Benjamin Harrison, Here we come!

buncha little hobo's outside the presidential mansion, field trip with our homeschool group on Monday, Sept 24, 2012

Molly led the way to the basement of the BHH....the stairs in this house were pretty steep. and narrow.

Playing the surveyor's game with David, in the orange shirt...he told us a lot about the times of Ben's Grandpa, William, who was an Indiana Governor and president of the US for about....5 minutes.

This is where I found Jack this day...
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, sweet little boy!

the lovely, albeit rather spooky staircase....such an elegant home!

This is the spot that Ben Harrison stood to make his nomination or acceptance or victory speech...I can't remember but back in those days of no iPods, Internet, TV, radio or quick travel, folks had to make do where they were. So he made his speech at his home.

Such a cool place and whatta porch! I could dig it!

I do hope you enjoy the above pictures from our crazy mad adventure to the Benjamin Harrison Home in Downtown Indy...I will admit, unlike my beautiful sister, I LOVE HISTORY. I like moving forward too, kinda, but mostly, things that have happened are so safe, because they've already occurred. Like my history, for example, looking back, I know that I can survive some pretty freakin' painful experiences and come thru, not necessarily unscathed but different and more open-eyed. Hopefully, more empathetic and wise too...ok...that is all I'll say on history.

An at home day...getting caught up on laundry, which never seems to get caught up these days, with soccer and such. I will choose JOY.

Just finished my exercise/worship time.
My parents came down to bring Gumbo.
David had a meeting with the union auditor today to go over benefits. Now he's at his shop.
Lanny, a plumber guy that helped us with the water heater, is working on our
new kitchen sink.
Ethan is currently reading with Levi in the living area.
Molly is wearing a skirt. She is exceptionally cute today.
Will is now with his dad at the Young Final Finish shop. He got new Converse last night.
Melanie is working on Biology and Lit/Comp, which seem to be taking
over her life...ahhhhh! She is growing even lovelier every day...if that's possible.

Andy Williams died Tuesday night. I'll admit, he's one of my all time faves in the classic old singers. I know he hasn't sounded like the man of golden pipedness for a looooong time but somehow just knowing that he was still among the living brought silly comfort to this ol' ninny (me). I've been listening to his music on and off all week.

In other news, I'm working on the Johnny Appleseed enrichment that Beck and I are leading for the 3rd graders next Thursday...I've got some good plans rolling around in my ding dongy head.

In yet other news, I have lots of thoughts in my head, as it is that nostalgic time of year that always gets to me (along with spring, and late winter. and maybe the dog days of summer. ha ha) Lots of things I'd like to say or share but won't. Lots of changes that are good and some that are painful or hard to understand...but all in God's great plan for my life. I trust Him.

I know He's in control.

I'll be seeing you....(that song is on Pandora right now. it makes me miss Jack so very much. "I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you")

This is "being held"

We were trying to get out and enjoy the beautiful weekend...and boy was it. So, while waiting for Mel to arrive back at church, the remainders of us made a quick li'l visit to Independence Park, a local fave. I got to glimpse this, which I will never tire viewing.

Forgive me, Will. I didn't get a pic of just you because you and Dad kept having those in-depth convo's and it was just hard to get you looking chilled. Work talk takes it outta even you! 

I don't remember what I was "fist-pumping" but it was NOT my hair do. I'm trying to grow my hair out and it's taking forever! I was probably fist pumping pumpkin spice coffee or the amazing clouds on this day, which reminded me of Jack and all of his friends who are waiting for us in Gloryland. 

David and I usually share a venti whatever. I'm sure he loves my Burt's Bees colored chap stick on our mutual drink.

They can be the best of friends and the worst of enemies...but enemies never lasts for too long.

What do you imagine when you see clouds this magically poofy?
Now, I imagine sweet baby Jack, with his beautiful, crazy brown hair, kicking around on them.
I could be totally off but hey.

The clouds on this Sunday, Sept 23 were loverly.
I notice them so much more now.
Thank you, Jack.
I still have to blog the cloud pix, from high above in the sky, that my dear Jamie, sent me from her recent get away.

Good Wednesday Evening...this time next week, it'll be October already.
Right now, we are being attacked by gnats/fruit flies inside and weird flies outside. I love this time of year but kinda despise the weird bugs that emerge...spiders, roaches, flies, gnats, lady bugs. ick.

Bees are dying by our door. I stepped on one last night, not realizing he was dying in our doorway and the bugger stung me. I didn't like that. but I'm ok. thanks for asking.

These are the days of "being held". What is that exactly? I'm finding out...
We are coming up on what would've been Jack's 15 month birthday. i was going thru pix the other day and found pics of my last living boy child, Levi. He was such an interesting boy...chubby, laid back, slightly muppety, tonguey. I found myself wondering if Jack Oliver would've resembled Levi...I mean, he had three big brothers he could have imitated...can you imagine? THREE.

and he didn't make it. I had some really harsh recall of his delivery today and it brought me to tears as I drove (never good). as soon as I dried it up a bit, Natalie Grant's song, Held, came on the radio. what timing....

Held
Natalie Grant

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
Were asking why this happens to usWho have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held


When I first heard this song back in the fall of 2005, my life was totally different. Four kids, working hubby, homeschooling, low key on the friend/busyness front, in a dead church....blah blah blah...
It has a whole new meaning to me now....and to think I thought I was being held back then (I was but man, what I took for granted....)
Living thru family situations, yes, they are hard. but enduring what happened on that Thursday evening in June of 2011, whew. 

I look back on that and shudder. I was on the cusp of something big and there were no trumpets or heavenly representatives (that I could see), airplane banners across the sky....nope. Just me and my family of almost 8.

I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the things He is teaching me. I may never know, this side of heaven, how this all goes down but as the stilts and the things that I call dear to me here are knocked out from underneath me, I am clinging more and more to my Savior. He is my Rock and my Fortress, my Comforter and the only thing that makes sense in this life.

I really didn't plan to get all mushy but seeing those pix up there of my beautiful living blessings and knowing the trials I've been thru makes the fight for them all the more important. 

I'm outta here and hope that this finds you well, healthy and enjoying a delicious autumn. 
be back soon...

I think tomorrow is week 65 but honestly, I'm counting 30's now. I miss you, little boy. i know you know that.

a little ketchup

Molly and Nora have two of the best coaches....Will and Ethan are their coaches this season. 

cute but attitudinal.

Molly, shoving. she's a very hands on player.

Nora is a natural. 

ahhhh, IKEA.

I could seriously spend a day or two getting lost inside IKEA. This sink will be mine. someday.

some of the guys on the balcony.

This was our suite...it was a loft. pretty darn neat, if I do say so myself.

Ethan wanted his pic with this neat bear 

a little temper tantrum...she's been having these a lot lately...and it's not pretty.

Helmet head. yup, she's on the counter, again!

I always feel like, somebody's watching me....and I have no privacy, whoa -o- whoa

my female children

goofs

I had hoped to get a blog post much sooner today. But alas! Here I am now...it's taken a while to get pix uploaded tonight...ugh!

I have been home ALL DAY!

It feels so. good.  a rainy, smudgy kinda day, doing school with the kids, planning for the school area, and stuff like this.

Tory, I have found a few different letters that I've started for you. I really really hope to get one out to you so soon. You are such a faithful letter writer, caring soul. I am so blessed to know you.

But as for tonight, I'm gonna close...I know this is such a poignant post but I'm exhausted and will be back with more pix and updates tomorrow or Thursday...

Good night. God Bless You!

card-making state of mind

I know you will love these card designs, Dad...I'm actually putting them on here because I have no new "fresh" pics to put on but hope to change all of that today or tomorrow.

The simplicity of these card design images that I have taken off the web just make me giddy with excitement. I just wanna sit and make cards.

But that's just not practical...for there is an unending mound of laundry to be washed, a sink full of dishes, a battalion of fruit flies taking over my house, tables that need to be wiped, spelling lists that need to be stickered, pattern blocks that need to be picked up, beds that need to be made, emails that need to be sent and for all of this, in it's unendingness, is embraced with JOY, by me. (I'm reminding myself. I haven't gotten it figured out yet.)

Being held accountable is probably one of the most painful experiences of life. I like to call it Refiner's Fire, for my believing in Jesus Christ friends. God is tweaking and working out all of my nitty gritties...I'm not saying this to make excuses for myself or to ask for patience. I'm just telling you what I'm experiencing right now. It's embarrassing, it's ouchy and I'm so thankful for each situation.

More on that another day....

Tonight, we are going to putt putt. I really kinda don't like to do this activity. I go because my family "enjoys" it. It's probably better now that Molly isn't a toddler. Golf of any kind is just kinda stupid and pointless to me (sorry, if you're a golfer)...I won't go into my list of reasons....but one of them is, well....I just won't go into it.....

After that?

El Meson, babycakes!!!

I don't even need a meal...just give me a bowl of salsa and some chips. (maybe I should take a cuke so I save calories.....) I. crave. their. salsa.

It's completely different from mine.....

I love it

hope to be back with pix tomorrow.

Cincy revisited...

this picture just makes me laugh. If a TV is on, the house could burn down around my hubby.  What is Levi doing in this pic, you ask? I just don't know.

Molly and her pool hair, Levi with his ever-serious face and the li'l Raccoon, Oliver. 

Coming down off the Family Raft...i wish I'd been able to take more pix but I was wet all the time.
We had SO. MUCH. FUN!!
David and I were like a couple of kids.

What's a trip to Cincy without dropping by IKEA quickly.
I wasn't on a shopping trip but an idea gathering trip.
Ethan just does his own thing.
We took a pic similar to this in March of 2011.

No matter where I go my remaining days on this Earth, I will always look for Jack. Ways to honor him, remember him and make sure everyone else does too.
I hope that doesn't aggravate people but if it does, I'm very sorry. :(
What a cute name he has...Jack Oliver Young.
Because He died, I probably don't say it as much as I would have, esp now with him being 14.5 months old but rest assured....I will always say his name.
JACK OLIVER YOUNG
We surely miss you
and wish you'd been with us at the toddler pool.
I die a little inside when I see another baby boy
or when I think of what you'd be like.
ahhhhhhhhh.

as always, my pix uploaded out of order....but this light at IKEA is very cool.
This pic speaks for itself.
Yes, Will was with us, but he manages to stay out of my pics.
Natalie, we never made it back to IKEA but when we do, and soon, I will get those shelves if you still need me to.

a very cool couch for a teenaged girl!

I have some catching up to do but tonight is NOT that night.
Tomorrow is Thursday...and a busy one at that.

Our storage unit was broken into while we were gone. Other than that, our time away was simply awesome and so very much needed.

Our water heater is also still out...we'll keep on doing the old fashioned baths till we figure something out....ahhhhh.

Adios my friends.