She's 30!

Yesterday I celebrated my 30th birthday. And even though the love of my life couldn't celebrate with me, as Adam is STILL in Colorado (but will be home tomorrow!), it was a good day, made extra special by my friend Jen, my mom and dad, and the many family and friends who called or emailed. It isn't that I feel so old and wise all of a sudden, if anything I have been realizing over the last couple of years how much I still have to learn; it is just strange that the 20's are over and won't be comin' 'round again. But man have they been great!

I got married (I was 20, TWENTY for goodness sake, when we got married!) to an incredible man who keeps me laughing, gives me comfort, loves me unconditionally-and that's saying a lot-and is my truest friend. That was the best decision I have ever made. I had 4 beautiful, amazing boys in my 20's, who inspire me to be a better person every day, who keep me feeling like a kid, and who have taught me patience, patience, patience. I worked hard and studied harder and graduated with a BA in History with Honors. I ran a half-marathon and delivered my last baby, by choice (not because I ran out of time to get it), without any pain maintenance (I know women do it all the time, and I applaud them whole-heartedly, but I really didn't think I could), proving to myself that I am stronger than I think. And those are just the really big things! That's a lot of living!! I am excited to see what is to come in the next decade!

In my 30 years I have been so blessed to have had many incredible friendships and a very strong bond to my family (and my in-law family, too!). Friendship: I think that has been one of the major themes of my life thus far, because it has helped to mold me into the person I am. I hope this theme continues for the next 30. I have learned so much from my dear friends and treasured family over the years. Here are some of my favorite lessons:

1. The world is an amazing place that needs to be explored and treasured. We need to treat it as the precious jewel it is.
2. Miles don't matter, love travels over long distances, and good friends can pick up where they left off even after a long time.
3. We are loved more deeply than we can ever know by our Father in Heaven and His plans for us are so often completely different from our plans for ourselves. Case in point: Colorado?!
4. Sadness heals and we can be strong in the face of challenges, even when we don't realize how strong we are until it is over. Love you S!
5. Patience and a lot of love are the keys to parenting four boys. And a sense of humor and a very deep breath before speaking can help too. As I type Josh brought me Pooh Bear ears to wear, sorry, gotta go play Hundred Acre Wood.
6. Sometimes it is best to offer a specific service rather than just say, "Let me know how I can help," because no one ever lets you know until the situation is desperate.
7. A good laugh is incredibly healing to the soul; acting crazy and carefree is definitely necessary from time to time, and S'mores or fudge or Adam's dry sense of humor will always get me there.
8. We are not perfect, nobody is, we need to love others as we would like to be loved, in spite, and even because of our imperfections.
9. There are few "things" that are necessary, most of the stuff we acquire is much less important than time spent together, even if you still have the $400 Ikea couch you bought when you got married almost ten years ago.
10. Small actions go a long way; a card, a cup of hot cocoa, a phone call out of the blue make you feel important, and sometimes come at just the right moment. It isn't the gift that matters, it is the thought put into the gift.
11. There is a time for discipline and a time for fun, and the time for fun should well outweigh the discipline because lessons are better learned by trial and error than by lecture (this lesson I am still working on, lectures just make me feel so much better, or do they?) Plus, a little extra mess only takes a bit of time to clean, but hurt feelings take a while to clean up.
12. Everyone needs time alone or with good friends. Parenthood is amazing, but you also need to not be "parenting" from time to time. Vacations alone with Adam are particularly important to me.
Lucky Number 13. "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop to look around once in awhile, you might miss it." That one is from my good buddy, Ferris Bueller.

I look forward to all the lessons I have still to learn! Thank you to all my friends and family who have made these last 30 years so incredible. Without you all I would not be me. I love you!

Angels Among Us

First of all, I have to say it is TOTALLY Safeway's fault! Tempting me with the prospect of 20 cents off a gallon was too much for me, and I fell to the temptation. But more important than passing blame...because really I am the only one to blame here, we learned that there are truly angels among us, and tonight we met one of them. We drove down to Sno. Ridge this evening after church to have a fun birthday dinner for Alea and Adam (a little belated, we know) at the new and lovely Franklin home, and on the way down the gas light popped on. I was so confident we wouldn't run out of gas before getting down there and then back home that I told Adam we weren't stopping (after all it is only a 50 mile drive, and that gas light gives you plenty of warning). First of all, it was Sunday, and then to top it off, I had this great 20 cents off per gallon for our new Safeway gas station that I could just use tomorrow. I even went so far as to tell Adam I would walk for the gas if needed (chuckle chuckle, like that's going to happen). Well, my foolishness was broadcast when just before exit 60 the car chugged, then coughed, then began to slow. It was full dark, and the freeway was busy, and I felt like the moron I am. I really did mean to walk myself to get the gas, since I was the dummy who was so sure we'd make it, but Adam wouldn't let me. Ben was in full panic mode and the baby was crying as Adam left the car to walk up the dark, busy freeway to the Chevron a mile and a half away, with a "lock the doors, I love you." I called my WONDERFUL dad, and he immediately said he would come save us even though he was nowhere close to where we were, and would meet Adam at the gas station. But two minutes later Adam called to say he was at the gas station. And here is where we met our angel. A woman probably close to our age saw our car with the hazards on off to the side of the road, and then saw Adam, in his church clothes, running up toward the exit. She took a risk, and pulled over offering help. I don't know if I would have done it, considering it was dark, he was a man, and she wasn't a large woman by any means. But she did. She drove Adam to the station, lent him her gas can, drove him back to our car, and waited to make sure we got up and running OK. What a gift! We talked to the kids on the way home about paying it forward, when people show you kindness you make sure to spread that kindness on by helping someone else, even when it inconveniences you. And in their prayers tonight both Zach and Ben gave thanks for this woman and asked for her to be blessed for her goodness. Thank you stranger for your kindness! We are so grateful for good people, and for a Heavenly Father who loves us and watched out for us tonight.

I Am Thankful For...

Today was one of those days that all us women have. I had laundry in need of washing and folding, Josh and Luke both have chest colds (and are therefore very crabby), the lawn needed mowing and the plants needed to be cut back for winter, there are leaves everywhere, and on top of it all I had one of those Murphy's Law Moments. You know, Law #472 that states, "The day you decide to take a day off from staging your house because you are certain that no one is coming to see the house (because no one has come for a week), and you let it get messy in order to get other things done, not one, but two, real estate agents will come." Yes, that happened.

The worst part is that usually it is OK to let the house get a bit messy because we have asked that agents give us an hour warning before coming so we can tidy up and get out of the house. Well, I was so busy this morning trying to get laundry and yard stuff done that I took a late shower. Of course, that is when the phone call came in. So I missed it. They arrived and there were toys everywhere; laundry was folded in piles on the couch and coffee table; I was dressed, thankfully, but my hair was not yet brushed and looking more lion-like than usual; plus, the baby had just been woken up by his wonderful big brother, Josh, (and he was not happy about being awake) and hadn't eaten yet, so he was extra fussy. I would not usually be grateful for this, but it is fortunate that the two agents did not have clients with them and were just previewing! I was totally flustered, I didn't even think to turn off the kids' music which was blasting in the playroom. In the 10 minutes they were in the house, Josh fell off his chair where he was eating lunch and crashed into Ruby's water bowl. Josh was crying because he hurt his leg and his Flash costume got wet (because that is what he has been wearing every day since Halloween), and Luke was screaming because I had to put him down to make sure Josh was OK and clean up all the water. All the while, "La Vida Mickey" was blasting in the background (Disney's version of the Ricky Martin hit "La Vida Loca"). I just kept apologizing over and over (and they were really nice about it all, but I doubt they will be back). So that really helped set the stage for this crazy day. By dinner I was counting the minutes until bedtime. And then I ran across this....




This "I Am Thankful For..." Turkey is the art project Zach brought home from school last week. Zach included many feathers saying he was thankful for "Fellings" (Feelings), "Famaly," "D.S." (the Nintendo Double Screen, which he doesn't even have), "Jeses," and more. When he brought it home on Thursday the orange feather, however, was blank. So I asked him if he wanted to think of one more thing over the next few days and write it on. I have no idea when he did it because he never said anything to me, but tonight, just as I was throwing the Annie's mac-and-cheese box into the recycling I saw it. At some point over the last few days he had written in "Mom" in the "I am thankful for..." space on the orange feather. He did it without me knowing, he didn't ask for props or show me to get in my good graces, he just did it, and that makes it so much more precious. I nearly burst into tears right there, standing over the recycling! I love my children so much! It was just what I needed to get through the rest of the night. And I know it sounds cheesy, but I think Heavenly Father knew I needed that right then, which is why I didn't see it before. Don't worry, Zach got extra hugs before bedtime. I have so much to be thankful for!

How do you do it? (Revised)

I get that question a lot, even though I know so many great moms who everyday do what I do (and are better at it than me, too!). I know it is tough not having A here, but when I start to feel sorry for myself, my mind kicks my sorry butt and reminds me of all the military wives (and husbands!) out there who don't know when they will see their spouse next, or the single moms who do this all the time without end, or even the women who don't have a husband like mine who is SUCH a great daddy and helpmeet and I know I am lucky and that "this too shall pass." And my prayers for comfort become prayers for the comfort of others. Anyhow, I thought this pic was cute and gave a clue to how I do it. When single parenting, I like to cut corners, like make simple dinners, get tomorrow's clothes out the night before, and give group baths. It may get a little splashy, and cause a bit of a ruckus, but in the end, I have four clean boys and fun is had by all!

It Is Official

The sign is up, the MLS number is listed and here we go! Today the house went on the market officially, so I guess my denial about moving must end. I go through periods of excitement and sadness. I know I will always consider Washington home. I have been completely M.I.A. in the process of getting the house ready for listing, which was quite a lot of work, but it looks lovely now, so I am happy. Although it doesn't look like my house much any more. Now all I have to do is keep it clean...with four little boys...and a big hariy dog...hmmmm. I have to thank Jen for ditching any plans she may have had for her day to vacuum my house and hold my high-maintenance baby Monday so I could get stuff done; Emily, for volunteering to get Zach from school so I could finish scouring the shower, and Beth for bringing my starving family dinner so I didn't have to cook on top of everything else. Sigh...we really are moving (although the house hasn't sold yet :)).

The Newest Residents of Colorado Springs, CO.

After much soul searching and hard-core deliberating, Adam and I have decided to make the hardest move we have had to make in the eight moves we have made in the nine years we have been married. Move number nine will be this fall to Colorado Springs, CO. About a month ago, Adam began pursuing a new career opportunity with one of Fluke's sister companies called Fluke Networks. At first it seemed like a long-shot, but after the third round of interviews and F-Net asking to fly both Adam and I out to Colorado Springs (the pic above is from our trip out there-it really is a lovely place), we knew we were in for some real tough choices. We love being here; we are close to family and the many wonderful friends we have made here. But this career move is such an incredible opportunity for Adam, and we both felt that now was the time to move if it needed to happen. The company is based out of Everett, so more than likely, Adam will be out at the satellite office in Colorado Springs for the next three to five years, and then will move back to the home office here. Don't worry, during interviews he did tell them that this was his plan, and they were all for it. We are looking forward to a new adventure, but also feel so very sad to go. As you can see from most of the previous postings, so much of what we do involves our family or friends, so it is going to really be horrible to move and leave them all. But we know great things are around the corner for us, and there will be many visits home and from those at home!!

We will miss you, Aaron!

Yesterday we said, "God be with you 'til we meet again" to Adam's youngest sibling, Aaron, who is leaving today to serve a mission for our Church in Macon, Georgia. We love him and wish him many safe journeys and blessings abounding!! We are so proud of you Aaron!