GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY.......



photo by willow2us

 I can't get enough of The Waltons right now......

Thanks to cable TV, specifically GMC, HALLMARK, and INSP, if you time it right you can watch it from 12pm-8pm daily.  In between those times I have a couple of seasons on DVD that I can pop in if I get to "jonesing" for it too bad. 

Unfortunately I am unable to sit around and watch the show from 12-8pm daily as things like children, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and work get in the way but when I have the TV on it is usually tuned in.  Who doesn't love to see John Boy first fall in love, or Grandpa sneak the recipe when Grandma isn't looking, or Mama recovering from polio, or Mary Ellen defending Jim Bob when he had to wear a girl's shirt to school?  It wasn't all paradise on Walton's mountain that's for sure, but it is sure nice to see people treating each other with kindness and respect, helping each other, settling their differences in a civil way; parents in charge of their household firmly disciplining their child when needed yet always loving them-a family who always stuck together. 

No I haven't lost my grip on reality (yet)....I realize these are fictional characters.  I guess I'm craving more of what they represent than anything...values, character, and most of all faith.

Sometimes life just gets a little discouraging and this is one of those times.  Between the death of loved ones, the flooding, the worries about the nuclear plants and just a general unease about the culture of the world we live in, The Walton clan provides a welcome diversion.

It did this mama's heart good last night when, after bedtime prayers and stories and they were all tucked in, thinking no parents were listening, I heard the following exchange:

Claremarie:  Good Night Camden

Camden:      Good Night Claremarie

Claremarie:  I love you

Camden:      I love you too

Good night John Boy

Check in tomorrow.....after a brief hiatus Five Question Friday returns!

RELAY FOR LIFE UPDATE

Tonight is the night for Relay for Life.  I met my goal!  Thanks to all who donated.  It is much appreciated. 

The kids sold water, pop, and candy over the last two days at our garage sale with all proceeds going to the walk.  Camden was so cute.  Anytime someone would come up the driveway he would say,

"Excuse me ma'am.  Could I offer you a cool drink?  All the money goes to fight cancer." 

It almost wasn't fair to have him ask as he was pretty hard to resist but then again cancer isn't fair!  They raised $32.00 that they get to turn in tonight and more than that they learned the power of helping others.  Not once did they ask if they could keep the money....I love that!

Also love how it worked out that the day my family and I are participating in the Relay for Life just happens to be my uncle's birthday....the whole inspiration for our participation!  Coincidence.....I think not!

MERCY....

I.GIVE.UP.

5 uncles, 1 aunt, and my Grandma.

All gone within the last two years.

I'm tired of going to funerals.

I'm tired of grieving.

This last one was especially hard to take
as he was only 62 and still had

years ahead of him to live and
watch his kids and grandkids live. 
His life cut short by cancer and by the by,

Cancer STINKS!

This is my Uncle Richard holding me when
I was 3 months and 3 weeks old (my Grandma had
written on the back of the picture-that's how I know.). 
I'm told he was quite excited about my birth
although you wouldn't know it by this picture.

He will be missed!

TO MY LOVE....

Happy 20th Anniversary my love!

Dec. 20, 1990-the night we got engaged.

Just kids when we met and fell in love, now "mature"

adults and still in love.  We have lived a lot of life in those
20 years, some of it difficult but most of it great!  There is no
one I would rather have at my side.  I keep thinking of the
words from the song "God Gave me You": 

On my own, I'm only half of what I could be

I can't do without you

We are stitched together

And what love has tethered

I could never undo

God gave me you for the ups and downs

God gave me you for the days of doubt

For when I think I've lost my way

There are no words here left to say, It's true

God gave me you 

-Dave Barnes

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God picked you especially for me!  I love you! 

HOME SWEET HOME

2,500 miles and a great vacation.....but it sure is good to be home!

Checking out the water flowing out of Lake McConaughy

Courthouse Rock

Chimney Rock



Carhenge (Don't mock us!)

This was Sam and both kiddos favorite!

One of my favorite places!!

Little brown chapel in the woods

Hey Boo Boo....where is my picanik basket??

They promised their Grandpa they would see Crazy Horse....wish

I would have asked him to finance the visit!!

Evan's Plunge-Hot Springs