Wallpaper

I spent pretty much the entire day yesterday getting wallpaper off my kitchen walls. Not really even the whole kitchen, just the breakfast area. AND, the wallpaper was only below the chair rail. I thought it would be a snap. I thought I would have all the paper off, the walls prepped, and new paper up all in one day. So much for my plans...

Jessica and I took the wallpaper off the walls in her bathroom last summer. It came right off -- we hardly had to work at all. In fact, we didn't texture the walls or anything after we took the paper down. They were in perfect shape. We just painted the walls neon orange. Her bathroom glows! It's amazing how much easier the job was when there was a good foundation. Someone (the house builder) took the time to prep the walls upstairs in the bathroom but not the kitchen.

So yesterday I sprayed the walls with wallpaper remover, scraped (even with my fingernails at times - yikes!), sanded, scraped more, sanded more. I finally painted the Clear Wall Size on at about 9:00 last night. Next time, that paper will come off!

Isn't that just the way life is? Really, when you get to those hard spots -- and they will come, they always do -- isn't it so much better if you have a good foundation? You can run to God and pour your heart out. The relationship is familiar and comforting and safe. Not like those times when you've been negligent in your relationship with Him. You've got to work so much harder just re-establishing the relationship. Not because He's not there but something has come between you. The long days of working and scraping and doing all the prep work... Ugh!

I would rather pull wallpaper off a prepped wall than go through yesterday ever again.

So it is between me and God. I think I'll just stick right here in the close spot -- it's the best place to be.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Happy Memorial Day!

We're headed to a cook-out with some friends in a while but so far today we've been working in the yard -- getting ready for the big pool/graduation party for Josh & Monica on Saturday. Here's some pics from the day! Let me just add, however, that I am so thankful to live in America. Despite our faults, this is the best country on the face of the planet. I've been to some places around the world where people are not free and are living in dire circumstances. I am thankful for those who have gone before me who have provided for my very freedom. My cousin, even now, is in Iraq. I am thankful for him and his service, even as his wife and two small children are left in the US without him. I am mostly thankful to God because I could have been born anywhere -- thank You, You are so Good! Praise Your Holy Name!

Johnny on the roof getting ready to paint. The hail a few weeks ago literally pounded the paint off the house. We couldn't get a painter out here before Saturday (because everyone's house needs repainting!!) so he's doing it himself.

My old cooler thing I pulled out of PawPaw's barn filled with plants...

If you look really closely you can see my very first tomato...can you see it? I kind of got a late start on my garden but here's my row of beans and my row of squash!
Have a great holiday!! Jeanette

Prom Day

It's prom day for Mansfield High School. Josh got some help from his dad putting on the tux -- Jacob took a turn trying on the vest (he is such a funny kid!) --
This is just before Josh walked out the door to pick up Monica --
Jessica and I followed Josh to Monica's house so she could see Monica's dress. Josh was in a group of 10 couples that rented 2 limos to go to prom. The first stop, however, was the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth. Johnny and I drove over (as did several of the other parents) and followed the kids around the gardens taking pictures. Ours was not the only group at the gardens. There were several groups there. We went to dinner, following the picture-taking and after we sent our kids on their way, with some other parents. It was all a lot of fun. I must rest, however, because I am working 12:30-3:30 (AM!!) at the big after-prom party at the high school. For this privilege (cough, cough) I spent a few hours volunteering to prepare for the big event. Not only did I sell cookies a few weeks ago, I spent 6 hours yesterday decorating for the big event. These parents really know how to put on a party!

Today is just another reminder of how close we are to graduation. It's just a little over 2 weeks away. Next weekend we will have Josh and Monica's graduation pool party. The next weekend the grandparents will arrive and we will celebrate once again. I am totally amazed at how quickly it will be here. The day that I have thought about, planned for, anticipated all this year (at least this year) is almost here. My boy is just about to spread his wings and fly out of the nest.

Today, however, (err tonight) I hope he is having a blast! He and Monica looked beautiful -- and they are both really great kids!

I've got to go rest....Jeanette

Every 15 minutes

My son's girlfriend, Monica, is dead. Not really -- don't panic. She's here, though, with white face paint and a copy of her obituary that her mom had to write a few weeks ago. They announced at school today that she had died in a tragic car accident involving a drunk driver. There was a portrayal of a fatal car crash on the school parking lot where a student died, one went to the hospital, and one went to jail after failing the drunk driving test. The parents of all the students who die today, every 15 minutes, will be contacted by the police and one of the pastors from our church. The sound of a heartbeat plays over the intercom at school, slowing down until all you hear is the sound of a flat line. A student is taken from class by the grim reaper amd the obituary is read.

Actually, according to the website for the organization in charge of "Every 15 Minutes" someone dies in accident related to alcohol every 15 minutes. In a news report recently on FoxNews.com, it was stated that 115 fatal accidents occur on US roadways every day. 115. 80% of those are reportedly caused by distracted driving. The article was about cell phone use while driving. Texting is the particular cause for concern among teenagers.

Although my son does not drink, he is often out on the road feeling invincible as most teenagers do. "It won't happen to me," is a common way of thinking for teens. He probably talks on his cell phone and even texts. I encourage him not to. Today is a sobering reminder that we are not invincible and that life is precious. Although the visits to the homes by the police and pastor are not real today, they could be. All the more reason to pray like crazy and teach them while we can.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Yard Work

Or maybe I should just title this blog "exhaustion." I worked in the yard for the better part of today. I put out some new plants, pulled tons of weeds and grass that had grown in my flower beds, and also planted a couple of cantaloupe plants in my garden. Maybe I should say I put 1 1/2 cantaloup plants out because the puppy managed to get ahold of one before I had a chance to plant it.

Jacob is gone to Schlitterbahn today with his middle school band. They had to be at school at 3 am. No, that's not a typo - I did mean 3 in the morning. Repeatedly today I have thought about him, prayed for him, and hoped he remembered to put on that sunscreen I put in his bag last night.

So, I am sitting here eating a bag of nuts that my friend, Melissa, coated in some kind of spicy yumminess. I am contemplating getting out my notes for my Life Group lesson tomorrow. I know I should (and I will) but I am just so darned tired -- and now my mouth is burning a little bit. The lesson is on mentoring and the Scripture text is the account of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha. (literally and figuratively!)

I love old things. I pulled a bunch of stuff most people would call junk out of Johnny's PawPaw's barn after he died. I brought two old coolers home and they've been sitting in my garage for almost three years. They are old metal coolers that you could fill with water or another beverage and there's the spout thing at the bottom -- you know, you press the button and the drink comes out. One is label "Igloo" and the other is "Artic Boy." I pulled them out of the garage and filled them with dirt and flowers and put them out in my yard. The old and the new are pretty cool together.

People who are older than us, who have already walked where we are walking have much to offer. I know a lady at my church who really is not that much older than me but she already has adult children. I will call her for advice in a heartbeat -- and have done so on more than one occasion.

The apostle Paul gave some pretty good advice for the body of Christ when he wrote that older women are to set a good example by the way they live and to teach the younger women. He wrote similar instructions for the guys, too. (Titus 2)

The body of Christ, encouraging one another, living to build one another up. A thing of beauty, like my flowers!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Memory Lapse

You would think I would remember some things - big things, like, what it takes to get a driver's license in the state of Texas. I've done the "Parent Taught" driver's ed once, I should remember what it's all about. But no, I don't. Jessica reminded me it's only been 2 years since her older brother got his license. A little over two years, I reminded her, thank you very much. Alas, I forgot. For goodness sakes, I've got all the information for a master's degree in my brain. (jk, of course. It doesn't even sound like a good excuse!) So, today I printed out the form from the DPS and sent off for the info to get started with driver's ed. While I will miss having a teenage driver in my house when Josh leaves (yes, I do like having a teenage driver -- it's someone to run errands, pick up siblings, etc.) I can hardly believe I will have another one driving. Wow! We will be cutting it close for her to get her permit within 6 months of her 16th birthday. In some ways too close and in some ways not near far enough away...

I had big plans for this week. BIG PLANS. House cleaning, yard work, organization of the chaos that's happened over the past months. That didn't happen either. Two dentist appts. for 2 different teenagers, I took 2 shopping on 2 separate days, I took the Sr. to order flowers for prom, I shopped for a project board for a middle school project, I helped organize and type a works cited page for a research paper for the senior. I'm worn out and hardly anything is crossed off my original list. Why, you might ask, am I typing instead of working. I don't know, is the answer.

Now I've got to get off. This computer has the best monitor and Jess must watch last week's episode of "Lost" before the new one comes on tonight... and I've got to get back to the list.

Serving the King,
(even though it doesn't seem like it this week)

Jeanette

Tuesday

I keep feeling like I should be doing some homework...I've been really busy today and yesterday catching up on stuff. I worked in the yard yesterday. Johnny built me a raised area in the back (for my mother's day gift -- the kids got me Brighton sunglasses!) so I could plant some veggies in my yard. I bought 4 tomato plants and a watermelon plant. I really want cantaloupe so I'm in search of that. It may be a little late to start seeds but I also put out beans seeds, squash seeds, and cilantro seeds. I started basil, parsley, and mint in my kitchen and have transferred the basil and parsley outside. I can't wait to see how my first try at growing vegetables goes. When I was growing up not only did we have a few cows we also had a huge garden every year. I hated picking beans, peas, etc., when I was a teenager but I only hope I get something to pick this year.

I watched American Idol without guilt tonight because I wasn't doing it when I should have been reading for school. Now that our Texas boy, Jason Castro, is out I'm a big fan of David Cook. I think he was great tonight! Even though I think it will be the two Davids as the final 2 it's a toss-up for me between David A. and Syesha.

Things are getting a little better for some of my friends in Burma. They even have some electricity. Things are really harsh for those that lived in the region where the cyclone hit the hardest. Thousands and thousands are homeless and hungry. Those that are experts in providing aid on a large scale are still not being allowed in the country so keep praying. Also keep praying for the ones that are in the country to have wisdom dealing with the situation on a day to day basis. Because they have some relief now it will be easier for them to concentrate on how to help those that need it the most. Also, please pray that as they hand out food to provide for the physical needs that they will have opportunity to tell of the Bread of Life!

Serving the King,

Jeanette