The Y and a bear.

So the only things that I really wanted to do in Tennessee was swim in the mountains and see a bear.

My parents lived in Maryville, Tennessee when I was born.  They get all smiley and google eyed at times when they talk about living there.  As a kid I often asked why they moved back.  I really don't remember their answer but I know why now.  Anyway, my parents often talk about spending all their free time in the mountains.  They didn't have much money and the park is free.  What a better way to spend your weekend than picnicing and swimming in the mountains.

So our Tuesday started with really no plans at all.  Matt wanted to ride the skylift in Gatlinburg and I just wanted the boys to see a bear.  We headed to Gatlinburg.  If any of you have ever been there you know what I'm talking about when I say it was CrAzY busy!!  Gatlinburg is a beautiful little town settled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.  However it is so commercialized that it will drive you insane!  There is one road into town.  It is so busy that it takes you about 30 minutes to get from one end of town to another, and the town is not big at all.  On our way in I told Matt about the public parking lot and the shuttle that you can take.  He of course didn't hear me.  So now we are driving in the heart of town and trying to find a place to park.  I see another sign for parking, not a city owned lot of course, and we turn.  $10.00!  TEN dollars!  It was 10 bucks just to park!  We are only getting lunch and riding the skylift!  Ok..so this is the one thing Matt wanted to do here...$10..ok!  We came here about two summers after we got married and we couldn't afford to ride it then.  He really wants to do this.  I want to too but am sort of the one who always says ...well we really can't afford that...

We eat lunch at McDonalds, McNasty is what Matt calls it, and then proceed to the skylift.  We do see this really cool granite ball floating on water and we stop to play for a minute.



Here's Matt and Adam riding the skylift.  They loved it!  Ben and Josh did too, but I couldn't get a good picture of them.

So after the madness of Gatlinburg we drove to Cades Cove.  If you've never been there I strongly suggest it!  The Smokys are the most visited of all the National Parks.  I have a personal tie to the area but that aside it is truely breath taking!  I have so many pics that I would love to share but just don't have the room on here.  Anyway, we drive to Cades Cove and take the loop.  We see the mountains and a few deer.  The river that runs through the mountains is just beautiful!  We stop and let the kids put their feet in the water and this is the view looking at the water.

I can see how my parents fell in love with this place!!  The water was cold, but felt great on everyones toes.  It was refreshing on that 100 degree day!  Next stop Cades Cove!!!  By this time I was starting to feel a little crappy, but I'm taking my boys to Cades Cove so buck up sister!

We get there and take the loop.  We see the houses and churches but no one wants to get out and look.  As a kid we always got out to walk up and see everything.  It's so hot that no one cares what is in the houses!  We see some deer and thats about it.  The boys are starting to get board with our drive.  Pretty soon we see a few trucks pulled over and people looking in a field.  We stop and Matt asks whats going on.  A BEAR!!!  WOOHOO!!!  This is the one and only thing I wanted the kids to see, other than the river!!!  Want to see a picture??

ummm...Yeah so do I.  He's there, I swear he's there!  I wish I knew how to zoom in or better yet I wish I took the picture, but I know he's there! He was standing up on his back feet and looking around then he would drop back down. Ben was the only one who says he saw it .  I can be a happy girl the rest of this trip.  The kids got to see a bear and got to put their feet in the river.  Life is good!!

We got back to the camper at about 6:00 and I go to sleep.  I'm really not feeling well and start to think I have strep.  Not a good thing when your on vacation!  Matt cooks dinner, get the boys to bed and does the laundry!!  Holy cow do I have an awsome husband or what!!!

Next day I feel a bit better.  We spend the morning driving  go carts, playing putt putt and riding bumper boats.  The boys really needed to have a little fun and boy did we have fun!!  After lunch it's back to the mountains we go!  We pack up our swim stuff and head to the "Y"!!  There is a place in the mountains where two rivers meet and head down.  They call it the Y.  At least they did when my parents lived there.  It was great!!!  After swimming Matt stops at Kroger for some Mucinex-D. Yeah, I feel crappy again!

Our time in Tennessee was great, but not long enough! I never got a chance to see any of my family that is there.  We didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked there so I guess we'll just have to go back sometime.  We did however do all the things that we wanted to.  My kids got to swim and see where their grandparents fell in love.  They got to see a bear even though the picture didn't turn out great and my husband got to ride the skylift!  This is turning into the best vacation ever!! 

On to Arkansas!  It's a ten hour drive so we plan to leave no later than 8:00 a.m.  We should arrive at about 6:00 p.m. right?!?!

Oh no....day 4.

So our fourth day was going to be traveling to Smoky Mountain National Park and enjoying some of the mountains before dinner that evening.

Instead, we had an appointment to get the camper fridge fixed.  We had to be out of our camp site by 11:00 a.m. Monday morning.  We left and went to Camping World in Bowling Green Kentucky.  We had a lot of time to kill so we took the kids to a Chuck E. Cheese.  It was in a mall so I left Matt and the boys to do some shopping.  Our appointment was at 1:00 so we then dropped it off and went to have lunch.  We went to a Denny's.  We have not be to a Denny's in years.  As a matter of fact I don't think my kids have ever been to one before.  So we ate and had a grand time.  Ummm, yeah, not really!  The kids were mad because they wanted McDonald.  Everyone was in a bad mood and no one enjoyed their meal.  Ok so maybe I did enjoy my burger and the fact that the kids were being kids.  The best part was the old lady who was dressed in her Sunday best, on a Monday...at Denny's.  She was so very prim and proper that I was feeling like I should be ashamed for wearing shorts to dinner.  She was a hoot to watch after awhile.  She kept looking at the kids like they had two heads.  Mind you they weren't really doing anything wrong, they just weren't happy.  So the lady made my dinner fun after a few minutes of watching her.  I finally figured hey what the heck it's DENNY'S! 

After our meal we went to check on the camper.  It was finished and we only had to fork out another $150 bucks!  BLAAHHH!  We go around to hook it up and the guy was waiting there.  He then tells us the good news!  Hey your roof is shot!!  So we kind of figured.  It was one of those things that you know but you never really say it out loud because than you have to do something about it.  Well that bathroom floor has been getting soft for a few years and this year we've noticed some water on the floor in the kitchen area.  Great Just what we need!  The guy says that the materal is around $500-$1000.  It will cost about $4000 for Camping World to do it.  Well buddy, we are on our way to Tennessee so we'll do it later.  ;) 

We finally get started out.  It's now 3:30.  This was the time we had planned to be there.  Well there is a time change from where we're at so really it's only 2:30.  With fingers crossed we head south! 



We make it to Nashville in about a hour.  So smooth sailing!  Yeah right!  There was a traffic jam.  I guess it wasn't that bad but it put us behind by about an hour.  After that we had a great time looking and taking in everything.  The kids were again playing their ds or watching movies.  There really is nothing like the electronic babysitter!  Matt and I had tons of time to catch up on things.  I must say I never get tired of being with my husband!  We even passed a power plant on a river and talked about how great it would be to live on the river and him just drive the boat to work everyday!!  It was a great drive!

Soon I started to realize that we were still a few hours from the campground and they could be closing the office.  I couldn't find the number so I had to call my SIL and get it.  Matt started to say how we needed a smart phone for such things.  "I mean we could have used it to find Camping World too."  So now I call and there is no answer.  I leave a message and hope they call back.  Now Matt isn't so chipper anymore.  We needed to stop and eat!  So he pulls into a Taco Bell and as soon as he does I say I don't think we can get out of here.  Well he pulled right in and I mean ALL the way in!  Yep...no way out!  The gas station and the taco bell parking lots had a spot were the connected.  It was only a small little opening but if we could back into it we would be able to get out.  So we did it!!!  WOO HOO! 

 We ate quickly and then started out again hoping to get there before it gets to dark.  Yeah we didn't. We make it to Maryville at about 8:15.  Now the last time my husband was here it was 1999.  He doesn't remember what it looks like or some of the land marks of the area. We go by the airport and I ask if he remembers it...no.  Ok.  We go by the hospital were I was born again I ask...no.  We go though town and out another road.  We keep going.  I know we are going the right way but the gps dies and then I start to wonder.  The directions from google are not always great and sometimes I don't see a sign but I know I've been watching.  My mind keeps racing but I say nothing because if I do he'll freak out.  "Oh hey we turn left here."  Shoo  that was close!  We turn and within a few miles it's dark.  Now it's a little after 9:00.  We keep going and Matts cheerful mood from that afternoon went to "I can't beleave that you forgot the number to the campground." or one of my favorites "Could you have gotten us any farther away from civilization?"  or "Are we even anywhere close to the mountain?"  The road keeps going farther into darkness,though twists and turns , ups and downs and finally... I see the road and a sign for the campround!  WOOHOO!!!  I'm so releaved but I don't let on that I was worried at all.  We get there and Matt is griping about what do we do now...they're closed.  I guess my husband has never really read the signs that most campground offices have that say if you arrive late you can just check in in the morning.  So we find a site and get set up somewhat.  It's now after 10:00 and this has been a VERY long day.

Oh hey want to see what he woke up to in the morning???

"WOW this is amazing"  That's what he said on Tuesday morning. 

Two Days in a Cave.

So here's how the next two days on our "Trip across America" went.  Thanks to Melissa for naming our adventure!

Friday night was crazy so I prayed that night to thank God for bringing us to this cute little campground, and for not having my husband die that day.  We have always liked the small family owned campgrounds and felt right at home here. They only had 30 sites and that is just what we needed.  The boys are free to do more at a small campground than at a large one so they were happy that they could ride their bikes and play without me being right behind them all the time.

We woke up Saturday and got ready to go to the park.  We packed a lunch and plenty of water, it was so very hot!!!  The caves were only a 10 minute drive so we started out.  I had planned to do two tours and looked for the easier ones for Adam.  He would NOT like the 2 hour 600 stair tour.  Don't really think I would eather!  We got to the park and got tickets for both tours.  The first was a self guided tour in the Rotunda.  It was a short walking distance to the enterance. 

It was about 98 out that day.  In the caves it was a cool 58.  Our first tour was great and very refreshing. 

Ben wasn't so happy because he was getting cold and I forgot to bring jackets.  I mean really who would think to bring a jacket when you are sweating from just breathing.  So here are the guys in the Rotunda.  Pretty cool place if you ever get the chance to go.

Our next tour wasn't untill 5:00 that evening so we had some time to spare.  We then hiked, by hike I mean walk slowly because Adam doesn't like to sweat, down to the spring.  It was a mile round trip and we figured it would be a nice walk.  It really was!  On the way down I walked with Adam and then Matt walked with him on the way up.   Oh did I mention that it was down hill.  Not really a bad hill but for Adam it was very hard. 

I was so very proud of him!  He just kept going and was smiling through all the sweat.  A few time he would stop and sit down in the middle of the trail, but he never gave up!  We finally made it to the spring and it was beautiful!

Our next tour was in 3 hours so we had some time to kill.  We went on a drive through the park.  We went on a bike ride were Ben crashed.  We made a stop to buy a first aid kit for the truck.  We went and ate dinner at the campground.  Then finally it was tour time!

It was the Frozen Niagra and it was BEAUTIFUL!! This was the end of our second day!  This made everything that happend the day before worth it!

We got back to the campground to find that our fridge had stopped working. Great just what we need.  We are going to be gone for over two more weeks we HAVE to have the fridge.  We fill it with ice and find out there is a Camping World close by.  We get up Sunday morning and head out to find it.

Our third day we got the part for the fridge and a few things at Bass Pro.  It is truely amazing how you can be hundreds of miles from home and still want to go to the same stores we have at home! After doing a little shopping we go to another cave.  Diamond Caverns is a privatly owned cave.   It was our favorite one of the caves.  We had a guide for this one and Ben and Josh were fighting over who was going to be closest to him.   

This is just a little sample of what Diamond Caverns looks like.  This one was everyone favorite.  It was a half mile tour.  There were a lot more stairs but Adam didn't care.  He really loved this one too.

Oh...by the way...Matt couldn't get the part in the fridge.  We called and made an appointment at Camping World for the next day.  We were planning to be in the Smokys by 3:00 in the afternoon.  Our appointment was at 1:00 so there went those plans.  Hey no big deal it's only a 5 hour drive...right....

Day one: Happy Birthday Matt or was it Yogi

  My last post was on July 5th.  On July 8th we set out on our BIG camping trip.  A friend of mine named it "The trip across America" thats how big it was.  We traveled though seven different states in 18 days.  We pulled our 28 foot travel trailor with us.  We love to camp and this was the start of our dream to take the kids to all the National Parks.  On our trip we made plans to visit two parks, Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky and Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. 

The morning we set out was exciting for everyone!  We had everything packed and ready to go the night before.  I worked my rear off for about two weeks to get everything perfect for this trip.  My house was cleaner than it had been in a very long time.  I had saved evey nickle, dime and penny we had for gas.  I had stared buying non perishable food and items for the trip a few months ahead.  Everything was set and now we are ready to go!!

We left Bob Evans at about 8:30 that morning and by noon we were crossing into Kentucky.  Now we get off of 75 and start for the caves.  It was an easy drive for us.  We all had been in good moods and the boys had enough stuff to keep them busy.  We got to the caves at about 3:30 our time.  I had reserved a site at the Jellystone campground and was very excited to finally get there. We checked in and the kids were excited to see the pool and water slide.  We got our site number and the usual check in stuff.  We then proceeded to the site.  Hey...did I mention that our camper is 28 feet?  Well our site was not really big enough for the camper to sit on the site very well.  It was on a slope.  Not usually a big deal right???  Well did I mention that our camper sits low to the ground???  I know your thinking  ok...so.  Well our gray and black tanks were sitting on the rocks.  That wasn't going to work.  I went up to see if they had another site that would fit us better.  They didn't but they did send someone out to see if they could help.  K...so...the man they sent is telling us how this site is one that EVERYone fights over and how it's SO great because it's and end site.  "We're sorry for all the confusion it's Yogi Bears birthday."  This is something That was said to me about three times now.  So now it is raining..not just a little rain, but a BIG... HUGH... FAT.... HARD RAIN!!!  We get the camper almost leveled, still on the rocks somewhat and HOLY S**T  it starts to slide on Matt.  He started to push back and it stopped.  The man that they sent is no longer around to help.  I back the truck up to see if we can move it up some to level it out better.  It's still raining and we make the kids stay in the truck.  We get it in a differant spot and think that we are set.  The hitch on the trailor is almost in the road but hey it might work.  We get it unhooked...still raining big fat rain.  We are now thinking ok maybe we'll be okay.  We really aren't going to spend that much time here anyway.  The big light pole that's in front of our door will be ok as long as we don't want our awning out.  I guess that we really don't have to all sit around the campfire at once. I really don't want the kids to sit in the road in their chair and I don't want to eather.  Matt gets the last of the jacks set and....it slides again!!  By this time we are so wet that even our underwear is sticking to us.  We looked like we just had the big bucket at Splash Universe dump on us for about two hours.  Matt was cussing like a sailor and I was about in tears.  The camper almost ran over my husband two times...on his BIRTHDAY no less!  We hook it up and drive to the office again.  We went in and asked if there could be anyway we could switch sites or if anything opened up in the last two hours that we were trying to set up.  "No sorry it's Yogi Bear's Birthday."  WHAT THE BLEEEEP!!!  At this point I say something that I NEVER EVER do!   I look at the lady and say"  We just drove over 400 miles with an Autistic child in the back of the truck.  If you don't find me another spot then I want my money back and I'll sleep on the side of the road!"  I think the rage in my eyes must have been enough because she gave me a refund and then told me there was a campground just down the road.  "I don't know if they have a site and I don't think they have a pool but it's a shot"  were the words she used.  I just looked at her and said "well we can always find a rest area to sleep in if need be."  As we drove out I gave Yogi a little happy birthday salute.

We find the other campground and as we pulled in Matt wasn't so sure he wanted to stay.  We got out and went in the office.  A very kind looking man with a beard was behind the desk.  The office was small  and cozy.  There was a cross hanging on the wall next to a picture of the Lords Prayer.  I knew this was the campground for us.  The man was smiling and was listening to us vent about the Jellystone.  Did I mention that it stopped raining?  We were soaked to the bone but felt like we were at home.  He gave us a large site on the corner.  We had electric, water, and sewer for $70 less than the other place.  We got thing all settled and he came around to check on us.  He noticed that he over charged us because we only need 30amp service.  We didn't care we were so happy to finally get dry clothes on.  He then gave us fire wood to make up for the over charge.  We finally went to dinner at 7:30.  Ben was so happy to finally get his dad a birthday dinnerand a free dessert. This was the end of day one! 

So tonight I weeded my garden.  Not one of the things that are high on my to do list.  My husband and I were in the garage having a beer and talking.  We haven't had much time lately to just talk.  We were actually taking about what we needed to put in the camper, but hey we were talking right!  He went out the back garage door to the ally.  My garden is behind the shed and next to the garage.  We stood there for a minute and then we just started pulling weeds.  We did one row and he stood up.  I kept going and said that I might just finish because it was cooler out now.  Before I knew it he was weed eating around the back of the house, garage and shed.  Ben came to help me.  It took all of about 15 minutes to do the whole thing.  They were so easy to pull because the ground is so dry.

This garden is small.  I have 8 tomato plants, a cantalope, 5 pepper plants, a row of beans, and 1 plant each of three types of squash.  I love to can tomatoes.  I hate to can beans, but love to eat then raw off the plant.  I freeze the green peppers and use the hot peppers in salsa.  The squash we eat and love every meal the we get out of it.  I can feed my family of 5 off the tomatoes for a whole winter.  This is something my mother did and her mother before her.  I feel connected to my grandma when I can.  I used many of the same jars she had.  She passed when I was only 7 and I don't remember much about her.  Most of the things I know are stories that my mom, aunts, and unlces tell me.  Most of the jars that came from her are jelly glasses and those are my favorites!  She had some of the most beautiful jelly glasses I've ever seen.

My mother came from a very poor family.  She was the youngest of eleven children.  From things she tells me life was not easy.  Then again life isn't easy for anyone.  Her dad was born in 1903 and her mother was born in 1907.  They had a young family during the Great Depression.  They grew all their own food.  For them gardening was a have to not a want to! They had a lot of mouths to feed.  Everyone had to work to get through daily life. They didn't have indoor plumbing and they certainly didn't have a car. I don't really know if Grandma loved to garden and can the way I do. 

Life was very different back then.  The things that are part of everyday life for us was a luxury to them.  When I work in my little garden and I can the produce that cames out of it, I have pride.  Pride that I grew the food.  Pride that I know how to preserve it so that my family can enjoy it all year long.  Pride in knowing that the art of canning and growing came from my parents and grandparents.  Pride in a job well done. 

 My dads mom will be 84 in September.  The garden has always been something that she had to do to feed her family too.  However I get to hear her stories and I know just from listening to her that she has a passion for it.  She has a garden about three time the size of mine.  Every spring I tell her what I plan to grow and she tells me about her plans.  Every summer for the last 5 or 6 years she tells me that this is her last year planting.  I know better. It has kept her looking forward to the next day, week, and month to see what has grown.  I know that as long as she can walk she will plant.  I hope that my love for it is as strong as her.  My maternal grandma did it, but I never got to see if she had a passion for it like my paternal grandma.  I hope that someday I'll be able to pass on the jars from my maternal grandma.  More inportantly I hope to pass on the passion of gardening that my Meemaw has passed on to me.   Tonight when Ben came out and asked if he could help I was so  happy!  I feel blessed to be able to teach my children how to care for a garden.  I would love to teach them how to can.  My husband helps me if he's home so maybe they can help their wives.  With the fast pace of todays society I hope that they do carry on this on little thing that has been a big part of my family.  It's funny how a little thing like pulling weeds can make someone feel so good.

Stress

So am I losing my mind or what?  This is a honest question.  I seem to forget EVERYTHING lately.  I'm not sure anymore if I'm coming or going.  I have over scheduled myself so much in the last two weeks that I didn't even know what day it was today.  My wonderful husband got up this afternoon, looked at the thingy majig on the table and asked if I went to get the part for the camper fridge.  Well of course I didn't!  I completely forgot!  Why would I remember something like that?!?  Next he asked if I had got his meds refilled.  Well, I did try to do that on Sunday (actually it was my sis-in-law,but hey whatever), but they needed to call the doctor.  I called them back and of course they haven't heard from the doctors office yet.  I mean really!! After Josh's tee ball game, the boys and I go to Kroger in Lambertville to get the meds.  We also have to return a Redbox video game that Josh rented last night.  We go, return the game, and get a dino egg out of the vending machine.  As I'm pulling out and see a pharmacy tech getting into their car I remember why we drove to Lambertville anyway!  I forgot the dang med!!!  This is only a small example of how I think I'm losing my mind. 

Tonight was our last baseball game.  I am so happy that it's over!  Don't get me wrong, I love watching my boys play.  They are so funny sometimes.  I'm not so sure that baseball will be their thing.  Ben is still afraid of the ball.  He lets it go past him everytime.  He would reather chase the ball than catch it.  Josh is just plan bored.  I'm not sure if it's because tee ball is a boring game or if he just doesn't like it.  Tonight he got a hit, a good hit, and when he got on first base he sat down and started to put rocks on his head.  When he's up to bat he talks to the coach who is pitching the whole time.  His mouth never really stops.  Now that baseball is over the Summer should slow down right?!  Well....

Vacation Bible school is this week.  I'm the director.  That means I have to plan everything.  I have to get everything.  I make sure the leaders have everything.  Make sure we have everything for the crafts and for snack.  The biggest thing I have to do is be responsible for all the kids who are there.  It may sound like this is me complaining.  It's not, I LOVE every minute of it.  I love the kids who come and are excited about hears the lessons and doing the crafts.  I love to hear the kids learn the songs that thay sing.  I love when a child who never hears much about Jesus remembers their Bible verse for the day.  I love that I get to spend time with my dear friend, who is also my right hand, everyday!  I love the memories of my times at VBS as a child and how much I loved going everyday.  I love being the director for VBS.  I'm am a bit of a control freak about somethings so this fits me well.  So, I forgot the baskets this morning for Mary to serve bread out of...

We are going camping next month.  It's going to be a big trip and I've been kind of stressed out about it.  One night last week I was up all night puking.  I was so worried that we were not going to be able to go that I was making myself sick.  I was stressing about the money it's going to cost to do the things we wanted to, and about the price of gas.  I was a mess.  I had been helping put new roof on my in-laws house for the last two days.  Yes, I was on a roof taking shingles off and helping put new ones on.  My house looked like hurricane Jensen had been though it.  I was feeling defeated.  My mom came and helped me get things back in order.  I really don't know what I'd do without her sometimes.  I will say that I enjoyed doing the roof and helped all last week and weekend.

Though all of this stress I realized something.  Something that I know deep down in my soul.  Something that I had used to get though a lot more than just baseball, VBS, and a camping trip across four States.  This something is more powerful than anything you could ever imagine.  The Word of God.  That no matter how much I worry, God already has it all worked out.  I'm not usually that much of a worrier, but his time holy hannah have I been worried.  These things that have been stressing me out are minor.  They are things that I could very easily said no too.  These things are all things that I WANT to do.  I could never imagine not  wanting to see my boys play a sport.  I want to be the director for VBS, and I REALLY want to go on vacation with my husband family.  Through all of this I'm reminded of my favorite verse from the Bible.  The one that I go to all the time:

Matthew 6:33-34  33 But seek first His kingdom and  His  righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I know that what I'm stressing out about is all stuff that if it's Gods will then it will happen.  I no longer have the stress, but I still seem to be losing my mind at times.  I think that comes from having three boys with me everyday.  That too is something that I would never change.

No longer a baby.

So today my baby graduated....from kindergarten that is.  This was my last kindergarten graduation and it is bittersweet.

 When Adam graduated from kindergarten I felt pride and releaved.  Now he would be in school all day and I could get a little break.  Not a big break , but a VERY little one.  Ben and Josh were both still very little and I would now only have two at home all day.  I did have some tears, but they were from the pride that I had.  Okay... and maybe a little from the fact that he was forgotten in the slide show because he was the only ISD kid.

  Two years later came Benjamin's kindergarten graduation. He was so proud of himself.  He loved school.  He was a social butterfly and still is.  He is also tender hearted.  He is a very sensitive kid and I love this about him.  I didn't get tears at all with this one.  I was in somewhat of a funk when Ben was in kindergarten.  I had a very crazy work schedule and retail is not a forgiving career when it comes to kids. I was still trying to balance my work schedule and my family time and it wasn't working well at all!

  Fast forward two years later and here we are today!  It's Joshua's turn.  All he has talked about for the last week and a half was graduation.  When he woke up this morning he wanted to wear his "church cloths and shoes" as he put it.  I always lay down with him in the morning to wake him up because he is NOT a morning person.  This morning he woke up, smiled and said "graduation day today and lazy day tomorrow."  He ate his cereal and was ready before Ben even finished eating. He couldn't wait to get to school today.  He has really grown up this year. This graduation was a lot different than the others.  Not only was this my baby, but it was the realization that he wasn't a baby.  I had tears!  I had a lot more tears than I ever thought I would.  I have a few right now as I write.  My baby is no longer a baby.

  Our family has had a lot of changes in the last four years.  One thing has stayed the same...my joy of being their mom.