Two Angels for my Birthday

.... Well I've thought long and hard about how to follow up my previous post. My birthday began so lovely, my amazing husband, brought me flowers. But one of the more touching sentiments was (as per ritual) he took the boys to the dollar store to let them pick out whatever they wanted to give me. I was so touched that this year I did not get a tub of fart noise making goo, or a ice cream cone squeaky doggie toy, I didn't even get the joke bloody finger. The boys all brought me flowers. The plastic brightly colored ones that catch a child's eye much like a bright pink feather boa... That no I did not get but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next year. No, seriously, I was touched because I realized how much they have grown up. They recognize that daddy brings mommy flowers on special days and they want to be like him. They have an amazing man to model themselves after.

Now, how does my title fit? At what I thought to be the end of an already eventful evening, we got home to find that Granbury, Texas, home to my Grandmother, Aunt, and Uncle had just been hit by a severe tornado.... After hours of family members across the country trying to call, and piece together what was going on, we were told that they found my Aunt and she was being taken to Ft. Worth in critical condition.

"Aunt Betsy...  Makes the best sugar cookies"  - everyone with taste buds

Throughout the night, my Grandmother and Uncle would remain on the unaccounted for list. The next morning however, we were finally given the news that my Grandmother , and Uncle Tommy were confirmed dead  in heaven. Even as I write this the cut is so deep and so fresh that the tears that sting my eyes are like a relentless river.

"Who's is ever going to give us presents like Grandma did... Where will we ever find a pocket watch that doubles as a survival knife and has an electronic version of the King James Bible imbedded in it" - anyone lucky enough to call Marjorie "Ann" Davis, Grandma

My Aunt is going to pull through, she has breaks, bruises, gashes, and scrapes... I'm sure the worst wound is her broken heart. Her lover has gone to be with our Lord.my heart breaks for all she will have to go through as she heals especially not having her constant "Rock".

"Uncle Tommy, is one of the coolest, most steady men I know. He is a mountain of a man who is both gentile and fun loving ... Unless you stand in front of the TV while the game is on. Yet at the same time he has a fierce undercurrent that makes you feel so safe just so long as you are on the same team"- Me... A loving Niece who will miss him very much.

So there you have it... For my birthday I got not 1 but 2 new angels... Bitter sweet, but I choose to trust in my Heavenly Father...

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted". - Jesus

Happy Birthday to Me!

So... Ive had a blog for years now and you are just now finding me. Well, just like many writers Ive never actually published anything. So here it is my birthday and much like New Years Eve, I try to come up with a million ways I'm going to improve myself over the coming years. You know, like what are those things Ive been meaning to do, get done, achieve, read, become, read, oh, and the ever improtant, QUIT doing. So naturally blogging is at the top of that list, because lets face it blogging seems way easier than to stop cussing, stop drinking alchohol, or writing that childrens book, or becoming the holistic nutritionest. that all requires much more work than jotting down my crazy rants or recording the death defying stunts my children perform on a daily basis.

So here goes. I will give you the beautiful beginnings at a later date, but for now let's stick to the topic at hand. 35!! What the heck 35! I have yet to go out and celebrate, but let me make myself perfectly clear. I DAMN well better be carded tonight if the server wants a tip. If he/ she follows the ceremonial carding with a "you seriously don't look a day older than 25", or this is a good one, "I'm gunna call your big sister and tell her you stole her ID"  (yup Safeway ladies... Safeway is the best for vanity pick-me-up.... Except your surrounded by the real thing, 20 something's that look like hot little flotation devices... Did I mention that I rant)

So today I made a vow to take some extra time for myself.

Step 1: Shower (seriously, mother of 4, this feels like the ceremonial once a year bathing ritual)
Step 2: Shave (thigh too)
Step 3: Use the bathroom by myself ... At least once... Surely I can, once.
Step 4: take the previous chipped up layer of nail polish off before applying another coat  (who am I kidding)
Step 5: Personal prayer time. (which sounds like this; Lord we have a free sitter tonight, please don't let any of the kids get sick today, please don't let anyone get hurt.. Badly enough to prevent us going out... Did I mention Lord, FREEEEEEE BABYSITTERRRR. Thank you Lord for my amazing husband and children.  Amen. Also if you could please have my husband come home early and give me a break from all the screaming and karate kid reinactments that would be awesome too. Amen again.)

Well, I'll let you know how it all goes. Wish me luck.