Hometown

I just got back from 6 nights in Gruver taking care of Sweetie. It was strange to be there without Clay or the kids. It was the first time in our 23 years of being together that I have been there alone. It made me think. Made me look at things a little differently and it made me love Clay even more. He loves home, loves his family, loves his hometown.

I had to get out the house a few afternoons. Ran to the DQ for Happy Hour, to the Gruver grocery store one day and then drove over to Spearman the next day. I started driving and thinking. We grew up pretty similar. Church, big family, good parents, small town...... Except his little town in somewhat isolated and the scenery is very different than North Texas. Wide open spaces and not many trees. Pretty in its own way and pretty to Clay.

Anyway.... I just thought.... We all need a place that is our own, a place we belong. A hometown. A place with roots and memories. I feel the same way about little Josephine. I love to go to my mom's, walk in the back door, grab a diet coke and go sit in the living room next to her chair. It is home, My home, my safe place, my people, my mama.

I saw Gruver that way more than ever this trip.  It is Clay's home, his safe place, his people, his mom and dad, his place. I sure hope we have created this for our kids. A place that is their very own, a safe place, a fun and happy place....and most of all a place where they know their mom and dad love them no matter what.

BTW Clay's thinks the Gruver Dairy Queen is the only place that can make a cherry vanilla cream dr pepper. (who puts cream in dp anyway)..... He love the seasons, the freezing cold, the snow, the smell of cow poop, playing games  and most of all  his mom's cooking.  Guess What?   I love him because all of that matters to him. His town.His people. His place.

Thoughts to ponder.... if you do not have a place....create one for your family. Make your house a home, a happy place...a good place... a place your kids will want to come to.

Trials... pits.... stresses

Started August 28,2011
Just now editing and here I go.....

Ok so I have not been very faithful to my blogging lately. This is our first night without Blair and I am hoping I am going to have a little more time on my hands.It has been a hectic summer so I am going to make a list of all the things that have caused me stress and I hope it makes me feel better.
Late May-- small car wreck in Suburban, not my fault, but still had to have body work.
June 10-- picked up fixed car went to get hair cut and had a flat. Wylie tire to rescue but they said new tires were needed. $600.00 later
June 15-- Suburban overheated on way home from Lubbock. One tow and $2,000 later--- good to go.
June 24-- picked up car in time for New Orleans trip, 1300 miles later back home. A good friend passed away while we were away.
Late June-- Letter from IRS.... Tax error owed IRS another $3,000
July/ August-- skunk smells in and out of house, day whatever of 100 heat..
August 1st-12--  5:00 am wake up call for Garrett, 982 pb and j sandwiches made, helped with one tailgate party, two parking lot feeds and one pool party
August 15 Blair had a wreck on I-30 she was fine but Lexus totaled
August 14 One A/C unit not working properly
August 19 one pool party
August 22 first week of school for Gar--- 7:00 am not so bad.
Thursday one of many Sam's runs.
Aug 26-- Scrambled up 5 lbs of hamburger for Blair to freeze, made one potatoes casserole and baked beans. Ran and opened up the church, loaded tv stand from storage at store, served at funeral, helped make Friday football food, served the food, 45 minutes at home, hot as all get out ballgame, home at 11:00 loaded Blair's car and finally went to bed at 1:00 am
Saturday 5:00 am wake up call. Stephenville bound by 5:40. Worked all day unpacking, got Blair settled and home at 11:30.
Sunday church, nap, left to run to Royse with Nene and Tammy and came home and found at thief had been here.
Seems like we are in a season of new experiences, one thing after the next. Trying not to complain because in so many cases things could have been alot worse. This afternoon someone decided to take an uninvited stroll thur our home and take my jewelry box, camera, gifts cards and one of Gar's money jars. Garrett was out in the pasture and we had just ran over to Royse to eat.

So here I am on November 21st and I am just now completing this....makes me stress just reading it!
Ended up with 10 weeks of Friday football feeds, 10 lost football games, two touchdowns, one parent's weekend, new Sunday school class with several boys, dove hunting breakfast, babysitting kids and overall lots of fun. Thankful the season of stresses seemed to pass us up this fall...... I forgot one hurt rib and one sprained ankle........