OK - I admit defeat  . . . again.  Why can't I keep up with this blog?  Do you blog?  What's yours about?

I follow several blogs - and some of you are as good about blogging as ME!  Some of the blogs I follow are circumstance-driven and a blog is an easy way to keep folks up-to-date while recording the happenings and your feelings during the circumstance.  Some are complete kid-based - that's a good thing because I probably don't see you enough to recognize your kids any other way except in a photo blog!

I think I can't keep up a blog, mainly because our life is somewhat boring and no one wants to really know how I feel about politics, religion or the overall state of things!  But let me just say, I hope 'change is-a-coming' and I'll leave it at that!

There have been some new family developments since I last blogged, or at least I think the date of my last blog was before these events happend.  Jon (Eiland), Sallie's oldest married Marjorie Yessick and yes, we had to go to Tuscaloosa for the event.  While we didn't spot Mr. Saban, we did see some of the remaining damage from the tornadoes - - - war zone would be a fairly accurate description!  Hudson (Mary's oldest), will be getting married in September of 2013, to Blane Tillery from Auburn.  Marjorie and Blane are both nurses and graduated from Troy.  I am convinced that Cooper, Hudson's German short-hair pointer, will be in the wedding.  I will be sure to post a picture if THAT happens.

Fall is in full swing - Parker is back at Troy for Year 2 of his adventure, still unsure of what to major in.  I have told him that will become clearer to him as he matures.  Paxton is a 10th grader and outside of school work, is perfecting his 3-point shot in basketball, looking for a truck in anticipation of turning 16 in April 2013, and studying for his driver's license!  What else could matter to an almost 16-year old???

We have shared joy and sorrow, tragedy and triumph with friends over the past few months, but have learned the power of the human spirit and the power of prayer and friendship.

So, that's what I blog about today . . . and probably the next time, too. 

Second attempt at this blog post today.  We are in the HEAT of summer and that's not joke - it's triple digits today and will continue for the next few days. 

Parker is home for the summer - scouting cotton again and training his brother Paxton.  The boys have also had a dose of pulling pigweed.  I think they are cured!  For my city friends, pigweed is a weed that CANNOT be killed in our area.  The only way to get rid of it is to pull it and remove it from field.  It's so 'contagious' that once pulled, some even burn the weeds!!!

Parker finished his first year at Troy with a 4.0 overall GPA, joined a fraternity (Farmhouse) and had a great time with new friends and new adventures.  Still haven't completely decided on a major yet, but that's ok.  Paxton will be in the 10th grade in the fall and driving all alone in April.  

The remainder of our summer will include vacation, wedding in Tuscaloosa, Randy's 49th birthday (he will catch me) and my girls' beach trip.  The wedding is family - Sallie's oldest, Jon, is marrying Marjorie Yessick.  He met her at Troy, and she is from Tuscaloosa.  Randy has agreed that this is the ONLY reason he will go to T-town!!

 I have found a creative outlet and very therapeutic and much cheaper than therapy.  I am taking classes through Art on a Whim - art classes and projects under the direction of two local girls.  I have completed about five projects and if you are on FB, you have seen my creations!  I love going and visiting with new and old friends and creating something myself! 

Until next time . . .

March Madness

I am a terrible blogger. Period. I thought I was doing better, but the blogline does not lie. I have not posted since June 0f 2011. And of course life has changed drastically.

We are officially the parents of a college student! What a change that has been, mostly for Paxton. He misses his brother and is not ashamed to admit it. Parker is attending Troy University in Troy and began the first semester with rooming with three high school friends. First semester was a big success! Parker pledged Farmhouse Fraternity, keeping up the family tradition. Tucker (Mary's middle) also pledge Farmhouse with Parker. His cousins Jon and Hudson are now his 'brothers' as well. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA!! I can live with that!

People ask me if it was hard to let him go, and yes, while we miss him, this was the plan all along! God has been in charge since he was born, we were just the chosen caregivers. He calls and texts often and come home when he can. God is good!

Our family (immediate and extended) is changing and growing as well. While we lost Aunt Virginia (Alsobrook), we gained new baby "Witt" (Zach and Lindsey). We will also gain a girl in the immediate family in July. Jon (Sallie's oldest) is getting MARRIED! His future wife's name is Marjorie and she is from Tuscaloosa. Randy is making peace with the fact that he will actually have to go to Tuscaloosa. Mama enjoys good health and still drives and has all her social and political and community duties. She is one busy woman!

March Madness is in full swing on the basketball court, in the weather, and in our house. We wouldn't have it any other way!

Until next time . . .

A Lot Can Happen in One Month . . .

In the past thirty days, I have lost a high school senior, gained a college freshman, had a mini-melt down in the Atlanta airport (more on that later), and bought my first ever brand new vehicle!

Where to begin? ok, the new car - I can't help it - I was excited! We traded the nice, big, roomy SUV that barely got 16 miles to the gallon, for a nice, smaller yet roomy SUV that gets 25-32 miles to the gallon, depending on where I am driving - - - Randy figured we could make a payment of some-sort based on the savings at the gas pump. Let's just say I drive by the gas station and don't stop near as often as I did! Oh, and depreciation . . . ? . . . WHO CARES . . . .

+ = GOOD NIGHT !!

Parker graduated on May 19, and one week later, I went to Auburn to watch child #2 of sister #2 graduate from Lee-Scott. Before I left to come back home, at some yogurt at Yogurt Mountain or 'YoMo' - and let me say, that is the way to go! You pick your flavor, pick your toppings, and WEIGH it, then pay, based on WEIGHT! How cool is that! and did I mention the toppings? Anything you could imagine!! Oh, and child #2 of sister #1 works there!

Finally, we have taken one more step closer to getting Parker off to college - he and I, along with roommates Troupe, Cody, and Rob, Troupe's mom, Kelly and Rob's mom, Tammy met up at IMPACT at Troy University. It was one and one-half days of information overload, but lots of great information for parents and students! Parker is now bona fide and all registered for college! Parker met some new friends and getting ready to fly the coop!

Oh, and as for the mini-melt down? Well I haven't flown in about 16 years, and didn't know I would need anything other than my ID to get me to the gate to see Parker and his friends off to Jamaica. Guess what? You can go to the gate of a departing passenger, but you have to obtain a GATE PASS. Easily done, unless you don't know you need one; hence the MELT DOWN! Only because I hadn't given Parker an official "Goodbye" . . . There was just something about knowing he would leave the country and I didn't say good bye or tell him that I loved him . . . It's the little things, don't you know . . .

So, 30 days . . . a lot can happen in 30 days. Well in about 30 more days, I will be on the beach. Now THAT will be 30 days worth waiting for!!