I was looking through Rachel's photos and came across this one. It made me laugh. You can see the cut on Riley's leg and how traumatized the puppy looks. I know I shouldn't laugh but that night was pretty funny.
Rachel and I went for a bike ride with the dogs. Down the road, through the woods to the lake, back down the road and through the woods along this other path racing Sammy the whole way. He is a head strong dachsund that just has to be in front the whole time. Rachel heads home and I cut through the woods again, racing Sammy, I faked him out and started racing home. Sammy catches up and we are going pretty fast. All of a sudden Rachel jumps out at us from behind a pole and her puppy Riley gets scared and cuts right in front of me. I hit my brakes only to run over her neck area and drag her down the road! She runs home yelping, Rachel is screaming, our neighbor's dog is on our patio area, the beagle, Copper, thinks the neighbor's dog has hurt Riley and starts fighting him....it was quite the fiasco!! All the while, I'm calmly heading home just hoping the dogs eye did not pop out! I don't know why I thought that, but that is what I was thinking. When I saw that Riley was okay, I could not stop laughing...it was the funniest sight ever!! Riley had that cut and she couldn't walk on her paw, her stomach was tender, and she had road rash on her head and chin. Need I say that she runs up on the porch when we go for bike rides now...she is terrified!!

My Mind is Warped!!

I know this is probably gross and yes my mind is warped at times...however, it does make me laugh!!
I have had to take some medicine for a couple of days, no big deal. But it is so full of dye!! I swear if I peed in a cup, I could color easter eggs!!!

Just Wondering

Tonight I was mowing and was chased by a wasp. He finally left me alone but he sure did scare me. I knew the nest was there and I guess I just got too close. Now, I 'm giggling thinking that I really should spray the nest but it is in David's boat trailer....need I say more?!!!
So, I continue mowing and I'm wondering what on earth are wasp good for? Do they eat bugs and help decrease the bug population? I guess I will be googling that one because I know that there just has to be some reason that they were put on this earth. Other than to zap us if we get too close!

God is Simply Amazing!

It amazes me how God will put people on my heart to where I can't do anything but think about them. Most of the time, I will just react by praying for them. Never calling to talk, just praying for them and trying to get through the day. The last couple of times that happened it ended with regret. Their parent ended up passing away and I never knew what I was praying for or giving them the strength of just knowing someone was praying for them. Yesterday was different. I called the girl who I just could not get out of my mind. She was still searching for a job, depressed, and I think feeling alone. She told me that she would know by the end of the week about one job. I told her how God had just placed her on my heart all day and that I would be praying for her and the job. Today, she sent me a text. She landed the job and starts Tuesday!! I love that God had me reach out and I got to share in such wonderful news!! :)

Catch of the Day!!

This is what I saw coming home from church today. This bird was in my neighbor's yard by our road. When it flew off when I was approaching, it had this snake in it's mouth. I pulled up to the house and it was in front of our house by the river. Ran upstairs, yelled for Rachel to come see and took the picture. I just am hoping that it wasn't a speckled king snake!! It was fun watching him shake the snake. Like it was trying to kill it. Gotta love nature!!

How Can You Tell if You are Not Just Being Selfish?

I've really been struggling lately with the thought of moving closer to home. Rachel is going into the 9th grade and what a tough age to move her. She says definitely no...but how quick I know how she would change her mind and be thankful for the move. I think she would love the weather--she has always been the outdoors type and I think would do more than she does now. Who doesn't like the midwestern way of life. Sort of slower paced, less keeping up with the Jones' than baton rouge. She would definitely love being the new girl in school. She is very pretty and has always loved attention! She would get to see family and learn what a close family is like. Right now she sees David's family only a handful of times. Christmas, birthdays, and hardly ever during the year. I thought that would change with the divorce but it hasn't. I thought for sure David's family would contact the kids more with David out of town, but they haven't.
Today, I read about a childhood friend's mom passing away. She is so close to my heart and here I am a thousand miles away. I would give anything to be there with her. I have good friends here but the few that touch my heart the most are back home. So is it selfish to move your daughter away from her friends. At a young age, they are upset but soon forget. Is she at that age, where she would be upset but old enough to still stay very connected and be filled with excitement planning summer trips to see her old friends?
Guess, I need to start praying hard on this one and asking my friends to be in prayer. I have always been strong but it seems to bring me to tears lately when I get off the phone with my grandma or siblings. And I just long to visit my Uncles who have always had so much love behind that big manly exterior. I have been gone almost 24 years and I long to be home.

Food for Thought...NO, Give me Food for Hugs!!

Tonight I was going to grill hamburgers but then realized Rachel was not going to be home. So, I decide to surprise Jon with his favorite....MEATLOAF!! It cracks me up, but if I ever ask Jon what he wants special for dinner, it is always meatloaf!! Go figure!! I guess he was raised in the south but takes after his yankee mom!! So, I'm in the kitchen, meatloaf mixed and I'm making a quick sauce for the top and he walks in the kitchen. Oh, mom...is that?, oh mom, you are the best!! All smiles. Gives me the biggest hug in the world!! I LOVE that kid!!! :)

Oh the mind and diet of a Teen!!

At the end of a mind boggling day at work, I send Rachel a text. "Hey, I'm going to the grocery, do you want anything special?" I get this text with a smiley face and exclamation points, so I read it with her excitement. "LOTS OF SPAGHETTIOS AND COKE!! (: "

She cracks me up and grosses me out!!!

I am Blessed with the Gift of Staying Calm

Today, I was pulling weeds, between the storms, and got a phone call. Talked forever and when I was done with the flowerbeds, I laid on the picnic table, rolled up my shirt and was trying to get some sun. I'm laying there on the phone and feel something crawling on my foot. Thank goodness I didn't swat it with my foot first. I looked down and I had this HUGE red wasp crawling on my foot. I interupted that conversation and went, Oh my gosh, I have a wasp on my foot...I don't know what to do!!! I just stayed calm and after an eternity (probably a minute) it flew away! I WAS SO SCARED!!!!

4th of July Made me Giggle!!

Rachel asked me to take her and 4 friends from church to the Levee this year to watch fireworks. We almost didn't go because of her rudeness but she apologized. I guess she assumes that because I'm driving her there, I am going to smother her or embarrass her. Anyway, I'm glad we went and what an amusing night.
I drove across the Mississippi River bridge and went to Port Allen, figured it would be alot safer than downtown Baton Rouge. However, it was redneck central!! We get there and I point out to Rachel where i will be and decided on a meeting place for after the fireworks. I sit in the middle of these people at the top of the levee. Nice, professional family on one side and poor, ignorant, but kind rednecks on the other. I was amused all night listening to them and watching all the people in the crowd. A band started playing and that made it even more comical. The rednecks next to me reminded me of David. Always listening to music as loud as it can go and had bad hearing to show for it. They were hoarse because they were constantly yelling, even on their cell phones. I would giggle every time they would say think....it was always thank. Little kids everywhere and they didn't even realize how many times they were saying the F word. But, their conversations....you could tell they had really good hearts, they just weren't very bright. When the fireworks started, instead of the oooos and ahhhs that one of my friends texted me about....I was hearing, "Hell, yeahs". I was cracking up!!
Now, enough about them. During my people watching, I had my eye on two people in particular. For the life of me, I could not figure out if the were male or female!! They weren't together. I would see this one, a black person with a white woman, stroll by. It was thin build but looked like they had breasts but I really couldn't tell. Face could have passed for either sex. Now, the other, a white person, really reminded me of a girl. Couldn't figure it out by looking at them. But had some mannerisms of a woman but alot like a man. Never could figure them out!! And how odd to see two in the same place!
Now the police in this town....all Mayberry and off of the Duke's of Hazard. Too hilarious. One old guy was going down the levee bank and kept stumbling when he would try to talk into his shoulder radio. It was like chewing gum and walking....he just couldn't get the rhythm. Seemed really anxious too, like they were on a manhunt. They were just after people who set off some fire crackers!! OH NO!!! Then after the show they were driving in and out of the crowd on 4 wheelers. I don't think they were doing any crowd control or anything---just driving in and out of the crowd. Sort of an honor to be seen and to be on a 4 wheeler!
I think this had to be my funniest 4th of July ever!!!

Troubled

It's really odd for me but the last two nights I've had really strange dreams that have made me feel a little defeated in my self esteem and just really sad. This morning troubled me so much that I just can't seem to shake it.
Friday night the dream sort of made sense to me. Not all of it but some of it. Out of nowhere, I have this short dream about David. Jon had gone to New Orleans Wednesday and Thursday for his Navy physical. He goes back to Belle Chase Navy Base to sign up Monday & Tuesday. I have this short dream that I walked in my bathroom and David was in there shaving. We started arguing and I ended up telling him that Jon was joining the Navy. he became furious and stormed out to find Jon. I woke up. Jon and David have not spoken since March. So I would assume that I was feeling a little troubled over their broken relationship and here Jon is making one of the biggest decisions that he has ever made and doesn't really have a man in his life that he has spoken with. He has talked to his friends that are college grads and even went to a psychologist and spoke with him. Now why I dreamt about him shaving, I have no clue. The last 14 years of our marriage, I slept in Rachel's room. We'd wake up and go about our own lives...meeting up at the end for dinner.
Last nights dream was troubling to me. Out of nowhere again, I have this really short dream but it made me wake up with all those old feelings of helplessness and the belittling feeling when someone controls you. Not little controlling ways that are cute and manly. But controlling ways of you will do as I say and you have no choice. I have been crying off and on all morning and it's plain goofy. That part of my life is so far behind me so I don't understand why it is so upsetting to me. Heck, I rarely get riled up anymore where David is concerned. So why would a dream upset me so much?
I was dreaming that I was driving and when I got to this store David was with me. He pointed out these striped shirts that had something about mom and dad written on them. He said that we should get those. I told him they looked like prison shirts and said we are divorcing--why would I want a shirt to match you? Throughout the dream he was everywhere with me. I remember us driving and seeing people I knew and I was smashed up against the passenger door so they would not think we were together. He would stop and talk to people and try to put his arm around me and again I would tell him we were divorcing. He would give me that look that he always gave me. He had such stone cold eyes that were full of hatred or uncaringness. I finally woke up feeling I guess scared and worthless.
I can't wait to go to church today. Maybe I will come out feeling good again. And I'll definitely be praying for good dreams!!

:)

I LOVE waking up just so incredibly happy! Seem to be doing that alot lately! :)

Gave me a FRIGHT!

Rachel and two of her friends are quietly sleeping in her room, yet they still managed to scare the crap out of me!! I'm thinking that they might have done it on purpose too.
Last night we got home around 9:30 from church and they were immediately outside on the 4 wheeler taking a night ride. I could hear them for the longest time outside talking and laughing. It must have been after 11, they ran upstairs screaming and straight to their room....never did find out what had them so scared. Then they were in their room the rest of the night....that's why I think they purposely scared me.
I get out of the shower this morning, get my most wonderful first cup of coffee and sit down on the couch. The dogs are outside and I feel something hairy hitting my leg. I look and there is this massive pile of hair, i junp off of the couch gasping, thinking some wild animal got in somehow. It doesn't move so I get closer. It's stupid hair extensions from one of the girls!!!
I may just rig it to the top of their bathroom door so when one of them gets up and walks in, it will fall down and freak them out!!!! :)