I'll pass thanks...

So...today I went to my pastor's funeral. Dreadfully sad. His son spoke, his wife spoke, AND his oldest son played the bagpipes for the recessional. I can honestly say that this was THE saddest funeral I have ever been to. The 10th grade Harlem basketball team served as the pall bearers. I cannot recall a more somber time. In my heart I was able to say "See you later" to him today...but I am still very sad.

Navigating the waters of loss...

We lost a very special man this weekend. My pastor...Bill Kerr, passed away. Many of you have read my interpretations of his powerful sermons here on the ole' blog. Shock, disbelieve, utter dismay, sadness, numbness, words that just can't describe the loss. What a presence, what a Holy man, what a wonderful father and husband...what a tremendous loss.

Even though this man pursued heaven with his whole heart it is just a day I cannot be happy for him. Selfish, I know. He and Debbie's son William and our big girl were born across the hall from each other at Rockford Memorial. There was a wasp in my room, so I got to go spend some time in Deb's room while the staff 'took care of' the wasp. Since then, Pastor Bill has baptized my children, buried too many relatives to list including Poppy, confirmed and married my niece and healed my heart on many occasions. Today, I'm not very good at navigating the waters of loss...just the waters of a broken heart. There are not words in my mind that I'm able to share with his wife and children...Please keep us all in your prayers...

Photo courtesy of rrstar.com

http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x110660868/Machesney-Park-pastor-accepted-everyone?popular=true

I'm a little bit verclempt..

Today was a big day for me. I registered my sonshine for Driver's Education. When a parent finds out that their child has Autism...many things quickly fade from the horizon and your child's future becomes uncertain. Will they get through school? Will they drive? Will they work? Will they live independently? Will they have friends? Will they love life? So many questions raced through my mind as my son has grown up. Gratefully, he has made huge strides in the past couple years and his Dad and I think he's ready. He has shown responsibility through completing his chores at home, earning good grades at school, completing chores around the house, and becoming more socially independent. My sonshine and I talked about enrolling him in Driver's Ed. We talked about overlapping Driver's Ed. and school at the same time. We decided that even though he's old enough to start Driver's Ed. right now, we're going to wait for summer so that he can focus only on Driving and do his best. He said, "I think that's a good idea Mom" What? A good idea? on behalf of the mama? Love that! So...June 9th...the sonshine starts Driver's Ed. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a successful experience, and keep my sanity in your thoughts and prayers now that I have two children driving!
Stay tuned for his first day at Driver's Ed with his big cheesy grin!

Do you feel out of control?

For the past four days I have sat through TCI training. For those of you that don't know what that is...it's Therapeutic Crisis Intervention...so that IF necessary any of the students I work with need to be restrained to protect themselves or others...I'm ready...(DO NOT LAUGH CARLENE!) One thing TCI training has taught me is that I feel old! REALLY old! Getting up and down off the floor and holding people down really is not my forte. But...trained I am none the less! So, if you're feeling like you are gonna lose it...give me a call! Ok, here's really the thing for me...for two days I learned about active listening...ummmm really....didn't I just go to Grad school for 3 YEARS!!!! to learn that? Perhaps I could test out? Perhaps I could teach that portion? Ummmmm, no ma'am just sit in the chair please. *sigh*

Here's the really important news however...are you listening? Really closely? Because... I START MY LAST CLASS TOMORROW!!! That's all I can say...I'm speechless.

Until next time...

My last jam packed weekend for a while...

Ahhhh...I am getting used to busy weekends. Weekends away from school and studying, and being exhausted. I am anticipating liking my post grad school life. And I bet you'll be glad to have me quit whining about it :) Friday night I felt like a visit to a home away from home...the Cracker Barrel! We always go there when we travel, but very seldom eat at the one in our own fair city. I was craving their delicious pot roast and hash brown casserole and fried okra....Yum.my. The hubby, the big girl, the grandmother, one great niece, one great nephew and I enjoyed a super delicious treat. Saturday morning I was up WAY too early for a Saturday to attend Kristina's band contest. I was the announcer. A few of the parents told me they had been asked to announce but declined. I guess I was the 4th or 5th choice (kinda hard on the self esteem) and I wasn't asked...I was just given the assignment. Hmmmmm...of course I didn't mind, and I got to watch all of the choirs. Some of them were painful...some were good. My daughter was scheduled to sing a duet, but alas her duet partner didn't show up!!! Grrrrrrr. I suppose she could have been sick, or their might have been an emergency. Time will tell on that one.

After the band contest...I got a much needed hair cut that I'm not really appreciating. I am really looking for someone that can cut a good concave bob with layers. If you know anyone...please refer me! After my less than stellar hair cut, I headed off to the stamp show with Sarah and the big girl... Sarah left spending only $1 (those of you that know Sarah, know what a miracle that is!) I did buy a card kit that I had admired when Sarah made it and also a gift for my friend Stacie...Hey Stace..when we come see the birds...I'll bring it over! I got my nap in and finally took the precious one out to buy some new jeans and got myself a few cute items for work. I especially love when I can get a blazer with a super cute cut for $9. That's nearly free! I also got a sweater that I'm not sure I'll keep. I'll think about it a couple days...Wait...hold up... my big girl just called me (as in on the phone) from the upstairs bathroom to ask me to bring her toilet paper. Please hold on while I ponder what my life has become...

OK, I'm better now...we went to the grocery store for the first time in ages and before I knew it, it was 8:00! I hurried home, since we hadn't yet eaten and then sat around on facebook till...about 11:30. Morning came early, when the baby girl arrived!~ I was simply amazed at the language explosion she has had over the past two weeks. Simply amazing! I think she's speaking in 8 - 10 word sentences now. AND, when she wants you to quit talking, she politely asks you to be quiet, and then she continues onward with the chatter. We had SO much fun. I asked my niece today if perhaps I could have the baby girl for spring break. I believe it's a go! I do plan to clean the garage and do things around here, but I also plan to have lots of fun with the baby girl!

We went to church today where our AMAZING youth pastors spoke. It was truly a remarkable service and I am so glad I went. When my children were growing up in our church, the youth program faced quite a few struggles. They (my kids) are now in a fabulous youth group, and our younger children have their own youth pastors that specialize in theater. Amazing things are happening and I couldn't be more happy.

After church, we headed to the Jonas Brother's 3D movie... Aubrey was so good! She knows all the Jonas brother's by name (thanks to a bit of training by my daughters) and when Joe came on the screen she said...Joe Joe...look Step o nee, it's Joe Joe! How precious is that?!? It was Aubrey's first movie in a theatre. She sat so well and we didn't have to leave the theatre once! I remember when I took Steph to see Free Willie at 2 years old (ummmm a big mistake) she liked it for about 10 minutes and then was done. I was so hard on her that day :( Live and learn to have appropriate expectations for your little ones. I wish I had learned earlier, that it is not only ok, but that it is necessary to have age appropriate expectations for your children.

Although Aubrey didn't want to wear her glasses too much during the movie...she liked to model them after... We headed home in the warm temps and sunshine to find my daffodils are up! Oh it won't be long now!!!! I can't wait for spring...gotta run now...I'm teaching a class at 8AM and it'd probably be a good thing if I got it written! Happy Sunday...

PS...Scrumptious Sunday has been postponed this week, due to the author enjoying life!

Really? You read my blog?

It seems my mind at times has a hard time grasping the whole blogging thing. Originally when I started this blog...I started it for friends and family to stay caught up with all things Ruchus, but I didn't make it private...because I wanted to get to know other bloggers. There are some blogs I read that are like visiting old friends...Jen, the dust bunny hostage, Shari and her twins, Tootie on Sanibel, Catherine in France, and Heather in St. Louis with her terrific stories of life as a preschool Mom. The ironic part though, for me, is how many people locally are reading my blog. I've been at church, girl scouts, work, and last night at a School Board function when people say to me...Oh Hi! I read your blog. Which always catches me off guard. Why is that? Do you know? Because I sure don't. And when people say that to me, I think my face turns a little bit red. I truly have no idea what's going on with that. I am super super glad to have so many readers...from my counter it looks like I have about 60 a day (which of course is nothing compared to big big bloggers) but I appreciate every one of you! If you are a local blog reader, and you see me out and about...I'll try to accept the fact that you read my blog...and thank you for doing so...even if my face is a little bit red! Have a terrific Friday!

Scrumptious Sunday

Today's recipe is one of my all time favorites and one of my own:

The worlds easiest Fried Rice

2 bags Steamfresh white rice with julienne veggies

Kikkoman Soy Sauce

1/2 stick margarine or butter

2 eggs

4 green onions

Vegetable Oil

1/2 fresh lemon

Your choice of cubed meat, if you like. In this recipe I used cubed chicken

Cook the Steamfresh rice in the microwave according to package directions. Meanwhile slice the green onions and saute in 1/2 stick butter in a dutch oven or large fry pan. Once the onions are sauteed, add the eggs and scramble. If you are going to add meat, do so now. Next, add the cooked rice and soy sauce to taste. Fry the mixture stirring often. If the rice starts to stick, add a little bit of vegetable oil or more butter (I also use a nonstick pan for best results). When well mixed squeeze the juice of 1/2 fresh lemon and serve. Delicious! And oh so easy :) Two bags of rice makes a nice side dish. If you're making it for a main course...I used 4 bags of rice, 3 eggs, and 2 lbs diced chicken for my family of 5.