A Lovely Day

Happy Easter people!!! It was a beautiful sunny day today and I'm grateful for many things. This was the first holiday I was not surrounded by my family and children, as they were with their father.

It was also the first Easter I did not attend church and I have some very mixed feelings about that. I just didn't have the strength to go by myself. I know I should feel loved and safe and full of faith in my congregation, but the thought of going alone and opening the floodgates just didn't appeal. I cry every time I go to church because I feel the pain and grief the most when I reflect in the sanctuary. And for selfish reasons, I wanted to be happy today and not flooded with grief or tears.

I am making such good progress lately and I'm healing. I have moved on and started to forgive myself for feeling so miserable and depressed. It was part of the grieving process and I'm feeling stronger and healthier every day. I also talked to a new friend last night who has gone through the exact same thing as me. He has such good advice and we were able to share our stories with a bit of uh our and laughter. I finally felt normal and really thought to myself...I can do this, I am not alone with my hurt, anger, grief, and feelings. I am ready to moveon I the next chapter of my life.

After our conversation, I think I was glowing. Oh yes indeed. So because of that, I felt great today and was able to spend the holiday by myself. He left me with a little something and it goes like this....

God grant me the serenity To accept the things I can not change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

Love you all.

Hunger Games!!!

Are you excited???? Are ya? Are ya? Well I am because the show opens at midnight tonight!!!! I'm not going to it at midnight(please people, I value my sleep) but I am going tomorrow night and I'm really excited!!!

Have you read the book? It took me exactly two whole days to read it from beginning to end. Then I ran out and bought the next two. Because I was hooked... No wait make that obsessed!

OMG! Girls night out and we are all going to rock the side braid and and hunger games tshirts. Woot!!!

I will report in tmorrow....good night ya'll.

Spring is Here?

Well then.

Spring is surely here...actually it skipped over spring and went straight to summer here in Minnesota. It's a whopping 80 degrees on St. Pattys Day (two days ago) and in the high 70's just days following.

What the heck??? This is almost unheard of! We usually don't usher in spring until late April, early May. This is AMAZING!!! It usually even snows a few days on April but all of the weather guys are saying it just won't happen because it's so warm.

Well then.

The Lorax was Seussariffic!!!

What a terrific movie!!! Beautiful graphics, great music and a wonderful story line. If you have kids, I highly recommend going to see it.

It was Dr. Seuss's 96th birthday yesterday and the kids have been learning all about him this past week. Aliyah has been eagerly reading her favorite books and miss Alex has been reciting little nuggets of information all over the place.

So if you haven't yet, go see the show:)

Family

Family means a lot to me and when I stumbled upon this little gem, I was in alt. Just look at this! I have had a lot of support and helping hands in the last few months, and I have come to value those friends. They listen, don't judge, give encouraging words, and are always there when I need a pick me up. So I wish I could create a "friend tree" as well. Happy Friday everyone!

Days Off

 It's not easy being Milley!

 We adore our kitty!

Aliyah (right) and friend Zoe on their playdate

Because it is our mighty Presidents day, the girls have the day off from school. I love these kind of days, which is another day off rolling from the weekend. It's makes it long and I feel like I got a lot done and finally feel rested. Love that feeling!

I like being able to get some work done around the house, snack on everything in site, get caught up on personal projects (wedding invites for a great friend), pay some bills, and catch up on my favorite blog sites which is usually only about once or twice a week. So it's like opening up a much anticipated magazine (Real Simple is my fav, along with Martha Stewart) and reading from cover to end.

The girls had a few play dates today which always makes the day that much more fun. Alex was picked up this morning by a friend and they went to the YMCA to play basketball, swim, and go to her friends house afterward. Aliyah and I also went to the Y to swim with her friends Zoe and Lily. Zoe came to our house afterward, I bought them lunch and after they snuggled on the couch to watch some TV and migrated to the floor to play some games. Now they are tearing up the house, chasing after Milley and I can hear them hooting on the saxophone.

Ahhh, children. They are such a blessing. My life feels so much more complete with my darling daughters and I thank Him everyday for them!!! Except when they are being sassy bad and stealing my fresh, perfect lipstick tubes.......

Rising Star

My darling daughter Alex had her artwork selected to be in a student art show for the Arts Alliance in Elk River. There was one piece per grade selected and hers was it. Yay! It's nice to know she has some creative juices like her mother. She tells me all the time she wants to be an artist like her mommy. I laugh and tell her all the time as long as she makes money and isn't a "starving" artist then that is fine with me. That girl is such a joy. But really, children are such a joy.