My Lot in Life

Having Aaron still live at home with us can present challenges in various ways.  One issue that Gary and I face is, at times, trying to have a prolonged conversation with just the two of us.  It’s amazing how often we have the following scenario:

I walk down to Gary’s study and sit in the rocker.  Aaron is safely WAY up on the third floor, in his room, absorbed in a game or a movie.  But somehow, someway, it’s as if the tiniest sound of our voices reaches Aaron’s ears even through his earbuds.  Soon we hear the unmistakable THUMP THUMP THUMP of his heavy footsteps coming down first one set of stairs and then the second set of stairs.  Gary and I look at each other in resignation as Aaron charges into the study.  “MOM!!! (or DAD!!!),” Aaron bellows.  “Did you know that the core of the earth is HOT?!!  Why is the core of the earth hot?  Can we go to the core?  Would you like to go to the core of the earth??”  Aaron doesn’t notice the lack of interest on our faces or hear our sighs.  “No, Aaron,” I (or Gary) reply, “we don’t want to go the core of the earth.”  (Although that thought might be attractive at the moment in order to afford us some privacy!).  “Why not?!!” Aaron asks.  So we tell him that we will talk about this later and we tell him to go back to his room and ponder the core of the earth a bit more and we wait for him to leave before we try to resume our conversation.

I have been known to say, more than once, something to this effect: “You know, it seems to be our lot in life that we can hardly have a private conversation.”  Gary and I laugh as we both agree with this truth in our lives.

However, there are times that referring to my lot in life can take on a more serious tone and one that is defeating.  I may not even verbalize my thoughts.  That thought may be fleeting or if I’m not careful, may take root in my mind. 

My “lot in life” may be an ongoing situation, such as having our adult special needs son still living with us and facing all the challenges that brings. 

My “lot in life” may be a sudden situation that intrudes into my peaceful life.  We all have them.  Health, finances, children situations, jobs…

There is a truth that I must remember when my mind travels to considering my “lot in life.”  That phrase conjures up a roll of the dice…the hand I was given…good or bad luck.

Each of those concepts go totally against my walk with God.  As a follower of Christ my life is not controlled by luck or how my stars are aligned or any such nonsense. 

Here’s how David put it:

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot.”   

(Psalm 16:5)

My life’s circumstances are not controlled by chance but are designed by God for me.

God is providentially ordering my life. 

And He is doing the same for yours if you are His child and are following Him.

Therefore, I can…I SHOULD…be content with God’s design of my life.  Even the very hard parts that bring tears and fears.

One more thing.  My “lot in life” is not your “lot in life.”  And your “lot in life” is not my “lot in life.”

When I go to comparing my life to yours then I will inevitably be either discouraged or boastful…and both of those attitudes are terribly wrong.

Again, David said it well:

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”  (Psalm 16:8)

God is to be my point of reference.  He is the answer to all my questions.

God is the One Who has given me my “lot in life.”

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP

Such a Fun Fall Day!

Gary and I had such a fun day yesterday with Aaron! 

The day didn’t start out with great fun, however, as Aaron had a doctor appointment.  He doesn’t usually mind the actual appointment, but that little side trek to take blood wasn’t what I would call fun. 

I’m so thankful that Aaron handles blood draws with calmness, though.  What a blessing that has always been!

In the afternoon, Gary and I took Aaron down to Klausmeyer Farms.  The fall day was perfect for outdoor fun! 

There were plenty of photo opportunities.

And the corn maze! 

We let Aaron lead.  He at first was hesitant about that, but then totally enjoyed it.  He would laugh and laugh when he came to a dead end and had to turn around.

He loved petting the animals, of course. 

And we ended our time there with a visit to the pumpkin patch, where Aaron found a large pumpkin which he is all too eager to carve. 

A big meal at Texas Roadhouse was the perfect ending to our fun day with Aaron.  As we ate, Aaron talked about his happy day.

“The pumpkin patch enjoyed me!” he exclaimed loudly.

Gary and I smiled at his wording.

We enjoyed you, too, Aaron! 

THIS much!

It Was a Trip!

Well, we are home from our trip to Gary’s beautiful Smoky Mountain hometown.  Days have been busy as we settle in, with Gary and I getting ready for another trip next week…this one without Aaron…so time is short for all the writing I would love to do.

As many of you know, our trek home was to help Gary’s sister, Sandra, when she returned home from having knee replacement surgery.  So, in a sense this was a working trip, and one that we are very thankful we could take.  A big thanks, as well, to all of you who were praying for us and for Sandra!

We brought Aaron with us, much against his desires…and at times, our better judgment.  😊  But we know that he needs to travel some with us, and that this will occur more now that Gary is retired.  Plus, family wants to see Aaron, even if Aaron is less than enthusiastic.

There is so much about traveling that is a struggle for Aaron, but the biggest issue is his autistic need to have his life in just a certain order.  Sorting and packing and stuffing things in a car is NOT Aaron’s definition of order.  I work hard to have his DVDs in one tote…his music CDs in another…his snacks in a snack bag…his sweater…his Handy Answer Garden Book…his computer that Gary packed in a box…  You get the picture.

Aaron does not.

We had already decided to take his stuffed snake and his very most favorite blanket.  Yet on the morning we were leaving, downstairs he came carrying a game system that did not even work properly and that he never uses.  And two extra Handy Answer books that I knew he would not touch.  These became his hill to die on.  No amount of persuasion worked to make him relinquish these suddenly all-important items, so in the car they were also crammed and away we drove. 

Gary and I were exhausted before we had even left our circle.

Aaron settled in his seat behind us, alternating mostly between watching a movie or listening to music, whooping or clapping way too loudly until we objected loudly and he quietened down until his next burst of excitement.  We saw cows and horses and sheep and rivers and lakes and interesting buildings.  But the buildings that Aaron loved most were ones where we stopped for gas, for inside those buildings were LOTS of snacks he did not have in his snack bag and slushies and hot dogs and all sorts of other possibilities. 

I had packed separate bags for our hotel stay that first night in order not to lug in all our heavy luggage.  Of course, Aaron’s arms became full of his two extra Handy Answer books that he did not need in the hotel room and his blanket that MUST go on his bed. 

Sigh.

Later, after a frustrating dinner at a REAL restaurant – as Aaron calls it – we were in our hotel room for the night.  The two Handy Answer books were on a table not to be touched again until they were carried to the car the next morning. 

And Aaron was snug in his bed reading his Handy Answer Garden Book with his blanket on top as it always is and always should be. 

This blog would be way too long if I included details of everything.  I’ll try to be brief by saying that Aaron really did do amazingly well considering all he had to handle.  He was bossy at times, but we knew he was just trying to control his surroundings.  It’s actually very interesting to watch but requires us to pull back and observe without our frustrations obscuring our view. 

We got to Sandra’s house the night before she came home from the hospital, so we had time to get situated and organized.  Gary got Aaron’s computer hooked up on the desk in his bedroom he used.  I got all his other things put in place…his star lamp we had packed, his Handy Answer Garden book within reach of his bed, his other two Handy Answer books off to the side to remain untouched, his music and his movies, his monitor on the nightstand, and finally his blanket on his bed just right. 

I got my part of the monitor plugged in and like we always do at night, I pushed the talk button and told him good-night one more time.  Getting everything all set up and plugged in was a bit of a challenge, so when I told Aaron good night I added:

“We’re up and running, Aaron!”

Aaron:  No, I’m not.

Me:  You’re not what?

Aaron:  I’m not up and running, I’m in bed.

A laugh was a great way to end the day!    😅😅😅

It was a blessing to be there to help Sandra, who is doing very well in her healing and progressing with her walking.  We got to spend time with lots of other family, which was wonderful!

Like I said, Aaron had so much change to handle and all of us were proud of how well he did.  All of us, too, were recipients of his anger and frustration that at times got the best of him. 

One evening Aaron was upset and very out of sorts.  Nothing calmed him and no one could reason with him.  But the person who helped him the most didn’t even realize that he held the key which set Aaron back on the right track.  Gary’s cousin, Bob, let Aaron talk about Star Wars this and Star Wars that.  Bob listened and commented and asked questions, and Aaron slipped back into his happy place where he is at home though he was not at home.  Aaron needed familiarity and having someone let him talk about a subject that was so out-of-place for all of us but Aaron was exactly the solution to ease his unsettled mind.

The last day and a half were particularly rough.  Aaron was done.  He was overloaded and spent and just so ready to go home.  He didn’t want to come out of his room.  He lay in his bed with the covers pulled over his head.  When he did emerge, he was defiant and angry. 

He focused his anger on Sandra.  I felt so badly for her. 

Sandra was his target because he knew we had come to help her, so in his mind his misery was her fault.  Nothing could dissuade him from that skewed perspective. 

My brother and sister-in-law came that night to visit, and somehow their attention…and their gift of a West Virginia Mountaineer cap that Aaron loves!…broke the angry cycle.  Jeanie’s great interest in those Handy Answer Books sealed the deal!

The next morning, we re-stuffed the car and said our goodbyes.  Aaron was happy as he could be, of course, as you can see in this picture with his Aunt Sandra and Aunt Mary Leah.

We soaked in the beautiful views as we drove away through those gorgeous mountains.

We smiled at Aaron wearing his ever-present sweater at a rest stop, no matter the warm temperature.

Now Aaron is home where he belongs.  Home where he is once again finding something else unique in the produce section at Dillon’s.

Home where he can settle in to watch a show with Mom and eat his snacks, with his blanket over him as it should be.

We’ll let the dust settle before we mention a possible Thanksgiving trip! 

Wilted

God loves us throughout each day and even gives us a song during the awful dark hours of the long nights.

He Said What?!

I have some container plants on our front porch.  They need routine watering, of course, but definitely need plenty of water during our very hot Kansas summer.  A few weeks ago, I was guilty of neglecting those plants for longer than I should have.  You know how it is.  I just got busy with many other things.  I would remember the plants and tell myself I needed to check on them, but then once again I would forget to do so in the midst of running here and there.

I had noticed my pretty Impatiens in the corner drooping a little one day, so I gave myself a mental note to water the plants that evening.  But I yet again got distracted and didn’t water them like I promised myself I would do.

When I finally went to check on the plants some time later, I was sad to see…

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So Many Changes!

Hasn’t this been a year of change?  My goodness, all of us are suffering from whiplash when we think of how quickly we’ve been hit with change across the board, in every area of our lives. 

When I fine-tune my vision and focus on our little family in our own little world, I see how all these changes…and other more personal ones…have affected us a lot.  Gary and I don’t just have ourselves to consider, of course.  For us as parents, certainly, we always look at how change is affecting our children.  It doesn’t matter that Andrea and Kyle, and Andrew, all live far away.  We still ponder and pray every day about their lives and what impacts them.

Here at home, though, we are the most affected by how changes in life hit Aaron.  Trust me, the word “hit” is appropriate when speaking of Aaron and change.  Sometimes Gary and I don’t quite know what hit us when change hits Aaron.

Aaron has handled COVID issues very well, for the most part.  He’s still thoroughly sick of it, pardon the pun.  Yet he wears his mask well in public and has adjusted to this new way of living much better than some I know.  I’m very proud of him for that.

His day group opened the first part of July and things have gone well until recently, when several clients tested positive for the virus.  The day center has been closed now for over two weeks.  Aaron doesn’t mind that one bit because he loves staying home.  Our quarantine is over, and he and we are fine, but the center is still closed.

We’ve still been able to enjoy walks outside, exploring some new areas and appreciating the familiar ones.

Petting Moe, our neighbor’s cat:

And loving some time on our friend’s farm:

Besides all the COVID stuff going on, we’ve also had personal changes in our life.  Gary retired this past summer and we wondered how that would affect Aaron, but he’s adjusted beautifully and really enjoys having Gary home all the time.  I mean, now Aaron has another set of ears to listen to all his talk…and what’s not to like about that?!

We’ve had more remodeling done, including…and MOST importantly…Aaron’s room.  Aaron struggled with moving into his brother’s old bedroom.  He oversaw Gary and I as we moved his desk and computer to its new and temporary location, complaining like an old man about it…hovering and huffing a LOT!  He soon realized that his desk chair didn’t move so well on the new hard floor with no carpet, so he bemoaned the fact that his carpet was soon to be a thing of the past.  He tried to urge Luke and Noah, our remodeling team, to NOT take out his carpet but to no avail.  He also spoke to them about all the noise they were making and to please NOT turn off the electricity again!! 

He is now back in his own bedroom, with the hard floor and with his furniture rearranged.  Hey, if we’re pushing Aaron to adjust why not try even MORE new things, right?!  He’s just happy to be in his own bed again and in his own room, so this further stretch for him is being tolerated well.

Success!

Except for our latest change.  Gary and I are taking Aaron with us on a trip back east.  We’re going to Gary’s hometown in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina to help his sister after her knee replacement surgery.  AND…we’re taking Aaron with us.

Aaron would rather stay home, in his own house and his own room, even though we did put that hard floor in there!

Aaron loves Aunt Sandra and will talk her ear off on the phone, but Aaron loves being home even more.  It’s been a push to get him to settle down about this grand plan of traveling again.  Gary and I have had to be firm.  I’ve told Sandra to put on her thick skin. 

Aaron wanted to talk to Barb, Paradigm manager and Aaron’s second mom, about all this trip business.  She facetimed with him yesterday and it was so sweet.  She helped tremendously!  We may be doing that again from North Carolina!

We leave in the morning.  Our vehicle will be full of Aaron’s CD’s, DVD’s, blanket, pillow, books, food, drinks, his computer, Nintendo and games, and his stuffed snake. 

He is comforted in knowing that tomorrow night we will stop to stay in a hotel and best of all, we will eat out in a real restaurant. 

Gary and I would be comforted in knowing that as you think of us, you would pray for safety…for Sandra’s knee surgery to go well…and for Aaron to have a great time and to be happy. 

We hope to see lots of happy smiles just like this!  Thank you for praying!

Just Trying to Care

Aaron has recently been fixated on planets and stars and space and seeing pictures of all the above.  And when I say fixated, I am not speaking of a casual interest on Aaron’s part.  Aaron latches on to his current fixation like a tick on a dog.  He does not let go easily, and nothing deters him from researching every little minute detail of said fixation. 

He loves to include us in his latest quest for information, which means two things.  First, we must often look up something on the internet with him that he just MUST share.  Google is our friend.

Second, we must listen to Aaron talk and talk and talk and talk some more about all the facts he has learned.  He just knows that we will be as dumbfounded as he is about his latest find.

He really, really wants us to care as much as he cares.

Yesterday evening, then, found Aaron and I sitting on the couch together listening to Louie Giglio’s famous video, Indescribable.  It wasn’t AS full of planets and stars as he wanted, but it did contain some sounds from outer space that Aaron loved.  Aaron was particularly interested in the sounds that planets and stars make, so he was very happy to hear that part of Giglio’s sermon. 

All in all, the video was a wonderful reminder of God’s astounding creation of the universe.  Aaron and I both loved all the breathtaking pictures of stars and galaxies. 

After we were finished, I was in the kitchen lowering the blinds when I hit my elbow on the back of a chair.  I didn’t just hit my elbow.  I whacked it good!  The pain shot down my arm as I grabbed my elbow and bent over.  Aaron, who was standing nearby talking, kept talking until he noticed my obvious pain.  Then he wanted to know what had happened, in detail.

I didn’t want to talk.  I wanted to be left alone until the pain stopped.  So I briefly answered Aaron’s question about my elbow and moved to another room. 

“Mom!!” Aaron exclaimed, “you act like you don’t want me to talk!  I’m just trying to care!”

Well, that stopped me in my tracks.  I removed the arrow from my heart as I walked back to Aaron and thanked him for caring.  I tried to explain how the pain made me not want to talk as I let him know that I appreciated his concern.

This morning I continued reading slowly through the Psalm I am studying…Psalm 8.    The verses I was to read today were these:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

What is man that You take thought of Him, and the son of man that You care for him?   (Psalm 8:3-4)

These verses fit perfectly with all our talk here lately about space and planets and stars.  Well, Aaron’s talk about space and planets and stars.  Gary and I primarily listen.

Anyway, I just sat and looked at verse 4.  Who am I, God, that you care for me? 

And I thought of Aaron’s comment from the night before as I got irritated because of my pain. 

“I’m just trying to care!”

In my pain, I didn’t want to listen to Aaron…but he was trying to care.

It hurt him for me to not recognize that.

And I also thought of God and how much He cares.  God…Who created all the vast universe…cares about me? 

Yes, He does. 

I love that thought on most days, but when life isn’t going as I want…when I am in pain because of situations that hurt…I sometimes don’t exactly want to listen to God.

But then I hear God speak in verses like I read this morning and I am stopped in my tracks.  Humbled.  And so very thankful.

Like David, when I compare myself to the vastness of the far reaches of our universe, I am insignificant…a mere tiny speck.  But God cares…for me?

I love what Dale Davis says: “Only the condescension of God can hold together astronomical vastness and individual concern.”

God condescends in order to hold together His vast universe, but He also condescends to me out of His care for me.  God loves me.  ME!  I don’t know and can’t explain why He loves me, but I know that He does. 

Who am I that God would love me?   Why does God care?

Davis again says: “Why should a mere speck of dust on the light years of God’s calendar matter to Him?  David at least has no doubt that he does matter; he’s just baffled to bits over why.  When he says, ‘What is man?’, he is not asking a question but making an exclamation – he is really saying, ‘What a God!’  He is not posing a mental teaser; he is engaging in breathless praise.”

I didn’t want to talk to Aaron when I was in pain.  Likewise, I often don’t want to hear from or talk to God when my heart hurts, when life isn’t fair, when my world crumbles.

But He doesn’t quit caring.  And I know that He has a purpose for my pain…a purpose that is for my good in the long run. 

So may I, even through pain, give breathless praise to God for His thoughts of me and His care for me. 

God’s Work of Art

He Said What?!

I love how Gary stops to enjoy the world around him.  Sometimes I may not quite agree with it, like when he found a huge Orb Weaving Spider on the back of our patio chair recently and instead of killing it, he placed it gingerly in our flower bed.  You who know my fear of spiders will also know that I am now avoiding that flower bed, or am stalking around it carefully like an NCIS agent at a crime scene. 

I wasn’t at all surprised this past Sunday afternoon to walk out in our garage and find a Cicada, a poor dead Cicada, laying on Gary’s work bench.  I knew that Gary had placed it there for me and for Aaron to see.  I didn’t even have to ask.  I paused to look at it, which prompted Gary to tell me about the Praying Mantis he had rescued from…

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Aaron’s Talking Points #10

More of Aaron’s funny comments collected over the years. Enjoy!

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First initial report from Aaron about the circus: There were not a lot of clowns so that was boring. The elephants pooped in a bucket and that was NOT boring.

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Aaron, walking through the family room: “I’m going to use the bathroom. Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Why does it even matter what I think on that subject?

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Aaron has a hard time getting family relationships correct. Brother and sister, mom and dad – he’s usually good with those, although not always 100%. Aunts and uncles – I think he just calls them by those titles but he doesn’t really fathom their connection to mom and dad. And just forget cousins.

Now that Andrea and Kyle are getting married, Aaron has really struggled – in more ways than one – with this new relationship and how it will impact him. He feels like he’ll lose Andrea – that she won’t be his sister anymore. We’ve told him over and over that Kyle will be his new brother (brother-in-law, to be exact, though that confuses Aaron). And that Andrea will still be his sister.

So today he was telling our friend, Casady, that he does NOT want Kyle to marry Andrea. His reason, in his words:

“I don’t want to be a Grandbrother!!

That’s a new one! The family tree just got even more interesting. 🤣🤔

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Aaron’s been asking a million questions this morning. I’m a little phased out at this point, so I’m giving the standard answer of, “Hmmmm.” This doesn’t sit well with Aaron, so he challenged me about not answering him well.

Aaron: What do you keep saying?

Me: When?

Aaron: Every time I talk to you.

Me: Hmmmm.

Aaron just gave a big sigh and walked away. Maybe I’m on to something. 😁

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Aaron told us that he thought one of his staff was pregnant with her second child. This fascinates him. Today when I dropped him off for his group, this staff was driving. Aaron asked her if it’s true that she’s pregnant and she said yes. So he excitedly replied, “So you’re going to do another baby?!” He does have a way with words!

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Aaron was watching the news last night when on came a story of the Pope at an Easter gathering. Aaron leaned forward on the floor where he sat, taking in all the scenes of the Pope. Finally Aaron was done and as he gathered up his things off the floor, he said, “That pastor dresses funny. I’ve never seen a pastor dress THAT way!!” Can you tell we’re not Catholic?

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Another topic that Aaron talked about yesterday: clowns. He wonders if a clown wears that same kind of make-up that I do. O.K., now he’s gone too far!

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Aaron has talked and talked and talked and talked and talked…..you get the idea……about an alien picture that he saw. Earlier, he said that the alien was pink. But knowing that he is color blind, and that to him pink is sometimes really blue, I foolishly told him that maybe the alien is really blue. This statement that I made without thinking resulted in me having to stand in his room at his computer, observing the mutant alien on a very small picture. Was he pink? Well, sort of. But I could also see a tinge of blue. Hmmmmm……

Me: Aaron, I think he’s a pinkish blue.

Aaron: Pinkish blue?

Me: Yes. A little pink and a little blue.

Silly me. This pinkish blue business is just a bit much to comprehend in Aaron’s black and white…..it’s either all pink or all blue…..world.

So a few minutes ago, Aaron stood behind me at my computer, trying to figure out once and for all what color the alien really is.

Aaron: Mom, pinkish blue.

Me: Mmmmmm. (Not really paying much attention…..brain is numbing).

Aaron: Pinkish blue. That’s like pink and blue are connected.

A good laugh woke my brain right up! I think Aaron gets pinkish blue now!

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Our sweet caregivers, brother and sister long-time friends of ours, came over Sunday to go over some things before we leave for Houston. So this morning I had this conversation with observant Aaron:

Aaron: Mom, H. looks weird.

Me: She most certainly does NOT look weird!

Aaron: I think she looks weird.

Me: Why on earth do you think she looks weird?

Aaron: Well…..she’s skinny.

Obviously, Aaron is very unaccustomed to skinny here at our house. And trust me, this is his version of a compliment. I’ve already warned H. about her upcoming compliment, too, because I strongly suspect that he will share it with her as soon as she walks in the door tomorrow.

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Same song, second verse.

Aaron: “The movie 2012 is 159 minutes long.”

Me: “So it’s about 2 1/2 hours long.”

Aaron: “No. It’s 2 hours and 39 minutes long!”

 Silly me!! We must be precise!

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A few weeks ago, when Aaron had a respiratory virus and sore throat, he had some observations, as always.

“Mom, every time I blow my nose it comes BACK to my nose!!” 😝🤢

Then he started running a slight fever, complete with some chills.

“Mom, why do I feel cold? Is it because my body isn’t at its warming temperature?” 😃

So today during Wheel of Fortune, he took a chill and then laughed and laughed at the goose bumps on his legs.

“MOM!! LOOK!! Those are bumps to being cold!!” 😅😅

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Aaron: So are we going to watch an NCIS?

Me: Sure!

Aaron: Will it be 9:00, or 8:55?

Let me think about that, Aaron. 🤔🕘🙃

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Aaron held up a Snickers bar at Wal-Mart: “Mom, this is the kind of candy bar my friend likes! But what’s that stretchy stuff in the middle?” Uh, I’m hoping you’re talking about the caramel, Aaron.

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Aaron’s had a very hard time waking up in the mornings. When I have to keep talking to him or shaking his leg to get him awake, then he becomes angry. It’s not a good start to our day, so today I decided to improve the situation by offering him a stop at McDonald’s for a sausage biscuit. It worked!

After our biscuits, as we drove to Paradigm, Aaron’s eyes were still heavy and he was unusually quiet. We were listening to The Beach Boys.

“…I wish they all could be California girrrrls…”

Suddenly Aaron started chuckling and then outright laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked him.

“They’re singing about BIG California girls!!” 😂😂

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Aaron, talking about all the places he went today with Amy:

“Mom! We went to that store that has all that stuff that smells! We got Barb some of that smelly good smell stuff!”

I want some!!

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One of many observations that Aaron is making as he works his way through the movie, Titanic:

“The accent of those people on that ship. They sound like Europe!” 😁😁

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Aaron wasn’t out of bed for 60 seconds before he was standing beside me, talking about barnacles.

Yes. Barnacles.

His current focus is The Titanic, and the barnacles covering the wreckage have totally captured his attention…and therefore, ours.

I just googled Barnacles. I have learned more than ever about barnacles. Go ahead. Ask me a question about barnacles. And if I cannot answer your question, I’ll have Aaron call you. So leave me your number when asking questions. You and Aaron can talk for hours about barnacles. Trust me. HOURS!!

Doing so will provide me with very beneficial mental health assistance, too. Think of how happy that will make you feel, my dear friends and family!

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Well, that’s enough of Aaron this time.  Thanks for reading.  You may leave your phone numbers in the comments for that call from Aaron. 

Just kidding!!  😊  😊

Have a great weekend!

The Surprise

We each have our own situations that God has put, just so, in our lives. As we stand and look at whatever that is, we must choose whether to accept God’s placement in our garden or to spend our life hating it.

He Said What?!

I was walking through our vegetable garden one day in early summer, looking at the pretty little plants growing so nicely where Gary and I had placed them.  There was the summer squash on the front row, along with some zucchini.  The tomatoes were already inside their tomato cages that Gary had put up, and behind them were our okra plants.  Cucumbers were on the side of the garden near the tall oak tree.  We have a simple garden this year, not as full as it sometimes is, but enough for us and hopefully some to share with others.

Everything was where it should be, growing as we had hoped at this point, with no visible bugs or other problems that I could see. Weeds hadn’t started taking over yet, either, so I felt content as I turned to leave the garden.

But wait.  What was this?

I stopped between…

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