Friday, March 17, 2017

The "Mom Quiz" Then & Now

This "Mom Quiz" popped up in my Time Hop. I first did it eight years ago and thought it would be fun to test them again. The boys and I laughed a lot at comparing the original answers to now.

Then: Tanner - 7 Now: Tanner - 15
Then: Todd - 11 Now: Todd - 19

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Tanner: I love you. (Now: I love you more.)
Todd: No. (Now: I love you.)

2. What makes mom happy?
Tanner:: Seeing me, Big Guy and Dad doing nice stuff. (Now: When we are all home as a family)
Todd: Foot massage. (Now: Books.)

3. What makes mom sad?
Tanner: When we don’t give you hugs and you have to go through the day without them. (Now: When see you see someone you love hurting)
Todd: When I am sad. (Now: When Dad is not here.)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tanner: Say jokes. (Now: Too many ways to count)
Todd: We make each other laugh. (Now: Dad)

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Tanner: Smart, pretty, nice and kind. (Now: oldest sister and very protective)
Todd: A good kid. Now: pretty quiet and kept to yourself

6. How old is your mom?
Tanner: 40. (Now: 21)
Todd: 40 (Now: Are you 49?)

7. How tall is your mom?
Tanner: If I am four feet, you must be five feet. (Now: 5'4")
Todd: taller than me (Now: 5'4"?)

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
Tanner: Doctors (Now: Masterpiece Classics)
Todd: Good Morning America (Now: Goldbergs)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Tanner: drink coffee and go to work (Now: watch Masterpiece Classics)
Todd: watch tv and get on the computer (Now: read)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Tanner: be the nicest person in the world (Now: writer of devotional series)
Todd: movie star (Now: writing)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Tanner: cooking (Now: being a Mom, cooking, singing... a lot)
Todd: typing (Now: taking care of others)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Tanner: doing push ups (Now: math)
Todd: math (Now: back seat driving)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Tanner: work at The Play Place (Now: homeschool teacher)
Todd: work at The Play Place (Now: being a mom)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Tanner:: the Penne Rustica at Macaroni Grill (Now: Krilakis)
Todd: Mexican pizza (Now: bread pudding)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Tanner:: that you have a job (Now: I admire your faith.)
Big Guy: that you have stuck with me while I was having a tough time and you tell me that we can find a solution to any problem (Now: how willing you are to give time for other people)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Tanner:: Tweety Bird Now: no answer
Big Guy: Tweety Bird Now: no answer

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Tanner:: go to the coffee shop and play on the computer (Now: watch our favorite shows and talking --- driving!)
Todd: Go to the bookstore (Now: go to thrift stores)

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Tanner:: We have the same color hair. (Now: We both have common sense and both have misophonia.)
Todd: We are both human. (Now: we both like to read)

19. How are you and your mom different?
Tanner:: I am a boy and you are a girl. (Now: You are more verbal and I am more reserved.)
Todd: I am a boy and you are girl. (Now: different sense of humor)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Tanner:: You tell it to me every day! (Now: You tell me every day!)
Todd: Because you do. (Now: you always want to be involved in what I am doing)

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Tanner:: that he is really nice (Now: he makes me feel safe and secure and that he is kind and gentle)
Todd: His sense of humor (Now: his sense of humor)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Tanner:: Lifeway (Now: anywhere that we go as a family)
Todd: to the bookstore (Now: anywhere as long as it is with Dad, Tanner and I)

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

It Has Been A Long Time

It has been such a long time since I have had a second to sit down and write.   My days, weeks and months have been filled with care giving.   When I sit I seem to fall asleep or just not want to think about anything.    Today I find myself with a little section of time waiting on Tman to finish some school work and suddenly had all these thoughts running through my brain.  So if they are jumbled... I apologize in advance.

For any of you who may be wondering, Donald is doing so well.  He went for a follow-up with his cancer doctor yesterday.   He said things are looking good.   He has his next PET scan in May to see what might be lighting up.   His doctor says we will keep a close watch on him for the next two years.   The cancer that they found, if it decides to grow, will take off like a lightning bolt so we have to keep an eye on it.   However, we are all trusting God that it will not do anything.  

Our days have been busy taking care of Donald's parents who have been in very poor health.   Lots of driving back and forth, spending the night in hospital rooms and making plans for the future.   As Donald and his brothers all have jobs and my sister-in-law lives in South Carolina, I am trying to fill in the gaps as much as possible.   It has definitely taken a team to handle their situation.

Todd is finishing up his sophomore year of college.   He has worked three jobs at the same time.  Not because he has had too, but because God has opened those doors and he has seen those as opportunities to get contacts.   Watching him change to a mature man in front of our eyes has been amazing.   We attended an awards ceremony two weeks ago where he was named one of the top students at Hinds.   The faculty and staff chose those students based on grades, volunteer work and outside achievements.   Very proud of our guy.

Tman is in his sophomore year of high school.   Every afternoon he comes out and sits and talks to me about what he is learning.   He has an unquenchable desire to learn.    He reads and explores things that aren't even part of his curriculum.  Yesterday he told me he was fascinated by absolute zero and did all this research about it.  The day before it was Elon Musk and his design for pneumatic tubes for transportation.   Just listening to him makes me smarter.   I think back to 2nd grade and how his teacher told me if I didn't remove him from public school he was going to lose his love and desire for learning.   I am so thankful we listened to her and started homeschooling.   It hasn't always been the easiest road, but it has been so worth it.

One of the joys of my life right now is working with preschool worship at church on Sunday mornings.   I handle the crafts and my friend, Cathy, does the Bible story.  We are a good team.   I am so in love with those little kids.    Such sweethearts.  Is it any wonder Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me?"   After dealing with adults and their craziness, I would rather be with the kids also, Jesus! 

Thanks for letting me ramble.