10.

10 years ago today.
February 23, 2002.
 I married my best friend.
Seriously can't believe it has been 10 years.
I remember the smell of the air that day.
How can ten year old air still smell? :)
I made this little video for him, for his gift.
I thought I would post it here as well.
The pictures are pixel-y and that makes me sad...but don't sweat the small stuff right? 

Wednesday.

Today is Ash Wednesday.
It is the beginning of Lent.
I have always loved Lent.  I think because of the huge anticipation of Easter.
I don't know, but I like the reverence of it all, the focus...I just like it.
I also like that it begins the 40 bags in 40 days.
I almost forgot about it. (gasp!)
Until I read Sarah's post and it reminded me.
For some reason I skipped it last year.  I shouldn't have.
This past weekend, after Gram's funeral, I got a head start.
Monday I took 6 bags to Goodwill and 2 bags to the trash.
I was talking to my friend Julie, asking if she thought I could count those bags in...or would that be like saying I went to church twice last week, so I don't have to go this week?
She said COUNT 'EM ON IN!
COOL!
I'm hoping to beat the 40....maybe 50? 60?  yikes!  Better not get ahead of myself.
I noticed that today on Clover Lane she gave a very step by step approach to the system.
I'll keep you updated on how the purging goes.
Happy Lent!

Gram

My Gram went to Heaven this week.
The past few days have been full of family, laughter, tears, and food.
Today is a hard day for all.
It's quiet. 
Suz went back to the airport. Adam is back to the office.
 There are no services to go to or people to be with.
It's just quiet.
The sadness will get less. 
Our memories never will.
We were so lucky to have such a wonderful lady touch our lives for so long.

He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

(I Know That My Redeemer Lives Hymn # 264 from the Lutheran Worship) 

~chat soon!

the birthday week.

anne had a full week this week of birthday celebration.
she was pleased.
today is her 'friend party'.
it will cap off the birthday week.   :)

anne's request from mee-maw...a peace sign cake.

who the heck is this big girl?

a thermos for her lunchbox.  love!

she can read now.

so excited.

not even too scared to take the candles out.

her real birthday

waiting to open gifts

walkie talkies. dad's idea. a hit.

how to draw books

a big girl sweater, she said

new lunchbox

walkies and a set of binoculars. (they both work! kate is in love too!)

all night...you there? over!

dad made the cake...an ice cream sandwhich and squirt can cream with ice cream scoop 7 cake!

she thought he was the best

sniff...

7.

today is anne clara's 7th birthday.

it sounds so simple and boring but,
WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THE TIME GO?!
i love this little girl more then life itself.
i hope the next 7 are just as fun.  (maybe not as fast) but fun.
thank you God for giving us anne.  our lives have been filled to the brim with her love and kindness.
happy birthday anne. 
~chat soon!

memory lane...

for my birthday, we went to my parents.
it is a tradition, for the most part...we go eat dinner, and cake, a few presents. just a good old time in the comfort of my childhood home.
this year my aunt and uncle were there along with sweet cousin annie.
we all gathered around for the gift opening.  the last gift, mom said...this is for you and adam.
i opened it....
it was a mailbox.
made sense.  ours was hit a while back and we need to put up a new one.
i said thanks and kind of moved on.
mom said 'you have to open it...on this side.
okay then.
so i did...i figured it would be filled with a prank.
i opened the package and then the mailbox...
it was filled with MAIL.
at first i thought it was returned mail, or notes from highschool.
i had no idea.
i then realized i recognized a lot of the return address...
mom some how organized a card party.
she contacted 35 or so of my friends from the present and past and asked them to write a little something and send it to mom and dad.
OHMYGOODNESS....
i couldn't believe it.
i got a little teary, so i said something probably inappropriate, to make people laugh and slammed the mailbox shut.
we got home and i tore into the envelopes.
amazing.
i really couldn't have asked for a more touching gift.
i heard from people i haven't heard from in close to 15 years.
some where funny, some where tearful, some poked fun, some where reminders of days that had come and gone.
if you were in on the card sending....thank you.
thank you to my momma.  it was the best gift-ever.

here is the box...filled with cards, flip flops, pictures, mcdonalds souvenirs...coolest thing ever!

hahahahhahahaa.....

wednesday evening, i was driving the girls home.
we were coming from choir practice for anne.
i was making small talk, trying to curb arguing between the sisters...
so, anne, how was your lunch?
a-good, it was great, i ate it all.
me-i forget, what did you have again?  was it hamburgers?
a-NOPE it was HORN DOGS.  theyweresogoodsogoodsogood....i think they are kind of like little dolls wrapped in blankets.
me*things are fuzzy....why are they serving HORNDOGS in the cafeteria at anne's school.*  oh. well, i'm glad you liked them...what did you say they were again.
kate-you know mommy, CORNDOGS
me-right. yep. you're exactly right.
hahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahahahahahhaha
sometimes i can't believe the stuff that happens to me.
ha.
happy friday.