Week 9~ Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

 

 

 

 

Monday night James was invited by his good buddy to participate in a relay on the field at the Riverdogs Baseball Game. It was a school night, the game didn't start until bedtime, they really had to convince me to go. I'm glad we did. It was a beautiful night, the peanuts were good, the beer was cold and we all had fun. James even hugged Charlie the Riverdog, a first ever for him. All of this and the kids were in bed only an hour and a half past their bedtime. This mom is relaxing a little bit and giving in to the fun more often, yeah me!

Missing Home

Over the past few weeks I have found myself really, I mean REALLY missing my family. I think it all stems from my visit over spring break and my parent's recent birthdays. I was only home for a few days but many things had my emotions stirring on my ride back to Charleston.
1. Our visit with my G-mom: As my grandmother walks down the hall pushing her little walker on her way back from lunch, her face lights up when she sees James and Cate running towards her. "G-mom!" they yell. And so begin my tears (inside only of course). I walk into my 96 year old grandmother's new humble apartment in a retirement community, I have to hold back the tears. She loves her cozy little studio which is all that matters. She lives to go to the cafeteria for meals so she can visit with the other ladies. This comes from my grandmother who was still driving to bridge, church and any other social event in town less than one year ago. Life is catching up with her after 96 years. Her mini-refridgerator is covered with pictures of my children that we send her. They crawl all over her and take little rides on her sit and walk, while we visit. She couldn't be happier! She makes the comment to me that she is so happy. She thought she would miss her home, the only home I have ever know her to live in. She says she doesn't miss it for one minute. She was having a hard time filling the days, she was so lonely. We leave after many hugs, I miss yous and I love yous and I can't help but thank God that she is well in body and mind. I can only hope to have a mind as sharp as hers at 96 and a body that still lets me go to the cafeteria for my meals on my own 2 feet!
2. My family is all in Spartanburg without me: My parents are in the same house that I grew up in. My bedroom is the same bedroom that I have slept in since 4th grade. I am a grown woman with a wonderful husband, 2 children that are the center of my world and I still call 146 Mills Ave my home. It always will be. There is some comfort to be found in that although it may seem a little weird to some. Kevin used to tease me when I said that I wanted to go home, he gave up a long time ago. While I sat and visited with my parents, brothers and nieces it hit me and hard that I am the only one not home. It hurt. I am happy as can be here in Charleston, but it's not home to me still. My nieces are so close to my parents. James and Cate are too, but they miss out on the little things like having LuLu and Granddaddy at the soccer game on Saturday. Everyone is so close and I kind of felt like an outsider. My mom's heart would break in half if she knew for a second that I felt that way. It's no one's fault, 200 miles is not that far, but a lot farther than 2 miles!
3. I am becoming my mother in so many ways and I'm proud that I can say that. If only I could make my children listen to me and behave the way my mom could with us growing up. She never raised her voice, not once. I wish I could say the same!
4. My mom's advice is like solid gold to me. One day I will tell her.
LuLu's words of wisdom include:
*Take 30 minutes for yourself everyday. No one else will care if you take that time for you and no one will tell you to do it. You have to do it for yourself.
*Be proud of who you are and never veer away from that person
*Juliane... you can't say that about someone!
*Juliane... be nice
*Go to sleep, everything is better in the morning
*Tell your children no sometimes, it's ok
*Insist that your children always use their manners. It will make them successful in life.
*I am proud of you
*I am lucky to have you as my daughter
*We are two peas in a pod, you and me
*I love you so much my Jules

I didn't start writing tonight with the intention of sounding down and out. All of this and more has been sitting on my mind since I got back home and I finally felt the need to get it out. It's just for me!

Week 8~ Strawberry Time

 

 

 

 

It's strawberry time, a sure sign that summer is on the way! We picked a ton, ate a lot and brought home several pounds. Strawberry pie, strawberry bread, strawberry sauce for ice cream, strawberry smoothies, strawberries, strawberries, strawberries... I LOVE IT!

Week 6~ There's a new playground in town!

On a school night about 45 minutes before bedtime we decided to explore the new Bees Ferry Landing complex. The kids were thrilled. What mom? You are really breaking your rigid nighttime routine on a school night? Maybe you are a little fun after all! What a fabulous new complex and it's actually close to home. Nothing fun is EVER close to our house. The gnats almost carried us away. At one point I had one in my eye so I couldn't see and one up my nose so I couldn't breathe. It was great! The kids loved the great new playground.

 

James spotted this weird looking little seat. He sat down and said, "It doesn't do anything." After I told him to pick up his feet and tilt a little, this was the result. Much fun was had on the little seat that doesn't do anything!

 

Cate explored the whole playground in her typical style... Push me on the swings, get me out, help me on the monkey bars, watch me slide, look at me jump from this thing to the bar above my head, can I do the spinny thing too, push me again, and I have to go potty... all in about 5 minutes. I love my little tornado!

Week 5 The Sand Between Our Toes

 

 

 

 

AHHH! Beach weather... well sort of. My coffee has barely kicked in when the kids come downstairs in full bathing suit attire. Apparently I accidentally mentioned the night before that we could go to the beach in the morning. So, I dig out and dust off all of the beach toys, chairs, towels, sunscreen, etc., etc., etc at what seems like the crack of dawn and we set out. I always go to Kiawah with the kids because it's so nice and family friendly but this one morning Folly seemed closer for some reason. For the record, it's not! The entire ride there we are talking about how cold the water is going to be despite the warm air. My kids don't believe me. No mom, it'll be great. Everyone is sweating by the time we get over the dunes... and then we are over the dunes! The wind is blowing like crazy, but that only seems to phase me. I think I really am getting old. We make the trek down past the tidal pool so we can get close to the waves. James carries the toys, I carry the bag, the camera, the lunches and my chair and Cate carries her precious little self. The whole time I continue to warn them that the water is going to be cold. They still don't believe me. We make it a total of about 10 minutes before they can't stand it another minute. Off they run to jump the waves. I thought for sure they would run right back out, but I was wrong. They jumped and splashed and rode the waves for about 10 minutes. When they came out, their lips were literally purple and they couldn't stop shivering. Score one for Mom, right again. Sand castles were built and sand was thrown at friends and siblings but eventually they succumbed to the cold. Our beach day turned into a brief beach morning and we loaded up all the toys, towels, bags, etc and headed back over the dune. We picnicked on the other side and headed for home. Warm showers made everything better and the overall consensus was that it was a great beach morning. Soon kids, soon it will be so hot we can't stand to be out of the water!

More from Week 4

 

 

 

Week 4 ~ The Salt Life

 

 

 

The weather crept above 80 degrees and the sky was the brightest blue on Friday and we could hear the creeks calling to us! Good Friday morning we set out to celebrate God in all of His glory! In the few hours that we sat anchored in Hamlin Sound we watched the tide creep out to the ocean and the oyster rings rise around us. The dolphins surfaced in the distance oh so gracefully. Moments later those same dolphins schooled their lunch up onto the banks with a hearty slap of their tails, a spectacle that only happens on the South Carolina coast. Just as James and Cate were starting to get a little bored, the redfish arrived. They were small, but they were plentiful. For an hour in time we could not keep a line in the water. James and Cate reeled in fish after fish and Kevin and I could see the love of the salt water seaping into their hearts. As Kevin navigated the low tide creeks back to the landing and the salt air kissed our faces I thanked God for the glory of our world, for the blessings of my family and for the beauty of His love. For as much of my life as I can remember, the creeks are where I feel closest to God and most at peace.