Happy Birthday Tim

It sure is nice to have Tim home for his birthday. He told me last night that his last birthday he was flying in a helicopter next to the open door, buckled in but feeling like he was falling out. They were on some tactical air mission. Maybe I got the terminology wrong. but anyway, I do remember his Blog at that time and him explaing it.

Well, it is wonderful to have him home and safe. Thanks to everyone who prayed for him and I know there were many doing just that!

He is in school now. He likes some of the professors and some not. He seems to be doing well adjusting to life in Houston.

Happy Birthday Tim amd We love you!

A visit from Joplin

Maya , Georgia and Valorie dropped by for a weeks visit. Hurricane Gustav's threats shortened their visit however. What a price to pay to stay in Houston. UGH! Hurricanes have very little respect. Well, we did get missed once again. For some reason, the bad weather seems to aim for New Orleans. So sorry for the Louisiana folks tho'. Speaking of paying a price, they sure pay a hefty one for living in the Big Easy that in reality- isn't all that easy.

We had a great visit and the girls are so vivacious and fun. we visited just abiyt everybody we could think of and then some. Sheba deceided to bless us with 5 goldendoodle pups. We are now raising hybird dogs!

The kids love life! and we had miles of giggles, smiles and happy times in those few short days. I was struggling with a summer cold so they did a bit of sacrificing by hugging and putting up with my sniffles. It sounded like Valorie and her grandma "me" were in a continual coughing contest.

Well. all good things do have to end and they finally located a few horses they felt good about, saddled up and rode off into the sunset. Missouri has quite an influence on folks. Bye kids!!! Bye Maya!!!! sniff.....sniff..... when you are a grandma,a never ending supply of tissues is a plus.

Thank God that most of my tears are tears of joy tho'. I heard you all arrived home safely- don't forget to return the horses soon. OK?

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!