The Best Husband

It is my 19th wedding anniversary, and I have the best husband on earth. A few months back I wrote the post below, and I couldn’t resist reminding myself, and everyone who might stop by this page today, how wonderful he truly is:

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Flowers for a Reason

In Husbands, Life, Love, Marriage on August 30, 2009 at 1:29 pm

I was going to start off writing that my husband bought me a bouquet of  flowers today for no reason, but then I thought about it and realized that this just wasn’t true. I mean, it isn’t our anniversary, or my birthday, and there was no need to “make up”, but he still bought them.

He said he was going to Home Depot for a quick minute, which is typical when he is working on a project at the house, so I didn’t even really say goodbye. I had other things going on at that moment, and I think all I said was, “OK.”

He had been gone around 30 minutes, but since my separation anxiety stage has long since evaporated after nearly 19 years of marriage, I hadn’t noticed the time. The kids were playing in the yard and I was talking on the phone with my mother, when I heard our van drive up outside. I didn’t run to the door to greet him, like I might have many years ago. I just stayed where I was and continued talking, but through the screen door it looked like he had more than a Home Depot bag in his hands, and he had a bigger grin on his face than usual.

Walking in, he presented me with a simple but beautiful floral arrangement. I asked him what it was for, and he replied, “No reason.”

I finished up my call and gave him a big hug. I thanked him for the flowers and he said, “Well, if I had waited until we could afford it, I might never have gotten them.” (Flowers are something we’ve always agreed to as being an extravagance).

Then, I put my bouquet in some water, he went back to his project, and the kids went on doing what they were doing. Nothing in our day changed, except that I had gotten flowers — a sweet reminder that my husband is very much in love with me, and that he still thinks about me when he is lost in a project or even on a trip to Home Depot.

Yes, I got flowers for a reason.

My minute is up. Thanks for spending yours with me.

Just a Minute Now

The Forty Year

It’s New Year’s Day, and I thought, “Yeah, I could write a new year’s post, just like everyone else.” Why though, when there is a sooo much more interesting topic (for me, at least)? This is the year. THE YEAR.

2010 is… the Forty Year.

Within a matter of weeks both digits on my counter will turn over, and the one in the tens place will restyle itself from a meandering, free-form figure 3 into a pointy, angular rune 4 (yeah, I had to look “rune” up, too).

Free-form to angular. Is that poignant?

Well, I do find myself having more pointed opinions as of late, whereas at 30 I was pretty loosey-goosey, and in the last ten years I suppose I’ve had to go through my own bit of “restyling”. I have many more responsibilities now, and my motivations are of a more “mature” nature.

When I was 30, my kids were Kindergarten and below, so I was knee-deep in clay and crayola, toddler toys and potty training. I was NEVER alone, except maybe in the bathroom, and my world was at home.

Now that I am “39 and more than shave over”, my family is always on the go in all four directions, and we have staggeringly singular interests. One — building stuff; another — dance and art; the youngest — skateboarding and gaming (read “trying to give me a heart attack”); and me — whatever I can fit in during my little minute of the day :-).

I am finding that I must forge my own way deliberately as the apron strings become looser and looser, while still supporting my family in their goals and activities. Otherwise, I would lose my mind.

I am transitioning into that place where everyone is becoming less dependent on Mom, except if they need to go somewhere — and even a change to that status is looming, as a teen driver may assert herself in the nearer than I’d like future. My youngest is easing into Mom vs. Mommy, too. Actually, he flat-out asked one day if he could call me Mom, so maybe easing really isn’t the right word.

This 40 thing can seem a bit daunting, but I am certainly not afraid of it. I think it scares my mother and my daughter the most. My mother… because I am her youngest. My daughter… because it has always been Daddy who is “old” (I think… I’m supposed to take… that… as a compliment).

I guess Mommies aren’t supposed to age, but the signs are there to prove that it does truly happen. My hair, for instance. The silvery strands among the flaxen are appearing more numerous and prominent these days, but I refuse to dye or pluck out these natural and free “highlights” in my coiffure (I’m sure many of them are falling out very well on their own, anyhow).

No, I’m going into The Forty Year boldly, ambitiously, au natural and proud of it. I tell you, the little ones may get less needy and never be home, but that’s just what happens… I know because I did it too. My skin and whatever else may start to sag, and I may have a deep wrinkle or three, but that’s OK. The lady in the commercial will not intimidate me into thinking that I am inadequate or less beautiful because of these. My family tells me otherwise, and the outside doesn’t matter anyhow. Thank you, Family! I love you, too!

With that… my minute is up. Thanks for spending yours with me.

Just a Minute Now

Merry Christmas with Marvin the Puppet

I am always the mama sharing the creativity of her offspring… and today is no exception. I swear you give your kids the tools, and they will do sump’n with them.

This is the sump’n I got today. Take a look:

Here is Marvin’s first Christmas! He wants a porcelain Siamese cat, but will he get his Christmas wish? Watch to find out! Merry Christmas everyone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfPal_pJkX8

For more Marvin fun, search Marvin the Puppet on Facebook and become a Fan, or visit Marvin’s website and blog at http://marvinthepuppet.weebly.com/.

My minute is up. Thanks for spending yours with me, and have a Very Merry Christmas!

Just a Minute Now