Olivia's 11th Birthday Party

We celebrated Olivia's 11th birthday yesterday. They had fun playing after the presents were opened and the cake was eaten.
Matt and I are still trying to get used to the idea that Olivia is 11! She isn't having any trouble with it at
all!

Before and After...

I had a hard time deciding whether I should put these pics on the blog. I

don't want anyone to take this as being boastful. After thinking about it, I realized that this is an accomplishment that I have achieved that I would like to share with my friends and family. So, I am putting these pics on the blog!

Five years ago, I joined Weight Watchers. I originally lost about 20 pounds. Then, life happened and I wasn't able to afford the meetings. I thought that I could do it on my own, but I couldn't. I eventually joined WW online. Through that, I lost another 10 pounds. And it went like that for about 4 and a half years. Join, quit, gain, join, quit, gain... Finally, last July, I joined for the last time. Since joining in July, I have lost 20 pounds and was hired as a receptionist! I LOVE the job! It is so fun to encourage people on their weight loss journeys.

At work, there is a display board of all of the leader's and receptionist's "Before and After" pictures. This week, I got to add mine to the board. It was pretty exciting.

A Valentine's Day Surprise

A mysterious package from Circuit City arrived in the mail a few days before Valentine's Day. When Matt came home, I asked him what he ordered. He said, "I don't know. I don't remember ordering anything." I said, "O.k., I am sure that it is the blue tooth headset that I would like. I'll just wait until Valentines Day." He surprised me by wrapping up the gift, calling the kids in to the living room and stating, "Kids, since mom knows that it is a blue tooth headset, I'll just let her open it today." At that point, I knew it wasn't a blue tooth because he was making too big of a deal about it. As you can tell from the one picture of me with my mouth hanging open, I was totally and utterly surprised to find that he had bought me an iPod Nano. What a sweet guy! I would never have expected that! I have really enjoyed using it while I workout on the treadmill/elliptical. I was thinking about how far the audio industry has come. I remember when my cd Walkman was so cool and nice to take on a walk with me. Now, look at this itsy bitsy little thing. It holds pictures, plays videos and movies! It is crazy! Thanks, Matt, for your thoughtfulness. I love you!

Olivia's Spaghetti Cake

This year, Olivia wanted a cake that looked like a plate of spaghetti. I don't know why, but that is what she wanted. So, here is my attempt at a cake that looks like a plate of spaghetti! At least it will taste good!

Happy 11th Birthday, Olivia

Olivia Anne

Today, my baby, Olivia Anne, turns 11. She was born at 3:19 p.m. on February 14th, 1997. She was 18 1/4 in. long and weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. Who would have known that such a little bundle would bring such a great amount of laughter, love, joy, tenderness...did I mention laughter? Olivia is a complete joy of a daughter. She has her father's sense of humor and often has us in stitches! She loves to sing, dance, play the piano (a compilation of Christmas songs that she knows,) play with her brother, look at photo albums with me. Family and friends are very important to Olivia.

My prayer for Olivia is that as she grows older, she will draw nearer to God on a daily basis. He loves her more than I do and has her very best interest in His heart.

Olivia, I love you with all of my heart! I thank God that He gave daddy and I this very special Valentines gift 11 years ago! Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

Love, Mommy

WAKE UP!

O.k., we have this cat, Raja, who is a VERY strange cat. She is not loving at all. She thinks that she wants love, then she hisses at you. Strange, that is the only way to explain her. Maybe, "One sandwich short a of picnic," would be another good way to describe her. Anyway, I get up early in the morning and she has gotten in the habit of coming in to my room and waking me up before the alarm goes off. I already get up early, I don't need to get up any earlier! Because of this, Matt has recently decided that whenever she is asleep during the day, he is going to walk up to her and yell, "WAKE UP!" He did that the other night while Garrett and Olivia were eating dinner. It was the first time they had heard him do that and they didn't know why. When I explained why, they
both laughed so hard. Garrett almost choked on his dinner! Olivia
said, "Dad is so funny!" I said, "I know, that is
part of the reason why I fell in love with him." Olivia replied,"I hope that the guy I marry is as funny as daddy, but he probably
won't be as perfect!" I thought that was so sweet! Olivia
loves her daddy, and so do I!

"The Fool's Prayer"

I have been reading poetry to the kids each morning. I have and always will love poetry. Here is the poem I read this morning that has always been a favorite of mine...

"The Fool's Prayer"

The royal feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool;
The rod must heal the sin: but, Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"'Tis not by guilt the onward sweep
Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;
'Tis by our follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaven away.

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?
The word we had not sense to say--
Who knows how grandly it had rung?

"Our faults no tenderness should ask,
The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;
But for the blunders --oh, in shame
Before the eyes of heaven we fall.

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool
That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"

The room was hushed; in silence rose
The King, and sought his gardens cool,
And walked apart, and murmured low,
"Be merciful to me, a fool!"

--Edward R. Sill

What a great reminder of what the Lord has done for us in His death on the cross and how we need to humble ourselves before Him.

Skiing

The kids had their second lesson of skiing on Wednesday. The roads were so bad, if I had known that I would be reimbursed for their lesson, I probably wouldn't have gone. However, because the roads were bad, the other two schools that the home school group is with for lessons, didn't come. There were four home school families and then the die-hard skiers. I decided to ski! It has been 20 years since I have skied! I had a great time. I "skied in on" the last part of the kids' lesson, and then Olivia and I skied together for about 2 hours! She was so sweet. We were on the ski lift and she said, "Mom, it is great that you are skiing with me. Now Garrett can ski fast with his friends and you can ski slow with me!" (I am a very cautious skier.) It was a lot of fun and I think that I will ski the next two times we go up for lessons!

Because it is February...the month of LOVE!

WE HAVE LIVED AND LOVED TOGETHER

We have lived and loved together
Through many changing years;
We have shared each other's gladness
And wept each other's tears;
I have known ne'er a sorrow
That was long unsoothed by thee;
For thy smiles can make a summer
Where darkness else would be.

Like the leaves that fall around us
In autumn's fading hours,
Are the traitor's smiles, that darken
When the cloud of sorrow lowers;
And though many such we've known, love,
Too prone, alas, to range,
We both can speak of one love
Which time can never change.

We have lived and loved together
Through many changing years,
We have shared each other's gladness
And wept each other's tears.
And let us hope the future,
As the past has been will be;
I will share with thee my sorrows,
And thou thy joys with me.

--Charles Jefferys



WILL YOU LOVE ME WHEN I'M OLD

I would ask of you, my darling,
A question soft and low,
That gives me many a heartache
As the moments come and go.

Your love I know is truthful,
But the truest love grows cold;
It is this that I would ask you:
Will you love me when I'm old?

Life's morn will soon be waning,
And its evening bells be tolled,
But my heart shall know no sadness,
If you'll love me when I'm old.

Down the stream of life together
We are sailing side by side,
Hoping some bright day to anchor
Safe beyond the surging tide.
Today our sky is cloudless,
But the night may clouds unfold;
But, though storms may gather round us,
Will you love me when I'm old?

When my hair shall shade the snowdrift,
And mine eyes shall dimmer grow,
I would lean upon some loved one,
Through the valley as I go.
I would claim of you a promise,
Worth to me a world of gold;
It is only this, my darling,
That you'll love me when I'm old.

-Unknown