The Next Generation

If you know Big Joe, then you gotta know this is his daughter, Alyssa, making the same face I've seen on Joe for some 18 years now. Alyssa's uncle, Daniel, is in Oklahoma today for the game, and her aunt Sarah is going to be with Yolie at a birthday party today for a kid at church. I've had several folks ask me to return the sidebar, listing my kid's ages and names, but for the moment, as we deal with stuff, or even for the foreseeable future, as I try and blog more about the issues, I think it's best that I protect their privacy even more so nowadays.

I was very careful, when I discussed the domestic violence issue the other day, that I did not mention either the age, nor the sex, of the victim, of course not the name, and as this issue took a weirder turn, a lie from the perpetrator that must now be retracted, that particular event has faded in its intensity as others take precedence. Such is our life.

Big Joe is now 26 and back then, growing up here, his brother, Jesse, was paramount in his life. You wouldn't know it to see them squabble as they did, but for brothers who'd not even met until early adolescence, they sure did bond. Jesse's son, Isaiah is pictured below, cuter than I don't know what.

After a large supper of tacos, Tabby bragging to Dr. Mandy that she'd eaten 7, I can only eat four on a good day, Tabby's a tiny little thing who can put away a great deal of food, our evening settled into total calm and quietness. So much so that I got to sit on the sofa and IM Jesse for awhile, stationed in Texas, not that far from where he was born, we had an interesting conversation via typing. He and I, and his wife are dealing with one of his sibling's challenges at the moment.

We have a very quiet Labor Day weekend ahead of us. I know Chuy and Dubs'll be watching the game, I'm going to help Lily on her SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) project which involves cleaning up the greenhouse, washing it down top to bottom, and readying it for some winter greens, but the best part for me is not having to go anywhere.

Tony'd mowed the front yard and meadow, I'd cleaned the kitchen sparklingly so, and Chuck had gone to town for me to get the polyurethane, no doubt fearing I'd come home with a stain that would offend his sensibilities, and he's very likely right. I'm very happy with his workmanship on my hallway, feeling good about the progress we're making Taking Back Cindy's House.

I want to draw attention to Sharon's post, especially if you're a large adoptive family, or would like to become one. I suppose if you've been reading along, and feel emotionally equipped, or as much as could be possible, then by all means, go for it. The foster care system desperately needs more foster and adopt homes. If God is calling you, or your gut is screaming for you to mind your social consciousness, then honey, do it.

I'm still on fire for getting my little darlings all grown up, but not a bone in my body could handle another child. I'm out. Done. Finished adopting.

There's nothing quite as delicious as that first cup of coffee each morning, unless it's the second one. It fires up each of my tired brain synapses, pulling me awake to enjoy the best part of the day, when I'm optimistic and raring to go, writing an impressive to do list, getting it all done, or at the very least muddling through it all.

I'd cooked eight pounds of pinto beans, down from my all-time high of 12 pounds a couple of years ago, running them through the food processor, adding water, garlic and chili powder, making a paste, versus re-fried with lard which is traditional, but who needs a heart attack via legumes? They're inherently supposed to be healthy. I'd refrigerated that which we didn't use last night, tonight we'll lightly fry (brown) up tortillas to make delicioso burritos, the kids smacking their lips with anticipation. "Do we have enough beans for enchiladas on Sunday?" I was asked last night. Depends on how many burritos are eaten tonight.

But just as I'd spent my earlier years as a Big Mama, building and expanding, now I'm loving the down-sizing and reductions. I peaked several years ago, happily so, but now I'm just as happy watching folks grow up and move on. I have so many plans for my own future, so many roads to travel, so much to do, simply enjoying my grandkids'll be a thrill.