Yesterday was our 3rd anniversary! On Tuesday morning Adam was a little ahead of the game woke up in the morning and said, "Happy Anniversary." I turned to him and said, "It's tomorrow." He tries so hard.
Yesterday evening we met at Lone Star and had dinner and then went to see the Indiana Jones movie. It was a very good time. We hadn't been to a movie in a theatre together since anniversary #1. That's bad. We should probably go on more dates.
When we were out of the movie we noticed we both had missed calls from his parents. A little nervous to find out what it was all about we listened to our messages. As it turns out they were calling to let us know that there was a propane leak at the propane place 3 miles from out house. At that point in time they were not even letting Dwight and Cindy into their home. Even though I liked the adventure flick, the last thing I needed was to have an adventure of my own by having my house explode.
By the time we were on the rode we called and found out that we could go home. I was so glad. I hate sleeping somewhere other than my own home totally unprepared.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Weddings galore!
Erin and Jesse are getting married, and I was recently asked to be in the wedding! What an honor! They are getting married really close to my house at a place in the country in Inman in September. I can't wait to be a part of the prep and planning!
Leah and Joe got engaged last week as well! I get to be a part of that wedding too! They will be married in Colorado probably next April.
I am so excited for these wonderful couples. They are perfect for each other. What a happy feeling knowing that your friends have wonderful men that will love, respect and support them in everything they do for the rest of their lives.
Leah and Joe got engaged last week as well! I get to be a part of that wedding too! They will be married in Colorado probably next April.
I am so excited for these wonderful couples. They are perfect for each other. What a happy feeling knowing that your friends have wonderful men that will love, respect and support them in everything they do for the rest of their lives.
The graduate
Last weekend Adam and I went to Lawrence for Rachel's graduation. She graduated from KU with her Masters in Social Work. We went up on Saturday evening and walked to the campus to see the Social Welfare building. We also got to see the lab where Ben grows DNA. He's a real scientist. I'm very impressed by what he is doing.
After only a little bit of time with them Adam and I drove to his sister's house in Leavenworth. Rowan was asleep, but we got to visit with Tyler before he left for work, and Emily until we went to bed. We got to spend the next morning playing with Rowan! He is the cutest nephew I've ever had!
We left a little before noon to get to the hooding ceremony for Rachel, who, by the way, was Phi Alpha eligible. We got there just in time! The ceremony was very nice. The speaker was The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, II. He is Emily and Joel's representative. He gave a good speech. I enjoyed it very much. After the ceremony we, Erin, Jesse, Emily, Adam and I found Rachel and her fam and Shawn for a few pictures. 
We took off after the ceremony, ate lunch and headed home. I was sad that we didn't get to stay for the party that evening. They went to the Cheesecake Factory in KC. I hear it was a good time.
I will miss my sweet little Rachel. Her being in Lawrence and me in McPherson has been a nice way to ease from living together to her being 650 miles away. I know we'll be fine. We maybe just need to have a little more prep time before our visits from now on. Congratulations baby girl! I'm so very proud of you!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Around the Manor in 80 dreams
If I keep going at this rate, maybe I could write a book of my crazy dreams.
Jenny and Chris flew to South Africa to be on Deal or No Deal. Amy and Nick also went to South Africa for a meeting. So Adam and I decided we would go too. When we got off the plane and walked out of the airport we started seeing people from Bethel. They were mostly people who I recognized, but I didn't really know. Then we saw Joseph Schrag. We said hello and went out separate ways. When we got to the town square Amy and Nick were there. Then Amy and I pounded fists.
Later I had another dream.
Debra, one of the Dress Barn associates that I see when I go in there was spending the night at my house. She came into our bedroom before we were awake. She kept talking to me and asking me questions. I told her that Adam was still asleep and it might bother him that she was in there talking. She stayed and kept on talking. So I got up and went about my business. Adam woke up and found Debra in our bedroom with him.
Jenny and Chris flew to South Africa to be on Deal or No Deal. Amy and Nick also went to South Africa for a meeting. So Adam and I decided we would go too. When we got off the plane and walked out of the airport we started seeing people from Bethel. They were mostly people who I recognized, but I didn't really know. Then we saw Joseph Schrag. We said hello and went out separate ways. When we got to the town square Amy and Nick were there. Then Amy and I pounded fists.
Later I had another dream.
Debra, one of the Dress Barn associates that I see when I go in there was spending the night at my house. She came into our bedroom before we were awake. She kept talking to me and asking me questions. I told her that Adam was still asleep and it might bother him that she was in there talking. She stayed and kept on talking. So I got up and went about my business. Adam woke up and found Debra in our bedroom with him.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I dream of maintenance men.
A few nights ago I had a funny dream...
I was hanging out with Phil, renovation guy from work and Todd the son of a co-worker who will be helping maintenance this summer. We were hanging out and talking and I suddenly remembered that I needed to put the sheets on the bed. So I got up to do that and Phil came and said, "I'll help you." I was so grateful for his help. I hate putting the sheets on the bed alone.
In real life Phil is a very helpful guy. It probably wouldn't be too out of character for him to go out of his way to offer help like that. Todd, I don't really even know. I don't know why he showed up.
Last night I had another funny dream...
Nathan, a maintenance guy from work, was teaching me how to ride a motorcycle. I was driving it all by myself on K-61. Rachel, Emily and Erin were on a three person motorcycle in front of Nathan, and I was behind him. It was such an awesome feeling. When we got to Inman all of a sudden Nathan lost control of his bike and wrecked. I jumped off my motorcycle right away and ran over. A man standing next to Nathan, who was sprawled out on the ground asked if anyone knew this man's name. I immediately told him his name and I tried to see if Nathan was okay. There was blood all over the place. I turned away. The next thing I know, Nathan stands up and brushes the dirt off of himself and says, "Man, I'm just so upset that I wrecked my bike."
Turns out Nathan was fine. Thank goodness. I'd hate to kill such a friendly guy in my dream. Maybe this will become a series of dreams. There are a lot more maintenance guys to dream about. I wonder who's next?!?
I was hanging out with Phil, renovation guy from work and Todd the son of a co-worker who will be helping maintenance this summer. We were hanging out and talking and I suddenly remembered that I needed to put the sheets on the bed. So I got up to do that and Phil came and said, "I'll help you." I was so grateful for his help. I hate putting the sheets on the bed alone.
In real life Phil is a very helpful guy. It probably wouldn't be too out of character for him to go out of his way to offer help like that. Todd, I don't really even know. I don't know why he showed up.
Last night I had another funny dream...
Nathan, a maintenance guy from work, was teaching me how to ride a motorcycle. I was driving it all by myself on K-61. Rachel, Emily and Erin were on a three person motorcycle in front of Nathan, and I was behind him. It was such an awesome feeling. When we got to Inman all of a sudden Nathan lost control of his bike and wrecked. I jumped off my motorcycle right away and ran over. A man standing next to Nathan, who was sprawled out on the ground asked if anyone knew this man's name. I immediately told him his name and I tried to see if Nathan was okay. There was blood all over the place. I turned away. The next thing I know, Nathan stands up and brushes the dirt off of himself and says, "Man, I'm just so upset that I wrecked my bike."
Turns out Nathan was fine. Thank goodness. I'd hate to kill such a friendly guy in my dream. Maybe this will become a series of dreams. There are a lot more maintenance guys to dream about. I wonder who's next?!?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Invisible Mom
The Invisible Mom
It all began to make sense, the blank stares,
the lack of response, the way one of the kids
will walk into the room while I'm on the phone
and ask to be taken to the store.
Inside I'm thinking,
"Can't you see I'm on the phone?
" Obviously not;
no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking,
or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner,
because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands,
nothing more: Can you fix this?
Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands;
I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask,
"What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer,
"What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order,
"Right around 5:30, please.
"I was certain that these were the hands
that once held books and the eyes that studied history
and the mind that graduated summa cum laude
but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter,
never to be seen again.
She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner,
celebrating the return of a friend from England.
Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,
and she was going on and on about the hotel
she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around
at the others all put together so well.
It was hard not to compare and feel sorry
for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress;
it was the only thing I could find that was clean.
My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip
and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic,
when Janice turned to me with a
beautifully wrapped package, and said,
"I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given
it to me until I read her inscription:
"To Irene,with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.
"In the days ahead I would read no, devour - the book.
And I would discover what would become for me,
four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals
we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives
for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith
that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man
who came to visit the cathedral while it was being
built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam.
He was puzzled and asked the man,
"Why are you spending so much time carving that bird
into a beam that will be covered by the roof?
No one will ever see it.
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.
It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me,
I see you, Irene. I see the sacrifices you make every day,
even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on,
no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.
You are building a great cathedral,
but you can't see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.
But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.
It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished,
to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals
could ever be built in our lifetime because
there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it,
I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving,
"My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies,
and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.
" That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.
I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend,
to add,"You're gonna love it there.
"As mothers,we are building great cathedrals.
We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,
not only at what we have built,
but at the beauty that has been added to the world
by the sacrifices of invisible women.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares,
the lack of response, the way one of the kids
will walk into the room while I'm on the phone
and ask to be taken to the store.
Inside I'm thinking,
"Can't you see I'm on the phone?
" Obviously not;
no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking,
or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner,
because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands,
nothing more: Can you fix this?
Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands;
I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask,
"What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer,
"What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order,
"Right around 5:30, please.
"I was certain that these were the hands
that once held books and the eyes that studied history
and the mind that graduated summa cum laude
but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter,
never to be seen again.
She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner,
celebrating the return of a friend from England.
Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,
and she was going on and on about the hotel
she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around
at the others all put together so well.
It was hard not to compare and feel sorry
for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress;
it was the only thing I could find that was clean.
My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip
and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic,
when Janice turned to me with a
beautifully wrapped package, and said,
"I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given
it to me until I read her inscription:
"To Irene,with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.
"In the days ahead I would read no, devour - the book.
And I would discover what would become for me,
four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals
we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives
for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith
that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man
who came to visit the cathedral while it was being
built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam.
He was puzzled and asked the man,
"Why are you spending so much time carving that bird
into a beam that will be covered by the roof?
No one will ever see it.
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.
It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me,
I see you, Irene. I see the sacrifices you make every day,
even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on,
no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.
You are building a great cathedral,
but you can't see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.
But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.
It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished,
to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals
could ever be built in our lifetime because
there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it,
I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving,
"My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies,
and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.
" That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.
I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend,
to add,"You're gonna love it there.
"As mothers,we are building great cathedrals.
We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,
not only at what we have built,
but at the beauty that has been added to the world
by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Cuttin trees
After the ice storm in December a lot of our trees were left in bad shape. Today Adam and his dad cut two trees down. They were ugly trees, but now it's so naked on the side of the garage. 
Today's birthday princess!
Today is Rachel's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHIE!
I don't get to see her today, but I hope her birthday is
f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!
I love you Rachel!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Happy Birthday Dear Adam!
Yesterday was Adam's birthday. He turned 28. He made it very clear several times before his birthday that birthdays aren't a big deal at this age. He also told me several times that he didn't want anything for his birthday and I didn't need to spend any money on him.
The night before his birthday I found a cool K-State scoreboard clock. I called him and asked if it was ok if I spent money on him. He, again, said that I shouldn't spend money on him unless it was something that he really needed and would use. I decided not to get it.
The next morning I gave him his card and told him Happy Birthday. He opened the card then looked at me and said, "Where's my present?" What can I say? He a gem!
We ate dinner at Danny Boys in Hutch and then went to his parents house for cake. His mom didn't have any birthday candles so she lit a tea light and we sang to Adam.
This picture cracks me up. He looks so thrilled to be blowing out his candle.
The night before his birthday I found a cool K-State scoreboard clock. I called him and asked if it was ok if I spent money on him. He, again, said that I shouldn't spend money on him unless it was something that he really needed and would use. I decided not to get it.
The next morning I gave him his card and told him Happy Birthday. He opened the card then looked at me and said, "Where's my present?" What can I say? He a gem!
We ate dinner at Danny Boys in Hutch and then went to his parents house for cake. His mom didn't have any birthday candles so she lit a tea light and we sang to Adam.
This picture cracks me up. He looks so thrilled to be blowing out his candle.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Good bye friend
This evening a group of friends from work got together for a farewell party for Jenny. We went to Carlos O'Kelly's and had a great time. When Jenny and I arrived we saw that one of the local radio stations was broadcasting from there. When we walked through the doors the d.j. looked at us and said, "Congratulations! You are the winners of these Carlos O'Kelly's bar stools!" It wasn't a lie. We actually each won a bar stool. We also won free appetizers and got to talk on the radio. We ended up giving the stools away to Teresa. She wanted them, and we had no idea what we would do with them.
I have worked with Jenny now for two years. From the very beginning I had a feeling that we would make good friends. Over time we have become very good friends. She moved to Salina in September and we have been riding to work together two days a week since she moved. It has been so much fun. She drove me back to my car tonight and as I got into my car I realized that it was the last day we were going to be riding together, and I got really sad. I feel so fortunate to have such good friends at my workplace, but it really won't be the same with out Jenny.
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