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Oh Deer! What’s for Dinner?

Last night, we had a family gathering. For once, all of my children that still live with us, were home. At the same time. I know, in a family of seven plus two, that is virtually non-existent! And while my eldest no longer lives with us (insert sad face), he still makes sure to check in often.

But anyway, the kids were all home. So was hubby. It was a miracle.

Earlier in the day, I'd decided to make meat loaf since our pickins' in the freezer are getting pretty low. I knew I had potatoes and I knew I still had enough deer meat for one more go around. It turned out that was a perfect idea…because we actually had a family dinner, minus the eldest. (insert sad face)

(Insert even bigger sad face) It was the LAST of the deer meat!

Now, you just have to understand that most people I encounter don't like deer meat. BUT, my mom makes the best deer meat. I'm not sure what she puts in it, but all we have to do is thaw it out and make patties out of it and whalla…amazing deer burgers! I'd never made a meatloaf out of it, but all I added was garlic and onions…and whalla….amazing deer meatloaf.

And now…it's all gone.

But, the family dinner was so much fun. We laughed and talked. We talked of eating Bambi. (Sorry for the morbid humor.) We talked about elbows on the table. We talked about napkins in the lap.

We talked about broken noses and black eyes; and how B-boo's injuries have all been self-inflicted from her clumsiness. We talked about facial features and the Talented One's cute dimple. I explained to him that he wasn't born with that dimple, but that it had happened when he was 2 or 3 and a little girl had picked him up and dropped him in Sunday school. On his face. His cheek had slammed into the corner of a table. He was bruised for weeks and ever since then, he's had a dimple on his right cheek. So, B-boo speaks up,

So, mom…you saying he wasn't born with a deformed face that turned into a dimple, it happened later."

We all spewed.

Yes, dinner conversation is much like our laundry folding. We all get together and the conversation takes on a life of it's own.

Now, if we could just get our hands on some more of my mom's deer meat, all would be well in the Vivas household again.

Laughable Moment #25

OK, I'm going to preface this by stating that in no way do I think homelessness is funny. I have a family member who has spent most of his life homeless. In addition, B-boo started a small ministry for them. You can read more about that here. My children have a special place in their hearts for the homeless and are not lax when it comes to ministering to them in any way that they can.

That said, the other night B-boo and I were driving home from getting her a pattern for her Fashion Class at school. We came upon a cross-walk and B-boo jumped over the seat and raced to the back of the van. Yup, I knew without a doubt that there was a homeless person somewhere that I didn't see yet. He was walking across the street in front of us. B-boo quickly rolled down the window as he started to pass by us and offered him one of her bags. (We keep bags filled with a drink, snacks and hygiene items in preparation for when we come across a homeless person. This is her ministry.)

Her: "Excuse me, Sir, I have this for you." (She holds the bag out the window.)

Him: "What is it?"

Her: "It's food and a drink."

Him: "What is it?"

Her: "It's food and a drink."

Him: "Is it juice?"

Her: "Yes, it is juice."

Him: "No, it's not alcohol."

And then he walks away. The look on B-boo's face was priceless!

I told her, "Well, at least he was honest!"

And then, the shock wore off and she burst into laughter!

"Mom, I'm 15. I'm so sure I am going around with my mother passing out alcohol to homeless people!"

So I burst out laughing, too. And then we called Dad and told him what had happened.

Making Progress

I've spent the past few days reading like crazy in preparation for some licensing. May I just say I am soooo happy to have finished and passed all of the tests? AND, I've learned some stuff, too! Hopefully, I'll be able to put it to the test this week!

May I also just say that I am down three doctors now! This means I am now only under the care of two…huge! And I can drive again; although it's not very comfortable if the truth be told!

Oh…and I am finally healing! I have made big people steps this week instead of the baby steps of weeks prior! I've still a long way to go, but I am moving forward!

The Talented One brought home not one, but two amazing grades on tests this week! Big!

B-boo started dance team this week. It's been such a joy to see her doing something she loves again!

Yes, it's been a week with some definite joy!

Best of all….I went to church this week! After 8 weeks, you can bet I was happy to be there again! God is good. 🙂

JustfortheJoyofitcopy

Hide-n-Seek

I'm sick and tired of seeing doctors. Really. I'm tired of waiting rooms and being told to be patient and take it easy and let myself recover. It's been 5 weeks already for goodness sake! I don't want to be told it will take 14 to 16 more weeks, or even a few more weeks. I don't want to be told to stay off the stairs and stay on the couch or my bed. Who wants to spend their time laying around all the time!?!

And I was dreading this morning's appointment, too.

But then, as we sat and waited, I watched this dark haired little girl with an orange balloon playing in a little cubby while her mommy waited to see the doctor. She was so cute; about three. And then, another mommy showed up with a little red haired girl about the same age. And the dark haired cutie asked,

"You wanna pway wif me?"

And the red haired girl says,

"Yeah!"

I sat there and chuckled at their three year old conversation. It's been a long time since I've had one that young! And then, the dark haired girls asked,

"Do you wanna pway hide en seek?"

"Yeah!" was the reply.

So the dark haired girl had the red haired girl count. And she was so cute, with her head against the wall, counting in her little girl voice while the dark haired girl raced across the waiting room with her orange balloon!

And I was reminded of times when my own children hid.

I remember when my oldest, now 22, was about the same age. Grandma was watching him and she called me in a panic one day. She had looked everywhere for him and couldn't find him anywhere. This went on forever; until she discovered him hiding under the organ bench, giggling while she frantically searched for him.

Or when my youngest, not even two, was our little Houdini. One day we were all sitting in the living room watching TV. On my way into the kitchen, I asked them all not to let her out of their sight. When I walked back into the living room, she was gone. Just…like…that.

No one had seen her move. We searched the house; searched outside. Searched the garage. We searched up and down the streets. And just when we frantically ran inside to call 911, I happened to catch a glimpse of her little lime green outfit. Behind her doll stroller. She was all tucked up under; watching; giggling. Hiding.

Or B-boo. Who was a climber. So much so, that at 10 months, we had to zip her into her crib. You can read about that here. Anyway, by the time she was about 18 months, she could climb anything. And I mean anything! I'd find her *hiding* on top of our 8 ft tall entertainment center! One day, I found her hiding on top of the refrigerator. She wasn't so much about hiding, I think, as about climbing. Until she could climb no more. We couldn't let her out of our sight, because we never knew where we'd find her!

And then there was the Smart One. He didn't do a lot of *physical* hiding, but he loved to hide under bowls. As in if he wasn't wearing them as a hat, he'd hide his face under them. Under blankets. He thought he was so cute. (So did we!)

And the Talented One. I remember him hiding his face in his hands, knowing that if he couldn't see us, we couldn't see him. We'd laugh and go along with it.

So, I guess the waiting room wasn't so bad today. I had the privilege of being taken back in time; somehow how finding those memories that had been hidden up until this morning.

Mothers/Daughters

This weekend, B-boo is out of town. I was supposed to be on this trip with our youth, but because of my recent illness, I'm stuck at home in bed instead.

But I miss her. I've been thinking a lot lately about how close we are. I sometimes wonder if it's a one-sided view, but I don't think so. I'm thinking the phone calls have proved that. B-boo and I have spent a lot of one on one time together. She is fiercely protective of me; my illness has definitely had an impact on her. She's been a wonderful nurse to me and I am so glad she went on this trip without me.

But I miss her. As a competitive gymnasts for four years, she traveled a lot. And so I traveled with her. We had plenty of time to build a relationship. When she quit, I was so sad that we would not take these trips anymore. And then she got sick. And instead of waiting in an airport or bonding in a hotel, we spent many hours in the waiting room of doctor after doctor. Yahtzee on my cell phone in the waiting rooms became routine. Movies and conversations in my bedroom while she recovered from surgeries brought us even closer.

And now, party planning and house cleaning and Wednesday nights with chocolate; all of these keep our relationship going. So yes, I miss her.

And I was telling hubby yesterday as I received a text from her letting us know she was ok; that I can only hope to have the same relationship with the Drama Queen as I have with B-boo. I wonder; because the Drama Queen has such a hold on her relationship with her Daddy. And that is ok, I understand her being Daddy's Girl.

She is such a ball of fire and ready to take off at any given minute. She is so different from B-boo. Tonight, we talked about her continuing to home school while I gave her a french manicure. She wanted me to take her to have one; I couldn't do that, but I could give her one myself. She was thrilled! And we talked about the things we could do and places we can go and the fun we can have.

Yes, she is different. She has different ideas and needs and wants. But I found out tonight, that I am definitely in the running. When it comes to the fun girl stuff and talking and laughing, she wants that with me.

So, while I miss B-boo terribly this weekend; I am using the time to fill some moments with the Drama Queen.