Home Alone

"Home Alone" was youngest son's favorite movie for the longest time. Grandma had a video and he would always ask to watch it about 5 minutes after he walked in the door. It's one of those movies that on the surface doesn't have a lot of redeeming value and I remember when it came out people thought it might encourage kids to trash their house. However, since I also have watched it many times, I've found that it has pretty good message to share, especially now that I'm "Home Alone".

Youngest son left for college last month and my husband is still working out of town Monday through Friday, so I often find myself alone in our big house. So like the kid in the movie, I've learned to appreciate my family even more. Like him, I think a little about what I might have done to deserve this and my regrets for when I haven't been the best wife or mother. I've learned that there are things I can do on my own that I always relied on someone else to do (at least to take a turn at it). Silly things like always being the one to take out the garbage, emptying the cat box, doing the dishes, and paying the bills remind me that I'm "it", no one else is around to help with chores. I've found that doing what I want, eating when I want, staying up late, etc. isn't really that fun after awhile. I've learned to consider what it's like for people who are always alone in their homes, because they're single or have lost a family member. I've got to admit that I haven't tried to befriend my "hermit" neighbor like in the movie, but I do have more of an appreciation for what life might be like for him.

I'm thankful that this won't be forever. This last weekend everyone was home for a visit and it was nice to once again have someone to talk and laugh with and have the kids friends in and out of the house. At some point my husband will be working from home again and we will have the opportunity to reconnect. I'll be a little different though. I think I've learned to cherish my family more and learned a little more empathy for the lonely people in my life.

A Nice Window

Isn't this a cool window. It's in the landing of the front stairs at college daughter's new house. She's renting a house with 5 other kids for the upcoming school year. I helped her get the rest of her stuff moved in a couple of weeks ago and then she was back home for awhile. I took her back up to stay last Friday. They found a pretty nice house with 6 bedrooms and a nice kitchen, living room, dining room, etc. It's an older house, but in pretty good repair for a college rental.

I really envy her at this great time in her life. So many opportunities await, lots of interesting classes to take, an orchestra to perform in, and a new boyfriend...etc. I sometimes wish I could do it all over again, and get it right this time, but of course there's some downsides to going to college too. The poverty and stress for example, but I hope she appreciates the good parts.

I take my youngest son, TB, to college on Saturday. The town is only about an hour drive away, but it feels like he'll be a long ways away. It will be quite an adjustment I think, especially considering I'll be home alone with DH working out of town during the week. I'll have no excuses for not having a clean house and keeping up on my projects. I hope it will go okay and I won't be too sad. Another blogger had a great quote the other day and it really made me think about my upcoming circumstances. It is pretty easy to wallow in misery, not so easy to focus outward and accomplish something.

“Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others…By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.”

Japanese Garden at Como Park

On the same trip to St. Paul we visited the Japanese Garden that is just outside the conservatory. It was a nice break from sitting outside in the heat at baseball games. I didn't remember ever walking through there before, but when we told our son that we stopped, he remembered a trip there when he must have been very young. At one point on the trail through the garden you can step on stones to cross the water. He remembered that and thinking it was so cool. I'm sure I was stressed out worrying that he would fall in the water. I was reminded again that I just don't remember things as well as I used to. My husband and I had our 25th anniversary the weekend after this, so we had someone take our picture. If we look like a couple of fat, tired, worn out old-married folks, that's because that's what we are. Ha

After visiting the conservatory, garden, and zoo we went over to our son's house to meet him when he got home from work. We walked from there to Five Guys where we had a delicious hamburger and homemade fries and also peanuts in the shell while we were waiting. It was nice to go out with him and hear about his new job and catch up a little.

The Conservatory

Earlier in the summer we visited the Como Conservatory in St. Paul while we were in town for the State Baseball Tournament. It was beautiful as usual and since we were visiting mid-week it wasn't as crowded. We also walked through the Japanese garden and the zoo, but I'll save those pictures for another day. This hibiscus and the star gazer lily below were simply huge. I have a neighbor with a perennial hibiscus that is blooming right now; a very beautiful red one and the whole bush is covered with flowers. I have my own lilies too, it's just that the deer like to eat the buds. I had a few that bloomed before the deer got to them.

Good Times

I just spent a few minutes this afternoon reading back through some of my old blog entries. What a fun way to remember some of the joys and challenges of the past few years. I've gotta say, I impressed myself with some of the entries...nice pictures, thoughts and remembrances....as least that's the way I felt today.

I feel obligated to report that everything is actually going really well with the family right at this moment. It was kind of a rough year or so and 2010 in particular will probably go down as one of the worst years ever, but things seem to be on the right track.

Here's a bit of an update and a few things I've learned to be thankful about-

DH started a new job this week, a regular job where he will get paid and have some benefits. We will never take that for granted after spending several years in under employment with no benefits to speak of. It doesn't mean we weren't working hard, but hard work does not always translate to a steady paycheck and benefits, something I'll always remember before judging others. He'll be doing most of his training out of town, so that will be different, but he will still be home every weekend, so we will make the most of that.

CS (college son), is college son no more having graduated in May. He found a job right away and started work after Memorial Day. There again, feel very happy that he graduated in four years and found a job, with benefits no less. In this economy, that's not a sure thing for new grads and we are really proud of him.

CD (college daughter) finished her sophomore year with flying colors and got a great summer internship that provides a generous stipend, room and board. We've missed having her around, but she has been having a wonderful summer. A new boyfriend in the mix has helped her happiness level a lot, can't wait to meet him. He's a farm boy, so I already have a good impression.

TB (tall beast) is even taller and more beastly and now a high school graduate. He's going to a liberal arts college sponsored by our church denomination that is nearby. He's had a great summer filled with baseball, work, and lots of rest and food. I feel a little like I'm grabbing at his heels as he grows up and will go away to college in such a short time. I'm not looking forward to him leaving, but I know he will do well and it's the best for him.

All of the changes and challenges of the last few months have been stressful, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel like we will get through it all just fine. All of it gives me a bit of perspective and helps me to remember that life has it's highs and lows and even at what seems like the lowest, there are those a lot worse off, and always lessons to be learned that obviously aren't easy or quickly learned.

A Few Quilt Projects

I finally had a quilting frenzy to finish some projects for three different silent auctions. One was for our church youth, one for the high school band, and one for a benefit our school's athletic trainer who is battling cancer.

I'm on Spring Break this week and trying to enjoy it, but a cold and cold weather are hampering it a little. I'm also so jealous of several families who are taking fabulous vacations during break. It is nice to have some extra time though and I've gotten a few little projects done around the house despite not feeling the greatest.

Where has the time gone?

I had a busy, but good weekend and I've spent a little time tonight catching up on reading some of my favorite blogs. I'm happy to see that I'm still listed on a couple of blogrolls despite the fact that I haven't blogged for 4 MONTHS!

Our college kids were home this weekend and it was nice to spend some time with them. We watched a movie at home Friday night and did some shopping and went out to a movie on Saturday. The girls went to "The King's Speech", which we really liked. The guys went to "True Grit", which they enjoyed as well.

Today we had our annual meeting a church, so I was busy with serving the lunch and DH presided at the meeting. He has finished his term as church president, so whoo-hoo for that! A few less meetings for him to attend.

I don't have any quilt pictures to post although I have been doing a little block making. I haven't completed anything for months with the exception of my block of the month blocks, so I'm a little ashamed of that. It seems like its easy to waste time in the winter and days go by without a lot of productivity going on.

We've had an incredible amount of snow this year and many cold and gray days, so Spring will be very welcome. I hope the next four months go by quickly as well, and no promises, but perhaps a quilt picture will appear in this space. Blessings to you all!!