Sunshine

I pity anyone who was camping this weekend for Memorial Day.  It rained here everyday except today.  It sure made up for it being 90 degrees and sunny ALL day!  Thank you Jesus! 

We decided to go to the beach and celebrate Memorial Day with every other Michigander!  We took the top off the jeep and drove out to Grand Haven which is one of the most beautiful beaches (without Dunes).  We met Kristin and David out there and then after getting our fair share of the sun we went out to eat together.  How untraditional was that not to be grilling out with the rest of America?

I forgot my camera so I have no photos to post for the day.  I guess I could just post any photo of bikinis since that is what we were surrounded by.  We felt like we were at a frat party.  Seriously there were very few older people there.  Not like the Florida beaches where there are all ages. 

Kim wanted to get some color to start off her summer and since RED is a color she got some!  I coated myself with SPF 30 and will not be suffering tonight like those around me. 

Practice makes perfect

I guess after my last post of letting go I needed some testing in that area.  It has been a whole year (as of yesterday) that my first born got married and moved out of the house.  Yet the honeymooners are gone for a week in Florida for their first anniversary and I am feeling all melancholy.  It feels weird that they are on a vacation and it doesn't include the family.  Sounds strange I know...I am still in the process of learning to "let go".

Last week the kids and I were looking through some photo albums to locate a certain picture and reminiscing about all our family trips.  We used to do so much when they were younger.  Maybe this is where all the feelings came from.  We are not on this vacation together. 

Watching the weather channel last night and seeing the newest devastation in Joplin, Missouri was just sickening.  It seems like this is happening way too much lately.  I am sure the clean up efforts in the south are not even complete yet and now Joplin.  We had a severe thunderstorm warning, but thankfully only ended up with rain. 

After weeks of searching for a jeep, Kory finally found "the one".  It is a 2000 Sahara.  Only 13 years newer than the last one!  Hopefully it will last many more miles.  It is a sweet ride that even his momma will drive!  I couldn't handle the last one on the road as it was so squirelly.

So today we are off to the Secretary of State to pay the taxes and get the title and plates.  A learning lesson in financial responsibility! 

Kory went in last week for his post surgical appointment and the doctor said he should be good as new and to keep up with his physical therapy.  I am so thankful he didn't have to experience what Kristin and I have gone through.

Letting Go

Learning to let go has to be one of the hardest parts of parenting.  I have been told that I have always been a hover-copter parent.  I thought I always had a "reason" to be this way due to the circumstances at any given time.  I am slowly realizing that I have done them no favors always protecting them from the natural consequences of their actions.

For over 18 years I sheltered Kory from the things he didn't seem to be able to handle.  I was totally unaware of the reasons he withdrew whenever he was in an unfamiliar setting.  Could never put my finger on the reason he would stand before me when confronted with something and shut down.  Made excuses for his lack of participation in a group setting.

I never thought Kory would make it out of high school due to his grades and the horrible bullying he had to put up with.  It wasn't until he was almost done with high school he was diagnosed with Asperger's which is on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

The diagnosis hasn't changed any of the issues he has dealt with during his life, but it has given me the awareness that I must learn to let go and stop hovering so that he will be able to make it out there on his own.  It took until a few months ago for me to accept that I can't change or fix this problem.  I now have to change my focus and seek out resources for him to use to learn how he can navigate his way.

I am so thankful for The Gray Center support group. It has given me the support I need to take the right steps in letting go.

Double Trouble!

Just returned from an over night visit with Jane, Joe and the twins. They were here in Ann Arbor at her sisters for the weekend. When I arrived they both came running and gave my huge hugs. There is no doubt they will have a special place in my heart always. I can't believe it has been over a year that they moved away. Time sure does fly.

It was nice to catch up with Jane after the kids went to bed. We used to talk a lot during the day while I was at her house. I miss having a friend close by.

I received a call from the family I interviewed with and they offered me the job.  I will start sometime in July when she goes back to work.  Twins again!!!  The girls will be 5 in June and then there will be a little baby girl too.  Should be fun.  They live in Grand Rapids right in the city and you can walk to everything.  That will sure be a culture shock for me!  Who knows maybe it will change my mind about living in the city.

I have a week off in June from the family I currently work for so I decided to take a trip by myself to see my parents.  I booked a flight and will be enjoying some HOT Florida weather come June 20.  I can't wait.  It has been a year since I have seen them.  Living this far away really sucks.  It is not like we can jump in the car and go for a visit.  It is like 23 hours! 

Ok Michigan.....is it spring or is it not?  We had a few 80 degree days and warm nights.....now it is barely 60 and going down into the 40's tonight.  I need warm weather and sunshine.  This kind of deary crap is not good for the soul. 

Empty Nest

Yesterday Bob and I were up and out the door at 3am to drive 7 hours to southern Illinois.  We found another breeder for Zoe and had to act that day.  It was a beautiful drive mainly on little highways.  The weather was gorgeous...it was in the lower 90's.  The trees all had their leaves and the fields were being planted.  Funny how just that much farther south things are ahead of us.

So we get there and the lady takes us right out to meet the "stud".  Zoe is not a friendly kind of dog when she first meets people or other animals, so she immediately was nervous.  To make a long (and inappropriate) story short.........4 hours later and it was a no go.  Zoe would not have anything to do with him and it wasn't that he didn't try!

The timing has now passed and we will have to wait until the next heat cycle in 7 months.  We have decided we will probably buy a pup and that way she will be raised with him and "know" him so she won't be so difficult.

The drive home was not so peaceful as we drove through very severe thunderstorms and hail.  The wind was pretty wild at times.  Thankfully we made it home safely and just in time for the storms to catch up with us. 

God is definitely preparing us for the empty nest that is quickly approaching.  These little trips we had been able to make over the last couple of years has shown us that there is life on the other side of parenting.  I look forward to the day when we can make plans without having to worry about the kids.  At this point they rarely want to go with us anywhere except church or out of eat. 

I have interviewed for another nanny position which would be in addition to the one I currently have.  It is for twin girls who are almost 5 and their new sister coming sometime this month.  It seemed like a good match and I should hear something by the end of the week.  It would start in July.  I am praying for the doors to open if it is God's will. 

I was just thinking about how uneventful this May has been compared to last May when Kristin graduated from college and got married.  Kory graduated from high school.  My mom and Kayley were visiting for the whole month.  Kim and I were preparing to go work at another camp for the summer and Kory was leaving for another camp.  The photos above are just a walk down memory lane from a YEAR ago.  It is hard to believe it has already been a whole year!

Misadvertising

What a day or night I should say we had yesterday. Zoe is in her 3rd heat. I had been looking for a stud for months and finally found someone over in Detroit. The whole thing was planned out and we were taking her over there and dropping her off for the week. Bob thought it was funny that we were taking her there on Mother's Day to become a mother. So we headed out at 3:00pm with Kim driving since she needs the hours to get her license. To make a long story short....the lady wasn't honest and told me that her male was UKC registered when in fact he was not. So she tried convincing me it still just fine. We left her there and got about 1/2 hour away when I found out that no the pups could not be registered. So we turned back around and went and picked her back up. Kim earned a whopping 7 hours of driving time and I lost a full tank of gas which is costing those of us in Michigan 4.14 a gallon. I am back to square one with no options of breeding.

In times like this I have to sit back and ponder if God is trying to send me a message. I try so hard for something to work out and it just seems like there are so many road blocks. Do I give up or do I keep trying? There are many reasons why having pups right now would be a good thing and then there are those reasons where it might not be the best timing.

At church we are in the middle of a series called "The Epic Battle" and today's sermon was about Anger. On the way home I started to feel alittle angry due to the situation and from being tired of riding in the car for so long and I went back to the sermon notes and decided to just change my attitude about the situation. God can give me peace in any situation. I don't want to let bitterness destroy me. God has a plan and I am waiting on Him.

It is another beautiful day here in Michigan. The sun is shining and I have the windows open at 9:00am in the morning. I will take it! I am working today and plan on going outside to play with the kids. No more 4 walls!

Tiptoe through the tulips

It was such a beautiful day! Any day that we have sunshine in Michigan is a good day! I have really been struggling with living here in this lovely weather. If only there could be a camp in North Carolina, Tennessee, or Georgia looking for us!

Bob spent the day outside (of course) working on the yard and still going through stuff that he moved here but never put away. He installed a roost for the chickens and they are happily sitting upon it right now. I dawdled around the house in a funk. I guess it has to do with the holiday tomorrow. My mom is 1200 miles away and I really miss her. I wish we could live closer and it didn't take 22 hours of driving to there. See why NC, TN or GA would be nice!!!! I did get some beautiful flowers to hang on the porch and candles for decorate the garden tub.

After living in West Michigan for over 3 years now we thought it was high time we went to Tulip Time in Holland. The original idea was to go and hang out and see fireworks at dusk, but after wandering around taking pictures of tulips and eating junk food we were cold and decided to not to wait for fireworks. I guess we need to go out for one of the parades or shows to make it the real experience. It was really pretty with the streets lined with tulips of all colors. Of course cotton candy did add to the experience.

Kory is doing amazingly well. He can move his arm almost to 90 degrees without any aid. He starts physical therapy next week. He will see the doctor in 2 weeks to remove the stitches and see how he is progressing. He will be back to normal way sooner then we had expected which means we are now searching for a new jeep. We sold his old one due to many structural problems and thought he wouldn't be driving until after summer, so we wouldn't need one until then. He is taking one class (maybe 2) this summer and will be able to drive himself. YEAH mom won't have to be a taxi.

A New Day

I have read several blogs over the last few years and even tried blogging during our first summer at Camp Mel Trotter, but eventually drifted off and forgot about it. Today I decided it was time to put my fingers tot he keyboard and start journaling our adventures on this "Long and

Winding Road" that God has us walking.

Yesterday Kory joined the ranks of the shoulder surgery crew. He along with Kristin and I have all had surgery on our right shoulders. I was very nervous about how he would do and what they would find since both Kristin and I have had nightmare experiences. Kory's ended up being a piece of cake! The main reason for his pain was due to a bone spur that created scar tissue. He also had a small labral tear. He has no restrictions and does not even need to wear a sling! PRAISE GOD!!!! Last night he took one pain pill, slept in his own bed all night long and is doing great.

Our mini farm experience has been fun. The "babies" have been outside for a few weeks living in a little barn (soon to be red...hint, hint, hint). Today we decided they were big enough begin to free range. They are enjoying the freedom but keep coming back to the safety of the barn. We are counting down the days until we get eggs out of this investment.

We recently found a group www.thegraycenter.org that meets in Grand Rapids and Zeeland. They have a group that is for Young Adults and Teens with Aspergers. Each meeting they work on a social skill and have discussions. Kory was reluctant to go at first but has warmed up to the idea. Last Friday they did a game night where all the young adults gathered for food and games while the parents met separately to have fellowship. It has been a huge benefit for me to be in a group where I can talk with others in the same situation. I feel so relieved to finally not be walking this path alone.