What's in your voice?

Not so long ago, I had dinner with my son Paul. He talked about school and the work he was doing. He's working so very hard and studying even harder-and all this talk? It wasn't to complain. He's passionate about learning and doing well. I often wonder if he heard that passion in his voice or if he knew about the excitement that seemed to radiate from him. I left that night feeling a little bit better about not seeing him as much as I would like to because he's doing something he loves. I've heard that some people are "called" to do something and if that's true, he's found his calling. Make's a Mama's heart do a happy dance.
Tonight, I talked with my baby Lauren. She's got the same kind of voice that her brother has. The first semester of Nursing School has been a little rough. The class started out with 29 and now they are down to 17. She's been through more than one study partner. I'm praying she keeps up the good grades-I know she can because she talks the same way that Paul does.

I hope you remember

With just seven days remaining until Christmas 2017, I hope my kids remember Christmas times of long ago.
Do you remember the trailer park off Arch Street?
Chocolate covered cherries?
Getting ready for the Holly Ball and the dancing that followed?
Snow ice cream?
Midnight mass?
The ugliest stockings on the planet?
Alvin and the chipmunks singing Christmas songs?
Christmas cookies and hot chocolate?

A Day Tradition

Long before I knew Dwight, his first cousins decided to get together every Christmas to celebrate. I'm sure those first celebrations were really hard because Grandpa died around Christmas time. Grandpa and Grandma both loved Christmas from what I hear so love of family and Christmas prevailed and the annual party started.
It wasn't too long before those first cousins had kids and grandchildren of their own. It's a huge celebration with people of all ages and walks of life. Nurses, truck drivers, teachers, farmers, loggers, doctors, and just nice people galore. There's a Christmas dinner with turkey, ham, tons of mashed potatoes and the best crock pot stuffing to every grace the planet. Another line of tables with Christmas sweets(it's where I was introduced to Potato Candy-a wonderful dish made by Uncle Sandford).
There's another table with paper sacks with everyone's name-where you can put Christmas cards for them. There's always a beautiful Christmas tree or two or three and the tables are always decorated. There's a huge rock fireplace that's lit with a couch near by. The fireplace has a wide large stone front where people can sit and that's where Nona tells the story. Every year.
Some of the little ones can't tell me how old they are, but they know Ms. Nona reads the story and that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Happy trails problem

I know I'm rude when guests leave my house. Miss Manners would probably advise that I stay on the porch and see every one off, but that's just not possible. At our last celebration as soon as one person would leave-I could spend more time with someone else. I think I hugged everyone before they left-I tried anyway. One by one-they all left and went back to their homes and busy lives except Lee and her boys-I got to enjoy them for one more day. Enjoy them I did. We went to a cave, picked out some pretty rocks, ate at a local restaurant, and went horse back riding-all before two pm. We also saw a bald eagle on the way to the cave.
Technically, I could have watch Lee drive away. Physically not possible. I have a problem saying good bye. I know I'll see them again as soon as possible, but nothing's written in stone and it makes me more than a little sad. It was easy to say goodbye to my kids because Christmas is less than 4 weeks away and they'll come to see me once again. But my youngest nephews? These two are a blessing. They remind me how quickly time flies. It's so much fun to grab them chocolate milk and strawberries with whipped cream, because before too long they'll be too independent to ask. It's a wonderful feeling when one of them reaches out and grabs you by the hand.  Watching them learn and grow-wow...I envy their parents.

November and giving Thanks

I'm amazed at all the people that can do a daily post on what they're thankful for each day in November. Some of us, can't keep track of a phone that long. While I love Thanksgiving and the food (I've gone over my menu more than once), there's shopping and so much to do before the end of the year. So let me just do one "Thankful" post and be done with that at least ok?
Thanksgiving is technically on the 23rd so let's just keep that number. These are in no particular order.
1. I'm thankful for my health-it's not perfect but I can get out of bed and climb a deer stand.
2. My job-it's not that I love it or have great hours, but I make a decent living and work with some really cool people.
3. I'm thankful for where I live-I realize it's not on the beaten path for anyone, but I can look outside on any given day and take a picture that would make a post card.
4. I'm thankful for my friends-not a super large number, but the ones I have are great.
5. I'm thankful for Oscar-he's currently teaching me a lot about patience. He also shows me how easily it is to love-all the time.
6. I'm thankful for Dixie. She's taught me it's really ok to be different and that you should take something that you love and run with it.
7. I'm thankful for Harley-another lesson in patience, but it's a lesson in how fast things can grow and change.
8. I'm thankful for my husband that knows exactly when to hold me close and when to let me go.
9. I'm extremely thankful for my family.
10. I'm thankful for the things I've learned.
11. I'm thankful for the memories I've made this year-Dad turned 75, Mike married Kate, Dwight and I traveled to Canada, the aspens in Colorado, the snow, ...
12. I'm thankful the tornado that came through our area earlier in the year didn't kill anyone. It made us realize how precious life is.
13. I'm thankful that we got the chance to help others rebuild-it's awesome to be a part of something so strong.
14. I'm thankful that the horses know and love me.
15. I'm thankful for holidays especially one that makes us take a look at all we have.
16. I'm thankful I have a grandson.
17. I'm thankful for sweet tea, strong coffee, and strawberries.
18. I'm thankful for flannel sheets and warm fuzzy blankets.
19. I'm thankful for the hot tub on our back porch.
20. I'm thankful for veterans and all those that have served in our military.
21. I'm thankful God gives us second and third chances.
22. I'm thankful I can think for myself (most of the time).
23. I'm thankful for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I love you more

When I say that I love you more, I don't mean that I love you more than you love me. I mean that I love you more than the bad days ahead of us, more than any fight we will ever have. I love you more than the distance between us. I love you more than any obstacle that could try to come between us.
I love you the most.

Champions

Saturday we could be found at the Wienner and Wannabe Dash in Alma, Ar. It was an event to benefit a local charity that helps dogs of all kinds. They started off with a costume parade where the dogs in costumes were judged. I know there were over twenty dogs and the costumes were great.
First place went to our own Harley.
Then the races started. Seven dogs in each heat and four dachshund heats followed by a wannabe race for the other dogs. Dixie ran in the first heat and came in second so she qualified for the final race. Then went second heat. Oscar was in the third heat. Honestly, I just entered Oscar so he'd get some extra exercise.  He's a little chubby and doesn't run very often. A train came by just before his race and he couldn't get to me fast enough. He qualified for the final race too. I am so proud of him. Up next was Loki, he had never run in a race with so many dogs and especially not in front of a crowd. First place for Loki.  All three of our runners were in the final race. Dixie came in third. No train to help Oscar this time. Personally, I don't think Loki had enough time to recover from his prior race. All in all an exciting day.