Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Happy Anniversary!!

This year marks 11 years that Floyd and I have been together...6 years of marriage!  We were married April 16, 2005 it was a beautiful spring day.  With each day I fall more and more in love with him.  I can never seem to find the words to describe our relationship or to tell him how much I love him. 

So I have picked 11 "love" songs that seem fitting for us or that both of us have said we like.  The songs are listed in no particular order...


Iris-Goo Goo Dolls

Your Love is a Song- Switchfoot

I'm Yours-Jason Mraz

Take My Breathe Away-Berlin

Somewhere Only We Know

Better Than Sunshine-Aqualung

I'll Stand By You-

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing-Aerosmith

Kiss From A Rose-Seal

Crazy For You-Madonna

Won't Stop-OneRepublic




Happy Anniversary Floyd!!!!  I love you!




A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin





Spring Picnic

Last Sunday was simply beautiful!  For lunch Tarin asked if she could have a picnic.


The sun was warm but the wind was chill.

You know how it is with an April day.
~Robert Frost



Sunset View from Chair




This is my view from where I sit in my chair.  At times I find myself watching (while trying to watch tv) the lake make waves, seagulls and geese float by and once the sun has settled silently behind the city horizon, the lighthouse comes to life.

Give me the splendid silent sun at sunset. ~Walt Whitman

Thursday, April 7, 2011

3 Brothers and a Sister

For those of you who know me and know me well know that I have never met my biological father, Jim. Who has 3 sons and 1 daughter...so I have 3 (half) brothers and 1 (half) sister.  I don't like using the word "half" in front of siblings, just doesn't sit well with me.

I am not going to get into why I've never seen my dad's side of the family.  Decisions were made and life went on.  I have always known about my dad and siblings.  I have wrote many letters over the years but could never get one mailed out.  I couldn't bare to be turned away, even though it would have closed and sealed that open door, I guess I was never ready to close it.  I have searched for them over the years on the internet.  One day it dawned on me...they might be on Facebook.  I looked up Jim but no luck,  knew his wife's (ex-wife I later found out) name, searched her and there she was!  It took me months to finally type a message and send it.  I never got a response, so about a month I decided to send a message to Brad who I assumed was my brother, since his name I found with Jim's on yet another search.  Again it took me several months to type a letter, this was different what if he wasn't my brother?  What if he doesn't know about me? I would be causing ripples in their family, I could be this well kept secret.  What if he does know about me but still doesn't want to know me?  I have all these what if's and mixed feelings.    I had Floyd read it to make sure it made since, I didn't want to ramble on but didn't want to be too vague.  Floyd thought it sounded good and hit send before I could object!  

Inside I am panicking, excited, stomach in knots going to throw up at any minute.  Thankfully we had to leave the house so I was distracted but then a few hours later.  I log into facebook and there is a reply from Brad...my heart dropped to my stomach and quickly shot putted into my throat.  I read his letter at least a dozen times before I could reply.  Brad, TJ, Tyler and Mariah are my siblings.  I have 2 sister in-laws,  along with 2 nephews and a niece.  I didn't expect their reaction would be so welcoming and open. Not that I think the worse is going to happen but with this type of situation I just expected a no thank you!  Christy and Sarah, my sister in-laws have been wonderful to talk, I can't wait to meet them as well.


We plan on meeting and hopefully making memories for the rest of our lives.  I don't know if Jim will want to meet me. I hope he does but I understand if he doesn't.  I want him to know I harbor no hatred or anger for what happened, without those decisions I wouldn't be the person I am today or where I am. 

It almost doesn't feel real, I've dreamed about meeting my brothers and sister for years.  I have daydreamed about being on a talk show and meeting them that way.  I would watch those shows and wonder if my story would end like those happy endings.  I only wish I would have done this sooner but I guess timing is everything.  I feel like the Grinch at the end of the movie when he's heart grows, I've always thought I had a big heart with lots of love and now I have an even bigger heart and more love for my new found family.  I know its going to take some getting use to for all of us.  I am willing to move at any pace and be as open as possible.

There are no words to describe the feelings we have all been experiencing.  Overwhelmed doesn't even cover it.  I know there are a few days in my life that I have felt this way and  I guess the easiest way to explain is its like having all those days wrapped into one. 

My family has been very supportive and thinks it is great!  It feels good to have good things happening and hope it continues.  Family is important and I look forward to the future with all of them!

Oh so I now have 4 brothers and 2 sisters!!! and their families too!!! 


"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing"

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Father/Daughter Dance

I believe this day ranks up with holidays and birthdays.  Both Floyd and Tarin were excited about the dance.  I enjoyed shopping with Tarin for a dress and shoes.  They bothed looked beautiful (handsome for Floyd).  This year the dance was at Overdrive and was told it was the best year yet. 





The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, "Daddy, I need to ask you something," he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan. ~Garrison Keillor

Snow Fort



On the same cold January day as the snow angels, a snow fort was in progress of being built.  Every morning after Tarin would rush out to make sure it was still there.  She was very upset when the weather decided to unleash all the rain.




~Unknown

Snow Angels

Floyd and Tarin spent a cold January day playing out in the snow.  You are never to big or to old to make snow angels!!



"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels" ~Unknown

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Innocent Puppy...I think NOT!


Macy loves yarn in any shape or size.  The orange yarn was an actual skien until she decided she needed to undo it.
If I look away she might not think I did it!

Oh busted, mom just called me "bad dog"!


Happiness is a warm puppy. ~Charles M. Schulz




Saturday Attire

This was Tarin's choice of clothing for last Saturday 1/8/11.  I believe she even slept in it but I made her actually get dressed on Sunday.  Yes this usual weekend attire, she loves to dress up or just wear dresses around the house. 





Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her. ~Wilhela Cushman

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Christmas Eve


As Christmas Day approached faster and faster I found myself not quite in the "Christmas Spirit" I wanted to be.  I think with all the hustle and bustle of getting things together and interacting with shoppers who don't have pleasant smiles or a simple Merry Christmas, I just wanted to throw in the towel, stay home and say BAH HUMBUG to the whole day.  Once all my last minute shopping, wrapping and household preparations were complete and I was able to take a moment to enjoy my Christmas tree glowing brightly and watch a movie I was back in the "spirit"...I also had to remind myself what Christmas is really about. 

Christmas Eve day/evening really helped make this a great one.  We went to my mom's house for a very relaxing day, mom made our favorite family meal....Cincinnati spaghetti, we opened gifts, everyone helped Tarin set up her Zhu Zhu pets, played euchre and then went to Whispering Christmas.  My best friends Kim and Laura (who was in from NC) was able to join us.  Having my family and friends with us made it that much more memorable.  It was nice that the park wasn't packed either.  Tarin was able to go right up, with a little hesitation to talk to Santa again.  It was just what I needed to get the Christmas Spirit back.










Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Baking



Tarin and I baked chocolate chip cookies, mint chocolate chip cookies and made hard rock candy.  Tarin loves being in the kitchen with me, even though there is barely enough room for the two of us.  She always has her apron and chef hat accessible.  I enjoyed the time to get to teach her little tricks of cooking I've learned or have been taught by my mother. 

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown


Christmas Tree Picture


The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Christmas Ornaments

         

This year Tarin and I made Christmas ornaments for gifts.  I just so happen to have gingerbread family cookie cutters, so over 20 gingerbreadmen, women, little boys and little girls.  We spent endless nights painting and painting.  Tarin loves painting so this was the perfect craft for us to do together.  I meant to get a picture of my gingerbread clan but time ran out and I needed to get them wrapped.  I can't wait to do this again and see what designs we come up with next.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso