Day Two

I have completed two days of having a daughter in law.  It is more of a concern having a daughter in law than it was when I acquired Nick as a son in law.  As I think about it, I think part of the concern is that I was a daughter in law for so long.  My relationship with Pauline was different and far from perfect.  I do have to be clear that we did not have a bad relationship.  I loved her and and I think she probably was fond of me as well.  I didn't like her a lot of the time though.

With that in the back ground, I want Theresa to like me.  I don't want to be overbearing or bossy or thoughtless or any of the things women complain about when we get together and talk.  I always envied my friends who had the husband whose mother was fun, interesting and a good friend to her son's wife. 

How do you get to be that person?  I have no idea.  It sounds a lot like raising kids doesn' it?  You just do the best you can and be yourself.  At least that is what I am going to try to be.  I made my little mother in law statement today, just like I did to Nick. " I will always tell you what I think.  If you don't do it, I won't be bent out of shape, but I will always make my opinion known. " Everything else will be winging it. Wish me luck.

Andrew & Theresa's Wedding

Andrew and Theresa were married yesterday April 20, 2011.   They were married in the court offices in Atlantic Beach which is part of Jacksonville.  We all had a great but tiring day.  We are lucky to have Theresa become part of our family.  Andrew and Theresa wanted to go to Clark's Fish Camp for dinner after the ceremony but it was too early,  so we stopped at Panera's for coffee and a snack before.

Clark's is what I imagined a  true North Florida eating place would be.  The Camp is a rustic building on pilings on the river.  There are more stuffed animals than at Bass Pro Shop.  People can come up in their boats to eat and enjoy the view.  We were able to see a wild manatee in the river too.  It was the first one I had ever seen in the wild.  I was really impressed.

We drove back to Valdosta that evening.  Andrew and Theresa spent the night at the Fairview Inn Bed and Breakfast as a gift from us.

Au Revoir Kenton and Kathy

You don't always remember your first encounter with people.  However that was not the case with Kenton Allen.  One of our neighbors had hosted an exchange student and she had come down to visit Ray's brother about hosting.  They weren't interested, but we were.  She went home and called the Allens.   Within hours Kenton had called us and at the end of the call said he might have someone for us.  The next day, he called again and said, "I have this Swedish boy named Anders Warnestad that would be a perfect match for you."  And so Anders was.  This was in June of 1983.  This was how the Allens placed students,  some one was interested, they were matched.

Over the course of the next twenty years we got to know the Allens much better.  We hosted nine more students and served as area reps for several years.  We believe as firmly as Kenton and Kathy in the greater good of allowing students to visit homes in other countries as a means to furthering understanding.  We could never ever have the abiding committment to accomplishing that goal that Kenton and Kathy have had.

Kenton and Kathy were both teachers while they handled placements in the early years, Then Kathy retired from teaching to do AISE (American Intercultural Student Exchange) full time.  A few years later Kenton followed her, but it certainly was not retirement.  They were busy twelve months of the year.  First in placing students in homes.  They accomplished a difficult task of getting every student  they were assigned a home and school.  Then during the school year they monitored the students, planned activities and trips.  Kenton and Kathy also did the hard stuff of sending kids home who didn't follow the rules.

After Andrew graduated from high school, we decided that we were done with exchange students, our focus changed.  We would talk to Kenton and Kathy every now and then, so we never lost touch.
Last night we went to a retirement party for them.  After over 30 years, Kenton and Kathy have placed their last Swede, German and Brazilian.  They are moving to New Jersey to be near their children and more importantly the grand children.  We will miss them, but I know that the organizations they worked for will miss them more.  No one will ever  be more convincing than Kenton.  Best wishes and good luck!

Ten on Ten (Actually Eleven)

This is my first month to post on the Ten on Ten photos idea.  I am no where near ready to post anything to the Ten on Ten Blog, but I am at least starting.  The first thing I have to learn is to remember to take the pictures. It is harder than I realized to remember to take a picture an hour over the course of ten hours.  I hope next month is easier.

 A self protrait. I am in my workout clothes which is what I start out in five days a week.  I used my purse camera this time since it is easier to take out and around than my DSLR.

 My running shoes at the Y.  I need new shoes,  they aren't worn out on the outside, but over a year of running every day has made the cushy go away.

 The grape hyacinth by the front walk.  This is the most beautiful they have been in years.

 Ray, working on a project.  He is so much more organized than I am.

 Andrea with her spare pair of big girl panties on her head.  She will be pottie trained sooner or later.

 Wyatt playing a game on the computer.  I am still surprised at five year olds being computer savvy.

Below is Gabe,  I like this picture of him too.  It is one of his Jabba the Hutt poses.

I made this wall hanging at the crop in Denton. I am donating it to the Basket Auction at Church this weekend.

A piece of Frankoma Pottery from my collection.  I love this color, it is Redbud.  Just like spring.

This is usually the last thing I do before I go to be.  Unload the dishwasher.  For some reason, I just hate to do this task in the morning.

First Born Crop

I

This was my weekend to go to Denton and scrap with my First Born Friends.  We we be starting our eighth year of getting together when we meet again in October.  These four day weekends are so relaxing and productive.  I get a lot of pages and projects done.  We laugh, talk and enjoy each others company.  I have to sit back and think of how lucky I was to decide to go meet a group of women I only knew on line.

We have our traditions now.  On Thursday evening we eat at Outback, and then on Saturday we go out to one of the local restaurants for a meal.  This year, Cynthia had to leave early for a business trip, so we went to lunch at the Oak Tree Tea Room on the square in Denton.  Our waiter was so kind as to take our picture.  This was the only photo taken all weekend, except for the one of the food.  It has been a while since my meal was so pretty I had to take a picture of it.  It tasted as good as it looks. 

Baby Cards

We have had a number of babies born recently at church.  This gave me the opportunity to make some cards to put gift cards in.  I made another girl card, but couldn't get it to scan.  I found I really like using yellow and green as a base as opposed to the traditional pink and blue.

Skater Grrl

I made this page last night when my friend Toni was over to scrap and then finished it this morning. In most circumstances, I will have already posted the photos that I use in layout, but this is an exception.  I took these pictures of Andrea on Wyatt's skateboard yesterday afternoon.  She is firmly convinced that if Wyatt can do something she can do it just as well.  Nick helped her put the pads and helmet on and Andrea practiced standing on the board and looking cute.  She is halfway to being an expert.

I used Graphic 45 "Once Upon A Springtime" paper, Jenni Bowlin vintage buttons and hemp twine.  I getting to where I am able to do the pleated flowers quickly.  I really like being able to make those and truly match the paper.  I am not quite there, but I am still working towards making less "simple" pages.  This one didn't even have a direct inspiration from a page or a sketch.