Thank You Thursday

1. I'm so thankful for my kid with the big heart. Yesterday Lauren overheard a conversation I was having with her teacher about how she decided to work this summer to help replenish the savings they had to dip into when her husband lost his job last fall.  Later that afternoon she brought me a dime and said, "I am going to give this to Miss Lisa. It's for Tim."  This mama's heart swelled with pride.

2. I'm thankful for the kind and caring people I've surrounded myself with here in Ohio.  I pick on these nutty Buckeye lovers, but the truth is, they're great people to the core.

3. Thank you, Abby, for giving me a report of Daddy's behavior last night while I was at book club.  Give the little lady a job in your absence and she's happy as a clam to see you go.  Totally forgot that I'd given it to her until she brought the report to me first thing in the morning; bless her heart.

4. I'm thankful for the beautiful day we have today. Sunshine, not too hot.... great day for a school picnic!

5. I'm thankful for the humor that oozes out of our toddlers.  I'm pretty sure 99.9% of it is not intended to generate a laugh, but boy do they know how to make two grown women giggle.  Thanks little buddies, I'm going to miss you over the summer!

{Between the Pages: "Heaven is for Real"}

Heaven is for Real is the real life story of a little boy who came closer to death than even his family realized.  What was offered as a casual question on a family road trip turned into the initial unfolding of Colton Burpo's encounter with Heaven.

In this real life tale, Todd Burpo tells the story of his family and the events that brought them to a faith-questioning brink, their journey back, and the experiences of their young child's glorious visit with Jesus, God, the angels, and some special loved ones in the afterlife.

I was intrigued about the premise of this story when I first heard about it a few months back.  Growing up a Christian, I believe in Jesus and Heaven because it was indoctrinated into my religious education; it was what I was taught to believe.  As I have grown older and wiser, life experiences have helped shape & strengthen this belief.  For me the most powerful part of this book was hearing the story relayed through human eyes.  It isn't a story that preaches religion.  It isn't a story tries to sway belief.  It is simply the story of this family's heartbreak and heroism, and somewhere in it all a little boy gives an incredible gift of hope and peace through his brush with death.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story of hope, a story about what Heaven is really like, and/or a story of the power of love and prayer.  It is a quick and easy read that will give you faith in all the good the world has to offer.

I didn't need the book to convince me, but I'm certainly a believer that Heaven is for real!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I've given up on Caribou's travel coffee mugs.  They're poorly insulated & fall apart.  My favorite new find: Thermos' Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug: http://www.thermos.com/product_details.aspx?ProdID=1143&CatCode=MUGS&q=. I swear my coffee actually gets hotter in that baby!

2. In the last month I've had a cold, the flu & now strep. I'd say that's about enough--here's to a healthy summer!

3. The older I get the more I get like.... My Dad!  Sure, I'm like my mom in a lot of ways, and I see plenty of other relatives reflected in me.  But it is my dad who shines through the most.  If you know my dad, you'd know that's a compliment.  Right?!

4. I may just have to take the girls to the Steele County jail while we're home this summer.  Abby has a lot of questions about life behind bars.  The latest: Can you wear Hi-Tootsies to jail?  "Sure," I tell her, "but when you get to jail they take them from you and issue ugly Bye-Tootsies."  Let the flood gates spill open with questions!

5. I've yet to name the Acadia.  It isn't like I feel the need to.  However, I knew it was red I'd name her Ruby.  I've been calling it The Beast; that's the best I've got for now.

6. I wonder if the cashier at Michael's has any idea the gift she gave me last week when she complimented Lauren's behavior.  Thank you!

7. While I'm at the business of thanking people, I'd like to thank everyone who wished for the summer to finally arrive during our long winter and cool start to spring.  I'm really enjoying this heat.  Sensing the sarcasm?!

8. I am like a little kid, filled with excitement at what adventures summer holds!

9. Facebook poking.  It's weird.  Geoff & I have been poking each other a lot lately.  But that's more like flirting, and fun, especially since he is in Florida.  But he's my husband, which makes it not-so-weird.  If some random person I hardly talk to from high school poked me, what would I think?  If they poked me in real life I'd probably kick them.  Okay, not really, but the thought would cross my mind.  If you poke me on Facebook, I'll know you read this post.

10. "Hey, Mom!  Do these look like your initials?  They do, right?  Because I know how to do them now and so you don't have to sign my agenda anymore, I can do it!"  Great!  She's in kindergarten and already working on forging my signature.  And I thought Lauren was the one I needed to keep an eye on.

Tight Ride

I wasn't going to post about this.  I wasn't really even going to talk about it in general.  Not because it's a big secret, but because it's my milestone and I didn't think it was that big of a deal.  But I guess it is.

As my beloved cousin, Shawn, pointed out.... Today is an end of an era: Oprah's last show, and new wheels for Brooke!  A lot of people have come into my life and into my Grand Am.  And boy have I grown up with that car.  It was the first car I bought entirely on my own.  The car that has been with me to every duty station the Air Force has taken us.  The car both of our babies came home from the hospital in.  The car we road-tripped across America in.  I loved that car.

But the time has come to say good-bye to the baby I affectionately dubbed, Granny, in her geriatric years.  It was getting too tight for all of us, and unless I can find a way to keep these girls from growing, we were in need of the space.

Tonight I said good-bye to one tight ride and hello to another....

{Good-Bye Kiss}

{The View from the New}

If you had the pleasure of adventuring with me in the Grand Am, thank you for the memories.... I look forward to making new ones in my much roomier Acadia! 

{Tight New Ride}

P.S. It probably comes as no surprise that I've had the car less than three hours & the radio stations are programmed.... and ready for Minnesota!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Random Fact No. One: Koala means no drink.

2. Random Fact No. Two: the silhouette on major league baseball's emblem is Harmon Killebrew. The things you learn about people when they pass away.

3. I was beginning to question taking the girls to the park tonight when they hooked up with a boy Abby knew from school named Salvador. She knew him because he had to come to her classroom one day due to poor behavior. Great. Then I saw the girls forging their ages. Abby was seven, and while I'm not 100%, I'm guessing Lauren was posing as six. Thankfully, a little girl dropped her beloved bear named Daisy. Without hesitation, Abby picked up Daisy, wiped her off with care, then handed her back to her owner.  I literally felt my heart smile.

4. Abby's yearbook.  Probably one of my best investments.  She could look at that thing for hours.

5. Those two little girls in the neighborhood tormenting the much larger boy for still having training wheels... they're mine.  Something tells me their tag-teaming gangster ways will come back to bite them in the bottom someday.

6. Five states, five different homes.  Same car.  Saying good-bye tomorrow isn't going to be easy. I'm going to miss you, Granny.

7. Yesterday a three-year-old ninja proposed to me at school, ring and all.  Today another little boy told me he loved me.  Who says toddlers aren't the best?!

8. I might be the only person left on the planet who cannot sing a single note to Justin Beaver.  Oh, that isn't a typo.  That's exactly how Abby pronounces it.  I could look him up on YouTube, but I think I'll pass.  Let's just see how long I can remain oblivious.

9. Everyday Lauren gets in the tub and serves me up a glass of 1919 Root Beer.  It won't be long and I'll be able to belly up to the bar at home and get one for myself.  My mouth is watering at the thought of it!

10. I'm going out on a limb here and saying Herman Cain.

A Little Birdie Told Me....

Lauren's end of the year program was held this morning.  If you asked me why I'm glad to be alive I'd tell you it's for moments like these.... a heart-warming reminder of why I need to cherish everything in between these little milestones.

Her class' presentation was a collection of songs they've learned throughout the school year.  Each child had his/her own character, and my little character was a yellow baby birdie singing what else, "Baby Birdie".  The kids also displayed pieces of their art work and were presented with their certificate of completion.  My baby's ready for kindergarten.

{The Baby Birdies}

{Preschool Graduate}

{Proud Mama}

{The Artist}

{I Want to be a Mommy}

{Miss Lisa & Lauren}

Mini Golf & the Rollar Rink

When Abby found out she'd be attending her friend Megan's birthday party at Skateworld she was thrilled, but a bit intimidated when she heard me utter my concern over her lack of skating skills.  I enlisted Geoff to be the party parent for this one.  Lauren and I went to neighboring Indian Trails where we hit the links miniature style.

It was a great way to wrap up a busy family weekend.

{Megan Helping Abby Skate}

{Holy Orange Golf Ball, Lauren}

{Queen Inside the Mountain}

{Sk8er Gurl}

{On the Move}