Don't you hate when you feel the nudge to do something and you don't and it slips by as a missed opportunity..?? I had heard a friend recently say that she was trying to meet God where he is working...because you know God is always working, he doesn't need us..he is at work all the time doing God business. So I too decided to try and see God working around me and join him....
Yesterday, we were at the grocery store checking out. I had 10 minutes exactly to check out, load the car, and get to a destination to meet a woman to pick something up. The three kids and I got in a line, unloaded all the groceries on the belt and waited. The gentleman in front of us was a young black man, in a McDonald's uniform. His groceries were loaded in the buggy and the clerk asked him for payment. I had one of those huge space shuttle kid buggies in line with me so I wasn't near the register at all. He handed her some cash, there was a verbal exchange and then I heard the cashier say "you still owe me $____." I couldn't tell if she said $16 or $60 (I was way back behind my buggy). He shuffled around a bit and there was more verbal exchange and the cashier looked at me with disgust and said, "Ma'am its going to be a minute." (which turned into 10 minutes) Then the gentleman and the bag boy proceeded to UNLOAD the man's buggy...rice, cereal, sprite, toilet paper, etc. The man was obviously embarrassed..he was sweating and each time she return scanned an item, she would look at him with disgust again and tell him how much he still owed and he would pull something else out of his buggy to return. I felt terrible for him and I was moved to pay for the balance of his groceries but didn't know exactly how to go about it. Molly was crying at this point, wanting to get down...I knew that if it was $60, I couldn't pay for it...we are on a strict budget right now (John sent me with a specific amount of money) but if it was $16, then I could. I didn't know how to ask...I would have had to go all the way up there, stop the whole "return" process, and ask a stupid question...so I didn't.
I thought about it all day long..couldn't get it off my mind. I wish that I had been up front when it started so that I could have heard..and acted immediately. I would have said, "put the rest on my bill" and let the poor man get out of there without embarrassment..I felt so sorry for him.
Something I use to do a lot is judge...judge people for their actions...why would he come in there and not add up what he spent...why would someone buy shrimp when they are on a budget, why doesn't he get a better job....why why why...but God has been working on me...it's not my job to judge...and as John said, you never know...He might not be able to count. It doesn't matter, no where in the Bible does it say to judge your neighbor...only LOVE....so still this morning I am contemplating my missed opportunity to love :(
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Yes, I've turned into one of those....
Homeschooling moms that likes to talk about homeschooling....so you can quit reading if you want...but here is my new favorite quote:
"One of my favorite “side-effects” of homeschooling is how often I am prompted to be a life-learner."
Ree Drummond
(you might see this quote on Facebook eventually!)
It's funny now because everything I do whether it be catching an insect or reading a book or taking a trip or meeting a new person leads to some kind of thought about researching it further in order to teach a "lesson" to my children! I'm sure it is the newness of it all but I'm excited about learning alongside my children! I have even started reading more books on my own. I know it sounds funny but I am one of those that starts a book and doesn't finish it...well just recently, I've finished three books!
"One of my favorite “side-effects” of homeschooling is how often I am prompted to be a life-learner."
Ree Drummond
(you might see this quote on Facebook eventually!)
It's funny now because everything I do whether it be catching an insect or reading a book or taking a trip or meeting a new person leads to some kind of thought about researching it further in order to teach a "lesson" to my children! I'm sure it is the newness of it all but I'm excited about learning alongside my children! I have even started reading more books on my own. I know it sounds funny but I am one of those that starts a book and doesn't finish it...well just recently, I've finished three books!
The coolest African American I know
....I know, its a strange title and I hope I didn't offend but my friend Kisha IS the coolest African American I know!
I met Kisha in high school. She joined the band and played the french horn like me. We became instant friends. We looked weird no doubt...me with my red hair, long legs, and white skin...and Kisha with her dark black skin, big white smile and short stature...but she really was my best friend all through high school. We took the same classes, went to lunch together, and hung out. One of the coaches use to call to us when he saw us, "Hey Red and your Running Girl".."what you all up to today?" I had gone to private school up until 6th grade...an ALL WHITE private school for the most part and then..I started a mostly "black" middle school where a smart, shy, white girl was definitely the minority. I held my own and got involved in band and that is what got me through it...High School was great! The band was great! I made great friends and met my husband there! Kisha is different. I don't know how to say this politically correct so it might come out weird but she was not like most other African Americans. She could hang with anyone. She didn't care if you were white, red, black, or yellow. She was proud of the friends she had. She was friends with people who had integrity. She stood up for me and "protected" me...I was painfully shy at times. She laughed at me and supported me. She had street smarts and I had book smarts. I helped her study chemistry and she stood up for me when the math bully was being rude to me. I loved her because she could make me laugh and we joked all the time about racial issues and she never got offended. She would make fun of my "white" talk and prissiness and I would make fun of the "hood" where she lived....She stayed far from trouble. And even kept me out of trouble at times.
I really respect her because she really didn't have a foundation laid for her where it came easy. She lived with her grandma...Flossie Mae. She had two siblings that were in and out of trouble all the time...they dropped out of school, got pregnant, run ins with the law, etc. Her dad was come and go and I think her Mom was on drugs. She always had a job, made good grades, and loved her Grandma. I wonder what Flossie Mae thought of me? When we all got to our Senior Year...Kisha decided to join the Marines. She was always fairly athletic and strong. It was the best decision she ever made. It is 15 years later and we have kept in touch ever since and she is still the coolest African American Lady I have ever known.
This is what Kisha has done with her life...
She is a 2nd lieutenant with the U.S. Marines..will be a Captain in a few months. Has served in Iraq 2 times and just returned from an 18 month stint. In the meantime got her degree and works as a deputy for Leon County Sheriff's Office in the Crime Scene Division. She will most likely be able to retire from the military before the age of 40. She owns two houses (one in which she rents out). She just bought a house in Killearn Estates with a pool! She loves cars and motorcycles and has a few of each. She married but has never had children (her own decision). She buried Flossie Mae a few years ago and was left to be the only decent, sane one in her family to deal with her grandmother's arrangements and belongings. She is funny. She is always happy. She is respected. She is a lot of fun to be around. I had the pleasure of seeing her yesterday for the first time in 18 or so months since being in Iraq....she is as happy as ever..loving life and doing the best she can! It has been a joy to know her!
I met Kisha in high school. She joined the band and played the french horn like me. We became instant friends. We looked weird no doubt...me with my red hair, long legs, and white skin...and Kisha with her dark black skin, big white smile and short stature...but she really was my best friend all through high school. We took the same classes, went to lunch together, and hung out. One of the coaches use to call to us when he saw us, "Hey Red and your Running Girl".."what you all up to today?" I had gone to private school up until 6th grade...an ALL WHITE private school for the most part and then..I started a mostly "black" middle school where a smart, shy, white girl was definitely the minority. I held my own and got involved in band and that is what got me through it...High School was great! The band was great! I made great friends and met my husband there! Kisha is different. I don't know how to say this politically correct so it might come out weird but she was not like most other African Americans. She could hang with anyone. She didn't care if you were white, red, black, or yellow. She was proud of the friends she had. She was friends with people who had integrity. She stood up for me and "protected" me...I was painfully shy at times. She laughed at me and supported me. She had street smarts and I had book smarts. I helped her study chemistry and she stood up for me when the math bully was being rude to me. I loved her because she could make me laugh and we joked all the time about racial issues and she never got offended. She would make fun of my "white" talk and prissiness and I would make fun of the "hood" where she lived....She stayed far from trouble. And even kept me out of trouble at times.
I really respect her because she really didn't have a foundation laid for her where it came easy. She lived with her grandma...Flossie Mae. She had two siblings that were in and out of trouble all the time...they dropped out of school, got pregnant, run ins with the law, etc. Her dad was come and go and I think her Mom was on drugs. She always had a job, made good grades, and loved her Grandma. I wonder what Flossie Mae thought of me? When we all got to our Senior Year...Kisha decided to join the Marines. She was always fairly athletic and strong. It was the best decision she ever made. It is 15 years later and we have kept in touch ever since and she is still the coolest African American Lady I have ever known.
This is what Kisha has done with her life...
She is a 2nd lieutenant with the U.S. Marines..will be a Captain in a few months. Has served in Iraq 2 times and just returned from an 18 month stint. In the meantime got her degree and works as a deputy for Leon County Sheriff's Office in the Crime Scene Division. She will most likely be able to retire from the military before the age of 40. She owns two houses (one in which she rents out). She just bought a house in Killearn Estates with a pool! She loves cars and motorcycles and has a few of each. She married but has never had children (her own decision). She buried Flossie Mae a few years ago and was left to be the only decent, sane one in her family to deal with her grandmother's arrangements and belongings. She is funny. She is always happy. She is respected. She is a lot of fun to be around. I had the pleasure of seeing her yesterday for the first time in 18 or so months since being in Iraq....she is as happy as ever..loving life and doing the best she can! It has been a joy to know her!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Desperate to be organized and eating my words
I want to be organized so bad but something always always always falls by the wayside...so on to a new plan..
When school starts, it always gives me the bug to get organized, be a better mom, wife, and super woman...
I started this book Managers of their Homes by Maxwell. She is like a mother of 7 or something like that and home schools and pretty much seems like the most organized person on the planet...I envy her!
She has her day set out in 30 minute increments as well as her 7 kids..
It seems like they do everything in 30 minute increments. She schedules in everything! They don't leave the house much from what I see. I'm actually surprised that going pee is not on her schedule..I am making fun but it does make sense. When I am not organized, I am not happy...I can't stand getting up late, rushing the kids around, everyone is unhappy, no dinner is planned, laundry is everywhere, and I yell at everyone. So while one may think that a schedule is boring and predictable and "not so fun"...the other option is "no fun" at all either. So in my valiant effort to start the home school year off right I have written us out a schedule.
It includes getting up at 6:15...UGHHHH!!!! but it also includes a 1 hour rest time in the afternoon where I can nap, read, or do whatever I want! It also includes a period of 1 hour to do projects...sewing, crafting, organizing, or scrap booking..And all the chores are done before dinner for the most part and laundry is done each day and all the kids are busy and being helpers..
This is where I eat my words..
John and I always said, if we have more than one or two kids that the older ones were not going to HAVE to be responsible or play with the little ones..that I didn't want to constantly ask them for help or make them "work" for me all day long....well here I eat my words...I HAVE to HAVE their help! It is a must. I cannot possibly do everything by myself and I have noticed, if I'm not keeping them busy helping, they are just fighting and getting into trouble. My vision of my children playing nicely side by side..one with barbies and the other with cars does NOT happen. When left to fend for themselves and play by themselves for too long....all falls apart. Maybe its just my children...but they do not play by themselves imaginatively very long without trouble...so why not put them to work, right?
The cool thing about the author of the book is this...every child has a purpose and a "job" all during the day...if they aren't schooling, then they are doing chore, playing with a younger sibling, quizing a younger sibling on site words, helping with dinner, having one on one mommy time...its all in her schedule. When I wrote mine all out after looking at a friend's and getting ideas from the book...it seems daunting and I have to admit..I looked at it and thought to myself, Is this what my life comes down to...3 pages of 30 minute increments written out to follow every day of my life? But as I have said before, the opposite of being organized ain't so great either and I never ever ever ever feel like I have enough time in the day! So we are flexible and we do get out of the house, but when we are home, if we can follow this schedule, I think life may flow better! I haven't followed the schedule to a tee yet since I just wrote it like two days ago but I have tried a few of the ideas so far and it has been awesome! The kitchen is clean by 7:00 every night...and all the laundry is put away before bed. And the kids have had fun doing it all. I can't tell you how many times my bed is full of folded laundry when I go to get in bed at night and I pile it all up to put away the next day and it sits all day long AGAIN! So my schedule is going in my handy dandy notebook and we will follow it...maybe :)
When school starts, it always gives me the bug to get organized, be a better mom, wife, and super woman...
I started this book Managers of their Homes by Maxwell. She is like a mother of 7 or something like that and home schools and pretty much seems like the most organized person on the planet...I envy her!
She has her day set out in 30 minute increments as well as her 7 kids..
It seems like they do everything in 30 minute increments. She schedules in everything! They don't leave the house much from what I see. I'm actually surprised that going pee is not on her schedule..I am making fun but it does make sense. When I am not organized, I am not happy...I can't stand getting up late, rushing the kids around, everyone is unhappy, no dinner is planned, laundry is everywhere, and I yell at everyone. So while one may think that a schedule is boring and predictable and "not so fun"...the other option is "no fun" at all either. So in my valiant effort to start the home school year off right I have written us out a schedule.
It includes getting up at 6:15...UGHHHH!!!! but it also includes a 1 hour rest time in the afternoon where I can nap, read, or do whatever I want! It also includes a period of 1 hour to do projects...sewing, crafting, organizing, or scrap booking..And all the chores are done before dinner for the most part and laundry is done each day and all the kids are busy and being helpers..
This is where I eat my words..
John and I always said, if we have more than one or two kids that the older ones were not going to HAVE to be responsible or play with the little ones..that I didn't want to constantly ask them for help or make them "work" for me all day long....well here I eat my words...I HAVE to HAVE their help! It is a must. I cannot possibly do everything by myself and I have noticed, if I'm not keeping them busy helping, they are just fighting and getting into trouble. My vision of my children playing nicely side by side..one with barbies and the other with cars does NOT happen. When left to fend for themselves and play by themselves for too long....all falls apart. Maybe its just my children...but they do not play by themselves imaginatively very long without trouble...so why not put them to work, right?
The cool thing about the author of the book is this...every child has a purpose and a "job" all during the day...if they aren't schooling, then they are doing chore, playing with a younger sibling, quizing a younger sibling on site words, helping with dinner, having one on one mommy time...its all in her schedule. When I wrote mine all out after looking at a friend's and getting ideas from the book...it seems daunting and I have to admit..I looked at it and thought to myself, Is this what my life comes down to...3 pages of 30 minute increments written out to follow every day of my life? But as I have said before, the opposite of being organized ain't so great either and I never ever ever ever feel like I have enough time in the day! So we are flexible and we do get out of the house, but when we are home, if we can follow this schedule, I think life may flow better! I haven't followed the schedule to a tee yet since I just wrote it like two days ago but I have tried a few of the ideas so far and it has been awesome! The kitchen is clean by 7:00 every night...and all the laundry is put away before bed. And the kids have had fun doing it all. I can't tell you how many times my bed is full of folded laundry when I go to get in bed at night and I pile it all up to put away the next day and it sits all day long AGAIN! So my schedule is going in my handy dandy notebook and we will follow it...maybe :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Famous Homeschoolers
This is a blog post from another blog I read. I thought it was interesting!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/08/famous-homeschoolers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pioneerwoman-homeschooling+%28The+Pioneer+Woman+-+Homeschooling%29
http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/08/famous-homeschoolers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pioneerwoman-homeschooling+%28The+Pioneer+Woman+-+Homeschooling%29
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Naked.....
was the theme for our weekend away. I don't think either one of us knew this would be the case but the "naked" theme runs deep...I want to write about our adventure together because I don't want to forget it! When planning some time away, I told John I had always wanted to go spend the night in his two man tent with him. I like an adventure and I thought it might be romantic and prove to him that I can and will hang with him. He researched some different places and finally decided that in this heat we had to be near the water. We weren't diggin the beach so he looked into a canoe trip near Madison (where our kids would be) and came across the Santa Fe River. We have done it before with kids but never overnight. He then found a quaint little Bed and Breakfast to stay at one night and called the canoe shop to make plans for a second night.
The Bed and Breakfast was awesome. We had never been to one. It was called the Grady house and to my surprise, John had reserved the risque RED room for the night. I really don't think my sweet husband knew exactly what he was reserving but it was fun and we laughed and laughed and laughed! It was the romance, naked room...had naked pictures everywhere....the old ones from the 30s and 40s...paintings, sculptures, drawings, books, etc. There was a huge tub with a mirror over it. There were big comfy robes and chocolates. The hostess had cookies, cokes, wine, and beer available the whole time...the place was decorated so nicely with small classy touches everywhere. She served a 5 course breakfast to all guests in a formal dining room with china. We had cream cheese stuffed french toast with raspberry sauce...it was to die for!!! It was lovely and John and I had a great time....
We went to a great little local restuarant called the Outdoor Restaurant for dinner. John had a big steak and Naked Ed Pale Ale. I had mahi mahi wth a pomegrante martini (so yummy!)...we talked and just sat there with no interuptions!
We got on the river about 10:30 or 11 the next day. We had a cooler, a backpack, a dry bag, and two sleeping pads...
We started canoeing and boy was it hot. It was nice to splash the water on our bodies because it was so dang hot. We only had to canoe about 3 hours the first day to our campsite. We stopped at Poe Springs along the way which was a beautiful private owned park with a nice cold spring to play in! It helped us get cooled down.
The thunder started and the skies started looking dark...and I got nervous. John knew we weren't that far from Lily Spring which is where we were going to camp for the night. But in my mind that didn't do us much good considering we had no shelter, were near the water and under a million trees! I don't like storms...my parents can attest..bad weather is NOT my thing! My heart was racing a little as we canoed into Lily Spring for two reasons..
1.) It was about to really storm! and 2.) A man named Naked Ed lived at lily spring...or so we were told by all the locals and the canoe shop guys.
The guys at the canoe shop had told John that the best place to stop and spend the night on the river was at Lily. They told him the caretaker of the property was a man, a nudist, named Naked Ed. They said he was harmless, sometimes wore a loin cloth and sometimes did not, Naked Ed charged $20 to stay the night and he didn't spend the night on the property. They said he would give us fire wood and "light up" the springs for us at night with his "vey primitive" electricity.
We rowed up to lily and there he was....sitting up on a wooden dock, a tiki type hut beside him, and naked as a man can be! There were several travelers there cooling off in the spring and they would ask him if they could jump off his dock...he'd say "I don't care" in a raspy old man voice. We pulled up to the dock and John stood up on it to introduce himself to Naked Ed. Naked ED was indeed very naked and John informed me that he did not have a circumcision....like I really wanted to know. Apparently the canoe shop guys had told him we were coming because he seemed to know and told John some general instructions about the campsite. Naked Ed gave John some lighter meanwhile explaining to others fun facts about the Spring.
We went to the campsite to check it out and wait for the rain. John wasn't sure whether to put up tent or just hang until the storm passed so we just sat there...and the storm started. Lightening was flashing and John could tell I was about to flip a lid so he decided to make a shelter. He grabbed an old wooden table that was sitting around (Naked Ed had miscellaneous chairs and two very old wooden tables sitting around) and used our handy dandy rope and a tarp to make us a little shelter. We pulled all our stuff under it and just sat there. We used the canoe floatable cushions to sit on. John put his arms around me and prayed for our safety and then called the canoe shop to ask about the radar! They said the storm would quickly pass and there wasn't a system behind it. It made us feel better that they were aware we were out there in the storm and that we had a cell phone. We heard a truck drive up behind us and there was Naked Ed checking on us.....and he had JEANS on! So we figured that Naked Ed sits on his dock all day naked and gains a lot of notoriety by doing so...I mean dang the man has a beer named after him!!! but when he comes off the dock and when all the crowds leave...he wears jeans. We were relieved. He asked if we were o.k. and told us if it got bad, he could take us to a "pole barn" to get under cover...he said his cell phone number was on the sign by his dock. He seemed plain civilized! I actually felt comforted by the fact that we could call Naked Ed in an emergency. After he left, the weather cleared and John set up the tent. We started making dinner and I ate my first ever MRE. It was spaghetti and meatballs and really pretty good. We boiled water with a little stove and gobbled it up!
My very clean husband had bought body soap for us to bathe with and well the only way to bathe was in the Spring so feeling very at one with nature, we got naked and took a bath in the Spring...it was freezing so that didn't last long but it felt really good to be clean and put clean clothes on. After that, there ain't much to do besides get in the tent so we did. We talked and talked...found out John's favorite book growing up was the Lion's Paw(he said that his favorite teacher in 4th grade read it to the class)....and I was so excited to tell him that I have that book on our reading list for the year! We answered questions, talked about homeschool, trips we want to take, and what bothers us the most about each other and what we love about each other. Surprise, Surprise...John's doesn't like it when I start screaming at the kids! Ha ha ha! When we ran out of things to talk about I read 7 chapters in a book I had brought along and John used my phone to look up Tomahawk Nation to read articles about FSU football. I guess that's what you do when you go to bed at 7:00 at night. We were cozy in our tent and eventually fell off to sleep.
Mr. Armadillo came sniffing around in the middle of the night...John rolled over and there he was face to face with him.
We woke about 7 am and boiled water for our instant coffee...meanwhile I tried not to think about having to go to the bathroom....finally I peed in the woods and dared to think about going #2....I managed to hold off on that until we hit Ginnie Springs later that day where there were restrooms!
We packed up after eating banana bread and drinking coffee. Naked Ed never showed up to say goodbye! Instead we rowed over to his dock and I took pictures of all his make shift signs...they certainly portray his personality well!
Off we were on the river again. It was nice and cool at 8:30 in the morning...we were alone on the river...the scenery was beautiful. We saw hundreds of turtles, talked more, found a really pretty shallow spring that we waded in and just enjoyed the beauty of nature!
We got to the popular Ginnie Springs around lunchtime where we came across every redneck known to man...riding in tubes on the river...so much for our peaceful canoe trip. We fought the crowd long enough to park the canoe, get out the snorkel gear and snorkel in and around Ginnie Springs...then got back on the river and ate lunch in the canoe.
The rest of the trip, John paddled me around in the water...so that I could turn around and look at him and chat. We talked and talked some more...and sat in the quiet looking at the surroundings..
1pm came very quickly and there we were at the end of the road ...the Bridge..our take out point. The canoe shop guys were there waiting on us and I was kind of sad! We were both ready to see the kiddos but so glad to have that time together...I mean when you run out of things to talk about and you feel comfortable just riding down the river sitting in quietness...you know you are with your best friend! It was so nice and so exciting and hopefully another couple time will come again soon! I really would go anywhere with that man...
The Bed and Breakfast was awesome. We had never been to one. It was called the Grady house and to my surprise, John had reserved the risque RED room for the night. I really don't think my sweet husband knew exactly what he was reserving but it was fun and we laughed and laughed and laughed! It was the romance, naked room...had naked pictures everywhere....the old ones from the 30s and 40s...paintings, sculptures, drawings, books, etc. There was a huge tub with a mirror over it. There were big comfy robes and chocolates. The hostess had cookies, cokes, wine, and beer available the whole time...the place was decorated so nicely with small classy touches everywhere. She served a 5 course breakfast to all guests in a formal dining room with china. We had cream cheese stuffed french toast with raspberry sauce...it was to die for!!! It was lovely and John and I had a great time....
We went to a great little local restuarant called the Outdoor Restaurant for dinner. John had a big steak and Naked Ed Pale Ale. I had mahi mahi wth a pomegrante martini (so yummy!)...we talked and just sat there with no interuptions!
We got on the river about 10:30 or 11 the next day. We had a cooler, a backpack, a dry bag, and two sleeping pads...
We started canoeing and boy was it hot. It was nice to splash the water on our bodies because it was so dang hot. We only had to canoe about 3 hours the first day to our campsite. We stopped at Poe Springs along the way which was a beautiful private owned park with a nice cold spring to play in! It helped us get cooled down.
The thunder started and the skies started looking dark...and I got nervous. John knew we weren't that far from Lily Spring which is where we were going to camp for the night. But in my mind that didn't do us much good considering we had no shelter, were near the water and under a million trees! I don't like storms...my parents can attest..bad weather is NOT my thing! My heart was racing a little as we canoed into Lily Spring for two reasons..
1.) It was about to really storm! and 2.) A man named Naked Ed lived at lily spring...or so we were told by all the locals and the canoe shop guys.
The guys at the canoe shop had told John that the best place to stop and spend the night on the river was at Lily. They told him the caretaker of the property was a man, a nudist, named Naked Ed. They said he was harmless, sometimes wore a loin cloth and sometimes did not, Naked Ed charged $20 to stay the night and he didn't spend the night on the property. They said he would give us fire wood and "light up" the springs for us at night with his "vey primitive" electricity.
We rowed up to lily and there he was....sitting up on a wooden dock, a tiki type hut beside him, and naked as a man can be! There were several travelers there cooling off in the spring and they would ask him if they could jump off his dock...he'd say "I don't care" in a raspy old man voice. We pulled up to the dock and John stood up on it to introduce himself to Naked Ed. Naked ED was indeed very naked and John informed me that he did not have a circumcision....like I really wanted to know. Apparently the canoe shop guys had told him we were coming because he seemed to know and told John some general instructions about the campsite. Naked Ed gave John some lighter meanwhile explaining to others fun facts about the Spring.
We went to the campsite to check it out and wait for the rain. John wasn't sure whether to put up tent or just hang until the storm passed so we just sat there...and the storm started. Lightening was flashing and John could tell I was about to flip a lid so he decided to make a shelter. He grabbed an old wooden table that was sitting around (Naked Ed had miscellaneous chairs and two very old wooden tables sitting around) and used our handy dandy rope and a tarp to make us a little shelter. We pulled all our stuff under it and just sat there. We used the canoe floatable cushions to sit on. John put his arms around me and prayed for our safety and then called the canoe shop to ask about the radar! They said the storm would quickly pass and there wasn't a system behind it. It made us feel better that they were aware we were out there in the storm and that we had a cell phone. We heard a truck drive up behind us and there was Naked Ed checking on us.....and he had JEANS on! So we figured that Naked Ed sits on his dock all day naked and gains a lot of notoriety by doing so...I mean dang the man has a beer named after him!!! but when he comes off the dock and when all the crowds leave...he wears jeans. We were relieved. He asked if we were o.k. and told us if it got bad, he could take us to a "pole barn" to get under cover...he said his cell phone number was on the sign by his dock. He seemed plain civilized! I actually felt comforted by the fact that we could call Naked Ed in an emergency. After he left, the weather cleared and John set up the tent. We started making dinner and I ate my first ever MRE. It was spaghetti and meatballs and really pretty good. We boiled water with a little stove and gobbled it up!
My very clean husband had bought body soap for us to bathe with and well the only way to bathe was in the Spring so feeling very at one with nature, we got naked and took a bath in the Spring...it was freezing so that didn't last long but it felt really good to be clean and put clean clothes on. After that, there ain't much to do besides get in the tent so we did. We talked and talked...found out John's favorite book growing up was the Lion's Paw(he said that his favorite teacher in 4th grade read it to the class)....and I was so excited to tell him that I have that book on our reading list for the year! We answered questions, talked about homeschool, trips we want to take, and what bothers us the most about each other and what we love about each other. Surprise, Surprise...John's doesn't like it when I start screaming at the kids! Ha ha ha! When we ran out of things to talk about I read 7 chapters in a book I had brought along and John used my phone to look up Tomahawk Nation to read articles about FSU football. I guess that's what you do when you go to bed at 7:00 at night. We were cozy in our tent and eventually fell off to sleep.
Mr. Armadillo came sniffing around in the middle of the night...John rolled over and there he was face to face with him.
We woke about 7 am and boiled water for our instant coffee...meanwhile I tried not to think about having to go to the bathroom....finally I peed in the woods and dared to think about going #2....I managed to hold off on that until we hit Ginnie Springs later that day where there were restrooms!
We packed up after eating banana bread and drinking coffee. Naked Ed never showed up to say goodbye! Instead we rowed over to his dock and I took pictures of all his make shift signs...they certainly portray his personality well!
Off we were on the river again. It was nice and cool at 8:30 in the morning...we were alone on the river...the scenery was beautiful. We saw hundreds of turtles, talked more, found a really pretty shallow spring that we waded in and just enjoyed the beauty of nature!
We got to the popular Ginnie Springs around lunchtime where we came across every redneck known to man...riding in tubes on the river...so much for our peaceful canoe trip. We fought the crowd long enough to park the canoe, get out the snorkel gear and snorkel in and around Ginnie Springs...then got back on the river and ate lunch in the canoe.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Attorney at Law, aka..Chicken Herder!
My dear brother, Nic, so graciously agreed to "chicken sit" for us this weeknd while John and I go out of town. Honestly, I can see why farmers never take vacations...its too hard to find someone to take care of all the creatures....I mean my friend Harriet is keeping the kids, mom and dad have the dog, and Nic has chicken duty (and maybe catepillar in a cocoon duty)....
We are running out of folks to ask...I try not to ask the same person over and over....(Mom and Dad..your turn is coming :)...So my sweet brother is coming to let the chickens out, change their water and food, and then herd them back into the pen after letting them run free for an hour or so. I really do appreciate his willingness. He came over the other night to let us show him how to herd them back in to their cage.
My brother and I are so different. We are different in just about everyway...aside from the fact that we are in very different stages of life...we have different political views, religious views, family structure views, the way we eat is different, and the list goes on but we love each other and I am a proud sister. I am proud of my brother's accomplishments, his passion for helping others, and we also have a lot of fun "making fun" of my mother together (mom, you know we love you!)...
Recently, we found some common ground...we both like New Leaf Market!
Anyhow, I'm very proud of my brother. He recently was selected to be flown to Washington DC to interview for an attorney position with the Federal Government...he was 1 of 4 individuals chosen out of 435 (I believe) applicants. After his interview, he is now the top pick for the job...just waiting for the General Counsel's approval or sign off on the job hiring...
So more than likely, my brother will be moving to Washington DC! I am very happy and proud for him and excited that we might get to go visit him in the near future! He is always so helpful, so supportive of me, so loving, and thoughtful and obviously would do just about anything for me...even herd my chickens...I would do the same if he had chickens or any other kind of pet...I would make him chicken soup if he needed it (I think he likes my cooking)...He took care of me when I was sick with Molly and I will take care of him if he ever needs me to. We are different but I love him MUCH!
Here are some "lawyer" pics of Nic and his co-lawyer...they are going to be featured in a newsletter about a pro bono case they recently were in involved in...I like these pictures!
We are running out of folks to ask...I try not to ask the same person over and over....(Mom and Dad..your turn is coming :)...So my sweet brother is coming to let the chickens out, change their water and food, and then herd them back into the pen after letting them run free for an hour or so. I really do appreciate his willingness. He came over the other night to let us show him how to herd them back in to their cage.
My brother and I are so different. We are different in just about everyway...aside from the fact that we are in very different stages of life...we have different political views, religious views, family structure views, the way we eat is different, and the list goes on but we love each other and I am a proud sister. I am proud of my brother's accomplishments, his passion for helping others, and we also have a lot of fun "making fun" of my mother together (mom, you know we love you!)...
Recently, we found some common ground...we both like New Leaf Market!
Anyhow, I'm very proud of my brother. He recently was selected to be flown to Washington DC to interview for an attorney position with the Federal Government...he was 1 of 4 individuals chosen out of 435 (I believe) applicants. After his interview, he is now the top pick for the job...just waiting for the General Counsel's approval or sign off on the job hiring...
So more than likely, my brother will be moving to Washington DC! I am very happy and proud for him and excited that we might get to go visit him in the near future! He is always so helpful, so supportive of me, so loving, and thoughtful and obviously would do just about anything for me...even herd my chickens...I would do the same if he had chickens or any other kind of pet...I would make him chicken soup if he needed it (I think he likes my cooking)...He took care of me when I was sick with Molly and I will take care of him if he ever needs me to. We are different but I love him MUCH!
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