I have many, many notebooks that have been used over the years. Sometimes if I'm looking for a certain something that I know I have in one of the notebooks, it can take a while before I find the right one, especially if I get side tracked reading all the other things that I hadn't originally been looking for.
Today I came across the list of things I wrote as a note to self if I'm ever a mother-in-law or grandmother.
Some of the items on the list made me chuckle a little, but most were actually good advice to my future self.
A few items on the list:
Never give advice, unless it has been requested.
Allow each in-law and grandchild to be an individual ... remember no two people or families are alike.
Don't tear around with the grandchildren making them all unruly and laugh and say you can teach them what you want once I'm at home.
Support the rules they have for your grandchildren.
Don't say how well behaved your children used to be, and how you used to get everything done, and how you always kept the house and garden clean. Forgetting the things your children used to do, the clutter in the house, and the weeds in the garden.
Never forget children are children and will want to play when they come visit and not have to simply sit on a chair the entire time and smile at me.
1. It's officially summer (in the northern hemisphere anyway). Which summer month is best and why?
I'm going to have to go with September, because it's the month that contains only the tail-end of summer. I'm not a fan of this particular season and can't wait until it's over.
2. Can you swim? How did you learn? June 27th is National Sunglasses Day. How many pair do you own?
I think I can, and I say that because it's been twelve years since I've gone swimming. Can you forget how?
LV taught me how to swim the first summer after we got married.
I own several pairs of cheap sunglasses.
3. What characteristic do you judge most harshly in yourself? How about in others?
Probably patience, and in others it bugs me when someone starts rambling on about things that they obviously don't know what they're talking about.
4. Robert Frost wrote the now well known poem entitled The Road Not Taken. What's a road (literal or figurative) you've always wanted to travel, and where do you hope it takes you?
There are several different roads in our area that I have always wanted to travel, but somehow have never gotten around to doing that. Mostly I'd just like to see what kind of scenery they offer.
5. Popsicles-yay or nay? If you answered yay, what's your favorite flavor?
Sadly - nay. I used to love them, but somehow with the passing time I lost my taste for them.
6. Brexit-on a scale of 1-10 how knowledgeable are you on what's involved here? (1=very knowledgeable and 10=what's Brexit) Is this news you'll follow or is it something you think won't impact your life in any way shape or form?
I'm around a 9 on it. I've heard about it, but as with most news I tend to not pay too close attention to it. There's nothing I can do about it, so why add unneeded stress to my life, is the way I look at it.
7. Share a favorite song on your summer play list.
I'm loving this one right now.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Even though summer is my least favorite season, I have been enjoying it a lot. It's been a good one for our family, so far.
"I'm heading outside to read," she announced as she headed out the door.
On these warm afternoons I could see why reading in the shade of a tree and enjoying the breeze would seem appealing. I went about my work, not really thinking twice about her planned activity until I happened to look out the window and see a ladder by a tree, and Rosebud perched up in the branches on what appeared to me, to be a very slender limb.
Feet swinging in the air, a book on her lap, she appeared to be lost to all else around her.
My heart nearly stopped as I surveyed the distance from that spindly little branch she was sitting on and the ground beneath her.
The ladder was held securely in place while she made her way back down, and I went to check out my newly earned gray hair.
~~~~~
Bad drivers really stress me out. I was heading to town and as I was making my way up a hill I noticed a little blue car coming down one of the side streets. Paying zero attention to the stop sign the woman driver barreled right out in front of me. I came inches close to running right into her. So thankful for good brakes.
My poor heart nearly beat out of my chest, as I added a few more gray hair to my collection.
Today I'll be answering another question from the ones I received back in April.
Given the current political unrest, how much attention do the Amish pay to the election, and to government in general?
I generally shy away from the topic of politics here on my blog, but decided I'll address this question.
This can't be answered in a one size fits all type of way. In some communities the Amish are blissfully unaware of what's going on, and may only have a vague idea who our current president is, a name they might have heard in passing, but it meant nothing to them.
For those, they pay no attention to the elections or to government in general. All they want is to be left alone to live their life as they believe they were called to.
For some others, they will subscribe to a daily newspaper to stay aware of everything that is going on. They will pay a lot of attention to the candidates running for election, and will make sure they vote.
Then there are a lot that fall somewhere in between. They have a general idea what's going on, but believe since they are not a part of this world, they will let the world take care of all things government, while they focus on a kingdom not of this world.
Some time spent on the trail on a lovely afternoon.
That was a lot more relaxing than working on a coding project I'm in the middle of.
Rosebud created an enormous banana pudding. Complete with homemade pound cake. It was our first time using our homemade vanilla, which turned out to taste great. So good that I'll have a hard time going back to the store bought stuff.
The girls put an assortment of puzzles together. It took Sunbeam a while to get this one, but she was pleased with it once it was done.
Rosebud did several puzzles and then started a huge one. It'll take a long time to get it done.
Another afternoon spent at a friends pool. Buddy thought he had it made to have the girls give him rides on this float-y.
A happily married wife, and mother to four children, former Amish. I will be sharing memories of growing up Amish and the journey that brought me to where I am today.
