Thinking about my mom

Dear Precious Children: I have been thinking about my own mother lately. Maybe it is because so many of my high school friends have found me on "Facebook" and that is a unqiue group of souls who actually knew and remember my mom. I lost my mom to heart disease towards the end of my senior year in high school. It is interesting to me the things people remember about my mom, as well as what I recall. Many folks remember that my house was the "place to be". It was the fun house. My parents were always cool. I was not one of those teenagers that was embarassed to be around my parents. My mom was funny and creative and always interested in what I was doing. She could be blunt in telling the truth. I loved that about her. I am often the same way. She was so innovative. She could make something out of nothing. She liked to work in the yard. When I see a purple iris or an orange tiger lilly, I think fo her. She even had a rock garden, and would paint rocks with little faces. She was an artist. She could draw amazing pictures. I wish I had that talent, but I do not. She could sew like nobody's business. She made many of my clothes for most of my childhood. She could cut hair. She could make fudge, and it was so delicious. She did not drive a car. She also had a strong fear of music concerts. She never wanted me to go to one. She also wouldn't let me out of the house on New Year's Eve for fear of the crazy drunk people. She smoked cigarettes until she was 40 years old. She had false teeth since she was in her twenties I think. She was a middle child - an older brother and sister, and a younger brother and sister. Her birthday was January 4, 1942. She use to comment that her birthday seemed "not so special" because it was so close after Christmas.

Anyway, I could go on and on about my mom. I miss her so much. I realize I have been alive longer without her than I was alive with her, and I hate that I am raising my kids and enjoying marriage while she is in Heaven. I know people say she is "looking down on us", but it is not quite the same as being able to call her up and ask for a recipe, etc. I do thank the Good Lord for awesome moms-in-laws. God gave me two, and they are both precious to the bone. But I miss my mom. Still. Always. Sometimes now, more than when I was younger.

Of course, maybe I'm thinking about my mom a lot lately because I'm sick. I swear it doesn't matter how old you are, you still wish your had your mom to cuddle with when you don't feel good. Dad is good too, but he isn't exactly nearby.

So, I wonder what you kids will remember about me. What silly stories will you tell? What strange things will come to your mind when you think about me and your childhoods? What kind of legacy will I leave behind. Don't worry, I'm not planning on going anywhere any time soon.

25 Random Things

1. I became a Christian on 8/29/82.
2. I love lima beans.
3. My mother died when I was 17 years old.
4. I love to write poetry and short stories. I've even had a few things published.
5. I once worked for the FBI.
6. I love bridges.
7. I love silly, cute or decorative socks.
8. I hate flip flops.
9. I don't like pizza.
10. I have lived in many cities and four different states.
11. I've never tried an illegal drug of any kind.......or smoked a cig.
12. I hate random shopping carts in parking lots, I will go out of my way to push them to where they belong.
13. I don't like litter and get annoyed by people throwing trash or cigs out of their car windows.
14. My favorite color is purple.
15. One of my favorite quotes: "Character is who you are when nobody but GOD is watching!"
16. I love to travel and have been places like Japan, Canada, Mexico, London, Hawaii, etc.
17. My favorite perfume is Obsession by Calvin Klein.
18. I love and enjoy all of my inlaws - and I have a lot.
19. I love any and all music by Amy Grant.
20. The only bone I have ever broken was my right arm, when I was seven years old.
21. When I was five years old, I spent Valentine's Day in the hospital in an oxygen tent because I had double Pneumonia.
22. I pray for each of my children by name - daily.
23. I love any and all music by Billy Joel.
24. I love my job because I am passionate about foreign exchange students. We have hosted many students from countries including Germany, Russia, Brazil, Holland, France, etc.
25. I love my husband and enjoy our marriage - and cherish our family that we've created together.

Sorry you're sick

Dear Victoria - so sorry you are sick today. Yesterday, I got the lovely call from the school nurse that asked me to come and retrieve you. It is no surprise really that you have ended up ill, after all - Kayla was ill all weekend, and she was with us on our road trip.

You say to me that the computer is your best friend when you're sick. That's funny, I always thought that MOM should be your best friend when you're sick. I guess that is probably still true, given the fact you and your 12 year old body crawled up into my lap this morning and sat there for a nice long while.

Get better soon my love. I pray for you every day.

Missed You Boys

Dear James, Thomas and William ... I took off for a two day adventure with your big sister. We had a very long road trip and some much-needed time together.

Just for the record, I missed you three boys very much. I felt a little strange stopping at gas stations and not needing to worry about who is watching "the baby". I got to go to the bathroom without company. I got to spoil my daughter a little bit and not worry if someone else is going to be jealous.

Don't get me wrong ... I don't mind company in the bathroom or making sure the baby is "watched". I love all of the things that go along with having little children. I love you all so much. And I did miss you so very much. More than can be imagined.

Funny Kids

Dear William, you crack me up. I asked you who the cutest baby in the world is. You said "mama". I replied with "but I am not a baby, James is the baby". And you said with a big fat smile ... "but you'll always be a baby to Grandpa".

Dear Thomas, your obsession with fruit is hilarious. For some reason, you took it upon yourselves to become the PEAR Police today. You went through the bowl of fruit on the counter and picked out the pears that did not look quite right to you - mainly because they were Red instead of green ... and decided they needed to be hidden in the refrigerator. You had your mind made up that red pairs from the counter were going to turn green in the fridge.

Dear Victoria, what is up with your words these days? It seems you need to add "Ness" to the end of everything. Pedro made Varsity Tennis, and you exclaim "awesomeness". You walk in the door and greet me as "Ms. Mommyness". Thomas asks where Daddy is tonight. Your answer is "Schoolness". This is just a phase, right? :-)

Dear James, you fell asleep with your finger in your mouth today. Such a simple thing - completely adorable, very funny to say the least. I did not have the heart to disturb you. You looked so peaceful and calm. Pointer finger firmly planted between gums and lips. I suppose it's better than sucking your thumb, for sure.

I love having funny kids. I love having adorable kids. I love hilarious moments that can make us laugh until we cry. Sometimes its a simple smile or a wink in the kitchen. Nonetheless, I need to remind myself that these amazing and precious children make me laugh and smile far more than they make me want to pull my hair out.

Thank you

Dear Victoria, thank you for cooking dinner tonight. You know how I hate to brown ground beef, and you are so good at it. You're making sloppy joes and it is greatly appreciated. Your cooking talents never cease to amaze me.

Dear William, thank you for helping clean up today ... you were so helpful to me. I didn't even ask you to do it, and you just did it without prompting. I was amazed at how you noticed I was having a stressful morning today with the overflowing trash and empty ice trays and crazy dishwasher, and you just jumped in to help. Good job.

Dear Thomas, thank you for playing with baby James this morning while I took a shower. You are so good at making him laugh and entertaining him. I love the way you light up when you do your peek-a-boo or coooochie coo. You are so animated and so funny, a natural born charmer.

Dear James, thank you for sleeping through the night last night. Yes, it is noted and appreciated. How about a repeat performance tonight? :-)

It's a Holiday

Hey kids, it's a holiday. It's Martin Luther King day. He was before my time, but I know who he is. I know he was important. I love that this holiday falls immediately before the innauguration of Obama. Yes, he's our new President. Another moment in history. Victoria is probably the only one of you who will remember this event. My dear sweet boys, I am sure you could not care less. Not today anyway. But you will. Someday. I just know it. I'm not really intending for my "Letters to Kids" to be political, but it is a rather historical and definitely political event. I am sure you kids will ask me one day if I voted for him. If you know me at all you will know the answer.

So tomorrow is a new day. A new era perhaps. I am more concerned with the immediate "here and now". I start a new Bible Study tomorrow at Church. I am very excited about this. I'll have a leader I've never had before. I'm sure she's awesome. The boys will enjoy Sonshine classes. Yes, I love Tuesday mornings. So I'll get a new leader for Bible Study and a new leader for my country. I guess time will tell which I enjoy more.

Also - worthy of note - Mark moves out tomorrow. We love him dearly, but he is a foreign exchange student from Russia who has been staying with us for about a week or so. He was "homeless" so to speak, and it will be nice to get him and his belongings to a perm. place. I'm sure he will be happy too. My good friend Andrea is taking him for the remainder of the school year. So one less person to feed is okay with me :) But he's a great kid, so we've enjoyed his visit. I'm sure he will do well at Andrea's house. We also had another temporary visitor, Philipp. He is now settled in Arizona. He was an exchange student from Germany. I wonder what memories you kids will have of all these various foreign exchange students who come in and out of our lives. I hope you remember their positive impact. I hope we are raising you to embrace diversity.

So while the nation prepares for a major milestone this week, we are just waiting for baby James to crawl. Yes, you are SO close. You are almost there.

I am excited that Sir Thomas is no longer afraid to poop in the potty. Yes, your fear of falling in the toilet is now GONE.

I am thrilled that Prince William picks out his own clothes and dresses himself without help or hesitation. You don't even throw your clothes all over the floor anymore. WhooHoo. Now, if you'd just stop coloring on the walls, we'd be even happier.

Last but never least, Queen Victoria is our eternal artist. Presently, you are in the midst of negotiations with your father trying to gain permission to paint your own room. I think you both have comprised somewhat (for the moment). You tell me that you hate to be "put in a box". Yet, being the ever witty and clever girl that you are, you closed with the remark .... "but if you throw some crayons in my box, I'll be okay!"

And on that note, I'll say goodnight.