Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Gratitude wrap up...
Thanksgiving has come and gone. It is hard to believe that we are already facing December, full speed ahead. Now, I would like to say that I am ready for it...but that would be a lie. I am still sort of trying to get caught up from the summer. Not kidding. Now, I am up to the task and excited to move in the direction of Christmas and giving and family and fun. Every single day of December is fun for me. (Gasp! Does this mean that we are minutes away from 2010? My heart is beating a little faster at the thought.) Advent book is out, the stockings will go up tomorrow, the elves have made their appearance and the lists are being made for Santa. Larry is out of town again, but home in a couple of weeks to spend 2 whole weeks with us. As much as I am looking forward to that, I am also hesitant to see it come and go as we will then be without Larry for several months. It is all part of this crazy business that we agreed to, so onward we press.
I am abundantly grateful for family today, well every day, but particularly this week. Jon and Jess and Tyson came to visit for the holiday week and I can't tell you how much fun it is to have them here. When we have visitors, we generally have most of our family together throughout the week. Visits to my house, fun birthday plans for Ty and time at Mom and Dad's all added up to a wonderful, pretty low stress week. I know that being a part of a big family comes with its pros and cons, but seeing so many of us together, spending time with my sisters, watching these little monsters grow up together, it is all the stuff that makes me so proud to be a part of this family. I am grateful for the spouses who continue to put up with/ love and adore each of us. I am grateful for the peace and safety that we have had the privilege of enjoying. We have had our struggles and broken bones, but we have been blessed in so many ways that it is hard to complain or even remember those times. I am continuously grateful for Larry. He works harder than anyone I know, save maybe my father. He comes home and relishes time with our children. He heads back out on yet another airplane knowing that we will be here when he gets back.
I am grateful for each of my four children. For laughter and super fast growth spurts. For scraped knees and wounded feelings that allow me a few precious moments to still be "mommy" to even the biggest of my little ones. I love plotting and planning Holiday wishes for them, knowing that I get more out of their surprise and joy than they could ever know. I am grateful for friends, especially those of you who truly look out for each other. Those that go the extra 10 miles, for those who bake bread and share their talents, and play the piano at the last minute for a song in church. (yes, you!) I am grateful to be here in this little cove of the world to grow and learn and challenge...and love and laugh. It is all so much that my heart might burst sometimes.
So, I say...December, bring it on! I am happy to see you again.
I am abundantly grateful for family today, well every day, but particularly this week. Jon and Jess and Tyson came to visit for the holiday week and I can't tell you how much fun it is to have them here. When we have visitors, we generally have most of our family together throughout the week. Visits to my house, fun birthday plans for Ty and time at Mom and Dad's all added up to a wonderful, pretty low stress week. I know that being a part of a big family comes with its pros and cons, but seeing so many of us together, spending time with my sisters, watching these little monsters grow up together, it is all the stuff that makes me so proud to be a part of this family. I am grateful for the spouses who continue to put up with/ love and adore each of us. I am grateful for the peace and safety that we have had the privilege of enjoying. We have had our struggles and broken bones, but we have been blessed in so many ways that it is hard to complain or even remember those times. I am continuously grateful for Larry. He works harder than anyone I know, save maybe my father. He comes home and relishes time with our children. He heads back out on yet another airplane knowing that we will be here when he gets back.
I am grateful for each of my four children. For laughter and super fast growth spurts. For scraped knees and wounded feelings that allow me a few precious moments to still be "mommy" to even the biggest of my little ones. I love plotting and planning Holiday wishes for them, knowing that I get more out of their surprise and joy than they could ever know. I am grateful for friends, especially those of you who truly look out for each other. Those that go the extra 10 miles, for those who bake bread and share their talents, and play the piano at the last minute for a song in church. (yes, you!) I am grateful to be here in this little cove of the world to grow and learn and challenge...and love and laugh. It is all so much that my heart might burst sometimes.
So, I say...December, bring it on! I am happy to see you again.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Big Surprise WORKED!!!
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| Kansas Surprise |
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The morning after
Super Saturday is done. Well, I have some clean-up to do and lots of organization to do from what turned out to be a wonderful activity. It was busy, but once the day got started, it was very relaxed and enjoyable. I loved having the opportunity to visit with my dear friends and watch as they all got to work on their various projects. I got to sit and hold babies while they worked, and that was a treat indeed. It was a very long day as we arrived at 8:30 in the morning, and then finally walked out of the building at 4:45. My kiddos were well taken care of at Amber's house, a true gift for me...being the superwoman that I am and all. :)
Which leads me to my gratitude today. I am grateful for sisters. Sisters that I grew up with and sisters that I love dearly that I have gotten the privilege of knowing. I have so many amazing women in my life that have come to mean the world to me. I learn from them, I laugh with them, I even cry with them. I am grateful for a sisterhood within our church that knows know boundaries. All over the world there are sisters just like me that lean on each other in times of trial and joy. I have often marveled at the thought of life without that sisterhood and what a lonely journey that would be. I am so grateful for each of the women who I call sister. I am grateful to be so close to so many of my own sisters. I wish that we had that one more sister down here, but life keeps her in Kansas. The sisters that have married into our colorful family have added so much joy and well, color. I could go on and on, but today...I am grateful for all of the women in my life. Thank you for your continued love and laughter.
Which leads me to my gratitude today. I am grateful for sisters. Sisters that I grew up with and sisters that I love dearly that I have gotten the privilege of knowing. I have so many amazing women in my life that have come to mean the world to me. I learn from them, I laugh with them, I even cry with them. I am grateful for a sisterhood within our church that knows know boundaries. All over the world there are sisters just like me that lean on each other in times of trial and joy. I have often marveled at the thought of life without that sisterhood and what a lonely journey that would be. I am so grateful for each of the women who I call sister. I am grateful to be so close to so many of my own sisters. I wish that we had that one more sister down here, but life keeps her in Kansas. The sisters that have married into our colorful family have added so much joy and well, color. I could go on and on, but today...I am grateful for all of the women in my life. Thank you for your continued love and laughter.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Gratitude, anyone?
It is hard to believe that it is November, and more than that, that the Holidays are descending all around us and I am not caught up from getting the kids back to school. (13 weeks ago!) Christmas carols are wafting through the superstores. Some neighbors even have their Christmas lights up. Yes. They really do. It is Friday, November 13th and I have not paused for one second to allow the holidays to start in our home. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for me. Last year, as you may recall, I wanted to be grateful daily. I feel a need to catch up a little as I have missed the first two weeks of this wonderful season. I hope that you are enjoying your November so far and feel free to join in on the next two weeks of grateful moments. Share them here if you like, the more the merrier.
Well, given that this week marked the 15th year since Larry and I got married (the first time), it seems appropriate to start there. Wow. What a ride this has been, truly the stuff of mini-series drama on late night television. We have seen bad days, and I can tell you that it was worth every one of them. I am grateful to have this man. We have accepted each others flaws, which is something I have learned to be truly grateful for. Finding someone who loves you not just in spite of your flaws, but also because of some of them is an amazing thing. We get married and have such hope, and dreams and sprinklings of delusion...and trust me, I am good with my delusions of grandeur. And then Life happens. And happens, and happens, and happens. Sometimes we are strengthened by them, and sometimes we crumble. Larry and I have crumbled many, many times. Self-inflicted devastation. But, we rebuild. And we have. I love this man so very much and it is strange to me that we have come to this place as I never, ever thought it could happen this way for me...and this man, this particular man. We laugh at how different we are. And we are. In those differences we have found a way to genuinely love each other and support each other. I am grateful for his work ethic and the way that he loves our family. These children are all so lucky to have him. I can tell you that it took us a lot of growing up, and yet we are still so immature really. All in all, I am just so grateful to be in this place, with this man, and our family, and our home, and the good and the bad that comes from raising a family in a time that is increasingly more difficult. Despite our differences, we are one and I love him and miss him more than I can say.
What are you grateful for today? What makes you so happy that your heart kind of aches to think about it? You know exactly what I mean...
Well, given that this week marked the 15th year since Larry and I got married (the first time), it seems appropriate to start there. Wow. What a ride this has been, truly the stuff of mini-series drama on late night television. We have seen bad days, and I can tell you that it was worth every one of them. I am grateful to have this man. We have accepted each others flaws, which is something I have learned to be truly grateful for. Finding someone who loves you not just in spite of your flaws, but also because of some of them is an amazing thing. We get married and have such hope, and dreams and sprinklings of delusion...and trust me, I am good with my delusions of grandeur. And then Life happens. And happens, and happens, and happens. Sometimes we are strengthened by them, and sometimes we crumble. Larry and I have crumbled many, many times. Self-inflicted devastation. But, we rebuild. And we have. I love this man so very much and it is strange to me that we have come to this place as I never, ever thought it could happen this way for me...and this man, this particular man. We laugh at how different we are. And we are. In those differences we have found a way to genuinely love each other and support each other. I am grateful for his work ethic and the way that he loves our family. These children are all so lucky to have him. I can tell you that it took us a lot of growing up, and yet we are still so immature really. All in all, I am just so grateful to be in this place, with this man, and our family, and our home, and the good and the bad that comes from raising a family in a time that is increasingly more difficult. Despite our differences, we are one and I love him and miss him more than I can say.
What are you grateful for today? What makes you so happy that your heart kind of aches to think about it? You know exactly what I mean...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Well, there's been a lot happening this week. First, Larry had to head back to Vancouver. It was hard to let him go, but also means that we are that much closer to finishing this job. Monday was Kristen's birthday and she wanted to live large and head to the zoo with the kids. She had her Carson (3), I had Kierstin (3), Amber had RJ (3), Courtlyn (2) and Mallory (little), and Lindsey had Lacey (2)...and Mom. That's a lot of strollers and little kids. Well, we decided to go the Dallas Zoo, which I happen to really like but now see why others might not. It was a lot of walking for little reward...the animals are rather spread apart and they were just not that active that day. I think they were all kind of annoyed with our presence frankly. The McDonald's playplace afterwards was a great deal of fun and then we all headed back home with our worn out children. I loved having the little ones together and focusing on them. Take a look at the pictures. They speak for themselves. Great fun!
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