Tuesday, October 3, 2006
2:15 pm

Fair Boot Scoot

It's county fair time in Texas and we aren't skippin' a beat!  We are spending the weekend with JD's sister, C² and will be having fun and seeing the excitement that surrounds this time of year!  C² lives in New Braunfels, TX and she's a director with their county fair organization.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this type of arrangement, basically it means that she gives up about 15 years of her time to help out with the fair - but, once she's put in her time, she is allowed to attend and play every year thereafter, at NO cost!

So, everyone who knows C² becomes an indentured servant about this time of year - helping with her portion of the fair.  We invited ourselves ... well, no, we offered KB to help her Aunt C² while the rest of us enjoy the fringe benefits of this arrangement!  hehe

C² and KB left already this morning and we'll be heading out in a bit.  She gave us gate passes, parking passes, ride bracelets and drink coupons - so, we ought to have a great time at the expense of others!  And, tonight, the grandma has agreed to keep the kids so we can go dancin'!  We haven't been dancin' without kids for 13 years!!!

Watch out Texas, the natives are back in town!

Thursday, September 28, 2006
11 am

Why Bother?

"I know that Thursday is your busiest work day but would you do this and this and this for me?"

What's gonna happen when I need to pay tuition and don't have any money because I've been doing this and this and this for someone?

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
11 pm

Round'about

In Australia, they talk of going on walk abouts.  When trying to get a new Texas driver's license, we've found that we have to go on a round'about!

Oh yes, my dear readers - don't get caught in the TDOT round'about without proper documentation, thong size and a schedule of when you pick your nose!

Don't say I didn't warn you!

We go to get licenses.  Mine expired last month on my birthday, and since we were already in the process of moving, I failed to renew it.

My own round'about was started at this very point.

The nice lady (with a really ugly front tooth) explains, with a smile on her face, that if we own automobiles in our names, then we have to get them inspected and licensed in the good ole' state of Texas first.  THEN we can get our licenses renewed.  But, I, of course, will have to take an eye exam, the written test and the driving test, since I was stupid enough to let my license expire.

She *does* say all of this while smiling.  With that rotting tooth staring at me.

My husband's round'about starts about right here.

"Can we get our tags for the autos without having proper TX driver's licenses?" he asks her.  She continued to smile - did I mention she had big teeth?

We don't know the answers.  We'll find out tomorrow when JD takes one of the gas guzzlers over to be inspected.

In a not-so-quiet voice (I'm good at this, I have kids!), I say to his manly-ship, "Gee, I thought you said getting a license in Utah sucked?"

We leave, don't let the door hit us in the behind, etc. 

I decide perhaps I should get the study book, so I'm prepared for the exam....walk back into the building.

ummmm, they're out of study books until Monday.

And, I realize as I laugh my way out the door ... my round'about really hasn't started yet - this is just the warm up!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
6:20 am

Try as I Might...

"Mom, remember when we talked about going to school and you said you found one that you thought we'd like?  And that we'd try it out for a while and then decide?" my oldest daughter said.

"Yes ma'am," I replied.

"Well," she slowly responded.  "I've tried it and I want to go back to homeschooling."

My wee heart skipped a beat.  We were validated.  We didn't ruin them for life.  Whatever we had done was good, and they enjoyed it - they just didn't know it until they checked out the grass on the other side of the fence.

"Why?  I thought you loved your new friends and enjoyed your new school?" I inquired.

"Oh no," she quickly responded.  "All of that is great.  It's just that...like, well...like, it's too early to get up in the mornings!"

Thursday, September 21, 2006
8:45 pm

And Another One is Done!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
12 am

A Broken Sister's Heart to Heal

Brother TE is not doing as good as I thought.  I'm saddened terribly by his latest actions.  Was it me that pushed him too far?  Was it my family?  Was there something I could have done differently?

He would love for me to feel that it was all my fault, as that's the way he's treated his loved ones in the past.  I.  Do.  Not.  TE's problems are his.  I neither share them nor choose them and unless I am personally affected by them, I do not get involved in the drama that he lives by, if I can help it. 

I have lived with his issues my whole life. 

About 15 years ago, my older brother and I came together to map out a plan that we could live with when it came to dealing with TE.  And we *never* did anything without consulting the other.  We were a team, a family, and it was our job to take care of each other - since no one else seemed to have our best interests in mind when decisions were made.

As far as I was concerned, we did our jobs to the best of our ability ... and I continue to hold up my end of the bargain.  Mike died trying to help TE (not that TE had anything to do with the genetic time-bomb that Mike carried around in his brain, but we never stopped dealing with TE in all our years as adults).  I am still here, living with the wreckage that TE chooses to make with his life - and he *knows* that his choices affect everyone around him - but, as I understand mental illness and addictions, I know that he is not doing this damage to his loved ones, but we are the fallout of what he does - unintended consequences, if you will.

It's still very disheartening, to answer the phone and not know if it's good, bad or ugly news.  It's even more upsetting to have to explain to my children, who truly adored him, that he isn't the man they saw a week ago, and loved.

I have TE's burial plot already planned.  I have an idea of what costs will be incurred, should he unexpectedly die.  I am as prepared as a sister can be, for whatever happens next.

And I give my brother to God, daily.  The issues TE has are between him and God, and none other.  He may pull others into his life, and hurt them, but only God can help TE save himself.  And God will help heal this sister's broken heart, yet again.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
9 am

Back in Quilt Action With Finished Projects!

Monday, September 18, 2006
12 am

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

If you know me, you know I was orphaned as a child.  My father died of an aneurysm in his brain when he was 36.  My mother decided she couldn't raise 5 kids alone, so she abandoned us two months after Dad died...then she committed suicide a year later.

All of us, myself and my four siblings, have suffered at the hands of fate and family.  I was shuffled between foster homes until an uncle took me in.  My brothers were sent to live with a different uncle (other side of the family).  Our sister went to a cousin. 

I personally don't recall love from my parents to myself in my home.  I know that my folks doted on our oldest sister and the oldest brother (who has since died, at the age of 34, from a brain aneurysm)...and we had another baby brother who died of SIDS when he was a few months old, so our mom gave all of her love and attention to our youngest brother, JA.

My brother TE and I were alone - in many ways.  We would often have conversations about who would take us if our folks got divorced (they fought all the time) - and both of us decided that neither would want us.

I had my Gramma from Tramma.  Yup, I was one of about 50 grandkids on my mom's side ... and my Gramma from Tramma was the one who gave me more love than I'd ever known.  I was her favorite and she didn't hesitate to tell anyone and everyone how she felt about me!

But, my poor brother TE had no one.  He fought personal battles, with our folks often drugging him with Ritalin to calm him down.  He was an absolute hoot, though, and was always getting into trouble for things like blowing up a bottle rocket in my youngest brother's back pocket UPSIDE DOWN ... shooting me with his BB gun ... etc.

Throughout his years, he's continued to fight personal battles.  He has issues with addiction, with mental unknowns, with women and with control and authority. 

As a sister and part of a family, even one that I wasn't raised with, I did what I could.  Sometimes, it was enough ... sometimes it wasn't.

But, a month ago, TE offered to help us move from Utah to Texas.  He's not had a lot of contact with me over the past 5 years, as he was incarcerated for part of that time and has spent the rest of the time trying to live a day-to-day sober lifestyle. 

My kids knew I had a brother, but they'd never met him.

Until a month ago.

And I have to tell you - I worshiped with my brother for the first time in 35 years.  It was a feeling I shall never forget.  As I looked down the pew and saw him holding my youngest daughter while they sang a hymn, a tear of happiness dropped from my eye.

I wish my parents could see TE now.  I wish my <bad> uncle could see him now.  I wish, more than anything, that my older brother could see him now.

He's growing up.  He's a Christian.  My kids adore him.

And I'm proud to call him my brother...

or chicken butt, which is what we called him as kids!

Saturday, September 16, 2006
12 am

Farewell to a Grande Dame

Friday, September 15, 2006
6 pm

Some Days, He's as Much Help as the Kids!

I asked him to do one simple thing, hold the quilt so I could take a final photo of it.  Below, you'll see a quilt - with fingers and legs.  Behind this very lovely creation is a naughty boy ...

OOPSIE DAISY!

He tried, I give him that.  He just couldn't do it without screwing around!

2 pm

Invitation for More Fun that You Can Stand!

Thursday, September 14, 2006
7:20 pm

Silence is Amazing

My brood is all in school.  All four kids, gone from the nest, from 7 am until 4 pm <gulp>.  I find myself wondering what in the world to do with all my free time, instead of just doing things!

Ain't they Cute??!!

This is quilt week.  Quilting is on my brain, constantly!  I designed a new quilt for BOMquilts.com and AbbiMays.com quilt shop and it was launched on Tuesday:

TT Fairy Tale Garden ~ It's a Dream Come True for the Fairy Tale Princess in Your Life!

I have been sewing most evenings on another new design, hoping to finish it up this weekend.  It's adorable - and SO fun!

Additionally, I received three quilts in the mail from Mary Kate, my wonderful quilter!  They've traveled around Texas for a month, trying to catch up with me - and they've finally arrived!  One is the "FQS Spencer's Museum Memories" row of the month quilt, the other is a commissioned piece and then "MKs Acorns Dressed to the Nines" mystery quilt is quilted, too!  I wasted NO time in getting the excess backing fabric cut off, and now they're all ready for the binding and finishing!  I'll post photos as soon as I finish the quilts!

Monday, September 11, 2996
8:15 pm

I Finally Get it

I remember going with my grandparents to their local VFW parades in December and picking up candy in the street.  I fondly recall participating, with my junior high Lutheran school, in the Veteran's Day events and a week or two of learning about the various wars.  Just these past few years, my daughters and I spent our Memorial Day at the local cemetery, honoring the fallen veterans with American Flags, in recognition of their service to our country.

But, I never *got* it.

To me, history is history -- it happened before me, I will respect it but I need not re-live it.

That was until 9-11-2001.

Now, I *get* it.

All day today, the first lines of the Alan Jackson song were in the forefront of my thoughts -- "Where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day?"

Thank God, I was with my kids and my husband. 

And I thank God for the grace that His son bestowed upon us - as He called His children home.  May their families and loved ones find smiles through their grief and may we all learn from history so as not to repeat the ugly attributes of humanity.

Friday, September 1, 2006
2 am

Safe ... and Pretty Much Sound

We're all alive and well, staying at my mother-in-law's house (and in the camper) in Medina, TX!

Our belongings will be shipped to a storage unit this coming week.

I'm ready for normalcy, whatever that is!  lol