Lucky me

I walked into my bathroom a few minutes ago and got a great big whiff of this guy and his cologne that he sprayed on before he left the room to head out into the big bad world to slay dragons for me.

I am such a lucky girl.

A good Friday

Mr. Sugar Daddy is away fishing. He needed to get away, relax and have some Man-Time. What do I do when he is away? Maybe I should talk about what I did NOT do.

I did not:
make the bed
do the breakfast dishes--actually I didn't do last nights dinner dishes either--eewh!
fold socks
do laundry
vacuum
dust
put away toys


What have I done this lovely Friday?
Crocheted four hats
Found new patterns to try--too many patterns, not enough time!
started sorting kids books
went shopping with the girls--separately --so two trips into town

That is about it! I probably better actually do the dishes soon.

Release Day

Today was a day that almost three years ago I could not have imagined. My sweet husband was released as Bishop of his single adult ward. We have known today was the day for two weeks. I knew that he would be sad and emotional. I knew that it would be a difficult day for D. I had no idea how difficult it would be for myself or my children.

Early yesterday, D met with the new Bishop for four hours, trying to explain three years of experiences into that short time. It was an impossible task. We then attended a wedding, bought gifts and went to empty out his office at the church. I was not prepared. Taking down pictures that have greeted everyone who entered that office in the last three years. It was rough.

Today came with a feeling of sadness. As I entered the building I was fully aware that this was the end of an incredible experience, an experience that we never imagined. An experience that can not really be explained in words. We met with the group of people that served together. It was hard. We then met with the stake presidency, this was even harder. They said many kind things.

As we were preparing for Sacrament meeting I watched my sweet husband walk in his office, push his chair under the desk and lay his keys on the desk and walk out. He never looked back.

As the meeting began I walked in the chapel and saw unfamiliar families sitting in the chapel pews. I remember how I felt that day, three years ago. I was so worried about myself and how I would handle this challenge. Three years have flown by. This calling has been one of the choicest experiences of my life. It wasn't always easy or fun for me. I often felt left out and not a part of D's world. I often had to stay home and be the Mom. However, as I sat in that chapel I knew that I had been blessed by this experience in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

After the meeting was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. We talked, hugged, cried and said goodbye. How do you express to people in a hug what they have meant to you? I watched all of my children struggle with their emotions as I struggled with my own. I hugged people that I have loved. It wasn't hard to love them.

We walked out of that building that we so hesitantly entered three years ago. We left with changed hearts, having served and loved and having been loved in return.

Nineteen years and counting!

April 14, 1990

Nineteen years, 4 homes,14 cars,4 children, 2 dogs and a ton of gray hairs! Wow!

The funny thing about time is that looking ahead 19 years sounds like an eternity. Looking back at time-it seems like a moment.

The older I get(and the more wrinkles that find me) the more I realize that I was/am very blessed to have married such a good man. I have many friends who married when I did and they are no longer married. I realize how blessed we are to still really like each other every single day.

Over the course of the last two years we have had many conversations with single young adults about marriage. We have been to over 40 weddings. These young adults are so scared about getting married. They have heard how "hard" it is. I often tell them that if a relationship is hard when you are dating it isn't the right person. I have never felt that my "marriage" was hard. I have been blessed to have one of the really good men. I chose well in the beginning. Now, have there been hard times? Of course. Life is what is hard. All the stuff that surrounds a marriage--jobs, mortgages, children, other people and their ideas, illnesses, messes, expectations, etc. These things are hard.

Being married to my best friend--not so hard.

Happy Anniversary!

Wow!

I am taking this moment to exclaim that there is a ray of HOPE that my dark winter hibernation season is beginning to end! I got out of my warm comfy bed at the dark and cold hour of 4:30 am so that I could be at the gym at 5:00 am!!!! I did it!!

It is now 8:00 am and I have had a HARD boot camp workout, made eggs twice, and cleaned a dirty kitchen! This along with actually seeing all of my children before they go to school. Mr. Sweetness has been on early school duty since about early December when the hibernation took over!

Let's hope that it is truly the beginning of brighter, more energetic days!!

I am a Lucky Girl!

I am really a pretty lucky girl. I have Mr. Sweetness. He takes pretty good care of me. Today, for example we were preparing for our neighborhood party. However, I had some Christmas shopping that I needed to do before a gift certificate and coupon expired. Usually I shop alone(or with #4). Mr. Sweetness doesn't enjoy shopping. He thinks that most things that we purchase are a colossal waste of time and money.

Today he went with me! I know, a miracle! We went to the big bad Kohl's store. As we entered we found that there was a special early bird sale going on, therefore there was a horrendous line. We found the things that we needed and went to stand in line. Being the lucky girl that I am, Mr. Sweetness stood in the line while I finished shopping. HE STOOD IN THE LINE!

After we finally made our way out of Kohl's we headed for Costco. On the way there he pulls into a specialty sporting goods store. "Why are we here?" I ask. "To buy you some shoes" He says. He knew that I needed a really good pair of water/sand type shoes(my bad feet) to take on our upcoming cruise. He also knew that I would look at the catalog and never get myself to the store to try them on. So, he took me there himself!

I told you that I was lucky.