Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Forever Young
Forever young.
That's what my sweet friend Gail left as a comment after I posted on Facebook that my sister Renee would have been 38 years old today.
She was born on April 27th, 1971, two years my junior, the blond to my auburn. We lost her when she was just two months shy of turning 24.
After fighting as most sisters do through our teen years, she happily agreed to walk me down the aisle to marry the man who would love me forever. As we strolled towards his smiling face, we both cried like crazy. She leaned down and whispered in my ear that I was the most beautiful bride ever, which made me cry even harder.
A few years later, the three of us traveled together on a dream vacation to Mexico. She got tan, I got sunburn, and Mark stepped in to play her bodyguard when quite a few men in Cancun wanted to whisk her away and marry her.
A year later she was gone. Our family would never be the same, but in some ways, the loss of someone we loved so much made us appreciate each other even more.
Gail, who loved Renee as her own, also wrote to me today that the warm weather makes her think of Renee. My sister absolutely loved the beach, and it was the place that made her happiest. I've read that some believe that Heaven is your own idea of utopia. If that is true, then I'd like to paint a picture of Renee's Heaven...
The scent of suntan lotion permeates the air, nature's boom box plays the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, coral painted toes are buried in the sand, and there's not a care in the world.
If I could imagine her anywhere, that would be it.
And somehow, that thought makes me smile a little on a day when I miss her so, so much.
That's what my sweet friend Gail left as a comment after I posted on Facebook that my sister Renee would have been 38 years old today.
She was born on April 27th, 1971, two years my junior, the blond to my auburn. We lost her when she was just two months shy of turning 24.
After fighting as most sisters do through our teen years, she happily agreed to walk me down the aisle to marry the man who would love me forever. As we strolled towards his smiling face, we both cried like crazy. She leaned down and whispered in my ear that I was the most beautiful bride ever, which made me cry even harder.
A few years later, the three of us traveled together on a dream vacation to Mexico. She got tan, I got sunburn, and Mark stepped in to play her bodyguard when quite a few men in Cancun wanted to whisk her away and marry her.
A year later she was gone. Our family would never be the same, but in some ways, the loss of someone we loved so much made us appreciate each other even more.
Gail, who loved Renee as her own, also wrote to me today that the warm weather makes her think of Renee. My sister absolutely loved the beach, and it was the place that made her happiest. I've read that some believe that Heaven is your own idea of utopia. If that is true, then I'd like to paint a picture of Renee's Heaven...
The scent of suntan lotion permeates the air, nature's boom box plays the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, coral painted toes are buried in the sand, and there's not a care in the world.
If I could imagine her anywhere, that would be it.
And somehow, that thought makes me smile a little on a day when I miss her so, so much.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Impromptu picnic
Who says waiting at the hospital has to be boring? ;)
Mobile post sent by badelves using Utterli.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Stuff on my cat...and kid
Have you ever seen the website, Stuff on my Cat? It has to be one of the most hysterical things I've ever seen. The idea (I'm guessing from most of the photos) is to see how much stuff you can pile on top of your cat before he/she either wakes up or decides they've had enough.
Unfortunately for Cannoli, I made the mistake of showing the website to the little Miss the other day. There is no need to be concerned for Cheesecake though. She has a sixth sense about these types of things and knows when it is a good idea to stay away.
Personally, I think she remembers when Renee tried to dress her up in a Build-a-Bear Yankees outfit when she was just a little kitten. Maybe that's why she's never come to sit on her lap since that fateful day!
Things started simply enough when Renee thought that her knitting hoops would make an adorable hat. Cannoli thought that it would be better suited as a fashionable choker necklace.
Since that didn't go so well, she decided to make it harder for him to escape. She nested him into one of our hat boxes, and wrapped him up in a blanket. Then, the placing of stuff began. Cannoli watched carefully to make sure he wasn't being taken advantage of.
Then he looked up to me as if to say, "Please save me, oh lady who feeds us!"
Needless to say, it didn't last long. Dolls went flying, blankets were drug across the living room, and Cannoli was long gone.
A few days went by without Miss Creativity thinking of a cat of a critter of which to stack stuff upon. Then, the Easter eggs were emptied and something was triggered in that little brain of hers. How much fun would it be to place one half of an Easter egg upon Cannoli's head?
"Did you really think I was going to allow that for long? Hey, Cheesecake! Come out of hiding and see what they are trying to do to me."
"Really? Are you setting me up again? I am so not into this today."
"Seriously? You're really going to do it? And yellow? You know that's not my color."
"This is ridiculous. I just know you are going to document this and blog about it!"
"I'll just knock it off. Maybe there is something good inside? Cheesie left so I won't even have to share it with her!"
"Not fair! Why didn't they put a cat treat or something inside? I'll show them! I'll bite it and then the edges won't fit together anymore! Muwahhhhaaaa!"
"You know what I think? I think I will send vibes to the lady who feeds me and tell her that she should put some stuff on that kid of hers. Hmmmm...what would be good?"
"Now that's what I call sweet revenge!"
Unfortunately for Cannoli, I made the mistake of showing the website to the little Miss the other day. There is no need to be concerned for Cheesecake though. She has a sixth sense about these types of things and knows when it is a good idea to stay away.
Personally, I think she remembers when Renee tried to dress her up in a Build-a-Bear Yankees outfit when she was just a little kitten. Maybe that's why she's never come to sit on her lap since that fateful day!
Things started simply enough when Renee thought that her knitting hoops would make an adorable hat. Cannoli thought that it would be better suited as a fashionable choker necklace.
Since that didn't go so well, she decided to make it harder for him to escape. She nested him into one of our hat boxes, and wrapped him up in a blanket. Then, the placing of stuff began. Cannoli watched carefully to make sure he wasn't being taken advantage of.
Then he looked up to me as if to say, "Please save me, oh lady who feeds us!"
Needless to say, it didn't last long. Dolls went flying, blankets were drug across the living room, and Cannoli was long gone.
A few days went by without Miss Creativity thinking of a cat of a critter of which to stack stuff upon. Then, the Easter eggs were emptied and something was triggered in that little brain of hers. How much fun would it be to place one half of an Easter egg upon Cannoli's head?
"Did you really think I was going to allow that for long? Hey, Cheesecake! Come out of hiding and see what they are trying to do to me."
"Really? Are you setting me up again? I am so not into this today."
"Seriously? You're really going to do it? And yellow? You know that's not my color."
"This is ridiculous. I just know you are going to document this and blog about it!"
"I'll just knock it off. Maybe there is something good inside? Cheesie left so I won't even have to share it with her!"
"Not fair! Why didn't they put a cat treat or something inside? I'll show them! I'll bite it and then the edges won't fit together anymore! Muwahhhhaaaa!"
"You know what I think? I think I will send vibes to the lady who feeds me and tell her that she should put some stuff on that kid of hers. Hmmmm...what would be good?"
"Now that's what I call sweet revenge!"
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Wacky Weather
We've been having some wacky weather here in Georgia. Tornado watches and warnings, hail the size of softballs, and rain. Lots of rain. Considering we were in a drought situation, this has been a good thing.
Early Monday morning, we learned what a high wind warning means. It means winds will blow bunches of pine needles to embed themselves into your siding.
It means a debris filled driveway, just waiting to be cleaned up.
Oh, and one last thing--it means that Grammy will definitely make Mark sweat a little about moving us to Georgia!
Early Monday morning, we learned what a high wind warning means. It means winds will blow bunches of pine needles to embed themselves into your siding.
It means branches will snap from your trees and be sent spiraling downwards to stab their sharp pointy ends into your garden beds.
It means a debris filled driveway, just waiting to be cleaned up.
It means you will count your blessings when you hear (and feel!) the sound of a tree falling thisclose to your home.
It means you can tease Grammy about the fact that she wished way too hard for the demise of a particular tree/shrub which graced our front lawn.
Psssst...I don't think she planned for a big tree to take it out!
It means there is a chain saw in your future.
It means that you might lose more than one tree.
It means that your sweet, animal loving daughter will worry about the little birdies that once made their home in this nest.
It means that you might lose more than one tree.
It means that your sweet, animal loving daughter will worry about the little birdies that once made their home in this nest.
Oh, and one last thing--it means that Grammy will definitely make Mark sweat a little about moving us to Georgia!
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