Happy Thanksgiving....

In the chaos of this great holiday sometimes its difficult to slow down enough to reflect on what we are most grateful for. Fortunately I am blessed to not have to participate in any cullinary olympics today so I thought I'd take the extra few minutes I have to reflect what I am grateful for...

The obvious are my family, near and far, (Joanna, Auntie Katie and Auntie Jac:))close and distant.

My beautiful three daughters who continue to amaze me every day as they transform into their own personalities and individual beings.

My husband who is a great friend of mine who is reaching way outside his comfort zone to discover ....well many things.

My mother who is my rock and mainstay. Most people would think that is your husband but for me it is my Mom and Cary understands this too. She is always reassuring in times of stress and picks up when she knows I can't go forward. While she is very sensitive she is so strong and our lives would not be the same if we hadn't had these years with her. I love you Mom.

My beautiful, intelligent and sweet sister. She is an amazing woman with so much talent, beauty and charm, she just doesn't always know it. She is a wonderful Aunt to our girls and the best friend I have always needed.

My sweet girlfriends near and far who bring such an ecclectic wonder to my life. Carrie, Kara, Veronica, Lisa, Wendy, Amy, Clare, April, Janene, Silvia, Jenny, Michele, Petrea, Heather and my guardian angel Sarah....who will never know what you mean to me. Thanks for always listening when I need you and for making me laugh. You are each the sprinkles on my cupcake of life.

Then there are the physical things I am grateful for. I know it may sound weird but we really don't know how good we have it. Here is my laundry list of those mundane items that help so much:

I'm grateful to the Speers, Lyons and Matthes families for this beautiful home we live in.

My DVR which allows me to be a good mom and watch tv when\if I have time.

My iPhone that I would be lost without. So much entertainment at the palm of my hand :)

My computers. The comfortable mattress on my bed. My mineral powder which I really think may be a coping mechanism haha.

Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, Email and the wonder of the digital camera. The world really isn't that big after all and these technologies help us stay close.

Modern medicine and the continued wonder and respect I have for the fact that my daughter is with us, healthy and happy (currently sitting across the room enjoying the sound of tearing pages of the new tabloid magazine I have not yet read!!!). That same technology which is keeping the precious baby Paul in his momma's belly as long as possible.

The progress of cancer treatment and how it was able to save my Evil Knievil Daddy who at the age of 71 after 6 months of chemotherapy decided to ride his motorbike to the Florida keys and back to see how far it was. That same technology which has saved my friend Gaia so she can mother her sweet babes and how I know it will save my new friend T as she begins her fight and conquers her cancer just so she can continue to kick my butt into shape.

For all of these things I am grateful to God. Lord I am so grateful for my choices I get to make every day and that I don't know what it is to go very hungry or cold.

Happy Thanksgiving.

A Proud Moment...

Savannah, where do I begin to tell you how proud I am of you and what a privilege it is to be your mom. I hope as you grow older you will look back fondly at your childhood and see it as a happy time.

The truth is you have faced some pretty big obstacles in the past year or two (well we have as a family) but I feel like you have had to be almost the most resillient of everyone by changing schools, changing addresses and while you voice your concerns you never complain or refuse to do it.

Case in point of last night. Your Dad and I received a letter several weeks ago to let us know that there is a strong possibility that you may not get to attend the school we had in mind for you to complete fourth and fifth grade due to space availability. We thought that to assist you with the transition of changing schools it would be a good idea for you to go back to the place where you attended Kindergarten and First Grade.

We were so concerned at how you would react and feeling stressed ourselves at the prospect of asking you to make yet another change in your little life because of choices that we make for us as a family unit.

So now that the time is near for schools to resume session, we casually broached the subject last night at dinner. We explained to you that we received a letter and that while you will be attending the school district we had in mind, it might be at a different school location that only has 3rd, 4th and 5th grade but that we would know by the end of the week.

While initially I thought I saw the smallest amount of fear in your eyes, to our shock, surprise, delight and slight confusion, your response was this:

"Hmmm, well would it be okay if, once we find out, I can choose for myself? I kind of like the idea of going to a school with less grades and less people."

Your Dad and I were somewhat stunned and so we said sure you will get to decide. Our preference of course would be to have you and your sister on the same campus, however, how can we question your choices when you receive information so openly and willingly.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the end. We love you Savannah and are just so so proud of you.

Sydney Bean!

Sydney, why can't you stay this little forever, and love me this much for always? I love you my sweet and can't believe how far you've come, how much you've accomplished and how you remind me to live in the moment. I cannot believe in just three days you will be the tender age of 2!

And by the way, just for the record, you are a very willfull two, all fight and minimal cooperation :)

PS This picture was taken at Auntie V's Luau after you had been in the pool for way too long. You protested getting out even though you were three shades of blue! 8/8/09

I'm grateful for...

My beautiful family and how they make me smile even when they're sleeping...

My girlfriend Veronica and how she thinks of me, passes me her hand me down clothes and I feel like a million bucks in them...

My Wish list...

I wish I could get it together to scrapbook to document my daughters events and the precious memories I have with them.

HOW ON EARTH?

Did I get to the middle of August and this is the first time I am posting this year? Shocking and unexcusable!

I couldn't tell you what I have done with all of this time but this year more than any other before has been at a breakneck pace. Definitely going to aim for a low key, stop and smell the roses kind of year next year...... in the meantime however warp speed continues.