I have really neglected my blog. We are entering the end of July and I haven't had an entry since May and that was an entry by The Professor. When I first started this blogging journey, my hope was to have an entry at least twice a week. Well . . . that obviously hasn't happened. Summer hit and other things became more important. Life is like that. We think something will be a priority and then other things come along and before you realize what has happened time has passed and some things have gone by the wayside.
In case you are wondering, it has been a good summer here in Southeastern Oklahoma. I always seem to walk a little lighter just being in the Great State of Oklahoma. It is so very near and dear to my heart. We are so blessed to be able to spend our summers here in the Ouachita Mountains.
This is our sixth summer here and it marks a new norm for me. We started spending our summers here the year my dad was diagnosed with ALS. Over the next five summers, most weeks on at least one day I would make the hour drive to my parents' house to spend the day with my dad and to help my mom with chores around the house. My dad always had an agenda for me, which did not typically include any chores for my mom. It typically included going to his shop and him telling me what and how to do something that he wanted done but could no longer do for himself. So many times I said, "Daddy, I can't do that." to which he would always reply, "Sure you can." Yes, I ended up doing several things that I never thought I could do. I will treasure those summers forever.
This is our first summer without my dad so we are finding that new norm. I have still made the one-hour drive to my mother's house many times. She has also come to visit us more than she has in the past. She too is continuing to find her new norm. Throughout my dad's illness, she amazed me with her strength and perseverance. She continues to amaze me in how she is moving forward with such grace and determination. If you live close to her, drive by her house and see her yard. You will get a glimpse of what I mean!
In settling into the new norm of the summer, The Professor and I have both been very busy with numerous projects. In doing these various projects as well as living on the side of the mountain, I have learned a lot. What have I learned? Oh, I am so glad you asked.
1. If you give The Professor a shovel and tell him that you would like a spot on the mountainside for your picnic table, a spot you will get. That man has dug up more rocks and toted them UP the mountainside than I thought was humanly possible.
2. Craft paint from Wal-Mart is a wonderful thing. It can be used to paint birdhouses, dye coffee filters (that are then turned into flowers), and paint furniture. To top it all off, the bottles seem to be bottomless. The paint just keeps going and going and going . . . I highly recommend buying a few bottles if you don't already have some. You will be so glad you did.
3. In the midst of all the projects, the chores of life do have to continue. I recommend that you continue to do chores on a daily basis. For example, you shouldn't go for days on end without doing laundry and then try to get caught up in a couple of days. This is especially true if your only water supply is from a very slow producing well. Doing ten loads of laundry over two days, running the dishwasher, watering all the plants in the front yard, and hosing down the ground where you burned some weeds will cause your holding tank to run dry. This is really not fun if you are in the middle of taking a shower when this happens. There are times when bottled water is appreciated more than other times! Unfortunately, Little Man experienced this firsthand.
4. This summer has not gone without some illness. We learned that hand/foot/mouth disease is not just for toddlers. Teenagers can also get it. Puppy suffered greatly with this horrible illness. We also learned that even though the doctor's office has a sign on every wall that states: "We will not prescribe hydrocodone under any circumstances. Do not ask for it." that they will still prescribe it.
5. You really shouldn't get upset with your credit card company for denying your credit card charges just because you are using your credit card in an unusual location. When your credit card number is actually stolen, it is nice that your credit card company notices and denies the charges. This is also a very good way to learn what automatic payments you have going to your credit card. However, it is really not fun to have to change your credit card information with all those companies.
6. If you decide to take a break from your life on the mountain to make a quick trip back to the city with your mother in tow and stop to do a little antique shopping, you probably shouldn't take a detour off the main path. If you do take a detour, you shouldn't tell that lady having a yard sale that you do not see anything you want nor should you tell her you are looking for a little side table. She will open the door to her home, wake her husband and have him bring out the table from their living room. She will probably get upset with you when you tell her that you don't want the table. Consider yourself warned! Just to add a little side note, I really think it is unfair that my mother thinks she should always be Lucy just because she has red hair. Sometimes I get tired of being Ethel and want to be Lucy!
7. If you do leave for a few days and leave your kids on the mountain with dad, be sure and tell them to take a bath whenever you call to tell them goodnight. Otherwise, they just might not bathe the entire three days you are away. (After reading this, one child did declare that she in fact took a bath while I was away. The other child was wearing the same clothes upon my return that he was wearing when I left. You can form your own opinion on that one.)
We have had a lot of fun times this summer. I always find it bittersweet when I know our days of being in Oklahoma are getting close to ending.
Through all the changes that took place last summer that caused us to find a new norm this summer, I am so thankful that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). That, my friend, brings JOY to my heart!
Tami
