Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day.  Interesting "holiday."  Expectations change as time goes on.  When I was young I wanted flowers, an adorable card, promises of everlasting love.  I love the Hallmark Channel.  Nothing like a sappy movie to get the tears flowing!  Who doesn't want Hallmark moments.  Recently I finished a marathon day of Hallmark movies.  It made me sad.  I thought, I will never have a Hallmark moment again.  Life has dealt so many blows, I'm too cynical.  Those moments will not exist for me anymore.  It makes me sad.
Today is the day of love.  I own a business that is all about buying a gift for someone you love.  Getting hit in the face with love today.  Most of the customers are Moms and Grandmas.  A few husbands sprinkled in.  Between customers is a great time to reflect. 
There are people that say there are not married couples who remain madly in love forever.  I disagree.  I have known several couples that remained madly in love beyond 50 years of marriage.  Some took it to eternity.  My in-laws were one couple that loved each other forever.  The night before my mother-in-law died her husband tucked her into her bed.  They were not in the same room any longer.  She was too ill from cancer.  She was fighting a losing battle.  She was told that treatment could only buy her a short time at best.  She said she was not ready to leave her husband.  She wanted to fight.  That is a deep love.  The battle was already lost before she started.  She was home recovering from the horrific treatment.  Her husband tucked her in that last night.  He told her he loved her.  He kissed her.  He said, I love you more than the first day I met you.  You are not as beautiful as you were that day, but I love you more now.  That is honest love.  The next morning when he went in she was gone.  Bible in hand, love in her heart forever.  That is a Hallmark moment.
I know other couples that have that deep love.  I am not going to pretend I get to live it.  This blog is filled with honesty.  When I look at the picture I posted, it looks like we were having a wonderful day.  It was Thanksgiving.  Our family was together at the Grand Canyon.  In the background our son was having a complete break from reality.  It had started on vacation.  Grew worse each day.  The next day we would leave for home.  Within days our son would be hospitalized.  We would begin to live with the knowledge that the future we envisioned would change forever.  The empty nest we imagined would never happen.  We would only have 9 months of the two of us alone.  Not the happily ever after we dreamed of.  It is a struggle we both deal with in our own way.  Not keeping our son home with us is not an option.  It is not who we are.  If there were a place he could go and be safe and happier, we would send him.  We will not put him somewhere so we can live the life we wanted. 
Hubby and I have been together since high school.  We married young.  We had nothing.  We were so poor.  We enjoyed so many times together that did not require money.  We laughed so much.  We always had music in the background of our life.  We felt blessed to have two beautiful, smart children.  It never crossed our minds that their lives would not be perfect.
Together we have buried 3 grandparents, 3 parents, and a sibling, throw in Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  We have seen our children in the hospital and wondered if they would ever come home with us.  We have attended countless weddings together and funerals too.  We have seen friends come and go.  Watched puppies grow into dogs and held them while we said goodbye.   We moved from apartments to houses.  From town to town.  When I was young and thought about forever, I never imagined what it meant.  The things we would endure together.  There were not Hallmark cards for all of the sad times.
There have been some great times along the way.  Sitting outside late at night with our kids, watching the stars.  Taking our grandkids out in the country to look for meteors.  Double rainbows that were so close we thought we could touch them.  So many sporting events.  Watching Walter Payton in Soldier Field.  Cheering so loud in our home that people walking by would look strangely at our house.  Traveling to so many amazing places.  Watching sunsets in Jamaica.  Seeing the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the Rockie Mountains, Puget Sound, several oceans, countless lakes, New Orleans during Mardi Gras.  All that and still enjoying seeing a beautiful bird in our backyard.
If we had them on a scale, I am sure there are more good moments than bad.  Unfortunately, the bad times can be so HUGE.  They take a toll.  The reality is, in a tiny corner of my heart, I still believe I will get the Hallmark moments again.  I bought into Happily Ever After a long time ago.  Have not given up on it yet.
Happy Valentine's Day!

One Christmas Party Over

Saturday was my family Christmas party.  This is with my siblings, our kids, and grandkids.  We rent a hall.  Everyone brings food.  There is way too much food!!  We eat.  Children play games.  Everyone talks.  Some of us only see each other at this yearly event.  We started it many years ago while my Mom was still living.  It is a tradition we hope continues for many years to come.  It keeps our family connected.  Many families have fun holiday traditions.  Part of our Christmas Holiday is a very dark, inappropriate tradition. 
Many years ago at a family function my brother got his hands on a camera.  He mooned the camera and took a picture.  At some point this picture was blown up and framed.  It made its ugly way into our Christmas party.  It has become part of the men's grab bag.  Several years ago it came home with us.  I waited several months and snuck the picture into the mooner's house.  Hung the picture in their bathroom.  They were shocked to find it when they arrived home from a vacation.  The picture will lay dormant for a few years.  The person who has the picture has to hope the family forgets who not to take a gift from.  The men never forget.  When it is time for the gift exchange it is last man standing.  The youngest person in the group is going to end up taking the picture home.  No one else will touch the box.  The men draw gifts oldest to youngest.  My son attended the party this year but left early.  Being around that many people can get to be too much for him.  Luckily, Hubby unwrapped the gift for Uncle.  There it was full moon in all its glory!  It never fails that Uncle will always get the most terrible of all the horrific gifts each year.  Even though the grab bag is just for fun, he ends up disappointed.  He will receive something for a computer and he does not use a computer.  He will receive something for a car and he does not have a car.  When I heard my son won the boobie prize, I said no.  Could not happen.  Not this year.  We could not take that box home and say he received it.  Tru Stories and Coach went to the store.  They came back with a couple of nice gifts for Uncle.  Really, too nice.  We put the gifts in a bag and made it look like it was ready for him to open.  Told him it was from his Uncle.  Told my brother if my son starting thanking him for the cool gifts to play along.  He said fine.  Of course, the men could not understand why it was such a big deal.  Trust me, it really was.
One of the gifts Tru Stories picked was a flat backpack that is all the rage.  Just a nylon bag with strings.  They got him a Nike bag.  Well, Uncle LOVES it.  He has not taken it off his back.  He just walks around wearing it.  He said he has needed something to carry his drawings and special notes in.  Now this big lie gift is going to be his favorite thing. 
Uncle is happy.  Unfortunately, it is does not change the fact that we have the picture.  Now I have to figure out how to unload it on someone else.  I have an idea.  Just might work.  Hope I remember for next year!
Family Christmas is fun!!

Mother's Day

My favorite thing to do on Mother's Day is sit on my patio with a book (today a Kindle).   Along the side of my house is a row of peony bushes.  Every time I passed them, they smelled so wonderful.  It reminded me of my mother-in-law.  She had great peony bushes.  We have some of her bushes in our yard.  She got her bushes from her Mother.  They were brought from California.  The passion for flowers passed from one generation to the next. 
My Mom was not into flowers.  She did not have the gift of enjoying beauty.  I don't say that as a criticism.  Just a fact.  She had more of a black and white personality.  Did not take the time to smell the roses.  I think that is part of the reason I love flowers so much.  We did not have gardens when I was growing up.  I could not wait to have my own home and gardens.
I am not going to pretend my Mom and I had the greatest Mother/Daughter relationship.  That is not to say I did not love her.  I did and I still miss her.  My Mom was not good at affection.  Not as a Mom.  She was great at being a Grandma.  She loved the babies.  To hold them.  To rock them.  My Mom was tough.  She became a widow when she was 52.  My brother was a freshmen in high school.  I was in 6th grade.  My Mom had not worked.  My Dad took care of everything.  Except life insurance.  My Mom had to face some realities quickly.  She had a hard life.  It did not translate into her being a touchy feely person.  When I was little, she would "tuck me in at night."  That was pulling up the covers and maybe kissing my forehead.  She did not say, "I love you."  I knew she loved me.  She showed through her actions.  She did her best taking care of us.  She gave us all she was able to give.
I always wanted a daughter.  I wanted to have a great relationship with her.  I never wanted her to have a day when she wondered if I was proud of her, or loved her.  I wanted her to know, I would always be there for her.  I think I achieved that.  I enjoy spending time with her.  She makes me laugh.  She is not the toucher I would like her to be.....but can't have everything.  My grand children are huggers.  Little Tink can cuddle all day long.
I have known some wonderful Mothers.  I hope I learned some things from them.  They helped me be the Mother I am.  I took some positives.  I tried to make sure I changed the negatives.
Happy Mother's Day!  Hope you all enjoyed your day with family.  If you are a Mom, hope you took care of yourself.

Spring Ahead

I was reminded today that tomorrow we "Spring Ahead."  It came up during a discussion at work.  A friend mentioned she took off Monday and Tuesday.  I asked if she was taking a trip.  Her answer was, "No.  The time changes this week-end and it takes me a few days to adjust."  I get it.  I think the Monday and Tuesday after the "Time Change" should be National Holidays.  Seriously!  It cannot be healthy to have our inner clocks jerked around at random.  I resent, the group that came up with the idea to mess with my time.  How is a decision like this made.  At what level was it made.

I imagine a group of men sitting around at a bar after their softball game was cut short by dark.
" You know what the problem is? "
" No, what?  It gets dark too early." 
"Well, yeah, that's obvious.  Not like we can do anything about it.  What are we going to do, change time."
Laughter and more beers follow.  Later, the conversation starts again.
"We could change time."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"No, really.  Think about it.  All we have to do is pick a Sunday when the weather starts getting warm, and push the clock up one hour."
"That's crazy.  People can't just decide to change time.  But......if we did it when would we do it?"
"I'd say 2:00 am.  Most people are in bed by then.  Why don't we just pick the second week-end in March.  It will be done before St. Patrick's Day."
"It can't work.  When the days get longer, it would still be dark in the mornings when children are getting on the buses to go to school.  What are we going to do about that."
"We'll wait until fall and have the time fall back."

One softball player finds another softball player who is in Congress.  Next thing we know, everyone is having their lives disrupted on a whim.  Life would go on without this "time change."  Arizona has stubbornly refused to give into this demand made by our government. 
When the time changes early Sunday morning people's lives are disrupted.  The clock shows 8:00pm.  Children's inner clock says, "Not in real time."  That is not a problem at night.  In the morning when you are forcing the innocent children out of bed at what is really 6:00am, it is ugly.  When my clock goes off at what is really 4:15am on Monday, I will not be amused. 
The problem is, I feel like this is one area where the government has gone too far.  It is my life.  It is my time.  I do not want anyone to decide they are taking MY HOUR just because it is close to Spring.  I know I will get it back.  I will get it back, on our government's time frame.  Maybe I was going to use that hour after 2:00am on Sunday.  Maybe that was going to be the hour my life was changed.  In the early hours on Sunday morning, I was going to seriously clean my closet.  ALL three of my closets.  It was going to take more than an hour.  Now I can't do it.  There will not be enough time.  I can't start the project and finish it in November when THEY give me back MY hour.  We used to get it back in October.  Most of my life we got it back in October.  A few years ago Congress made the decision to change it to November.  Isn't that crazy?  People we do not know, made the decision when they are giving ME back MY hour.
To get back to my original point.  If Congress is going to decide to mess with our minds and for us older people our bodies, we deserve time to adjust.  Just pass a law.  Instead of Springing ahead, we will walk slowly ahead.  It is going to take two days for us to get there.  In the Fall, we will also need two days.  Falls are not safe.  Even into a pile of leaves.  We will walk backwards into time. 
Call your local politicians.  This is just the kind of cause they will grab onto right now.  Something to take their minds off our depressing economy.  All we are asking for is two, four day week-ends.  Think about!  Who is going to start the petition.  I know two people that will sign!

It Is Oscar Night

I love the Oscars.  I love the clothes, the hair, the Red Carpet.  Love it all!!  Tru Stories and I go way back watching the Oscars together.  We have spent many Oscar evenings on the telephone discussing the show.  One evening we had a very, very lengthy long distance call.  That was when we still paid for long distance!  We used to even watch some of the movies before the Academy Awards so we knew what movie to cheer on.  I used to take the day after the Oscars off.  Sadly, I just go to work tired now.
Tru Stories is busy with her needy children.  We will barely even get to talk on the phone.  We had plans to see Descendant's and that did not happen.  I went the The Help and watched Moneyball.  So, there are at least two movies I know about. I listened to the audio of the book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  That is almost like seeing the movie. If there were an awards show for books, I would be all over that.  I would try to read all of the books that were nominated.
I have devoted 3 hours to the Academy Awards already tonight.  Loved many of the dresses.  I would have a tough time finding 10 dresses for the Worst Dressed.  Gwenyth Paltrow in all white was AMAZING.  Sandra Bullock was beautiful as always.  I love George Clooney's girlfriend's dress too.  Not sure if she can be counted in the best dressed list.  My favorite dress is unique, black and gold.  Worn by Jessica Chastain from The Help.  It is amazing.  I do not love Angelina Jole's dress.  Nothing unique or interesting about it.  Looks like styles she has worn before.  I liked the dress she wore at The Golden Globes much better. 
Just a few minutes into the Oscar's we we have the first costume mishap of the night by Jennifer Lopez.  Here is my favorite part of the mishap.  I was texting Tru Stories as the phone rang.  I did not even look at caller id.  I knew it was TS.  I said, I was just texting you.  The Kid said the dress was gross.  Hoping he did not notice the mishap.  Glad the first big award went to The Help. 
Saw the Ellen commercial.  Loved it.  Better than any of Super Bowl commercials that were on this year.  TS just told me the Ellen commercials are the center of a controversy.  I will shop at Penney's more now. 
There was a big let down tonight when I realized that the Oprah after the Academy Awards show will not be on tomorrow.  That was always one of my favorite Oprah shows of the year. 
The show has been on for one hour.  Only one real award has been given out.  That is the part I dislike about the Academy Awards.
Let me end this post with a word of warning.  Not every movie that wins an Oscar is worth watching.  Even if said movie is Directed by Robert Redford.  TS and I learned that lesson the hard way.  I insisted we watched, Like Water For Chocolates.  It had sub titles.  We kept watching waiting for something good to happen.  What happened is TS and I now have a movie that we love to joke about.  A nice bonding moment. 
Happy Oscar evening!

Happy New Year!

Today I welcomed in the New Year with a trip to Barnes & Noble with The Kid.  We are not a good combination in a book store.  We got into a book spell.  We grab everything we see.  We even discussed how awesome it would be to be snowed in a Barnes for a few days.  Books and Starbucks!  Sounds like a dream come true.
My 2011 book total ended up being 105.  Not bad.  I have been obsessively reading the last month.  I am going to admit I have been reading too much!!  There are nights when I get home from work it is time for bed and I have not done anything but read.  That can make it hard to sleep.  My brain does not get down time.  Tru Stories wants to know some of the best books I have read this year.  She is pretending she is going to read.  Here are books I rated a 5.

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb - His books are not easy reads.  They are very unique books to read.  Tru Stories, you will not enjoy his books.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - The Old Lady and I really enjoyed this book.  It is not a feel good story!  It is about a woman that has early onset Alzheimer's.  Once again, not a book for TS.

The Boy In Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - Big NO!  It is about a concentration camp.

Room by Emma Donoghue - This is about a girl that was kidnapped and kept in a room.  I think I see a pattern with the books that get a 5!  They are not sweet, feel good stories.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld - TS you might enjoy this story.  It is loosely based on Laura Bush.  Alice is just an ordinary girl that meets and falls for a charismatic, affluent man.  It is a great read.

The First Day of The Rest of My Life by Cathy Lamb - Not related to Wally Lamb.  It is a tragic story about sisters.  They have a fairy tale life under their father dies and their mother remarries. 

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka - This is one that TS might be able to enjoy.  It is about Japanese Picture Brides or mail order brides.  They think they are coming to the United States to have wonderful marriages.  In truth, they are told lies and brought to work.  I wrote that it reads like poetry.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - I gave you this to read TS.  It is a nice story with interesting characters.

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto - Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelly has not adjusted to his loss.  This is a story about a man that cannot die.  It is a modern fairy tale.  Interesting story.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - TS will not read this.  I have it on my Kindle.  Do not own the book.  It is a true story about an Olympic athlete that becomes a prisoner of war.  Great story about human strength.

Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz - Not a feel good story. 

The Oprah Winfrey Show - (Coffee table book).  TS you will enjoy this. 

That is 12 books that I rated 5.  Seems like a high number.  There are more books that are rated 4.  More of those have a light subject matter.  They might be easier for a mother of 3 to find time to read.  We will baby step TS back into reading. 

Back to my first story of 2012.  It is the book after Reservation Road called, Northwest Corner. 

Merry Christmas

 One month ago, I would never have imagined a Christmas Eve like we just had.  This is Uncle and The Kid.  They have a special bond.  The Kid understands his Uncle. 

 How about this shot?  That Coco wraps the men in her life around her finger. 

 Uncle does not spend Christmas Eve with us.  He usually hides out in the basement.

I am very happy to get this picture of my children together.

 At this point Uncle was ready to leave, he allowed a couple of family pictures before he left.

Just Hubby and I take the kids riding around to look at lights.  Uncle asked to be dropped off at his Aunt's house.  He knew she was spending Christmas Eve alone and asked if he could go over there for a short visit.  It made her night.  He is working on his socialization skills.  It is going well.

We are having a special holiday.

Merry Christmas!

From, The Page Turner



Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a few blessings that I need to count today.  The first and greatest blessing of my day is, I had a nice visit with my son this morning.  He was clear eyed.  I could understand more than half of what he said.  He looked physically better.  Mentally there are improvements too.  I will take every improvement no matter how small and be grateful.  I even received several hugs and an I love you.  Nice start to my day!
I am thankful that I have a friend that cares enough about me that she went to visit my son with me this morning.  She is having Thanksgiving at her house this afternoon too.  She took almost 4 hours out of her day to ride with me.  Not just so I would not be alone.  She wants to see my son.  I have been blessed to have her in my life almost 30 years.  She helps me through the tough times and celebrates the happy times in my life.
I am thankful that many caring people have stepped up when I really needed a hug the last few months.  Some with messages filled with friendship and prayers. 
I am thankful that I am back in my hometown.  It never stopped feeling like home to me.
Later today I will be going to my daughter's for dinner.  She lives in the home my husband was raised in.  I am thankful that today we will spend Thanksgiving there filled with her family.  I am thankful she has created a beautiful home with her husband and children.  I am thankful that hubby and I only have to drive a few short blocks to share in a great dinner with family.
You know I am grateful for my wonderful grandchildren.  They continue to bring me so much love and joy.  Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with many blessings too!
  

Happy Mother's Day

I just finished my Mother's Day with a trip to the cemetery.  It is not the high point of my day.  I am not the person I am without my Mom or my Mother-in-Law having been a part of my life.  My Mom had trouble loving.  She could not easily show her love.  She rarely said, "I love you." She did the best she could with what she had.  We had some issues.  Those issues made me a better Mom.  My Mother-in-Law was a great Mother.  I am a better person having been a part of her family.
I had an extraordinary day today.  I hope all you Moms out there did.  The positive side of my Mom's flaws is that her flaws taught me to love more.  I can promise you that my children and family will never wonder if I love them.  I saw it.  I show it.  It is hard for me to imagine but I am sure I have 1 or 2 flaws as a Mom too.  Those flaws probably made my daughter a better Mom and woman.  (Tru Stories feel free to comment that I do not have any flaws.)
I know so many wonderful mothers.  My daughter is the first that comes to mind.  She knew that no matter what anyone told her, she was meant to have three babies.  We were all wrong.  She was strong enough and none of our lives were complete without Coco.  Tru Stories is a strong willed, smart, beautiful woman that has created an amazing family.  I am so proud of her.
My dear friend, Millhouse.  I am sorry I do not get to see her be a Mom.  I know from her text, pictures, blog, and e-mails that she is loving being a Mom.  Today is Millhouse's birthday.  It is also her first Mother's Day.  The old Millhouse would not have been pleased sharing her birthday attention with anyone.  The new Mom Millhouse, is thrilled to have her birthday and Mother's Day on the same day.  SBR I hope you and your Daddy did something special for my dear friend today.  She is one of my favorite people and deserves so much happiness.
I have a sister-in-law that is a Mom figure to me.  She has been a part of my life since I was 4 years old.  She shares in my happiness.  She worries when I have troubles.  That is what a Mom does.
My grandchildren have great godmothers.  There are a total of 5.  Coco needed three because Tru Stories knew one would not be enough.  They are not only good Moms, they are smart, strong women.  I have a niece that is a single Mom.  There are times she struggles.  She must be doing a great job.  Her kids do great in school and are good kids.  That is because of their Mom.
The last week I have been able to celebrate the special Mother/Daughter relationship I have with Tru Stories.  We will never forget the week we had.  Some of you might knot know, WE WENT TO OPRAH!  Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's.  Hope you had a special day too.

Do Over

If this is how 2011 is going to look, I am not buying it. I like when years pretend there is a slight chance of a good year. Not 2011. The negative stuff started on New Year's Eve and is not going to let up.
So as soon as I have the energy, I am going to stay up late. I am going to do a countdown to midnight. I am going to keep welcoming 2011 until it understands what is expected of it.

Goals for 2011

I have a few reading goals for 2011.

1. Read books I bought and have not read for whatever reason.

2. Read more biographies and auto-biographies. I go through reading stages. There was a time I was really into biographies. I just need to mix things up more often.

3. Pick up an old fashioned paperback once in awhile.

4. Show more self-control at Barnes. I am terrible about seeing books on clearance and grabbing them. Just because a book is $4.00 does not mean it is worth reading. I need to have my reading list and stick to it. I spend quite a bit of time researching interesting books to read. I just need to keep the list in my purse and stick to it.

5. Find something worthwhile to do with my used books. I would really like to donate to a program for people that do not have the ability to buy books.

6. Make sure that The Page Turners continues to meet and continues to evolve into something we all enjoy.

I will not set a goal this year of how many books to read. I do not want to end up reading books just to reach a goal. I do not like the fact I read so many books that I rate #2. I want more 4-5's this year.

I hope all of you have a great year. Glad to know a few people out there follow my ramblings. I wold love to have more of you post some reading suggestions to me!! Now back to putting away decorations.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

Tru Stories accuses me of not having Christmas Spirit. I really do love Christmas. The problem is, I get caught up in Christmas Pasts. That can make me sad.

Growing up we celebrated and opened gifts on Christmas Eve. Santa would come in the afternoon. All my brothers and their families would come home. We had our big Christmas dinner and after all the dishes were done, we opened presents. There were so many presents!! My Dad loved Christmas. He did not love getting gifts. He loved giving gifts. He would buy his own gifts to give. We had some very special parties. After our gifts were opened friends would stop by. One Christmas Eve we had a great surprise. My brother was in the service. No one knew he was coming home. He just showed up. My Mom was so happy.

After my Dad passed away, Christmas was hard for me. He really was the heart of Christmas at our house. I was in junior high. It just wasn't the same. We continued to celebrate on Christmas Eve until I had been married a few years. My brothers lived out of town. They wanted to establish their own traditions. That was when my family started celebrating the Saturday before Christmas. My Mom was not happy about it. But what was important, and still is important is that we keep our family meeting at Christmas. We want our kids and our grandkids to continue to celebrate together.

The last Christmas my Mom was alive she was in the hospital. The last time I saw her was Christmas Eve. It was not a happy visit. My family still met for Christmas that year. We still met for Christmas the year my brother passed away right before Christmas. Because, we never want that tradition broken. That party with my siblings and our families is the tie to our past. It does not matter if we meet in a pizza place, the American Legion, the VFW, or this year even the bowling alley. What matters is that we meet.

I still think of the Ghosts of Christmas past. The family that is no longer with us. The special times we had with our kids when they were young. Our first little house and the GIANT Christmas tree. Many special times in our other house. I only want joy in our new house at Christmas. We have new traditions. We have little ones to fill our Christmas with joy.

Tonight we were at Tru Stories. The house my husband grew up in. We had some big family celebrations in that house. It was a small, quiet celebration tonight. Exchanging a few gifts. Letting the kids open their stockings. Tru Stories and Coach have made it their home. The house does not look the same. It is so comfortable. It fits their family perfectly.

This is our Christmas present. The young kids filled with wonder and excitement. Coco wanting everything Tink got. Tink lobing it all. The Kid happy to have us all together. This is the new stage in our life. It is a great one. Sharing the holidays with the beautiful home and family our daughter has created. It is a great part of parenting. The next stage.

I don't know what the future holds. There will always be change. Some easy to handle. Some changes that knock that wind out of us. It is all part of life.

The tree above is our new tree. Just a little artificial tree. We have two. The kids helped us decorate. We added butterflys and birds to the tree this year. It is not a matchie, matchie tree. It is a fun tree for the kids. I over shopped. Could not help myself. Cannot wait to see the little ones open their gifts tomorrow. This year I am filled with Christmas Spirit. I have enjoyed it all!

Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope Santa is very good to you!

Bad Blogger

I apologize, I am a bad blogger. Maybe bloggers should just take the month of December off. If you read Tru Stories you know I do not always "love" the holidays. Each year I am trying to make more of an effort. This year, I may have gone too far.
With Tru Stories under the weather and Coach, Coaching, last night I had to take The Kid to his school concert. All Christmas songs, 30 minutes long. Awesome! Came home to organize all my buying for Christmas For Kids. Feel like I need to buy something else for one of the kids. When? I don't know. I will have to do a quick stop on my way home from work tonight. I need to wrap all the gifts for the four children. I need to get them delivered.
I decided to make a better effort at my Christmas cards this year. Starting on those on my lunch today. New Christmas tree we ordered should arrive today. That will have to wait for a few days. Cannot walk in my book room. It is filled with packages.
Need all my strength today at work. Bake sale right across from my cubicle. Really? Right across. Guess who could not wait until after the holidays to start a diet? That would be me. Going to be a rough day. The diet also takes extra time to prepare food. I am not giving up!
Time to get ready for work. Tis the season!

Fa la la la la

If you were to listen to Tru Stories, she would have you believe I am a bit of a Grinch at Christmas. So not TRU!!! Tonight I spent at least 2 hours making my first photo Christmas card. Even added some matching return labels. I have organized a Coats for Kids drive at work. Helping collect money and buy gifts for our Adopt A Family at Work. Buying gifts for the local Christmas for Kids. Shopping in stores and on-line for my own family. (That means my grandkids.) Even managed to run a couple of Christmas errands for my sister-in-law. Ho! Ho! Ho! Yesterday, I got the decorating done outside my house. When I say, "got it done," I mean left a note for my hubby & son to decorate outside.
Does that sound like someone that does not like Christmas?
I didn't think so.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am very thankful that 3 years ago I was finally able to convince hubby that a move back "home" was the best thing for us. We left when we got married for hubby to go to college and then for his career. After he retired, he was willing to make the move. I always wanted to get back home. I am sorry we did not do it will our parents were still living. I am thrilled to live in the same town as family. Today we will only drive a few blocks for dinner. Very nice!
Tru Stories moving here and holding our grand children hostage here was the deciding factor for our move. I am a hands on Grammy. I believe in quality time and quantity. My kids did not grow up in the same town as their grandparents. They missed out on a positive life experience. My grand kids will never have to feel bad because a grandparent is not around on grandparent's day.
So many positive things have happened since I came home. Obvious things: I LOVE my house. (I do miss my old yard!) Tru Stories and family can walk to visit us. We can help out Tru Stories whether she needs us or not. My grand kids know me, WELL.
There are other good things that came from the move. I have developed a closer relationship with my good friend in my old town. Odd right? Since I commute 2 hours a day, it gets exhausting. I get more than exhausted from the long days. Weather can hinder my driving. I stay with my friend often. I have my own area of the house. We spend relaxing evenings hanging out. It is great.
I feel more comfortable with myself. I think it is because this was always my home. No matter how long we lived away, I knew this was home. I am a small town girl. I like conveniences in a bigger town, I can get those and came back home. A small town is just more relaxing. All of a sudden I noticed I drive more slowly down the side streets. I sit in front of my house more. We even put in a patio out front.
I have become involved in my town. I want to make an IMPACT. I know how many great things we have to offer here. I want it to be the best small town it can be. Being involved gives me more of a sense of purpose. I understand that all of us need to give back. The positive energy I get from giving is way more than the energy I expand to a project.
Being involved in my town gave me more initiative to get involved in other things. I started The Page Turner book club. It was something I always talked about doing. Not sure why moving finally got me to reach that goal. Starting the book club gave me the idea for this blog. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. This is a great outlet for both.
I have become so much closer to one of my brothers and sister-in-law. That means so much to me. I get a chance to stop by their house on my way home from work. Take the kids over to visit them. Their puppies wait at the door for me when they know I am going to visit.
So today, I am thankful for being back home. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Preparations For The Party

My blog absence has been caused by a cleaning frenzy. It was originally caused by getting my carpet cleaner repaired. The TV room was in huge need of cleaning. That is Hubby's room. He has not allowed me to cute it up. Since I was cleaning the carpet it was the perfect time to fix the room up a bit. First on my list was removing the hideous vertical blinds on the patio door. By putting curtains on the patio door it softened the room and made it feel more welcoming. I also added a shelf and a hat rack. Hubby leaves hats laying around the room. Then I pulled some decorations out of boxes and room complete.
While the above plan was being hatched I made the decision to invite some family over for the 4th. Just a small gathering. Now I am preparing for over 20 people. I have the meat cooking, most of the cleaning done, outdoor furniture power washed, almost ready for the festivities to begin. Well, almost. Still need to go to the liquor store. Cosmopolitans are part of the plan for the evening. I bought new glasses and the cute shaker. Ready for the fun to begin.
I love the fireworks. It is so relaxing to sit and watch the show. It is even more fun to watch with the grandchildren. I hope wherever you are you take the time to enjoy the show. Maybe even a few minutes to remember we are celebrating our country.
Tomorrow is Day 5 of my mini vacation. My house will be clean, my laundry done, food to eat....what should I do. My plan is a reading marathon.
Happy 4th of July!

Happy Mother's Day

I had a few things on my "to-do" list for Mother's Day. First sleep in. Done! I slept until 9:30. To me that is like noon. I think I only woke up once before 9:30. That is amazing!!! Next on the list was get my hair washed and head to the cemetery. Before we left for the cemetery I received a call from The Kid. They planned a surprise adventure for me. The surprise was they were going to have to wait for me. We try to go to the cemetery on Saturday before Mother's Day. It was so windy yesterday I knew it would be hard to keep the flowers from blowing away. It is a sad trip to make on Mother's Day. One thing I like is our parent's are buried near each other. My parent's are on a corner turn it and next spot is my in-laws. This makes me happy. It is oddly comforting to me. No matter how old I get, I still miss our parent's so much. I feel so bad my Mom never got to know my grand kids. She would have loved them so much.
Next stop Mother's Day surprise. Daughter drove us to get a Steak & Shake milkshake and next stop Barnes & Noble. Baby had her first Steak & Shake milkshake. She loved it. We all do. This was a new Barnes & Noble for me. Bigger than my usual Barnes. LOVED IT!!! I never met a Barnes I did not love. There were many highlights. First the face even the baby seemed to share the passion. I took the two older kids to the children's section. Set Tink up with a book. The Kid happily found his section. We all did our thing. Filling a basket with books. A few highlights. The Kid came and found me and said he needed help. He had too many books and needed help figuring out what to get. I followed him to where he had about 8 books spread on the floor. He was buying himself books, I was buying one, and his Mom bought him one. They were all non-fiction. I love that kid so much. He had books on States, Presidents, history of the United States, Titanic. I know he bought one history books and a Beatles book. Next highlight was when I became distracted by my surroundings and handed Coco the milkshake like it was a bottle. Milkshake all over. Coco not happy. Oops!! Coco's passion is not books. She loves stuffed animals. Watching her face light up from a soft stuffed animal is so great. Our Tink just makes me smile. She made a friend in the children's section. They were playing with stuffed animals. Very sweet! She picked a little Dora for me to buy her. We all know I have brown eyes like Dora.
It was perfect time with my daughter and grand kids.
I know what you are all thinking. Did I read any Grapes of Wrath? No. No, I did not. Sorry. I really wanted to. Just did not get it done. My husband does not get why I need to read it. He said, haven't you read it 100 times. No, only 2 or 3. I still need to read it. Every time I read a book I get something new out of it. I am not feeling good about getting this accomplished. New goal, one chapter before I go to bed tonight.
To all the Mother's out there, hope you had a wonderful day. I have known so many amazing Mothers. Watched Mother's use super human strength to handle tough situations. The only thing better than being a Mother is being a Grammy. Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Easter!

I try to add books to every holiday. The Kid expects it. The downside to that is once he gets his book he loses interest in the rest of the family. It can make it very quiet for the rest of us. Tink received her first seek & find book. She is very good at it. My favorite part is Waldo has nothing to do with it! I would rather find Tinkerbell fairies and flowers. Our baby received a soft, cuddle book. It has a tiny rabbit that fits into a pocket in the book. Her Thumper is blocking the fact the bunny is in her mouth. Not sure how long the bunny will last.

I get a great feeling when I see how excited the kids get about new books. I realize some children would complain if they realized their gift was a book. Not our kids. Three generations of readers. Love it!

The sun is coming in my big window. Brunch is over, kids are gone, dishes done (not by me!), must be time for me to pull out a book.

Hope you have a beautiful Easter!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm not Irish. Even when people say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, not me. I do not drink regular beer, let alone green beer. I forgot and wore one of my only green shirts yesterday. Not sure I can come up with another one for today. Even if I am not Irish, I can recommend a book for the day. Janet Evanovich has written a few special holiday books for her Stephanie Plum Series. The series is hilarious. The holiday books are icing on the cake. If you want a light, fun read, any of her books will do it. I know I have talked about her books already. I can promise it will not be the last time! If you want to celebrate the day without green beer, try Plum Lucky.