The Best Day Ever

I'm an outside gal. I love being outside, always have since I was a little girl. I remember sometimes admiring my surroundings and feeling these tears fill my eyes. I never knew why it just happened. Later in life I recall explaining it to my mom. It was as if I was noticing all this beauty and creation around me and almost felt unworthy to be in it's presence. It just enveloped me how beautiful the world could be. It doesn't take much to make this woman *me* cry, but not for sad things. I still get that I'm so happy feeling of tears or will be watching my now teenagers and something will be said between them or one of them will do something for the other and this sense or pride just overcomes me and sometimes so do the tears.
My middle son, who was diagnosed "autistic" when he was 4, gets that same feeling. Pretty awesome when you think about it. We worked vehemently on picture books to recognize what facial expressions meant. Some things parents take for granted, it's expected to see my grinning from ear to ear and know it's different than when I was aggravated with him. Those days are long gone.
This isn't the first day he has proclaimed the statement - the first time I heard it was 4 years ago. BUT I can say I couldn't remember the last time I heard it. The family started in search of a bike for his younger brother. Off to Academy we went, well it was the third store we stopped at, and my son found a toy grenade.... YES I know probably not what every parent wants their kid to play with, but it's a toy for crying out loud. His logic for wanting it made it sound like a great "game" for the family. When the "trigger" was squeezed it ticked down and then made a sound like it was exploding. Do you know what he thought of it's use should be?....HOT POTATO!!! I loved it. (We played when we got home and had a blast). Next stop was a Walmart, where he was lucky to find a game he had on his "game wish list" on sale for $20. Dad surely couldn't say no to that. There were other games on his list that he could have asked for, but he knows how tight we have to be with our money for now so it killed him for me to even bring it up to Dad. He didn't ask for the game, but I caught him looking in the window and knew he wouldn't ask. He was almost in tears as he and his father walked up to the ticket counter. "Mom", he says sniffling, "I'm so happy". The only reason he asked for the grenade - it was $1.99. Oh how I love my kids. Usually when Dad is off, he is a fireman, once every 2 weeks we try go out to dinner as a family. Dad and I had decided tonight was the night to go to our favorite mexican restaurant. We were seated and he looks at me from across the booth and says mom "This is the best day ever". I laugh and say I hope love bug, when you are older you remember all these "best days" and have some for your own children.

counting down

Oh, I'm counting down till the kids are out of school. I don't know which is more excited. lol So two more weeks, we have finally gotten rain in the dry old south. I've been working on 2 webpages maybe one more to add. Trying to get this stuff done so our summers can be spent fishing, vacationing, camping and whatever else intrigues us.
The part I'm not excited about - filling out all the paperwork reminding me that my middle son is going to high school next year. UGH!! I can say raising three teens at the same time has it's challenges, but with a good relationship just another day at "the office". Today this boss is taking a late lunch while the workers are arguing amongst themselves. lol
M

For the troops

So yesterday I had my family work our annual Cypress Cares golf tournament. It's CC's biggest fundraiser to help us raise some $$ for shipping our care packages over to the troops. They really appreciate bits of home. We are lucky to receive so many donated items, but the shipping is outrageous. It's about $14 a box, but sending 200 boxes adds up. So every fundraiser we can do sure helps. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we had so many golfers show up to play. We haven't gotten our figures yet, but I believe we had a successful event. Everyone had so much fun for this wonderful event. We couldn't have asked for better. Next year I hope we get more golfers and more sponsers for our Veterans that play for free:)

Busy Busy Busy

In all my 16 years of being a parent, I have never been as busy having a home schooled daughter and 2 boys in junior high. Of course it probably wouldn't be so bad if I didn't volunteer for so many things, but I just can't help it. I have the time and it makes no sense to just be doing nothing. I get to see my kids at school, get to know their teachers which has helped rid my youngest of bully issues. I volunteer for Cypress Cares, a wonderful organization that packs and ships bits of home to servicemen/women overseas. Cypress Cares is one of my favorite as a child of a Vietnam Vet, I feel this need to make sure all our men and women know how much they are appreciated. I am also a wife of a fireman, and a member at a different fire department myself. I'm pursuing my EMT actually just gearing up now to take the NR test. pfew I'll be so glad when that is over. Right now I do the website for the department along with --- I almost forgot I do the website for another organization I volunteer with called Krystas Karing Angels. This wonderful group supports families who have lost loved ones due to drunk driving. So yeah, my husband says I'm busy, but I couldn't be happier these are all causes I care so much about.
Of course my kids always come first. I don't want to miss anything and since they are still willing to share how could I refuse?!! lol I'm so blessed.
Right now trying to keep up to date on the fires in Texas, the layoff's of some fireman and police and end of the year hooplah for the kids. Um yeah, I'm gonna be busy for a while:)