Growing up,
when people would ask me:
“What do you want to be
when you grow up?”
I would say,
“a Mom, of course.”
So imagine my joy
when my dream came true,
and I was blessed
with the two of you.
There is no greater joy
I could ever compare
to the love and the happiness
you brought to my life.
Now that you are grown,
your lives are your own.
You have things to do
and places to go.
But please remember,
of all the important places
life will take you,
the road to important places
can also lead you home.
My hubby (Marty) recently shared a beautiful video with me (and our boys) that totally struck a chord with me this weekend with Mother’s Day approaching. If you have 10 minutes and are ready for a few tears of joy and gratitude and contemplation, watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/126544483.
It inspired me to share this message of gratitude for the honor and joy I have as the mom of my two amazing sons.
So when I received this invitation to our family friends’ shower, I thought it would be fun to repurpose some of it for the card I made.
I gently removed the lace bow and added it to the card I created with vanilla and kraft card stock, a tiny watercolor, and the SU artisan embellishment floral cutout. A simple “love” sentiment was added from the SU Hello Life Stamp set.
I then continued the theme when wrapping the gift.
Instead of wrapping with paper, I used burlap which can be repurposed and was from our son and daughter-in-law’s similarly-themed shower and rehearsal dinner.
I made a big bow with some new kitchen towels that were on the registry, stuffed in a couple wooden spoons (they go with the gift inside), and tied it all together with lace to match.
Off to the shower today to celebrate Charrie and Corey and wish them many years of love and happiness.
Today, my hubby, Marty, and I celebrate 33 years of marriage.
Yep – 33 years ago today – a very young and naive 19-year old girl said “I do” for now and forever to a 23-year old boy about as different from her as Eddie and Eva on Green Acres (okay – maybe I wasn’t quite that glamorous and Marty wasn’t quite that Midwest farmer, but we were – and still are – a pretty classic example of opposites attracting.)
And you know what?
He is still my favorite!
Maybe even more so….
I tell people that are going through “stuff” in marriage, there are good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, good months and bad months…
Heck – there are even tough years…
But, you know what?
Life isn’t perfect.
People aren’t perfect.
And marriage and monogamy with that one special someone is a pretty special thing.
And I am so fortunate in so many ways for so many things and so many years and so much love and safety and stability and genuineness and standbyidness….
Yep – Merv (that’s what I call the hubster) – you are STILL my MOST FAVORITE! (and this is the card I made for him.)
Isn’t it true? It’s the “little things” that mean so much!
Next week at this time, I will be in (hopefully) sunny, warm Florida with one of my besties, Janet, celebrating “the little things” that have sustained our friendship for 40 years! And seriously – I’m not sure how that is possible when I am [ahem] barely past 40, but Janet is my oldest – really meaning “longest” together – friend.
I can’t wait to just spend time with my sweet friend doing the “little things” that have sustained our friendship through the ages, miles and miles, and extended periods of separation (Janet lived in Alaska for about a million years).
Janet is my sister and her family is my family.
My hubby, Marty, gave me the BEST birthday gift this year. He’s sending me off to spend time with someone I hold so dear. And I can still hear the squeals when I called her on New Year’s Eve (my birthday) to tell her the good news. And we are going to get to celebrate her birthday, which is just a few days after my visit.
We will talk, walk, laugh, likely cry, eat, drink, reminisce, reflect, discover, and just “BE.”
No matter how much time or space has separated us, we have always enjoyed “the little things” that make life and our friendship so precious.
So this card I created is dedicated to my Janet.
It is made from the Stampin Up Sheltering Tree and Hello Life Stamp Set. It is clean and simple (CAS), because the message is so powerful: Love the little things – for they are what make up the greatest joys in life.
Wishing you a wonderful day filled with many reasons to celebrate “the little things.”
In the winter months of life, there comes a balance between hanging on and letting go. Should we stay or should we go? Do we get to choose? What do we have to lose?
My Marty’s 92-year old Aunt lost the second love of her life this week. Her near 93-year old fiance.
Rest in Peace dear Tilford. Thanks for loving Aunt Francie. Thanks for bringing her such joy in the winter years of her life. You will be missed. You were a good man.
So it’s Friday night – though you are reading this sometime after 6:00 am EST on Saturday. (If you haven’t caught on yet, I schedule my daily posts for 6 am EST, but I typically write them the evening before.) 😉
And for this particularly exciting Friday evening (as I am fighting off a head cold that is trying to get the best of me and a little bit of a sore back – did something at the dang gym – grr!), Marty and I ate Chinese take out (I indulged in my favorite 8-treasure rice from Jimmy Wann’s and a nice glass of Red Zin – my first all week!) in front of a warm fire… and I got to pick the movie.
I rarely even care what is on television, but I love to pick a movie on Friday evening for some reason. ( I know – really exciting stuff – eh?!)
So, as I write this, I am not only sniffling from the nasal drip of this cold, but from literally bawling my eyes out.
I know – a little late to the game on this one – eh? But – wow – what a beautiful story…
Ok – maybe a little mushy, a little cliche, a little predictable.
But also so life affirming, thought provoking, and a reminder of how precious life is.
A story that shows us how we need to discover that a good life does not mean we have to be famous or accomplished or published or world-renown ….
One of my favorite lines is when 16 year old cancer patient, Hazel tells her boyfriend Gus, an 18-year old young man who is dying and disappointed that he didn’t do something greater with his life:
“You say you’re not special because the world doesn’t know about you, but that’s an insult to me. I know about you.”
My BFF, Jill, and I have often said to each other throughout the years, “What’s it all about?”
I think it’s about loving…
Loving life – and the people that are in our life…
And isn’t that enough?
So what a coincidence that I had made this (yet another – been on a crafty kick this week) card with this crazy little bird that I can’t even tell you what colors I used, because I kept combining and mixing and blending a million colors until I liked it, from the SU stamp set called – of all things – “Love Life.”
Like this jar of love I received from our dear Ella.
On Christmas day, 7-year old Ella came bouncing in our house with bright, smiling eyes and outstretched arms – wrapping me in a tight, warm hug.
She barely had her coat off before she handed me a small pint sized jar labeled “I love you because.”
“Open it,” she begged, with as much excitement as if I were giving her the largest, shiniest, fanciest gift…
Inside the jar were sweet sentiments – expressions of love – that welled up my eyes, warmed my heart, brought a quiver to my voice, and filled me with more joy than a hundred million catrillion dollars could buy.
I love you because you are super
I love you because you are funny
I love you because you are nice
I love you because you send me awesome cards
I love you because you put people before yourself
I love you because you are cheerful
I love you because you are jolly
I love you because you are cool
I love you because you are kind
I loved when you read me Wonder
I love you because you are creative
I love you because you are sweet
I love you because you appreciate anything people do for you
I love when you help me out
I love you because you make cool treats
I love you because you make me feel welcomed
I love you because you are generous
I love you because you are awesome
I love you because you love me ❤
I will always treasure my Jar of Love.
Gifts need not cost money – they matter most when they are from the heart.
What are you up to this weekend? Do you have a crazy, long, exhausting “To Do” list for getting ready for the holidays?
I recently saw a great revised list on Instagram… and it really made me think. So I got to working on re-setting some of my own priorities.
#1: Do you have a lot of presents left to buy? I do! But I’m not going to worry about it. If it gets down to the wire, I’ll just give gift cards or money. I think my kids like that best anyway.
And when I receive a text from my cousin’s six-year old daughter like I did earlier this week that says:
I have a concert on Saturday December 13. Can you be there? I don’t know what time
Well – you can bet I’ll be there. Those kind of invites are too precious to pass up!
#2: Do you still have wrapping to do? Remember there are always gift bags. Instead, make sure you wrap everyone you love with lots of warm hugs. And my little twist is to always try to be the last to let go…. You never know when you might get the chance again or how much that person needs it at that moment.
#3: I still haven’t sent my cards out. And you know I’m a card making fool! Much more fun creating them than addressing and stuffing and licking envelopes, so whatever ones I do get out, I do – and it will be sent with all the love and time I put into it. But if I don’t get them out, or even mail them after the holidays – that’s ok – right?! No crime! I want to make sure I’m sending love, not just a card for a card’s sake.
#4: I’ve got lots of food shopping to do – and no worries – the stores are open 24 hours, so I will eventually get there. What I do want to make sure we do is donate food to those in need.
#5: I love to make cookies – and it is a rare occasion that we don’t have a homemade cookie in the house to munch on or offer a guest – but guess what? No Christmas cookies baked yet. I’ll get to some I’m sure. What is more important is making time for people – like the little cutie we’re going to go listen to sing on Saturday or the chocolate-making class I went to last night with my daughter-in-law. Sure – I could be baking, but I first want to make time for those I love.
#6: I adore seeing all the Christmas lights, and Marty and I sure had fun at Kennywood’s Festival of Lights, but what is more important is that I make time to BE that light.
#7: And Parties….. I kinda live for hosting parties. We are hosting four in a row from Christmas Eve until Saturday 12/27, and then again on New Year’s Eve. YIPPEE! Am I stressing over it?! NOPE! Will I fuss? Probably not so much. Or maybe a little – if I have time. But if I don’t — – not gonna worry! As long as the people show up, we have something to eat and drink, and there is lots of love and laughing – then the party is a success! Right?
So check your list. Does it need a little tweaking? A couple of revisions? Make sure you are cherishing each moment along the way.
Growing up – I lived in many different homes – for various reasons…
Parents divorced – Live with Grandma – Mom remarried – Bigger house – Smaller house…..
For as many reasons as moves, I never really had the opportunity to grow “attached” to a house.
Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not knocking those that had the good fortune of growing up in the same house with the same family their entire life.
In fact, I feel a bit of envy! But my life circumstances didn’t provide this, so for that reason I have never grown “attached” to bricks and mortar.
What I do love about my “home” is who I share it with.
It could be a hut, a tent, an igloo, a teepee, a boat, a trailer, a shack, a mansion. It really doesn’t matter.
As long as I get to share it with the people I love….
My family…
My friends that are like family…
That is what makes a “house” a “home.”
As we approach Thanksgiving, and I look forward to sharing my home with some of the people I love best, it reminds me of one of the best gifts I’ve ever received from my bestie Jill. Jill hand-painted the sign above in red knowing me so well that she just knew when she saw this saying it was me to a tee.
I love it!!!!
In fact….. I love it so much, Jill had not realized I had recently purchased a similar plaque with the exact same saying just a month prior, as you can see below. 🙂
So how lucky am I?!? I have two signs that express my deepest feelings of home hanging in my home.
Feeling so blessed… Feeling so loved… Feeling so thankful…
On this day before Thanksgiving, I wish for you a home shared with the people you love – whether they be family or friends that are “chosen” family. We really all are one family – right?
The final assignment for #Writing101 is to write about something we treasure, and the twist is to experiment with longform and push to write more than usual.
So for anyone that has faithfully followed along, I did miss a couple of the twenty assignments, but all-in-all, this has been such an amazing journey. One of deep thinking and thoughtful process. One of stretching myself out of my comfort zone. One that has certainly challenged me. One that is teaching me to not only be okay with myself, but to start liking myself for me just the way I am, and learning to love myself. Love comes very easy for me… When it comes to others…
I feel I have grown through the process, and I know I still have a long way to go, but guess what? That is what it’s all about Alfie – this thing called life. Growing and stretching and challenging yourself and learning and doing new things. But most of all, sharing it with those we love, and experiencing the joy of love. Yep – at life in between. So hear goes my final assignment for #Writing101. (But no fear – or “oh no!” – I think there may be a #Writing201 in my future…)
There is no material item I can fathom or imagine treasuring more than I treasure my family – and friends that are like family – that bring such joy and love to my life.
I know it sounds so cliche’, but I truly cannot think of an item that I treasure more dearly.
And at the top of that list is this awkward young man I met 35 years ago. He was 20. I was 16.
He’s not so young anymore – but neither am I.
And the most awesome thing I can say about that is I know without a doubt that I love this now sometimes grumpy but whose laugh melts my heart, gray-haired but more handsome than ever, still sometimes awkward but ever-so intelligent, opinionated that I don’t always agree with, kind-hearted but doesn’t want anyone to know, talented, dependable, logical, level-headed, big lug of a guy with a ‘derriere’ that can still make me blush more than I did all those years ago.
How sweet is the longevity of a lifetime of love? It’s truly not about mushiness or goobiness or googly eyes or butterflies. It’s about a sacred bond. It’s about feeling confident and secure and comfortable and simply loved.
“I believe in love, Alfie.”
So, Merv, after all this, do you still “think I’m cuuuuuute?” I guess this turned into a love letter just for you…
the creative life in between 