Tears & Laughter

Last week, on my birthday, Stacey did a post on her blog on how we met & become best friends. So, I thought I would share it with you here.

It's never ceases to amaze me how she can always seem to make me cry & laugh in the same post. She does that often. I'm just grateful that I can call such an amazing person, my friend.

There's A First Time For Everything

I guest blogged last week for one of my favorite people in the world. Hop on over to Musing of a Mommie to hear what I had to say... Errr... In this case, say again.

What's A Girl to Do?

So, I'm a little behind. On everything.

My blog. My life.

I spent the week feeling not so well do to med changes. My computer been acting crazy - sluggish, timing out, not loading right - just about everything that drives me crazy then some.

This week I'm going to try & catch up the best that I can. I have some post to finish, some post that beg to be written, there are pictures that need to attended it to badly & my Mom's 70th birthday is Friday, & her party is Saturday.

So for the next few days or so I'm going do some re-directing. Stacey did a post I want to share & I did some guest blogging for her. Stay tuned for that...

Things seem a little crazy at the moment. Emotionally, I have a million thoughts & things going on. I tried to call Stacey the last couple of days to talk to her, but I couldn't get a hold of her. Thea was away for her birthday & Beth is on vacation. What does a girl do when she can't access some of her best friends?

Go crazy & drive others there with her.

I just got things weighing heavy on my heart lately. Stuff I'll get through, I know. I just wanna talk it out with someone. Never underestimate the power of a friendly ear & a best friend.

July 23, 2010

Today, is my 34th birthday... I really wish I had time to post the post I've been working on & do a post as I want to today, but as always, life has other plans.

My best friend Stacey wrote this about me today on her blog. It made me laugh, & cry, & then I was frustrated bc it would not let me leave a comment. {:( I love her very much & am so lucky to have her in my life.

Grab someone you love & care about & tell them how much they mean to you. Me? I'm very blessed & I hope you feel blessed today too.

Without Limits

Life has a way of catching up to us...



In single moments, like snapshots



of a child's face, who is destined



to be a big brother.



I am so very lucky to love



this family, without limits...



And truly blessed to witness it.

Welcome To The World, Margaret Claire!

Margaret Claire
Born: 3.24.10 @8:33 AM
8 lbs 3 oz, 19.5 inches long

My friend Stacey, whom I have known since high school, gave birth to a daughter yesterday. Stacey & Claire are doing well. The C-Section was a little rough, & Stacey is in a lot of pain, but she assures me it is all worth it {:)

I can't wait to see them (along with Stacey's husband, Kevin) when I visit them tonight. I know the big brother, Christian, has not seen his little sister yet, but (according to FB) as soon as he wakes from his nap, he will. I am truly over the moon excited for them. Two beautiful children in a week shy of 15 months.

Amazingly blessed!

Along For The Ride

I have a number of people on my mind tonight.

My friend, Thea just had surgery yesterday, but is now home recovering & resting comfortably.

My friend Theresa is in GA watching her mom try & recover from a heart attack, at last I heard, she wasn't doing well. I've been keeping in contact with her by text. Even sending her prayers by text; however, I wish there was more I could do for her.

My friend Janie is helping her beloved mother make her transition between this life to beyond & is only been given weeks, if not mere days to live.

My friend Stacey is going to have a C-Section tomorrow. It is scheduled for 7:30 AM to welcome her second born into this world. Two kids in a little less than 15 months.

My friend Rachel, who has Crohn's Disease just found out that she needs another surgery to have more of her diseased intestines removed. She is 29, scared & feels alone. And I don't blame her. The last major surgery she had, she almost died.

Jake's Aunt Tami & my friend Debbie who are going through a rough personal time at the moment.

And, even though I have never mentioned it on here - a couple of months ago, my Aunt Elaine got diagnosed with the an aggressive form of small cell cancer. She has been doing round after round of Chemo, but the cancer has spread.

It is strange to worry about people you love, but I'm not sure it's exact worry as much as care & concern. Life & death are all around, effecting people whom I love. And even effecting me. I know what you are thinking... but I'm not sad. I am really not.

I have learned that I can share in my loved ones joys & sorrows & not take on their "stuff." Or at least I'm learning it now. It's a lot like learning that it not my job to save people. Remember? It's my job to to do something to fix things, just to be there, as a friend, on their journey. I'm just along for the ride.

Submitting {Part 2}

For the past couple of days, I've been doing some thinking. Pretty much non-stop, unless I'm sleeping, which I must confess - is not a lot.

A couple of days ago, I wrote this about submitting to my husband & since I've been thinking about it, talking to a few trusted friends, exchanging e-mails, & reading the comments left on that post, I thought it deserved another post (if for no other reason then to sort my thoughts that are swirling in my head).

Stacey, who is one of my real life best friends who just happens to have a blog, reminded me that if I continued reading Ephesians 5 , I would get to versus 25-33. And that the most important thing to take away from those verses is that husbands are supposed to love & cherish their wives, as Christ has loved us. Then she went on to say:

You chose to submit for the good of your family and future family, not just him. He in turn should be doing the same. Giving up things *he* wants and submitting for the sake and well being of his family.

Marriage is still about the whole and not the parts. You make sacrifices for each other...and for your family as a whole to do what is best for them. I this case, that is what you've made the decision to do. That doesn't mean you've given up or in. You are a good and supportive wife. He needs to recognize that and remember his roll in this as well. To love you. As Christ loves us.

I have to tell you, bc she is my friend in RL*, & more importantly, one of my best friends, she does know the whole situation & what we are struggling with. And as another friend reminded me, I know what is best for me & that just bc I choose not to reveal to everyone what exactly is going on in my life at the moment, it does not mean I am not being honest.

* real life.

Both these friends are right. Being private, isn't dishonesty. I am still being truthful. And Stacey, well she is right too. Not about how Jake is supposed to love me (well, yes. This is true. As my husband, this is what he is supposed to do), but I do feel as if I gave in. That even though, I chose to support him in this decision that had to be made, I feel that I've some how compromised my values - compromised who I am somehow.

And somewhere deep in side, I feel that my feelings were not acknowledge. That what I've done for him is not appreciated. It's as if it was expected & he just doesn't get just how big of a deal this is for me*.

*And before you ask, he knows I feel this way. He knows these are my thoughts. I do not hide my feelings or thoughts form him at all. It is just not who I am.

I know that I still have values. I still am who I am, but, somewhere deep down, that is not how I feel. I chose to support him. I chose to love him. Always. Always - as in all the time, no matter what. And I know that regardless of how I feel at the moment, this was the best decision for us... even if it does not feel like it right now.

This Takes The Cake

As promised, here are some pictures of my friend Stacey's son, Christian, when they had his first birthday party this past Saturday.

Birthday Boy...

takes the...

CAKE!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Beautiful Blue Eyed Boy!

It's New Year's Eve, but more importantly to me, someone very special turns one today.

His name is Christian Soren. And the first time I laid eyes on him when he was only a day old, I fell in love. Can you tell?

His mom Stacey & I have been friends since high school. She was one of my best friends. In fact, she still is. There are times when I truly would be lost without her. I don't have any sisters, but I as far as I am concerned, she is part of my family.

Remember when I wrote this? Well, Stacey is one of those people who helped me fight against the darkness. I would not be who I am today, if she were not the friend she was back then.

Yes, there were others who helped too, but not like her. She was & is very different. One of her best assets is her ability to make others laugh, especially me. And back then, there wasn't much to smile about - much less laugh, but she always found a way. Not to mention, she has this uncanny no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is attitude, & I love that about her.

It brings me nothing but joy to share in her happiness to be a mother.

Some people who don't have children, but want them badly (like me), don't care to be happy for others who have what they desire. I am not that way. I just can't be. How can I not be happy for her? She would be happy for me, if the situation were reverse. As for her being a mother, just like she is a friend, she is a fantastic mother.

In fact, she waited, wanted, desired & prayed to be a mother for more than seven years, probably longer. And then, when she & her husband, Kevin, least expected it, along came Christian. In fact, Christian is due to have a sibling in March of 2010! How exciting! If you would like to know more about Stacey & her wonderful family, you can do so on her blog.

Now, back to the Birthday Boy... He the bluest eyes I think that I have ever seen. And trust me, I've seen some eyes!

His gaze is as intense as his eyes. It's as if he can see right through you to your soul. His smile can warm the coldest of nights & make the darkest of days bright. His laugh is infectious.

Never in my life have I seen cheeks like these or a dimple like this:
They just beg to be kissed, don't you agree?

So, Happy Birthday, Little Blue Eyed Dimpled Darling. May you continue to grow, be healthy & happy while bringing joy & laughter into every one's life that you touch. You are very loved & will grow up passing that love on in ways yet unknown. I just know you are destined to do great things!