Happy Birthday, Daddy

Daddy had saved this letter from Mom - written six years ago. We were so lucky to have them as an example of what love really is. She wrote:

"Happy Birthday, Love,

Rachel Minteer asked one time what mature love was. My answer, as usual, was duh!

This year you have shown me in so many ways the meaning of love.

It is not material gifts - okay, you have gifted me with a dish drainer, lawn mower and weed eater.

Love is sitting thru numerous test & doctor's appointments & waiting thru surgeries without complaining.

It is looking at my scarred body & not flinching.

It is cleaning my overnight bag, fixing meals, washing dishes, making the bed, vacuuming, feeding the dog & all the other daily chores.

Without you there wouldn't be four fabulous children & a passel of grands & greats.

But don't get too puffed up. You can still irritate me - you wouldn't iron my pillowcase!

I love you,

Carol"

Happy Birthday, Daddy.

My 5 Things

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:

Working for an Infiniti dealership
Dating Marlon and keeping it a secret from everyone at work
Remodeling my house
Watching my son graduate from High School
Teaching my daughter how to drive


5 things on my list to do today:

Laundry
Search for a volt meter at Dad's house
Lunch with Jeremy
Balance my checkbook
Make a grocery list

5 things I would do with a million dollars:

Pay for Jeremy and Jenna's college
Payoff Brenda and Marlon's houses
Go to Hawaii
Put in a pool
Build a shoe closet

5 places I have lived:

6th Avenue
Alma School and 8th Ave
Stewart and Southern
Brown and Center
Southern and Higley
(those are ALL of the places I have lived!!!)

5 jobs I have held:

Clerk at Card and Camera Corral
Accounting clerk at a mortgage company
Fabricator in a computer chip clean room
Full time Mommy
Payroll Goddess

For Kathy

Kathy couldn't picture me wearing this kind of shoe. My sweet Kathy: Your Aunt Lori has quite the shoe collection! Maybe I'll post some of them sometime. Love you!!! <3

She's cooking now!

Jenna called and wanted to know if I would teach her how to make one of her favorite meals. I guess she's getting tired of the Wendy's drive thru or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

She is a fast learner! It turned out really, really good. What did we make? Paprika chicken, smashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. Who knew that a vegetable would be something that Jenna would actually request?

My Good Child

I got an email from Jeremy today with this picture attached.

He was out with his girlfriend and saw these. He thought they looked like me. I couldn't agree more. They're pink! They're covered with those little letters that Brenda likes so much! They were on sale! And - what a coincidence - they had my size! He didn't have a choice. They HAD to come home with him.

Aaahhhh. Wasn't that sweet?

Spring

On page 22 of the Gillespie Fun-Times Cookbook (under a recipe for Ground Beef Chop Suey, submitted by Ginger Mullins Gillespie) is this from Mom: "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." Maybe that's why there is Spring. To remind us that the world keeps going on. With us or without us. Three weeks ago the tree in my front yard was completely bare. Today, it's a reminder that life goes on.

Happy Birthday, Marlon!

Saint Patrick's Day also happens to be Marlon's birthday. He got an early birthday present when his daughter, Monique, came to visit a couple of weeks ago. Do they share a smile, or what?!!

We had dinner at PF Chang's (avoiding any Irish type pub - he may have a St. Patty's birthday, but not the craving for green beer).

I'm just crazy about this man!! Happy Birthday, Marlon Darlin'!

Pi Day

According to Wikipedia: Pi Day is a holiday held to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14, 3/14 being the first three digits of pi. So in honor of Pi Day Jeremy made buffalo chicken pizza pies for dinner. Yummy. This was followed by apple pie and peach pie for dessert. Mmm Mmm. Happy Pi Day - enjoy!!

aaaahhhhh, Coach

Yes, it was I who said, "Why would you spend so much money on a purse?" And then I bought one. And loved it, so I bought another, and loved it, too. And then they were lonely, so I gave them some friends. And my beautiful sister needed to borrow a handbag - so I shared. And now she has been sucked in. And it's all JENNA's fault!!!

Retail Therapy

I felt this incredible void in my life today - one that could only be filled with a really, really cute pair of shoes. Most of you know that I broke my foot last July which limited my shoe shopping to "sensible" shoes that I could wear after the cast came off and I could get out of the walking boot. That was 2 pair of sensible shoes in October. I'm DUE!!! So . . . . these had to come home with me:


A pair of shoes isn't really going to fill the void. But at least I'll look cute when I'm out and about pretending to be OK.

A Time to Weep

Saying good-bye to Daddy was hard. I knew it would be hard. What does a Daddy's girl do without her Daddy? Mike prepared a beautiful tribute to our Dad. One of Dad's favorite gospel songs was sung. Friends spoke about Dad's wonderful sense of humor. By far the hardest part was the inurnment service. Seeing both Mom and Dad's names on the plaque was so sad. And I so wanted to touch my Mom, just once. She was right there - waiting for Daddy. I am comforted knowing they are together.