To Owen

Owen is going to camp this week with some of the Young Men at church. I was asked to write him a letter which he will read while there. It is my tribute to him. Dear Owen, I am grateful for the opportunity to tell you why I think you are so unique; so special. And also to tell you why I am so proud that you are my son. If Heavenly Father had given you to another woman instead of me I would still see your sweet nature and be impressed by your kindness. But I am lucky because He did not choose to do that. Instead he gave you to me to raise. He trusted me to see your worth and guide you into adulthood. How Blessed I am by that gift! You are precious to me. I look at you now and see the man you are becoming. I know that you will be strong, loyal, committed, honest, loving and kind. You will be an excellent husband and father. I know all this because of what I see in you today. You are already strong, loyal, committed, honest, loving and kind. You make me laugh. You teach me. And I am grateful for your goofiness; your incredible sense of humor. Even at the moments when I am angry and frustrated with you I still see your heart. I see the big picture -- and where you are going to be when we get through that temporary difficulty. You are a good person. I am proud of you for that. I know the good choices are not always easy and so I am impressed that you continue to strive to make them even when others around you may not be doing the same. Heavenly Father will always lead you to make the right choices. I know that he provides a compass in my life. And in yours. But to use that compass requires an effort. You must ask for the guidance and you must follow the path He provides. If you do that, He will always help you. I know that He will always give us the guidance we need. Even when I am not with you to help you, He is. The Holy Ghost will speak to you and tell you the right choice. Prayer is the most powerful tool you have. I have not shared my Testimony with you often enough. I should remind you every day that I know He guides us. I have failed to do that, but I am telling you now. Rely on Him. He teaches us; leads us. Follow His path and you will always have the strength to make the right choices. Those choices will only become more difficult in the next few years, so please remember that He is with you even when your dad and I are not. I love you immensely. With Love from Your Lucky Mom

My birthday boy.

I met Greg in January 1994 and married him in April 1995. Like all people we have had some rough times. We lived through the suicides of his brother and two of my cousins, the miscarriages of three children, his shoulder surgery, and my many battles with health. Through all of it Greg has remained strong. He has been the grounding force in our marriage. During the long days when I could barely crawl out of bed he kicked in to caretaker mode. He loved me, he cared for our children, cooked for us and allowed me to cry when I needed to. After the losses of our children he helped me to say my goodbyes. My husband is funny, though many don't see it. He is astoundingly bright, and even more loyal. He is strong, kind, committed to us. And to the kids he teaches. Greg is a teacher. I love that his students become part of the fabric of our lives. Many of them don't know me... but I know them. And I love them because Greg loves them. He is a teacher in the best sense of the word. They are lucky to have him. He is a friend. A dad. A thinker. A reader. A man. Best of all he is mine. My husband. I like him, and I love him.

More Paper Please: Operation Write Home!

More Paper Please: Operation Write Home! That card is stunning. I am new to OWH, and have made 5 cards so far this weekend. Now I am inspired to get busy!

This week I...

1) Cleaned the house 2) Bought fizzy balls for Cora 3) Received a beautiful thank you note from my friend 4) Took care of my sick daughter 5) Saw the movie Oceans -- and loved it! 6) Went to eat lunch at King Chef 7) Scrapped 2 pages 8) Made 4 cards 9) Bought a swimsuit for Cora 10) Found I had purchased Children's Motrin which was recalled 11) loved my new green and red glimmer mists 12) cooked 13) watched the Kentucky Derby with my family 14) Got more scrappy mail 15) Planned a short trip to Steamboat Springs with Greg in July 16) Stayed up way too late in the middle of the week 17) Followed three new (to me) scrappy blogs 18) Cleaned the house again 19) Watched it snow in May 20) Wore a skirt at the same time as I wore slipper socks 21) Saw the high school's production of 7 brides for 7 brothers 22) Talked about my Kindle with some who were interested 23) Ordered new capris 24) Slept in and... MOST IMPORTANTLY... 25) VISITED WITH ART & JO-ANN, MY LOVELY AND LOVING IN-LAWS!

Five Random Faves Today

Today I am loving: 1. Handmade flowers Lately I love to add various embellishments, especially flowers, to my scrapbook pages and cards. Here is a tutorial to an easy and beautiful dimensional flower. I make mine with patterned papers to save the step of stamping. www.dailymotion.com/video/xabujm_handmade-flower-tutorial_creation 2. Facebook I love reuniting with friends here! 3. Brothers and Sisters 4. Girl Scouts 5. Date nights!

Fun, A Mother's Pride and A Remembered Fallen Building

It is April 18, 2010 and the clock is rapidly moving towards the change in date to the 19th. Tomrrow marks the 15th Anniversary of the Murrah building bombing. It was a day of shock, sadness and worry for me. I was well familiarized with that building. Oklahoma City was my home for four years and Norman for another four. I have people I love there ... people for whom I was worried. I felt the bombing as the media coverage began in Michigan. It rocked me. That day 15 years ago also preceded my wedding by only three days. So, though tomorrow will be a day filled with memories of a sad and tragic day I am also looking towards the day three days later when I can celebrate with my husband. It is such a blessing to be here, together, all these years later. On a lighter note it was a weekend filled with lovely moments for our family. Cora and Greg had a daddy-daughter dance date, Cora and I had a mother-daughter 'tea' date, Owen competed and won the Public Forum Debate tournament yesterday, AND I spent 8 hours crafting with friends! It was a lovely weekend and I am grateful for family and friends. My word this week: GRATITUDE.

I Gave up Brad Pitt for Grandchildren.

Back in the spring and summer of 1996 I was expecting my first child. Lets be honest though the fun part of having children is having grandchildren. Right? While I loved the fact that I was now a mommy, my body did not. I spent much of that time on bedrest. And during the time when I was not on bedrest my activity was still restricted. Greg was working at Blockbuster Video as an assistant manager, and so I spent much of my time sitting behind the counter alphabetizing movies to be restocked once they were returned. It was mindless work but it allowed me to be 'in the world', not secluded in my home by myself. I loved it. One day I walked into the store to see a life-size cardboard cutout of Tristan Ludlow -- the incredibly beautiful (HOT) character played by Brad Pit in the movie Legends of the Fall. Oh geez! I had to have that thing. Immediately! I told the manager that when it was time to take down Brad he was mine. For weeks I reminded him that he could not give that poster to anyone else who asked. And many asked! One night I was home sleeping before Greg got home after closing the store. (The fact that I slept was a miracle in itself, but that is another story.) Greg brought me the gift of Brad Pitt! Now that is love! Unfortunately I was pregnant and fighting pre-term labor. Pregnant women need to make many, many trips to the restroom. And that night was no excepting. Around 4am I made my second nightly trip, and as I entered the hallway I caught a glimpse of a man standing in the doorway of the nursery. It startled me so much that I nearly wet my pajamas. Then I realized it was not a stranger; it was Brad. "OH, its only Brad", I said to myself. Lovely. He was lovely. The next trip to the restroom, I was equally as frightened by a man in the nursery. "OH, its only Brad", I repeated, smiling. However, I never remembered. I never stopped being startled. Brad made me smile during my waking hours, but at night he scared me to death. Who would think that would be possible? I mean really! Brad in my house at night. That should make me smile! Finally I realized it was time to say goodbye to Brad. If I kept Brad... well, I would give up those grandchildren. And that could not happen! So sadly Brad left my home and I havent seen him since. I have looked for him on eBay, but he is not there. I suppose no other woman was forced to make the choice between Brad and her future grandchildren. And, so, Brad is staying in those homes. I may never see Brad again. But Owen has been given his orders. He will give me grandchildren. :)