Grace's Visit

This is the first day, since Gracie came to me almost 2 weeks ago...that I have had a few spare moments to blog. For those of you who don't know...my sweet cousin Grace has been having a rough time in PA where she lives...alot of junk is going on in her life that is waaaaaayyy too much for a 15 year old girl to handle...she needed an escape and so my aunt called to see if it would be alright if she came and spent 2 weeks with me in OH....So she came...and we've been having an awesome time!! Seriously....I thought I could helpt her out ...and she's been such a blessing to me that I have been helped in return!!! We are having so much fun. She is like the little sister I never had. We are so much alike..even though we are 16 years apart and have never lived in the same state or spent more than 3 or 4 days togethor a year. It must be that our mothers are similar or something...so weird...anyway I am sad to see the time coming to a close. Today she is spending the day with our Grandma and Grandpa ...then it's just Wed and Thurs...and then Friday her mom comes and she goes back to my grandparents to finish out the weekend with them.....my aunt is coming up to speak at a mother daughter banquet at my grandma's church on Sat...so that will probably be one of the last days with grace.

We started out the weeks with a visit and makeover from Jenelle and Colin who were home for a wedding...always great to see them....(Colin is NOT the one that gave the makeover :) Then we spent the rest of the week ...and this one also...staying up late and having long talks...great talks...but long ones.....I am not sure I'm prepared for all the pressures that my kids will have to face in their coming years...I only pray that God blesses me with open and honest children like Grace!!

On Sat..we had a blast shopping the day away....we were looking for a prom dress for her and of course with her complextion and thin frame she looked gorgeous in everything but we found a beautiful one for only 45 dollars...pretty good deal. She pierced her ear again (which is becoming a tradtion when Maria, Grace and I are togethor)---I almost did it again too but decided to hold off until Maria was with us....besides....one can only have so many piercing before I start looking like a 31 year old fool....:) That night we ended with supper at Nancy and Jim's and making pasanky eggs...which if you don't know need incredible patience but are so fun to do.

I've been taking Grace to Bible Study with me and she is being blessed by my girlfriends...what a blessing they are to me as well! When God gave me this group he truely answered more than one prayer of mine!!
SO that's the scoop....that's were we've been! Hope all of you are doing well and are enjoying the beautiful spring days!! Can you believe it's almost may????

YAY!!!!!

the replacements...

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you wish you had a second string to come rescue you and give you a break as a mother??? I am having one of those weeks this week. My kids have been antsy, cranky and full of mischief....and I have been busy ....the combo of which is not very good. It just seems as though everyone has been in major need...so of course...mommy's emotional survival needs are the last to be met :) Plus....in my venting...I have been told that the mischief of my kids is my own fault...that's always good for the self esteem........Keith leaves for NC for 3 days on Sat morning so the outlook seems a bit cloudy...but luckily my beautiful cousin Grace also comes from PA on Sat to spend 2 weeks with me so she will definetly lift my spirits and help me cope with single motherhood.
We are also needing to replace the avenger....the lovely car that was purchased just weeks before Keith and I began to date...in 1997......has lost it's transmission....Keith has been driving it back and forth to work in 2nd gear at 35 miles per hour for about 2 weeks now....we are looking for a replacement but for some reason everyone in this area doesn't want to sell :):) or sell in our price range that is....we are also looking at replacing the van in the next year...because it's going to need to go....or it's going to cost us an arm and a leg to fix it.....trade it while it will still be worth something :) Anyway...I told Keith to ask for a two for one deal......do you think anyone will go for it????
It is absolutely beautful out today at 82 degrees and sunny.......so my spirits are having reason to be lifted.....hopefully they'll stay high as we enter into the weekend :) :) :)

Lost in the Twilight Zone.....

So....there is one thing that has obsessed my Tues/Wed/Thurs nights (depending on the season) these last 5 years and that my friends....is LOST....I have grown attatched to my little friends on Jacob's island and Hydra-island for that matter and will be sad to see them go in a little less than 6 weeks.....however I am totally excited that they are finally revealing some mysteries....it's about time!!! The past few weeks the shows have been less than mediocre in the realm of previous LOST shows...but last night...I felt was great! It explained Desmond a little which of course I love him...and Penny..and it tied everything togethor a little bit...so I was pleased. I think there are only about 5 episodes left so they better all be good!!!!
My other obsession...has pathetically become....ok...I'll say it...Twilight....seriously as a 31 year old mother of three I do not exactly meet the "teenage screaming" typical fan that follows the books or the movie but sadly...I have fallen prey to the love story of Edward and Bella and now...must see it through to the end. The movies could've been done a lot better but it is still seeing a book on screen and therefore is good enough for me.....however...in my true fashion....I could not wait to see all the movies and have yet to be able to get ahold of most of the books at my dinky library....so I cheated...and went on wikapedia to read parts of the books and how it all ends.....I know...I'm totally pathetic....but I did.... oh well...but even so....I will read the rest of the books when they finally become available and then finish the movie series soon after I hope....
Our lives are moving forward in this gorgeous spring weather...the next few days is suppose to be chilly again but I'm hoping for a contiuation of 70's into next week....when my husband is scheduled to depart once again to the destination of China....seriously dreading...BOOOOO!!!!
Anyway...hope everyone is doing well!!