Mountain of the Dumped Son

Caleb at the Mohawk tipi with Chief Dave



Located on an island on a stunning lake surrounded by mountains



This is home for the next two weeks


We dumped Caleb off in the middle of the mountains a few days ago. That's exactly what it felt like to me. Dumping. We just dumped him off.

Yes, I knew I would cry, but I just didn't know how long I would cry like that. You know, uncontrollable crying. Well, I haven't cried today. Not yet, anyway.

I guess this is one of those things someone forgot to tell me about somewhere between having a baby boy and then 14 years later leaving him in the middle of the mountains with complete strangers. Someone forgot to tell me how hard it would be to walk away.

We drove and drove and drove to get Caleb to the point where we could dump him. We were all excited and filled with anticipation.

Let me clarify here. I didn't know at this point in time that we would be dumping him. I still thought we were arriving to register and check-in.

We pulled into the driveway that leads to the camp and drove for what seemed like miles deep into the forest until we finally found the parking lot. Oh, it's not really a parking lot. It's an area where there are no trees. But, I'm still excited at this point. This is big woods country! Amazing things happen here.

Boys walk in.
Men walk out.

Mothers walk in smiling.
Mothers walk out sobbing.

At least this mother did.

There just came this point in time where we knew we had to leave. He knew we had to leave. We hugged and kissed and said the "I love yous" and hugged and kissed again. Then I felt the tears come. I didn't want to embarrass him and I certainly didn't want to put him in an awkward position. I didn't know what else to do. So I just turned and walked away. I quickly turned back around and smiled through my tears and told him, "I'll be praying for you every day!" Then I just kept walking. I never looked back. I think it was the worst moment in my life.

And so I dumped my son. I just left him. I left him standing there all alone. For hours that image of him standing there haunted me. I just couldn't get it out of my head. I kept thinking I should have turned back, grabbed his hand, and said, "It's OK. Let's go get your stuff and go home." But I didn't. I just kept walking.

I know I'm not the first mother to experience the pain of separation. I just had no clue it would be so hard.

I know for certain Caleb is on an amazing adventure of a lifetime. He's having an absolute blast sailing and canoeing and fishing and shooting and hiking and flying from trees and sleeping in a tipi.

Me? I'll be OK. The Lord is gracious and kind.

Just ask the millions of mothers who have done the same thing and lived!

Wordless Wednesday

Caleb (10)


Rachel (8)

Reminiscing,

Sew Wonderful

You will never believe the phone call I received from my dear Mrs. Nagy. She called to tell me she had something for me. A sewing machine. This sewing machine was given to her daughter by a friend a number of years ago and now, she was passing it along to me. Mrs. Nagy reminded me of the saying her mother taught her and what she, in turn, taught to her daughter.

Give to others what has been freely given to you.

If you sew, if you are a seamstress, please, just pass right by this post. It will be nothing but sheer silliness to you. I would encourage you to read this instead. Actually, even if you don't sew and you read this post, I encourage you to read this.

These pictures should tell the story. I have added words to help clear-up any confusion, or perhaps, to confuse things all the more!



This is my new sewing machine. It's been sewing for someone for almost 40 years.

This is a bobbin. Do you see the light blue thread? I made this bobbin on my new sewing machine. All by myself.

Side story...

Mrs. Nagy spent an hour or so last Friday morning going over important things I needed to know about a sewing machine. How to oil it, thread it, change stitches and settings, etc. While we did not make a bobbin together, she quickly described what I needed to do. I was so afraid I would forget what she taught me that I went home and did everything (except the oiling part). And as you can see, she taught me well!

This is not my quilt. I repeat, this is not my quilt! I decided the best thing to do was to cut out a stack of 5 inch squares and practice. I even used my new rotary cutter. Mrs. Nagy explained, drew a picture, and then showed me how to sew pieces of fabric together. She explained how important it is to press the seams in the right direction. See how the top row seams are pressed left? See how the next row seams are pressed right? That's important to know. When we went to Amish Country a couple of weeks ago a young Amish girl was showing me a quilt she was working on. She had me feel the seams of the small pieces that were sewn together. She said, "Do you feel that?" "Yes," I answered. "That's how you know you've done it right." I guess the best way to describe it is, it feels like one continuous seam. Honestly, I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. Now I do!



I didn't take the time to press all the seams down since I was just practicing, but that, my friends, is a perfect intersection of four 5 inch squares!

This, on the other hand, is not. See the buckle in the fabric? I found out afterwards that two of my 5 inch squares weren't.

Not pretty is it? It's best for me to learn while practicing on scraps of fabric than to have this happen on my real quilt. Since I had this mistake (actually, there were two of these), I know what not to do.

In all, I sewed 24-5 inch squares together. Three rows of 8 squares each. I have a funny feeling it will be kept in my sewing box for all eternity.

And so, there you have it. My first sewing machine. My first bobbin. My first seams sewn on a sewing machine. My first successful intersection. My first practice piece.

I feel sew wonderful!

Shock and Old, Not Shock and Awe

That, my friends, is the look of pure shock!


A number of years ago, Mr. Wonderful and I had a very short talk about allowing video games in our home. We usually agree on just about everything and that was the case with this as well. Video games are a distraction and completely unnecessary.

We decided, however, that the computer could be used by the kids for educational games like Jump Start, Spy Fox, Reading Blaster, Quarter Mile Math and Mavis Beacon. Over time, a few fun games were added that had no educational value whatsoever. The kids were self-monitored and we didn't find them abusing their time limits.

So a couple of years later, Mr. Wonderful and I had another talk about allowing video games into our home. This time our discussion was a little longer, but we both agreed they were disciplined enough to follow our house rules. Later on, the only established rule, besides a one-hour per day limit, was "We reserve the right to sell the video gaming system should you decide to abuse your privileges."

For his 10th birthday, Caleb had asked for the PC version of a Star Wars Lego's game. We went shopping and secretly bought him a PS2 along with the Star Wars Lego's game.

Of course, we saved the opening of the PS2 for last which is what you see in the photo. However, being so ornery, I decided to "get him." Keep in mind, he knew he would never ever get a video system...not ever.

The first gift he opened was the Star Wars Lego's game. He immediately sees PS2 up in the corner of the game package and kindly tells me it's the wrong version since he needs it for the PC, not a PS2. I apologized profusely and told him we can make sure it's exchanged quickly. Poor kid. He finally got the game he had wanted for so long and here his mother went and bought the wrong version! He was very gracious and accepted my apology.

As Caleb moves along to the next package and unwraps what appears to be a PS2, he says something like, "Really? No! It can't be!" He was absolutely convinced the box was a fake and there was something else inside. It was a classic "gotcha" moment!

At this moment in time, we are not convinced our kids need cell phones with texting nor accounts with social networking sites. I know, what horrible, old-fashioned parents we must be. I suppose in time our opinion on these things will change. For now, I'm good with land-line telephone calls without caller-ID and play dates with friends...in person.

Getting older by the minute in more ways than one,

Fiery Grilled Shrimp with Sweet Salsa

It's hard to believe this was five summers ago. Those trees are almost twenty feet high now.


My, how things have changed. Look at those little baby hydrangeas! And the swingset back there...gone.


I miss that new wood look and those very crisp looking pavers. Shade = Moss

I introduced this recipe a few years ago at one of our first parties on the patio. It's a great appetizer that always receives many compliments. I don't think I've ever had any leftovers!

Fiery Grilled Shrimp with Sweet Salsa

What you will need:

1 pound large shrimp
1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 cup olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Peel shrimp and devein; set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, combine lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add shrimp and stir to coat. Let sit for about 20 minutes. In a separate bowl combine pineapple, tomato, onion, and parsley. Drizzle remaining oil on mixture and stir. Remove shrimp from marinade and grill until shrimp are pink. Plate shrimp and top with salsa.

Note from Michelle: The shrimp can also be broiled or cooked in a hot cast iron skillet.

Enjoy!

Mr. Wonderful

This Christmas photo popped up on the computer today, so I thought I'd post it here just in case you thought I was kidding.

He really is Mr. Wonderful.

And for the record, I am not Mrs. Wonderful. I'm just married to him!

Yours truly,

Thumb Sucking and Kisses

Thumb sucking ...

and kisses

My sister-in-love sent me these two pictures from our get together last week. I thought they were so adorable. We have a picture of Rachel and Ally-Bug's older brother, Evan, when he was about the same age. Instead of thumb sucking they were both chewing on a television remote. Rachel doesn't seem to mind placing herself in the shoes of her little cousins.

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I feel like life's been a little crazy of late. As Willy Wonka once said, "So much time, and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it."

Yesterday all of my eBay sales ended. I wasn't home to watch the final count downs. I suppose that didn't change anything. I can remember getting so excited with my very first eBay auctions...watching the final couple of minutes, especially if the price kept jumping up every few seconds. Love that! I have no idea if that happened this time. Anyway, everyone except two buyers were kind enough to pay me immediately so, everything was shipped out this afternoon, except to the two buyers who haven't paid me. I sometimes feel like I live to get things checked-off my To Do list. I know. Terrible.

A couple of weeks ago, I took some time and wrote down everything I'm planning on doing with the kids for school come September. Then I got out my big fat Rainbow Resource catalog and wrote down all of the items I need to buy. The eBay sales helped make this process a little easier to handle this year. But the choosing and implementing gets easier the longer I homeschool. This year we're very excited to be joining a homeschool co-op. The kids cannot wait to see their friends and make new ones along the way. Me, I'm thinking I might get to spend a little of that time quilting.

Speaking of quilting. Mrs. Nagy and I got together last Friday and she helped me cut out all of my pieces-parts. Oh, it was quite exciting. I ended up designing my own quilt, you know. I don't have a name for it yet (it's OK to laugh here). She said she was very proud of me and thought the design was very lovely. So there. I am taking pictures of the process and hope to have an update very soon.

I have no intentions of going to bed this evening with my thumb stuck in my mouth. Can't say I've ever done that. I am planning on, however, getting in as usual, some big juicy kisses to all of my family members. Even Jesse puppy. Less the juicy part, of course.

Kisses,