This post will be a little random, but I'm putting up all the pictures I've been promising.

 This is kind of random, but found this glass with milk dried in the bottom of it.  So gross, but so typical in this household.  Oh, and just so you know, the dishwasher kind of fell apart.  I'm debating between breaking down and buying a new one or trying my hand at dishwasher parts and repair.  Hmmmmm!  Maybe new dishwasher!!!

 This is what Brooke made me for Mother's Day.  I found it on Pinterest and showed it to her.  I'd totally forgotten about it since then, so it was a nice surprise!!

The AWESOME picture I took of Garrison at his graduation!!!

Another one.  I'm pretty sure it was Garrison.

End of graduation

Garrison and James with their fake diplomas.  They thought they were simply hilarious!

Graduation is over, and now for his favorite part.......PICTURES!!!

Dad, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Geoff, and their kids were at graduation, but left right after.  Another part of the ongoing saga (with Dad).  We didn't stay very long.  Just took a few pictures and got out of there.  Garrison went to a graduation party at one of his friends' houses while I took supplies to a parent-sponsored graduation party that he didn't even attend.  Brooke told me that, in his defense, parent-sponsored after-graduation parties are lame, and that she wouldn't have attended either.

Yes, your baby sister wore jeans.  I was so mentally exhausted by the time we left for graduation, I didn't even have the energy to fight her over it.  Ugggghhhh!

 You guessed it!!!

I liked this picture, but Brooke was mad at Brock for talking.

 No words.....

I tried to get another picture of the guys, but the moment had passed, and no way I was getting Garrison to re-don his robe.                

Our fly collection.  So gross, but oddly satisfying.  We think we were breeding flies in our trash compactor.  There was one day that we killed like 50 flies in the house.

Found this when I was going through Garrison's box.  I'd forgotten about it.  Thought it was so cute!!!

Senior Day at school

 Garrison was exceptionally happy to take pictures today!

Baccalaureate

Yes, Garrison wore a t-shirt under his robe.  I thought it very fitting for him.  At least I ironed his gown before we left.  I remember yours had creases all over it.  I was so embarrassed!!

 This is Garrison's senior party at First Baptist of Bethany.

 I loved this cake!  

Jennifer Bellah had it made at Sam's

I ordered these M&Ms online.  They had a graduation theme, with some of them saying, "Congrats Garrison."  Wish I'd known about these when you and Brooke graduated.

Garrison's display.  The toy lawnmower is the one he played with when he would "help" Dad mow.  

 Garrison actually had to work the day of his party.  I totally forgot to tell you that.  He showed up over an hour late to his own party.  This, of course, added to the comfort level of the party.

Emery!!!

Aaaaaand last, but not least, our newest family member.  His name is Scout.  We thought we'd try it again, with hopefully better results.  He's 14 weeks old, I think, and as you can see, he matches the downstairs tile.  He's a smart little cookie, and has had very few accidents in the house.  I haven't cleaned up a single accident, since getting him was not my idea and I told the family that he was their responsibility.  Yay me!!!  He's such a sweety pie, and loves playing with Bella.  Her wildest dreams have finally come true!  She has a friend!  Boomie has as much tolerance for Scout as he does for Bella.  The funny thing is that Scout will pester him just the way Bella does, but not as much.  He's half full-blood German German Shepherd and half full-blood American German Shepherd.  He supposedly had champion blood lines, but whatever.  I couldn't care less.  His paws are HUGE!  

I think he will be almost as big as Boomie.     He wants to meet his big sister, Reagan!

You are never going to believe this, but I've started working out 3-4 days a week.  Well, I'm sure you would believe it, but you're not going to believe when I do it!  I'm getting up at 4:30 on the days I work and working out before I go in!!!  I can't really believe it myself!  I never thought I'd be one of those people, but I'd so much rather do it then and take off the days I don't work.  That way I can just relax and enjoy those days.  Well, not really, but I don't have to feel guilty about not working out.  Let me tell you just how much fun it is to get my booty up that early and get moving on torture machine #1 (treadmill) or torture machine #2 (elliptical).  I actually do have more energy though.  

It has been so great reading your last couple of posts.  I'm so incredibly proud of you, Baby.  You are bringing Christ's love to so many, and I can see that you're accepting His love for you in so many ways you've never experienced.  I miss you so much.  I think about you every single day, many times a day.  I pray for you all the time.  You and your teammates, and the people you serve.  You are incredible.  I'm sorry the last few posts are so disjointed.  I have to write them in pieces, and I've been working a lot lately to help pay for the Connecticut trip.  

Miss you soooooooooooooooooo much!  I love you!!!!!  Mom             

-May 10-

Whew!  It's been awhile!  I don't know what I've even been doing to make me too busy to sit down and write on this, but I know that every time I think about it, I have 20 things I have to do before I can post!

I'm so sad you didn't get your sharpies and Phase 10 cards.  I saw your "Blue Like Jazz" t-shirt here and was kicking myself for not sending that too, but now I'm glad I didn't.  You're Mozambique-bound today.  I'll bet that's going to be a huge change in culture!  I can't wait to hear all about it!

One thing I wanted to let you know is that things have calmed down here and they're pretty much back to normal.  I'll fill you in on the details when I talk to you, but it's not something I want to air on the blogesphere.

I sent out Garrison's graduation announcements last week.  I can't believe we're finally here!  It really seems like the year just started, and now we're 2 weeks away from it being over.  The kids are out of their minds with excitement!  Garrison is just planning to work all summer, and Maddie is wanting to get a job, but I don't think many places hire kids under 16.  I think she's tired of being broke, but it would be nice for her to have something to occupy her time.  Ariel is going to be staying here for about three weeks when school is out (again, another story to be told in person), so she is SOOOO excited about that.  

Since baccalaureate is on Sunday, we're having Nina & Grandaddy and Geema and Keypa over for lunch to celebrate Mother's day. 



-June 3-

Got distracted and never quite finished that blog.  Haha!  Mother's Day went well.  I insisted on making roast since it's the easiest big meal we can have.  Dad wanted to grill shish-ka-bobs and have the kids and him prepare lunch for the mom's <- (kidding!!), but things are just too complicated when we're trying to get out the door on Sunday afternoon.  I got Nina and Geema a flower in a cute little flowerpot and Brooke and Maddie helped me get everything set up and looking pretty!  It was fun.  We went to Baccalaureate that afternoon.  It was as thrilling as usual.  Not really.  It was pretty good.  We had it at FBC, and had the reception among the masses in the fellowship hall.  I'll try to actually get some pictures up tomorrow while you have internet. 

There has been so much chaos and so much drama at home that we've all been barely able to function.  Chaos relating to graduation and drama around Maddie and Garrison making some really unfortunate choices with their lives, so the house has been pretty much on lockdown, and we've been round and round with both of them.  Dad and Garrison's relationship has struggled, struggled, struggled.  Dad and I need your prayers for wisdom.  We thought he was going to move out a few times.  It's still kind of out there, but for right now, I think he's staying home.

I think he's actually getting excited about starting college.  He is very determined to go to med school.  Maybe he finally has the motivation to give school all he's got!  I hope so.  I would love to see him really blow it out of the water.  He talked to Uncle Geoff for a long time at a reception we had for Kyle, James, and him at FBC the Sunday after graduation.  Now he's talking becoming an anesthesiologist. 

The reception was kind of funny.  Lots of people came for Kyle, a few (I think) for James, and for Garrison, it was Nina and Grandaddy, right on time, Ray and Robert Junior about 45 min after we started, Keron Showalter, Rusty Hill, Geema and Keypa about an hour after we started (so that Ray and Robert weren't quite sure what to do with themselves for about 30 min. after the initial introductions and salutations) and then Uncle Geoff and kids about 30 min before we wrapped up.  It was come and go, so I don't begrudge anyone for showing up late.  It was just REALLY hilariously awkward.  Garrison said he really didn't know anyone there, which was really funny.  I think everyone thought that this reception was for the whole senior class since it wasn't at our house.  Anyway, we survived it, and I told him he could have a friend party at our house when he wants to.

All for this second.  I'm going to try to write more before I leave work if I have time, but definitely more tomorrow if I can't.

Miss you soooo soooo, oh so very much!!!!!

I love you, Baby,

Mom