May Has Been ...

 Busy!  As May always is.  This is the month when there are a ton of activities while school winds down, birthdays and an anniversary.  

Let's start with the anniversary.  On the 18th Rob and I celebrated 22 years of marriage.  The kids were gone all day doing separate activities so we had the house to ourselves.  What did we do?  We rested.  We just laid around and did nothing.  It was wonderful.  Then in the evening when the kids were back home we all went to an Italian restaurant together.  Rob wanted to take me on a lunch date but I wanted the kids to be part of it.  Unfortunately, there are no pictures of that day.  I slack in that department, you know that by now.  

On the 23rd my husband turned 45 years old.  He finally caught up to me but I still refer to him as an old man.  The day fell on a Thursday this year so we had work and school and then Matt had baseball practice while Bri was at dance.  I did make him his favorite lasagna, what has been an annual tradition.  That was also our 24th anniversary of making our relationship "official."  

I finally got the garden planted, so far we only have tomato and pepper plants.  I'm not sure if I want to add more.  I still have to plant the flowers that go around the garden to keep the aphids out.  I've also been working on housework and cleaning out the house, finding things that can be sold at the yard sale in a few weeks.  

Today we are back to our routine after a three-day Memorial Day weekend.  It was busy.  On Saturday my brother and his wife, niece and her boyfriend and her two kids came to visit from Long Island.  My great nephew was playing in a soccer tournament game in Harrisburg, just 30 miles from where I live.  It was so awesome to be able to meet them there and see him in action.  Despite the team losing, he's a really great player.  I'm very proud.  On Sunday we went to church and then had lunch with friends afterwards.  It was a good visit but the conversation was tough, and I'll leave it at that.  On Monday Rob made a delicious smoked ribs and mac n cheese.  So good!  

This is the last week of school for my kids.  My son finished his cyber classes last week but still has his piano class at the school.  We are all set for him to go fully back to in person next school year and our fingers are crossed he'll be able to stay the entire year.  His migraine attacks have been difficult.  I think we are all looking forward to summer vacation.  

The hardest part of a 3-day weekend is having to remind myself that today is Tuesday.  

My Mom is 79

 Yesterday my beautiful mother turned 79 years old.  Every year is a milestone and blessing because when she had a stroke 12 years ago the doctor said she only had a 20 percent chance of surviving it.  She never made a full recovery but she's still with us, now fighting the uncurable Alzheimer's.  

I wanted to give her a special day.  Make her dinner, eat ice cream cake and then have them join us for our daughter's chorus concert.  The evening felt disastrous.  She was very much out of it, my dad was in a bad mood to a point he even yelled at my kids, my daughter was in a bad mood, my husband was not being helpful as I tried disciplining my kids over something they did ... it was, well, not a good day.  The good thing about the disease is my mother probably doesn't remember any of it.  As I showered last night tears filled my face and I went to bed asking myself why life has to be this way.

I'm sorry if I'm a downer with this post.  This is my life and my life isn't easy.  

 I will say, my mother has been an amazing person throughout my life.  She always showed love and kindness and had always been very patient.  She always kept her door open to any visitors and treated my friends as her own.  She's been my strength and blessing.  I am thankful for her.  

Happy Mother's Day

 I hope you wonderful ladies had an amazing Mother's Day yesterday.  

This was the only picture taken of the day.  A carnation and cupcake given to all ladies over the age of 18 at church.  I love that they include all women.  Mother's Day looks different for everyone.  Some of us still have our mothers.  Some of us have children.  Some have lost their mothers.  Some have lost children.  Or some women never experienced having children at all.  Whatever it is, I hope you all managed to find some kind of joy in the day.  

I guess I'm not following proper blogging etiquette by my lack of pictures.  There was no photo taken of me and the kids.  No photo taken of me and my mom.  Well, a few of me opening my presents but I'll skip posting those anyway.  

My son woke up with a headache so we allowed him to stay  home and sleep while the three of us went to church.  Then we went home and Rob worked hard at preparing a delicious dinner and dessert for me, my mom (and dad came along too) and his mother.  Twelve years ago my mother had a stroke and we thought we were going to lose her so every year with her is a gift that I do not take for granted.  My mother-in-law, well, let's say we have a complicated relationship.  

I do have a picture of this Boston Cream cake Rob made for dessert.  Boston Cream donuts are a favorite for both me and my mom.  This was good.  You did great, Rob!  Thank you!  

I wish I had a picture with me and the kids.  I love seeing everyone's progression pictures through the years but I lack in remembering to capture those.  Even with all of my surgery scars, it would be nice to see.  My son is now taller than me.  My daughter is slowly catching up but she's taller than her grandmothers.  

And now we are back to Monday.  A busy week of cleaning, running errands, celebrating my mom's birthday and watching my girl's chorus concert.  Also, this Saturday we will be celebrating 22 years of marriage.  

Have a great week!  The sun is shining today but we may see some rain throughout the week.  I need to get to my gardening.  

Just Another Manic Monday

 Greetings, my friends and readers!  I try really hard to keep my blog a place of positivity and encouragement but I also have to be real, because maybe someone out there needs to read that there is someone else struggling.  As I'm coming out of my winter blues I've been fighting with a different type of an emotional battle and a spiritual one too.  As I dive deeper in prayer and scripture reading it seems as though the devil wants to attack my mind even harder and it's not always easy pushing him away.  

These cooler, rainy days aren't helping.  It was a rainy weekend and although there's a break at the moment more rain is expected all week.  This is supposed to be my son's last week of the baseball season but it may be a wash-out.  This is the weather that calls for laziness.  

I really should invest in a new book to read, or borrow one at the library, or just wipe the dust off of one I already have on the shelf.  But is there even any time?  The other evening I sat with my laptop and wrote my manuscript, only to find myself so aggravated.  The entire idea is in my head but getting it down is a monotonous nightmare.  Then another story idea pops in my head.  And another.  Then I get my mind twisted in not knowing which direction to go.  I guess that's God's way of giving me more ideas for more books ... but I have to get the first one done FIRST.  

The weekend went by fast.  We were going to stop at my parents house on Saturday but my dad said it would be better not to drive in the rain.  So, we stayed home and got some things done around the house.  I can't remember what else we did.  On Sunday my husband made his own way to church but my daughter had to be at a semi-formal for her dance studio.  It was a nice event and she's glad she went.  

There she is with two of her friends (both sisters).  I'm thankful for these girls but it looks as though they have found a new dance studio to join next year.  We were thinking of checking it out, too, because there's been a lot of drama in the current one but Bri said, "Mom, I just want to dance I can ignore the drama."  What a big girl thing to say.  I mean, she used to care so much about what others think of her.  Oh, and yes, that's my daughter sporting her Converse sneakers instead of dress shoes.  That's her style.  

In an hour I head out for my afternoon van run, then grab my own kids from school in between, then home to make dinner, daughter has dance, son has baseball practice.  This is why I sleep so well at night.  

Have a great week and if you're in the vicinity of all this rain I hope you stay dry and cozy.  

It's May

 "He has made everything beautiful in its time" -- Ecclesiastes 3:11

I'm so happy May has arrived and so have these beautiful lilacs.  

After a winter of cold weather and bare trees these fresh blooms remind me that good things will always come to those who wait patiently.  

I'm feeling grateful today.