A Little Time On My Hands

I recently had some fairly extensive surgery. Eleven days ago, to be exact. After spending three days at Univ of VA Med Center, I returned home. I had planned to do SOOO much with my time off work and off teaching seminary. Wow, was I mistaken. I was rather unprepared for how terrible I felt that first week at home. Seriously, taking a shower was like swimming a mile as far as how worn out I got. I hate pain pills...hate the feeling they give me in my head and stomach, so I decided the second day home not to take any more. At all. Which resulted in pain whenever I moved. Sometimes I'd forget and would start to turn over or bend over, and then wonder why I wasn't taking the pills. But overall, it's been a peaceful time. I've slept more in the last week and a half than I have in the past two months, I think. I get worn out very quickly. I'm so happy the surgery was a success and I am being very careful to obey all the doctor's orders for a successful recovery as well.

And now, eleven days later, I'm feeling a little better. But not good enough. Not good enough to organize closets like I planned. Not good enough to organize the storage room. Not good enough to completely clean my cupboards out. Not good enough to take all my grandchildren's pictures and children's family pictures and reorganize them in matching frames that I will spray paint. Not good enough to work in the yard....not even on the porch. Not good enough to pack up Meg's room so Laurie can move in there. Not good enough to take the dog for a walk. Not good enough to even go to church today. I did feel good enough to finally get out of the house yesterday, and my husband took me for a ride. Heavenly Father gave me a gift as we were driving....the "largest" full moon in about twenty years...we saw it rise up along the horizon and then into the sky. Beautiful. But...I didn't feel good enough to walk around anywhere....or to eat anything.

But...I can type. I can write. I can catch up on some correspondence. I can talk with my Mom every day and call my in-laws and catch up on things. I can talk with my children. I can enjoy the Church magazines and scriptures that I love to read. I can write letters to my missionary daughter, Megan. I can write some thank you cards for sweet service given to me and my family by good friends. I can try and finish a crochet project I've had going for almost two years. I can laugh with my grandson, Landon. I can sit with my husband and hold hands and watch some March Madness. I can listen and laugh with Josh. And with his buddies. Oh.....and I can put on some James Taylor and cook banana bread. It's in the oven right now. It wore me out...but there it is...homemade and smelling yummy. Proof that I'm on my way back. And it feels good.

I am so grateful.

Eleven Years of Lubb.

What????? Did Diane really BLOG again???



I am officially blogging. Yes, after months of ignoring my blog, I have been kicked in the pants and now am feeling bad about the moments and thoughts that might have been recorded. I am making ANOTHER commitment. Thanks, Michelle, for the kickstart. You began blogging again today. And Jessie, well, you've put us both to shame.
Soooo....what to write about tonight?
No question.

It is Drew and Steph's 11th Anniversary today. ELEVEN YEARS!!! Wow. These pictures are from last year on their 10th anniversary. I was able to stay with the kiddos overnight, while they escaped and had some much needed COUPLE time.....minus the kids. I sure wish I could have beamed myself down to Mississippi tonight to do it again.

I'm not even sure if they got out....because Kelly wanted to be with me when we called them...and then it got a little late in the day, into the evening. Kelly told me to just wait until tomorrow, because MAYBE, just MAYBE, they got out for a little while just the two of them, and they don't need a call from Mom and Dad during their celebration.

But I am thinking of that day eleven years ago. A beautiful but COLD day in Billings, Montana. We entered the temple - two families brought together by love - and left bound together by covenant. I will NEVER forget my son's face as he held Steph's hand and agreed to forever.
I gained a new daughter that day. Our family of eight was in an instant a family of nine.

Our teeth were chattering, but our smiles were big and our hearts were warm.

love to you both.

forebber and ebber.

Happy 11th Anniversary
Drew and Steph!!

If the Shoe Fits....

Taken tonight at 11pm. At my request to take a picture. Zach Williams and Josh.
Buddies. For a VERY long time. And speaking of long....Zach has had long hair ever since I can remember. LONG hair. And this is how he showed up tonight.
I'm still a little traumatized. You just don't shock an old lady like that.


After Josh spent part of the day at the hospital with his dad today, had a piano lesson, hung out with some friends at Molly's house, had Youth meetings at church, had Sonya over for awhile, where they chalked pictures on the driveway, the day just wasn't full enough for him. So, he asks if his buddy, Zach, can spend the night. I said sure. Josh went to pick him up. Now, Kelly is just now beginning to eat after his shhh.....colonoscopy....today. (don't tell anyone). So he gets a hankerin' for a little ice cream. I called Josh, and he said Zach and he would go to WalMart and pick some up.
No problem. Except Josh ran out without shoes to go pick up Zach. He went into WalMart that way, and was stopped and told he couldn't go in. (go figure, right?) So, Josh "made" shoes, and walked confidently in, where he was stopped again. I'm surprised they even noticed, actually...they are quite fashionable, don't you think?

(and yes, Josh and I had the talk tonight about not driving barefoot)

My All-Star Grandson

My youngest grandson (at least at this moment), David Andrew Hebdon is in love with baseball. Any ball, really, but the absolute winner in his eyes is baseball. Ever since he's been tiny, that's been his toy of choice. He likes the trains, cars, animals, etc...... IF there isn't a baseball around.

May 15, 2010 - I shot these pictures as we watched his big sister, Alli, play her softball game. David came prepared. I love the above picture. Here he is, with a face of determination, seeming to come out of the dugout.

Kimmi and I took turns throwing to him. (well, rolling to him) Here is David in his "I'm ready" stance.

"Put me in, Coach!" (notice how he's holding the glove. Love it)

Intent on the game. David with his papa, my all-star son, Drew.

David - almost 20 months
Drew - 33 years

Steph sent me this picture the other day to my phone. I was in the middle of work at the office, and it made me smile the rest of the day.

Her caption was: "my boy and his baseball....with him wherever he goes"

Just cause....Feel Good pics #4 & #5

June 2009
I was in Georgia visiting Michelle and her family last June. Time for Toby's 3rd birthday.
We all had party hats on, and went outside to see Toby get on and ride his new "Gator". (pics of that later)
Tate Steven Pieracini - just a hair before turning one, is ready to party! He just plopped right down on the cement driveway and couldn't be happier.
Now, he's pushing two years old and learning a new word every day, and getting ready to be a BIG brother in just a few weeks.
Nana loves her Tater Tot.


February 2007
Shamrock was her real name, but she was always Shammie to us. An absolute snow dog. If there was any white stuff on the ground, she wanted to LIVE outside. I thought she was beautiful when she "squinted" whenever the sun hit the white blanket of snow.
Shammie - in this pic she's almost 12 (and a senior citizen in dog years, but always a puppy when it snowed)
We miss you, Sham.

Feel Good Picture #3

Just a pic shot at the side of our garage on Thanksgiving weekend 2009.
Everyone was here. Everyone. A taste of heaven for me.
In this shot, my "single" kids at the time.
In this pic: Megan - age 20, Josh - age 16, me-age (cough-cough),
Kelly (older than dirt) and Laurie - age 25.

Feel Good Picture #2

Had about ten pictures that caught my eye tonight...so I shut my eyes and randomly put a pencil with an eraser against the screen. This is the picture that was under the eraser.
It's a good one.





July 2008 - Hillendale Park, Harrisonburg - Alli, age 5, almost 6

We were at Steph's baby shower for little David. After the festivities, I played with Kimmi and Alli on the playground. I captured this picture of Alli. (I usually call her Alli-Bee)
Love her smile.
(notice the little foot kick. Alli is my girly-girl)