Grisly Scene

Noblesville House Rolls Down Hill Following Friday Evening Storms

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And the incredible sky that followed the 4-minute storm that I thought might blow our home over:

Our entire neighborhood was glowing orange, it was quite eery. I don't know that I've ever seen a sky like that. This photo isn't even close to what it actually looked like (I'm no photographer).

God is so awesome!

Can Ya Give a Guy a Hand?

As part of Joel's extensive testing last month, an IQ test was administered. We have always said that he's so hard to keep up with because he's smarter than the rest of us. Now we know. Without getting into specifics, his results were in the superior range.

However, Joel gets himself into all kinds of predicaments because his mind races far beyond his common sense. This is not to say that he doesn't have common sense, just that it's usually an afterthought.

The following incident happened when he was five. I have no idea what he was attempting to do, just that it seemed like a good idea at the time to him; and he was none too happy when my first reaction to his yelling, "I'M STUCK! I'M STUUUUUUUCK!" was to run and get the camera.

Some things are just too priceless not to document.

This is not at all an uncommon circumstance with him. By the way, I had to take that chair apart to free him.

Yep, the superior range.

No Mas, NO MAS!

Some days I want to cry UNCLE. But what happens then? Life just bowls me over? And then what?

My three boys have different issues going on; Alexx and Joel (17 and 10) have ADD/Inattentive type and ADHD diagnoses, respectively. And of course, there is Seth (5) with his autism. What in the world is wrong with our genes?

Seth's pediatric neurologist tells us that they often see these neurological issues run in families. Okay. That's interesting, but doesn't really help me at this point.

My middle son has now been diagnosed with a mood disorder, which is leaving me to wonder how much a family can take. Really. How much? No. Nevermind. I don't really want to know the answer to that, because we all know it can get much worse than this.

I have said this before, but I am asking myself once again: What is it that God sees in me that makes Him believe I can handle this? I wish I could see it myself.

Well, until I can pinpoint exactly what it is, I'll just continue to do what works for me: faith, trust, lots of prayer and humor.

That's right. It may offend some people, but - well - it's our family, and we can find a joke in almost anything.

So if you overhear us making cracks about some of the situations that we deal with and it seems inappropriate, just remember that we are coping, and that's how we roll.

Do You Kiss Your Mama With That Mouth?

Huge ad on the sidewalk of the BP station we stopped at to get gas this evening:

This is almost the grossest thing I've ever read.

The Town Crier and the Do-It-Yourselfer

Most of the time, Joel's super-human independence results in some kind of chaos or destruction of property around here, and Seth has learned that Sean and I usually react to his activities less than enthusiastically (ask me about the 2-ft. deep hole he dug a foot away from the electical box).

Joel hasn't yet convinced Seth that brothers stick together against the parents, thank goodness. When that day arrives - you might as well have us fitted for straight jackets and begin filling out the paperwork.

So Seth has taken the self-appointed position of Joel-monitor, quickly taking tattletale action when he sees fit - which is a lot of the time. A few minutes ago while in my room working on this very computer, Seth came running in, holding the camera (still in video-mode), and says, "Joel is cooking."

Yikes. However, my first question is, "Why do you have my camera?"

"Joel wanted me to video him cooking." Apparently Joel thinks it would be a good idea for the family to have footage of him setting the kitchen on fire.

Sure enough, he is in the kitchen making chocolate chip muffins. I am finally learning not to react in certain ways with Joel, because there is a fine line between squashing his enthusiasm and encouraging his independence in a positive way.

"Mmmm. Those will be good," and I took a picture. I really do love his I-can-do-anything nature. As long as nothing blows up.

Sometimes A Turtle Is Just A Turtle

The conversation overheard just now as my husband and teenage son notice the new landscape decoration I placed in the mulch by the front walk:

Sean: "Where'd the turtle come from?"

Alexx: "I dunno. MOM! WHERE'D THE TURTLE COME FROM?!"

Me (from the living room): "I got it at Kohl's today."

Alexx (back to Sean): "What's it for?"

Sean: "I dunno. HOLLY! WHAT'S IT FOR?"

Oh, for crying out loud. Men.

Are You Bored Yet? Are You Bored Yet? ARE YOU BORED YET?

Joel (10) has been at Nana and Papa's (my parents) for a few days now, no doubt making them wonder, once again, how I even have an ounce of energy or sanity left in my being.

When my mom said he could stay behind after we all went there for the fair last weekend, my response was, "Okay - I'll pick him up August 13th." Is that wrong?

Her gauge for when he will come home is, "when he gets bored." So she asked him yesterday if he was getting bored yet, and he replied, "No . . . I'll get bored when the ice cream runs out."

Niiiice.

Product of My Environment?

You be the judge. I hail from a teeny-tiny town in east central Indiana with a population of around 1,400. And this number hasn't much changed since I was little and may have even gone down.

How do I know this? Well, because I remember that in 6th grade for the spring musical, our class did a Hee Haw spoof. Yes. And now that I think about it - it may not have actually supposed to have been a spoof - it was just that bad that it seemed like we were making fun. I know now the joke was on us.

Anyway, we somehow convinced my friend, Brett, to dress up like Dolly Parton for one scene, and during this he held up a sign that read, "Farmland, population 1,500" just like in Hee Haw. And you don't soon forget your 12-year-old friend - who's a boy - standing on stage at the spring musical with big fake boobs and a blonde wig. What kind of twisted music teacher did we have?

So it's tiny. And hasn't changed much. There's still really nothing to do there, only now I appreciate that. When I was a teenager, I thought I would die from the boredom that the town was suffocating us all with.

In hindsight, of course, it was a great place to grow up. My friends and I would get on our bikes and be gone all day and no one worried about it. When I walked to the grocery to pick something up for my mom, if she forgot to tell me to get something, she could just call up there and tell them to make sure I got it; and she'd just run the money up later to pay for it.

Of course, to a kid, the town's stench of oppression was overwhelming and I couldn't wait to flee.

Now my kids think Farmland is the greatest place on Earth. Yes - that's the name of the town. No - I did not live on a farm. It was pretty great - but I only know that now, in retrospect.

Here are a few shots of my hometown:

The church I grew up in

My grandma's backyard, where I spent years playing. We lived just four houses down from here (where she still lives today).

This is where I had my first job, at a soda fountain (it still operates as a soda fountain today).

Don't forget your roots. They're your connection to the past and the foundation for your future.

And Then There Were None

Rest in peace, oh last warriors of the Anderson goldfish community. We hardly knew ye.

2008 - 2008
Together in eternity

And They Shall Live Out Their Days In Plastic Bags

We survived the fair. No, no, no, no. We rocked that joint. That's right.

Mickey Mouse airplanes? Did it. Four MPH race cars? Ruled 'em. Motorcycles that went in a circle and did wheelies? You so know it. The Zipper upside-down going round and round ride? Not so much. The swings that spun around and went nearly higher than the bank roof? Totally watched Joel (10) nearly hurl on 'em.

Fun was had by all. Seth (5) and his 5 and 6-year-old cousins, Marco and Gus, are three peas in a pod - much like their older counterparts were, who are now 15, 16, and 17 (and way too cool for the fair these days).

Let me just say right now that there is nothing in this world like growing up and sharing your life and memories with cousins. Nothing.

Gustavo, Seth, and Marco

To prepare to blend in during the event (that draws some interesting folks out of the woodwork, to say the least), we had our resident artist (Alexx) draw a tattoo on Uncle Mark (my sister's husband). He was more than game (he fits right in with this twisted family just fine), but he drew the line when we asked him to bust out a few of his teeth. Stick in the mud.

Lola and Butch (otherwise known as Aimee and Mark)

First there were the rides, probably held together with something like duct tape and silly putty and not having been inspected since 1975.



Then came the games, which each cost about the same as a nice dinner at Carrabba's, and netted some sweeeet prizes like tiny little stuffed animals and blow-up weapons.

Oh, but the jackpot came when Marco decided he wanted to try to win a fish, thus stirring up the whole gang into a frenzy of children who realized their entire short lives had been leading up to this very moment in which they had. to. leave. this. carnival. with. a. goldfish.

And we left with

SEVEN.

And thank the Lord that we believe that all animals go to heaven, because two fish died last night, one died this morning, one died this afternoon.

The three that are left are huddled together in a fish bowl in our family room right now holding a prayer vigil hoping that none shall be taken before morning.

Wonderbread and pumpernickel

Peace out until next year.