Today is my 25th wedding anniversary! After 25 years, I am still crazy about Curt! There has been "allot of water under the bridge" since I walked up the church aisle a quarter century ago. Self-centered,immature and naive would all be fitting descriptive words for this bright-eyed bride. But GOD, in his redeeming grace, mercy and love, blessed me with a man who was long on patience and short on memory. Together, through better and worse, sickness and health, God has sustained us and we have grown together in Love and solid commitment. We have been BLESSED.

Teenagers, Ya got to Love them!

Ugg, teenagers, you got to love them! I tell my sons, "I will always Love you, but sometimes I do not like you!" This morning was one of those days.... Willing to do my son a favor, I proceeded to drive his car to town for him. When I first got in the vehicle I turned on the washer fluid to clean the windows. When the wipers came on I discovered he has NO windshield wipers....how can someone drive in the rain without these? Soon after, as I was zipping down the road (praying it would not rain) I realized the fuel gage was buried and the low fuel light on! (Did I mention it is 20 miles to town??) Of course, to top it off, the car decided to put me over the edge with a flat tire...in the middle of nowhere! Yup, teenagers, ya got to Love 'em and take plenty of Prozac!!

The twins went home to Michigan today. The house is quite...I do not like it. I keep thinking I am hearing one of them cry. Maybe I am slightly delirious from exhaustion. We are missing the little buggers! They swoop into your life and steal your heart. Olivia and Graham reminded me again of the dependence a child has on there caregiver for every need.

To have dependence in something is to have faith,confidence,belief,trust,expectation,need and even addiction to it. Wow...am I so dependent on my caretaker, the God of the Universe, that these words would describe MY dependence on HIM?

I am on Day 6 of the 9 day adventure with the twinns (see previous post) Things have improved since day 1. For instance, I know longer have the flu that arrived while their parents had not even boarded there plane in Chicago for Spain. Yup, the "real deal" flu. It came on in it flurry while I, with the twinns in tow, were heading to town to pick up Brock from drivers training. I am not athletic, not creative, cannot sing, but oh...boy...I can drive a suburban, and throw up in a bag, all while in the middle of traffic in town. Now THATS TALENT! Since the twinn's face backward in there carseats I was not able to capture the look on those sweet faces as they heard Aunt Sue "up chucking" while the car was in motion. I am sure they thought "What was mom and dad thinking when they left us with HER!!"

Cured!!

I kept thinking I wanted another baby....yes, crazy, I know...I will be 45 at the end of the month. However, I am forever CURED of this longing and my husband is saying "Hallelujah". So what was my antidote for this longing....Babies, two of them, for 8 days!! Yes, I have my sister Katie's 6 month old twins while they are on a business/pleasure trip. The first night, after staring at 2 very bright blue eyes until 2:00am, I just knew I was going to need a padded cell before this was over! How could I forget the night time feedings, gazillion diapers and bottles,bottles and more bottles. And how could I forget the wonderful smell of a baby after they have been bathed, the cuddling, the cooing, the total dependence and love..they are priceless. My boys are jumping right in and helping with Graham and Olivia....It is so sweet to see a 21,19 and 15 year old boy interacting with these tiny ones. I am going to survive and then WAIT patiently for grand kids!

Hanging out in the valley

I have been thinking of this whole mountaintop/valley situation....my bruises from falling off the mountain are healing...slowly...this is when God can get through to me best. I just know it. Because when I am camped in the valley, sprawled out on the grass and gazing upward, He seems to have my FULL attention. Besides, last time I gazed on a mountain (and it was not here in flat Illinois where I can see the grain elevator 7 MILES away! No kidding!) There was absolutely nothing growing at the top. Other than snow, it was barren. But in the valley, lots of flourishing goin on. Green sprouting,springing-up everywhere. I suspect people grow best in the valley too.

Falling off the mountaintop

Last night I fell off the mountain top where I had been abiding lately...I am talking about the parenting mountain top that on occasion, I find myself hanging out...Kids are making right choices, attitudes are great, all is love..Then...when I just might start feeling smug on my perch, when I just might start taking credit for there obedient choices, I fall, not slowly climb down, more like a catapulting head first dive into the valley below. And GOD, in HIS gentle way reminds me that its not expert parenting skills but all about God's Grace and Mercy that my children are doing great at the moment or turn out great in the end. So I am back in the valley putting up a pop tent...TRUSTING that God will give me wisdom and grace to handle yet another parenting issue.

My first blog entry. I feel like it is my first day of kindergarten. Nervous, apprehensive, unsure,anxious, excited and giddy are all words that come to mind. But, at the encouragement of many blogger buddies I am going to give it a whirl. Just like kindergarten I will step into this new adventure,learn the ropes and make new friends. So be kind and play nice