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Adult Children

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Those two words seem at odds for me. There needs to be another term to describe your children when they move out and become adults and yet they will always be my children. If any of you have a better term please let me know!

This past weekend we went to a restaurant where my son, Andrew works. Andy is an amazing artist and a musician. He’ll soon have a degree in fine arts. Right now he’s supporting himself by working a chocolate bar as a cook. He wears a black chefs jacket and a huge smile. He’s happy creating chocolate desserts. I would be happy too working around all that yumminess but that’s another blog posting! I find it difficult to see him working in a kitchen, mixing ingredients, washing dishes as needed. I wish I had tapped into that talent when he was living at home. Maybe I can convince him to make desert at Christmas this year? Andy are you reading this? What do you think?

A year later

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer


Josh drove himself to school this year, didn’t need mom and dad at all! It didn’t matter that we might need him! 🙂 Actually he was being very sweet trying to save us the expense of the trip. So we let him go but the next afternoon we drove up with all the things he couldn’t fit in his car, the necessary things that a college student must have…t.v. and guitar!

He seems to be so happy and I’m sure it’s because we were there and not because we had the t.v. His dorm was experiencing problems with the internet and wouldn’t be fixed until Monday. So even though there is an entire city to explore there wasn’t anything for him to do!

On Sunday we took him to his choice of breakfast dining. He proved to us without a doubt he is a true college student. We went to Denny’s where you can get the Lumberjack special, according to Josh it is the best deal in town.

We had a nice time but what struck me the most was the lack of my tears when we drove away. Last year I cried all the way home–six hours! Okay, I took a break to eat licorice and drink a few Diet Dr. Pepper’s but mostly I cried. This year I knew Josh would be fine, he would find food, friends and pizza. It’s a good feeling to leave your child behind when you have confidence they are doing the right thing. And the trip home was considerably drier!

A year later

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer


Josh drove himself to school this year, didn’t need mom and dad at all! It didn’t matter that we might need him! 🙂 Actually he was being very sweet trying to save us the expense of the trip. So we let him go but the next afternoon we drove up with all the things he couldn’t fit in his car, the necessary things that a college student must have…t.v. and guitar!

He seems to be so happy and I’m sure it’s becasue we were there and not because we had the t.v. His dorm was experiencing problems with the internet and wouldn’t be fixed until Monday. So even though there is an entire city to explore there wasn’t anything for him to do!

On Sunday we took him to his choice of breakfast dining. He proved to us without a doubt he is a true college student. We went to Denny’s where you can get the Lumberjack special, according to Josh it is the best deal in town.

We had a nice time but what struck me the most was the lack of my tears when we drove away. Last year I cried all the way home–six hours! Okay, I took a break to eat licorice and drink a few Diet Dr. Pepper’s but mostly I cried. This year I knew Josh would be fine, he would find food, friends and pizza. It’s a good feeling to leave your child behind when you have confidence they are doing the right thing. And the trip home was considerably drier!

Michigan

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

There is nothing like a good vacation. One without stress or to do lists, where cell phone service is sporadic. We went to Luddington, MI for a few days of rest and as goofy as it sounds we discovered each other again. After spending a year working on rehabbing a house it was nice to talk about things other than nails, grout and paint remover!

Big Sauble Light house

We walked the beach to get here one rainy afternoon and decided to come back the next day on our bikes. They had three families living at this lighthouse at one time. I hope they all got along!

Sunset on the beach at Luddington. I could watch this God action every day of my life!

I tried being artistic with this shot. Oh well, I can say it’s different right?

Later in the afternoon the wind rose and sent waves crashing over the walkway! I didn’t walk out to the end but of course Ed did!

Top Ten Blessings

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

I’ve been tagged by Jennifer Tiszai.


1. A friend who has blessed me:Just one? You have to be kidding I can’t pick just one! My mom, Gail, Barb, Barb, Kathie, Elaine, and a lot more!
2. An unexpected gift: A ring from my husband
3. A kind word shared with me recently: Someone told me I make them laugh.
4. Something that makes me stop and praise God: Sunsets every time.
5. Something I’m looking forward to: cooking in my kitchen
6. A particular part of me I’m pleased with: my quirkiness
7. Something in my life that I wanted but never expected: my ring 🙂
8. A place that moved/moves me: St. George’s Island and the ocean
9. One thing/person that always makes me smile: my kids even though they are no longer little, they make me happy! That included you too Sara, Alyson and Brianna!
10. Most recent “love note” from God: I was reading Jen’s manuscript and it’s as if He jumped out off the page just for me.

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
Anyone want to play along? This is tough but I’m glad I did it. Post yours in the comments or post a link were it can be found.

Benifits of not having a kitchen

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

I’ve been thinking about this for the last few days and this is what I’ve come up with:
no cooking,
no need to worry if your house is a mess if company comes by unexpectedly
no need to buy groceries

When it’s time to put things back in cabinets it will be an opportunity to clean out items I no longer use and give them to someone who might like to try decorating cakes.

Not having the living room is not full of good benefits so far I’m struggling on finding any. I can’t get to my bookcase. If I only had a good book to read I might be able to lose myself in another world for awhile.
But I did get a chance to read a manuscript by Jennifer Tiszai and wow that was an awesome read. Thanks for sharing it with me Jen! I can’t wait to see it published. Check out Jen’s blog, the link is on the left.

Yesterday I had to write an extra chapter for a requested manuscript. Normally that wouldn’t be too hard for me but they were still tearing out flooring and cabinets in the kitchen. AND one of the workers kept singing John Jacob Jinglehimer Schmidt over and over and over. I did get my work finished but it made for an interesting day, somehow the song found it’s way into the chapter but I did delete that section before sending it on to my agent.
Below are shots of my kitchen.


Broken Pipes

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

I am so blessed. As a child of God I can scream and complain about my situation right now. I can stamp my feet and hold my breath and yet know that my Father will still love me when I’m finished with my tantrum. And I know that there must be yet another lesson I’m supposed to be learning or maybe I’m supposed to be a light to my non Christian friends. The one’s that always say ‘this stuff shouldn’t happen to you and your family. You’re such good Christians and good people.’ So if you’re saying those things about us please stop.

So what happened?
Ed and I finally found a few days to go on vacation. We filled the trailer with water from our back water faucet. The water ran almost an hour. Then with huge smiles thinking about the trip we were planning we came inside to find WATER! Almost an inch of it all over the kitchen floor and into the living room. We mopped and used a carpet machine, blew a fan and ran a dehumidifier but no use. The laminate floor in the kitchen is ruined. The carpet had to be pulled back to dry. Right now the restoration company is ripping up my beautiful floor and removing cabinets and banging holes in the wall. We have been told we cannot leave unless there is someone here everyday to let them into the house.  So our vacation is over before it began. Could we go later? Probably not. Our workforce is returning to school and our house sitter (our son) is returning to college so there won’t be anyone to watch the pets.

So today I’m sinking in my pity party pool. But today I also know God loves me. He didn’t do this to ruin my vacation but why did he allow it to happen? Maybe I was supposed to clean under that stove last week. 🙂

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

We’re back home. Not from a fun vacation but a trip to the ER and a three day stay at the hospital. Not a place you’d want to visit or even stay over night! The nurses are great but no matter how often you hear, “Is there anything I can get for you?” It still doesn’t feel like a five star hotel–no matter that it will cost more than one!
And the food! Oh my I was so glad I wasn’t the one required to eat that cup of cooked spinach without any seasoning. It’s a shame, spinach can be good just not when it comes out of can. And is oatmeal supposed to be gray?

My husband was a trouper though he ate what he was supposed to–even the mac and cheese which he dislikes. Anything that might make him get released sooner he was willing to do. Turns out all that snoring I complain about is probably the cause of more than a zillion nights of me sleeping on the couch. He stops breathing and makes his heart rate go ziggy. So in our future is a night at a sleep study. Until then I will be happy to hear him snore next to me.