Swimming in Nagoya at 2

This was one of Jason's first "buff" moments. Here you see that his 6 pack is a bit underdeveloped.
I had planned on adding this to his birthday blog posting but I still have trouble getting it straight with blogging and sometimes get everything in the wrong place. Help!
Anyway, cute pic....right?

It's an established fact that,after19 comes 20!

The good "older brother"

Jason in his first musical and theatrical moments. Now he sings and dances- with an emphasis on "dances." dances...especially dances!


.And following quickly on the heels of Teresa and her birthday, comes Jason galloping in on the 23rd. Just what is it about August? It might be easier to ask....just who isn't born in August?

Well, I was thinking back on just what I was doing when I was just about to turn 20. Evidently I was being prepared for having 3 sons. I was asked to spend the summer in the middle of nowhere in East Texas- helping to staff a camp for delinquent boys. The young people in my college had actually built the dorms for these guys and for some reason, the Dallas Judicial system trusted our little staff to have some kind of control and influence over these guys instread of sending them to Juvy Hall. We did have some pretty big guys on our staff so I just did the cooking etc. So, yes, my sons are all big eaters so it is a good thing I learned how to cook massive meals! I really didn't totally mean the insinuation with the "deliquent" remark. They are all angels of course.

I was thinking about how I was facing a big challenge. Fresh out of college, I had been asked to teach 3rd grade in a private school. I guess I have to clarify. The principal had asked me and all the other teachers were asking me and everybody else, not to let it happen. I was up against quite a bit of opposition but somehow the principal overruled everyone and "immature Miss Glines", suddenly became the main influence over 24 seven and eight year olds. That is a whole story in itself.

That was my battle turning 20. It was so awful andscary but wonderful and challenging....and it changed me completely. 20 is a really good year!

Put a challenge before a person, have faith in them and turn them lose. No body really thought I was ready but God did.

Well, all that to say, motherhood isn't easy. I keep hearing about that "empty nest syndrome"

and I keep pretending that just isn't for me.

Here is Jason at 20. He has actually been gone quite a bit- Ukraine, Mexico and Calif. but now I am hearing talk of another more permanent move this coming month. On one hand I am excited and on the other nervous. We all need that one person in our corner that has faith for us. I have just prayed for that a lot with all my kids and now it is his turn.

He really is a great guy and a deep person. We have had many talks and I have confidence in him that he has what it takes to stick it out through thick and thin and be a world changer.

I have had a lot of times through his teen years to practice "extreme praise" too. That is an important part of having sons, that and having a good sense of humor.

All considered, it continues to be a wonderful experience. I pray he has a wonderful year and meets a lot of wonderful people!

I am proud of Jason and the man he is becoming. I just remembered how I married his dad when he was just 19! Hey, anyone want to hear about that story?

Just what did happen on Friday the 13th in 1993?

Birthday time!
15!!!!!! Yikes!
I did tell her there was to be no dating until much much later in life.......like 21 or something.... maybe 25. She didn't seem too enthusiastic but moms have to be careful now days. Hand holding may be allowed at 16. But then, the prospective boy will have to pass a strict background check- and pass! This man here really put on the charm but I still had my reservations. I told him to come back in the next century! The red rose made me a bit suspicious, It was all wilted and looked like he'd had it all day.

And at 15, a person is expected to be a lot more prayerful and responsible for their decisions or face the consequences. She had an unguarded moment and was about to learn the hard way. Here, she did miraculously receive a pardon at the last moment.

Well, time marches on and it really did happen. She really did turn 15 yesterday.

I was thinking of the exciting entry she had. Moms tend to do that as we are the ones that go through it. We were living in Benevento, Italy but had to travel 3 hours to get to the hospital. We arrived early but there was no way I was going to endure 3 hours of Roman cobblestone roads to get back home, only to leave again.

We looked for a place to go to await the delivery moment found a Roman Amphitheater to walk in. We had to squeeze by one of those horrible looking Corso dogs that was guarding the entrance. It was actually so cool that it took my mind off of everything. I love history and I was feeling special to be there. It was so breezy and serene and we were all alone so I just laid on the stones under the amphitheater floor and wondered about all that had gone on in that very spot. I think it was an elevator cave where they used to cage and take wild animals up to the arena. I remembered feeling so honored to be one of Jesus' followers.

Well, all went well and that day finished with her arrival, thanks to the 300 lb. nurse that sat on me.

Now, to the present. I can't figure her out. The last child has got to be the great unsolved mysteries of the World. Just when I think I know what's going on with her, she pops a new one on me. Raising 6 kids was easy.... but the seventh?

But then, she says it's because I am so OLD.

Well. she adjusts. The latest thing is that she has gotten into controlling personalities through foot massage. She can take the meanness out of a cranky mom by putting pressure on a itsy bitsy part of my heel. I don't want to discourage her but it actually makes my ear twitch instead. She's actually thinking of specializing in geriatrics. She has me eating tons of blueberries. I just wish she'd let me sleep at night! She keep darting in and out of my room with every conceivable excuse. She is, and always has been, a night owl.

If you are bored, call her up and ask her opinion on something- just anything a bit out of the ordinary. She is an authority.

I play Scrabble but I always lose and in Monopoly I don't stand a chance. I just give my properties to charitable causes. I don't dare try Chinese Checkers.

She makes me laugh like no one else. She sees from such a unique standpoint. Just when I am intent on being serious and yielding to the"dark side" on something I am putting a little too much importance on, she will come along with a straight face, expressing her outlook on life. We've had so many times when I get to laughing so hard that I worry everyone in the house. I just can't stop.

Well, that actually makes me happy. Teresa is a unique individual. I just have to say that I do love everything about her. She is full of surprises.

God, thank you for sending me such a great kid. I'm so glad that I didn't stop at 6... for that matter 5....or 4 .....or 3! What a privilege to have a big and illustrious family!

Speed

Just a wee word of wisdom. Plan your days and live your plan.....don't get rushed, Go slow and you'll still get there!"

Racy Grandma

I went to a Kid Rock concert tonight. I am not sure I really blended in but it was a witnessing spontaneous inspiration. Potential!

Poses

"Hey, somebody changed the dish schedule and it's not our turn! Besides that, not everybody washed their dish. We outta put names on them , then we'd know who didn't wash their bowl."
























Being handsome takes a lot out of a guy. It's tiring work! "I don't know if it's that or just having 6 sisters that pester me to no end".

Teresa's rabbit, trying to stay calm and ignore the 14 poodles that visit him daily.

Puppy Antics 3

Toby just gave them the "eye" and they all scattered. They wear on his patience. After all- Bostons have it ALL!












What'[s the hurry? Will here has mastered the art of dealing with stress while the 2 girls are still a bit frazzled and learning to cope with everyday life. Women???? Maybe she's just having a bad hair day."Hey girls, slow down and take a chill pill!"




I'd like to be out there chasing squirrels and dashing about the yard but somehow I do feel a bit safer in here....don't you? Quality time is hard to come by nowdays.

Keeping up with one takes all your time. How can more take any MORE?

Ha! See this tomato garden? It actually had more tomatoes on it a few days back. I can't imagine what happened but somehow I get the feeling there is a big "coverup" going on- a conspiracy of sorts. By the way, I discovered these pups love cantalope. I just didn't realize they were so into veggies.

Puppy Antics 2

Now kids, you just reach up a bit higher and push that little piece of metal higher......and we're outta here!

Will taking a little moment with Dad.

Good grief! Get a load of that tail. Don't get too close. it might be contagious or something worse!

Puppy Antics

You grab the tomato and I'll make a run for it!

Honey, have you seen the kids?

Faithful watch dogs in training- watching to the left, watching to the right, and checking out the rear.

A rare rain

We are having a drought of sorts here and everything is drying up. This afternoon a sudden thunderstorm crashed down upon us. I was out running errands and half of the time I felt like I was floating home. It was so refreshing after the storm passed and I ventured out to see how my little banana blossom and lone tomato fared in the downpour. I just have to share the pics!

Blue Teeth

Blueberry-lime was main item on the menu! It packed quite a punch. We did have a lot of belly-pleasing fun. It is rare that we officiate at a grand opening of anything- let alone an Ice Cream shop. The 11 year old pianist was a blossoming Mozart. He didn't smile too much but we "think "he enjoyed playing. He was perfection anyway and a pleasure to listen to.

It was a special day and the kids stayed awake late that night- running off the sugar high and we did about the same thing.

And the next day.....we all still had blue teeth!

Summer delights!

I am thinking of throwing together a slide show. Yesterday we buried ourselves in Ice Cream. We officiated at the opening of a Baskin Robbins shop and the owner spoiled us with umpteem varieties as well as slurpies. slushies and ice cream of every imaginable color. Amber won the" licking contest" and won a prize of...guess what? 2 quarts of Ice cream! Jason got a bit more spoiled as all the employees (girls in their shiny blue aprons) kept offering him endless samples. His healthy diet of steamed vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner, went slinking out the door for the evening. Today he is doing pimple control.

I have fond memories of our evening walks along the beach in Italy when the kids were little. The beach was great and all and we used to find all kinds of interesting sea life, shells and seahorses. However, I have to admit that the times the kids loved the most was when we'd stop by the local Cafe and their dad would pull out the money and they'd all get to chose their favorite ice cream. They waited patiently, drooling a bit and once they had theirs, they tried to make them last. Italians make it best, down to the last amaretto soaked raisen.

Of course, Teresa was overjoyed. Her ice cream maker has been in "cold storage" lately.
Well- check my blog tomorrow and there will be hopefully- a slide show!