I've created a monster

Well, as most of you have learned I love to crochet. My latest projects have been gifts for a friend and her brother who both had birthdays earlier this week. I finished the scarf for SD and I wanted to take a picture to add here and also to my folder of my finished projects. Since SD arrived late last evening and I have not had a chance to see him to give him his present I asked my younger son to model it for my pictures. He did not know what model meant, but he sure worked the camera. This was the first picture I took. This was his idea of modeling the scarf! Where did my son learn that to model a piece of clothing he had to look like an ultra cool dude? I was half expecting him to give me a slight nod and say, "Hey, baby. What'cha doing?"

Pinewood Derby results

After dealing with the overly obsessed Joe with regards to the Pinewood Derby this year, I could not wait for this day to be over. I enjoyed the race and I had a blast! I guess I was just so tired of the whole fierce determination that Joe had for our boys to win. All that aside, it was a great race! Our elder son's car was created to be a speeding monster, while the younger seemed more a looker. Well, our happiness was great when the results were given and both boys were in the top five for speed and can now compete in the District race April 1st. First place went to "The Amazing Teardrop" and fifth place was the Americana car (or Washington, DC car, which ever you prefer). I was happy that both boys placed and that we did not have the problem of what if one did and the other did not.

Mirror Twins

I was watching the neatest show tonight on the Discovery Health Channel called " America's Most Identical Twins Test". On this show they brought on sets of identical twins to see which are the most alike through the same tests. I saw the clothes shopping, eating, and dating segments. It was amazing to see how similar some were. After each commercial break they would come back on with a twin fact. The most interesting one was about mirror twins. It gave a percentage of identical mirror twins where one also has what is called situs inversus, where the bodies organs are flipped or mirrored from normal organ placement. Most mirror twins have opposite features (i.e.: one will be left handed while the other is right handed, mirror dental x-rays, hair parts or grows mirrored). If you would like to see this show it will air again on Sunday, March 19th at 12pm.

That Crazy Woman in the Store...That's me!

Now that I have mentioned a few of Joe's oddities I thought I should admit a few of my own to help him feel a little better. So prepare yourselves for a small glimpse inside the mind of a confessed fanatic!

First off we will start with books. When I was a child and more so in middle and high school you would be lucky to find me reading a book. I had a few favorites, but not much peaked my interest. Then about a year after I graduated from high school I was introduced to Jane Austen (see Janeite Clarification). Since then my list of favorite authors has grown. Some of my favorite books are from the Regency period of English literature. Jane Austen is of course first on my list. Some of my other favorites are Charlotte Bronte, Janette Oke, Gilbert Morris and Jane Peart. Reading is a great thing, but I took it to another level. I then started collecting books. It all started when a local library had a book sale. After that I was a goner! I do have an accomplice aka my best friend, JoJo. She has also picked up this obsession, though I must admit she has more self-restraint than me. Joe was making fun of me while I was planning for another book sale fix with JoJo last Friday. On the computer I opened the list of books I have to see which ones I wanted to find. I then explained to Joe that my list was a good thing so that I do not go out and buy duplicate books. After this explanation he conceded and was very proud of me.

Second is the yarn thing. I have wanted to learn to crochet for a long time, but I finally learned a little over a year ago. Since then I have gone a little overboard. It all started out pretty harmless. I only bought yarn when I was starting a specific project. When that changed I cannot remember. So far in the 16(ish) months since I started crocheting I have completed 21 projects. If I continue at this rate I currently have enough yarn for 2-3 years of work. Now you would think that would keep me from buying more, but alas (and to my poor husband's dismay) no. I still continue to buy even more yarn. I have two projects in progress right now, three waiting and many more in mind. This has become a relaxing hobby, which I greatly enjoy. Then my yarn monster comes out. YARN, YARN!! MUST HAVE MORE YARN!! All I can do is just go along with it! ;)

Further Loss of a Great Mind

As if we needed any more evidence of Joe losing his mind, here is another example! He and I were discussing something this evening and he refused to answer the question I asked based on the fourth amendment of the Constitution. I was confused and asked what was the fourth amendment. He said that it was about incriminating oneself. Guess I learned the wrong amendment for that one! Sorry honey!

The Loss of a Great Mind

We were on our way home after stopping by my parents' house when our eldest son made one of the funniest comments. Joe commented on a bush that is on the side of my parents' driveway. It is in the corner of where you park and the area to turn around. It was once, over 11 years ago, a beautiful miniature wisteria vine. Then Joe and I started dating and that was the poor plant's downfall. For some reason Joe could not keep from constantly running over this poor wisteria vine, even though it is at least four feet from the edge of the driveway (and the vine is 3-4' high and 2-3' wide). Well, our eldest son was informed tonight of his father's inability to avoid trying to kill this plant when he would back up. This started the discussion on who was the best driver, Joe or myself, between our boys. They began to over exaggerate how many wrecks he had by saying thousands or millions compared to my one. Joe tried to correct them by telling them how many he has had. He had counted three times and that is when our son said, "You're old Dad. You're over thirty and when you're over thirty you start slowly losing your mind, so I want to talk to somebody younger!" He then proceeded to ask me how many wrecks his father had been in!

Party Planner Heather?

After a very busy and stressful couple of weeks I was hoping to finally be able to rest. After being in charge of the final stages of our Cub Scout banquet on Friday I wonder if I will be able to do this job by myself next year. I guess that it was good for me to be "in charge" during these past two weeks as it gave me something to focus on instead of our loss. Of course, trying to help plan a wedding for April (the month, not a person!) has been keeping me busy as well. Strange to say, even though I really enjoy the planning and looking for all the little things to make it all come together, I am so nervous about how everything will turn out and if everyone liked my ideas and work in the end. The same goes for Friday night. I felt prepared to go and set up, but when I got there realized that the centerpieces for the tables were not going to be enough. We had such a wonderful turn out that we were going to need more tables than I originally planned. I had planned for 10-12 tables to decorate and had fifteen instead! On the one hand that was very exciting to see that so many people were going to be there, but as the one in charge who had not gotten the extra things I then found I needed was terrifying! I was so glad to have some wonderful friends to pitch in and help out. The people that I am working with in scouts are some of the best people I know. They never once made a comment about my underplanning or once complained about having to help. How can you not thank God for the wonderful people he places in our lives to help and encourage us?

Proud Momma and Tiger Cub Leader

I was very proud of all of my boys last night. I was able to have all seven of my Tiger cubs complete all their achievements in time to receive their Tiger badges at our Blue and Gold Banquet. I was so proud of my own two boys as I watched them both complete another milestone in their life. They are such amazing guys! I have been so happy to be so involved in their early years, school life and their scouting. I could not imagine not being there with them for all these special moments in their lives.

The Beach

I was quite envious of Joe when he went to Mexico. He called and told me that his hotel was right on the beach and that he left the balcony doors open at night so he could hear the waves on the beach below. Now, I am a mountain girl at heart and would not want to live anywhere but the Smokies, but there is another place that is a retreat for me. My grandmother hailed from Marion County, South Carolina, which is only a few hours drive from the coastline. I have grown up spending most summers vacationing at the beaches of the Myrtle Beach, SC area. The beach has always been a relaxing spot for me. You could imagine my horror and disbelief when after we were married Joe confessed his strong dislike for the ocean. He refused to take me to a beach for years! My parents showed pity for they knew of my love for the ocean. I went several years with them (minus my husband, but taking the boys). I always loved the little tradition that my father and I shared of going for walks on the beach in the evenings after supper. Those are some of the best moments of my vacations. We would some times just walk silently together or some times we would have long discussions on family. Being near the ocean is such a relaxing place for me and right now I would love nothing more than to be there listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and to smell the salty air. Oh, to feel the sand under my feet and see the beauty of the ocean again!

A Time of Need

During hard times we all search for compassion. During times when our emotions are at a breaking point you look to the ones who are not just strong, but also compassionate and sympathetic. Sometimes you just want to have someone to hold you as you cry and who is not afraid to show their own sadness at the circumstances you are going through. I am blessed to have a very compassionate and sympathetic doctor who knows how difficult it is for me when he has to give me the bad news. Today was once again one of those days. Most people expect that their doctors will be stiff and kind of straight forward, no nonsense. I am glad that he is not one of those doctors. I personally know what it is like to look to a loved one to find compassion and yet only to be disappointed at their lack of the support you need. For Christians there is always one who loves us and is there right beside us during these times. As it says in James, The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. During our loss and grief He is our comforter and rock.

A Woman Who Truly Loved

A passage from Persuasion by Jane Austen

And with a quivering lip he wound up the whole by adding, "Poor Fanny! She would never have forgotten him so soon."

"No," replied Anne, in a low, feeling voice. "That I can easily believe."

"It was not in her nature. She doated on him."

"It would not be the nature of any woman who truly loved."

Captain Harville smiled, as much as to say, "Do you claim that for your sex?" and she answered the question, smiling also, "Yes. We certainly do not forget you, so soon as you forget us. It is perhaps, our fate rather than our merit. We cannot help ourselves. We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us. You are forced on exertion. You have always a profession, pursuits, business of some sort or other, to take you back into the world immediatly, and continual occupation and change soon weaken impressions."...

(Anne)"No, I believe you capable of every thing great and good in your married lives. I believe you equal to every important exertion, and to every domestic forbearance, so long as - if I may be allowed the expression, so long as you have an object. I mean, while the woman you love lives, and lives for you. All the priviledge I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone."

The Birthday Girl

As a parent I have seen through my own children how quickly time passes. Today we have just celebrated Lily's first birthday. I remember a year ago when she was born and how she was so small. It is amazing to see how much she has grown in that time and all the things she can do now. She is mobile and talking. It was funny to see her digging into her birthday cake. She turned out to be an icing girl. All she wanted to eat was the yummy icing! So here is to the birthday girl! We love you little girl!

A New Branch

After letting it slip about my blog to some fellow Cub Scout leaders last month, our Pack Leader decided to check out Joe's blog and mine. He like them so much that he created his own. After weeks of begging I finally got him to tell me what he had named his blog. For some unknown reason he was reluctant to tell me. Well, I finally got around to adding a link to his blog and now I invite you all to take a peek at Traveling The Trail by our own Mr. T. Welcome to our blogging community, T!

Side note: Maybe this should be the picture we use for our Blue and Gold Banquet, T! What do you think?

Let it Snow

I have been looking for snow since December! I always love having snow, though I also like being able to drive. Of course sometimes it is nice to get snowed in at home, too. So until this week we had no snow. Then Wednesday night as I am driving back from Monroe County, we finally got some snow! It had already covered the ground by 9pm. At around 10pm when I got back to my parents' house there were almost two inches on the car and it was still snowing. Now this was still the very wet snow that seems to be quick to leave, but still I was excited. I went around the next morning taking pictures of the beautiful snow-blanketed area. It was so breathtaking how it all looked covered in snow. I even found some of my favorite livestock that were too irresistible to pass up! What is it about cattle standing around in the snow that is so cute? Maybe it is my soft spot for cattle, who knows, but it is probably just me! The snow did melt within a few hours of these pictures. Today on the weather reports they are saying that in the East Tennessee valley we may get 2-6 inches of snow tonight. Roads in the area have already been treated to keep them free from ice. I am looking forward to seeing what comes of this storm moving towards us. I will hopefully have more pictures to add later!

Time for the ones we love

As an imperfect person I know that I will never be the "model" parent. I am sure that when my children grow up they will have certain things that they will want to be different from how their father and I have raised them. I did the same thing when I was younger and thinking of my future family. One thing I hope that I have changed from my childhood is that I am there for my children. I might not spend every minute of everyday catering to their desires and whims or making myself their only source of entertainment, but I pray that I am spending more time with them then all the other things that try to take my time from my family. I have tried to be very active in my sons' school and their other interest. I look forward to the times that I can get them by themselves so we can have some one on one time together. A mother asked me one day (after my mentioning that I wanted to have more than two children) how can you say "no, I cannot spend time with you now" to one of your children?

First of all the myth that you have to divide your love the more children you have is completely "busted." I know it is hard to believe that you can multiply your love, but it happens. Just think of your families. Do you say to your family members, "sorry, but I cannot love you because I have only enough love for 20 people and my 20 have already been accounted for." No!! You can love many people and your love for some is different than the love you have for others. It does not change the fact that you love them all.

When I mentioned to this other mother that your love increases, she agreed though she said your time does not. That is true. I have a husband and two children to divided myself between. Then you have to consider, Are they the only ones (or things) that I have to split my time between? Again, no. As a Christian God is to be our first priority. Above all others, He is first (or at least he should be). After God then my family comes to bat.

The reason for this was a sad realization that there are children who have parents who put everything else before them. Have you ever seen a young child with their parent and all the parent is doing is business or anything else they want, but that child just wants a little time with their parent. To know that they are loved, valued, and are important. Yet to all who can observe that is too much for that child to ask of their parents. Even something so small as one hour a week is hard for some. Can you imagine a parent that cannot take the equivalent of ten minutes per day, or just a lump sum of one hour a week with their children? Of course, I will not even touch the topic of the parents who sign their kids up for all the different sports or other extra curricular activities just to have a place to "drop" them off and let someone else spend time with them. Now I am not saying that all parents who put their children in several different activities fit that mold, but I have seen too many that do.

I know that fathers are the head of the family and that they have to work to provide for their families. Sometimes I think that some people are so focused on making the most money, having the best "stuff", providing every material desire that they forget what is really important. To love. If you are spending more time working and cannot take a few hours out of each day for your family you might want to reconsider your priorities. I do not think anyone has ever looked back at their life and said "You know, I wish I had worked harder at my job rather then spend those hours with my family."

I guess I should end my rant. That was something that I really needed to get out. I want to end this with the lyrics to a song by Chris Rice:

Life Means So Much
Chris Rice
Everyday is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there’s plenty of room for writing in
All we do and believe and think
So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessings
Fill the page with rhyming verse
Or some random sketchings

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Everyday is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one’s rich, nobody’s poor
We get twenty-four hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who’s under

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Has anybody lived who knew the value of a life?
And don’t you think giving his own
Would prove the worth of yours and mine?

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Field trip to Oak Ridge

Yesterday was a fun filled day spent with my eldest son and his fellow classmates. We went on a field trip to the Children's Museum and the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. I not only had my son, but a buddy that I was in charge of watching. So, here I am once again (just like always) surrounded by boys! Really, I am so use to this strange phenomenon of being surrounded by boys that it no longer bothers me and I have come to enjoy them all.

Well, we make our way through the different areas of the Children's Museum (ex.: Train room with model trains, a dollhouse room, a rainforest room, local and international history areas, and animal rooms). I think all the kids enjoyed the model trains. The dollhouse room was great! It was a two-story dollhouse proportionate for the 9-11 year old kids. It had four rooms (two up and two down). Also in the room were glass cases with toys from 1900-2000. It was so neat to see these toys. Of course it was funny to see the ones from my childhood and a few were like the ones I still possess. The local history areas were very interesting. There were displays of a cotton plant, quilts, clothing, spinning wheels to show how the early pioneers had to make there own clothing and textiles. Then there was a room that had three partial cabins. One was set up as a living area, one as a bedroom and the other showed off the tools. There was an area set up on the outside of one to show all the things needed for the washday routine. The lady who did our tour explained the process to the children about exactly how they washed and rinsed the clothes.

Next we went to the Science and Energy Museum. The kids got to look around at the different exhibits and also had a class where they put together series circuits and tested different objects to see if they were conductors, insulators or semi-conductors. The boys loved doing that! Later, we were able to hear a man talking about static electricity. Of course all the kids wanted to go to the stage so they could experience this. I have to admit that my son has some of the most obliging hair for this sort of thing as you can see. It was neat to see the different displays on coal, water, and nuclear energy sources. There were also areas that had information on the Oak Ridge "Secret City" times.

Where are all the Cowboys?

Ok, I was listening to Rush yesterday and heard a bit about the "Wussification of the American Man." During this segment he was talking about a father who went to confront a teacher's assistant who his daughter had said was inappropriately touching her (and she was not the only one). The father was mad that when he went to the school for a meeting the teacher's assistant was not in the meeting. The father asked the daughter to take him to where the man was so he could bring him to the meeting. The assistant was said to have "smirked" at the father when he confronted him, so the father punched him. The father was arrested for assault and a local radio station has dubbed him "Father of the Year." This brings me to the Cowboys. Rush said it well when he stated that women want to know that the men in their lives are going to defend them. He then plays a song that came out in 1996 called Where Have All the Cowboys Gone by Paula Cole.

Now, that said (and sung) I have to admit that most women want the John Wayne cowboy type of man. Rough, tough, doesn't take lip from anyone, stands up for what is right, yet also knows how to be a gentleman around a woman and how to treat her right. That does not make a man a wuss. Yet, there are so many men who were raised to be wusses and almost inferior to women. Many are not the protector and in charge of their families. The Bible states that men are to be the head of the household, but also to love their wives as Christ loves the church (His bride). It is a delicate balance and I like to think it is the best of men like John Wayne and Cary Grant.

This also makes me think of how wonderful times were when a man could be arrested for using foul language around women or children. I would love to see that kind of attitude displayed in men (even society as a whole) today. There are things that women and children should not hear and see. I guess you can call me old fashioned, but so be it. That was a time when men were men and women were women. Now, I am not saying that women should be treated like possessions (which most feminist will argue we are if we are not completely equal with men).

As for myself, I know that my Cowboy (AKA, Joe) would do whatever he could to provide and take care of me and at the same time would stand up and defend me if it was needed. That is just one of the things I love about him.

A day in the woods

I must say that I had a good weekend so far. Our cub scouts had a "winter camping" trip to Wesley Woods yesterday and today. We started out last night with a wiener roast and an evening by the campfire. The boys all loved cooking hot dogs and smores. There were also patches and awards to hand out. We then went back to the lodge we were staying at and had a game night, so to speak. For a few hours the boys (and a few girls) all gathered in the floor of the main room and played card and board games.

This morning we got up to the sound of boys playing Guess Who as well as other games. While two of our hardworking leaders cooked breakfast the kids were content to play games. After a wonderful breakfast we went to learn about orienteering. This is where you are given a map that shows structures and the contours of the land. You then use the landmarks around you to find several set markers. The markers had a type of punch that you mark your paper with, but you must be careful because there are decoys. It was fun to see some of the kids just taking to this and to see how they succeeded. Later we took the boys on a hike to see a waterfall nearby. It was a pretty hike. The scouts then played some games and made some pinecone birdfeeders. From what I saw the boys all had a fun time and most of the families did as well.

Crochet like crazy

In the fall of 2004 I asked my mother to teach me the basics of crocheting. I had been interested in learning for years, but she was always too busy. Well, as my mother says, I have taken off with this new hobby. My first project was a scarf for myself. Then for Christmas that year I made scarves for both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and a hat for my Chinese "sister-in-law". After that I made the some baby gifts. I made blankets and hats for two babies. It was fun to make the blankets and doing the different designs. Since then I have made 6 hats, 3 scarves, 3 flower pins, and in the process of making a shawl for myself. Here are pictures of the first baby blanket.

Family come and gone Part 1

Talking about my family in Monroe County made me want to post about one of the special people from there that I miss very much. When my mom and I would go for a visit we would most often be found at my aunt Della's house. Della was the first of the thirteen children belonging to my grandparents. My mother was number twelve and Della was just two weeks shy of her 24th birthday when my mother was born. When my grandfather died my mother, who was six years old at the time, went to live with Della and her family. So Della and Kinley (her husband) were more like parents to my mother and hence more like grandparents to me. I remember spending time with her. She was always welcoming to anyone who came to her house. She surrounded herself with family and pictures of her loved ones. I can still in my mind see her living room. All walls were covered with many picture frames that held these precious pictures. When Della welcomed you into her home you were always offered food. She was a wonderful cook (especially at breakfast time). She would keep macaroni and cheese (one of my favorites) in her kitchen just in case we came. She even let me help her cook a few times, which I later found out she never did when my mom was growing up. Though they had little money she was constantly giving a few dollars here and there to me when we would visit. She was very brave and strong after finding she had cancer. She fought it and tried to still do everything she had done in the previous years. During her battle with cancer I watched her weaken so much as to be unable to lift one of her iron skillets with which to cook. She was always upbeat and her faith kept her going. Even when her cancer returned with a vengeance years later, her faith was a wonderful testament to those around her. Although my eldest son does not remember her, I am happy that she was able to see both of my boys before she went home to be with the Lord.