John Adams and a couple of interesting things I've learned

Let me start by saying that in school I HATED history. I thought it to be highly boring. Once i started to travel as an adult and visited places like DC, Williamsburg, Gettysburg, etc. I just fell in love with American history. I love to learn about it and wish that my history teachers made it more interesting for me.

I've been watching the John Adams mini series on HBO -- it's really very well done. I've learned a lot. I have also been researching John Adams on the internet to learn more. Two things that I learned that I really found interesting. . .

On the first night that John Adams spent in the White House (he was the first president to live there) he wrote a letter to his wife Abigail and one of the things that he wrote was:

"Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof."

How sad to see that there has been much dishonesty and corruption passing through that house.

The other fascinating thing that I learned was that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4th, 1826. Thomas Jefferson passed only hours before John Adams.

So there are a couple of facts for you to use should you ever get on Jeopardy~

I love the way Matthew thinks. . .

Last night a commercial for Mcdonalds happy meal came on promoting the princess toys. I was fooling with Matt and said that I wanted to be a princess. Matthew says: "well, then you have to get a kids meal not a grown up meal" I said OK. He then asks. . . "do you want my crown from burger king"? I said "sure, then I'd be a princess" -- Matthew says: no Mommy, you'd be a queen!

First day of T-Ball

Matt had t-ball practice on Monday. He really loved it. He came home and told me "I did everything I was supposed to". But leave it to my son. . . . Rick told me that at the end of practice the coach asked "what did everyone like about today?"
One little boy said: I got to run the bases
One little boy said: I got to throw the ball

MY LITTLE BOY SAID: "I GOT TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES"

He made the coach laugh!

What have we been doing since our last blog?

Well, let's see....I've been working like crazy. My part time job at the cable company got a new billing system so we put in some crazy hours, not to mention we are short staffed.

Rick has been so great, he cooks, he cleans, he does the laundry.....I should have got a part time job long ago! lol.

Matthew is signed up for T-ball. His coach called to introduce himself. I can hardly believe my baby is big enough to play ball. Of course, I sit here saying to myself "what if he gets hit with the ball, he'll cry". It's so hard to let them grow up. Practices are on Mondays and games on Saturdays.

Poor thing has been sick. He had a fever last week, now a terrible cold and he is just miserable. He's missed the whole week of school.

Lauren had a dance competition -her team won 3 golds. She looked so very grown up in her costumes. She doesn't need me very much back stage now. She did her own makeup, took care of all her costume changes herself. I didn't know what to do with myself not being able to help her. She's becoming very independent.

That's about it from our world. Staye tuned. . . .

Happy Birthday Lauren!

It's a double digit birthday! Ten years old. Daddy and I were married for 9 years before you were born. You sure took your time getting here. I was begining to think that I would never have children.

I remember the day that I found out I was pregnant. There wasn't anyone around for me to share the news. I had to wait forever until Daddy got home. Finally he came home and we both could hardly believe it. Grammy and Poppy were so excited - you were the first grandchild.

I was convinced that you were going to be a boy. You were born and they told me it was a girl, it was total shock. I remember Daddy had said to me when you were born..."I didn't know what I would do with a little girl, but I love her" and I said "That's funny, I didn't know what I would do with a little boy". (though I sure did learn quickly when your brother was born)






I was thrilled. A little girl to dress in frilly clothes, to go shopping with, to share secrets with. I knew it would be fun and special to have a little girl but just how special I had no idea.



You are an angel. You have grown into a lovely young lady and I couldn't be more proud. I love our girl time. I love our shopping trips, our trips to the movies and the theatre. I love watching you dance, and being part of all that you do for dance.

I have a song for each of you and the song that brings tears to my eyes and makes me think of you when I hear it is "In My Daughters Eyes" by Martina McBride. It really relays how I feel about you.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see
how happy she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I love you

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Today we will be celebrating your fifth birthday. How can that be? Five years have gone by so quickly.

Your name, Matthew, means "Gift of God" and you truly are. As we had lost a baby in 2001 and then a miscarriage the following year, to learn we were expecting again brought lots of emotion. It was a long 9 months for me. Only because I worried so much and prayed every day for you to be a healthy baby. I was so worried that I actually rented a portable doppler machine just so I could check your heartbeat everyday.

There was a very bad snow storm 2 days before you were born and I had heard that the hospitals were cancelling some surgerys. I prayed that all would go as planned for your delivery. It did. We went to the hospital early in the morning and at 10am you were born via c-section.

You came out screaming and Dr. Walker said "this boy is mad". We were moved into a recovery room where you and daddy could stay with me. This was different than when Lauren was born, I had to go into a recovery area by myself. So it was very nice that we were all together until we were put into a regular room.

Daddy went home that night to be with Lauren and came back to the hospital the next day. When he came in the morning he asked me if I had heard about the fire. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about but he put the news on and there had been a terrible fire at a local night club. 100 people died. Many I had gone to school with, a friend of the family, and people I used to work with. So as we celebrate your birth we also remember all the victims of the Station Night Club.

You were a good baby. Always smiling, always happy. When you were four months old you gave us quite the scare...you had to be admitted to the hospital for menangitis. You spent four days in the hospital and they were the longest 4 days of my life. I hated seeing you there in the crib with an IV and sleeping for so long. After a week you were back to your old self.

As a toddler you really gave us a run for our money. Very active, full of mischief and sometimes not a very good listener. There were days when I didn't know what I was going to do with you. But you always had a smile on your face. Always made us laugh and you still do.

I'm very proud of the boy you've become. You now are a very good listener. You are so smart, kind and thoughtful. You impress me -- when you are done watching tv you turn it off, you put your toys away. You love to joke. You love to talk. We have some pretty good conversations. I love when I tuck you in and tell you that you are "my sweet boy" you always respond and say "you are my sweet mommy". I love when you give me a kiss for no reason. I love the dimples in your cheek. I love your energy. I love everything about you.

Soon you'll be playing t-ball, going to Kindergarten, becoming more independent and I will miss these little boy days but until then, I will enjoy every moment because I adore you. When I hear the song MY WISH by Rascall Flatts I think of you because what they sing are things I wish for you as you grow.

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you want to go,

And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you left,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

This is my wish

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I love You