Invisible Mother

Invisible Mother Story...... It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask me a question. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England .. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.' At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does. We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.

This is the story behind the quote in my signature line of all of my emails-Dana Roberts

Troop 1407 Cookie Booth Sales 2009

98 Boxes Sold in 3 hours at Bass Pro Shop in Olathe, KS

Pete's Wreck

Pete's poor little red truck would not start in the freezing COLD, so dad let him take is FORD F150 to work. On his way home at 3:25pm, driving down Martha Truman Road, Pete and the oncoming car started sliding on packed snow. They collided.

After they collided, (the car above) another car could not slow and t-boned the FORD, Thankfully he hit the rear tire and "bumped" off the FORD with minor damages. The FORD has a paint mark and the Tano Cover seems to be tweeked, hopefully that will be fixable.

The PT Cruiser came to rest here. As you can see, Pete kept sliding down the ravine, but Pete was able to drive out and park on the road.

My heart sank when I saw how far he went down the hill. (Personally, I would have crapped my pants! He did not smell like he did.)

This is the damage that was done to her car. She had it towed off. She said she was on her way to WaysideWaifs to pick up her dog. I offered a ride to her, but her husband was going to pick her up from the tow lot and they would go get her dog.

This was the point of impact. You can see the tire marks where he tried to swerve out of the way to stop.

OUCH. All fixable and everyone was safe and un-injured.

While they waited for the Officer to make a report, two other cars rear-ended & Pete was t-boned. I was on the phone with him and heard him shriek at one point when another car almost hit another car. Missouri really has a problem.

I drove out to take Pete his wallet, because of course he left it at home today...at State Line coming from Kansas into Missouri, the roads went from dry as a bone to "OH MY GOD". They literally stop plowing at the state line and Missouri is just Horrible. Where do they put their tax dollars because it is not in the roads!

So, this is the same road that Pete totaled his red pickup this past Spring, on his way into work one morning, when he hit a deer. He was able to buy parts and fix the Red truck maybe he can be so lucky with the FORD.

Moral of the story...This Road is costing us a fortune.

Winter Snow January 16, 2009

Konversations in the Kold by Dana
SHOW ME SNOW

Closed Due to Weather by Dana

Shades of White and Grey

Kansas Konversations by Dana

Robert's Free Time

Pete carving the Lake House sign...

Dad's Puzzles...

Chelsie and the dogs vegging...

Boy we are exciting.

Recycled Lunch Bags

The same oilcloth that covers your kitchen table can transport your children's lunches -- or your own -- in leak-free style. These reusable bags will cut back on waste since they can simply be washed with a damp sponge (oilcloth is not washing-machine safe). Use a single pattern for the whole bag, or cut out complementary patterns or solid colors for side panels. You can attach small Velcro tabs to hold the bags closed, or clip the tops with colorful wooden clothespins.

Lunch Bag How-To:
Cut main piece 29 1/2 by 8 inches and two side panels, each 12 1/4 by 5 inches.
1. Fold long panel, inside out, into U shape with 5-inch bottom.
2. Make 1/4-inch cut at bottom corners of side and middle pieces so bag folds smoothly. Sew-in side panels, leaving 1/4-inch seam allowance.
3. Turn right side out and top-stitch all around, 1/8 inch from edge.
Oilcloth Crafts
First Published: July 2001-MarthaStuart.com

Girl Scout New Years Slumber Party 2009

Troop 1407's New Year's Eve Slumber Party 2009!

GREAT food!

Tamara's GREAT HOUSE for us to crash at!

The Count down begins...

4....3....2....1 "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Cheers!

The midnight Texts & calls to say Happy New Year!

8:30 am-Rise and Shine! (I am sorry you were up till 3am, but you have to go home now! hee hee hee)

Chelsie managed to not need a nap..... We hit the mall to shop for a bit, spent her Gift card at Wal-Mart and then she sat down for the first time all day at 5pm.... Good Night Chelsie!

Oh, and for the record...I did not take a nap at all and I am posting these pictures on Jan. 1, 2009 at 10:01 pm. I am The SLEEPOVER MASTER!

THANK YOU Tamara for letting us party at your house. Thanks parents for letting me spend the New Year with your girls! I love each one of them and had a blast. And Thanks to Stacy, Boomer and Tamara for Ringing in the new year with us!

PARTY ON!

Chelsie's New Hair Cut

CHELSIE GONE WILD!

This hair style was actually my idea.

It is kinda punk, but looks so cute on her.

I will take a picture whe she stiles it chunky and messy!

It is CUTE!

Boy, I am a GREAT MOM!

Rascal

Dad has this dog so-spoiled! I think I might like to be reincarnated as a dog our house cat living in the Robert's Family.

"18 inch Tri Loom First Project

Home alone while everyone is at the lake house and at friends for the 3 day weekend after Christmas...I had fun messing around with Chelsie's 18" Tri Lap Loom. This is Vanna's Choice yarn. I am working on a purse made from Tri's...i will post more as I go. Poor hands can only weave for so long before I ach.
Isn't this just YUMMY!

One down more to go!

Two Pea's in a Pod

Gus visits for Winter Break

Gus is a hedgehog from Chelsie's 7th hour Science class and he came to visit our house over Winter Break. Isn't he CUTE!

Grandpa Susan is a LOVER of all animals

Pete too.