Friday? Already?

Time flies when you're single-parenting. My husband has been out of town for the better part of ten days, save one night that he graced us with his presence-and laundry. I still don't know when he's coming home. It's a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things and we are blessed that he is employed and we have food on the table.

The kids are great: busy, as usual. I tell ya, they kill me sometimes. Last week #2 told me that he wants to play football "for the rest of my life, Mom." When I told him that he probably wouldn't be able to play quite that long he clarified: "I want to play on tv on Saturday afternoons!" OK, NCAA Div. 1 I can handle. Goals? He's got 'em.

And that #1? You would not believe that he's only been playing piano since the end of June. He really has an ear for it. He also joined the band at school and is playing the alto sax. Confession: I don't know how well he's doing because it's really hard to hear just one part of a song. However, since he's so brilliant at everything else, why wouldn't he be good at the sax? (Yes, I know I'm exaggerating. He is pretty awesome, though.)

The Girl? She's been bitten by the travel bug. After Africa this summer she decided to take a semester and study in Israel. She has also decided to go back to Africa next summer for another 6-8 weeks. As long as she graduates, I have no problem with her traveling. You should see her face light up when she talks about it! Her best friend at school is going to go with her next summer so they should have a really great time.

As for me, I've really felt 'off' this week. Yes, I've gotten the basics taken care of but my head has been elsewhere. I finally started volunteering in one of the boys' classes today. Appears that I'll be in there for about 2 hours on Thursdays helping with reading and writing. Right up my alley! I've been lucky enough to be able to meet for coffee with a couple of girlfriends once a week and it's quickly become one of my favorite moments of the week. How's this for cheap though: I take my own coffee to Starbucks! We make a full pot in the morning so why should I buy it there?

So there you have it. My brain dump on what's been going on around here. Hope you've had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend!

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Now on Facebook!

I'm on Facebook. What? You didn't know?




Well, it's about time you 'like' me, don't you think?

Here's the link to the Adventures of the Headless Family Facebook page, just to make it easy for you.

Thanks!
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And So It Begins

Last Friday I was off to a women's conference with our church group. I had left a laundry list of instructions for the family. Do those things ever all get done? Not at my house. Anyway, on Friday evening our school was hosting a Harvest Hoedown. Our version of a back-to-school party for the families to go, hang out together and have some good, clean fun. I've been taking the kids each year since HB#1 was in Kindergarten and it's a great time.

Totally not our school.

(Sidenote: It is my understanding that it began as a way to get families out. For free. Kinda like what is described in How to Host a School Picnic. The PTA hires a dj, makes a fall backdrop for family pictures, we send in dozens of finger-food treats, and they have lemonade and water available. Simple right? Now, over the years, it has turned into a festival of sorts, with food and vendors, feeding right back into the spend, spend, spend culture that it was initially trying to avoid. To say that it drives me nuts would be an understatement. What happened to simplicity?  /rant)

Every year since Kindergarten we have taken the family picture, and a few weeks later it comes home in one of the children's backpacks. It's become one of my favorite things about fall. I have all 6 pictures on my desk, a mini-monument to the changing tides of our family... The first picture with all of us, the next just me and the boys since the girl was a cheerleader and Homecoming was that evening, one of them with just 4 of us, and so on. Obviously, I had to have this picture, even if I wasn't going to be in it.

Days before I left I began telling everyone: the kids, HD, our friends, everyone!, that they HAD TO GET THIS PICTURE. I didn't care what else they did, or even if they left the Hoedown after that, but they HAD TO GET THE PICTURE.

All of my nagging hard work paid off, because yes, my boys went early and got the picture. *Pfhew* Mom-disaster averted.

Apparently, after the picture was taken the boys and their dad started wandering through the crowd. HD asked the boys what they wanted to do now?, and the 11yo HB#1 said, "Dad. This is the part of the night that we go hang out with our friends. Go find your own friends."

Aaaahh, the sweet sounds of teenager-hood, blooming right before our eyes.

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Note to Self

Me (to the 9yo): "Your fan is awfully squeaky."

Him: "Note to self: Never put a ceiling fan in a toddler's room."

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Chocolate Sheet Cake-(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

My mom used to make this when we were teenagers. It is to die for and worth the work. I took it to the same party as the Vanilla Wafer Pudding. I was quite the dessert queen that day!

Chocolate Sheet Cake (recipe link)

Craving this so bad! Anyone want to make it for me?


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Take Steps

As you know, certain health issues run in families. Some have heart disease, some have diabetes. Over the last several years we have come to find out that our family has intestine issues. Isn't that quaint? Luckily, so far, I don't have any issues, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen. My aunt has Crohn's Disease, and if you've ever known anyone with any type of IBS, you know it's awful.

Next Sunday, September 25, 2011, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is hosting a walk to raise money to find a cure for digestive diseases in Memphis, Tennessee. If you happen to be in Memphis and want to find out more, visit the event website, Take Steps, Be Heard for Crohn's and Colitis.

Since I can't be there on Sunday to walk, I'm doing the next best thing. I'm donating to my aunt's team, Curbside Casseroles. I'd really love it if you could too. Every little bit helps, and that other group that is raising lots of money in October already gets a lot of help. (Not that there's anything wrong with them, of course.) 

Come on, Internetz, help a gal out? Thank you in advance!

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Vanilla Wafer Pudding

In honor of my father's birthday today, (Happy Birthday, Daddy!), I'm posting one of his mother's recipes. A few months ago I started craving my grandmother's banana pudding; a long lost memory from my childhood and Sunday dinners on Oliver Street. Thanks to the wonders of Facebook I am no longer craving it. My dad's sister has all of my grandmother's hand-written recipes-what a treasure!

I remembered it as banana pudding, but it is obviously vanilla pudding layered with bananas. Really tasty, just like I remembered it. Enjoy!

Vanilla Wafer Pudding

4 T. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. salt
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla
1 lb. bag vanilla wafers
3 or 4 bananas

Mix flour, sugar, salt and beat in eggs. Pour in milk, cook until it thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla

Alternate layers of wafers and bananas in a 9x13 dish. Pour sauce over layers, top with more cookies if you'd like. Chill before serving.

You could probably use a smaller dish (8x8?) and make an extra layer. Yummy either way!
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Love Links

Hi all!

Just dropping in with a quick note... Have you met Erica? She writes over at free fringes and has this really cool thing going on. You link a favorite post on Tues. or Wed., and then read everyone's posts. On Thursday voting begins and you get 3 votes to choose your favorites. The winner gets stars and glory. Oh, and the winner of the next month of posts? Gets ad space in The Bloggess' sidebar. Seriously!

Sweet, huh?

Anyway, you should go read the rules and link up on Love Links #23!

I'm off to watch Parenthood and I'm positively giddy about it!
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For Anna

I'm sure you've heard that our own Anna See lost her sweet boy last Thursday in the devastating floods in Virginia. Monday is the day that they will gather to mourn, and from 3,000 miles away I will mourn, too.

After following Anna for a year or two, I finally had the chance to meet her at BlogHer in NYC last summer. I had so much fun getting to know her, Kate, and Jill. We also realized that we had something else in common... Anna, Jill, and I are also sorority sisters. The connections made through blogging and being sisters have remained strong. Our hearts are bonded.

 As a mother I am devastated by what has happened. Losing a child is unimaginable, yet Anna is now facing that reality and I am heartbroken for her. There really are no words in our human vernacular that can even come close to help.

So today, I give the words of our Lord, Psalm 34: 18 "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart." Jesus, hold Anna, Tom and Molly in the palm of your hand today, and carry them through this awful time. Give them calm, give them peace, for You alone can comfort in a time like this.

I am also reminded today of another online friend, Heather, that recently lost her daughter Emma. Someday, Anna, I hope that you can read Heather's post on God's sovereignty in the face of such personal tragedy. God will get you to that day, too, Anna.


I love you, Anna, and I hope that you can feel God's love surrounding you today, and always.

Addendum: If you, like me, missed the memorial service you must not miss this post, Anna, by Momastery. Take your tissues. I'm proud to say that I know this woman of courage and strength. Thank you, Glennon, for a glorious tribute to our friend.


If you have any words of comfort for Anna you may leave a comment on her post about Jake, or if you've written a post for her, please link over at Kate's so she will see all of them when she is ready. The family is asking that any donations be made to Samaritan's Purse.
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Wordless Wednesday: I Found My MOJO

Well, I guess it's not technically mine....

...but if it was, I would be a happy camper!

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Chat

Facebook is so interesting. Like weird, interesting. Witness: the following chat from last night. (Slightly edited, of course.) Note: This is someone that I went to school with but don't remember talking to since junior high school. We knew each other but didn't run in the same circles. At all.

Him: are you there?
Me: yes! How's the restaurant?
Him: friggin' busy
Me: that's good!
Him: I have wanted to ask you something
Me: should I be scared?
Him: nah
         do you remember me?
Me: yes
       i remember most everyone we graduated with
       some more than others, of course
Him: did you hit me in jr. high?
Me: hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
       I have no idea. Although i don't remember hitting anyone in junior high
       so i hope it wasn't me!
       (Please understand I'm not laughing at you!)
Him: I think it was {Another girl}
         i said a really racist thing and she slapped me
Me: The first guy (that wasn't my brother) that I remember punching was
        in college and he desperately deserved it
        Ouch.
Him: i deserved it
         {She} was a bitch anyway
Me: Ouch again
Him: just an opinion
         i left [hometown] and never looked back
Me: i wasn't super close with her
       many did. You're not alone in that at all.
       I have mostly wonderful memories from [hometown] and would
       move back in a heartbeat if i could
Him: my dad lost control of his drinking and i tried to kill him at 17.
         slept in my car senior year and still tried to act like everything was normal
Me: Oh my goodness. I'm sorry you had to go through something so horrible
        as a kid. sounds like you've done well for yourself
Him: but still, [hometown] is who i am
Me: it's who we all are
Him: yeah, it's deep in me. i watch your posts and am glad you are happy

Me: thanks sounds like you are too
Him: took a long time. stabbed 3 times (twice in europe) and eight
         broken noses but i'm good
Me: Yikes! you've got some stories, don't you?
(tangent, not relevant)
Him: ran into [guy1] and [guy2] in hawaii in 91
Me: really? why would you remember that?
Him: because [guy1] was rich and privileged and [guy2] was a douchebag
         and you were in a class with me and i always had a crush on you
(Huh? Is this where this is going???)
Me: Actually I don't think [guy1] was rich, I just think he had the luck of good genes
       they're both douchebags
Him: just sort of remembering stuff
Me: Thank you. I hope that means I was at least nice
Him: as far as i remember just pretty
Me: *blushing* thank you
Him: [guy1] was a [jerk] in hawaii
Me: he was a [jerk] at the reunions too
Him: don't blush you were pretty to me
Me: yeah none of those guys changed
Him: that is why i didn't go to the reunion
Me: it's not so bad really. [guy1] didn't come this year
(other unrelated)
Me: the 20 was really fun. i'd love if you'd consider coming sometime
Him: sad because i was there from 4th grade
Me: we'll do it again for our 30
        think about it?
Him: maybe. glad i reached out
Me: me too. i wish you luck and happiness. i hope you're happy now!
Him: i am. in the end God took care of me
         and i have some really cool scars
Me: He's the best papa of all.
       lol!
Him: goodnight
Me: goodnight.


Does this seem strange to you? Does it seem like he was trying to go somewhere more weird? I was trying to keep it light and chatty, nice but not too familiar. Did I succeed?


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Bank Account

I received this in an email not long ago. You may have seen it. It's such a lovely sentiment and pointed reminder that we get out of life what we make of it.


Earlier today I found out that an old friend from high school passed away on Sunday. These things somehow seem to go together. Be happy today because you CAN. Kiss those you love, reach out to those who are far away. Be kind.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each  morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved  perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. 

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After  many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled  sweetly when told his room was ready. 

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description  of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.  I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just  been presented with a new puppy. 

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' 

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. 

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. 

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is  arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.  'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;  I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the  parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful  for the ones that do. 

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day  and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life. 

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. 

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank  account of memories! 

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing. 

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 

1. Free your heart from hatred. 

2. Free your mind from worries. 

3. Live simply. 

4. Give more. 

5. Expect less.  
 

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