Fun things about the weekend ~ just one look...

Spent the weekend just being...
laughing
loving
enjoying life

only pics were from this fun lil' photo shoot ~ enjoy



Just one look and I fell so hard
In love with you, oh-oh, oh-oh
I found out how good it feels
To have your love, oh-oh, oh-oh
Say you will, will be mine
Forever and always, oh-oh, oh-oh
Just one look and I knew
That you were my only one
Oh oh-oh oh!

Have a blessed week :)

A love letter...

Dear Seth,

Took a moment to run even later this morning searching in vain for my AWOL cds amidst your stack in the garage. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did come across "Here In the Real World, Pt. 2" (I assume circa 2003ish) and decided to enjoy that on the ride in :) I'm sure anyone who looked over at me as I was driving had to notice the grin that was spread wide across my face all the way into town...

I don't know that I will ever tire of trips down "memory lane" of the time spent falling in love with you. I doubt recollection of those moments, kept alive through various token reminders, will ever stop warming my heart or bringing a smile to my face. When we come across letters we've written, mementos kept, "our songs"...the pieces of our love story are nothing short of delightful. I can wholeheartedly say that loving you (and having you love me back) will be forever be one of the greatest joys of my life. #2 & #3 are by-products of that endearing love :)

Some of the songs on that cd this morning were songs about love that I fell in love w.long before you. They became "our songs" b/c you helped manifest all the dreams and beliefs about love they were talking about. Before you I had hopes of what my lasting love would be & then you came along and exceeded everything I could have imagined. 9 years later - I'm still surprised & humbled :)

One of the songs, "More Than Words" - I think that's the first time I've listened to that all the way through in years. One line repeated in the chorus, "What would you say if I took those words away..." - as compelling to me now as it was as a teenager falling in love with that song so many years ago. Although "I love you" is spoken many times a day in our home, if we didn't have those words to say, I believe our actions speak so much louder than those 3 simple little words. Things we do to lighten each other's "load", the affections we show out of loving habit, the laughter we share, the way there is no space between us when beside each other - unable to be close enough...those actions speak a million I love you's w/o ever saying a word.

The beaming faces of those lil' sunshines God has blessed us with - such a beautiful reflection of the love we share. I always knew your kind & loving demeanor would make you a wonderful Deddy - seeing that become a reality, I only fall deeper in love. There was a moment before you knew I was there last night, watching you hold Ella on the porch - I was reminded of how blessed I am to be on this life journey with you. Not only are you loving, but you are capable and strong in ways you don't even realize. I see it & in their own lil' ways, your children do to. Deddy's arms will be the solace for them as they've always been for me. I count that as a wonderful blessing.

And I know you like to joke when I praise your parenting about getting your "cookie" for "doing what you're supposed to do" - and while we both see the truth & humor in that, in all sincerity, it's appreciated more than I'm capable of expressing. You don't have to do it so unselfishly, so lovingly, so honestly, so diligently, so joyfully - yet you do it anyways. And I know we both have our breaking moments (thankfully never at the same time) - thank you for continuing to be my pillar in those moments. I only hope I am as steadfast for you as you always are for me.

The "sum" of it - thank you for being you. Thank you for always being you. Thank you for letting me be me - especially in those moments where my "me" is less than. Thank you for being the ear that listens, the arms that comfort, the laugh that warms, the landing place I can count on in every way.

Beyond the falling in love & the euphoria in that - I don't know that I ever imagined or dreamed much past that. Though if I had, I doubt the story would have played out quite as lovely or endearing...

In our story, I'm so glad the boy got the girl...love truly is a "sweet dream." I loved you then, I love you now - I'll love you even more tomorrow...

A quote I included in a Christmas letter I wrote you in '05 - we had just got engaged days earlier...as true now as it was then -

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is
finally better than your dreams. ~Dr. Seuss

Either the "reality" is so good or one of them babies are crying - either way, there's still no one I'd rather lose sleep with :)

I love you darlin' ~ always

Fun things about the weekend...

This "weekend" post is coming mid-week b/c I've just had my faith restored in Blogger this morning. To keep a long story short, I'm just going to skip the story & say I'm glad everything's back "online" - thank you darlin' for your diligence :)

Last weekend was great for lots of reasons...

By Friday we were certainly TGIF'in...it had been a long week. The evening found us eating Chinese (random), puttin' the babies down, listenin' to some new music, drinkin' (me mostly) some new bevs and just easing the evening away. Knew we had company comin' on Saturday, so low-key was the only thing on the agenda :)

Saturday morning we were up bright & early (well, we're up bright & early every day) gettin' stuff done in & around the house waiting on our company to arrive :)

"Fun things" looked a lil' like this ~

fresh flowers



picnic-style lunchin' ~ pb&j's n cheetos



finding solace & a lil' "spoon-fed" time with Uncle Shane



chilly willys



supper time pizza "party"



"double fisting" donuts :)



waiting out (some out in) the rain



sharing - well, Griffin was :)



simultaneous smiles ~ picture worthy :)



cousins ~ wagon rides



storm drain fun :)



drivewayin' ~ even more fun w.company



bathtime fun ~ savin' on laundry b/c everyone wanted to use the same towel :)



Doodle swingin' ~ a most precious "weeeee" face



taking time to sit & "be" on Sunday a la chalkin' fun



complimentary John, "your flower's purty mama" :)



beautimous, almost ready to eat strawberries ~ all now gone to the squirrels...as John said, "they're kinda like skunks" - for all intents/purposes, I agreed :(



enjoyin' the view during the late afternoon marathon of cooking/cleaning



being home & together



a full hearted weekend enjoying the blessings of family

On another note, took a good look at the calendar the other day - realized we're coming up on our final weekend at home for a month. Mentioned this to Seth - his response, "I had hope you wouldn't look..." Ha - he knows me too well :)

In a related story, this Story People fits appropriately...

things have been going so well that he's taking an anxiety break to keep centered

Yes, things have been going pretty good, so I think I'll save the "anxiety break" for next week. No need to bog myself down right now thinking about how busy the next month will be :)

Hope everyone's having a blessed week ~ Happy Hump Day!

Just breathe...

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

~Marcus Aurelius

deep sigh...

(sniffle, cough, blow nose) The "breathe" sentiment is both literal and figurative right now :)

Since almost a week ago, I've been battling what I'll call a severe head cold. Severe because it's persisted now for over a week. Head b/c it started with a 3 day long head ache & pressure. And cold because I am running through kleenex's worse than I run through toilet paper (I'm a "pull, let spin, wrap like a glove" TP consumer - fyi). This has been rough :( I still feel like my head weighs a ton & I'm just sorta walkin' around in a haze...

Today's the 1st day back at work since last Thursday - out last week for me - been out this week for Ella. Lil' girl's been battlin' some diarrhea :( Poopies are still kinda yucky, but thinkin' she's past the worst of it. And unlike her usual beyond pleasant disposition, she's been a lil' fussy - I'm also convinced she might be teething.

Seth & John are no beacons of health right now either - John's got a horrible cough & is constantly wiping his snotty nose on the back of his arm. For a change, Seth's the least sick although he's surely battling some of the same symptoms as the rest of us.

My parents (God bless them) visited this past weekend after fair warning of the sick zone they were entering. I've yet to hear any report of them taking anything home with them- despite my attempts to aggravate my Deddy by blowing my nose in obnoxiously close range to him at every opportunity. His overreactions warranted the obnoxiousness :)

That about covers the literal "breathe" objective...

The figurative (moreover) sentiment...albeit mid-week - here's some snapshots of "precious privileges" enjoyed this past weekend ~

(in no particular order - too much mucus in head for that)

Mother's Day from John ~ flower petals are his fingerprints (sigh)



Doodle sittin' up more & more by herself (more sighs)



Mother's Day breakfast via sweet as pie husband



enjoying my coffee on the porch whilest I waited ~ "happiness", certainly :)



adorning kitchen window w.fresh peonies...love LOVE love :)



chalk fun :)

"LIVE" a Traci Fisher original ~ made specially for Nana



snacks, of course



bubble fun



Ella Bella "horsin' around"



our lil' slugger :)



craftin' w.Nana



new hats ~ always a winner

Ella Bella's 1st jewelry ~ pink pearls (sigh)



new books :)



some relief

preparing for Teacher Appreciation Week ~ we are so blessed by the loving care our children are in

tutu's for sweet pea ~ oh my :)

indeed it is...



2 names on my card ~ twice as blessed
 

the sweetest gift to date ~ thanks darlin'...and thanks to the lil' hands & feet of my other darlins (you make my heart swell)



being a daughter & a mother



the thundering beats of my heart



"Be filled with joy" ~ each & every day



I read something last week that put pause in me. Simple, yet profound. A challenge and a validation. It was about Mothers...

I've come to believe all women are mothers because we all bring life to the world. Most often through the birth of physical children from our bodies.

But in other ways too…when we write, cook, plant, make beauty where there was none, speak an encouraging word, say a prayer, take a hand and form hope out of thin air, resurrect a marriage, save a life from poverty, bring forth light and truth and goodness in ways women are uniquely created to do.

We are mothers in more ways than one.

Humbled, honored & so very blessed...Happy Belated Mother's Day

Letter from Deddy...

Going on lunch time & still tryin' to get the sleep outta my eyes...just saw Seth's note to Ella on his Tumblr...I can still hear her lil' laugh as she cut off the crying, snuggled in his spot on the bed and smiled up at him - pillow in hand, on his way to the couch - we are defeated today on all accounts :)

Here's the "sentiment" from Deddy...

Dear Ella,

Manipulation is an artform… one that I’m old enough to recognize. I still love you sweet pea, and I currently have a better memory than you :)

Love,

Deddy

If I were writing her a later today...it would be simply stated, "Stinker!"

Other than sleep deficiency & runny noses - all's well in the Fisher house.

No pics from the weekend (shock, gasp) ~ lots of mental pictures and audio clips in our hearts though. And despite the lack of sleep and looming cold symptoms, I will allude back to a fave Family Circus comic...little boy swinging high in the air...smiling and saying "this is the best life I've ever had!" I couldn't agree more :)

Happy 1st of May :)