Friday, December 31, 2010

The Last Day of 2010

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Let's just say you were not my favorite year. As a matter of fact, I hope there is never another one like you.

This year is so different because I am more aware than ever of how blessed I am. But it came at a price. The price was way too high. I never agreed to pay it, but I paid it all the same.

A year ago today I woke up sobbing, and throughout the year there have been so many tears. Life has been bittersweet, when it decided to be sweet. Some of the year was just bitter.

Yesterday we had a prayer service for healing. It was the anniversary of Victoria's death. In some ways it was harder yesterday than a year ago because reality has had a year to dig deep holes in our hearts. Shock has turned into despair and bitterness and a very painful feeling of being lost.

While new people we are thankful for have entered our lives I find myself afraid to love them deeply. Afraid to become hopeful for the future. Afraid of loss. Bitter. Angry. Sad. Out of energy, out of my mind, out of nearly everything. Except I know there is this glimmer of hope. It is always out there, off in the distance. The idea of falling for it is a bit much for now.

Thank God I have:
A husband more wonderful than I could ever deserve.

Children who, despite my multitude of parental failings have the hearts, minds, and bodies to do anything they want in life.

A lovely mother who sets a wonderful example to all of us just around the corner.

Two loving grandparents who are staying around for all of us.

An extended family full of golden, wonderful people.

Children by proxy. (Friends of my children) Such a wonderful addition to my life.

My little dog. I never thought I would be one of those people who would include a dog in a list like this. I am!

Friends. I am in awe at the amazing people who I get to call friend.


I am absolutely ready to claim this new year!





Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Passed

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I made it through Christmas! I mean it, I really did!

Christmas Eve I got up while everyone else was still asleep and made a few batches of hot fudge sauce to give out to my family. I hope they all enjoy it. It was tasty and delicious, I think. I had my moments, at the kitchen sink, crying the ugly cry. It was okay because there was so much other stuff going on in the house they were my solitary moments. Sometimes you just have to let it go and be left alone, you know?

I managed to score a great gift for my mother. She was the easiest one this year because I knew for months what to get her: A blu-ray player with wireless and Netflix, Pandora, and all sorts of groovy junk like that. No more watching Netflix on the computer. I know mom is a multi-tasker like me, so having a movie or show take over the laptop is not fun.

I ended up letting the kids select a lot of their gifts. They got exactly what they wanted and I got to give them the right gifts. This makes me happier than anything else. Surprises are wonderful - when they are wonderful. But better than a so-so surprise is truly making people happy. Every year I remind myself that it may be the last year before everything changes. At some point kids will get married, move, etc. I hope they all stay close, but I don't count on it. I taught them to go, unafraid, to new places. I gave them those blasted wings!

On Thursday we are all gathering together for a prayer service for healing. Please send us all your prayers, good vibes, happy thoughts, etc. We will appreciate them.

Beverly Hills Never Looked So Bad: Housewives

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So, Housewives of Beverly Hills, anyone? I haven't watched most of these 'Housewives' shows, but I did catch some Orange County and some New York.

The contender for phoniest person to date has to go to the wife of Frasier. Dude, seriously? Couldn't you find anyone more shallow? I don't usually dislike public figures, but this woman doesn't seem to have an authentic bone in her body - unless she's being catty. Better yet, she's the most authentic I have seen her when her psycho psychic friend is being catty. That's when she really seems the happiest of her season. Wow. I can't recall seeing a less human person portrayed anywhere else before. Is it just me? 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Shoveling Sunshine

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Jo Schaffer from Shoveling in a Jo Storm  presented me with the Sunshine Award. Thanks Jo!

Now, I do not mean to sound ungrateful in any way. As a matter of fact, I'm more curious about how my little blog, which I assume about three people might see every month, could get an award at all. I was fairly certain those people were here quite by accident, and stayed only long enough to hit the escape button. Since I haven't filled you in on any of my embarrassing stories lately, what is there to come and see?

Not to worry, there has been embarrassment aplenty! A couple examples:

1. The other day I was in the living room with my college aged daughters. I was in my pajamas, and was not wearing socks. I see my daughters give each other one of those looks. You know, the look which makes you positive people are communicating something (about you) right in front of you. Crystal looked at me and her eyes got wide. Allison looked down and solemnly said "I'm not sure what to think." Oh! That! I hadn't shaved my legs.

2. The other month (almost a year ago now) I got to the house with a van full of Zachary's friends and we were all around the door removing our shoes and boots. I lost my balance, as I am prone to do, and grabbed the wall. Except it wasn't the wall. It was the derriere of one of Zachary's friends. Yes, mom of the year, right here. Very embarrassing. You know teenage boys never bring up stuff like that again to embarrass you. Oh wait! Yes, yes they do.

There is more. So, so much more. But you know, I need to leave some of the stories for my kids(and their friends, apparently) to tell to their therapists.

Thanks again, Jo!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Night At The Movies - Closed

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I don't know about your family, but in ours we watch a lot of movies. We watch most of them at home thanks to Netflix, Amazon, Redbox, and the local public library. Going out to the movies is something we  do a lot less, because it costs a lot more. General Mills not only makes cereals everyone loves, but they want to send everyone to the movies, too! Isn't that great?

FedEx just dropped off a box for me with a box of Honey Nut Cheeries, a box of Reesse's Puffs, and four movie cash certificates. (The movie cash certificates are worth up to $12 each) Once I go online and enter the codes in the two boxes of cereal that's -count 'em- five movie certificates for us!

The fun doesn't stop here. You can get a box in the mail just like I did, with two boxes of cereal and four movie cash certificates. All you have to do is enter to win.




Right now you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of Big G cereals including Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Trix® (14.8 oz) and Reese’s Puffs® cereal (18 oz.).

After purchasing two participating cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the unique code found inside each box of cereal and print your free Movie Cash certificate (good for one admission of up to a $12 value at participating theatres). To find a participating theater in your area, log onto http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.

 Now on to the giveaway:

Anyone in the good old U.S.A. can enter. Unless you live in my house with me. (Then nose goes.)

First Entry:  Tell me who you will take to the movies &/or which cereals you are looking forward to eating to earn movie tickets. 

Extra Entries:

Follow me on twitter - 1 entry

Follow with google friend connect - 1 entry

Leave a relevant comment on any other post on my blog and let me know which post - 1 entry (unlimited)

Follow my other blogs with google friend connect - 1 entry per blog

Subscribe to this blog via email or reader - 1 entry each

Share on facebook  - 1 entry

Subscribe to my any of my other blogs via email or reader - 1 entry per subscription

Blog about this giveaway - 5 entries
Send me cookies - 100 entries (just kidding... or am I?)

You can always earn up to 2 daily entries by tweeting up to twice a day. Here is one you can use:

Giveaway: Go win 5 movie tickets and cereal from &

Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky, your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission - unlimited!)


Fave this blog on technorati - 1 entry

There are buttons at the bottom of the post to make sharing simple. Feel free to use any/all of them for your entries.

*If you digg, stumble, kirtsy, share on a message board, email friends, or whatever else please let me know what you did, leave a link if you can  and take another entry.

*Please be certain to claim each entry by leaving one comment per entry earned.

* You can find my other blogs listed across the top 

I will draw a winner on December 15th. Winner will be notified by email.


*General Mills provided me with the information, movie cash, and two boxes of cereal through My Blog Spark. They will also be providing the winner with movie cash and two boxes of cereal.