Milestones

Milestones-last week I hit a big one-50.  Yesterday I hit another one.  Back in 1994, Christina turned 13 and our house has been home to teenagers ever since.  One, then two, then three for some time.  In 2007 we only had two, then one.  Yesterday none.

My baby, Hilary, turned 20 yesterday.

Happy 20th Birthday Hilary!

Before you born, I believe God shared with me that you would bring joy, happinesss, & laughter to our family.  

And you have.

From the little girl who loved rhyming in front of the mirror, to the one who created funny videos of herself, you always have a positive outlook on life.

Fun isn't the only thing you have going for you.  

Your loving patience as you've tutored, 

helped others, and the countless hours you've spent being the best caring Aunt to Ethan.

You're smart and not afraid of a challenge.  

You work hard 

and you play hard.

In spite of being the youngest, you stand out from the crowd as a leader, not a follower.  

You aren't afraid to enter a male dominated career choice, 

and don't mind beating the guys either.

You display a perfect example of Christ-like behavior, as I see you put the needs of others ahead of your own.

I love you and am proud of you!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HILARY!

Ethan's Latest

Ethan likes to chew on things.  More recently, he seems to be growing out of it.  But when he came home from the dentist Wednesday, he couldn't help chewing on his funny feeling lip.  It swelled pretty big.  It looked like it would be quite painful once the numbness wore off.  We offered him popsicles, hoping to take down the swelling and distract him from gnawing any further.

Before heading back to the Springs, Ethan wanted a bandage for his finger.  It was his third one that day.  As I'd done the previous 2 times, I applied Neosporin, and asked where it hurt.  He pointed to his finger.  I looked hard, but couldn't see anything.  I wound the bandage around his imaginary wound.

It wasn't until some time later, that it dawned on me-Ethan isn't a big bandaid fan.  The fact that he asked for them 3 times caused me concern that maybe he really was injured.  Could he have broken his finger or something that I couldn't see and he hoped a bandage would make it feel better?

Christina phoned a bit later to ask if I knew anything she could put on his swollen lip.  I made my suggestions, then remembered his finger.  I mentioned my concern.  She said he'd tried to show her his owie in the car, but she couldn't see anything while she was driving.  While we were on the phone, she called Ethan over to look at his finger.  By then, his hand was swollen.  She needed to get off of the phone to take him in and have it checked.

His hand was ex-rayed, but no break could be found.  Dr. thought it might be sprained.  Ethan began crying because they weren't going to "fix it." She had to take home a very sad little boy. 


By the next morning his hand looked like this:

Christina took him to urgent care.  They recognized it was infected and gave him 2 antibiotic injections.  Unfortunately, within hours it was obvious that it was not getting better but worse.  They headed back to the ER.  The infection was spreading up his arm rapidly.  It was a long night, but after a reaction to one of the IV antibiotics, and a transfer to a different hospital, they had him admitted by 2:00 a.m.

Thankfully, he is recovering well.

We are hoping they let him go home tomorrow.

FIFTY

Fifty years ago today, a young couple, awoke very early.  He was 23, she was 21.  They had been to a drive-in movie the night before with their two children, who were 2 1/2 and 14 months old.  The last thing the husband said to his wife was, "please don't have the baby tonight, because we don't have any gas in the car."  Naturally, the baby decided to make her arrival that next morning.  This was back in the day when gas stations and stores were not open 24 hours a day.

On March 13, 1962, around 7 in the morning, she was born.  An intern attended the birth, asking the mother if this was her first birth.  Relieved when she answered no, he responded, "oh good...because this is MY first delivery."  Somewhere in the world, there is a doctor, who remembers his first delivery-and it was me.

Happy Birthday Kate!

I wanted to send birthday greetings to my friend Kate.  For those who don't know Kate, here she is in a nutshell:

Kate is more than a survivor, she lives victoriously.
Kate is a dear, sweet friend, who is loyal.
Kate is a wonderful mom to 9 kids, who brings balance in their education, spiritual growth, temperament, physical needs, and nurtures every part of their lives.
Kate should be given an honorary Medical Doctorate for the weeks and months she has spent in hospitals with her children, their surgeries, and health issues. Also for the research she has done trying to find answers for each new diagnosis.
Kate is a defender of the Truth.
Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, Kate is courageous, sensitive, and makes the most of her days, as she watches her dying son.

Happy Birthday Kate!  You are adored.

Snow Perspective

Hilary built a snowman.

Okay, a snowbaby.

She enlisted some help,

And set about making a real snowman.

(Sam is indeed wearing shorts.)

A snow dog,

A whole family.

Randoms

Birthday season is upon us.  My parents and siblings are in Arizona celebrating my dad and nephew's birthdays, while we celebrate our soon-to-be son-in-law's birthday.

Yesterday Ethan jumped. As in, both feet came off the ground at the same time.  Funny thing, he is no longer getting physical therapy.  (His PT said, "it doesn't matter if he will never be able to jump, we are wasting time and money as he is NOT making any progress.")  He didn't jump just once.  Christina called me over to see him, after she caught him jump outside.  He obliged.  I brought him inside to show his grandpa.  He jumped a third time.

We are meeting Christina's soon-to-be inlaws today.  Ethan will be thrilled eating lunch with 2 grandpas.

The wedding is in 174 days.

We had a lot of wild rabbits running about this year.  The coyotes are happy.

Elisabeth's birthday is Thursday.  That means LASER TAG on Friday!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  Many of you know, Michael is not the most romantic person in the world.  I've mentioned it here, more than once before.  He is just not hard-wired that way.  (Will say more on  this in a later post.)

Last week, he sent me a message.  It said he had a surprise for me.  (Is it still a surprise if you tell someone you're surprising them?)  I believe I responded, "I don't believe you could ever really surprise me."  Looking back over previous posts, I realize he did surprise me once.

Michael disclosed that the surprise involved an overnight in the mountains and dinner at a nice restaurant.  Did he just divulge his secret?  He assured me, there was more and that we absolutely had to arrive at our destination for a 2 o'clock appointment.

I actually did a google search for romantic mountain destinations in Colorado to appease my curiosity.  I knew he hadn't scheduled us for spa treatments, a massage, or a pedicure.  Eventually I gave up my search, opting instead to enjoy the element of surprise.  And surprise me he did.

Our two o'clock appointment was a wedding ceremony where we, along with about 10 other couples, renewed our wedding vows. 

I don't recall crying when we got married, but I couldn't hold back the tears this time.  I could hardly choke out the words.

We exchanged stones, symbolic of wedding rings,

And a few kisses.

Following the ceremony we shared these beautiful cupcakes,

And champagne.

Not only was I surprised, but this by far was my best Valentine's Day ever!  And there was more...

Cleveland

I arrived in Cleveland last Sunday. I'm headed home this afternoon. It's been a remarkable week. It's most likely the longest amount of time I've ever gone without feeling the warm sunshine on my face,the blustery wind in my hair, or feeling soft, wet snowflakes melting on my cheeks. I don't know if it's warm or cold. I sit in a climate controlled room, walk down windowless corridors, and eat food made by the outside world.

Walking off the plane, I was greeted with a new text message, "welcome to Cleveland?..we are at baggage claim Richard & Siobhan" I gathered my bags and wondered how I'd recognize them. I clicked the green icon on my phone. The man in front of me, reached for his pocket, looked at me holding the phone to my ear, and reached out his arms. "You must be Joanne," he said as his arms wrapped me in a hug. Strangers met me at the airport, but I immediately felt a connection.

(I was typing this on my ipad.  I wasn't finished, but accidently posted it.)

Half Full Or Half Empty

Is the glass half full?

Or is it half empty?

I don't recall when I first heard this or when it was explained to me that optimists are positive, while pessimists are negative.  Optimists are praised as positive thinkers who see the best in situations while pessimists are regarded those who see the worst in a situation-the doom and gloom person.  It isn't as if the optimist is right and the pessimist is wrong.  Both are equally correct.  What I'm proposing is that we do away with the positive/negative connotations regarding individuals and their respective perceptions.  Let's embrace both views as perfectly accurate descriptions expressed on the basis of how God has hard-wired each of us.

Negative isn't always such a bad thing.  The person who gets a negative report from his cancer biopsy is thrilled and happy.    A positive report would be bad.  It isn't as if the pessimist is wrong to say the glass is half empty and the optimists view is right. I'm not sure why so many people insist we all have a positive attitude towards everything.

The person who is hard-wired by God with the gift of encouragement, looks at the glass and sees it is half full.  She merrily goes about enjoying her half full glass.  The what-some-people-refer-to-as pessimistic person looks at his half empty glass realistically.  Realizing it is half gone, rather than go about enjoying the last of his milk, goes to check in the refrigerator to make sure there is more.  Seeing there isn't, he sets the last half of his glass in the refrigerator and runs to the grocery store for more milk.  Blissfully ignorant, the optimist finishes her glass and knows everything will work out for good, as it always does.

I have more to say on the subject, but am woefully out of time.  Today, as I look at this glass, I compare it to my life.  In just 50 days, I will be celebrating my half-century birthday.  Since I plan on living to be 100,  my life is half over, or half begun.  I'll take both.

Twins?

I realize

that this is Sarabeth's dog...

But,

are these

not

  two peas in a pod?

(same faces in each pic)

A New Year-Expect God To Surprise You

I can't believe it is already January 4th 9th, 2012.  Two thousand Eleven, it seems, was a year of travel, moves, and visitors.  I never realized our home has a revolving door, or that traveling could be so much fun.

I took 7 trips, including the around-the-world flight.

I had kids move away or move home 7 times.

Not counting the kids and their friends, I had houseguests on 9 separate occasions.  We never had more than 11 here at one time.  Large groups for dinner I lost count a long time ago.

Last year's theme could be summed up as Travel To Gather With Family.

I am looking forward to seeing what 2012 has in store.  The theme this year:  Expect God To Surprise You.  I can't wait to see what God has planned.  I'm looking forward to seeing where God takes each of my family members, our growth, stepping out into new territory, going deeper, and living out the Abundant Life.

December 29th, 2011

Barely awake, eyes still closed, Michael whispered, "Are you awake sweetie?"  I smiled answering, "not quite," to which he responded:

"Happy Anniversary."  Startled, I struggled to open my stuck shut eyes.  I could hardly believe it.  Today is my anniversary?  I, the romantic in our relationship, the one who has never forgotten an anniversary and works hard to make sure he doesn't ever forget, apparently DID forget.  OMG!

Twenty-eight years ago we said "I do."

In fairness to me, a lot has happened this past week.  We had a snow storm,

Michael's 58th birthday,

Christmas Eve,

 a niece to share Christmas with us,

and an engagement...

yes an engagement!

Christina

& Danny

 

The cute couple

Congrats to Danny & Christina.  

Happy Anniversary Michael.