Our Life & Times

The 4th of July holiday is quickly approaching and I just wanted to remind everyone to stay safe! We are heading to SD with our camper to see Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, and maybe some buffalo (bison) running free. I know the 4th of July is usually consumed by picnics, barbecues, swim parties, fireworks, etc. but let us not forget why we celebrate the 4th and let us not forget the sacrifices of many who served and who are still serving for our country's independence. Also, remember to say an extra prayer this weekend for our country's leaders and the families of our troops serving in far away places. God Bless the USA!

If you want to have some fun at home with your kids or grandkids, try this: Mix 2 cups cornstarch with 1 cup water. When you try to scoop up the "Ooblick" with your fingers at first it is really hard and then it runs through your fingers like liquid, and if you let it dry on your clothes or whatever else it gets on, it turns to powder. Ooblick used to be a regular staple in my preschool classroom. Konnor and I had such a good time with it, that when he got a little bored with the plain cornstarch and water, we added food coloring, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, salt, and vinegar all to see what would happen. What we got was a pink, foamy mess! We had such a good time though and the memories are priceless! One thing my mom has told me since she became a nurse is that she regrets not ever taking the time to play with my sister and I or even to read us a book. She has said that if she could go back just one day when we were little and play with us it would make her so happy. I may not be a perfect parent, and the Lord knows I have made many mistakes along the way, but I try to play with my son as often as I can.

Konnor's cousins, Tyler and Dustin, rollerskating at Konnor's 10th birthday party.
Konnor and his cousin Rheannon soaking in the hot tub. What a pair! Konnor and his cousin Gunner riding bikes at the campground at Mary's Lake.

Although Konnor is an only child in our house, he still has cousins that he plays with and hangs out with. We are blessed to have Konnor's cousin, Gunner, staying with us for a whole month from PA. Our summers just wouldn't be the same without Gunner's visits! I hope the time Konnor spends with all his cousins are memories for him to cherish for many years to come.

An update on my algebra dilemma, on my progress report I got Monday I have a 98% in the class. So, somebody's been prayin' for me, 'cause there's no way I could've done that well on my own! :-)
We (Konnor, my nephew, Gunner, and myself) have been swimming in our pool everyday since last Saturday, but today is cloudy and kind of cold outside so we are taking a break from the pool.
Tomorrow we are taking our camper to the mountains for the weekend, we'll do a little fishing, swimming, and maybe some shopping... The weather is supposed to be nicer than it is today.
And that's about all that's going on for now. Can you believe that yesterday was just the 1st day of summer and next weekend we'll already be heading into the 4th of July? Where does the time go?

On Friday I went to an interview for an internship position working for the United Way. It is not a high paying position, and it is only temporary, but I thought what a better way to get my feet wet working for a non-profit organization, such as United Way. Today I was offered the position, and with much thought and prayer I accepted. Of course, I will have to try to do some substitute teaching or even get a weekend job or something to help Brian pay the bills, but I think it is an opportunity I couldn't pass up. So, keep us in your prayers while we undergo yet another transition this fall.

My mom asked me if I would share some pictures of Brian's recent trip to Ireland and England on my blog. So for starters I am posting a picture of the changing of the guard in London, and a picture of the Irish countryside. Some more of God's good gifts...

We are looking forward to some upcoming camping trips this summer. We are planning to go to Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota over the 4th of July, but I still need to find someone who can take care of my Dachshunds. I wouldn't mind taking them along if we were going somewhere locally, but not all the way to South Dakota.
Anyway, we look forward to our camping trips. We bought our camper last year. It is 30 feet long with 1 slide out, sleeps 6, with a full kitchen and bath. We love it! Anyway, one of the most special things about when we go camping is that when we come inside for the night we like to pull out Konnor's sofa bed and snuggle together in the living room area watching TV or movies on the portable DVD player. Now, some people might argue that when you have a camper, TV, and a DVD player it's not really considered camping, but believe me, there was no other way to get my husband to spend the night in the woods with bears and mountain lions without the comforts of home! And I can't say I mind much having my own bathroom and A/C, either! The extra fun part about camping this summer is that my nephew, Gunner, from PA is here visiting for a month and will be joining us. It will be great being able to share this time with my family and file some new memories away to look back on in the future.

I am going to whine a little bit today. I have spent 6 hours of class time and approx. 15 hours already this week sitting at the table trying to figure out my algebra assignments for college. I have a great teacher, but after she lectures (and I take notes) I come home and forget half the steps! Ugh! I think I am just algebra illiterate. I took algebra 2 years in a row in high school and failed it both times. In order to graduate high school I had to take geometry and business math to get enough credits. I am not even sure why I need to have it to teach preschool or to work for a non-profit organization. Oh well. See, I told you I was going to whine today. I know everybody and anybody who has or is trying to seek a higher education feels my pain, unless of course they are math majors, and think this stuff is fun. Then, I am sticking my tongue out at you right now!

I was tagged by Angie, so here goes!

7 Things to do before I die.

1. Finsh my college degree.
2. Watch my son play NFL football.
3. Play with my grandchildren.
4. Pay off all our bills and all my family's bills.
5. Retire with my honey and travel the country in our RV.
6. Hire a housekeeper.
7. Attend a Women of Faith conference with my mom and my sister, all of us together.

7 Things I cannot do.

1. Control everything.
2. Drive a stick shift.
3. Bait my own fishing hook.
4. Listen to my voice mail on my cell phone.
5. Do a cartwheel.
6. Train my dogs, they are all stubborn!
7. Sew!

7 Reasons I am attracted to my husband.

1. He works hard.
2. He spoils me rotten!
3. No matter how crazy or psycho I become he always sticks by my side.
4. He helps around the house.
5. Although we could both do better, he does go to church with us and he serves as a trustee and my co-youth group leader.
6. He cries at Disney movies, so he won't watch them anymore.
7. He makes a mean baked ziti.

I tag Victoria!

My number was picked to report to jury duty this morning. Although I have been summoned before I never actually have had to report before, so this was a new experience for me. I didn't want to have to go, and I have many reasons why it wasn't convenient (school, Konnor, etc.).
Anyway, after 3 hours of waiting in a tiny room with about 100 other people, the judge called us all to the courtroom upstairs to let us know that the case has been postponed and we were all excused from any further responsibility regarding this case. Woo Hoo!

I am currently involved in a scrapbooking Bible study class at church called "God's Good Gifts." In this class we are learning more about how God made us special, and that all of our lives hold a meaningful purpose in God's plan for the world and for His people. We are also learning to appreciate "God's Good Gifts", such as the beautiful world He has created. I am including a beautiful picture today taken right here in Colorado by my husband, Brian, at a Lutheran church camp our son, Konnor, went to about 2 summers ago. Can you believe this is what Konnor and all the other lucky campers got to wake up to every single day they were at camp? Purple mountain majesties!

I think Konnor and I were in a small tornado yesterday while we were at Brian's cousin Shelley's house. Shelley and I were sitting in the living room with her 1 1/2 year old baby, Kashley, and Konnor and Shelley's boys, Dusty and Tyler, were outside in their tent. All of a sudden the wind picked up so fast that we couldn't see the backyard where the kids were playing from all the dirt and dust flying around. Shelley jumped up and ran outside to get the kids when I heard a crash against one of the windows, so I grabbed the baby and ran into the kitchen where Shelley was trying to get the boys into the backdoor. Konnor and Tyler who were playing in the tent had a large tree limb land on the tent while they were in it and left knots on their heads. (Other than that they were OK). A few minutes later it was all gone, and so we went outside to check Shelley's house and her animals, (they have horses, goats and dogs.) The animals were fine, but one of the barns was blown over, tree limbs were everywhere, including one that was stuck straight in the ground (can you imagine what would have happened to our kids if it had hit them?) , and they had a window upstairs blown out of the house. We saw their neighbor's also lost one of their barns. We never had any tornado warnings or anything, but later yesterday afternoon the paper went to Shelley's house and interviewed her oldest son, Tyler.

Let me first say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KONNOR! I Love you!

Ok, now on to the rest of my story...I had a really hard day yesterday, LONG story. Anyway, after the day I had I came to the conclusion that I needed a change of lifestyle. I need to exercise and eat better so I can look better and feel better. Old age is creeping up on me :-), and it does not agree with my metabolism. So, in an effort to get started right (because I have said this before, started programs, and then quit because I didn't see immediate results), I got up at 6:00 AM this morning, got dressed, and walked for about 30 minutes. It was nice too, because there really aren't that many people out at that time in the morning to see me walking around the neighborhood with bed head, and it is still cool enough where I would not die of heat exhaustion. When I came home I made myself some toast and took a nice, refreshing shower. Now, I am ready to start my day. I might even walk again this evening, and this time I might drag my family with me!

Konnor will be turning "two hands-full", as he puts it, on Thursday. My friend blogged yesterday about when to take the training wheels off of your child, so the speak, and let them go. I am struggling with this myself. You see, although it is hard for any parent to "let go", I think it is especially hard for me right now. Most parents get to raise their children from birth, and have 18 years to teach them and mold them into the people they should be, but not us. We became Konnor's foster parents when he was already 6 years old, and then we adopted him when he was 8. Therefore, we are only 4 years into being his parents, and in my mind, sort of, this makes him only 4 years old to me, even though I know he's not. Does this make sense to anyone besides myself? However, even though I try so hard to hang on to my 'little boy", he is not so little anymore. He wants to hang out with his friends at the park, he has girls calling everyday (he was even invited to the pool today by one of them, YIKES!), he does not like me to pick out his clothes anymore, and God forbid if I talk to his friends because I could embarrass him! Sometimes, I feel like we got jipped. Why didn't we get to have 18 years like everyone else, and why didn't we get to raise Konnor from birth? Would it be any easier to let him be a 10 year old if we had? I don't know.

Summer vacation has officially started for Konnor. He also starts track practice for the first time ever tonight so we have to go find him some good running shoes this afternoon. Something about the whole thing reminds me of Forest Gump. Run, Forest, Run!! The kids can choose up to 4 different events every week to compete in, Konnor says he is interested in running the mile and the relay. We will see when it is 100 degrees outside in the middle of July how interested he is in running a mile! :-)

I am feeling a little "under the weather" today. We had a long day yesterday working at the 4-H Frog launch booth for Johnstown BBQ Days, going out to lunch, and then to the hot rod truck & tractor pulls until 12:30 AM. I came home not feeling so well last night, and then felt just as bad when I woke up today. I was supposed to perform a skit at church with my preschool Sunday school class this morning for the last day of Sunday school for the summer, and I had to call the pastor this morning to tell her I wasn't going to be making it to church. I also have LOADS of homework to do before tomorrow, but I am finding myself working at a snail's pace to get it done. I guess I won't get it done any faster by blogging... Will write more later...

In honor of it being Friday, and I think everyone deserves a break today, I am going to post some "funnies" that I read online... Hope you like 'em!

A precocious 4 year old was brought into the ER with a severe cough. She kept up a non-stop conversation while the nurse was trying to assess her lung sounds. Finally, the nurse said, "SHHH!.. I am trying to hear if Barney is in there!" The child looked at the nurse and calmy said, "Jesus is in my heart, Barney is on my underwear..."

A WISE LITTLE GIRL:

A certain little girl when asked her name would reply " I am Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter." Her mother told her that this was wrong, she must say "I am Jan Sugarbrown." On Sunday, in church, someone said to her "Aren't you Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter?" The little girl replied, "I thought I was, but mother says I'm not..."

We currently have 4 family members, either by blood or by marriage, suffering from cancer right now, and two who have breast cancer. We lost our 5th family member yesterday morning, Helen Dull, my 1/2 sister's grandmother, suffered the affects of lung cancer, although she was not a smoker. I have also lost my grandpa to lung cancer, and my husband has lost an uncle and an aunt to cancer. I am writing this in my blog today to remind all who read it that there is still so much that needs to be done to find a cure for cancer. Please, whether you support the effort with your prayers, walk for the cure, donate money to different research foundations, or whatever you are able to do, PLEASE do it. You or someone you love could be next.