An Anniversary of Sorts

It was the dreaded call you never want to receive. The one that instantly changes your life forever.

January 13, 1995. I'm not superstitious, but ironically, it was Friday the 13th.

The phone rang early that morning as Greg & I contemplated our fun plans for the day. My sister-in-law was crying on the other end of the line, struggling to deliver the bad news. "Sharon, your dad died last night." I dropped the phone and collapsed in sobs, with waves of grief I'd never experienced paralyzing me.

Our patriarch gone. Taken in his sleep by his first heart attack. He went to sleep and woke up in Heaven. What a way to go!

I miss him. I hate that my kids never got to meet him. BUT I know with all my heart that we'll have eternity together. I fully expect to have two fathers waiting for me in heaven -- my earthly father and my Heavenly father.

During our trip to Ohio, we made sure to stop by the cemetary to pay our respects. Here are the kids with Gram at Grandpa's grave.

Love the people in your life, as you're not promised tomorrow. Live with no regrets, because sometimes you don't get a second chance. I love you, dad.

Tough Life Lessons

Do you remember the old intro for ABC's Wide World of Sports, where the ski jumper wipes out at the bottom of the ramp to fully demonstrate the announcer's words: "and the agony of defeat"? Agony, indeed! For years, I was unable to watch that clip without groaning out of empathy.

This week, I had similar reactions in my own life. Feel free to join me in groaning.

Our son was served up not one but two heapin' doses of "learning sportsmanship", while his daddy & I watched from the sideline, with worried looks and our nails bitten down to the quick.

The first lesson came on Friday when he was competing in the school spelling bee. Each class sent two representatives to go head-to-head with the rest of the cream-of-the-crop spellers in the school. It was nerve-wracking for Evan -- AND for us as we sat by helplessly, flashing him a shaky thumbs up whenever he looked our direction. It was a packed house, with the entire school body and camcorder-toting parents craning their necks for a glimpse of their favorite competitor.

The spellers went through a practice round intended to help calm their nerves. It would seem that strategy back-fired where Evan was concerned, as he got the spelling of his practice word wrong. I know that left him rattled. For the record, I don't know many 3rd grade boys who spell the word "canary" on a regular basis. Maybe Tweety Bird. And I personally feel that c-O-n-a-r-y is CLOSE ENOUGH! But then again, I'm a mercy girl.

The real competition then began and the tension in the room thickened. I was curled up under my metal folding chair, rocking in the fetal position when Evan stepped up to the mic. "Lord, help him to not be too scared. Lord, let a word like "cat" come forth out of the judge's mouth." I held my breath, and the word was NOT cat. "Evan, your word is: renovate". "Oh, does he know that word?" Perhaps he absorbed that word through osmosis when I was watching HGTV...... I won't keep you in suspense: He didn't. r-e-n-A-v-a-t-e. So close, but take a seat, kid.

My mommy heart welled up as I knew he was fighting tears as he exited the stage. Eliminated from the spelling bee on his first word. Ouch. It was a slight consolation that literally 3/4 of the spellers got knocked out on their very first word as well.

Evan had another bitter taste of defeat today at his very first "real" basketball game. He loves that game and is happy to spend hours shooting baskets. Today was the day he dreamt of dominating the court. Let's just say it didn't quite work out the way he had envisioned. There were these pesky guys called defenders who kept getting in the way!

And those guys in the stripes with the whistles were brutal! Frankly, I don't think they possess the gift of mercy when calling our team for travelling and double dribbling. Just because they travelled and double dribbled! It's 3rd grade basketball -- not the NBA!

Today's match-up resembled a Harlem globetrotters exhibition game. And we weren't on Meadowlark Lemon's team. But good news: I can spell the term correctly: m-a-s-s-a-c-r-e.

It's tough to learn these life lessons .... and just as tough to watch your kids go through it!

P.G. (Pre-Greg)

All I ever really wanted to be was a wife & mommy. Growing up, my ideal plan for my life looked like this: Marry in my early 20's and start a family by the age of 25. God swiftly vetoed MY plan and made me wait. And I mean really W--A--I--T........

Suffice it to say that before I finally met my husband in my late 20's, I survived a turbulent dating life. And that is the perfect word, turbulent, as defined by Webster: causing unrest, characterized by agitation. Tossed to and fro, unexpected and jarring jolts that left me rattled. Webster invented that word JUST FOR ME, friends, to accurately describe my young love life. They should post a picture of me with my big 80's hair in my best date outfit next to the definition!

I'm so glad that difficult chapter of my life is over. My experiences left me with waning self-esteem, wondering what was wrong with me? I found myself trying to conform and somehow will a square peg to fit nicely into a round hole. Wondering if it was supposed to be that hard. Thinking, is this as good as anyone can expect in a relationship? Are my expectations unrealistic? Am I going to need the assistance of a walker by the time I make it down the aisle?

There was a short season where I was engaged to the wrong guy for me. My desire to be a wife clouded my judgment and I'm sincerely grateful that God spared me that wrong path. He alone gave me the strength to face hard facts and give back the engagement ring. Months later, that former fiance' embraced an alternate lifestyle.

I believe God was preparing my heart all along to fully appreciate and recognize the right one when He allowed our paths to finally cross. When we did meet, the chemistry was instant and there was no looking back. HE was the one God saved just for me. And I'm beyond blessed.

Our friend Sarah took these shots for us -- she rocks! And as a side note, I admit that my "come hither" look in the first frame clearly needs work. In my mind's eye, I was channeling the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. I may have missed the mark. With that expression, I couldn't entice a tiger to take a big juicy steak out of my hand!

Christmas Program

Here are our 3 youngest, ready to hit the stage for their Christmas program at church. Look for them next on Broadway!

They're doing a good job putting on a happy face, as they were ALL bummed out about their wardrobe and couldn't WAIT to get home and put on their typical, favored duds!

I love the brotherly protective arm around his little sister.

We're definitely in the minority here

During our recent trip to Ohio, Greg & I wanted to show the kids the "horseshoe" -- the enormous stadium which hosts the home football games for THE Ohio State Buckeyes.

We were pleasantly surprised and rather amazed that the stadium gates were wide open, which we took as an invitation to come on in! I only wished I had planned ahead enough to be wearing my shoulder pads.

Here are the kids spelling out "O-h-i-o" at mid-field. Allison was bummed to have to be the boring old "I", but not everyone can have the glamour and prestige as the letter "O". Am I right?!

If you could actually see their faces, their expressions seem to be openly conveying, "mom, this is lame". But that didn't stop me from capturing this special moment in time, did it? I'd have no fun at all if I heeded such looks from my children!

It's apparent that Buckeye fans are very much in the minority in this neck of the woods (Kansas). I miss being in Columbus on big game days, when you could feel the electric tension in the air.

Our favorite team will be facing those Longhorn guys later tonight in a bowl of some sort...... Yes, I'm a die hard football fan. Mostly for the hot wings and snacks associated with such.

Which reminds me -- I'm going to make a batch of Buckeye candy to share and subsequently taunt our neighbors with, as they have equally dogmatic loyalties to the Texas Longhorns. It's a bit of a friendly, passive-aggressive cul-de-sac smackdown. AND I'm going to really push the envelope and hang our Ohio State football flag on their porch while they're at work.

Because that's what productive, responsible housewives do while you're all at the office. I'm a rebel. I just hope no one calls the cops on me. But if I do land in jail, I'll be wearing my OSU shirt over my convict stripes & hoping the jail has tv coverage of the game! And will attempt to charm the judge with Buckeye candy.

GO BUCKS!

Mandatory Overtime

You know when employees are required to work overtime, without being given the option? That's about how I feel right now as a mommy. Without the time and a half.

Please don't misunderstand me. It's been a really great holiday break ....... TRULY ....... all 8 weeks of it (or so it seems). In a nutshell: It's been swell, but enough already! I say "over"; you say "kill". It's beginning to feel like a scene from Groundhog Day around here! Hence the twitching.
This picture accurately captures the energy of my youngest. Just imagine the noise level that accompanies that, um, enthusiasm. I can relate to the Grinch more than I care to admit, thinking to myself, "all the noise, NOISE, NOISE!" I'll take this opportunity to quote my little sis when speaking of Natalie: "She packs a lot of volume for such a little thing!" Yeah. I noticed.

I can vaguely remember the Christmas festivities in the kids' classrooms, which seems like ages ago at this point. It's all a haze now, and I find myself daydreaming, longing for the marvelous, blessed sight of the school bus reappearing. And in the bus driver's right hand she held a sword ..... oh wait, I'm getting confused with the book of Revelation. I won't lie -- I struggle against worshipping the school bus and idolizing all it stands for. I'm an education nut that way.

Oh, I kid. Kinda. Now where are my ear plugs?

Honey, I'm Home!

We travelled home from Ohio yesterday and had a truly wonderful time. It was great to revisit our roots in Columbus, and equally great to be back home in Kansas. During our trip, we covered the gammet, doing everything from frolicking on the official Ohio State football field to visiting my dad's grave.

My mom & I got to shop at all my old favorite haunts, and we ate our way across the town at all our favorite restaurants that we don't have in Kansas. Which is a lot, by the way! Can I get a shout out for Bob Evans and Donato's Pizza? I'll miss you! Until next time.....

I'll post pictures soon. But for now, I'm up to my new pearl earrings with dirty laundry -- so I'll write more later after I finish my chores. Like in April.

In the meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!