Since I can't have a cat....

The sun finally found its way through the clouds, the temperature rose, snow melted and we were able to play outside. When it was time to come in for lunch Molly found the sunniest spot in the house.

Spoiled Rotten

My work is never-ending, tedious, and sometimes really emotional (I lost two former students this week) but then I hear these statements from my daughter and I remember I am blessed to work with such amazing people.

 

"How can a 5 year old cheer with the big girls in front of like a thousand people?"

More like 100 at most but I'm sure when you're under 4 feet tall it seems like a lot more.

 

 

"Momma, this was the best night of my life"

"I love going to your work because everyone spoils me rotten"

These Two

Honestly, I hoped to have a boy; I knew how to take care of boys and we were a family of boys. But then our neighbor (at the time, but now we call them dear friends) had a baby girl 6 weeks before my due date. Hmmmmm that got me thinking.....if wouldn't be awful to have a girl.

And boy did God hit it out of the ballpark with these two! We are so lucky to have them BOTH in our lives, one a bit more timid than the other but under the layer of shyness there's a fierce determination. The other ready to go out and have all eyes on her but is often frozen with fear of failure. 

I can't wait to see where this friendship leads and I am so thankful to be along for the ride!

Remember You

Recently Molly's been asking, "does that remember you of....". Tonight she was playing in the living room and kept talking to her friend Celia and choreographing the Celia dance; it remembered me of our sweet friend, Celia.

photo courtesy www.betzfamilycolumbus.blogspot.com

I've written about Celia and her family many times and I come back tonight to ask again for support. As you peruse online retailers please consider stopping at bdsra.org and making a donation. All donations through the end of the year will be doubled through generous match pledges.

I hope that this post remembers you of a cause that needs your help to save future children from its devastation.

Sweet 16

I don't remember my 16th birthday but I remember getting my driver's license the morning after getting my wisdom teeth pulled. 

Tomorrow Alec's celebrates his 16th birthday and although its not important that he remembers that he chose chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate covered bananas instead of a cake or that he chose to eat at Waffle House when we offered any restaurant in a 30 mile radius. But I do hope he remembers how much we celebrated him, how much he and his sister laughed tonight while playing who knows what, how much we value him, and how much we love him. 

I hope I remember the other night while practicing night time rain driving that Alec said to me, "We are making memories tonight."

Here's to a birthday full of memories......

What a Man

I joke that this picture shows the Molly will choose the right partner because she's already chosen one who can cook! But don't all parents hope that if their children choose a partner that they choose one who will be a much better partner than we are? Someone that they can share a lifetime of happiness with?

I was on the phone with my mom the other day and she asked me about something and I replied that I didn't know because Mike handles that for our family. She reminded me, as she often does during hunting season, how lucky I am. And she's right!

I believe that most people's attributes shine during times of stress, chaos, or tragedy. I wouldn't say my surgery yesterday was tragedy by any means, but I did end up with more holes in my abdomen than I expected! Although it wasn't chaotic like my appendectomy it was stressful for my family whose lives were rearranged to accommodate me. 

Mike went with the flow, loaded bags, cars, chargers, and kids. Didn't eat his breakfast in front of me and spoon-fed me ice chips when I stubbornly refused to drink water from my first nurse. He attempted to listen to my garbled drug-induced slurred speech when he gently reminded me I only had 45 minutes left in recovery before they were going to give up and get me a room and I rebutted that I certainly couldn't walk out of the hospital if I couldn't even open my eyes.

I'm so blessed that Mike chose me as his lifelong partner and I hope my children find a partner who is half the one that Mike is. I certainly need to do a better job at showing him how thankful I am to have him in my corner! And no, honey, this post was not medicinally induced - love you.