Tuesday, January 17, 2012

conflicting emotions


This past Friday we had a SNOW DAY!!!  No school Saturday and Sunday....followed by no school Monday because of Martin Luther King day.  WHOO HOO!!  For not having to set an alarm 4 days in a row.  When the kids were younger the thought of 4 days off & them all home kinda set me into a state of hives.  I love them...but trying to keep them all busy when it's so cold outside is hard.  Can I get an Amen?

But as they grow...I find this task easier and easier by the year.  Now I welcome Christmas break, for more than just not setting an alarm.  They are changing.  Or am I?

So Monday morning I got ambitious.  We got the house cleaned up and I decided rather than wait until they are at school...we were going for a grocery and Target run.  With all 4.  All but one of the kids were excited~I won't mention any names. 

They did so well in Target.  I'm entering a new phase where if they stick together in 2's I will let them be in the store a little without me right in the same isle.  The boys can go to the electronics & the girls find the book department or some other girly place to look.  It actually was an enjoyable trip.  Shocked and pleased.

So after that I decided we should grab some lunch before I spend another hour in a store.    





So we went to Wendy's.  When we pulled into the parking lot and actually parked, I got some pretty wrinkled eyebrows.  WHAT??? We're eating inside the restaurant????  Suzy said, "OH THANK YOU MOM!!!"  Oppsie.  I guess we're characterized by drive thru's.  Sad but true.

I felt like a super hero to be eating in and them excited about it.  AND I let them each get their own frosty!  Did I mention we splurged and shared a fry?

So we are sitting down with our food, and I notice a grandma with her granddaughter eating their lunch at a nearby table.  The little girl had a happy meal and the conversation was about her pre-school and how she likes it.  The grandma was really into her little granddaughter.

And then my eyes filled with water. 

I think part of it came from longing & some came from just attending my uncle's funeral the day before. 

Isabella was sitting across the table from me and said, "mom are your eyes really dry or are those tears?"

I told her, "It's so silly.  But I miss my mom~I miss her not knowing how cool you guys are." I thought to myself silly to me~because why have tears NOW in the middle of Wendy's when my heart is so full of these kids who are so fun to be with?  So blessed by a great day out on the town with them.  So happy to be their mama. How can it hit me like this....when it hasn't for months??  How can you be filled with such conflicting emotions?

And then Isabella's eyes filled and she told me, "Mom! That's not silly at all!"

Oh my goodness. Complete and utter compassion & empathy for my loss.  And then she did what any sweet 11 year old would do.  She handed me her frosty and offered me some. 

At this point all 4 kids were staring at me and I went on to explain to them how much Grandma Faye would've loved being them grandma.  I imagine she would've taken them to lunch all by themselves and treated them to some one on one time.   
And how much and completely she would've loved them.  And I told them that one day they will get to meet her in Heaven. 

And then Suzy says, "And what if you get there before I do~then I will see you too."  Her and her little 5 year old logic.

Jack pipes up and says, "SUZY!  That's saying that mom will die before you.~Don't make her feel worse." 

At this point the tears keep rolling with laughing and I desperately just want the tears to stop but they don't.  I love these kids.  They make me so full.  Even when my heart is a little sore.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

our wedding

 14 years ago some friends helped us celebrate our Wedding day. 
Rebecca & Samantha were are program passer outers.


Joyce & Karen were the guest book attendants.
Kirsten & Karissa were our gift carrier girlies.

 

My sister Michele, my niece~Sierra, and 2 little friends (Nicholette & Dannette)  I used to babysit for were my little flower girls.  Brooke my niece was also a little flower girl for us...but she was feeling a little camera shy at the time of the above picture.
Donovan's parents, Glen & Elsie.  His brother, Jon.  And his brother Wes, with his wife Joann & their daughter Brooke.
The peeps we put in charge of the reception.  Uncle Dave & Aunt Gloria and Uncle Jerry & Aunt Ruby. 
The friends was asked to serve at the reception~ Chad, Jon, Merle, Jeff, Jeremy, Katie, Teresa, J.B., Carla, & Andrew.
My sisters~Holly, Melissa, & Michele.
Some pretty amazing & talented friends Angie & Lori that wrote a special song for my wedding & preformed it.  Along with singing & playing all other music at our candle lit wedding.
Our ushers~Steve, Aaron, Darrin, & Willie
And here we are.....We were 22 & 23 years old!  We had no idea everything that marriage meant back then.  It's full of ups & downs.  Thankfully the ups outway the downs. :)  And thankfully I have someone that is committed to God, me, and his children.  SO very blessed that I met and married this man. 
I was full of excitement that day of everything that was so new.  WOW!!  Being a wife was something I had been dreaming of since I was a little girl.  And along with that day came the white dress, flowers, honeymoon, *blank and blank* (tee hee), and being adopted into his family.  Donovan often accuses me of wanting to get married just to start having babies...but I WAS pretty stoked to be getting all the perks of being married to my love, my groom. 




It's unblievable to imagine that Jan 3, 1998 was an unseasonably warm day for Southern Michigan~ 45 degrees!!   We got married in Sturgis, Michigan (about 30 minutes from where we live now.)  It was an evening wedding that started at 6 p.m. and we had made these ice lanterns to line the drive of the church...and they were melting!!! In January!!  And now here we are 14 years later in the middle of a snow storm today!  With temps in the 20's. 
Here are our friends who stood up for us that day
Chris, Sheldon, Kevin, Wes & Jon
Tina, Bobbie, Sherri, Melissa, Michele
Nichollette, Michele, Dannette, & Sierra...Brooke (not pictured) ~who was camera shy again :( 

So special to have most of these people still in our lives. 
I'm livin the dream to be married to my love.  I can't imagine life without him~he makes a better person just by being him.  He is the very best friend I've ever had.
I love you my groom.

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Year's Eve

On New Years Eve we headed over to our friends' Jason & Rose's house....How fun to look forward to a party all week!  

So many lovely treats....

And a personal barista...making me a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

The house was decked out with some beautiful candles and treats.
Isabella with all the yummy food




All the cute children...can you believe we let them all stay up till 2 a.m.?
Isabella, Cassie, & Sophia
Suzy with her snacks. 

We taught our friends how to play "black 7"  ~
 
So fun to bring in 2012 with some of the people I admire, adore & love.
Hope your New Year is off to a great start....