Have you ever experienced a moment in life where, in a fraction of a second, you realize...from this moment on, life will never be the same. I think we all experience moments like this; the moment we say "I do," the moment we hear the first cry of our first child, the moment we lose a loved one.
I have experienced a few of these moments. As I ran up to help at my first accident scene I had a moment. Life was never the same. When I walked out of the courthouse following my divorce I had a moment. Life was never the same. When I said good-bye to my husband and sent him to Iraq for the first time I had a moment. Life was never the same. And today, when I watched my youngest baby walk into his Kindergarten classroom I had a moment. Life will never be the same.
I am sad. I will miss our walks together. I will miss our cuddly naps and shopping treks. I will miss his company. He might miss me a little bit. (I secretly hope.) I know, however, that his days will be full of fun, adventure and learning. There won't be much time for missing. I, on the other hand, will have plenty of empty time for that.
So, now that I have had a "life will never be the same" moment, I must decide what life will be. I guess I could keep the house clean. I could do the laundry. I could start going to the gym regularly. I could volunteer in his classroom. I could read more, and it could be a book without pictures. I could catch up on Lost or catch up on sleep. I could get a hair cut or a pedicure. I could have a lunch date with friends or even my sweetheart. I could take a class. I could garden or paint. I could write. I could shop. I could sit on the beach or walk through a park.
Wait, I have just had a moment...LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Lost in Translation
"Mom, we have got to go back to the Librarian. That was a fun time."
"Back to the Librarian? Sure, we can go back anytime."
"Mom, you are the best. Let's go tomorrow. I will wear my swim suit in case we get splashed."
"Silly, we won't get splashed if we go to see the Librarian."
"Sometimes people get splashed there."
"At the library?"
"No Mom, at the Librarian...you know the place with all the fish in tanks. Where we walk around and see sharks and catfish. The Librarian."
"Do you mean the Aquarium?"
"Oh...yeah that's what I mean. Hey, Emma! We are going to the Librar...Aquarium tomorrow."
"Wait, wait...we can't go to the Aquarium tomorrow."
"Buuuut Moooooom, you said. You are NOT the best ANYMORE!"
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Emma's Creative Juices, Pickle Juices That Is
We had BLTs for dinner and Emma, not being fond of the L or the T, asked if she could try a variation. We let her create her own sandwich, with the strict understanding that if she made it she had to eat it. Well, this is what she came up with. She calls it the PBPB...Peanut Butter, Pickle and Bacon...sandwich. We all had a bite and then she finished it off. I will admit that it wasn't half bad. I asked her if she would ever make it again and she replied..."Would I have to eat it?"
The Cover Up
As my big boys grow and mature their antics have decreased...or maybe a more accurate discription...their antics have changed. Gone are the turtle stealing, rock throwing, sink peeing little boys. They are now young men. They are more rational, thoughtful and mature...most of the time. Now they shoot each other with air rifles, jump off cliffs and kiss girls. They are still my block-head boys...just grown and (unfortunately for me) with more free will. The effect on my heart, however, whether they are young or older, is the same. I cherish them in all of their horrid "block-head boy" ways, and am constantly looking for new ways to protect them from the skinned knees, cactus spines and heart breaks of this crazy life.
Well, last Sunday Jasen treated me to a glimpse of his old "block-head boy" days. For a moment, rationality escaped him.
Saturday was a busy day. My youngest brother got married. The wedding was grand and the reception was grand and the whole, super long day was...well...just grand. We all had such a marvelous time together.
That night, as we rolled into our driveway around midnight I reminded the boys to lay out the clothes they wore to the wedding so that the next morning they could slip right into them for church. I figured they might be a little stinky and possibly even be sporting a little punch or cupcake damage, but nothing a wet wash cloth couldn't handle.
The next morning went exceptionally smooth. The kids all came down dressed in their wedding best, ready for church. I surveyed my lovely crew and sure enough noticed a few spots of wedding bliss that needed to be scrubbed out of the boys' shirts. I got a wash cloth, scrubbed a little chocolate mousse off of Spencer's collar, a little cousin goo-gaa off of Michael's shoulder and then went in search of Jasen. He was no where to be found. Sure to get him before we walked out the door I set about doing hair and filling bellies.
As we were herding our crew out the door I remembered Jasen's flawed white shirt and grabbed my trusty wash cloth. He stood still as I began scrubbing out what I thought was white frosting. It didn't budge. I scrubbed harder. Still no success. Odd. I moved on to the next patch of white frosting. It was as if someone had painted it on. WAIT A MINUTE!!!
"Jasen, did you put paint on your shirt?"
"No."
"Well, what is this? I can't scrub it off. Are you sure this isn't paint? DID YOU SERIOUSLY PUT PAINT ON YOUR SHIRT?"
-5 second pause-
"Yes I did. I thought it would work. There were a few small stains and I was just trying to cover them up and you were busy and...I'm sorry."
I took a deep breath and smiled. After all, it couldn't be fixed, it wasn't malicious, it didn't hurt anyone...and we were going to be late for church.
As we climbed into the van I whispered into his ear.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just wash out the stain? I was there to help you."
"It would have. I see that now, it's just...I thought it would work. I really am sorry."
A bit of my heart ached for his babyhood. I was there to help him out of a bind. Standing ready to clean up his mess. He chose to fix things on his own, my young man, growing up. He went about things his own way. While it may not have been my solution to the problem, or even the best solution, it was very apparent to me that he doesn't need me as much anymore.
That is until next Sunday when he will be wanting a new shirt!
Well, last Sunday Jasen treated me to a glimpse of his old "block-head boy" days. For a moment, rationality escaped him.
Saturday was a busy day. My youngest brother got married. The wedding was grand and the reception was grand and the whole, super long day was...well...just grand. We all had such a marvelous time together.
That night, as we rolled into our driveway around midnight I reminded the boys to lay out the clothes they wore to the wedding so that the next morning they could slip right into them for church. I figured they might be a little stinky and possibly even be sporting a little punch or cupcake damage, but nothing a wet wash cloth couldn't handle.
The next morning went exceptionally smooth. The kids all came down dressed in their wedding best, ready for church. I surveyed my lovely crew and sure enough noticed a few spots of wedding bliss that needed to be scrubbed out of the boys' shirts. I got a wash cloth, scrubbed a little chocolate mousse off of Spencer's collar, a little cousin goo-gaa off of Michael's shoulder and then went in search of Jasen. He was no where to be found. Sure to get him before we walked out the door I set about doing hair and filling bellies.
As we were herding our crew out the door I remembered Jasen's flawed white shirt and grabbed my trusty wash cloth. He stood still as I began scrubbing out what I thought was white frosting. It didn't budge. I scrubbed harder. Still no success. Odd. I moved on to the next patch of white frosting. It was as if someone had painted it on. WAIT A MINUTE!!!
"Jasen, did you put paint on your shirt?"
"No."
"Well, what is this? I can't scrub it off. Are you sure this isn't paint? DID YOU SERIOUSLY PUT PAINT ON YOUR SHIRT?"
-5 second pause-
"Yes I did. I thought it would work. There were a few small stains and I was just trying to cover them up and you were busy and...I'm sorry."
I took a deep breath and smiled. After all, it couldn't be fixed, it wasn't malicious, it didn't hurt anyone...and we were going to be late for church.
As we climbed into the van I whispered into his ear.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just wash out the stain? I was there to help you."
"It would have. I see that now, it's just...I thought it would work. I really am sorry."
A bit of my heart ached for his babyhood. I was there to help him out of a bind. Standing ready to clean up his mess. He chose to fix things on his own, my young man, growing up. He went about things his own way. While it may not have been my solution to the problem, or even the best solution, it was very apparent to me that he doesn't need me as much anymore.
That is until next Sunday when he will be wanting a new shirt!
My Block-Head Boys!
The Stones Clan
Andrea, Ben, Michael, Jasen, Emma and Spencer Dawson
Michael and Taylor Stones
Breanne and Ben Newson
Erica, Rich, A and E Lundgreen
Mathew, Andrea, Andrew, Mylie and Wyatt StonesMonday, August 16, 2010
ROCK BAND PARTY
On one night of our Family Reunion we had a Rock Band party. Everyone took a turn,even Mom and Dad. We also celebrated Andrew and Jasen's birthday!! It was a lot of loud and silly fun!!
Jasen is a TEENAGER!!
TEENAGER!!
Happy Birthday Jasen!!
You are a light in our lives!!
We just adore this great kid!!! Friday, August 6, 2010
Michael Has Learned...
Hey everyone... It's Michael. Just got back from the jambo and I thought I might as well get some things down so I don't forget.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been gone, I've learned many things....
.At the jambo, 1 day can feel longer than 2 weeks.
.In Time Square 2 hours feels like 30 minutes.
.Boy Scouts are kinda gross... but they rock all the same.
.Matthew Bowden doesnt snore.
.My parents are truly amazing!
.I love my girlfriend very much.
.It's all good if you hang a coat hanger on a fire sprinkler... you'll just have to stay up for a couple more hours out on the street.
.Ex-wives arent really that bad.
.Hooters welcomes Boy Scouts.
.Moses will be president right after Eric Lissner.
.Ben Franklin looks pretty fly in neon green sunglasses.
.The Blue Man Group likes to eat gumballs and Twinkies.
.Watching Psych is best at 3 in the morning.
.I finally know who Swichfoot is.
.The Statue of Liberty isn't as big as it looks on the postcards.
.Troop 814 can totally break into the White House.
.It's amazing what you can't do on a bus for 4 hours.
.D&D is a great way to pass the time.
.Sometimes the best sports jersey in no shirt at all.
.One of the best ways to get the boys together???... The Simpsons Movie in room 218!
.Kermit the Frog has faded with age.
.I make the scout uniform look good!
.Ugg patrol is the best and you know it!
.Don't try to towel change in public. Especially when Malcolm is around....
.Sometimes the best bed is a dozen duffle bags.
.Garth Despain is a great man.
.A Scout Master gets a free pass to heaven.
.Merit Badges are over-rated.
.When the sign says "Estimated 2 hours" it really means 6.
.Always bring your poncho.
.Shotgun is easy...bring it Daddy!
.I can sew a button on.
.That wasn't the chili we ate on Friday...was it?
.It's hard to juggle batteries!
.All 12 year olds are annoying, not just my brother.
.What is a kiosk? Really?
.The ARMY is pretty lame....Ooooo-raah!!
.Mike Rowe(Dirtiest Jobs) is a pretty chill dude.
.Don't trade with Russians.
.A Scout is clean??
.Community Prayer is the best... Especially with a group of guys you just met.
.Solar panels are amazing... flat-up.
But one of the most important things I learned on my trip is that I now have 33 more brothers!
Over the last 2 weeks I've been gone, I've learned many things....
.At the jambo, 1 day can feel longer than 2 weeks.
.In Time Square 2 hours feels like 30 minutes.
.Boy Scouts are kinda gross... but they rock all the same.
.Matthew Bowden doesnt snore.
.My parents are truly amazing!
.I love my girlfriend very much.
.It's all good if you hang a coat hanger on a fire sprinkler... you'll just have to stay up for a couple more hours out on the street.
.Ex-wives arent really that bad.
.Hooters welcomes Boy Scouts.
.Moses will be president right after Eric Lissner.
.Ben Franklin looks pretty fly in neon green sunglasses.
.The Blue Man Group likes to eat gumballs and Twinkies.
.Watching Psych is best at 3 in the morning.
.I finally know who Swichfoot is.
.The Statue of Liberty isn't as big as it looks on the postcards.
.Troop 814 can totally break into the White House.
.It's amazing what you can't do on a bus for 4 hours.
.D&D is a great way to pass the time.
.Sometimes the best sports jersey in no shirt at all.
.One of the best ways to get the boys together???... The Simpsons Movie in room 218!
.Kermit the Frog has faded with age.
.I make the scout uniform look good!
.Ugg patrol is the best and you know it!
.Don't try to towel change in public. Especially when Malcolm is around....
.Sometimes the best bed is a dozen duffle bags.
.Garth Despain is a great man.
.A Scout Master gets a free pass to heaven.
.Merit Badges are over-rated.
.When the sign says "Estimated 2 hours" it really means 6.
.Always bring your poncho.
.Shotgun is easy...bring it Daddy!
.I can sew a button on.
.That wasn't the chili we ate on Friday...was it?
.It's hard to juggle batteries!
.All 12 year olds are annoying, not just my brother.
.What is a kiosk? Really?
.The ARMY is pretty lame....Ooooo-raah!!
.Mike Rowe(Dirtiest Jobs) is a pretty chill dude.
.Don't trade with Russians.
.A Scout is clean??
.Community Prayer is the best... Especially with a group of guys you just met.
.Solar panels are amazing... flat-up.
But one of the most important things I learned on my trip is that I now have 33 more brothers!
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