Since I last blogged, I had Glenn's birthday party and Cameron started PSSA's.
Let's start with Glenn's birthday party. I decided to have cake for Glenn and he chose his parents house as the site. After changing it several times, it did end up being at their house. It turned out nice. Cameron had a chance to play with Sean, Linda's next door neighbor. When we lived with them in 2007, Sean and Cameron played daily. Sean is 5, I believe, and as his mother was on medical leave due to pregnancy, he was home all day. It was so funny that while I was trying to school Cameron, Sean would stand out back yelling "friend, friend." He could never remember Cameron's name. Grandma Wilma, Grandpa George, June, Jim, Keara and Riley came over for cake. As we were sitting there visiting, one of the kids came in to say that some woman named Donna was out front with Glenn. 
Jealous me actually jumped off the couch, threw on my coat and was headed outside to stake my claim. As I was headed out, everyone came in. Fortunately, I held my tongue and discovered that Donna is in fact a distant cousin. God was saving me from looking the fool. We all had a nice visit and then came home. Freezing all the way. The heat in my car is not working for some reason and the consensus seems to be that I may need a new control panel. Back to Cameron's PSSA's. Cameron was scheduled for 8:45-11:45. I knew that he would have a hard time completing his testing in the time alotted. However, after waiting about 15 minutes the proctor came out to tell me he had just completed Math and was beginning Reading. We decided that I would go home and await a phone call. He was scheduled for occupational therapy today so I had to return at 2:15 to pick him up and he was still not done. I've decided that for the rest of the testing, I will leave him there with a lunch and afternoon pill. They will call me when he is ready to be picked up. I am so glad we only live 15 minutes away from the testing site in Greentree.
Glenn is experiencing his second mid-life crisis. 2 years ago when he turned 40, he got a mohawk, Camaro and started doing P90X. We both lost about 50 pounds during the 5 months I was away. You couldn't tell by looking at us now. Now he wants a motorcycle and asked if he could get a mohawk when he went for his haircut tonight. Fortunately, I was able to voice my disapproval of that idea. Work is still stressful for him. Today it was due to the job he claims. He did not tell me alot about the job, but, he brought home a pack of cigarettes that he felt compelled to buy and start smoking. I never thought I'd see the day. He quit over 11 years ago. A few times he has smoked cigars, thank you Shawn Coddington, but never mentioned a desire for cigarettes. I hope this is a short lived idea.
While doing my Praying for Purpose today I really began to think about the message. Words can be used to encourage people or destroy them. I fear that many of my words recently have not been encouraging. In fact, I think they've been more like weapons. I prayed for God to press on my heart and remind me to think before I speak. This has been an ongoing prayer for at least the past several years. I'm not sure how far I've come. I do think I've backslid alot in the past few months. I plan to take a little time to think before I speak in the future in an effort to make it a habit to only speak kind words. Please pray for me.
I don't have the best marital role models in my past. My grandparents were married over 50 years. Yet they fought...A LOT!!!! I know they loved each other. I think I got my strong will from my grandmother. I just wish I had gotten more of her best qualities, kindness, a strong shoulder and an encouraging word for all. She was good at telling you like it was, but never did I feel like I was unloved by her. I knew that I may not get the advice I wanted to hear when I called her, but I always got the advice I needed to hear. I talked to her almost every day. There are still days that I want to pick up the phone and call her. When Kelly returned from her Christmas trip to Florida she brought me pictures of my grandparents. Those pictures are on my dresser. Every morning, I say good morning to my grandmother and I've been known to give her a kiss. Watching her die was the hardest thing. I don't think I've ever properly grieved for her. I remember standing in the funeral home and crying. I did not want to leave her there. Growing up and even as a grown up I never thought I could touch a dead person. When she died, I flew to her bedside. I lived the farthest away, yet made it their first. Thank God he gave me Glenn who let me go and took care of things at home. Shirl and I climbed in bed with Grandma and held her. I never wanted to let her go. I'm still scared of touching and seeing dead people, but she was not a dead person to me, she was my grandma, one of my best friends.
My parents were really not made for each other. They truly fought mentally and physically. When my father drank, it made him mean. I recall waking up to see him physically abusing my mother. I know she could give what she got. They were going to divorce when I was little, but Daddy got sick and Mom went back to him. I'm glad that she did. It gave us more time with him. Not all of my memories of the ensuing years are positive, but, my sister loved my father unconditionally. She was his spoiled rotten brat. Yes, Paula, you were a brat. But, Mom stayed until the end. I am just sorry that he was alone when he died. I hope I can remember to pay closer attention to Glenn's parents and learn from them how to have a happy, peaceful and loving marriage. Very few people in this world can say that they love and adore their mother in law. I CAN. I love to talk to her. I call her frequently, but not enough, just to talk. She gives me great advice and understands when I complain about her son. I've been known to blame her when he is being especially demanding of attention. She just laughs and agrees. She is such a great mother that Glenn is able to be a great husband. He loves his mother and would move heaven and earth for her. I need to remind myself that 11 years ago, I felt like he would do that for me. I think he would, if only I were nicer. I don't remember my father's parents together so I have no idea how they were. I know my Grandma Dobbins was a fiery Irish woman who took crap from NO ONE. So I'm assuming that Grandpa Dobbins was a great man to put up with her. They had 6 kids and my dad was the baby. I think Grandma thought of him as her baby until the day he died, and then until the day she died. I moved to Florida as a baby and only returned to visit my grandparents several times growing up. Honestly, I only remember Regis *Grandpa* from pictures. My most vivid recollection of what Grandma said is "you'll be picking toenails out of your ass." Growing up, I never knew what that meant, but, I knew it was funny. Eventually, my smartness or is that my smart ass, caught up with me and I figured it out. That is the type of woman she was. She still said that to my dad after he was grown and moved 5 states away. I believe that he still feared that she would come and put her foot up his a** until he died.
I did take pictures at the party and another of Cameron this morning before we left for testing. My computer is still in the shop, so I will wait until I get it back before uploading pictures. Glenn does not like me to down or upload anything on his computer.
I warned you to grab a drink and settle in. Some days, I just feel the need to get my thoughts and memories out. Maybe someday I will allow my children to read some of these blogs so they can share my memories. Some of the posts will be blocked from them though.
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