Tired....

This time last year I barely had the energy to decorate the Christmas tree.  The THOUGHT of dragging out everything literally wore me out.  Not to mention the fact that at some point it would  all have to be packed back up.  I was exhausted.  All I could think about was sleeping.  I finally went to the doctor in January and tested positive for the Epstein-Barr virus.  I had a rip-roaring case of mono.  I suspect I picked it up on a mission trip to New Orleans.  

I would come home and crash on the couch for two or more hours.  I remember thinking one day that even my bones were exhausted.  I'm not sure how I managed to go to work everyday, cook, run errands, and keep the house running.  When I came home, all I could think about was somehow making it to 9 PM so I could go to bed.  

I feel better.  Somedays I am actually surprised by that.  I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to not be sick and tired.  I'll catch myself looking at the clock and realize that it is after 9 PM and I still feel human.  When I get tired (normal tired),  I find myself fighting  a sense of panic that the mono has returned.  It hasn't, and I'm thankful.  

Babies

Adam and Colton

Cage 
The twins came over for Zach's birthday.  I can't get enough of them.  

What I'm Thankful for

Everyone gathered at my aunt's house (Granny/Papa's house) for Thanksgiving.  My sister drove down with her family and my brother and his family joined us later on that evening. 

We feasted on turkey, dressing, several casseroles, and the most wonderful (but lethal) pecan pie.  I almost slipped into a diabetic coma, it was that good.

The holidays aren't quite the same because Granny and Papa aren't there to enjoy them with us.  I have spent almost every single Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, and a varied assortments of birthdays gathered around their kitchen table.  Time stands still in that house.  The assortment of tiny roosters are still sitting on the shelves by the kitchen windows.  The same kitchen table, the same harvest gold oven, the same dishes in the china cabinet that have been there as long as I can remember.  My guys have grown up spending holidays in a kitchen that is almost the same as the one where I spent my childhood holidays. 

 I'm thankful for a family that enjoys spending time with each other.  I'm thankful for children that LIKE hanging out with their family. We are blessed.

We gathered up all the grandkids for a picture.  Any idea how hard it is to get 8 people looking at the camera at the same time?  

Clay and Cage 

Happy Birthday Zach

Zach turned 15 over the weekend. He was at a youth retreat so we celebrated his birthday a day late. 

The weekend before his birthday, a friend of ours had 2 Atlanta Falcons' tickets for sale.  Bob and Zach headed to Atlanta to watch the Atlanta Falcons/Denver Bronco game.  Zach had a great time. 

Sunday after church the family gathered to wish him a Happy Birthday.  Zach requested his favorite cake - Applesauce Cake.  Nothing fancy, just a simple butter cake recipe with homemade applesauce on top.  He wanted me to make 2 cakes.  1 for him and 1 for everyone else.  I didn't have time but I've promised him another cake for the Thanksgiving holidays.

He is growing up.  We are starting to get glimpses of the man he will be someday.  God has blessed him with a strong body and a strong will.  Many times he and I have had a battle of the wills and I've walked away on the brink of wringing his neck.   I've always felt that God gave him that strong will because He has something amazing in store for Zach (sometimes I have to remind myself of this to keep from wringing his neck).  One day, that determination will come in handy.  He is a quiet young man that often hides a softer side.  I've watched him tenderly help his great-grandmother who had Alzheimer's walk down the porch steps.  Quietly assuring her that he would take care of her and not let her fall.  No one asked him to help her.  He just noticed her and went over to help.  Of course, this same kid will terrorize his younger brother for the simple pleasure of hearing him squeal...."MOM!"  

We'll go sometime next week and get his learner's permit.  I'm not sure I'm ready to sit on the passenger side while he drives.....

Happy Birthday Adam

Adam's birthday was this week and he celebrated it with a sleepover this weekend.  Six middle school boys came over for a sleepover.  Most of them stayed up all night.  Adam was the first one asleep (he gets that from me).  They rewarded him by pegging him in the back with an aerosoft pellet the next morning. No harm done and one of the boys recorded the moment on his cell phone.  Adam is proudly wearing a small bruise on his back.  As the only female in this house, I don't always understand why they do some of the things they do.  I've learned that in the whole scheme of things this isn't something to stress over.

The best part of the sleepover was getting to watch Adam's friends.  They are great kids.  It was good to see that he has friends who are positive and fun to be around.   

Here's the group.  They were outside this morning playing at the... 

CRACK OF DAWN!

Happy Birthday Adam.  We love you.

PS. Could you please stop growing up so fast??? 

I love fall

This is why I'll never move away from the mountains.

Football

Zach loves football.  He loves to run (fast), and he loves to tackle (hard).  He's had a great season.  He played offense and defense for the last three games.   Last week, he had an 80 yard run.  I wish I had his energy....

2nd Place...

We got up early this morning to drive to a karate tournament.  Adam has been competing since 3rd grade.  At his first tournament, he won 3rd place in forms but was quickly eliminated in the sparring.  For several years, he never won a match.  I vividly remember a tournament where he tried so hard to win but couldn't.  As he was packing up his gear, he kept wiping tears of frustration from his eyes.  My heart broke.  

Fast forward to today.  He competed in forms but didn't place.  It didn't look like it was going to be his day.  Then came the sparring.  Wow!  He won his first match 7 -1.  Afterwards, he could not stop grinning.  His second match was a nail-bitter.  He was up against a tough opponent but he held his own.  The final score was 4-7.  He didn't win but he walked away with a 2nd place trophy.  He finally stopped smiling long enough to eat a pecan pancake at IHOP. 

Winning isn't everything but it sure is nice....especially when you've worked long and hard for it.