Blind-sided

I got blind-sided by Carrie Underwood this morning…not nice…

18 years had come and gone

For momma they flew by

But for me they drug on and on

We were loading up that Chevy

Both tryin' not to cry

Momma kept on talking Putting off good-bye

Then she took my hand and said

"Baby don't forget:

Before you hit the highway

You better stop for gas

And there's a 50 in the ashtray

In case you run short on cash

Here's a map and here's a Bible

If you ever lose your way

Just one more thing before you leave

Don't forget to remember me"

This downtown apartment

sure makes me miss home

and those bills there on the counter

Are telling me I'm on my own

And just like every Sunday

I called momma up last night

And even when it's not,

I tell her everything's all right

Before we hung up I said

"Hey momma, don't forget:

to tell my baby sister

I'll see her in the fall

And tell me-maw that I miss her

Yeah, I should give her a call

And make sure you tell Daddy

hat I'm still his little girl

Yeah I still feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be

Don't forget to remember me"

Tonight I find myself kneeling by the bed to pray

I haven't done this in a while

So I don't know what to say

but Lord, I feel so small sometimes

in this big ol' place

Yeah, I know there's more important things,

but Don't forget to remember me

Okay…I knew this time was coming. I had hoped that working on the mental preparation would make it a little easier. Guess what? What they say is true…you can never prepare yourself for your child to leave home. It’s only been really hard the past couple of days – and worse today thanks to Miss Underwood. I try to distract myself with thinking about other things, but somehow my brain always comes back to it. There are realizations like: tonight is the last night our family will be together like we’ve always been, where everybody lives there permanently; and after today, she really is “on her own,” making decisions for her life that I may or may not know about.

My brain knows this is all the natural progression of raising children and that it’s our job as parents to teach them to be ready to take care of themselves. I wish my brain would let my heart in on the secret…

I love you Hannah…more than you can imagine…until you have a child of your own…then you’ll know.

Pics finally added below!

Surprised? Thought you would be. Life is a very fast-moving train and so many things are happening around me, but I only get to catch a glimpse before the next thing is speeding by. So here it is in a nutshell...our computer died and the loaner hates me so pictures will have to follow later (hopefully).

May - Polka Fest (a little dancing in the street)

May - Hannah graduated (I cried...and Angie did too)

May and June - Paige and Noah had ball games (it was hot)

June - Paige went to cheer camp (Hannah was sad)

June - Noah went to Twilight Camp for Cub Scouts (got to shoot stuff)

June - took a family vacation with Greg and Cynthia and sons to Broken Bow, OK (amazing hot tub)

June - had a grown-up night out (+ Hannah) at a Brazilian churascarria (Angie got sloshed and pilfered the barware)

June - went to a party to celebrate Uncle Bob's 80th bday, Aunt Sadie's 75th bday and their 50th anniversary (gotta love accordion music...and trying to follow along on Czech songsheets)

July - Noah went to a football clinic with the big boys (I worried)

July - Noah had his 9th birthday (got lots of boy stuff...most of it I just don't get)

So now it's August and I'm ready for a break - but I feel busier than ever. Maybe it's because there are a lot of little things that I don't want to do that need to be taken care of. Hmmm...self-analysis stinks. I think I saw a bumper sticker - put your big-girl panties on and deal with it. Yeah...

So until next time...whenever that is! :)

(gotta call the insurance company and get them to pay the car dealership (DONE!)...oh, and I need to call the cell company - they've got our bill so messed up (DONE!). Then, try to get the financial software to work again without losing the last 6 months of stuff (DONE!)...hmmm, get online and try to figure out a workaround for the Apple conspiracy that has robbed me of my beloved iPod. While I'm there, I need to find a new electric plan and phone contract...try to get some of these bills down so I can afford to buy gas! Need to follow-up on those dratted student loans or Hannah may not be going anywhere in 3 weeks. Heyyyyyy....there's an idea...)

Redeemed...

They did it! Paige and Rachel's softball team won their first game tonight. See? (We had 6.) The picture quality isn't too good. It was taken with my phone. Wouldn't you know the night I didn't bring a camera would be when history would be made? Hopefully the bats and the defense will still be hot at the next one!

:-)

I thought I was going to brag about tonight's high school awards presentations. But going to IHOP after was a spontaneous decision that reminded me that life is so full of those "live-for-the-moment" moments, you know? Everyone got into the act - well maybe not Mom. You gotta be quick to catch her being silly on camera! Yeah...we missed Hannah here and Debbie was a party-pooper and went home, but we laughed and poked fun at each other anyway (just didn't have a whole lot to work with without those two!) ;-D

Yup...who needs awards and accolades when the real priority is who can make the other laugh louder??

The other "girl"(-less) night...

Looks like somebody enjoyed their Friday night!

Thomas and Noah went to the Cub World campout at Camp Wisdom through Saturday morning. I think they had a good time - what do you think? (Note the blue arrow in the 4th pic.) Judging by the stench that came home with them, it was a definite success!

Don't blink...

Do you ever just wish time would slow down? I want to go back to those days just after I had my first baby…when everyone that had already had children told me to enjoy them because it would fly by. But this time, I really would try to savor those moments even more. Because I would know that all too soon they aren’t so little any more. It seems like I blinked (okay…maybe I nodded off for a few minutes) and Hannah was starting school, then a teenager, then driving and dating. And now, in a couple of weeks, she will graduate from high school – then in a couple of months, we will be HELPING her move five hours away! How crazy is that?! I don’t even want to see her go, and I’m gonna help her move? Pssshhh….maybe, if she’s lucky!

Our church had the Baccalaureate mass for graduating seniors last night. Sitting there in the congregation, Thomas decided that graduation is hard enough…he can’t even imagine how hard it will be when she gets married. I told him he’s got about five years to get used to the idea. I, on the other hand, will be spending the next five years convincing her to wait five years!

We also gave her "the book" last night. I think it took a minute or two to sink in what it was and how it contained bits from lots of people she loves. But then it did...and I think her dad and I aren't the only ones who will have to adjust to the upcoming changes. We'll be fine...all of us...

Now...anyone have tips and tricks for financial aid? :)