20 year reunion

Last weekend I went to my 20 year class reunion! 

I happen to really enjoy class reunions.  I have great memories of high school. 

So, I looked in the mirror & wished I had gotten a hair cut, realized I had some how not lost the 20 pounds we all think we need to lose before going to class reunions.  Pulled a pair of jeans from the pile of dirty laundry, scraped the chocolate off of them.  Realized I should probably be concerned that I was going without a “date” again.  But, wasn’t.  I decided that they would all accept me as I am!

I had fun.

The music was a little (A LOT) too loud when it started.  Lots of people left because you literally couldn’t carry on a conversation unless you were screaming.

The food was yummy.  I was trying to balance my plate, cup & talk and spilled my plate on the floor.  Take me as I am remember??  :)

I loved seeing this old banner we had painted for homecoming week, when we were seniors and won the class contest with…

Glad I don’t store it!!  But, it was awesome to see it again!!  And to see & spend the evening with friends from far & near!

Carol was there, who didn’t go to high school with us, but married one of our classmates & has become a good friend through the blogging world!  And Julie who lives a few miles away & I see weekly at church.  (they both blogged about the reunion too!)

And it was great to spend time with my good friend Joni again too!  She doesn’t live too far away, but it takes effort to get together.  (Like I get my oil changed or car repairs done and she picks me up and we go for lunch kind of effort!)

We tried the old cheerleader pose, but it just isn’t the same without our hair all sticking together from hair spray… we missed our 4th wheel Petula in this pose (like living in a country across the world is a good excuse for not coming to your 20 year class reunion or something!)

yes, here we are… 20 years ago… we decided it was a good thing we had all changed a bit!

Fun times!!

Pam

James Grad Party!

We had such a nice time on Saturday at James party! 

Zach took these pictures of James & I, this one below turned out the clearest!  :)

Great turn out!

Lots of food!

Amazing support!

Cousins by the chocolate fountain…

 

 

 

 

 

 

No wonder we ran out of chocolate 15 minutes before it was over!!  My sister said she had to tell the kids quite often to get a plate & go sit down!!  I am so glad they all loved it!!  (I didn’t get any though!!)

James’ memorabilia tables…

Decorations…

Food!

Friends & Family…

 

“Thank you” seems way too inadequate for all the love & support we received this weekend!!  WOW!  God is good!!

(now if only I had hired a photog for the day!!)  Oh well!!

Pam

Graduation Day!

 

  Singing last song…

With both his parents…

with me…

With Grandpa & Grandma..

Pam

The end of a really good book…

Have you ever read a really, really good book?  I book so good that you get to the end and you just hate that it is ending?

You know there is a sequel but you don’t have it quite yet, so you are finishing the book, sad that it’s over…

That’s what came to me this morning as I was continuing to finish up the end of my oldest son’s senior year.  And move into the next season of his life…

There is never again another season quite like this one… And never will there be a season again where all my kids are here together…

It’s extremely difficult to believe that the next seasons will be just as good, even though I know that they most likely will be very good… They will be different… Good thing I trust The Author…

 

Tomorrow I will be driving around picking up the food…

Saturday we will be decorating & making the food up.

Party is from 4-7 on Saturday.

 

We are going to be having turkey & ham sandwiches, vegetable tray, chips, hot wings, chocolate fountain…

I have lots of help & support.

My ex-husband and his family will be coming.  REALLY struggling with that.

My back has still been giving me quite a bit of pain today.

We could use your prayers.

I put each of these songs in James’ slide show, I won’t post the whole slide show here, too long…but it will show at his party.

Pam

5th Grade Graduation {Lucas}

Tonight my 4th child, Lucas had his graduation from elementary school…

With Grandpa & James (he told James he got to graduate before him!)

With Grandma & Grandpa

With his teacher Mr. Moser, (Lucas is standing on a chair Mr M is so tall!)

With me…

Congratulations Lucas!!  I am very proud of you!

Pam

If I could freeze the hands of time…

This may be the season in life I would freeze… I am not feeling ready for my first child to leave the nest… feeling emotional… ready for the much planned & anticipated & worked for future… but not really…

James Grad Party is Saturday night.  I have rented a reception hall.  The food is all planned, ordered, waiting a full day of pick up on Friday…

Saturday we will decorate.

Make Food.

Lots of people will help me.

James’ dad may or may not show up.  Either way it will have to be dealt with emotionally.

Can’t wrap my mind around how he shows his face after all of this… can’t go there.

I woke up this morning with some major (can’t bend) back pain… getting a massage & a chiro appt today….

We could really, really use prayers this week…

This past weekend was full of kids, food, sun, rain…

Saturday night Zach had friends over…

Then, one of the boys took home 2 of the girls, and then drove back to our house (without my knowledge & law says he’s not supposed to be out driving after 10pm or drive passengers).  He lost control on our gravel road & flipped his car in front of our house.

The rest of the kids watched it happen, came in the house screaming, I called 911, I was still on the phone with 911 when Kurt came running up to the house telling us he had just flipped his car.

So scary, so amazing he wasn’t hurt at all.  Car is totaled.  Parents weren’t pleased with his choices to break the laws & drive when he did… it wasn’t fun.

We all waited around it after 12:30 for the tow truck to come and flip over the car and take it away.  Totaled.

Sunday was nice, relaxing.  James had friends over & we had some family over.  We had a bon fire & the kids slept in the tent.

Monday it rained.

Hard.

Water in the garage.

Water in the basement.  Again.

There is never, ever, a dull moment around here.  You know, just in case you were wondering.

Please keep us in your prayers this week…

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Placing my hope in the Lord.

Pam

Let Me Hold You Longer

Last year when I heard Karen Kinsgbury read this book, I knew what I wanted to do with the words she had written.

Last night I did it…

 

Tonight is track sectional… unless James can finish in the top 4 of an event, it will be the “last time he runs for his high school team”.

He doesn’t handle pressure very well, and runs so much faster in the lower pressure races he’s had this year… Praying he can relax, enjoy, have fun, and not be angry at himself if he doesn’t get the top 4.

Praying he gets in the top 4 and reaches this goal of his.

Praying he has learned something about the race of life with all his training & hard work.

He gives strength to the weary 
   and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 29-31

Zach is going to earn his first varsity letter tonight too, running the 400!!

SO PROUD OF MY BOYS AND THE WHOLE TEAM!!  GREAT SEASON!!

Pam