A Year in the Life

It's May.  If you are a mom with multiple children at home, you know what that means.  It means it's crazy, and you don't know your name; your children's names; or really what day it is.  Most of my mom friends will tell you May is worse than December.  We all have to stick together to make it through to the last weeks of school, sports, dance, graduation etc.! Sports teams are starting to wrap up.  If you had rain outs during your season you very well could end up with 4 games in a week...because we all have time for that.  There are team parties, coach's & team mom gifts.  Don't forget teacher gifts, dance teacher gifts, bible study leader gifts, Sunday school teacher gifts...well, you get the idea.  If you have a graduating senior, hold on tight, because it's a world wind that everyone just expects you to know about.  Parties, gifts, gifts and parties, there's a little school thrown in too. Today, I sat down for 2 minutes and came ...

Celebrating 50! The three brothers: Hopson, John & Will My in-laws, Peggy & Walter, have been married 50 years.  You know, that is an accomplishment.  It's actually hard to believe it's their golden anniversary, because they don't act like they are old enough to be married that long.  They don't behave act like they are senior citizens & every once in a while you see that little twinkle that has helped them be so spry. Fun with cousins For their anniversary, the family headed up to the beautiful mountains of Jonas Ridge, North Carolina.  Peggy grew up in Morganton about 30 minutes away, and it has been a favorite spot of theirs for a long time.  It is lush, green and the temperature was wonderful for the middle of July.  We had an adventurous time visiting with family we don't see very often.  It's just fun to see fam you don't get to see very often.  We went hiking.  The children went down a rock slide, swam in fre...

 The map of Opelika. My parents grew up in Opelika, Alabama.  It's close to Auburn University for those of you who have never heard of it.  It's just a little southern town in eastern Alabama.  My parents are buried there as well.  The Opelika/Auburn area has grown tremendously in the last 20 years.  Almost to the point where I have trouble remembering where everything is.  I was driving through Opelika today on my way home & wanted to go by the cemetery.  No, I don't think it's morbid, I'm not in the area often, and wanted to go by.  I haven't been there in at least 12 years.  Things have changed so much I couldn't find it.  I was a little upset.  You know when you get your mind set on something and then you can't follow through?  It nags at me until I can't stand it. I'm going to do some virtual mapping on the computer to see if I can find it.  I know what it looks like in my mind...

I love my children.  I love almost everything about them.  (except when they make a huge mess & fight)  I am one of their biggest fans, but it's also part of my job to call them out when they've done something wrong.  But I've noticed something.  Something about grandparents....  In a grandparent's eyes, their grandchildren are the brightest and the best.  They can do no wrong.  You want to make a mess, and not have to worry about cleaning it up?  Sure, you just have a fun time playing sweet baby.  You want to eat 3 chocolate doughnuts for breakfast?  Well sure, who doesn't want 3 doughnuts?! I love how Bill Cosby talks about his parents as grandparents in his monologue:  'Bill Cosby:  Himself'.  Classic!  I tend to think, since I'm raising four children, that grandparents earn every happy experience they get with their grandchildren.  It's hard raising children.  Don't get me wro...