shower. Macey came over to me and ask me if I was Mowing my legs. (Macey 4 yrs)

Gavin got mad at me about taking his photo and told me that I was just like having the paparazzi with us on family vacations...couldn't I go anywhere without my camera? (Gavin age 10 yrs after taking a photo of him on a kiddie ride).

At dinner Macey asked us all what our favorite color was. Maddie answered clear. (Maddie 20 something)

Macey was trying to tell me something and lost her train of thought. I asked her again, what she wanted to tell me..she touched her head and said "I lost my mind." She just forgot what she wanted to say. (Macey 4 yrs)

We were packing up to leave for the weekend and Macey wanted me to stop everything I was doing to apply a fake tatoo. I told her no. She got mad, but then asked me if her sister Taylor who was there at the time could. I told her that it was up to Taylor. So she asked Taylor and when she asked she gave her "The Look", you mom's know the one. So Taylor sighed and said "Ok, but lets do it now while I am still here." I started to tease Taylor because she caved and she said "Did you see that look she gave me. She did learn from the best you know (meaning her), so I can't really tell her no." (Taylor 17 yr)

Macey got out of the shower and told me that she had naked on. (Macey 4yr)

We were eatting fish sticks for dinner and Gavin was so enjoying them until I told him what they were. He spit his mouthful out and ran to his room to check on the fish in his tank. (Gavin 2 yr)

Tonight at dinner Macey asked us to look at her nose..it was shaped like McDonalds. That we all had noes shaped like the letter "M". (Macey 4 yr)

Last year when Macey had a cold, she asked for some "bless you" medicine. (Macey 3 yr)

Recently, I forgot to wear my wedding ring. Gavin thought this was funny so he kept coming up to me and asking me out. We were actually at a skating party and he skated up behind me and said "I see that you are single. Wanna go back to my place and." I stopped him and asked him "and WHAT," the best he could come up with was have a beer. Whew...I was worried about just how much he might know. (Gavin 10yr)

Went to pick up Gavin from a friend's house to find him bare foot. Guess when running in the back yard he put his foot through the family's sewer drain. (Gavin 10yr, shoes 1 month)

During a thunder storm Macey told us that the sky must be hungry because she could hear its tummy growling. (Macey 3yr)

Caught Gavin brushing our cats teeth with his own toothbrush. (Gavin 1 yr)

I asked Gavin what he was chewing on, and his answer was a hiccup. (Gavin 1 yr)

The Truth...

I have always prided myself in being as open with my kids as possible. If they ask me a question, I am going to give them an honest answer no matter how difficult, embarrassing or hard to explain. I have to say that for me and my eleven year old this has worked in my favor. I am glad that he is able to ask me what he heard about on the bus, or from his friends. He knows that I will tell him. I use to dread these grown up talks that I would have with my son, but surprisingly it is not so bad. Actually, I have found it an honor.

However, the things that I find the hardest to be honest about are the things that I just don't know.

While my eleven year old is interested in the human body and sexuality, my five year old is asking about life's biggest mysteries. The things we all as individuals struggle with on our personal journey. Sadly, I find myself most uncomfortable with her questions about the afterlife. What are heaven and hell like, and what happens when we die? This is only because I do not know what lies on the other side myself.

In all my comings and goings, all the things I have seen in my 37 years, I do believe that there is something. Something powerful enough to rage a war over the entire world...look at the news! This is what terrorism is based upon. It is why countries fight, why so many die. I do believe that This being on the other side is so much greater than what our human minds can comprehend...and I don't believe there is only one way to find The God that is over everyone.

I myself confess that even I am afraid of what I will find on the other side. However, last night my five year old said this out of the blue..."Right now, here on earth we are just on vacation from Heaven, and someday we will all go home." Typing this gives me chills. Wow!

I think my five year old just might have it, a simple truth.

Future Prom Queen

I think I am in trouble. Tonight we were in a department store and my daughter went crazy over the prom dresses shouting excitingly "I love this one! No, this one more."





All I can offer to her now is "dream big little girl...dream big, but it doesn't come in the form of a big beautiful or statement setting dress!"

Enjoying Warm Weather

Tonight before dinner we just chilled out, played with the dog, and played on the swing. I am so looking forward to spring! Notice Macey's hair? She got a pink strip in it on Monday night. Beauty comes with a price however. She got a little burn on her forehead from the steam when they used the hot iron to set it. I told her to get use to it, because being a pretty girl doesn't come easy!