The Weather - It is a Changin'!

Turn off that A/C!

Open up them windows!

Kick the kids outside to play! And you go with them!

Take a walk.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Keep a sweater handy - just in case.

You can even drive around with windows rolled down - if you want to.

Go explore.

Don't worry about parking next to the only tree in the parking lot to catch a bit of shade.

Put a leash on that dog and have him/her take you for a drag around the block.

Find a park with swings. You know what to do next.

Make plans to visit the State Fair. And keep them.

Visit the Arboretem.

Shop at your local farmer's market. And let the kids pick out something new. Or their favorite.

Kick some leaves around.

Find a new recipe for soup and cook it all day long in the slow cooker. So nice to come home to!

Make you family plans for Thanksgiving (it'll be here sooner than you think!).

Got your costume ready? (And, no, you can't wear a robe over your PJs and call it "Ready for bed." That's MY gag. Has been for years. You'll have to get creative all on your own!)

Go to a football game. No - not pro. HS or MS. Root! Root! Root! for the home team!

But don't put your flip flops away just yet. Still got some good wearin' time left before "real" shoes are a necessity.

Be grateful for fall, y'all!

It only lasts for a few moments - and then poof! It's gone!

Wise Words of Wisdom and Hope

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

I don't know how but we have a responsibility to ourselves and to our God to try."

A poignant thought and scripture.

One of the most difficult commandments is that we are to forgive one another.

Harsh words. Unkind thoughts. Turning our back on someone when they need us. Speaking out in haste. Ignoring silent pleas for help. Hurting someone on purpose and think that it will have no consequence. Failing to ask for forgiveness. Or asking for forgiveness but not giving it in return.

There are so many ways to hurt each other. Intentioned or not.

Be kind to one another. Pay it forward. Give back. Say "please" and "thank you". Don't threaten to "never" forgive someone, because you should. You will. You must. For peace of mind, healing of hearts, and quieting the rebellious soul.

In D&C 18: 15, we are told:

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

Could we be that one soul?

It's a harsh world. Let's work at softening the edges and bringing joy to others - and to ourselves by doing so. Because there are so many out there that are more than willing and happy to tear us down. We need to lift each other up.

Be kind.

Be loving.

Be forgiving.

Just be.

Is it time yet?

SO ready for summer to be over. I'm already excited about the change in weather and it can't get here soon enough. Of course, those cooler temps will be followed by colder/wetter temps - and that will start my "So ready for winter to be over" complaints. You just can't make this girl happy, I guess.

If only the fall would last longer than 15 minutes. Same thing with spring. Just when I get used to sweaters, falling leaves, pumpkins, turning off the AC & not needing to turn the heat on "just yet" - suddenly - there it is. Winter.

Trying to dig out coats, gloves, hats, long johns, extra blankets, etc. I actually have to wear shoes when it turns cold. Well, at least out in public. For some reason flip flops are not a good idea when it's really breezy!

If summer makes me complain about a certain level of discomfort then I'm absolutely terrible when it gets really cold - and WET - right around February. Makes me shiver just thinking about it!

But for now I'll be happy to window shop all the cool seasonal crafts, avoid the candles that smell like a fireplace, put off baking cookies, forget about putting bales of hay on the front porch, keep my hands to myself when I spot a cute anything made out of courdaroy, and put off buying any Halloween candy.

I can wait.

Patiently.

(Insert drumming of fingers here. Repeatedly.)

Is it time yet?

I Got Skills!

Napoleon Dynamite would be so proud! Last Friday was parents’ night for South Grand Prairie High School’s marching band. Jim & I, of course, attended because Eric was performing. (You can certainly tell where Eric is in the tuba line because of the sudden drop in height of one of the players. Yup, that would be him.) Eric called Friday afternoon and told me to make sure I was wearing comfortable shoes. Why? Because the parking lot was a lot further away than they expected so I should be prepared. Kind of odd, but okay. So we get to the stadium, parking where we usually park and stroll in to the stadium and take our seats on the bleachers. After the kids lined, all in their spaces with bright, shiny, sweaty faces, they performed a really short routine. Just a teaser for the upcoming games. The band director introduced all the board members, student teacher, flag corp, etc. And reminded us all of the ongoing fund raiser. You know – ward business kind of stuff. Then THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! “Parents, please raise your hand so that your student will know where you’re sitting.” I look to my right and neither one of his parents are raising their hands. Jim’s not raising his and neither was I just figured that he knew exactly where they were sitting and he was headed their way. That is until I spy Eric running across the field, looking straight at me, with the biggest grin on his face. Dunt, dunt, duuuuuuh! He was coming for me!!! Slowly he turned. Step by step. Inch by inch. Oh, wait. Wrong story. That would be Abbott & Costello, not Eric & Mimi. Sorry. So I met him at the edge of the field and he took me on to my spot. Right on the 40 yard line “cash mark”. I looked around and couldn’t see anybody ready to offer but then he explained it was actually “hash mark”. Oh. Big difference. He very quickly ran me through the two sets (24 and 25 if anyone’s interested) that I was supposed to learn in 5 minutes. Sure seemed like a lot less. I asked him to slow down, show me how to do the moves, but he told me (with an even bigger grin) that he wasn’t allowed to do that. Just talk me through it. Great. So I learned how to stand, where to find my mark, how to hold my arms and hands in place (EYE LEVEL, MIMI!), and how to take (mother, may I?) 9 steps backwards. Not big ones. Sort of ¾ size ones. Not on the balls of my feet but more on the middle of my feet. Huh? About the time I was sorta kinda almost got it, the band director called for all kids to leave the field. Whaaaaaaat? The drum line started doing their thing to give us a beat to move to. I found out where Eric was standing (his smile was now at the excessive wattage point and he could have lit up all of South GP with that grin) and mouthed to him that was SOOOOOO grounded. I actually tried the moves. Held my hands at eye level, arms held high, bingo arms flying in the wind, shuffled my feet, moved to the left, took a couple of steps backwards. Ta da! My proudest move? That I didn’t fall down. Or pass out. Eric was kind enough to escort me back off the field, laughing all the way. He was so danged proud of himself and how he pulled one over on his Mimi. But that’s okay. I know where he sleeps. Oh, and before I climbed back up the bleachers I did the classic raising my arms over my head and gave everyone the classic victory pose. The one that most folks call the “horn” sign. I prefer the “I love you” sign – but with more oomph! Eric’s in trouble because he’s created a monster. SUPUH STAR!!!!

A Bad Meltdown Does Not a Good Mother Make

The meltdown I had last night was not her fault. I walked in from work to be greeted by my darling husband with an invitation from our youngest adopted Gdaughter to visit with them for family home evening. Her big sister is leaving for BYU in a few days and this would be the last time that we'd get to spend with her before her trip. Of course when the littest one calls her Poppy, his heart melts and he always says yes. Me? Oh, glad to go, but I was really looking forward to changing into PJs, having a homecooked meal (by him - not me), plopping down in my chair and have critters run to my side in anxious anticipation because Mom was home. Nope. Not happening. So out the door we went. Oh, don't get me wrong. I was glad to go. But it was taking a while for my brain to shift gears. (A happy compromise might have been for me to go in my PJs but I don't think any of my boys would have appreciated it.) On the road - and the phone rings. Could we pick up one of the Gsons from his dad's house in Irving and take him to his mom's house in Hurst? Any other evening would have been fine. But we were going to south Arlington (past I-20). We live in south Irving. She lives in Hurst (NE corner of Tarrant County - Ft. Worth-I-love-yew country. Quite a haul. And a tank of gas. So bickering in my brain. My heart shrinking one size smaller a la Grinch. And I just lost it. Why couldn't she pick him up? Why do we have to be inconvenienced? Blah, blah, blah. The more I thought, the more frazzled I made myself. Things came to a head after we left early from FHE. I called my daughter and let loose on her. Which I never should have done. My foul mood was just oozing all over the place. With my older daughter when we left. And now on the phone with my younger daughter. Things are tough all over right now for our clan. Everybody's going through hard times right now. And that affected my mood, as well. (Our bank account is to the point that moths are starting to hover over the numbers. Not looking very fiscally swell right about now.) So I let the worries about using the gas, taking time away from one part of the family to take care of another part of the family, when I should have changed my heart's vision slightly to the right and change my attitude. The other family members would have understood if I had explained the situation to them. I wouldn't have transferred my ugly feelings & thoughts to my other daughter which put the damper on her fun for the evening. And I would have remembered that as a mother I have rare opportunities to continue to serve my children - as in "what would Jesus do". I wasn't a very good disciple last night. Not a good example to anyone. Especially not to my younger daughter. I made her cry. I hurt her heart. And caused her more stress - which she certainly doesn't need at this point. So today I get to make amends to both my kids. Apologies are needed all the way around. And get my head and my heart back where they're supposed to be. An apology and a fervent "I love you" will make me a better mother. And remember my calling as a "mother in Zion". At least I hope so.

Time's flies when you're having fun.

Or at least that's what I've been told all my life.  And, fortunately or  unfortunately, it's all too true.

Summer time and the living isn't so easy.  Seems that the whole country is suffering from higher temps than usual.  Brown outs.  A whole community on the east coast without water services (eeewww!).  Not enough rain to refill the lakes from this ongoing drought we've had.

This past week we did have a cool front come through.  So instead of close to being 100 with high humidity we had a couple of days of 80s and wonderfully cool nights.  AC turned off.  Windows thrown open.  Nice little breeze blowing through the house.  Such a nice break from the sufferings of summer.  But, alas and alack, the "real" Texas summer returned all too soon.

So summer is passing too quickly.  Haven't been able to spend a lot of time with any of the Gkids.  We did manage to get down to Eric's Scout camp to check him out for a few hours on a couple of weekends.  We visited "the" Walmart and "the" movie theatre (four tiny auditoriums) in Athens. 

He got to come home earlier than planned.  My SIL made him an offer he couldn't refuse - a high adventure outing with their Scouts down to the Texas coast (sounds mighty high falutin', doesn't it?).  Thankfully Eric got to visit with the camp leaders, explaining the situation, and they let him go with their blessing.  AND he'll be able to return next summer to work since he left under good circumstances.

The kid is a hard worker.  A good example to others and does what is asked of him. Plus good attitude and terrific sense of humor.  Which helps when you're working in 90+ weather, in high humidity, around stinking smelly boys, etc.

Gorgeous country down there.  Almost wouldn't mind moving there.  But then we'd have to figure out how to build a portal so that Gkids and kids can zip in & out anytime.

Although it's only the middle of summer the dreaded school supplies and uniforms are already populating aisles and aisles at local stores everywhere.  I can feel a disturbance in the universe as kids & their parents are trying to grab and hold on to every last second of summer.

Time for a trip to DQ for a Blizzard, another trip to the frozen yogurt store, or a visit to my local snow cone stand.  That's how I get to celebrate summer this year.  That and thank the inventors of air conditioning!!!

Good Times

Just got a call from my dear, sweet, talented, TALENTED friend Lynn.  She just invited Jim & me to be with at her being sealed to her husband Mert.  They were only together for a short time here.  But after our trip to the temple, she'll get to be with him for all eternity THERE!  And that's what counts.  She's an amazing woman.  And if Mert had enough good sense to marry her - then he was an amazing man.  Anybody who has John Wayne as his hero is all right in my book!  This is a real honor for us.  And a dream come true for her.  And we're grateful that we got to be at both wedding ceremonies.  For time.  And now for all eternity.

Got to spend last weekend with my Gson Eric.  What a blast we had!  Movie out, movies in, eating out (Thai, Vietnamese, and Sweet Tomatoes), cooking in, checking out boots & cowboy hats at a local western wear shop, laughing, hugs, errand running, visiting the DFW National Cemetary to honor heros and to give him a history lesson, church, decorating the front yard with American flags in honor of Memorial Day & his hero Poppy, more laughing, and finally ending with his learning how to make his favorite meal from his Mimi (Buttermilk Chicken, if you must ask).  Yes, his mother has the recipe.  And, yes, she does cook it & has learned an ever better way to make it (what did we do before slow cookers?).  He was so proud of himself.  And I bet his mom will let him cook it himself from time to time.

His parents were very gracious in letting me have him for the long weekend.  They were going out of town to celebrate their anniversary and one lucky soul (well, really two lucky souls) was (were?) going to have 24/7 access to him.  Jim & I were the winners!!!  Eric leaves in short bit to staff Scout camp for two months.  So I got extra time with him before he leaves.  So I guess this means when he goes on his mission I'll get him for a month before he goes?  No?  Darn.

I'm grateful than all my Gkids live close.  If any of them ever decide to move outside of the DFW area - we're in trouble.  And the boys?  Well, when they have kids there just going to have to figure out how to make a living here!

I've joked for years that I'd love to have a compound (no, not like the wackos in Waco) where everyone could have their own house and we could have access to all Gkids all the time.  My kids were lucky in that their Meemaw lived a short drive to Oak Cliff and so got to visit her often.  Lucky Meemaw.  Luckier them.

Summer's coming soon.  I've declared it so by having my toenails painted the brightest cobalt blue.  That's my official declaration for summer arriving.  And with the summer, HOPEFULLY, more time with the other three Gkids.  Geography/schedules have not always been in our favor in getting to play with them.  I've got stuff planned. 

Attention K-mart shoppers, I mean, Gkids!  I'm going to get you!  You parents have been warned and if have to alert the media I will.  "Mimi kidnaps Gkids.  Again . . . "

And we'll have fun building memories.  Laugh a little.  Hug a little.  Go on some adventures. You have been notified.  Save some time for me this summer.

Time passes all too quickly.  My time with you is too precious.  Worth more than all the riches in the world.  I want good memories, enough to last through the eternities. 

The happiest thing you could ever say to one another would be, "Do you remember the time that Mimi did (insert crazy stunt here)?" 

Or "Can you believe that she danced in the (car, church, Kroger's, Half Price Books - take your pick from a LONG list) and didn't care if anyone was looking?"

I pulled some stuff on my kids - but with my Gkids, it seems that at times I don't have a filter.  But I'm fine with that

Let the good times roll!