Giving Thanks: Another Birthday!

Today's is The Mister's birthday.

I was thinking about him this morning and it occurred to me how patient he is...

As you may know from past posts, I have a tendency toward impetuousness that's meant to get things done quickly, but ends up taking twice as long. You may remember my recent banking fiasco and my Pressure cooker catastrophe.

Let's just say that I average one "accident" a month...only this month I've already done two three.

The good news is that there is only seven days left in November!!!!

What did I do this time?

Well, I mixed up a bunch of deposits at the bank causing much confusion (but we've figured it out!).  I ruined yet another kitchen item on the stove top (always turn your burners off before placing your glass cake pan on the stove...glass, unevenly heated, has a tendency to explode) and I broke the garage door...but at least I didn't back my car into the side of the house. I already did that once. I try not to do the same stupid thing twice...unless it involves the stove top.

Yes, The Mister is long-suffering and patient, and when i do silly things he comes up behind me, sweeping the broken glass and patching the stucco.

He takes good care of me, and I try very hard to take good care of him....when I'm not making more work for him.

For his birthday I've planned a feast - his favorite lasagna meal. He doesn't like to be fussed over, but it is my privilege to do so.

I'm working real hard at being extra sweet too. Mostly because I still giggle a bit about that first year we were married and his birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day, and in all my "this-is-my-first-married-Thanksgiving-excitement, I sort of forgot...

I'll never forget again.

Speaking of keeping memories alive....I still sometimes wince when I remember that night, so long ago, when we were working together as newlyweds in the kitchen of that itty-bitty duplex on campus...when he was doing the dishes (by hand) and I was trying to multitask while making a pot of rice. I accidently burned his bare back with the scalding pot lid...

He'll never forget that, I'm sure.

Good times, good times...

Happy Birthday Mister,
Thank you for sharing life with me.
I'll do my best not to get into trouble this week...but after 17 years of dating and marriage I think you know how hard that will be...


love,
your coffeegal

A Joyful Noise: Family Style

There are two songs that will make me weepy every-single-time.

The Star Spangled Banner and Happy Birthday.

Why Happy Birthday?

I don't know.

Maybe its because birthdays (not just my own) are always filled with such hope: a new life, a new year, a new beginning.

Maybe its because birthdays remind me of the love I have for others - the love others have for me.

This year I did not cry. I laughed.

This year the serenade of Happy Birthday reminded me of the joy a family brings...we don't always sing on-key, but we love each other with all we have...I love them so.

PS: Ignore my scratching...it was Day Three without anti-histamines (more on that tomorrow)

Gratitude

Grateful.

...for texts from friends far away...

and crafty friends nearby.

For little things,

and 

 Fulfilled dreams...

and words that make me cry.

Grateful for dressing up, 

and dressing down,

in quilts made from love.

For kids who still sit on laps,

and kids that I'm proud of.

  

Grateful.

For standing in the shadow 

of Strength

when i am weak.

Thankful for many birthdays to celebrate this week.

Gratitude.

Ladies Who Lunch (Surprise Edition!)

A friend of mine celebrated her 40th birthday on Saturday.

She doesn't know it, but she is having a birthday luncheon today.

I LOVE birthdays.

I LOVE friends.

I LOVE lunching with the ladies.

Its the perfect trifecta.

Happy.

Double Digits (The Girl This Time)

Long before I had children, someone told me that as you get older you remember the years by your children.

I could never understand what that meant.

Today I think I do.

The moment a baby enters your life you're changed-- everything becomes measured by that momentous time.

That child (or those children) become the measuring stick by which all moments, days, seasons, and years are measured.

I cannot believe that 10 years ago today I gave birth to a tiny dark-haired baby girl.

In the blink of an eye, we went from a cold day in Texas with a pink swaddled baby, to celebrating her 10th birthday-breakfast eating one of her favorite foods: bacon.

Time goes so incredibly fast.

~~~

To my sweet Girl,


Of all the girls in this world, I wouldn't want anyone but you. You are smart, and funny, and compassionate. And you have made the last decade so bright.


I pray that the next decade finds you healthy and happy, and drawing nearer to God.


I have sung these words to you almost as long as you have been alive. I pray that these words will be alive and active in you as you live out the decades to come:

Hold on to Jesus,

Cling to His love,

Rest deep in his mercies, 

Whenever things get rough.

Don't lose sight of His goodness,

and don't ever doubt this truth.

That when you hold on to Jesus,

He's holding on to you.

-Erin O'Donnell

Cling to Jesus, sweet girl...today and everyday!
Happy Birthday!
Love you,
Mom

A Birthday Surprise

I am so grateful for this little spot on the net.

Especially after nights like last night.

The Carpoolqueen is such a sweet and true friend and I knew I wanted to celebrate her birthday in some way, but with the holidays, I figured it would be too hard to get together.

But plans change....and getting together was not only possible, but was totally do-able!

So that's what we did.

I kidnapped her (but not before calling her to tell her I was lost in her hood, and "could you help me get to your house so I can kidnap you?")

Then I had to stall her for an hour and a half. Because reservations weren't until 7:30.

Now, if you have a secret? I can keep it til the cows come home....but if you have a surprise? Well, all bets are off. Sometimes my excitement can get the best of me and I have a hard time containing myself.

All was fine and good, and we stopped by a restaurant to have a pre-dinner glass of wine.

I learned that when surprising people you should always have something on the stomach. Because you may or may not take three sips of wine (and feel like a very cheap date), and have to ask your kidnappee to drive to the next destination. Only to arrive 10 minutes early.

Then you might have to think of some reason to sit in your car for 10 minutes in the cold parking lot, because your co-conspirators may, or may not, be seated yet...

Heather, Sandy, Gretchen, and Amy were ready and waiting (dressed in black!) when we arrived.

And I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief that all had gone according to plan.

There was laughing, and presents and tasting of Key Lime Pie and Creme Brulee...

I even got home without getting lost.

CPQ - Happiest of happy birthdays my friend...may God bless you and keep you. And may you grow even closer to Him and those you love in the years to come! Thanks for celebrating with us!

Happy: A Birthday Recap

I know your ready for October to be finished so I can stop talking about my birthday.

But I just love it so much! What a happy day I had! I wish you each could have been there to enjoy the day with me. I'll post pictures so it will be as if you were.

First, I took the kids to the dentist and bought them the gift of cavities filled and molars pulled.

On our way home I stopped by a fantastic German bakery here in town and picked up my cake.

While I was there I picked up three of the largest (and tastiest) croissants I have ever seen.

I came home. Made milkshakes for the kids, who couldn't feel their lips; and made a fresh cup of Mudslide coffee and sat down to eat my croissant.

After we had finished our breakfast the kids wanted me to open the gifts they had bought and wrapped, all by themselves. This is precious to me and may require a post of its own, however, today I will just say this:

I love those two brown-headed babes more than I can even begin to tell you.

The kids and I then sat down for about an hour and finished the latest Nancy Drew PC Game, Warnings at Waverly Academy. (Love me some Nancy Drew PC Games, just so you know)

Then my friend K2 came over...

...with a pot full of my favorite Tortilla soup.

You'd think that coming over with lunch would be enough to show her love, but I have a confession to make.

I tested her love.

After she fed me birthday soup. I told her that it was my birthday and she had to do everything I wanted to do or she had to go home.

No! Just kidding!

I told her I wanted to introduce her to the Clinton the Embroidery Machine.

Introduce, meaning, I wanted her to sit-down-for-an-hour an watch me sew.

She passed the test, so I let her keep the hand-towel we made as a party favor.

Of course, your guest might find your sewing arrangement comical and sneak away to find the camera. In order to download certain patterns into Clinton I have to get closer to the computer, which may require the use of a piano bench and a child size chair.

Or maybe the camera just makes me look bigger than I am. You'll never know.

At this point there was a knock on the side door.

It was EW my running partner-- but most importantly, my dear friend-- coming over with a little gift she likes to call a Happy (this time is was Oreo Truffle's). Happy's are my favorite kind of gift.  I got several  this year: handmade washcloths, halloween socks, hand lotion, a Starbucks gift card, candles, just to name a few...

At the same time EW knocked, there was a knock on the back door. My neighbor Helen stopped by for a visit, and y'all, she folded the load of laundry that was on my couch. That, quite possibly, might have been my favorite Happy of all....if I had to choose, but I'm glad I don't have to...

Soon it was after dinner and time for cake.

Chocolate Mousse cake that I want to write about, but this post is already too long.

We were all out of candles so we had to use one of the gifts.

It was a good day.

Wish you could've been there!

Cake and Ice Cream Kind of Day

As long as I can remember I've always loved my birthday.

Today I will do what I was born to do.

I'll drink coffee, wake up the kids, take them to the dentist. I'll silently pray for them in the waiting room while they have teeth pulled (The Boy), and a cavity filled (The Girl).

I'll run errands, have lunch with a friend (she is making one of my favorite soups!), eat chocolate mousse cake, open gifts from the kids, and cards from my friends.

I'll make a quiet dinner, tuck the kids into bed, and have some couch time with The Mister.

I'll crawl into my four poster bed, lay my head down and be satisfied.

I thank God for another ordinary day in an extraordinary life! I couldn't ask for more.

A Birthday Poem To My Mother

I sit here this morning,
eating butter on toast.

Drinking Pumpkin Spice coffee.
A medium roast.

Thinking 'bout you dear mama,
cuz it's your fun day,

Feliz Cumpleanos! Is what
I'm trying to say...

On this day long ago...
(but not too long, ya hear!)

(And in self preservation,
I won't say the year)

...Was born a smart woman,
Who'd see days high and long.

T'would be hard pressed to find one
more loyal, or strong.

There is no other Mom,
that I'd pick but for you.

I'd say that even if you
spoilt me half of what you do.

I hope this good day is fun, full!
Is great!

And in true Kellie style,
Your present will be late.


(thirty-seven years ago I was a day late...so why change now?)


Happy Birthday Mom!
Love you,
Kellie

Weekend Recap in Pictures

Good morning y'all!

I have to post quick this morning because we are down to one mouse in this house.

Computer mouse, that is.

And the kids will need to take the mouse to the other computer to do their math.

We had a good weekend....

It started with a "No School" pass, and birthday bagels at Brueggars:

Where he got to open the gift from his sister.

Then I went home and started to put together my first ever Lego cake.

Uh, blue frosting?  It looked good but I just couldn't eat it...I have the same problem with blue m&m's.

Later that evening he had the dinner of his choice: homemade waffles with whipped cream, and "real" bacon...(as opposed to turkey bacon...I don't often dig on swine...Its just not my thing.)

On Saturday as it drizzled and rained all day The Mister prepared the fire pit and I got all the fixin's prepared for the big party.

I worried a bit about the weather, which was completely wasted time...I had forgotten that fire is the love language of man. Rain or shine.

Not only did we have cake and ice cream, but then we had smores.

So the short story? We invited 13 children over to stand in the rain and play with fire. Then I filled them up with junk food, jacked them up with soda, cake and roasted sugar...and sent them home smelling of smoke and dripping wet.

Life is good when you're twelve!

Happy Monday!

Twelve Years Ago

Dear First Child,

You were the biggest surprise of our young marriage.

The gift I didn't know that I needed.

Twelve years ago from this very moment, I was fast asleep. Tucked in bed and unaware that in two and a half hours I would wake up, and my water would break.

I would call your dad and tell him to come home.

It was time.

By 6:30 that evening, after a day full of labor, you would arrive by c-section, with an adorable black eye to match your black hair.

Nine and a half pounds, and you were hungry.

Your dad and I were awestruck, as we held you; a dream come sooner than we had planned, but fulfilled in Perfect Timing.

Twelve short years ago...

Yesterday, as we walked through the piney woods of North Carolina, I was so proud of the young man you are becoming.

You wanted Kona the Wondermutt to come with us...just in case we might need protection.

You walked, with Kona, ahead of us, to swipe at cobwebs, so your sister and I wouldn't have to walk through them.

You patiently, carefully, taught your little sister how to cross the stream without falling in, or getting her new sneakers wet.

You held overgrown branches back so we wouldn't have to touch them.

You called out the muddy spots, and the dangerous spots; the places of beauty.

Some might pessimistically shake their heads and claim chivalry is dead.

They haven't met you.

Chivalry is defined as:

1. 
   
   1. 
      
      The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
      
      
      
   2. 
      
      A manifestation of any of these qualities.
      
      
      
   
   

You are all these things, but your humble spirit makes all these qualities a hundred-fold more valuable.

Sweet Boy, you will always be my first born.

I'm tough on you.

I've learned from you.

I've made mistakes with you, but I will never forget that you are the surprise gift I am privileged to be given. 

You make me proud, though I can take no credit for who you are, or who you are becoming.

Today my prayer for you is the one I prayed for you over a decade ago:


"May the God who has been my shepherd
       all my life to this day,
 ¹⁶ the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
       —may he bless (this) boy. "
          ~Genesis 48: 15-16



I love you,
Mom

(I was thinking about closing comments today, but instead I will leave them open...just in case you wanted to wish The Boy a Happy Birthday...)

This and That

Thank y'all so much for the great birthday wishes! I read (and re-read!) every one of them.

If you are a reader who doesn't actually have a blog (and really, why don't you?) I'm hear to tell you that having a blog is especially great for your birthday!  The comments made me crazy-happy! 

My birthday was terrific outside of the blog-o-sphere too. The Mister got me a TV for my new nest/sewing room. And he is building me a fire pit outside!  I am really excited about that fire pit because we have some friends here who would love to sit by a warm fire and roast marshmallows all winter long. 

We (and by that I really mean he) actually had most of the pit finished but when The Mister started to lay the brick, he decided it wasn't going to be big enough, so he is going to lift up all the brick he laid down, dig some more, and make it bigger. Listen, I never said I wasn't spoiled. 

Actually, asking for a birthday gift that required Man-Work was a win-win situation. The Mister actually likes doing things like digging giant holes for making large fires. 

But then again, what man doesn't?

Back to my birthday, in between obsessively checking for comments and swallowing large amounts of ibuprofen (in an attempt to fight off a migraine) I still managed to run 4 miles and bake some of the yummiest pumpkin cookies I have ever made. 

Oh, and I did actually manage to make sure my two young students did some school. I tend to be a stickler when it comes to school, so the kids were excited that I declared most of the day as a holiday.

I continued to fight a horrible headache and thought about skipping out on bible study that night. But I couldn't stand the thought of not showing up to my own birthday party. (It was supposed to a surprise, but i sort of knew). My sweet friends, The K Sisters, had made me the best chocolate frosted brownies I've eaten all month! After having chocolate I came home, tucked myself in bed and woke up Wednesday morning feeling fine. 

So, the cure for migraine is brownies and ice cream, and sweet friends to eat them with!

All in all, I got to do (and hear and see!) so many things I love on my birthday. That was a treat.

Lastly, I read a book this week that I highly recommend: Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer. He is the creator of VeggieTales. If you aren't familiar with VeggieTales you probably haven't had a young child in your life in the last 10-12 years...his book is still worth reading.

It's the account of the rise, and fall, of Mr. Vischer's production company Big Idea. It's a powerful story of God's desire for our lives whether we are in the world of business or not. I found my copy at the library, and highly recommend that you check it out.

OK, I gotta run. I have a pot of White Chicken Chili on the stove and a few friends coming over for lunch! I gotta get the table set!

Happy Friday!

It's a Great Day!

You may have heard me say this on the blog before, but I love birthdays! Even my own!

I decided to do a little Google search and see who else shared my birthday. I cannot believe the list of talented people born on October 21st!

Here is a list of ten:

1808

Samuel Francis Smith, Clergyman and hymnist, wrote "My Country Tis of Thee"

1833

Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and founder of the Nobel Prize

1917

Dizzy Gillespie, American musician

1924

Celia Cruz, Cuban singer; Considered the "Queen of Salsa"

1928

Whitey Ford, Major League Baseball player

1942

Judy Sheindlin, American judge and television host 

1949

Benjamin Netanyahu, 9th Prime Minister of Israel

1955

Rich Mullins, Christian musician

1956

Carrie Fisher, American actress and writer

19??

Darcie, Blogger and Friend

(Go on over and wish Darcie a happy day!)

In the spirit of birthdays and gift giving I need to give out an award that I have been holding onto for far too long.

Sweet Janel, over at Dandyliondayz awarded me with this:  

Janel, I love reading your blog and hope that someday we might meet face to face!

I can't remember how many people I am supposed to pass this off to, so I will go with three. I am passing this award onto meh of Biding My Time, because I think it will make her laugh, and we often do that together.

I also give this award to Blue Skies and Mama in High Heels. Because they are fun, homeschoolin' moms and I love to read their blogs!

If you happen to share a birthday with me today, Happy Birthday!  If not, I'm passing out cupcakes, Chocolate or Vanilla? 

Have a fantastic day!

SURPRISE!!!

OH! You don't know how hard it has been to not write about this!! But for the last month or so my Dad and I have been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for my Mom. Today is her actual birthday, but last night was the surprise of all surprises!

Have I ever told you that I just LOVE surprise parties!

Anyway, my Dad and I came up with a list of people that have been their friends for like, forever! These are people that I have literally known all my life. So it was very, very fun.

Let me tell you what was very hard. I sent out invitations and everyone RSVP'd to my phone number so I have been talking on the phone with all these folks and it was so hard not to mention in passing that I had just had a 30 minute conversation with her friend the night before.

I thought, for sure, that my Mom knew something was up. While we were on the phone the other day I tried to throw her off the trail, but I truly think she was oblivious, so it was totally unneccesary. However, I couldn't talk to her about her birthday face-to-face because I am horrible at hiding surprises. They are just too exciting.

There was a small snafu when we arrived at the party. Apparently the owner of the restaurant failed to make any notation (or anything) that we were to have 35 people for the party. When my sister-in-law arrived 30 minutes before the party was to start they had no idea that there was a party scheduled. They weren't set up, nothing. So, we were scrambling. The manager called the owner and they very quickly set up tables and things went off well, but whew!, that was very unsettling.

We were seated out in the patio and the weather was fabulous, cool with a light breeze. The best of the best fall Arizona evening. It was great.

~~~

Mom,

Happy birthday! It was fun to be here in town to celebrate with you and all your friends who have shared life with you over the years.

It was great to have a project with Dad. He loves you so very much. I wish that you could've seen him in his planning; I wish you could've heard the phone calls we have had in the last week. His excitement and desire to do something nice for you had me smiling on more than one occasion. He is crazy about you.

I am too.

Love your "I-Had-a-Glass-of-Wine-on-My-Birthday-35-Years-Ago-and-
Went-Into-Labor-The-Next-Day" Girl,

kellie