A View From the Crosswalk!

One of my old crosswalk kids walked by today.  My goodness, time sure does get away.  She's two years out of high school already and it seems like just last week she was walking by in her ROTC uniform. 

I asked her what she's doing now and she just smiled so big and said that she had a 10 month old baby girl!  The baby was obviously the light of her life and she is so proud of herself that she works the overnight shift at a nearby store so she can better care for her little one.  And she should be proud of herself.  It sounds like she is properly sacrificing her own life now that she has chosen to bring along another little person to take part in this topsy-turvy world that we live in.  And I will pray that she will continue to do so.  I will pray that the "toy" won't grow stale and annoying and she won't become weary and move on to more interesting activities. 

I am so reminded though of why I love children so much.  They are such innocents, so fresh and full of promise and hope.  And unfortunately for some, people we so call "parents" get hold of them and totally ruin a good thing because of their self centered thinking that the child is here for their entertainment and future success.  I mean, it's only 18 years!  I know that sounds like forever to a 20 year old person but to a 51 year old it's merely "a mist" as James puts it.  Such a short amount of time to give of yourself to "train up a child in the way he should go", teaching them to know God and instilling self discipline and respect for others.  And when you think about it, doing it that way actually turns out to be in the parent's best interest because then the child will grow to respect and honor him or her and everybody can eventually stand back in joy.

So I'll be encouraged!  Encouraged by Megan and her devotion to her tiny one that is so dependent on her .  And encouraged by the many children I see each day that are being raised by parents who CHOOSE second position. 

              

An Idea!

All two of you have probably heard of this idea before but in case you haven't I think it's a good one if I say so myself and have really enjoyed doing it.  I'm talking about the idea of saving ideas! 

Here's the deal:  My dad gives me lots of magazines to peruse.  Their subject matter includes cooking, gardening, home decorating, and even travel.  It can get a little overwhelming at times but I've discovered that, when I do get to look at them,  the best way to utilize them is to tear out pages of things that sound interesting and might be something I would want to use down the road.  I have a file drawer that has folders for all of those interests I mentioned before and so, instead of saving the whole magazine and forgetting what was even in it, I just tear out what I like, put it in a folder, and throw the rest away.  

I'd saved quite a few ideas on home decorating so when I did my remodel last year I was able to go back and remember and use some of those plans and goals I'd collected.  Pretty handy!

I don't know about you but I'm always spotting ideas for little projects that I'm positive I can do if I just had the time.  Well, now when I do have the time I go back and see what little crafty thing I might enjoy.  It's much more fun than sitting in front of the TV getting absolutely nothing productive done.  

So there's my idea.  If you have a little tidbit of an idea I'd love for you to comment about it.  I just cleaned out my folders yesterday so I have room! : )   

  

Just so crafty!

I found this not-so-pretty box at a garage sale last weekend so got a bee in my bonnet to redo it.  I've had a little decoupage experience so thought I'd try that medium for my little art project.  

  

And here's the finished product.  I used this saying a lot with Kaylee when she was in middle and high school and a few years ago a friend had given me a card with the saying on it so I used that along with a little fabric and ric-rac and voila!  A brand new little keep box for my darling daughter.

Next on my project list is a little something for a baby great niece!  Shhhhh! (it's a secret!) 

Proud x 2!

 Well, Bobby's birthday came and went and one of his gifts was this t-shirt quilt that I made for him.  I made Kaylee one and gave it to her at Christmas of her freshman year of college and considering Bobby is now 21, I guess it was about time I got on the ball and made his. 

The baby t-shirt on the far left is one he wore when he was about 1 and it has a jet plane on the front of it.  I couldn't resist using it since Bobby now flies airplanes.  The other shirt blocks represent elementary school, Bible Drill, drumline, baseball, college, the Air National Guard, and one even has the pockets of a shirt he wore as a mechanic.  

Some of the in between fabric is from an old shirt of Bob's.  Another is from some of his old jeans.  And then there's one piece that's from the fabric of a flannel pillow case that my mom made when Bobby was about 10.  Needless to say the quilt represents lots of treasured memories.  

So I'm proud!  I'm proud of the work I did on this very special quilt and I'm incredibly proud of it's new owner!   

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Bobby is 21 tomorrow!  So as part of the celebration I'm going to share 21 bits of information about what makes him who he is:
1. He is a pilot.
2. He is an Air National Guardsman.
3. He qualified expert in small arms at Air Force basic training.
4. His nicknames have been Bo, Bozy, Bobber, BoBo, and Boogs.
5. He has played all kinds of percussion instruments and was captain of his drumline in h.s.
6. Till Bobby was about 10 he had a best friend named Harry.  It was a stuffed dog.
7. When he was about five he had a dream to be a trash man when he grew up and he'd wait patiently outside to watch for the garbage truck.
8. He currently serves as captain for his flight team at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
9. He worked for about two years as a mechanic.
10. Bobby made a recording of himself singing the Michael Buble song "This Crazy Life".
11. He was judged best quad at an international percussion competition.
12. Just this weekend out in west Texas he killed a hog from a pickup using a 9mm pistol.
13. Bobby was in fifth grade before he could clearly say his r's.  Our friend and neighbor across the street was named Merle (Mool).  And he named his dog Rascal (Wascal).
14. He got seven traffic tickets in his 280ZX.  He blamed it on the car but the first week he had his new truck he got a ticket!
15. Bobby believed in and accepted Jesus as his Savior during a Christmas performance when he was eight. 
16. Bobby never climbed out of his crib.  He just took the thing apart and slid down the rails.
17. Once when working out to prepare for basic training, Bobby rode his bike way out in the country and then called me wanting to know how to get back home.
18. Bobby was crazy about Pokemon when he was about eight and Bob would make Pokemon toast for him.
19. He got kicked out of summer school around 10th grade because he couldn't wake up to get there.
20. Bobby was named 2nd runner up in Mr. DHS his senior year.

21. He sent Kaylee to the ER for stitches when he hit her in the eye with a toy pistol.        

Happy Birthday Bobby!  Your dad and I have instructed, laughed, worried, prayed, stood proud, and especially shared the joy of watching you grow from a precious little boy into the strong and mature young man that you have become.  We love you! 

Next on the Happy List

Hasn't someone said that happiness is found in your own backyard?  I thought of that today as I was out puttering around in my flower garden and pulling weeds from the yard.  It's just so satisfying to create beauty and that's what my flower garden has become, a thing of beauty and a great source of satisfaction.

Only a few things are blooming but I wanted to show pictures anyway!

 I love these flowers and they came from some seeds that my friend in the country gave me a couple of years ago.  They didn't do much last year but have really taken off this time.  I'm not sure what they're called but I think they're Bouncing Bet.  I love how they are different colors.

Both of these next plants are, again, from seeds my friend gave me.  I think the one on the left might be a penstemon but I'm not sure.  Real soon it'll have little yellow flowers all up and down the top of it.  Not sure what the wispy little gems are on the right but I love their different texture in my garden.  If any of you have any insight on what it's called let me know. 



Dance Update

It's Monday night with another dance class under our belt.  As I said in the last post about dancing, our class is from 8:30 till 10:00 so since we're used to going to bed around 9:30, Monday's is a pretty late and tiring night for us old folks!  But here's what things sounded like tonight around 9:30:

Me:  I LOVE THIS!!  I'm having so much fun!  Oh, this is Josh Turner and "Why Don't We Just Dance"!!  I love this song.  Wheeeee! 

Bob:  Whew, it's 9:30! 30 more minutes!  Well, I can probably hold a snuff can to a bear's tail for 30 minutes.  Surely I can do this!

My husband!  What a trooper!

P.S.  Don't tell him I said so but he's actually quite a good dancer and I personally think we're the best in the class! :)