.... a blog award! It's the "Marie Antoinette - A Real Person Award".
I was given this by Kristy. She left a comment a couple of days ago, on my "Advice" entry and told me that she was giving me an award.She's listed on my blog list at the right side of this page.
I was very surprised and blessed to receive this from her. I didn't even know there was anything like this.
This award is supposed to go to bloggers who are truly real and let everyone into their daily life, with all of the joy and all of the struggles.
Here's what she said on her blog about me:
"txmomx6 of One breath at a time...--another new widow who often writes things that I SO relate to but probably would never think to put into words."
Kristy has been through so much in such a short time. I love reading the realness of her life, too. My heart goes out to her, as well as to the other women mentioned below.
The award comes with a few rules. You're supposed to reflect who awarded it to you, display the icon and pass it along to seven other bloggers. Kristy cheated just a bit and passed on to five of us and she gave us permission to do the same. Yay Kristy!
And thank you, very much.
So for the 5 people I'd like to give this award to .....
The very first person I will give it to is Tamara. She is one of the most real bloggers I know and I happen to love her and am blessed to call her "friend". I love to read about her daily ups and downs, especially with her two lovely children.
The next person is LL. She has been through hell and back and has written so honestly about it all.
The next three are all lovely women who walk this path with me. They each blog about their experiences .... good and bad, and the struggles and joys that each day brings.
All of their blogs are listed on my right. I know that many of you have visited them quite a bit and I know that you've received so many blessings from reading about their lives, too.
OK, here's the latest update.
Son #3 has his cell phone back. We shall see how long he'll keep it. So far, so good.
Son #2 sent a letter to me this past weekend that made me despair of hope for him. But today I got a much better letter. It was a letter that reminded me of all the ways I love him. And made me look forward to picking him up from the airport tomorrow.
God is good.
The four older kids come home on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am SO looking forward to having them all home at the same time! We have to make up for a lot of time. And squeeze in some serious discussions about what we're going to do for Christmas and for THE date. You know, that horrible, horrifically awful date in December. We'd like to make it not so horrible and celebrate the wonderfulness of our favorite man in the entire world. I'm not sure how we'll do it. Suggestions would be appreciated.
On the subject of celebrating ..... the school district is going to formally name "the building" on December 19th, at 3:00, I think. All of the kids will be there with me, so it will probably be very special and very, very bittersweet.
Gabby is still miserable about the indifference that the puppy in the mirror shows to her efforts to play. One of these days I'll have the camera ready so that I can share it with all of you.
The cats are doing well. They still seem to be looking for George sometimes. I wonder how much cats remember and how long they remember? They seem to be good at remembering him, yet complete idiots when it comes to remembering that they get in deep trouble (read: sprayed with a water bottle) when they jump on the counters! Go figure. And ..... I just realized, not so very different from children!
Work has been busy this week and looks like it will be getting busier. I'm glad .... it's a good kind of busy and it allows me to help others, which allows me to forget about my own hurts for a while.
I have been car shopping this week (I need more cargo room now that I have a horse). This is a very interesting activity when there's not a man with you. Sad, but true and we all know it. I want so much to trust that very good-looking car salesman (who reminded me so much of Jim) I met the other day, but ..........
Anyway, I do have a wonderful male friend helping me with this. Funny, but I think most men get a kick of this kind of thing. It's so full of testosterone ..... seeing who can get the best deal out of whom.
Whatever.
So that's the update. The next time you hear from me I will have two sons here.
All good thought and prayers would be welcomed and most appreciated.
:)
12 comments:
J-I just asked everyone in our family what "you all can do for Christmas"
K2 says "Duh! Come to OUR house!!"
M2 says "Come here!! Gabby can sleep in MY bed!!"
M1 says "Aren't they coming here??"
K1 says "Cha! They better be!!"
Don't you remember all of us talking about it in the airport last year??? Right before M2 spilled her HOT chocolate and burned her hands???
I was almost sure we had Jim actually "thinking" about it!!!
(or he was thinking we were nuts!!) LOL!!
Whatever you decide (come here) is best for you (come here) and the kids (come here). We love you (come here) all and will be (come here) praying for you (come here) with heavy hearts (come here)
Are you seeing subliminal messages???(come here)
XOXO
K in AK
oh wow, an award, thank you soooo much. I really intend to blog more, its a great release and feels like thinking out loud.If it touches a core with someone else that is great, there are many of us on this path.
As for 'the date', well, on reflection leaping out of a plane on August 2nd was one of the best things I ever did...not the jumping, but the actual act of marking the day in a good way, a positive way. I remember thinking that Ronnie would be smiling from ear to ear to see what I was up to, and that warmed my heart. So, maybe, doing something positive as a family with as many of you together as you can, something that would have made Jim laugh, made him proud. Maybe son number 2 could come up with the actual 'thing' it might empower him a little to have something to organise. Whatever you do it will be an emotional day, full of 'at this time last year' moments...it will be sad, but you can make it more than just sad. I hope you can think of a way to mark the day. Let us know. Love and prayers.
I'm so glad they are having a formal dedication of the building, is it a private gathering or friends included? I am also thankful the kids will be here.
Hey J! I hope you have a wonderful time with all 6 of my nieces and nephews. I wish we could be there with you all. I am sure you and Mom and the rest of the crew with have a very nice Thanskgiving. As for Christmas, you need to come here and spend it with your darling sister who loves you more than any other sister I have. (heehee) You are my favorite sister, the best sister anyone could ever ask for, you don't want to go to AK, (I hear that someone there likes to turn off the heat when it's 8 degrees.) Burrrr (Luv U K) I love you J! Have a great weekend with #2 and #3
Thank you kindly, ma'am, for mentioning my blog (and those of our "sisters"). I confess that I have read some of the blogs that you list on the right, too. Wish I was more motivated to post on a daily (even weekly!) basis.
Sounds like your Thanksgiving is shaping up nicely. How wonderful to have your family around (sigh).
I have seen some refer to "that" date as the sad-iversary. I haven't even gone there yet, thinking how I will mark that date. I have 5 + months to make those plans, I guess. I like the idea of doing something positive, something for ME. Hmmm....
Thanks for a thought-provoking post!
Hi Mom of 6...
I know this isn't Wednesday, but I posted a question for ya a couple weeks ago, but I guess it got lost in the old entry blogworld. But I'm still wondering... since you possess the "mean ole mom" spirit AND have survived teenage daughters...
did you find yourself taking their new hormonal changes personal?? And just how long does this distancing themself from Mom thing last?? Everyone says "they'll come back around", but it feels like forever right now. I have 2 teenage daughters. 13 and 14. My 13 yr old has completely turned into an alien that most of the time no-how, no-way resembles the sweet, loving, affectionate little girl I had for 12 yrs. She is completely wrapped up with her bestest friend, but to her family, we mostly get silence (except for when she's fighting with her sister) And because she tends to be lazy, it seems I'm always nagging her about something she didn't do. She is a cancer, born in July who I could totally relate to since I'm a moon-child myself. But I gotta tell ya, most times when she does actually speak, I find myself wondering, "who is this girl and what did she do with my daughter?!!!!"
I have all kinds of questions relating to priviledges, allowance, dating, chores, etc. etc., but won't bombard you all at one time. I raised a son, now 25, but this girl thing is new for me. Oh, and since my timing was so off, and I had my girls past the age of 35, I am now at my finest "mental-pause" time. It is like hormone-hell here some days.
I do confess to being the mean ole mom who believes children should earn what they are "given", be accountable for their actions, and not think of me as their best friend. I stated that early on, when my oldest dd got angry with me over some punishment she had received... that I am her mother and if she was mad at me, I must be doing my job. She has plenty of friends, but only one Mom and right now she needs a Mom, not another friend. But in the hot-flash, gray hair phase, it's a little hard NOT to take things personal since I have my own hormonal issues going on. But when I mess up, I fess up. Yes, I have apologized for acting like "Mommy Dearest" when they act like brats on my worst days. They just get so involved with their own selfish world sometimes, that they forget I am a real person with real feelings too. Yes, I have been reading your blog for quite some time and admire your convictions and ability to stand firm and fair with son #2. So ole' wise-one, give me some strength to weather the storm. :>0
CD
Thank you so much! It is such a wonderful reassurance to know there are other women who are out there walking the same path, you know. Having an opportunity to write about what is going on in our lives and to be able to read others' experiences is just wonderful. We are not alone.
We didn't mark the first anniversary in a special way, because we were not together, my children and I, and I was at work. We all took time, though, to go for walks to reflect and to acknowldge both the sadness, and just how far we had come.
Jim would be so proud of you all, Janine. Especially of you. Whatever way you do mark the day, you have so much love surrounding you. Remember that.
Good afternoon my darling daughter. You are very much on my heart today. I so want the time to go well with son #2. I am looking forward to seeing him.
I think Lisa made some very good suggestions. Whatever you choose to do, I pray that all 7 of you will be strengthened by it.
I love you greatly. Oooh....I have a Tres Leches Cake in the oven! :o)
I have the same question as Nat, can friends be at the dedication ceremony of the building?
Ty and I went up there on Friday and I showed him the building and Jim's name. I cried, he hugged me, and then I thought to myself; why hasn't there been some kind of formal ceremony for this building dedication??? I'm am glad to hear there is one planned.
Love you, K
oh, cool! Now all you have to say is, "let them have cake!" :)
That is so wonderful that there is a to be a formal dedication of naming the building and an added blessing that all of your children will be home. I have prayed for your day today and your week end. I believe that a day of celebrating Jim's life would be a great way to spend the day and perhaps mark it by planting a tree in his memory or doing something that he especially liked. Or donating to something that was close to his heart or whatever along that line. I've not experience anything like this, but those are some things that came to my mind. You truly are real and it is so apparent that you are not wearing a mask when you blog. I can really "tell" a difference in you over the past months and it has blessed my heart. You are an inspiration to so many. Blessings on your weekend and especially your week next week when all of your children are under one roof again. Will be praying especially for you and Son #2.
You are so kind - calling my children lovely. Blogging is my way of putting our life out there and hoping that someone will read and tell me that I'm not so crazy.
On the first anniversary of Mom's death I went shopping with her best friend. I was young and very poor and she bought me clothes. We went to Mom's favorite restaurant for lunch and shared her favorite dessert. We told each other funny stories and talked about good times.
Every year since then I have planted something in her honor. The only problem is that she was a fantastic gardener and I am not. I'm pretty sure that everything I have ever planted in her honor has died, which is a whole other sad story in and of itself. I still like doing it though because it's something we did together in the "before."
Please don't jump out of a plane. I saw a lady on tv the other night that did that to mark a special day. Her parachute didn't work and she broke every bone in her face and legs...and lived. Your face is too pretty to break and it would be hard to care for Gabby with broken legs.
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