Friday, October 29, 2010

Do You Believe....

things happen for a reason?
I do!
Let me tell you why.
As you know, because it's on my mind all. the. time.!
My Mom passed away this past April.
Not a Day goes by that my thoughts would be on her and everything that happened during that time. To the point, at times, that I literally had to make myself shower and get dressed and function as I normally would, even though that is NOT what I really wanted to do. I really wanted to get everyone off to start their day and stay in my PJ's the rest of the day and do nothing. Maybe even just go back to bed. I don't think anyone in my family, meaning hubby and girls, realized that! I wouldn't say I was in any kind of depression, just a huge numbing sadness....unexplainable to anyone that hasn't lost a parent....
a Mom!
But....I had to function, because I have people that count on me everyday to help them function. Whether they realize it or not! As much as they try to be "grown-ups" and think they do not need me anymore....my cell phone rings ALOT some days.
Mostly from this girl....
She is high maintenance these days!
But, something that has helped me more then I remotely thought it would and I can't explain why except that things....
Happen For A Reason
Is this kid!

~Tom~
You may remember me posting about him. He's the exchange student from France that is staying with us for this school year. He is a wonderful addition to our family and is fitting in quite nicely. But, as ODD as it may sound and NO I haven't completely lost it, I believe he is here to help me thru this "first" year! He is no more work then my girls, less so really. But, my mind hasn't constantly been on the loss of my Mom. That's not too say I never think of her, because I do and always will. But, just not as much to where I am constantly,
daily in sadness. Ya know!
Yesterday, Mom's Birthday, could have been a much sadder day for me. I wasn't able to go to the cemetery as I planned. The weather was such that I chose not to drive that distance. But, coincidentally (and I knew this) Tom's Dad's Birthday was the same day as my Mom's. Tom was struggling a bit more then I, not being in France with his family for his Dad's birthday. He needed sometime away from school yesterday, just to Skype his Dad during the day. Because of the time change, they don't get to do that during the week.
Tom needed it....things happen for a reason!
My place was here yesterday to make something happen for Tom. Had I gone to the cemetery, I would not have been Home to pick him up for lunch so he could come Home and Skype with his Dad! I also, chose not to attend the evening meal with my sister's and my Dad to celebrate Mom's Birthday last night. Again, the distance and driving at night....
I don't do that if I don't have to!
It's a good thing because....

this daughter called me at about 3:45 p.m.!
I would have been gone by then....
again, Things Happen For A Reason! She had just been in an accident, rear ended and was actually the middle car of a 5 car accident! She, thankfully, was not hurt, but her car had to be towed away. She needed to be picked up, she was shaken up, but okay. The other 2 here at Home needed rides to hang with friends, both in opposite directions. I had to reach my hubby at work to pick up our daughter. Her car may or may not be fixable, or worth fixing. She now has her Dad's vehicle, he has mine....

I have nothing, to drive that is!


But, I do believe....
Things Happen For A Reason!
How about you?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Today Would Have Been....

Mom's 80th Birthday!


As some of you may know, I lost my Mom on April 25th of this year.
So here we are with another first!
And it would have been a huge celebration in our family.
A birthday, in my heart, I know we would have celebrated as we did Dad's, the weekend Mom passed away. With everyone gathering and sharing a meal with cake and ice cream.
But, sadly that sort of celebration will not take place for Mom!

Instead, my "celebration" for her will be in my thoughts thru-out the day.
My plan was to go to the cemetery today and take a nice bouquet of flowers
and just spend some time tending her grave and talking to her.
But, the weather is not cooperating with me today with the wind, rain and cold.

Mom would understand I'm sure!

Living almost 2 hrs away makes it difficult to also join my sister's and my father
in an evening meal to celebrate as a family. So on Saturday when the weather is a bit nicer,
or supposed to be anyway, my husband and I will make a trip down and visit the cemetery then.

So here we are at 6 months already!
It still doesn't seem real
that she is not with us anymore,
except of course and always will be
in our hearts!

I'd like to share the poem that was in the funeral announcement:

God saw you getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
and whispered, "Come to Me."
With tearful eyes we watched you,
and saw you pass away,
And though we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best!

Happy 80th Birthday Mom!
I know you are smiling and laughing today,
with your friends and family members
who also passed before you.
I miss you and love you dearly!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

ArtPrize 2010....

You may have heard it on the Today Show's Hoda & Kathie Lee,
if not here's a link:

We headed there this past Saturday. Mainly to see the Grand Prize Winner. Of course the line for that exhibit was very long. It started outside of the Art Museum building and wound around and into the building. The sun was warm and the line was long and someone was sleepy....






Finally we get into the building and are on the second level where the drawing is displayed

we hope....



The crowd was very controlled. Although we did have an "older" couple behind us who were a tad bit impatient....
by the sounds of her breath's of air, lol.





At last, the winner....


Definitely worth the wait!


Hand drawn with a #2 pencil....
I believe 84 in all,
and it only took, I heard, 8 months to complete!

You can not even imagine the detail to this drawing....


Right down to the blades of grass under their chairs.



My photos don't do it justice.



Truly AMAZING!
See why it won....
the artist received $250,000
Not bad!


The drawing below was also amazing....


also done in pencil....
colored!
(sorry about the glare)
Then we made our way out of the Art Museum....
after stopping to admire more art....
and it appears
Tom as well!


This was another winner....
Very intricate!


(photo too light)
There were also pianos set up around the city.
For anyone to play....
another form of art!

(lady unknown)


(Guy unknown)




(Mallory known)




There were all forms of art and we didn't even see half of it!
Lots of fish....
made from random things.




a HUGE basket of flowers


A Copper Man....


Is he real?
Yep!

A GINORMOUS greeting card....
that you could sign.
And then there were also the art pieces with a message....

This was titled:
Coughin....
wonder why?

I believe I read it was made from 10,000 cigarettes,
that had been smoked or lit to burn down!
Interesting!
and then there was the Bizarre....
Amanda's head fits perfectly!
Then it was off to see Dad (hubby) play in the next town.
They have a chili cook-off every year!

Dad/Hubby
a.k.a. Banjo Brad!


and the band....



Tracey (bass), Emzy (guitar), Brad (banjo), John (fiddle)
They have a great time every year and the crowd this year
was huge. We didn't get there until almost the end, but it
gave Tom a chance to hear the band play.
Tom has shown interest in learning banjo, so Brad put one in his hands.

Finally someone who shows interest in learning banjo!


Tom has picked it up quite well too!
He is teaching himself Foggy Mountain Break-down.
Good job!
I have tons of pictures of Art Prize.
Too many for one post.
So on occasion, I may show a few more!
Thanks for taking a peek!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Happy Birthday To My Hubby....

Yep, it's today....
No matter what you do....
It's here!
You can't deny it....
It will be over soon!

But for today....
Just sit back and relax....
Cuz we're going to remind you....
That it's your....


Are you 1....


are you 2....


are you 3....


Oh forget it, that could take forever!


HAPPY




We Love You!

Monday, October 4, 2010

big, biG, BIG News....

What a whirlwind past 3 days we have had in our household!
After 48 hrs of contemplation, we happily decided to be
the host family for a 16 yr old boy from
France!


I would proudly like to introduce to you our "son" from France Tom.
Our daughter became friends with him at school right away.
Tom is very musically inclined and plays beautiful guitar, as well as other instruments, which we haven't had the opportunity to have him play for us yet in the short period of time he has been with us. Mallory is quite musically inclined as well, and has taught herself how to play guitar.
She has not been playing quite as long as Tom, but with the same interest I'm sure they will have alot of fun "jamming" together, as they put it!
It was quite a busy weekend for Tom as well. Not only did he change host families right after school on Friday, but he also attended only his 2nd football game that night, which was our Homecoming game (sadly we lost)....and also experiencing the whole dynamic of a group of friends coming over the next day, sharing a meal together in our Home, having pictures taken, and then attending only his 2nd dance at a school, only this time everyone had to
"dress-up" for the occasion.
I think fun was had by all!


A few of Mallory's friends met up at our Home to get ready together.
Then we all met at our local museum for pictures. Unfortunately it was
freezing cold and windy out that day. But, they braved the weather to get some really
pretty pictures with all their friends. Notice how we parents are dressed alittle bit warmer!



A nice photo of
Tom and Mallory on the steps of the museum.
Tom has a younger brother back home and Mallory has 2 sisters.
So this will be an experience for all of us!
After all the photos were taken, the whole group headed back to our Home
for a meal prepared by my wonderful husband. He is bar-none a way better
chef then I will ever claim to be and actually enjoys doing it.
Especially for special occasions like this for his family!
We decorated the Dining Room for the kids, we had a group of 8 total
(4 boys/4 girls), the perfect amount for our table. A little candle light
helped make it seem more grown-up and special!

~Beverages~

Assorted French Sparkling Lemonades



Of course, the meal started with the salad first....


~Salad~

Fresh tomato with balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, French salt and fresh pepper

Romaine lettuce topped with red and yellow peppers and an English white cheddar

Sliced sopresata and grilled crostini

Vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, olive oil and Dijon mustard

~Pasta~
Penne pasta with a bolognese sauce, topped with fresh basil,

italian parsley and parmesan reggiano, served with cheese garlic baguette
(The boys had seconds, must mean they liked it!)

~Dessert~

Sugar cookie topped with cookie dough ice cream

rolled in toasted vanilla cookie crumbs,

served on a chocolate fudge sauce
Or as they kids would say they had
Salad, Pasta and Dessert!

~Great group of friends~
Then after their meal, it was off for a night of fun and dancing!
A new experience for Tom. One that I think he enjoyed very much, although,
he claims he can not dance....ha, ha, I bet!

Welcome Tom!
We hope your stay with us for this school year is all that
you hope it to be! We are happy to make you a part of our family!
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