Dear Husband,

I like you most days
I love you everyday
I'm so glad God brought us together
I wish everyone had a chance to feel love like we have
Thank you for being you
And for making our life so dreamy!

Love, ME

Mother

I don't remember the last thing we laughed about - - because we just cracked the heck up. It was at Mother and Dad's...usually is. We all have such a good time doing nothing there!

Never thought I'd call my Mom Mother. But eventually, despite my best efforts, it trickled down. See I always called her Mommy or Mom. But she always called her mom 'Mother.' I guess now that she has held the position of family Matriarch for so long, Mother is well deserved.

Moms generally take the backseat for their families, but I think my Mother has done this to the Nth degree. You see, just as her youngest child (yours truly) got out of the house, she had 8 grandchildren. She's always a busy bee, but you'd never know. She never runs out of time for any of us.

Since Dad's stroke, I have been even more amazed. She STILL has time for every person in our family! I know, I know....amazingness. I am so glad God blessed us with our SuperMom. And no, you cannot borrow her - she's ours.

Don't have a clue what we'd do without her. She's going in for a heart cath very soon. As of 6 years ago, she is a member of the 'zipper club' - her and Dad have both had open heart surgery. But it's time for another cath for my Mother.

God will be with her and she will do fine, but I wanted to let her know how very much we appreciate her selflessness. The picture above captures it perfectly. To Mother, it's not about her, it's about her loved ones - - - and each one of us are better people because of the 'Mother' that she is. Thanks Mother. :) Love you!

Cotton

We woke up to a beautiful snow-covered ground. It looked like there was a thin cotton layer on the grass. It was beautiful. We were excited.

Dear snow,

Please stick around. If it's going to be miserably cold anyway, you make it fun!

Love,
Me

But it didn't want to stay. Nothing but water is left of the white fluffy blanket the ground wore this morning.

Please come back soon!

My Fend

Christy. Sweet Christy. Soft spoken...sometimes. Beautiful. Caring. Kind. Gentle hearted. A bit naive at times. Sincere...so sincere. Generous. Gracious. Humble. Full of love.

Fend - She is my friend. We say "fend" because Nate did. I love her dearly. She will be gone soon. I'm sad. But happy for her. We are going to miss her like crazy. But we are friends that can pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been.

Patient - she may not think she is. But she has been for long enough. Now she will go start her own family. Too far away. Thank goodness for technology. We must call. We will text. We may IM. We'll definitely e-mail.

Forever - we will be friends. Women are fickle. We don't keep friends long. But every blue moon we find one. A friend we understand. A friend who understands us. Those are the friends we must hold on to.

Memories - Even though she's leaving soon, I'm holding on to my fend. I must. We have so many awesome memories. We cry together. We laugh together. And now, we'll both grow, but never apart.

Yuh Yooh Kiki!

"Just a Lighter"

It's a lighter. I get it. Turquoise. See through. Random palm trees. It's message: "I need a vacation." Clever idea.

But it's much more than just a lighter to me. It is a symbol. Past. Change. New beginnings.

You see I found this lighter when my Dad was in the hospital the week we got back from Iran. I took his robe to him (aren't hospitals always freezing...brr) and when I checked the pockets the lighter was in there.

I don't think he remembered it, but it was there. From before. Prob from late one night. He always looked so pensive when he smoked. He never cared much for it. But he never completely quit.

Until then. After the stroke. "I have no desire," he says. "I don't even think about it."

Like I said. Past. Change. New beginnings. Our lives have been full of those lately. And I thank God for each and every one.

I may hold onto this lighter forever. Just because. It has meaning. It's a symbol. Thanks Dad. I love you.

Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for I don't even think I could list everything. I am thankful for life and that my family has been a fabulous example of how to live it to the fullest! I am thankful for the fact that my parents made it to their 30th anniversary and they are more in love each and every day. I am thankful for siblings who have wonderful families.

I am thankful for the best husband in the world. I am thankful that I have in-laws that feel like they have always been my family.

Most of all I am thankful for my relationship with my Savior - he has taught me so much over the last four years! And because I find comfort in knowing - - - "His eye is on the sparrow. And I know he watches me."

Thank you Lord for blessing me with so many wonderful people and such comfort. Even though I know I don't deserve it, I am humbled with how blessed we are.

Happy 30th Mom & Dad

Friday was our parent's 30th Anniversary. They have been through it and back. With three kids, I'm sure it was hell on wheels while we were growing up. Since then they've had mom's quadruple bypass and Dad's stroke. Their love is truly a blessing and you can see God in each of their eyes.

We were proud to share this milestone with our parents. And the kids were happy to share in the food!!!! The cake was too cute with a picture from their early dating days. We had a fabulous time. Thanks Allan for the fabulous dinner! Nothing better than family and food!!

These two were too cute together, delirious by the end of the night!


My sister and the princess!