I'm not a big fan of surprises. I'm mostly about knowing things ahead of time and preparing for them. I like to think I'm in control and have things covered. It's all an illusion when you sit down and think about it. Things change in a blink of an eye.
Surprises can be good or bad. Today we got one that was a little of both. Tony thought our bunnies had had babies. Sure enough when we looked, we found seven in the box. They are adorable. But. There is always a but at this house. We don't have room for seven bunnies. And keeping them separate to avoid more bunnies is the challenge.
Cassidi has gotten on the mission to find homes for them. So far, she has found one for two when they're ready. They are pretty daggone big. We think they are at least 3 weeks old. It's hard to believe we haven't seen them before today.
They are adorable. Four are solid white, two are white with gray tipped ears and a steak of gray down their backs, and the last one got all the color the rest of them are missing. They are funny to watch. They mostly stay curled up in balls snuggled up to each other. So cute.
We're not sure what will happen with them. Cass wants to keep the Mom and one of the babies. We're looking for homes for all the rest. After looking online, we found out the Mom can reproduce immediately. We need to get them separated pronto! Hopefully we can avoid any more bunny surprises at our house.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Miracles
Miracles happen every day all over the world. Today, we had one happen in our life. We are not naive enough to think it was luck. We know God and guardian angels were watching.
A good friend of Cassidi's went to Burke's Garden to a community clean up event that his Mom used to organize. We love Taylor and she is beautiful both inside and out. The event actually got cancelled at the last minute Friday after we had already planned for them to go. They went ahead and followed through with their plans to stay the night and do what they could to clean up on their own. It went well.
The day was gorgeous and afterwards the girls decided to take the four wheelers out for a spin. Tony had taken them up with him this time to try and sell. We have had them for years and have used rarely them. They are a lot of fun, but extremely dangerous. Of course his last words before they left were to take it slow and easy and to be careful.
I think they were out for about an hour. They realized they needed to head back a little too late to be on time. Not wanting to be late, Cassidi was driving faster than she should have been. Taylor hadn't ridden too many times and Cass has been riding some sort of vehicle since birth. That combination is never good. One is over confident and the other hesitant.
On a straight stretch along the way home, something happened. Taylor somehow lost control. Fortunately she had the wits about her to jump off. But the 4 wheeler went over the edge of the road. It flipped head over tail down the ravine and landed on a big tree.
What made her lose contol? What made her jump? How did it happen on a straight stretch when they had been on curvy roads? All the questions that run through your head have run through all of ours. But bottom line, none of the answers matter.
Taylor is safe with just a couple of bumps and bruises. The two of them had quite a while to contemplate what had happened while they waited on Tony to come get them. Once they figured out she wasn't badly hurt, as to be expected, they were worried about the reaction to the loss of the 4 wheeler. Worry grew within each of them.
There are lessons in life in everything that we experience. I'm choosing to see the positives that came from this one. First and foremost, Taylor is still drawing breath. Metal, rubber, and chrome are replaceable. Taylor is not. Second, these girls are about to face a lot of opportunities for decisions in the next few weeks. Prom, graduation, and senior week are upon us. I feel this happened to remind them they are not all knowing or invincible. That even though they think they are in control, they are not. And finally, it lets them know there are forces outside this world directing their path. They should never underestimate the power of guardian angels.
The thought of either one of them getting hurts haunts us from this experience. But we can only trust that they will learn from this and carry it forward with them. Thank you God and guardian angles for watching over them. And thank you for giving them another opportunity to grow to face another day.
A good friend of Cassidi's went to Burke's Garden to a community clean up event that his Mom used to organize. We love Taylor and she is beautiful both inside and out. The event actually got cancelled at the last minute Friday after we had already planned for them to go. They went ahead and followed through with their plans to stay the night and do what they could to clean up on their own. It went well.
The day was gorgeous and afterwards the girls decided to take the four wheelers out for a spin. Tony had taken them up with him this time to try and sell. We have had them for years and have used rarely them. They are a lot of fun, but extremely dangerous. Of course his last words before they left were to take it slow and easy and to be careful.
I think they were out for about an hour. They realized they needed to head back a little too late to be on time. Not wanting to be late, Cassidi was driving faster than she should have been. Taylor hadn't ridden too many times and Cass has been riding some sort of vehicle since birth. That combination is never good. One is over confident and the other hesitant.
On a straight stretch along the way home, something happened. Taylor somehow lost control. Fortunately she had the wits about her to jump off. But the 4 wheeler went over the edge of the road. It flipped head over tail down the ravine and landed on a big tree.
What made her lose contol? What made her jump? How did it happen on a straight stretch when they had been on curvy roads? All the questions that run through your head have run through all of ours. But bottom line, none of the answers matter.
Taylor is safe with just a couple of bumps and bruises. The two of them had quite a while to contemplate what had happened while they waited on Tony to come get them. Once they figured out she wasn't badly hurt, as to be expected, they were worried about the reaction to the loss of the 4 wheeler. Worry grew within each of them.
There are lessons in life in everything that we experience. I'm choosing to see the positives that came from this one. First and foremost, Taylor is still drawing breath. Metal, rubber, and chrome are replaceable. Taylor is not. Second, these girls are about to face a lot of opportunities for decisions in the next few weeks. Prom, graduation, and senior week are upon us. I feel this happened to remind them they are not all knowing or invincible. That even though they think they are in control, they are not. And finally, it lets them know there are forces outside this world directing their path. They should never underestimate the power of guardian angels.
The thought of either one of them getting hurts haunts us from this experience. But we can only trust that they will learn from this and carry it forward with them. Thank you God and guardian angles for watching over them. And thank you for giving them another opportunity to grow to face another day.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Irritated
I wish I wouldn't let people irritate me so much. I expect too much from the human race. If I could just not have any expectations and live the same way they do, I'd be just fine. If I could only sleep at night when I don't give my level best at everything I do, all would be well. If I could only play the role of victim and let others do for me, the world would be easier to live in as it's full of victims.
Does anyone accept accountability for their own actions anymore? Does anyone commit to something and see it through even when it gets painful? Does anyone do for others because it's the right thing to do vs expecting something in return?
I know there are good people out there. I just ran in to less of them than the crummy ones today. I hope tomorrow is different!
Does anyone accept accountability for their own actions anymore? Does anyone commit to something and see it through even when it gets painful? Does anyone do for others because it's the right thing to do vs expecting something in return?
I know there are good people out there. I just ran in to less of them than the crummy ones today. I hope tomorrow is different!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Independence
I've always been a "I can do it myself" kind of girl. I drove my Mom crazy I know by insisting on making my own way, and thus, my own mistakes. I've raised both my girls to be just as independent. And now they're driving me crazy!
Because Cassidi is so much like me, she's a lot easier to read. Jennifer on the other hand, is a piece of work. The majority of the time I understand her, but she doesn't want to be understood. She wants to be a unique individual. I think sometimes she changes her mind as soon as I state my opinion on something related to her just so I won't be right. Stubbornness is another trait that goes along with being independent!
Today I was thinking about Jennifer and the roads she has traveled. When she finished college, she hopped a plane to Utah for a job interview with a one way ticket and a week's worth of clothes in a back pack. She had no idea who she was meeting or where they were taking her. It all worked out well, but gosh knows she gave me a lot of gray hair while she was out there.
She's lived in two separate places since she's moved back to the East coast. She manages to meet people and build a life amongst strangers. Sometimes she struggles with meeting people, but for the most part she manages just fine. She's the more social of the two, and I dare to say that she could live anywhere and find a way to fit in.
Cassidi on the other hand is more of a hermit. She barely tolerates large groups of people and draws inward when faced with meeting someone new. She did great when we moved up here, but struggled at times. Sometimes I worry how college will go for her, but I keep reminding myself that she's adaptable and will be just fine.
I'm proud of the independence my girls have learned and shown over the years. I'm not going to be here forever, and knowing they can survive on their own gives me a great deal of peace of mind. I guess in that regard, I did my job as Mom fairly well. I hope it's something they will teach their children when the time comes.
Because Cassidi is so much like me, she's a lot easier to read. Jennifer on the other hand, is a piece of work. The majority of the time I understand her, but she doesn't want to be understood. She wants to be a unique individual. I think sometimes she changes her mind as soon as I state my opinion on something related to her just so I won't be right. Stubbornness is another trait that goes along with being independent!
Today I was thinking about Jennifer and the roads she has traveled. When she finished college, she hopped a plane to Utah for a job interview with a one way ticket and a week's worth of clothes in a back pack. She had no idea who she was meeting or where they were taking her. It all worked out well, but gosh knows she gave me a lot of gray hair while she was out there.
She's lived in two separate places since she's moved back to the East coast. She manages to meet people and build a life amongst strangers. Sometimes she struggles with meeting people, but for the most part she manages just fine. She's the more social of the two, and I dare to say that she could live anywhere and find a way to fit in.
Cassidi on the other hand is more of a hermit. She barely tolerates large groups of people and draws inward when faced with meeting someone new. She did great when we moved up here, but struggled at times. Sometimes I worry how college will go for her, but I keep reminding myself that she's adaptable and will be just fine.
I'm proud of the independence my girls have learned and shown over the years. I'm not going to be here forever, and knowing they can survive on their own gives me a great deal of peace of mind. I guess in that regard, I did my job as Mom fairly well. I hope it's something they will teach their children when the time comes.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Pack Rat
I inherited it honestly. My Mom was a terrible pack rat. When she died, we helped Dad straighten things up. We carted off quite a bit of stuff that she had accumulated over the years. We found things that we knew exactly why she had kept them. But then we found things we had no idea why it was there.
Today I started the task of locating things to put in Cassidi's scrap books. In my search, I stumbled upon so many memories. I found funeral announcements of close friends, favorite pictures of the girls, and old love letters in addition to the things I was actually looking for.
This year for our anniversary Tony had gotten me a really cute card of a little boy and girl nose to nose. I told him he had gotten me that picture before, but he didn't believe me. Today I found the evidence. Ironically enough, it was last year's anniversary card. And funnier yet, I found another card with the same picture that was a Mother's Day card from him a while back. So, I told him from now on he had to get me that same card every year. Good thing it's adorable.
I was smiling and laughing as the years rolled passed my eyes. It was so good to reminisce. I did have moments where I got sad, but it was fleeting. And then it happened.
In the pile of cards that I have saved over the years, I found the Mother's Day card Eleanor sent me the year following her initial diagnosis. She had written a sweet note of appreciation for all of the things I had done to help her through the rough times she had faced. Seeing her writing was just as hard as reading the words. My euphoria gave way to sobs as I remembered all over again that's she's gone.
I am glad I keep all these tokens of time. They are wonderful reminders of the corners of my soul. Whether it is happy or sad memories that are evoked, they are part of me and part of life. I'll be a pack rat forever and proud of it!
Today I started the task of locating things to put in Cassidi's scrap books. In my search, I stumbled upon so many memories. I found funeral announcements of close friends, favorite pictures of the girls, and old love letters in addition to the things I was actually looking for.
This year for our anniversary Tony had gotten me a really cute card of a little boy and girl nose to nose. I told him he had gotten me that picture before, but he didn't believe me. Today I found the evidence. Ironically enough, it was last year's anniversary card. And funnier yet, I found another card with the same picture that was a Mother's Day card from him a while back. So, I told him from now on he had to get me that same card every year. Good thing it's adorable.
I was smiling and laughing as the years rolled passed my eyes. It was so good to reminisce. I did have moments where I got sad, but it was fleeting. And then it happened.
In the pile of cards that I have saved over the years, I found the Mother's Day card Eleanor sent me the year following her initial diagnosis. She had written a sweet note of appreciation for all of the things I had done to help her through the rough times she had faced. Seeing her writing was just as hard as reading the words. My euphoria gave way to sobs as I remembered all over again that's she's gone.
I am glad I keep all these tokens of time. They are wonderful reminders of the corners of my soul. Whether it is happy or sad memories that are evoked, they are part of me and part of life. I'll be a pack rat forever and proud of it!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Daffodils
Daffodils have always been my favorite spring flower. Daisies are my favorite summer flower. They both are such happy flowers. I guess most flowers are happy generally speaking.
I call them happy because when you look at them, you can't help but smile. The "trumpet" part of a daffodil is so unique. I try to imagine how God went about forming it. He had a pretty daggone good creative vision. A daffodil is just one of his many beautiful creations.
I'm a bit on the irritable side tonight. I'm trying to combat it with positive thinking. Just writing about a daffodil conjures happy memories. I've picked so many in my life, I can smell them just by thinking of them. Having allergies, I usually sneeze when I get a snout full of their aroma. But that first sniff is so worth it! Such a clean and fresh smell.
Daffodils always signal spring and warm weather. There are so many flowers of the spring that span the color of the rainbow. But the yellow of the daffodil captures the warmth of the sun and represents the season so well. I always look so forward to them each year.
I hope these words have brought a smile to your lips as they have mine. It's amazing the impact we can have on our mind if we just focus it and will it in a specific direction. I hope I dream of fields of flowers tonight. I'm sure I'll wake up sneezing though. :)
I call them happy because when you look at them, you can't help but smile. The "trumpet" part of a daffodil is so unique. I try to imagine how God went about forming it. He had a pretty daggone good creative vision. A daffodil is just one of his many beautiful creations.
I'm a bit on the irritable side tonight. I'm trying to combat it with positive thinking. Just writing about a daffodil conjures happy memories. I've picked so many in my life, I can smell them just by thinking of them. Having allergies, I usually sneeze when I get a snout full of their aroma. But that first sniff is so worth it! Such a clean and fresh smell.
Daffodils always signal spring and warm weather. There are so many flowers of the spring that span the color of the rainbow. But the yellow of the daffodil captures the warmth of the sun and represents the season so well. I always look so forward to them each year.
I hope these words have brought a smile to your lips as they have mine. It's amazing the impact we can have on our mind if we just focus it and will it in a specific direction. I hope I dream of fields of flowers tonight. I'm sure I'll wake up sneezing though. :)
Monday, April 8, 2013
Moments
Some moments are big. Some moments are small. But finding a way to appreciate each is extremely important.
This year has been the biggest of Cassidi's life thus far. Senior year tends to be that way. Having already been through it with Jennifer has taught me to savor every last second. For me, it's also compounded by the fact she's the last one to leave the nest.
I've started working on her scrap books. I have three I'm doing. I've been collecting stuff for years to go in them.
There is the sports book. What an amazing ride her basketball team had last year. That will provide moments to review for years to come for all of us. And then this year she's playing tennis for the first time and having some success. Softball was way back in 8th grade on the JV team. With her going to UVA, I can still cheer GO CAVS! I'll just be dressed in blue and orange vs blue and white.
Another book will be on her entire school years. From the note her first grade teacher sent us that resulted in her first grounding, to her second place finish in Accelerated Reading in 7th grade, to her 7th grade school suspension for "pantsing", to nerd camp in 10th and 11th grade, to valedictorian. I have collected so much stuff through the years, I hope it will all fit in there.
The last book is something I've been working on each day this school year. It's titled "A Year of Lasts". It is a daily journal where I take her picture every day and then write a blurb about what happens for the day. It includes my thoughts, of course, but it also documents all the things she's been involved in. She has done a great job of seizing the day this year.
But some of the moments I'll remember the most from this year are Monday night home cooked dinners, The Voice Monday and Tuesdays, the first time she scorched me on the tennis court, and the rare occasions where she opened up and talked about things going on at school and in life. The little moments. They're irreplaceable!
This year has been the biggest of Cassidi's life thus far. Senior year tends to be that way. Having already been through it with Jennifer has taught me to savor every last second. For me, it's also compounded by the fact she's the last one to leave the nest.
I've started working on her scrap books. I have three I'm doing. I've been collecting stuff for years to go in them.
There is the sports book. What an amazing ride her basketball team had last year. That will provide moments to review for years to come for all of us. And then this year she's playing tennis for the first time and having some success. Softball was way back in 8th grade on the JV team. With her going to UVA, I can still cheer GO CAVS! I'll just be dressed in blue and orange vs blue and white.
Another book will be on her entire school years. From the note her first grade teacher sent us that resulted in her first grounding, to her second place finish in Accelerated Reading in 7th grade, to her 7th grade school suspension for "pantsing", to nerd camp in 10th and 11th grade, to valedictorian. I have collected so much stuff through the years, I hope it will all fit in there.
The last book is something I've been working on each day this school year. It's titled "A Year of Lasts". It is a daily journal where I take her picture every day and then write a blurb about what happens for the day. It includes my thoughts, of course, but it also documents all the things she's been involved in. She has done a great job of seizing the day this year.
But some of the moments I'll remember the most from this year are Monday night home cooked dinners, The Voice Monday and Tuesdays, the first time she scorched me on the tennis court, and the rare occasions where she opened up and talked about things going on at school and in life. The little moments. They're irreplaceable!
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