Home at last...

I have been in Atlanta at the main DHR office since Monday for training and then, Don & the girls picked me up (Thurs.) and we have spent the last 3 days in Otto. I am SO glad to be home! It wears me out to be away for so long. I miss the dogs, the chickens, my bed, familiar smells and sounds and just being in MY house. There's NO place like HOME!

News from a new 46 year old!

Well, it has happened. I am now closer to 50 than I am to 40 - ugh! But, I had a GREAT birthday. I used my "spa" package from the girls and spent 2 hours being pampered and massaged and treated elegantly! On Saturday, Don is taking us to the Apalachicola River Inn for the weekend! The rooms are all riverfront with balconies and there is dining right on site. We will spend Saturday at St. Joe beach and then, on the way home Sunday, stop for the day at St. George. Then, Monday afternoon, we are off to Atlanta/Otto for the entire week.

Both the girls have been busy at VBS this week; Hannah as a Youth Worker in 4th grade and Claire as a participant (her last year - boo hoo!). I think they are looking forward to a week alone with their daddy (at least 3 days) and having a fun time swimming in the Little Tessentee River (COLD!!), shopping in Dillard and Franklin and sleeping in :) I am looking forward to seeing just how wild and overgrown the property is! If the rain up there has been anything like it has been down here, it will be a jungle!

June is busting out all over...

We had a scare over last weekend with my dad. He had a heart attack and has had to have a pace maker implanted. As of Tuesday, he was home, resting and feeling better. In about 4 weeks, he should be able to resume normal activities and should begin feeling "great", according to his heart doctor. We are so thankful that God chose to work in the situation and allow Daddy such quick, miraculous healing.

The girls have both been busy. Hannah is babysitting alot for the Clendenin kids and Claire is back to volunteering 2 days during the week at the vet's office. She also has worked 2 Wednesdays for me and has been a HARD worker! Next week is VBS at church and the following week I will be in Atlanta at meetings Tues. - Thurs. and Don and the girls will be at the property. They will pick me up Thursday night and we will all spend a long weekend together at the mountain house. I am looking forward to that!

Next Wednesday, I turn 46 - ugh!!! Pray for me that I don't start feeling too old and crotchety!

First "official" day of Summer break...

We had a quiet (NOT!) weekend... Claire turned 12 on Saturday, had 2 dress rehearsals for her Dance Recital (which was Sunday), Don "worked" for me at my new building for Medical Records, building shelves and a counter and drilling holes for computer wires, we went to church, Sunday School and Claire's dance recital on Sunday. She is maturing into such a beautiful dancer. The recital was so uplifting and fun, as always. Claire went to "Shipwreck Island" all day Monday with church choir, Don and I did mounds of yard work and today, Hannah is babysitting, Don and I are working and, I suppose Claire is recovering from such a wild weekend! Both girls had FABULOUS grades and were "high averages" for both their companies this year. We are so proud. Claire will move to the "other" side of the middle school for 7th & 8th grade and Hannah moves across the street to the high school!!! Time is marching (actually, running) on and poor Don and I are just trying to keep up!

The countdown to summer begins...

It is finally here (to hear the girls say it) ~ the LAST week of school! Hannah will be going on a band field trip to The Fun Station on Tuesday so Claire is going to come to the office with me to earn some $$$. Their Honor Assemblies are both on Thursday morning and then, Friday at 2:45, officially ends Hannah's Middle School "career" and begins Claire's 7th grade year. Claire will turn 12 on Saturday - how can that be? She also has her dance recital on Sunday and a week from tomorrow is Memorial Day. It has all gone way too fast. I am struggling with Hannah being a Freshman in high school. I remember high school so well - how can my daughter be in high school??!!!

We will have a busy summer, I am sure. We will be at the property a week in June and the long 4th of July weekend. Claire will be at Music Camp, Hannah at Camp Pinnacle and Don on a mission trip in July and we are going to try to fit in a couple of beach weekends, too. Both girls will be working 1 day a week for me and volunteering, too. Hannah will also have a week of high school band camp before school starts back in August. I am really going to try to enjoy this summer and not rush anything for the next 11 weeks :)

Happy Mother's Day 2009

What a lovely day - weekend, actually - I had! The girls gave me a METTA Day Spa certificate for "The Works"! I cannot wait to use it; 1 hr. massage, organic facial, up-scale mani & pedi! Ooo la la! Don gave me a beautiful watch and I had the breakfast I wanted cooked for me and steak for lunch without lifting a finger! Absolutely divine :) Too bad everyday can't be like that! Actually, while I enjoy the "pampering", I really just enjoy my everyday life, too. I am truly blessed with 2 beautiful daughters and a thoughtful, loving husband.

All 4 One...

Hannah and the NJHS group arrived back safely on Friday about 11:30am. She had a good time but is still so very tired. She napped Friday afternoon, went to bed early Friday and Saturday and fell asleep in the car on the way home from the beach this afternoon. I got a bit of an early Mother's Day gift and we spent a relaxing day at St. George Island. It was beautiful! Sunny, breezy and just perfect :) The girls have 15 days of school to go and Claire's birthday is 20 days away - WOW... time sure does fly.