Precious God Almighty, Jehovah, Yaweh, Creator, and Hearer of our prayers. Thank you for my friends. Please allow them to realize that their prayers on my behalf have been heard. Please help them to feel your presence in their lives today and every day. You alone are to be praised. The word "awesome" belongs to you and to you alone. Through Christ this request and prayer of thanksgiving is made. Amen

This has been a glorious morning. It is raining. Michael jr, came into my room this morning and woke me up with "Grammy, Its 6:20 and we need to get up." I had planned to get up around 6:30 since we no longer have to get to school early due to Brendan's choir practice. Choir is over. Michael jr was so proud of the fact that he got up first. (He wanted to be sure I mentioned it in my blog.) I told him that he is taking care of all of us. Brendan had come in during the night to sleep in the room with me. He was sleeping like a log on the hardwood floors on top of his sheet with his comforter on top of him. He said he just couldnt get to sleep in his room. Alas, it never occurred to me that when I told him to go back to bed because the only place he could sleep was on the floor, that he would actually sleep on the floor, but he did just that. We all got ready for school and we left at 6:55a.m. It was raining, but there was break in the rain when we exited the house so we were high and dry in the car. At one point this morning while we were all getting ready, there were three of us in the tiny bathroom. Precious memories. Michael jr was ready by 6:25. Brendan was brushing his teeth with his coat and gloves on. It was a sight to behold watching him sitting fully dressed(gloves included) on the closed toilet seat brushing his teeth. We were on the road at 7:05. Yesterday we discoved that Hardee's is the place for breakfast in the early morning. So today we drove through the drive-thru and got breakfast for the boys with orange juice. (I get a medium black coffee.) Then we had a grand drive in the rain, with them eating breakfast and us talking and laughing about the funny times we have had together. I told them some things that I wanted them to continue after I am gone; like doing their homework and always trying to do their best in their work Not burping and not saying cr-- and bu-- or fa--. Then they started talking about how they were going to be free when Grammy is gone. We laughed and Brendan and Michael jr got into a fight and I had to pull over to the shoulder to allow Brendan time to apologize to Michaeljr. for hitting him in the back of the head and for Michael jr to decide if he was going to forgive Brendan. Such a morning. We got to school with time to spare and I wrote the note for Michael jr to be a car rider today at the end of the day. I am taking him to the podiatrist and Michael sr. is taking Aidan to get a flu shot. Both appts are at 3 so Michael sr. and I are doing "split shift". In the car I was reviewing for the boys the things that I want them to continue when they are living in Indianapolis. I think I will make a list for them when I leave.

I want to make a list of the thnigs I have taught them here so I can have a review and feel good about the possible impact I have had on their lives:

-the hand towel in the bathroom is to wipe clean wet hands, it is not for your mouth.
-use approx 4 sheets of TP instead of the whole roll so the toilet will not overflow.
-if the toilet gets stopped up, do not keep flusing it
-use soap when you shower
-remember the 3 Ds every morning: Deodorant, Dental (brush teeth & floss) Dress
-wear underwear everyday.
-use soap all over your body.
-wash your hair everyday.
-teachers want to help you when you smell clean, when you stink, it is hard for
teachers to get close enough to you to be able to help you.
-try to eat without getting food all over your face
-use utncils when you eat
-wait until everyone is at the table before you start to eat
-chew your food It is not "chomp, chomp, swallow"
-do not eat during the blessing
-start the drying process after your shower while the water is turned off and you
are still in the shower so you dont get water all over the floor.
-help set the table
-a napiin is part of setting the table
-if you dont have a napkin, use a paper towel.
-Take you clothes off and put them in the laundry room in front of the washer prior
to taking your shower.
-dont throw you clothes in the floor anywhere else but the laundry room
-ensure the night before that you have the clean clothes you need for school. Dont
wait until the morning to discover you dont have any clean socks,underwear,shirt...
-be kind to your brothers
-be kind to everyone
-obey Grammy
-always try to forgive even if the person that has wronged you doesnt ask for
forgiveness. Pray for people who do you wrong, because they do not feel loved,
because when you feel loved, you want to be kind.
-always love the Lord. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you throughout
your life.
-dont laugh at someone's pain or embarrassent
-clean up after yourself, someone has to do it and if you made the mess, then you
should be the one to clean it up
-clean up after others if they dont clean up because we are all a family and we want
our place clean
-Grammy is not your maid
-Grammy knows that God has blessed her life since she was a little girl
-say thank you
-be thanful for whatever food is set before you
-thank the cook
-take at least a bite for every year you are old
-the car is not a play area
-use your quiet voice when you are close enough for someone to hear you and always
in the house or car
-keep your shoes off of the couch, the car seats, the walls, Grammy's legs and head
-clean your nose before you leave the house everyday and
-use a kleenex
-obey Grammy
-when you hear one person being told not to do something, that means you too
-when you accidently hurt someone, say your are sorry immeditely & check to be sure
they are ok
-throw away all of your trash in a trash can..never on the floor
-when you get out of Grammy's car,clean out all of your "stuff" or any "stuff"
-leave all of the gadgets alone in Grammy's car
-be certain your door is shut when you get out of Grammy's car
-when you get out of any car, shut the door
-remember the meaning of "inane noise" and dont do it
-inane noise drives Grammy nutty and probably most other people too
-open the door for ladies
-walk behind Grammy when we go into stores
-obey Grammy
-look at people when you talk to them
-look at people when they talk to you
-your daddy is my son
-you have been with your daddy during one of the most difficult times of his life
-your daddy loves you
-pray for your daddy
-Grammy loves you too much to let you do everything you want to do
-obey Grammy
-dont write in the dirt on Grammy's car
-do not open your car door until Grammy opens hers.
-cut your fingernails every week
-be a leader for good
-show respect to your bosses
-obey the Lord


This pretty much sums it up. This has been one of the greatest joys of my life. God is so good.

May He richly bless you, my loved ones. jk