2010 COMING UP QUICK

Good Morning Girls, 
       I know everyone is having a good break and enjoying her family, right? Our time off has been fun, family and food; no surprise there! I've enjoyed lots of down time too, resting and reading. Trying not to interfere with Stephen King's routine, he's such an old lady about his schedule, Girls! 
      Mackenzie and I saw "Avatar" last night; I have to recommend it to you, very good. It is like nothing I've seen before; fantasy, technology, love story, fun, tragic, all the things that make a great movie. I'm not a movie buff at all, but this one was worth seeing. Now today I'm taking the Littles to see "Chipmunks, The Squeekual", maybe not quite the same quality, but just as entertaining. Maddie and Caleb are a hoot at the movies. Madd gets totally immersed into the screen. I love watching them watch.
       Right now I'm waiting for a phone call from Jill, she is at the hotel with her dad and we are meeting for coffee. Can't wait to see her. She improves my spirits every time. I cannot imagine driving down here as often as they do, but then again, I live here and don't gamble! I told Jill to just write me a check and not bother with throwing her money away at the casino, but no such luck. Maybe she will be lucky this visit, hope so. I haven't been back in the casino since you all were here in July. Not much of a supporter, sorry.
      Orange County is undertaking a new health program with life style changes, weight loss programs, fitness workshops and smoking cessation classes offered in each town several times a week. My niece, Stori, is an organizer and I think I'll get involved somehow. The exercise much begin soon or else!!! My muscles continue to deteriorate and joints hurt almost constantly. I think a walking and swimming program are my choices. The eating component is pretty much controlled already. Now I need to move.  Our school pool adjoins my office, so I have no excuse not to swim a few laps after school. My doc says as long as it is a gradual introduction, I'll be fine. So... Orange County W.O.W. here we go.
        My Mom is having a pretty good winter, short-term memory is bad, but she is functioning so much better with the new meds. We make sure she has a good lunch or dinner, she forgets to eat otherwise. My sister, Debbie, is a wonder with Mom. Patient and there everyday. We are so blessed she can and does do this for us and Mom. Christmas was a challenge, Mom kept wanting to give everyone money whenever she was with them. She wasn't up to shopping so we got gift cards for her to passout. But she kept forgetting she had done it after the first time. You have to keep laughing or else you cry. Bless her heart, Mom still wants to do for us all. 
     Christmas without Courtney was different, a big hole in our party. She and Ken spent the day with his son and his family then traveled to his mother's for the weekend. The pictures show blue skies, green grass, flowers and a pet kangaroo! Not your typical Hoosier Christmas. We are learning to be independent parents (ha) and know she is enjoying the life she wants and we are happy for her. 
      Jill just called, cashed in $200 and wants to celebrate. Going to meet her for a Coke! I'll be back. Ok, that was fun, Jill looks terrific and I laughed my head off at her tall tales! Your dad is a sweetie, Jill. So nice getting together for a quick catch-up. I wish the rest of you were addicted to gambling and came to see me sometime. Just kidding, Tucker stopped when she saw me coming. :-)
   Stephen King and I had a nice afternoon together; drove down to Jasper, had the oil changed in his truck, went to Rural King for hinges for the lambing pen, ate cheap Chinese. I tell you, Ladies, life cannot get much more romantic than this. Bet you all can't wait to grow old like us. Nothing says love like sitting in the Penzoil waiting room together.
     Is it cold up North? It has been a beautiful day here after several gray gloomies, but the 2 week forecast is for highs in the 20s!!! My office will be frigid. I was gifted 2 new shawls for Christmas, I'll need both of the everyday. One for my head, the cold air blows down right on it as I sit at my computer. Wish I'd gotten gloves, too. Oh, I got 4 new candles, I suppose I can light them all at once for a bonfire.
     2010, I can hardly imagine such a date. I thought the 1900s would last forever and the 2000s were science fiction. Little did I know how quickly time passes as one grows older. I've said before my live is a series of 6AMs, happening one after the other. Days whiz by, the hours flying, months race at superspeed, how can I be over 60 years old? Where has the time gone? Those grown people cannot be my children already, aren't they only babies? What did I do with all those years? Enjoy the days, my Girls, everyone of them. Hold onto those  precious times with your kiddos, write their sweet words on your hearts. How I would love a few hours with my young boys again to fish or play h-o-r-s-e or build another tree house. And just a few hours with my daughter, sitting in the porch swing talking as we break beans or have a girlie day shopping at antique stores, sipping coffee and desserts. But that has passed, as your times will; passed much too fast. Almost without notice. 
    But we have lots of time left for new memories with kids and grandkids. More road trips and get-to-gethers, more 6 AMs and Sundays. I'll just have to learn to treasure each moment more from now on.
May you all be blessed with peace and love in 2010, my friends. Love you all. Hedy

CHRISTMAS WEEK 2009

Hello Ladies, 

  Does your Holy Week feel Holy? Or rushed, hassled, stressful? Why do we let ourselves do this every year? I have been following a wonderful blog called down-to-earth for over a year and do believe it may be the answer everyone seeks. This lady, Rhonda, and her husband are a retired couple who are nearly self-sufficient. They live such a peaceful, purposeful life with chickens and dogs and honeybees. I realize this life is much easier for a retired couple than for you with young families, but hope you look for her at www.down-to-earth.blogspot.com when you have a minute. She is starting a "living simply" month in January which should be informative and fun to read. They live outside of Brisbane Australia on a little patch of land behind the gates. Courtney lives in Brisbane and although they will never meet, I feel closer to Courtney when I read this blog. Stephen King and I move closer to this peaceful living as I contemplate retirement. He loves his garden, I'd love to quilt daily. 

Our gifts are bought and stacked in the back room waiting to be wrapped in shiny, red foil and placed under the tree. Which will probably be completed 10 minutes before the grandkids tear them open. I'd rather fool around on here than stand, bent over the dining table, wrapping gifts. Sorry. Once again, Grandma has overdone the spending, buying much too much for kiddos who do not need anything. This is the last time, I promise, again. But I love doing it, finding those cute sweatshirts for my boys, the rough n tough little hoodies and jeans. The toys they just have to have, Transformers the size of end tables. And for my big girls, the clothes and boots and bags and coats, where do I stop? And my Madeleine? The quilted coat in Blossom with the heather gray leggings and zebra tunic. And the brother and sister life size dolls, Katie and Kyle. With real hair and kissing sounds? How could I not? I know...my name is Grandma and its been 3 days since I've shopped.  I won't even talk about the daughters-in-law. Every year, it is the same.

I spent today at Mom's with my sister making candy and cookies or trying to. Mostly we laughed and talked and hugged because we never get to spend a whole day together and Mom was having a good day. Aging is so bittersweet; wisdom and peace come with age, but so do pain and confusion. It breaks my heart to watch the light go out of Mom's eyes as she slips from us. Not all the time, not even daily now, but it is there, waiting. That place where we cannot follow her, where she is alone and scared. The new meds are working for now and that is all we can ask. NOW. Tomorrow will come and we will deal with it then. For today, it was good. She was Mom.

My niece, Stori and her husband Jamey are hosting our Christmas Eve gathering again this year. Yes, they are the couple who have the new babies. They are amazing and loving and want the family at their house. So we will cook and carry and gather round their beautiful new kitchen and celebrate the birthday of our Lord. And celebrate these new members of our family, Chad and Ian. And celebrate another year of being family. 

I hope each of you have that family gathering each year to celebrate being together. Keep that connection as long as you can, it is so important that the young ones know where they come from, who they are, what they are a part of.   I am the oldest of my grandparents' grandchildren on both sides and we have lost that connection for the most part. The cousins still keep in touch but our children and grandchildren don't know their distant cousins or great aunts and uncles. It makes me feel sad and guilty for not working harder at planning reunions and birthdays and Christmas together. I suppose that is the way it is in all families...the drifting a part when the number of people becomes too big to manage. I have a difficult time working our Christmas dinner in with only two sets of in-laws to juggle. No wonder I can't coordinate over 200.

I love all the picture cards this year, Ladies. Next year, we will have a Baby Mac to add to it. I wish you all Blessings for the New Year and Happy, Peaceful Hearts for Christmas. Talk to me. Love, Hedy

Hello

Hi Gals, for some reason, I cannot figure out, my blog has changed. I will work on designing a new one over break. Too much pink, maybe? This is our last week, we get out on Friday the 18th, Praise God for His mercy. Neighboring school go til the 23rd, I don't know or care why, I'm just thrilled we don't.

All my shopping is done, nothing wrapped or decorated, that waits for next week along with the baking and candy making.

I am much better, still a little lingering asthma, but I'm perking right along this weekend. We went to Gavin's pre-school program tonight, So sweet. He left his shirt on this year, didn't play air guitar or cry. All high points of last year's performance. He had a speaking part this year, a surprise for us, and did an excellent job. What a difference a year makes when you are five.

Shay turned 21 today, we celebrated last night with an Italian dinner. She is such a sweet young woman, just awhile ago she was a laughing little girl, how fast time goes. Girls, hold those days close to your hearts, don't hurry your kids to grow up, it happens in a flash of light. Treasure your time together.

Tomorrow night is our big Board meeting. He doesn't have the support of enough of the Board to defeat them, but he will not resign, they will have to fire him. My heart breaks at that, but we will be with him, standing strong for our friend. Education should not be political, it is not the place for favors and back-scratching, everyone looses when it becomes political. The chief penis is still not talking to me, but that's OK. I'll make him speak eventually, if only to fire me!!! Alison, I think this must be what you felt when you resigned from counseling. Such a heavy heart, filled with frustration, weighing me down. We all need this 2 week separation, maybe we can return with better spirits.

I'm in the classroom tomorrow with 8th graders, discussing their IDEAS results. Maybe I can encourage them all to be education warriors, fighting acceptance of injustice. Fighting for excellence and high expectations of everyone; students, teachers and administrators. Wouldn't that be nice?

Or maybe pioneers, finding a new future for education and humanity... Or how to say, "want fries with that?"

You all have a good week and I'll talk to you later. Love you all. Hedy

HEADING TOWARD CHRISTMAS

IT'S SUNDAY NIGHT LADIES. Of course, it is. I only seem to settle down at the computer on Sunday evening, wishing I could talk to you all in person. Everyone's Thanksgiving has been put away in the memory box, leftovers fed to the dog, and maybe the Christmas tree put up already. Not here, but maybe at your house. Our Turkey day was wonderful; everyone was here and in good humor, the food was all edible and the Grinch won't show up till Christmas. I chose to eat early this year. Shawn's sister was in from Michigan and they had to eat with her family, too. But I got to choose what time. I decided eating early would ensure everyone would be hungry and I was right. They ate and ate, then crashed on the couch, beds and recliner. Caleb even took a nap!!! I love having sleeping kids in my house, it feels so cozy and safe to have them resting. Stephen King and I may have been the only ones with our eyes still open by 5:00. The daughters-in-law helped me straighten up before they left which made me happy:-)

The kids had no more than cleared the drive when I started coughing and haven't stopped yet! Sinus infection, I suppose. So I've been confined to the house all weekend. Hope to go to work tomorrow, as I need to decorate the office and lobby. And all the other reasons I should be there, of course.

Our football coach has been "asked" to resign by the Super and AD and I'm about to get myself into a twit over it, I think. He is a great teacher and a wonderful man, a true role model for the students, but hasn't had a winning season for awhile. And Valley being Valley, some want him gone. I am this man's friend, but more than that I know our school would be losing more than a coach if he left. Our mission statement is all about turning out productive citizens ready for the real world and doing everything for the "good of our students". Forcing him to resign flies in the face of our mission. We must teach our students that winning isn't everything, how you play IS important, being men of strong morals, caring, and honest is important also. This man represents all these characteristics and is homegrown and has a family in our town, kids in our school, a wife employed by our school. He doesn't want to leave. Small schools don't have great teams very often, this is not our time. Our other sports teams are not successful right now either, but our Band took 3rd at state! It was their time. Our time in football may come again, 20 years ago we went to state finals. In the meantime, we stand to lose two wonderful teachers, two talented individuals we cannot afford to lose. I am taking a stand for my friend by calling Board members, organizing student support and encouraging attendance at the deciding meeting. People are scared to step forward and are warning me to drop it. I cannot do that. Our kids, our school need to see caring people stand up and be heard, not just roll over. Am I doing the right thing here, Girls? Or getting ready to get my ass kicked?

I have almost all my Christmas gifts bought already!!! Yay for online shopping. Still haven't figured out how to beat the high costs of shipping to Australia, but I'm working on a solution. Now if I can wrap it all before 12/24, I'll be set. I hope to decorate a little more this year, too. Some years lately the tree was a last minute addition. I miss those days of being home all the time and getting everything done; decorating, cooking, shopping, wrapping and loving every minute of it. Another life.

Well, this is the life I'm living now and I'd better get myself to bed so I can continue tomorrow. Our fall gagglefest was terrific, Ladies. I was so happy to spend good time together. I hope everyone can make the Winterfest! Take care and talk to me, Love.

Hello Ladies,
What a great week! Our weather is "outstanding" to quote Stefan. You just cannot imagine the blue in the sky overhead. It was already 65 when I got up today. We are having a pitch-in at Nina's for Stephen King's birthday today and Trent's tomorrow. The kiddos will be playing outside and all G-ma's chicks will be together. Happy, happy. :-) Courtney's been home for a couple of weeks, going back to Oz the 16th. It's been great to have her home, but her heart is Down Under. She isn't coming to Indy with us because my niece, Stori, is coming back from Africa with her new babies on Saturday. Those two boys are so precious, little brothers only 10 months apart, 8 and 18 months old. Chad, the oldest, speaks French but is catching on to English fast. The whole town is involved in this adventure because of Stori's blog and FB. I hope some of you have looked at "ourstoribook". It is a leap of faith for the family.
I'm excited about our gagglefest next week. Kirstie's baby bump should be obvious by then! I loved your comment on "Mrs. Mac taught us", Kirstie, great to know they are listening and learning! Hope you are feeling better, Jill. And the rest of you, STAY WELL. Gotta go fix myself for the party. Talk to me, Ladies. Hedy

FALL IS IN THE HOUSE

It is definitely fall in Southern Indiana: rainy and only 43 degrees, dark, gloomy skies, but IT IS FALL BREAK. Four days to be lazy, or not, to sleep-in or not, whatever, it is our choice. No bus duty, no meetings, no lunch duty, no parents, no kids, no teachers. Life is good. :-)
I'm not quite ready for such cool weather, but I love the chance to wear sweaters and jackets again. And since my office is a constant 58 degrees with winds out of the north, I have been choosing some bright, colorful new toppers for my basic black look. I find it amazing what a good cover-up can, well..cover! No one needs to know what chunkiness lies beneath my new bronze brocade jacket with tiny ruffled trim. Or that the little patchwork number is disguising 3 rolls of excess insulation. And the navy swing cardigan, oh my, how well it flows over all the extras and makes me look taller and leaner. We all know tall and lean aren't words usually used to describe me, but this navy job is almost a miracle worker. If only it came in other colors. I even bought some new jean trousers, dark indigo, long, lean legs which transform my fat little stubs into legs to my chin. I am so happy with my new things or with the cataract on my right eye which is distorting my vision enough for me to think I'm seeing all these things... yeah, I guess it is the cataract, girls. I'll still be the same ole' dumpy goose when we get together in Indy in a few weeks. No surprises.
My mom is on meds now for the memory loss, she has good days and bad. Depression has been a big issue lately, for the first time in her 80 years, she doesn't have anyone to serve. My nieces have gone to school and aren't there much. Mom has had these girls since birth al days everyday, while their parents work. My brother and his wife would eat at her house many nights when they came to pick up the girls. And now she doesn't have anything to do, to look forward to and she's sad. My sister spends several hours each day with her and I do weekends, but it isn't the same for her. Mom is the oldest of 13 kids and started caring for her younger sibs as a toddler. She babied my dad and us kids, waited on us hand and foot, until we married and beyond. Her life has changed and for her this means it is over. She just doesn't know how to relax and enjoy life. It breaks my heart. I pray you all will never know this for your parents, it is such a feeling of loss. Right, Jill? They are here, but not here, with you, but not really. Loosing my dad was much easier than watching Mom go through this.
I have my annual laryngitis again. No voice and coughing fits every few minutes. Fun, Fun. No fever, just no talkee :-). Fall allergies in the Ohio River Valley, I guess.
I hope everyone is doing great, no snow storms yet, no impossible school issues, no family emergencies. I can't wait to sit down with you all and catch up. After a few days of wallowing in self-pity, I've put away my violin and face each day anew and make the best of it. I do everything I'm capable of to make our school a safe environment for our kids and leave it in my office at night. I always find it waiting the next morning, no one has solved the problems, but at least I didn't take them home to Stephen King. I wasn't being fair to him or myself. Every once in a while I have to see I'm not in control, we all answer to God and He has the Plan. Not me. Rather humbling sometimes.
Courtney is coming home on the 24th for a few weeks, yay! Be wonderful to see her again. The computer has helped with emails, Facebook and Skype, but I need to see and touch my daughter again. At least for awhile.
I'm planning to take my girlies to B-ton for an overnight on Sunday. They have plans for tonight and tomorrow, so they won't be free til after church, but we can go shopping and they can swim. Even Caleb is going, I think. He says he is on Fall break, too and wants to go swimming. Pray for me and my chicklets!
Love to all. Talk to me. Hedy

PUMPKIN MADNESS

Hello Everyone,
Saturday night, my kiddos just left and I'm tired. I didn't think I would get through this past week alive. The weather change has everyone wired, we are doing Aquity Testing, and it is Pumpkin Festival week in the Valley. Chaos rules the land and all young brains turn to mush. I do believe this place could qualify as a research habitat if some enterprising university would look closely. Suddenly an 8th grade Honors Student finds fractions much too difficult to comprehend. A 6th grader challenges ME to a duel. And sadly, a bright, beautiful girl decides to quit eating. My heart breaks and I'm laughing my head off during the same lunch period. Do I look like I can DUEL? And why oh why are bright, beautiful girls in such need to control something in their lives? What is going on that they can't just be young and carefree and healthy? A former student showed up at the end of the day and cried that her babies were taken from her. ..and her husband just got out of jail. ..and she's just been released from rehab... and she has no money and no where to live...can I help her? The last time we saw each other, I gave her $500 to take her babies and go to her mother's up north. She bought pills instead, got busted and lost her kids. Oh, yes, she's pregnant again. Looking at her, I see my last 20 years go up in smoke. Why did I think I could help anyone? The world is way too big and bad to defeat.
Jill, you are right, we can't do this anymore. Let's retire and run away.

The other side of the coin is my family, my friends, my co-workers and most of the kids in my school. I love them for being normal and gentle and supportive and sweet and non-threatening and excited about life and the future. I am so blessed to have everyone of you in my life. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the others. I'm sorry I let that happen.

Our weather is turning cool and the sky is absolutely magnificent at times. The clear blue is contrasted by the bright white of big, puffy clouds floating through it. The trees are just beginning to turn; each day brings more color. The humidity which seems to blur the air for the entire summer has gone, leaving a clarity that was forgotten. Everyone is struck by it, no one seems to remember it being this bright, this clear last year or ever before. I recall hearing this every fall of my life. It makes me happy that people still notice small things like the weather. We aren't quite so caught up in the rat race that we aren't aware of God's blessings...yet.
I've always felt safe and sheltered in our hills of Southern Indiana. How can the flats of your Northlands offer protection from Nature itself? I suppose the trade off is wide open spaces for hillls and hollows. I wonder if I could have survived in Kansas or Nebraska where the Plains roll on for days without a break in the horizon. I think not. I find comfort in small rooms, small houses, small towns.
I am so excited that most of us are planning to be in Indy on the 13th. Angela, I hope it will work out for you to be with us. Staci, Carrie how about you? I can get a third room, no problem.
Courtney is coming home for a visit on the 24th, we pick her up in Chicago. I hope she stays till after Thanksgiving, but don't know her plans yet. My niece, Stori, adopted 2 Congolese boys and they will be here Nov. 7. Courtney will stay with Stori and her family to help with them for a week or two, I'm sure. They are 6 and 16 months old, Jamey and Stori have an 8 year old boy and a 10 year old daughter. We all are over the moon over getting these babies home. What a wonderful, selfless thing for this family to do. We are so proud of them.
Our family is well, no N1H1, just coughs and sniffles. The boys are growing like weeds and are beautiful. Maddie is as long legged and thin as a colt, doing real well in 4th grade. Mackenzie was inducted into National Honor Society last Sunday in a beautifully quiet ceremony. We were excited and proud that she made it in as a sophomore. Shayla is sporting a new hair style today. Clipped short and spikey, very edgy. She looks much more her age than usual. She will be 21 in December. Such a sweet heart, I worry about her future when Nina and Trent are gone.
Thank you, my girls for letting me bend your ears tonight. I needed to talk. Looking forward to tomorrow. Stephen King and I may go for a long drive. Good night, Gaggle.