Cabin Fever and Snow Days!

OK Already!! It's time for the ice and snow to GO AWAY. Our driveway is nothing but a sheet of ice, or I should say a hill of ice. It has been a couple of years since it has been this bad. The snow we can handle, the ice we can't. I know, it is January, and I don't even have to go out in it. But it is nice to know I could if I wanted to. I haven't even been to Walmart for a couple of weeks. They might close up. I guess that won't happen though, last year while taking care of my father-in-law I went two times in two months. That was really a record.

Courtney's nursing program goes by Harrison County school closing, and they have had so many days off they are now going in 1/2 hour early to try to make up. She has been loving the days off, but misses the extra sleep.

Poor Carolyn has the opposite problem. She is student teaching 4 days a week, so does benefit from the school delays and closing in the morning, but all of her afternoon and evening classes are in Morgantown and WVU very rarely closes. She did have an individual class cancel one evening this week when it was really bad, but most of the time she has to go ahead and go. The education program does not leave much room for taking days off.

The kids are really enjoying all the snow. Danielle has tried to keep Breanna and C.J. from knowing about snow days (they home school) since they take off extra for holidays or any extra days they want. (Birthdays, etc.) But they are older now and heard on the radio the other night about school closing for snow and wanted to know why they had to work. So she actually gave them a snow day yesterday along with everyone else. They were really excited. Next I guess they will want a 2 hour delay.

Maybe tomorrow I can post some pictures of the snow.

I guess that is all that is going on right now. Try to keep warm. Spring will come eventually.

History in the Making!

No matter which side we are on we have all been part of history in the making this week. I am so glad it is over with. Now we just have to pray for our President and our nation. I might not agree with all the President Obama stands for but I must respect him and his office. And Gods commands that we pray for our leaders.

Even though I don't agree with him, I do think it was time for a president of another race. Our country is full of all nationalities and really, who is a real American anyway. We all have roots somewhere else. All of us are created equal in Gods sight.

On another note. Don't you love this sunshine. I am just ready for spring. My bother always says, "If you get through January, February is short, and then just March right into spring." Yea!! I'm ready. This has been a long winter already. I'm ready to get this baby outside and let him play in the fresh air. OK, I admit it, I'm ready to be able to get up and down my driveway and go wherever I want. Right now, with having the baby I am pretty much home bound because of the ice, but it won't be long and we can go again.

I am having a rare day alone. Court did not have school today, so she and Javy went to Morgantown with Carolyn once the roads cleared. (WVU very rarely has snow days) I have been doing some much needed cleaning and want to get done before the family all are home again.

Stay warm and enjoy the SUNSHINE!

Emotional time of year.

I'm sitting here watching my 15 month old grandson listen to Veggie Tales and dance along with the belly button song and thinking about the difference in our house from this time last year. This time last year we were concerned about how we were going to juggle bringing my father-in-law home and work at the same time. We were concerned about Jay'von's health (he suffered obstructive apnea caused from severe reflux) and what we would need to do with him when Courtney started nursing school or a job. He really could not be in daycare. There were a lot of questions and uncertainties.

Now here we are. The questions are all answered. I decided to quit work to take care of Dad. God took Dad home to heaven on March 30. Courtney started nursing school in June, and I decided to continue to stay home and take care of Javy. It has been such a blessing.

But at this time of year (the last months we spent with Dad) I can't help but remember those last days and all the joys and sorrows we went through.

I have decided to focus on the good times we had with him. He was such a cheerful person and so funny, even on some of the days when he didn't know anything. It was always fun to ask him every day what color his room was. In his imagination there were people in there painting his room all the time and it was always a different color. He told me they would do it any color I wanted. I wish it were that easy. It still needs the border done.

I think of him a lot on days like this when it is dreary. He had problems with his vision that made it difficult to see when the sun was shining. Everything looked hazy then. But on dreary days he could see clearly. So when the sun was shining he said it was foggy and when it was dreary and foggy he said it was such a clear day. People that did not know thought he was crazy. But we knew what was going on. Still on dreary days one of us will usually say "Isn't it a clear day."

I'm glad we had him right here with us for 5 years. It was such a blessing. And I'm glad we still have Jay'von with us for a while. He also is such a blessing.

I guess that is what life is all about. Making memories. Some of them good and some of them not so good. We just have to decide which of them we are going to focus on. I need to remember that this time of year I need to focus on the good times and good memories from last year. There are many of them and they outweigh the bad.

Happy Birthday, Chuck and Courtney!!

Today is our son Chuck's 28 birthday. He was born in the middle of a blizzard in Canton, Ohio. I was in the hospital for 7 days and the temperature did not get above -10 the whole time. I did not get to be with him today but we have already celebrated twice. They came to our house on Sunday for dinner and birthday cake, then Monday night we took the whole family out to dinner for Chuck and Courtney's Birthday together. Her birthday was December 30. I always kept them separate when they were small, but the last few years I have combined their celebrations. They are old enough to understand.

It was always tough, having 2 birthdays within 2 weeks of Christmas. I was so careful to make sure their birthdays were not overshadowed by all the Christmas activity. I actually bought their birthday gifts before their Christmas gifts so I didn't get to birthdays and realize there was nothing left. (either money or ideas)

Chuck always felt slighted on the birthday party scene, though. What usually happens right after Christmas? That's right, flu season. I can't remember how many years we had the whole McDonalds Birthday thing scheduled, then everyone would get sick and we had to cancel. One year there was a health department quarantine. They were suggesting that no one go to public places. So no party again. Then there was always the weather to contend with. We definitely got more snow in Ohio then we get here.

One year we had Chuck a 1/2 year birthday party in June. That was fun. We actually did it outside. Something we could never do in January.

I just remembered the first winter we were in West Virginia. A blizzard hit on January 7 and we got 27 inches of snow. I don't think we have had so much since. Of course I'm not complaining about that.

Courtney was 22 on December 30. That was the year we had one on Uncle Sam. Haven't since and probably never will, but it was fun while it was happening.

It seemed like the party issue was not so bad for her. That extra week must make a difference. She missed the party at school, though, because her birthday was during Christmas break. I always tried to send something when she went back, but it just didn't seem the same.

Happy Birthday, Kids. I thank God daily for my great family. (We do have a third child, but her birthday isn't until April.)

This picture is of Courtney and my neice Sarah. They share the same birthday and try to celebrate together whenever they can. Courtney is on the right in the polka dots. I'll have to post one of Chuck when I get them from the camera. It's late now and I think I'll call it a day.



This picture is of Chuck and his children. Breanna is on the left and C.J. on the right.

Getting Started!!

I know this should have been my first post, but my feelings were so strong on Dad's birthday that I just had to write about it. I confess, I am a follower of blogs. I have many that I follow daily and my family is constantly telling me that I need to do this. Sooo, here I am. I posted the first one and thought, "OK, it can set there until I decide I need to write about something again." But, would you believe it. Someone actually read it. No one knew I started it except some of my children, and someone found me and read my post. Now I feel like I have to keep going.

This is just going to be for fun. I will write about things that are important to me. They may not see important to anyone else, but that is what blogging is all about. It is just a little piece of our life that we are willing to share with the world.

I hope you enjoy my blog as well I enjoy some that I follow. I will soon be posting some pictures and listing my favorite blogs. Until next time. Stay warm and be happy!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Yesterday would have been my father-in-law's 92 birthday.

God called him home to heaven on March 30, 2007. That was one of the saddest and happiest days of our life. The saddest because we miss him so much. His humor, wisdom and spirit were so great and will never be replaced.

It was one of the happiest days because we know where he is. He had strived for amost 50 years to make it to heaven, and now he's there. He also is with all his friends and family that went on before him. So many times he would want me to read scripture about heaven and we would talk about how wonderful it would be. I just heard yesterday that one of his friends had passed away and in my mind I started to picture what might be going on in heaven right now. I'm sure they are rejoicing and praising God that another saint made it home.

His main interest in life was missions and his books. He loved to pass out tracts and write letters to missionaries. Just the other day while sorting out more of his stuff I found a whole box of tracts. He always carried them in his coat pockets to give out to anyone he met. There were some in his suit that he was burried in. We just left them there. He never went anywhere without them. (I know he won 't need them in heaven, but I just couldn't take them out.) God help us all to be so faithful.

He also loved missions. He had a list of missionaries he supported and wrote to every month. What a heritage. We lack so much living up to his example. If God provides I intend to pick up some of that vision.

This has gotten much longer then I intended, but how can you condense such a great life into just a few sentences.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Dad! We all miss you so much. Thanks for living such a Godly example before us.