Our Trip South part 2

Saturday after breakfast, O'Malley wanted to show us where he worked and what he does. This is the modular garage that he built the past few days. He really likes his job, and the people that he works for.

 

This is Abbeyville, SC. I loved this little town, all the cool looking shops, and not to mention the awesome coffee shop.

This hotel just looked neat.

 

Out last trip to Abbeyville on Saturday afternoon.

 

O'Malley's girlfriend has a Mini Horse. Meet Cinnamon! Of course Marie was in heaven, because she got to ride horse while we where there.

Sunday night before we left Marie wanted to set off a Chinese Lantern that we had got at a Fireworks Shop on Friday afternoon. Some of them had never seen one and where amazed as to how far it actually went. They all stood outside until they couldn't see it any longer. It was then time to say goodbye and head back to O'Malley's to get packed and get a few hours of sleep before we headed back home.

 



Our Trip South

     This past weekend we made a quick trip to SC to visit, O'Malley, his girlfriend and her family. I must say I was really dreading the trip. Being stuck in the vehicle for 11 hours straight, in between Toulouse and Marie, well lets just say wasn't on my list of the funniest things to do!! But I had a couple people praying for us and we made it there safely, and back home. I didn't even have to do any of the driving. Berlioz and Hubs did all of it. My best friend text me when we got home and wondered why I didn't text her while we were driving for 22 hrs. (She really don't understand my anxiety about the whole driving long distance) :-(
     We arrived on Friday at 11:15am, unloaded and chilled for a little till O'Malley had lunch ready for us. He made Fish, deep fried shrimp, mashed potatoes (instant), and mixed vegetables. For dessert he made Slutty Brownies, they were very, very good. Guess he is doing a good job and holding his own. We hadn't seen O'Malley since the very beginning of September, so it was just nice to be able to chill and visit. Hubs and I took a walk down below O'Malley's place and came across this little pond.

This house was farther back the lane and we didn't want to go back for fear of trespassing.

 

 

Think about something that is making life hard – it can be fatigue, illness, relationship problems. Then find Scripture that can give you hope and comfort in the midst of your circumstance. Look at God’s character, look at his promises, and look to Christ’s work on your behalf.

I am doing a online Bible Study for 8 weeks, just wanted to share this weeks challenge.
www.lovegodgreatly.com checkout their blog. I have been blessed by doing this Bible Study. 




Time Keeps Ticking Away

I can't believe that it is the end of June already! In approximately 36 days O'Malley will be moving to SC. I'm going to miss him like crazy. I don't want to lose connection with him. The other day Toulouse said it's going to be weird not having O'Malley around.

I'm going to share some thoughts that have really been on my mind lately...all pretty much pertaining to O'Malley moving and some of the things that are being said to him. It's hurting him, which in turn is hurting me. No one likes to see their children suffer, especially when what is being said is unnecessary, or could be said out of love and not arrogance or being demeaning. 

I love all of my children dearly and I will protect them till the end!! For some reason I see that they are not living a God honoring life, then will will need to have a conversation about that. BUT...I will always love them. Nothing could keep me from loving them. God has chosen to love me unconditionally, so why wouldn't I do the same thing for my children. If you have something to tell O'Malley I would appreciate if you would do it out of love, there is no reason to be demeaning and harsh. I have great expectations for my children, and that is, that they LOVE the Lord, and are willing to be where and who HE wants them to be! I don't care if they have the lowest of lowest jobs. If they are doing what GOD has called them to do, then that is where they need to be! We are going to bless his decision to move, O'Malley feels that is where God is leading him. Am I hurting? You bet I am, but it's because I'm his mother, and I'm going to miss him. I don't want to lose the connection that we have. Hubs has been great at helping me thru this. We can't change people by being hateful, and ignorant. We will only change people by showing them Christ's love. Even if I don't agree with what everyone in my extended family is doing or isn't doing. Hubs and I pray for our children daily, and someday they will all leave the litter, and hopefully will return with kittens of their own. 

 

 

 

Weekend Musings

O'Malley's girl arrived from the south on Thursday afternoon! Which made for one happy cat. Friday eve, Berlioz went to the tractor pulls with some friends from school, Toulouse & Marie went to friends house overnight. Which left me and the Hubs for some much needed alone time. We had supper on the patio, and then watched a movie on the patio. Soon after we started our movie, O'Malley called and wanted to know if we all wanted to go out for ice cream with him and his girl. So, we took a lil break and went out for ice cream with them, which was nice to be able to spend some time with them. Then when we got back, Hubs and I finished our movie. "The Americano"

Saturday it was work around the house day, & just this and that. Washed vehicles, weeded flower beds, cleaned out the pop-up from camping the weekend before, made meadow tea, did a load of laundry and fixed a few things that needed taken care of. I love those kinds of Saturday's.

Sunday we went to the state park to go out on the boat at the lake with our family and my in-laws. We stopped and got subs for lunch and then headed out to their place to help them hook up the boat. It was very nice and relaxing but the weather wasn't the warmest. The sun only came out for a very short time, but everyone had fun just being together, and we played a few games of corn hole. Some of the kids when swimming, Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie did some fishing. Berlioz caught a nice bass. I love when our family is all together. That is why I'm having a hard time with the fact that O'Malley is moving.

They Grow Up So Fast...

Coming home from the Campground on Sunday afternoon, Marie (our youngest) was telling her friend that her brother, Berlioz will be graduating next year.  She said, "they just grow up so fast"!! She also said that when O'Malley graduated last year she cried. Her friend said it sounded funny because it's usually the mom & dad that say "they just grow up so fast". 

This morning when I went to wake her up for school; I said, "Good Morning", today is the last day of 5th grade. She said, "can't I just stay in 5th grade". Oh, boy! Marie is also the one that said she wanted to stay in 3rd grade. We went to the Public Library when I got home to sign Toulouse & Marie up for the Summer Reading Program.

June 1st, 2015

We had a busy but fun weekend. Friday afternoon, Hubs left with Toulouse, Marie, and Marie's friend to go camping. Hubs informed me later that something was wrong with the way the hitch was hooked up on the Truck, and that the pop up had almost came unhooked on the way to the Campground.  I had my sister's graduation on Friday night. So, my sister, her daughter, my great niece (who I was baby sitting for the weekend), & me headed to York County for graduation. It was very nice. It also happened to be the same school which I graduated from 23 years ago! 

 

Saturday morning, I got up and packed up the rest of our stuff to head to the Campground. We got there about 9am. We had stuffed french toast for breakfast. Toulouse, and Marie love to Camp here, because all their friends come to our Annual Church Camp Weekend. So, we don't see to much of them for 2 days because they are running around with friends. O'Malley came up around 10am and spend the day with us, till around 7pm. Berlioz stayed home and hung out with his friends. I took my niece to the splash pad after she woke up from her afternoon nap. She loved it, it was nice having a little one around. She is so laid back. We had Kabobs, Cheesy Potatoes, & Asparagus for supper. Food taste so much better when cooked over the fire.We had a downpour of rain around 8:30-9pm. We decided to get showers and make it an early night. Which wasn't really all that early till everyone got settled. Another one of Marie's friends joined her in the camper on Saturday night. So we had 3 little kittens instead of just 2. We had just fallen asleep at, and I was awoke by a terrible sound that I could figure out what it was, just as I found my flashlight, and got it turned on. I happened to shine it on Marie's friend as she was dashing out the door. She had thrown up. :-(  I'm glad Hubs was there to clean up. I can't handle that. I was spraying disinfect while he was cleaning up. Then he was going to go make sure that she made it back to their camper, and her dad was coming to gather her stuff up. Checked my clock and it was 11:30pm. I didn't sleep well at all the rest of the night. 

Sunday morning, we had English muffin mountain pies. Then Church from 10-11am. Hubs was making a Roast, Potatoes, and Carrots in the dutch oven for our lunch. When we came back from church it had tipped over, and most of the water had ran out, burning our lunch. We were able to save most of it, and it was very yummy. Toulouse, and Marie went swimming with their friends in the afternoon. We left the Campground at 4pm. Hubs brought the pop up home with the Trailblazer and I drove the truck home. We unpacked and then took my niece home so we could see their  house that they moved in over the weekend. We also took their two kittens home for them. Marie's cat had had kittens, and my niece wanted them for her 2 girls. They named them Bagheera, and Baloo. They are so cute, and Marie is going to miss them.

O'Malley heading south

 

Well O'Malley has his mind made up and he is planning on heading south. Last week he sold his 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 truck to Berlioz so that he would have $$. Hubs bought Berlioz's 2001 Ford Ranger, and O'Malley bought a 2003 VW Jetta. Life is flying in a whirlwind, lately. I'm still just trying to adjust to the idea of him moving.

O'Malley, Berlioz, Toulouse, & Marie

Can anyone ever really prepare you for your children to grow up and move away? That is what I'm facing right now!! O'Malley has decided that he wants to move, because his girlfriend, whom he has been dating since the beginning of 2015, lives 12 hrs away. It's not that I don't want him to move, if that is where God wants him to be, but my heart aches when I think of not being able to see O'Malley. He is after all the first born, the one that made me a mom 19 years ago. I'm going to be a supportive momma, but I will not hid my feelings about this to anyone. When O'Malley first talked to Hubs and I about this about a month ago, I cried every time I thought about it for 2 days. Hubs has been strong and supportive, but also, very open to O'Malley about his thoughts on everything.

I ask Berlioz this evening how he feels about his older brother, (by 2 years) moving south? He said, it didn't matter much to him. I'm sure that he will have his moments of missing him since they are fairly close in their relationship. I'm sure that Toulouse won't mind a bit, well...maybe a tad. They fight like...cats & dogs. Marie said she doesn't mind, but will be glad to see him.

I do trust O'Malley's judgement & if this is where he is feeling God lead him, then I have peace in knowing that he is in God's Hands.

Father Lead Me, Cause I Can't Do This Alone...Lead Me by Sanctus Real