Our Road to Eagle Scout, My Parental View

As many of you know I am the proud mama bear to not one, but two sons that are currently eligible to be earning their Eagle Scout rank. What would I a mom have to be worried about? Nothing, technically because to be honest whether or not the boys become Eagle Scouts doesn’t matter to me. I am extremely proud of all they have accomplished since the very first day they joined Scouting in 2004 and know that Scouting made a huge impact on the young men they have become.
This story stands though because my eldest son insists that he does want to be an Eagle Scout and thus I am sitting here watching the proverbial clock ticking away as his 18th birthday comes closer and closer. For those of you not in the know, all Eagle Scout requirements must be completed and turned in and the rank earned prior to the youth’s turning eighteen. For Nikolaus eighteen arrives in mid-July. Has he started his Eagle project? No. Ask me if I think he can complete it? No.
Now, don’t get me wrong I love my son fully but he is the Prince of Procrastination, his father is the King. If he can find a way to put something off, trust me he will, and does. I will do anything I can to assist Nikolaus without overstepping my bounds within the project guidelines if he does become serious about finishing, but I will NOT be one of those parents who has their hand firmly planted in their son’s back pushing him across the finish line.
Why, will I not be doing that? I think being an Eagle Scout means 110% more if it is accomplished because the youth wants to accomplish it and not because mom and/or dad pushed them to get the award. Make sense? I do not desire my son to be an underachiever, but I know all that he has achieved as a Boy Scout so far as it puts some of the Eagle Scouts I do know to shame. All I care is that Nikolaus always be proud of his uniform and the fact that he is and always can be a Scout if he chooses to be, which is something that he mentions often, continuing in Scouting as an adult.
Parents push children so often, so what if I won’t push. I nudged for awhile, I’ll admit that. I just think that you have to open your eyes and accept fate and realize sometimes some things are just not meant to be. Maybe for Nikolaus, Eagle is not for him. It may or may not be for Zachary, who is 16...only time will tell there too.
No matter what. I am proud to be a Scouting mom and mom to Nikolaus.
Should things change and we do see a project, I will definitely make sure to tell you all about it.


Penelope Anne

Technical Difficulties

Just an FYI, we are without phone and Internet at home at the moment, one of life's economic woes and a pain in the backside provider that we are looking to replace. Hoping to be back up and online fully again within the next 3 weeks, but not sure where life will lead. Seems just when we think we have everything figured out some one decides to throw a hardvall straight at us.
Recovery is going fairly good, enough so that I do not need physical therapy. Did manage to get all caught up with my pen pal letters though.
Hope all is well with you, miss you all.

Penelope Anne

This Thing Called Recovery

I had thought recovery from surgery for my shoulder was going to be so much simpler as there was not going to be a need for physical therapy but, it is not going to be easy my friends. You would not believe the minute movements your shoulder is involved in from minute to minute, second to second that tax your arm and wear you out quite quickly.
While I do not need therapy I do need to exercise the shoulder and still try not to overdo it as there is a lot of tissue that needs time to heal inside. I won't lie I am not the patient type. Even being on the computer is a challenge for me, how awful is that.

Time will be my torturer.

Surgery Went Well & Contest Reminder

Well, as I am back online you can tell  that surgery went well. I get the staples out today barring any ridiculous excuses by the surgeon. There were some tears in the rotator cuff caused by bone spurs which he grinded off. The pain was horrible the first few days, but the Demerol did help with that.
Now I need to continue my exercises so I have a working arm and not a stiff one and all should be well. Maybe today he will mention if I need physical therapy or not.

We had a nice holiday, the kids had no complaints and I received some great pajamas and jewelry from the kids and my in-laws. Have broken the pajamas in well, have yet to utilize the jewelry but definitely will be.

Just wanted to remind all that I do have a great book that I am giving away at the Library here is the information:
I have a brand new copy of The Christmas Secret looking to find a home.
Would you like to be the owner of this great book.
How to win:
1. Leave a comment with your name and email. Comments must be on original post here ~ ENTER
2. Tell me what makes Christmas special to you and get a bonus entry
3. Become a follower or subscriber to the Library and get a bonus entry.
4. Blog about this contest and leave a link to it on original post above.
Contest is open to U.S. residents only.
Ends January 5, 2010.

Currently no entries so, good chance you could be the winner. Great gift item, get a jump on the 2010 holiday season.

Got to check some email then ice my shoulder take care and will check again soon.

Surgery TODAY

Well, in a few hours I will be at the hospital for my shoulder surgery. Scheduled to arrive there at 11:30am and let me tell you this...I am starving! Hate not being able to eat anything. Tried to sleep in but couldn't either.
I thought about putting some posts on here for scheduled release but it did not seem the right thing to do for this blog so, I never got around to typing them in. So maybe I can get one of the kids to type something in for me to give an update next week.

DO GO TO THE Library at the End of the Universe on Friday as the review that will post contains a book giveaway of an excellent holiday book by Donna VanLiere.

Make sure to have a great and safe holiday all.

Penelope Anne

Wordless Wednesday #37 ~ Peace on the Beach

Join in @ The Wordless Wed. Hub 

Until Next Week,

 

Heads or Tails #36 ~ Gone Fishing

Join in the Fun at the HoT HubThis Week's Theme:HEADS
Gone Fishin'
 
THE CUTE...

My 4 year old nephew A on his first ever fishin' trip.

He wasn't patient enough to catch anything but he sure did look cute.

Now for what I would like to do with Papa Bear...

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band — Fishing In The Dark lyrics
Lazy yellow moon coming up tonight
Shining through the trees
Crickets are singing
And the lightning bugs are floating on the breeze
Baby get ready

Across the field where the creek turns back
By the old stump road
Im going to take you to a special place
That nobody knows
Baby get ready
Ooo ooo ooo

You and me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you

Spring is almost over and the summers comin
The days are getting long
Waited all winter for the time to be right
Just to take you along
Baby get ready

And it don’t matter if we sit forever
And the fish don’t bite
Jump in the river and cool ourselves
from the heat of the night
Baby get ready

Ooo ooo ooo

You and me going fishin in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you
And me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
You and me going fishin’ in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
You and me going fishin in the dark

Make sure to visit again real soon, ya'll hear!

Surgery - The Countdown

Well, here it is Monday and the day just slips away faster and faster, which means I just get closer and closer to my shoulder surgery which happens sometime on Thursday. I'll find out the exact time of surgery tomorrow morning when I go into see the orthopedic doctor and get all the details on the surgery. I must admit I am starting to feel a little anxious now. The worry wart in me is coming out.
I woke up this morning and realized I needed to finish typing up a document for Boy Scouts that is due in at the beginning of January so I spent this morning doing that. Got super angry when I saved it and the formating got all screwed up. Argh! Checked that off my list though.
Now I need to enter some book reviews on my book blog, I have plenty of books read, I just need to enter the reviews and schedule them to release. I would do the same here with some posts but other than Thursday Thirteen which I could post I don't have any other ideas as to what I would post.
I won't be coming online as I can't do anything with my left arm and I have no idea how long I will be incapacitated. I know physical therapy starts quickly but I don't know if they allow you to be  mobile outside of therapy too. all of these unknown factors.
Snowing again here in Wisconsin and the boys are putting off the shoveling. The older they get the more obstinate and stubborn they get. Take after their father I tell you.

Off to enter some book reviews. Talk with you tomorrow.