love

What’s your Super Power?

November 17, 2010 By Heather 9 Comments

In order to use up stuff I have had forever and make things more sentimental and intentional I have been making more handmade gifts.

At first it was hard, but now I enjoy it. I look forward to that time in my craft room, being creative with what I have so that I don’t have to go out and buy more things.

Last month was my nephew’s 5th birthday, I made him a super hero cape and mask. My then three year old niece ran her fingers along the back of the cape and traced the letter A that I had sewn on the back.

“Aunt Heather, I will be four soon and I really like the cape you made for Bubbie.”

She continued on while I listened. “I would like if you could make me a cape like that for my birthday. Except if you could find the letter L instead of the A that would be good. Also instead of the red, could you make mine with purple and some sparkles, you know if it isn’t too much trouble.”

I chuckled and agreed that maybe, just maybe I could make her this special cape.

“Because when I am four I am sure to have my superpowers, Aunt Heather.”

So this Sunday we all met up for lunch at my mother’s house and the newly four year old girl ran up into my arms when she saw me in the dining room.

“Aunt Heather!!!”she exclaimed, “Did you know that today is my very special day. Today I am four years old and its my birthday! Don’t you want to say Happy Birthday to me?”

I wished her a happy birthday and took her over to her purple package that I had just for her.

I let her shake it and sniff it and she had a big smile on her face while telling me she didn’t know what was inside.

We opened the bag together and she exclaimed, “My Cape!!” before it was even out of the bag.

She asked to put it on and I happily tied it on her.

“My super powers are here and now I can jump and twirl so fast that the bad guys can’t get me!” She says as she is literally bouncing all over the place.

“You have super powers too, Aunt Heather,” she tells me.

“Really sweetie, what are they?”

“You don’t know?” she inquired.

“I am not sure sweets” I replied back.

“Love, Aunt Heather. Your super powers are love,” and she sped off to see her great uncle and the pretty package that he brought her for her special day.

Now that I know what my super powers are I need to use them more often, to not let things get me down and to remember that everything will be okay with Love.

And maybe, just maybe I will do some jumping and twirling too.

So what’s your Super Power?

Filed Under: enjoying life, love, super powers, things you learn from a 4 year old

Summer’s End

September 6, 2010 By Heather 4 Comments

It seems like just yesterday the girls were getting out of school and we were wondering what we were going to do with this summer.

There were plenty of sleepovers, trips to the barn, trips to drop off Giggles at work.

Lots of late nights, laughing, bug bites and playing video games.

Confession; The Chicken plays Little Big Planet lots & I still don’t get it

There weren’t enough trips to the beach, s’mores, cook-outs, or camp-outs.

I look at my girls and I wonder just where the time went.

Sooner than I think we will be sending Giggles off to college and then The Chicken and well my heart just can’t think much further than that.

I am thankful for school. The routine. The knowing exactly what day of the week it is.

I pray that my girls stay true to who they are and remain individuals. I pray that they surround themselves with people who lift them up. I pray that they will know peace, love, and happiness even more abundantly that I have known them.

I look forward to see what this school year holds.

And I look forward to next summer when we can spend our time lazing around staring up at the sky to see this.

Filed Under: a new school year, happiness, life, love, my girls, summer's end

Christmas Morning

January 2, 2010 By Heather 6 Comments

This year I made a promise to savor this Christmas and holiday season.

I can’t believe I am writing this, but it worked. This is probaby one of the best Christmases I have EVER had.

I wasn’t in it for the gifts I wanted. I wasn’t in it for the gifts being given by others.

I was in it for the pure enjoyment of the season. The magic and wonder of it all.

I was at so much peace and I had such a blast.

Our Christmas morning was filled with some presents under the tree.

It was filled with much laughing

Especially over the love of Zombie Movies

It was a time to show off gifts that have been asked for for many years

And it was filled with those that I love so very much

Just thinking of that day, starting with midnight mass and ending all snuggled on the couch makes me smile.

I am so thankful that I didn’t stress. I am thankful that those around me kept me in check.

I am thankful that you all have been part of it all.

I just hope that 2010 keeps up with this same great vibe I had at the end of 2009.

Filed Under: Christmas morning, happiness is spending time with your family, love

Living in the moment

December 1, 2009 By Heather 7 Comments

Each year I don’t enjoy this time of year. Remember this post? Well, I feel the same way about holidays.

I often joke and refer to it as the holi-daze. It leaves my head spinning and my heart pounding. Most years I just want to curl up in a corner and cry. If I could wish away the month of December and January, I probably would.

So many things have happened this year. Some things that made me laugh and others that have made me do the ugly cry.

I look at my children. Alexis will be 15 next week and Ariel will be 12 not long after that. Lately they have made comments that ‘pschyo mom’ hasn’t come out as much. When they say it they have this nervous laugh about them, like they are walking on egg shells around me waiting for me to crack.

I don’t want to be that mom. I want them to see the love that I have for them. I want them to know that I would do anything for them. I want them to savor these years. To see the joy and wonder of each and every day and not wonder when mom is going to crack.

I know I can’t make up for nearly 15 years of anxiety riddled mom, but I can try my best from this day forward. I will put blinders on so that I can just focus on living in the moment, on savoring each and every day that I have with my family. I will see the joy and wonder of each day. I will appreciate the little things and not sweat the small stuff.

I need to find the beauty in the mundane, and I will. I have to do it for them. I don’t want them to look back 20 years from now and just wish that I was calmer or less crazed. I want them to know that they aren’t burdens. They are my reason for living. They are the reason I get my feet out of bed. If it wasn’t for them I would have probably crumbled long ago.

So each day in December I am going to pick out the little things that I am thankful for, I may not post them here, but I will write them down and when I am feeling like my world is going to implode I will remember the joy of life.

Each day is worth living to its fullest and I am going to start with today.

Filed Under: cherishing each and every day with my family and children, love, my life, promises to my children

He makes me smile

October 28, 2009 By Heather 6 Comments

I love how he knows how important capturing life is to me. Even when he is busiest he still feels the camera on him and instead of scowling or hiding his face, like so many others do when I try to take their photo. He always pauses and gives me the most loving smile.

I am so thankful that we were able to get away to the island this past weekend for three days, sans kids. Not that I don’t love my girls, but its always nice to be able to get away and enjoy your time with your loved one after 17 years together. To look into his eyes and see just why after all these years you are still together.

Filed Under: happiness, Jeremy, love

Seventeen Years and I love him more than ever!

October 2, 2009 By Heather 16 Comments

Look at us. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that this photo was taken of us nearly SEVENTEEN years ago. We started going out and a week later we were at Homecoming.

Look how young we were. Its crazy. Simply crazy.

Things I think about when looking at this photo (in no particular order)

-my hair. Good Lord what was I thinking when I did my hair up like that.

-Why wasn’t he wearing a tie? I believe it was because his shirt was too tight in the neck, but I can’t remember.

-my shoes. I hated those flats, but I wore them because I didn’t want to be taller than my date. But. HELLO! I was. (This is probably the reasoning behind the crazy hair. Most of the time it was not that tame and it was H.I.G.H.)

-I think about Jeremy. His smile, how he looked. He looks practically the same. He still looks at me with that smile. He still confidently holds my hand wherever we happen to go. He is still the love of my life.

But at 15 did I really know what love was?

No. What 15 year old knows of love. Knows of giving of yourself so that you can make your partner more whole. Knows of the hard work and sacrifice it takes to make a marriage work.

Of course not. But that’s okay. Because 15 year old Heather knew that there was something special about this guy. That he could possibly be the one. And he was.

I would love to tell you that they sailed off into the sunset and lived Happily Ever After. But truthfully our story hasn’t been finished being told. I know that I love him more and more each day and I couldn’t imagine my life without his. Looking back 15 year old Heather didn’t know what it was like when two people become one unit. But thankfully 32 year old Heather does.

Would I go back and warn 15 year old Heather of the things to come?

No. I would just tell her that things will be rough and rocky, but in the end they are most certainly worth it.

So honey, thank you so very much for that first magical evening (yes a dance in a dark gym getting punch spilled on you is so magical) that has led to the rest of our lives.

Filed Under: flashback friday, homecoming, life, love, my hubs, what the heck was I thinking

Wordless Wednesday-On the Back of a Horse Edition

September 16, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

For more Wordless Wednesday you can go here.

Filed Under: cantering, flying, Giggles, hobbies, horses, life, love

Giggles the High Schooler

August 28, 2009 By Heather 2 Comments

Dear Giggles,

As you started off your high school career a mere 10 days ago, I have nary a photo. I feel like I have failed you just because I haven’t taken your photograph. I think I was just so overwhelmed with you starting HIGH SCHOOL, that my brain turned to mush and I had to focus on other things to keep my brain from imploding.

I know in the grander scheme of things, not having your photo from your very first day of your freshman year isn’t going to send you into years of therapy. In fact when I mentioned that I felt that I had wronged you in this simple fashion, forgetting a tradition that I even did while we were homeschooling, you just shrugged. When I probed you further you asked me, “Why would I remind you mom. Like I want to pose outside way to early in the morning for a photo.”

Ahhh, the mind of the teenager. I remember that well. Being flippant and not really caring about those ‘trival’ things that my mother cared about.

I just can’t wrap my mind around how much of a young woman you have become, how responsible you are, the things you do so that you can do the things you love. Maybe I don’t say it enough, but I am really proud of you. You just have no idea.

And truthfully, I am proud of me too. The one remark I get more often than not when introducing you people, or them learning of you is that I am not old enough to have a daughter who is nearing closer to 15 each and every day. In fact, this summer was the first summer I was ever asked if you were my biological child. Not once, but TWICE!

I had no clue what I was doing when I decided over 15 years ago that the only logical place for you was with me and no where else. I know that you hate that sometimes we can be strict & we have odd rules, but look at you-I think the odd rules have worked out to your favor.

I am not afraid to send you out into the world-sure I stagger when you ask me simple questions about hanging out with people or fret over the fact that soon enough you will have friends that drive and you will want to get in your said friend’s cars and ride around, but I trust you. I know that you know that every action that you have has consequences. And sometimes those consequences will be with you for the rest of your life.

Not that I ever think of you as a consequence, dear girl. And when people ask if I had to do it all over again, would I wait longer to have you? My reply is this….

“Would it be nice to have been older with more of a clue, sure. But if I had waited I would never have her. My sweet Alexis”

I love you honey, even if I don’t have a photo to share of your first day. We’ll get one next week to celebrate you 2 week mark in high school and I will see all that confidence in you. The confidence that will carry me through the next four years. I know you won’t make all the right choices, but I know that you will do what is right in the end.

Love, Mom

Filed Under: family, Giggles, high school, life, love