Becca and her peeps: 12/01/2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

thoughts

I became inspired by a blog post from a dear friend. I wondered what I’d tell my past-self about how her life ‘turns out’.
I’ve always said that I can’t stand it when people say they have no regrets in life --because I have a MILLION. My hind-sight seems to have no problems, but steering clear during the storm is quite a different tale.

I don’t know that I’d really have much to say to my younger self. I’d tell her to go to college.

What I’d really like right about now is some advice from my 60-year-old self. I’d love to hear about how the girls turn out. Did I completely screw them up? Did I stay with Lance through a rocky -yet loving marriage? Do I ever make it back to church and re-prioritize my life to center on what is truly and sincerely important: Jesus Christ? Did I instill the values of what I was raised with in my own girls? Can I say that I am proud of the moments I had all alone? Can I say that I cherished every special piece of raising my girls, knowing that there are no more babies waiting for me beyond the veil? Did I exercise and eat right and set an example for how to take care of myself -ultimately giving the gift of my own physical availability to my family? Did I make every effort to look beautiful for my husband and thank him all the time for how hard he works for our family? Did I ever manage to somehow inspire his own journey toward discovering God in his life? Did I let my friends know I love them? Did I stand by and support those who needed me?

I would love the advise from Rebecca with gray hair and wrinkles around her eyes. I would love to sit down and chat with her about my fears, my joys, my regrets.

What would I tell young Rebecca? Hell, I don’t have any more answers now.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Merry Christmas, 2009!

This has been such an incredibly beautiful holiday. WARNING: there are a bazillion pix on this entry, but I had to document the love -and steal some of the great pictures Mary took too...

Here's me and Lance on Christmas morning. I love this picture. This is our little family posed at my parent's house before the song we sing as we march into the tree... This has been a family tradition my whole life. There's always a picture, but this time, we have Rach in the back posing for Mia. :) Back to chronological order to keep my OCD brain straight, here is the scoop. Christmas Eve day we spent a little time with my family -and Grandmother (Dad's mom) had come for the holiday. She was very gracious and loved loved loved to hold Sabrina.Chaedon has created a bit of a monster with Ella now posing all the time with her tongue out. No bueno.This is a Christmassy-festive Mia-babes! Me and Lance. Sabrina had quite a bit of excitement and took a snoozer. ...Note the painted nails? I got all three girlz done (It's CHRISTMASSY!!!), but my own took one for the team. :(The evening with spent at Lance's family's home. ...This was new, as Christmas Eve is usually done on my side. I committed to this though instead of being sad about what I missed with my family. We had a splendid time and the food was divine (typical)!We had the whole family gift exchange. Here's Mia with her new robe! Chaedon dispensed gifts and opened all his gifts here, as he spent the night/ next day holiday with his mom. I promise, Ella's hair was cuter at the beginning of the day! Ella -future rock-star- got a little recording studio deal. It's a freakin' awesome toy, and she absolutely LOVES it! Funny picture, here's Ella and her cousin Aneesa. :) Christmas morning! MY TREE HAS NEVER LOOKED WORSE!!! This season has been ROUGH on the tree. It's been re-decorated a few times after Mia rearranged things, but I couldn't keep up. Next year it'll look totally different (maybe with a gate around it). After opening gifts, Lance's parents came over to check out the loot and have some of my yummy holiday breakfast casserole. Good times! This is a funny picture of Mia -probably opening a gift with more clothes! :D Lance looks adorable in this picture -he must have been thinking about how charming I am! Here's one of my crafties! All three girls got a magnet board with their names on them. ...Obviously she got "Candyland" too! We decked Sabrina out for the day. ...The dress is a classic Ella number. She's so stinkin' smiley, I LOVE it! Here's Ella --typical schmootz on her face to boot! *Look at those shining eyes! We went to my parent's home and played some Christmas Yahtzee!

I liked this shot -it's me and Lance during gift-opening at my parent's home.We got some great pictures of my beebeeBri!

Granny-Loo! (That's Rach's hubby Seuao in the background)

Mom surprised Dad, who has now joined the technological world of POWER snow removal this season, and Dad surprised Mom with a trip to Florida this spring (Grandmother is holding my cute Sabrina in this pic)!!

CHRISTMAS JOY! ...AND MORE FACE SCHMOOTZ! *Everyone had nose issues, btw. Ella hurt hers in the garage when dad got his gift, Sabrina had hurt hers a few days earlier toppling off the couch (woops), and even Lily got swiped at by a dog (see last picture)!

Me and Lance. :)

Ella and myself -after she converted me for a funny-face picture.

Me with Ella and Mia. Geeze, I just don't notice the crap on Ella's face until it's put on the internet for forever-keeping!

Here are a few more fun pix of me and Bri.

I hope your holiday was wonderful. Christmas ROCKS.

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I have found myself so busy with all of the excitement of the holiday -and I love every second of it. This is the most precious time of year. I love seeing joy and excitement in loved ones. I love baking and wrapping gifts and visiting with friends. I love the lights, the music, the shopping! I sincerely love that we have something centered in Christ -that the spirit of giving and love is so abundant in so many places.

This is the time of miracles. It's the time that we can step outside of ourselves and take a higher road -to truly embrace each other, differences and all. My heart is full as this holiday gives me such a humble reminder to be grateful for the rich blessings in my life. I recognize that these blessings are beyond anything I could have ever asked for or deserve. My family and friends are the greatest Christmas gift I could receive -and I have it to enjoy everyday. Thank you, God.