Mother of the Bride Spot

Random thoughts on being a Mother of the Bride...although since we are now past The Wedding, perhaps this would be better titled Random Thoughts On Life In General...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Empty Nest....and Words of Love

After having the nest relatively full over the past week, this is tough. Torrey and Chris went home on Sunday afternoon; Jill and Deven left yesterday morning.

There are two positives to this.

(a) The house is tidier.
(b) Munchkin has returned to the land of the fam.

However, to my way of thinking this in no way makes up for:

(a) Delightful chats with my daughters
(b) Shopping with either of them
(c) Doing "Facebook" with my son in law
(d) Sharing time around the table or on the deck
(e) A *family* with whom to attend church
(f) And last, but certainly not least, a warm little body that snuggles, laughs, plays, giggles, gives hugs and kisses...

There are some words in the English language that are musical and magical...

Mommy
Mama
Darling
Sweetheart
Grammie!!
I love you

and the latest,

"But Grammie LOVES me!"

Yes, sweet Deven, your Grammie loves (and misses) you very much.

And she loves and misses your mommy & daddy, your Aunt Torrey & Uncle Chris, and your Uncle Tim.

Empty nests? They are for the birds!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Happy Birthday to ME!!

How best does a 60-something Grammie celebrate her birthday?

By going to Chuckie Cheese, playing pinball (and earning the admiration of at least 2 8 year old boys...."You're AWESOME!" when she reaches a score of over 91,000,000 on Pirates of the Caribbean AND 150 free tickets).

By getting home and Skyping with her sister in Berlin, only to have a phone call via Skype from her son in Morocco -- complete with working VIDEO!!!

Said son was able to converse with and see his mom & dad, two sisters, his nephew and one brother in law....Technology is amazing. For a few brief and shining moments, the entire family was together....Wheaton, Naples, Indianapolis, and Fez -- all in one room.

That is a true birthday gift.

Also celebrating with said grandson whose third birthday party was at said Chuckie Cheese with 8 other small fry. By the way, the pizza was delicious!

We were planning to go to Macaroni Grill for dinner, but by the time I had been feted for breakfast at Egglectic by Torrey and Chris, gone to the French Market (where I treated myself to an amythest necklace I had been coveting), and headed for Chuckie Cheese where I was amazing at pinball -- and then to Costco where we got my birthday cake (a lemon cake with raspberry filling I had been coveting for at least three months) and Alaskan King Crab Legs for dinner -- nope, eating out on the deck was all I wanted to do.

I love opening presents. But nothing -- BUT NOTHING -- beats having my family all around. Jill with Deven, Torrey & Chris, Tim by Skype Video (for free at that!!) and my dearest Bobbert. All that was missing was our Derrick who was holding the fort in Naples.

Maybe the best birthday ever.

Thank you, my beloved family.

Monday, August 20, 2007

NOT Torrey's Birthday


Chris reminded me that I mentioned both Tim & Jill's birthdays, but hadn't said anything about Torrey's.....I did mention it in passing on July 8, since we celebrated it on July 4....but he's right.

Mea Culpa.

And Happy birthday to my sweet Torrey, albeit a bit late.

I'm excited because I'll have almost all my family here to celebrate MY birthday this coming Saturday. The less said about the birthday part, the better, but it will be wonderful having Torrey & Chris; Jill & Deven here. Now if only Derrick could come and if Tim could be magically teleported some how -- but on that day he'll be leaving Chambery and heading for Morocco for his next round of language school.

The days of my three children's births are indelibly engraved in my memory....what exciting days those were -- Torrey was the only one that actually got my planned music, though my doc said it did rattle him a little bit as he had never helped deliver a baby to the 1812 Overture before.

That made two of us. I'd never delivered a baby to the 1812 Overture before either.

It was fabulous!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Jilly's Birthday...


...was yesterday!! Happy birthday, honey!! Hope you had a special day and didn't have to work. We certainly do August well around here -- Deven, Tim, you, and me -- and then the extended family as well, III Timothy, Uncle Rob, your cousin Rose, and Derrick's mom.

In about one minute you will be 33 and 25 hours old. Not that I'm counting at all...

Can't wait to see you in just 10 days!!

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Happy Day to the Timster!


Birthday time again.....this year, it is Gay Paree....the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre...Notre Dame...the Palace at Versailles...

Two years ago it was Dublin.

Last year he was in Chicago, but I was gone.

Next year? Only the Lord knows for sure, and he isn't telling.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, have a wonderful day, my dearest of sons.

May God richly bless you, have his hand upon you, and guide you in all your paths.

Happy Birthday, dear Tim. We love you!