lest you think I’ve abandoned you

There is still no time for legitimate blogging, but I can show you the future – that has to count for something, right?

A glimpse into the father/daughter relationship in 50 years:

Montreat

Sorry it’s been so long since my last post, but last week was the Montreat Youth Conference.  We did not have internet, and there was certainly no time for blogging.  And this week is Vacation Bible School.  There still is no time for blogging, but I did want to sneak in a minute to post some pictures.

When we were moving back into our office after the flooding incident, I found a picture from my very first Montreat experience, and I started trying to figure out when it was…I had to count back five times because I was in disbelief – IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO!!  It really seems like yesterday.  Those were good times.  Coming back as a back home leader is fun, but so very different than coming as a youth.  So here is is folks:

Grace Youth Group at Montreat 1997

DPC Youth Group at Montreat 2009

reunited…

…and it feels so good.   My only complaint is that Grammy returned her with red, watery, puffy eyes and a runny nose.  But I’ll still take her.

Aparently when I’m not hanging out with my kid, I have nothing to blog about.  But she’s back, and so am I – two posts in two days folks!  Who knew you could miss someone so much?!  I dropped her off at Grammy’s house on Monday afternoon and picked her up yesterday morning.  We did go over for a visit on Wednesday, but I just felt empty all week.  Our house certainly felt empty…and quiet. 

Granted, it was nice to sleep later than 6:00 am.  And it was nice to wake up at my own pace rather than the zero-to-sixt- in-5-seconds-flat pace.  But once I was up, I missed having a little person laughing and playing around me.  I missed her hugs and kisses.  I missed her sweet voice saying Mommy.

But as hard as Piglet-free time was, picking her up on Friday was the BEST.  I hung out at Grammy’s house for a while before bringing her home so Russ could put the final final touches on the room.  Piglet would play for a few minutes, then come give me a big hug, play a few minutes, hug…repeat, repeat.  So sweet.  Then when I was packing her things and heading to the car, she freaked out and grabbed my hand – she was NOT letting me leave without her this time.  Feeling’s mutual, kid.  Later that evening, we were playing at home – and she stops mid-play, looks at me, and gives me the biggest, tightest hug ever, like she wasn’t ever going to let go…and my eyes were full of tears, hoping she wouldn’t ever let go. 

I’m so glad to have her home…did I already say that?

my husband is THE MAN

It’s been a while since my last post because all “free” time has been spent working on our house in super speed mode.   We finally got carpet installed in our office after our hot water heater flooded three months ago, so the weekend was spent moving back into that room (and trying our best to declutter so that the room was not as overcrowded as before).

Then Piglet spent the week at Grammy’s house so we could finish the sunroom addition without her making handprints in wet paint, stabbing herself with nails, or eating drywall.  I’m so glad it’s (almost) done!  Here’s our three year journey:

When we moved in three years ago, we had a horrible screened in porch off of our living room.  I use the term “screened in” loosely because the screens were all torn, probably by these two dogs that prevented me from going out onto the porch during the inspection and getting a good picture of the nastiness.  It was incredibly dirty and dingy – definitely not a place you want to hang out.

This is the view of the porch from the outside.

We decided, somewhat foolishly, that closing in the porch would be a great easy way to build some sweat equity…plus we wanted a playroom for Piglet since her bedroom is so small.

We started the process a year ago with the hopes that it would be finished before Russ started school in the fall.   That obvisouly didn’t happen.  The room looked like this until Christmas break.

After Christmas break, it was liveable so Piglet’s Christmas loot moved in.  But since it wasn’t completely done, all the tools hung out on the shelves.  Then when the hot water heater broke, all of the office contents got moved into the back half of the room.

Then this week, we (mostly Russ) put the finishing touches (caulk, painted trim and doors, installed door hardware).  And voila:

Use your imagination to put cabinet doors on the lower half of the built-in and groovey decor on the shelves/walls and a snazzy new tv in the large opening – one day, maybe.

It took a long time, but Russ BUILT A ROOM - installed doors and windows, designed and created a built-in unit, brought the floor up to be level with the rest of the house, put down tile floor, installed remote control fans, hung siding, etc, etc, etc.   I’m impressed.   For my part, I cleaned up his messes – which were many.

So I guess if he gets to a point in his life when he can’t use his BA in History and English, his Master of Divinity, or his Medical School degree, he can fall back on being a handyman…because we all know he is not allowed to go back to school again.  ever.  

LOL, ROFL, LMAO

My kid keeps me in stitches.  I love her.

Aparently, she wanted to go swimming – I think we have some training to do before she’s ready to dress herself.

1. Take old clothes off before putting on new clothes.
2. Tops go on tops, bottoms go on bottoms.
3. Underwear/Bathing suit bottoms do not go on your head (maybe that should be #1).
4. When you get stuck in your clothes, ask for help.