This week has brought change into our lives. Larry is up in La Honda now talking to the guys about another way to run the company.....one where not so much of Larry to run it is required. Should give him more at home..working the other business...taking care of family.....computer time. We will see how it goes over the next few months. Pray that the guys can make a go of the challenge and opportunity just given them...and that Larry can be happy letting go of a lifetime of hard work.....I have an all clear from most of my doctors to have the surgery needed on Sept. 20 so plans are a foot.
Rachel and Jon have driven to TX, visited their grandma, made it to school, bought books, made class changes, met roommates, seen old friends, gone to the first day of class, (enough to make me tired)....and even had their first SAGA meals. It is hard to believe that books cost as much as they do....have they made that many discoveries in math and English since I was in school for the cost to have gone up that much?? Oh well, we wont even go to how much tuition has gone up...
Well the needs of the family are not getting met while I blog....so duty calls. Math sheets to grade, lunch to fix, English and history....Hey, I thought I was done with school when I graduated yet I am still doing school and starting over again this year in K. Like I have said before learning never stops.

Mixed Emotions

Today is Rebecca's 17th birthday. This makes me very, very happy. Today Rachel and Jon leave and this makes me cry. Emotions can change so quickly.... Even though I am sad that the kids are leaving I am so happy that they are off for another adventure which will help them grow up and learn to lean of the Lord. I know they are excited to see old friends, change their routine of living, and be more on their own. Yet they will miss home cooking, family, and their soft beds. One day the pull of someone special will out weigh the benefits of living at home and another period of our lives will begin. At least for now it is just school --- and some friends. Jonathan called and said he left his blankets and pillow at home...Cost to much to ship so I hope he finds a nice new one. Becca's birthday cake was awesome... little swimmers in a pool....check out the Gullman web site to see it. When I leave Julie and Rebecca in charge great things are created. Saw Dr. Kaiser today.... says my heart is great..... no problems..... cleared for surgery.... and no return appointments.... only if I need to see him if a problem comes up. YEAH!!! Still have to take all those nasty pills due to the stent but now I can be worry free about my heart. We stayed up to 11:30 talking to Grandmom and Aunt El about MSB and how to solve some problems. Will be interesting to see how Larry and the Lord work out the details.

Change is good?

Packing, Packing, Packing.....when will it ever end. We spend a week or two unpacking the kids when they arrive home and then another two weeks getting them ready to send off again. After they leave it is clean up the apartment, cry, miss them, cry some more, stay busy with the others, then pack another child for another school, take her, cry some more, miss them all some more, come home and get busy with a new type of day to day routine. Life will be very different around here with 3 in college, 1 grown and gone, and only 6 home. Keep telling myself that change is good...change is good.....change is change. When they finally grow up enough to be of real help and take care of themselves and even take care of me they sprout wings and fly away...do we have something backwards in life? Need to go and help pack..........

STRESS?!?!?!?

Stress... I think this word is over rated with most people. What is just normal for some would totally stress out others. Stress can only be viewed in the light of what is normal or out of the ordinary. Like the stress test in the hospital.....The thing that causes the most stress is fear of falling off the treadmill while it continues on without me. Sure the walking eventually takes it toll but there is no relief like the off button and feeling successful that I stayed on the machine and didn't look like a fool by falling off. The nasty IV that exploded in my hand and stung really bad along with bruising, swelling and general hurting will be daily reminders of this wonderful adventure for several days to come.
Oh well, as long as I passed the test. Who cares if I had style, grace, and looked beautiful at the end?

Another Day passes away

Today was just a simple day
Breakfast - Get people up and going
Print out math sheets for Robert/Anna to do
Get school started
Robert to dentist to have a tooth pulled - baby tooth
Arranged for Grandmom to take Julie to work
Pick up van from shop
Buy new shoes for Robert, Andrew, and Rebecca
Drop van at tire shop
Home for Lunch
Dad off to dentist for a cap
Get Rebecca off to swim practice and water polo practice
Rachel/MoM to doctors appointment (the Dr. Was 1 hour late)
Grocery shop at Ralph's (forgot that I was suppose to pick up Julie)
Run off to get Julie at work
Drop off prescriptions
Home to make meatloaf/dinner
Clean up the kitchen some
Correct some school work
Serve dinner - Bug kids till clean up was done right
Get a back rub from the older girls
Now it is take all the medicines time and
OFF TO BED!!!!
Not to bad for an old woman......
Up early to go to the hospital for a stress test .... should be a piece of cake after today!

Another day in the life of MoM

Another night has passed and most of today. Taken the van to the shop, Rebecca out to breakfast, home to teach math and other various school, made a batch of plum jelly, cooked a turkey and had hot turkey sandwiches for lunch. Next it is off to the chiropractor with Rachel, take Roger to recycle his cans, grocery shop for the picnic tonight, then home and off to the beach to have dinner with our small group..It will be fun to get together and find out what each of us has done over the summer. Think I will take chicken/apple sausage to the picnic with buns, ketchup, maybe some spinach dip with French bread......Of course juice to drink and chairs to sit in. Just thought, I realized that Rebecca is off to swimming practice then to water polo practice...So she wont be there for most of it. Now that everyone is getting older it is a little harder to plan.
Had to go rescue Lizzie...The iguana...Her cage reached 120 degrees...Heat lamp off and lots of water sprayed and she is happy once again.
I used to think that life would be boring by the time I came this close to 50 but I don't have time to be bored. Of course., I knew I wanted lots of kids but would never have guessed that I would have 10. Life is full of wonderful twist and turns....It pay to remain flexible.

My first Post

Learning.....It never stops. No matter how old you get someone comes up with something new and improved and definitely something you don't know how to do so, you learn.....
Take blogging - The old fashion way was to write in a diary. Of course, one used to keep their diary to themselves and kill their little brother when he read it to his friends. Now we post it on the web for anyone (who has the technical skills) to read. Go figure.
When the kids were in high school I learned how to use a computer. Off to college I learned to IM. Now as they leave for another year I will learn to blog. Since some of you know Rachel and how much she loves to talk and share all her thoughts with others you will soon see where she developed the habit from. I can guarantee it is not from her father. As I procrastinate making dinner by blogging (recognize the trait) I have found another fun way to put off the inevitable. But alas, nine children are starting to ask for food along with a hungry man so I must be off for today. Not bad for the first post? Hopefully not the last.