Ta'Rell's Garden

So my four year old shadow and I decided to start a garden.



We get the other kids involved when they get home from school, but it's mainly Ta'Rell's project, as she doesn't start school until next year. This allows her to do all the things that are so developmentally important to preschoolers, including playing in the dirt. Ta'Rell and her sisters will only be with us temporarily, but the Joneses are always prepared for longer if necessary. All of the children love working in the garden, and it also allows them to eat healthy fresh produce, and we save money. We've taken some of the elements from the yard that were eye sores that George promised to get rid of, but remain after several months. We plan to use the old rusted wheel barrow as a raised garden box for our herb garden.



We took some old tiles, that were left in the yard at our last house (that George brought with us for some reason) and we broke them to create a broken tile walkway that runs through the middle of our garden.



An old used tire will become a planter for some greenery. We've created a sitting area that will have taller surrounding plants and a brick walkway to get to the sitting area without stepping on our plants.



We are currently preparing the ground to transplant our seedlings to the fertile ground. Where we live there are tons of rabbits, so we will need do something to prevent the rabbits from feasting on our vegetation without harming them or our vegetables. Our neighbor across the street has a nursery, so we will solicit her help with keeping the rabbits away. Ta'Rell is excited to get up every day and water her plants. She talks to them and encourages her older sisters and cousin to love the plants, not harm them. They see her passion for the plants, and they listen to what she tells them. We look forward to harvest season (just around the Thanksgiving Holiday), so that we can bring some items from our garden to our table.

A lot to chew

Well folks, we are almost used to the new larger version of the Jones Household. With George only home on the weekends, I've had to care for all four children by myself. His version of interacting with girls is very different from mine. Our cultural differences (he's a southerner I'm a CA girl) sometimes become a bit of a challenge. When he goes places, he will only invite Dorian to tag along and leave the girls home with me. While I can understand he wants some alone time with just our son, it eliminates any possibilities of bonding with the girls. He is the only father figure they will have experienced in their lives thus far, and in our conversations I have made it clear my concern with his lack of interaction with them. The girls have yet to figure out how to interact with him, and when he comes home on the weekends they are stand-offish with him. I make every attempt to make everyone comfortable, but we're not there yet. The 8 year old sometimes cries and wants to return to the chaos she once called home. The home where they often missed meals, were left behind with others to care for them. Missed school causing them to be held back, as well as never seeing the doctor for any illnesses or injuries. As crazy as that may sound to some of us, the chaos she once lived in is familiar to her. The structure of our home and expectation of good behavior, appropriate language and homework is a challenge for her to get used to. Her conversations with her mother are often negative comments to build her case of why she should be allowed to return home. Her mother (27 with 7 children), takes the words of an 8 year old literally instead of reading between the lines. The children have been easier to get used to, it's dealing with the rest of their family that becomes a challenge at times.

With all that is going on in our house, I am preparing myself to take on Orangeview's largest consulting contract thus far. This contract extends over the course of 12 months, and has the ability to be renewed annually as long as funding is available. I am more than excited. We will be moving into an office building October 1st and hiring additional staff with this contract. I will also began school October 25th, so there is a lot to manage in such a short time, however I'm certain I will be able to handle it all. When God blesses, it's often a windfall and you simply have to open your arms and embrace it all.

Papa Bill 8/2/42 - 9/9/10

Last Wednesday I had an appointment to meet with my godmother and completely forgot about our meeting. What was so unusual was that we both forgot. Our meeting was to take care of paperwork so she would have the authority to sign documents and handle business for her ailing husband. I left her a message that evening when I remembered our missed meeting. She called me the next morning shortly after 9am. I answered the phone expecting her to discuss rescheduling of our last meeting when her voice cracked and I could hear she was crying. She then gave me the worst news I'm sure she has ever had to give, her husband of 34 years had passed less than 2 hours prior. As I scrambled to get dressed to run to my best friend's job to inform her about her father, my heart sunk to the pit of my stomach. It seems just as it was sinking, there was a beam of hope and joy. He would no longer suffer the stiffness of the shell of a body that had been stricken with Parkinson's Disease. His life here on Earth had certainly earned him a place in Heaven, and he was now rejoicing with angels and family members who had gone on before him. His passing occurred only a couple days before my own wedding anniversary, and a week prior to his own 34th year anniversary. As George and I traveled to drop the kids off at their mothers, I began to cry uncontrollably. George looked at me wondering what was wrong. We had planned this wonderful weekend getaway, and here I was sobbing like a baby. It took a day, but it had finally hit me that the man who had given me off beat marital advice (that proved to be more valuable than I knew at the time), was gone forever. I told Dorian that his Papa Bill was gone, and he hung his head and said, "but I didn't get to tell him bye." At 7, he still experienced the same challenge we have as adults when we loose a loved one. I now was able to tell him something my mother had never knew to tell me at 6 years old when my brother died. I simply told him, if you live a life as good as Papa Bill did, you didn't need to say goodbye. Your last "see you later" will suffice, and you will have a spot in heaven along with Papa Bill. As we prepare for his home going memorial service tomorrow, I comforted by the very words I told my 7 year old. It's not "good bye", it's "see you later."

Three Little Girls...OMG!!!

Yesterday, George and I became the legal guardians of 3 little girls, ages 4,5 & 8 years. Knowing the 5 year old needed her shots and dental appointment prior to being admitted into kindergarten, I was proactive and set all her medical appointments a week prior to their arrival. I moved Dorian's room to what was once our guest room, took the furniture out the guest room (it still sits in my sitting room up against a wall) and moved in the three beds into Dorian's old room. They each have one pair of shoes (that are just about worn), and all of their clothes were filthy. I know it's only been one day, but I am buried in little pink socks and dresses that all need washing and matching to the right little girl. This morning we were running behind (as it's gonna take time to get used to having to get three extra people dressed and ready each day), and I mixed up the clothes. There were little bodies lying on the floor attempting to wiggle their way into pants that were too tight, and others walking around with pants falling off asking me where is a belt. My new haircut requires that I take time to actually comb my hair, but somehow I think I'm going to have to return to curls or braids or something that requires less of my attention. I started classes on Monday (thank God they're online courses), however with no financial aid yet, and three extra children who require my time, energy and money I just may have to drop these classes and add them back into my schedule next summer. That would leave me starting classes in 8 weeks instead of this past Monday. It pushes me back an extra two months from my degree at the end of next summer, but it's just 8 weeks, and these girls need my attention.
George called this morning with his usual friendly banter, but with three little girls still at home (my goal is to have all of their paperwork and shots taken care of to start school on Monday next week), I was in no mood to be harassed. He quickly asked if I was mad at him, then I reminded him I was in the middle of getting the girls settled in...alone. I imagine over the next 6-8 weeks the girls should be settled, as well as the rest of us, and we'll get back to being the Joneses as usual...what ever that means!