Times Three

Homer Simpson: "Aw, I have three kids and no money. Why can't I have no kids and three money?!"

Because, Homer, then you would miss out on all these opportunities to experience joy, love, happiness and so many things money cannot buy. An empty wallet and a full heart seem like a pretty fair trade off!

Necessary Evil

 This is a very sad picture. After spending almost $1400 on truck repair yesterday, my husband comes in this morning to inform me that it won't start!!! It's the same problem that we took it to the dealership for in the first place. I must go on the record as saying, "I hate cars ~ ALL cars!" They are a necessary evil in our society, but they really are a pain. This truck is also my husband's office, so it really hurts when it is out of commission. No truck = no work. He is frustrated and annoyed and it is hard to smile and say, "It will be okay.", but there is a rule in our marriage. Only one person gets to be upset at a time. It's a good rule.
Anyone have a bus schedule?!

You Rock

Yesterday was a day of errands. Like most of us, we look down at a list of "to dos" that are long and, often, boring but necessary. I decided to try and experiment throughout my day to see if what "they" say is true. You get back what you put out there.
I smiled at everyone. Most smiled back, some probably thinking "crazy lady". I let a car go first when it wasn't their turn. They probably thought, "Ha, I won!", when, actually I felt like I had won. I gave the bum outside Starbucks $5. I suggested he buy food, but he will probably buy booze ~ who cares!? I felt great in the giving.
Our words and thoughts shape our day, and the day after that and the day after that and, suddenly, they shape our life! Powerful stuff, but, I am a control freak and I realize that I get to control ME.
Now, just so you don't think, "Oh, well, sure, she had a good day because nothing really bad happened." WRONG! My husband's truck has to be fixed to the tune of $1000. I didn't get a check in the mail I was expecting. The dog nearly got run over on one of our many walks and my heart about jumped out of my chest!
It's called LIFE, people. Embrace it while you can...because I think YOU ROCK!!!
Have a great day, but make someone else feel great as well.

Taking Tea

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."  ~Henry James
Yesterday, Amber, Emily, her mom (also named Sue!) and I went to the Tea House on Los Rios for afternoon tea. When I heard Emily had never been to tea before, I knew it was the perfect way to celebrate both her birthday & Amber's in January. What a fun afternoon we had, sitting and talking about everything and nothing while we enjoyed course after course of tea and yummy food. After weeks of freezing cold temperatures (well, freezing for CA!), we couldn't have asked for nicer weather. Not a cloud in the sky and in the high 70s, we strolled the street, popping into one unique shop after another. Each of us even managed to find a treasure to buy.
As Emily hangs her new sign (Kindness Matters), Sue wears her new black skirt, Amber sprinkles her new lavender powder on her pillow and I plant my new succulents plants, may we smile and remember an afternoon we put our world on hold for a bit and just enjoyed each others company...over a cup of tea, of course!

Cuddles

Grammie: "Abs, what are you doing?"
Abbey: "Just cuddling on the couch with Callie."
Grammie: "OK, well, carry on, you cute cuddlers!"

Little things really ARE the big things!
Love these girls!!!

Flowers

Who among us can resist a man bearing flowers? Yes, they are a waste of money. They die. They are not necessary. Yet again, they are a way to capture a little of the world's beauty. They speak of love and friendship and they help us commemorate occasions of our lives.

To top if off, if you have a delivery man as handsome as this guy, well, you are one lucky woman!!!

Little Girl

Happy Birthday to our lovely daughter, Amber.

 Looking back through old photos of you brings back so many happy memories. Yes, life is messy and not always as we plan it, but it is still a wonderful journey with so much love and joy.May the coming year be a happy one for you and the people you love. Enjoy every moment, because they really go by fast.

Happy Birthday, little girl (ALWAYS our little girl!)

 

Remember When...

I am fairly certain that most of us cannot remember gifts we were given a few years ago. Even something we really loved or wanted, tends to fade from our memory after a little time. That's why I think non-material memories are the best memories. Some of the most wonderful sentences start with, "Remember when..." Experiences trump things most of the time.
I think "remember when" is the glue that binds families together as well as friends. Rehashing trips, outings, even things that turned out badly at the time, can be fondly recalled with others and make you both feel better. Remember when our calm dad turned into psycho dad on the ski trip? Mom couldn't stop laughing which made him even madder! Remember when the waiter at brunch kept bringing the baby strawberries because she had just discovered she loved to eat them? Remember when my water broke & I thought it was a leak in the waterbed? Remember when you first heard about the Twin Towers and the horror you felt?
Good, bad, happy, sad, it really makes no difference. It's simply the shared experience that makes us human and binds us together.
Remember when I wrote a blog about "remember when" and it made you remember something from your past that made you smile and then you called your friend who was there and you talked about it and laughed together?
My work here is done!

Rules

There are rules. It is written in the grandparent handbook. When kids come for a sleep over, there must be a yummy dessert that your mom probably does not let you have very often. Tonight we had a sundae buffet (Maddy's words) with vanilla AND chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, TWO kinds of sprinkles and cherries.

The big kid on the bottom right corner asked for seconds, but Grammie said no!

 

Evening

"May I never miss a sunset because I am looking down."
 

Abigail

From this...

to this...

in five short years!

Little did we know how much this child would make us laugh,

 challenge us, frustrate us and delight us regularly!

She keeps us on our toes and make us better people.

We thank God for the gift of Abbey.