30 Wonderful Years...

One of my favorite photos of us...

My sweet husband and I are celebrating our 30th Wedding Anniversary today!  It's amazing to reflect on who we were in the beginning, and who we have become over the years.  We've had extreme joys, some devastating hardships, and a lot of "every day normal" in between.  Somehow we've come through it all, intact and still in love.

I'm not naive enough to think we have any special "magic" that kept us together.  It's a mix of love, forgiveness, faith, commitment, and so many other things that just worked for us.  And for all of that, I feel grateful, and so blessed!  My hope is that we'll still be together, "till death do us part" and if possible, even beyond that.

Honey... thank you for the love, the laughter, for our boys, for your compassion, your strength, and your commitment.  Thank you for seeing me... the real me, that nobody else knows.  Thank you for continuing to look at me like I'm still that young woman you fell in love with.  Thank you for trusting me with your heart, like I trust you with mine. 

To my friends, I wish you love... Have a beautiful day!

Got Lemons?

Do you ever feel that you've just let life throw you off-track?  Well, I have.  All my grand intentions to do more writing, to get organized, even to go on vacation... everything got side-tracked due to more health issues (I refuse to bore you with details today), family concerns, budget derailments...

I've missed several Sunday Scribblings, and I haven't even gotten back to my other writing.  Just too many things going on.  Our air conditioning went out during the hottest two days we'd had this summer.  Multiple Sclerosis and heat are not a good mix.  Thankfully, the same company that installed our furnace a few years back, agreed to come out the day it happened.  They had a brand new unit installed in two days time.  Right now my feet are too cold, so I had to put on socks!

The only downside of the new AC, is that we've had to cancel our trip to the coast.  My husband and I have been to the Oregon Coast twice... once on our honeymoon and once on our 25th Anniversary.  This year will be our 30th, and we really wanted to go again.  We will, it just will be later than planned.  Instead, we have decided to do a few home improvements, be tourists in our own valley, and just have fun here at home!  It's called making lemonade, and enjoying it! So, make time to relax, kick your feet up, pour yourself a tall glass, enjoy the sun, and be thankful for the little things...

Two Years of Blogging...

Today I celebrated two years of blogging.  I had been having a hard time each year when mom's birthday came around.  It would have been yesterday, the 22nd.  Two years ago, I decided to put my energy into something new... something that would be a positive for me.  I decided to start a blog.  It was one of the better decisions I ever made. 

I have found the blogging community to be friendly and supportive.  I've made some amazing friendships that would have never come about any other way.  I've met people from Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas and as far away as Australia... all over the States and all over the world.  My little blog has expanded my universe.  It's also enabled me to keep old friends and family up to date with what's going on in my life.

These days I am rarely sad when I think of my mom.  I have borrowed from her sense of optimism and love for life.  My Mary Engelbreit calendar has a quote for each day.  The quote for mom's birthday was "I am here to live out loud!"  It made me laugh.  Such optimism!  That's how my mom lived her life.  You can see it in her picture... even her eyes are smiling!  I'm going to keep working at "living out loud"... not hiding when things are hard, or sad, but facing it all head on.  Life is too good to let it pass by unnoticed!

28 Years and Counting...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! I spent the day relaxing. I watched the movie I selected for Nita's Challenge over at Red Tin Heart. I will post about that in a day or so.

The new song selection is for my husband, PJ! Today is our wedding anniversary! We have been married for 28 years! When I think back over time, we have come through a lot. It's been quite a journey for us.

I was twenty four, and PJ was 23... don't we look young and happy! This was taken at the wedding reception. We decided to have a simple wedding. We were married on a Sunday, right after the morning church service. Our reception was a few days later, following our honeymoon to the Oregon Coast.

We had a whirlwind romance... we were married just 5 weeks from our first date! A bit crazy maybe, but we knew what we wanted. I don't advise that for most people, but it worked for us. A lot of rumors were put to rest when I didn't have my first child until 5 years later. Lol!

After the ceremony was finished, we met the family at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Golden Star. It is still a favorite of ours!

One thing I know for sure... I love PJ more today than I could have ever imagined all those years ago. I'm looking forward to what life brings us next. Whatever it is, we will be enjoying the adventure together!

Well, I can't decide if I'm up too early or stayed awake too late... whichever it is, I am going to go take a "nap" so I will be able to enjoy the rest of the day without nodding off.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone...

and to my sweet husband...

I Love You Honey! Happy Anniversary!

Faithful in Small Things

Well, it's been an odd holiday weekend. Still not feeling quite myself... been in a slump physically, but my mind and hands have been busy. Getting little things done around my home. Purging old paperwork, sorting out my art supplies, even doing a couple little art projects. That has been fun. I'm trying to get one completed for the Mind Wide Open project. I'm doing a simple piece, as it's a new venture for me.

PJ has been dividing his time between the Northwest Motor Fest, painting our house, and worrying about me. We celebrated 27 years together yesterday. I was happy he got the holiday weekend off. That is so rare! He has a 52 Chevy that he loves to tinker with and drive to the nearby car shows. With the gas prices, that is putting a pinch in the car show trips!

The picture is from our trip to the Oregon coast for our 25th Anniversary. The first time we had been able to take a vacation during 4th of July week!

My sweet husband bought me Season 7 of Gilmore Girls and a cd, Raising Sand by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. I'm listening to it right now. Love it! Watched an episode of Gilmore last night. It is such a well written series. Mix of drama, love, humor. Okay, that's enough advertising.

PJ also picked up dinner for the family from Applebees. I haven't been back there since my Grandma went into assisted living. I used to take her there for lunch once or twice every week. When she couldn't get out any more I would pick up carside-to-go.


Funny how a place like that can hold so many memories. Anyway, I really enjoyed the food and maybe I'll actually go there in person again one day. This is a picture of Grandma and my little sis. Aren't they cute!

Grandma has always been faithful in the small and the big things. Someone I could depend upon. Now, she depends on others and for the most part has adjusted to that.

PJ has been faithful in all things! He took my diagnosis of MS a few years ago like he takes everything that comes our way. Head on, and continually reminding me that he's in this for the long haul... no matter what! It hasn't been easy on him, but he never complains about it. He is one in a million. Sooo, my quote for today:

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." - Mother Teresa