A Day like no other

Today I awoke to hear that 31 men were killed when their helicopter was shot out of the sky. Not only were most of these US men, but some of the SEAL group that worked with the elite who "took care of " Osama Bin Laden. It was with sadness that I watched the news today. The days of banning myself from the one sided news media couldn't keep me from wanting details on the loss of so many men. I knew that this was a bigger loss than the one in 2005 when the US sent in a team to retrieve 4 SEALS & was shot down. Today seemed ominous. I attended my box packing for the troops with my group Cypress Cares and then came home. I had planned to attend my 20 year reunion, but just couldn't bring myself to want to go. How could I and enjoy myself?! I knew I couldn't.

Today a parent received a phone call, saw the news or received a knock on the door and today their world will have changed forever!! God Bless those men and their family's for their sacrifice.

17!!

So my daughter turned 17 yesterday. 17 I keep saying out loud like it will sink in the more I say it. This is the daughter that also has PDD on the Autism spectrum disorder. She has grown in many ways by leaps and bounds. She still has her moments that if we let her she would have us do everything for her. She wanted a small family get together how awesome is that. We borrowed a moonwalk from one of the organizations I do a website for. A very good organization by the way Krysta's Karing Angels. Check it out if you have the time.
Anyhooo, we jumped in the moonwalk in 100 degree weather. lol it was fun, and had moonwalk battles. We had such a blast. She is still in no hurry to drive THANK GOD!! She is still not good at making decisions on a dime and well, you can't drive in Houston passively. It's like pulling teeth or I get an I don't know to get an answer sometimes. I mean really kid how can you not know??!!! It's one of the trying things to go with autism. At least her great grandmother was in town for the occasion. The day went by to fast. Oh I forgot she declared she has a birthday week lol - just like her mommy!! haha

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:)

oh take the Sheen away

Well, been pretty preoccupied with the kiddos school stuff and station business. It's time to get the kids ready for next school year - YES it's only March. ugh

So is anyone as annoyed by all this Charlie Sheen business? Please take him away already - off my tv, off the radio and please off the internet. I do not get the lessons we are teaching our kids today. "Yes daughter, if you behave badly you get lots of extra special attention" <---- SARCASM at it's finest. I mean really?!! Oh this poor man. "See kids this is what happens to you when you do drugs" that's what I've been telling mine. Yeah, he's getting media attention and I hope he invested his money well because he won't be doing anything anytime soon. Maybe this man can realize the things that matter are his kids and now he doesn't get to see them.

So with that there have been a burst in some great tv shows hitting the airwaves that deal with maybe shedding some happy tears and in the opportunity in witnessing something miraculous. Coming Home on Lifetime - wonderful show about our fine service men/women coming home. Secret Millionaire - another wonderful touching show. Undercover Boss it's great too. The one I always have my kids watch "What would you do?" Just a small list of shows I love watching for the moments and pieces of hope that are there for everyone to see and share in:)

Hope everyone has a great week, month heck day!