Empty Nesting

Our Family
Photo by my brother-in-law

The whole empty nest thing has hit me like a ton of bricks all of the sudden. The little girl is a beautiful young woman off to her first year of college. The little boy is now a young man working hard at learning his trade. They are fine people. They bring glory to God and that makes me so happy.

But for 21 years they were my focus....I was a Mom. Yes....as in that was my job. And I really studied about child development, and advocated for them, taught them, and enjoyed being with them. I ate up every minute of it. Even all those hours on the bleachers watching basketball, track meets and oh so many band competitions. Joe and I loved all of that. Oh there were those times every mother has, when you think you will pull your hair out. I think every mom has those moments. But I love and cherish my career as a mom.


Now they are doing what we raised them to do...they are trying out their wings and making their own decisions. They are learning so much as young adults. I'm so proud of them.


And yet, the last couple of weeks I find myself so weepy and sad. It's not as if I don't have other things to think about. After all, I'm running my own shop and working and scheming to make it a success. I'm working on my art, playing with our dog, visiting with my parents, working on church related projects, and doing (or not) housework. But a mom always has her kids on her mind. And it's hard to step back and not give my opinion so much, to let them go....to watch them as they make this decision or that.


And I'm missing all these great kids who have been hanging at our house all these years. Somehow, they are partly mine too. I sound like such a whiner don't I? After all, they are healthy and happy and doing all the things young adults need to do.

Poor Dot. She has had me crying on her shoulder several times in the past week. Aren't women friends great? I know that now is the time for me to pull myself up and start focusing on doing things with Joe, getting back into shape, and figuring out how not to cook huge pots full of food.

And after all.....they still come home....and I love that. In fact, after all my whining you'd be surprised to know that our boy is officially living here right now. But much of the time he's off with his friends or working, and for a year he has been working in a different city. And things are changing....they truly are growing wings and learning to fly. Just like I prayed and hoped. I'm so thankful for that. And they can always fly home for a hug.

Birds and the Bees...

When our son was about nine he and I were watching the Fresh Prince of Bel Air while I folded clothes and he asked, "Mom, are they having sex?"

"Nope, they're kissing." I always believed in being truthful but giving the simplest answer...that way I'm not telling more than they are ready to hear. That philosophy always worked well too. Until that day.

"Well, what is sex?"
"That's when you are married and you want to make a baby... you have sex." This kind of answer usually worked for me believe it or not, but that day he kept asking question after question. I guess he was ready to hear. My ears strained to hear the sound of Joe's truck coming in the drive...his father would be the better person to do this for our son. I answered each one with simple answers...all the correct words for body parts...oh, darn, where is Joe???

"Do you and Dad do that?"
"Well, yes."
"Why, do you want another baby? What does it feel like? What's it like for the guy?"
All the hard questions......he was not letting me off the hook here! Mike looked astounded at what sex really involved. My heart was pounding, but I kept a cool facade. Finally out of questions he runs out to play.

Finally Joe comes trotting in from work. Well, good grief! I just told him everything. I quickly fill him in on what we were talking about and suggest that he may want to talk to our baby himself. Joe says sure, and then heads out to light up the grill.

Mike comes back in and I figure.......hmmm, Joe can fill him in here. "Mike, you know I don't know what it feels like for the guy, but I hear your dad out there and I'm sure he'd love to help you with that question...go ask him"

Mike ambles out there and I listen at the kitchen window. Joe says he hears we've been talking........Mike says, " you know Dad, it sounds kind of... (he makes a yucky face)." Joe says, Well son, sex is kind of like tuna casserole."

What the.........sex is like WHAT? I'm thinking if you're going to use a food analogy how about steak, a hot fudge sundae, or maybe a Boston creme pie??

He continues, "When your mom makes tuna casserole, she throws in noodles, some mushroom soup, peas, tuna and a little milk. None of it sounds so good by itself but you put them all togther and heat it up and it's delicious!"

So there you have it. Sex is like tuna casserole.

Don't worry. A couple of years later while were on vacation at the lake our daughter started asking me the same questions. I told her "Look here comes your dad run and ask him." So they go on a walk and by the time they return she knows the whole scoop. He said he about lost it when he had to describe how the male anatomy works. But he toughed it out... you know, I didn't want him to miss out on the sweet moments!

This post was inspired by this post by Anne at My Tiny Kingdom. The woman is hoot and I nearly choked I was laughing so hard.

Homecoming........

Homecoming in our small town is a big event. With powderpuff football, band, dance, and oh, of course school....quite the busy week. The parade is fun...she was in homecoming court this year and thrilled to ride in a car instead of marching in band for the parade.
Bringing the team through town in a semi truck.

The girls dressed up for the dance. The dance is themed each year and the kids have a blast dressing up. Disney was the theme this year. Here we have Zenon Girl of the 21st Century, Kim Possible, Meg (from Hercules) and a Cheetah Girl. Kim Possible should have been the easiest costume ever, but my sewing machine kept wanting to eat the knit that shirt was made of....so I ended up backing it with some paper......and then picking the white paper out of the stitches on that black shirt. And of course I had waited until the night before.......
At the dance. They looked like they were having a blast.

"New" Car Excitement

It's been an exciting week around here for the kids. Both of them got new used cars. Colleen's is her first...and she looks so happy because she's been sharing a car with me for the past year. I promise you I look that happy too! It's older and has a lot of miles, but I think it's going to be just right for a high school student. She put a little sticker in the window that reads "It's a blond thing."
And Mike bought a truck that pretty much looks brand new. If he keeps up this polishing the dirt and dust won't stand a chance!

Meet Me at the Fair

After Harvest Days we visited Grandpa and went to the Lake County Fair in Indiana. It's such a nice county fair...lots bigger than ours.
We all had to play the mouse game...which was grandma's favorite.


We admired the horses and watched the mail races and flag competitions. We admired the livestock. This is my neice the budding photographer.
And my nephew who likes my favoite fair food almost as much as I do.

As we were walking, I spotted a standard poodle and talked to the owner. Later Joe spotted him and this is Joe (in the yellow shirt) moving in to get a poodle fix. We miss Louie. Maybe we'll have another before too long.

LaPorte on Dwellable

Superman, Band Camp and Dinnerware

Yup, those are the subjects of this post. Colleen has been trooping off to band camp every day in this heat. Monday was superhero day....
Apparently the flute section has been kicking butt at camp. Go flutes!
And this is the dinnerware...we are carrying Feed on the Word dinnerware at the shop now. Each piece has a different scripture. I love the idea of having the word before you at each meal.

PS. Our hearts go out to all in Minneapolis...such a tragedy happening there.

Louie 12/1/95-5/26/07

He was the best dog. Happy.

So affectionate. Tolerant.

Loving.

The best traveller.

A mighty swimmer. An awesome retreiver. Even a good babysitter.

A house without a dog is a home without that daily reminder to be affectionate, to greet each other with total enthusiam, to love each other unconditionally. We're going to have to try to remember that without Louie there be a constant reminder.
I'm trying to put his things away, but I'm having a hard time with this. Joe suggested we put his bowl up over the cupboard where we can see it. When we saw this bowl years ago we knew we had to have it...Life is good....because that's the way Louie saw each day.

Mother's Day

Joe cooked dinner for me, my mom and my aunt....and the guys too of course. I set the table...with my pretty "new" pink cloth I found at a garage sale. Five dollars for the table cloth and 12 napkins...gotta love a deal like that!!
The centerpiece is part of the gift for my mom...some flowers for her rock garden.


It was a beautiful day to eat on the porch.
Loading up. Wish I had a shot with all the goodies. It was yummy!

Louie wishing he could have just one of those pork chops!

Indulge me for a moment....

My baby is growing up. She went off to her prom looking beautiful and elegant. And I am so proud that she is truly a beautiful person on the inside..energetic, kind, funny, and true to what she believes to be right. I don't talk about my kids too much on here, so indulge me today...I'm a lucky mom. At the crowning she and a friend were voted junior class Lord and Lady.

Getting his kicks....

on Route 66!

Joe and I love the soundtrack from The Blues Brothers and the kids were raised on it...it was our traveling music. When they got old enough we let them watch the movie. It's one of our faves too...takes us back to our dating days. It came out the summer after I graduated high school.

We took these photos of Mike at the Polk-a-Dot Drive In on old Route 66 in Braidwood, Illinois. It's a wonderful 50's style drive in. If you ever get the chance you should stop in. You could have your photo made with Betty Boop or Elvis or one of the others around their building.