“There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go.”—Frederick Faber 

Dear Boy,

How about we just pause right now?

How can it be that you are 15 and getting ready to start your second year of high school? I'm not sure I'm ready for this...

Although I know you are ready. You walk forward with confidence. You approach everyday as a new beginning. For that I am thankful.

You are an amazing person. Full of life. A great friend. The best son. I am honored to be your mom.

However, I think a pause would be wonderful. Just a short one.

Love you forever,

Mom

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.”

—Louis L'Amour

Best of 2009

I was cruising blogs yesterday and came across Gwen Bell's blog and her Best of 2009 challenge. I would like to say had I found the challenge earlier I would have participated, however given my blogging history this year it probably wouldn't have happened. So, I am going to do a modified version right now. While this year wasn't just filled with "bests" I like the idea of focusing on the bests...

Best Trip - Anniversary in Seattle with Troy. Hands down.Best Book - If I could only recommend one book that I read in 2009 is would most definitely be The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. If you haven't read it yet. Go. Now.

Best Night Out - I've had several wonderful nights out - very fortunate with that this year. I'd have to narrow it down to a) going to see my friend, Raphael, play his last gig with his latest band back in March. It was so good to see him play again. OR b) girl's night with my book club ladies - saying goodbye to Tracey. Fun times, sad circumstances.

Best Song - I am one of those hear it on the radio/from a friend/etc...and then decide I love a song people. I tend not to buy albums and such.
Wild at Heart, by Gloriana and Smile, Uncle Kracker. These songs make my heart happy.

Best Place(s) - I am tempted to say home because I LOVE home. However, I am going to say Starbucks, Katie's Cupcakes, and the now closed (insert sad face) Treasury of Memories because these are all places I go with my best friend and just feel good. Small treasures.

Best New Food - I am going to go with a restaurant undiscovered by us until this fall. Espinoza in Sehome Village. Fun decor, nice people, a salsa bar and the BEST mole sauce I've ever had. Tea of the Year - My tea of choice has been Earl Grey with milk and sugar. Nothing beats it.

Word or Phrase - 2009 was....can this be summed up with one word? interesting, complicated, just the way it was suppose to be...

Best New Person/Start up - Well technically this "start up" started up in 2008, but I didn't go until 2009 and since then I've loved both the store, Sole Obsession, and it's founder/owner, Kelly. Best shoe store and shoe store owner EVER! Best Coffee - for at home I've fallen in love with the Starbucks Red blend. Otherwise it is a 2-pump cinnamon dolche non-fat, light whip latte from Starbucks when I go out (and possibly gingerbread or pumpkin spice a few times during the season).Learning Experience/Rush - So many, so many. My most memorable learning experience/rush is more of a general lesson. It is the lesson of being a mom of a teenager, it is quite a bit different than other ages. Archer still needs his mom and dad, yet needs his independence and needs to make decisions. Growing up, making new friends, making new friends that are girls (gasp), new social situations. I think we've adjusted well. He's a good kid, it is just filled with learning experiences for mom!

Best Laugh of 2009 - 2009 was filled with laughs. Our house is full of laughter, my best friends always make me laugh and my sister! oh she is hilarious! I am blessed with laughter.

There are so many more things that I could share, but this seems like plenty. 2009 was a good year, 2009 was a bad year...actually 2009 was just a year - filled with ups and downs and all arounds! Looking forward to 2010!

Happy New Years my friends!

Yesterday Troy and I attended a funeral of a truly fantastic woman, Phyllis. Her service was beautiful, visiting with the family made us feel blessed to have known her and her family. 

Her memorial program was beautiful. It contained a lovely history of her life, a family tree, and this poem that I would like to share.

Tapestry of My Life

I wonder what the other side will be when I have finished weaving all my thread. I do not know the pattern nor the end of this great piece of work which is for me. I only know that I must weave with care the colors that are given to me, day by day, and make of them a fabric firm and true, which will be of service for my fellow man.

Sometimes those colors are so dark and gray I doubt if there will be one line or trace of beauty there. But all at once there comes a thread of gold or rose so deep that there will always be that one bright spot to cherish or to keep and maybe against its ground of darker hue it will be beautiful.

The warp is held in place by the Master's hand. The Master's mind made the design for me; if I but weave the shuttle to and fro and blend the colors just the best I know, perhaps when it is finished, He will say, "Tis good," and lay it on the footstool of His feet.

what good advice for life...

“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”

—Mary Anne Radmacher, author

it really happened...

It finally happened. We were in the car and Archer says he thinks he needs a hair cut. Okay. Fine. He was thinking short, short like it was before. Then he got nervous. He says he would miss his hair. I had to remind him it isn't an all or nothing deal - he could get a trim. So, that is what he chose. The lady at Great Clips was great and knew exactly what to do to make him happy. Yay!

Before. Crazy hair. Yikes!

After. A nice medium boy's shag. It is still wet in this picture, so the curls aren't out in full force. Now that it is dry it is a bit curlier, but far more tame.
Advice: It is best not to bug a kid (especially a teen/preteen) about one's appearance. I never really said anything about the crazy hair...I didn't nag or complain much. I did nag and require very frequent showers - that hair needed to be washed a lot! But a cut? I let him come up with that great idea on his own (with a little help from Grandpa and Berta).

And doesn't he look handsome?


Edited: the pics were taken w/ Alvin and the Chipmunks only because Great Clips is next to Blockbuster and we thought it would be a nice backdrop. And doesn't he look cool with the 'munks?

Luxury

I am not a luxurious girl. I don't need fancy things - I'm not a jewelry girl - or even really enjoy getting dressed up to the point of uncomfortable. When I think of luxury (for myself) I think of comfort. Comfortable and cozy - that is luxury to me.

So, when I opened my birthday gift from my parents and it was a bag from Macy's filled with towels I was thrilled. Big, fluffy bath sheets to be exact and a bath mat for my tootsies to greet after the shower. Last night I took my first shower with my new big, fluffy bath sheet waiting for me at the end. I was in love right there. I forgot what really nice towels could feel like. Granted the towels we have were nice once - 13 years ago when we got them for our wedding. It was a wonderful feeling - I think of it as pure luxury. I will never go with out big, fluffy bath sheets again! That is my promise to me.

Thanks mom & David!

Realization

As I was loading the pictures on the computer this afternoon Archer walked up behind me and with a shocked voiced said "Is that what my hair looks like?"
me: "Uh...yes as a matter of fact it does."
Archer: "I think it needs to be trimmed."
me: "Hmmmm. What makes you think that?"
A: "Well this (pointing to his head) and this (more pointing). I bet you're happy now, huh?"
me: "Yep. When are we going to get your hair trimmed?"
A: "Oh I don't know. Sometime."

Well it was nice while it lasted. Hopefully there will be a little trim in the near future (insert big mom smile here!).

Full Time

So, I started working full-time on Monday. That is 5 days a week 8:30 - 3:30. Full-time. That is out of my vocabulary! I'm not quite sure how to handle life. When do I get the oil changed in the car? What about grocery shopping? Hmmmm...something for me to consider. By the time I get the hang of this full-time thing it will be summer vacation...then I will have to come up with a new routine. Life's tough! Haha!