It's that day for me and I want to take a few minutes to let you know that I am counting my blessings! Hunky hubby was gone over the weekend but drove home last night in the driving rain so he could spend today with me. And brought home a surprise gift. Elder son, now in Texas, left a surprise package for me in his closet. Younger son gave me the computer I am using for an all-inclusive 2011 gift. Grandchildren are buzzing in with texts, facebook notes, phone calls.
But the day is not about things. It's about family. I love that we love each other so much. The challenges (problems?) we have are itty bitty in the big picture. I started this blog so I could learn from you, and you could learn from me, how to be a wiser, more loving person. I trust that you will help me with that and I will help you. In the meantime, God has blessed me with one more day and hopefully one more year. Thankfully and happily, Jan
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
HOORAY!
We did it! Son and grandson left our driveway yesterday afternoon and we were ALL smiling. I know our son was excited to return to field work and geology teaching; grandson was excited to understand he was not left behind. Hunky hubby and I? Well, did you feel a big rush of wind yesterday? That was us, exhaling, again and again.
We are happy to know they departed happy. The only confused one around the house today is Angel, our dog. She is sleeping on our son's pillow, obviously wondering where her buddy went. There was also a little whimpering heard last night. As much as we were all looking forward to this, it will be a while before we adapt.
In the meantime, do you have those "situations" in your home? Are you trying to balance life on a very thin wire? I'd love to share those with you...for today, my Golden Years are happy! Jan
We are happy to know they departed happy. The only confused one around the house today is Angel, our dog. She is sleeping on our son's pillow, obviously wondering where her buddy went. There was also a little whimpering heard last night. As much as we were all looking forward to this, it will be a while before we adapt.
In the meantime, do you have those "situations" in your home? Are you trying to balance life on a very thin wire? I'd love to share those with you...for today, my Golden Years are happy! Jan
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Keeping Peace
I think we (hubby, son, grandson and I) are all in the mode of "Let's get through the day and keep the peace." After two days of considerable tension created by our grandson's agitation, plus many phone/email communications from social services, it appears that the residential home for our grandson will work fine. Just not yet.
They requested April 1 as the date of his arrival. Our son will be in Texas, ready to teach his graduate field class next Monday, March 21. Our grandson appears to be very concerned about where Dad and his truck are whenever they are not in the driveway or if our grandson is not sitting shotgun. He must have overheard enough conversation about Texas, teaching, and planning that he's fearful of being left behind. Now you can begin to see why we are all stressed and focused on keeping peace!
The plan (as of today) is for both son and grandson to depart for Texas tomorrow. Our grandson is comfortable and enjoys travel, loves taking part in Dad's classes and field work, and will be Dad's buddy until there is a window when they can fly home, accomplish the grandson's move, then son will fly back to Texas to finish the class as our grandson returns to his day program. I know, I know, everything becomes a compromised choice but sometimes it's the best anyone can do.
Our son is stressed, trying to plan his life on the road again. Our grandson is stressed, clearly aware and determined to have Dad by his side. Hubby is stressed trying to help in whatever small ways he can. Yesterday he actually took grandson (in Dad's truck, of course) to get a haircut and sandwich--that was no small event, believe me. I am stressed trying to keep our grandson and the dog from agitating each other as well as all these males from having meltdowns.
Pray that we all make it in peace, everybody happy and waving goodbye when the truck departs with son and grandson tomorrow morning! Ah, these oh-so-sweet golden years!
They requested April 1 as the date of his arrival. Our son will be in Texas, ready to teach his graduate field class next Monday, March 21. Our grandson appears to be very concerned about where Dad and his truck are whenever they are not in the driveway or if our grandson is not sitting shotgun. He must have overheard enough conversation about Texas, teaching, and planning that he's fearful of being left behind. Now you can begin to see why we are all stressed and focused on keeping peace!
The plan (as of today) is for both son and grandson to depart for Texas tomorrow. Our grandson is comfortable and enjoys travel, loves taking part in Dad's classes and field work, and will be Dad's buddy until there is a window when they can fly home, accomplish the grandson's move, then son will fly back to Texas to finish the class as our grandson returns to his day program. I know, I know, everything becomes a compromised choice but sometimes it's the best anyone can do.
Our son is stressed, trying to plan his life on the road again. Our grandson is stressed, clearly aware and determined to have Dad by his side. Hubby is stressed trying to help in whatever small ways he can. Yesterday he actually took grandson (in Dad's truck, of course) to get a haircut and sandwich--that was no small event, believe me. I am stressed trying to keep our grandson and the dog from agitating each other as well as all these males from having meltdowns.
Pray that we all make it in peace, everybody happy and waving goodbye when the truck departs with son and grandson tomorrow morning! Ah, these oh-so-sweet golden years!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Waiting...and Waiting...
Our son is used to the wheels of social services turning ever so slowly; hunky hubby and I are not. The "emergency" meeting scheduled to take place took four days to accomplish, proper communications took another three. But...the visit to our grandson's potential residential home is this afternoon! The visit will be made by our grandson, son and me. I'm interested, curious, hopeful, prayerful and a little nervous. We are all so hopeful this is where our grandson's future will be but in reality, I have no idea how carefully those plans are worked out. I will be sure to add an update either late today or tomorrow.
Other thoughts of the day: my problems seem like raindrops in a bucket when I read the news of Japan, earthquake, tsunami, nuclear reactors. My heart aches for their people, their country. We live @ 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, so early Friday morning, our son (the geologist) drove to the coast. He wanted to see the potential tsunami event the West Coast would experience. He was there for three hours, taking photos and videos to share with his students. The tide surges were an interesting event but did not impact our area, thankfully.
Good news of the day: We had a surprise visitor this week, our younger son! He had celebrated his birthday with his two sons the night before so drove north to celebrate with us as well. It was so sweet to have him with us. Once a mama, always a mama!
Thanks to all who take the time to read along with my postings, love to know you enjoy my thoughts and experiences of the so-called golden years.
Other thoughts of the day: my problems seem like raindrops in a bucket when I read the news of Japan, earthquake, tsunami, nuclear reactors. My heart aches for their people, their country. We live @ 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, so early Friday morning, our son (the geologist) drove to the coast. He wanted to see the potential tsunami event the West Coast would experience. He was there for three hours, taking photos and videos to share with his students. The tide surges were an interesting event but did not impact our area, thankfully.
Good news of the day: We had a surprise visitor this week, our younger son! He had celebrated his birthday with his two sons the night before so drove north to celebrate with us as well. It was so sweet to have him with us. Once a mama, always a mama!
Thanks to all who take the time to read along with my postings, love to know you enjoy my thoughts and experiences of the so-called golden years.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Good News, Bad News
It is time to catch you up on life on our hill. I will start with the bad news...our family is still seeking the right (is there a right or wrong?) pathway for our grandson with autism. He has taken his anti-anxiety med now for 2 1/2 weeks and it seems to have worked adversely for him. He has been more verbally expressive but also is more irritable, argumentative (one word at a time, usually "NO!"), and certainly not happy.
Time is now becoming critical since our son returns to his professorship on March 22. So...do the two of them leave? Not a good choice but doable. Does the grandson remain here with us? Again, not a good choice, considering his emotional state. There is a placement home available for him, so tomorrow there will be an emergency meeting of his class administrator, his social worker and our son. I hope and pray a good choice may surface. I am also quite concerned for our son, who is highly dedicated to his beloved family first and then his work, which he also loves. Me? I'm here to listen, back up and give hugs.
My Good/GREAT news: our younger son has remained strong and healthy for a year! Hooray! I know that may sound like a simple thought but it has been a huge gift for me. He's healthy, his sons are doing well and I love listening to their stories! Cars, golf, girlfriends, love my guys.
Hunky Hubby and I? We are anticipating some travel later this month, and I am itching to pack a bag. Hopefully the son/grandson will be settled by then and we can drive away with a happy heart.
I am beginning to receive some great responses, thanks to you readers! I look forward to lots more ideas, thoughts, sharing of life as I know it...so how is yours? Jan
Time is now becoming critical since our son returns to his professorship on March 22. So...do the two of them leave? Not a good choice but doable. Does the grandson remain here with us? Again, not a good choice, considering his emotional state. There is a placement home available for him, so tomorrow there will be an emergency meeting of his class administrator, his social worker and our son. I hope and pray a good choice may surface. I am also quite concerned for our son, who is highly dedicated to his beloved family first and then his work, which he also loves. Me? I'm here to listen, back up and give hugs.
My Good/GREAT news: our younger son has remained strong and healthy for a year! Hooray! I know that may sound like a simple thought but it has been a huge gift for me. He's healthy, his sons are doing well and I love listening to their stories! Cars, golf, girlfriends, love my guys.
Hunky Hubby and I? We are anticipating some travel later this month, and I am itching to pack a bag. Hopefully the son/grandson will be settled by then and we can drive away with a happy heart.
I am beginning to receive some great responses, thanks to you readers! I look forward to lots more ideas, thoughts, sharing of life as I know it...so how is yours? Jan
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