And life goes on...

I wasn't going to write about this past week until my cousin sent me a tweet asking me why.  Well, you know what, last week wasn't just about saying goodbye to my grandfather, it was about family.  It was about being there for the sadness and embracing each other through it all!

When I got the news about my papa dying, my first thought was relief.  He was finally hanging out with my grandma and maybe even enjoying a hot dog smothered in chili!  My second thought was I have to get to my mom.  She is a fully capable, wonderful woman, but I couldn't imagine her angst, sadness and uncertainty of the upcoming events.  I couldn't help, but I could be there.  For her.  That was my goal.

Along with my dad, my sister, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins and all the of the spouses we said goodbye to papa.  I won't go as far as to say it all went off without a hitch, but I will say this; for the most part, we are one AWESOME group of people!  We gathered around, sang songs, prayed and praised a wonderful man.  He deserved the accolades and the love and the many group hugs.  Papa will be missed, but he is happier now, in a great place and better off than he has been in years.

And on a side note, turns out if you put my dad, mom, sister and I in a car we are a traveling stand up comedy routine.  At one point, I think I was laughing so hard that my head was on the floorboard and my feet were kicking the door.  After my dad made his fifth "gee manedy" statement it was all I could do to control myself.  My poor mom was trying to mourn without giggling along the ol' southern highway.

After ALL of the saying goodbye with many many preachers and prayers and songs, my family did what we do best.  We celebrated a life and continued on... It's what papa would want.

My nieces said it best...

We all loved our papa but life goes on and the celebration of a long life and "going home" is what it is truly all about!

Please notice my late thirty something cousin in one of his brother's Boy Scout shirts.  We are so proud.

Fly Uncle Bob, fly.....

And finally we were home...

Life goes on, and we are all thankful it does.

happymommy

PS:  If I had a million dollars and a half, I would give my in-laws it all for putting up with us for a week and a half of sick and another week of me being gone.  They win the prize!  Not sure what it is, but they win it!

Cooking...

I love Thanksgiving!  Love, luv, lurve it!  It means eating with reckless abandon, family and so many laughs.  This year, I decided to run the Turkey Trot in Golden Gate Park for some crazy reason.  So at 7:00 am on Thursday morning I will be heading across the bridge to injure myself.  I am actually looking forward to the torture!

After I run, I will speed home to cook, cook and cook some more.  The rolls!  The Green Bean Casserole, fake and real! The Apple Pear Butter!  The Beet Salad!  Jeff is in charge of the mashed potatoes!  We gather all our food, head back across the bridge and spend the afternoon with my family.  It will be so wonderful and not at all relaxing, but it isn't supposed to be.  Thanksgiving is about being thankful, food, family and friends!

James finds the whole thing hysterical!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!

I'll "see" you on Friday!

happymommy

No matter your views....

No matter what you think about the wars we wage in Iraq and Afghanistan and the politics surrounding these, there is one thing we support:  our soldiers.  They are the backbone of our country and we LOVE THEM, SUPPORT THEM AND REMEMBER THEM. They are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and partners.

No matter what you believe about our administration and the state of our union, we are a country.  For better or worse, we are one. 

happymommy

NOTE:  I am not endorsing anything, saying anything, selling anything or picking anything.  For tonight, sir, I just want to hang.

Outta here....

Lilly and I are headed to the lake this week for houseboat fun with family and friends.  I will miss the boys but think this will be a great time!  For now I take solace in my family.  My wonderful little family.

I will have no cell service, internet access, no twitter and no facebook. I will not do any blogging until Sunday or Monday.  I know you will miss me.  Wish me luck.  I am frightened!

happymommy

The most wonderful day...

I have written Ad infinitum about family.  The importance of family and appreciating family.  There are no words to express how much I love mine and everyone who has become family to me over the years.  Today was one of those days when I looked around and saw my blessings.  

It started with the most beautiful email from the woman I love and respect more than anything.  It is ending with my wonderful husband bathing my children.  Life really is awesome.  

We spent the day with Jeff's cousin, her husband, and their newborn.  We had lunch, walked Lake Merritt, played at the park and watched the weekend Salsa dancers.  

But mostly, we reveled in the wonder of Sadie.  She is our newest member and we just adore her.

She came into this world....

Loved beyond words...

Everyone thought she was the cat's meow...

James tried to pat her head A LOT...

Now he just hugs her, hard....

Lilly thinks she needs a sister....

Jeff and I think Lilly has lost her mind...

We all want to nom-nom-nom this baby!

Family, and friends who have become my family are home to me.

I am headed out on Monday morning for an entire week with no cell phone coverage, facebook or twitter. I may die, or I may think it is the greatest thing ever. Either way, I will not be blogging, tweeting or facebooking. Goodness, I am scared. Hug me!

happymommy

Friends and life...

I moved a lot during my lifetime:  growing up, in college and life after.  Very few of my friends have made the journey with me.  Most of them left me because of moving, crazy circumstances or fights.  I am lucky enough to have new friends that mean just as much to me as if I had met them when I was two.  But there are two  that have known me forever (hey, Amanda) whom I care for deeply and today, I spent an hour with one of them.  I have known her since I was thirteen and we have lived through failed marriages, births and death. I treasure knowing her and am lucky to have her even if we only see each other once in a blue moon.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE!

Our combined age is  79 and I am not telling who is older by six months.  The point of my rambling about how much I love my friend is that it is ALWAYS important to take the ones you love; family, new friends and friends who have been around a lifetime, and embrace them.  Love them.  They are important.  Don't forget it.

happymommy

Happy Friday...

Have a wonderful weekend... 

happymommy

It's funny what you remember....

So, Lilly got a new bike today.  Actually, it was her first bike.  The result of her EARNING 20 stickers for "behaving" at naptime at school.  It took six weeks, but she did it.  She earned her bicycle, and my parents bought it for her.  I didn't remember my first bike, or who taught me to ride it until my mom reminded me today while Lilly was riding around the underground garage showing off her new princess bike.

My mom taught me.  She is the one who let go and let me soar.  Why I don't remember this, I don't know.  What I do remember is riding hands free down the road away from our house and the golf course towards the pool where my sister was a lifeguard.  We lived on an Army Base and since my dad was gone saving the world and jumping out of airplaines, it was left up to my mom to soldier on while my sister lifeguarded and did her teenage thing.  It was also on my mom to teach me to ride my bike.  She also taught me to drive, but this is another post for another time.

I think my first bike looked something like this...

I do remember falling once and it hurting, but my mom says this didn't happen. The mind, well it goes...

Lilly's new bike.

Look at that face!!!

 

Thanks Grandma!

And James, well what do we say...

Family, nothing else needs to be said.

happymommy

Family...

I received some news today, and although it is not my story to share, it made me think about family, love and support. My family is the most important thing to me in the world.

The love I have for my husband and children is unconditional and everlasting. My parents along with my sister and her family are constantly on my mind and in my prayers because I love them so very much. I receive the same love back from each of them. Every. Single. Day.

My parents have endured some GOD AWFUL experiences with me and we survived to be stronger and better. My husband puts up with me and most days, we are a united front of love and smiles. My children see my bad, but mostly my good as I travel through mothering falling and getting back up to do better. My sister loves me and takes care of me when I need it and she showers Lilly and James with kisses and hugs and I do the same with her children. Mistakes have been made, but at the end, there is always mending.

But my family isn't just my immediate family. Not any more. My mother and father in-law have become like second parents to me. My sister-in-law and her daughter are dear to me and I look forward to seeing them just like they were blood relatives. Jeff's aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces and nephews are part of my being. They ARE all my family.

Marriage didn't make this happen. Time and experiences filled with laughter and tears form a family. We grow and learn. We support and encourage. But always, we love. Always.

happymommy

Today, it was a great day!

Some days just work out well. Today was one of them. I cooked this for dinner, and it was pretty good, not great, but even James ate it.

I got a pretty amazing email in my work inbox. It makes me think that all of this may be worth it. I continue to pursue using my blog, my writing and basically my life as a way to market myself and my brand. Whatever that may be. All in all, TODAY WAS A GREAT DAY!

Then, I got my lab results from my first ever grownup doctor's visit (yes, I will be 40 this year) that didn't involve a baby. I have very high cholesterol. 255. BUT I also have very high HDL , 99, which is the good stuff and is cardioprotective so all is good. Once again, I have no idea what this means but I think when the doctor puts a smiley face on the results this is good! My Blood sugar, liver function and kidney function are all in the normal range. BUT, I have extremely low Vitamin D, so I have to go on a month long prescription regimen. Now, of all the things that I thought my blood work would show, Vitamin D being abnormal was not at the top of my list. Needless to say, I am saddened that my blogging is about my cholesterol and my Vitamin D level. This just proves that I am old. Getting older by the minute and I have to take care of myself. If not for me, but for Jeff, Lilly and James.

Family, Work, Health and life is good! I am lucky!