Buds.

Did I ever say how much I adore my boys'

friends . . . They are simply THE most 

amazing group of people EVER.  All of

my boys have chosen awesome forever

friends.  This weekend Sam went to a 

prom-style birthday party for one of his

friends.  This group of friends is a really

close-knit group and do most everything

together.  If they are not eating and

sleeping at our home, then they are over

at one of the others home.  I.love.that.

Jameal is 6'8 and Sam is 5'7.  It took a

little doing, but it looks like Sam is 

finally breathing air up there . . . 

Baseball Time.

Out of our four boys, Luke is our bestest

athlete.  Give him a ball, racket, bat, or

club, he is a natural.  The Mom part of me

cannot believe that my youngest boy is

starting high school next year.  Did I blink

or something?!?  Luke is going to try out

for Desert Oasis baseball team.  He will

have an extremely busy summer ahead 

of him.  That means he would play American

Legion ball this summer . . . a game almost

every single day with practice every single

day!!!

While it is beyond our imaginations

to believe that our Dad is not here

to coach our Luke, we are so incredibly

thankful for our Uncle Jeff.  He has taken

Luke under his wing and is going to work

with him every.single.day until tryouts.

Once again, we continue to be amazed

and incredibly thankful for our wonderful

family and friends who have stepped up

to the plate in so very many ways.  We

seriously do.not know what in the world

we would do without them.  While I still

struggle to even accept the reality of it

all, there are those who have and have 

been such a blessing to our family in 

more ways than anyone could ever

imagine.

I struggle with the fact that my boys

earthly father is in Heaven.  It is beyond

my comprehension that our wonderful

Dad will not be here for Luke's baseball

games, has not here for Sam's golf

tournaments this season, is not here to

root Tim on with his guitar playing and

career choices, is not here to see how Zach

has managed to work and go to school

this semester.  Has not seen Luke's 

incredibly darling little friend Faith or

meet her amazing family.  I do not like

the fact that Mike has not been here to

talk about my dissertation or the fact

that tomorrow is my last principal interview

or the fact that I am working on Chapters

4 and 5 . . . 

Pretty crazy to even begin to comprehend it

all . . . Thankfully, I do not need to worry

about carrying that burden all alone!!

My Sam.

All of my boys are . . . quite simply put . . . AMAZING!!

Each of them have a special place in my heart.  I wanted to

give a shout out to Sam!  He is such a wonderful person!

He has only needs to earn 10 more credits and he will

have his Associate's Degree.  He works hard and does an

amazing job at everything he tries.  He has had a different

golf season this year for many reasons, yet has remained

committed to his team . . . even in the most difficult 

moments.  He is smart, kind, loving, and Christlike.  He

sees the good in just about EVERYONE.  I could not 

be prouder of a seventeen year old if I tried.  He loves

me in spite of myself and is my psychologist, computer

wizard, photographer, accountabler, and much more

all rolled into one ball.

As I walk this unfamiliar journey, I have become so

very much more aware of why our Heavenly Father

has placed different individuals in my life.  He certainly

knew what He was doing when he gave me the

gift of this guy.  I continue to be blessed by him daily

and grateful for the wonderful young man he is!  I

do so wish that our Dad could be here to witness Sam.

It is difficult to imagine the milestones my boys will

pass through without their amazing Dad.  I will

continue to be thankful for my many, many blessings,

especially the gift of my amazing boys.

Boys Will Be Boys.

 Sam had ONE friend over tonight . . . 

 Boys always means food . . . and

lots and lots and lots of it!!!

Boys always means bacon . . . and

lots and lots and lots of it!!!

I am so thrilled that our boys have

such amazing friends.  I am so glad

that they choose to hang out at our

house.  I am so glad that we have

so many blessings . . . 

S&L Marathon.

The younger two of the Tietjen Boy Crew

have been on a non-stop.24/7.whirlwind of

fun for the past two days straight including

spend the nights, pizza, soda, Les Mis,

Mind Craft, Disc Golf, hanging out at

the park, midnight runs to Taco Bell,

Starbucks coffee shots . . . The list could

go on and on.  I do so love our boys' friends

and am glad that they love to hang out

here.  Every few hours, I would just

sweep the house for pizza crust, paper

plates, empty soda cans, and paper cups.

All of the guys are wonderful and I 

am grateful that our boys have such a

wonderful group of friends.

I think that we will all sleep tight tonight!

The Boyz.

 I love, love, love that our house

is always LOUD and full of 

LAUGHTER and FUN from our

boys' friends.  After Sadies last

night, the boys came to our home

for MORE food, movies, and fun.

Wonderful forever friends!

I am so grateful that our boys

have such wonderful friends!!

Breakfast.Lunch.Dinner.

 Our crew LOVES a big hearty breakfast.

Actually our boys can eat almost anything,

anytime, anywhere.  Mike and I have always

enjoyed getting up and cooking a big

breakfast for everyone to get the day started

and hopefully sustain them before pre-lunch,

lunch, snacks . . .

It has been crazy as the boys and I have 

stayed up until the wee hours of the morning.

Breakfast has been served about 2:00pm

lately!  We are in for a very rude awakening

as school begins next week!!  Yikes!!

Love my boys and love that they love to

be home and cozy as we navigate brand

new waters.  They have extended much

grace and mercy to me . . . I bet that they

had a great example!!!

Target Practice.

 Well, CHRISTmas came early for Luke today!

The brothers all chipped in and bought Luke

a rifle for CHRISTmas!  

 They.could.not.wait.to.hit.the

open range!!!

 It was cold, but a gorgeous day for

outdoor fun and bro time!!!  Shooting

is ALWAYS at the top of the list

for our boys!!!

Bottles and clay pigeons and targets. Oh, my!

"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who

do right, and His ears are open to their prayers."

-1 Peter 3:12

Healing.

"I carry your heart with me.  I carry it in my

heart.  I am never without it.

Anywhere I go you go my dear." 

E.E. Cummings penned these words and

they are now a part of me.

The healing process is.NOT.easy.

We know that we have just begun.

We are still trying to figure out our

new normal . . . perhaps part of our

new normal is going to the movies, 

watching two three-hour flicks and

coming home at 2:30a.m.

We are excited about our CHRISTmas

time off together!  We are navigating

through the season cautiously!!

Onward.comrades.

Thanksgiving Preparations.

And so it begins . . . Love, love, love our

THANKSgiving cooking and baking day!

The calories that come with it, not so much!

*Thankful for happy boys with hungry

tummies!

*Thankful for lots and lots of footsteps

sounds all throughout our home!

*Thankful that we have a brand new

home to call Command Post Central!

*Thankful for our sweet neighbors!

*Thankful for happiness in our home!

*Thankful that even though we find

ourselves in difficult circumstances,

there is laughter in our home!

*Thankful that our home will be

filled with lots of family tomorrow!

*Thankful that my sweet Tim is

happy on his new cruise ship.

Not so happy that he will not

be here tomorrow!

*Thankful that we have a home

that our boys love to bring their

friends to!

*Thankful that God has given

me tons of energy to pick up the

slack when others cannot.

Loving THANKSgiving!!!

Tietjen Boy Fun.

What do these and Tietjen boys have in

common . . . a TON of fun!!!  My guys

all love to go out shooting their pistols,

rifles, and guns.  They love the outdoors,

being together, and shooting "stuff".

The guys reported that people brought 

washing machines, cars, and millions

of things to use as targets for shooting.

With the lovely fall weather, my guys

have loaded up a bazillion times and

headed for the hills and had a TON of

fun!!!  This is a tradition that all of them

have had for many, many years beginning

with Grampa.  He would take all of

the guys out shooting!  They have been

doing this since an early age . . . 

For me, a mani and a pedi would be

equally as rewarding!!

Yum! Yum!

White chocolate . . . peanut butter . . .

marshmellows . . . milk chocolate chips . . .

rice crispies!!

Need.I.say.more?

Today we started week two of the clinical

trial.  We had two glorious days off.  Mike

finally woke up the second night.  It was

fun having him watch the Olympics

with his eyes open and snuggle on the 

couch.  When we took the pills this

morning, I told him that I would see

him on Wednesday!!!