He did it…

Mike just bought his first vehicle today. I picked him up from school and he was so excited to go and get it. We met the owner at the License Bureau and did the title transfer and license fees and the car was officially Mike’s. When he owner handed the keys over Mike just smiled. This is a priceless picture. His first of many.

This was one of those days that will be etched in my memory forever. When Mike did the show and tell to his grandfather, he just beamed at Mike and made Mike feel like a million bucks.

So a day in the life of a young man. So cool to watch him grow up, so proud of what he’s becoming.

Take care my friends, thank you for letting me share my son with you.

Good night and God Bless!

P.S. The little munchkin that was with Mike is Hannah, my littlest daycare one. She loves him so and was trying to wake him up so he could play with her before he headed off to work and school. See I kept Wordless Wednesday wordless, at least the picture part. Had a couple request as to who she was so wanted to explain.

Wordless Wednesday…

St. Patties day…

It’s tomorrow and I’m a bad daycare mom, we didn’t make anything at all. I put up a tiny bit of garland and that’s all. And our name is Riley….now that’s bad. I’m not Irish but Jim and Mike are but I don’t think either of them care what I do to this house as long as they can find their chairs, find the bathroom and find food. I know Justin and Hannah don’t care as long as we are doing something fun so this time this holiday can come and go and we’ll just start on Easter next week.

Kari’s daughter brought over some cool sock bunnies that Kari shared on her blog, I think that is something the little ones and I can make and take home next week. I bet I can even find kid socks at the Dollar Store and I already have everything else we’d need to do them.

Of course we’ll do eggs and I think I’m going to see what I can find for either paper ones or foam ones the kids can paint to put on a egg tree. We don’t do to much because Easter IS NOT about the Easter bunny and all that stuff, it’s about Christ dying for us and raising up so that we can except him, follow him and one day go and live with him. I do teach that part of Easter to the kids too so they get a bit of this and that and it’s up to the parents to take it all further if they want too.

I am going to try and work on a Tablescape. Karin over at the Style Sisters has send me the most beautiful light blue napkin ring holders and I promised to make a tablescape with them. Boy did I make a big promise. For me I don’t have fancy things here. We have mostly just your normal every day things, I do have a nice set of dishes my mama got me a couple of years ago that I can use but no napkins, no table clothe, no candle holders, no stemware …. any of that stuff to make it but I didn’t tell Karin when I’d get it done so I will search the thrift stores, maybe mama’s house and Kim’s house and see what I can come up with. I’d like to do something springy or summery so we’ll just see. I’ll keep you posted and show you what I finally come up with. I had e-mailed my aunt Pat because she has the most beautiful house and I knew she’d know something about it and she gave me a few really neat ideas to work in.

But all in all guys that’s about all that’s happening. Oh there is one really super cool thing, Mike bought his first new car this past weekend and tomorrow will go and get it. He is so excited and I will take a picture of it and share with you all. It’s a 1991 Chevy Suburban, 4x4. Did you know that we already own 3 other 1990 Chevy Suburban’s?  There’s marshmallow, it’s the rustiest, most wore out one and rides like your sitting on a marshmallow. There’s my winter sub, it’s 4x4, 1/2 ton with plenty of rust on it and then there’s my summer sub, it’s also a 4x4, 3/ ton but came from Las Vega and hasn’t a spick of rust on it so it sits all winter long waiting for the roads to get cleaned off of all that salt plus it’s the one I had the accident with last year and still needs to make it into the shop to have the rear doors replaces. It really wasn’t my accident but I was part of it. A young man and his two friends were busy chatting away and miss that fact that the light was still red and no one was moving so creamed us at at least 30 mph. No one was hurt except the muscle aches later on so a blessing there, just his truck was toast, mine just the rear doors and the van in front of me his hatch was never going to open up again because the truck hit me hard enough to push me into the van. I didn’t have any front end damage so that was good. This is also why I am so happy that Mike decided to get a suburban. He’ll be safe in there from just about anything on the road, at least same size or less. Oh one more thing, since it’s a Chevy (as you can tell that’s what we like) they all have at least 150,000 miles on them and the one with the most has almost 300,000 and is still going strong. There’s also  2 1989 blazers, 2 1988 1 ton trucks, 1 1949 Chev fire truck and 1 1962 Chev fire truck. We’d make a great Chevy commercial.

Take care my friends and have a blessed afternoon. Happy St. Patrick’s day to anyone that celebrates it or enjoys it. God Bless you all!!!

I finally beaded…

Nothing huge like I had planned but I made this instead and I think it turned out really neat. I got the butterfly when Kim and I went Thrift Store shopping, paid $1.50 for it, had all the beads and even the glass pendant. It’s not one of those lead crystal ones, this was one of the very first glass ones I bought before I found crystal. It’s still very pretty though and I really like it.

The kids and I are heading over to see great grandma and grandpa and then down to the barn to see the goats. I’m going to bring my camera today and get new pictures of them. The last time Mike, Scott and I were over there it was so much fun getting into the pen with them. The goats are so spoiled and so loving and …. well I love them as much as the kids do.

So take care and have a blessed day.

Truck Driving Friday #2…

#2 only because somewhere along the lines I lost it. I wrote it yesterday, had it ready to post, and this morning it was suppose to posted but….well it’s not there. So I guess that means I’ll write it again….but the second time is never nearly as good as the first time.

Have you ever been hit by lightening, not really you…say your car or really very close to the car? Well it happened to me not one but twice in one night, in the truck hauling 60,000 lbs of saw dust from Minneapolis to a small family farm in Wisconsin. What started out as a super cool summer night turned into the most scared I have ever been in my whole life and that includes being in Chicago in the middle of the night, dropping of garbage cans in Louisiana where I was the only white person around (by the way, not that color makes any difference to me what so ever, I was just way out numbered), not almost driving over an older couple in their teeny tiny little car on a freeway going 80 miles an hour in Texas during a rain storm. Never before or never since. Anyways,

It’s a warm night, the radio finally comes in (no XM yet), the windows are opened on the truck and Jim is sound asleep in the bunk when all of a sound there is this bright light and a deafening noise. Lightening has hit the guard rail next to the truck. I scream, at least I’m pretty sure I did, I come to a quick stop and the truck dies. Lighten and electronics just don’t mix well. Jim still sleeps. I change a couple fuses, start the truck back up and head down the road again. I’m guessing less then 10 minutes later it hits my truck. The mirror bracket on the passenger side. Instantly the truck dies and I am pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes. It scared me so bad. It’s an amazingly bright light and the noise, it’s not just a bit loud it’s beyond that. Jim is awake now sure that I’ve killed us yet again (by the way, in the million miles I drove, I never, ever had an accident but you’d never know that they way he always thought I was going to get us killed). Since the truck is dead and Jim’s the fixer he gets to spend the rest of the night replacing fuses, rewiring a few things and trying to calm down his almost hysterical wife. I had to change my clothes, you know why and then sit and relax for a long time before I was able to function safely again. I think that is why I really hate lightening and thunder now, it just scares the pants right off me. It never happened again but twice in a life time was two time to many.

Do you like Hot Air Balloons? I was driving though Iowa and they were having some kind of festival or get together or something and there were hundreds of them. I really mean hundreds of them. Some in the air, some getting there, some flat on the ground. It goes on for miles and miles and I’m so interested in watching them, keeping up with them I’m speeding along and not paying a bit of attention to my speed and next thing you know, well I bet you can guess, I get my first speeding ticket in the truck. 80 in a 65, not good and quite expensive and my first real learning experience with paying attention no matter what. But I did get to see the most beautiful sights watching those balloons floating in the air. It was really good.

Last one, yes it’s possible to cry yourself out of a ticket when it’s Christmas eve and all you want to do is get home for Christmas. It was late on Christmas eve, we’d been out for 9 weeks and I wanted to go home. I wanted to go home really, really bad so I’m hammering away and just thinking home, home….and out of no where comes this officer. I stopped and before he’s even to the truck I’m crying. Not because I’m about to get another ticket, because I just wanted to go home. He looks at me, motions me to get into his car and I’m a blubbering idiots. I told him yes, just give me the ticket, I was wrong and I knew it but I wanted to go home. I just wanted to be home with mama and daddy. We sit and chatter a few minutes, he never asked for my log book which really was great because you can’t make it from the east side of Ohio to where I was at in the time period my log book said and I think he knew all of this. I think he was checking, doing his job without wrecking my Christmas. He let me go with a Merry Christmas, a hug and a bit more respect for the officers of the law. They are human not just mean machines out there to make some money.

So there you have it. Another story in the life of a lady truck driver. It was a great life guys, we say 48 states, 2 providences. We got to sight see, visit a few place we would never of gone in our life time. We made a bit of money and learned more life lesson in those 8 years then lots of people learn in a life time.

Thanks for stopping by for me to share Truck Driving Friday. Take care and have a great TFIG!!! God Bless you all.

New idea…

Like Friday Follow? Like to meet and greet new people, well here’s another great place to become involved with. Just might find someone that likes you, that wants to follow you, that thinks your interesting. Or someone you like, you want to follow or you find interesting. Give it a shot. I am. You just never know who will come into your life and give you something you didn’t know was missing.

Meet and greets, such great ideas from some super great people. Thank you everyone.

Click on the Something New banner, New Friend Friday.

Quicky...

The kids broke my heart today and it really wasn't even their faults, well sorta anyways. They were so naughty that no matter what I said they did the opposite. I finally had a screaming fit, sent them all outside to sit on the porch and work it out. They made me cry and I know why, my period is coming and no matter what I did to not cry it just didn't work so I cried, I let them see me cry and blamed it all on them. Told them they hurt my feelings and it made me sad. Boy I think you could of pushed them all over with a feather when I said that. Then I went inside and ignored them all sitting on the porch with no coats, no shoes just thinking. A short time later, maybe 4 minutes or so the door opens a crack and a little voice is heard..."I'm sorry Julie, I love you". It was Justin. That did it, I went back outside made them promise to please be good and we started our party for Rachel's birthday. After all was said and done it was a pretty good day here. Rachel got a necklace and bracelet with agates from me plus that box I had made for her. Anton brought her a bunny he got last night and the coolest letter card he wrote all by himself and Jon made her a triangle with a guitar pick on it (he knows she like to play guitar). She got her angel food cake with lots of fudge frosting and lots and lots of love, that is after my melt down.
Here's "my" Rachel and me....I sure do love her.

Friday Follow…

The greatest most wonderful way to meet and greet some terrific, wonderful, charming, talented, creative, fun and more people. Please hop over to Lynn's and join in the fun. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

For me, I’m a normal everyday person. Working my hardest to be the best me possible. I am a wife of just about 30 years, a mama to the most wonderful 18 year old anyone could ever want. I am on a new life style change. I want to feel better, look better, move better and be better in this body the good Lord has given me. It’s a challenge, a hard one but so far I’ve been able to lose 11 lbs and about 22 inches in fat. I run a home based daycare and have 3 families that join me just about every day. They are in ages from 1 – 10 and in fact today is Rachel's 10th birthday party. I have had all of them except Jon since babyhood, and Jon came at 1 1/2, and they are an extension of my family. Mike is an only child but only when he wants to be, he has “bothers and sisters” any time he needs them and they have a big bother that loves them to death. Mike said when Abby was  born how was he going to love her as much as Rachel, just a few days later after she was born he said, my heart grew I can love her and lots more mama. It was so cool to hear him love them that much.

So if you want to know more, go read all you want. I have a second blog that’s fairly new, I just started it in January, it’s Julie, the going to be new me...one day I hope....Join me on my journey in life and I promise you I’ll try to keep you entertained and maybe once in awhile be able to teach you a thing or two.

Take care and have the most blessed Friday Follow. God Bless you all!!

Give away….

Over at Kim's she’s having a cool give away. You’ll love the goodies she has. She is such a talented lady, you’ve got to check out the rest of her blog too. I sent her to a few other places to add her give away too so hurry up and sign up tomorrow.

Kim has taught me so much guys. Before I met her I didn’t do a whole bunch of crafting. Oh I made jewelry and some sewing and clocks but nothing putzy or nothing useful. Kim has taught me to take a piece of material and turn it into a tote, a basket or something else cool. She’s taught me to look at things and see past what it is. That’s how the chair came about or mama shelf or even the wood crafts I’m learning. She has a creative mind like none other. Go and see just what she’s been up to. Look at her past post and just see if she can inspire you.

Thanks Kim for all that you do for me. Your friendship has been a god send, really. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Great friendships are hard to find, I am so glad you are in mine. I love you girlfriend!!!

Now go guys, check her out and tomorrow sign up for her cool give away. It’s Kim at www.ubercrafter.blogspot.com

God bless my friends, take care.

Did you know….

That you can spend a whole day on two small crafts? That’s what I did. Oh I did get the chores done, the house picked up and a good supper made but other then that I worked on these…

I just used 1/4” plywood and the scroll saw and cut them out from a pattern I got from Kim's blog. You’ve got to go there and see her creation. Anyway, It took me a good chunk of the morning to cut out these pieces. The bunnies weren’t to bad but the other little ones, well it took me awhile.

Here’s the finish project. I didn’t do one of the bunnies, gonna save that for Rachel to do and if anyone else decides they want one I’ll cut out more.

I used scrapbook paper and Mod Podge, glitter and a piece of yarn, oh and wood glue to put it all together. I think they turned out pretty good. Mama was here today and I think she’d like the chicken and my sister collects bunnies so I’m sure he can find a home there. That is unless I decide to keep them that is.

So that was how I spend my childless day. No one to talk to on the phone, Kim was gone, mama and daddy had business, Brenda was off so it was me, myself and I and you know, I wasn’t to bad a company. It was really quiet though and I think next time it’s just me like that I’ll turn on the radio, but otherwise it was a great day. Back to work tomorrow.

Take care my friends, have a great evening and nights rest. Tomorrow is a new day, less just see how great we can make it. God Bless you all!

Wordless Wednesday..

I have seen that on many blogs and haven’t a clue who to give credit too so just so you know, I’m not taking credit for it and if it’s your idea, please tell me and when I do it again I promise to say you told me to do it. :o)

Anyways, I was looking though lots of photos the other day and came across a few that I think would be so great for a Wordless Wednesday. So for today here’s the one I picked….

It’s title is Niner… a turkey we hatched with the tiny yellow incubator you see in the background. He was hatched on 9/9/99 and this is my son holding him. Sorry about the sticker by Mike’s head, I had it attached in my cupboard for years and somehow got that darn thing on it.

Truck Driving Friday…a bit late…

 

As you know I took a few days off from blogging and total forgot about Truck Driving Friday so I’m going to post one here but it’s just going to be a short one and then I’ll be better this coming Friday.

Oh I have a good one to share.

While our truck was having a new engine put in it we drove for another friend of ours. We ended up in a cab over. That’s where the engine is under the cab and not like our truck with the engine out front. Sorta like driving in a fish bowl.

Any who, it was dark, Jim was sleeping and I missed my turn so I’m about to turn around in a propane dealerships parking lot and it’s a down hill driveway and in front of me is a huge propane tank but it’s not a problem that is until Jim feels me slowing down, wakes up and peaks his head out of the bunk and proceeds to scream, I hit the brakes, he hits the windshield, he yells pretty sure he’s going to die and I’m not breathing to great. Here’s what he thought, he felt me turn, didn’t understand why, took a peak out and saw the truck heading right for the propane tank, thought maybe I’d fallen asleep, screamed and hit the window. Can you imagine what was going though his mind? He was scared to death. He said he saw his life flash before his eyes. Me I was just doing my job, miss a turn and was turning around. After we both caught our breaths, got situated and headed back to the drop off Jim was wide awake for a full day before he could relax. To look back at it, it’s funny but at that time….well let’s say Jim will never ever forget that day, nor will I.

Enough for today. Just a snack before next Friday.

Take care and have a great and blessed Sunday.

Don’t forget too….

The Groschen Goblin’s St. Patties give away. You can click on the side bar poster and it'll take you right to them.

Just thought I’d remind you just in case you’ve forgotten. I think I’ve enter just about every one of the Groschen Goblin’s give aways.

Take care and have a great evening. God Bless my friends.

Fun idea…

Name: Easter's Blogger Swap
When to sign up: Now, in the comment section at Jerrica blog
Deadline to sign up: March 12th
Swap Date: March 25th.
What's going on?: She’ll send out a survey. You all fill it out and send it back to her. She’ll assign everyone partners. You'll send your partner (which is the same person that will be assigned to you) a package of Easter goodies. (Spending limit $20)

Oh just think of the goodies we can find since we know a bit ahead of time. I’m going to join, are you?

Have a great and blessed weekend.

Remember I told you…

That Kim was coming over for a visit today and we were going to putze a bit. Well, we putzed a lot. She brought her stamp pads and stamps over for me to finish up the front of my frame. You really can’t see the stamping to well in the picture but it’s there. Now all I have to do is finish up the hanger and picture holder part on the back and I’ll be ready to hang it.

She brought over bread dough so we made Mike homemade cinnamon rolls. I say “we” but really she did all the work, all I had to do was bake them. Of course my little ones had to “help” too. I had pictures of all three of them working on the rolls but accidently deleted them, now that royally bites because it was such a cute picture. But here’s the rolls.

Then she taught me how to make a take along filing system. She started me off with the how to’s and left me to get it done. Hers is better looking but mine will work.

We had a great time, I so love it when she comes to visit. I think we need to make it a regular routine her coming here and teaching me things.

The other night I was cutting out chicks on a stick. I got the idea and pattern from Holly and then did my own thing. I love how they turned out and may just have to make some more. Brenda stopped and really liked them so just may have to make her a couple.

I also did this. I got a sample of Koshi Cereal in the mail and just loved the box it came in so I recovered it and now it’ll make a perfect gift box for Rachel's birthday coming up. That is if I can part with it.

 

And last but not least….

Mama and I finished decorating her downstairs basement. It started out like this….

And ended up like this…

The total cost of the redo was $30.00. The Thrift store finds, the shelf I redid, the candle thingy's, the ivy, agates and all was less then $5.00 and the little creatures were the rest of the budget but hey, there were just to cute to turn down.

Since I haven’t sat on my computer for a good chunk of the evening I was able to get my end table taken apart and sanded and now will figure out how to use my router and then add the 1/2 marbles, grout, bar coat and put it all back together. That will be another day and time but hopefully before spring gets here.

So my friends, that’s that here at the Life of Riley’s. I’ll be back to pester you next week sometime. I’m thinking it’s a great time to go to Terri’s and see the baby calves and to Mark’s and see the baby goats. Soon it’ll be time for baby chicks and ducks. Spring is coming. Just think it’ll be time to start the gardening soon (well for us another 3+ months but it’s still not that far off).

Take care and God Bless!!!

Short blogging break….

Guys I have to take a break. I am tired at looking at my computer. I have the start of a cold, am just plain tired and a bit bored with blogging, it’s not really boredom from blogging I think just tired of typing and what not.

I’ll be back this weekend or early next week and I promise to have some goodies to share with you. Kim is coming over on Friday and we are going to make some spring things and she’s going to show me an easy file system and I’ll share these with you. I think I also want to work on my end table so will share what I have done with that when I get back.

It’s just that time for a short break. I hope my cold doesn’t get bad and I can perk up a bit. I am taking some of Terri’s homeopathic tinctures for my cold. She has elderberry stuff and a super tonic that I take 3 times a day and though it tastes pretty nasty I know that in a day or two I’ll be fine.

Take care my friends and I’ll be back to bug you in your google reader or whatever it is that you find me in. God bless you all!!

Sorry...

I posted todays post twice. I didn't realize that. At least to me it was a great post to screw up on. I was going to delete one but then the comments are gone and I don't know how to transfer them, even if it was possible. So just sorry.

Mike is 18 today….

Today is a post all about my son. I started this yesterday because I get teary eyed thinking that time has gone by so fast. I don’t have regrets though about not doing this or that because Mike and I have always done lots together. I don’t have regrets for being the mom I am, sometimes harsh, sometime mean, sometimes pathetic, sometimes crabby, sometimes naughty but always caring, supportive, loving. Mike is my world. Jim and Mike make my life so wonderful. Since I found out I was pregnant I knew that this was going to be the best thing that could of ever happened.

Meet Michael James…he was born at 6:30am by c-section. He came to us a very big boy, never had one of those tiny boys you get to hide under your coat. He was 10lbs 2 oz and 23.5 inches long. He came with size 3 feet. Not a single baby outfit I had fit him, none of those cute tiny diapers fit him and when I first breast fed him he filled up my arms from side to side.

Mike was suppose to be born the end of January but he just wasn’t interested and the doctor figured no point in rushing him so I cooked him until March 2nd. In the end that wasn’t the greatest for either of us. Mike was born with a few breathing problems and I couldn’t have him like normal because he was just to big.

Meet Mike at a month old..

Mike was super easy baby, after his 2nd week he slept though the night, he was awake for 12 hours and slept for 12 hours.

At less then 5 months Mike was eating food. See…

He also wasn’t about to sit still….

At 6 months Mike was “helping” grandpa with the backhoe…

Notice the gray bear, Mike’s now 7 months old now…

At 9 months old he got his first car…

And Mike’s 1st birthday…

My pictures could go on and on and on but I’m sure you’ve seen enough little ones….

Here’s Mike now at 18 ….today….

 

He has accomplished so much in his 18 years. He has been on the B honor roll more then off. He loves the outdoors with hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, traveling. He’s great at any math problem and can weld anything that his dad asks him. He can help rebuild an engine, do auto body work and buckle up a wiggle little one in any car seat I have. He loves my daycare kids as his little bothers and sisters. He has fed each and everyone of them from babyhood on, he carries, plays, hides, treats them like his own. Oh he can be naughty to them too but what “brother” isn’t. Mike has worked with is dad and grandpa since a toddler and has worked for pay since he was 14. He loves being with his dad and grandpa at the family store and is turning into quite the business man. He has been a Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, Boy Scout and and Eagle Scout. He’s president of their newly formed Venture Crew 52 (a part of boy scouts). He’s a brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow (another part of scouting). He’s been a den chief, librarian, assistant patrol leader, senior assistant patrol leader. Mike earned 52 merit badges in his scouting career. That’s 6 palms and also the most that anyone in our troop has ever earned. Mike has volunteered more then 1000 hours in his life and continues to do so to now. Mike graduates this June 4th and then will follow in his father footsteps for a year before he’s decided on exactly what he wants to do with life. He is thinking about taking welding at the community college so that if he wants to stay with the store he will have extra knowledge that will come in handy but first some experience in the outside world.

Mike makes me proud beyond belief. He’s my son, playmate, supporter, helper and so much more. I thank God every single day he gave me Mike. Mike’s a homebody and hasn’t stretched his wings to much with going and doing without me but the time will come and he’ll be off and running and though I’ll be a bit sad inside I will be so happy on the outside that he’s doing what he wants to do. I’m not worried about his life to come as it’s a one day at a time thing and Mike worries enough for us both. Mike is a worrywart at times, wishy washy some times but when he figures things out he goes full force and takes care of it.

I can’t wait for what the next 18 years will bring but I would like them to slow down just a little bit because I’m pretty sure this first 18 flew by way to fast.

Thank you for letting me share my only son with you. He is my pride and joy and I love him so very, very much.

Mike is 18 today….

Today is a post all about my son. I started this yesterday because I get teary eyed thinking that time has gone by so fast. I don’t have regrets though about not doing this or that because Mike and I have always done lots together. I don’t have regrets for being the mom I am, sometimes harsh, sometime mean, sometimes pathetic, sometimes crabby, sometimes naughty but always caring, supportive, loving. Mike is my world. Jim and Mike make my life so wonderful. Since I found out I was pregnant I knew that this was going to be the best thing that could of ever happened.

Meet Michael James…he was born at 6:30am by c-section. He came to us a very big boy, never had one of those tiny boys you get to hide under your coat. He was 10lbs 2 oz and 23.5 inches long. He came with size 3 feet. Not a single baby outfit I had fit him, none of those cute tiny diapers fit him and when I first breast fed him he filled up my arms from side to side.

Mike was suppose to be born the end of January but he just wasn’t interested and the doctor figured no point in rushing him so I cooked him until March 2nd. In the end that wasn’t the greatest for either of us. Mike was born with a few breathing problems and I couldn’t have him like normal because he was just to big.

Meet Mike at a month old..

Mike was super easy baby, after his 2nd week he slept though the night, he was awake for 12 hours and slept for 12 hours.

At less the 5 months Mike was eating food. See…

He also wasn’t about to sit still….

At 6 months Mike was “helping” grandpa with the backhoe…

Notice the gray bear, Mike’s now 7 months old now…

At 9 months old he got his first car…

And Mike’s 1st birthday…

My pictures could go on and on and on but I’m sure you’ve seen enough little ones….

Here’s Mike now at 18 ….today….

 

He has accomplished so much in his 18 years. He has been on the B honor roll more then off. He loves the outdoors with hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, traveling. He’s great at any math problem and can weld anything that his dad asks him. He can help rebuild an engine, do auto body work and buckle up a wiggle little one in any car seat I have. He loves my daycare kids as his little bothers and sisters. He has fed each and everyone of them from babyhood on, he carries, plays, hides, treats them like his own. Oh he can be naughty to them too but what “brother” isn’t. Mike has worked with is dad and grandpa since a toddler and has worked for pay since he was 14. He loves being with his dad and grandpa at the family store and is turning into quite the business man. He has been a Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, Boy Scout and and Eagle Scout. He’s president of their newly formed Venture Crew 52 (a part of boy scouts). He’s a brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow (another part of scouting). He’s been a den chief, librarian, assistant patrol leader, senior assistant patrol leader. Mike earned 52 merit badges in his scouting career. That’s 6 palms and also the most that anyone in our troop has ever earned. Mike has volunteered more then 1000 hours in his life and continues to do so to now. Mike graduates this June 4th and then will follow in his father footsteps for a year before he’s decided on exactly what he wants to do with life. He is thinking about taking welding at the community college so that if he wants to stay with the store he will have extra knowledge that will come in handy but first some experience in the outside world.

Mike makes me proud beyond belief. He’s my son, playmate, supporter, helper and so much more. I thank God every single day he gave me Mike. Mike’s a homebody and hasn’t stretched his wings to much with going and doing without me but the time will come and he’ll be off and running and though I’ll be a bit sad inside I will be so happy on the outside that he’s doing what he wants to do. I’m not worried about his life to come as it’s a one day at a time thing and Mike worries enough for us both. Mike is a worrywart at times, wishy washy some times but when he figures things out he goes full force and takes care of it.

I can’t wait for what the next 18 years will bring but I would like them to slow down just a little bit because I’m pretty sure this first 18 flew by way to fast.

Thank you for letting me share my only son with you. He is my pride and joy and I love him so very, very much.

Two done…two to go..(well more then that)…

I finished the chair. It turned out so cool I am amazed. Remember this?…

Here it is, all done. All that we need now is spring so I can put a planter on it with ivy and baby breath growing.

 

I think it would be fine for a chair but I’m not a carpenter and couldn’t promise it would hold my fat behind and I wiggle so much I think it would just be better as a plant holder. I have had visions of this since I saw the chain in a scrap pile at Marks. When I get the plant and what not I’ll share the finally part with you.

Remember I told you mama and daddy were remodeling their bathroom. Well mama and I found a couple cool things at the thrift store and though I can’t show you all yet (I will when we create their new space on Thursday) I did redo a shelf that was pretty tacky when we got it. I have a picture on my cell phone but for some stupid reason it won’t let me download it so I can’t show you the before pictures but I can show you the after ones..

  

So that leave the end table, my frame and my patchwork quilt for upcoming projects. Oh and I bought Carbide drill bits because I want to try and drill through stone/rocks. Oh the ideas that run around in my head. And I can blame some of it on Kim because when I get stuck I ask the Ubercrafter (that’s Kim…by the way have you stopped by her blog lately, she’s been pretty busy). 

Now it’s onward and upward to my after school kids, boy scouts tonight and ….well I’m not sure what but I bet there will be something.

Take care my friends and have the most splendid and blessed evening.

Worry….it’s not what it’s all cracked up to be…

So it’s the beginning of the month. All those new bills are starting to roll in, business has been so slow and it takes money to pay people. You’ve trimmed just about every single corner you can, you’re eating more from the freezer then you ever have, there’s no going out or very little and you’re making it but just barely and you’re wondering how long can this last. If you have to clip one more coupon you’ll scream. Well my friends, we all know it can go on for a long time. But we’ll pull though, we’ll make it….one way or another we will.

Today I got my devotional from Pastor Allen from God’s Minute and it was so fitting for now. A long time ago I gave my life to the Lord, I gave my business to him the year I opened it, my family is his but every once in awhile it’s hard not to worry, not to get upset, not to take it back when you know he’s doing all he can to help you. Today’s message was sent right to me, just in the nick of time for me to remember he will take care of us. Here’s the message I’m going to share with you….

   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  ( Philippians 4:6 *NIV)

Wouldn't it be wonderful not to have any worries at all!  That is hard to imagine isn't it, for it seems like worry is part of this life. The part of life that causes us to lose sleep, damages our health, controls our thoughts, and causes us to lose faith in our Heavenly Father.

     Jesus Christ asks us; Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27).

The answer is simple, no one!  

     Jesus also said; Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ( Matthew 6:34 )   

So why not turn your worries into prayers, after all God promises to supply all of our needs anyway!  After all;

     Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ( Matthew 6:26 )

There is also an added benefit when we turn our worries into prayers, for God also promises that;

     When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.  ( Proverbs 3:24 )

Therefore, always turn your worries into prayers and you will have sweet dreams, instead of sleepless nights!  Then at
night you may count your blessings instead of sheep!   Amen.

I worry, just like everyone but I pray a lot and it helps. He listens and though he only answers prayers the way he sees fit they seem to be just the things that we need to survive, to be happy, healthy and taken care of. It’s hard but give him a try.

Take care my friends, remember to trust in the Lord, he’s there for everyone. God Bless!!