the small and the many...

one newly-wed christmas steven & i got into a very heated discussion over the nature of gifts and the meaning of them. he was going to buy me an elton john cd, (whom i admittedly love). he thought it meant, “here. i bought you something i know you’ll like.”.

i thought it meant, “here’s a cd”.

the discussion lasted days….

last valentines steven bought me chocolates, an ipod, and wrote me a lovely card…he was so excited about giving it to me we had to have a mini celebration on the 13th. the chocolates are all gone except for the 2 inches they added to my thighs, i rarely listen to the ipod and the card is “carefully” tucked away under the clutter in my sidetable drawer. i think.

yesterday he asked me what i wanted for this years valentines. it was one of those days so i told him "nothing!". it was one of those days...so i didn’t tell him that all i really wanted was to cuddle up on the couch with him, watch tv, and eat stuff that would add another 2 inches to my thighs. and his. later, when i finally fell into bed freezing from staying up too late, he cuddled me in just to help me get warm…no strings...no ulterior motive. he even let me put my cold feet on him. all because he knew it had been one of those days.

i'll take the small and the many over the big and the intermittent…the spark from them last way longer than the flash of a roman candle….

...

is it plagiarism if you steal your own stuff?

...

you know what i said about connor not dating...

turns out it's not so much about the actual dating.  it's more about the asking.  he's totally up for it if the girls are doing the asking.  and, apparently, it has to be more of an "event" rather than just a movie or bowling.

connor was asked to MORP - which for all you aussies is PROM spelled backwards...it's girl ask guy. and a whole lot cheaper...matching t-shirts is more the dress code instead of big gowns and too-expensive tuxes.  but of course there is still the issue of asking...which is an event in it's own right.

so megan littered our front porch with hershey's kisses and a poster that read...

and keeping with the candy themed play on words we came came up with this little number in  reply...

i'm nothing if i'm not punny!!!

i know. i know.  that was reaaaally bad....

say it isn't so...

my baby boy is 11. 

and as much as he's lovin' it, i have to admit it pulls at my heart more than just a little as i try to accept that in reality i don't have a baby anymore. of course what i do have makes that realization a lot easier to accept. that cute and cuddly baby i used to have has grown into a wonderfully handsome, loveable, friendly, funny, smart, outgoing, happy, quick witted, kind, helpful, respectful and loved by all young man. i think we made a fair trade.

 

 

happy birthday lou 

you are loved!

a sure thing...

today marks 21 years of wedded bliss.

you'd think that 21 years might feel like a long time coming, but you'd be wrong. i'm amazed at how a husband, 4 kids, a mortgage, a plethora of dogs, not to mention the intricate, and somewhat delicate details of daily living, can make 21 years whip by. seemingly, in less time than it takes to yell at the kids to stop fighting, and help with the dishes. the past 20 years or so are filled with so many memories - some i remember all too well - others have become a little more faded and distant than i would have hoped. it hasn't always been happiness and harmony, but with hindsight being what it is, i can honestly say, that for all of it, i am grateful.

being more the traditionalist, when steven actually "popped the question", back in the day, he did the formal sharon-will-you-marry-me thing. my response was...well...a little less traditional...and as it turns out, surprisingly indicative of how our marriage would proceed. instead of the traditional and time honored "yes!", my answer was more along the lines of "sure...". and while to some, my response might sound like i was a little unsure, i've never been more sure of anything in my life. i am absolutely sure that the life i've been blessed with over the past two decades is the one i was born to live. so in honor of the past 21 years, and the husband who makes them all possible, here are 21 things that i love about being married to steven; things that reassure me daily to keep following my instincts...

1. the sound of his voice; i love how he says my name, and tells me he loves me. and although steve's not really a singer, the kids loved it when they were little, and he'd sing nonsense songs to them, making up the words as he went along.
   
2. his sense of humor....even if sometimes he's the only one that gets it. or even appreciates it.
   
3. the pitter-patter of his feet on the kitchen tile as he busies himself, getting ready for work in the morning. very busy...lots of pitter-patter.
   
4. the gentle way he reminds me to come up to bed...sometime. please.
   
5. the warmth of his body when i finally crawl into bed at 2am, freezing from falling asleep on the couch.
   
6. getting the giggles with him at 2 in the morning over who knows what.
   
7. when something really tickles his funny bone and he goes into his "muttly" laugh, and just can't stop himself...(he sounds like the dog from the wacky races cartoon series - from way back in the day)
   
8. his quick and simple...love you wife...texted randomly in the middle of my day.
   
9. caitlin
   
10. connor
    
11. madeline
    
12. liam
    
13. i love how he loves our kids, how he will let them get away anything. with the exception of the things that really matter.
    
14. his willingness to be instructed by madeline in yoga poses...and his valiant efforts to execute them.
    
15. his work ethic; the way he unselfishly works an off duty job after having already put in a 10 hour shift, so that our family is well provided for.
    
16. his understanding that as much as life depends on the pursuit of money, sometimes life has to be about more than just money.
    
17. the way he honors his priesthood, and his ablility and worthiness to provide our family with the blessings it offers.
    
18. the way that he says kindly, "i've got this. why don't you go take a bath," when he can see, and hear, that i am a little on edge. especially because, what he really wants to say is, "go to your room. come back when you can be nice to everybody. especially me!"
    
19. i love that he loves me.
    
20. i love that i know he loves me.
    
21. i love that eternity will be so much better because i get to share it with him. one life time just isn't enough.
    

happy anniversary hon,

i love you...

why children are so completely worth it...

...because 18 year old daughters finally "get it". and are wise enough to be thankful for it.

...because almost 17 year old sons are gutsy enough to wrestle their mothers to the floor, knowing full well she's not going down without a fight...all in the name of a good back scratch.

...because almost 15 year old daughters can see beyond themselves and the mall...and are happy and willing to choose the better part all in the name of family.

...because just-shy of 11 year old boys still think their mothers are "pretty much perfect". and still love them enough to tell them so. 

why husbands are so completely worth it...

...because i just heard steve refer to izzy as PUGALICIOUS!

for this i am grateful. part 2...

i am grateful for good sense...

the sense of smell....
homemade wheat bread while it's baking
wet dirt and concrete just after the rain begins
freshly bathed babies
sweaty 10 year old boys
puppy breath

the sense of sound...
the words, i love you...even when they're not directed at me
my children talking to each other
when steve gets the giggles and can't stop
steaming hot water running in the tub when i know it's for me
a really good thunderstorm

the sense of sight...
a newborn
steven's face
the first glimpse of ocean as we head up the 805 towards san clemente each summer
old people holding hands
the smiles on my kids' faces when they're really pleased with themselves

the sense of taste...
cookie dough
a kiss
pizza and diet coke
chocolate on about day 29
success

the sense of touch...
warm sand
a really good foot rub
steven's hand at the small of my back
when my kids give me one of those good and long, really tight i-love-you-so-much hugs, instead of the quick luv-ya-gotta-run brush-ups
that soft spot on my mothers chest just below her collar bone

and all those other, much needed, sixth, seventh & eigth senses...
i am grateful for a sense of humor and the good sense to use it when things are at their absolute, least humorous. i am grateful for the good sense to speak up when appropriate. i'm even more grateful for the good sense to sometimes just keep my mouth shut. i'm grateful for the sense to know there are many who are so much wiser than me. and i'm especially grateful to have just enough sense left to know it. i am grateful to still possess that sense of wonder requisite for recognizing the rich and abundent life i have been so blessed to lead.

and while a sense of style isn't really my thing...i do have the sense to appreciate it in others. i even have it on my list of things to develop in this life time. yep! it's right up there with organizational skills and plate spinning.

for this i am grateful. part 1...

after last nights pity party i found a little book that i just love. it's a compilation of words of wisdom from your garden variety, run of the mill, regular folk. real people with real lives. smart people who have found that the meaning of life, which sometimes seems so elusive, is most often manifest in the simple things that make up our days. things like...

sharpie markers with perfect points.

sprout, 33, washington

having a complete stranger smile at me.

antonio, 15, new york

even if i can no longer touch my toes, i can still see them.

ralph, 60, washington

i am grateful for just being me.

omnissia, 10 california

my favorite one is by irwin lieberman, 61, from florida...

being of the jewish faith, i had my bar mitzvah on my thirteenth birthday. the only gift i remember was from my uncle irving, my mother's only sibling. the gift was a prayer. i now teach hebrew school and am often invited to bar mitzvah cremonies and receptions. i offer each of my students the same prayer my uncle gave me. it's meaning holds the power of revealing true happiness..."i pray that you have everthing in life you want, but more important, i pray you want everything in life you have."

may we all be so wise and so blessed in the coming year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

with love

sharry & crew