The True Vine

I’m blogging over at 365 Days With Flylady.  Come visit me!

See this motel room?

Notice anything? Like, perhaps, the conspicuous absence of children? Yes, for the first time since 1993, Joey and I went to a motel by ourselves. And why? Because Stephen P. graduated from Calvary Bible College and we were blessed to attend the commencement ceremony.

We got to meet Levi’s family, too…

including his grandparents!

We had a jolly time with Stephen’s parents.

They and we went for a celebratory lunch with Stephen, Justin and Peter.

What a blessing it was to be able to celebrate with Stephen and his friends and family!

Last week, I was presented with an early Mother’s Day gift:  a new camera!  Jacob and Tim generously bought me a new digital camera and I LOVE it.  So, I used it on Jacob’s birthday trip.

First, we  — just Jacob and I — went to Grand Island to the U-Haul rental place to pick up a brand new stainless steel grooming table that Jacob had purchased from another groomer in Omaha.  Thankfully, that groomer’s husband was willing to deliver the table as far as Grand Island.  It was bigger and heavier than I anticipated….

Then, we went to Kearney and had lunch at Ruby Tuesdays.  I think that when you turn 18, you should be able to order whatever you want, even flavored lemonade AND a salad bar with your crab cake.

Jacob had a gift certificate for Old Navy from Grammy and Grandad.

Then something chocolate his way came — via Starbucks.

He also got some new sunglasses (and some awesome shorts at Penney’s) with some birthday moola from Momo and Aunt Mona.

Back at the shop, we managed to get that tremendously heavy table into the grooming room.  Isn’t it lovely?

Jacob wanted Buttermilk Macaroni and Cheese and Creamy Candy Bar Dessert for his birthday feast.

And thus ended Jacob’s 18th birthday.  I had a GREAT time spending the day with him!  I couldn’t ask for a nicer 18-year-old son!

I signed up to be a Thomas Nelson Publisher’s book reviewer several months ago.  Today, I present my first review.

The Noticer, by Andy Andrews, is a story apparently based in fact that combines “fiction, allegory and inspiration” to dole out some “common wisdom” and “perspective” via a mysterious character named Jones who claims to have the gift of noticing things that others miss and who interacts with the problem-laden residents of an Alabama town.

Since this is not the type of book I would ordinarily pick up at a bookstore or library, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised to find myself jotting down practical applications of the “common wisdom” and “perspective” presented by Jones.  There was nothing in this book that I had not heard before, but sometimes it is nice to be reminded to check how well I’m applying some of this “common wisdom” to my life.

I did find the “blending of fiction, allegory and inspiration” to be annoying at times.  Utilizing some mystery to keep the reader engaged is fine to a degree, but there was a little too much blurring of factual statements (especially those associated with the author’s life) with obviously fictional elements for my taste. And while I appreciate the vehicle of this particular story-line to deliver the “common wisdom” and “perspective,” the dialogue was irritatingly superficial and contrived occasionally.

Overall, I found this book to be a rather pleasant, quick read that prompted me to review the “common wisdom” in my life.

As I would assume all of my readers know, several weeks ago, I spent a few moments under the knife.  That little experience was not on my schedule for the weekend.

Thankfully, I am continuing to recover well.  However, I must dole out the energy as it returns to me and, so far, laundry, parenting and wedding plans have received all of that precious commodity.

At this point, I can’t predict when I will have the energy to resume blogging here, but there will come a day….

So, as always, stay tuned….

Wow. Four years ago seems like yesterday. Wow.

Photos to come when I get some scanned….

Finally, Joey and I gave the kids our gifts. By this time, I seem to be missing some photos, so we’ll just skip Anne and see what Charlotte has…looks like a Wiggles item. Her favorite gift from us was a game board book with a write-on-wipe-off marker. She absolutely loves those these days.

Ah, yes, there’s Lydia’s game board book.

Eleanor’s book was about, amazingly enough, jewelry-making.

Margaret got a game board book, too.

And she got some “cowgirl” accessories for her room.

Peter got a birdhouse book and some “sheriff” room accessories.

Tim got a game board book and some clothes. You only get to see his reaction.

And you don’t even get to see Jacob’s reaction to his clothes and his Tracfone minutes because there is no photo. However, Clara got some shoes that she wanted when she went school-clothes shopping last summer. Hehehe. She also got a matching sweater.

Amelia got some groovy shoes, too, and a sweater. What a surprise.

I think they are trying to show their shoes, but Amelia looks a little pained.

It’s the shoe dance.

And the shoe dance officially ended our splendid evening of gift-giving!

Amelia made this sock monkey for Charlotte.

And these three very popular hats for Margaret, Eleanor and Lydia.

I am not exaggerating when I report that the girls wear these hats every single day.

There was more Playmobil for Peter.

Although I mentioned that you would see what Jacob and Tim got from Clara when I revealed Amelia’s gifts, I fibbed. I apparently have no photos of the gifts exchanged. However, I will tell you that Amelia and Clara combined efforts to give each of the boys their own Bibles. I think I will have to take a photo later to show them because they are very nicely bound and appropriately match the boys’ personalities.

Amelia gave me a wonderful gift: during Christmas break, she helped me go through all of my clothes and box up the clothes that no longer fit. Woo-hoo!

And Joey got some more essentials. Socks, this time. He wears those, too.

Tomorrow…the grand finale. Hopefully.

What on earth did Clara give Charlotte that was so exciting?

GUM!

Lyd got gum, too. I hope it doesn’t get stuck in her beard.

Eleanor got a storage box for all of those beads she’s been receiving.

Margaret got a very groovy friendship bracelet-making kit, but I don’t have a photo of it.

Peter got a set of Playmobil figurines to add to his collection. I think this was the Roman centurion.

You’ll have to wait until Amelia’s turn to see what she and Clara gave Jacob and Tim.

I got a beautifully knitted pair of gloves to match the coat that Joey gave me for my birthday. And, I would like to report that Clara has finished them since this photo was taken.

And dear Joey got some essentials. I suppose I could censor this photo, but everyone reading this probably assumes that Joey does, indeed, wear underwear.

Tomorrow…Amelia’s gifts.

Jacob was the gift-giver, now.

Anne liked the paper.

Oh, and she liked what was inside, too.

Charlotte got a fun Eric Carle game (that has already been played a hundred times).

Oh, and look! Lydia also got a fun Eric Carle game (that has also already been played a hundred times).

Eleanor is thrilled.

She got some beads for making jewelry!

Margaret got some rechargeable batteries. This may sound a little unusual unless you know that Margaret had been wanting some rechargeable walkie-talkies and we had some perfectly good walkie-talkies, already, that just needed a dependable battery source.

Peter was thrilled beyond belief to get the gun set he’s been wanting.

Jacob is in the process of getting Tim an American Birding Association membership, so we don’t have a photo of that transaction. But we do have a photo of this ADORABLE gift that Jacob gave to Clara: money folded like a garment on a dress form that she could use to buy fabric for her Spring Banquet dress.

Amelia got a fabulous bag hand-crafted by Alissa from a vintage crazy quilt.

I got some sweatpants and a sweatshirt to wear over my Jazzercise clothes on the extra-chilly days.

And last, but not least, Joey got a bunch of plastic food storage containers. Jacob was contributing to his parents’ marital harmony with this gift.

Who’s next? Clara, of course….