Lightening Bugs (Fire Flies)

I saw our first lightening bugs about a month ago, but they were hovering up in the tree-tops. Last night before bed, I saw them in the field next to our house. I am anticipating catching my first lightening bug and with that catch all the childhood memories of the event. Just sitting here typing this, I can feel the coolness of the green grass on my bare feet and picture the dusky evening at Mamaw’s house in Varnell. Of course, there is the memory of the obligatory Ball’s jelly jar with the tin lid with holes poked in the top as the lightening bug receptacle.

Oh, me. I am looking forward to Carter and Ammon catching the lightening bugs with me. They caught a few last summer, but I know they don’t remember. I am going to enjoy sharing the tradition of this summer time event. I hope you all can enjoy it at your house too.

It was only until I had a home, a family, and MANY CHORES to do that I really appreciated the summer, early-morning hours. I get up around 6:30 during the work-week days. On Thursday morning, I was reminded how I enjoy the pre-summer/summer mornings: Birds singing, the dew on the grass, the sun coming up in the east! It is absolutely gorgeous and enjoyable. I can turn the hounds out for a cool, morning romp, I can pull weeds from around our flowers, I can clean our pool, I can fill up the bird feeders, and so much more!

It also looks as though we are continuing a trend that started last summer. Carter and Ammon get up earlier too. I think it’s because of the sun coming into their nursery. It is so much cooler in the mornings, and if we go out and play before breakfast, they are ravenous when we sit down at the breakfast table. Now, I know we are still in May, but it looks as though we have settled in to our “summer routine”.

Fun side of the sword:Carter and Ammon enjoyed their first 2011 “Romp in the Sprinklers” today. They had a ball! I think my favorite part was when they spent about 20 minutes playing a game of “on and off” where Carter played with the sprinkler while Ammon turned it on and off. The best part of that game was when Ammon would turn off the hose, Carter would pick it up, and as he would be looking at it, Ammon would turn it back on into his face with a sneaky chuckle of “Hee, hee, hee!” I cracked up! Did that stop Carter? Nope, not at all. Like I said they played that game for about 20 minutes.

Now, the other side of the sword: Skin cancer! Ammon and Carter were covered from head to toe with SPF 50 sun block. I spent Tuesday morning at the dermatologist having my rosacea laser-zapped, and in January 2010, I had a pre-cancer taken off my head. Fun in the Sun is awesome, but we have to remember to use sun block. Don’t think skin cancer cannot happen to you. We have a 19 year-old friend who has plenty of melanin, but she has also had skin cancer, so, please, please, please EVERYONE use sun block.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E3XDyxZTNM

Ammon & Carter

My mother’s (please note Mamaw and Mama is the same person throughout) Mother’s Day actually started the day of the horrific weather with tornadoes on April 27. The household was at the end of our kitchen re-decorating, and the downstairs was a mess. I had taken Carter and Ammon to Mamaw’s house just a few minutes after the first tornado/damaging winds blew through. Around lunch time, I was headed to eat and do some grocery shopping, and I heard that local schools were turning out early so the buses could get children home before the next line of severe weather blew in. Because I was right in the same parking lot as the Barnes and Noble Book Store, I quickly ran in and found my mother several mystery novels (those that have a bit of humor) that she loves to read so well, and I headed back to Varnell to retrieve my children. I handed Mama the books, gave her a kiss, and I said, “Happy early Mother’s Day!” We then returned home to make sure we all weathered the storm together as a family.

The storms put everything behind: Packing for New York, cleaning house, spending time with Mama. Before leaving for New York, Mamaw was coming to our house to spend time with us; however, there was a road block between her house and our house (the storm-devastated town of Apison is between here and there), and the police department turned Mama around. She called later and apologized for not making it to see the children. We were not able to give her the Mother’s Day cards, so I carried them with me to mail from New York.

On Sunday morning (Mother’s Day), Mamaw was the first person I thought of when I woke up. I also called her as I scooted over to the Cranberry Café for my hazelnut coffee. She sounded bright and chipper as always, and I wished her, “Happy Mother’s Day!”. Now, the best/worst part is that the cards I mailed from New York are just now making it to Varnell (LOL), so her Mother’s Day celebration is extending.

 I could write a novel about my mother; however,  I am going to repeat to you all that she is one of my heroes in life: wonderful wife, devoted daughter to her parents, awesome mother, spectacular grandmother to her four grandchildren and one great-grandchild, breast cancer survivor, and so much more. As so many millions of us can attest to with their mothers, she is a reflection of Jesus Christ: she loves me/us (all the family) unconditionally. I am so honored and blessed to have her. So, one more time (now the TUESDAY after Mother’s Day) Happy Mother’s Day, Mama, and I love you.

Ammon, Mamaw, Haven, & Nana (who had a great Mother's Day too)

 I am also going to make some posts about where to find some good food and beverages. I am going to start with the Cranberry Café (115 West 45^th Street) which is right around the corner from our Comfort Inn at Times Square. It is on 45^th Street. This place has homemade sandwiches and wraps. They also have pizza and hamburgers. The BEST DEAL there is a 16 oz. cup of coffee for $1.75: It’s delicious coffee (especially the hazelnut), and it sure beats paying $5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks!

I have also had the pleasure of speaking in Spanish this week at The Cranberry Cafe with a cashier named Diana. She is so sweet, open, and friendly. It is also apparent that she has a wonderful work ethic. The owners need to know how lucky they are to have her. She has made our morning coffee ritual extra special with her engaging conversation and bright personality. I will post our Cranberry pictures when we get home…Diana included. ;o)

Last Thursday evening, Ammon and Carter overheard a conversation I had with my family. Before going to bed without power on Thursday evening, I said, “If there is no power in the morning, I am going to change the babies, and we are going to go to town and get breakfast and a big ol’ cup of coffee.” We then proceeded with going to bed.

Our life returned to “normal” with power early Friday morning. When the babies woke up around 8:00 a. m. Friday, I greeted Carter and put him on the couch with the television on. He shouted, “Sponge Bob!”.  I then went and got Ammon out of bed, and I said, “I’ve got a surprise! The power is back on. You and Carter can watch television, I can cook you an egg and pancakes…”, and as I was finishing the word “pancake”, Ammon chimed in with, “…and you can have coffee!”.  I cracked up! I concurred and said, “Yes, ma’am, Daddy can have coffee!”

I have a first cousin, Kimberly Jones Moore, who, evidently, enjoys finding and keeping in touch with her relatives. She found me on Facebook this week, and she and I became “friends”. Now, the blessing which she gave me was the re-connection with her sister, Debbie Jones George, with whom I was very close growing up. As a matter of fact, Debbie is only 3 days older than I .Debbie and I began exchanging messages on Friday, and we spoke together for the first time in almost 17 years on Saturday. We had a joyous reunion, and it was such a blessing. Thank you Kimberly & Facebook (and you too, God)  for finding a “lost” loved one. Debbie and I are looking forward to communicating and sharing our lives again for the remainder of our days.

My beloved cousin, Debbie Jones George

Simple regrets to our neighbors and the people in our area cannot do justice for the tragedies that have occurred, but for me and my world/area, I am asking you all to please pray for Southeast Tennessee  and Northern Georgia and its recovery from the Wednesday April 27 bad weather devastations. The town of Apison is obliterated with quite a few fatalities, and it’s just 5 miles up the road from our “untouched, blessed” house. Bradley County saw numerous fatalities as well. Parts of Ringgold, Georgia near Interstate 75 were demolished and also suffered fatalities.  May our prayers and deeds towards our neighbors let them know God’s presence and love, and may the Holy Spirit comfort the hearts and souls of  those whose who are bereaved from the loss of homes and especially loved ones.

I don’t spend too much time on Facebook, but I do like it. One of the main reasons I like it is because of its instant news, and you don’t have to be watching television to get it. Of course, there isn’t audio, but you can get up-to-date news from family and friends. Case in point…just this morning a friend in Murfreesboro, Tennessee sent a facebook message from her closet where she was trying to shelter herself from a tornado. I began to pray for her and the people of Middle Tennessee immediately. Another good friend of ours had a motorcycle wreck a few days ago. He and his friends kept us up to date on his condition, and we were very grateful.  Casie, keep those weather updates coming, and Gavin, keep resting.

We love the fun stuff even better: birthday pictures, vacation pictures, holiday pictures, or just every day neat stuff of life are posted, and we can enjoy with everyone all around the world! I am not advertising for Facebook, but if you’re not on it, give it a try. It’s pretty cool stuff.

Parents and grandparents with lots of experience in parenting, what advice can you give on how to slow time down? Time is going by too fast with Carter and Ammon. I had one of those “I want time to stand still just for a minute!” on Monday. We had finished with dinner, and it was time to feed our hound dogs in the barn. They came with me and both did exactly what I asked: They did not harass the dogs as we collected yesterday’s dog bowls and distributed the new bowls. When it was time to leave, they said, “Good bye, and good night” to the dogs and we left the gate.

Carter and Ammon ran ahead of me to return to the house, and when they did, I said to myself, “Are those my children?” It seemed like just a few days ago, they couldn’t even crawl, and I was pushing them in their double stroller through the yard, but it wasn’t a few days ago. It was TWO YEARS ago! I wanted to throw down the dog bowls, snap my fingers, and have time stand still. As quickly as the feeling overtook me, it went away, and we entered the house. The best thing I could think to do was have we three sit on the couch a minute, give hugs, and read a book. Time doesn’t stand still, but we can make every minute count. Let’s spend more time with our friends and loved ones.