Knitted hearts

*written over a month ago! Just found in my posts*

Yesterday Seth and I went to our college's homecoming. We just had Maggie b/c Brock was at a party and Luke went to grandma's, so it was just us and the girl. We arrived just as the game was starting and were walking up to the line to pay and I saw some of my college friends. I called out to them and much giggling and hugging started. And pretty much didn't stop for two hours. We talked about the old days. And laughed! Lisa W. and Brittany and I were in our own world for a little while. I could almost smell Rice Hall. We laughed of procrastinating papers and food runs. We laughed about the biggest word processor in the world.


It was really great to revisit those memories.The best part, however, was to see what God has done in each person life today. The young people I knew have been replaced by strong, confident, peaceful people. They are no longer searching for who they are going to be, as it looks good on them.As we were coming home I kept thinking about friendships. I've been so fortunate as to have had good friends over the years. I have some of the most amazing women in my life. GREAT friends who I love more than my luggage. But today I couldn't stop thinking about my *old* friends. I am always amazed when those friendships are revisited and you pick up right where you left off. My friendship with my sweet friend, Stacy, is the same way. We have gone *gasp* over a year without seeing each other. Life just gets so crazy, but seriously. When we meet up, we laugh about the old times and talk about our lives as if we'd seen each other everyday.

My heart has been knitted together with my old friends. I love them. They walked with me during difficult times; live changing times. We knew each other when we were so sure of ourselves and were still dreaming of what might become of our lives. We were full of dreams and possibilities. We saw failures and loved each other through them.

Ups and downs.
Happiness and grieving.
Weave in here.
Weave out there.
The knitting of hearts.

I love how God does that.

The One where I ask and answer my own questions

Has it been forever since I posted?
--yes, it has.

Have I been too tired to post?
--you got it.

Are my migraines trying to kill me?
--yes.

Was the migraine medicine making me a little loopy?
-- No. It was making me a lot loopy. In fact, my memory was going to pot. I was freaked out.

Did I call the doctor and beg to be taken off this medicine 6 weeks ago?
--yes.

Did he do it?
--no.

Did he about have a fit when I went for my last appointment and told him I was at stop lights and couldn't remember where I was going and also forgot an entire trip to Virginia?
--yes.

Did I want to scream that I'd already told the nurse all of this 6 WEEKS AGO?
--yes.

Was I a good girl and didn't freak out?
--yes.

Was my new medicine super cheap?
--YEP!

Are we moving on to a new subject?
--yes.

Is football season FINALLY over?
--Yes, thank you, Jesus, it is.

Was this the longest football season of my 12yrs of football seasons?
--yes it was.

Why was the longest season?
--b/c my kids were gone until 7pm every night. I missed seeing there sweet little faces. :)

Are the Garingers so stinking happy to see each other at 5 o'clock like a normal family.
--yes. We even help the kids with their homework. Cuz, we are good like that.

Did the kids have a great 1st quarter in spite of our spotty parenting?
--Yes. Cuz they are good like that.

Did I get all glassy eyed and happy when the teacher told me Luke was a "model student" that I didn't see the "Can you buy and cook the class turkey?" coming?
--yes, I did.

Can I find a turkey for less than $30?
--nope.

Did we have a super fun time on Halloween with our super awesome friends the McDaniels?
--yes. Only my sweet friend was not feeling well, but she took my kids out to get their pictures taken anyway. Cuz she is REALLY good like that.

Are the sneak peeks that I've gotten of the above mentioned pictures so incredible that it makes me want to drive to her house and beg her to show me the rest?
--Yes, but I've restrained myself. I am going to her house on Friday....so I hope to keep restraining.

Did my bff Tonya Kay and I make our own laundry soap?
--yes, we did and it was so much fun!

Will I share the recipe?
--of course! I am not stingy. Just ask in my comments and I will email it to you!

Do I need to get to work?
--yes.

Sunday at the Lake

We had a blast at the lake on Sunday. Our SS class had a potluck and we joined in.

Lest you think I am leaving Brock out, he would only hold still for *one* picture.

The other two are total hams. I wonder where they got that from. Seth was being pretty funny, too.

Field trip fun

Hello, my name is Luke. I am going on a field trip. I am so excited, I am about to squeal.

My mom can't ride the bus with me, b/c there are 4,000 kids, but she is following in the car.

I am making my own pizza. Well, me and this girl.

He is bringing the sauce.

I clap for cheese.

I worked hard. It was good.

Very Good.

Then I had to do the dishes!

This is Jake. He works for CiCi's. They were amazing!

My mom went with me. Don't look at her hair. It rained really hard. I think she is still super cute. And funny. And nice. :)

Strumming tunes by the campfire

Singing tunes on the train

Still singing-I loved that guitar

Crawling on the floor was fun.

Would you stop taking my picture already????

I am 45 inches tall.

Cooking on the prairie.

Riding the train.

I had a really fun day with my mom. I think she had fun to only she is really out of "shape" because she fell asleep on the couch at 7 last night. And she is still complaining today about how teachers should get paid more $ or something like that b/c apparently it is hard work. :)

Iowa Trip

We stopped by a sunflower patch in Kansas



There were lots and lots of bees

We had a border war



Jeff did some carrying

Lily showed her mom where to go (my sister Randi Lynn)

Mags and Jadelin

Dancing fools

Grandma and Joel

Joel Maggie and Jadelin

Our Joel

Maggie and Joel

My sister Charity and Joel

My brother Nate

Nate and Chris Ann

Maggie, her gold chain, and my youngest brother, Caleb

Me and my Dad

My brother Nate

Caleb aka dorky and me

It was a quick 24 hour visit and just Maggie and I went. We got to visit our newest nephew, Joel.

I also got to go out to my dad's house and see my younger siblings minus Josh. We all became facebook friends because they really, really wanted to. They practically begged me to accept their friend requests. We got to visit with Grandma. She doesn't have facebook. How lame.

:)

Friday Night Lights

I love watching Seth Coach. He's good. And the boys always look at him like he knows just about everything. Which I tend to believe. :)

My boy and his *brandnewmydaddy'school* sweatshirt!!

Me and my new friend Carmen. She grew up with and we super good friends with my IRL friend Candy noroomtoswingacat.blogspot.com

Luke and Mags. (Does this girl ALWAYS have on some piece of random jewelry?)

Coach Garinger and the water boy.

Water boys} Brock and Christian

Country Birthday

Mags and her girls


Luke had to tag along.

Luke's horse served as the present express

My girl. So big. Someday she'll rethink the gold.

She found my circa 1985 gold chain in my jewelry box and hasn't taken it off.

I'll get it off one night in her sleep. I have plans to mail it in to Gold.com and get at least

$2 for it.

Maggie turned 7 this month. And... this month is almost over so I'd better get the pictures posted. We usually do a mother/daughter birthday breakfast for Maggie's birthday, but this year she wanted a birthday party with her school friends. You know, the school that is over an hour away. Yeah, that is the one. Sure, no problem. I am on it.

My super awesome office manager, Margie, made the cake for me. I think she loves me and I know Jesus loves her extra special for taking pity on a poor overworked mother. (that's me in case you aren't following along).

Luke and I rode up with Candy @ noroomtoswingacat.blogspot. to Bern b/c she is from that area and she was heading home for the weekend. Maggie wanted the party @ the Bern park so we loaded a cake, some juice boxes and made it happen. Presents, cake and a few games of Red rover and Horsey, Horsey, Pig. Bing, bang, boom. Party over.

We did all this right before the big homecoming football game. I love small town live.