Forties Festivities

The first week of forty has been filled with family, friends, and celebration.

 I went to wine with two girlfriends.  The shop closed too early so we went next door and sat on the patio talking about all our parenting imperfections.  I feel blessed to know these women, to bare our souls and to laugh at ourselves and with each other when it's necessary.  There are no airs, only love.  Sushi, pho, and Eureka burgers also happened this week. It's a beautiful problem to know this kind of love, let me tell you!

My war room is growing.  I just love everything about it!

 Talented friends created beautiful gifts.

 My brothers showed up to the Golden Days Parade festivities.  That's all I really wanted--all of us in the same space doing something we had enjoyed as kids.  It was very nostalgic.

We celebrated Uncle Frank's birthday on the patio.

These girls are a hoot!

Sitting on our corner.

 We ate at an oldie but goodie.  I had been craving Mexican food for awhile.  My nina Karvel made the best lemon pound cake and a chocolate cake that were delicious.  It was a little rushed as I like to get the kids in bed at their bed times during the week, but I appreciated all of my family who showed up.

 A gift that I had permission not to share. . .

 Mimosas with my mom friends.

Mass was celebrated by the priest who married us.  I adore Fr. Peter Dennis.  It felt like a huge blessing to have him be the celebrant at mass the morning of my special day.

And Ernie, made this birthday pretty spectacular.  I had forty gifts to unwrap.  He overdid it.  The gifts were so thoughtful and meaningful and comprised of the things I love.  That morning he got up early with me to see what we could accomplish running wise in forty minutes.  We ran five in a little over forty and it felt good!

I always tease I have a birthday month, but the reality is. . .I squeezed all my fun into a week this year.  It was loud, and wild by my standards and filled with the people I care about most.  Forty is off to a fantastic start.  I think I'm going to like it here.  Yes, yes. . . I think I"m gonna like it here! (Sung in my loudest Annie voice)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Sorry we aren't there to celebrate with you!  Hope you have a great day.  We love you so much and are thankful you got to celebrate early Hawaii style: )  Wishing you a year full of peace, good health and opportunities to make happy memories!

Love,

Your Doll
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

Festivities at Forty

That smile of his melts my heart. Always.

I had this kind of awakening this weekend.  Not necessarily a good one but one that left me with a different way to look at a situation. After too many funerals and diagnosis' of beloved friends over the last couple months, I wanted to celebrate Ernie's 40th.  What better reason to get together than for a happy occasion?

It was relatively small and some of our closest friends couldn't be there due to vacation plans which was a little disappointing, because truth be told. . .we just don't really try to get together anymore.  Now that our friends have kids who are grown, it seems like schedules have just taken a life of their own.  And I get it.  I do.  It just disappoints my heart a little, but then I'm filled with hope for the future when schedules might open up and we can reconnect.

I guess I have a different expectation for family, and I shouldn't.  Someone I love a lot once told me, my kids may be my world, but they aren't everyone else's.  Point taken. But for me, family has become my world--and it boggles my mind when it's not everyone else's. I guess my expectation for my family is similar to my parent's expectation for me when I was a teen and college aged: you show up.  You don't have to stay the entire time, but you make an appearance.  That's something that was expected of me and I've really come to own it and still follow through today as much as I can.  So when immediate family can't be somewhere special, not even for a little while. . .it stings a bit. My husband goes above and beyond to so many people, I just really wanted him to feel and be celebrated.  That's what good wives do, I suppose.

But the next morning, sitting outside having coffee with my fine forty-year-old, in his divine wisdom, said, "It's more important to me the people who were there then the ones who weren't."  This coming from the guy who had to pick up and drop off his own dad just so he could attend... And I realized he is right.  First off, not everyone has our strong value of family first.  Secondly, sometimes other plans come first--even if it doesn't make any sense to me.

Our kids and Lene's best friend, Layla did all the set up under the guidance of me, grandma, and grandpa. They cleaned, decorated, and were so extremely helpful and honestly happy to do so.  That in and of itself was such a gift.  Our comadre offered to make Ernie's favorite dessert, not only enough for him, but for the entire party. It was such a blessing.  Her husband rushed off to get ice for us while E was gone picking up his dad last minute, no questions asked. . .he just went and did what needed to be done.  Blessed.  My mom went above and beyond to offer all that she had to make centerpieces and such.  And then I forgot to take pictures of the finished project! Her generosity is like no other. My dad, offering the house so they could attend without needing a caregiver for papa was so appreciated!  They made the party!

I didn't take many pictures because I was honestly paying so much attention to the moments. . .the unexpected ones happening right in front of me with people who were there to celebrate the incredible man my husband is.  I have been reminded on more than one occasion recently by how incredibly blessed I am to do life with this man.   Even if we were the only people at the party, it would have been enough.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate life while the living is here to experience it.  I am so thankful for the strong family ties we are instilling in our children.  I am so thankful for friends who show up and love on my man, who deserves to be honored every day of the year. 40 years in the books. . .now we wait for my turn.

And it is Good

The Christmas season feels so much more intentional this year.  As I near forty, the pause in the rush and hustle of the holiday season feels liberating.  We've said no to things that we simply don't want to do.  We've pared down our traditions to include those that minister or serve others, more so than for the pure joy we bring to ourselves.  This has included Christmas caroling with our church.  Since finding our Moms group there, I love being a part of this tradition with my kids.  I love that they are not afraid of the old.  I love that best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loudly for all to hear!  I love my mom's energy she brings when she shows up.  We are so different in our outgoing personalities, but the heart is the same.

 Saturday, the kids participated in the annual Penguin Waddle at the Fairplex.  It's a fun race to do.  It's free. And Jonathan came in first place for his division.  Totally impressive and a memory he won't soon forget.

Their biggest cheerleader

6:54 mile

Spending the morning, encouraging the kids to use their God-given gift was fun. It was neat to see Jonathan so pumped up from the win.  I don't think he realizes his God-given talent, so we will just gently continue to encourage him and pray he eventually does.  I was very proud of Anjalene too.  My girl belongs on the stage, not the track; however, she has gotten her mile down to about ten minutes which is a huge improvement for her.  She finished this race well and really gave it her all. Anthony sat this one out but he cheered with me and Janessa.

Later we visited a local church for a walk through Bethlehem.  It was such a neat experience, so hands on, so focused on Christ's birth and the real meaning of Christmas.  We all loved the experience and  the kids said they hope we make it a tradition like the living nativity they look forward to.  That made my mama heart so happy.

Learning to weave

She used her schilling to buy Nina a basket

Keeping the focus on Christ has been difficult in years past as we tried to keep up with all that was going on around us.  Wanting the best experiences for our kids, to create meaningful and lasting memories was in the forefront of our intentions; however, I am coming to realize less is truly MORE.  Our kids do not want for anything that they really need.  And in the season leading up to Christmas, there was mindless bickering and squabbling and I was sincerely sick of it.

Then it hit me.  I am part of the problem.  Every time we rushed from this activity to the next, bought what they wanted from their list, made it more about them than the real meaning of Christmas. . .why was I expecting a different result?  It was a no brainer why our devotion around the advent wreath wasn't going the way I envisioned--we had lost our focus.  And I needed to lead us back to it.  So subtly, and ever so gently, with kindness and love, I'm trying to get us back to perhaps a place we've never really even been...the real meaning of Christmas.  We went to a penance service at church.  Just me and the bigs and we needed it.  We needed the car ride there, the priest's words, the time together in the pew.  We needed it to reconnect, to remember, to renew our hearts and minds to be who God intends us to be.  And it is good.

This season may only come once a year,  but it's for that very reason that we can't afford to miss it!  We need to fight for the joy.  We need to bring it back to what it is really all about. . .His birth.  We need to surround our days with plenty of empty white space to feel His presence and to spread His joy.  We do not need to go along with the crowd, when the crowd has it all wrong.  Jesus was born in a stable. Surrounded by his mother and father and a bunch of barnyard animals.  We do not need to be a part of the crowd to celebrate Christmas.  The noise, clutter, and frenzy might just blur your vision so you are missing out on the clear view of God's love for us that he sent us His only son.  Find your place.  Find your peace. Start today.

Birthday Blessings to my Dad

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Here's to wishing you a year full of health, laughter, love, and memories of a sweet life--one that can be savored with long days of doing what you want to do, finding new hobbies and adventuring with mom and to a revolving door of grandkids, noise, and memorable fun! 
Your first birthday of retirement. . .enjoy it!

Love you.