15 more days until school starts.

I haven't finished very many things on my list either.

I need to start on Jordan's room.

I have read 1 1/2 books in the last 3 days.

I have vacuumed the floor a couple of times.

I do have 2 weeks worth of menu's and I have even cook most of one week. I have scrapbooked the last 2 days.

And yes we did get the store closed. So sad. I've really stayed busy enough I don't think about it. Probably not a healthy thing to do. I've been letting my frustration out on my family. I need to get this dealt with. I just keep thinking that if I don't think about it then it's not true. I guess that is called denial huh?

Makayla will start two a day practices on Monday. So we are going to have to start a routine of some kind by then.

I'll leave you with my pages from the last 2 days. And at some point I'm going to have to hit the laundry!

25 days and counting! That's all the time I have before school starts again. Can I really cram a whole summer in 25 days?
To Do List:
#1 Close the store :( still a little- ok a lot sad about this one. Should be done in Monday:( :( :( :( :(
#2 Repaint Jordan's room
#3 Put together the hammock I got for my birthday a month ago so I can use it for #4
#4 Read a book for fun- by now I have usually devoured 5 or more books. The librarian knows I only come by in the summer. I wonder if she has missed me?
#5 Sleep in with out guilt- I mean is 9am really a bad time too get up?
#6 Figure out some monthly menus so we don't eat out all school year
#7 I don't' want to be an over achiever as my friend Missy called me the other day. That was definitely a 1st for me. In my whole 35 years of life I have never been called an over achiever.
#8 Be as bored out of my mind as possible because that may not happen again until Christmas break!

Another post without a picture- sorry. I'm too tired to figure out something to put here.
I took my last test a couple of minutes ago. Didn't do so good. But if my teacher has any grace in him I may squeaked an A from the class. Otherwise a B isn't the worst thing that could have happened right?

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
This quote has always fascinated me. How two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. One person can think it is beautiful beyond words and another person will want to hurl at the sight. We are truly made individually and different.
I've also spent some time thinking about my definition of beauty. It has changed over the years. Things that were once beautiful have now faded or change or don't compare to something else I've seen.
Beauty is relative.
It relates to other things we have seen. We compare things to each other to determine beauty.
The more things I see the more things I have to relate to.
Times in my life work the same way. They all relate to each other. How can I know I'm having a bad day if I have nothing to relate it to. I have had good days and bad days. I've had really great days and days that I don't want to remember.
Today is one of those that I don't want to remember. We have made the announcement that the store is closing. Eight years of hard work is coming to an end. Eight years of sacrificing- over. Eight years of meeting someone new every day- done. Eight years of never knowing for sure what the day would hold when you walked in the door- complete.
Complete..... now I'm not sure that's true. I don't feel done and I certainly don't feel complete.
Back to the beauty thing.... Right now I'm sure my life does not seem beautiful. But some where down the road when I look back on this time in my life I will see beauty. I'll have this ugly time to compare it to and the future will seem beautiful.
Right now I'm looking up. Not forward, not backward, not down, not all around just straight up. Sometimes I'm laying down. Sometimes I'm on my knees because that is as far as I got that day. But someday I'm going to stand, then walk, then run again. And the day will be even more spectacular because today was not very pretty at all.
And I'm holding on to the promise that if God brings you to it He will bring you through it.

Is it really July 17th already? NO WAY!!!!!

Today is Leland's birthday. Guess how old he is.... *hint* REALLY OLD! 40 I'm not old enough to be married to a 40 year old. They'll probably arrest him he so old and I'm so young :)

What's happened in the last 3 weeks since I've checked in?

Well I've had a birthday (I'm still not as old as Leland),

the 4th of July,

volleyball tournaments,

Fuller Family Fun,

boy scout camps,

many test and projects for school,

life changing decisions....

I know I can't make comments like that and not explain but I will have to tell you more in the very near future.

I am learning lessons. Some lessons are not fun to learn.

Here's the most important lesson that I think I finally have learned: All things work together for the good for those who love Him.

When God gives you a path to walk you need to walk that path. Don't stop and ask questions just walk the path. Walk the path even when it's dark and you can only see a foot ahead of where you are going. Keep walking. Walk around that REALLY scary corner. Walk though the beautiful fields of flowers and be thankful for the beauty. Walk up the mountain. Walk through the valley. Just walk. And when you stop walking, get on your knees and pray. Then you can get up and walk again.

So we are walking. It's a little steep right now. But I can't wait to get to the top and see what the view is like!

Well I thought June was trying to kill me. BUT IT DIDN'T!!!!

HA June I survived you'll have to try harder next time!

Well the kids went to camp this week. Makayla finished up volleyball and basketball. And I am actually getting ahead on my school work.

So I dare July to even try anything funny!

I haven't had time to upload any pictures so I'll leave you with a picture I took a year or two ago. I love barns. I'm not sure why but old barns are so beautiful. Maybe it's because they are so functional. They are reminders of our past. I don't know but I LOVE taking pictures of them. I've never seen a round barn before. This one is south of town on a century farm, which means this farms has been in the same family for more than 100 years. 100 years of the same family living in the same house on the same land. Isn't that amazing?

I am pretty sure that June is trying to kill me! Jordan did get to play 2 more games at the ball park. 200 people showed up one evening to get 2 of the fields playable.
Hannah just has one more make up game on Monday and she is done too. It's bitter sweet. I wish I didn't have so much going on so I could just go out there and enjoy the game. But I'll also be glad to not be at a ball game every night of the week.
Makayla has one more volleyball game in her Monday night league this Monday and she is done also.
Hannah had volleyball camp this week. She missed one day because she was sick. But she had a great time!
Makayla has basketball team camp this next week. She isn't really looking forward to that. Oh goody I'm sure I'll get to drag her out of bed everyday.
Hannah, Jordan and Leland will be at church camp part of this next week too.
Our June has been pack with activities. I'm looking forward to July coming and things slowing down!
I'm still plugging along with school. I'm not really liking this summer school gig!

We got a little rain today! It washed Jordan's ball field away.

:(

The season may be over. Bummer!

Boo Hoo

I'm a huge whine bag!

I was driving down the road yesterday feeling sorry for myself and VERY overwhelmed. I seem to feel this way too often. Usually I can kick my own butt or at least call Susan who is always good for some butt kicking. But yesterday I was just enjoying myself. I was doing some deep down wallering (sp?) in my problems.

Now if you have not figured out by now I am fascinated with clouds. I have a whole folder on my computer with cloud pictures. I'm not sure how I have not killed myself staring at these thing as I drive down the street.

Yesterday I looked up from my pity party and this is what I saw up ahead. See the light shining down from the clouds. (It was MUCH brigther in person.) The light was shinning right on the road. On one side of the road there were sunny skies, on the other a tornado had just touched down.

And all I could think about was "This is how God must speak to people like me". I'm pretty sure He was saying "Hey what am I? Why aren't you talking to me about this? Hey you, I'm here! Let me help. Why are you so stubborn? Why on earth do you enjoy complaining so much." Well when you hear God say things like that you can straighted yourself up pretty quickly. I had to stop and grab some pictures before God got quite again. So I pulled over and grabbed the camera. As soon as I put the lens cap on I looked up and the hole in the clouds was gone. Weird huh?

So I'm going to do my best to let go of the overwhelmed feeling. I'll just do what I can do for the day. I'll not fret about the to do list.

And I'll keep looking up for the answers!

Sad day! I'm know I'm weird for taking pictures of this but it has been REALLY bothering me that I knew the day was coming. I would think about it at night when I couldn't sleep. I have been fretting about it....

My transportation turned 100,000 today! Stupid thing to fret huh? We are now without warranty. So who knows what will happen now.

I even took before and after pictures. I told you it was a little twisted!

But then I stopped. I was afraid of what you all would think of me if I stopped every mile to take a picture of my odometer. And yes dad I did stop to take the pictures. Please notice the speedometer.

Leland said that I needs to update this thing. I agree!

Things are a little busy right now. It seems like I say that in every post. Some day I'm going to run away with a stack of books and find me a beach to lay on. Until then....

The kids are out of school. You would think that would mean we are just hanging out but that is not the case. Makayla has church camp this week. I told her to ignore the boys and get this attitude thing worked on. Think she'll listen to me? I doubt it too. She also started volleyball again last Friday. They will play on Monday nights in June. She is also in a basketball league on Tuesday nights. She is not quit as happy about that idea. Until she figures out what she wants to do she will still need to stay active in basketball.

Hannah has basketball camp in the mornings this week. And between Jordan and Hannah we have a ball game every night this week.

Jordan is the only one vegging out this week. Other than ball games he is free.

My classes started Monday. So I am eyeball deep in homework. I'm trying to stay ahead of the game.

Summer is going to whiz by.

I have not been doing a very good job of taking pictures lately. I'm going to fix that this week.

I do have pictures of the last day of school, except Hannah and they are on the camera card that went to camp with Makayla. Should have looked at that before I sent it with her.

I hope you are having a great summer. I will try and do better with keeping up with the blog.

Later!

Found the Dairy Farm pictures. I feel better now!

Since May 8th....
Hannah has had 4 softball games
Jordan had had 3 games
Jordan went to a dairy farm for a field trip (as soon as I find that card I'll post some pictures)
Hannah and Jordan had Cougar Olympics at school
Leland took the kids to Roaring River for the weekend to enjoy Kid's fishing day
Makayla has been buster he hump finishing up her classes and getting ready for finals
And I've had a class everyday
SO... I haven't been posting much. I'm fact in my spare time I've been doing laundry and cleaning the house.
We have ball games every night this week and Makayla has finals all week. Friday is the last day of school for the kids. I always feel out of sorts this time of year. Too much change. Too much business. Too much rushing to finish things up. Just tooooooo mucchhhhh!
So I'm feeling out of sorts this week trying to get over it! I dont even have a picture to add to this post. Sorry!!!!! I'll get it together soon I promise!
Later!

I'm not sure what it is about the game of baseball. But it is one of those games that I LOVE! I love the green grass, cool nights, fans cheering, the crack of the bat, playing catch in the yard... I'm not sure what it is but I love watching Jordan play ball. Maybe I love it so much because he loves it so much. Setting at the game makes me feel connected to the past. It seems like such an American thing to do. I wish I was a writer and I could describe how I feel when we are at a game.

Here are some pictures from Jordan's 1st game:

He is playing 3rd base and left fielder.

I'M DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

For 5 more days anyway.

We had another busy weekend. (By the way, they are all busy!)

Jordan had his first ball game on Friday. I have pictures I have to get off the good camera. (Sorry Chrissy not trying to rub it in).

Saturday I scrapbooked all day. What else would I do on National Scrapbook Day?

Sunday we went to a Springfield Cardinals game. It was hot and long but we had fun.

Monday Hannah had a ball game but it was cancelled due to the field being a mud puddle. Jordan had practice and Makayla had her Spring concert at school. We worked it out but I sure and glad Hannah's games was canceled.
Here are some pictures of the game:

Picture 1 is us!

Picture 2 is our view from our seats.

Picture 3 is our seats in the sun. It was only 85 degrees and 90% humidity and the sun was on us for 2.5 hours. At one point I look over home plate and see TONS of seat open that are in the shade. So off we went! (We are almost to the end of the stadium)

Picture 4 is what it looks like from behind home plate. Sure wish I had thought of that an hour before!

It's been another busy week!

I have basically finished school. I have one more test I should take on Monday. Then I have one week off until I start again! Oh Boy!

We started ball this week. I'll get those pictures posted later.

Makayla had a field trip that I went on. We went to KC and visited Truman's Library and the National WWI museum. Did I remember my camera? Heck no! Not when you have to get up at 5:30am and be to school by 6:30am. I'm lucky to have remembered myself!

Later week I said "To heck with it all!" and ran away with my friends! We went to Springfield Friday night and scrapbooked. I'm going to post my pages. Nothing award winning but they are DONE!

I also did 4 kits for the store and I have all my classes caught up for the month. Yes I'm bragging Christina!

Anyway, I still have Blue and Gold Banquet picture to get on here. And we are going to Springfield Cardinals game tomorrow. I plan on getting caught up on pictures next week!

Thanks for checking in!

I wanted to pass along this devotional email I received the other day. I thought it was worth reading. I hope you do too.
I added a picture of our lilacs this spring before the snow destroyed them (because post without pictures ARE boring!). They sure smelled good!


Living Above Your Circumstances
Her letter was long. Page after page she went on about every aspect of her miserable life.
In between the accounts of her husband's unemployment and her high blood pressure, this woman managed to weave each and every detail of their broken down cars, leaking roof, busted faucets, ungrateful children, delinquent taxes, nosy neighbors, empty retirement account and unpaid bills. I'm telling you, by the time I reached the word that for me spelled relief (Sincerely), I was nearly worn out.
My immediate reaction was a sympathetic, “Oh, you poor thing!” I mean really, the way she carried on I was nearly convinced she was enduring troubles and pressures way beyond the legal limit. Her situation as she described it did appear to be without solution.
I couldn't help but wonder how things would be if she won the lottery, which according to her hastily written postscript was her only source of hope. That would certainly let me off the hook because the point of her letter was for me to fix her, her family—her life. She was looking for a fairy godmother, complete with wand, who would magically return everything to normal, whatever that is. I've read about fairy godmothers and I can assure you, I'm no fairy godmother.
Some people allow their problems and pressures to control their lives. Whether they live under their circumstances or above them has nothing to do with the troubles themselves, but how they view them.
Those who live under their circumstances see every calamity as a catastrophe. They choose to be victims; they whine, complain and carry on.
Those who live above their circumstances are not in denial. They simply choose to see these times as hair-pin curves on the road of life that will straighten out soon.
While you live and breathe on Planet Earth you will experience troubles and pressures from time to time and in varying degrees. It doesn't matter how wealthy, educated, noble or good you are. Life cannot be separated from periods of adversity. Here are some basic steps to help you gain control of your circumstances:
CHOOSE JOY. One thing that distinguishes you from the animal kingdom is your ability to control your attitude. You choose your thoughts, so for today choose joy.
SMILE ON PURPOSE . Regardless of how you are feeling, greet the next person you see (even if it is a family member) with a smile and sincere pleasantry such as, “Isn't this a wonderful day?”
DON'T DWELL ON PROBLEMS. Refuse to worry unless you have a pencil and paper in front of you. With those tools in hand your worrying automatically becomes a planning session. Write down creative and positive ideas.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY DISGUISES. Your troubles are brilliant opportunities disguised as impossible situations. Those who recognize this truth are experts at turning lemons into lemonade.
What you can do matters much more than what you can't. Focus on getting through the mess or if it's not going away, find a way to joyfully persevere. Your greatness will never be measured by wealth or position but by what it takes to make you quit. That's why you must never, ever give up. No matter what. EC

Makayla went to her second Quinceanera tonight. I took some pictures of course. We ran out today and picked up the dress. We found a real deal- $15. I LOVE it when that happens. And she already had to shoes. This was much cheaper than the 1st one we went to. And yes she is JUST 14!

Hannah cleaned out her daddy's truck. She was earning some money. And Jordan went camping with the Boy Scouts this weekend. I'll have to get some pictures from Leland and post them later.

I know its the wrong season for this pictures. But it's all I've got right now. I don't have time to get pictures off the camera and make them small enough for the blog. So this one is from the fall. We all raked mom and dad's yard. Man the Oak trees can make some leaves.

Baseball is in full swing here. Hannah and Jordan both have 2 practices a week on different days of course. So we don't have any free nights. Good thing volleyball is over for a couple of weeks.

School is wrapping up for everyone. It's time for field trips. Tomorrow Hannah and Jordan are headed to MSSU for a play. They had MAPS (state testing) last week.

I wrote my research paper and finished up with another class yesterday. My favorite English teacher is making my paper worth turning in. I may give her nervous break down before it's all done though. Thanks Christina for getting me though this class. You can walk across the stage with me in a couple of years. I will be done with classes by next Wednesday.

Well I didn't have much to say I just wanted to check in. I'm getting ready to head to Springfield to work for the day.

Have a great day!

We were in Topeka KS all weekend at Volleyball Regionals. We don't want to talk about how we did. We went home VERY early on Sunday. Bummer!
These are just some funny pictures we took that weekend. And one of Makayla getting a block. We came home and crashed. Got up this morning and started another week. The kids only 5 more weeks of school! I could be done in 3 of a teacher would post a test for me next week. I'm excited about that. Then I start about the 3rd week of May. I'm not excited about that!
Anyway, have a great week. We just have ball practices this week and homework. Should be a pretty easy week. :)