Driving in snow

 

Today I drove about 2 hours north to look at houses with my daughter.  (then we drove another hour to the town where we looked at houses - good thing Will is such a good baby!)  We didn't find anything promising, which was sad, but we had a good time!  I knew when I left that there was a winter storm warning for this afternoon, but I felt like it would be fine and that I should still go as planned.

 

When I woke up before I got in the shower I was checking twitter posts and there was a tweet from the LDS church which said, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear".  (Side note:  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - or LDS church - or Mormons.  I like to subscribe to them on twitter) It got me thinking that I should be prepared for anything.  So I threw a few extra bottles of water in the car, a heavier winter coat, thick gloves, and a hat, oh!  and a granola bar and blanket.  Just in case. 

 

The drive up was fabulous.  BLASTING my favorite music ("Happy" by Pharell is one of my MOST favorites!... how can you listen to that song and NOT be happy?!?!) It was good for the soul.  Seriously.  I loved being by myself just to think.  The roads were clear, I could go a comfortable speed (somewhat over the speed limit) and cruise all the way up there.  It was super fun!

 

We didn't have too much success with houses.  She needs a new realtor.  (which they are finding) But it is ALWAYS fun to be with Will.  I love to snuggle him and kiss him.  He smiles SO big when you get him out of the carseat.  He cries when you put him back, so I made Camden do that. (Who wants to be the mean guy?  Not this grandma!) We ate lunch at this super cute place in downtown Nappanee... a local place. The food was fabulous and the prices were better. 

 

We got back to Christian's parents, no snow.  15 minutes later lots of snow- blowing hard snow.  I didn't hang out too long so that I could get on the road.  I knew it would be slow going and I wanted to get home.  Little did I know... it was WHITE OUT conditions after about 10 minutes.  It kind of scared me.  I was saying prayers in my head as I drove that I would be able to stay on the road because it was super hard to see anything but white.  It was strange, bright.  I felt like I was looking into the sun because it was so bright, but it was all so white.  I soon noticed there was a car behind me, and it just stayed a safe distance behind slowing down and such as I did.  I think we were going 35, sometimes 30 on the highway!  Somehow that car made me feel so much better once I noticed it.  I was no longer alone.  I kept talking to the car... "we are in this together, so we can make it"

 

Then I decided I would put on hymns and my "remember music".  (it helps me remember what is important.  Hilary Weeks, Mercy River, Kenneth Cope, Voice Male, Cheri Call... to name a few). I LOVE music.  ALL music... I really think it can soothe the soul.  Anyway, I sang along to the hymns and begin to repeat to myself, "Slow and steady will get you home".  SLOW AND STEADY.

 

Soon I began to think about how this relates to life. So often we hear "endure to the end".  We feel like this is a "grit your teeth" and "grin and bear it" kind of thing.  I don't think so.  We read in 2Nephi in the Book of Mormon that "men are that they might have joy".  We should have joy.  I thought about how my drive up and my drive back relate to my life.  Sometimes it is smooth sailing!  I get to think my own thoughts, sing loud to my favorite music, drive faster than I should.  Careening through life.  It is easy to feel joy then!

 

Then a storm comes.  I HAVE to slow down.   I can no longer go faster than I should.  If I try to it is dangerous, and could take me longer to get where I am going.  The storm definitely makes it harder to feel joy.  It is even easy to forget how good the road was just hours before.  Sometimes I feel alone, but then, as I pray I feel strength.  Whether it is a car behind me... a friend that lifts me ("we are in this together, so we can make it"), or even added strength to do what I need to do...   To drive to my destination.  I am reminded that I can listen to hymns (be uplifted) and know that I as I am strengthened I can have peace and joy.  JOY... even in the storm, singing my heart out.    I knew I would get to my destination okay. I was not afraid.  I had peace.... and I can have that kind of peace through the storms of life.  SLOW AND STEADY.  :).

 

It was a good thought for me.  I took some pictures as I got into Noblesville.... it was coming down so big and fluffy.  -- Don't worry!  I was at a stoplight both times!  I did get home, obviously. We will all get HOME someday too.  Remember, slow and steady... and you are not alone.  Ever. ("We are in this together...")

 

 

Some of my favorite pictures...

Here are some pictures... some of my favorites, recently.  I think this picture might be my all time favorite picture!  I just LOVE these boys, and I love my grandbaby being right there with them in their cool hats!

 

 

 

Will - my grandson

 

How cute is this boy?  I cannot express how much fun it is to be a grandmother!  It makes everything else TOTALLY worth it!

I took this picture while Cam was talking to her Dad.  I love how big it makes Will look, and how tiny she is!

 

Happy Grandad, sleepy baby!

 

 

Smiles!  Couldn't you just kiss him? 

  

 

Diving!

Stirling is doing so great this year!  I am really proud of him.  He has worked VERY hard to get where he is.  He is ranked in the top ten in the State of Indiana!  He also set the school record his last meet of the year.  It was pretty exciting!   He is gearing up now for Sectionals and state.  So excited for him! (Sorry about the speedo picture! I don't even think about it anymore, but forget that it is not much clothing.)  This year the High School team decided on Power Ranger practice suits.  Stirling is the red power ranger.

 

 

 

 

Eagle Scouts

 

 

The FINALLY did it! Stirling and Payne are Eagles!  So proud of them!  It was a great day to celebrate as they were awarded their eagles.  A lot of people that mean a lot in their lives came, and that meant so much!  The picture on top is BillBrown.  (no space on purpose, it is the way the boys used to say it, like it was all on word). He was Stirling and Payne's first bus driver when they started elementary school.  He has kept up with them, and often asked me how they were doing on their Eagle progress.  He came to the Court of Honor!  That is just one example of the many people that came have contributed to the growth of these boys. 

 

One of my favorite parts of the night was when they awarded the Mentor pin to their Grandfather.  (Grandy) Grandy determined that he would do all that he could to help encourage them on their path toward Eagle.  He talked with them and then told them he would meet with them once a month to have an "accountability meeting" where they talked about progress and set goals for the next month.  It made all the difference.  They love Grandy so much that they did not want to disappoint him, so they did it.  It was very touching to all of us when they both gave him the mentor pin.

 

My Roots are Showing...

If you didn't know it, I grew up in Florida. We moved to Fort Pierce, FL when I was six years old and I lived there until I graduated High School.  (Ft. Pierce Central, Go Cobras!). My family history is mostly in the Carolinas.  I always had visions like the picture above.  Beautiful plantations, lovely walks along shrub lined walks.  As I have grown up I have learned the awful truth about slavery and that is how the plantations ran.  That has changed the "dream" quite a bit.  Nevertheless, my routes are very southern.  When I left for college my grandmother said to me, "Now don't forget you are a Southern Belle at heart.". (please say that with a nice southern drawl)

But that isn't entirely what this post is about... there are many things I like about my heritage.  I think Southerners fixed the English language with "ya'll".  Most other languages have. plural form of "you", and I will always use "ya'll.". I will always slip into "I'm fixin' to do that".  I don't know why.  Not like love that saying, just something that comes out of my mouth when I am not thinking about it.  I REALLY like the "ma'am" and "sir".  I use it often.  I like the way it sounds.   I like the respect it gives, even if it someone younger than me.  To me it seems polite in a kind, loving way.  My dad says "Ma'am" and "Sir" a lot.  I love it.  He will say, "Thank you, sir." even to the gas station attendant.  It seems so kind to me.

Here is the problem:  A while ago on the "Today" show it was reported that a survey was taken among women and a huge percentage, over 50%, were offended when called "Ma'am".  They would rather be called "Lady" or "woman"... but NOT "Ma'am".  What!?!?!  This doesn't insinuate that you are old, or not cool.  It is just nice.  It shows respect.  Kindness.  How can you be offended?  I am so sad.  Since I not longer live in the South, and haven't for years... HOW MANY PEOPLE AM I OFFENDING?!?!? 

Yesterday I said, "Thank you, Sir." to a friend that dropped by.  Was that offensive?  Did it seem like I was being aloof?  Here is one of the problems with "cultural differences", right?  I mean it in the kindest of ways. It is respect - but not in a way that you intimidate me, but respect in a way that I really like you.  Those are my roots.  I don't see that changing, no matter where I live.  Maybe I should pass a card out with this link so people know that I like them when I use "Ma'am" and "sir". :)

 

So A LOT happens in 2 years. Camden got married to David Inman and 2 months ago made me a Grandma!  Being a grandma is the best thing ever!  I don't even care that it makes me seem old. 

 

I will try to keep this blog MUCH  more updated.  (it is my new years resolution to keep better records). I will post more updates of the last couple of years as I can.  This morning just trying to remember the password and  get in has worn me out! (plus I have a TON of laundry I should be doing) I need to get busy on other things.  BUT, now I know what I am doing, so hopefully later today I will do catch up.  (maybe, no promises)

Typical Sunday

This is what it often looks like at our house - if the boys are in the same room more than ten minutes. A ball or arms and legs. Here are a few shots of the tangled mess! :-)

Our trip to Arizona

Once in a while Chrsitian has to travel for work.  There is a manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona that makes some of their lotions.  He had to go there to make sure the final stages of a project was working correctly.  (interesting fact about indoor tanning:  The season starts November 1st - all new products roll out then, etc.)  He asked me if I wanted to go - and it coincided with our Fall Break from school.  (although I had to take Monday off)  So I asked GREAT friends to watch each of the boys and off we went!

We had a GREAT time!  We got there Thursday - and we were a little early to check into the hotel.... so we stopped by the shipping facility.  I got to meet some great people that, despite their busyness, were very kind to me.  The weather was fabulous!  (70 degrees the high that day!)  While I waited for Christian I read a book and soaked in the sun. 

That night we went to a restaurant called "Rustler's Roost".  It is on a mesa near Phoenix.  I have never been to Arizona and I found the landscape fascinating.  Anyway - the restaurant was very rustic and fun.  They had a slide from the floor that you come in to the floor you eat - of course I went down the slide instead of the stairs! 

It was pretty fun!  They have rattlesnake as an appetizer.  I HAD to try that.  (Christian had already eaten it a previous trip)  This is how it is served:

Tastes like the breading, pretty much.  It was chewy - texture kind of like Calamari.  :-)  For dessert they have complimentary cotton candy!  How fun is that?

The seriously sad thing is these are the only pictures we took the ENTIRE trip!  (I have GOT to get better about this!... which is part of the purpose of the blog! Grrrrrr....)  But we had a fabulous time!  We met up with friends who moved to Arizona (Cindy Willardson, the Marbles - went to church with them! - the Lanes)  It was a great time to see all our friends and catch up.  Such amazing people! 

The highlight of the trip was attending the Mesa temple.  Beautiful!  Such peace and comfort is found in the temple of the Lord.  One day I may post about the many blessings I receive when I attend the temple.  I did take one picture of the entrance:

It doen't do it justice.  It is modeled after Solomon's temple.  Next door some Native American festival was taking place.  It was loud when we were outside due to the drums and singing.  :-) 

Loved the cactus and landscape.  The trees were so interesting.  Luckily I did not see any native wildlife.  (rattlesnakes, scorpians)

The manager of the manufacturing facility gave me a tour.  Wow!  I have never thought about how much goes into the manufacturing of lotions.  Simple things - like the water base.  It has to be filtered and microbe free or it might develop bacteria.  It was eye opening.  I really enjoyed learning about it.  It was really obvious how much he (the manager) loved his job - because he was so enthusiastic about sharing the processes.  I love to watch people teach me about something they love.  It is fun to learn.

Our Halloween

This year we were just getting back from Arizona on Halloween day. The boys had each stayed with a different friend. We were happy to be together. We ordered our favorite pizza (Wise Guys - yum!), turned out the lights, and watched a couple of episodes of "Malcolm in the Middle".

Before that we played our own game show (kind of like "Let's make a deal") where we gave then the things we brought them. We brought them three Thor commemorative cups from 7-11, three hats from In-n-Out burger, three puke bags, a tie (Christian forgot his - so he bought a new one to wear to church while we were gone), three "dirt" shirts, and a package of a** kicking habenero microwave popcorn. Christian was the host and I was the announcer/model. We put three things in a box and the they would choose one of the boxes. Then they had the opportunity to keep it, or trade. Stirling went first. He got the Thor cup on the first try.  I would then explain the item - "This Thor cup is from 7-11, originally filled with Dr. Pepper that has been consumed, but it has been washed and you may fill it with whatever you would like!"  He was quick to trade it for another box. He got the hat. Then it was Liam's turn. I took the boxes to change them. I put a puke bag in each box. (Liam has gotten sick in the car a lot!) It was funny as he traded a puke bag for a puke bag! Then Payne went and got a shirt - but after a little "help" from us traded it and got the popcorn. After the game we did give each of them one of each. The popcorn Payne kept - and Liam got the tie because he only had 5. It was fun though. They had a good time playing it. It was a lovely Halloween.

Here is a picture of them in the hats - with the popcorn, puke bag and Thor cup.  I will have to post another pic of the tees one day!  (yes, Stirling has his eyes crossed!  It is honestly IMPOSSIBLE to get a good picture of all three boys!)