My parents celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary March 19th. How wonderful it must be to share your lives together for so long and still like to be with each other. What a blessing! My parents were always said to be the example of what love and marriage was all about. How lucky I was to grow up in a household where there was much love, respect, dedication and stability. So many people I knew came from "broken homes" and did not have a home life like I did. I was very lucky to have two parents who adored me and only wanted the best for me. Looking back on the memories of the home I knew as a child, I miss those years.
This year my aunt and uncle drove down from NY to be with my parents on their anniversary. Tim and I joined them for dinner at the Red Lobster. Afterwards we went back to my parents house for some uber good cupcakes from one of our local bakers. The next week we went to my parents for dinner with everyone. A friend of mine I have known since we were little sent me a recipe for Chicken Bacon Ranch that is cooked in a crockpot. I passed the recipe on to my Mom and that was what we had for dinner. Yum! Last Saturday everyone came to our house for dinner. That was probably the best meal I have ever cooked in my life! They met our new puppy, Gracie, which everyone loved and saw all the renovations we did on the house since they had visited last. We had the best time just being together and visiting. Tonight we are joining everyone for dinner at the only place in the Memphis area to get BBQ...Brad's BBQ. This will be our last dinner together, as my aunt and uncle will be leaving tomorrow to head back to NY.
In our home, there's plenty of love, laughter, and craziness.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Exploring Arkansas
We wanted this year to be different than past years. This year, we want to get out of the house and explore what's around us. We will be calling this "Exploring Arkansas". We will be planning weekend trips to different areas of Arkansas. We made a list of things we would like to do. Our plans are do some white river rafting, doing the ziplines, canoeing, going to museums and outdoor markets, exploring caves and diamond craters, and even renting dune buggies. I've always wanted to sky dive, so maybe we can put that on the list as well. This state has so much to see and do. As we start our travels, we will be blogging about them and posting photos.
Tim Gets A New Job
Two days after Mollie died, Tim lost his job on January 20th. What a horrible week we had! Tim had been employed with this company for 9 years and this came as a shock to him. He was one of 15 booted out that day. They called it “economic cutbacks”. When I came home for lunch and saw his car in the drive way, it worried me. I walked in and said, “Please don’t tell me you lost your job”. To which he said, “I did”. He was so upset, but we came up with a plan together. He spent the next two weeks looking for a job, sending resumes and filling out applications. He went through a local temp agency and was able to get on with a distribution company. He has better hours, which gives us more family time. This company only hires twice a year and we’re hoping he will be selected for permanent employment when they begin the selection process. He really likes working there and it’s something different than what he had been doing.
Mollie crossed The Rainbow Bridge
On January 18, 2011, our little Mollie died. She was 12 yrs old. It’s been a month now since we lost her and I am at a place now where I can write this blog.
Mollie was a Peekapoo and weighed 5 pounds. For many years it was just Mollie and I. She was beautiful dog and had such a loving personality. Everywhere I went, Mollie went. She was my parents “Granddog” and they adored her. Mollie loved Tim, he was her “Daddy”. When Tim and I married, they would have breakfast together. He would make an extra piece of toast for her. Mollie loved, loved, loved Hawaiian rolls. She would go nuts when she saw the orange bag. Mollie loved life. Mollie enjoyed going to the park where the ducks and geese were. She would bark and chase them. She thought she was a big, when she was so small. She taught me how to love, to not be selfish and how to care for another. She needed me and I loved that. She was always so happy to see me when we had been apart. Every evening she sat with me as I watched TV or read.
Mollie was a Peekapoo and weighed 5 pounds. For many years it was just Mollie and I. She was beautiful dog and had such a loving personality. Everywhere I went, Mollie went. She was my parents “Granddog” and they adored her. Mollie loved Tim, he was her “Daddy”. When Tim and I married, they would have breakfast together. He would make an extra piece of toast for her. Mollie loved, loved, loved Hawaiian rolls. She would go nuts when she saw the orange bag. Mollie loved life. Mollie enjoyed going to the park where the ducks and geese were. She would bark and chase them. She thought she was a big, when she was so small. She taught me how to love, to not be selfish and how to care for another. She needed me and I loved that. She was always so happy to see me when we had been apart. Every evening she sat with me as I watched TV or read.
When I think back on our time together, I had 12 of the most wonderful years with her. Not a day has gone by that I don’t miss or think of her. We had her cremated and she is resting in a pretty wooden box. Someday, we will be buried together. Inside the box are all the things I saved of hers throughout her life. Her puppy teeth, dog tags, her collar and bows from when she was groomed. The day we picked her ashes up, the lady at the cremation place gave us a copy of the Rainbow Bridge. I cried as I read it. How I wish this would actually happen. We’ve all lost a pet, so let’s just hold on to the hope that one day this will happen. Through all the things Mollie and I did together, she is on a journey, that she has to take alone.
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Christmas Day 2010
I was up before Tim, which gave me the quiet time I needed to finish some last minute details on a scrapbooking gift for my Mom. I made coffee and tended to things until he got up. Tim and I had our Christmas together. We were both excited about our gifts to each other. Tim picked out the perfect gifts for me this year. We had such a great morning!
My parents arrived around noon and we began our Christmas holiday with them. I pretty much had everything done before they got here. We had appetizers of BBQ'd smokies, a meat/cheese tray, brownies, homemade Christmas goodies. Mom complimented us on how nice everything was. We always have something to talk about and my parents just adore Tim. We exchanged gifts and my parents are always good to us with their gift. At dinner, we talked, laughed, reminisced, and received words of advice. We sat at the table talking long after dinner and dessert was over, our behinds going numb. Neither of us wanting to make a move to get up. My Dad finally broke that when he had to go to the bathroom LOL
I am so thankful for the time we have with my parents. Each visit, every phone call. I talk to my Mom up to 3 times a day. The older I get, the reality sets in that today could be the last. My Mom always tells people what a good daughter I am. You can't receive a better compliment than that. I am very blessed to have wonderful people in my life...My husband, my parents, my family and the best friends a person could ever hope for.
My parents arrived around noon and we began our Christmas holiday with them. I pretty much had everything done before they got here. We had appetizers of BBQ'd smokies, a meat/cheese tray, brownies, homemade Christmas goodies. Mom complimented us on how nice everything was. We always have something to talk about and my parents just adore Tim. We exchanged gifts and my parents are always good to us with their gift. At dinner, we talked, laughed, reminisced, and received words of advice. We sat at the table talking long after dinner and dessert was over, our behinds going numb. Neither of us wanting to make a move to get up. My Dad finally broke that when he had to go to the bathroom LOL
I am so thankful for the time we have with my parents. Each visit, every phone call. I talk to my Mom up to 3 times a day. The older I get, the reality sets in that today could be the last. My Mom always tells people what a good daughter I am. You can't receive a better compliment than that. I am very blessed to have wonderful people in my life...My husband, my parents, my family and the best friends a person could ever hope for.
Christmas Eve 2010
This Christmas, as with every fall time holiday, we talk about how to divide our time between families. I will always spend Christmas Day with my parents. That's a given. Tim's Mom and Step-father always do the same thing EVERY Christmas. So we basically have to work around their schedule. We've invited them over many times for Christmas dinner, and they declined each time. Last years excuse was, it was too much driving (we only live 30 minute from them). Go figure. This year Tim decided to invite his Mom and Step-father over on Christmas Eve. We both were excited that she was coming and this would be the first time she's been to our home in over a year and since we completed all the home improvements. They had a party to go to that evening, so plans were they would come early that day.
His parents came in and she gives Tim a hug. I complimented her Christmas shirt. I reached up to give her a hug and she dodges me and heads for the bathroom. We sit down and begin what is to be the most uncomfortable visit we have ever had with anyone. His mother had very little to say to me. I kept glancing at Tim to see if he was aware of her behavior. We continued to make small talk about nothing special. I tried my best to start conversations with her, but she chose to give one word answer each time, so I gave up. Tim gave them our gifts. His Mom acted indifferent about her gift, which was a HP wireless printer, the one that does it all. She recently bought a lap top and expressed an interest in getting a printer. I suggested to Tim that we get one for her. It wasn't 10 minutes later, she said they had to be going. She grabbed her purse, her gift and rushed to the front door. The only way to describe how she looked is to compare it to turning on a light and watching roaches scatter. She never said goodbye to me (and I was standing right there!). She never looked back. She left in such a rush, she forgot her coat and Tim had to come back in to retrieve it. I stood there in disbelief. I told Tim I was done with her. I have tried and tried to get along with her. Anything that goes wrong, I get the blame for. I told Tim his Mom would never set her eyes on my face again and that she was not welcome in our home ever again. He was going to say something to his Mom when she was here, but said it wouldn't have done any good. His Mom will never get another opportunity to hurt me again. As far as I am concerned, she doesn't exist. When Tim wants to visit with her, he can go alone and that includes the holidays. Tim knew I was so upset over this, he emailed his Mom and told her how he didn't appreciate her disrespecting me and treating me like she did. To this day he hasn't received a response. His Mother is emotionally unstable and needs help. Seeing the kind of person she is, makes me doubly thankful I have the parents I do! Tim was ashamed she acted the way she did. He expected better. He doesn't understand why she dislikes me so much. He says she thinks no one is good enough for him. Good enough compared to who? Her? Ha! So the total time they were here visiting was maybe 30 minutes. Despite the way she treated me, this is the way she chose to spend the time she had with her son. I felt bad for him. He deserves so much better than her. He will always remember on Christmas Eve 2010, his Mother showed her ass and cheated him of spending time with her for Christmas.
I say...Good riddance to the Mother-in-Law from Hell!! Never again will you get the opportunity to hurt me, to snub me, to blame me, to ignore me. You are pitiful and I feel sorry for you. You never gave me a chance and you are the one who is missing out. We could have been such good friends and had a close relationship. You chose not to from day one and you made it your goal to see how miserable you could be to me. There is nothing you could ever say that would EVER change how I feel. You've opened your son's eyes to the real you. Now aren't you proud of yourself? You lost the respect of your son.
So to all the women out there who never had the courage to stand up to your Monster-in-Law, its not too late. Stand up for yourself. Be heard. Stand your ground. Know when enough is enough. You will feel much better cutting that knotted cord and divorcing your In-Laws. I know I do!
AN ADDITIONAL NOTE:
In case you are reading this, I HATED the birthday card you sent me. I didn't find it amusing nor funny. How could you possibly think I would find it funny considering the past we have? The only reason you even told Tim about it was to cover your ass because you knew you shouldn't have sent it. You obsessed about this card and whether or not I liked it. In the almost 5 years we've been married have you ever tipped him off to the card you were sending? No! I saw right through this and it back fired on you. And it cost you a relationship. Not that you even remotely cared about that. You should be accountable for your actions instead of acting like you did nothing wrong.
His parents came in and she gives Tim a hug. I complimented her Christmas shirt. I reached up to give her a hug and she dodges me and heads for the bathroom. We sit down and begin what is to be the most uncomfortable visit we have ever had with anyone. His mother had very little to say to me. I kept glancing at Tim to see if he was aware of her behavior. We continued to make small talk about nothing special. I tried my best to start conversations with her, but she chose to give one word answer each time, so I gave up. Tim gave them our gifts. His Mom acted indifferent about her gift, which was a HP wireless printer, the one that does it all. She recently bought a lap top and expressed an interest in getting a printer. I suggested to Tim that we get one for her. It wasn't 10 minutes later, she said they had to be going. She grabbed her purse, her gift and rushed to the front door. The only way to describe how she looked is to compare it to turning on a light and watching roaches scatter. She never said goodbye to me (and I was standing right there!). She never looked back. She left in such a rush, she forgot her coat and Tim had to come back in to retrieve it. I stood there in disbelief. I told Tim I was done with her. I have tried and tried to get along with her. Anything that goes wrong, I get the blame for. I told Tim his Mom would never set her eyes on my face again and that she was not welcome in our home ever again. He was going to say something to his Mom when she was here, but said it wouldn't have done any good. His Mom will never get another opportunity to hurt me again. As far as I am concerned, she doesn't exist. When Tim wants to visit with her, he can go alone and that includes the holidays. Tim knew I was so upset over this, he emailed his Mom and told her how he didn't appreciate her disrespecting me and treating me like she did. To this day he hasn't received a response. His Mother is emotionally unstable and needs help. Seeing the kind of person she is, makes me doubly thankful I have the parents I do! Tim was ashamed she acted the way she did. He expected better. He doesn't understand why she dislikes me so much. He says she thinks no one is good enough for him. Good enough compared to who? Her? Ha! So the total time they were here visiting was maybe 30 minutes. Despite the way she treated me, this is the way she chose to spend the time she had with her son. I felt bad for him. He deserves so much better than her. He will always remember on Christmas Eve 2010, his Mother showed her ass and cheated him of spending time with her for Christmas.
I say...Good riddance to the Mother-in-Law from Hell!! Never again will you get the opportunity to hurt me, to snub me, to blame me, to ignore me. You are pitiful and I feel sorry for you. You never gave me a chance and you are the one who is missing out. We could have been such good friends and had a close relationship. You chose not to from day one and you made it your goal to see how miserable you could be to me. There is nothing you could ever say that would EVER change how I feel. You've opened your son's eyes to the real you. Now aren't you proud of yourself? You lost the respect of your son.
So to all the women out there who never had the courage to stand up to your Monster-in-Law, its not too late. Stand up for yourself. Be heard. Stand your ground. Know when enough is enough. You will feel much better cutting that knotted cord and divorcing your In-Laws. I know I do!
AN ADDITIONAL NOTE:
In case you are reading this, I HATED the birthday card you sent me. I didn't find it amusing nor funny. How could you possibly think I would find it funny considering the past we have? The only reason you even told Tim about it was to cover your ass because you knew you shouldn't have sent it. You obsessed about this card and whether or not I liked it. In the almost 5 years we've been married have you ever tipped him off to the card you were sending? No! I saw right through this and it back fired on you. And it cost you a relationship. Not that you even remotely cared about that. You should be accountable for your actions instead of acting like you did nothing wrong.
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