We all change over course of our years here on this planet, right?  I mean, are you the same person now that you were when you were ten?  If you are, we need to talk!  Call me ASAP!  How many times during your marriage have you thought: "This is not the person I married!"  Personally - a lot, and in all fairness I KNOW Doc thinks the same!  Some of the things I let the grandkids do and smile at, I would never have let my own kids do.  I smile every time they ride their tricycles through the house!

Which brings me to the Evolution of "Mommy".  I never realized that I MAY be a little OCD, until I watched my first child growing up.  As a little one, you know, toddler age, everything had to be in a specific place with a specific order.  Any variance of the order was simply unacceptable.  It continued as she went through childhood and into her teen years.  You know how parents complain about their teenagers being slobs?  Not my girl!  Her room was impeccable! Thankfully, we had the ability to provide her with her own bedroom and bathroom as a teen.  Otherwise, I am not sure if she would have been able to mentally and emotionally handle life.  Her sisters were not quite as particular!

GameBoys were a big thing when my kids were younger.  It is the only video gaming I allowed and only on an extremely limited basis.  The kids were smart enough to share games and get more options.  Except . . . if you wanted to borrow one of "Mommy's" games you had to sign and notorize an agreement and undergo equipment inspection.  She also had her own library complete with a card file.  You underwent a credit check to sign out a book because she needed to make sure you could replace it if necessary.  Of course, this led to hours of fun and torture for the boys!

Then, "Mommy" went to college.  I am really confused about what type of education happens there, but she underwent a horrible transformation!  Suddenly when she was home for holidays or the summers, this unrecognizable young "adult" (so to speak) wandered about my home leaving messes everywhere.  These messes didn't hold a candle to what I would find in her room!  Sandblasting in the bathroom after a long summer was an actual thought!  My little girl was gone!   (I have a theory about that too - but that's another story!)

Moving on through life, "Mommy" graduated from college and married and moved away.  She became a first grade teacher!  And it brought a glimmer of my little girl back to me!  Her classroom was and is impeccable.  The library system is back (minus the credit checks).  

She is now the mother of two daughters who are ABSOLUTE OPPOSITES of each other.  I guess they reflect both sides of their mother.  They started out sharing a room (which I might add, I tried to discourage!  I knew it wouldn't work!)  This spring the girls split up into their own rooms and each room reflects each girl.  My "Glowbug" is neat and orderly like her mother used to be.  The "Tornado", well her title should tell you everything you need to know!

And what about "Mommy"?  She now lives somewhere in between her two worlds.  I am so proud of both sides of her.  She is an amazing teacher who drills orderliness and structure into her students.  As a mother, well, I cannot say enough about her love for her girls.  In case you are wondering, she never went back to her OCD ways.  I suppose some people would consider that a psychological success.  I am just happy to think that she has discovered that spending time with her girls and her husband is much more important than a clean bathroom or kitchen!  (Well maybe she could lean a little toward OCD!)  Have a blessed week and make sure you take time to hug the kids and everyone you love.  God blessed you with them, be sure to love them and thank Him!

Missed a week while on vacation!  We are all entitled to time off right?!

I seriously labored over the title of this story.  I believe I have written before about our Honeymoon.  We almost got divorced after one week of marriage and traveling in a car together unsupervised.  Well, 38 years later and almost NEVER during those years, we decided to drive to Florida to visit Calvin, P3 and the babies.  In all honesty, it was more my choice because I REALLY hate to fly and besides, what could go wrong with us spending 13 hours in a car together?  Apparently I thought we had grown up in 38 years.  Well, maybe not!

Simple things like temperature were no problem.  Today's vehicles provide individual controls, which I honestly do not understand because we are sitting in open air approximately two feet apart.  Music, not a problem either.  We like most of the same music with very few exceptions.  Food?  Well we just didn't bother to eat or drink the whole way there and back.  He is a little fussy about garbage in his vehicle.  In fact, I actually think he is the only person I have ever met with a tiny garbage can in the back seat.  And of course the vehicle had to be vacuumed while we were visiting.

We did grown up when it comes to directions, sort of...   My husband does not do well in new areas when it is dark.  And of course we don't slow down as we are almost on top of the street we need to turn on until the last second.  We also don't pay attention and drive right past the turn and/or exit.  In this instance I cannot criticize myself, although I am far from perfect.  Doc would not let me drive his truck even once!  I must have moved the seat or left a candy wrapper in the past!

We do differ greatly in driving style!  I now understand why all vehicles have handles surrounding the passenger.  You have to have SOMETHING to grip on these fast turns and occasional sudden stops.  I have also discovered that they do not relieve stress even when you pour all of your anxiety into the handles and center console.  They do however provide an excellent means for isometric exercise. As I gripped the center console and handles, clenched the muscles of my rear end and forcefully pressed my right leg into the floor I noticed that my muscles were getting a little sore.  Doing that for one to two hours as your husband drives around the city of Atlanta provides plenty of opportunity! I actually think my arms developed some tone.

Driving too close to the car in front of you, repeated lane changes, "flooring" it, braking suddenly can wear on your nerves.  Good news though!  Vehicles are made to be quite sturdy.  All handles and the console remain intact.  Truthfully, in his agitated state not even my request for life and not death impacted him.  I felt a little like Nathan Hale when he said "Give me liberty or give me death!"  NASCAR would have been in awe of this man's driving skill, at least from their standpoint.  

Multiple gasps later, hands and legs and backside sore from muscle contractions, blood pressure returned to a more normal state and with exhaustion set in, we did arrive home safely.  Prayer took on a new meaning for me.  I also read a LOT of religious material.  Thank you God!  My suggestion to all, before you take on such a trip practice meditation,  deep breathing and prayer.  Maybe one day we can get car companies to put a brake pedal on the passenger side.  Not a real one like the old driver's ed vehicles but a fake one so that you at least think you are accomplishing something.  God is good but I think I will wait a bit before we try this again.  Here's to another 38 years!

Oh stop it!  It's not what you think!  My girls got me watching "Outlander".  The series starts out with the lead female character, Claire touching some large stones on a hill in Scotland and being transported 200 years into the past and into a relationship with a charming and handsome Scottish Highlander!  

Be still my heart!  Aside from the enchanting grin and the way the Highlander, Jamie gives sideways looks at Claire and refers to her lovingly as Sassenach, well, lets just say I am smitten.  Now there are some who will tell you that this show is violent and sexually graphic and that is true, but I have noted that the scenes are well placed and meant to give you a flavor of 1700's Scottish life.  Based on the clothing alone, I am sure I was born in the wrong century.  There are probably plenty of women's libbers who would complain about the lowly status of women during that era.  By today's standards, I suppose they are right, but men were definitely men.  I don't know about you, but I am more than happy to be adored and protected by a large, muscular man with dashingly handsome good looks and a Scottish accent.  (I am sure I was also born in the wrong country, oh my for the Scottish accent).  This show takes the idea of Mel Gibson and Braveheart to new levels!  For those of you who want to fast forward through many of the scenes, go ahead or subscribe to the app that does it for you,   As for me, I will watch every second!!!!!  Well, maybe I will leave out a few scenes (but if you haven't seen it yet, I do not want to spoil anything for you!)

Our family (the females at any rate) are totally hooked!  A few of the husbands have watched it and one likes it for obvious reasons!  One is slightly jealous and feels that his wife is emotionally cheating on him. It probably doesn't help that for Christmas she was given a T-shirt that lists her relationship status as "mentally dating Jamie Fraser".  Do you think I need to apologize to my son for buying that?  Nah!

What I will tell you at this point is that I am absolutely certain that I need to take a trip to Scotland!  I will have to travel with at least one of the girls though.  I don't think my husband will bail me out of jail for hugging large stones in Scotland.  My girls however, they will understand my purpose and probably join me !   And if we make it to the 1700's and find a Jamie, well then.....

Have a great week.  Keep your dreams going.  You never know when you may hug the right stone!