I just thought I would let you all know I'm out of commission for awhile. There are things going on that I don't want to talk about *weird, I know*, so I am taking a hiatus, which is likely to last another week or two. When I come back, there will be much to discuss, I am sure.
Love to you all, my dear friends.
Marie
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
I have to say...
That I have put my foot and half my leg in my mouth too many times lately, it's starting to make me think three times before ever speaking. Needless to say, I am doing A LOT, and I mean A LOT of apologizing for it. I hope to do better in the near future, if that helps any of you folks out there. And if there is someone who is still awaiting an apology, please let me know, my memory is terrible and I may have temporarily neglected to remember.
I've been given an assignment, one I am finding quite a bit of joy in. Well, Nicki would say I've been complaining, but it's only slow computers that have caused the challenges. And fleas. But we won't go there.
Anyway, my task is to organize photos of my sweet little friend Savannah. Her mom wants two separate slideshows, set to music. One is to display pictures of her from their 2 Disney trips (both made as follow ups to her cancer treatments), another is pictures of her as she grew up.
This has afforded me a chance to look at the entire slew of pictures Melissa has of her children's childhoods.
Now I will remind you, she is a professional photographer.
And she has CUTE kids!!
The photos are amazing. My favorite part of the project, so far, has been seeing the spunk! This child (Savannah), has been able to make a crooked smile since infancy, not always, but when she wants to. And boy, when she does, she sparkles!
Wouldn't you agree?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
OK, things did get a little better...
More catching up:
Michael was ecstatic to finally get the hang of riding his Red Sox bike. It's quite a bit bigger than his old one!
The Wilson's were game to try out the pool, but it was still pretty chilly!
Even my boys were... cautious that day!
Michael was ecstatic to finally get the hang of riding his Red Sox bike. It's quite a bit bigger than his old one!
The Wilson's were game to try out the pool, but it was still pretty chilly!
Even my boys were... cautious that day!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A Good Day
Today is Saturday. I came to hate Saturdays a few months ago when I realized every one was a disappointment. My husband comes home from work on Friday evening to hear a chorus of, "Yay, it's the weekend!"
Then Saturday shows up, and it's all work work work do do do slave slave slave and desperately try to live up to everyone else's expectations.
But not today.
Today, as many other Saturdays, there was no "plan".
And we didn't laze around and waste the day, (although I did sleep past, gulp, 9 AM!!) we talked about what needed doing. And then did it. I made a grocery list. And then went. to. the. store. I haven't gone Grocery Shopping in over a month. Don't get me wrong, I've been there, but only to get X Y or Z. Not to actually shop up and down the aisles.
Bill started repairing our posts out front. We realized we only needed to replace parts of them, and so it wasn't going to be expensive. He did 3 today.
I cleaned my bathroom counter/sinks. And mopped. And did laundry.
The boys took out their steers. And clipped their hair. And did chores.
Life is good. I need to go sit with the boy. He loves me, and he will only be 3 for a short time!
Then Saturday shows up, and it's all work work work do do do slave slave slave and desperately try to live up to everyone else's expectations.
But not today.
Today, as many other Saturdays, there was no "plan".
And we didn't laze around and waste the day, (although I did sleep past, gulp, 9 AM!!) we talked about what needed doing. And then did it. I made a grocery list. And then went. to. the. store. I haven't gone Grocery Shopping in over a month. Don't get me wrong, I've been there, but only to get X Y or Z. Not to actually shop up and down the aisles.
Bill started repairing our posts out front. We realized we only needed to replace parts of them, and so it wasn't going to be expensive. He did 3 today.
I cleaned my bathroom counter/sinks. And mopped. And did laundry.
The boys took out their steers. And clipped their hair. And did chores.
Life is good. I need to go sit with the boy. He loves me, and he will only be 3 for a short time!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Promised Pictures
Savannah's beautiful garden.
FMI, go here: www.memoriesbymelissaphotography.blogspot.com
I found some more funny... I think...
Don't you hate it when you walk through your kitchen to go out to the car to get something, search the car, and then walk back in and find it right on the counter in your kitchen?
*crickets chirping*
Oh. Just me. Moving on then...
My baby is three, people.
Do you hear me? My BABY!! The last child I will have ever brought into this world!! The final offspring!! He's THREE YEARS OLD!!!!! This is just craziness, it's almost too much to bear. Here he is blowing out THREE candles on his chosen Red Sox cake. And don't even talk to me about the cake, when I saw that helium balloon I knew it was just genius since a layer cake would mean more frosting which is all he ever eats anyway, and I will never regret cheating on his cake. No matter how you look down at me. So there.
You'll be happy to know that according to Zachary, 3 is old enough to now play baseball. He told us that the night before his birthday. Right after Daddy and I picked out a baseball and a bat for his gift.
Score one for the parents!
The good news? He's FINALLY potty-trained.
The bad news? We flea-bombed our house the other day and while waiting for it to air out an hour after opening it up the kids went swimming in the afore-mentioned pool and the little man needed to pee so I took him aside to the bushes so as to avoid putting "p" in the ool and breathing in toxic fumes and now he has decided he can just whip it out anywhere.in.the.yard at his leisure.
Oi.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The new chairs are in. Aren't they pretty?
And they don't come apart or wiggle when you sit in them.
Don't you think they look like they came with the table? Yeah, me too. And no, I didn't stage the DP for the photo, it was really just there. Where it belongs!
Now, here at the Jones household, we do not condone violence. Which is why I really have no explanation for this:
"No son, like this..."
"Much better. Now keep at it!"
*crickets chirping*
Oh. Just me. Moving on then...
My baby is three, people.
Do you hear me? My BABY!! The last child I will have ever brought into this world!! The final offspring!! He's THREE YEARS OLD!!!!! This is just craziness, it's almost too much to bear. Here he is blowing out THREE candles on his chosen Red Sox cake. And don't even talk to me about the cake, when I saw that helium balloon I knew it was just genius since a layer cake would mean more frosting which is all he ever eats anyway, and I will never regret cheating on his cake. No matter how you look down at me. So there.
You'll be happy to know that according to Zachary, 3 is old enough to now play baseball. He told us that the night before his birthday. Right after Daddy and I picked out a baseball and a bat for his gift.
Score one for the parents!
The good news? He's FINALLY potty-trained.
The bad news? We flea-bombed our house the other day and while waiting for it to air out an hour after opening it up the kids went swimming in the afore-mentioned pool and the little man needed to pee so I took him aside to the bushes so as to avoid putting "p" in the ool and breathing in toxic fumes and now he has decided he can just whip it out anywhere.in.the.yard at his leisure.
Oi.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The new chairs are in. Aren't they pretty?
And they don't come apart or wiggle when you sit in them.
Don't you think they look like they came with the table? Yeah, me too. And no, I didn't stage the DP for the photo, it was really just there. Where it belongs!
Now, here at the Jones household, we do not condone violence. Which is why I really have no explanation for this:
"No son, like this..."
"Much better. Now keep at it!"
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dang, I am funny!
So, Ashleigh Hatch left me a comment I read yesterday morning. She was glad to see I had posted, and wanted me to know she had missed reading my "random, funny" posts.
Who, me?
I actually went back through and read, because funny has been so hard for me to come by in the last month.
She was right, I am funny. I mean really, if you forgot too go back to the post where I get my new toy, the external hard drive. That's good stuff people.
But, alas, no funny here. I am breaking the news to you that has already been broken to my family, close friends (like, the ones who live less than 50 miles away), and church family. Savannah is nearing the end. A month ago, we were told about two months, and it really is progressing in like manner. So I am lacking in funny.
We have been hearing Melissa say for months, nay, years, that if the Lord's will is to take her, then so be it. It will be hard, but we in our church believe in eternal families. We believe that when the Savior comes again, and He will, that Melissa will then have the opportunity to watch Savannah's body grow and develop to the perfect state that it was always meant to be. Her daughter will be in that body, with her Spirit, the one that those close to her know so well. And she will still be Brian and Melissa's daughter, their eternal marriage lays claim, ENTITLES them to that.
The hard part seems to be continuing to live life. There are some days, like yesterday. Neighbors and friends, and total strangers, gathered together per one (somewhat high strung) man's idea, and created the most beautiful garden out of an area that was overgrown with weeds. It is unreal. Pictures later.
And then other moments, Melissa reels from the pain of what someone says. So many want to "help". They are our brothers and sisters, who want to "fix" things. There is nothing to fix. The cancer has won, and the Lord has made His desires for His child clear. She will be healed. In the next life. Her work is almost done.
Melissa, on the other hand, needs people to stop talking. She needs no reassurances, she knows them. She needs no self-help books, she has them. She needs no advice from moms who have buried their children. They didn't bury Savannah. They won't miss her passing gas jokes, and her silly talk to entertain a baby, her beautiful blue eyes. They can't help.
The only one who can help, is the one who is taking her home in the first place. If you who know her, think that Heavenly Father is directing you to offer help, I testify to you He is not. She hasn't received a letter or phone call, that says do or read this, that has blessed her life. The blessings come in the letters and calls that say, "I love you." "I'm sorry for your loss." "I'm here if you need me."
Melissa has grown to rely on me quite a bit. I think the only way that happened is because, while I have a seven year old, I have never been able to wrap my brain around the idea of him having cancer. Or any of my kids. This leaves me completely open to take everything and anything that Melissa feels and says as the way it should be. And I defend her decisions, every last one, the way I defend my own testimony. To the death if I have to, but often harder, I defend them through life. And the desire to protect her, as my own mother would protect me, is a little over whelming at times. I think it is how I would feel if she were truly my sister. And in Christ, she is.
Maybe the next post will be funnier. But please don't hold your breath.
Love to you all.
Who, me?
I actually went back through and read, because funny has been so hard for me to come by in the last month.
She was right, I am funny. I mean really, if you forgot too go back to the post where I get my new toy, the external hard drive. That's good stuff people.
But, alas, no funny here. I am breaking the news to you that has already been broken to my family, close friends (like, the ones who live less than 50 miles away), and church family. Savannah is nearing the end. A month ago, we were told about two months, and it really is progressing in like manner. So I am lacking in funny.
We have been hearing Melissa say for months, nay, years, that if the Lord's will is to take her, then so be it. It will be hard, but we in our church believe in eternal families. We believe that when the Savior comes again, and He will, that Melissa will then have the opportunity to watch Savannah's body grow and develop to the perfect state that it was always meant to be. Her daughter will be in that body, with her Spirit, the one that those close to her know so well. And she will still be Brian and Melissa's daughter, their eternal marriage lays claim, ENTITLES them to that.
The hard part seems to be continuing to live life. There are some days, like yesterday. Neighbors and friends, and total strangers, gathered together per one (somewhat high strung) man's idea, and created the most beautiful garden out of an area that was overgrown with weeds. It is unreal. Pictures later.
And then other moments, Melissa reels from the pain of what someone says. So many want to "help". They are our brothers and sisters, who want to "fix" things. There is nothing to fix. The cancer has won, and the Lord has made His desires for His child clear. She will be healed. In the next life. Her work is almost done.
Melissa, on the other hand, needs people to stop talking. She needs no reassurances, she knows them. She needs no self-help books, she has them. She needs no advice from moms who have buried their children. They didn't bury Savannah. They won't miss her passing gas jokes, and her silly talk to entertain a baby, her beautiful blue eyes. They can't help.
The only one who can help, is the one who is taking her home in the first place. If you who know her, think that Heavenly Father is directing you to offer help, I testify to you He is not. She hasn't received a letter or phone call, that says do or read this, that has blessed her life. The blessings come in the letters and calls that say, "I love you." "I'm sorry for your loss." "I'm here if you need me."
Melissa has grown to rely on me quite a bit. I think the only way that happened is because, while I have a seven year old, I have never been able to wrap my brain around the idea of him having cancer. Or any of my kids. This leaves me completely open to take everything and anything that Melissa feels and says as the way it should be. And I defend her decisions, every last one, the way I defend my own testimony. To the death if I have to, but often harder, I defend them through life. And the desire to protect her, as my own mother would protect me, is a little over whelming at times. I think it is how I would feel if she were truly my sister. And in Christ, she is.
Maybe the next post will be funnier. But please don't hold your breath.
Love to you all.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Remember Me?
Yeah, I know.
Straight to business:
Michael played baseball for the A's. His best friend from 1st grade was on the team, Andrew, so that was cool. It helped Andrew's older brother was on Brian's team, so when Dad's weren't home to transport the mom's could work together. Thank you Jess!!
Michael liked Baseball ok. Not great, but ok. The season seemed to start late cuz of all the snow, and so it ended late, and we were all ready to be done.
No T Ball this year. Life is goood!
We got one of those Easy Set Pools with Christmas money this year. We got it all set up, and realized it was really REALLY cold. Ugh. The kids wanted to jump right in, but were told to wait. They did help smooth out the wrinkles, though, while it was filling up. That was fun. That was all done on June 8, so it has had some time to warm up. Last night everyone seemed to think it was down right toasty. I'll keep you posted. Already it has been well worth the money, they like it, and I don't have to be out there 'cuz they all touch.
It's big.
Z doesn't go in without a grown up. And he prefers my kind of temps, so no one needs to panic. No drowning allowed at the Jones house.
Brave?
Maybe not.
I don't see what your problem is?
Well... if he can do it, I can do it. Right?
Dustin tested the temps, with his hand, and decided there was no need to be a show off, so he stayed out!
More later. I wouldn't want to overload you all.
Straight to business:
Michael played baseball for the A's. His best friend from 1st grade was on the team, Andrew, so that was cool. It helped Andrew's older brother was on Brian's team, so when Dad's weren't home to transport the mom's could work together. Thank you Jess!!
Michael liked Baseball ok. Not great, but ok. The season seemed to start late cuz of all the snow, and so it ended late, and we were all ready to be done.
No T Ball this year. Life is goood!
We got one of those Easy Set Pools with Christmas money this year. We got it all set up, and realized it was really REALLY cold. Ugh. The kids wanted to jump right in, but were told to wait. They did help smooth out the wrinkles, though, while it was filling up. That was fun. That was all done on June 8, so it has had some time to warm up. Last night everyone seemed to think it was down right toasty. I'll keep you posted. Already it has been well worth the money, they like it, and I don't have to be out there 'cuz they all touch.
It's big.
Z doesn't go in without a grown up. And he prefers my kind of temps, so no one needs to panic. No drowning allowed at the Jones house.
Brave?
Maybe not.
I don't see what your problem is?
Well... if he can do it, I can do it. Right?
Dustin tested the temps, with his hand, and decided there was no need to be a show off, so he stayed out!
More later. I wouldn't want to overload you all.
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