| Home again |
[Aug. 9th, 2005|05:21 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | reflective | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Teen-radio choices emminating from the kitchen | ] |
Howdy everyone! I am back! Is that gasps of fright or sighs of relief I hear? Had a swell vacation. Now it's home for a week, then off to the lake for 10 days, then home for a week then back to the lake for 5 days, then school starts and the house stays clean from 9-3pm daily. Smart people in the world tell me that a girls needs things to look forward to - that's looking A-Ok with me!
So how is everyone? What happened to all of our blog history? Is that something that I should be saving somewhere or is it archived somewhere for me to re-visit for memory lane purposes? If anyone smarter than me has the answer to this question, I'd sure like to know. Thanks!
We've been home since Sunday evening. I have been spending my hours unloading the RV and plowing through mail virtual and otherwise. The children have been inhaling the internet and TV in lethal doses. Good for them! If you have to die of something, you might as well die happy, right?
Sad note in the Helman family: Our dog (Moose the whippet) of 11 years had to be put to sleep. He got very sick at the beach and endured a day of approximately 10 hours of seizures one on top of the next. He appeared to be paralyzed from the hips back. He was not eating or drinking - he tried but could not control his neck muscles and his mouth. As a family, we did not want to put him to sleep at the beach, but the children wanted to bury him at home in the yard, so Allen and Clarissa, Laurel and Janelle left to take care of him at home. Spencer did not get to say goodbye, he was at the Boy Scouts National Jamboree and was very sad when he came home to this sad thing. It is very weird not to have him around.
Thought for the day: Every day presents us with wonderful opportunities to be a blessing in the lives of others both with our time, with our money, with our ability to make a difference with all that we can. For most of us, these actions will be small - but think of what they mean to others. Each of us has a treasure chest of wealth: patience, a forgiving heart, hugs, a sympathetic ear, a kind word, a soft spoken prayer, a gracious heart, a firm and friendly handshake, and many more. It doesn't just take money to help others or make them happy.
Love to all, Carol |
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| Beach report - anybody home?? |
[Jul. 17th, 2005|07:56 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  cheerful | ] |
Hi! Just thought that I'd stop in and catch up with everyone and to say hello - but no one is home here?? Maybe you all have been vaporized or translated... So I suppose that I will blog my week and hope that someone someday will read it and feel included in my life this week.
So, Monday was FHE - had a cool one. We took the boat out into the ocean about a mile out (don't worry Mom, we could still see the shoreline) to see the sunset. It was around 6:30pm. We discovered that we were not alone... We were in company of a school of bottle-nosed dolphins! It was awesome to watch them play in the water and waves - leaping out of the water sometimes 5 abreast! We cruised around the ocean following them and them following us. It was fantastic. The sunset was gorgeous: purples, pinks and deep oranges. After a while we headed back in and landed the boat on an island. There we built a campfire and roasted hot dogs, lit off sparklers and firecrackers, ate snacks, played in the water and did a little exploring. My friend got creeped out by a HUGE ghost crab we discovered (remember that Dave and Marti?). Great company of friends, ghost crabs and bugs! Time to leave, rather dark, but the sky was lit by the stars and a half-lit moon, we motored home. Challenging in the dark, as the sand bars are not so easy to detect either day or night. The depth finder on the boat is mounted on the back of the bottom of the boat, so it isn't too handy when the front snags a sandbar. Not terribly perilous, though. On the way home, we wandered into a marina connected to some of the monsterous beach homes oceanside and spotted a HUGE yacht anchored there for the night. It was all lit up inside - great for sneaking a peek into yacht opulance. The girls wanted us to honk to see if anyone was home. Sometimes we have done that and been escorted on a personal tour of spiffy cool boats. Unfortunately that was not the case that night. Drat. No one seemed to be home.
Tuesday we set out crab traps and caught quite a few! We went out and bought 10 lb of large shrimp and 5 dozen ears of corn and had a feast! Nothing can quite compare with the smells of shrimp and crab steaming away, the sound of the tide coming in and the twinkling laughter of family and friends. Wish you guys could drop by for a visit.
Friday we went into the Boardwalk to groove with the crowd. Never plan to go into the Boardwalk until at least 9 or 10pm. That's when things swing into action! It was nice to eat ice cream, dive into thick hot fries coated in salt and vinegar, hear the pounding surf on the left, wander in and out of shops and watch Kirsten play in the sand. They ahve large wooden sand toys - an airplane, a pirate ship, a truck, a train - all life-size and loaded with sticky, sweaty, sandy children! Janelle is amazed at how quickly Kirsten can make friends - within 10 minutes she has a following! It is awesome to see the Christ sand sculptures and stand in quiet reverence to contemplate the Master. If you'd like to see what wonders Mr. Hofman creates year after year, go to http://www.randyhofman.com/ to take a look. Click on Sand Sculptures to see some of his work. You can click on each frame to enlarge it so see it better. This year he has the "All the Law" one and the "All Aboard" one and one very similar to the "Sermon on the Mount".
Saturday I drove Allen's mom back home. She stayed with us for the first 2 weeks. She really likes to come and wishes that she could stay for the whole 5 weeks we go. Next year they will be closing down the campground for an entire year for some major renovations. So we have made reservations at a neighboring campground for 2 weeks and then we will go to Raystown Lake for 2 weeks more. Wonder what renovations they will be doing? The campground has been purchased by a huge landover of west Ocean City. Nice man.
Hope all is well with each of you. Micah, it is good to have you back. Take care everyone and have a wonderful week!
Much love, Carol |
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| Sobering day |
[Jul. 8th, 2005|12:15 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | grateful | ] |
Hi to everyone. It is a sobering day in the world news today, as the news of the 4 transit bombs in England have erupted in the news everywhere. I feel a great sense of sorrow and loss that I share with the world as our hearts knit together in a time of much prayer. love and concern for other human beings. As I perused our blogs of late, we are so busy with our wonderful lives and the joy that abounds in them, I contrasted that with today's tragic events and felt a deep sorrow and a desire to reach out to those whom I love the dearest to let you all know how much your simple lives have a great impact upon my own. Thank you for allowing me to glimpse snatches of your everyday selves and get an opportunity to get to know the you I have never really gotten to know. I love you all. Pray for those who need it the most, whether you know them or you don't - God does and He hears you.
Carol |
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| Paradise Regained |
[Jun. 26th, 2005|08:38 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | relaxed | ] |
Hi ho everyone! Back home from a week on the Appalachian Trail. Took 14 girls (ages 14-15) on a 5 day backpacking trip. They did great - lots of blisters, poison IVY (such familiar territory, eh? Try dealing with it with no Dr. or prednesone...), moodiness, overly heavy packs and WAY too much Ramen and candy. Overall it was delightful. There is something to be said when a young person realizes that they can overcome overwhelming obstacles and come through pretty clean and in relatively good spirits. At the end of the hike, they did a lot of reflecting and sharing which unanimously pointed in the direction of "I didn't think I could do this, boy did I suprise myself!" I celebrated by jumping in the pool with them fully clothed - didn't matter, we were hot and icky! It felt good to loose the 47 lb pack on my back. Doesn't sound like much to drag along all week, but it is strenuous on your body. I was relieved to not have to endure the 'Hiker's Holiday' with the girls this year. The first day of the Summer Solstice (1st day of summer) is celebrated on the AT (Appalachian Trail) in a very distinctive way. It is affectionately known as Naked Hiker Day among the through hikers (they are the ones that start in March and hike from Georgia to Maine non-stop). Could come as quite a shock to a 14 year old girl to walk past that one - the trail is often only 2 feet wide as a general rule. God looks out for the pure in heart. The ATC leadership (AT Club - nat'l group) is trying to crack down on this oddity, but it is kinda tough to report - cell phones are spotty up in the mountains. We finished our hike at the exact middle of the AT - at Pine Grove Furnace. Gearing up for the beach this week. Too much to do, little time to get 'er done. Love to you all and I missed you. Hope you all had a nice Father's Day - happy belated if that's possible... |
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| Comings and goings |
[Jun. 13th, 2005|03:52 pm] |
Crew mates,
Life and times update - Friday night went on a date w/ Allen to the Williams Grove Speedway to see the sprint car races. Clarissa's driver (only her fav because he is 17 and very hot in her opinion) came in 6th. We bought her a decal for her car which made her leap around lepraucan style. His name is Lucas Wolfe and he drives 5W. His car is bright orange. He has been driving since he was 4 and has been beating folks out of the prize money since he was 14. The racetrack is dirt and every time the sprint cars slide around the 4th turn and head down the front straight away there is a wave of dirt and dust that slams into you - talk about redneck good times! You poor Okies don't have such entertainment, but I know that you'd love it if you had the chance. And so in an effort to spread a little culture your way I enclosed a website for you to check out the pictures and get a feel for Sprint Car races. http://www.williamsgrove.com/photos.htm The cars run at about 115 mph. The funky wings on them allow them to slide around every turn and keep from tipping over. Usually when they are on either the front or back straight away's the front ends pop up off the ground and hover forward. Again, the wing shapes keep them stable. More earthy than Nascar, more humble than thunder cars. Does this make any sense to anyone out there?? The wild part of the night was a crash and flip with two sprint cars just coming out of turn #1 and one of the cars went airborn spinning pirouette-style and then disappeared up & over the guard rail and down the hill. Driver was Ok thank to quality roll cages. Car looked quite different coming back to pit row than it did when it left!
Sunday was the dance recital for Clarissa, Laurel, Janelle and Kirsten. All 4 of them have never been in dance until this year. The owner of the dance studio created a new class just for the older girls who had never taken dance but wanted to try. We filled the class with Indoor Guard girls and I am a firm believer that this class helped them learn grace and body coordination that assisted in their undefeated championship title that they recieved at the end of this season. They all want to take dance next year and add a hip-hop class to their schedule. The owner said that she would try to run the 2 classes back to back for them due to their insane schedules in the fall. The recital was good. It was the 28th and final one for the owner. It was a very moving afternoon - she has been an icon in our small community for so many little girls who have become mothers and have sent their little girls to dance with "Miss Becky". Great woman. She has sold the studio to a former student and her mother. They will take good care of us, I'm sure. |
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| Beaten by the game clear up in PA |
[Jun. 6th, 2005|06:53 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hot | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Wicked soundtrack and the oscillating fan... | ] |
Called for the usual Sunday chat (the only day I have time to call my folks) and was unfortunate enough to have called during game one of the Apples to Apples tournament. No one wanted to talk to me (sniffle) as they were all trying to oust Louie from his white blossom throne.
Been working on the attic deep clean finally - 120 today, so I stopped about noon and took a hiatus until 4. Started at 7am, so I got a good 5 hours in. Got a lot of things emptyed out and gone. Feels better knowing that Good Will and the trash meister will be wealthier than I have been for the past 10 years... Actually I have been adding the sweat equity factor in for the past week.
Thunderstorms and heavy yet sporadic rain this evening. Clarissa and Laurel have gone to the HS to sing "uncool songs" for the Baccaulaureate gig. Tomorrow is the last 2 hours of school for the tribe. Then we are back to the relaxing mode of absolutely no schedule unless we feel like it! So awesome.
Any news from Brittany about the Trek? I have been on them twice in the capacity of a Ma and Allen as Pa - very different perspective than hers, I'm sure.
Love from the mango in PA |
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| From Little to BIG |
[Jun. 1st, 2005|01:24 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Smooth Jazz from the satellite | ] |
Dave,
Happy Birthday! Hope that today is full of memories that will warm your soul deep down for years to come.
Went camping for Memorial Day - very relaxing and fun. Thought of all of you, but few and far between were the cell bars... Some sites are better than others for reaching out to hug ya'll.
Is Janelle excited for HS or what?!? She is even better live than memorex - sorry about all your luck!
Louie - your letter to the email clueless dude was priceless - BUT was the issue for real or were you being facetious?
Rob Rumors are plauging the journal - is there any shred of truth in them??
Love you,
C |
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| Finals Week - teacher mode |
[May. 24th, 2005|10:40 am] |
Aloha! Been missing in action - perhaps missing the action is a finer way to slice it... PA is still adrift in 60-65 degree days and I am still waiting to test drive my AC. I think we had one 80 day a few weeks ago - I remember because that's the day I schlepped up to the attic to thaw out with the felines.
I am grading the death-bed repentant students that are just now submitting 25 days of past due homework so that they can qualify for attendance credit this year. Calculating grades and citizenship marks as well. All of this is due for Friday morning at 6am. That is also the day we will be holding our 'Seminary Shekels' Auction. The crowd has garnered $54,000 cumulative to spend. The donations do need some help - so far if nothing else rotates its way in, they will have to battle it out over a set of glow-in-the-dark teeth (oooh), a throw-it-and-it-sticks-to-the-ceiling purple frog (aaah), a set of funky (as in not really usuable) jacks, (ohhh) and a teddy bear in a basket with a matching journal (girlie or what?!?). Whatever happened to the gift cards from the Gap and those old cassette tapes from the 70's? Sent a letter to their parents begging for options. Still need to verify that the authentic auctioneer is still planning on coming to sell our wares.
Another day of cold rain in store. Think that I cannot procrastinate the day of my repentance any longer - aka "Deep Clean the Library" day. Drat about sums that one up...
I got a kick out of reading everyone's top 5 movie classics. What about everyone's top 5 movie BOMBS? Anyone care to post the worst of the worst for you and why?
Love to you all - by the way the Star Wars flick was swell - hope that you enjoy it!
C |
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| Friday - cold and rainy BUT sunny inside!! |
[May. 20th, 2005|01:29 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Anne,
Welcome to the book! Happy to see you finally. It was great to talk to you the other day on the phone.
Will write later, just wanted to say hi to Anne before she thinks I am a Neanderthol and am dismissing her existence - 3 posts and no replies...
Talk to you later,
C |
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| Missed In Action |
[May. 18th, 2005|08:32 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | peaceful | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Sway by the Pussycat Dolls | ] |
Sooo... You missed me?? Splendid! You guys really should watch all that nonsense about eating Goldie's blueberry cakes and all - "If you don't have enough to share with everyone, please leave your treats at home".
It is true - we were camping. The lake was very restful and a great peace to me. It is so cleansing to push the pause button on your life every now and again and mean it. We did not get to take the boat on this trip - seems the starter got fried in the salt water at the beach last summer and refuses to be healed. How many times have we all heard that gentle yet firm advice to lower our salt intake and then we just looked the other way? THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!!!
Yesterday was a fun day - sold systems on both of the appointments I went on - $18,000 worth of AC equipment to the suffering souls round and about. They will sure love next week when it's all installed and the heat and humidity kicks in. It is so rewarding to have a job that helps people feel more comfortable and happy to be at home with their families - I love it. My goal is to be a Million Dollar SalesGIRL in one years time. I have to sell about $84,000 a month to get there. The field is dominated by the guys and there is yet to be one woman in that elite group nationwide. The reward is a huge fat old SuperBowl style ring - too bad that they will have to customize one to fit this dainty girl's tiny yet elegant finger... I am at the $69,000 mark and have sold 10 systems so far. We're getting there.
I am currently evading life via my reading illness. You think that I would learn not to read anymore until my life is boring and useless. Maybe I should follow Spencer about a bit more. (grin) I spent an hour or so in the 110 degree attic with both cats this afternoon escaping my family responsibilities and reading. It was 110 up by the rafters but maybe only 95 down on the floor with us. I was chilly so it felt great. I have only 5 more days of Seminary left - and 7 more chapters to cover. I think I'll make it. It will be nice to sleep in day after day for a while and re-stock up on my late nights with Laurel Letterman.
Love you all!
SD |
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