Stories

I have been lacking in the blogging department lately.  The last two years have, unfortunately, been extremely overwhelming for me, struggling to keep my head above water.  There hasn't been time to think of my stories that used to come so easily for me, nor has there been time for the pictures that would accompany those stories.  So I am asking for your help......Is there anything you want to know?  Any story you want to hear?  Ask away......

Jackpot

What would you do if you won the lottery? 

No, really......what would you do?  Have you ever given it any thought?  I know the odds are small.....but all of those people who have hit the jackpot, never imagined in a million years that they would be the recipients of all that glorious money.....at least "glorious" in the beginning.

I diligently play once a week.  As most of you know....I haven't won yet....and will probably be out $52 this year......but it is fun to play, hope, and dream.

If I won, I am not sure I would be able to remember all the people I have made the..."OK, I'll remember you if you remember me".........pacts with.  Sorry guys!  I may have to go into hiding as one friend has stated he would do if he won.

How many of us have said, "If I win the lottery, I am going to be smart about it.  It's not going to ruin MY life!"  (I recently watched "How Winning the Lottery Ruined My Life" marathon and took notes on what NOT to do.)

The first thing I would do is quit my job and stay at home with my four children.....just think of the money we would save in child care alone!!!  I would immediately set up a retirement fund....college fund....pay off my house.....car....set up my parents and my in-laws for the rest of their years.... give a considerable donation to my church, and with the rest I would set up a foundation.

I am sure if I won.....I would have no trouble finding someone to "help" me invest my money.......whether or not they would be trustworthy is a whole other story.  I am sure I would be amazed by who would come crawling out of the woodwork.  But winning the lottery is still an interesting possibility to ponder.

Even if I my lucky numbers are never drawn, I still consider my self to have won the jackpot of life.  I have 4 beautiful, active and healthy children, a wonderful husband, the most incredible family one could ask for, a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in each night, and food on the table. 
 
So...it's Wednesday.  Go out and buy your ticket and I wish you all the luck in the world!
(And if you could......remember me!)

Thank you, Mom!

Thank you, Mom, for putting up with me all of these years!  I know I haven't always made it easy for you.....but even when I made it hard to like me.....you have always loved me.

Thank you for....

rescuing me from Buster, the dog, when I was 3ish and he had me cornered and was fiercely growling at me.  So scary!

gently breaking the news to me that cold, icy, winter day about what had really happened to Tabby.

staying up all night with me when I was 3 or 4 when my ear drum burst. OUCH! The pain was excruciating, but you made it all better simply by stroking my hair.  I know you must have desperately wanted to lay your head down and get some sleep...but you didn't.

rescuing me when I blew up my bicycle tire.  Boy, did my ears ever ring!  The lesson I learned that day was invaluable.  :)

waiting to tell me that the first ribbon I earned at the fair was not such a good thing.  It was a WHITE ribbon (last place).  You waited to tell me because I was so excited about that little ribbon and in my mind, it was so BEAUTIFUL.

all of your help with numerous 4-H projects and those wonderful record books.

making sure my shoes remained spotless and forever "unscuffed" no matter where we went.  I apologize for not carrying on that tradition with my own kids....I know that drives you crazy.

spending endless afternoons perched on that park bench outside Steinhart Lodge, quietly tolerating the summer heat, while Brent and I swam our little hearts out each day.

sewing my "first day of school" school clothes way back in Kindergarten....because I know you hate to sew, but you did it anyway.

volunteering to drive for my first end of the year field trip....we went to the Bicentennial Train.  Does anyone know what "bicentennial" means anymore?

making our birthdays absolutely wonderful and making us feel like the most important people on Earth.

making all of our holidays so very special.

piano and guitar lessons and carting me back and forth.

taking me to the "country school skating parties"....even when the weather was treacherous and you would have much rather stayed home where it was safe and warm.

putting up with those difficult teenage years.

checking up on me during those difficult teenage years.....making sure I wasn't driving around on my learner's permit, meeting me at my car in the IGA parking lot when I was obviously way past my curfew, making sure I was where I said I would be, and not being overly upset with me when I rolled the Bronco.  If you hadn't done that, who knows what kind of hoodlum you'd have on your hands today.  :)

staying up late, cooking and serving up breakfast for us after the Holiday dance.
 
letting me fight my own battles but sticking up for me when needed to.

giving me a safe, loving home to grow up in.

showing me that I can be a working mom and still be a great mom to my own children.

this last year!

last week!

everything else you have done for me that I have failed to mention.  And I know there are so many things I haven't mentioned.

all of your love and support in everything I have done and have failed to do.  One of those being...not telling you more often what you mean to me and how much I love you!  You are truly the best and I hope I can be half the mother to my own children that you were/are to Brent and me.

Happy Mother's Day....a day late!

You truly are the wind beneath my wings!

I love you!
S