Random Thoughts On A Thursday, vol. 8

Well, hello strangers!  How have you been? 

Since I can't seem to write a complete blog post these days, I thought I would throw together a list of random happenings.  Here goes...

1.  My boy continues to grow like a weed or beanstalk or other fast growing plant.  His size 13 shoes look more like sailing vessels than footwear.  And while it's no news that he has been towering over me for years, the child is a mere three inches away from equaling his father's height of 5' 11".

The boy has also lost five teeth in the past two months and has another two or three that are loose.  I guess his baby teeth are finally sick and tired of hanging out inside his adult-sized mouth.

No matter how many times I beg and plead the boy refuses to quit growing.  He's stubborn like that.   
2.  As of Tuesday, we are officially enjoying summer vacation.  It is hard to believe that when school kicks in this fall that I will have a seventh grader.  How has this happened?

My boy is excited to spend his days swimming, playing in the creek, fishing, biking, hiking and doing a zillion other outdoor activities.  I am looking forward to all of the sweating in my future.  With temperatures already in the 90's and the humidity sky-high it promises to be a rather hot summer.  

At least I get to sleep in.

3.   My dear hubby decided to upgrade the operating system on my MacBook to Mountain Lion.  Roar!  Apparently, I was still running on Calico Cat... or was it Bengal Tiger...  At any rate, I am now utilizing the most cutting edge technology available to man.

As luck would have it, Mountain Lion decided to eat all 12,400 photographs that were stored in iPhoto.  It was a very hungry kitty.  As tragic as this sounds, do not despair.  I have been faithful to back up my computer like all good girls should and my photographs are safely stored on my hard drive.  

Restoring them is another story as it appears to be a rather involved process.  Thankfully I have more than enough spare time to figure it out.  

Once everything is back in it's proper place you can expect to see quite a bit more of me around here.  I have a backlog of posts that are just waiting for their proper pictures.  Bear with me.    

4.  My boy will be attending The BGA JAM next month.  This will be his fourth year.  The boy is especially excited because one of his friends from school will also be attending the JAM.  I'm sure they will have a grand time goofing off during lunch.

In the past, the boy has selected the genre of music for each of his bands.  This year, however,  he has decided to leave that choice up to the JAM's director.  I am excited to see where he ends up.

What's new in your world, dear readers?  Tell me something exciting.

Tennessee Green

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

After almost two decades , I am still amazed by the lush, green that is synonymous with a Tennessee spring.    

~~~~~ 

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom. 

One Thousand Gifts (2045 - 2057)

© shoutingforha

2045.  The way my hubby always leaves his dresser drawers open just a little bit.  He's been traveling for work and the open drawers are a happy reminder that he is home.
2046.  The shine of freshly cleaned wood floors.
2047.  Squirrels scampering around the yard with their cheeks stuffed to overflowing with seeds that have dropped from the maple trees.
2048.  Freshly painted toenails. 
2049.  Simple yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
2050.  A beautiful funeral service honoring a friend's long and courageous battle with MS.
2051.  A Mother's Day gift of Chuck Taylors. 
2052.  Laughing with friends around the fire pit. What a rich life we have.
2053.  Watching my guys perform at the middle school talent show.  What fun!
2054.  Being together.
2055.  A hubby who loves the boy and me so well.
2056.  The deep blue of the sky just before sunrise.  
2057.  One more day of school until summer vacation.  Hooray!

~~~~~

For more lists of gratitude, head over to A Holy Experience.

One Thousand Gifts (2034 - 2044)

© shoutingforha

2034.  Finding a heart shaped potato at the bottom of the bag.
2035.  The insane green of my lawn.  Gosh, I love spring in Tennessee.
2036.  Grape tomatoes that have been slow roasted in the oven.  So, so good.
2037.  The neighborhood 5-7 year-old boys knocking on the door to invite my big boy out to play.  It is adorable. 
2038.  Learning to be content no matter the circumstance.
2039.  The peppery spice of arugula.
2040.  Letting the boy play hooky from school last Friday after a week of TCAP testing so we could grab lunch and see a movie.  What a great day! 
2041.  The smile I see on my boy's face every afternoon when I pick him up from school; a mark of a good day.
2042.  Sipping mint juleps while watching the Kentucky Derby.  The only thing missing was a big hat.
2043.  Spending time with friends on a Saturday night.
2044.  Knowing there are only eleven more days of school.  I cannot wait for summer break.

~~~~~

For more lists of gratitude, head over to A Holy Experience.

One Thousand Gifts (2022 - 2033)

 

2022. My hubby who works tirelessly and sacrifices so much for our family. I married a good, good man.
2023. The start of a new adventure.
2024. Spending time with my friend, B., who is like a surrogate mother to me.
2025. My boy dressed up in a white shirt, black pants and a tie.
2026. Sixth grade band concerts.
2027. Avocados.
2028. The way a friend stares down a devastating diagnosis with such grace and beauty. She is an inspiration to me.
2029. Late night phone conversations with my hubby who was traveling last week.
2030. Weather that is warm enough for summer dresses and sandals.
2031. Hanging out with my hubby on a Friday.
2032. A little boy wearing his astronaut costume at church. Adorable.
2033. Another weekend with my two favorite guys. I am so thankful for my family.

~~~~~

For more lists of gratitude, head over to A Holy Experience.

 

Life and Peaches

© shoutingforha

As I was strolling through the produce section of my local grocery store, I noticed a small basket of peaches. I could smell their sweet aroma as I walked by and decided against my better judgement to bring a few home to try.

I knew that the best peaches wouldn't arrive until June or July after they have had time to plump and ripen in the hot summer sun. There was a strong possibility that the fruit I was purchasing would be sour and tasteless. To my delight, these spring peaches were delicious.

This got me thinking about how life is an awful lot like those peaches. I could appreciate the sweetness of that peach because I have tasted the bitterness of a bad piece of fruit. Likewise, I have found that seasons of joy are so much brighter after having walked through hardship or sorrow.

It is not unlike childbirth. Excruciating pain always precedes the arrival of the most wonderful and celebrated gift; the birth of a child. It has been that way for centuries. Why should I expect anything less from life?

Like most of you, I long to find that perfect peach... The moments of bliss that make the memories of hardship fade into black. It's what keeps me reaching into the proverbial fruit bowl time and time again.

~~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or add one of your own.