Monday, October 31, 2011

Trick or Treat?

While carving pumpkins with the kids yesterday, the family was given quite a treat!

The newlyweds announced there's a little pumpkin on the way...which means I'm gonna be a GRANDMA!

Congratulations Carla and Allen!

Can't wait!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tweet Tweet

Yes, I know I need to write some posts on this blog, (and yes there are many) but I've been busy, sooo busy, trying to get this damn bird off my head...... that time has just flown by.....soon I promise.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Once upon a time...

Sometimes, I think too much. It's not worrying, but more of overthinking. Is that a word?

As you know, I used to have a life that was tied up in a tidy little package with a big shiny bow. Or so I thought. My home was my nest, where I raised my family and made my house a home. That's all I ever knew. I spent more years married than not. Almost 30 to be exact. I loved the role of being a wife and a mom. I was content and felt safe.


But then I learned, nothing is forever. My path changed. I had to learn who I was, once the role of wife and homemaker was gone. And dang, what a discovery! I have done some incredible things these last five years. It's been a like a rollercoaster at times, the highs and the lows. Those wild turns and stomach dropping moments. Moments that took my breath away, while others made me scream outloud. And all this at almost fifty. I think I've experienced more in these last five years, than most people do in a lifetime.


You see I'm a planner. I'm organized, heck, I organize other people's lives for a living. But now my future doesn't look the way I thought it would be....back when it had that bow on it and all. Being able to bounce back is one thing, but not knowing your future is another. Having said that, it's not that life isn't good now, it's just I thought I had an E-ticket instead of the fast pass I got on Mr. Toad's wild ride.

I thought I would have the fairy tale ending. But in reality, I don't have a clue how my "story" will end. And that is what gnaws at me the most. That's hard for me. The unknown. I've been sooo focused lately on the "skip-to-the-last-chapter-of-my-life-because I need to know NOW" thing , that I am not living in the present. And that is not good.

No more obsessing on my 'happily ever after". If I keep focusing on that, I'll miss the whole rest of the story and those could be some of the best chapters in my book of life! As they say, it's not the destination, it's the journey.

So, let me begin starting now, untie the ribbon, step out of the box ~ its a new day.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The House that Built Me

This weekend marked my 35th high school reunion. Gads. Did I just say that outloud?
So I hopped on a plane at 6:30 Saturday morning, and was in Phoenix by 8:00. Met at airport by my girlfriend I've have known the longest on this planet, Susie C. We met in 5th grade at the bus stop and have been the best of friends ever since. Though 500 miles separate us now, I moved away my junior year of high school, we have always remained in touch. From training bras to grandchildren, we've not missed a beat. She swooped me up and we were at the Grand Opening of the Scottsdale Goodwill store by 8:40 with coupons in hand. Cause that's how we roll! For $24.00, I walked out with a vintage lamp, an Ann Taylor blouse, an ocean picture (with the $39.95 tag still on it), two shirts and a jacket from Disney's Surf Shop. Heaven knows what more we could have found, if there had been more time and more suitcases...
Next off to pick up lunch for the girls at Mattas mexican restaurant. Susie and I used to ride our bikes there as teens, (I think we had 3-speeds then) to dine on a cheese crisp and a pepsi. We then met up with the other three musketeers at Robin's beautiful home and devoured our meal. We began eating at about 11:30 a.m. and were still at that table 6 hours later. All that talk made us hungry again, so we now venture out to another restaurant for dinner, Troy included. After dinner, we head back to Robin's for a tour of her "craft" room. Martha Stewart, move over, you have nothing on this gal. Oh the stories ~ marriages, divorces, parents, on-line dating, grandchildren. I can't tell you the last time I laughed that hard. Between us, we have almost 20 children, and over 20 grandchildren. A few divorces among us, yet two have been married over 30 years.

We blew off the high school reunion.

Because our reunion was better, much better :)

Susie, Stacy, Robin, Shelley and I talked for almost 12 hours!


~ these are the women that built me ~


P.S. And Susie, the creme brulee french toast the next morning was the bomb!!!!!
And how DO YOU get your thumbs to turn like that??

Monday, October 3, 2011