Birthday Dinner, My Little Heart and A Game of Tag. Even I'm Worn Out Now!

Well Cat and I didn't get down to Hillbilly Holler to hang out with coffee filter birthday hats, Aunt Bea, Jen Gi and song. But that didn't stop Cat and I from having an early dinner tonight anyway. Her birthday is Sunday, so it was kinda my treat to her. I have to say I completely enjoyed this dinner, it's been far too long since Cat and I have had time to just sit and chat without kids or husbands hanging around. Kids and husbands are good, though. Just sometimes they're so amazing we don't feel we DESERVE to be around them so much, so we suffered.

The photos I have kinda stink, but the one of Cat is so pretty I think it almost makes up for her half face in the next one! And I'm being quite a good sport, because I don't know what the hey hoo (JenGi, I stole that!) was going on with my hair there! It looks a little Ed Grimley-ish..now I wonder if I left the house like this or if it just happened in the parking lot. Thanks for the mention, Cat. Not!

Onto something very cool--Angela at Mommy Bytes, being a talented knitter had a giveaway. She knitted these little hearts and I really really wanted one. I'd all but forgotten about it when she emailed me last week that I'd won one. It arrived in the mail and it's so cute I now think I have to re-learn to knit. I kinda sorta learned years ago, but knitting wasn't cool then. There are so many fun things out there now, I have to jump on that bandwagon. Angela, thanks, I heart this prize!

Finally, my friend Katja tagged me with this--how fun it this one I ask? Here is low down:

Rule #1: Copy all the links below and replace a single link under the appropriate letter of the alphabet. If your domain name, or even the title of your blog, starts with an “A,” you’d replace the link under that letter and put the replaced link at the bottom. Also, don’t forget to credit the tagger, or where you got the list from, at the end of the list with a full URL of the post, so that a pingback gets generated.

A. An Ordinary Life

B. bloggingcents.com

C. caffeine-overload.com

D. DadThing.com

E. everythingandanythingblog.com

F. From Dates to Diapers

G. GeekMomMashup.com

H. happykeg.comI. ipentimento.com

J. JameeForever.blogspot.com

K. kabalyero.com

L. ladylike4.com

M. mommymandy.com

N. notjustmama.net

O. originalmx5.net

P. peapodsquadstuff.com

Q. qweddings.com

R. rowdigrl.com

S. skimbaco.blogspot.com

T. thesocalledme.net

U. utada-online.net

V. valmg.com

W. wickedbabylon.com

X. xaviermedia.com

Y. yimto.com

Z. zbudapest.com

Replaced link: Julie's Journal

Previous tagger: Skimbaco-Katja

Rule #2: You now have to “tag” at least five people and encourage them to participate so that this thing spreads like a virus. But not a virus. No no, not a virus. That would be wrong.

I'm tagging:

Dawn

JenGi

Aunt Bea

Eileen

Misty Dawn

On Desktops and Blog Friends

I keep seeing this on my Technorati page and I don't remember doing this! If I had to guess, I think Dawn tagged me, but I'm not certain. I'm supposed to copy my screen as it is right at this moment and post it online. I'm already on the list, so I'm not going to post that, but I missed out on the fun part! My desktop changes from week to week, and this week, my favorite person, John, my adopted father/grandfather I visit at the nursing home. His face is amongst my favorite faces. I love him and what's even better--he loves me back!
Before I get going with the home school day, I wanted to share this from Eileen, my friend at A Life Of Triggers:

Eileen and I have a few things in common, not the least of which being we have lost our beautiful sisters far too early. Eileen is a social worker, so was Jamee. I think reading her posts reminds me of the stories Jamee would tell in her early years with the DFS...the frustrations, the victories. It takes a very strong woman to do what Jamee did, and I believe Eileen is strong enough. She passed this onto all her friends, and I'm going to do the same, this is for all of you, my friends, and this is what it means:

• "They color my life with the beautiful hues of friendship. Although we come from different backgrounds and cultures we share the same spirit of friendship."

Over the months since I started my first blog, it's evolved greatly. It started because I wanted to make friends with other sewing enthusiasts and thrist store lovers like myself. And I quickly surprised myself when I found I was drawn into the lives behind the words more so than the crafting. From that realization, I've learned that I can have relationships that reach from one end of the world to the other and they're as real as the friends I visit with each day in person. I've met a few of you in person and I have hopes of meeting even more.

My blogroll continues to evolve as well....some of my friends have stopped blogging, some have just stopped coming over. But the truth behind those blogs for me is this: I'm invested in some way, whether large or small, and I am grateful God put you into my path. Or vice versa! I hope you grab this Friendship button and know you're special to me. And as real as any friend could be--non-bloggers don't understand. I keep working on them!

I Seriously Need To Run Faster!

Katja's been playing a little tag, and because she's got wayy longer (and thinner) legs than I do, I couldn't outrun her. I tried but she still got me (I think she pulled my hair, but I'm not sure!). So here it is, the Ten Years Meme Tag!
Ten years ago, in 1997

1. Gave birth To Alex--9 pounds 14 oz, 21.5" long. I'm supposed to list three things here, but honestly, that was my year. No moves, no transitions other than a baby, nothing. Not even a new car!

Five years ago, in 2002 (this one's hard, guys; the worst year of my life)

1. Buried my father, who died unexpectedly at 59--I loved my father with all my heart and I know despite his many mistakes, he loved his girls.
2. Four months later, buried my sister, Jamee. If you know me at all by now, you know the depth of my grief.
3. Worked my way in and out of anger for many reasons, some of which I have never touched upon here, and not sure I ever can or will.

Three years ago, 2004

1.Jamee's husband remarries. I only want the best for him, for the kids, yet I fell into deep despair with this. It was too early for me and I couldn't handle it. I didn't attend, and feelings were hurt where they weren't meant to be. But I couldn't do it. Now, definitely I'm strong enough.
2. Last time I saw my little sister--this is a very long sad story. I continue to hope she will be part of my life, but that hope is fading into more of a knowing in my soul that she will not.
3. My family has crumbled by now and I cling to God, John and the kids, my wonderful friends, church family and in-laws. I begin to teach myself to view family not by the blood we share, but by the tears and laughter we share.

One year ago, in 2006

1. We had moved the year previous and were settling into our new neighborhood.
2. Two of my children are in high school and John and I learn (sometimes the hard way) how to parent teenagers.
3. I have an hysterectomy and quit smoking (but then you already knew that!)

So far this year, in 2007

1. I began my first blog--and haven't stopped blogging since!
2. Met up with both Cat and GiGi--how lucky can a blogging girl get?!
3. Begin my journey into homeschooling our son, Alex (that 9lb 14oz baby!).

Yesterday

1. Drove my work in the carpool (a 2.5 hour endeavor)
2. A little housework never hurt anyone--not saying I did or didn't do any.
3. Typing--did some typing (should be working on that now too!)

Today -- It's My BIRTHday!

1. Homeschool
2. Birthday lunch with my favorite SIL Debbie!
3. Church for dinner, study (make fun of Cat a little) and back home to type again.

I'm supposed to do tomorrow & next year, but I'm afraid unless God has another directive, it'll be boring--typing and probably a nursing home visit with Mr. John. Then more typing! Next year, I pray our lives will continue to be blessed with friends we love, family we love and a life that is being lived out with meaning and purpose--with a lot of fun in there somewhere!

I'm going to tag a few friends I haven't tagged in awhile: First, FAQ--haven't heard from here in awhile. Eileen, entertain us! And finally...hmmm.....Misty, have you done this one yet?

I Can Justify Just About Anything--After All, I Am The Teacher!

Eileen thought she'd add to my credentials box, although I think she's got the wrong Stacey at JameeForever! This is what the award, An Apple For Teacher Award, is about:

"for those people who spend much time and energy teaching ushow to do things on blogs, encouraging us, enabling us, instructing us and enthusing us."

Now Eileen, I can see why you would receive this--you're always teaching me, mostly while you retell your workday. I'm not sure what I taught you, but lemme try to justify me keeping this award (because I am)!

These are things I could have taught you:

Basic airplane construction

Maybe it was my tutorial on how to avoid double-chinned photos:

Very possibly you learned what Pilot John taught me--despite what it reads, keep this t-shirt ON, do not take it off before flight! (or just that Pilot John is sky candy, idk, not sayin he is or he isn't): That even the quietest church ladies can learn to throw up the deuces right there in front of the church if you don't tell them they may or may not be flashing gang signs (gosh it seems I have a thing about contorting my lips when I take a photograph--I'll work on that!):

That I shouldn't go around asking if my BFF GiGi has tanner (or thinner) legs than I do...it'll be a yes--that's Gi on the left, duh!:

That it is PERFECTLY fine to pick the best picture of yourself with your friends, and that Cat shouldn't have been trying to pick up a potato chip with her toes!:

But in case said friend doesn't like you after that, go ahead and put up a better one of her:

And finally, I do believe I can accept this award if I think I might have taught you that even if you don a fun little cowboy hat and hold your breath, you will eventually be booted off Top Momma anyway!

I think I learn something from everyone I frequent, but I have to choose a few, so for this award I'm going to pass this onto:

GiGi --I didn't have to think about this one! She shows me how much easier it is to get through life laughing at myself most of the time. And when the situation calls for it, is a friend (BFF) and a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister. She's so many things for so many people and reading this blog has made me a much better person--no getting around it.

USO Girl and Bubba's Sis for the same reasons--they're best friends, their daughters are best friends, and reading their blog shows me EVERY single time what amazing ways best friends, truly best friends, will do for our lives. Put someone else in front of your wants every single time and you will never be sorry--these girls illustrate that well.

Sharon--You know by now I adore Sharon and I covet her sewing skills. She constantly updates with projects she's been working on, tips, gadgets (the turner thing for spaghetti straps I have yet to get but need) and now she teaches her readers how to pose for the camera. Sharon, I still think going the FBANXPOR route with that blue skirt would have been the way to go. But you're the expert, but think about it.

Surjit--Threw a new one in there to throw ya! How do I describe this man--I don't know that I can fully do that. He's got a blog that really does teach--and it does so by forcing me to think. When he first met me on a blog link community, he picked up on my description 'my blog is all about me, me, me, me, me' and of course needed to see who this woman was who thought so highly of herself. Hopefully he knows by now that's not really me.