What a Long & Strange Month It's Been...

When the past month feels like half a year has passed, I know that it's been a long, strange trip down my life as a wife, mother & librarian.  (Not to mention all the other hats I wear!)

July 4th was filled with fun & celebration as we held the annual Corn Roast at St. Bartholomew's.  The parade featured antique cars, motorcycles, mopeds, and dozens of children in their red, white & blue decked-out bikes, trikes, & scooters.  (MG rode her bike without training wheels for the first time!!)  We celebrated the Eucharist together, then got in on to the corn eating!

Highs had been in the record 100s in the week previous, and cooled down to only 99 that day!  The kids were able to cool off with the California Wave!  It's better than a slip-n-slide because you run & jump onto 18" inflatable surface as you slide down into the pool of water at the end.  What a treat!  (Yes, I tried it and had a blast!)

Classes were back in session after an almost 3 week hiatus on July 9th.  It was good to have our students back to free me from quiet projects and boredom.

MG lost her two front teeth, plus two more that we "wiggled out" by the dentist to make room for growing.  I wonder what those two permanent teeth are going to think when they finally break through the gums in a few months.  "Hey!  Make room for us!"  She also had her first cavity filled.  Boy does that make me feel like mother of the year...

She started 2nd grade last week, and loves her teacher.  We're tickled, because we know she's the kind of teach who will love MG, but hold her feet to the fire.  Parent/Teacher meeting tomorrow night, so we'll get to learn more all about it.


Disappointment came my way in many forms this month.  First, I found out that the job I had applied for was finally filled when the new Dean of Libraries sent an email out to introduce herself. (Good one HR & the powers that be.  Real professional.)  I had figured out that the job wasn't the best fit for me or my family after I had interviewed twice, thrilled with how well it went, but knew that I couldn't handle a job that traveled so much.  Changes in my job with a new Campus President haven't been the smoothest, as she makes radical changes to schedules and responsibilities, so I guess that's why it still stung.

Next, and I know this isn't huge, my Aunt's birthday rolled around for the first time without her.  (And thanks Blackberry for reminding me first thing that morning on my calendar.)  She was so much of a mother/grandmother to me and understood me in ways that my mom doesn't.

But what saddened me the most was having to make one of the hardest decision of my life: to put our beloved Blue Tick Coon Hound down last week.  Lila Bird came to live with us in January 2004, after she had been nursed back to health by a dear woman who found her.  It was a big adjustment to having her and all her emotional problems in the first few years.  But the love and patience that we poured into her was given back to us and to MG tenfold.  She was a new, very kind and gentle lady dog.  She became our anchor and alpha to the other two dogs, who watched her decline so steadily in the past 6 months.  The arthritis, and now what we know to be cancer became too much to bear - and bless her heart, she just couldn't tell us how much pain she was in.

On the evening we made the appointment with the vet, we all just sat around loving on Lila and the other dogs, hugging and crying with one another.  Those brief 20 minutes we had together will forever be in my memory to treasure, as she looked at me lovingly and flapped that big tail of hers, as if to tell me, "Mama, it's okay.  You can tell me goodbye."  Oh I miss her so much!  So I sat with MG at home, while Sean too her in to let her fall into that last long sleep in his arms.

And somehow, there's this new little one that's come into our lives to try and heal the hurt.  Meet Sparky Schultz Root, the newest edition to the family!  Although I think it's too soon to bring a new dog into the situation, here he is teeth, puppy breath, housetraining to work on, and all! 

:: sigh ::  What will the next month become!?

Books I'm Reading Lately

Nothing says Summer like a good book to read.  People even write articles about it.  Blogs too.  Guess I'm just next in a long line of suckers!

Currently on the Bookshelf:

1. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater.  MG & I are taking turns reading this out loud to each other.  (Little does she know, it's good for her!)  It's fun to hear her sound out the antiquated words & read all of the penguin sounds, "Orrrrk!"
2. The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans.  This is the 3rd book in The Walk Series about a man who's lost everything, and decides to walk from his Portland, Oregon, home to the farthest walkable point on the map: Key West, Florida.  He's only in South Dakota now, so I wonder how many more books it will take to drag this story out.
3. Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb.  Book 5 in the In Death series with Eve Dallas.  My Kindle loan expired from the library, so I've got to get back into this series with the paperback.  A pure comfort read when you already know most of the characters. 

What I Just Finished:

1. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris.   Brain-candy for the paranormal in me.  I think we're up to book 12 in this series - and even though this one was a bit better than the last, I'm still thinking it's time to end the series.  Plus, as the years go on, it's getting harder to not confuse the plots with what I watch on TrueBlood!
2. Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb.  Book 4 in the In Death series with Eve Dallas.  I listened to most of this when I didn't have the paperback in hand.

Still Waiting for Me to Pick Up & Read:

1. Calico Joe by John Grisham.  A short one by Grisham about baseball.  Can't be too bad, can it?  (Yes, it could be terrible.... like his other ventures into non-legal fiction.)
2.  Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  After watching the miniseries for Books I, II & III of North & South with Hubby recently, I thought it was about time I knocked this book off my bucket list.  (I have no idea if I'll enjoy it or not - I just know that it's over 1,000 pages if it's only mediocre!

Do you like to read?  Wanna swap stories of the best and worst out there?  Follow me on Goodreads.com   - I love that website! :)

Let's Talk About Snow

Wait - Did you say snow?  You betcha, Baby.  It may be 104 in the shade outside today, but I wanna talk about that bright, beautiful, white stuff.
The most snow that I ever experienced in one storm, was the record 13" that fell in one 24-hour period on March 12-13, 1993, in Birmingham, Alabama.  Yes, I just said Alabama.  At the time they called it "Winter Storm 93."  Poor Garrison Keillor got stuck in town once the airports closed, and brought his Prairie Home Companion to the historic Alabama Theater - to those who were within walking distance! 

I was almost done with my junior year of high school that year - and I even remember wanting to wear shorts to school earlier in the week.  But once those big clumps of white stuff started falling from the sky, they changed their mind about keeping us in school.

Later that night, there was a weird sight to behold:  Thundersnow!  Who knew such a thing existed!? (Okay, what southern girl knew it existed...)  The sky was almost greenish that night.  Creepy creepy.

Yes, that's me...  March 13, 1993

We awoke to almost 18" in our front yard - and with the wind that the thundersnow storm brought, drifts on the side of the house that were almost 3 feet deep!  The power had finally given way in the night, and what followed were several days without power, with lows in the single digits. 

The next few days were spent checking on elderly neighbors, taking things out of the freezer and putting them in the snow banks so they wouldn't spoil, and one tumultuous drive to the ER after my dad slipped, fell, and broke his foot going to help a neighbor.  Let me just tell you that this 16-year old driver was very cautious on roads that could not be cleared - because the city didn't own a snowplow.  Not one!  At least it had been a few days for things to thaw, be driven on, and moved around somehow.

I was even filmed that day by a local news station that was in the area filming.  I had the task of uncovering our car in all that snow, so that we could take Dad to the ER that evening.  I don't remember what they asked me about, or what I even said.  Didn't matter, I suppose - because there was no way of watching the news for at least a week (without power).

Perhaps, because I was an innocent youth, I still look back on this cold, exhausting time with wonder and excitement.  (All those years in girl scouts and teaching wilderness survival skills came in handy!)  And I can laugh at dropping the poor, small dog into another snow drift so he could find somewhere to pee.

I can't help but wonder what it would be like if we experienced something similar, here in Nashville (where it's more likely, and we actually own multiple snow plows).  What would MG think?  Would I have enough supplies on hand to be trapped at home for the week?  Would she laugh, take pictures, and help out neighbors like I did?  I'd like to think so.  She's such a great kid.

Too Hot for the Shade!

Yes, it's for real.  Record high temperatures are headed our way for the next week - and are almost too hard to believe.

This is a screen shot from the Weather Channel just a few minutes ago.  Yesterday, they were only predicting 104 for Friday!  Can it be too hot to go swimming?  Possibly so!

So what will Independence Day look like?  Only a mere 99 degrees... which should seem like a break from these temperatures!

Meanwhile, Colorado burns with out of control forest fires, and the remains of Tropical Storm Debby flood Florida & the Gulf Coast.  Maybe there is something to this whole Global Warming thing...

No More Camera Envy!

Yes, I know it's a sin.  "Thou shalt not covet another mother's camera!"  And for the first time in 8 years, I realized at the Christmas Pageant last year that what I had wasn't even second-best, but third rate.  I never said anything to my dear Hubby.  Never even looked at ads for the latest zooming-filming-bigger-than-a-bread-box camera.  But somehow he knew, and started looking.

We had the opportunity to make a little money at the end of May, and decided to blow it all on ourselves.  What did Hubby have in mind?  A NIKON.  A real, brand-new, honest to goodness, top of the line Nikon Camera.  WOW.  And he saved a bundle off the original price - enough to buy a 55-200mm zoom lens to go with it!

He says he bought it for me, because the last time he found a great camera deal, he gave it to his mom.  I got over that eventually because she gave us her camera, which was a definite upgrade.  But then MG dropped it on the pavement on Easter and scratched the lens.  I think that's when he really started looking, because I was so disappointed.

Bumblebee on Lavender - June 2012, Larissa Root

So with my growing knowledge of photography, a little help from Picasa (love this free software, go get it!) - I'm producing great photos like the one above.  I love being a Shutterbug!

Play It Again, Sam...

Like an old familiar tune, I was drawn to write today.  And in this world of Web 2.0, I still have a this blog floating out in the World Wide Web somewhere.

"One of these days I'm going to blog," I've said for years.  One of these days begins again today.

So what's changed in the past six years?  In some ways, tons.... in other ways, none.  But I'm not going to spend time trying to play catch up.  That never works out and puts pressure on the writer.  And since the writer is always under constant pressure, why burden her further? :)

Little Blankie Girls

So when I said I wasn't going to blog anymore - I may have been lying to myself.  I love to share stories:  there are just some that don't need to be shared with the whole world!

I found myself called to write to a good friend of mine earlier today about her concern for her two daughters and their blankies.  Sure they're getting older, but they're still little girls!  Here's what I had to say:



"I still have my blankies - and they did go to college with me! It was a comfort thing - to be able to have something with you when you travel that smells like home. My blankie even helped me learn how God can help us when we pray! When I was little and had lost my blankie, and could not go to bed. I was able to calm down, pray, find my blanket and thank God for helping me to find it!

As I grew older, they became more useful as something to cover eyes when the roommate had the lights on studying late, or to cover my head when it was cold or I had a headache. But I still kept them around.

I think I used my blankies more when I was single in grad school as that thing I could grab onto from my childhood that, like God, could comfort me enough to fall asleep in a strange new town, where I knew no one and had no idea what I was doing, except following God's plan for me.

Champ guarding Maggie Grace, 10/13/04

Did they go on my honeymoon? I don't remember, but Sean says he thinks one did. Must be another thing about them smelling like home!

But in the past 7 years, I'd say they've mostly stayed folded in the back of my pajama drawer, or fallen behind the bed. Talking about them makes me want to find one and snuggle up and take a nap, b/c I can't tell you the last time I snuggled with one.

So us little blankie girls do grow up - and find new ways to cope. And meet the men we are supposed to marry, and make families. We learn to wrap our children in them, and make special blankies for them to carry everywhere and for always.

Just look at my pictures of Maggie Grace. You'll see several Snoopy blankets with satin blanket binding - just like mine. (She called them "slickies.") I made them for her and even at 6 - she can't start the day or end the day without one in her grasp! MG also knows about my special, worn & tattered blankies - and even asks if she can borrow one occasionally when she's feeling sick, sad, or frightened.

So don't worry about your sweet girls and their blankies. There’s a lot of love stored up in that old piece of cloth last them all their days!

Love you!

-Larissa"



Not sure what I want to put on this page anymore.... so I guess it will have to stay blank a little longer. Because if I put out here what's really on my mind/heart lately - I think I'd be too vulnerable to flames & just too many people knowing my business. ::sigh:: damn web 2.0

Back to Blogging / Vivid Dream

I volunteered to sit on the front desk for our DOFI (Director of First Impressions – yes, I know it’s a cheesy name, but think about the responsibility that comes with that title- WOW!) –so while it’s still raining and quiet, and all the admissions reps are in a meeting, I’m bored.

So you can tell that I’m back to blogging – yes fans – wow, I think I have one – I am hereby committing to incessant rambling on-line and choose to not punctuate or capitalize correctly! HA! Take that grammar police! I’m going to make this my free-willed, free-loving, whatever-comes-outta-my-big-mouth BLOG! BLEH!!!

Back to being bored…
I had a series of vivid dreams last night. Yes, they were 1st person as they usually go – and here’s the series of events.
I was in my mother’s kitchen back in their old house on Broadway. She was complaining about cooking some kind of cake that was taking forever in the oven. I asked if it was gluten free- b/c they usually take much longer to cook that your regular variety. Next thing I know, I’m rummaging through the old big green refrigerator and all there are are donuts in there! Donuts! So I start to scarf a couple of them down. Then I’m mixing a tiny little cake batter that won’t combine wet & dry mixtures very well- and look on a box that says I can cook it in the microwave? Really? And get this- it’s the old microwave that we had forever – that I ended up having with me in grad school that had no timer – and was circa 1984 when we got it one Christmas? Weird. So I tell it has to cook 34 minutes and look the timer is finally working! (Or some timer-like thing on top of the microwave that’s now digital) And if she’d please take care of it for me – so I get more donuts that I know I’m not supposed to eat and leave the Broadway house – only there’s just one car in the driveway and it’s not my car- and where are everyone else’s cars plus the extra two that don’t work or no one drives that are usually in the driveway.

And apparently I was playing hooky from work in this dream too, b/c I had both my work and car keys in my pocket – and hadn’t called my boss. Then I’m in this movie theater with the lights on – with scattered chairs and lots of walking room sitting near my former finance from college. And I was telling him how I saw his family picture on facebook and how great it was (lying through my teeth). (aka – his second wife, that he met while married to his first wife – whom he knocked up and married pretty soon after the divorce was final. OUCH! Sound familiar readers? Yep – the first wife was the one he started seeing while he was engaged to ME! Notice a pattern? I feel sorry for his little girl.) And then I see my boss in the movie and she comes over and says hi, and I try NOT to introduce who I’m talking with. But we never watch a movie and next thing I know I’m in house with very little furniture and nasty yellow walls. Very spacious, bare & simple. I know it’s their house. And they’re all just sitting around the table, seems like they just finished eating. And they’ve got two kids now- and I never see the baby girl from the pictures, just some little boy. And he’s the size of a one year old, and baby talks with a baritone voice… but they say he’s 6 months old. And they have this multi-tiered pool in their back yard where at 11 at night there’s little toddlers doing some kind of organized water aerobics –and they’ve all got little floaties on their arms and they’re in rings. And just as I question what in the world they are doing with children up so late, all these other moms flood into the house and I can’t ask.

So I wander around the house, and I see this Willow Tree-like, 3’ x 4’ stone board with their family tree –and near Dave’s name it says LARISSA – 3/1/98. And just as I start to question, his new wife appears and says – Well, you’re a part of our story. Dave committed his life to you first, and your relationship was important to him. But you’ve got the date wrong. It started going downhill on 3/17/98 when he said we should postpone our wedding date. Then I notice a date on a mirror written in green dry erase marker with some name and another date in 2001 and I know it’s someone in her life that led her to Dave. And I’m okay with that. Then Dave’s coming out of a bathroom on the left in towel –an d it’s old skinny Dave, and I look away. Ewh.

Later I’m in some kind of evening dress – on crooked, can’t get the chest part on right – and I’m feeling hung over. Then I’m lounging around this puke and mustard yellow house of theirs and there’s lots of pillows and dark wood. Everyone’s got a drink but me. (This part of the dream I KNOW where it’s from – it’s from the Christine Lahti episode of Law & Order that was on TV just before bed.) And just when I feel like the whole world is judging me and only knows Dave’s side of our story – I’m in some weird room, that becomes a shower, and I start shaving my legs. And I still have the sequined, misfitting dress on? (Glad it has a nigh slit) Just as I’m done, his wife comes in and is talking to another woman about me, judging me, and OOPS- I’m there and listening. So I leave.

And it was 5:40am on the clock as I woke up.

Normally, I don’t dream this vividly or even remember as many details – if any, at all! It’s almost like while I was dreaming I was telling myself “Be sure you remember every detail, okay?” The being in someone’s strange house with lots of yellow probably has to do with my mom’s kitchen (yellow cabinets, yellow curtains) –and the big strange house may be from watching BigBrother last night. Who knows… how weird….

Result : I’m exhausted writing this – and thinking about it.

To blog... or not to blog...

I've been making anything Web 2.0 a bigger part of my life lately... got away from this b/c of hateful comments left on my blog in late 2008. Whatever. If you put it out there in public- I guess it's for anyone to read, right? Then again, I could always stick to facebook and twitter, but isn't this more interesting for larger posts?

What do you think? And to the hateful commenter out there - bring it on!

I am Thankful For...

Life freely lived, and for my Father in Heaven who gave it to me. For my husband Sean, my daughter Margaret Grace, our silly puppies, and the home that we have made. For our amazing church community, our extended family, and the memories of those that have already departed from us. For our good jobs, reliable transportation, and wonderful caregivers. I am thankful that we have enough food that we can always make room for one or two more, and enough time that we can give to someone else. For the art, music & words that inspire us, the freedoms that abound in this great nation, and the love that we are called to share with the world. Amen.

Pats on the Back!

Wow. I'm beside myself! I just got paid some of the nicest compliments about my little library I maintain at work!

Consultants from a company that works with schools are are seeking accreditation from higher education boards (like ACCSCT & ACICS) has been here conducting an mock accreditation process this week. We just closed with a meeting of all the managers where we discussed where we need improvements, fine-tuning, etc. And in it, both of the consultants paid me and my library such praise! :: BIG GRINS :: And after the meeting, the two Corporate ladies, seconded the emotion - saying how inviting and engaging it is!

It's not often I get to toot my own horn, or even that someone does it for me - because I have a thankless job. People EXPECT me to be helpful and give them information, computer assistance, and keep this place up to date, organized and clean. So to hear both from the consultants and the folks from corporate - WOW! I'm tickled pink! :)

Faith

I'm a person with great faith in the world and everything in it. I've never feared the economy, wars, or extreme weather. Even in the worst situations, I know that everything will work out somehow - even if we don't' understand how it's even possible in the here and now. I guess that's why I've never worried much either.

A wise, former pastor of mine once preached a sermon on Faith. And in it, he asked us what is the opposite of Faith? Disbelief? Distrust? No. The opposite of FAITH is FEAR.

It really caught me off guard. Through the many dangers, toils, & snares of my short life, I have never had true fear. 9/11? Severe storms? High gas prices? Troubled economy? All I do is pray and trust. Trust and pray.

The world says we should worry. The world says if we're too trusting, we'll be labeled as gullible or naive and end up being hurt by someone or something (which can be very true).

But if we are to be God's children and trust Him for all our decisions - knowing that His will and His plan are in place, then we ultimately are okay - right?

Don't know why I've got such deep thoughts on the brain tonight....

I finally found a picture to descibe my mood today....

Befuddled and Disheartened

So I had to break the news to Maggie Grace this morning that Sarah Palin had "lost the race." I not sure how much of all this she comprehends- other than there was a contest or race between two guys (and a girl she likes).

When I told her Obama had won, and that we wouldn't be seeing a lot of John McCain & Sarah Palin on TV any more, she got mad and asked, "Why?"

"Because just like Mommy and Daddy- every other adult got to go vote yesterday. And more people liked Obama than McCain."

"Oh...... Well, BOOO OBAMA!" she said.

"No Maggie, we can't say that. This man is going to be our next President, whether we voted for him or not."

"Well, Daddy says Boo Obama."

"I know sweetie, I didn't vote for him either, but we have to be nice about this and pray for him anyway."

"Well, I still say Booo 'Bama."


::sigh:: The little gears in her head are turning, through her simple logic & following her Daddy's "guidance." Me, I'm praying for our nation now more than ever with unceasing urgency that God has put hand on this and other elections - that unity may come about, and the underlying spirit of fear that surrounds Obama's socialist views may be fought with the sword of truth. Amen.

10 months later / Election Day

If 10 months have passed- and I haven't posted a single thing, does that means that nothing has happened? Far be THAT from the truth.

• In March, I quit my job of 6+ years and took a new librarian position.
• In April, we swapped pre-schools for Maggie Grace, and it's been WONDERFUL ever since.
• In May, I retired my car of 9 years and got a new little red Chevy Aveo LT on my birthday. Thirty-two years. Weird. That seems so old.
• In June, I didn't do summer reading for the first time in 7 years.
• In July, ditto to that.
• In August, I became widow to the building of an arbor at church - that kept my husband busy (or exhausted) more often than not.
• In September, ditto to the arbor - and MG started Catechises!
• In October, MG turned 4, camped out for the first time as a family in 38 degree weather on our 5 year anniversary, and MG had her first REAL trick-or-treating experience (blisters and all)!

And now it's November - and I wish I'd been blogging all this time to record those little weird things that Maggie Grace says or does.

* * * * * * * * *

So here's two little election related stories about Maggie:

MG's very observant about the news or when we're talking with other adults about Politics. As early as 3 months ago, she would see a picture of either Senator McCain or Senator Obama on TV or one of their campaign signs in a yard and scream "It's John McCain," or "That house likes Obama." But for the longest time, she kept saying "OH-mama" instead of Obama. Too cute! And when she sees a really BIG sign for either candidate, she says, "They REALLY like McCain at that house."

And when Sarah Palin came on the scene as a vice-presidential candidate, Maggie really took to her - saying how pretty she was, and how she liked her glasses. Even as clips were show during prime-time NBC TV of Tina Fey impersonating her, MG would scream, "It's Sarah Palin!" So you can imagine her joy when the other morning we got a phone call - it played out something like this:

(Ring Ring) - "Maggie, can you get the phone for Mommy?"

(MG answers phone) "Hello?" A lady on the other end (apparently from a polling place) was talking about voting for Sen John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.

As I'm walking over the the phone, realizing that it's not her Daddy or another family member on the line, she screams, "Mommy! It's Sarah Palin on the phone! It's Sarah Palin!"

I took the phone from her. The voice on the other end explains that she was from so-and-so group and wanted to encourage us to vote for McCain/Palin in the upcoming election. I told her that we had both already Early Voted, but thanked her for calling, and said goodbye.

Tears start pouring down my sweet one's face, "MOMMY! You didn't let me talk to Sarah Palin!" I dried her tears and tried to explain.... but she was still convinced that Sarah Palin called to talk to her! :)

Musings on a Rainy Afternoon

Right now it's raining cats & dogs - thunder - lightening - the WORKS! It's been doing this for over an hour. So much that I'm fearful of the little cats, dogs, and other woodland creatures that are without shelter. With the hard cold ground, some may be swept away by a flash flood!

I really do have random thoughts like this just run through my head. And besides, I'm really bored, just sitting here on the desk with everyone avoiding the rain. I think I deserve a little daydreaming now and then. The same people that were trying to leave more than 1/2 an hour ago are pacing now, willing the rain to stop. I think they're bored too. Possibly frustrated that they forgot their umbrella, or are afraid to drive in this mess due to their vision, have poor traction on their tires, or some other malady.

Honestly, I will enjoy 3:30 when it comes and I can eat my sandwich, listen to the rain, and perhaps take a nap.

All I gotta say is...

CONGRATULATIONS 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONS!

What I've Learned...

In 4 years of marriage I've learned:

• To mean what you say, but think before you say what you really mean
• The definition of micromanical
• To always start and end the day with hugs and kisses no matter how frustrated you are with the other person
• That Baseball can actually be interesting and addicting!
• That earplugs really come in handy for sleeping

In 3 years of being a Mommy I've learned:

• That sometimes it's okay to wear your clothes/shoes inside out or backwards
• That crayola markers don't come out of suede
• What poop looks like smeared on a wall
• What people mean by "breath-taking moments"

Living Up to My Own Expectations

I've always been a planner... goal-writer... dream-maker. But I've never been the best at following through. No one could have ever called me "Most Dependable" in high school, but luckily over time (and thousands of deadlines) you learn to work harder at getting things done way before deadline and actually completing all of the things to do on your list.

But I wouldn't say that I was a pessimist either. There are those in my life who always question why I'm the first to play "devil's advocate," but that's just me being me: keeping my tip-toes on the ground while my head's in the clouds. Doesn't make very much sense does it?

I've only got a few days to decide if I want to go on a retreat with the youth at church in a few weekends. I'm leaning toward no, since my whole heart isn't in it. I just don't feel like I'm a part of that group, or that I'm supposed to, but I'll do my duty to my Sunday morning commitment.

Still tired from Maggie's 3-day birthday weekend extravaganza. Honestly I felt like this poor little cupcake yesterday: exhausted and burning at both ends (well, sorta). Just tired of being tired, that's all.
I always wanted to have a child - and I'm lucky that I've been blessed with one. She's a happy girl & I'm so glad she's mine.

We looked at pictures of her birth and first week of life last night. The first picture in the album is actually of me, in the hospital gown, IV in my arm, wet washcloth on my head, looking rough, but smiling. After we had gone through all of the pictures, she wanted to "read" them again - like she does with all of her books that we read at night. She began to read aloud: "Once upon a time, Mommy wasn't feeling good in bed, and had a pillow under her head." :) Man, I love that little girl of mine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAGGIE GRACE!