Yes, Ben was off school as most of the country was for “Presidents’ Day” and instead of hanging with ME, he decided he wanted instead to go to “Miss Cindy’s” for the day.  Of course “Miss Cindy” watched Ben for most of his “non-school” life, and she absolutely hates the idea of being called the “babysitter,” which is what Ben used to call her.  She is now just “Miss Cindy” to him, HOWEVER, if you look at the pictures I am posting tonight you will understand how my relationship with her is strained……she sent him home with this SMALL ROCKET SHIP!!!

And when I say “small,” I mean in comparison to things like the Apollo rockets and the Space Shuttle.  But in all honesty, it is not all that much smaller than those.  And I love her, I really do, but this has taken up about half our house and it makes me wish her three boys were younger so I could buy them all accordions.   But I will, for now, hold back on my revenge.

In fact, I have no doubt whatsoever that she loves him like a son.  They have always been tight, and that is part of what makes this really all okay.  Oh sure, I am certain she is thankful it is no longer in her house, and I am also sure that he pestered her to give it to him, but it’s the connection that makes it special.  Ben and Cindy couldn’t be closer had she bore him herself……and on Presidents’ Day, I am sure it felt a lot like labor.  She probably only lasted as long as she could.

But Cindy is in a “rocket-free” zone and we are not, while Ben is elated.  And I suppose that is all that counts to all of us.  So thanks Cindy!  We love you and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

No, not Ben…..Lord knows I hear from him way too much, but I did answer the phone last night and we got to talk to SCOTTY, who is apparently still alive and well and in combat training with the US Marines, which is good since he is a US Marine.

But what is funny is that Scotty bought a new phone before he went back, and I know it’s pretty funny, but he thought he would get to use it occasionally.  But so far he has made only two very short calls home, and he still has a few weeks left at Camp Pendleton in California.  (And yes, this is a picture from his leave as I am not in California to take one in person!)

In the short time however I was able to get no solid answers as to where and when he is going to be in the near future at all.  He is supposed to go to North Carolina for school soon, but he may not go right away.  I know they get backed up and delayed, and I also know that a PFC controls his own life just about as much as most husbands do!  So basically, this means that I will probably know when I know and not before.  But I know he is doing what he has dreamed of doing, and I also know that Marines take care of their own (and usually the rest of what they run across too)…..so I am not worried.

It was just a blessing to hear his voice and to talk with him for a bit.  Ben got to talk with him too….they are brothers and miss each other terribly (and yes, I know this goes both ways)

So despite my not feeling too hot and not being able to talk too long, I was really blessed.  It would be far better to see him, but I will take what I can get.  He is a US Marine, and he is doing what he loves.  I respect him for both things, he makes me very proud!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Although I did not write about it in advance, last night I had my third sleep study in six years, and in addition to that, the worst night’s sleep of my life…..needless to say I am betting the settings on my Bi-Pap machine go from “turbo-prop” to full “jet.”  It was a pretty uncomfortable time.  The pictures were taken at the request of BEN who wanted to know if these probes were going into my brain or whether they were actually taking my brain out!!

But like always, the people testing me were quite nice, wonderful in fact.  And I suppose that is what makes you feel bad about having such a rotten sleep.  Of course they had me trying to GO to sleep at half of my RX, so that took forever, and I felt as if I was suffocating.  But soon it was 5:00 am and over.  And I was heading home to shower and go to work…..although very very tired and grouchy!

And I only mentioned it to a few people as Amanda is always quite worried for people to know she may be here with Ben by herself.  I am pretty sure not too many bad guys read my blog, but what bothers me is that it doesn’t make me feel too good that she is not feeling secure.  I am pretty sure if someone broke in, in addition to dealing with a pretty protective dog, it would all probably end with me  saying, “but I only would have shot once,” which would probably really irritate a girl who grew up on a cattle ranch.

But regardless, she is safe and sound and the dog stayed asleep and no one got shot.  I however seem to be continuing my stupid sleep apnea issues.  But I will stay on top of it……for as you may already know, I had my stroke while already on an apnea machine……had I not had that help, perhaps I would not be writing this. I do not know, but I refuse to take the chance.  I, like most husbands, will most probably die at the hands of my wife……in good old traditional fashion!!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this was Ben this morning, not in HIS room of course, but in MINE.  He had his “Ben 10” DVD in and was watching episodes about a young kid just a little older than him, who can become 10 different “heroes” (thank you alien watch that he found!).  It is a pretty cool show.  What I love about Ben is that he gets into something and we watch it awhile and then he is into something else.  We see enough of it to not be just in and out and miss any depth of story.  He likes the variety…..so we also get into all the things…..Veggietales, Xmen, Transformers, Superman, Spiderman, Avengers….you get it.  But it is all boy and all the time!!

And it is good for me to be a part of.  He loves the characters and he thinks (often) that he is every one of them!!  The great part is that it keeps our house “crime and evildoer free,” while also keeping him out of the Juvenile Detention Center.

And his passion of it all remind me of when I was a kid.  Movies had heroes…..soldiers, cowboys, whatever……the good guys were the ones you wanted to be and that was a good thing.  Now of course it is a different story.  Evil often wins and shock value rules the cinema.  The great part about Ben is that it is ALWAYS about the good guys……just like it was when I was a kid.

So this was good for me to see, but even better for me to be a part of!  I love him and I should…..he is one of the good guys!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Oh sure, yesterday I posted the “cool picture” from Valentine’s Day, but not this one…..this one was the one I sent to his mom and his siblings as he was, like many 5 year olds do, having a meltdown after I picked him up from school.  His teacher had told us that he had told her at the “Fancy Nancy Valentine’s Day Party” that it was the best day of his life.  He told me shortly after this picture that I had “ruined his life.”  Quite the contrast for just 5 short years, but then I suppose his pool of data is a bit smaller than mine.

But in all honesty I am used to it because 5 year olds are crazy……..and this is my third one.  AND, to make matters worse, this 5 year old makes the other two look SANE.  And although that is not saying a lot when we are talking about Stephanie, it certainly is when we are talking about Scotty.  Ben is all over the place, but not without a lot of thought about working you, or at least trying to.

As an example, today he scowled in three different stores as he wanted EVERYTHING, yet got nothing.  He told me a lot of times what I should be doing, and he even made sure I was told that I was not very nice.  Of course I wear that in front of him like a badge of honor, saying “it is not my job to be nice……I am the dad.  If I were nice I would be the mom!”  And then I laugh…..it only eggs him on!!

But I comfortable with my place.  Even Steph and Scott get it.  They know that I love them, and they know they can count on me……..but I am not their friend, I am their dad.  Oh sure, I can be “friendly,” but what I really am is their father.

So the meltdown came and went.  It was not my first rodeo with him or any of them…..but they all recover and he did splendidly.  I just wanted to share the Ben scowl…he’s like a little vulture and far more angry and serious than the other two ever were…….

But sadly for him…..he is every bit as effective…….meaning NOT…..  Luke BEN, I am your father!!  

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

A couple of years ago I posted about Scotty cooking dinner for Steph and a few of her friends, and I thought about that tonight as Ben “helped” me cook and host a Valentine’s dinner for his mom.  Sure, I did all the dangerous stuff, but he really DID do a ton of it, and he had every reason to be proud.  He made a chicken Parmesan in spinach and mushroom, with sides of green beans and broccoli.  And since he doesn’t like ANY of that, he had a chicken nuggets TV dinner.

But as you can see, he had a Chef’s apron and hat.  He sat his mom down and after giving her some gifts, told her (as the Chef) that she could have her choice of chicken or of chicken.  And she had the chicken.  They made quick work of their meals and shared a small cake that we bought but didn’t make.  It was a great time, and Steph took part through our texting of pictures of her moron brother (this time Ben).

So Valentine’s Day was a hit.  Ben made her dinner and got her chocolates.  I got her pajamas.  And the cat and dog got her a heart-shaped balloon.  It was all good and Amanda is now in her PJ’s, Ben is in the bath, Puddy is God knows where, Steph is still in Missouri, Scott is in California at combat training, and Viper and I are typing out by the new fire pit which has a nice fire.  The wind just blew my wine over which irritates me a bit, but in all honesty it is 40 degrees in mid February and I am in a sweatshirt with my dog sitting out by a fire……I can’t be mad about that. (Plus I can get another glass).

But please enjoy the Chef picture and if someone wants to look back through and find the date and picture of Scotty as a chef, let me know and I will post them both tomorrow.

But for now I will just enjoy the night and the fire (and my (okay, Scott’s) dog).  Life is good!

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Although I intended to post this at the BEGINNING of the day, some days just get away from you, and now after a day that offered 5 Ash Wednesday services at all our locations, I am finally home and thinking about tomorrow…….

But Ash Wednesday is not an event that finishes anything….it is a start.  It begins the season of Lent and calls us to repentance, self-examination, and denial.  It turns our focus inward that our relationship with God Himself might be strengthened and that we might reflect that outwardly in the lives that we live.

So I suppose my blog is a later start than I hoped, but important nonetheless.  My hope and prayer for you is that you take this opportunity that begins on this day and make it a Lent to remember…one that truly changed you for the better.  There is never any better day than today or time than right now to move ahead.

What are you waiting for?  This is your time to make a change!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

English pronunciations vary across the country, so it was no surprise to me that the word “domestic,” phonetically where I come from, begins with “Da Mess.”  And that is what my backyard has looked like during a short little project that I have accomplished over the past week.

You see we have a lot of trees, and with that a lot of branches to burn.  There are approximately 10,000 branches in the yard every time the wind blows, and short of buying a beaver and building a pond, we have to find something to do with them……so we burn them.

Unfortunately, the best place to burn them has also been the best place for Amanda’s garden each year, so something had to give, and someone had to put their foot down.  So I went to Amanda and let her know that something had to happen.

So the pictures are of the new placement of one of our gardens shed and the small fire circle that I put together to burn all the wood.  It is “near” the garden, but the garden is still in its place.  I suppose that means she was just lucky I wanted to do all that work.

But in the end, we will all be happy.  I will not have time to burn anything until Thursday.  It is Ash Wednesday tomorrow and priests still work on that day!  But on Thursday I will give it a go, and intend to be quite pleased with it.

It is no longer da mess……but yes, I am da mess ticaked.  Who cares though?  On Thursday I intend to have a great fire.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well apparently my idea has worked.  Steph said she sent some LU stickers in the mail on Friday, although they were sold out of the ones we wanted.  I am pretty sure that means we will not ever see them, as the LU Mom one they haven’t had for over a year.

I may have posted this picture before or at least one like it a few weeks ago, but it is of the kids at Scotty’s graduation, and I am posting it because I really do miss having them all together with us.  I have about 10 of this same shot too, and not one of them has all three of them looking straight at me.  This one has Steph looking away, but I just sent her $50 on Thursday, so she will be the least mad at me for a bad picture.

But today I kept wondering when the next time would be to have them all in the same place, and I realized I cannot answer it.  It sent a big chill down my spine and made an already pretty hard day worse.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand that kids grow up and move away, but we all need to come to grips with the fact that this is something that is okay for YOUR kids, but I really do not think mine.  Sure, it is a double-standard, but I am comfortable with it.  I just want them all hanging around.

So tonight, as I sip my vodka tonic and have “movie night” with my wife (she was too sick last night and that’s something because we watch them at home), I will try and envision our next big gathering.  Of course envisioning grandkids will be helpful as well.  (I am sure the vodka tonic will help too)

But it is a both a blessing and a curse.  God has given us great kids and we love them…..but missing them is pretty dang hard.

Maybe I will get a call from them over the weekend (from the ones away) as I know their little brother follows me around like I am a truck and he is my trailer!  Good times!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+