Realizing How Blessed I Am

We celebrated my parent's 50th wedding anniversary last weekend. While mom and dad didn't really care for all of the attention, they loved being able to see old friends and sit around discussing their stories they had with each other. Some stories I had heard dozens of times (which I love...those stories become the fabric of my children's history as well) but there were a few I had not heard, either. I had forgotten about going to Detroit to be in my Aunt and Uncle's wedding, and about putting my foot in the center of a cake when I was little. That's the joy of having family around. You get to recall more of your childhood. Collective memory is so much more accurate than a single memory!

But as I was there, I was looking around at my kids and my husband, and realized how blessed I am. Em jumped in to serve punch and cake to those that were there. Tim, Timothy and Christopher helped set up chairs and tables and decorate before the big event. Nathaniel welcomed people to the event and acted like such a little gentleman, introducing himself to people and just being a good host. Tim had people in stitches, which is usually the case, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Seeing everyone together, it was easy to see the mannerisms and humor that has been passed down through the generations, even though we've not lived around each other that much.

On almost every account, family is a blessing that should be valued and cherished. I am blessed.

50 Years

Mom and dad are celebrating their 50 year wedding anniversary this Saturday. Wow.

I have such wonderful memories growing up in the house that they built. The house was always warm and welcoming. We always felt secure. Mom and dad were a united front, and we knew it. If we were dealing with one, we were dealing with them both. And dad had the best ways of celebrating mom's birthday. One year, he bought some empty capsules from the pharmacist, and typed out 52 messages and put one in each capsule. Every week after Sunday dinner, mom would get to open one capsule, and it would be a gift from dad: he would make the beds for that week, or cook meals. But there was also her sapphire ring, necklace and earrings in there, too. It was the gift that gave all year long, and we loved it!

There was a lot of laughter in their home, and there still is. They always have funny stories to share. And they don't take themselves too seriously. They enjoy life. And they enjoy it together.

God has blessed their faithfulness with long and happy lives, with much more to spare. And their children have risen up and called them blessed.

28 Degrees

Yes, that's the current temperature.

Thank God for heaters and fireplaces. And hot chocolate.

Baby Girl turned 20!

Wow. My mind just can't grasp the concept. It was just a little while ago that she was born. I remember the first time I heard her crying desperately, and I couldn't get to her fast enough. I picked her up, and she immediately stopped crying. I just held her and said to myself, "I love her so much!" It was a true bonding moment.

Em has lived so much in her two decades. She was in the paper when she was in elementary school for being the friend to an autistic girl in her class. Em helped her with her language board and played with her at recess. When she was in second grade, she hand drew valentine cards for her entire class. I didn't even know she did it until she was putting them in her backpack the night before.

She loves animals. We used to watch Wild America on PBS, and she could name every animal in the opening credits. She would even say, "That's a Marty Stauffer."

Em has always been a good and loyal friend. That has had it's ups and downs, especially in middle school. She tended to be in the position of being used, because they always knew she would be there. But it was a good learning experience for her. She's since learned boundaries and she's quick to recognize when others get in touch with her just because they want something. That in itself has given her a strong core of friends, one that is healthy and supportive. Middle school is always rough, isn't it?

In high school, Em showed her althletic side. She became keeper on the high school soccer team, and started all four years of high school. One day we heard that the other team was scared of her. We had to laugh at that. All they would have to do was talk to her and they would know she was a big softy! But she played tough, and helped her team out along the way.

Now she's in college. She's always struggled a bit in school, except when she had to write. She's a good writer. That is playing to her advantage now. She's made the Dean's list, and was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two year colleges. We are so proud of how far she's come! I can't wait to see where this next year takes her. She's got some big steps to take, and she's up to the task.

I love her so much!

Snow...

...makes me happy.

Did you know...

That some people find it amusing to bowl with frozen turkeys?
Yep.
I happen to be one of them.
And I did it at work.
Yep.
I got paid to bowl with a frozen turkey at work.
Have I mentioned I love my job?!!!

Memory Lane

Or in my mind, Foxdale. That's where I spent 10 years of my life in California. From the age of 4 to 14. A lot of memories are on this street...

This is the house I lived in. It looks so much different now. The landscaping was beautiful before. There were bushes against the house, out by the street, and a tree by the street in the front yard (not the one that is there now). My tree was more to the left. I used it for shade in the summer. My brother used to chase me out of the house in my bare feet in the evening, because there would be snails covering the yard then. We watched fireworks from the front yard, and we all would hang out in the evening and play "ditch", using the entire street as our hiding place.

This is the library/firehouse just around the corner. I walked here all the time to check out books. This is where I read everything I could get my hands on about Hellen Keller, or horses. They also used to have these wonderful plum trees that all of the people in the neighborhood could come and pick. I picked a grocery bag full once.

This is the gate to my elementary school, also around the corner from our house. This is where Dad and Steve picked me up to tell me that I had a little brother. I immediately started crying. See, Steve and I had a praying contest going...I was praying for a sister, and he was praying for a brother. He "won". And he was standing behind Dad with a smirk on his face. Don't judge me too harshly. I was only 7.

See the tree in this yard? Well, when it was only a sapling, Mrs. Mauriello (across the street) would use it to communicate to the kids in the neighborhood whether or not we could swim in their pool. A red flag meant no (there was rarely a red flag), a yellow flag meant bring a parent, and a green flag meant kids could come anytime. I remember being afraid that Jaws was in the deep end. Oh, and the infamous Louis and Glen lived here. Louis, the older brother, would get out his pellet gun and give Glen the count of 10 to run. He usually started shooting at around 8. It's amazing Glen ever survived.

The view of my street. I believe that's Mt. Baldie in the background.

Cathy's house. Her dad was a little grumpy, but he always wanted me to play the piano for him.

Maria's house. She always had the coolest room. And she's the first person I ever knew who "travelled." She went to Hawaii!

Our poor neighbors. I can't tell you how many times we had to ask if we could get our basketball out of their pool.

Pricilla Payne's house. She was actually a direct decendant of Pricilla on the Mayflower...you know, the Pricilla and John story? "Speak for yourself, John...." She was also my piano teacher. Very patient woman.

I know I'll probably never be able to go back to this street, but being able to take a "virtual walk" is the next best thing.