I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE MY NAME

Associated with the word divorce, but that seems to be what is happening.

The man that I have always loved and trusted completely violated that love and trust. At some point he decided that it would be the right thing to do to have an affair and continually lie about it.

As I recover from this I thought that I would write about it. I still find myself in disbelief. After 34 years of marriage I thought that we had managed to get through the stressful times. As a friend says "Isn't this the time of our lives in which we discover who we are". That was like a light bulb going off on in my head. That is what I thought I was doing. Now I am being forced into a life I didn't want.

Babies are Funny

I have been in Houston for a few days visiting Lucas, Kelly, and Lincoln. Yesterday Kelly was making noises while playing with their dog, Wembley. For some reason Lincoln thought that was so funny and started laughing. He laughed so hard that he got the hiccups.

Have you ever noticed that when babies laugh everyone laughs!

Liz

And We Are Off. . .

Today we are off on a trip to Washington DC. We have never been and this is also a trip that we have never done before. We are spending a week on vacation with my parents and my brothers. We will either return loving each other more (hopefully) or hating each other.

Due to the persistence of my mother one of the things that we will get to do is go to the White House. I don't think that Obama will be there to personally welcome us.

This trip has been a year in the making. We will be renting a house and touring as many things as possible. We have tickets for many attractions and our itinerary planned.

This will definitely be a memorable trip of a lifetime.

Liz

Surprise!

This is my husband with his dad and his very loving stepmother. Over the weekend we had a surprise birthday party for my husband. His birthday had been the weekend before but we delayed the party.

It was a small gathering due to other family members having plans or choosing not to come. It was their loss because we had a good time.

The party was held at my daughter's and son in law's home and we had told my husband that we were having an open house so he had no idea that it was really a party for him. He was so surprised and for hours afterward he asked if we had really planned this for him. He was worth all the planning and preparation.

Thank you Breanne and Zac-the two of you really did a lot of work to get ready for this.

Liz

My Weekend

Over the weekend these people were our guests:

I always feel honored when they come to visit. I especially like spending time with this little guy:

I even got to babysit while they went to the movie.

It was a good weekend.

Liz

Memorial Day

Photo from Flickr

Thank you to those that have willingly served our country. I am so grateful that so many have made the sacrfice so that I can live in a country in which I can freely worship my Lord and that I have the freedoms that I enjoy

Liz

Lincoln at 5 Months

Lincoln is 5 months old today and he is just the cutest thing. There are times that he looks like Lucas did as a baby and then there are times that he reminds me of Kelly. They are coming next week and I am pretty excited. We haven't seen them in person since March. There is a bonus to this visit. I get to babysit!

Kelly has a blog in which she gives away items as well as updates on their lives and experiences. You can find her at ourlincolnlog.blogspot.com.

Liz

A Day at the Beach

For Mother's Day Lucas, Kelly, and Lincoln went to the beach. In the first photo it appears that Lincoln was unsure about the beach but the other two photos show that he was having a great time. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that Lucas was blowing raspberries on his stomach. Oh well at least it was a fun day for them, including Wembley the dog.

Liz

The Rain Gods Must Hate Me

Photo from Flickr

This is what it has looked like outside my window for over a week now. Don't get me wrong-I am thankful for the rain. I just wonder why it can't be spread out over several weeks instead of having it all at once.

This morning it was raining. According to the weather man on the news last night it was supposed to rain after midnight but then by this morning it would clear up and the rain would move on.

Since I had some Weed N Feed fertilizer I thought that it would be the perfect time to put it out. It stated that it needed to be put out when the grass was wet from dew and a sprinkling. Since it had not rained hard I thought this was the perfect opportunity plus I wasn't working today. I got out the fertilizer and poured it into the spreader. I got it out on the entire yard. I was happy.

After lunch I happen to look out and what do I see but RAIN. I guess now some of the weed killing particles of my fertilizer have been washing off and I will continue to have weeds. I think that this is the time that I will give up, wait until fall and put out pre-ermergent. Maybe by then the rain gods will have moved on to torture someone else.

Liz

Taks Test

In Texas every year there is a test given in school. It is called TAKS-Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

As a substitute I am grateful that the most I can do during TAKS testing is guard the bathroom. I am not certified and therefore cannot administer the test. Those administering the test can do nothing except sit and watch those taking the test. Guarding the bathroom is a much better job.

In recent years a new criteria has been added to the importance of the test. Those that are in 5th and 8th grade must pass the tests in order to go into the next grade. In high school a student must pass in order to receive a diploma. If the test is failed there are other opportunities to take it again and pass.

My biggest problem with the TAKS test is that teachers have to teach to the test. The textbooks are state which objectives are being taught and there are worksheets that correspond to the objectives.

I have a concern that students will graduate without a well rounded education. There are after school sessions that are devoted to preparing for the test as well as days right before the test that are reviews to prepare for the test.

I am glad that I do not have children that are going to school in Texas. They would be able to pass the TAKS test without any problems although I am not sure what else they would have learned in school.

Liz

Mouse Hunt

Photo from Flickr

Mouse hunt-not the kind of hunt where you set the trap and when you hear the "Bang" you know that there will be a body to dispose of, and by the way I really think that is a picture of a gerbil but it was the best I could do in a short time.

This mousehunt is a game on Facebook. My son in law got me started on it and he was so excited that I was playing that I have continued. It gives us something to talk about and something in common.

In this mouse hunt basically all you do is click on this horn every 15 minutes and you go "hunting". You can catch a variety of mice and go to different levels after completing the level that you are currently on. There are different areas to hunt and different types of cheese. Every time you catch a mouse you are awarded with points and gold. The gold is used to buy more cheese and to travel to different areas as well as buy better mousetraps.

Sometimes you catch nothing and sometimes the mice steal your points or your cheese. That is my point-I am really tired of them stealing from me or finding my cheese stale. I have paid a pretty piece of gold for that cheese and it is not cheap. It isn't my fault that it has sat on the trap too long. If they would just stick their little necks in to get the cheese I would catch them and my cheese would always be fresh.

Liz

My Chauffeur

Yesterday the Fed Ex man stopped at our house. This is a rare occurrence and when it does happen it is usually for my husband. Since he works at home when he is in town all "important" company information is sent to him at our home via Fed Ex.

This time it was a surprise for us from our friends Robert and Patty. Since Richard was such a great chauffeur when we were in San Francisco they sent him the hat to go with the title. He thought that it was great and has been wearing it when he drives our car. He was even asking me where he could take me and calling me Miss Daisy.

In the Fed Ex package I received something that I cherish. It was a picture of the 4 of us in Napa with the word "Friends" on the glass. It was very appropriate.

Liz

Swine Flu

Unless you have been living under a rock then you know that everyone is talking about swine flu. It seems that it is the latest worldwide health threat .

In the Dallas metroplex a school district has closed one of their schools for the rest of the week. I am surprised that they would do that considering that this is TAKS testing week. For those of you not living in Texas it is the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. I won't give my opinion of the test here, I will save that for another post. Just believe me when I say that I think that if Christ were to return this week the state of Texas would ask if it could be postponed due to TAKS testing.

Back to the swine flu. I heard this morning that it will be the story for the rest of the week, the number of people diagnosed with it will increase and that ultimately someone will die from it. At least the media is preparing us.

For some reason I am not a person that is scared of this. Maybe it is because of my age :). I remember about 30 or so years ago that there was another swine flu outbreak. There were all the usual jokes about having the swine flu and displaying pig like symptoms. Then there was a shot to lessen the chances of getting the swine flu that we all flocked to get. Eventually there was no more talk of swine flu, which is what I think will happen this time.

If there becomes a shot available I will be getting one, but until then I will just continue my daily routine (if I have one) until the next worldwide health crisis.

Liz

I Am Done

I am done, done, done,. . .with my long term job that is. I finished up yesterday and I was very happy. It was a pretty miserable 4 weeks. I just got so tired of the disrespect from the students.

The first week I cried every morning on my way to work. The teacher that I worked with wasn't also very helpful so I just had to try to figure out what I was supposed to do.

The second week I decided to listen to Rod Stewart (loudly) on my way to work. Normally I try to pray and then listen to somewhat mellow music as I drive to work. I decided I had to do something or I was not going to do a good job. The solution was to listen to Maggie May and other songs as I went to work. That helped immensely. I would be humming as I walked into the building.

The third week I only had to work 2 days because we went to San Francisco so I was just anxious to get there, get done, and get home. It was such a relief to be gone for those days that it made the last week bearable.

The last week and today I knew that I was in the home stretch and I could make it to the end. Today was the best day because there were very few students that came in to help due to preparing for state assessment testing the rest of the week.

The part I disliked the most during these weeks has been lunch duty. The students are even more disrespectful during that time and ignore most of what is said. Today I didn't even have to do lunch duty. What a way to end the assignment!

Hopefully I will get to have 2 days at home to get some things done before I go back to work. Thursday I already a job for that day-a Language Arts class. The teacher teaches both 6th and 7th grade. At least it will be a change in what I have been doing.

Liz

Friends

As I had previously mentioned we traveled to San Francisco with our friends Patty and Robert and had a great time. This picture was taken while we were at Muir Beach. This is the one morning that had the typical morning fog.

We usually travel either alone or my mother goes with us sometimes. About 16 years ago we went to Santa Fe with another family and couple. That trip was a lot of fun but it is hard to arrange schedules so that others can come.

Our San Francisco trip was a year in t he making. I arranged the hotel and the rental car. When I do that I always worry that the others won't like it or that the hotel will be in a bad location. Believe it or not the internet pictures are not always accurate.

This time I managed to do well. The hotel was affordable with a hot cooked breakfast and was conveniently located 5 minutes away from the BART station, the only way to travel to downtown San Francisco. The rental vehicle was a midsize SUV, very affordable, and was just what was needed for 4 people.

We all had such a great time that we plan to go elsewhere, although it will probably be in a few years. With our children having babies we have to work around them.

Liz

Pool Cleaning Day

Today was "clean the pool" day. Every year we say that this will be easier than last year but it never is. . .until. . .today.

We always say that we will run chlorine through the winter to make today easier. That doesn't seem to happen. It gets cold, the water stays clear, we don't see the need for chlorine, we have a warm winter day, and then BAM! the pool is green. I know it is hard to believe but it can get green overnight and then we realize that we don't have any chlorine and so it stays green. It doesn't help that we have trees in our backyard. Trees mean leaves that fall in autumn and many fall or blow into the pool. The chlorophyll leeches out of them into the pool water.

In the past we have spent a lot of money on chemicals to finally get the pool water clear and ready to swim. This year we got smart-we drained the pool. We realized that it might cost us $100 extra on our water bill but that was cheaper than all the chemicals that we have bought in the past.

It took almost all day to drain the pool. We had removed the leaves through the day to keep the drain clear so when the last water was sucked out we finished rinsing the sides and started filling it up. Easy, easy, easy.

Of course now that the water is clear we can see how badly it needs to be replastered. That will probably have to wait until next spring. My theory is that it holds water and I can swim.

Now if we can just remember to keep the chlorinator full this winter we won't be in this predicament again.

Liz

San Francisco

Last week we met our very good friends Patty and Robert in San Francisco. We had the best time. How could it not be a great time since we were in one of my favorite cities with favorite friends.

My husband and I had been to San Francisco before but Patty and Robert had not so it was especially enjoyable. We spent a whole day in San Francisco seeing all the sights: Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, sea lions, Ghiardelli Square, Chinatown, Union Square, the Golden Gate Bridge and of course there were all the unusual people.

The next day we drove down Highway 1 south through Big Sur to Lucia Lodge. We made a drive through Pebble Beach and stopped at the Pro Shop before going on. As usual it was absolutely beautiful-the blues and greens of the water are breathtaking.

Our third day we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge on to Stinson Beach and then to Napa. The water at the beach was a little cold and we were amazed at the number of people that were there. The grape vines in Napa were just beginning to leaf out.

We ate good food and laughed a lot. A vacation shared with good friends makes great memories.

Liz

A Prisoner of Birth

Picture by Flickr

I love books written by Jeffrey Archer. I have read many of his books and love the twists and turns throughout them. A Prisoner of Birth did not disappoint me. This book like so many of his others take place over several years. When I start them I always wonder if I am going to be able to get through the 600 pages but the more I read the more I want to find out what happens in the end. Isn't that how a book should be?

Liz

Easter

Photo from Flickr

Today is Easter. I will be spending the day with some of the people that mean the most to me, my parents, my brothers, my husband, my daughter, and my son in law. My son, daughter in law, and my grandson will be in Houston celebrating Lincoln's first Easter. We will miss them but maybe next year they will be able to spend Easter with us.

Everyday I try to thank God for the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. I know that I am very often negligent in turning my eyes to Him and being thankful. Today I am most grateful for a Savior that loves me, that gave His life for me, and for being patient with me. I know that no matter what happens I am saved by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Liz

March Madness Update

March Madness is over for another year. Even though I was the only one in our pool to correctly pick the NCAA Basketball Tournament winner I didn't come in first. I came in second. . .by 2 points. It seems that I didn't correctly pick enough of the winners in the earlier games. At least I achieved my goal of not coming in last. In fact I think that this year was my best.

Liz