Believe it or not, we attended an outdoor wedding reception on Saturday, the coldest, rainiest, windiest day in May so far! It was quite a long drive to get there, we stayed a short time, then made the long drive back. It was the second wedding of my niece, Stephanie, who had married her new love in March this year. They make such a beautiful couple! Anyway, I'm quite a sucker for weddings. They are so romantic and full of that young love. Nothing compares to it!!
However, nothing compares to the love that grows once you are married to the person you were meant to be with for the rest of your life. I look back to my wedding day, all 120 pounds of me ( I know!) was completely in love with Steve. But it really doesn't compare to the love I have for him now. That's just how it works when it's right. And who says when "right" is? Maybe not when you're 20, 30, 40...but maybe when you're 65....oh, love will come for sure. And when it does, I want to know about it!!
Stephanie's first husband left her with their very young daughter, and it was such a painful time for her. We all felt so bad for the whole situation. But when I saw Stephanie with her new husband, Steve (lucky name!), she was lit up like a Christmas tree! She said to me, "Aunt Jami, I have no bad feelings about him (the ex). How can I when things have turned out so right for me after all?" Spoken like a true woman in love, who appreciates her blessings. Another example of how God takes us through the valleys and the mountains of life and places us firmly back on our feet again. All things new and recycled, but with a new appreciation of life, right?
Ah, yes, I'm quite a romantic. I want to see everyone in love and happy! I want to see happy marriages, white carriages, pretty babies, and old wrinkly hands joined together side by side in rocking chairs. I love it all! Yes, I do cry over the Kodak commercials, as a matter of fact. Anyway....
Steve and I saw our other niece, who is also engaged to be married in August, putting together her homemade wedding invitations. As I sat there and watched her stamping and punching her little anchors (a nautical theme!), I remembered how excited I felt when we dropped our own wedding invitations into the mailbox, all stamped and ready to go!!
Goodness, me, what a sap I am. I think I'm missing my wedding ring! One of my diamonds fell out and is lost, so I've been without my ring for several months. I can't wait to have it repaired and for Steve to put it back on my finger. Maybe I'll even have my hair done for the occasion!! I told you..a sucker for weddings!! :)
Even icy cold weddings outside in May! I told Stephie that a cold, rainy wedding day is a sign of a long and happy life together. Need I tell you the kind of weather we had on October 8, 1994? :) We foolishly trusted the Farmer's Almanac, and ironically, So did Stephanie!! Ah, yes....a long and happy marriage is to be.
I wish you love today and always, friend.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Kersplash!
On Tuesday, I worked on the upstairs, cleaning and organizing the girls "wing". Wow. Girls are messy! I won't elaborate, but truly...whew!
So I went most of the day without the TV on, because I tend to sing and hum while I clean. A little known fact about me. Now you know. Lucky you. Anyway, back to the story. So, I wanted to check something out on TV, but noticed the satellite was out. I figured it was because it was windy, so I didn't think much of it.
After the kids got home and wanted to watch TV, I decided I'd better go down to the basement and check out the satellite box and see what was what.
Well,here's where my title comes in! Kersplash,went my foot as it hit the basement floor! Two icy inches of water was covering our entire basement floor! A regular redneck swimming pool was mine!
Well, I didn't exactly have that initial reaction. Instead I yelled out to no one..."OH NO. OH NO OH NO OH NO!!!!" The girls heard my cries and came running down to see what the problem was, and they were soon rolling up their pant legs and splashing all over the basement. Such fun for a 10 and 12 year old I'm sure! Not fun for this mom!
So after trying in vain to reach Steve, I called my trusty Pop and he came to my rescue. All I had to tell him on the phone was "Dad, I have a swimming pool in my basement!"
SO both of my parents came out to help me get the sump running and get the bulk of the water sloshing back down into the drains. Steve arrived shortly after getting my message and pretty much just did his quiet sigh, shrug, and inner scream.
Two days later, we have our carpet torn out and many things tossed in the trash. Sigh, shrug, scream.
However, we feel blessed to have such helpful parents. We are blessed that the flooding was in the basement, where we don't have many treasures! We are blessed that the water receded quickly and we were able to correct the problem easily. We are blessed that we had an offer of help from our pastor today, who was willing to spend his day off lugging soggy carpet up the stairs.
Soggy and tired, but very blessed! Kersplash!! My redneck swimming pool is gone.
So I went most of the day without the TV on, because I tend to sing and hum while I clean. A little known fact about me. Now you know. Lucky you. Anyway, back to the story. So, I wanted to check something out on TV, but noticed the satellite was out. I figured it was because it was windy, so I didn't think much of it.
After the kids got home and wanted to watch TV, I decided I'd better go down to the basement and check out the satellite box and see what was what.
Well,here's where my title comes in! Kersplash,went my foot as it hit the basement floor! Two icy inches of water was covering our entire basement floor! A regular redneck swimming pool was mine!
Well, I didn't exactly have that initial reaction. Instead I yelled out to no one..."OH NO. OH NO OH NO OH NO!!!!" The girls heard my cries and came running down to see what the problem was, and they were soon rolling up their pant legs and splashing all over the basement. Such fun for a 10 and 12 year old I'm sure! Not fun for this mom!
So after trying in vain to reach Steve, I called my trusty Pop and he came to my rescue. All I had to tell him on the phone was "Dad, I have a swimming pool in my basement!"
SO both of my parents came out to help me get the sump running and get the bulk of the water sloshing back down into the drains. Steve arrived shortly after getting my message and pretty much just did his quiet sigh, shrug, and inner scream.
Two days later, we have our carpet torn out and many things tossed in the trash. Sigh, shrug, scream.
However, we feel blessed to have such helpful parents. We are blessed that the flooding was in the basement, where we don't have many treasures! We are blessed that the water receded quickly and we were able to correct the problem easily. We are blessed that we had an offer of help from our pastor today, who was willing to spend his day off lugging soggy carpet up the stairs.
Soggy and tired, but very blessed! Kersplash!! My redneck swimming pool is gone.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Mother of the Year...NOT!
Friday was an awesome day. Probably the best day I've had in a long time! Steve had taken the day off to turkey hunt, but I guess he changed his mind because he was hanging around as I was getting around to take the kids to school. He had a few ideas about what he was going to do...move dirt around, cut some trees, clean the barn...OR, I suggested, he could take me to Harvey's for lunch and then to Begick's nursery. SOLD! He exclaimed, so off we went for a glorious afternoon hanging out together. My parents agreed to keep the kids for dinner, so we enjoyed a little time at home before all the craziness would begin. It was nice to be in the house alone...wow, so different! Kinda like those quiet pre-kid days!
Anyway, as the girls arrived back home, I asked them both about their days, and Serena said to me a bit shyly, "I had a good day, and I did really well reading my story in front of the people at the Volunteer Tea today." (KABOOM went my head) Do I really need to admit the rest? Yes, I was invited to the Volunteer Tea, complete with entertainment by the fourth grade choir (my daughter's class). Yes, she was one of two students whose story was chosen to read on stage in front of all the good moms. Yes, I was planning on being there, yes, yes, yes! But did I remember? NO NO NO!!! Oh, I felt as big as a flea, maybe even smaller. I wanted to die right then and there. I felt so completely horrible and guilty and all those other mom emotions that go through and rip your heart into pieces.
She hugged me, realizing my complete memory loss, and told me it was okay, Sara and Theresa were there.....oh, I love those girls too, but it made me feel so bad anyway! Sara did my part, hugging Serena and telling her what a good job she did. And where was I? Out eating a turkey pannini at Harvey's blissfully unaware of my mistake. Sigh....
Steve reminded me that to feel guilty, you have to have done something wrong deliberately, and this was not one of those times. I know what he meant in my head, it was my heart that was bothering me. See, I've never missed those important things! But guess what? If I was a working mom, I probably wouldn't have made half of those things, and I certainly wouldn't be invited to a Volunteer Tea! So,I justified myself, bought my daughter ice cream and a new book, and let it go.
Whew...another day of parenting down, a million more to go!
Anyway, as the girls arrived back home, I asked them both about their days, and Serena said to me a bit shyly, "I had a good day, and I did really well reading my story in front of the people at the Volunteer Tea today." (KABOOM went my head) Do I really need to admit the rest? Yes, I was invited to the Volunteer Tea, complete with entertainment by the fourth grade choir (my daughter's class). Yes, she was one of two students whose story was chosen to read on stage in front of all the good moms. Yes, I was planning on being there, yes, yes, yes! But did I remember? NO NO NO!!! Oh, I felt as big as a flea, maybe even smaller. I wanted to die right then and there. I felt so completely horrible and guilty and all those other mom emotions that go through and rip your heart into pieces.
She hugged me, realizing my complete memory loss, and told me it was okay, Sara and Theresa were there.....oh, I love those girls too, but it made me feel so bad anyway! Sara did my part, hugging Serena and telling her what a good job she did. And where was I? Out eating a turkey pannini at Harvey's blissfully unaware of my mistake. Sigh....
Steve reminded me that to feel guilty, you have to have done something wrong deliberately, and this was not one of those times. I know what he meant in my head, it was my heart that was bothering me. See, I've never missed those important things! But guess what? If I was a working mom, I probably wouldn't have made half of those things, and I certainly wouldn't be invited to a Volunteer Tea! So,I justified myself, bought my daughter ice cream and a new book, and let it go.
Whew...another day of parenting down, a million more to go!