PAD Jan. 4: Yellow

I love to paint using the poured paint or fluid painting method. I use acrylic paint for this. I even make jewelry from the skins of the dried puddles of paint.

This means I also love shopping for paint and picking out different colors and different shades. Seeing all these shades of yellow together made me happy.

PAD Jan. 3: Currently Reading

I don't get to read a whole lot that issues related to my profession during my school year.

I tend to listen to audio books in the car going to and from work since my commute is 40 minutes long. But, I have been trying to read as much as I can about diabetes since being diagnosed last July.  I have a subscription to this magazine and just got this issue a few days ago.

PAD Jan. 2: New

I love Sketchers. They are the best shoes to wear when you have plantars facilities. I have several pairs and am always asking for more for birthdays and Christmas.  I got a new pair that are really cute for Christmas this season.  Since the topic for today's PAD was new I decided to take a picture of my new Sketchers.

PAD Jan.1: Hello

I've decided to get back into participating in the photo a day challenge.  So, for today's prompt which is "Hello" I was a little lazy and just did a silly Snapchat selfie.

2018

I've just been looking through my memories on Facebook.  So many posts throughout the years about how much I love Christmas Eve. It's just impossible to feel that this year. It's been such a crappy year. It will probably be the first time ever since he was born that I won't see my brother on Christmas Eve.

Twenty-eighteen has not been kind. In January I broke my ankle.  Between February and June my mom had two strokes.  My aunt died in April. My van got totaled in May. I was diagnosed with diabetes in July. My daughter started having horrible anxiety in August.  My sister-in-law passed away on December 5th. Two other people I love have had some major health issues in the past two months. And, my brother has had even more upheaval than I have.

There will be people missing from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year making it very strange. I hope and pray that there is healing happening this coming year.  I also hope I can focus on blessings as I go throughout this holiday season.

Thanksgiving Eve 2017

Here we are at Thanksgiving time again.  It is the first Thanksgiving for Michaela as a college student.  She came home on Friday after a long drive.  She and her roommate, Carolyn left Kirksville with another passenger and headed towards Hannibal so they could stop at The Mark Twain Diner for root beer.  They then drove to Webster Groves to drop off their third passenger and then came home in rush hour.  She was exhausted.

Michaela and I spent a lot of time together on Saturday.  In the morning we went to the rock garden on 5th Street and left a bunch of my painted rocks.  We took a few, too.  Then we headed out to Warrenton so I could show her Binkley Park.  We left a lot of rocks out there including most of the ones we took from the rock garden.  We also left rocks at St. Peters City Center Park and The Recplex.  Then, we had to pick the dogs up at the groomer on the way home.

Then, Saturday night, Michaela and I went to see The Penelopiad at St. Charles Community College.  One of Michaela's friends from high school was in it.  She was Penelope before Penelope died.  I was really excited to see it because it is based on a Margaret Atwood book and I love Margaret Atwood.  It was really good.  Michaela and I both enjoyed it.  And, Michaela's friend did a really good job.

Sunday, we went to church and had dinner at church.  After church, Gale came over and Michaela and I went shopping with her.  Michaela came home with jeans and sweat pants. It was fun spending time with them both.

I had to work Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday we did not have classes.  The students stayed with their 4th hour teachers all day.  First, we went to the movie theater in Warrenton and saw Wonder.  It was a fantastic movie.  When we got back to school it was lunch time.  After lunch, we had our Turkey Trot.  Then, we spent the rest of the day in the gym for a unity assembly and our winter sports pep assembly.

Which brings us to today.  It was a busy Thanksgiving Eve.  Michael had to work.  I was up by 6:00 am and started cleaning.  I went through all the books and DVDs in our entertainment center and bagged up the ones I wanted to get rid of.  The kids were up and helping me clean by 9:00 am.  Around 11:00 we left to run errands.  I ended up with around $90 in store credit at V-stock with the books and DVDs that they accepted.  The ones they rejected we took to Salvation Army and donated. It always feels good to purge.

We got home after 1:00 and cleaned the rest of the afternoon.  This is what we do every year on the day before Thanksgiving.  It is the best cleaning our house gets all year.

Tonight I made the deviled eggs and stuffing.  Michael and Michaela made two pumpkin pies and cranberry relish.  I showed Michaela how to prep the turkey.  I always put the turkey in the over around 10:00 pm because I like to slow roast the turkey over night like my mom did when I was growing up.  I also stuff our turkey.  I love stuffing and it tastes better out of the bird, plus I feel it helps keep the turkey moist along with the slow roasting.  This is the first year I am not terrified something may go wrong with it.  I am still a little nervous.  Twenty-one pounds of turkey is a lot of food to mess up.  But, I've been doing it for many years now so I should have the hang of it.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and my mom, Griff, Brandon and Karen will come over around 11:00 am.  That is less than 12 hours from now.  We will have our usual meal, everyone will eat too much and be lazy all afternoon.  We may play a board game or two or not.  Michaela wants to watch the parade.  By tomorrow night at this time another Thanksgiving will have come and gone and I will be sleeping with my alarm set to get up and be at Bass Pro Shop by 5:00 am because that is where Michaela and I always start Black Friday.

Took My Spot

This is what happens in our house when you get up to go to the restroom.   Izzy will take my spot every time,  especially when there is a pillow involved and it means she can look out of the window.

A Snowy Sunday

This morning I woke ip to snow.  I love snow.   It is 8:20 am and they are reporting 4 inches so far on the news.  It is supposed to snow all day.  We are also supposed to get record low temperatures tonight and tomorrow.   Earlier this morning they were saying actual temps around -10º F with windchills around -25ºF.  I am supposed to go back to work for a PD day tomorrow.   It may be a very cold first day back.   I love snow,  but bitter cold not so much.

Waiting Between Events at a Swim Meet

This weekend was my daughter's first swim meet of the season.   Her brother does his best to entertain himself between her events.  This is what siblings look like in the crash area of a swim meet.

Letter to Michaela

Michaela next to the sign that my senior class donated to the school 

as our class gift the year I graduated.  Class of 2017 standing next to Class of 1987.

Dear Michaela,

There are times I look at you and I really have a hard time believing you are my daughter.  I don't feel old enough to have a teen age daughter about to start high school.  Just thinking about all the time that has passed since my own freshman year in high school makes my head spin.  How could it have been so long ago?

You know that the day you were born my biggest dream came true.  Being a wife and mother may not seem like a lot to some people, but it's what I wanted most out of life and the day you were born you gave me the mother part of that.  

From that first moment when you looked up at me and you forehead wrinkled like your daddy's I've not been able to breath the same since.  My whole world tipped over and slid around like a carnival ride and hasn't stopped since.  

You've been a source of constant worry and constant joy.  You are more beautiful than you will ever know, my "fabulous" girl.  And, you are more loved than you even begin to comprehend at this point in time.  

I admire your passion for those things that interest you.  I love your kindness and gentleness.  I envy your sassiness in standing up for yourself.  I am proud of your tenacity and loyalty.  You are a composite of your parents, but you are also definitely uniquely YOU.  

Your first day of high school begins a whole new adventure for you.  I am excited and nervous for you.  Just remember to enjoy every second of it while you can.  These next four years are going to fly by faster than you can fathom.  There is so much to experience and so much to learn, I don't want you to miss any of it.  I know your high school years are going to be amazing and I am so looking forward to experiencing them with you.

Because I love you and because I'm your mom and because you're a teenager (even though you have a good head on your shoulders) I have to give you advice before you begin high school.  It's mandated by the mother handbook.

Don't forget to stay focused on your academics.  Do take a couple fun classes.  Don't mess around with drugs or alcohol.  Do find ways to party and have fun responsibly.  Don't let any guy treat you like you are unworthy.  Do have fun on dates with guys that deserve you.  Don't let any guy pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do.  Do feel comfortable talking to Mom when in doubt about those types of thing.

Don't let any other girl make you feel less than amazing.  Do surround yourself with friends who love and appreciate you for who you are and not who they think you should be.  Don't shy away from your teachers and other adults at school.  Do take time to talk with them and get to know them and let them get to know you.  

Don't get in a car with someone who's been drinking or doing drugs.  Do take keys away from friends who try to drive under the influence.  Don't take on too many things.  Do try new things.  Don't take things or yourself too seriously.  Do take other's feelings seriously. Don't let these four years slide by unnoticed.  Do live it up and love every minute of it!

My incredible, smart, talented, athletic, compassionate girl, sometimes my heart aches for the little girl who ran to Santa with her arms outstretched saying "Santa, Santa, I LOVE you!"  But, mostly I am in awe of the young woman you are becoming.  Every day my life is more valuable because I get to be your mom. Always remember you are my amazing miracle and that your daddy and I love you more than words can say.

Have a wonderful high school experience at the best high school around!  Go Pirates!

Love you always and forever!
Mom