Something to ponder as we head into the new year.
CR
SLOW DAY IN TEXAS
It's a slow day in a little East Texas town. The sun is beating down, and
the streets are deserted.
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.....
On this particular day a rich tourist from back East is driving through
town. He stops at the motel and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he
wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the bill and runs next
door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to
the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier
of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the
local prostitute, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer
her "services" on credit.
The hooker rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with the hotel
owner.
The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the rich
traveler will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 bill,
states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves
town.
No one produced anything. No one earned anything.
However, the whole town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with
a lot more optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is
conducting business today.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Let there be light.
Pitcher this...a middle school auditorium filled with people, the stage alight with golden light and the chorus singing like angels...when suddenly the lights turn on blinding everyone in the room for a instant...Now visualize my face filled with horror as I realize that it was MY shoulder that flipped on the lights as I was leaning against the wall !!! LOL
Friday, November 27, 2009
My Book
I am going to post the first chapter of my book on here, I would love to hear what anyone thinks of it.
Chapter 1
Strong, cold fingers dug painfully into my arms, I struggled frantically to be free of them. Glancing around hysterically I realized that I was being held, suspended above a chasm filled by two massive spheres spinning against one another. Instantly I ceased my struggle and I stared frozen in fear at what lay below me. The friction of the huge orbs motion caused blue lighting to shoot out like static-infused hairs, waving in a wind that never blew in the same direction twice.
Bolts of lighting flashed towards us only to be deflected away by some unseen force, which was able to push aside the electricity like light reflecting off a mirror. However an icy wind remained; tearing at my clothing and whipping my hair so fiercely against my skin, it stung like needles on my face.
The sudden pressure of lips against my ear startled me; they were warm and soothed the burning pain caused by the steady icy wind. “You will never be found” it came as a whisper but, I was certain that it had been shouted so that I could hear what he was saying over the howl of the wind. I strained to see who it was that was doing this to me but his face was blank as if it only existed as a black void.
I opened my mouth to scream but the force of the wind sucked the sound along with my breath away leaving me gasping for air. Suddenly I was released from the crushing grip of his hands and I was falling. No longer protected, the lightning surged towards me like hungry snakes striking at their prey. My skin burned at each contact point. Closing my eyes I wished for death; the pain was beyond anything I thought possible.
Gasping for breath I opened my eyes; the darkness that engulfed me was disorienting. Reaching out I grouped for anything to try and orient myself. I could feel something entangling my body and with frenzied hands I tore at it freeing my legs; the soft fabric pulling away easily and I sat shivering in the cold air.
My disorientation only deepened as I noticed a red glow emanating from out of the darkness. I tried focusing my eyes. My heart thumped heavily in my chest and my throat constricted making breathing difficult. Closing my eyes I pressed my hands hard against them and took a deep breath trying to force myself to relax and think more clearly. Slowly my muddled mind began to calm. Opening my eyes, once more I tried to focus on the deep red glow emitting from out of the darkness. Blinking, I stared at it unwilling to let my confusion over take my emotions. Gradually my mind and eyes cleared and the red illumination blur shifted into my clock glaring 1:45.
Instantly recognition filled my mind and I sat bewildered looking around my dark and silent bedroom. Falling back against my pillow I sighed irritably. Trembling slightly I pulled the blanket that I had previously torn off of me back up and over my chilled body. Silently I started up at the ceiling. The beat of my heart fluttered in my chest, its uneven pulse shifting from swift rhythmic beats to faltering rolling thumps as I relaxed.
I focused on the ceiling with burning eyes, I refused to close them. I knew if I did the dream would come rushing forward and entangle me once more in its horror. The dream was familiar; a constant companion to me for as long as I could remember. Yet that familiarity did nothing to lesson the terror it instilled in me. My arms tingled as if those cold hard hands still gripped me. Shuddering, I rubbed them fiercely trying to force the impression from my mind. As my fingers warmed my arms I paused momentarily on one of the small round scars that covered my arms and legs. Once more I wondered what they were and how I had gotten them. Having no memory of where they had come from frustrated me to no end.
My life before coming into foster care at the age of five was a complete blank. I was told that I had been found wondering the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico wearing tattered clothing, and covered with terrible burns on my arms and legs. Apparently the burns had been caused by someone repeatedly burning me with a cigarette.
Over the next twelve years I was shuttled from one therapist to another and each one as useless as the one before. At first I had been convinced that they wanted to help me and that I would finally find the answer to what had happened to me. All was going well until one day while poring out my soul to Paul, he was my favorite therapist I had ever had. He was young and handsome and I like talking to him. It felt good to have someone like him take an interest in me. His office was not large but it was filled with fascinating items, mobiles hung from the ceiling and shelves held a multitude of toys. A number of chairs were positioned around the room. One wall was covered by shelves of books their multicolored spines peeking out at me, each a different in size, shape or color yet each one holding between its firm covers fantastic stories to amaze, sadden or entertain.
His desk was positioned in the corner between two large windows; there was a black stand that sat on the edge of his desk that held a silver sculpture that was suspended in thin air like magic. I loved to touch causing it to spin; I would take it off and hold it in my hand and when I placed it back on the black base it would hang suspended in the air, defying every law of physics I knew. The last wall held a large gold framed mirror that was taller then I was. The best chair was positioned in front of this mirror and it made me feel like a queen to sit there. As I gazed expectantly at him as I told him once more of my nightmare, I spoke I slowly began to realize that he was not truly looking at me. This realization crushed me; even though he was looking in my direction he was not looking at me at all he was in fact fixated by his own reflection in the mirror. That realization fell on me as if someone had dropped a ton of bricks on my head; to this day I think that the bricks would have hurt less. He was not even listening to me. I stopped talking and it took a moment for him to notice the silence, I looked at my hands uncomfortably for a moment unable to control the rush of emotion. I left that day without telling him what I had discovered and over the next few weeks I came to realize that was what he did each time I came and so from that day forth I changed.
Soon after that my new goal in life became thinking up ways to irritate my therapists. I stopped expressing my true feelings to them and just started making smart mouth comments to their questions. But the thing I got the biggest kick out of was when they would give me their stupid tests. I would choose the most awful responses I could come up with. There was nothing funnier then playing mind games with therapists. I guess that’s where I first got labeled as having problems with authority figures.
Sighing I rolled over and tentatively closed my eyes but opened them again just as quickly. It was going to be a long night. Lying on my side I tried to get comfortable on the lumpy mattress, not only was I not completely comfortable in my bed, I was not completely adjusted to my new home, the 12th since my wonderful journey through foster care had begun.
My mind wandered aimlessly around fluttering from one pointless thought to another until the drip, drip; drip from the bathroom faucet down the hall brought the thought of my most recent placement to the forefront of my mind. Clovis, New Mexico: a hot, barren speck on the map no one had ever heard of. Why I was sent here was simple: I was a problem the state wanted to forget and the easiest way to forget something was to send the problem someplace as far away as possible. I’m certain they would have loved for me to be placed at area 51 but they must have settled for Clovis instead.
I had arrived in mid-September. School had already started, but Amy, my foster parent, had given me a few days to get acclimated to my new surroundings before signing me up for classes. She told me that she felt it was important for me to get used to her and the other kids before I was thrust into the den of lions or Wildcats as the case may be with Clovis High. So not only did I have to get to know my new “family” I had to learn to navigate the halls of yet another school and make new friends. At seventeen this was not an easy endeavor. I had given up making friends years ago; what’s the point I would only be moving on soon anyway.
Starting a new school rated right up there with getting a tooth pulled. I should have been used to it by now because this was not my first time starting a new school, in fact I thought of myself as quite the pro. Clovis High was the fourth high school I had attended in the last three years, not to mention the myriad of middle and elementary school before that.
So far this school was rating right up there with my worst experiences ever. I had only been in school a few weeks when I attracted the attention of an irritating group of students I referred to as the bug squad. It consisted of Clowie and a group of four or five of her goody-two-shoe friends of hers.
They buzzed around campus like a swarm of mosquitoes descending upon anyone who they felt looked even a little down. Unfortunately for me I must have looked like a giant glowing light bulb of depression because they swarmed down upon me like a cloud of irritating biting insects, hence the term bug squad.
I must have said I’m fine a hundred times a day, but their persistent hovering continued. Their favorite behavior was to slip little notes into backpacks, books or anything for that matter that had been momentarily left unattended. The notes contained happy little sayings that were supposedly designed to ward away the dark moods of a brooding teen. I found them to be more irritating than the chicken pocks I had gotten when I was eight. That fact of the matter was I did not like to be bothered. I liked staying on the outskirts of life happily making my way though this existence with as little contact with others as possible. But Clowie and her groupies were determined to prevent that.
Rolling over on to my back I tentatively shut my eyes. The burning of my eyes was soothed and the fact that my mind was free and clear of my dream was encouraging. Waking up in the middle of the night is the worst it usually took me forever to get back to sleep. Plus the fact that the world silent and sleeping gave my mind nothing to focus on, with the lack of distraction it was constantly rushing off on some tangent or another. There was nothing to drive away the flood of my life that was constantly crashing down on me.
I pulled the blanket up and over my head and pushed my head deeper into my pillow. The previous day rushed forward and crashed against my sealed eyelids. Thoughts and faces flashed across my mind with increasing speed. Like a movie on fast forward images of all kinds hovered in my mind momentarily before flying off to some dark recess of my mind. I rolled over again and willed my mind to empty.
Well if you made it this far Good. LOL Let me know what you think thanks.
Chapter 1
Strong, cold fingers dug painfully into my arms, I struggled frantically to be free of them. Glancing around hysterically I realized that I was being held, suspended above a chasm filled by two massive spheres spinning against one another. Instantly I ceased my struggle and I stared frozen in fear at what lay below me. The friction of the huge orbs motion caused blue lighting to shoot out like static-infused hairs, waving in a wind that never blew in the same direction twice.
Bolts of lighting flashed towards us only to be deflected away by some unseen force, which was able to push aside the electricity like light reflecting off a mirror. However an icy wind remained; tearing at my clothing and whipping my hair so fiercely against my skin, it stung like needles on my face.
The sudden pressure of lips against my ear startled me; they were warm and soothed the burning pain caused by the steady icy wind. “You will never be found” it came as a whisper but, I was certain that it had been shouted so that I could hear what he was saying over the howl of the wind. I strained to see who it was that was doing this to me but his face was blank as if it only existed as a black void.
I opened my mouth to scream but the force of the wind sucked the sound along with my breath away leaving me gasping for air. Suddenly I was released from the crushing grip of his hands and I was falling. No longer protected, the lightning surged towards me like hungry snakes striking at their prey. My skin burned at each contact point. Closing my eyes I wished for death; the pain was beyond anything I thought possible.
Gasping for breath I opened my eyes; the darkness that engulfed me was disorienting. Reaching out I grouped for anything to try and orient myself. I could feel something entangling my body and with frenzied hands I tore at it freeing my legs; the soft fabric pulling away easily and I sat shivering in the cold air.
My disorientation only deepened as I noticed a red glow emanating from out of the darkness. I tried focusing my eyes. My heart thumped heavily in my chest and my throat constricted making breathing difficult. Closing my eyes I pressed my hands hard against them and took a deep breath trying to force myself to relax and think more clearly. Slowly my muddled mind began to calm. Opening my eyes, once more I tried to focus on the deep red glow emitting from out of the darkness. Blinking, I stared at it unwilling to let my confusion over take my emotions. Gradually my mind and eyes cleared and the red illumination blur shifted into my clock glaring 1:45.
Instantly recognition filled my mind and I sat bewildered looking around my dark and silent bedroom. Falling back against my pillow I sighed irritably. Trembling slightly I pulled the blanket that I had previously torn off of me back up and over my chilled body. Silently I started up at the ceiling. The beat of my heart fluttered in my chest, its uneven pulse shifting from swift rhythmic beats to faltering rolling thumps as I relaxed.
I focused on the ceiling with burning eyes, I refused to close them. I knew if I did the dream would come rushing forward and entangle me once more in its horror. The dream was familiar; a constant companion to me for as long as I could remember. Yet that familiarity did nothing to lesson the terror it instilled in me. My arms tingled as if those cold hard hands still gripped me. Shuddering, I rubbed them fiercely trying to force the impression from my mind. As my fingers warmed my arms I paused momentarily on one of the small round scars that covered my arms and legs. Once more I wondered what they were and how I had gotten them. Having no memory of where they had come from frustrated me to no end.
My life before coming into foster care at the age of five was a complete blank. I was told that I had been found wondering the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico wearing tattered clothing, and covered with terrible burns on my arms and legs. Apparently the burns had been caused by someone repeatedly burning me with a cigarette.
Over the next twelve years I was shuttled from one therapist to another and each one as useless as the one before. At first I had been convinced that they wanted to help me and that I would finally find the answer to what had happened to me. All was going well until one day while poring out my soul to Paul, he was my favorite therapist I had ever had. He was young and handsome and I like talking to him. It felt good to have someone like him take an interest in me. His office was not large but it was filled with fascinating items, mobiles hung from the ceiling and shelves held a multitude of toys. A number of chairs were positioned around the room. One wall was covered by shelves of books their multicolored spines peeking out at me, each a different in size, shape or color yet each one holding between its firm covers fantastic stories to amaze, sadden or entertain.
His desk was positioned in the corner between two large windows; there was a black stand that sat on the edge of his desk that held a silver sculpture that was suspended in thin air like magic. I loved to touch causing it to spin; I would take it off and hold it in my hand and when I placed it back on the black base it would hang suspended in the air, defying every law of physics I knew. The last wall held a large gold framed mirror that was taller then I was. The best chair was positioned in front of this mirror and it made me feel like a queen to sit there. As I gazed expectantly at him as I told him once more of my nightmare, I spoke I slowly began to realize that he was not truly looking at me. This realization crushed me; even though he was looking in my direction he was not looking at me at all he was in fact fixated by his own reflection in the mirror. That realization fell on me as if someone had dropped a ton of bricks on my head; to this day I think that the bricks would have hurt less. He was not even listening to me. I stopped talking and it took a moment for him to notice the silence, I looked at my hands uncomfortably for a moment unable to control the rush of emotion. I left that day without telling him what I had discovered and over the next few weeks I came to realize that was what he did each time I came and so from that day forth I changed.
Soon after that my new goal in life became thinking up ways to irritate my therapists. I stopped expressing my true feelings to them and just started making smart mouth comments to their questions. But the thing I got the biggest kick out of was when they would give me their stupid tests. I would choose the most awful responses I could come up with. There was nothing funnier then playing mind games with therapists. I guess that’s where I first got labeled as having problems with authority figures.
Sighing I rolled over and tentatively closed my eyes but opened them again just as quickly. It was going to be a long night. Lying on my side I tried to get comfortable on the lumpy mattress, not only was I not completely comfortable in my bed, I was not completely adjusted to my new home, the 12th since my wonderful journey through foster care had begun.
My mind wandered aimlessly around fluttering from one pointless thought to another until the drip, drip; drip from the bathroom faucet down the hall brought the thought of my most recent placement to the forefront of my mind. Clovis, New Mexico: a hot, barren speck on the map no one had ever heard of. Why I was sent here was simple: I was a problem the state wanted to forget and the easiest way to forget something was to send the problem someplace as far away as possible. I’m certain they would have loved for me to be placed at area 51 but they must have settled for Clovis instead.
I had arrived in mid-September. School had already started, but Amy, my foster parent, had given me a few days to get acclimated to my new surroundings before signing me up for classes. She told me that she felt it was important for me to get used to her and the other kids before I was thrust into the den of lions or Wildcats as the case may be with Clovis High. So not only did I have to get to know my new “family” I had to learn to navigate the halls of yet another school and make new friends. At seventeen this was not an easy endeavor. I had given up making friends years ago; what’s the point I would only be moving on soon anyway.
Starting a new school rated right up there with getting a tooth pulled. I should have been used to it by now because this was not my first time starting a new school, in fact I thought of myself as quite the pro. Clovis High was the fourth high school I had attended in the last three years, not to mention the myriad of middle and elementary school before that.
So far this school was rating right up there with my worst experiences ever. I had only been in school a few weeks when I attracted the attention of an irritating group of students I referred to as the bug squad. It consisted of Clowie and a group of four or five of her goody-two-shoe friends of hers.
They buzzed around campus like a swarm of mosquitoes descending upon anyone who they felt looked even a little down. Unfortunately for me I must have looked like a giant glowing light bulb of depression because they swarmed down upon me like a cloud of irritating biting insects, hence the term bug squad.
I must have said I’m fine a hundred times a day, but their persistent hovering continued. Their favorite behavior was to slip little notes into backpacks, books or anything for that matter that had been momentarily left unattended. The notes contained happy little sayings that were supposedly designed to ward away the dark moods of a brooding teen. I found them to be more irritating than the chicken pocks I had gotten when I was eight. That fact of the matter was I did not like to be bothered. I liked staying on the outskirts of life happily making my way though this existence with as little contact with others as possible. But Clowie and her groupies were determined to prevent that.
Rolling over on to my back I tentatively shut my eyes. The burning of my eyes was soothed and the fact that my mind was free and clear of my dream was encouraging. Waking up in the middle of the night is the worst it usually took me forever to get back to sleep. Plus the fact that the world silent and sleeping gave my mind nothing to focus on, with the lack of distraction it was constantly rushing off on some tangent or another. There was nothing to drive away the flood of my life that was constantly crashing down on me.
I pulled the blanket up and over my head and pushed my head deeper into my pillow. The previous day rushed forward and crashed against my sealed eyelids. Thoughts and faces flashed across my mind with increasing speed. Like a movie on fast forward images of all kinds hovered in my mind momentarily before flying off to some dark recess of my mind. I rolled over again and willed my mind to empty.
Well if you made it this far Good. LOL Let me know what you think thanks.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Just when you thought the evil spirits were gone…
…theeeeyyyyy’rrrreee baaaaccckkkkk… When we go to bed at night we lock all the doors and close the blinds. We were very surprised one morning recently to hear someone playing with Heidi’s car on the back porch. It’s a “scooter” car you sit on and drive around that has buttons on top to play sounds. Here’s a daytime picture of the car:
Well, as you can see once the blinds are pulled back and the door is opened – car’s buttons are being pushed, but no driver… I know it’s dark, but you get the idea
Once we took out the batteries, no more problems. If it kept playing sounds without the batteries, then we KNOW we have problems…
Well, as you can see once the blinds are pulled back and the door is opened – car’s buttons are being pushed, but no driver… I know it’s dark, but you get the idea
Once we took out the batteries, no more problems. If it kept playing sounds without the batteries, then we KNOW we have problems…
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wonderful things are happening at our house
Sorry that I have not been better about updating here. Things have gotten pretty busy of late. For one I got a job and I am now working full time and so I have a lot less time to hang out on the computer. I’m working at the same place I worked last year. It’s a contract position again and so I will only be working there until the end of the year.
Some of you may know that the last time I was there it was not a positive experience at all. In fact it was extremely stressful. So why you ask did I go back when I got the call?? Well to be truthful my mouth opened and the words came out before my brain had stopped screaming NO!!!!! but by the time my brain had got control of its self the deed was done and I began work two days latter.
After working there for over a week I can say that I’m so glad that my mouth was in control and not my brain because it has been the best experience at work I have in years. The Lord knew I needed to go back there because I was paralyzed with fear in going back to work after my last experience there. I feel so much more confident and happy, I know now that I when it come time to start looking for my next job I will no longer be held back by my fears.
The other wonderful news we got just today. Will got a promotion at work and he will now be a CSM at Wal-mat he will not be getting more hours but he will be getting paid more for the hours he does work!! He is so happy as is the rest of the family! We will have to go out and celebrate on the next night we are all home!
I have also been working on my book. So for all those who have read the chapters I have done already, you will have to start all over again. Because I’m changing a lot of what I’ve done before thanks to all of the wonderful input and ideas I think its going to be a great story one day. Sorry don’t expect to read it too soon I’m going pretty slow right now but I will let those of you who want to read it when I get some done.
Well that’s all for now, I will have to post photos of Heidi’s and Will’s birthdays that have been in the last few weeks. Boy am I behind.
Some of you may know that the last time I was there it was not a positive experience at all. In fact it was extremely stressful. So why you ask did I go back when I got the call?? Well to be truthful my mouth opened and the words came out before my brain had stopped screaming NO!!!!! but by the time my brain had got control of its self the deed was done and I began work two days latter.
After working there for over a week I can say that I’m so glad that my mouth was in control and not my brain because it has been the best experience at work I have in years. The Lord knew I needed to go back there because I was paralyzed with fear in going back to work after my last experience there. I feel so much more confident and happy, I know now that I when it come time to start looking for my next job I will no longer be held back by my fears.
The other wonderful news we got just today. Will got a promotion at work and he will now be a CSM at Wal-mat he will not be getting more hours but he will be getting paid more for the hours he does work!! He is so happy as is the rest of the family! We will have to go out and celebrate on the next night we are all home!
I have also been working on my book. So for all those who have read the chapters I have done already, you will have to start all over again. Because I’m changing a lot of what I’ve done before thanks to all of the wonderful input and ideas I think its going to be a great story one day. Sorry don’t expect to read it too soon I’m going pretty slow right now but I will let those of you who want to read it when I get some done.
Well that’s all for now, I will have to post photos of Heidi’s and Will’s birthdays that have been in the last few weeks. Boy am I behind.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Ben's new look
Ben wanted a new look. So I took him to get his hair cut, he had been talking about getting his hair colored off and on so when he brought it up again I was not surprised. So that is what he did here are the before and after. I like it!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Our Van is possessed by evil spirits!!!!!
It was quarter to 6 in the morning and Ben, Josh and I were walking out of the ward building after attending early morning seminary. The sky was still dark but there was a hint of gold on the horizon assuring us that once more we were to be blessed with a glorious new day.
I asked Ben if he wanted to drive home and he replied that he was tired and did not want to drive home... Strange he was always jumping at any opportunity to drive. I shrugged it off because teens can be so bipolar. LOL. The drive home began normally in fact I was enjoying it because I did not have to grip the door handle with white-knuckled fear over the common occurrence of one of my sons driving too close to the curb or on coming traffic.
The discussion for the morning was led by Joshua and it was concerning that fact as to why our church says it does not believe in Adams transgressing yet at the same time in the Book of Mormon the Lamanites descendents were cursed with dark skin because of what their parents did.
I’m all for a good discussion on theology but my brain was half asleep and I was having a little trouble getting it ramped up for this depth of a discussion so early in the morning. Somewhere in between me trying to drive and answer Josh’s question I heard Ben fussing about the radio and that it was not working right. I brushed it off as nothing new, mornings generally did not produce the best signal and we were always having to change the channel because of static.
I was at that moment was messing with the AC (yes we do need AC at 6 AM in Florida even in September) I had had it on the defrost mode because the warmth of the out side air and the cool of the inside of the van tends to fog up the windows! It was getting a little on the cold side and so I switched it off. After a second or two the sensation of cold air billowing upon my sandaled feet made its way through my mind and registered I though hey dummy you turned to AC to indoor floor air instead of turning it off. I glanced down and that is when the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. The AC WAS turned OFF!!
Ok suddenly driving got a lot more difficult I could not figure out how in the world the AC could still be on and blowing when it was turned off. Josh was still going on and on (he was totally oblivious as to what was going on.) That’s when Ben’s insistent chatter regarding the radio registered full force. The radio was turning its self on and off.
I looked at the dash board and the ABS light came on as did the break and air bag lights. I was begging to freak out a bit. At that point the radio turned off completely killing even the clock display. Suddenly the right turn signal turned on and no matter what I did it would not turn off but the crazy thing was it should not be on at all the switch was not switched.
Suddenly the headlights turned off! I was driving in the dark the only light was that of the flashing yellow right turn signal. By this time my heart was pounding and I was finding it hard to understand my mind was shutting down. It was like I was stuck in some Twilight Zone episode. Oh even worse God was angry at Josh for all his questioning.
Josh had by now become aware of our predicament and was silent for a moment. Then he and Ben began issuing instructions as to what was going on and why I don’t honestly know what they were saying. We were about 4 blocks from home when the engine began to falter and the van was jerking down the road the right signal had stopped and I was driving without head lights down a road full of traffic making their way to and from the high school. I was afraid one of those new teen drivers would not see me and crash into me. This fear was the most profound at the four way stop two blocks from my house. Finally it was my turn to go and I stepped on the gas and the car lurched an inch and faltered. There were cars at each street of that intersection I slammed on the gas with all my strength and the van just made tinny jerking motions further into the intersection.
That’s all I needed was for the van to die in the center of a four way stop during the morning rush to get to the high school the traffic jam this would create would be enormous. At this point I let up off of the gas and the van shot through the intersection like some possessed demon!!! What the HECK??? Now the van drives with no gas and stops when I push on the gas? The boys were telling me to just pull over and stop but I was bound and determined to get this monster home and into the driveway so that my wonderful all knowing husband could either cast out the evil spirit with his priesthood power or fix it with his auto know-how. As this point I was leaning towards the need of some holy water.
The driveway was in view and I flipped the left turn signal but nothing happened!! So I griped the wheel and rolled into the driveway. I was never so glad to be home in all of my life! I put the beast in park and turned off the key and the head lights flashed on! Ok dumb things a little late so I reached down to turn them off and click they did not turn off. The radio suddenly turned on as did the AC. So there I sat holding my keys in my had whith everything in the off position but nothing was off. I was frozen. Now I know I would not survive a horror movie I would just sit there like a dolt and go WHAAAATT the heck???!!! Then whack it would be all over for me.
I got out as Will came out of the house the boys had gone for him at my instruction and he calmly said it’s the battery! I’m like no way how in the heck could it be the battery only an evil spirit could keep the lights and stuff on when they were off!! He was insistent I was unrepentant in my belief of something more sinister. I popped the hood as Will grabbed our battery charger and as he attached it to the van I did not cease in my verbal bla bla bla!!!
No sooner did he get it all hooked up and charging when everything instantly turned off. He looked at me with a smug expression and said see. Yes I did see and I was silenced but only for a moment. LOL He asked for my keys and he got into that demented vehicle and turned it over and everything was back to normal.
Wow he does have some powerful priesthood power all he did was to lay his hands on the van and it was fixed. Well mostly. After the battery what charged he took it to the shop and we are now over $300.00 lighter in our pockets because the alternator needed replacing.
What is it with me and haunted technology?????
I asked Ben if he wanted to drive home and he replied that he was tired and did not want to drive home... Strange he was always jumping at any opportunity to drive. I shrugged it off because teens can be so bipolar. LOL. The drive home began normally in fact I was enjoying it because I did not have to grip the door handle with white-knuckled fear over the common occurrence of one of my sons driving too close to the curb or on coming traffic.
The discussion for the morning was led by Joshua and it was concerning that fact as to why our church says it does not believe in Adams transgressing yet at the same time in the Book of Mormon the Lamanites descendents were cursed with dark skin because of what their parents did.
I’m all for a good discussion on theology but my brain was half asleep and I was having a little trouble getting it ramped up for this depth of a discussion so early in the morning. Somewhere in between me trying to drive and answer Josh’s question I heard Ben fussing about the radio and that it was not working right. I brushed it off as nothing new, mornings generally did not produce the best signal and we were always having to change the channel because of static.
I was at that moment was messing with the AC (yes we do need AC at 6 AM in Florida even in September) I had had it on the defrost mode because the warmth of the out side air and the cool of the inside of the van tends to fog up the windows! It was getting a little on the cold side and so I switched it off. After a second or two the sensation of cold air billowing upon my sandaled feet made its way through my mind and registered I though hey dummy you turned to AC to indoor floor air instead of turning it off. I glanced down and that is when the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. The AC WAS turned OFF!!
Ok suddenly driving got a lot more difficult I could not figure out how in the world the AC could still be on and blowing when it was turned off. Josh was still going on and on (he was totally oblivious as to what was going on.) That’s when Ben’s insistent chatter regarding the radio registered full force. The radio was turning its self on and off.
I looked at the dash board and the ABS light came on as did the break and air bag lights. I was begging to freak out a bit. At that point the radio turned off completely killing even the clock display. Suddenly the right turn signal turned on and no matter what I did it would not turn off but the crazy thing was it should not be on at all the switch was not switched.
Suddenly the headlights turned off! I was driving in the dark the only light was that of the flashing yellow right turn signal. By this time my heart was pounding and I was finding it hard to understand my mind was shutting down. It was like I was stuck in some Twilight Zone episode. Oh even worse God was angry at Josh for all his questioning.
Josh had by now become aware of our predicament and was silent for a moment. Then he and Ben began issuing instructions as to what was going on and why I don’t honestly know what they were saying. We were about 4 blocks from home when the engine began to falter and the van was jerking down the road the right signal had stopped and I was driving without head lights down a road full of traffic making their way to and from the high school. I was afraid one of those new teen drivers would not see me and crash into me. This fear was the most profound at the four way stop two blocks from my house. Finally it was my turn to go and I stepped on the gas and the car lurched an inch and faltered. There were cars at each street of that intersection I slammed on the gas with all my strength and the van just made tinny jerking motions further into the intersection.
That’s all I needed was for the van to die in the center of a four way stop during the morning rush to get to the high school the traffic jam this would create would be enormous. At this point I let up off of the gas and the van shot through the intersection like some possessed demon!!! What the HECK??? Now the van drives with no gas and stops when I push on the gas? The boys were telling me to just pull over and stop but I was bound and determined to get this monster home and into the driveway so that my wonderful all knowing husband could either cast out the evil spirit with his priesthood power or fix it with his auto know-how. As this point I was leaning towards the need of some holy water.
The driveway was in view and I flipped the left turn signal but nothing happened!! So I griped the wheel and rolled into the driveway. I was never so glad to be home in all of my life! I put the beast in park and turned off the key and the head lights flashed on! Ok dumb things a little late so I reached down to turn them off and click they did not turn off. The radio suddenly turned on as did the AC. So there I sat holding my keys in my had whith everything in the off position but nothing was off. I was frozen. Now I know I would not survive a horror movie I would just sit there like a dolt and go WHAAAATT the heck???!!! Then whack it would be all over for me.
I got out as Will came out of the house the boys had gone for him at my instruction and he calmly said it’s the battery! I’m like no way how in the heck could it be the battery only an evil spirit could keep the lights and stuff on when they were off!! He was insistent I was unrepentant in my belief of something more sinister. I popped the hood as Will grabbed our battery charger and as he attached it to the van I did not cease in my verbal bla bla bla!!!
No sooner did he get it all hooked up and charging when everything instantly turned off. He looked at me with a smug expression and said see. Yes I did see and I was silenced but only for a moment. LOL He asked for my keys and he got into that demented vehicle and turned it over and everything was back to normal.
Wow he does have some powerful priesthood power all he did was to lay his hands on the van and it was fixed. Well mostly. After the battery what charged he took it to the shop and we are now over $300.00 lighter in our pockets because the alternator needed replacing.
What is it with me and haunted technology?????
Saturday, September 19, 2009
My haunted house scare
Ghosts have been a constant in my life. For as long as I can remember I knew that we were not alone on this earth and especially not in certain places. Old homes for instance tend to be magnets for the weird and unexplainable.
As I have grown older I have been able to explain away most situations. For instance I have awaken at night thinking I heard someone knocking on the front door, I lay with frozen heart and ears straining to see if they knocked again. Or when I though I heard one of the kids yell MOM in the middle of the night, many a times I would make the trip up the stairs and pear into each bedroom and I look down onto still sleeping forms in bed.
I had come to the conclusion that our subconscious mind becomes restless as we sleep so to keep from being board it begins replaying memories from the day; hence we have dreams. But every once in a wile it stumbles onto the sound files of our minds and begins playing those little sound bites we have stored. I bet it gets its jollies waking us up. I can just visualize it giggling as it watches us trying to figure out if what we had just heard was real or not.
Well such a situation happened to me not long ago. I was sleeping soundly when I thought I heard a “tong” it was low and drifted through the air like a note of some kind. I lay there for a moment lessening and did not hear any more so I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off into sweet nothingness I heard it again. “tong” I quickly sat up in bed I was now pretty certain that I had indeed heard the sound.
I sat motionless my mind methodically going over each and everything possible thing I could think of that would make that sound. I still had a little bit of doubt in my mind that it had actually happened because I was only half awake when I heard it both times. I was just about to lay back down and try and sleep when it happened again. “Tong” now being completely awake I could no longer doubt that I had heard something.
Instantly I knew what it sounded like; the piano. I was momentarily relived by that thought but then the fact that no one was awake and pianos do not generally play all buy themselves made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The blood began to pound in my ears making it difficult to hear clearly with each beat of my heart echoing in my ears I tried to calm myself with logic. Ah Ha. I know a cat must have stepped on the piano causing the key to sound. I was instantly relived.
Unfortunately my relive was short lived thanks to my ever so logical mind (deep sarcasm here) my mind asked just one thing, how would the cat step on the same note multiple times with out stepping on any other. I tried to visualize one of the kitties perched on the piano bench with paw extended tapping on one key repeatedly. Of course that idea was quickly swept away…”tong” there is was again.
At this point I was no longer frightened just irritated and decided that I was going to investigate the noise. Scooby doo and the gain came to mind and I felt encouraged in my hunt. Silently I slipped out of bed. And glanced at my strong sweet protective hubby snoring softly under those inviting covers but I was determined to find out what was gong on. As I walked out of my bedroom and into the foyer I hesitated for a moment and wondered what I would do if when I went into the front room found a ghost? I paused a moment longer before I proceeded. I knew that what ever I found I would know what to do…I was a mom after all and moms can do anything right?
As I rounded the corner Forest one of our cats jumped down from the sofa. I was relived because know I knew that it had been one of the cats after all. I was just turning around to go back to bed when my eyes fell on the piano and its closed lid. My heart skipped a beat and it felt as if all of the air in the room was suddenly sucked out. I hesitated am moment. My mind ran around its self for a moment and came up empty at this point I decided that bed was the place I should be right now. I was going to cover my head and laugh about this in the morning.
As I walked back to bed I decided to take a potty break after all I was up already. LOL I had just gotten settled when “tong” for only a instant did my blood freeze in my veins, but once more my logical mind came to my rescue the sound did not come from the living room where the piano was but from the family room to my right and I knew that there was nothing in there that could have made that sound and plus the sound was coming a little more frequently now and so I was doubly determined to find the source.
I gathered myself together and left the bathroom and entered the family room when “tong” right next to me (good thing I had just gone to the bathroom) I jumped and quickly turning to my left I could see the pulsing red glare of my dying cell phone…LOL yes it was my cell phone all along I felt so silly but also relived at the same time.
Well that is my experience with my haunted house.
As I have grown older I have been able to explain away most situations. For instance I have awaken at night thinking I heard someone knocking on the front door, I lay with frozen heart and ears straining to see if they knocked again. Or when I though I heard one of the kids yell MOM in the middle of the night, many a times I would make the trip up the stairs and pear into each bedroom and I look down onto still sleeping forms in bed.
I had come to the conclusion that our subconscious mind becomes restless as we sleep so to keep from being board it begins replaying memories from the day; hence we have dreams. But every once in a wile it stumbles onto the sound files of our minds and begins playing those little sound bites we have stored. I bet it gets its jollies waking us up. I can just visualize it giggling as it watches us trying to figure out if what we had just heard was real or not.
Well such a situation happened to me not long ago. I was sleeping soundly when I thought I heard a “tong” it was low and drifted through the air like a note of some kind. I lay there for a moment lessening and did not hear any more so I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off into sweet nothingness I heard it again. “tong” I quickly sat up in bed I was now pretty certain that I had indeed heard the sound.
I sat motionless my mind methodically going over each and everything possible thing I could think of that would make that sound. I still had a little bit of doubt in my mind that it had actually happened because I was only half awake when I heard it both times. I was just about to lay back down and try and sleep when it happened again. “Tong” now being completely awake I could no longer doubt that I had heard something.
Instantly I knew what it sounded like; the piano. I was momentarily relived by that thought but then the fact that no one was awake and pianos do not generally play all buy themselves made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The blood began to pound in my ears making it difficult to hear clearly with each beat of my heart echoing in my ears I tried to calm myself with logic. Ah Ha. I know a cat must have stepped on the piano causing the key to sound. I was instantly relived.
Unfortunately my relive was short lived thanks to my ever so logical mind (deep sarcasm here) my mind asked just one thing, how would the cat step on the same note multiple times with out stepping on any other. I tried to visualize one of the kitties perched on the piano bench with paw extended tapping on one key repeatedly. Of course that idea was quickly swept away…”tong” there is was again.
At this point I was no longer frightened just irritated and decided that I was going to investigate the noise. Scooby doo and the gain came to mind and I felt encouraged in my hunt. Silently I slipped out of bed. And glanced at my strong sweet protective hubby snoring softly under those inviting covers but I was determined to find out what was gong on. As I walked out of my bedroom and into the foyer I hesitated for a moment and wondered what I would do if when I went into the front room found a ghost? I paused a moment longer before I proceeded. I knew that what ever I found I would know what to do…I was a mom after all and moms can do anything right?
As I rounded the corner Forest one of our cats jumped down from the sofa. I was relived because know I knew that it had been one of the cats after all. I was just turning around to go back to bed when my eyes fell on the piano and its closed lid. My heart skipped a beat and it felt as if all of the air in the room was suddenly sucked out. I hesitated am moment. My mind ran around its self for a moment and came up empty at this point I decided that bed was the place I should be right now. I was going to cover my head and laugh about this in the morning.
As I walked back to bed I decided to take a potty break after all I was up already. LOL I had just gotten settled when “tong” for only a instant did my blood freeze in my veins, but once more my logical mind came to my rescue the sound did not come from the living room where the piano was but from the family room to my right and I knew that there was nothing in there that could have made that sound and plus the sound was coming a little more frequently now and so I was doubly determined to find the source.
I gathered myself together and left the bathroom and entered the family room when “tong” right next to me (good thing I had just gone to the bathroom) I jumped and quickly turning to my left I could see the pulsing red glare of my dying cell phone…LOL yes it was my cell phone all along I felt so silly but also relived at the same time.
Well that is my experience with my haunted house.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I've come to realize
1. I've come to realize that peace.
Is something this world will never have.
2. I've come to realize that my job...
Is being a mom to my children and a wife to my husband and that it never ends.
3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving.
I need to turn up the radio and sing at the top of my lungs.
4. I've come to realize that I need.....
to step back and enjoy each moment of my life.
5. I've come to realize that I have lost...
the drive to reach for the stares.
6. I've come to realize that I hate it when....
I lie in bed at night and realize that I have once more wasted my day doing nothing but wish for things to be different and then realizing that I did absolutely nothing to make it so.
7. I’ve come to realize that there…
Is more to life then making money.
8. I've come to realize that money....
is a necessary evil but that you don’t need as much of it as you might think.
9. I've come to realize that certain people....
Are more interested in what others think of them then just being themselves.
10. I've come to realize that I'll always ...
Be unhappy as long as I continue to look back at what might have been.
11. I've come to realize that my sibling(s)....
live way too far away from me and that I miss them tremendously.
12. I've come to realize that my family...:)
may not perfect but that we are always there for one another.
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone...
is used to talk to my daughter who I wish lived closer.
14. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...
I had slept in for the first time in months and months.
15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep....
I worried about one of my children getting ill in the night and I might not hear them in their time of need.
16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking...
that I should have not eaten that bowl of ice cream.
17. I've come to realize that my dad....
Has done a lot of things in his life some good and some not good but he is still my dad and I love him for that good that he is and pray so that I can forgive that which is not good in him.
18. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook....
I hope that someone is on so that we can talk.
19. I've come to realize that today....
Is another day that draws me closer to the end and it frightens me.
20. I've come to realize that tonight....
I will watch HGTV until 11:00 and wake up tired in the morning.
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow...
is another chance for me to make something of myself and to step out of my comfort zone and become the woman I know is hiding deep within me.
22. I've come to realize that I really want to...
be remembered for something good I have done in my life and that it was not just a waist.
23. I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to re-post this...unknown to me.
24. I've come to realize that life...
is something that each and everyone of us waist huge portions of watching t.v. or playing on computers.
25. I've come to realize that this weekend...
will more then likely be like last weekend where nothing will be accomplished and I will feel guilty about wasting it.
26. I’ve come to realize that marriage...
is hard work and if you don’t work on it each and every day you could lose the most important person in your life forever.
27. I've come to realize that my friends...
are just acquaintances who don’t truly know me or even care to.
28. I've come to realize that this year...
has been filled with adventures, heartache, and triumphs.
30. I've come to realize that I should....
be more positive.
31. I've come to realize that I love...
my life even though I complain about it.
32. I've come to realize that I don't understand..
People who do not want their children and do everything in their power to protect them.
33. I've come to realize my past...
is just that in the past and I need to look towards a brighter future.
34. I've come to realize that parties...
are the best when there is lots of different kinds of food.
35. I've come to realize that I should always...
Be grateful for what I have
Is something this world will never have.
2. I've come to realize that my job...
Is being a mom to my children and a wife to my husband and that it never ends.
3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving.
I need to turn up the radio and sing at the top of my lungs.
4. I've come to realize that I need.....
to step back and enjoy each moment of my life.
5. I've come to realize that I have lost...
the drive to reach for the stares.
6. I've come to realize that I hate it when....
I lie in bed at night and realize that I have once more wasted my day doing nothing but wish for things to be different and then realizing that I did absolutely nothing to make it so.
7. I’ve come to realize that there…
Is more to life then making money.
8. I've come to realize that money....
is a necessary evil but that you don’t need as much of it as you might think.
9. I've come to realize that certain people....
Are more interested in what others think of them then just being themselves.
10. I've come to realize that I'll always ...
Be unhappy as long as I continue to look back at what might have been.
11. I've come to realize that my sibling(s)....
live way too far away from me and that I miss them tremendously.
12. I've come to realize that my family...:)
may not perfect but that we are always there for one another.
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone...
is used to talk to my daughter who I wish lived closer.
14. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...
I had slept in for the first time in months and months.
15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep....
I worried about one of my children getting ill in the night and I might not hear them in their time of need.
16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking...
that I should have not eaten that bowl of ice cream.
17. I've come to realize that my dad....
Has done a lot of things in his life some good and some not good but he is still my dad and I love him for that good that he is and pray so that I can forgive that which is not good in him.
18. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook....
I hope that someone is on so that we can talk.
19. I've come to realize that today....
Is another day that draws me closer to the end and it frightens me.
20. I've come to realize that tonight....
I will watch HGTV until 11:00 and wake up tired in the morning.
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow...
is another chance for me to make something of myself and to step out of my comfort zone and become the woman I know is hiding deep within me.
22. I've come to realize that I really want to...
be remembered for something good I have done in my life and that it was not just a waist.
23. I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to re-post this...unknown to me.
24. I've come to realize that life...
is something that each and everyone of us waist huge portions of watching t.v. or playing on computers.
25. I've come to realize that this weekend...
will more then likely be like last weekend where nothing will be accomplished and I will feel guilty about wasting it.
26. I’ve come to realize that marriage...
is hard work and if you don’t work on it each and every day you could lose the most important person in your life forever.
27. I've come to realize that my friends...
are just acquaintances who don’t truly know me or even care to.
28. I've come to realize that this year...
has been filled with adventures, heartache, and triumphs.
30. I've come to realize that I should....
be more positive.
31. I've come to realize that I love...
my life even though I complain about it.
32. I've come to realize that I don't understand..
People who do not want their children and do everything in their power to protect them.
33. I've come to realize my past...
is just that in the past and I need to look towards a brighter future.
34. I've come to realize that parties...
are the best when there is lots of different kinds of food.
35. I've come to realize that I should always...
Be grateful for what I have
Monday, August 24, 2009
Back to school
Wow its nice to have the house almost to my self once more. I have Heidi home but she is easy to keep entertained, granted by me but then I guess I can't have everything.
All the girls were so excited to be going back to school. I walked them there this morning and that chattered all the way! They talked about every thing and nothing at the same time its funny how little girls can do that.
Autumn was a little nervous about it but way excited as well. She was worried about not having everything she would need in her back pack this morning. I told her all she needed was some paper and a pen, to write down what her teachers told her she would need to bring in for school supplies. Then she would bring them the next day. She freaked out and said "how in the world do you know?" I looked at her and said well this is not the first year I have had children in middle school. how many children have I had? and how many years did they all go to middle school? she just glared at me and thought I was crazy. Oh well.
Ben drove to early morning seminary today, out of all my kids he is the only one to have any interest in driving. He is always volunteering to drive Will or I when ever we go out. It was not too bad but I did worry about this big tree we almost took out!! Ben calmly stated that he had lost of room and that my screaming did not help he drive any. And for the record I did not scream. I just spook loudly.
This is Josh's last year in high school I can't believe how fast time has gone. He has decided that he wants to go into graphic design. He had been planing on being an Engineer. but he hats to do math. I suggested to him that perhaps he should major in Engineering and minor in graphic design that way he has more then one option in this big bad world. He told me he would think about it.
Court has been postponed for our foster girls until the 21st of September. That is the date that their parents could loose custody of them permanently. We have decided that we are not going to be adopting them and they know this and this did not seam to upset them too much. There is a family that has shown some interest in adopting all four of them. They are great kids and I think it will not be hard to find a forever family for them. But we have been getting a lot of pressure to adopt them. There is one person in particular that keeps harping on it. she tells me that we will regret not adopting them for the rest of our lives. Well I know this is not true. We do not want to raise any more children. I want to start my own life now and get a job and pay off the house and travel. Plus I know deep in my heart that I do not love the girls the way they need to be loved. I love them as a care giver not a mother. They deserve a family they want children desperately not settle for a family they just cares about them.
All the girls were so excited to be going back to school. I walked them there this morning and that chattered all the way! They talked about every thing and nothing at the same time its funny how little girls can do that.
Autumn was a little nervous about it but way excited as well. She was worried about not having everything she would need in her back pack this morning. I told her all she needed was some paper and a pen, to write down what her teachers told her she would need to bring in for school supplies. Then she would bring them the next day. She freaked out and said "how in the world do you know?" I looked at her and said well this is not the first year I have had children in middle school. how many children have I had? and how many years did they all go to middle school? she just glared at me and thought I was crazy. Oh well.
Ben drove to early morning seminary today, out of all my kids he is the only one to have any interest in driving. He is always volunteering to drive Will or I when ever we go out. It was not too bad but I did worry about this big tree we almost took out!! Ben calmly stated that he had lost of room and that my screaming did not help he drive any. And for the record I did not scream. I just spook loudly.
This is Josh's last year in high school I can't believe how fast time has gone. He has decided that he wants to go into graphic design. He had been planing on being an Engineer. but he hats to do math. I suggested to him that perhaps he should major in Engineering and minor in graphic design that way he has more then one option in this big bad world. He told me he would think about it.
Court has been postponed for our foster girls until the 21st of September. That is the date that their parents could loose custody of them permanently. We have decided that we are not going to be adopting them and they know this and this did not seam to upset them too much. There is a family that has shown some interest in adopting all four of them. They are great kids and I think it will not be hard to find a forever family for them. But we have been getting a lot of pressure to adopt them. There is one person in particular that keeps harping on it. she tells me that we will regret not adopting them for the rest of our lives. Well I know this is not true. We do not want to raise any more children. I want to start my own life now and get a job and pay off the house and travel. Plus I know deep in my heart that I do not love the girls the way they need to be loved. I love them as a care giver not a mother. They deserve a family they want children desperately not settle for a family they just cares about them.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Vacation at last
I have been in the need of a break for a very long time now. But the opportunity to take one was just not happening, so my Mom came to my rescue and we both had a vacation from all the stress and upset this big bad world has to offer.
The weather was great! We had a lot of plans and more then enough days to do it in, or so we thought. It took a few days to really get up and going I think we just needed time to detox from life, so we sat and watched movies and t.v. Ok so waist of time in some peoples minds but just what the Dr. ordered in mine.
As always when my Mom comes to visit we have to do some craft project of once kind or another and this visit was not exception to that. We made witches hats. It was a awesome project
We started on the hat the second day of our vacation...I finished it on the last night of the vacation, you could say we kept getting distracted in a very fun way.
It was a wonderful vacation. I'm looking forward to having another one. So who's up to a week in Florida???
The weather was great! We had a lot of plans and more then enough days to do it in, or so we thought. It took a few days to really get up and going I think we just needed time to detox from life, so we sat and watched movies and t.v. Ok so waist of time in some peoples minds but just what the Dr. ordered in mine.
As always when my Mom comes to visit we have to do some craft project of once kind or another and this visit was not exception to that. We made witches hats. It was a awesome project
We started on the hat the second day of our vacation...I finished it on the last night of the vacation, you could say we kept getting distracted in a very fun way.Mom wanted to go to Animal Kingdom. I was less then thrilled about the idea, as a resident of Florida I have always made it a rule to never go to a theme park in August!! One word here Hot!! I tried unsuccessfully to convince my Mom to the error of this plan, but to no avail so I determined to make the best of it. I was pleasantly surprised it was not too hot or to crowded. The best part was that around lunch time it started to rain there was a lot of thunder and lightning. We sat under a covered patio and ate lunch as we watched the tidal wave of tourists rushing out the front gate! It was great
I took this photo just before I trek up Mt. Everest! We left prayers to the Gods for our safe return. Everest is a new roller coaster and I would say it is by far the best one I have ever been on. I think one of the best parts it that at one point in the ride it comes to a stop because the Yettie has ripped the track apart and we were just about to plunge to our deaths when we started to go backwards. What a rush!!!!! We had so much fun.
I think that one of the highlights of our journey to Animal Kingdom was seeing all the animals. The Tigers were out and right next to the windows. I love tigers! they were so magnificent
We saw giant fruit bats. I have seen photos of them and even movies about them but there is nothing like a up close personal experience. They are HUGE!!
After the bats I took this photo of Mom on a bike. I told her she needed to work a little or she would not enjoy her vacation as much.
We saw a lot of other animals and went on other rides. it was a wonderful day. I have always enjoyed taking the kids to theme parks and seeing the excitement and feel their energy. But I can't tell a lie going to a park with out small children is the best thing EVER!!!! Mom and I enjoyed sitting and watching other families battle with their children. "Get off of that!", "You had better eat that! you told me you wanted it and now you wont eat it! (angry eyes glaring down at small child no longer wanting the red Popsicle that cost $4.00 and only had one lick of off it) LOL it was priceless.
We drove to Tampa and spent two days and a night with Jessica. we went to the beach the next morning! It was wonderful the water was so clear that you could see the fish swimming around you in schools. After the beach we went out to lunch and then to a movie Juli/Julia. It was so much fun all of us together, the only down part was that we were all sick! It was silly but oh well its always ok to be sick when with family. 
This is Jess out side of her apartment.
Another thing we did is go and see the light house. I have been there once before with Alan when he came a spent the day with me when he was in town for a nursing conference.
Mom and Josh climbed up to the top I had done that with Alan and did not feel the need to do it again. Here they are way up top.
Here I am way down on the ground. (you can barely see me) The two white fenced places buy me are not graves. They are around two anchors one from a ship wreck int he 1600's and the other from the 1800's.
In a building just the the right of the light house they have displayed the crystals that were once used to help magnify the light in light houses they come in all kinds of sizes. the largest one is from St. Augustin. They no longer use them in the light houses. 
One thing that Florida coast lines are know for it finding Cuban refuges. here are two boats that were actually used to bring people from Cuba to America. When the Coast guard finds these rafts they rescue the people and let the boat drift, they wash up on shore where they were found and placed on display. the first raft we know that the people on board were rescued because of the life vest that was left on it by the coast guard, but the fate of those on the other raft is not know.
It was getting late and so we walked to the beach for some last photos before going home.
The last big thing we did was go to the springs, Mom loves to ride on the boat they have there. It has become a tradition for her to ride it, she has every time she has come down. The oak trees here are hundreds of years old. and they are giant!! Ferns grow up their long branches.
The boat ride was so relaxing the cool air blowing our hair as we sailed smoothly down the river.
It was a wonderful vacation. I'm looking forward to having another one. So who's up to a week in Florida???Thursday, July 23, 2009
Budding Photographer
This post is mostly about Autumn She is such a wonderful young lady and I'm so glad that she has been able to live with us. Here she is with her new hair cut she just loves it and so do I.
Autumn has a lot of talent in art, directing, hair and costume design. But I would say that her one great love is photography she loves to do photos shoots. she is always trying to get her sisters to be the models. Hannah is always willing but Abby and Heidi are not. It's funny to see Autumn trying to get the girls to pose just the way she wants them to.
One day she got all of them dressed up as dinosaurs. Abby and Heidi lasted two photos but Hannah spent most of the morning with her.
It was suggested to Autumn that she should try working in black and white. Autumn was thrilled that Abby wanted to help so Autumn dressed her as a unconvetinal bride and they spent over an hour taking all kinds of photos. 
Autumns next victim oh I mean next subject was Heidi, Autumn wanted to take photos of her dancing, so she took Heidi up to her room and put on some music and then tried to get a three year old to cooperate.
She was met by some resistance at first.
But after a while Heidi got into it and had a lot of fun.
Autumn then focused on the wild life in our house and yard, I think she is realy good. 
I feel that one day Autumn will be famous...I just don't know in what, she has such wonderful talent that there is no way she could not be.
Autumn has a lot of talent in art, directing, hair and costume design. But I would say that her one great love is photography she loves to do photos shoots. she is always trying to get her sisters to be the models. Hannah is always willing but Abby and Heidi are not. It's funny to see Autumn trying to get the girls to pose just the way she wants them to.One day she got all of them dressed up as dinosaurs. Abby and Heidi lasted two photos but Hannah spent most of the morning with her.
It was suggested to Autumn that she should try working in black and white. Autumn was thrilled that Abby wanted to help so Autumn dressed her as a unconvetinal bride and they spent over an hour taking all kinds of photos. 
Autumns next victim oh I mean next subject was Heidi, Autumn wanted to take photos of her dancing, so she took Heidi up to her room and put on some music and then tried to get a three year old to cooperate.
She was met by some resistance at first.
But after a while Heidi got into it and had a lot of fun.
Autumn then focused on the wild life in our house and yard, I think she is realy good. 
I feel that one day Autumn will be famous...I just don't know in what, she has such wonderful talent that there is no way she could not be. Friday, July 3, 2009
Fun at the BEACH
We all got up bright and early this morning so that we could go to the beach. We have found that if we get there early there are less people and finding a parking place is much simpler.
The weather was perfect, the water on the cool side but the waves were just the right size. We walked way out into the waves, the water got deeper and deeper when suddenly it got more and more shallow. We had walked out onto a sand bar, it was so much fun. I love the beaches in Florida because it does not get deep very fast.
We would float on the waves it was so relaxing, I've never been one for big waves so this was perfect, I could have floated there all day.
Josh found a sea star!! I have never seen one before in Florida. A sea star is something that I think of finding on the west coast.
It is beautiful!! Josh said that it did not want to let go of his hand. He found it washed up on the beach, once we were done looking at it he took it way out and let it go.
The girls had a ball, there was not summer camp today and Will had the day off so it made it a perfect day to go to the beach. Autumn is at a camp for the weekend but she, Josh, Ben and I went last week.
Heidi loved playing in the waves and she collected a pile of shells she found. Nothing was too small or broken for her LOL she loved it.
Hannah also had a great time finding things on the beach she was especially proud of the crab shell she found, she ended up finding two but she gave one to Abby, because she did not find one. Hannah is very sweet and will share almost anything at a moments notice.
Abby is our little mermaid she would have stayed out swimming all day if she could have. Once on the beach she was fascinated by the tinny fish that swam up with each wave and then race back out to sea when the waves went back out
After we were done on the beach we all washed our feet off so that we could go and play in the fountains they have up on the boardwalk.
The water was warm the girls had a great time running in and out of the fountains. The best part for me was that it washed the rest of the sand off so that once we got home we did not have half of the beach with us.
It is beautiful!! Josh said that it did not want to let go of his hand. He found it washed up on the beach, once we were done looking at it he took it way out and let it go.
The girls had a ball, there was not summer camp today and Will had the day off so it made it a perfect day to go to the beach. Autumn is at a camp for the weekend but she, Josh, Ben and I went last week.Heidi loved playing in the waves and she collected a pile of shells she found. Nothing was too small or broken for her LOL she loved it.
Hannah also had a great time finding things on the beach she was especially proud of the crab shell she found, she ended up finding two but she gave one to Abby, because she did not find one. Hannah is very sweet and will share almost anything at a moments notice.
Abby is our little mermaid she would have stayed out swimming all day if she could have. Once on the beach she was fascinated by the tinny fish that swam up with each wave and then race back out to sea when the waves went back out
After we were done on the beach we all washed our feet off so that we could go and play in the fountains they have up on the boardwalk.
The water was warm the girls had a great time running in and out of the fountains. The best part for me was that it washed the rest of the sand off so that once we got home we did not have half of the beach with us.
All done and ready to head home for lunch and a movie. It was a wonderful day we all had a great time. The only thing that was wrong with it was you all were not with us.
We hope you had a wonderful day as well.
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