In the daylight.....

So I couldn't resist a drive to check out damage and see how our little part of the world fared during the storm.

My neighbor's tulips are still gorgeous.....I love tulips!

The creek is still beautiful...although flowing a little more than usual today.

Our one- lane bridge is so nostalgic for me...we wait on trains and then wait for on-coming traffic. It doesn't bother me unless I'm late for an appointment!

Several neighbors lost trees and siding. Some shingles are missing and one car was smashed by a falling tree but everyone was safe and no one was injured. I was a little surprised to find my pillows sitting on my porch swing and flowers in the vase behind it. Things we assumed would be gone seemed untouched while heavy lawn furniture was tossed about. Makes you wonder.

eggstra fun

Today's table decoration=tomorrow's egg toss. Makenna and I decorated after the little ones went to bed tonight. I am sure Ty will have a blast and I will be over this by bedtime tomorrow!

And, I cleaned out my closet this morning for a Goodwill donation and general overhaul of our only storage/catch all space. It was time.....
My wedding dress was in the donation pile when I suggested Makenna may like the fabric for Barbie dresses. She had a great afternoon cutting and sewing. I think I may create a dress up skirt of sorts for Kate too.....why not? The kids assured me they would not be wearing my dress as big butt bows and shoulder pads should not come back into style! I couldn't agree more! 

Kate and her little backyard friends were busy huddling over a dirt pile today I grabbed my camera and moseyed over for a peek. They were "digging up worms and watching them poop". Lovely.

Erin was sent home from school today with a sore throat, headache and over all body aches. By this evening she was also experiencing chest pain when deeply breathing and coughing. Looks like we are headed to the doctor tomorrow. Her boyfriend texted me to ask permission to drop something special off for her to feel better. I assured him she wouldn't want to see him looking ill but did allow the sneaky delivery to the front porch. Erin was touched.

Unbelievable.

 This was the quiet scene in my house this morning. Both babies were late arriving and I had extra time to have tea with God. It was the perfect start to a longer day full of surprises. I tearfully begged God to spare my Grandma from suffering. My heart has been so heavy. This week marks the one year anniversary since we lost my sweet friend, Miss Billee to cancer. I have been praying for baby Sam for several months and desperately want to see him healed. Cancer is horrendous.

My mom went to see the surgeon with my Grandma today. She was scheduled for a post-op appointment, followed by an appointment with an oncologist to see if anything could be done to slow the process of her "terminal cancer". As it turns out, the appointment with the oncologist was not necessary. Grandma was given the wrong report a few weeks ago. Apparently the surgeon has another patient, Frances R. Hughes. My grandma is Frances Ruth Hughes. The other Frances has incurable cancer. My grandma, who goes by Ruth, has a small tumor that will be removed with a laser knife over the course of three treatments. She will not have surgery and doesn't need chemo! I still have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming. I was trying so hard to prepare myself for the inevitable and now can just continue enjoying visits with her. I am, of course, sad for the other Frances Hughes and her family and cannot believe a mistake like this was made. As my mom said, "I couldn't decide if I wanted to smack that man or hug him". No kidding. All I can say is that God's hand was there the whole time. And over Easter weekend I can hug my grandma. I can't wait. God is good.

A beautiful day with Grandma and Grandpa

Week Wrap Up

It has been quite busy since Tuesday! I had a swollen knee for a few days (old age? I really have no idea), started the process of enrolling Lauren into high school, enrolled Makenna into a virtual school for sixth grade and had both babies quite a bit. Ty ran a fever for about 24 hours and he's teething; therefore is not sleeping again (so neither am I). We had  company for dinner three times and hosted a play date. Oh, and we had school, had someone start yard work, ran a house full of extra teenagers a few times and appreciated open windows. Greg's parents called last night and are planning a trip down tomorrow. It has been awhile so we hope to feed them well and enjoy some warm weather with them too. Happy Saturday Friends!

Cameron and Colby checking each other out. At one point Cameron made Colby cry with his loud "talking" voice. At another point, Colby was eating Cameron's shoulder!

There are draw backs to having bowls within easy reach.

Has a chocolate chip cookie ever looked so good?

Colby James.....such a sweet baby!

Somehow Erin ended up with both CJ and Jarod here to play "Just Dance" on the wii. Given the fact that they both like her and both say they are willing to wait on her to be ready for a boyfriend again, I find this amusing. You know neither one wanted to dance in my living room! The life of teenagers. It's quite a ride!

Random Thoughts

If I had thought to grab my camera during the last 24 hours, I would likely only have had shots of iced tea glasses,  chocolate brownies and dirty floors! There would be a picture of a sink full of tortilla chips too. But, I was too busy enjoying the company of  Jill who took some of her son's spring break to drive down for a visit. We sat and ate and talked until 2am only to get up at 7:30 and start the day talking and eating some more. It was good for the soul. It always is. Ty started a basketball game of sorts with tortilla chips while we talked, not that we were talking too much to notice his behavior. Ahem.

Kate is thrilled to have a new neighbor and they play very well together. Can you get enough of that outfit? I love letting her express herself.

Colby fit in quite nicely with our added craziness. He always does. Have I mentioned how much the kids adore him?

Speaking of the freedom of expression......check out these glasses! Cracks me up! Stephanie is Erin's friend who can now drive. Why does it seem like I am letting go of too many things too quickly these days? Who says 16 is a magical number where more and more freedom is granted? I know I can ultimately refuse to allow her to have a cell phone and cruise with friends but in reality I have only one reason for saying "no". I don't want to let her grow up.

spring is in the air!

No chicks were injured in the making of this photo!

Lauren begs us to bring home this Great Dane every time we visit Candy's house! No way sister!

A week full of blessings and tough news

It was a busy week. I found myself taking in moments where I could sit back and appreciate the people in my life.

And there were times I was amazed they all belong to me!

I decided that Ty is as entertaining as he is exhausting. I love this boy.

And he loves the babies! I still can't believe they get kisses and I don't!

We had play dates with fun friends.....

And attempted to get the plastic kid's cups and bowls into the drawer Kate can reach. Ty rediscovered how much he likes to play with those items. This was an impressive stack!

We also waited for news about my beautiful grandmother and the results are not good. My heart is breaking.

Can you get enough of this face?

Me either.

The hands......

The hands that made the pillow cases which adorn my girls' beds are the same hands that taught me to sew. They are the same hands that made my kindergarten dresses and the dresses my little ones wore their first years. They are the same strong hands who raised five girls and one boy. Her hands are smooth now but had callouses years ago as she never stepped away from hard work whether it be in a factory or in her flower beds. Those same hands always had a jar with green onions in water awaiting my arrival the summers were were able to go to Grandma's house. Living away from grandparents made me crave my time with them so much more.....

My grandma fought lung cancer five years ago and won.....it was a rough journey and one she handled with grace. A month or so ago, during a routine physical, cancer was discovered in her other lung. The spot is very small but the PET scan lit up her lymph nodes as well. Yesterday, a surgeon did a biopsy on the lymph nodes to determine if the cancer is throughout her body or isolated to the one spot. If it is in the one spot, the surgery to remove that spot is going to be a lot easier on her than her prior one. If the cancer is in the lymph nodes, chemo is the recommended course of treatment. Either way, it is a journey I am sorry to see her on again. So today, the same hands that made beautiful things for me and my children are folded in prayer for God to carry her and strengthen her family as she makes tough decisions and awaits the phone call revealing her prognosis.

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you" Psalm 56:3

First Bonfire....

The girls were not happy when light snow flurries made an appearance this afternoon because they had a bonfire planned. We didn't let the weather dampen our evening though and had roasted hot dogs, smores and a great time. I think we wrapped up Spring Break in a memorable way......

I love this shot! Austin was literally mid-flip when I snapped it....

I love a full house....this was just one of my doors!

Partied out......it was fun.