New Years Resolution--Serious Inquiries Only

Contrary to what I heard in the sermon yesterday at our church, by our minister, Bruce, who preaches to my heart pretty consistently, and with whom I pretty consistently agree, I am going 2008 expecting some new and exciting things. (Bruce said that he thinks most of us don't make New Year's resolutions anymore, because we pretty much think that the coming year will be just like the last or a little bit worse....) I never think that. I always expect better. I always make New Years resolutions. Every year. For most of my 53 years. And I am still fat....in spite of the fact that, as far back as I can remember, not being fat anymore has been in the top 2 of my New Years' resolutions. However, I do not think that says anything about the power of God in my life. It might say something about the power of my resolve and the pride of my spirit.....I think it has a lot to do with my scattered focus and lack of attention (selective discipline)....rationalization, denial...sin. I'm not saying that being fat is a sin. But for me, refusing to give my diet and exercise daily attention is a sin. Because I know I am hurting myself. Happy New Year. This sounds hopeful, doesn't it? Throw the confetti and blow the horns! Honestly, I am a little tired of horn blowing and confetti throwing. But I am hopeful. Because I know in Whom my hope lies. But I can hope in Him until the cows come home....even here in No. VA where, hopefully the cows never really do come home....and come the year 2525, (if Jerri is still alive, which she won't be) I'd still be writing "Lose 100 lbs" on my New Years' Resolution list, unless I give over my sin to Him. So, I'm putting this out there....all two of you who read my blog....no, I know there are more...I'm just kidding. Christians and non-Christians alike....I am committing myself to this one goal this year. And I am committing myself in the Presence of Jesus Christ, by whose strength I have been promised I can do all things. (Philippians 4:13) I am going to lose the bulk of the weight I have to lose....consistently every day for the year 2008. I am going to eat 1500 calories a day--every day--in 2008. I am going to do one hour of exercise every day--unless I am sick in bed, which doesn't happen often. I am going to report on my blog every day in 2008. The committment I am making is to God, the power I am going to rely on is the Holy Spirit within me, and the testimony I am going to make is to the power of Jesus Christ in my life. My friends and family who are unbelievers, watch what the power of my Savior who wants to be yours can do! It is absolutely not about me! I cannot do this on my own--even if others can. I cannot. I have proven that fact for 53 years. If I break my promise, call me on it. My Christian friends, remind me not to use the name of Christ in vain. My desire is to proclaim Him....and to allow Him to transform me in a way that I have not been able to transform myself. I am hopeful. Pray for my deliverance from this burden that I have been carrying for far too long. I appreciate your prayers and the accountability. Happy New Year!

Conner and Santa

This picture of Conner and Santa was taken on December 11th at Fair Oaks Mall. I had to keep it a secret until Christmas, because it was a present for Chris and Cam and Cam's parents. Dec. 11th was Little Man's three month "birthday", and believe me he has GROWN. That day I didn't have the stroller, so I lugged Conner and his car seat across Fair Oaks mall to the cart section, which is right near Santa. My plan was to go back to Sears and get some booties. (His mom had brought him in a sleeper. I had bought the outfit as a surprise, but didn't find booties to go with them yet.) I was so exhausted by the time I got to the cart area, and I noticed the line was short, so I decided Santa's little elf would be cute barefoot. Conner woke up just long enough to smile and then he went right back to sleep. (Grandma had him out during naptime!) Of course, we would have preferred to have our home grown Santa, John Schackleford, but the setting and everything was perfect. This Santa was really patient, too. The baby before Conner was horrified to be in Santa's lap. Conner NEVER has wet through his diaper when I was caring for him--over it, yes, under it, yes--but never through it. But when I handed him off to Santa, I found my blouse was soaked! Santa never even flinched! He was a great Santa!!

How was your Christmas? Ours was warm and wonderful with the new baby. Our kids came to Christmas Eve service and stayed a long time....except for Steve who didin't get off work from his security job until 10. We spent Christmas Eve at Chris' and Cam's, Christmas morning at our house, and then Christmas dinner at a friend's house--Chris and Cam went back home for their Christmas with Cam's family, and Steve had to go back to work.

Two days later I had some sort of stomach plague/lupus flare up. I just got out of bed this morning after over 36 hours of throwing up and then pain. Our friend's toddler had a stomach flu the day before we all got together, and passed it on....ugh! I still feel like someone punched me in the stomach a bunch of times. I haven't thrown up in years....still is no fun....for me or Don. Next year we will have a health screening before holiday celebrations! :) Luckily Conner, Cam and Chris didn't get sick....son Don did, husband Don did, and I really did. (I always get sicker than everyone else!) But I was okay knowing that Conner was okay.

Today, I woke up feeling better, and Don had to work a double shift, so I declared this "Jerri's Do Whatever She Wants to do Day". My plan was to use my Starbucks Gift Card and my manicure/pedicure gift card, compliments of my thoughtful hubby for our engagement anniversary. As I was sitting in Starbucks reading my book that Don bought me for Christmas, my cell went off. At first I decided to ignore it, but I noticed I had received a voice mail from Nathan, my youngest--albeit completely adult aged son. He and his brothers had gotten together for basketball this morning, and Nathan's message to me was, "Mom, I dislocated my shoulder. Please call me back." Did I mention that Nathan, who just rejoined the electrical union, won't have health insurance for another month? I ended up taking him over to our friend's house--Dan Robinson--and he put Nathan's shoulder back in place, AND adjusted my back and Nathan's girlfriend's back, too. (She had come over to drive Nathan to the ER or Dan's or wherever he needed to go, since he couldn't drive with his shoulder, and I initially didn't answer my cell....) Did I mention that Dan is an angel?....I got to see his kids, who I've adopted as my own, while I was there and did a few things for Dan and Darla while I was there. By the way, we need to be praying for Darla's mom who may be dying right now. (Dorothy Mason)Darla is in Louisville, Ky. with her mom right now.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. We need to be praying for Bob Roth, for Darla's mom, and for Rhonda Krawczyk, Lauren Schwamb and Bennett Speck. God is good, and I am so thankful, as I'm sure you are too! Happy New Year, friends and family

Parenting--it's not for the faint hearted!

Mike Miller posted the following article on his blog. I commented on it, and Mike suggested I post my reply on my own blog. I decided to follow his suggestion, so here are the article and my response: (Thanks, Mike....)
Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become accountable for their own
actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators
in the lives of their children and shrug, “It’s their life,” and feel nothing?
When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to
put a few stitches in my daughter’s head. I asked, “When do you stop worrying?”
The nurse said, “When they get out of the accident stage.” My Dad just smiled
faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how
one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and was headed for a
career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher said, “Don’t
worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy
them.” My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the
cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said, “They’re trying to
find themselves. Don’t worry, In a few years, you can stop worrying. They’ll be
adults.” My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still
worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There was nothing I
could do about it. MyDad just smiled faintly and said nothing. I continued to
anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in
their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my
own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my dad’s warm smile and
his occasional, “You look pale. Are you alright? Call me the minute you get
home. Are you depressed about something?”
Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one
another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the
fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to
the highest form of life?
One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, “Where were
you? I’ve been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried.” I smiled
a warm smile. The torch has been passed.
-Author Unknown
My reply:
1. Jerri Harrington Says:
December 10, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Exactly! That article says it all! The advantage of believing in the God of the
universe and Jesus, our mediator between us and Him is that we have hope, even
when our kids disappoint us, when they scare us, when they render us (almost)
speechless by their seemingly thoughtless choices! The difference is that
instead of worrying, we can decide on a minute by minute basis to give over our
worry to our all knowing and powerful God, all of the while we are trying to do
what He would have us do as parents. I’ve noticed that every stage of our
children’s lives has its worries and concerns. When they are newborns, we are
constantly checking to make sure they are still breathing. When they are
crawling around on the floor, we spend our mornings scrubbing and inspecting
those floors for hidden germs and dangers. When they are almost walking, we
wonder why they aren’t yet. When they are walking, we run around doing
interferance with all of the things they might fall down or climb up and then
fall down. Before school, we agonize over which school they should attend and
how these strangers might influence their lives. In school, it’s a constant
concern about whether they are learning at the right speed, whether they are
being damaged or influenced by people around them. When they are beyond our
daily reach, we insist on knowing their friends–but even at that, do we really
KNOW their friends? We have to decide how much to trust each child–and to not
treat one child unjustly because another one has pushed our limits in the area
of trust. When they disappoint us, we have to remember that we probably have
disappointed them, too. And listening is so important! So how many times do you
listen to the same excuse? And if you think you are being manipulated, you
probably are…. Then they are adults and you think you are finished….you, are,
really unless they come to you for advice and with their own concerns. But you
never stop worrying/giving your worries over to God!! Just don’t be like me and
get more creative with your worries than you have to be. For instance, “What
if…..you fill in the blanks….” I can have a family member dead, buried and me
wracked with guilt over a seemingly innocuous decision that I MADE….like, “Sure,
you can go over to John’s house, spend the night and then go with him to his
grandfather’s house and ride 4 wheelers.” Wait, that one actually DID almost
result in the death of my son, Nathan, who by the way, is the one who just about
made the stock go up in the company that sells the dye I use on my hair. I wish
I could say that being a Christian parent takes away all of the worry! I can say
that being a Christian parent makes you expect more of yourself and your
children, your marriage and your friends…..sometimes that is a hard thing to
live up to and even a harder thing for your children to live up to. Grace has to
be taught and given on a daily basis, along with the teaching about right and
wrong. And no matter how tempting it is to speak your mind about people who come
into the realm of influence in your children’s lives, don’t be judgemental.
Teach your children to judge behaviors, not people, and don’t ever pronounce
judgement on another person, especially another Christian….even with your
attitude. Our kids, more than anyone else, are hurt when we don’t love one
another (and them) the way Jesus wants the church to love one another. I think
that right there is what breeds cynicism, doubt and unbelief in our kids. Good
luck with all that! Having said all of that, I wouldn’t trade being Don’s wife,
the mother of our four sons, and the grandmother of our little grandbaby for
anything. I only would choose to do it all better!

Who does he look like?

Okay, I got this from Jaime and Murray's blogspot, and basically spent most of my Saturday trying to get it to work. :) It turned out the way we all thought....Conner looks equally like his mom and dad. I did it with Grandma and Grandpa Harrington, too and it turned out he looks equally like both of us, too. I wish they would have had this when my kiddos were babies. I would have had evidence that all of them, except Don Jr. look JUST like their dad. Don looks more like me....go figure, we finally name one of the boys after Don, and that one ends up looking like me! Luckily he has his dad's height/weight. I am crazy busy as I'm sure most moms/grandmas are this time of year. Conner is beautiful....he has doubled in weight and is 95% on height--100% on weight. He is a cutie. He loves me to read to him, and I do almost every day. We also sing songs together, and he smiles at me. I can't tell if he's laughing at Grandma's voice or if he really likes my singing! :) I know what his daddy and uncles would say..... Merry Christmas! I am going to write a Thanksgiving blog soon. I have so much for which to be thankful!

Here are Grandma and Grandpa's results....

...and now for who Chris looks like....surprise! surprise! more like Don! I'll do the rest of the family later.

Women among all of the men

Our family is growing and becoming more interesting! By that, I mean, more women are joining me in my minority role as a woman among men! My son Don, and his long time girl friend,Elise, are getting married Sept. 27, 2008. She graduates in Jan., and her mom wants a full year to plan. I LOVE Elise! She joins Cameron, Chris' wife, who I also LOVE! Another of my sons has a new girlfriend, who I like a lot. She is an art student, so we have that in common. It's too soon to say what will happen there, but she seems to be really bright and sweet!

I watched 100 Osmonds on Friday's Oprah show, and I couldn't help notice that most of the younger generation of Osmonds are male! If the Harringtons follow suit, the only time I will get female family members will be when my sons marry! That's okay....there are perks to being surrounded by males! There is always someone who can open up the pickle jars, which have ever increasingly impermeable lids, among other things! I'll trade not getting possession of the remote for someone always remembering to check my oil for me any day! I appreciate my daughter in law and future daughter in law very much. They have helped my sons find the best in themselves. Hopefully my boys have done the same for them. I know that our family is blessed by the women who love our sons and who our sons love. We love them, too.

WHAT A WEEKEND

Okay, so I was waiting until I had more pictures of Little Man to post, but since I've been too busy to actually take pictures lately, I'll go ahead and write something here, because some of my loved ones are getting concerned that they haven't heard from us. Well, I'm sorry, but I am TIRED and OLD! I turned 53 yesterday, and I'm feelin' it! It's not Conner's fault....although he keeps me hoppin'! It's Don's fault--and not in a good way--he gave me a cold! And my cold turned into some weird thing with my voice and lungs that makes me cough all of the time. My hands look like I'm 93 instead of 53, because I washed the livin' daylights out of them so I wouldn't get Little Man sick last week! The good news is that I had a fantastic---oops, THAT expression says something about my age--I had an AWESOME weekend! Our church held what could be called a youth ralley--but that wouldn't really say what happened this weekend. I guess you could say that God really rocked our church--which sounds weird coming from a 53 year old's keyboard--but I don't know how else to say it! There were 500+ voices raising the Cotsco style roof of our auditorium in praises to Our King! It was what this "old soul" needed on her birthday weekend! My body might be old and sick and my hands might look pretty dried up, but my Spirit is alive and jumping around like all of those kids did during the praise and worship time Sat. night. And Don and I were really happy to see people that we haven't seen for like 17 years--who used to go to University Park with us. At events like that, when we're having all of these little mini reunions, I think about how---AWESOME!--Heaven is going to be! And how can I do anything else but sing in my heart--until my voice comes back--about that!

Now, about my birthday....my best friend, Lisa, left me a gift bag on Friday night on my doorstep....she thought my birthday was Saturday, but that was great, because I loved finding a present the day before my birthday! Except, my son,Nathan--who is my youngest son, who also feels somewhat priviledged--drank my sugar free Red Bull which was part of my gift bag from Lisa, who makes GREAT gift bags, by the way! Me writing about this on my blog is Nathan's punishment for stealing from my gift bag!
The bag clearly said, "Happy Birthday" with a girly picture on the front, and there was clearly a card marked "Jerri" on the inside, as well as a really girly journal and some other stuff that would make it MY GIFT BAG. Nathan's first response was,
"I thought it was my gift bag!" Yeah, right! HIS birthday was September 13th, and last time I looked, he isn't someone who would be impressed with a girly looking journal, lots of pens, some fruity sugarfree gum,and a chick flick DVD--but evidently he WAS impressed with the Sugar Free Red Bull! Okay, enough punishing Nathan, as though he would ever read my blog anyway--you all could harrass him everytime you see him,if you want to! :) Not really--he's just adjusting to not being my "baby" anymore now that Conner's here. He's never experienced sibling rivalry before! OK--now I'd better be good!

Don and I played our Beethoven trio "audition" for the talent show yesterday. Boy, could we tell that we haven't practiced much since we became grandparents. Luckily, we were playing with a CD. The chorus songs are--AWESOME! Finally, Don and I went to Silver Diner, where I got a free entree, and then we went to see Bee Movie. It was pretty creative! I sometimes like Jerry Seinfeld--this was one of those times. I think the influence of his family has improved his humor quite a bit! Thanks to all of you who remembered my bd, and also to those of you who didn't! For you, I'll be forever 39! :) And to my sis-cuz, Reida Sue, you are--AWESOME! Those Anne Geddes outfits for Little Man made my week! Him in his bee and bear costumes are my next pics to post! Love you! You're the best Grand Aunt Sister Cousin ever!

Trial Run with Conner

Well, I had my first day on my own with Little Man yesterday! Oh, my goodness! I am older than I thought! First, Cameron helped me pack everything into the car, and Conner and I went right to ladies' class, blasting the music all the way there. Conner loves music and stops crying the minute we sing to him or play music. He's going to sing before he talks--praise songs, of course! We arrived close to ontime, but it took me five minutes to figure out how to get the car seat out of the car seat holder--if you have one, you know what I mean! Finally, I got the seat detached, made sure I had the paci and the diaper bag. (I loaded my purse items and Bible into the diaper bag.) Wishing I had remembered the attachment that turns the car seat into a stroller, I lugged Conner in his HEAVY car seat with his heavy diaper bag all the way across the parking lot and into the building. The minute we arrived in the building and spoke to a few friends, who oohhed and awwwwed over Little Man, he decided to be hungry! I searched through the giant diaper bag for bottles and discovered only empty ones! Oh, that's right, Cam had given me a can of formula! So I lugged sweet baby Conner back out of the building and across the parking lot to the car, retrieved the can of formula, and then he and I went on a pilgrimage in search of some warm water. Finally,Conner and I went upstairs to find that ladies class had morphed into many little ladies' classes. We chose one that looked the most "baby friendly" and settled down. As soon as I sat down, Conner was ready for his bottle, so I fed him, and he promptly started making his "happy noises", which brought a few chuckles from the mommies in the room. I'll spare you the rest of the day.....and the angst I felt as I tried for 10 minutes to figure out how to loosen the straps on the car seat to get Conner out safely without waking him.....and then how long it took me to readjust the straps when I was putting Conner back into the car seat for the ride home! Surely, I'm not the same person who used to go grocery shopping with four little boys and two of them infants--without giving it a second thought! I guess that's why God makes parents mostly on the young side--well, there WAS Abraham and Sarah. I'm not quite that old! I actually am really excited! Cam's new job starts next Tuesday, so that will be my real first day! Pray for me--and for Conner!

....silly Grandma! (and Uncle Steve)

I still have a lot to learn about posting.....I sent the picture above to Bennett's blogspot, and just to be safe I sent it twice, both times sending a copy to myself. I didn't have time to check to see how it turned out before church, and this is what I saw when I got home. (Look up....)

Okay, now stand on your head on your computer chair, so that you can see how cute Conner is in his "clown suit". :)

I haven't seen Little Man since last Thursday!!! I am really missing him...Don hasn't seen him in two weeks, and he's been complaining about it all week! I have been busy doing things I need to do before I begin Grandma Day Care next Tuesday. I get to go see him tomorrow, but Don has to wait until next Tuesday to see him!
Cam is spending the weekend with her mom in Sperryville while Chris and his brothers are backpacking Thurs-Sun.

The other picture....posted right side up...is Conner's Uncle Steve, our No. 2 son.
Conner actually reminds me a lot of Steve when he was born. He had more hair than my other boys, like Conner does. He was a cutie too. Soon I'll post my kids baby pictures next to Conner.... (Uh, see below for Steve's picture....still not posting up to par~)

Walking in sunshine......

Well, it's 4 AM, and I'm UP! Don't ask me why.....I woke up at 3 AM, and when I couldn't go back to sleep, I prayed a little while. Sometimes I think God wakes me up so that I can do that. But even after I prayed, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I'm blogging.

Yesterday I did several hours of vigorous "aerobic" housecleaning, and ate according to my plan. That's one of the things I prayed about--thanking God for helping me stay on track. Today I plan on taking a LONG walk in the beautiful fall weather.

Yesterday I got to spend some time with Conner and Cameron and Chris. Little Man is SO chubby--especially his cheeks! Cameron is NOT looking forward to going back to work and leaving Conner at home, but she's happy I'm going to be caring for him.
My heart goes out to her. I feel SO honored that she and Chris want me to be with Conner. Cam said she's not worried about leaving him with me at all! That makes me feel honored as well. I know how much she loves her little boy--and Chris, too.

When I used to go on mission trips with the teens when my boys were young, I used to have this profound sense of peace, knowing that all day long I was doing exactly what God wanted me to do--going out and knocking on doors and serving people in the Inner City of Nashville. Well, I feel that same sense of profound peace about taking care of Conner and being home taking care of my family again. I loved teaching preschool as well, and I think that was a gift from God too. But the time is right now for me to be home again and it is such a gift to be able to care for Conner.

The other thing I want to do and feel so much joy about is writing and illustrating!
I'm enjoying my art class so much, and I've been full of ideas for more children's books. I think that's one reason I stay awake when I wake up at night, because that's when ideas come to me. I'm excited about having some time to work on those ideas! God is so good to us! Life never has to be boring or lacking possibility!
It is "new every morning"!

I'm cute but no excuse for Grandma NOT exercising

Okay, now I really need to be seriously working on my exercise again.....I've been too tired lately, but I'm getting into a vicious cycle.....too tired, not exercising, tireder yet, etc. etc. Tomorrow morning, I am going to walk and then go to water aerobics before going to Chris'. Then, I think I will take little man out in the stroller. I keep waiting for Chris and Cameron to take him out, because I know how important those "firsts" can be. "First" stroller ride....but Cam said she's not sentimental about that. I am in love with Conner....I just can't get enough of him! Sat. night, when Don and I were watching him together, I had been holding him and kissing him all over his face, and Don said, "Are you going to share? Do I get a turn?" It was so funny. I said, "No!" But, I gave him a turn!
Of course, I get him right back when there's a dirty diaper involved! :)

See how I get distracted? Now, back to exercise. I am going to post here about what form of exercise I get every day. Feel free to chastise me....whoever actually reads my blog. Les, I know you do....you're going to have to break down and get a password so you can comment. Weight Watchers is another option. It just galls me to PAY money NOT to eat. I should be able to do that for FREE! More than half the world CAN'T eat--and we Americans pay people to make sure we don't eat! I know God doesn't like that! I want to be here for Little Man and for all of my grandbabies, my kids and especially for Don. How selfish am I to NOT lose weight when doing so will most likely let me be here for my family? I'm not joking. I'm serious. It's something I know I need to do every day when I get up, and then I don't. I hate that about me. I'm a busy person....moving all day, but I need the exercise, and I need to WRITE down what I eat. I need accountability. Anyone else out there with me?

Cheering them up and on.....

I have been sick, but what makes me feel BADLY is that I think I made Cameron and Little Man sick! Cameron has had a non-stop migrane for over a week, and now she has a virus, too. And Conner felt a little toasty when I was holding him this afternoon! His temp was only 99 something, but he threw up a little and had a loose stool! Don and I watched Conner Sat. night, and then Sun. night, I started feeling sick. We thought Nathan had food poisoning on Thurs., but now we think it was a stomach virus. I REALLY hope son Don doesn't get it with his mouth full of stitches after having his wisdom teeth out yesterday. The Harringtons are officially falling apart! :)

It was nice that Elise took Don to get his teeth extracted and then took him over to her family's house to pamper him for the first few hours. When she brought him home, he was a mess, though. The pain meds. had worn off, and he looked like a really TALL chipmunk. So I took care of him all night and all day today. He's so easy to care for, and he appreciates everything anyone does for him.

Don has a CAT scan Friday, and my good friend Cynthia has thyroid surgery on Friday.
Pray for both of them. Don's is routine, Cynthia's not so much. Pray for her to be okay.

My job this week seems to be a nurse and a cheerleader....hence the picture. I looked for a chipmunk, in honor of Don, but I couldn't find one. Happy fall! It's supposed to be here tomorrow.

One Year Ago....

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my Dad's death. I actually thought a lot more about him the day before and the day after--today. Saturday, I thought about him in my art class, remembering him painting with a palette knife. Today I thought about my last moments with him. I have never been with anyone else at the moment of death. It was a profoundly moving experience and one I will never forget. It's also not something my mom would want me to share, but I can say that I knew the second my father was no longer present in his body. I felt a connection with my Dad at his death, not a ripping away. I knew he was in God's presence when he left us.
He was where I want to end up at the end of my life--with God. But hopefully, not yet. I think my family still needs me.

Today, son Don had two of his four wisdom teeth out. He was feeling well right after. His fiance, Elise, took him for the surgery and then brought him to her family's house for the afternoon. When she brought him home, he was in a good bit of pain, so I am taking care of him tonight. Actually, the pain medicine is working, and he's feeling a lot better. I realize how much I love being needed. I don't like to see my family sick or in pain, but I love taking care of them.

God has been good to me. I have no complaints at all! I love my life, and I love my family. Thank you, God!

A great Saturday

Today was my second art class, and I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE it!! It's the thing I'm meant to do....luckily I found this out by the time I am 52 years old, huh? I am taking acrylic,oil painting, and we are working on color. We are working with palette knives, and today I had kind of a flash of memory of my dad painting with a palette knife. I must have been 2 years old, and I remember him painting using a palette knife. I felt really connected to him, maybe because tomorrow is the anniversary of his death. I was going to send flowers to the cemetary, but it's Oklahoma...hot and windy. They wouldn't last, and mom said she already has plenty of silk ones out there. I would mainly be doing it for her anyway.

I am making a birthday dinner for Chris/Nathan. I timed everything right, thinking the chickens were precooked, but NO, they are just preseasoned, so now we won't be eating until 8! Maybe I'll serve dinner in courses....uh, salad, bread, dinner at 8 and cake and ice cream. The only problem is that my kids, uh, grown men, are playing basketball, so they'll be hungry. Grandpa Don and I are going to be watching Little Man tonight while the young people go watch their friend Phil's band.
(Don't I make us sound old--Don hates that. He's not ready to be a senior citizen yet! :)

Pray for my friend, Cynthia. She is having surgery on Friday to remove her thyroid.
I'm praying that she doesn't have cancer. She is concerned about that. Also, pray for our son, Don. He is having wisdom teeth out Monday. One of them is right on top of a nerve. Pray that the surgeon doesn't damage his nerve. Hubby Don is having another CAT scan on Friday to make sure his spleen is no longer enlarged. I'm concerned about him, too, but not too concerned.

Well, the sweaty guys are back....I have to go divert their attention from the food. Happy Saturday!

My "baby's" birthday!

My oldest "baby" turns 31 today! I don't feel old enough to have such an old kid, but I do! I am grateful to Christopher for being the first of my boys to make me a Mommy, and for patiently enduring our everchanging parenting techniques as we raised him. He knows all of our stories and is the center of our earliest ones. My favorite memories of him? Well, he was a cute baby. I used to have a hard time paying attention during church, when he was newborn because of all of his funny faces and noises. Don and I would giggle at him often, earning stares from people around us which made us giggle more. I remember taking him with us to see Close Encounters of a Third kind and standing in the back of the movie rocking him the whole time. Afterwards, I said to Don, "I can't believe I paid $3 for a movie and stood in the back the whole time!" :) Chris had colic, so I spent most of his first five months walking the floor with him at night in our small apartment, so that Don could sleep at night and the neighbors wouldn't knock on the wall. (Many times I was tempted to knock on their wall...and not over a crying baby either!)
Christopher walked at 10 and a half months and said "I love you!" at 11 months! He could sing at 11 months, too, we found out after we finished singing a song, and he was holding the last note! We were astonished at his genius, and we told everyone about it. He carried a little lunch box full of matchbox cars everywhere we went.
He also had a cute little monkey named Junky Monkey and a little ape named "Troubles". We moved the lunch box, Junky Monkey and we thought we moved Troubles when we came across country with Don, Chris and me in the cab of a Uhaul, towing our Chevy Nova. Turns out Troubles had been left at NeNe's house,so he was discreetly mailed to us, and we renamed him "Jumper", since he jumped to our house all the way from NeNe's. Chris never lacked for confidence, except when it came to learning to swim. I peeled him off of me at the Bolling AFB base pool when he was 8, determined for him to get swimming lessons. I'm still convinced it probably took 4 or 5 instructors to throw him into the deep end, but Chris was proudly jumping off of the high dive 3 lessons later. That's the way he did things. The first backpacking trip with the Fairfax Youth Group, though, didn't turn out very well.
I made him carry a LOT of canned food--don't ask me why--a leather jacket, and he wore his Dad's combat boots! They left poor Chris at a wayside somewhere, and Don went and picked him up. I'm surprised that he and his brothers still go on an annual backpacking trip this time every year for Chris' birthday. Surprisingly, I'm not allowed to offer food suggestions.....but they do let me and Don meet up with them at the end.
Chris has always amazed me with his determination to set goals for himself and his ability to inspire his brothers. They are all best friends, especially Chris and Steve. I can't say how happy and grateful I am for their relationship with one another. I don't worry about what will happen to them when Don and I aren't around, because I know they will look after one another.
Thank you for being the first to make me a mother, Chris, the first to give me a daughter-in-law and the first to make me a grandmother. I am honored to be your mom, and I appreciate your patience with me. Remember that when I'm old and pretending to have Alzheimers and moving Dad and me in with you! (I think I promised that to Nathan, though--well, we'll probably move around.) :) Love, Mom

Conner's family

It's so cool that Conner has so many people who love him! His mommy emailed me pics from her mom's camera, and they are great! (It's her ear in the picture!) I'm glad she and Cam's dad cherish Little Man like we do. He's a lucky boy!

Chris calls him "Tiny" and "Buddah".....I call him "Little Man" and all kinds of mushy names. Cam calls him "Buddy" and "Cutie". All of them fit--well, maybe NOT Buddah! :) We're going to have to call him Conner once in a while.

Tomorrow is Chris' birthday, and we're having the family over Sat. to celebrate his birthday and Nathan's (who got lost in the shuffle with Conner being born on 9/11--Nathan's birthday is 9/13.)

Christopher was my first little one, and our first to experience us as parents. I am so thankful we had so many good people in our life to give us advice and encouragment. Parenting is such a big responsibility and so full of joy, laughter, tears and fears. Most of our growing up was in the face of parental responsibility.
It's kind of hard to do all the things we are called on to do as parents and hang on to selfishness and immaturity--somehow we managed to do it sometimes, anyway. But overall, parenting brought us closer to God and to each other. Nothing bonds a husband and wife like staying up all night taking care of a sick baby....or staying up all night putting together toys with 152 moveable parts each on Christmas Eve.
Another bonding experience as parents: watching our children become parents....and each other become grandparents. Life is a such a priviledge! Thank You, God, for family! Thank you for making Don and me parents 31 years ago tomorrow!

Grandmas

Okay, so after the flurry of activity yesterday, today I am zonked! Am I getting old or what? Well, afterall, I am a Grandma now! Well, that's doesn't exactly work for me....my own Grandma went non-stop from morning till night, like 4 AM-10PM every single day. I remember running behind her to step in her footprints in the garden when I was a little girl. I never could keep up with her. I remember liking Sundays, because Grandma sat down in the pew next to me, and I could snuggle up to her. I loved her "Grandma smell", like perfume and vanilla cakes and Jergens lotion.
I loved the softness of her, and the way her hair curled up under her hairnet. My grandma was the sweetest, and she had a twinkle in her eye that belonged to me. I want to be like that for Conner, so I'd better get over feeling zonked. But I don't think my hair will ever be curling up under any hairnet, and I'm pretty sure I'll be the one having a hard time keeping up with Conner by the time he's 2. Time to work out!

Conner's Due Date

Today was a Conner day. I got a lot done prior to going to Conner's house, though. I shampooed my carpet, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned my bedroom, did a couple of loads of clothes and went to water aerobics.

Cam took Conner to the pediatrician today, and he weighs eight and a half lbs. He is twenty one and a half inches long! He grew two inches in three weeks!! Today was actually Conner's due date. So I guess he would have weighed eight and a half lbs and would have been 21 and a half inches long! He's so cute! His doctor said,
"You guys are really loving having him aren't you!" Cam said that they were, and the doctor said she could tell. Chris and Cam are great parents. I'm enjoying watching them loving him. I'm not surprised how much we love him....I knew we would.
He's like a gift of the best part of our lives coming back again. Don and I loved raising our boys, and we're enjoying being grandparents together.

Speaking of sweet babies....Bennett is doing wonderfully! We can see his face now a lot better since all of the head gear is gone. I know his parents can't wait to get him home. Keep praying for his lungs, his neurological system and his overall health.

The Torpedo Factory and the babies

Today is an absolutely beautiful day! The leaves are changing....it's warm but breezy. It was my first art class at the Torpedo Factory today, too. I rode the Metro to King St. and then took a cab the 15 blocks to the Torpedo Factory, because I had on nice shoes. Next week I'm wearing my Nike's and walking. On the way home I took the Dash bus, and it was free, so that was nice. As wonderful as all of the restraunts smell in Old Town Alexandria, I didn't eat anything. I've been praying that God will deliver me from my eating issues, and He has. I didn't get breakfast before I left the house at 7 this morning, and I didn't get home until 2:30. That's the only problem with riding the Metro--it takes so dang long. (Pardon my Francaise!) I still have enough on my ticket for next week, but after that I may drive and park a couple of miles away and walk....kill two birds with one stone.

Old Town would be a great place for Don to meet me after art class for a date! It is like a big party down there. The only place I went into besides the Torpedo Factory was a quaint Old Towny type $bucks! I actually took a picture of it, because it was so picturesque!

I'm taking an acrylics/oil class, and the teacher really wanted us to try oils. But I had already paid two arms and a leg for my supplies at the Art League store. Besides that, oils are toxic, and I'm going to be painting around Conner. One young mom in the class said she opted for acrylics for the same reason. My teacher prefers oils, so I guess I'm not going to be teacher's pet! :) I learned more in the three hours I was there than I have in 9 months of art lessons, about color anyway. I can't adequately say how much I am enjoying learning to improve my artwork. I get just as absorbed in that as I do with writing and music. Like I said, I'm going through a Renaissance!

Baby Bennett has graduated again--off of the CPAP! Yea! Soon he will be learning to eat from a bottle. I can't wait to see him in person. I feel like I already know him more than any other baby except Conner.

The boys are playing b-ball, like they always do on Saturdays, and Cam is bringing baby boy over to see Grandma before he goes to his first birthday party! (They start them out young!) Cam's sister-in-law's sister lives in my neighborhood, and her baby is turning one, so Conner's invited. Her baby and another baby friend of our came to Cam's baby shower and played with all of the boxes and toys. We have some cute pictures of that!

Well, I'm rambling. I'm so thankful for the beautiful day, for the fact that I figured out how to navigate the orange and blue line today and for Bennett's first day off of CPAP. Have a great Sunday tomorrow!

Our wonderful Father

I'm feeling a little moved by the frailty of humans, and our complete and utter need for our Heavenly Father. Bennett Speck actually got me thinking about this today, as I have many times he was born,knowing of how Bennett has been literally dependent on God for every breath he has taken. Truth is, we are all that dependent on God--for our every breath. All of our cells of our body depend on Him for our very life. Today we found out that some of Bennett's little cells may have been permanently damaged by the ordeal of being born with a horrible infection. But we know how God can regenerate life--we all are examples of that. And we know how He can resurrect life from the ruins of destruction sin leaves in its evil path! Just like Bennett is holding on to God for his every breath, we all need Him! Our souls gasp to be filled with His love and mercy! Life itself is in His mighty hands. God uses the frailest and most needy of us to display His mighty power. There is no mistaking from where our deliverence comes--from the One True Deliverer, the Creator of the Universe. There is life and hope in knowing Him from whom all time flows.

Princes Bennett and Conner--edited

Today's a Conner day, but while he's sleeping, I want to write about Baby Bennett
extubation! In case you haven't read his blog, Bennett extubated himself!! The nurses were on a shift change, and not only was his repirator tube and face adhesives off, they were cast to the floor! How a 5 week old baby could do that by himself, I don't know! Murray said he thinks an angel did it for him--maybe so! However that tube was removed,we always knew Bennett would be able to hold his own! But, none of us really believe Bennett is holding his own, do we? God is holding him! Praise God!

Now, about our boy. Conner is finally sleeping in his little nest thing! Cam and Chris worked with him, and finally he is comfy in there, so maybe they won't have to sleep in shifts long. He certainly sleeps for Grandma during the DAY though! And I would like to see those baby blues a little more! Try as I may, I can't get him to stay awake for me. I would like to help Mommy and Daddy by keeping him awake during the day, but he snuggles up and sleeps on my shoulder! Boy, if they could bottle up just bathed baby smells, someone would make a fortune! He smells SO good, and he is so soft and sweet! Cam had him all dressed up in a little yellow jogging suit and booties when I got here. He is adorable...with or without clothes! (Okay I'm being
gushy again!) Well, Grandpa has been showing Little Man around at work--I made a Grandpa and Conner book--oops "Grandad!" Don said the boys don't call him Pa do they? Oops--got to go--Prince Conner calls!

Another Day with Conner

Cameron and I took Little Man out about town today. We picked up a perscription for Cam, took Conner by the church to show him off, and then went to Target. While we waited for her perscriptions to be filled, we had coffee together at Starbucks. I wanted to pick up some cleaning products, too. There is a new line of cleaning products that are environmentally friendly and not harmful to pets or children. I wanted Chris to try them, because Don and I were there Sunday for his housecleaning. The chlorine gasses were a little strong, so I decided to share my new cleaning system with him. He's going to crunch the numbers to see if they are cost effective and get back with me. But I gave him a couple of complementary bottles. They are called "Method", and I first tried them at Camp WAMAVA and loved them.

Conner was content most of the day. He is taking more than three oz. of formula at a time now. I think the day is coming when he will sleep for several hours. He's so sweet--I gave him his bath again today, and, now that his cord has fallen off and he has a regular belly button now, he can take his bath down in the water. He loves it! I really hadn't forgotten how much fun it is to bathe a little baby, but it's nice to experience it firsthand again.

After I got the groceries home today, I went to water aerobics, and I was WORN OUT at the end. I almost couldn't eat dinner--I said almost. I still haven't dragged myself up to bed yet. Don is feeling better but he was so tired he went to bed while I was in water aerobics, as soon as he ate his dinner. He was supposed to watch Dancing with the Stars with me. I watched it alone and put together a photo album of Conner for Don to take to work with him. If I can figure out how to post the pictures of Don and Conner I will. They are so cute together. I took some of Cam and Conner today....usually she's asleep when I'm taking pictures. They are cute together too.

Pray for baby Bennett. The doctors plan to take out his respirator tube tomorrow and put him on the CPap. My dad was on that. It is annoying, but he probably won't have to be on it very long. Keep praying for that sweet family. I hope they get to hear Bennett cry tomorrow. It is a precious sound and more precious to Bennett's family.

Regrouping

Today was a non Conner day, so I had time to myself. Don went to the doctor by himself, because he is starting to feel better. I didn't do anything but straighten up the kitchen, wash a few loads of laundry and cook dinner. Well, I read a chapter in Romans and read some of a novel that I actually started and didn't put back on the shelf. It was one of those nice days where I kind of regrouped. The past year has been full of all kinds of amazing things.....some good, some heart-breaking. I have seen God working in all of them.

It is coming up on October 6th, the one year anniversary of my Dad's death. I am thinking about him a lot more lately. I wonder if he would be proud of the decisions I am making. I wonder what he would think of his great grandson, who looks so much like Christopher did as an infant. I'm wishing my Dad and I had connected on a deeper level, and I am thankful for the connection we did have. Life is full of imperfect moments that add up to imperfect lives, which God makes right. I am thankful for that.

I think I am going to Ladies' class tomorrow. I need a lot of focus right now, and I need some sisters to connect with--not to mention Beth Moore's ability to get us focused. These are the September goals I have:

1. to get deeper into God's word, beginning with this Beth Moore study
2. to meet my weight loss issues head on from many different angles, daily walking, water aerobics several times a week, the Lose it for Life study, prayer and accountability either through Weight Watchers or a group in our home.

3. to get what I want done in the house before I start watching Conner full time so that nothing suffers, including my sleep/exercise/relationship with God/time with Don/clean house

See I need clarity here too....not that anyone actually reads my blog regularly, but if anyone is reading and has any suggestions.....

More pics

Okay, now I think I have this partially figured out. Chris emailed me some really cute pictures, two of which were taken right after Conner was born. Which one do you think I love the most?

We are Thankful!

well, we have so much to be thankful for in our family! Our precious little guy was born on September 11th! Now that day holds a welcomed new significance for us. Conner Steven Harrington was born three weeks early, but he weighed 7lbs. 6oz. and measured 20 inches long! His lungs were not completely ready for the outside world, so he was in the NICU for 4 days to make sure he was okay. But he was completely fine and went home on Saturday, Sept. 15th. Cameron came through the surgery very well and is recovering nicely at home. Her mom, Jennie, and I have been taking turns taking care of Conner every other day so that she can rest, since Chris went back to work on Tuesday. Cam and I took Conner to the pediatrician on Tuesday, and he is doing great! And I could tell yesterday that he has already grown. I can't tell you how much joy it is to have a grandchild! He is so sweet, and we are all very thankful for him. Hopefully I can download some pictures....I tried the other night, but I got tired before I could make it happen! Thanks for your prayers......God heard them and graciously answered them.

He's been answering prayers on behalf of our friend, Bennett Speck as well. His lungs have continued to improve and the doctors are talking about taking him off of the ventillator. First he has to have all kinds of tests, and his lungs need to dry up. Keep praying for him, and visit his website at prayingforBennett.blogspot.com.

Pray for the babies.....

Today has been a roller coaster day. Cameron is having some problems.....the baby is pressing on her spine causing non-stop migranes, so the date for the Csection has been moved up at least a week. They have started injections to mature the baby's lungs in case they have to deliver him earlier. Please pray for our girl and baby Conner.

Pray hard for baby Bennett Speck who was born Monday. He has a horrible infection and is currently on a heart/lung machine at Georgetown University Hospital. God is watching over him and his sweet family. His grandma and I are good friends, in our writing group together. You can go to his blogsite at: prayingforBennett.blogspot.com.

Life is precious and so fragile. This year has proven that to me. Thank God for His love and care for us. Our hope is in Him and His love. Thank God we can pray to our Heavenly Father, and He hears us. Please God, be with these sweet babies and their courageous moms and dads. It takes true courage to raise children in this day and age. God, please be with them and let them feel your Presence and take courage in Your love for them. In Jesus name....

Pray!

It's been awhile since I have blogged, because we have been so busy! Don and I returned yesterday from our weekend in the mountains, celebrating our 32nd anniversary. We had fun up in the mountains, hiking and just relaxing. Most of our summer has been about other people...it was nice to have a few days with the two of us. We have a lot coming up with the grandbaby coming.....Cameron is coming right along with her pregnancy. If you are a praying reader, please pray for her!

I was shocked and saddened to see that little Bennett Speck was born with an infection. Pray for Kelly and Bennett and Travis, Kathy and Bobby Shunk, too. The good news is the doctors have identified the bacteria, and now they can treat him. Pray!

I have some health issues that need prayer, too, and some decisions to make. Pray for me as well. Be sure and thank God for how He continues to bless us all. He is our perfect Heavenly Father.

32 joyful years and fun with Ansel

Well, 32 years ago today a new family began with the marriage of Jerri Sisk to Don Harrington, and I am 32 years happier today than I was Aug. 9, 1975. God has blessed our marriage in so many ways....by giving us four wonderful sons, now a beautiful daughter-in-law and soon-to-be

daughter-in-law and baby grandson who will soon be born. I believe God planned for Don and me to be together, because we have helped each other get closer to Him over the years and have been each others' best friend. Thank you, Don, for 32 years of unselfish service to me and our family, and thank you for helping me grow closer to God every year. Thank you for being honest and loving with me and never judgemental. Thank you for holding me accountable to change when I needed to change and for never giving up on me. Thank you for seeing more good in me than I see in myself and for always being faithful in heart and in deed. I'll always love you!

Now, on a less mushy note, we have been enjoying Ansel Sisk, my nephew, who is visiting this week. Tonight we celebrated our anniversary by taking Ansel to batting cages and hitting some balls together--yes, I loved it! So far Ansel and I have seen a movie (Ratatouille), gone to art class together and hit the library and some stores, and played lots of some kind of fantasy video game--I forgot what. (I've been killing Droids and Ergles?) We are planning to go to the Inner Harbor and see the National Aquarium and of course go to some museums. It's been so much fun to have a 13 year old in my home again. He actually wants to go places with me! Wow!

Friendship and Idiocy

Well, I learned something tonight. I'm almost never right when I really think I'm right about what someone else is thinking when they don't come right out and say what they are thinking, or they do, and I don't trust them to say what they mean and mean what they say. Long story short, I have a hard time with trusting others. My good friend and I hit a bumpy spot in the road. I haven't had a good history with confronting loved ones. It just never works out like I think it should. The words that come out of my mouth are seldom fed back to me in the way I heard me say them. In other words, I have a fear of expressing negative feelings. So I talk myself out of expressing them, and one thing leads to another and then there's this whole big thing built up that doesn't need to be there between me and others. So, once I realize that it's getting out of control, I just blurt it out with a lot of explanation and "I'm sure you didn't mean it but...." And then I realize I'm an idiot. I love my friend Lisa, and she loves me, even if I am an idiot. I love my kids and they love me, even if I am an idiot. And I love my husband, and he loves me.....even though I am an idiot! And, most importantly.....I love God, and He loves me.....even though He really knows I'm an idiot. Thank you all for loving me. I'll try to not make mountains out of mole hills, or at least talk about the mole hills before they become mountains. Thanks for loving me.

Running in S-L-O-W motion

Okay...I'm really tired. I have a bazillion things to do before Ansel gets here, and I'm moving in slow motion. (Maybe I can find a picture of a turtle online!) I have been trying all week to finish up the house so I can relax before Ansel gets here, but there's no rest for the weary.....whatever that means. Whoelse would rest but the weary? (Unless it's a Biblical quote, and then it makes perfect sense!) Anyway I'm even too tired to finish this blog, so it's going to be pretty lame today. Sorry. Maybe tomorrow will be better! (Well, I couldn't find a turtle, but fish are nice)

Publishing with Pictures

Okay, so I know I'm way behind, but I think it's so cool that I can publish pictures on my blog now. I'm literally rushing into the 21st century, aren't I? Okay, now for Les and my other friends who don't know how to post on my blog. You just click on Comment, and, if you don't have a blogging account, they will set you up with one......you have to give name address etc, and agree to privacy policies etc, but it's free, and I would love to have some comments on my blog.

But even if no one comments, I will still write, because, "If I write it, they will come!" Now let's see what picture I can put on this entry.......

Okay....me and hubby! How's that?

Love and Listening

"Love is patient. Love is kind." We speak a lot about love in our culture, but I'm not sure that we understand much about it. I love my family, but I don't listen to them enough. Today I listened, and I realized most of what I thought was the problem, wasn't, and what I wouldn't have considered the problem, was. How often does that happen....not just with my relationships, but with most? How many times have friendships ended or people left churches, spouses, jobs, because people thought they knew what the problem was, but it was something else completely. I really think it happens all of the time. It is such a wast of time--and relationships. We need to be about reaching out to the world, but who will want to hear what we have to say when we can't get it together with one another? Also, we think we have to TELL others about Christ, but I think we need to be like Christ and show others. Jesus was a deep listener, and He was kind. I want to be more like Him

Oh yeah.....Predatory Ducks

With all of the hoopla, I almost forgot about my walk today....and the predatory ducks! I decided to brave the predicted heat and humidity this morning and take a four mile walk! About halfway, I stopped for a small break beside a cute little lake, and called my mom on my cell phone. I sat down on what I thought was a mound of mulch around a tree, but which turned out to be a mixture of mulch and stinky fertilizer. So, I moved up to the sidewalk to sit on a
guardrail and finish my conversation with my mom, when 10 big, fat white ducks with yellow bills came waddling up to me, with intention gleaming in their 20 beady little eyes. I was trying to listen to my mom amid the quacking and my attempts to shoo! the ducks away. Finally, I gave up and told my mom what was going on. She said, "Why don't you just walk away?" That's why girls need moms....even old girls. So I walked away.....and 10 ducks waddled after me, walking in a V formation! Every so often, I turned around and ordered, "SHOO! GO AWAY!" because I was walking uphill toward Braddock Road. And yes, I do walk faster than 10 ducks, but I'm telling you, those were some stubborn ducks, and I didn't want to be responsible for leading them into destruction! Finally, I rounded the corner and the ducks waddled down into the second lake I was passing. I was laughing and heading uphill over the bridge, happy to have outsmarted those ducks, when I noticed them swimming in their V formation across the lake, making a "V" line right for me!! No joke! My mom suggested maybe they smelled the fertilizer and thought I was one of them. (Thanks, Mom.) But I DID have on a bright yellow shirt.....she might have something there. Well, anyway, I really am going to bed now. Quack! Quack! I mean Nite Nite! :)

Colonoscopy Revisited

Not a virtual tour this time either! Ugh! I wish I would have gone with the traditional method the first time! Now I have to go back and get a 6mm polyp snipped and have the doctor look around for ones that might have been overlooked in the (supposedly superior) virtual colonoscopy. So now I have to drink more gross stuff and have another camping trip in the bathroom for a whole day or so...... But the good news is that 6mm is REALLY small, so I am choosing thankful (and a little nervous) as my emotion. My praying friends, please pray that God's peace will fill my heart and leave no room for nervousness. And, talking about things NOT to worry your pretty little head over:

Did you know that, supposedly, Yellowstone National Park is about to blow? And, according to reports (by my youngest son and others), when it goes, so goes the rest of us! I just read a disputed report that Yellowstone lake has risen in it's bottom center 100 ft. Fish are reportedly dying there as are wildlife. Other animals are migrating out of there.....

Of course, once I visited truthorfiction.com to check out this dire prediction, I was lead to other Armegeddon type sites. Ironically, I've been reading the Book of Revelation, which I have just given a cursory reading in the past. I understand the meaning behind the words--repent or else!--God is God---we are NOT--He wants to connect with us, even though we are pretty pathetic--That is because God is God and we are NOT....other than that, I don't understand much of the Revelation. It used to scare me to death when I was a little girl, looking through my parents' giant family Bible......I kind of peeked at the pages, read the words in read and looked uneasily at the grim artist's depictions of the end of the world. Then I would slam the Bible shut and quietly agree with my mother who claimed I couldn't understand the Bible. The problem was that I really did understand quite a bit of what I read. Now I think I understand enough to bow before my Creator's power. God is God. I am not......that's good enough for me. I will trust Him with the future of the world--and my future. The future, afterall, is in His mighty hands.

And, 6mm, afterall, is pretty small.

Venturing Into the Great Unknown

Today was definitely full of firsts for me....and Don. After 3 days of a no fiber diet (weirdly, most of my diet consists of high fiber foods, I discovered) and 24 hours of a liquid diet, complete with really strange concoctions that threatened to bring up the other liquids......and about 8 hours of camping out in la toilette.....I had my first virtual colonoscopy! Actually, the prep wasn't even as bad as I thought it would be, and the virtual trip through my intestines was no big deal, afterall.
Y'all should go there--well, to your own colons. I told Don that the worst part of the whole thing was driving to Walter Reed with Don--he's not a fan of my driving. But the best part of the day....

We got to take a virtual trip to our daughter-in-law's uteris! Well, that sounds kind of invasive...she invited us to be present at her 3D sonogram of our grandson. Conner is beautiful!
He looked right at us, and we could see his face clearly enough to see that he has his mommy's nose! Amazing! And how amazing it is that we can watch God knit him together in our daughter in law's womb! I love him so much already.....God is awesome!

Needing a Rest from Vacation

I'm so tired! I have been running full steam ahead for a month and a half, but I'm out of steam!
Don and Les (his brother) had to go downtown without me today, because I was too tired to go. And I have a sty on my eye and sore knees! (Poor me!)

Yesterday I got up early and made cakes for a picnic at friends for the 4th. Les and I went to the mall and hung out for a few hours, and then we went back home to get ready for the picnic. We had a lot of fun with friends and family last night, watching the fireworks, playing in the (cold!) pool and eating. We also got some scarey news about our friend, Rhonda, who has cancer. She was violently ill and thought she had a blockage. Today she felt better though, and the doctors said she had no blockage.

Tomorrow I think we are going downtown for more sightseeing and then going to hear our son Chris sing and play guitar at a resteraunt/bar where he plays once or twice a month. I have to do some laundry and make dinner--kind of boring today, but boring is nice when I'm tired.

We're Back!

Well, we're back from vacation, and it's true--I really do need a vacation from my vacation! But we have no time for vacationing from vacation. I should, at this very moment, be scrambling around the house like a madwoman getting things ready for my brother-in-law's visit, which begins tomorrow. I have actually scrambled quite a bit today--unpacking, checking email, writing a grocery list.

Vacation was lots of fun, and we had beautiful weather at the beach. My daughter in law, Cameron and I did a lot of cooking--and "baby talking", son Chris grilled a lot for us, and we did a lot of playing at the beach. I actually played in the deep waves for the first time in many years....now that my knees are better. We ate out one night at Crabby Mikes Seafood buffet on Friday. That was a nice end to our week. For some reason I lost four lbs. and really rested up! Can't ask for more than that on vacation!

We were sad to see that Jaime and Murray Sanderson had already moved on to Indianapolis while we were gone! We will miss them! We had a fun picnic at church yesterday, and the beautiful weather must have followed us from the beach. After church Don and I went to get Charlie from the borders--he seemed to love it there and was strangely calm all of the way home. Maybe he thought we sent him away for "bad behavior". We stopped at Cox's Farm and bought some plants for the yard and some fruit on the way home, and he walked calmly along on his leash! Usually he acts like he's taking ME for a walk! Maybe the Dog Whisperer visits Club Pet! After I worked outside all day and Don got a long nap and played Frisbee golf, he and I went to see Evan Almighty! It was very funny and actually pretty good!

Well, I'd better get back to scrambling--hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather here in VA. Jerri

Code Orange Hike and Torture by Poodle

I can't believe this! I am up in the middle of the night again, and I was SO tired when I went to bed. I also have my art class tomorrow and about a gazillion things to do before we leave on Friday for vacation! Oh, well, I might as well write about my day yesterday! It was VERY hot, but my friend Grace and I went to Meadowlarke gardens, a botanical garden with miles of walking paths near Vienna, VA. We had a great time shade hopping all morning and looking at different plants and flowers. Then we ate lunch at the Amphora resteraunt, and then Grace and I went to Grace's gardens at her house, which look like a miniature Meadowlarke gardens! Grace gave me a bunch of plants for my yard, and I came home, cooled off and then planted them last night. Actually, I came home and took our little poodle, Charlie, to the vets for his Bordatella (what I thought was a vaccine but was actually a spritz of medicine in his nose).
I got home in just enough time to unload the plants and pick up Charlie, with, I was hoping, his leash and halter, but they were nowhere to be quickly found, and Don was about to teach a new student and needed the driveway empty! So, I scoop Charlie up and put him in the hot car, heading out to the vets. Of course, Charlie thinks that when I am sitting, he needs to be in my lap. I finally give up and let him sit in my lap and look out my window, mainly because he is freaked out about being in the car, knowing full well that if I am in an accident and the airbag is deployed, Charlie will be a poodle puddle between me and the airbag! (Some day with our animal advocates hard at work, traveling with a poodle in your lap might be a ticketable offense...if it isn't already. It probably should be.) At the vets, which is really Pet Smart, I am feeling very uncool carrying my poodle like a baby while all of the other dogs are on leashes and being mostly well behaved.
Charlie is wiggling and wanting down, and he feels like he has sharp elbows and toenails everywhere. The lady asks what I need and tells me to put Charlie down on the scale, after he growls at her for patting his backside. Put him down? There are giant dogs everywhere, and Charlie has always thought HE was a giant dog....or at least that giant dogs shouldn't mind him sniffing them as though he was a giant dog. A little girl with a big voice approaches us and says to me, boldly, with some irritation, "I SAID CAN I PLEEEEEASE PET YOUR DOGGY?" Being a little out of practice with loud, demanding children at the moment and a little confused, because I hadn't heard her speak to me before, I kind of stared at her blankly and then bent for her to pet Charlie. A lady nearby said to me, "It was nice of her to say please."
(It depends on what the meaning of the word "nice" is.)
I am a little hesitant at the scale , and Charlie's not liking being told to sit and stay on a big metal scale when there are giant dogs around to sniff! I let the lady weigh Charlie with my hand on his back, and then we mercifully go into a private room. I can't help but notice that when the man with the giant dog tells his dog to "sit and stay" the giant dog ACTUALLY sits and stays!
In the private room, Charlie is no happier. I try to hand him a doggy treat, but he isn't interested and is noticably distressed by a faceless dog from the next room who is whining pitifully. He looks at my eyes for clues about what is about to happen to him. I smile reassuringly and speak soothing words, but he is not buying it. This is where he comes for grooming, which he hates, probably because of some of the extra stuff that goes along with grooming. This is also where he gets shots and his ears examined, and he's pretty touchy about anyone touching his ears. When the vet comes in, I ask for a muzzle, because Charlie will nip.
The vet and her assistant watch with some amusement as I try to put the muzzle on Charlie.
He won't sit still on the metal table, he's all toenails and elbows again, so I pick him up and put him under my arm and kind of chase his nose around with the muzzle. The Chinese vet says in broken English, "How you get he groomed if he bite people?" I said, "We put a muzzle on him."
She looks doubtful as I chase Charlie's nose around some more. "He doesn't bite me," I reassure her. She still looks doubtful. Finally, Charlie gives up and the muzzle is in place, and the vet and I hold Charlie down so she can squeeze a syringe of stuff into his nose. I guess enough goes in, but just about as much goes all over me and the vet. Next time someone else is bringing Charlie to the vet. On the way home, Charlie doesn't sit in my lap. He curls up on the seat with his doggie bone and goes to sleep. When we get home, I still can't park in the driveway because of Don's violin/viola students, so I carry Charlie and all of his elbows and toenails into the house myself. Grateful to be home, he curls up in a ball in his crate and goes to sleep. I feel absolutely gross with my sweaty body from all of the outside activity in the heat, from doggie hair smell and doggy breath all over me, and then from whatever was in that syringe. But I guess there's no danger of me coming down with kennel cough anytime soon! :)

God is good! Laughter is healing!

I am so happy today for so many reasons! God has been letting me know that He loves me and that He is involved in my life every day--or I'm becoming more aware of Him every day, either way the result is that I'm more content and joyful than I have ever been! I thought yesterday would be hard--my first Father's Day without my dad. I did get a little choked up a couple of times, but every time I felt sad, I could feel God's presence, like He was reminding me that my Father is with me always. I was able to focus my attention on Don all day, which was good, because none of our boys could be with him yesterday. We went to an antique car show and he really enjoyed that. I enjoyed being with Don and listening to Dixie Land music, eating an ice cream cone in the hot hot sun.....haven't done that in a long while. Then we went home and changed out of our church clothes and went to see Spiderman 3--it was awesome! We had dinner out and came home and watched Meet the Parents on TV....that was fun, too--I think it's our favorite movie that we share. Don and I love to laugh together--it's one of the best things about our marriage. We have (whatever the plural of "sense of humor" is...us senses of humor...I think that's it....) anyway, very similar ones. Don cracks me up all of the time--because he's such a serious person that if I'm not listening, I could miss it when he says something really funny. So I try to listen. I love to make him laugh, too. I can tell that, whenever he has had a stressful day, he relaxes whenever I make him laugh. If we don't make each other laugh, either we're really upset about something, or we are mad at each other. Sometimes we can get each other to laugh whenever we're mad about something silly or there is something sad going on.
A funny thing happened this weekend when I was getting ready to plant grass other things in our back yard. I have a little tiller, and I THOUGHT the ratio of gas/oil was 50-50, so I filled it up, but I couldn't get it started. I was doing it partially for exercise, so I really tried to start it myself. When I couldn't, son #3 Don C., tried and tried to get it started for me, and when he did finally start it--blue smoke was billowing from it. My faulty memory--or my wishful thinking--said this was normal. Don kept shouting over the noise of the engine, "MOM! I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL! YOU'RE POLLUTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD!" Intent on tilling, I assured him that I remembered the blue smoke from last year. About 30 minutes later, and both Don C. and son #4 Nate, were standing at the back door frowning at me and waving their hands around. I waved back. Thirty minutes after that, there were three faces.....Don C, Nate and "Big" Don...hubby, who was waving an operator's manuel and telling me to "TURN OFF THE TILLER NOW!" I turned it off, and Don waved his way through the cloud of blue smoke over to me, and read, "1 part oil 24 parts gasoline!" He helped me dump the 50-50 mixture into an empty Tide bottle and helped me refill my tiller. Then, I proceeded to till up the entire backyard! I planted grass that thrives in shade, a vegetable garden and three flower beds!
If it survives us being in Myrtle Beach for a week--we should have a nice backyard....and I burned 1000 calories doing yard work two days in a row!

Walking and stuff

I walked 2.5 miles to my art class this morning at 8:30 and then back home at 12:30---in the HEAT, but I feel great to be able to walk 5 miles again! I am so glad to have both of my knee replacements done, but I know I need to work on stretching my knees everyday again. I got out of the habit over the winter, and I'm stiff.

I finished the portrait I was working on, and I think my Afghani girl is beautiful--my art teacher is putting her in an art show this weekend. I can't wait to get working on my next project. I love my art classes!

I'm excited to be finished teaching for the summer, and not as sad as I thought I would be to be finished teaching preschool for the forseeable future! I think that is because I am so happy that I will be able to take care of Conner Steven Harrington, my first grandchild! He's another reason I really want to get into shape--to keep up with him! I am excited and so very thankful.

The other reason is for Don. He's so happy to have me back home again. It's the way our life together used to be when I was home taking care of our boys. I like seeing him happy like that, and I'm happy too.

Another reason I am happy to be home again is that I met another stay at home Grandma who lives right down the street from me. She doesn't speak English, and I'm an ESL teacher...a match made in Heaven. I do speak a little Spanish, and she and I are going to take walks together with our babies.

Anyone reading, please pray for my friends: Jerry Belknap, Bob Roth, Rhonda Krawczyk,
Judith and Jerry Bridges and their twin boys, Cindy Jeter and baby Lauren Schwamb. All of them have health challanges, and a few of them have life threatening health challenges.

Have a blessed day!