Simply Sunday: Everything Changes

Ricky quietly got up this morning, shut the bedroom door and let me sleep.

Such a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

(Have I mentioned how much I love this man?)

I woke up at one point and was thinking about my life.

In some ways I feel like I've lived two completely different lives.

I wonder if this is common for those who have been through a divorce.

I laid there and thought about this for a while.

It's so strange that the people I love so dearly here in Tennessee know NOTHING of my life in Seattle.

They just know the Veronica who lives here now.

I had a completely different life.

Not that it's bad.....it's just very strange to think about.

Day by day, it has all come together, but when I stop and look back on my life, I think, "wow".

I'm sure this is the case for all of us, regardless of our circumstances. 

Life is ever-changing.

It never turns out being the way we imagined when we were little.

I've learned that there's great joy available for us all when those 'changes' in life occur.

And I'm so grateful for that. 

It makes it easier to not be afraid of change.

It makes it easier to allow life to be WHATEVER it's going to be.

In spite of how different my life is than what I thought it would be,

it's an incredibly rich and happy life.

It's MY life.

And I LOVE it.

A Stretchy Heart

This has been a rough week.

Lucy Lu-Lu has been sick,

and when she gets sick.....she REALLY gets sick.

When she's down and out, I realize very quickly how much I miss

the fun and laughter she brings into every day.

And it makes me so sad.

Even when she's sick though, she teaches me and makes me a better person.

We had the following conversation:

"Mom, I love you so much."

"Oh, Lucy, I love you too!"

Lucy: "I love all the persons in this whole wide world."

Me: "I do too!"

Lucy: "Of course you do!"

A minute went by and I asked, 

"Lucy, how do you have room in your heart for everyone in the whole wide world."

And then my sweet and wise Lucy Lu-Lu taught her mom.

She looked at me like she was surprised I didn't already know the answer.

Then in her sick, but suddenly strong voice, she said, 

"MOM. Our hearts are STRETCHY. So we have room for EVERYONE!" 

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Oh, how I love the beauty and simple wisdom of children.

Oh, how I love my Lucy.

And I love her amazing stretchy heart.

I See You!

Today, I had a "mom" moment that was very disappointing at first, 

but after my "Ah-hahhh" moment, it will always be a cherished memory.

It started this morning.

I was in my room, saying my morning prayers.

Lucy Lu-Lu was up, and was quietly watching cartoons, so I thought it would be a good time.

Well, in the middle of my prayer, I hear her little footsteps running around the living room, followed by, "Mom?".

I listened as her footsteps went from room to room looking for me. 

I could hear her opening the doors, one by one.

All, while saying, "Mom?"

Then she came to my room.

She opened the door, saw me praying and quietly went back out and shut the door.

Well, the day continued.

We remained busy running errands.

As we were running errands, Lucy Lu-Lu kept jabbering away.

(She really does jabber.)

I was on the phone. Then had another call.

And Lucy just kept trying to get me involved with her jabber.

After we got home, I sat down at the computer to take care of something,

And once again, Lucy Lu-Lu came over, climbed up behind me on my chair and tried very hard to get me involved with her jabber.

Finally, Lucy (who was still standing behind me), leaned over in front of me, grabbed my cheeks and aggressively turned my face to meet hers, and she said, 

"MOM! Do you SEE me?"

And I mumbled "yes" and tried to move my head back towards the REALLY super-duper important stuff on my computer.

But, she held on tight and again said, 

"MOM! Do you SEEEE me?"

And then I stopped.

I realized at that moment, that NO.....I didn't see her.

And I hadn't REALLY seen her all morning.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I immediately stopped what I was doing,

grabbed my little Lucy Lu-Lu and sat down on the floor with her.

We talked, I tickled, I listened, we laughed and I enjoyed a priceless moment with my daughter.

I had allowed myself to get so caught up in other things, 

that I really hadn't 'seen' my daughter.

And it makes me sad.

Today, I've decided to make the time to REALLY "see" my kids.

It doesn't matter how old they are.

I want to enjoy them, talk to them, and make sure I give them part of ME!

So, Lucy Lu-Lu.....

YES! I see you!

And I love you for helping me to be a better mom today. 

Be Different

I hope anyone who reads this, knows by now how much I completely adore my family.

I love my children beyond words.

I treasure my parents and in-laws.

And my siblings.....

well.....

we are connected in ways that are hard for me to explain.

I don't just love them.

And I don't just adore them.

But, I actually really like them.

Simply put, I think they are some of the coolest people that walk this planet.

And I beg for anyone to challenge me. 

...you will lose.

They are also some of the strangest and most wonderfully unique people that walk this planet.

And they aren't afraid to be so.

I think that's why I think they are so very awesome.

We have our own private family website, which I LOVE.

And every once in a while, something is posted that is entirely too tempting not to share.

And that leads me to this beauty.

HA! HA! HA!

Oh Britney.

Oh.....your freakishly weird eyeballs.

wow

Let me tell you why I love this picture so much.

It's also why I love Britney so much.

We live in a world where there is constant pressure to 'measure up', to 'fit the mold', to act a certain way, to look a certain way, etc.

But in that same world are people who aren't afraid to be different. 

They have courage to stand on their own.

To be themselves.

They seem to have a magical blend of conforming when required, while remaining true to who they really are.

I believe that takes courage.

It takes confidence.

It takes a willingness to be different, to laugh at yourself and to let others see you in that light as well.

But most importantly it takes someone who knows who they are.

And that is Britney.

She will argue that with me, but I will win that argument too!

And she's not the only sibling I have who is like that.

She just happens to be the one who posted that photo!

(I love you Britney. Really. I do.)

The best thing about people like Britney, is that when they are willing to be themselves,

it gives the people around them the same courage.

We all need a Britney.

Britney, you embrace your "you"ness beautifully.

And it keeps me laughing.

Thank you for that!

I Can Make You Smile

There are moments as a mom, where I am truly taught by my children.

I love those moments when they happen and feel very grateful to share my life with such incredible little people.

With it being the new year, I've been thinking a lot lately about my life, about how I'm doing, where I can improve, etc.

But, I've also been thinking a lot about my family. I have been thinking about each child and thinking about their needs, their personal strengths and struggles and what we can do as a family to help strengthen each other. 

Sometimes as a mom, that can feel overwhelming.

But, then I have moments like this, and I know that I'm not alone in my efforts. I'm surrounded by a small army of powerful people, who are currently housed in the cutest little bodies.

They love each other. 

They are committed to each other.

And they help each other.

Life is meant to be full of joy.

I firmly believe we have opportunities every day to choose happiness.

At any age, this is not always the easiest thing to do.

Well,

Lucy was having a hard time choosing her own happiness.

She was CRAAANNNNKY!

And she was determined to stay that way.

Until Zach came along.

I sat and watched Lucy try REALLY hard to choose ANYTHING but happiness.

She was determined.

But, Zach didn't give up. 

I sat and watched him for a couple seconds and grabbed the camera.

Then I watched as this sweet young man helped his little sister choose to be happy.

It was such a great example to me of the power we have to lift, to encourage, and to help those around us choose happiness.

We all need people like that.

We need people who can recognize when we can't do it on our own, and who are willing to step in and  help.

Thank you Zach.

You make my job as a mom so much easier.

A Happy Start

Well, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I've had many things go through my mind as I've taken a look back at the year 2012.

Many thoughts are happy ones.

We've had some wonderful, happy moments, for which I am very grateful.

But, we also had some challenging ones as well.

I assume that's the case for us all.

No one has a perfect life, 

but we all can have happy ones.

I always feel a bit of sadness as I close out the year. 

I think it's because I typically feel like I gain so much as I go through each year. 

Each experience enriches our lives and regardless of whether it's good or bad, I believe we have a choice to be better because of it.

As I was snuggling with my kids, reading one of our favorite books, we came across this poem.

And I realized how true this was.

Endings typically ARE sad.

2012 was a very happy year, for many reasons, so I am feeling a bit sad that we're at the end.

But when I stop and think about why the beginning of a new year is so exciting, the sadness doesn't stick around for long.

The possibility of a happy start REALLY is there.

It's a fresh start and I always feel reenergized.

It's a clean slate and much of what it will be is up to me.

So, I am excited for a new year.

I'm excited at the possibilities that lie ahead.

And I'm excited to see what my "happy middle" will be.

Today, 2013 feels like a very HAPPY start.