1. We were blessed once more for some rain.

2. Our youngest daughter flew to Georgia this evening to visit one of her sisters and meet for the first time her 4 month old niece.

3. No plans for the 4th. We just hope our neighbors don't shoot off any fireworks. Even with the recent rain, the 90+ heat dries it out super fast.

4. I guess we are pretty boring people.

5. I meant to get out and do some more tree trimming today, but wasn't feeling the best, so slept more than I usually do.

6. I'm much better now, but plan to go to bed earlier than usual.

7. I love good news. The hostages being rescued was wonderful.

8. I guess it is time to call it another day since I feel myself rambling.

9. Goodnight!

10. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Well, we had the two kids and did have fun, but then last night our grandson, 2 1/2 had a meltdown. Wow, I forgot about those wonderful happenings with our own children. He finally settled down and we all went to sleep. This morning another one hit. While I was trying to control and comfort at the same time, his mom came to pick them up. Boy was I glad to see his mom, only thing is, he refused to go to her. He insisted on staying in his grammy's arms for awhile after that.

You know, peace and quiet isn't such a bad thing after all. And I thought an empty nest was a bad deal. Truthfully, we adore our grandchildren and when we don't see them for a short period of time, we really have grandchildren withdrawals.

Now it's not quiet again, but with the sound of rain. Wow, did we need the wet stuff and it sounds wonderful. The tv is off, because Direst TV and rainstorms just aren't too compatible. Might look through my cache of movies and put one in, but in a way just the sound of the rain is better than any movie dialog.

So for now, I'll say so long and just watch the rain.

Blessings,
Karen

We are looking forward to having our granddaughter and grandson for a few days starting Sunday afternoon. As I was outside mowing, cutting and raking, I remembered that our granddaughter was interested in making a tree house, just like her mommy and siblings tried to do when they were young. I found the trees they worked on and the only thing left is some wire.

Another thing she has been wanting to have is a lemonade stand. So I was thinking that we might be able to do that while they are here.

I went for a walk after I cleaned up and ate dinner after a long day working outside. God sent a wonderful breeze for my walk and as I went along I picked up some rocks that I thought our grandson might like to have. Different colors, shapes, sizes and the feel of them as well, smooth or rough. Thought they could be a learning moment for him. That reminded me of the walk my granddaughter and I took one day. She kept picking up rocks and handing them to me. Then I spotted one on the ground and picked it up and gave it to her. She told me, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Grammy, but I'm just not into rocks. I just find them for you because you like them so much." So her granddaddy and I decided to take her to a rock shop in another town to introduce her to some really beautiful rocks. Needless to say, she became interested in them and even took her collection we bought for her for show-and-tell.

Wish we didn't have a burn ban, because I have several piles of branches, clippings and leaves around the property that need to be burned to make things look better.

At least keeping busy helps me not miss our other grandson in Virginia and our granddaughter in Georgia as much if I were just sitting around and doing nothing.

I honestly think my Buns of Flab are turning into Buns of Steel. Plus since I am using a regular saw to cut branches instead of a chainsaw I am developing some strong arms. Yes, we have an electric chainsaw, but hubby thought I would cut something other than a tree branch. Now that is rich coming from someone who cut his leg on Halloween with a chainsaw many years ago. His doctoring consisted of putting duct tape on it. When we got home from the girl's ball game, I insisted on him going to the ER. I had called before we went in, so they were expecting us. The doctor said, "So this is the one who was re-enacting the movie, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, for Halloween!" I believe he had eleven stitches to close it up.

Oh, the stories I could tell our grandchildren about their granddaddy when they get older. But, then he has some stories to share about their grammy as well. Maybe I better leave it alone.

Blessings, Karen

1. I woke up after a good night's sleep.

2. By 10:00 hubby and I were on the road into town.

3. Stopped at our hospital to get copies of medical records.

4. Checked the mail.

5. Went to get some gas.

6. The gas pump wouldn't accept my debit card.

7. Luckily hubby had cash.

8. Drove to the bank to check why my card wasn't accepted.

9. Come to find out, gas pumps will not take it if you have less than $75 in the bank.

10. We didn't know that, but do now.

11. Went to our favorite mom and pop bakery to get a sausage pig in a blanket for hubby and an apricot kolache for myself.

12. The owner's daughter told me her daughter is expecting a baby.

13. She told me her daughter had told her I gave her a pep talk awhile back when they weren't successful getting pregnant.

14. My daughter was going through the same thing, but their lives became less stressful and she became pregnant, plus a lot of prayers.

15. I guess the pep talk worked

16. Now my youngest daughter is going through the same thing. I know she doesn't want to hear my pep talk. After all, I'm just her Mom. So I just pray for her everyday.

17. Hubby and I drove to Austin and ate lunch at the Catfish Parlour. YUMMY! Chuck had shrimp and I had oysters. The coleslaw was so good, the hushpuppies are the best. We had fried okra, hubby had beans and I had cooked zucchini and tomatoes, plus great iced tea.

18. We drove to the clinic, hubby gave blood, then we waited for his doctor's appointment.

19. The doctor is a little different anyway, plus the computers were down, so needless to say we had to tell the doctor everything that was in the record since the time Chuck had been in the hospital last month. He couldn't even get the results of the bloodwork from last time and today. Bottom line is, it was a total waste of a good day.

20. We stopped to visit our daughter and grandchildren on the way home.

21. We got to admire their new living room furniture.

22. Our grandson was upset he couldn't come home with us.

23. We stopped at Church's Chicken on the way home to get Honey Biscuits and gravy. YUMMY!

24. We got home and I was stuffed.

25. I changed into work clothes and spent time outside mowing and edging.

26. NOW I DON'T FEEL SO GUILTY ABOUT EATING TOO MUCH TODAY!
Karen

Every year for many years, I would write a poem for the graduating third graders at our local elementary. Since I retired last year, the principal asked if I would still keep writing the poem, if I would. So I did, but was unable to go to the end-of-the-year award ceremony to read it because my husband had a doctor's appointment. Our principal read it in my place.

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Keeping Yourself Honorable

Seconds, minutes, hours, days
Have passed so quickly, have sped away,
Months jogged by through smiles and tears
Now you are ending another school year.

Hard work and humor, frowns and laughs
Given to you by teachers and staff,
Ups and downs and in betweens
Some of you wishing you were already teens?

Today we are here honoring you, students of Third Grade
Yet our memories of you will never fade,
As the Class of 2007-2008, you have eagerly displayed
Your own personality and uniqueness in a diverse way.

Your tackled and conquered the required TAKS Test
You studied, you learned, you did your best,
Now you are ready to move up to Intermediate School
Having to learn a brand new set of rules.

There are so many things you've already learned
Yet one important lesson should be your concern,
Please pay attention to your own path of life
Staying off of other's paths will limit your strife.

Remember your manners, be good and be kind
And throughout your life you will happily find,
These simple directions will help you hold your head up high
Keeping yourself honorable, never giving up, always try!

by
Karen