Fifty-oneth

Yes, sure enough. I survived another year to celebrate number 51!!!! And what a great birthday it was. I was SOOO sick last year on my birthday. I had that horrible gomboo that leaves you with an eternal cough. I was coughing with every breath for my birthday last year. So, I really appreciated being well and strong for this one!

Yesterday morning, Dylan and I got up early and went to the new Harmons store Grand Opening. And what a "grand" place it is. It is certainly not your ordinary grocery store. One of the officials actually told us that there are only 4 other stores like it in the U.S. and they are all back east. I won't go into a lot of detail, but I will tell you that you MUST try their grapefruit gelato. It is to die for.

After our trip, we ran home and I grubbed down and started applying primer to the few things that needed it. Katie (who took the day off with me) showed up. I finished what I was doing, changed clothes again, then the three of us took off. By this time, Daniel (who was working at IKEA) was grumbling that he was hungry and would we please bring him food. We went to IKEA to deliver a box of mints to tide him over. (I don't think he was terribly pleased.) Then we went to Harmons and had lunch. We took a nice "rubber" tri-tip steak lunch back to him. (They misspelled "rubbed.") If you look at Katie's post, you will see a picture of Katie and myself wearing some very funny "hats." We're not sure what they really are, but they served as hats yesterday.

Once we got back home, Katie and I both grubbed down and started painting. We started with the closet. Oh how I hate painting closets. I'm so glad she was there. She really made an otherwise dreadful chore a lot of fun!!! We kept going at it until it got dark, and then some. I was just finishing the last of the day's painting when the power went out, several times. Luckily it came on so I could finish what I was doing. I am now ready to roll the ceiling, which I may attempt tonight. I need to start taking pictures and have Katie show me how to post them so everyone can see. Maybe not for this project, but someday........ :o)

In the meantime, Dylan and Daniel had made a trip to Harmons after Dan got off work. When they got home, the kids presented me with my birthday present. They purchased the very first piece of my new bedroom furniture--a chest. I am thrilled. I can't wait until my painting and carpet cleaning projects are finished so I can put it together. I'm TIRED of living out of boxes. Dylan also purchased some delicious Italian sausage which he grilled. Someone left the back door open and all sorts of delightful pests started flying into the house. HUGE moths and who knows what else. But we had a good laugh when Katie referred to one of them as a bird, which reminded me so much of my dad's humor!!!

All in all, it was a delightful day. Not only was it my birthday (and the best ever), but it was also a payday. I have such great kids!!!!! I know I am a very imperfect mother, but somehow my children survived my mistakes and became wonderful human beings. I love them all so very much. They are truly the light of my life!!!

Thanks to all three of you for making my day so wonderful!!! Also, thank you to my incredible parents, sisters and friends who took the time to call and wish me a good birthday. I felt so loved, even covered with all my warts!!! I love you all right back!!!

New Beginnings

As those of you who are close to me know, I am once again living life single. The last few months have been so very challenging and difficult--the last month the hardest of all. But I am actually feeling a peace I haven't known in some time. I don't dread coming home anymore, I'm enjoying my sons as never before, and I have managed to recapture much of the motivation I have lacked in recent months.

It truly is a new beginning for me. Sometimes I am petrified, but mostly I am feeling very hopeful and positive. I have begun to spend more time with great friends again. I am feeling closer to my children (whom I love more than my very life). I have experienced the incredible love my dear parents have for me. I am starting projects at home that have needed doing for a number of years. I am enjoying the peace I feel at home--something that is so important for rejuvenation at the end of a busy day. There has been so much turbulence here in recent months, so it is such a welcome and surprising change. It is absolutely amazing to me how one person can have such an affect on the aura of your home. I have learned through all of this how important it is to have a peaceful place to call home.

I have no bedroom furniture right now. I have plans to buy new furniture, but first I decided I would clean and paint my room. It is a disaster area. I have been washing walls, then repairing them and sanding. I have less than one wall to go before I can wash everything down one more time and paint. Then I'll get the furniture I've picked out. I'm hoping that this renewal in the room where I spend the most time will purge more of the toxicity from my life. I am trying very hard not to let fear, bitterness, anger and resentment gain control over my mind and spirit!

There are many more projects waiting for me. But I had to put everything on hold to do this one thing for myself. The work has been therapeutic. The sanding dust has settled on every inch of my house (UGH), but that is a small price to pay. I can clean it up and throw it out with the bad memories and feelings that still plague me just a little. I'm so very excited!

And, of course, it helps that it is spring--a perfect time for a new beginning.

Thanks to all of you who have been so loving, kind and supportive throughout this ordeal. I will never be able to repay all you have done.

Purse Tag

I can't resist being tagged. It will be an adventure diving into my purse--it's been a while. Who knows what I might find!

. My checkbook
. A calculator because my real brain doesn't like math
. A small bottle of B & BW Cherry Blossom lotion. YUM!
. Some Airborne to ward off evil bugs.
. A little package of tissues
. My wallet that contains gazillions of cards, but no money save some small change.
. A little container of ibuprofen and tylenol.
. Two Bliss dark chocolates (I forgot about them.) Glad I found them before summer.
. Some reading glasses.
. Three pens.
. Oh! Another Bliss.
. Various receipts.
. Girl supplies.
. One tube of lipstick.
. One tiny tube of Mary Kay lotion--dunno where that came from. Hmmmm.

Wow! Is that boring enough for you? How about if I tag Clodhopper? If she hasn't already been tagged, that is. I haven't read it for a while. I really need to get back into the swing of things.

OK, now I have to go cook some dinner for the Dylmeister!