Today is a day similar to 13 years ago. The snow on the ground and roof, but the roads are clear, temperature of 32 degrees. 13 years ago today I married the man of my dreams. Who could imagine that I could possibly love him more today than I did 13 years ago. He has only improved with age. Tonight we celebrated at Red Robin on Michigan Road. Curtis loved the refill on fries. It was a quiet anniversary, but no less special. Today a special basket was delivered to Jeremy, complete with lace.
Today I got to hug and kiss my godchildren, Josh and Anna. I can’t believe how quickly they are growing. I wish they lived nearby so I could see them all the time. I would love for us to go to the same church, same sports, and celebrate birthdays and other big events together. It amazes me how much love you can have for a child that you never gave birth to. However, I have a deep love of the children of people that are very important to me. A gift God gave us, this overwhelming sense of love. A love that can make you heart ache or feel higher than any other emotion. God is love.
I am not a fan of fundraisers. However, Curtis really wanted the limo ride to McDonald’s. So I worked hard, asked everyone at work, church, everywhere. I managed to sell the 45+ items required for the limo ride. My baby boy was so happy that all of the hard work was worth it. Then he was able to throw a pie at his teacher and paint his principal’s hair because he was a top seller. To me, that is cooler than the limo ride!
When did “Happy Holidays” become an anti-Christian sentiment? Aren’t all of the holidays from God? Growing up “Happy Holidays” was the shortened version of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”! Certainly not like the “x” that takes Christ out of Christmas (most people lack the knowledge that can also be a tilted cross, therefore Christ is still there). Why do Christians mandate that everyone and all stores greet with “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”? What message are we sending when we get fighting mad over a simple phrase. Doesn’t actions speak greater than words? Wouldn’t an expression of “Happy Holidays” full of love show more of God’s love than a “Merry Christmas” said out of spite or to “prove a point! God is love. God is here. We are made in God’s image to love. Are we being loving when we get hung up on phrases instead of what the phrases mean? So the next time someone says “Happy Holidays” to you, can you try to remember the gift given to us that special night and the blessing of a new year.
Every now and then Curtis will give me a sheepish grin, usually when he is trying to con me or get out of something. When he flashes me this grin I see the grin my brother used to give my mom. In most ways Curtis is just like me with a little Jeremy thrown in. This smile however is completely my brother (inherited from my Dad).
A weekend of scrapbooking with some fabulous ladies. Twice a year we get away and scrapbook. This year I made Miss Karen’s album, made my calendar pages, two Christmas cards, and several pages for the 2009 album. Friday was not the best start to this usually quite relaxing weekend. After dropping off my stuff I went home to take Mom to see Dr. McCready. She had a great report and we were out of the office early. So I got back to Camp Camby. After selecting Miss Karen’s album and making one page, Jeremy called me to come home because we had a significant leak in the kitchen. He had to tear up half of our kitchen floor. So I spent Friday night looking at cabinets and dishwashers on the internet. Fortunately our cabinets sit about 1/4 inch off the floor, so they were not damaged. My kitchen cabinets are old, but I love them. So Saturday morning I get up early and I am back to the retreat by 6am. So a full day of scrapbooking! Sunday morning I sleep in a little and have yummy waffles for breakfast. After breakfast Carrie crowns me Scrapbooking Queen because of my organizational skills =) After lunch I pack up and head home. A fabulous weekend–looking forward to the Winter Retreat in February!
Curtis and Jeremy are in bed, I should be too. Looking for ways to keep memories digitally, yet organized. My baby is 7, never too late to start sharing news =)
My mom is an amazing woman. I remember as a little girl my mom taking hours to fix her hair and put on makeup. She would also spend a fair amount of time fixing my hair while I sat in the little wooden chair in front of her. I hated it when she would thump my head witg the hairbrush for squirming. I loved all the books she would buy me from Scholastic and my set of Charlie Brown encyclopedias. She would hold me and rub my hair when I was sick. She had the sweetest voice. I loved when she would sing to me. My mom can do anything. She can quilt, sew, paint, embroider, crochet, build, do household repairs, decorate, shoot a gun with precision, and cook. She is very creative and very resourceful. Whenever I had strep she would take me to Wendy’s for chili and a frosty. She taught me that if I had everything I wanted, what would I have left to wish for. She came to college to visit me and bring treats such as my Valentine’s basket. She taught me everything I need to know to run a household and entertain. When I was getting married she worked hard to pay for my wedding. She made sure I had everything that was important to me for the wedding. She trusted me and in return she gave me a lot of freedom. I was careful not to break her trust. She supported me when I didn’t want to have a baby for 5 years, when I didn’t want children at all, and finally when we decided to only have one. She loves and supports me no matter what I do.
When I was little my dad seemed huge and a little bit scary. Now I know he is just a big teddy bear. He is my constant, my thermometer. He is the one I turn to when I need a fair assessment of the situation. What will always remember of dad is Old Spice and mackeral soup. In kindergarten he would take me to the same restaurant for grilled cheese (and to see a boy). He was kind enough to let Santa borrow his red Dodge truck. He let Brian and me keep a pony he found in our woods. He sat up all night with Thunder that cold night in February when he died. He would let me have a cat even though he hates cats. Outside of his unconditional love for me, his life lessons mean the most.
1. Family comes first.
2. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
3. If you can’t pay for it now, how are you going to pay for it later?
4. How do you feel when other people gloat?
5. Be nice to your husband, he is a good man.
These are the big lessons-some I am still working on. I feel so blessed to be chosen to be the daughter of such an amazing man.
My organized life 