All grown up and going to the prom

Savannah looked beautiful for her prom last night. She's grown into a lovely young woman. I'm so proud of her.

Our official engagement picture. The wedding is just a month and half away. I'm so looking forward to it. It's going to be such a joyous day!

Snow day on April 9th... Nice.

I was beginning to think we were going to get through this school year with no snow day.. but here we are. A snow day and there is barely any snow on the ground. It's cold and icy, so I know that's why they called it. Mark and I are enjoying a relaxing morning, sitting around drinking coffee and talking. Later we'll head on over to the gym and get a workout in. I like unexpected little surprises like this. A snow day is always a nice surprise. I didn't think so when the boys were little and I wasn't teaching yet. I had to make plans for daycare for them then. That was not fun nor easy. I usually ended up taking a sick day to stay home with them, but I rarely had any sick days available to me.. because when the boys were sick, I had to use them to stay home with them then too. But, now that I'm a teacher, I love these snow days. I do feel for all the parents out there that have to make arrangements for their children today. It's not easy and can be extremely frustrating. Snow days... One of life's little ways of saying.. take it easy.. have some fun.. sleep in... read a book for fun... get in a few more kisses with your hubby (or soon-to-be hubby)... cozy up and watch a good movie.. Or.. get your butt over to the gym and work off that birthday dinner you ate on Sunday night. :) Happy snow day!!!

Engagement

So happy to be engaged to Mark. It's been an incredible year and now I get to spend the rest of my life being his wife. June 9, 2013.. that's the day. The day we stand before our family and friends and vow to love, cherish and honor for the rest of our lives. I love him so and feel so blessed to have found him.

I celebrated my 52nd birthday last Sunday. Wow.. I don't think I ever really believed that I would be 52 years old. It sounds much older than I feel. But.. I can honestly say that I feel like I'm getting better with age. I feel more secure with who I am and I feel more secure in my life. I love my life. The flowers in the picture are from Mark.. a wonderful gift for my birthday. His presence in my life has been a God send. I'm so blessed to be able to spend my life with him. I love him... Unconditionally and with my whole heart and soul. I love him.

Goodbye 2012

For once I can honestly say that I'm not relieved to see a year end. In the past, I've always thought, "Next year will be better.. I'll meet someone that I can love and feel love back in return." Or, "Life will get easier" But this year, 2012, was a year I will cherish forever. I met that love of my life. My beautiful little granddaughter was born. My life did get easier. It was a great year. The best year I can ever remember. 2013 will be great as well I'm sure. but.. I'm sad to see 2012 slip away. My hope for every person on this planet is that we find peace and goodwill. That we treat one another with love and respect. That we put aside our differences and pay more attention to our samenesses. So much sadness gets spread around through violence and misunderstandings. There are many parents this New Year's Eve that are doing anything but celebrating. They are mourning the loss of their precious children. Whether it be through war, or the actions of a sick and twisted person with access to a gun... their lives will be forever scarred. I pray for them. I cry for them. I get angry with them that so many people in this country believe that guns are what will keep us free. Love is what will keep us free. Love and understanding and acceptance. So, Happy New Year. May all your dreams come true. May you find contentment in all that you have and not worry so much about the "pursuit of happiness".. Look around you and count your blessings and thank your God for all the abundance in your life. I know that I will be doing that here in my cozy little home surrounded by the people that I love and love me. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Acceptance

I was thinking the other day about acceptance and how really... that is all we want in our lives. We want others to see us and accept us just the way we are. Of course, we know this is rarely the case. In fact, many of us don't even accept ourselves they way we are. Many times we are more critical of ourselves than others are about us. I have noticed that even when I know I'm being accepted for me.. and only me.. I still question it. I still wonder if I were prettier, skinnier, smarter, more successful would they accept me even more? I'm never going to be smarter, prettier, skinnier or more successful.. I'm always going to be me. Loving and accepting means that I'm good enough. So.. I guess each day we have to look in the mirror and love what we see.. and love what's on the inside.. despite the things we wish we could change. Acceptance... Something to strive for...