Coffee Talk 5.28.10

Good Morning Strangers...

It has been too long. Science Fairs and the end of school and dance recitals and guitar lessons have taken precedence over this blog for several weeks. I haven't posted a thing and haven't read much either. I thought, with school ending last week, I would get on more, but so far it hasn't happened. I have missed "chatting" with ya'll and hope that I can get back here a little more regularly now that school is out and the kids are sleeping in!

I hope everyone has been doing well. I keep thinking I will do a "catch up" post to fill you in on all that has been happening around here but today that isn't going to happen. Today, we are a little sad around here because Wednesday night, we lost my grandfather. I am so glad for him that he is no longer trapped in a body that just wouldn't cooperate with him. But I am sad for us. I am mad at myself because I didn't get back home to visit him just one more time. And I am sad that my children won't grow up to know the treasure they are missing.

My grandfather was a cowboy. The REAL thing. But in recent years, his body would no longer let him ride...and it frustrated him to no end. Now he is free! And I am glad for him. But I wish I had just one more moment. The last time I got to visit him, he wanted me to listen to his favorite CD. It was Alan Jackson singing old hymns. I remember sitting on his living room floor listening to those old songs I grew up with and looking over at grandpa. He smiled and listened and during one song, tears were rolling down his face as he remembered that song from his childhood. He couldn't believe I knew the words to every song! My grandfather was not a religious man...but he loved to listen to those old hymns and I find a lot of comfort in that.

I didn't know this post would be so hard to write. I am so thankful for the memories I have. Memories of hymns and of sitting out in his yard just chatting with family. Memories of him "dressing up" with the kids and hiding from Grandma so he could smoke without getting in trouble. And I am thankful he is free and no longer bound by his body. I am grateful for the hope of salvation that we have in Christ and feel compelled to share Him once again. It is in Christ alone that we have peace and hope and comfort. I do not know how people cope without knowing Him as their savior but I am reminded of the words of another old hymn:

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be his than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

Praying you know my savior today and leaving you with a couple of my favorite pictures of Grandpa.

For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 5.7.10

C'mon in and have a seat! You might want to grab a large drink. I have so much in my head, I'll try to keep it as brief as possible, but I have intended to get on here all week and I just can't seem to do it anymore!

All I can say is, "What a week!" It began this weekend when Tigerfan and F.B. went out of town to go hunting. On Friday, B.B. spent the day with a friend at his grandparent's farm. I was supposed to keep them while his momma went to a dinner but they stayed at the farm instead. I took Dancer to dance and when we got home, they were there waiting on us. The momma's car was parked in the driveway and in my guilt at not being home and trying to avoid her car, I turned mine really sharp and absolutely crushed the side of my car going into the garage! It didn't do wonders for the side of the garage either. I'm not exactly sure why someone thought it was a good idea to give me a driver's license, but they might want to revisit that!

The momma invited B.B. to spend the night with them and we arranged for me to come get them Saturday morning for breakfast and then they were going to play at our house while she went to meetings. However, things did not go as planned. Because at about 3:00 a.m., we were awakened to tornado sirens. I got the two remaining children and we spent the next hour and a half to two hours in our tiny, under the stairway bathroom. On the upside...I entered the world of the tech savvy (I'm totally kidding) by learning to text as I communicated with the other momma about the safety of our children. We finally got to go back to bed...with the children in bed with me. A couple of hours later, I got up to walk the dog and survey the damage. It was still raining and the yard was SOAKED and more storms were coming. So I put the dog in the outdoor pen and spent the morning watching it rain and rain and rain and rain. Most of the morning, the sirens went off and we finally figured out that there would be no meetings. We decided to leave the boys where they were until the weather calmed down.

By noon, we had had about 11 1/2 inches of rain and it was still coming down! Then they started reporting flooding and sink holes and road closings. The bridge on the road going to our house was flooded and it wasn't long before I discovered that they had closed the road leading back into town...in both directions. I was trapped in our neighborhood and B.B. was still at his friend's house. I forgot to add that our ceiling had started leaking during the night and then the fan and light over the stove began leaking. I lost power in my oven and microwave. We decided that B.B. would just have to stay with the friend until the roads cleared up and I resigned myself to the fact that Tigerfan and F.B. may not be able to make it home on Sunday. It stormed all through the night Saturday night and we spent some more quality time in that tiny bathroom. It finally stopped raining Sunday afternoon. We got over 12 inches of rain and our city was rampaged. However, we are very blessed because Nashville, just two hours from us is still reeling. You have probably seen those images on T.V. By Sunday evening, I was able to get B.B. back and Tigerfan was able to get through. Here are a few images of our city this weekend.

In other news, I am a quitter! I am ashamed to admit it, but it is true. Today, we have someone coming that is HOPEFULLY going to take the puppy. It is just too much for me. In the beginning, the boys were helping and Tigerfan was going to come home every night and work with him. In reality...the new wore off and Tigerfan doesn't have time. The boys have lost interest and I have to constantly fuss to get them to help. The result...I am spending close to two hours a day tending to that dog and I just don't have time. I need that two hours to work with four children! And the dog is not getting the attention he needs. So...we are sending him on. I must admit, I am a little sad. He is a beautiful little puppy and super sweet. He will make a great pet...for someone else. Personally, I may do the happy dance this afternoon.

And in case things aren't exciting enough, I leave EARLY Sunday morning to go to San Jose, California for a week. The H.S. Science teacher from the tutorial and I are going to attend the national Science Fair with a couple of our students. It is a great opportunity. But I have never been away from my children this long. I am sad to leave them and am completely overwhelmed at all that has to be done. We are trying to finish projects that are due next week so Daddy and Nana don't have to deal with them. I need to grocery shop, plan lessons for next week and pack. We have people coming about the dog and someone coming to change our satellite today and we still have guitar and dance. So, why am I on this computer?

I can't promise I'll get around to visit today...but I will totally try to find time during the next week...I mean seven childless days ought to leave me a little time, right! Hope everyone has a great weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day! And just in case she happens to look this way: I have the most amazing Momma in the entire world and I love you to pieces. Wish I could spend this weekend with you!

For more Coffee Talk, visit Home Sanctuary.