Tag: Texas

Seeing Texas

On By debweeksIn museum, Texas, UncategorizedLeave a comment

One museum at a time.

The girls and I very much enjoy visiting museums.  However, we tend to find a favorite and then go back time and time again.  Not there is anything wrong with doing that, but we are missing out on learning opportunities and gaining new experiences by not exploring other museums.

So, starting this month, the girls and I will be seeing Texas one museum at a time.  Of course most of our museum visits will be in the DFW area, but each month we’ll choose at least one new museum to visit starting with . . . . .

Nasher Sculpture Center Museum

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Of course I’m always interested in hearing from others, so if you have a favorite Texas museum, leave a comment.

Merry Christmas, Wicked Weather

On By debweeksIn Holidays, Snow, storms, Texas, Weather1 Comment

Guess we’re in Texas now :-0

Our first Christmas in Texas was really quite nice.  The girls were excited Christmas morning to discover gifts under our little tree.  Of course it meant more stuff in our small space that have no home, but I’ve managed to find places to put some things and today I’m off to buy a couple more storage items in an effort to get things a little better organized.

Christmas afternoon we me my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and niece at a local movie theater to see the spectacular movie, Chipmunks Road Chip.  Yes, it was your typical Chipmunks movie.  Good music, decent entertainment and an enjoyable afternoon spent with family.

The next day we got to experience Texas weather at its finest.  It was warm.  Quite warm in fact and then the rains moved in.  Shortly after dinner, sirens went off and we headed to the RV clubhouse to take cover.  Fortunately, the tornadoes that moved thru the area were east of us.  Unfortunately, the tornadoes were deadly and there are many families without homes.  I really can’t shouldn’t complain much about our little space knowing that others have lost so much.  We woke up to a dusting of snow, but we have a roof over our heads, heat on this cold day, food to eat and clothes on our back.  Maybe I don’t have as much room or storage space as I would like, but we’re safe and together.  For that I’m truly thankful.

In a few day we’ll celebrate a new year and I’m hoping for some really good things to happen in 2016.

First, Last, TWO WEEKS

On By debweeksIn Holidays, Relocating, TexasLeave a comment

We’ve celebrated 19 Thanksgivings since living in this house.  I’ve hosted about 15 of the 19 Thanksgivings, baking the turkey, ham, making stuffing, mashed potatoes, a variety of vegetables, and desserts.  This year, however, I had our Thanksgiving meal catered.  This was a first for me, but with only two weeks til moving day,

TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!

my time needed to be spent packing and cleaning.

I ordered the food from my favorite grocer, yet it was still a little unnerving for me.  Overall, the food was pretty tasty though and it made Thanksgiving much more relaxing.  Just a few dishes to do and we headed out for another first.

A movie!

We’ve never gone to see a movie on a holiday, but with all the changes happening in our lives these days, it seemed like another fun first to try.

Of course this Thanksgiving was also the last that we will spend in this house.  For a matter-of-fact, it was the last holiday that we will spend in this house.

We’ve made some terrific holiday memories in this house over the years and those memories we will carry with us always.

Typically, with Thanksgiving behind us, I turn my focus to Christmas.  I’m typically dusting off the decorations and decking the halls about now,

but instead I spent the day bagging up more donations, helping hubby dispose of our mattress and box (we really need a new one), tear down the girl’s bedrooms and get them set up in the master bedroom.  I also packed.  I do that daily now.

We made some good progress as we tackled all the things that need to be done before we pull out in two weeks.

TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!

Now time for bed, because tomorrow it’s only 1 week and 6 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to a Family of Four

On By debweeksIn Foster Care, Relocating, Texas4 Comments

On Saturday morning, hubby took FS1 and FS2 to their new foster home.  To say it was an emotional day would be a gross understatement.  FS1 was in tears as the enormity of what was happening and the fact that mom was crying, began to sink in.   From the day we learned we would be moving, I began having conversation with him about what was going on and why they would be leaving our care.  He fluctuated between tears and joy that he was moving to a new foster home.  After all, he has learned that the grass may be green on the other side of the fence.  He left a violent family life for our home and the grass was greener for him here, so why not there.  However, even after several conversations on why he was moving, he still didn’t seem to comprehend the reason he was leaving and thought it was due to his behavior.  It broke my heart even more because I never want him to believe he can do something that would cause anyone to send him away.  So we had another conversation about why he and his brother were leaving and I immediately sent a note to his therapist and asked that she continue to help him understand that we do love him and if it wasn’t for hubby’s new job, they would still be with us.

FS2 just thought he was going bye-bye and very happily waved bye-bye and gave me kisses.  I’m sure he thought he was just going on a little adventure with dad and would see me later.  There is just no way a newly turned two-year old can understand that he isn’t coming back and if we see him again in the future, he probably won’t remember us.  My heart is still breaking and will continue to hurt for quite some time.  I’m guessing his heart will be hurting as well and I wish I could take that hurt away for both of the boys.  The fact is, foster care really SUCKS and these little guys have experienced more hurt than any child should have to endure.  Adding to their hurt is the last thing I ever wanted to do, yet our first responsibility must always be doing what is within the best interest of our family and that is something that anyone going into foster care must always remember.

We were a family of six for 15 1/2 months and now we are back to a family of four getting ready to embark on a journey, that in and of itself is highly emotional.  A journey that begins in 18 days and after the tears have dried, we’ll smile and remember.

36 Days

On By debweeksIn Illinois, Relocating, Texas1 Comment

36 days to get tons of stuff sold

36 days to get packed

36 days to clean

36 days to prepare Georgette for full-time living

36 days take care of all the little things that need to be done

36 days to see people and say so-long, until we meet again

36 days and then we leave our home in Illinois

36 days and we head to our new home in Texas

36 days just isn’t a lot of time

Adventures, The End

On By debweeksIn Family, TravelLeave a comment

After our drive thru the Garden of the Gods, we headed south to Texas.

The drive thru Colorado a mixture of beauty and just okay.  Then we hit New Mexico.  Holy Cow!!!  What beautiful country.

The girls and I were excited to see something other than deer crossing signs.  Like bear crossings.  Elk crossings.  I think we even saw Moose crossing signs.

Of course seeing the signs was exciting.  Not quite sure how I would have felt actually seeing any of these animals in front of my vehicle.

Then we hit Texas.

Ummm!!!!  The drive across the border to Amarillo was not exciting.  There is nothingness there.  Some homes scattered about.  A few hills.  Some farms.  But mostly nothingness.  Miles and miles and miles of nowhere to stop.  That’s really not fun when a bathroom is needed.

We finally hit Amarillo and checked into our hotel.  A short time later my stomach began feeling rough.  Hubby took the 3 oldest to the pool and I stayed in the room, at times doubled over with severe stomach upset.  Was it something I ate?  Had I managed to contract the flu?  I didn’t know and really didn’t care.  I just wanted to feel better.

By morning I was feeling better and we were on the road again.  Destination – the Dallas area.

We spent 2 1/2 days with hubby’s sister, her husband and their granddaughter.  She has two kids in the area and her youngest son flew in from New York to spend the holiday weekend with family.  It was a wonderful time.

The day after Thanksgiving we avoided all shopping and headed to the Dallas Zoo.  After all the times we’ve spent in Dallas, this was our first visit to the zoo.  Hubby and our brother-in-law stayed home while the rest of us spent a few hours in the sunshine taking in the sights and sounds of the zoo.

When taking 7 kids, ages 7 and younger to the zoo, there is bound to be fun, tears, laughter, and a meltdown.  Mostly, it was fun and a nice day out.

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Then it was time to head home.  We had an overnight stop in Springfield, MO where we met up with some dear friends for dinner and visit.  Then our 10 days of travel were over and we were home.

Our trip was met with some challenges.  Traveling with 4 kids isn’t necessarily easy, but mostly we came home with good memories and are glad we hit the road for a few days.