Make Time!

My Mom has the most friends of anyone I know and I'm not talking about facebook friends, I'm talking about real life friends. She has friends from all walks of life, all stages of her life, every income bracket, every social status, etc. Even though she's busy she still makes times for every friend she has. She never closes anyone out of her life.

I realized I needed to make more time for my friends, life is busy, but this is something I needed to do for me. It's easy with the friends who you see all the time, but friends from your past it's a bit harder. Time, distance, life; they change people, maybe too much to be friends again, but how do you know if you don't make the time to try to catch up.

Recently I had the opportunity to catch up with a few friends from high school, I jumped at the chance. It was so nice to see these guys, talk about old times, how life has been, about their kids, and their lives. I knew just from the time spent together that evening that no matter how much time had passed, we'd always be great friends.

Three days ago I logged onto Facebook and was shocked to see that one of these guys I had just caught up with had passed away. I won't get into specifics because it doesn't matter, what does matter is the fact that this loving soul, who's smile, which I never saw him without, could honestly light up a room is gone. He was married straight out of high school and they had two boys. From the conversation I had with him those boys were his pride and joy, he talked about what they were doing in school and their sports. He talked about surviving a horrific car accident and how happy he was to be here with his family. He beamed as he spoke about them. I am so happy I had that last conversation with him, that's what I get to remember.

I want to remind everyone to take the time to talk to people, catch up with old friends, neighbors. Don't ever think you're too busy, because if you wait until you have time, it may be too late.

Me & Spencer Breeze (circa 1993)

~dont judge the hair...please~

I'm a Mom, first

When we built and moved into our house a decade ago my wonderful Aunt Eva gave us (me) this framed poem, as a housewarming, and probably also to remind me to be a Mom first and foremost. You see the women in my family tend to...how do I put this nicely...be a little OCD about cleaning. And while I've tried to be a little more relaxed, I do find myself becoming unglued over the smallest messes. I think I'm posting this as a reminder to myself. When I feel like I'm being pulled in a million directions and there is too much to do, too much to clean, I just need to look at my kids perfect little faces and remember this is when I should concentrate on being a Mom.

Excuse This House

Some houses try to hide the fact

that children live there...

Ours boasts of it quite openly

the signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows

little smudges on the door...

I should apologize I guess

for the toys all over the floor.

But I sat down with the children

and we played & laughed & read

And if the doorbell doesn't shine

their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to

choose the one job or the other,

I want to be a housewife,

but first I'll be a Mother.

-Author Unknown

Summer

This is my favorite time of the year! It starts in the Spring, when flowers start to bloom, trees start to green, windows crack open for the fresh air, and the days start to get longer. It lasts well into the fall with all the colors on the trees, the autumn nights around a fire, and the kids going back to school. But this time right now, when the sun rises before it should, and stays up past the kids' bedtime, when you get to savor the most of each day, these are my favortie days.

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. We're doing our best to capture as many memories as we can. I'll start sharing them soon!

Hello Again

Wow! It's been way too long! And its defintely not because I don't have anything to write about, because if I had someone to dictate my thoughts to this blog would have a new post every day. I miss sharing my thoughts/ideas. I think I'll start making sure I make time for myself, which will include some time to write!