A house is not a home ~ until you are there

I believe Luther sings this song.  In fact I know he does.  It is so true.  The structure that we live in is just that until we fill it with love and loved ones.  In our family Packer games, birthday celebrations, boating, bon fires...are all cause to come together, eat, share a drink, laugh and feel the love.  I feel so fortunate to have a loving family around me.  I am glad that my mom lives near by.  I feel incredible when Cody comes to visit but has his independance.  Tim and I get to have our grand children over to spend the night, watch them grow and be a part of their world.  Having Amanda and Garth in Fond du Lac is wonderful.  Working in the same building on occasion with Amanda is even better!  I miss having Jillian near but technology keeps us connected.  Time has brought my children in and out of my life.  Those who know me, would you expect any different?  I have moved four times since 2002.  Change isn't new to me.  I can adapt to about everything.  I can make anywhere Tim and my kids are, home.

Actually....

Actually is Lucy's new word.  Actually nothing puts life into better perspective than spending 13 hours straight with an active one year old and a diva 3.5 year old....whom I love dearly.  Lucy didn't want the fun to end and continued the frenzy into the evening arguing with me about watching the Kardashian's.  I had actually had it with cartoon version Broadway musicals and it was actually my turn to pic a show.

Lucy loves her boppa most.  He took her out on the snow mobiles and they went to monkey island and went into the duck hunter blinds.  Very interesting stuff.  She didn't have any mittens or gloves so we used socks on her little paws.  Actually it worked well.  Hudsun and I joined the fun in the sleigh as Lucy and granpa pulled us along the ice and snow covered lake...until our bums were frozen and actually the glare of the bright sun on the snow made it hard to see.

Of course this wasn't enough fun for Lucy she had Tim take her out on the snowmobile again so she could drive.  This makes me nervous but the faster, the higher the better for Lucy....and Hudson.  They finally all got cold and actually this was best...my stomach was in knots.  I am a worrier.

Cody came by for ham sandwiches and Hudson wanted to fly through the air and into the trees via Cody and his 6'4" frame.  It's nice to have Uncle Cody close by for drop in fun.  Actually, I had a nice time with them all.  

Love is a wonderful thing

There are a few movies that every time I see them on the television... I have to watch them to completion.  The Natural, The Bird Cage, Funny Girl, Meet Joe Black, The Notebook and The Ref.  There are others.

A River Runs Through It is a great story about family and the love they have for one another.  For who they are.  Family.  You can't pick your family.  You didn't ask to be born.  Some family's are full of success and some are full of sorrow.  Some have a bit of both and there fore can appreciate the good times because they have endured the bad times together.  The Brad Pitt character in this movie is the most likable, fun loving young man.  He had a monkey on his back.  Not sure he even cared.  Others did though.  They wanted him to live differently, stop drinking, stop gambling, settle down.  Change.  Be more like the rest of the family.

The more I live the more I learn that you can't fool mother nature.  We are who we are.  Some are smart, some are very smart, some are sneaky and deceptive, telling half truths to avoid confrontation and being compared.  Having honest conversation with your loved ones is the best gesture of love.  Find out what it is that they want and help them be successful at that. 

At the end of the movie, the dad, who is a preacher, gives his final sermon.  I cry even writing this because his words have been in my head at so many points in my life.

"It is true we can seldom help those closest to us.  Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give, or more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted.  But we can still love them.  We can love completely without complete understanding."

Password are 3 enough? Are 5 too many?

So it seems you need a password for everything.  The library, the ATM, fb, blogspot, work computer, home computer, the bank, insurance...then you start managing your mothers accounts.  More passwords to remember.  I understand it but OMG.  I can't remember them all....then you get the e-mail, "it's time to update your password."

I don't have that many words in my vocabulary.  Rhonda taught me a trick on how to keep track of them.  I forgot what she told me.

I want a thumb print or a cornea scan.  I have not enough brain space to keep track of the passwords.

you should be jealous

I just finished working for the past thirteen days straight. you should be jealous. not because of my work schedule...but because I have a great job that I love... and today, at 12:30 p.m. when I was done with this working streak. today I came home to honey,Tim, and he said he had the grocery shopping done. he normally does this. he said go up stairs. I have the room dark for you. I know you want to sleep. he had the whirlpool full of HOT water, candles were lit. sweet merlot was poured, a plate of casa Anna cheese and crackers and my favorite green olive spread was tub side. this says I love you in so many ways. i love this man. I am passionate about him. his honesty. integrity. his work ethics. his care for my children and my mother. his love for his family. his zest for life. the fact that he buys a round of shots for the whole bar and Then another if he is in the mood. he makes the best grilled chicken bar NONE and picked me out of any one in the whole world to have fun with and enjoy life. you should be jealous. ken belongs to Barbie. Barbie is happy.