Zachary is graduating!

Well the time has come. Zachary is graduating high school in less than 2 days. How did I get this old? When did he grow up? Why did it all have to pass so quickly? I want my little boy back! But I do enjoy the son I have now. I am very proud of him. We butt heads cause we are so much alike. We disagree and I drive him nuts. But I am a mother!!!! He is 18 now and moving on to a new chapter. I want nothing but the best for him in his life. I remember the day he was born in an ice storm no less and remember watching on tv that morning one of the worst earthquakes in California history to date had struck. Funny the things you remember. Funny how certain details stand out! I remember his first day of kindergarten we didn't know 2 buses came up our road. When the first one came by of course we both started crying, he changed his mind and didn't want to go. But by the time the 2nd one came by he was fine and I was still crying. School with Zack has been anything but dull! He has given it all he can ..... He plans to go to local community college then transfer to a local university. He would like to play a little soccer while he is there. I just want him to be as happy as he can. I want him to find what he wants to do in life that will let him do something he loves and he will never work a day in his life. I want him (as all parents do) to have a better life than I had. He was the first of my 2 greatest blessings in life. His sense of humor is great. He is kind. He is a hard worker. He is gentle. He is good young man. He will be my little boy forever with the baseball hat pulled down too far, jamming to Metallica even when he was little! I suggest if you have little ones at home spend every minute with them that you can. Don't worry about going out or me time so much. Cause once they are older you get plenty of that time. Take in every moment you possibly can. Love them, be the one to make the boo boos better. Breathe them in....  I am glad I was able to do that when my kids were little. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Anyway, I am proud of my son. I am holding it together and not letting him see me cry too much. I am not making any promises for Tuesday though!!!

Poem for Zack for graduation

To Zack.... as you graduate.

Memories flash before us,

As we stop to think of you.

If we could turn back the hands of time,

That's the first thing we would do.

We take ourselves back to the day,

We first laid eyes on you.

Your mouth (of course) wide open

Your eyes so big and blue.

It was at that very moment,

As you lay there oh so small.

We knew within an instant,

Life with you was going to be a ball.

Our instincts were right on the mark,

You have kept us on the go.

Always such a busy child,

With a charismatic glow.

A fanatic – full of questions,

Inquisitive, keen and daring.

Fearless, kind and loving,

So sensitive and caring.

Willful and determined,

You marched to your own beat.

True to your convictions,

In victory or defeat.

You're confident, devoted,

You're handsome, dignified.

You're a strapping , strong, tall leader.

You've filled our hearts with pride.

How we miss your tiny footsteps,

Dancing wildly on the floor.

Oh how we miss our little boy,

More than we ever have before.

Greatness lies within you Zack,

In time, sweet son, you will see.

If you ever need us,

You know there we will be.

We love you and are so proud of you on your graduation

Zachary Robert Reeves Scott.

Love,

Dad & Mom

Had a pitty party long enough

I have fussed and moaned and groaned forever and a day about my weight. Yesterday we had a graduation party for my oldest (that is another long blog to come) I saw a photo yesterday taken with my family. I was horrified when I saw my arms and legs and hips and just got sick. So this morning and after trying many restrictive and insane diets  I decided to take a new step. I joined Weight Watchers online this morning. I am at the heaviest I have ever been in my life. That is not okay. I know this will help with energy, my knees, my overall well being. I have watched my husband drop 80+lbs to date. What an inspiration. He is getting fit and trim and I am still his fat wife. We celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss yesterday, not always so blissful (you can read that in a previous blog) I want alot of years with him. But with family history of heart problems on top of my health problems I have already at 38 I am not gonna get to grow old and grouchy with him. I am hoping this works for me. Prayers needed, kicks in the butt warranted when i deserve them, and encouragement always!

Snow at my house....

We finally had a REAL snow. This winter has been crazy mild and I have enjoyed every minute of it! We had traveled for a weekend getaway to Charlotte that got cut short. They were calling for 4 - 8" at home for snow. I know those in the midwest that is nothing but this is Virginia that is a good snow for us. Keep in mind we are below the Mason Dixon! So better to be safe than sorry right we came home. I told Henry I was gonna be so mad if this didn't amount to anything and we lost a full day that I was so looking forward to. We made it in at 2am on Sunday morning, when I got up at 7am nothing had fallen except some rain and temps were still a bit high for snow. Well about 9 or so here it came and it didn't stop til after 10pm. We had over 12 straight non stop hours of snow resulting in 8". Finally the weather men had it right. Needless to say I am ready to move on to spring. But anyway thought I would show you some photos of the snow at my home I took. Enjoy.....

The Dash...

I attended a beautiful service today to honor a wonderful woman who I am sure as she did with me and my family left a mark on everyone who knew her. Maybe this isn't my place not sure if I should but this poem that was read really left a mark on me today. I have thought about it all afternoon and wanted to share it with you.

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
© 1996 Linda Ellis

Been quiet lately....

Things lately have been pretty quiet around here. Which is a good thing for a change. Boys have started a new semester in school. Which means this is Zacks last semester in high school. Yes I am getting very sentimental about all those kind of things. Dylan is finishing his last semester of his first year of high school. He is holding down a 4.0. So very proud of him.
Zack recently got a job with Lowe's. I am glad he is gonna be making some money of his own. It will be good for him. He will be working with my sister and that makes things easier too. She can look out for him I know he is 18 but this is his first job. She can guide him on the in's and out's of Lowe's.
In about a month spring sports start back up around here. Zack will be playing soccer and Dylan is gonna throw in track. Right now Dylan is lifting for off season of football.
I am little sad this week Henry is away on business all week which is not normal. But gotta do what you gotta do. I am proud of him he is at the 50lb mark in weight loss. How awesome is that.
We went this last weekend to spend sometime with a family member that is shipping out to Japan this coming month for a  year. He has 4 small boys and a wife that has the patience of a saint I am convinced!
That is pretty much all that has been going on around here since Zacks birthday. We have had some car trouble, motor locked up in Zacks car, Henrys truck has a big scrap up the side not sure what happened.
Hope you are well out there in blogging land.

When it rains it pours....

What a 2 weeks it has been lately. We have had some really great up moments but seems like there have been some pretty low points as well. While we spent great time with family and had some great celebrations last weekend it has not been without it stress.
A week ago Friday my sons car just stopped on him coming up the hill on our street. Well we come to learn it locked up and there is a big ole hole in the block. Just peachy. ..... Yesterday we discovered something has scrapped all up the passenger side of my husbands truck. Really how do you do that and not be honest about it and make it right?
So it has been stressful, I deal with stress with retreating alone for long periods of time and eating while Henry just gets to that breaking point. He did go talk about things with his brother. He and I had talked it to death and I think that became one time he needed his sibling. So of course right here at tax season we are taking a big chunk to car repairs. Why does that always seem to be the case?
I cannot remember one tax time that we have not had to repair something? I just certainly hope this is the last repair on Zacks car for awhile. It is sad that we own 5 vehicles and they all need work.
Hoping to trade my van this year but gotta get a bit more stable with things first. Just seems to be slow going. But I know it will get there.
Speaking of getting things more stable. We are gonna start visiting some new churches, baptist, in our area. We have a wonderful pastor at the church we have attended for the last several years and appreciate him very much. However, it has gotten to the point other ministries are lacking for us such as a men's, women's and couples ministry. Also looking for youth group that does more community outreach. Who knows we may not move anywhere but at this point and time need to explore what is out there and see where God wants us. Hubby doesn't like change (I always joke that is why he remarried me) but sometimes I think change is needed to grow.
So we shall see and that will be a blog to come on how that is going. But we have gotten too far away from that foundation. I don't like the way it makes us behave. So anyway .... yeah that is just how we are right now... stressed to the max stretched as far as we can go and at the end of our ropes so we are tieing a knot and holding on!