Friday, August 31, 2012

It Just Bothers Me

Beth and I spent some time in her room earlier this week cleaning out her closet. It's packed with clothes but she only wears a few things.

So we went through everything in her closet, putting most of it into bags for Goodwill. There were a few things that had so many holes (even though she still wore some of those!) we threw them away. She ended up with about 7 outfits, pants, skirts and tops that all matched. I hung them together, in matching sets and she was happy!

We cleaned out her dresser drawers and we found some brand new socks. She tends to wear the same set until there's so many holes she just can't stand to wear them anymore. We talked about the importance of wearing it once, then putting it in the dirty clothes hamper. She was so excited about all of this that she told Chuck and Diana that night. "Guess what mom and I did?"

But what I didn't realize was that all the clothes she really wears were in the wash. So all this week she's been wearing the same three outfits, none of them are the clothes hanging in her closet. Today she goes to her job class and she wore teal pants, a red and white shirt (that she's had since high school and is way to small for her) and a pink jacket. I thought about asking her to change, but she was completely ready, relaxed and waiting for her bus to arrive. I figured it wasn't the best time.

I don't know why this bothers me so much. I think because she already gets stared at; adults will stop and stare as she walks by; high schoolers point and laugh. Her outrageous outfits don't help. It sometimes brings tears to my eyes, "Beth don't you see that people are gonna laugh at you if you wear that?!?!?"

I'd never say that to her, but I want to. She just doesn't see it. Or, if she does, she doesn't let it bother her. It just bothers me.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Rewind Wednesday - Back to School 90's Style

This was the first day of school 1994.
Beth was 9, about to turn 10.
Sharaya was 7, almost 8.
 
The Lion King came out that year, can you tell? :)
 
 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

You Think You Know a Girl

All Aboard is hosting a Prom. It's on September 8 and the theme is The Sky's The Limit. Beth didn't go to her prom in high school. That might have been partially my fault as I was working by then and didn't even consider the fact that she might want to go.

I know Beth isn't the only one who didn't go though and I think that's why All Aboard is planning this. I'm SO grateful that there are organizations out there that help make up for my shortcomings.

We started looking for dresses a few weeks ago and as we're walking into the store I asked Beth if there was someone she might want to ask to the prom.

"Maybe."

"Really Beth? Who?"

"C."

And that's where it ended. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. Okay, that's fine. Probably some guy she has a crush on. So cute. :)

Last night Diana and I were talking about places to look for dresses and I siad, "I wish there was someone she could ask to the prom and Diana said, "Yea. C."

Wait, what?? How do you know about C?

"Well, she's given him her phone number."

What?? Then Diana begins to tell me that C bowls with the All Aboard league. They sit on the bus together and he puts his arm around her.

What?? I guess he's taken their picture, you know those cheek to cheek pictures with one arm outstretched... oh my word. She's never said anything to me!!

Then Diana said that she's asked Beth why she won't ask C to the prom and Beth told her, "Nope. It's his move."

Who IS this girl?!?!?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

If I Could Go Back and Do It Again...

I wouldn't work outside the home.

I had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom for more than 18 years. Our youngest was in 5th Grade when I went back to work; Beth - the oldest, was in 10th Grade.

At the time I thought our girls were old enough, they didn't need me at home as much and I could be gone for 20 - 30 hours each week.

I've worked outside the home now for 10 years and I wonder what our lives would be like if I had stayed home. I loved being a stay at home mom. I baked and volunteered at the school and fixed up the house and the yard... I miss doing those things.

I would love to volunteer with All Aboard, the organization that Beth is involved with. She bowls on Tuesdays and I would love to help. (I may get my chance in a few months. Maybe.) All Aboard is planning a special prom and I told them I'd love to help but am finding I have no time. Between work and housecleaning and yard work and grocery shopping... YOU know how it is! When I finally do have free time and nothing planned, I'm usually too tired. I need to recharge.

Working outside the home takes up so much time and mental energy. I think about it a lot. Maybe because I work there and we volunteer there and we eat dinner there and we've even slept there a few times. I'm rarely away from the place for more than 24 hours. I like my job, it's not that. It's just that lately I wish I was home more. Beth has so many issues that we're not dealing with. Physically, socially, medically. It's been somewhat overwhelming lately.

I would love to have every day home with my girls. We are half way through painting the kitchen. Not sure when we'll get it finished. If I were home all day every day, it would have been done weeks ago. I'm in the process of fixing up the craft / exercise / reading / junk room downstairs. It'll take me months I know.

I'm not sure where I'm going with all this. Just thinking out loud I guess. I know that if I had a chance to go back and do it differently, I wouldn't have gone back to work.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Embarrassed For Her

Every Wednesday Beth goes to an art class and a karaoke class. They are at the All Aboard building, about 30 minutes from our house.

Beth takes the DART bus - Dial A Ride Transportation. It's part of our Community Transit system and they pick up people who, for whatever reason, are unable to take the city transit bus. DART picks you up at your door and drops you off at the door of your destination. No busses to catch, no schedules to try to figure out, no having to remember exactly which stop you want.

(Right after high school, Beth was in a transition program that taught them how to ride the bus. Too many times Beth fell asleep and if it wasn't for the teachers and aides, she would have missed her stop.)

We are right on the county line; everything with All Aboard happens North of us. Beth is the first one picked up in the morning and the last one dropped off at night. On Wednesdays her ride home has taken as long as 3 hours.

This week the bus picked her up at 10:00 AM and she called me at 11:30. In tears. She was still on the bus and had... an accident. She was wet and embarrassed and asked me to bring her some clean clothes. It took me about 45 minutes to get up there and she was glad to see me!

While we were in the bathroom, she told me she also started her period. That poor girl. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

This Day


Thirty years ago this day, I did marry my best friend. We have laughed, lived and had some pretty big dreams. Through it all, we've stayed in love with each other. A downright miracle if you ask me!!

30 years
3 kids
2 states
6 homes
13 cars
37 road trips


 
We began dating in 1981







 
Married on August 14, 1982 and two years later, started our family.





 
This is the morning we left San Diego for Washington State.
February, 1989



 
Chuck and I have ridden a jet boat up the Rogue River in Oregon.
(We're on the left, third row from front.)



 
Volunteered in Patzcuaro, Mexico on a medical missions team


 

The following year we took the girls down and
we volunteered for a week at at orphanage in Morelia, Mexico.


 

Had one major accident
Chuck was alone in the truck.
 He walked away with scratches and 6 stitches in his arm.
That's my mom holding Beth. She was 1 week old.
What a week that was!



 
The thing that most defines our family though are our road trips.
We crave them.
We talk about past trips and plan new ones.
We've traveled most of the U.S. by car.









 
Half Dome in Yosemite

 

 

 


Disneyland!



 
New York!!



 
Hurricane Ridge in Western Washington



And countless trips back and forth to San Diego, where we both grew up. These past thirty years have been a wild ride! Chuck has loved me through some ugly times. Our marriage has seen some amazing high's and terrible lows, but divorce was never an option. No matter what we've been through, we both knew we were going through it together.
Here's to another 30!!

 




The very first photo taken of us as a couple.
Stop laughing! :)
I just saw a picture on Awkward Family Photos and they
were wearing this same shirt!!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

We Forgot One Thing

Thirty years ago today we rehearsed.

I think it was the Lord that prompted me to have our rehearsal two days before the wedding instead of the traditional night before. Everyone was there except the photographer.

The next day we called his house and his roommate said he had gone out of town and wouldn't be back for a few days.

What?!?!?!

Now this was before cell phones and his roommate didn't know exactly where he had gone, just that he had gone to LA for the weekend. (We were in San Diego.)

So 24 hours before our wedding, we were searching for a photographer. Thank goodness, Chuck's mom had a friend at work who enjoyed photography as a hobby. Even though she had guests visiting from out of town, she was willing to come take pictures of our wedding.

She showed up right on time, camera in hand. But at the end of the day we realized we had forgotten to take one important photo.

A picture of Chuck and me.

Don't ask me how we missed that! We actually have a picture of Chuck, me and the pastor, but not one of just the two of us. No one thought of it, not the photographer, not me, my family... I don't know what we were thinking!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Another One Gone - Pray for Ricki's Family

Ricki, a young adult with Down Syndrome from Beneath the Wings, has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks. I'm sorry to write that she died in her sleep Tuesday night. Please keep Ricki's family in your prayers.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

It's Been a Week?!

A week?!

I knew it had been a while since I was on here, I didn't realize it had been a whole week. Things have been busier than usual and I just haven't had the time to sit down at this computer. Can anyone else relate? :)

Work - crazy. Extra hours. Physical work. Love it. Grateful to be working.

Chuck - work is crazy for him too. At home he's cleaning out the garage. Looking forward to our road trip!

Beth - bad attitude lately. Poor choices. Gaining weight. Excited about a special Prom!

Diana - discouraged about not hearing from publishers. Planning a trip to London this winter.

Ryan and Sharaya - praying they give Ryan more hours at work. Enjoying their new car!

Allison - not behaving. Kicking, talking back. Loves to play in her pool!

That's about it from here. I'm headed to church to help paint our preschool rooms. I have a few posts in my head that I hope to put 'on paper' in a few days!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bummer

In my last post I wrote about Ryan and Sharaya going to Leavenworth for their anniversary.

Half way over the pass, this happened:



They had to cancel their reservations and use the money to have their car towed home. Definitely not the anniversary they were hoping for!

That night they borrowed our car and went out to dinner. We kept Allie overnight anyway and Diana graciously slept on the livingroom floor with her.




I'd put a blanket on her and she'd toss it off. She eventually just curled up on it. It was fun having her sleep over! She did great being away from mom and dad until about 8:00 the next night. Sharaya had been here but then needed to go get Ryan. After she left, Allie crawled up into Diana's lap and burst into tears, "I want my mommy!!" Broke our hearts!

But we told her that mommy was coming back and that Allie would go home and be sleeping in her own bed! She got down and smiled a little but you could tell she'd had enough of our house and was ready to go home!