Seeing Where it's All Going....

This is a picture of Sarah last month...just 2 months before her 14th birthday.  I used to hear my folks tell me how fast the time goes and truthfully, when I was her age it didn't seem fast at all!  Now, I get it.  I still remember rocking her to sleep at night, reading her to sleep when she got a bit bigger, and wiping away quick tears when she fell. 

I've started to think about what is going to happen when she's done with high school and makes some life choices.  I hope we are always close.  I hope we have forged the type of relationship that she can look back on with some happiness.  I love my mom but we aren't exactly what anyone would say is "close".  Maybe I don't really know how to explain close but when she's grown I'd like for Sarah to call me from time to time just to talk about her life.  I have promised myself that I won't be intrusive but I hope she will feel like including us in her happiness and sadness. 

There are so many dreams you have when you are expecting a baby.  As time goes on, you see the person they are becoming and start to dream about what they might do with their lives.  Right now, I'm thinking about my once little girl that is starting to show who she will be as a woman...and I really like her

Top 10 Birthday Wishes!

Certain birthdays have special significance to some people.  I tell you honestly I am not a birthday person...just don't care but I do know there is a whole line of greeting cards devoted to certain years of your life 16, 21, 30, 40, etc. This week, I might receive those insulting cards in black...or better yet, talking about the "Big 5-0".  My dad has been trying to torture me with the significance for a while but it's just not meaning a lot to me. I'm thinking I'm still of reasonably sound mind and body, so I have "little old right hand" up today to vow on my Top ten wishes for my 50th birthday.

10. I'm going to try to eat right and exercise more so I can hang around with my wonderful husband, kid, grandkids, friends, and family.
9.   I'm not going to ever buy into our government, Wall Street's, or even the neighbor's definition of "success." I love this Jennifer James quote about success:  "It is not a destination that you ever reach. Success is the quality of your journey.'
8. I refuse to disregard the younger generation. My generation hasn't done an awful lot to "save the world" so I've got to think someone is coming up who just might be able to get something  done!  
7. I swear I won't play my version of the "oldies" all the time.  I would like to be that cool old lady that still knows who the more relevant artists are out there even if I don't necessarily like them...or maybe I will!  Who really knows :)
6.  I'm not going to obsess about my cholesterol level! Yes, yes I know it's important...I know half of you will take the medication willingly, but I'm just not going to worry about it right now...sorry
5. I will make up my own political mind yep, I refuse to say that any political party speaks for me.  I speak for me.  I will hold on to my strength of conviction but I promise I'll listen to all points of view...you may even change my mind on a few things!
4. I'm going to use technology and become comfortable with new things as they come along. I'm not wanting to become that little old lady that is afraid of her new TV or computer because it has all those new gadgets :)  I will try to keep learning always!
3. I will not forget where I came from. I want to remain that mid-western girl that believes in people and believes that good can happen even in a bad place.  I want to remember my parents lessons to fight for what I believe in and who I believe in even when it's not convenient!
2. I want to love and be loved. It's sad to meet people that don't have someone there with them at the end of their life.  I would love to be that little old lady holding hands with her little old man in her final hours surrounded by those who have meant the most in life. 
1. Most of all, I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." I pray I do well by all my family, friends, people I've met along the way and that I can be the person I have been called to be.
 
So, if I get lost along the way I hope you will keep me accountable! Thanks to all who cared this week to wish me a good birthday.  It is a blessing

Sarah's birthday week was awesome, followed by a great gathering of good friends and family. I can't believe our friends and family actually drove to see us for such a short time! We are so lucky to have such amazing people in our lives.

I can't believe Sarah is 13 now....how did that happen? Wasn't she just a toddler just a minute ago!

Sarah knee boarding

Another awesome boat ride

...and finally we had to come home! It was a great trip. I'm so glad we were able to do it. Now we can look forward to opening all those boxes that have our new K12 materials in them! Let the adventure begin :)

Sarah on the drive home

And my love......

Wow, what a week!

Tracy is out of town yet again doing some side work.  I'm happy these jobs come about but I have to admit I'm a woman that likes her man closer to home every night.  It's good though that he has things to occupy his mind and energy.  Sarah has also become far more interested in socializing with her few friends so I have only had her home 2 of the 4 nights so far.  I'm trying to stay positive that this is in her best interest to become more outgoing and involved in others.  She has been such a quiet little thing that this transition has taken me a bit by surprise.  It's all good though....

Our camera was stolen at Sarah's birthday party this weekend so unfortunately I won't be posting pictures for awhile.  The laser tag store assured us that they would pay for a new camera, but I'm afraid once they realize how much it is going to cost them that they might not do it.  I have decided it will be best to have Tracy take care of this since he is a bit more "smoozy" about these kinds of things. 

So Tracy tells me he is sure he was visited by ghosts at this current job.  Do you believe in ghosts?  I'm having issue with that whole subject but it is fun to think about :)

12th Birthday!

Sarah turned 12 today.  I can't believe how time flies!  It's funny that people used to say that to us and we just couldn't see it until we started looking back.  She was born around 5 a.m.....why can't I remember the exact time.  It's not like it was a lifetime ago, just 12 short years and yet right at this moment I can't come up with the time.  She was such a tiny little soul.  I looked at her and couldn't believe that this tiny little alien looking person was ours.  Now, she's 12. 
(picture will be inserted here when I can find the camera)
My beautiful girl :)

Trying to plan when it's hard to plan....

I was thinking today, that it’s probably likely that our house may not sell before Sarah’s birthday in August. In fact, I suppose it’s highly possible we will be here for some time due to the economic conditions here. So…..I need to start thinking about a birthday party.

Sarah is a funny kid. She isn’t a big “party” girl but she does like to be acknowledged. She’s more of a low maintenance type of girl but since this is the last time I hope to have a party in Nevada, I’m hoping to get as many of her friends together as possible. I don’t know if 12 is a big year or not, but I think she’s looking forward to it. Almost all of her friends are already 12 so she gets to “join the crowd”. (Sarah, also not much of a joiner) So, I’m trying to think of ideas…..

I was thinking something like laser tag. I’m sure there are some packages for parties and with her friends being an interesting mix of boys and girls, it would probably be something that both groups could enjoy.

Or….I could do a pool party at grammy and grampys. We could just grill some hamburgers and hotdogs or order pizza and let them just swim and play….

Or we could have the Mad Science people come in and do some fun sciency type thing…she loves science

Hmmm, maybe I should look some ideas up on the internet. It was so much easier when all she wanted to talk about was pokemon and puppies!

Better late....

Dad is so funny about birthday's but we did manage to get a few pictures of the day!  Thought I might share them :)







The strawberry cheesecake was really delicious!








Sarah finished her cake and was edging near grampy's :)

Mom and Sarah picked this awesome shirt. 








Overall, it was a really nice time...I have to say that since I still didn't have my full voice back, that they guys did most of the talking!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

We missed a lot of birthdays before we moved to Las Vegas.  I sometimes think he would duck calls so he didn't have to acknowledge another year gone by before we moved close!

We are going to see my dad today.  I talk to my folks almost every day...less when I don't have a voice.  We owe so much to them.  They are the reason we made the move to Las Vegas.  I know, we don't love it now, but it has been a time of family bonding and reaching out.  That part of living here has been wonderful.  We are very blessed to have them so close. 

Mom is going to make BBQ ribs for the first time (I sent her the recipe and I know they will be great!), along with some potato salad and such.  I wonder what kind of cake he will have......I'll post pictures of the family when I get them!