Girls' Camp

It's 11:45 pm... The house is quiet. It's been exceptionally quiet all day. Both my girls left for Girls' Camp early this morning. I'm proud of myself. I didn't cry, even though it was Jackie's first time to go. I cried the first time Mandy went...she was crying, too. Jackie is too cool to cry but I make myself feel better by telling myself she'll miss me....we'll see.

I was still busy all day. I had other people to tend to and things to take care of. Still, it was a little too quiet in my home and in my heart. Sounds overly dramatic, I'm sure. But I miss my children. I miss the noise they make being teenagers. I miss the spontaneous hugs and chats I get when they stop what they're doing to touch-base with "Mom". I don't miss some things, but I miss most things.

I'll be sure to enjoy having "quiet-time" with Kevin and the rest of the grown-ups here at "Happy Acres". I know I'll love having Kev to myself this weekend in Park City. But I'm allowing myself this one, brief "Pity-party" (Debbie will know exactly what I'm talking about...haha). Tomorrow I'll be better.

For tonight, I'll listen to the cats roaming the house looking for Jackie... and the sound of the house settling-in for the night...without Jackie talking in her sleep or Amanda's music softly lulling her to sleep. I'll allow myself a few self-indulgent tears thinking about my "babies" taking one more step on their journey to self-reliance and growing up. ...and I'll miss my girls....

Good Night Sweet Angel-girls... I love you!

The Window Through Which We Look...

The Window Through Which We Look

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
'That laundry is not very clean,' she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.'

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this..'

The husband said, 'I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.'

And so it is with life. Often what we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

Milestones...and changes...

I grew up in a military family. That means for the first 15 years of my life, we moved approximately every 3 years. Although I would not trade the experiences of growing up as an "Air Force Brat", it instilled in me some definite likes and dislikes. One of my chief dislikes is "CHANGE". I hate change! I will be the first to admit that I do not handle it well, at all!

Normally, this dislike of change would make being a mommy pretty difficult. However, being the contrary person that I can be... the changes my children go through don't strike me as things to be unhappy about. I'll admit that their milestones sometimes make me wistful and strike me as bittersweet, but not unhappy.

All that being said... As we came to the end of another school year, I realized that we've reached another milestone in our family. This year was Jackie's last year in Elementary school. Next year she will start Jr. High. Next year will also be Amanda's LAST year of Jr. High.

In addition to the school milestones, this year we'll be celebrating some BIRTHDAY milestones. In July, Jackie will be 13...in case that didn't register let me spell it out T-H-I-R-T-E-E-N!!! YIKES!! Officially a teenager!

*pictures courtesy of Kerrianne Burch & Preservation Media*

In October, Amanda will celebrate her "Sweet-16". HOLY COW!!!!! My first baby will be SIXTEEN!!!! Sixteen, with all the changes that mysterious age brings to us. Driving...Dating...Will life ever be the same?

The answer to that question: "Will life ever be the same?", is a resounding "NO!". But I'm ok with that.

My daughters are growing up. I have watched every stage of their lives with awe and gratitude. I am so thankful for the beautiful young women they are becoming. Not just beautiful on the outside (although they are both THAT); but truly lovely on the inside, where it matters most.

It hasn't been an easy change for me to make, but I'm learning to take the milestones and changes my children bring to my life with greater appreciation, and hopefully more grace. (and less whining)

Cleaning crew...

A few years ago our Church leaders issued a proclamation regarding the family. Part of it talks about the principles upon which our families should be founded... such as: faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities...

We had some unexpected company coming (thanks for visiting, Marie-T. We had a blast!)so we had to work together to get the house in shape. I bribed my kids with the promise of some wholesome recreational activity (a shopping trip and lunch date)in order for us to get all the work done in one day. Here's how it looked from my angle... (Please excuse the quality of the pictures, my camera battery died and I used my cell-phone)

Amanda vacuumed the stairs going up to her room...sort of..wrestling the vacuum up the stairs gave her quite a work-out.

I think I need to teach Jackie something about using the vacuum...note the plug in her left hand...

To paraphrase the theme song for Gilligan's Island: "The mate was a mighty cleaning man..."

"...The Skipper brave and true..."

The end result was a sparkling-clean kitchen (and the rest of the house too, once Jackie plugged in the vacuum!)

Ah, Windex...my house and I thank you for leading the charge in our battle against dirt, grime, and germs...all with a streak-free shine! Windex, we salute you...

And now Fair Readers, until the "Good Ship Scrubs-Alot" sails again; I bid you a fond "Adieu"!

In Memorial...

Let's promise never to forget or be grateful...

Brittany Bonkers?!?!?!?!?!

....alias... Amanda Webster! Gifted Actress? OR Wanted Felon?!?!?!

DUN -DUN-DUN!!!

*insert sinister-villain-music here*

See for yourself:

Mother's Day

Mothers hold their children's hands for a moment but their hearts forever...

Happy Mother's Day!