IN LIKE A LION ... OUT LIKE A LION

I haven't been much for blogging lately I've noticed. I got busy with school and I have felt like I am out of the loop. The last few months I felt like I was watching everything happen from outside and that I wasn't part of it. It's all catching up to me now.

March was a hectic month. It started off crazy and ended just the same and everyday in between was crazy too. Poor Dal ended up suspended from school, which turned into the rest of the year suspension. (Kids don't take a pocket knife to school. It is VERY bad!) He felt like he needed it to protect his classmates in case of a lock down. Ciara was sick the first half of the month. Every time I thought she was getting better, it would come back. Finally we figured out she had an ear infection when one of her drums popped. Poor little bug never even complained about her ears hurting. Ky also ended up with 2 days of in-school suspension, because her teacher let her and her friend out of class early to get on the bus and then told his wife (a school administrator) and turns out it was sluffing. The kids and I went out to Colorado at the end of the month and after 10 hours of driving we were stuck in Rawlins, WY. We had to spend the night there and while Randy was at work he learned that it was his last week working as layoffs came around. We had fun for the very short time we were in Colorado with Kris and the kids. Kris and I even made a bunch of flower clips that are so stinkin' cute!

April has been a bit better, and it's been that time to really reflect on our blessings. Randy is looking for work and I finished school 2 weeks ago and passed my state boards last week. I am now officially waiting for my license. (comes in the mail?!) I am very glad to be done and excited to do something with it. I still feel like I need some more practice as it was hard to get nail clients at school with the hair girls doing the scheduling. Needless to say I got a lot of practice doing pedicures!!! LOL But since I am done and love doing glitter toes I am doing those and doing glitter toe parties if anybody is interested.

Here is how a party works ...

Hostess gets a free set when she has 5 people come and get toes done!!! Simple, and they are just $20/set!!! The glitter toes are basically gel toes with glitter and they last anywhere from 3-8 weeks. 3-4 weeks is about the time you like to have them off since you can see where the nail is growing out. But I have had some people who kept theirs on for 8 weeks.

We have really enjoyed the sunshine this week and have loved the moisture as it has made our grass the most beautiful green!!!! LOVE IT! Of course this weekend isn't looking so sunny, but it's about time for some more rain ... I can put off watering my lawn a little longer!

JEFF MITCHELL

In Loving Memory

August 30, 1968 - April 4, 2009

Jeffrey James Mitchell

Yesterday morning I received a call from my mom telling me that Jeff had died. Unfortunately the home he was living in had burned down while he slept. As my heart breaks for my youngest brother and the rest of Jeff's family I have reflected about the past and about Jeff and the role he has had in my life. My mom and Jeff married when I was 12. And this man took upon himself the responsibility of husband and father of 4 children. He did this at the mere age of just 20 years old. I can only now imagine the burden he carried. I am sure that I didn't make it any easier for him either as I was not happy about the marriage.

I now would like to share some of the great things about Jeff.

Jeff worked hard!

He always worked hard even when it was very physically challenging for him, to provide for his family.

Jeff loved the outdoors!

He took us hunting, camping, 4-wheeling, shooting, and helped us to learn to love the outdoors. Even the very far away outdoors! Who knew that Deep Creek could be so much fun!

Jeff was an awesome cook!

I had never liked fish or wild game until Jeff cooked it. He had lost most of his taste buds because of medications to treat his allergies and so everything he cooked was very seasoned. Deer, goose, duck, catfish, and so much more always tasted great when he cooked. When we were out camping it was common for us to shoot cotton-tail and grouse and cook it over a fire and sometimes it was our favorite meals. BTW it really does taste like chicken ... with lots of flavor.

Jeff looked out for his family!

You don't mess with family. I knew that as long as Jeff was around that you didn't mess with us and expect to get away with it.

Jeff could fix most anything!

Even though sometimes it may have been with duct tape! LOL He was very mechanical and would work to fix up vehicles and other things in his spare time.

Jeff saw a lot of this country!

And he loved all of it. He was an OTR truck driver and seemed to enjoy it. He didn't complain about it and when he was home he didn't complain about having to drive to other places even though that was what he did all week.

It has been quite a few years since I have seen Jeff. The last time I saw him was at his wedding reception and as I walked up to him his eyes filled with tears and he told me he loved me and gave me a big hug! I knew that he still loved and cared for me and my siblings.

Thank you Jeff for your all you have given to us and taught us. To his family my feelings for you are to feel love and peace in his passing.