You can Never Go Home Again

Jay, the kids, and I just got home and settled from our vacation. We went to a family reunion for his side of the family in South Carolina, then on up into northern Virginia.

Northern Virginia is where Jay and I met. Married. Had Dathon. And, lived for 3 years while Jay was in the Marines. We moved away to Dallas for 4 years, then on to Kansas City for 18 months, but returned again to Northern Virginia. This time we bought our first house. We stayed in Northern Virginia for 3 years and moved on to Florida, where we have been for the past *almost* 7 years.

This was our first time going back since we moved to Florida. Lots of things were the same as we remembered them. Many more weren't.

When Jay I lived in Virgina, he took "back roads" between where we lived and where he worked. Along the "back roads" is a TINY town surrounded by horse farms. In the town are several historical markers that tell the story of the town and its people. We always meant to stop and read them when we lived there. But, life seemed to busy.

While on vacation, Jay and I decided to try and find the building that he used to work in. Found it. So we decided to see if we could find the back roads that he used to drive and find our way back "home". Found that too. And along the way was that tiny little town. This time we were on vacation. We stopped. We read the signs. What a rich and beautiful history that town has. We had ice cream at the town ice cram parlor. The parlor featured ice cream dishes named after the people of the town. Jay and I both had a "Rick's Mix". Vanilla Ice Cream, Hot Fudge, Heath Bar bits. I have no idea who "Rick" is, but based on the treat named after him, I'd guess he is quite the character.

All the while we were driving from place to place to see what was still there and what had changed, we realized, that even if we wanted to moved back it wouldn't be the same. So much had changed. The traffic changed. The people changed. The roadways changed.

We changed. So...No, you can never go home again. But that isn't always a bad thing.

Time passes so swiftly.

Today is the day that we are going to the home school library to check out Aubrey's school books for the next year. Are we *really* going into our 4th year with this? Where did the time go?

This week was also the memorial of Michael Jackson. Has it really been 27 years since Thriller came out? I was in 8th grade at Troy Middle school when that album came out. Times were so much simpler then. Or so they seemed in my 8th grade mind.

I specifically remember one day in P.E. For some reason, Joe was sitting out. I think he had hurt his knee. He had brought his boom box to school and had it loaded with "Thriller". So, during that P.E. class, Joe played that tape very loudly. We all were jamming and playing dodge ball-back when you still COULD play dodge ball, to P.Y.T., Billy Jean, Beat It, Thriller, and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. We were in 8th grade-top of the food chain for elementary school, we were playing dodge ball to Michael Jackson, we were "IT". It didn't get any better than this.

As I watched the Memorial, the memories of songs that were sung by Michael crept into my mind. It hit me, at almost every point in my life, playing in the background is a Michael Jackson song.

The memorial was a beautiful tribute to an icon of my generations youth.
Rest In Peace, Michael.

I so need to get more regular with this.

Outside my Window…it's a sunny day. We are supposed to see 80 degrees today.
I am thinking...what to have for supper tomorrow night.
From the learning rooms...YEA!!!!! We are almost done for the year.
I am thankful for...having such a wonderful husband.
From the kitchen…Tonight.....not sure yet, too busy planning for tomorrow night
I am reading...Twilight
I am hoping....that we can get school finished on time
I am creating..a menu for tomorrow night.
I am hearing...the dogs snoring, and Aubrey working on Math
Around the house...Laundry is done, kitchen is cleaned up.
One of my favorite things...a quiet day
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Get Joan's birthday present and plan the meal for to tomorrow night, early out tomorrow, put Aubrey's grades in the computer to get her final grade card ready
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Free Time to Blog

Outside my Window…Today seems to be going back and forth between sunny and cloudy. We are supposed to have lows in the 60's at night soon.
I am thinking...That I really need to try and get at this more often.
From the learning rooms...Aubrey is doing well in her school work. Dathon is doing well at school.
I am thankful for...healthy, happy kids and family.
From the kitchen…Last night was home made veggie beef soup. I made a gob so that there would be leftovers for lunch today. YUM!! Tonight is Breakfast for supper. Bacon, Eggs, and Pancakes.
I am reading...More like what's on my night table and needs to be read before due back at the library... The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible and Feminists Say the Darndest Things
I am hoping....to have both finished soon.
I am creating..my list for Christmas
I am hearing...Aubrey watching The Waltons and the dogs snoring.
Around the house...The kitchen needs to be touched up
One of my favorite things...Slow rain on a fall day
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...None for the moment, but that can change rather quickly so who knows what is in store
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I am having such a hard time getting this whole "Blog" thing going, that when I saw this on a friends blog site I thought it would be great to use to get the creative juices going. So....here goes.

Outside my Window…A sunny morning. Finally after all the clouds, rain, and wind of Fay we have a clear, sunny morning.

I am thinking...that there is too much stuff to do at the end of my day.

From the learning rooms...Today is the 3rd day of the new school year. I still have a few books that I need to get for Aubrey, but we have enough to get started.

I am thankful for...A husband who can make me laugh at even the smallest of things.

From the kitchen…Last night was Sloppy Joe's. Tonight, we may be heading to Jay's father's house to celebrate Jay's birthday that was last week.

I am reading...A book by John Tesh

I am hoping...that school goes smooth today. Jay and I were up late setting up my blackberry, then I got insomnia. I have a ton of stuff to do with Project Lifesaver today, so school needs to go smooth.

I am creating...a list of things that needs to be done, that just keeps growing and growing.

I am hearing...Two Boston Terriers snoring at my feet, other than that a quiet house.

Around the house...I need to finish up laundry and run the dishwasher. Then work on my contact list for my Blackberry. Work on Project Lifesaver files so that I can easily put them in my Blackberry so that I have them with me if I leave town and need them.

One of my favorite things...to hear my family having fun together.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...OH, where to begin. Tooo much to list, but suffice it to say that I WILL be busy.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Family

Family. What does that word mean to you? How do you define it?

Websters Dictionary Online defines it as:
1: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household
2 a: a group of persons of common ancestry : clan b: a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race
3 a: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship b: the staff of a high official (as the President)
4: a group of things related by common characteristics: as a: a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds b: a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification c: a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
5 a: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family b: spouse and children
6 a: a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera bin livestock breeding (1): the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female (2): an identifiable strain within a breed
7: a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
8: a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area

Family, as defined by me, is a group of people, related by either marriage, blood, or deep friendship, that care about one another, take an interest in the well being of one another, and communicate with each other on a personal level.

Family. I sure miss mine.

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