he Sure Knows How to Get His Point Across

Last night he wanted to snuggle on the couch while I was cleaning the kitchen.

First he walks over to the stairs and looks downstairs:

 Then he looks toward me as if saying, "let's go mama...I need some attention."

Can you say spoiled? 

The Big One Five

I am in complete denial.  No way possible that my baby is fifteen today.   

I cannot even describe in words all that he has meant to me - and to our whole family.  He was sent by God during a very precarious time in my life...his arrival was a figurative slap in the face for me to wake up and enjoy the blessings in my life. 

Not that I didn't enjoy my other two blessings (sons) but certain other people in my life I think I took for granted/pushed away.

Zack...words that come to mind when I think of you are
- love
- big heart
- kind
- funny
- determined
- and, at the moment, always hungry!

We went to his favorite restaurant for dinner...Buffalo Wild Wings.

And now, the big goofball cannot wait for this day to be over because he has a basketball tournament tomorrow.  He lives to play!

Tramadol Update (Last One)

It has been just over four months since I began the Tramadol.  This will be the last update because I  just had the best month I have had in a long time!

Every single day except for one I have been 100% pain free.  My dosage is 50mg. up to four times a day for a total of four per day.  Right now I am only taking 3 a day so I still have room there for an increase if I need to.  

I am not taking anything else except the Tramadol right now.  

So, let's consider this matter ended and done.  And praise God.  To Him be the glory for helping me find a way to treat this horrible disease.

Their Bond is Different

I have a sister.  She and I are very close now and I love her with all my heart and miss her.  

BUT...we weren't always this way.  I think she can admit now that she bullied me as a child, always had to have her own way, and basically intimidated me into submission.  I was a pretty content and compliant child but, every now and then, even I reached my limit and my attempt to stand up for myself usually resulted in kicking, scratching, hair-pulling cat fights.  Laughing at that image?  Me too.

Anyway, whenever I thought about having a family of my own, I always thought I'd have two girls.  And, of course, they'd be best friends and do everything together, and never ever ever fight. Delusional I know.  

So you can imagine my surprise when I  had not one boy but two boys!  And sixteen months apart!  They hardly ever fought with each other (until they got into their teens) but even when they do fight it is nothing like my sister and I used to fight.  They pretty much say what's on their mind and go their separate ways.

But it's their bond with their little brother that amazes me.  They love him fiercely - and always have.  They would do anything for him...protect him...comfort him...and step outside their comfort zone for him.  


Zack still remembers when CJ was his "father" in the father-son basketball game.  Knowing CJ like I do and knowing his personality, I'm pretty sure he did not want to do that.  But...he would do anything for his little brother.

Jon has gone to all of Zack's basketball games this year.  Not such a big sacrifice unless you know how much of a homebody Jon is.  Trust me, he does not enjoy leaving the house.  

Zack, in turn, adores his big brothers and wants them around all the time. Sobbing uncontrollably at times when he has to say good-bye to them. 

I love witnessing their bond.

It's Real

I'm jobless.

 On Friday I put my Letter of Intent into the mailbox of my principal stating that I would not be returning next year.

I held onto it a whole five days after I signed it.  I'm not sure why...the decision had been made a while ago. I still see no signs from God that he wants me to stay here - not even one.  Most people know already.  But there was just something about the finality of the Letter of Intent that made it all seem too real. 

But now it's done. No turning back - only moving forward.  

It's real

Golden Ticket

For the past two years Zack has been part of our Middle School's drama department play.

Two years ago he wasn't taking Drama for a class but they were short handed so he stepped in and played a cop.  Ollie was also in that play.

Last year he played the lead male role of Matthew in Anne of Green Gables - and did a great job too.

This year's play was Charlie and the Chocolate factory and he was Charlie's grandpa Joe.  He didn't have a whole lot of lines to memorize (like last year) but he was on stage for every scene  of the play except the first.

"grandpa Joe" talking to Charlie

Grandpa Joe and Charlie in front of the chocolate factory

The five golden ticket winners and their families. I guess they must have had too many girls and not enough parts because a couple of the kids ad both parents there and the mothers had no lines.

Augustus Gloop drinking from the chocolate river

The best picture of I could get of the Oompa Loompas

kids are slowly disappearing

only Charlie is left

Everyone did fantastic overall.  

Any Soft Place Will Do

Usually when we get home from a trip/vacation, I need to unpack immediately.  I have a primal need to be organized and I cannot relax until everything is done.

However, last week after we arrived home from our horrible driving day, I could not muster up the energy to unpack our one overnight bag, which I left on the kitchen floor.

The next morning: