Throwback Thursday - 15 Years of Marriage

I've spent the last 17 years of our existence trying to use words to tell you how much I love you. I used to write you letters - after we had spent 18 out of 24 hours together - confessing how much I loved you and how much you meant to me. (Which reminds me: where are those letters? We really should burn them.) As inadequate as I've found words to be in expressing this love, I'm going to try again.

When we made our vows 15 years ago, I suspected some of them might be hard to keep. (Even after we omitted the word "obey".) As it turns out, "Forsaking all others and keeping only unto him," has been the easiest promise I ever made.

There is no one like you. 7 billion people on the earth and none compares favorably to you. You're my favorite person, past or present.

17 years ago you'd walk by and I'd think, "I love that boy."

Today - after fights and growing up and giving birth and losing a baby and moving and crying and learning not to be selfish and saying goodbye to people we love and choosing to do the right thing even when it was lonely and holding on tight because we were all we had - I see you across a room and I still think, "I love that boy."

I know your faults - better than anyone - and you know mine. But I'd rather deal with your faults than anyone else's strengths. And despite my faults, you still treat me like I'm worthy and beautiful and funny, rather than flawed, bitter, & neurotic.

We both know I'm not a "people pleaser". I don't spend a lot of energy trying to make other people happy. But you are the exception. I so much desire to make you happy every day. A day where I don't make you laugh is not a good day.

You - we both know this is true - are not a good gift giver. But that's OK because your smile and your time, your attention and your joy in just being with me, those are my favorite gifts that you give me anyway.

So, we didn't get to go on our big trip this year. Moving and EVERYTHING WE OWN breaking down and dental issues and so on (otherwise known as real life) have postponed all those plans we made about our next overseas trip.

I'm OK with that. I'd rather be with you, doing real life stuff, than with anyone else going to exotic places and doing anything else.

So, fifteen years in and I still get to be be your Leia ("I am not a committee."), and Leeloo ("Multipass!") and Arwen ("I choose a mortal life."), or, if you prefer, Eowyn ("I am no man."). And I will listen to you describe your game designs and I will cheer for you and sometimes I'll even play.

And you will continue to be my Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Henry Tilney, Captain Wentworth, Gilbert Blythe, John Thornton, & Percy Blakeney all in one. I'll base some characters in my stories on you, even though critics might say my heroes "aren't realistic" because they're just too amazing. What do they know about romantic heroes anyway?

Marriage to you has been better than a dream come true, because no matter how good I imagined it would be (and we both know my imagination can be quite wild), it is far better than I ever could have dreamed.

What do the next 15 years hold? I don't know. Probably weddings, and maybe even our first grandbabies, and maybe more moving (please, no!), and more than a few fights and then making up, more dental visits than we care to think about, and hopefully at least another trip to England (or two...) and across the country to see the ocean again, and more reading, writing, talking, dreaming, praying, singing, scolding, enduring, loving, and more just plain living than we can imagine at this moment. 

I may have only been 18 when I committed to God and you in front of all our friends and family (and those people neither of us knew) to love you for all of my life. I know I had no conception of how long or short that might be, or what that really meant. But I can tell you this now, 15 years later, older and wiser and way more exhausted: if I had 100 lives to live, I would choose you every time.

Previous anniversary posts: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013.
Throwback Thursday: 30 Things I've Learned About Marriage

Memorial Day 2014

I hope we never forget: it isn't just a long weekend.

Some related links:

• Life During War Time: 6 Stories and Poems from the Trenches
• Famous World War I Battle Sites a Century Later

33 Facts from 1981

Today I am 33. I know, I can't believe it either. But the math doesn't lie (2014-1981=33).

Rather than dwell on age, I made a list of facts from 1981. Some of these show how much life has changed, some how much has stayed the same, and they all tell you a little more about me (even if it's just the fact that I felt they were worth listing):

The iBoy's First Year

So, today is this:

Otherwise known as "the fastest year of my life" because it feels like it went by in about the time it took me to make this collage:

Which is to say, a few seconds.

This boy. What can I tell you about him?

He's sweet natured and even tempered and hilarious. He loves his mama, his daddy, his sisters, his fans (family & friends alike. He has quite the following), his kitty, bath time, and his food - my word does this boy love his food (and yes, he's still nursing around the clock too).

He explores and investigates. He crawls and climbs (no walking unassisted yet). He eats anything he can get his hands on, even though he still only has two teeth.

He enjoys music and listening to stories (even more if he can chew on the pages) and going for a ride in the wagon and standing at the windows to watch what's going on outside.

He isn't a big fan of picture time:

So we get a lot of pictures like this:

He may be made of "snips and snails and puppy dog tails" but he's also made of slobbery kisses, belly laughs, a wry grin, a healthy dose of curiosity, a smidge of stubborness and a coating of perfect.

I think we'll keep him.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy. Let's slow down for the next 12 months, OK?

Earn Your Stripes (And My Appreciation)

Let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time (good stories usually start that way, right?), a little girl played board games with her dad. She watched him design new games. She went to game conventions with him. (Did you know there are such things?)

One day, without prompting from her parents, she announced, "I made a game."

It looked like this:

The game was about a tiger with no stripes trying to earn stripes by eating food. The tiger also wanted to collect jewels, because, duh. Everyone would love to collect jewels.

Her game designing daddy helped her refine her game. He helped her create new boards and packaging.

Then the game looked like this:

Her parents told her they would help her print this game for people to buy, but she had to pay for it herself. So, she dipped into her savings and paid for a print run and for the boxes to ship the game.

Then it looked like this:

She sold enough to family and friends to actually break even and make a small profit.

Then, over a year (and maybe more like 2) later, her game designing dad showed her game to a  company that had picked up some of his games for production.

They liked it. They agreed to develop it a bit more and then offer it for sale, as the girl said, "For really real."

Now, three years after the first little hand drawn tigers and handwritten rules, the game looks like this:

It's still the same (slightly improved but not significantly changed) game, but seriously, how cute is that?!

So exciting!

Here's where you come in: the game is being introduced on Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a crowd-funding site where people pre-order a project, providing the money for the project to happen. If the campaign is successful, you get your product once it's produced. If the campaign isn't successful, you don't lose any money.

We would really love to see her game succeed. My game designing husband tells me that most successful Kickstarters are funded within the first 24 hours. We've missed that window. Now we need your help to be the exception to that rule. This campaign is running through March 25, so there's still plenty of time to spread the word.

Could you please, pretty please, share this with your friends? A pledge of $35 - in the US - gets you your very own copy of Tiger Stripes. (OK, starting to feel like PBS or NPR here. Sorry, no tote bags currently available.)

Yeah, I know, $35 is kind of steep for a kids' game. But that price includes shipping. Game Salute is promising delivery by February 2015. I know that seems like a long time, but they hope it will be out sooner, they just don't want to make a delivery promise they can't keep. The nice thing about birthdays and Christmas is they roll around each year. Order now and have your birthday presents for 2015 already covered. (How organized of you!)

So that's the story. You can help it have a happy ending by sharing this post (or a link to the Kickstarter campaign) with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or whatever social media you prefer, and it would be really great if you could order a copy for your family's game stash. It would make a 12 year old girl I know really happy.

Want to know more about my game designing family?
You can find my husband's game page here: Phantasio Games.
And his Facebook page here: Phantasio Games.
Don't forget, the Kickstarter for Tiger Stripes is here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/gamesalute/tiger-stripes

30 Things I Love

...about Lisa.

Yes, an unthinkable day has arrived: my little sister just hit the big 3-0.

Which is amazing when you think about it because we are now the same age. OK, no. I'm older.

Anyway, all age related jesting aside, here are 30 Things I Love About Lisa (AKA Lulu) and 18 pictures of our early life together (I know there should be 30 but, well, there aren't. My OCD side is just going to have to get over it):

1. All her friends (including me) claim she's their best friend. This is less about us and more about the kind of amazing friend Lisa is.

2. She has a great sense of humor (and she "gets" mine).

3. She speaks fluent sarcasm.

4. She also speaks fluent Movie Quotations and she recognizes mine, even the ones from obscure movies we watched in our childhood.

5. She forgives readily.

6. She loves to read.

7. Her singing voice is amazing (and she lets me sing with her sometimes).

8. Her smile is infectious.

9. We trust her implicitly with our children.

10. She is creative.

11. She treats life like an adventure.

12. She's brave.

13. She's willing to look silly when the occasion calls for it.

14. She beautiful but not vain.

15. She's a Peacemaker (the uber-middle child!)

16. She shares my childhood memories.

17. I can be who I am and she still loves me.

18. It doesn't matter how long we're apart - we always pick up like we saw each other yesterday.

19. She keeps secrets and confidences.

20. She has an iron backbone when she needs it.

21. She's generous.

22. She's a fantastic mom to Roman (my beautiful nephew).

23. The way she encourages her husband and continually works on her marriage inspires me.

24. She loves dessert as much as I do.

25. She strives for excellence.

26. She sings and hums as much as I do.

 

27. She knows what I'm going to say before I say it-

28. But we can still sit up until 3 AM talking.

(Awkward Family Photo, anyone?

 I'm not sure what Santa's deal is 

but I think we're rocking our haircuts and applique pants, don't you?)

29. She loves God and His Word.

30. I don't remember life without her and I wouldn't want to. Those 2 1/2 years must have been boring, lonely ones indeed.

Love you, Lulu. Wishing you the very happiest of birthdays! (Welcome to 30. It's not so bad here.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Six Months

Picture heavy post ahead!

 Six months. Six months? Six months as in half a year, half way to First Birthday, that six months?

Yes.

Oh, the things he can do. Things like roll over. Watch your step 'cause he likes to be under foot.

He's still not eating anything other than the good stuff Mom makes. He's a fan of that. We've started putting him in highchairs just so he can watch us eat. He likes the high chair but he's not really interested in food yet. Except for a pretzel he snatched out his dad's hand. Now that he was interested in.

You have to watch what you play on the floor now because he will get it and put it in his mouth. And, because of his amazing rolling skills (no crawling yet, although he gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth like he's trying to figure it out), you may think your little Barbie or Playmobil kingdom is safe but he comes out of no where.

He's kind of like a friendly little shark, I guess. A shark with no teeth.

Where he sleeps: on his quilt, in his bassinet and with Mom. He can no longer sleep in his car seat because he scoots out of it. As in, all the way out. And then he rolls away.

He hasn't had his 6 month check up yet but I can tell you he's bigger than his sisters were at this age. Carrying him in his carseat is my exercise of choice these days. He wears 6-9 month clothes although even some of those are getting tight.

He laughs and smiles and gurgles and drools. He blows copious amounts of spit bubbles because that's a fabulous trick, I think we can all agree.

He makes friends wherever he goes. He went to his first Children's Theatre play this month and when we were eating our post-play meal across the street at Skyline he charmed a waitress and she carried him around the restaurant introducing him to everyone.

He sits up. He reads his favorite book. OK, I made up the part about reading but that is his favorite book (it makes a crinkling sound and it has tails to grab). He even sleeps with it (see above pictures for proof). He plays with toys, if you stretch the definition of "play" to mean chew on extensively and then examine closely.

He tolerates us dressing him up, even when it involves Mom putting lipstick on his nose and eye-liner whiskers on his cheeks. He rarely cries, using it only to get his most serious points across. He doesn't babble much but he squeals and laughs.

In short, he is every kind of perfect and I am still thoroughly besotted. His fan club is extensive but I'm the President.

Happy Six Months, iBoy. How about we slow down for the next six, OK?

Birthday Girl

 Long ago, back when this blog was born, this child was called Tigger.

The bounce, the red-ish hair, the attitude, not to mention how glad we were that she was the only one (Remember Tigger's song on the original Disney movie? "I'm the only one!"), it all added up.

These days, lo these seven years later, I'm not sure it fits.

She's pretty quiet, our Tigger. The bounce is only at certain times. The attitude is under control. The challenges of Tigger at 2 (and 3 and 4 and 5...) are mostly past tense.

One thing about this blog being mostly about my family, well, it's easier to blog about the younger folks. The funny things they say or do are bloggable and they are proud of them.

The thing about parenting older children is that they're still funny creatures. They still say (and do) funny things.

But the moments become more protected. When they open up and talk about their lives, their dreams, or their fears, those times aren't just funny. They're poignant and special. I wish I could blog them, because this blog helps me remember things, but somehow I just can't.

I can tell you that this child is unique. She is talented. She is quiet (most of the time). She needs time alone to recharge (like her mom). Her favorite present today (from her aunt & uncle): a password protected journal with a spot to store small treasures, complete with invisible ink and special light. That tells you a lot about Tigger right there.

She is funny and complex and incredibly sweet and yet still gingery (like her hair). She has a way with words. She definitely has a way with the little folks. For someone who can be impatient with the rest of us, she has deep wells of patience with her toddler sister and her baby brother. She has what used to be called "a knack" with babies.

So, I'm not sure where that leaves us as far as her blog name goes. She has grown and matured greatly, but she's still our Tigger and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Little Miss Three

 Three. Three?

How can this be?

(Pardon the weak Seuss imitation. My brain, some time back, left on a vacation.)

She's little and pert and sure of herself.

We've called her a sprite, or a pixie, an elf.

Ne'er a dull moment, wherever she goes.

Sent here to keep everyone on their toes.

Cuddly and loving, gives sweet hugs and kisses.

Bossy, defiant, too big for her britches.

Clever with screens, smart as a whip.

Watched closely or she gives us the slip.

Looks up to those sisters, loves that sweet brother,

Brings so much joy to her father and mother.

Don't know what we'd do without her really,

The one, the only, our baby girl: Miss Lili.

Four Months

Oh, my beautiful boy.

Four months. Four months?!

This right here is what I go through to get one picture for your monthly photo shoot.

And that's not counting...the rest. (I refuse to list the complete number on the grounds that I may incriminate myself and you.)

You're still a very zen little fellow. You forgive us for the crazy ways we dress you up. And you can pretty much sleep anywhere, any time:

Unless it's the middle of the night. In that case, it's near Mom or nothing.

We haven't had your check-up yet, so I'm not sure how much you weigh. My right arm is definitely getting stronger from toting you around in your car-seat, though.

You can roll over both ways now, so tummy time is not quite the torture it used to be.

You smile and laugh and blow bubbles and drool and stick out your tongue and clutch your blanket and so much more. And everything you do is the cutest thing we've ever seen. Because you are the cutest thing we've ever seen. Each one of your sisters is head over heels in love with you. There are actual fights about whose turn it is to hold you.

Your name means laughter and it is fitting. You make me laugh when I feel like sighing. You help me get up in the mornings when I'd rather pull the covers over my head and stay there. You center me when we're nursing and it's just the two of us. Your blue eyes meet mine, you smile that lopsided smile, and I know you are the most fantastic, unexpected thing God has ever entrusted to me and I feel unbelievably blessed.