It is not a typical summer and I am not complaining. Usually it gets hot and humid around here and stays that way. And we have had our miserable days for sure. But they have been mixed with several very nice days along the way. Today for example the temperature never got above 80° F. I'll take as many of those as will come my way.
A HOMECOMING. We took a one night trip to Camden this weekend. It was the first time Pauline had been back since moving here in March, 2003. We left early Sunday morning and got there in time for the Phifer reunion. After that we spent a lot of time visiting with relatives before heading home yesterday afternoon. Pauline also ate lunch with some high school friends and stopped in to visit with former Wal-Mart associates. It really seemed strange going to Camden and staying in a hotel.
Nate was really cute at the reunion. They drew names for door prizes and Nate was the official name puller. Vicki snapped a cute picture of him with his hand in the bag.
THE GIFT OF DISCOURAGEMENT. Something happened the other day that reminded me of a story I forgot to write a few weeks ago. Some time last month I needed to replace the washers on our dripping bathroom faucet. I invited Ben to come help me and he was with me every step of the way. (I'm not sure how much he understood but it was fun to have him with me.)
After cutting the water off I got my channel lock pliers out to unscrew the top of the faucet. In nine years of use calcium had built up inside the faucet making it hard to unscrew. I was trying to be very careful as I did not want the jaws of the pliers to scratch up the surface of the fixture. After several attempts to get a good grip on the thing Ben finally looked up and me and said, "You're not too strong are you, Dad?"
FOLLOWING ORDERS. Nate is really picking up on English. He can't speak it but he sure understands a lot. There are many things he can do now when told, such as: get your shoes, put away your shoes, close your door, turn off your light, give me a kiss, get in the van, put your clothes away, water the plant (that's a cool one for him).
He is also getting a mean streak. He knows we don't like it when we give him his sippy cup and he throws it to the floor. Occasionally he'll trick us into giving it to him right after drinking some milk, throw the cup to the floor, and then look at us with an impish grin--the little booger.
TWO PRAYER REQUESTS. Pauline goes in for her second cataract surgery in the morning. If it is like the last one it will be a piece of cake!
We are beginning the process of shopping for another van. The last time we shopped for a vehicle I was literally sick at my stomach the whole time (which was several weeks). Anyone who enjoys haggling with car sales people is completely off their rocker in my book. At least I'll lose some weight.
Joe
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Monday, July 19, 2004
Mid-Summer Highlights
As I drive around I see that farmers are topping and oiling their tobacco now. As we get into hotter weather the cicadas (the annual kind) are starting to sing in the trees. I'll never forget the summer I spent as a summer missionary in Seoul, Korea. I was getting a little homesick when the cicadas began to sing in the trees there. Funny how I felt a whole lot better just hearing something familiar like that. I have always looked forward to hearing that insect every summer since then.
CLEAN UP. Aunt Mar hired a fellow to come work on her yard on Thursday, Will Haggard Chatman for those of you who know him. Vicki, the kids and I went over there and worked that afternoon after I got off work. Will had put in several hours of work and only gotten the back yard cleaned up. We helped him finish that up before dark. We came back the next afternoon and cleaned up everything in the side yard (toward the mailbox) and then today for the front yard. We are simply having to rake the entire thing and load all the twigs and stuff on my truck to haul away.
LITTLE FISH. Jenna and Ben have simply come a long way with their swimming lessons. Jenna can dive/belly flop off the diving board and swim to the edge of the pool very well. And Ben is is becoming more confident. He has always been happy to go in the water alone at the YMCA where the shallow end is essentially a concrete beach but now he is willing to walk around in the shallow end of a normal pool by himself. Swimming is a totally different picture than it was two weeks ago.
FULL STEAM AHEAD. The 35th Annual Thresherman's Show was held this weekend. I went both days to visit with Jackie's family and help out. The engine and separator were there of course and except for throwing a belt once it all ran very well (I hope I'm running that well when I'm 60-70 years old). We had really good weather for mid-July and there were lots of people at the show Saturday including Vicki, the kids, Mom and Pauline.
While I enjoyed seeing the equipment and helping out I had the most fun visiting with family. Jackie and family, I just want to say to all of you again how blessed I am to have relatives like you. I wish we lived closer together where we could see each other more frequently. In case we don't run into each other sooner I will look forward to seeing you next July.
MORE VBS. Jenna and Ben are attending Hero Quest at Cross Plains Methodist every evening this week. They seem to really enjoy it. I just want to know how it is that we can be free of two kids from 5:30 until 8:30 and the evening still gets away from us like sand through your fingers.
Joe
CLEAN UP. Aunt Mar hired a fellow to come work on her yard on Thursday, Will Haggard Chatman for those of you who know him. Vicki, the kids and I went over there and worked that afternoon after I got off work. Will had put in several hours of work and only gotten the back yard cleaned up. We helped him finish that up before dark. We came back the next afternoon and cleaned up everything in the side yard (toward the mailbox) and then today for the front yard. We are simply having to rake the entire thing and load all the twigs and stuff on my truck to haul away.
LITTLE FISH. Jenna and Ben have simply come a long way with their swimming lessons. Jenna can dive/belly flop off the diving board and swim to the edge of the pool very well. And Ben is is becoming more confident. He has always been happy to go in the water alone at the YMCA where the shallow end is essentially a concrete beach but now he is willing to walk around in the shallow end of a normal pool by himself. Swimming is a totally different picture than it was two weeks ago.
FULL STEAM AHEAD. The 35th Annual Thresherman's Show was held this weekend. I went both days to visit with Jackie's family and help out. The engine and separator were there of course and except for throwing a belt once it all ran very well (I hope I'm running that well when I'm 60-70 years old). We had really good weather for mid-July and there were lots of people at the show Saturday including Vicki, the kids, Mom and Pauline.
While I enjoyed seeing the equipment and helping out I had the most fun visiting with family. Jackie and family, I just want to say to all of you again how blessed I am to have relatives like you. I wish we lived closer together where we could see each other more frequently. In case we don't run into each other sooner I will look forward to seeing you next July.
MORE VBS. Jenna and Ben are attending Hero Quest at Cross Plains Methodist every evening this week. They seem to really enjoy it. I just want to know how it is that we can be free of two kids from 5:30 until 8:30 and the evening still gets away from us like sand through your fingers.
Joe
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Where, O Where Did My Vacation Go?
Where, O where can it be? It just got started good and now it is over. And Jenna has just four more weeks before she is back in school.
AUNT MAR is still doing well and Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob left on Thursday to go back to Florida. She was feeling well enough that we all went out to the Catfish House Wednesday night. She probably would have gone to church today except that she has to go to the hospital tomorrow for another test and is now taking medication to prepare her system for that test. Church was simply not the place for her to be this morning.
BACK TO WORK. I have gone back to work as of Tuesday. The 2004-2005 school year has started as far as I am concerned. I have four weeks to get several projects done before all the teachers come back. The good news is that we are adding two positions in our department and possibly offering a small supplement to one teacher for each school to do some light technology work after hours. Maybe we'll be able to be more effective this year--something I haven't felt in my job in over three years.
EARNING THEIR FINS. Jenna and Ben have completed their first week of swimming lessons at the YMCA this week (it is a two week course). We went swimming in Kenny and Lori's pool yesterday and I can tell a huge difference in both of them from last week. Jenna is very confident as she is jumping into the deep end and swimming to the side all on her own. The stroke she prefers on the water's surface is sort of a cross between freestyle and dog paddle but it gets the job done. She is also able to swim a 10-15 foot distance below the water's surface.
When we went swimming last weekend Ben DID NOT want to go in. And when one of us pulled him in he hugged the unfortunate parent to the point of choking us (not to mention his crying right in your ear). As of yesterday he will jump in to us and with assistance will attempt the basics. It is great to be able to stand in the pool with him and take in an unrestricted breath of air (and to hear him giggle).
FEED ME. Nate decided he was hungry the other day and went into the pantry to fix that little problem for himself. Vicki found him a little later sitting in the floor between two piles of cereal. It was a real mess and Vicki told him that this was bad. Nate looked up at her and smiled but seeing that she didn't return the smile he looked down and tried to hide the cereal in his hand. A moment later he tried his smile again but Vicki said, "No Nate. This is bad." After doing this another time or two he got up, helped her hold the dustpan as she swept up the mess and walked off saying, "Bad, bad, bad,...."
SPEAKING OF FEEDING Jenna is having a minor problem eating sweet corn. She lost one of her front teeth this week. She looks like a real little kid now.
KNOCK, KNOCK. Who's There? Banana. Banana who? Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say banana!
Jenna has that joke. She understands the humor in it and is able to deliver it. Nate will hear Jenna do the joke and ask you "Not, not" and replies with either, "Not, not," or "Nana." Unfortunately, he just doesn't know that you need to change to orange and you get stuck in an endless banana loop with him.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE WILLIES. It occurred to me about 9:00 Wednesday night that I needed to water the ferns that are in hanging baskets on the front porch. As I walk up the side steps to the porch I notice something funny about one of the chains that hold up the porch swing right up near the porch ceiling. It turns out to be a 3.5 foot chicken snake that has climbed up on the swing and the chain.
Later, after disposing of the snake (Vicki held the flashlight from at least 15 feet away while I knocked it down with a bean pole and then chopped it with the hoe), I discovered the reason why the snake was there. One of the ferns hangs about 3.5 feet from where the snake was. When I watered the fern three young birds flew out. I'm sure they didn't appreciate being awakened with a cold shower but they don't know how close one of them came to being a late night snack. What has me baffled is how the snake planned to get over to the fern.
Joe
AUNT MAR is still doing well and Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob left on Thursday to go back to Florida. She was feeling well enough that we all went out to the Catfish House Wednesday night. She probably would have gone to church today except that she has to go to the hospital tomorrow for another test and is now taking medication to prepare her system for that test. Church was simply not the place for her to be this morning.
BACK TO WORK. I have gone back to work as of Tuesday. The 2004-2005 school year has started as far as I am concerned. I have four weeks to get several projects done before all the teachers come back. The good news is that we are adding two positions in our department and possibly offering a small supplement to one teacher for each school to do some light technology work after hours. Maybe we'll be able to be more effective this year--something I haven't felt in my job in over three years.
EARNING THEIR FINS. Jenna and Ben have completed their first week of swimming lessons at the YMCA this week (it is a two week course). We went swimming in Kenny and Lori's pool yesterday and I can tell a huge difference in both of them from last week. Jenna is very confident as she is jumping into the deep end and swimming to the side all on her own. The stroke she prefers on the water's surface is sort of a cross between freestyle and dog paddle but it gets the job done. She is also able to swim a 10-15 foot distance below the water's surface.
When we went swimming last weekend Ben DID NOT want to go in. And when one of us pulled him in he hugged the unfortunate parent to the point of choking us (not to mention his crying right in your ear). As of yesterday he will jump in to us and with assistance will attempt the basics. It is great to be able to stand in the pool with him and take in an unrestricted breath of air (and to hear him giggle).
FEED ME. Nate decided he was hungry the other day and went into the pantry to fix that little problem for himself. Vicki found him a little later sitting in the floor between two piles of cereal. It was a real mess and Vicki told him that this was bad. Nate looked up at her and smiled but seeing that she didn't return the smile he looked down and tried to hide the cereal in his hand. A moment later he tried his smile again but Vicki said, "No Nate. This is bad." After doing this another time or two he got up, helped her hold the dustpan as she swept up the mess and walked off saying, "Bad, bad, bad,...."
SPEAKING OF FEEDING Jenna is having a minor problem eating sweet corn. She lost one of her front teeth this week. She looks like a real little kid now.
KNOCK, KNOCK. Who's There? Banana. Banana who? Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say banana!
Jenna has that joke. She understands the humor in it and is able to deliver it. Nate will hear Jenna do the joke and ask you "Not, not" and replies with either, "Not, not," or "Nana." Unfortunately, he just doesn't know that you need to change to orange and you get stuck in an endless banana loop with him.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE WILLIES. It occurred to me about 9:00 Wednesday night that I needed to water the ferns that are in hanging baskets on the front porch. As I walk up the side steps to the porch I notice something funny about one of the chains that hold up the porch swing right up near the porch ceiling. It turns out to be a 3.5 foot chicken snake that has climbed up on the swing and the chain.
Later, after disposing of the snake (Vicki held the flashlight from at least 15 feet away while I knocked it down with a bean pole and then chopped it with the hoe), I discovered the reason why the snake was there. One of the ferns hangs about 3.5 feet from where the snake was. When I watered the fern three young birds flew out. I'm sure they didn't appreciate being awakened with a cold shower but they don't know how close one of them came to being a late night snack. What has me baffled is how the snake planned to get over to the fern.
Joe
Monday, July 5, 2004
Back to a Normal Routine--Whatever That Is
I feel like summer has just gotten started good and it is basically over for me. I have to return to work tomorrow. It seems like it was just last week that we were getting ready for company and Vacation Bible School. Jenna still has one more month of summer though.
AUNT MAR is doing a lot better though she tires easily. She was sent home from the hospital on Thursday and will see the doctor on Wednesday to find out what the next course of action will be. Again, thank you for your prayers.
PAULINE had cataract surgery on her right eye on Thursday morning. She came through the operation just fine and then went home and baked a cake that afternoon. Her eye must be doing really well as she has commented on several things she is seeing better.
THE COUSINS ARE HERE. The cake that Pauline made was her son's favorite: strawberry. Of course she wanted to have it ready for when Will, Darice, Cameron and Zachary arrived on Friday. They were here through the weekend and left for home this morning. All the cousins had a great time playing together. Ben and Zachary were inseparable Cameron really took up with Nate. Jenna often took some time out from the boys and hung out with the adults. It has to be hard being the only girl.
We all went swimming together one afternoon. We also played croquet brought out the competitive spirit between Will and Vicki. Last night we all celebrated the Fourth with a cookout and fireworks. Mom, aunt Mar, Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob came over for the show.
WIND DAMAGE. We had a storm to blow through yesterday afternoon. It packed some high winds along with it. Our house must have been on the northern edge of the thing as we didn't get that much damage. Aunt Mar's yard; however, looks just about as bad as it did after the ice storm of 1994. Her yard is covered with twigs and small limbs but she also had a number of large tree limbs to fall as well. The top of one large tree was even broken off. Part of the top is on the ground and part is still dangling way up in the air. This tree needs to be felled now but it will be a dangerous job without a cherry picker.
K-D Orchard suffered some damage to their old chicken house (that they now use to sell blackberries and peaches from) and a good bit of their peach crop is on the ground. Steve Freelend's tobacco suffered a lot of damage as well. Another neighbor lost the roof to one of his barns.
NEW SKILLS. Nate has picked up several new skills over the last few weeks. He knows how to climb on and off the couch now (and he knows what it feels like to fall off well). He also understands several words. Just mention the word "go" to him and he will head for the door. He is very quick to find his shoes when you tell him to. And if he is tired and you ask him if he is sleepy he will rub his eyes.
Nate gave us a good laugh at lunch the other day. Ben had some strawberries on his plate and was wanting to leave the table without eating them. Vicki, in making the "you've got to eat that before you leave" routine fun said, "I think I hear the Big Hungry Bear coming for your strawberry!" He sort of giggled at this so I growled at him which broke his tension and made him pop a strawberry in his mouth. What made us all totally lose it were the small growls coming from the direction of the highchair.
THE Y CHROMOSOME IN ACTION. The other night Vicki was watching Tennessee Crossroads (a locally produced human interest magazine show on PBS) and the kids were playing in the floor next to her. One story they ran was about a local sculptor who carves his art out of logs with a chainsaw. What was funny was the scene where the artist started up his saw. On hearing this both boys stopped what they were doing and watched TV. Jenna, on the other hand, paid no attention to the cool noise and was frustrated that her brothers were no longer playing with her.
FUN AND GAMES. One thing we like to do before going to bed is play a game. If you look in on us around 7-8 pm you might catch us playing Monopoly Jr. or Mouse Trap (Ben calls it "Mouse the Trap") or some other game. In Monopoly Jr. the $5 bill is the highest denomination of money (it's pink). Ben gets really concerned for you if you run out of pink money. So much so that if you spend your last $5 you'll need to make change with the bank if you can.
Joe
AUNT MAR is doing a lot better though she tires easily. She was sent home from the hospital on Thursday and will see the doctor on Wednesday to find out what the next course of action will be. Again, thank you for your prayers.
PAULINE had cataract surgery on her right eye on Thursday morning. She came through the operation just fine and then went home and baked a cake that afternoon. Her eye must be doing really well as she has commented on several things she is seeing better.
THE COUSINS ARE HERE. The cake that Pauline made was her son's favorite: strawberry. Of course she wanted to have it ready for when Will, Darice, Cameron and Zachary arrived on Friday. They were here through the weekend and left for home this morning. All the cousins had a great time playing together. Ben and Zachary were inseparable Cameron really took up with Nate. Jenna often took some time out from the boys and hung out with the adults. It has to be hard being the only girl.
We all went swimming together one afternoon. We also played croquet brought out the competitive spirit between Will and Vicki. Last night we all celebrated the Fourth with a cookout and fireworks. Mom, aunt Mar, Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob came over for the show.
WIND DAMAGE. We had a storm to blow through yesterday afternoon. It packed some high winds along with it. Our house must have been on the northern edge of the thing as we didn't get that much damage. Aunt Mar's yard; however, looks just about as bad as it did after the ice storm of 1994. Her yard is covered with twigs and small limbs but she also had a number of large tree limbs to fall as well. The top of one large tree was even broken off. Part of the top is on the ground and part is still dangling way up in the air. This tree needs to be felled now but it will be a dangerous job without a cherry picker.
K-D Orchard suffered some damage to their old chicken house (that they now use to sell blackberries and peaches from) and a good bit of their peach crop is on the ground. Steve Freelend's tobacco suffered a lot of damage as well. Another neighbor lost the roof to one of his barns.
NEW SKILLS. Nate has picked up several new skills over the last few weeks. He knows how to climb on and off the couch now (and he knows what it feels like to fall off well). He also understands several words. Just mention the word "go" to him and he will head for the door. He is very quick to find his shoes when you tell him to. And if he is tired and you ask him if he is sleepy he will rub his eyes.
Nate gave us a good laugh at lunch the other day. Ben had some strawberries on his plate and was wanting to leave the table without eating them. Vicki, in making the "you've got to eat that before you leave" routine fun said, "I think I hear the Big Hungry Bear coming for your strawberry!" He sort of giggled at this so I growled at him which broke his tension and made him pop a strawberry in his mouth. What made us all totally lose it were the small growls coming from the direction of the highchair.
THE Y CHROMOSOME IN ACTION. The other night Vicki was watching Tennessee Crossroads (a locally produced human interest magazine show on PBS) and the kids were playing in the floor next to her. One story they ran was about a local sculptor who carves his art out of logs with a chainsaw. What was funny was the scene where the artist started up his saw. On hearing this both boys stopped what they were doing and watched TV. Jenna, on the other hand, paid no attention to the cool noise and was frustrated that her brothers were no longer playing with her.
FUN AND GAMES. One thing we like to do before going to bed is play a game. If you look in on us around 7-8 pm you might catch us playing Monopoly Jr. or Mouse Trap (Ben calls it "Mouse the Trap") or some other game. In Monopoly Jr. the $5 bill is the highest denomination of money (it's pink). Ben gets really concerned for you if you run out of pink money. So much so that if you spend your last $5 you'll need to make change with the bank if you can.
Joe
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