GRADUATION

I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry! YA RIGHT! I can't believe it, we have made it through and have a boy graduating, WOW, it is weird, I am really getting up there, my parents were fricken old when I graduated. I hope the weather holds out and is OK and I hope I don't hurt too many people's feelings before this is all over with. I get a little testy when planning big events......I never used to be this way, it is a new thing, I hope my family still loves me until I get through this stage.

Garrett is going to live out back in the barbershop......so he can do laundry and learn to be on his own....yeah we'll see how that goes. I am not having extreme sadness or anxiety because he is not leaving. Barton County Community College MWF and work TT. I think he is smart to do this for a semester, he really has no idea what he wants to study.....so this is a smart way to start. I really am proud of him.

I have always been that mom that wants her kids to live close by and come by in the morning for coffee, and the grandkids walkin here after school for cookies and milk. I just want them to be good parents and husbands, you know you can't go to school to learn that. I would never tell them to not go to school or make them think they couldn't go to whatever college they could. I would find the money and a way.......so I wasn't surprised to hear Garrett's plans. He is my son and I think he likes it here for now! I truly always thought he would play ball, I am learning that the little map I had in my head is an etch a scetch. He will make his own choices, it just might be better than the map I had goin on!! But don't you think for one minute that I won't get my 2 cents in.

Planning on a fun weekend with family and friends. Anyone that knows who we are and would like to come join us is invited. There will be great food, great people and I am sure some good ole laughter too. A friend helped me out with a picture video, it is so great and means so much to me and I know Garrett is gonna love it! Thank You so Much Karren. You are so dear to me! Please stop by and say HI!

Give me a hug next time you see me.........I never act like I need one, but always do! LOL.

Till next time...Rhonda

Went Skiing!

Finally feel rested enough to write to you about our ski trip,
My boots didn't hurt my feet too bad this year, but walkin in them just ruins me for skiing! My husband just doesn't get it, I am like really kinda mad at him so I am going to move on............ My family can do anything, they don't get tired they don't fall down, and if they do, they pop right up, if you are a child or a fat lady or just can't ski as well, well they just simply don't have the time or patience for you! I will say I am proud that they all ski so well, I mean it , they are really good skiers. I can ski pretty well, but if I fall it is work to get back up without hurtin people and well ya know peein my pants. It was so flippin hot, I can't even tell you. I was soakin wet with sweat from just walkin in my BOOTS from the far parking lot to the slope. BITTER holy cow I am tellin ya!!!! Kai and Somer felt the same way. At one point we stopped to rest and took off our coats and laid in the snow, our faces and hands in the snow, just to cool down. If anyone else that was on the trip was writing this, it would be way different, I think they all had a wonderful time, the snow was great, the weather was great, and they were with their cousins, always a great time!! There was no naked skiing but there could have been for sure and they wouldn't have been cold.

The positive was Barry taught the girls to ski, and they did great. They hated the first day too, but the second was better and the third was great. There were little kids everywhere, it made it difficult to ski! By the third day they were good enough to ski blues with the others on the less busy side of the mountain. I quit after the first day, I got sick and didn't get any sleep the whole time I was there, I was a wreck. I guess I have never been affected like that from the altitude.

I shopped Red River and that was great, that is a wonderful town and the restaurants were great also. The people are so nice and they say there is absolutely no crime there. They all have dogs, in their shops. It was just cool. Even the Saloon had a dog. The kids had a great time as you can tell if you have seen the pictures. It is a beautiful place and I want to go back, and not be sick and maybe not with my family LOL!!!

Taking the girls was the best part, I really enjoyed both of them, very much. The last day it was just my family and the girls and they got to feed some wild deer that had come down from the mountain, there were torch light skiers that night and fireworks. It was peaceful and beautiful.

I definitely recommend the area for vacation, beautiful!

Bye all, Rhonda

Gong Skiing!!

I am ready, New Mexico here we come. I have been treadmillin it everyday in hopes of no swelling to my legs when we get there. It is impossible for me to ski if my leg swells, please no swelling in my leg, I am really excited and I have no idea why because it is a pain in the ass for me, pack the house, takin girlfriends and the whole fam damily is goin. God help me( you know they are sayin the same) There will not be room for one more thing in our Suburban, I have decided to buy all grocery once we get there and Barry and I will probably argue, at least once PSHTT!!! Maybe I should stay home, now I am talkin myself out of it, just kiddin, I have been hearing rumor of naked skiing, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Once you finally let go and know with out a doubt that these are 6 boys who know exactly how to act and have been preached at their entire lives, when they get together, I don't even try to control the situation and you better just be ready for anything, I am not kiddin. The excitment is at an all time high with 6 days left in the count down. SOOOOO here we go, and I better pack some DEPENDS because there will be a lot of laughter, hopefully I won't miss it all sitin at the lodge like last year! If that is the case, I have decided I might drink the whole time, (which is TABOO) with the parents, who gives a crap, I will, to say the least, be disappointed if I can't join them on the slopes!!

LOve YalLL!!!

RHONDA

Valentine's

What great fun I had today, getting Valentine's for the girlfriends. I really like getting girl stuff. I am not good with the mushy stuff, so I make them stuff or buy them stuff. I have really enjoyed it. I just remembered how much I loved "THINGS" at their age, even if it stupid at least someone is thinkin of ya!!!! I also got my boys chocolate, and baked Barry a heart cake.

Time has flown by me and I feel like I have so much I need to accomplish, finish basketball, with my head up and chest out!!! Then it is Baseball, and then guess what, Garrett's graduation, and I better get busy helping him plan a future, I mean it is time. Barry and I talked tonight and laughed at how much the last4 or 5 years have changed us so much. We have been through so much that now we realize the only prayers or aspirations for our lives and our children's lives is absolute happiness. Enjoying the rest is not easy but it is what I so desperately want for us. You spend so much time worrying about their fate, will they be successful, will they be good husbands and fathers, have I been a good parent, they need to love others, no they need to not be around certain people, are they doing things they shouldn't, what do I not know about, ect. ect. and now I am exhausted and finally realize that I know that I know that I know, whatever comes....... we will make it through....... we are close, we are strong and we are overcomers. We aren't perfect but we definately know God is in control even when things are bad. Staying married is a choice we make everyday, loving our family is also a choice we make every day, not easy at times but ways we learn to grow. We all love to be naughty, ornery, happy, but never cross the line, {my fingers are crossed} I would like to think we are good role models but honestly we are just doin our best. We have experiences that are gold.



Loving Valentine's day, and looking forward to a spring break ski trip, should we take the girlfriends? That is the discussion this week, I'll let ya know. My whole family is going, 16 of us. I am going to try to ski again, so I have a month to get in a little shape, We'll see how that goes!

Later, Rhonda

The Minihans! And Twin Brother Brett!

Staci, Ron , Morgan and Samantha Minihan live in Topeka, Morgan goes to school at Emporia and Sam is a Seeman Viking in Topeka. Brett lives in Florida, and is in Real Estate!

We love these girls, fun-beautiful-smart, what not to love!

Some of my favorites!

Garrett flyin high, Justin entertaining the dug out and Sam with his b-ball team!

Family Pictures

This may seem odd because I have no idea how to arrange these pictures. My brother and his wife Darla. Their boys Clint and Cole, with the lips on. The little picture, if you have glasses, is my sisters family.

Remembering a Moment

I have a new client that has moved here, have you ever met someone who has some of the same life experiences. This young girl began telling me a story about her nephew being born , and how that was the first time she knew what love was. I had the exact same experience. I still to this day will never forget that feeling. I was young, maybe 20 or so and my nephew Nathan was born. I will never forget that for all of eternity. I knew what love was that moment. He always smiled and laughed every time I held him, I mean it was something special. It was a great memory that I had not thought of in years. Then, I have fallen in love several times since. 5 nephews and 3 sons. My nickname is LU LU . Don't ask me why, but that is what my nephews have always called me. Just today a window popped up on facebook that said LULU. Just like Nathan was 2 years old again and he was seeing me come in the front door. Thanks for that little reminder God!! The only complaint is now that they are older the best I get sometimes is a hug goodnight and i love you, or an accidental text " hi cutie". followed by a second text "oops wrong person". Once again I am thankful for what the Lord has so lovingly given me! I will take those reminders everyday of the week! I am sure that most mothers will agree with me that there is a huge difference in Romantic love and pure innocent connection with you and your babies. I can only imagine what a grandchild will be like. I can just imagine that for quite awhile, if ya know what I mean. I sure miss my grandmas. Especially my MEE MEE. She always told me I was her favorite, and then when she died I found out that my brother and sister felt the same way. That's a special lady right there. Well I just wanted the memory down on here and if I knew how to get a picture off facebook and put it on here I would, maybe I will work on that tomorrow. Have a praiseworthy week, I will frickin try!!! LOL

Rhonda