Happy Birthday, Dad!

My dad and his three biggest fans.

We went to my aunt Lindell's house this evening to celebrate and have some cake!

Today we celebrated my dad's birthday.  I can't stress enough how much I love and appreciate my dad.  This year has been a hard year for us as a family.  He has had to learn to live alone after 41 years of marriage to my mom.  It hasn't been easy, but he has handled it with strength, courage and grace.  He is such a wonderful, gentle, and fun PaPa to my kids and a great role model of hard work and a kind, generous soul.  We think you are the bees knees, Dad!!

In honor of my Dad, here are a few fun facts that you may or may not know about him:

* He tells the best stories.  Some of our favorites over the years have been the RIP story (about his favorite horse growing up) and all of his wonderful bird dog stories.  He really needs to write a book about growing up on the farm.
* He is on his way to becoming a master level bridge player.  Currently he plays bridge at a local club a few nights a week, and plays in many tournaments as well.  Whenever he delves into a new hobby, he aims to be very successful at it.  In the past he has also played in many chess tournaments as well.  He is not easy to beat at that game either.  Believe me, I know!
* He ran the Boston Marathon.  That alone is pretty amazing, but he ran many other marathons as well.  His best marathon time was 2:55:07.  For. Real.
* He is one of the smartest people I know.  His degree is in mathematics, and he was an engineer for over thirty years.  But he is not just smart in one area.  He knows a lot about history, politics, current events, and even poetry.  He also challenges himself to commit to memory different things.  One time he memorized all of the presidents and vice presidents in order.  He also has committed to memory many poems and can recite them still today (especially Robert Burns and Robert Frost)!
* He is generous.  Not just with his resources, but with his time.  He is always willing to help me out whether it is babysitting my kids or helping me plant new flowers in my garden.  He doesn't complain, and is there when you need him.
* He never met a vegetable he didn't like. Most of the meals he makes at home are strictly vegetarian.  He especially likes turnip greens and gets them every time we go to Luby's for dinner (one of his favorite places due to the vegetable selection).  He also has a baking claim to fame-- whole wheat cinnamon rolls.  They are the best and they are a mandatory item on the breakfast table every Christmas.

What a gift to have him as my dad.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

A Picture and a Memory

I have been going through a lot of photos lately.  Sometimes I find one and can't really even remember when or where the picture was taken.  I'll look at it and struggle to remember anything about the day of the week or the weather or anything specific about that particular photograph.  Then there are other pictures where I can actually remember all the details.  It is as I can close my eyes and almost feel that day again.  That happened to me this weekend when I came across this picture.  Here's what I remember: My mom and I were at  Orr Family Farm.  My cousin's little boy was celebrating his birthday there, so we took the girls to enjoy the festivities. It was 2007 and my girls were two and a half.  It was a brutally hot June afternoon.  I remember they had pony rides for the kids.  Leah hopped right on while Hannah cried and clung to my mom.  This picture was taken on the train ride around the farm property.  My cousin Deborah snapped it before we took off.  I remember the train slowly snaked its way around the farm, moving fast enough to feel a welcome breeze, but slow enough that we could take a deep breath and enjoy the day.  The girls' thick brown hair would gently fly up and tickle my chin.  I remember feeling very content.  I remember feeling grateful for my mom's help.  

Funny what you can remember by looking at a simple photo. 

Saying No to Good and Yes to Great

After my kids go to bed at night, I see the two or three hours before my own bedtime as a chance to catch up around the house.  By nature, I am a busy person and tend to be moving constantly.  So when I am faced with what to do with those precious hours all to myself, I tend to think crazy cleaning and organizing type of thoughts.  For example, I might think it is the perfect time to:
* Fold the five loads of laundry that have piled up in baskets along the wall in my bedroom.
* Scrape the dried toothpaste from my kids' bathroom sink and wipe their greasy hand prints from the mirror.
* Organize my closet or the pantry or that one kitchen drawer full of scissors and paper and pencils and ketchup packets and other miscellaneous stuff.
* Finally mop the kitchen floor because only God knows when it was cleaned last.  And there have been a few spills since then....
* Start a project like going through pictures or recipes.
* Clean out our minivan, being prepared to face a mountain of crushed goldfish under Lucas' car seat.

I have to admit, I have been thinking about checking any number of these things off my to-do list tonight.  It feels so great to have something accomplished.  But, tonight I am battling those darn springtime allergies and am feeling just a bit tired. A bit off my normal game.  And I didn't sleep well last night, so I feel sleepy as well.  And I really just want to crawl in bed and read awhile to relax.  So tonight I am saying no to the good things that I could do and saying yes to the greatest thing I could give myself tonight-- and that is REST.
Because when I am rested, I am a better wife, mother and friend.  I feel like I can handle the daily stresses I face and not feel overwhelmed.

My kitchen drawer can certainly wait another day, and the kids will just spit more toothpaste in the sink tomorrow morning.

What We Did

Today we...

 went swimming because it was 97 degrees today!

And we....

got a trampoline in our backyard!  Mike spent the whole afternoon setting it up and after our swim, the kids came home and wasted no time breaking it in.  

Needless to say, we are exhausted tonight!  

Here's to more jumping tomorrow!

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,
One year has passed since I last saw your face or heard your voice.  Never before have we ever gone so long without talking.  In fact, we used to talk multiple times a day!  We never did run out of things to talk about, did we?  From parenting questions, to deep spiritual debates to what we ate for lunch, we always kept each other up to date.  Since I haven't been able to pick up the phone and call you this year, or meet for lunch, or go on vacations, I thought I would take the time to fill you in on what you missed.

This year Hannah and Leah started reading!  They are both enjoying books and starting to read independently. They still love picture books, but are also starting to love chapter books.  You would be so proud!  I know if you were here, you would have a lot of fun taking them to the library.  We plan to sign up for the summer reading program again this year.  Oh and the new Northwest OKC library is set to open this month!  I know you were excited to have one so close.  Leah tells me everyday that she misses you and wants to know if you can have pets in heaven.  She is sure you know the answer to this now.  

The girls only have eleven days of school left before summer break.  They had an excellent first grade year. They were in the same class and it worked out great.  In fact, we are going to put them together for second grade as well.  They have made a few good friends at school this year and we plan on having some playdates with them this summer.  Dad got the girls American Girl dolls this Christmas and they have had a lot of fun playing with them.  They still love My Little Pony as well as playing "school".  And of course, they would always choose to play outside if they weather is nice.  Hannah is still into drawing and Leah has taken an interest in baking lately.  They miss having their "special day" with you and miss having sleepovers at your house.  They miss playing at your  house and playing at the park with you.  Leah still says you are her "best buddy."   They like to look at pictures of you and remember the fun times we all had together.

Lucas has changed so much in this last year!  He looks more like a little boy and less like a baby.  He chipped his front tooth three days after you passed away.  We say he has a "snaggletooth smile", but it makes him even more endearing.  And when he smiles, the dimple on his left cheek makes him look absolutely angelic.  His speech took off over the last year.  He talks all the time.  He likes to count things and sing his ABCs.  He plays hard, and still loves to kick a soccer ball.  He loves to be outside running and exploring, but he is also will still snuggle up and cuddle.  He loves to read and watch Little Bear, and he loves his PaPa.  He always asks, "Where Papa at?" You would have so much fun with this sweet natured little boy.

Let's see....Mike started a new job in November at Ackerman McQueen Advertising Agency. He has done well there and everyone loves him.  You would be proud of him.  We went to New Jersey this past Christmas to spend time with his family.  Dad came too and we had a good time.  My weeks have a familiar rhythm to them. I take care of the kids, go to Bible Study Fellowship, work out at Body and Soul, spend time with friends, and keep up the "duties at home".  I am reading and keeping up with my blog and I babysit my friend Lindsay's little girl two days a week.  I miss our weekly lunch dates.  I miss having you so nearby, and think about you all the time.


Mom, you are so loved.  I thank God every day that I had 34 wonderful years with you.

Your daughter,
Emily

Sorrow Lasts for the Night, But Joy Comes in the Morning

Tomorrow will be a hard day.  But tomorrow will also be a good day.  One year ago tomorrow I lost my mom.  It has been the most painful year of my life.  I have cried more than I ever have.  My stomach has been in knots, I have not wanted to get out of bed, and I have mourned deeply.  But this year has also been good.  I have prayed more, been blessed beyond my wildest dreams by friends and family, have been encouraged, and saw God's faithfulness meet my every need.  Tomorrow I will remember my mom (as I always do), but tomorrow I will also celebrate all the reasons I have to be thankful.  The day will be bittersweet, for sure, but I am determined to have a good day.

 This week my friends came and planted this amazing "Memory Garden" for me.  I was truly blown away by their generosity and thoughtfulness.

 The tree they planted in my mom's memory is a Japanese Maple.  It was one of my mom's favorites.

 This heart shaped rock was an especially sweet touch. I look forward to many evenings spent sitting by this garden and remembering my sweet mom.

 Tonight my friend Nikki and I went to see the traveling Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof".  My dad and his friend, Sally, took us out to eat and to see the show.  It was a nice distraction and we had a good night.

When I came home tonight after the show, I found these.  Mike and the kids picked them out for me.  I feel so blessed and so loved.  

Thank you.

13 Days Away

Thirteen.  That's all that's left until....

SUMMER BREAK!!!!

For real.  That is not much time, people.  Just thirteen more school days until I have two second graders!  Oh my!  We have a countdown going and the girls get more excited for summer break every day.  

The kids and I are currently discussing all of our summer fun ideas.  On the list we have:

Swimming

Bowling

Martin Nature Center

Science Museum

OKC Zoo

White Water Bay

Vacation to Texas

Art Camp

Vacation Bible School

Playdates with friends

More Swimming

Trips to the library

Walks to the Park

Sleeping in

Reading Little House on the Prairie

Movies

Popsicles

Fourth of July Fireworks

Gymnastics

Lucas' 3rd Birthday 

Trip to Lake Tenkiller

Swimming Lessons

Running through the sprinkler

Riding bikes

Nature walks

And more swimming

So far, so good!

What do you want to do this summer?