Graduation

It was hard not to be able to share these memories sooner (my computer was not cooperative), but I'm thrilled to be able to share these special times now. Matt's graduation was amazing... don't get me wrong, it's not like I didn't know he would graduate, it was never a doubt. But seeing him in the sea of classmates, with his honors ribbon draped around his neck, and wearing his cap proudly, AND hearing him sing in the choir, was more than my emotions could hold back.
I sobbed and sobbed... (I NEVER cry, by the way), and was overwhelmed with pride, love, and joy for my son.

Seeing the three boys together like this was a fantastic moment! God is good... my richest blessings were captured in this photo... my heart rejoiced that day (and still is)!

Hair cut and Home Improvements!

Where did my baby go? He's such a big boy now, with is grown up haircut! Time certainly doesn't stand still, that's for sure.
Noah's curls are history for now. I tried giving him a haircut (he's gotten haircuts twice before from me), and he just wouldn't sit still, so the chances of getting it cut evenly were pretty slim, so the clippers had to come into play. But he keeps rubbing his head and thinks it's funny, so no harm done!

Hair or no hair, Noah's a CLIMBER for sure... especially because he spied the remote control (or Ben's cell phone) in the recliner in this picture. ha. I'm surprised he didn't grab his little kid chair and take it over to the recliner, and climb up on that to get to his destination. Or... maybe he did, and that's why I dropped the camera to grab whatever he was after before he got to it.

Yep, sure enough, it was the remote he was after. You can see the satisfaction written all over his face once he got what he was going for.

This is what Ben calls "watching Noah". We were building a deck this weekend, and the sun was glorious!! The warmth must have simply melted Benny, as he SURELY had no clue what Noah was up to, just inches away from him. Of course, I was right there with the camera, so really I had it all under control. ha. But it was pretty funny!

Noah helped Ed pick up once the deck construction was all done for the day. He really loved running around up there. It's going to be a fabulous summer outside for us.

Noah even wanted to find out how a palm sander worked. I had already unplugged the extension cord from the wall, so no danger lurked for my curious little guy. It's so much fun to see him explore, walk around the yard, and just grow up in the wonder of it all. To watch the learning take place first hand is truly a blessing. God is so good!!!

Bathtime Smiles

Noah LOVES bath time, in case you couldn't tell. He loves to "eat" the bubbles, and it's funny to see how the bubble mustache will appear each time he sticks his face in the water.
As I shampoo his hair, I like to see how sudsy I can get it, and he just giggles and giggles! Until I have to rinse it out, that is (that requires water being dumped on his head, and that interrupts his playtime. ha.

It's never very hard to get my little man to pose for the camera... he's smiles and grins 99% of the time!

And then the effects of the warm bath overtake him, and he soon falls fast asleep on daddy's shoulder. 'Night, 'night Noah! We love you!!!

A journey worth the wait!

I don't have photos to add this time, but I wanted to jot some of my thoughts anyway. The last few weeks have been amazing, just as the entire past year has been. I have been recently working on the edits for my book, and it's been surprising, enlightening, and all the while WORTH IT!

My book has been given a new title ~ rather than "Life, Don't Stop Me Now" my book will be seen on the bookstore shelves as "Make Me New" (with a subtitle of "One woman's fight to mend a broken past"). I had mixed feelings about changing the title, but from the suggestions of my editor, I decided to trust her professional opinion and go for it. I guess the marketability and such will work better with the new title, so we'll see how that goes. In addition to the new title, there were a couple other changes my editor suggested, and some were fabulous. Others were hard work, plain and simple. I had to do a lot of soul searching, reworking my thoughts, and rephrasing a few things to better set the course of the story and fill in gaps I'd left in my writing. It's a process, that's for sure. But it's so amazing how fresh, renewed, and great I feel about the journey this is taking me on. In re-reading my manuscript through editing it, I reminded myself how fortunate I am to be in the strong, loving, stable relationship and life I am in now! God is so good!!

I don't know the details and timelines for the rest of the publishing process, but the editing phase goes a few more weeks, prior to being handed off to the design and layout department for their creative touches. I'll continue to keep you posted on the progress, and as soon as I know a release date, you can be sure I'll let you know!!

May the peace and renewal of God's love and grace fill your life today, and send you into a restful and joyous weekend!

My boys in South Pacific

Check out that military stance... maybe Matt's time in the Sea Cadets paid off... he can stand with proper military form when needed. ha (I did have to help him shine his shoes though).

Noah is supposed to be helping his counterpart sing this song in French, but he does a good job of just sitting there on stage and looking cute.

His expression might look like he's hating every minute of this, but you should see him playing with the other cast members backstage... he's the star of their show.

He's doing what he does best... taking it all in, and melting hearts.

Matt's serious side really comes out in this role... Lt. Cable isn't a joker, and Matt's serious enough to pull it off. I'm so proud of my boys!!!

There was also a scene where they kiss, but I just couldn't bring myself to post that one... he's still my "baby" afterall, even though he's legally an adult now. ha. Handsome, great voice, this mother is so proud.

The big HAIR CUT!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

For Matt's upcoming musical "South Pacific", his role of Lt. Cable calls for an authentic military haircut. You can imagine that even back in the 1940's (the time of which that musical is set) there was little room for the shaggy locks that my son has fashioned for many years. So, with a handful of willing cast members, the barber was called in, and they set up the stage to be the traumatic setting for the makeovers. I think Matt was ready for the new look, and he doesn't seem to be too traumatized by it, but it sure was something for him to get used to (and the rest of us that know and love him). He's handsome no matter what his hair looks like, but it was quite a change. Ben called him a "freak", but I think that's just brotherly love in action.

He really didn't want to look in the mirror as his friend Scotty helped with the reveal! But, as Matt knows all too well, hair DOES grow back, and if he's so inclined, he can sport the long curls once again.

New Revelation...

I don't have any photos to share this time, but thought I'd jot a note anyway, since it's been over a month since my last post. Actually, saying I don't have photos isn't really the whole truth, but rather, I don't have TIME to upload them. I feel like I'm running ragged the last few days. Usually spring invigorates me, and I feel a sudden burst of energy. But this particular week is not that way at all.

Last Friday, I dropped Ed off at the airport, as he flew away to INDIA (not Indiana, but the country of India... just wanted to clarify that in case you thought I simply had a typo, ha), where he'll be working for two weeks. I thought I was a pretty independent person; self reliant, strong, able to do it all on my own... WRONG!! I need Ed back!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe how exhausting life is when your soul mate, your partner, your beloved husband is away. I have a new appreciation for the military families that have to endure long months without half of their support system from time to time.

ANYWAY... as I was saying, I dropped Ed off on Friday, and have since had to deal with our town having a surge of snow-melt and overland runoff, flooding the ditches and taxing the lift stations. Being at the helm of my community, I had to make some judgement calls and mobilize heavy equipment to get snow moved to allow the water to flow out of town (I mobilized, meaning I made the right phone calls... I didn't actually drive the backhoe) ha. In the middle of that fiasco, my oldest son started having asthma issues, so he needed to see the doctor; my youngest son has a horrible head cold, and he needed to see the doctor; my middle son has a new paper route that he does every morning (when I'd rather be sleeping); and the oldest and youngest have play practice for the upcoming performances of South Pacific, so I'm shuttling them around as well. I have to lead the support group tonight, while at the same time having Noah at play practice... I'll try to magically be in both places at once.

I certainly don't mean to whine or fuss about being busy, but it seems to be mounting in my thoughts today. Maybe yesterday would have been better spent by sleeping when Noah did, rather than doing the TV interview I did as the mayor, and fielding phone calls regarding the spring flood situations in our region. I think the overall message I'm facing, is that I'm not as strong, independent, or self-reliant as I thought I was. Instead, it is only with the love, support, and devotion of an amazing husband that I can do the things I do! Without Ed, I'm a mess!! He completes me, and I don't know how I'd ever live without him! Thank goodness his absence is only for a limited time.

Ed never reads this blog, but if he were to ever read it, I'd simply tell him that my love for him has been deepened and revealed by his recent travels. I have realized how much I depend on him, need him, and how VERY much I miss him every minute of every day while he's away. Whenever our mundane routine gets busy or frazzled, he picks up where I leave off, or vice versa. He makes the hectic pace in which we live, more manageable, and he is the the bright spot in my days. Ed, wherever you are on the other side of the globe this day, please feel my love in your heart, and know that you mean the world to me!!!!!

I hope that all who read this, also have a deep and rich love for someone in your life. Too often we take our loved ones for granted, and don't make the time to tell them how much they mean to us... tell your special someone TODAY, just how much they mean to you (regardless if they took out the trash or not this morning) ha. Blessings to you all... and happy spring!!!!!