What is your February 24th?

Let me just start and say, I hope you don't have one. I hope a day doesn't exist like this for you. I hope you don't have to dread the month, the week, the day, the hour, like I do every February 24th. Eleven years later, this day still leaves me lost. Do I take off work, sit around, cry, and let myself feel? Do I work and become preoccupied in everything but the events of that day? Do I try to write down everything I remember about my mom, as I've done so many times; fearful as the years pass, the memories become less vivid? I've tried all of these things, and the one person I want to be around, maybe the only one, is my dad. I feel like out of anyone, he gets how I feel. He understands the depth of my grief, and the stages I've gone through, easing my way to acceptance, one day. We handle our emotions very similarly. If I know he is okay, so I am, and vice versa. I am grateful how our relationship has grown since 2003. He went to wedding appointments with me when Josh was working, gave me advice on invitations, has helped me set up my classroom, has been a listening ear…has learned to play "mom" on so many occasions. I appreciate him, and value how he has stepped in at times where I'm sure he was literally freaking out…"Dad, so I haven't got my period yet after breastfeeding"….. conversations that years ago would seem ridiculous to have with your dad, but have changed to, it would be ridiculous not to have them with him. He is very kind with notes and being thoughtful. This note was attached to a Grove City gift card he gave me for my 30th bday:

I choose to be happy, and try to be positive, even though some days it's hard, and can be forced depending on the situation. I no longer had my mom with me after the age of 19. I am so grateful for the relationship we had, and I do believe she is always watching over me. The emptiness, the void though, is ever so present as it was the day my dad gave me the heartbreaking news, that would change me as a child, wife, mother, teacher, person. I look at people who have both parents, and from the outside don't seem like they have a care in the world, but you know what… you don't know what someone is going through. J.M. Barrie — 'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.' Maybe they have both of their parents, but their marriage is falling apart. Maybe they have a solid marriage, have never experienced loss, but they are fighting depression. You just don't know…. Something that provides daily comfort to me is: Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." I wish I could just cover myself in that scripture with the biggest sleeve ever. Maybe someday, for now, I meditate on it, especially this week every year. I like to think that my mom would look something like this holding Samuel, and in September, my new baby. I love you mom.

A Family of Four

Oh.my.gosh. I.am.pregnant. Whenever I take a test and it's positive, I seriously go into a shocked/catatonic phase. I blink over and over to make sure I actually am seeing two lines. Testing positive a few days after Christmas was so exciting. I feel like the day I took the test I was literally showing already.

So what happens to tats on the stomach reason during pregnancy? This will be a fun game for the next 10 months. :) So many things rush through my head (at all times) but especially when I'm pregnant. Some of my first thoughts were... -How will Samuel be with another baby? I grew up an only child, so in a sense, that is all that I know... how will I be able to fairly, equally, adequately, honestly spend my time with two of them? Will Samuel feel slighted at all? -I'm sorry to people who are having trouble getting pregnant out there, because now I'm just one more person who is, and you're not, and I feel for you. I'm sorry to women who can't have kids, because my status, is a reminder. I'm sorry to people who are going through a rough patch in a relationship, in life, at work, because my "happy" posting is an annoyance. I've been there and I know how hard it is when everyone around you seems to be so happy, and it's hard for you to put on a smile. I'm sorry for women who have lost babies, and your heartache is intensified reading, seeing, watching anything to do with pregnancies or babies. -What in the world will this body of mine do this pregnancy? Will it be stretched, pulled, battered? Will I go back? Will I have twins? Okay, I could seriously type 10 pages of my thoughts, but I'll stop. 1 Samuel 1:27 We couldn't be more excited. Thank you God for the miracle of pregnancy. Thank you for letting us grow our family. Thank you for restoration in marriage, and all the blessings that comes with it. Thank you for letting me be a mom to a sweet new child. I'm not good at a lot of things, but I think Samuel would say I'm a pretty good mom, and hopefully new bambino agrees.

The True Meaning of Christmas

I saw this posted on Facebook, amongst the Santa pictures, gifts, Christmas cards pics, and whatnot. I really do want Samuel to know the true meaning of Christmas. We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus,(blowing out candles stuck in his french toast) :) and tried to reiterate that we are celebrating Jesus's birth, which is why it's like a big party, with gifts, food, etc. Christmas was a blast though, what an awesome time of year. My friend Sharon, shared a link with me that shows when people try to make Pinterest things and how they really turn out, which was hilarious. This is the last picture on the end of the site, which is funny and true.

Here is my own rendition of how society, Pinterest, supermoms, think things SHOULD look, and how in actuality, they turn out, which makes it even better… #1-Christmas pictures by the tree…

Here is our picture…..

At least Samuel was looking at the camera! :) #2-Christmas cookies Now I am no Martha Stewart, so I set my expectations super low with sugar cookies. Here is what they "SHOULD" have looked like:

Here are my sugar cookie/cream puff/biscuits (LOL) I'm still dying because I forgot to roll them out and use a cookie cutter.

I am not a Pinterest hata by any means, but it just isn't reality, just like FB isn't reality, just like taking pictures now isn't reality. You can take 5 million selfies until you look stunning and mesmerizing. There is a small part of me that misses taking pictures, dropping off that cheap camera, and waiting until they were developed. The element of suspense with pictures is gone. The element of suspense with phone calls is gone. Samuel will never get butterflies wondering if "that girl" is on the other line someday, because he can look at his IPhone 29 and see that the girl is calling him. But I digress…. here are some of my proud homemade goodies from this Christmas. Eat your hearts out supermoms! ;)

Yes, I did put my dead dog on my Christmas card…. Bella will always be in our hearts! <3

Music for the Soul

From a very young age, music has always inspired me. Trying to hit the exact note in Wilson Phillips, "Hold On" or trying my best to fill in all of the parts of the Von Trapp girls, not to mention Julie Andrews crescen-do-re-mi (ing) all over the hills. I really do feel like music touches my soul. One regret I have is not trying out for a Christmas solo in 9th grade. I was afraid of failure, and since I never really had singing experience, what would people think of me putting myself out there in something I had no experience? So I sang my lungs out during the concert, hoping my soprano voice was heard above the others, but also blending in enough to not be recognized. That's why last night was magical. Justin Timberlake is super talented in so many ways, but his music is soulful. It's about fun, love, life, and just has so much power and energy behind it. It was deafening at times in Console, people clapping, screaming, *singing* in unison. I think that's another part of songs and concerts, the unity behind it. Everyone in unison, singing the words, or what they think the words are... I was appalled that Miley Cyrus was singing, "All you did was *rape me, until I found out it was *wreck, with her classic(<--sarcasm), "Wrecking Ball"...

I've been to many concerts, but JT's 20/20 experience, and the previous JT concert were the best. Finding out he was bringing sexy back, literally and figuratively, was similar to finding out there would be a Saved By the Bell College Years series. AH-MAHZ-ING.

Here is my homeless/classy/sophisticated look I was trying to capture for JT. I'd like to think as he was walking across the audience on the platform he thought, "Wow, that girl is cool meets homeless meets Urban Outfitters meets Free People, translation, I'd love to meet her. ;) Maybe his next comeback/concert, our paths will cross.

Shutterfly-ing My Way to a Deal!

I actually ordered my Christmas cards and did not have to pay extra shipping. This is literally a life-changing moment and day in my world. Shutterfly usually nabs me for at least $19.99 (which I get it, doesn't sound as bad as $20.00) because I panic seeing that little * by the "most likely" shipping date of 12/21. This year it gave me a range of about 12 days when my pictures will arrive, but even at the latest date, people will still receive their cards by 12/23, a win in my book! Of course they talked me into rounded corners, oh how much nicer that small detail is than the traditional rigid edge, so I guess they technically won again. They were nice enough to give me 40% off which brought every card to about $4.57, thanks Shutterfly. You rock! ;)