Endless Pursuit for Mom of the Year

Newlyweds become oldyweds and oldyweds are the reason that families work. ~Author Unknown -------------------------------------------- Today, we celebrate two wonderful things, my parents 50th wedding anniversary and my niece, G-money's, 16th birthday.  I'm pondering if I should have waited to compose this message, because there will be many memories from this weekend, but decided to go ahead.  Where do I start? It all began with nutmeg.  I've heard the story many times.  My great-aunt sent my mother to the store for nutmeg, knowing it was hard to find and that hopefully my mother would ask the cute boy who worked there where to find it.  I can't quite remember but I think there were several trips for nutmeg that summer and the rest was history.  Unbelievably, my mother returned home to South Dakota.  They continued to correspond through letters.  Sorry, the thought of my father sending letters, well, he must have been in love! ...

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~ Author Unknown ----------------------------------------- A few months ago, my mentor in parenting, or dad as I call him, celebrated a big birthday.  I won't mention the number here because, to me, he doesn't seem to be that age.  However, when I was little, I remember thinking that age was like having one foot in the grave.  I see the error of my ways now.  We all think a little stupid when we're young, right? While I promised this post months ago, it just never happened.  Growing up knowing that plans could change on a dime when it came to my father, I have a feeling he will clearly understand my predicament.  Sorry dad, life just simply got in the way.   Nearly every day, something comes out of my mouth that makes me realize I am so much more like my dad than my mom.  I look like her, but I'm dad through and through.  I remember watching him as a kid, clean sha...

Patience: A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue.   ~ Ambrose Bierce --------------------------------- There she stands.  Hip popped, foot tapping.  As if I'd kept her waiting all her massive lifetime of three years.  Angry that I locked the door and kept her out.  Furious that I took a moment to put myself first.  Leaving me with a realization that, her future at four remains yet to be seen.   What caused this sudden onset of dismay?  What could cause this otherwise sweet girl to bang on a door like a tyrant?  What could have pushed her to the brink of nearly tearing off a door knob?  The bathroom my friends, the bathroom.   You see, it's been a good nine years since I have had a moment of privacy in the bathroom.  Now, I'm not talking about actual bathroom time.  Well, at least not all the time.   It would be nice to get ready in the morning, brush my teeth, even remove my contact...

  I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.    ~Rita Rudner   ------------------------------------   This weekend, my nephew, I'll call him Q, is getting married.  I still can't believe it.  Not overly interested in dating all growing up, we were shocked when we heard about his lovely fiance, let's call her B.  They are like peanut butter and jelly, wine and cheese, a hamburger patty and a bun, Simon and Garfunkel - better together than they are apart.  I truly believe everyone should have the pleasure of finding that one person you are meant to spend a lifetime with and enjoy every minute of it.  In honor of their wedding, I'm going to bring out somewhat of an oldie, but a goodie.  My advice, written in a previous blog post, on marriage.  Don't worry, I made edits so it's like it's all shiny and new again!  This wa...

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.   ~ John Vance Cheney ------------------------------ Like many parents, I sat for days and watched the news with information littering the screen about the Boston Marathon bombing.  I felt numb.  By numb, I don’t mean in a way that makes me have no feelings, no thoughts, no irrational fears, nor emotions.  However, I do fear this numbness is a kind of desensitization, and the thought of that scares me a little.  In my opinion, we’ve seen too much tragedy in my lifetime including Oklahoma City, 9/11, Newtown, the Boston Marathon and countless more.  All things I never feared whatsoever as a child.  Then again, I walked to and from school at the age of 9.  Cell phones didn’t exist.  I grew up thinking nothing could be worse than the Challenger explosion and hijacking airplanes in foreign countries.  All things that I knew deep down would never touch me ...

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~ Edwin Hubbel Chapin ------------------------------------------------- No, we are not having another child.  Let's get that outta the way now.  This is the ultrasound photo from daughter of the year #2, who we called our zen baby.  It only takes her flashing this peace sign to know, she would be teaching us a thing or two.   I have been thinking a lot this week about life.  About being flexible and embracing every moment in a way I maybe haven't been doing.  It all started with a little story about a duck.  It was innocent enough and about being flexible and going with the flow when life hands you situations that make you want to crawl in a hole.  Let's just say, all week, I've been reciting to myself, just be slippery.  Meaning, let it roll off your back.   Now, the story had another little twist in there and a bit of a slip of the ton...

  Hair is vitally personal to children.   They weep vigorously when it is cut for the first time; no matter how it grows, bushy, straight or curly ,   they feel they are being shorn of a part of their personality.    ~ Charles Chaplin   --------------------------------------------- Daughter of the year #1 is selling Girl Scout cookies.  If you have never sold them, never met anyone who has, nor had any contact with them whatsoever, you have no idea how difficult it is.  Next time a cute little Girl Scout knocks on your door or greets you at a store selling cookies, please be kind.  Unlike a certain someone in my very own neighborhood who felt it was appropriate to scream at my daughter that she'd already bought cookies.  Perhaps we should have recited the Girl Scout law?  She was not embodying any of that!  Seriously people, just be nice.   Goals are a great thing.  Daughter...