A Treasure

A BIRTHDAY

just can't be a birthday without cake!

Honestly.

And with Grandma Judy living just around the bend, you can't have a birthday without a personalized cookie bouquet!

And a Celebration Banner...

of course!

And Wait..........
mini cupcakes for fine fingers!




Rachel's been waiting patiently all year for this.

A rag dolly named Ann

that Grandma Judy stitched

with love.

All the grand girls received this

birthday treasure this year.

13 Years ago

I received a Treasure.

I was on a girls night out.....a fine Italian Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee Wisconsin, lakeside. A Saturday night. Thanksgiving weekend.

Sydney said, "You're not eating Jill"

"I'm having contractions, but I'm fine." I answered calmly. I wasn't fine.

A couple more minutes into appetizers Irene said, "you're still not eating or drinking."

Before I knew it Sydney had the waitress boxing up our meal in a flash. We borrowed the house phone to call the daddy.

All eyes were on our party as we stood up to exit in a hurry.

The man sitting next to our table smiled and asked "Now, which one of you ladies is in labor?"

Irene was only a couple of weeks behind me, calmly gestating, while my gestating was stirring havoc.

Sydney quickly ushered us out of the restaurant and into her red mini van.

We beat daddy to the hospital. All the nurses in the ER were just as confused as the diners at the restaurant.

"Which mother will be admitted tonight honey?" the nurse asked us sweetly.

I crawled into bed just as david came into my room.

"Ready to have a baby tonight?" he asked as he walked to the bed and kissed my forehead.

"This baby is ready" I answered as I looked up into his eyes wanting to cry.

Standing just outside my door Syd and Irene waved goodbye.

A couple of hours later Rachel,

a beautiful round pink baby girl

was born.

We were so

HAPPY.

What a girl can do.....

for a teenaged boy.

uplift
teach
motivate
inspire
bring happiness
friendship
create laughter

ultimate boy party

My youngest child, my baby, turned 10 years old last week. To a child this age, birthdays cannot pass without flare. A big boom. A blast. A bon fire! Well, that is, according to Jeffrey. While mom was out of town doing girl things with sisters and friends, Jeffrey and dad were home doing guy things like.........

collecting wood in the canyon

chopping wood

eating steak

ditchin' school

searching for bmx bike

eating burgers and shakes

planning the ultimate boy party

that's what I call quality time!

As soon as I arrived home the party began. fire and apple pie...... friends and presents.... little smokies and marshmallows. the end

They serve us in return for scraps

All is Quiet while mom does the dishes.

everyone has vanished.

dishwasher humming.

warm soapy water

one last bit of casserole for Gus Gus.
what a good helper!

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."

~Roger Caras

Stop this train

Today I am 39. Yesterday I was 29, preparing to give birth to my last baby. Two days ago I was 19 and engaged to be married to the man of my dreams. The day before that I was 9, in the fourth grade adjusting to my new school and new home. And the day before that, I was born on my mother's 27th birthday. Tomorrow I will be 49. Won't someone stop this train?

Next month my dad will be 69. My grandmother will be 99.

I love John Mayer. His song sums up exactly how i feel these days. Time is traveling too fast for me. I'm a passenger sitting in a window seat watching life pass before my eyes in a fast motion. Life......please slow down. I love watching my kids learn and grow and experience new things. But at the same time i want to push the pause button, pull the brake, lock the door, stop feeding my children milk! I know that one day my children will be grown and out of the house. I remember my fasination with my first newborn baby in my arms. I wanted him to stay a baby. I called my mom and asked her if she misses her babies. She told me that she still has them, but in a different form. She said that the joy never ends as they grow and become adults, having babies of their own. I said "ok" and hung up the phone and had a good postpardom cry. Don't stop this train. Don't for a minute change the place your in. she seemed to say.

i love President Monson's talk on Finding Joy in the Journey. I really needed to hear his words and sweet reminders.

"There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today."

The most important part of my day are the people in that day. My husband and children, family and friends.

"My sincere prayer is that we my adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

So what. I'm almost 40. I have so much to be grateful for. Everyday blessings fill my life. I have joy and love. Now i see i'm never going to stop this train.

Happy Birthday MOM!! don't get any older....i don't want to celebrate without you.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

A little reminder of His ways as I walk the path of this earthly life. Early summer we went hiking with friends just minutes from our home. There is a spring at the top of the trail, cascading down with falls and beaver ponds. In late summer, wild raspberries grow all over. It's a fairytopia, a garden of eden, a little taste of heaven.

Especially when you enter these

little pieces

to the equation!
I just love His ways.

Tea Party

Dear Miss Wiscombe,

You are welcome to attend my evening tea tonight at approximately 5:00 pm. You may bring a guest if you wish. And we will be discussing the new book we will be reading this week.

PS You are assigned to bring fresh flowers of your choice and a jar of mandarine oranges! Thank you

Sincerely, Miss Iroz