Pumpkin Patch visit (Robinson Family Farms)

On October 17th, it was a sunny Saturday (Google "sunny" if you have forgotten what that is) and we headed to Robinson Family Farms for an outing. We were hoping to go do free pumpkin patch activities at Outback Gardens, but we could not find our way there. As it turns out, apparently we missed the HUGE sign and pumpkins stacked on a stake by the sign because a truck passed us at the turn off obscuring our view and so forcing us to go to Robinson Family Farms that was further down the road where we had to pay (and if you want to do certain activities such as ride a pony around in a circle or launch pumpkins from a giant slingshot, there's an extra fee!) Admission along gets pretty pricy when you have 3 kids and both parents, but we had a fun day.

Shiloh's favorite activity was definately petting and holding the bunnies. Isaac's favorite was the hayride, which he did twice (once together with us and once by himself). Hannah's favorite was being able to bust a pumpkin at the pumpkin launch.

"When you look me in the eyes and tell me that you love me, everything's alright....I catch a glimpse of heaven when you look me in the eyes."

"I take you to be my husband, loving you now and as you grow and develop into all that God intends. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart; when our lives are at peace and when they are in turmoil; when I am proud of you and when I am disappointed in you; in times of rest and in times of work. I will honor your goals and dreams and help you to fulfill them. From the depth of my being, I will seek to be open and honest with you. I say these things believing that God is in the midst of them all. "

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that teared when speaking these vows to me.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that are as blue as the sea and make me feel safe.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that roll when I am an irrational woman.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that comfort my heart when I am sad.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that become red and irritated from his job tasks.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that watch Barney with our 2 year old.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that watch the weather radar around the clock.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that admire a chocolate dessert as much as mine!

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that close to rest after a day's work.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that God created and filled with love for me.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that I am blessed to look into today.

The eyes I look into each day are the eyes that I pray I can look into tomorrow & all of my days.

Triopia Homecoming 2009

September 26th was the homecoming dance for Triopia High School. Although Christopher is a senior, he didn't have any desire to go at all. Bethany, however, was looking forward to it along with her sophomore classmates. It truly is a shift off my "autopilot" mom mindset from caring for the younger kids to helping meet the needs of the teenagers. I guess as your kids grow, your abilities and thinking evolve along with them. Since, my mom mind has only had a chance to "evolve" up to age 8 with Isaac. I have to concentrate when it comes to helping parent the older kids. So, with some planning, some time on the internet looking for a dress and a lot of time driving in the car to appointments.....I was successful in helping Bethany have a memorable, lovely day/evening.

Shopping for the dress was a challenge. Being busy with school and poms allowed Bethany time only to do some online shipping and it seemed every dress she found on eBay that she wanted was in China and would have to be made and shipped. We didn't want to risk NOT getting a dress ontime, so those dresses really were not an option, which was a disappointing blow time after time for Bethany when she would excitedly show me a different dress she had found. Knowing how frustrated she was and the timeline we were on, I stayed up one night the week before homecoming going from web site to web site that I knew from wedding dress/bridesmaid dress shopping and would have affordable cocktail dresses. I found one.... a website with lovely, affordable cocktail dresses. I scrolled down thru the dresses and found a very pretty purple one. (Bethany had been shopping for a purple dress.) I put that dress in my "shopping cart" and saved it to show Bethany the next day after school. As it would happen, when she was looking at the dresses the next day, she chose the exact same dress that I had spotted for her even before I showed her I had picked that one to show her! There were other purple dresses on the site, but we happen to have selected the same dress....a very good and affirming feeling, I must say. Well, we ordered the dress and I upped the shipping to get it here sooner than standard shipping would allow. The dress came and needed some altering, which I sort of expected because Bethany's body frame is so petite (shortening of the shoulder straps and shortening the hem length slightly).

The morning of the 26th, it was pouring down rain.....so it was a damp start as I took Bethany to a final tanning appointment and to her hair appointment at the local cosmetology school. Thank goodness by the time her hair appointment was finished 2 1/2 hours later, the rain had stopped. So, after a quick drive-thru lunch, we headed home where she did her nails (toes and finger) and make up and I made the alterations on her dress. After I helped her into her dress and she got a good look at herself in her mirror, with a beaming smile on her beautiful face she said, "Thank you for all the running around and all the help you gave me. It means so much." With that said and as I tearfully choked out my "you're very welcome", this step-mother treasured a gift of a special, precious moment up in my heart given to me by God and delivered directly to my soul by Bethany.

That afternoon, Jeff escorted Bethany to her friend's grandparents house for pictures with her friends, Adrienne, Brooke and Sydney. Later, Bethany and her friends went out to eat together at Lonzerotti's and on to Homecoming where Bethany had a great time and lots of fun dancing.

These are the cosmetology students who all worked on Bethany's hair at her appt.

Adrienne, Brooke, Sydney and Bethany

You're a tiger. Rooaaaarrrr!

Triopia's Angels?!

Best Friends: Sydney and Bethany

Hello. It's been a long time. Just over a year, as a matter of fact since I blogged on here. There's really no one particular reason I stepped back from blogging......At first, once school began last year, I didn't have a lot to say. Then the holidays came and went, along with winter. Spring brought outside activities and T-ball and baseball schedules. I would like to say it was a busy summer....other than the kids' ballgames, though, we were home a lot. So, I guess I just let life and my own lack of motivation get in the way of blogging. I kinda had a revelation about myself......I don't always think before I talk. I have worked on this flaw....but to no avail. So, I guess I have a bit of fear that I may, also, type before I think. A late night fury of emotion on the computer may turn into someone suggesting I need a psychiatric evaluation. : ) I am a highly emotional, passionate person. I tend to share whatever emotion I am experiencing with those around me. I have heard the news that potential employers search blogs for information on applicants before considering them for a position in a company....this scared me a little bit, too. I had this vision of someday wanting to go back to work and finding a potential employer didn't hire me because of a late night posting on why I feel unmotivated, uninspired and downright lazy for days at a time. Those aren't exactly endearing qualities a employee should possess. Yet, here I am....back on the blog. I guess I have decided I need this outlet. Facebook has been a source for sharing photos and basic ideas for a while, but I still feel like I need a more personal place to share with you. So--here I am, world....potential employers and all. Somedays I will sound perfectly sane and others I will sound like a total wack-job....but I am a mother and homemaker who is not perfect at either of those jobs.....but I do have days where I have victories over small projects that have been waiting for me. And I always, always have beautiful, small faces, and a loving husband giving me a reason to try again each day. Welcome back. Thanks for coming on my journey with me.