Who More Than Self Their Country Loved

This post is overdue since Memorial Day was two days ago...but better late than never I say. It seems like lately it is almost trendy to think that the United States is the root of all evil...that all we have done is screw up and that the world would be a better place with us. Sadly, I see many of my countrymen who hold this sentiment in their hearts. Like a lot of people I'm totally disgusted with Washington and I think that the upcoming Presidential election is closer to a circus than the wonderful display of democracy it should be. But you know what, Washington isn't what makes America wonderful; it's the people that make it great. I'm still proud to be an American! If that makes me uncool then so be it. I'm a patriot at heart and when I see the stars and bars and see men and women in uniform it makes my heart do a flip-flop. While the war in Iraq is messy for sure and all of us wonder how we got there I still have so much gratitude for the men and women who willingly go and serve our country...what they give up and what they get in return is truly humbling. My love for America runs through my veins and my brother once told me guiltily that his generation, in my family, is the first not to serve in the military. Selfishly, I am happy about that and that Tim never served but this post is for Grandpa Burt who left small town America and fought fascism in Europe, this post is for Daddy who also left small town America and served in the Vietnam War, this post is for Cousin Andy who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, this post is for my other relatives who I don't know your name, because I don't have my genealogy here, but who served in the first World War and the Revolutionary war. I'm not sure about the civil war...probably not. But I think you are wonderful! God Bless America!

The Camera Crew That Follows Me

I like the show The Office. Not as much as other people...I mean I don't look forward to it or feel bad if I miss it...or own the DVD's and watch them when nothing else is on...I don't quote it...in fact I don't think this season is as good as seasons past. My show is Seinfeld. Okay, I'm getting off on the wrong foot. Like I said I like The Office. Whenever I watch it, it reminds me of my working days and I flatter myself by casting myself as a female Jim. Seriously, if you saw the freaks I used to work with you'd see why I was Jim. (Sarah...you can vouch for that...but you weren't one of the freaks.) Anyway, it reminds me of when I worked all day and mentally berated the people I worked with and had inside jokes with other smart people (the Pams). To me the funniest part is when Jim/Pam look at the camera and it's like they are sharing an inside joke with me...sitting on my couch at home. Don't you have a friend that all you have to do is look at them and they know exactly what you are thinking and you laugh without saying a word at all? I have a few of these friends not the least of which is my husband but the problem is I spend all day at home with no one to share/create my inside jokes with. For instance, I could really use an inside joker when Gage comes out to go on a walk in 90 degree weather wearing winter boots, hat, gloves, lighting McQueen PJ's, and a blue cape. Oh, better yet I could use an inside joker when my neighbor comes out with no shirt on and then proceeds to do welding on his furniture (I think a shirt is as important as the goggles dude) and then one of the countless men who lives with him comes out and I try to figure out just how many young guys live there and have no car and seemingly no job since they never leave. Do you seem my dilemma? I have plenty of situations where just a simple raised eyebrow from an insider could really make me laugh. I've come up with a solution. Just because there isn't a real camera crew following me around doesn't mean I can't pretend that one is. I never had an imaginary friend growing up so I'm gonna have one and if that makes me weird then so be it. So, if while I'm talking to you I look over your shoulder and slightly raise my shoulders and ever so slightly raise an eyebrow then you'll know I think what you are saying is retarded and I'm just sharing it with the camera crew that follows me around.

The New Love Of My Life

Tim and I have been married 7 years...we just celebrated our anniversary the first of this month. I know it is too soon for a new love but you know what they say about the 7 year itch! My new love is quiet, helps me with the housework, and when I press all his buttons he purrs like a tiger. He is just what I needed after 3 years of doing dishes by hand! That's right...my new love is my new dishwasher!!! Timmy put it in for me for Mother's Day and I felt a sheen of tears when it washed its first load. My real love is Tim because he is so handy and put it in himself. I really don't know how guys just know how do stuff like this? It must be carried on the Y chromosome. I really appreciate all his hard work as he ended up having to redo some of the pipes under the sink and had to wire it and get it water. Way to go sweetheart! I have a few others to thank, as without them the dishwasher would not be washing. First, thanks Dad for picking it up and helping Tim pull out the cabinet. Secondly, Wes for bringing over what we now know is a "bow saw." Thirdly, Tim's Dad for helping with the wiring so my Timmy didn't get electrocuted. Fourthly, Ryan for letting us borrow and return way too late your pipe wrenches. Last but not least, Ruth for walking over in her PJ's to bring me water when ours was turned off! You guys are the best and that's why we love ya. I'll think of each and every one of you each I pull out a clean dish.

Fancy new P trap. What kindof name is that anyway? Did you know that when you are putting stuff together (I almost said screwing instead of putting but you'll see why I refrained in a sec) that the long piece is called the male part and the part it fits in to is called the female part? What sicko, a man I'm sure, came up with that terminology? I am blushing.




No job is complete without the help of Gage. It must have been extra dark in there...double flashlights.

Um, has nothing to do with the dishwasher...just thought Luke looked cute.

Gage the Graduate

Last Friday Gage had his Preschool Graduation. I was a little surprised when I got the info on it because I was unsure what exactly he was graduating from when he still has another year of preschool, but nevertheless it was a cute event. The theme was, "When I Grow-up." The kids came in their best clothes and sang songs and each had a memorized part. Gage had to get up first and go to the microphone to say his part and I worried he might be scared. I don't know why I worry about that...Gage isn't scared of most things...he marched right up to the microphone and gave his memorzed part, "When I grow up I want to be a mini-van driver. My van will be red, and I will drive my family over to the Castle Park." Of course, I was holding back tears because I can't believe he is so grown up! It makes me feel like a ninny that I get so emotional about these things. I have no idea whatsoever where he got mini-van driver...I don't even drive a mini-van. When the teacher gave me the part and told me to work with him on it she told me that he had said it, but I just couldn't picture Gage saying it. When we got into the car I asked Gage about it and he said that he had told her that he wanted to be Anakin Skywalker and that she said he couldn't say that because Anakin didn't have a job! And Mini-van driver is a job? Ahem. I also noticed that two other boys got to be Buzz Lightyear and the Red Power Ranger and I was annoyed but I didn't want to be one of THOSE moms so I kept it to myself. Oops. I guess not really since now you all know about it! Well, I didn't say anything at the event or to Gage...that's good right?

Gage loves to sing and sang the loudest even if the actions were a bit off.

Gage's teacher was reading some of the funny things kids had said during the school year. She wasn't telling who said them just what was said. Of course, Gage remembered when he heard something he had said and yelled out, "Hey that's me!" Everyone laughed.

One of the moms that Gage likes to flirt with told him that he spoke so well she thought he could be the next President of the United States! He loves to flirt. Anyway, Gage had his own little cheering section...thanks Grandma and Grandpa Burt, Aunt Pam, Badri, and Grandma and Grandpa Wright for coming and for the sweet gifts! Thank you notes are on the way. Tim's mom informed him that we should feel special as this is the first grandchild event Tim's dad has ever been too. He has 16 grandkids. We feel special alright.

Gad's Honeychild! - A Post For My Mom

Today in church the primary kids sang, of course, and they had the Young Women and Young Men give talks to their mothers. I was really touched by them and I thought I'd devote a post to my mom on this day of mothers. If you don't know my mom then you have no idea what Gad's Honeychild means or Gad Zooks for that matter but suffice it to say that my mom has eight sisters (you didn't read that wrong...eight sisters no brothers = poor grandpa) and you have never heard so many crazy sayings or laughter than when they are all together. I think because of this upbringing she would rather laugh than cry and she always has great faith that things will work out in the end. "Be there or WEEP!" was a sign my mom put on the cupboard to intice me and my brother to go to a family reunion when we were still living at home. We went mostly because we thought that sign was so funny...and really who wants to weep.

As my mom is always reminding me she had five children in a house smaller than mine until we moved when I was in 1st grade. I don't remember thinking our house was small (in fact in my memory it seemed huge) but I know my mom and my dad had to retreat to the bathroom a few times to say prayers in peace! I remember so much fun with my sibs (like hide and seek...my fav place was on top of the washing machine) I've never heard her complain about the small living space...in fact she claims it as one of our happiest times as a family.

It never ceases to amaze me how you can grow inside someone for 9 months and be nothing like them in some regards. My mom is one of the nicest people I have ever met. You can't get her to say something unkind about another person if you bribed her with Diet Coke. She sees the good in everyone...almost annoyingly so because it reminds me that I have only looked at their faults. If I had a nickle for everytime my mom has said to me, "For the most part people really do the the best they can do." I'd be rich. But like most things our mom's tell us, she is right and I've regretted being hard on someone only find out later that they had some reason for not behaving the way I think they should.

Since mom is so nice she makes friends everywhere....we are talking the grocery store, post office, doctors etc. She calls people by their first names (which used to mortify me as a youth!) but people know that Paulette really cares about them. Because of this she has all these people that will do extra things for her. For example, when I called Tony the handyman when our furnace was on the fritz in the middle of winter he said he couldn't do it...he was too busy that day....that is until Tim told him that Paulette was his mother-in-law...well in that case I'll be over in 10 minutes! If you are ever having problems with service people just drop Paulette's name and they'll probably help you out!

Don't go thinking that because my mom is so nice that you can mess with her. This is another quality she has that I sadly lack. She isn't mean or rude but if people are out of line she isn't afraid to let them know and people listen. This includes her grandkids. She is a no nonsense kind of Grandma. Like, when my niece was about 4 months old and wouldn't take a bottle and her mother was so done with nursing. My mom took her for 2 days and she took a bottle from then on! My sister-in-law calls this a "Grandma Paulette" move.

Mom, I think you were and are a great mom and you are a great grandma too. Luke likes you better than he likes me...which is saying a lot because he is a mama's boy.

Happy Mother's Day

Deciding To Be Happy

Tim and I met with a realtor this week to explore selling our house. The market is looking not so good for a home our size in our area. By the time we paid the realtor fees, closing costs, made concessions with the buyer, (which almost every comparable in this area had done!) bought new appliances, (since ours needed to stay) and paid the closing costs on a new loan, it left us really tight on a down payment since the homes in the areas we want to go are staying more stable. We could do it but it would be a stretch. I know stretching is good for your muscles but when buying a house? I'm not sure.

Lately, when I look about me to what is going on in the world the only phrase that comes to mind is "oh, crap!" Maybe it's because we have limited food storage and the brethren have been saying for years that it is time to prepare. Maybe it is because gas is nearly $3.50 a gal. Maybe it is because when I went grocery shopping this week I paid $40 more than I normally do for the same amount of groceries...but not on rice...no no...those shelves were glaringly empty. Do you know what the threat of a food shortage does to a person like me? The worry wart? It freaks me out that's what it does!!! And, it makes me and my sweet husband decide to stay in our little home for at least another year. You may be thinking that this decision has likely pushed me into a deep dark depression. Okay, you're right. But only for a few days.

Life can be funny and I've learned that if you wait long enough you get inspiration. I've come to the conclusion before and I've been reminded of it lately that being happy is a decision you make not something that happens to you. So what if the bathroom window (that is in the shower) faces the house next to us where a bunch of bachelors live and I could swear they sometimes watch me shower? So what that mine and Tim's room is like a meat locker in the winter and a sauna in the summer despite central air and the heater going full blast? So what that I have one bathroom and often share it with two stinky boys and that my house feels like a shoe that is on too tight? If all of that changed tomorrow would I really be any happier? I'm not going to lie to you...the boys really do stink and having a master bathroom would put a perma-smile on my face! But hopefully you're pickin up what I'm laying down. If fortune and a big house made you happy then all the upscale rehabs would be out of business because all the so-called stars would be happy...hello Lindsay Lohan and Heath Ledger!

So reader I'm stuck here and actually not too upset about it. I'm excited to plant my first garden and plant flowers in the front. I'm excited for Tim to rip our the cheat grass and install a dishwasher! (send best wishes for this project as the counter is an inch too low, but Tim assures me he will figure something out!) Mostly, I'm just excited to have the decision made and I couldn't ask for better people to be stuck with! And, no I haven't been picking up happy grass outside my front door because I haven't seen a drug deal in really long time.

I'll Take 'em However I Can Get 'em

It's been awhile since Tim gave me flowers....like several several years. Ahem. Anyway, Gage on the other hand has given me flowers twice in the last week. Really, it is quite cute. My mom picked Gage up from preschool for me on Thursday and she has a cherry tree in blossom and Gage told her how pretty they were and that he wanted to give some to me. Being the good Grandma she is, my mom helped him cut a few branches off and dutifully delivered them to me when I picked him up.



Today, Gage was outside while Tim was mowing the lawn and he came banging on the back door with this huge smile on his face and another bouquet of cherry blossoms he had cut himself from our tree. He then proceeded to pick every dandelion on our neighbor's lawn and bring each one in separately to me. And these were the seedy dandelion not the yellow flower. Before I was a mom I never knew that dandelion seeds and cherry blossoms could be as tender to me as a bouquet of cana lilies, daisies, sunflowers, orchids etc. What a sweetheart! I wonder where he learned to give girls flowers?