I can't believe I'm saying this...

...but I am SOOO excited about Pope Francis!  I have NEVER been excited about a Pope.  But Cody and I were just talking about his background, and for the first time since leaving NC, I feel hopeful for the Catholic Church.  Maybe we can be more than what we've become - maybe we can finally have a faith with the people, instead of holding our faith over the people.  I'll be praying for him.  Perhaps Pope Francis is God's way of leading us to a better, more understanding, compassionate church.  One where we finally stop worrying about other peoples 'sins' and shortcomings, and instead embrace one another in love.  A church where we lift each other up to be the best that God wants us to be, instead of labeling our shortcomings.  After all, there's only been one Man who stood sinless and perfect among us.  And it isn't any of us!

LOVE to all...

Sushi!

So our policy with grades has always been this:

Good grades are your job - we don't pay for grades.  We DO, however, reward for good grades!  We have dates.  A/B honor roll with one (high) C lets you pick one:  lunch, a toy, or a movie.  A/B Honor roll gets you two choices, and all A's?  All three things!

Now that Josh is in college, he only gets grades at the end of each semester, so I tried to make the reward a good one for his first semester in college.  So (with the help of Groupon), he and I went to Madame Saito's Sushi making course!  It was really nice; he and I improved our skills, learned new terms and techniques, and shared some Plum wine.  Well, I shared some with him, not the other way around!  It was a great date, and something he can use when he visits Obachan again.

My first roll - Hosomaki (cucumber and wasabi).

  
  

  

                           

             

   

Madame Saito teaches Josh how to fillet the salmon.

  

Love to all...  XOXOXO

Breakfast for mom...

This weekend Hans and Bethany had a "be good to Mommy" morning and made breakfast for me!  Everyone enjoyed it, but they made it especially for me;  Hans was in charge of the table and decorations (and supposedly had the idea), and Bethany had a recipe she wanted to try, so she made the food.  It was a Blueberry Shortcake recipe, which she made Vegan, and it was AWESOME!  Plus Hans made origami swans, with blue water for them to float on, and a couple of lotus flowers.  It was really lovely, and incredibly thoughtful!  The swans didn't make it - not enough crayon on them - but we fixed up a lotus flower really good, and it will float for a while.  Thank you, kiddos!

This was SO delicious - a restaurant quality breakfast treat.  We all loved it!

Man that boy is good at origami...

Something happy!

So a couple of funny items to brighten our day.  The first is for you, Mom.  (And Cindy, you'll appreciate it, too!)  The next is just funny - plumbers are the butt of so many jokes!  HAHAHAHA...

It's like a train wreck - you can't look away!

  

Chicago

So, as far as travel, this was the worst experience ever.  We had hours of delays, bad weather, bad turbulence, and even a cancelled flight.  We finally got back home Tuesday, the 26th, and Hans was under the weather.  It was a stressful weekend, and I think the lack of sleep and motion sickness got to him as well.  (He got sick Tuesday evening, but that was it - I kept him home on Wed. to make sure, though).  Monday I took him to the Dr's, and overall he was fine (low grade fever), but I've been getting him to bed earlier and just getting back up to speed.  He's doing much better now!

Bethany was great - they were both troopers, and Monday night she got to have a suite at the hotel all to herself!  She LOVED it...  It was an overwhelming experience in general, but we got there and back safely, and I was grateful that I was there for Hans at the prayer gathering (at the wake), since he broke down during that (a little).

Overall, for me, this was an awful experience, one I will not ever repeat.  Cody was kind enough to let me buy last minute plane tickets for 3, hotel for the weekend, and a rental car, just so Bethany and Hans could be with their grandmother, dad, and family - to give and receive support during this time.  I wasn't told until AFTER we arrived, that - on his death bed - their grandpa still harbored such hate, venom, and a lack of forgiveness for me, that I wasn't even allowed to take the kids up to the door.  Tante Bridgette and Debbie were the only 2 people to acknowledge me on their own, and after the prayers at the wake I was told to leave.  (I made sure Hans and Bethany were okay, but since they were, I left quietly).  The kids' family - NO ONE - even looked at me at the funeral, and their grandmother didn't even acknowledge my presence.  NOT ONCE.  Not even to thank me for bringing her grandchildren to see her.

So, I've heard a few worse stories about families since then (and so I have other people to pray for who have it worse than me), but I am   D O N E.   Cody and I have paid for tickets for the kids in the past (because it was important that they see their other family), we've give the Schumachers financial support - LOTS - in the past (even when their own children wouldn't give them money), a fact they hid from 'grandpa' because he would be SO angry to know we gave them money...     And I'm just finished.  Having to listen to them talk about this kind, loving, forgiving man at the funeral:  who were they talking about?  Because the deceased man that had all these people coming to say goodbye had such a deep, poisonous hatred, that over TEN YEARS LATER people who had no business judging me were gossiping and hating me at a funeral!    Instead of supporting each other, the hate he left behind filled the rooms.  Ugh.  What sad hearts they must have; filling them with hatred for someone (me) they hardly know, who did nothing to them.  Seriously - John and I were married; no one else.  And Cody is perhaps the only person who really knows how bad that marriage was.  My marriage to John ended the day I brought Bethany home from the hospital, and a grown man - now a father - had left our home in such horrid disarray, I thought we'd been burglarized.  After months in a hospital, an emergency C-section, Bethany in NICU for a week, to come home to a house like that...  Anything left in me had broken then.  And 6 months of severe Post-partem depression after and one suicide attempt, and NO help from him?  He nailed the casket shut on our marriage.  So there's some insight into that.  I should have ended us some other way, but at that point I was struggling to hang on to my sanity, and care for everyone by myself.  Including John, who - if you remember - had broken his leg on a jump.  So I was caring for EVERYONE, and working 13 hours, plus weekends, and our asshole commander and first sgt. were NOT helping like they promised, they were making my life harder.  And no one helped me get through that.

Folks, I'm a sinner.  Have done some awful things in my life, and to others lives.  I have never said otherwise.  And I know my ex-father-in-law hated me, and that was fine.  It was a narrow-minded approach to things he didn't understand, but I didn't care.  But to see that infect others?  <shaking head>  That is so sad.  All the horrible things I've done in my life, all the horrible things done to me, all those experiences...  they have made me who I am today.  And I try - everyday - to be a better person.  To try my best not to judge.  To struggle to be understanding and caring of others needs.  To teach my children to WAIT, WAIT, WAIT for the right person.  I am a poster child for "don't get married too soon", and if that means that my experiences will keep my children from making some of my crappy mistakes, then it was worth it.  And if they make some of the same mistakes?  I'll be here to help pick them up.  Because that's how I choose to be - the one who learns from her mistakes, tries her damnedest not to repeat them, and to make life a little better for the next person.

So the good news?  I'm working on forgiving them (my anger is tripping me up a little, but just a little - I'm almost over it), and getting my loving family back on track to improve the rest of the year.  It's been a rough year thus far, but we'll get better!  And just in time for the snow storm!

Love to all...    Seriously.  I'm sending lots of love out to everyone.

(how about some cute pics of the kids?)

The cute kangaroo outside of the Outback
at the Cincinnati airport.  She's sharing her

lollipop!

  

On the monorail after our cancelled flight.  Hans was being
a Pokemon or something...  But always cute!

    

  

On the plane

Yesterday, Bethany, Hans and I FINALLY made it to Chicago.  We had about a 4 hour delay in Cincinnati, but God must've heard my prayers because we made it!  I'm so grateful; and today they are hanging out with family, hopefully having a great time with Oma and their cousins.  Here's what the flight looked like yesterday...

  

Bethany was so cute - and tired!

Well...  since I have the day to myself, I think I'll see Beautiful Creatures.  And I hope to get some time in at the exercise room they have here.  Wish me luck - you know I can get distracted!

Love to all...

Love and other heartaches...

Bethany, Hans and I are off to Chicago tomorrow for Opa's funeral. He passed away Wednesday morning, after a lengthy duration of dialysis and a life of living with diabetes. I only mention this because now – for those of us who know he's in heaven – he will have an eternal life free of pain, with his mother and brother, and all his other family. It's still sad; I told Bethany and Hans that losing a loved one is – possibly – the most difficult thing to do in life. For most of us, we're never ready to say goodbye; even when it means a better life for that person. It's the selfish side of love; well, there are many selfish sides to love, but this one is bittersweet, and comes from a caring part of our hearts.

On the brighter side, we are extremely grateful Obachan is recovering nicely, and that God was watching over her when she needed help (and Richard and Michelle, too – what an amazing daughter!). This year has started off rather rough; people in the hospital, hospice, passing away – sickness and death. But for all those hard things we've had to deal with, so many have been miraculous blessings. My sister had a cancer scare that turned out to be a poorly read mammogram; thank you, God! Josh got terribly sick a couple weeks ago, gave it to Cody and I, but Bethany and Hans were spared – AMEN! Whoohoo!!! Obachan got the medical help she needed right away, and is recovering... how wonderful!

I apologize if this sounds a little 'preachy' (the AMEN; too much??), but it's important to remember all the things we have to be grateful for, and every one of you reading this is someone I'm grateful to have in my life. So I'll be thinking of you, sending a little prayer of love out to you, and smiling inside as I pack a black outfit to say goodbye. Because love never really leaves – it just changes location.

Skiing Shawnee

We had a great day today - a nice family day we've needed to 'reconnect'. We took our time with the trip itself... Slept in a little, packed up the car, then had nice breakfast at Cafe 11 before we hit the road. Bethany and Hans napped on the drive up here, and then we checked in, had some lunch and got settled. Finally, we hit the slopes, and the powder was awesome! Came back to the resort for some dinner and a movie, and then Cody and I got to do some night skiing; it was like a date! And now everyone is exhausted. Goodnight...

 
  I wanted it to look like I was running into the tree, but - as Josh pointed out - it looks like I'm singing.  A skiing musical?  Could be!

The weekend...

Will be an opportunity to get away and spend some time together!  We went skiing last weekend, at Camelback Mountain, and it was very nice - but there was a snow storm that made it difficult to see, for several hours.  (Plus, skiing is NOT the easiest sport, and we weren't fully ready for more than a day.  LOL)  And it wasn't just me, due to my age!  ; )


Right now the blizzard is coming through downtown Philly; I had dance class tonight while Josh and Cody went to a play (a requirement for Josh's acting class).  The snow was really starting to come down, but just as we passed the airport, it was almost nothing.  So fresh powder in the Poconos tomorrow!  Hahahaha...

Our thoughts are with all the people further north and in Canada who are being hit by the storm.  We're praying for your safety, and that everyone is watched over.  And hi to my parents, down in sunny Florida - THIS is why you're down there!   <insert diabolical laughter>.

BTW...  I did it!  The Social Sec. Admin. acknowledged that I DID NOT have to pay back the overpayment they gave Josh.  YAY!!!!  Thanks Dad, for making me so stubborn.



            

   

       

Love to all...

Happy Birthday to ... ME!

So, I turned 41 today...  Not really a milestone.  More like wet sand in my underwear.  Annoying, but it will go away soon.  (The annoyance - not the age.  Darn.)

It was a laid-back day, taking the kids to school, running errands; Cody joined Josh and I for lunch, and I spent the afternoon helping Hans with the last of his school project.  Plus today was Bethany's day to have peanuts reintroduced into her diet, so I made Buckeye Bars for everyone to enjoy.  (They're the lazy version of Buckeye's - I spread the peanut butter in a lined pan, then pour the chocolate on top and cut into bars once the chocolate is set.  Delicious AND easy!)

Cody and the kids got me WONDERFUL presents, and most of them were inexpensive (which I love!).  Cody got me a really nice pair of silicone oven mitts (red) that I needed; my other ones were so old, there were thin parts that would get me burned.  And fun!!! new toys for my camera!  An awesome 5-in-1 foldable reflector, and some lovely lens filters.  I am so excited!  Bethany got me a beautiful autumn leaf candle, some Papaya scented tea lights (for the christmas gift she got me), and a bag of coconut M&M's.  Yum.  (And a dollar from Hans - I won't spend it all in one place!)

And thanks to mom and dad for the beautiful shirt (purple) and lovely scarf from Italy, with the crocheted edging (also purple)!  I got a lot of calls from everyone wishing me a happy birthday; so I need to return calls, but know that I appreciate all the well wishes!

Have a great weekend - love to all!

Comments are working!

"Wile E. Coyote - SUPER genius!"

So, it was actually pretty simple - which makes me feel a little dumb - but the comments seem to be working now.  Yay!

For all those reading this (and I know that's a small number), please keep a couple of people in your thoughts and prayers...

+  Josh's Obachan, who suffered a ruptured aneurism last week (but is strong and stubborn, and seems to be doing REALLY well)....

+  And Katie, my sister.  She's getting a second follow-up after something unusual showed up on her mammogram.  I'm sure God is watching out for her, and it's probably something minor, but praying for all those things can only help!

Thanks so much for all the love you constantly send our way, and for all the good things you do.  My love and gratitude to you all...