Today has been an incredibly long day. We buried my grandmother today and for the first time in my life I do not have any grandparents. I am 40 years old and I do not have grandparents. I have been incredibly blessed in my life to have always had grandparents. I had a Granddaddy and Grandmomma (my dad's parents), a Granny and PaPa (my mom's parents), a Mammie and
Pa Channel (my dad's grandparents), a MoMo and Pa Penney (my dad's other set of grandparents), and a Grandma Penney (my dad's great-grandmother). Most people I know don't have this so I have always been very aware that I should not take them for granted. I have learned so much from all of them and I can't imagine my life being what it is now if not for them.

Some things I've learned from my Granny and PaPa: how to work hard; that you don't need money to make it in life; to always share what you have; that no matter how many kids/grandkids/friends/relatives you have there is always room for more - from my Granddaddy and Grandmomma: that grandparents will give in when parents won't; that there's always time to relax and have fun; that you can find good in every situation - from my Mammie and Pa Channel: that fun is just a laugh away; that great-grandmothers like wrestling; that it's never too late in life to do what you want to do; and you're only as old as you let yourself be - from my MoMo and Pa Penney: that grandparents will do anything for you; that playing in the sand is a wonderful thing; that you can eat some of the green weeds you find on the side of the road; and you're never too old to miss somebody - from my Grandma Penney: how to grow old gracefully; how to be at peace with your surroundings.

One of the most wonderful things I experienced in having all of these grandparents I didn't realize until later in my teenage years. My parents always visited, shopped for, did laundry for, taxied around, sat with, etc. for all of my grandparents and others who weren't even related to us. As a child I hated going to the nursing home. It seems that there has always been a relative or family friend that was in one. Little did I know that I was being taught lessons for later in life. My parents have taught me the importance of loving others, caring for others, being patient with others, and stepping in to help even when you might rather do something else. Those nursing home and hospital visits, doctor appointments, grocery store runs, Sunday lunches, etc. taught me to be patient, kind, tolerant, open-minded, giving, cheerful, and a host of other qualities. As a grown woman I have been privileged to witness several of my grandparents leave this world and enter Heaven. Those moments have been some of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. Had I been afraid of death or old age I might have missed it. But because of the example they showed I was rewarded by being a part of the life and death of so many that I love.

Not a day goes by when I don't think of at least one of my grandparents. They're always with me - their memory and the lessons I learned. Though I feel a tremendous emptiness right now I know that we'll all be together again. I also know that, because of the love and values that have been passed down from generation to generation, our world is a better place. I only hope that I can pass this legacy to my children and that they will embrace all our family has stood for through the years.

Today was such a wonderful day and it added to my wonderful week. I enjoyed having Audrey here and I'm glad that Jenny and Freado got to have some time to themselves.

Some thoughts I had today were that I am so incredibly blessed. My family is healthy and happy and my church family is wonderful! I am surrounded by friends and I work with the best people in the business. I also thought about the fact that no matter how hard life gets God is always here. I want to always take the opportunities I am given and be an example for others.

I also thought about my trip to Florida that is coming up. I can hardly wait for my neice and nephew to see the white sand and the ocean! I'm probably more excited than they are. It's a huge bonus that my mom and my favorite aunt in the whole world are going too. I love my sister's kids so much! I feel like I waited so long to have what she had years ago with my children. I hope that I can be a good aunt and always be there for them.

Guess my brain was just full of happy thoughts today. Hope the trend continues. Night-night.

The night before senior year

Twas the night before school began

and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

not even a mouse (I don't have mice)



The fees were all paid

and the clothing all bought

It wasn't his schedule against

which I fought



My baby was sleeping

with covers wrapped tight

Not even his head was

in view of my sight



As I stood by and watched

as he dreamed his sweet dreams

I wanted to hold him and

tell him just what today means



It's the very last first day

of his school-age career

I can not believe

how fast it appeared



How can I let go

when I've held on so long

I don't worry about him

It's myself that's not strong



I want him to find

all the best in the world

His hopes, his dreams,

even that cute little girl



Lord help me help him

when things just aren't right

But Lord help me also

to keep out of sight



For this is his year

he's almost a man

He no longer needs Momma

to hold onto his hand



I guess I'll be ready

for whatever he needs

But I won't be a pest...

Maybe, we'll see.

What I'm thinking about today

Yesterday we had our first Home Study for our Foster/Adopt program and it went well. Kevin and I have talked about lots of things during this process and the one thing that sticks out most may be the answer to a question we have been asked a lot. Why would we want to start over with kids when we are almost done? Jenny has her own life and John is a senior in high school now. Our answer is that we don't ever want to be "done". Whether it's helping children who have been thrown into a situation they didn't ask for, working towards Kevin's mission goal of an auto repair ministry, or whatever we feel that God wants us to do. We feel like there's so much we can still do. Bro. Frank taught an incredible class last Wednesday night that helped confirm the way we felt. We watched a video that asked "If you know you are going to die (and it will definitely happen to everyone) why would you live as if you weren't?" We feel that we need to do all we can until we can't anymore. I'll finish up with two of my favorite verses -
Proverbs 3:27 and Hebrews 13:2

Today I thought about things we talked about in Foster/Adopt training last night. The one thing that stuck out was that we are constantly asking our children to do something "right now". "Right now" could be in the middle of a video game (not knowing they are at their all-time highest level), in the middle of a phone conversation (could be, and probably is, important to them even if it's not to us), or just when they sat down to rest for a minute (yes, being a child is tiring too).

When we are asked to do one thing while we are in the process of doing another we sometimes get annoyed. We don't usually stop one task to tend to another unless it's an emergency. Funny how I sometimes thought what I asked my child to do was an "emergency" even though it wouldn't have been high on my to-do list. We wouldn't tell a co-worker to end a call "now" because we said so or stop typing a letter "now" because there is something more important we need them to do. I'm not saying I shouldn't have disciplined my children or required them to be respectful and attentive but I am saying that I should have given them the respect I usually saved for those outside my home.