I've had so much fun over the past few weeks with my family that it's hard to narrow down all of the wonderful things that my true love has given to me... our amazing son, a wonderful home, a happy marriage and more love in my heart than I ever thought possible. There have been amazing foods, perfect Christmas presents, fun days out with the family and cozy nights in. We've shared laughs and hugs and hilarious moments. I have more than I ever could have imagined and most of them are made possible because of one amazing man! Thank you and I love you!!!
... and a partridge in a pear tree...
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
... a lesson in paying it forward.
I've always believed in the power of karma... an action or deed creating the entire cycle of cause and effect. There's both good and bad karma, the idea of paying it forward, of course, being the action that creates good karma, starting a cycle of good deeds paid in advance instead of the repayment of favors already received.
This time of year we all hear feel good stories of those paying it forward to others... making up the difference for someone's groceries when they don't have enough to pay for what they had in the their cart, paying for the gas of a complete stranger at the gas station before they have the chance to swipe their own card, paying for a meal at a restaurant for a family who doesn't expect it. It's heartwarming and reminds us of the good in people... even in the midst of terrible heartache and trying times. But today was the first time that I felt it, saw it in action, and was a part of the good karma cycle.
Earlier today, over lunch with my husband, he shared with me an opportunity he'd had to pay it forward... a random act of kindness to a complete stranger... and we discussed what a good feeling it had given him. It wasn't huge in monetary value... just a small thing with a note to the recipient "Merry Christmas. Pay it forward." I've never been more proud to call this man my husband.
Later in the afternoon I received a call from our son's daycare. It appeared, as I suspected was a possibility earlier in the morning, that he had an ear infection. I had already put in a call to his pediatrician hoping to get him in that afternoon, but the earliest they could manage was tomorrow evening. Unwilling to let him suffer an additional 24 hours if it wasn't completely necessary, I took him to the CVS Minute Clinic. I was warned that the wait times were usually long (up to 3 hours), but my options were limited. Fortunately, there were only 3 people in line ahead of us and, somehow, our son managed to remain calm, quiet and well-behaved. As we sat on the floor of CVS (all of the chairs having been occupied), a woman asked if I was interested in switching places with her in line. She was next and obviously knew that, when it comes to toddlers, extra wait time can sometimes turn unruly. As much as I wanted to tell her that I appreciated her offer, but insist that she not give up her spot in line for us, I also knew she was right... our son is not known for his patience. I thanked her profusely as she told the nurse to take us in her place, and I couldn't help but feel that my son and I were being rewarded for my husband's good deed from the day before. I don't know if I deserved it, but you'd better believe I have plans for paying it forward! :)
I've always believed in the power of karma... an action or deed creating the entire cycle of cause and effect. There's both good and bad karma, the idea of paying it forward, of course, being the action that creates good karma, starting a cycle of good deeds paid in advance instead of the repayment of favors already received.
This time of year we all hear feel good stories of those paying it forward to others... making up the difference for someone's groceries when they don't have enough to pay for what they had in the their cart, paying for the gas of a complete stranger at the gas station before they have the chance to swipe their own card, paying for a meal at a restaurant for a family who doesn't expect it. It's heartwarming and reminds us of the good in people... even in the midst of terrible heartache and trying times. But today was the first time that I felt it, saw it in action, and was a part of the good karma cycle.
Earlier today, over lunch with my husband, he shared with me an opportunity he'd had to pay it forward... a random act of kindness to a complete stranger... and we discussed what a good feeling it had given him. It wasn't huge in monetary value... just a small thing with a note to the recipient "Merry Christmas. Pay it forward." I've never been more proud to call this man my husband.
Later in the afternoon I received a call from our son's daycare. It appeared, as I suspected was a possibility earlier in the morning, that he had an ear infection. I had already put in a call to his pediatrician hoping to get him in that afternoon, but the earliest they could manage was tomorrow evening. Unwilling to let him suffer an additional 24 hours if it wasn't completely necessary, I took him to the CVS Minute Clinic. I was warned that the wait times were usually long (up to 3 hours), but my options were limited. Fortunately, there were only 3 people in line ahead of us and, somehow, our son managed to remain calm, quiet and well-behaved. As we sat on the floor of CVS (all of the chairs having been occupied), a woman asked if I was interested in switching places with her in line. She was next and obviously knew that, when it comes to toddlers, extra wait time can sometimes turn unruly. As much as I wanted to tell her that I appreciated her offer, but insist that she not give up her spot in line for us, I also knew she was right... our son is not known for his patience. I thanked her profusely as she told the nurse to take us in her place, and I couldn't help but feel that my son and I were being rewarded for my husband's good deed from the day before. I don't know if I deserved it, but you'd better believe I have plans for paying it forward! :)
Monday, December 17, 2012
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven hours of sleep...
7 hours of sleep is a really good night... 6 is more common... 5 happens more frequently than I would like. Sleep is just not something I get a lot of. On weekends, my husband and I take turns sleeping in. If we're lucky, we each get one day. But, with our hectic schedules these last few weeks, we're lucky if one of us gets to sleep in at all. After the busy week I'd had, I really needed it. My husband must have recognized it too... thank goodness!
Of course, it wasn't just the extra hours of sleep (which were heavenly), but what that meant for the rest of my day. When I finally rolled out of bed at 10:30, I felt good... really good... better than I had in some time. When our son took his nap, I had the energy to go for a run... a wonderful 3.7 mile run in unseasonably warm 50 degree weather. When I got back, I felt so good about myself that I didn't sit around eating junk food the rest of the afternoon like I might otherwise have done... I made myself a salad for lunch, took a shower, stretched the way you're supposed to after working out instead of the quick 30 seconds I usually give it.
Since I don't know how soon I'll have another opportunity like this, I'm glad I was able to take full advantage of the situation when I did. Five golden rings don't hold a candle to a good night's sleep!
7 hours of sleep is a really good night... 6 is more common... 5 happens more frequently than I would like. Sleep is just not something I get a lot of. On weekends, my husband and I take turns sleeping in. If we're lucky, we each get one day. But, with our hectic schedules these last few weeks, we're lucky if one of us gets to sleep in at all. After the busy week I'd had, I really needed it. My husband must have recognized it too... thank goodness!
Of course, it wasn't just the extra hours of sleep (which were heavenly), but what that meant for the rest of my day. When I finally rolled out of bed at 10:30, I felt good... really good... better than I had in some time. When our son took his nap, I had the energy to go for a run... a wonderful 3.7 mile run in unseasonably warm 50 degree weather. When I got back, I felt so good about myself that I didn't sit around eating junk food the rest of the afternoon like I might otherwise have done... I made myself a salad for lunch, took a shower, stretched the way you're supposed to after working out instead of the quick 30 seconds I usually give it.
Since I don't know how soon I'll have another opportunity like this, I'm glad I was able to take full advantage of the situation when I did. Five golden rings don't hold a candle to a good night's sleep!
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A big strong shoulder to cry on...
Friday was a rough day from the start. Thursday night was a concoction of 19 wonderful ladies, Christmas Ale, delicious appetizers, champagne, a festive gift exchange, spiked hot chocolate, more snacks, then more Christmas Ale. Mixed somewhere in there were hurt feelings, the new awareness of a year-long grudge and staying up way past my bedtime. The morning brought sadness I wasn't really prepared for... and a feeling like I was in high school all over again. The hangover didn't help.
The afternoon brought news of the horrific loss of innocent lives in CT. I won't get into the politics of it all, nor will I share every sad story that I've heard over the last few days. There are no words for this kind of tragedy. Nevertheless, as a parent, it's impossible to comprehend that kind of loss. And while it probably should have put everything into perspective for me that day, I instead let it stew with my existing sadness, mixing in with the foggy remnants of a well-deserved hangover, and I found myself in a depression I couldn't get myself out of.
Super husband to the rescue.
Well, sort of. I certainly didn't think so at the time. In fact, I was quite disappointed in my husband's lack of interest in helping me sort out my sadness. Needless to say, we were completely on the same page with our feelings concerning what was going on in CT. But when it came to my own personal issue, I got a whole lot of nothing. No problem solving assistance, no insistence that it was just a misunderstanding. He just sat there... listening.
Crap! That was it! He was listening! Just like I always ask him to do. All I want is for him to be there for me, let me vent, let me know he's there for me, tell me he understands, and just let me get whatever it is I'm feeling off my chest. Damn it... he was doing exactly what I wanted... what I needed... it just took a few days for me to appreciate it.
Fact is, my problems are not his to solve. His job as my husband, is to be there for me... to listen, to comfort, to tell me it's all going to be okay. To run to the store at 11:00 at night to get me something I wanted, even though I didn't need it. Okay, so that's not really his job either, but he did it anyway :)
The point is that he did everything he was supposed to do... everything I've ever asked of him. The problem isn't solved, my sadness isn't gone... but I walk away with the knowledge that the next time I'm having a bad day, feeling sad or just need someone to listen, my husband will be just the man I need.
Friday was a rough day from the start. Thursday night was a concoction of 19 wonderful ladies, Christmas Ale, delicious appetizers, champagne, a festive gift exchange, spiked hot chocolate, more snacks, then more Christmas Ale. Mixed somewhere in there were hurt feelings, the new awareness of a year-long grudge and staying up way past my bedtime. The morning brought sadness I wasn't really prepared for... and a feeling like I was in high school all over again. The hangover didn't help.
The afternoon brought news of the horrific loss of innocent lives in CT. I won't get into the politics of it all, nor will I share every sad story that I've heard over the last few days. There are no words for this kind of tragedy. Nevertheless, as a parent, it's impossible to comprehend that kind of loss. And while it probably should have put everything into perspective for me that day, I instead let it stew with my existing sadness, mixing in with the foggy remnants of a well-deserved hangover, and I found myself in a depression I couldn't get myself out of.
Super husband to the rescue.
Well, sort of. I certainly didn't think so at the time. In fact, I was quite disappointed in my husband's lack of interest in helping me sort out my sadness. Needless to say, we were completely on the same page with our feelings concerning what was going on in CT. But when it came to my own personal issue, I got a whole lot of nothing. No problem solving assistance, no insistence that it was just a misunderstanding. He just sat there... listening.
Crap! That was it! He was listening! Just like I always ask him to do. All I want is for him to be there for me, let me vent, let me know he's there for me, tell me he understands, and just let me get whatever it is I'm feeling off my chest. Damn it... he was doing exactly what I wanted... what I needed... it just took a few days for me to appreciate it.
Fact is, my problems are not his to solve. His job as my husband, is to be there for me... to listen, to comfort, to tell me it's all going to be okay. To run to the store at 11:00 at night to get me something I wanted, even though I didn't need it. Okay, so that's not really his job either, but he did it anyway :)
The point is that he did everything he was supposed to do... everything I've ever asked of him. The problem isn't solved, my sadness isn't gone... but I walk away with the knowledge that the next time I'm having a bad day, feeling sad or just need someone to listen, my husband will be just the man I need.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
An amazing birthday with my family...
I always hated that my birthday was so close to Christmas. It felt like everything birthday related was diluted with holiday stuff (presents wrapped in snowman paper, gifts that were to be considered for both birthday and Christmas, a time too busy with Christmas parties for anyone to be available for a birthday party). Of course, looking back, I don't believe any one of those things ever actually happened, with the possible exception of the birthday/Christmas joint gift, and that would have meant it was something really huge. I don't doubt for a second that these were the thoughts of a selfish kid/teenager/young adult... it's unlikely that I actually suffered in any way because of my birthday's proximity to Christmas. Nevertheless, this was how I felt.
Fast forward 32 years... with a husband and young son, an Elf on the Shelf, a boat load of hidden presents in the basement, and a serious love of the holiday season... and I'm suddenly feeling like maybe this isn't so bad. Over the last few years I've started to tell myself that everything holiday related is actually about my birthday. I'd been seeing things the wrong way for so long and, now, I've suddenly got it right. It's not about Christmas... it's all about me.
Okay, so that's a little over the top, but nevertheless, just because it's decorated with ornaments and bows, doesn't make it any less special for me. If anything, I'm fortunate to have a birthday surrounded by glitter and lights and people everywhere wishing you 'happy holidays'... a birthday is like a holiday, right?
My husband and I spent the day before my birthday together... went to lunch, got a massage, drove around town singing Christmas carols and finishing our Christmas shopping. There wasn't anything about it that screamed 'birthday', but I loved spending my day with my husband... Christmas shopping isn't something we usually do together. It was about 'Christmas' but it was also about quality time together. I enjoyed every minute! And I really didn't mind his decision to give me my presents a day early... it doesn't hurt that my husband has impeccable taste in purses!
On my actual birthday I received flowers at work, very much a Christmas arrangement and somehow the most beautiful flowers I'd ever received. I was planning to cook dinner, but my husband ordered pizza... sure, he could have cooked, but instead we got to spend more time together because neither of us was stuck slaving over the stove or doing dishes afterward... it was a perfect dinner (and one we didn't have to battle our son over, making the meal so much more enjoyable). My son picked out a 'birthday' cake for me... a monstrous chocolate cake with chocolate frosting... with a Christmas tree on top. My husband says he was adamant about the cake... turns out he was super excited about the tree. And seeing it through my son's eyes, I was suddenly not at all concerned about the fact that Christmas had spilled over into my special day. I couldn't have picked a better birthday cake! Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, my husband bought me doughnuts... cream filled, frosted and with little Christmas tree sprinkles... not at all bothersome when I realized that my husband had managed to track down exactly what I'd told him earlier in the day I was craving. Makes a girl feel pretty special to know her husband understands exactly what she wants (in both purses and doughnuts!)
Turns out any day can be special when it's spent with the right people.
I always hated that my birthday was so close to Christmas. It felt like everything birthday related was diluted with holiday stuff (presents wrapped in snowman paper, gifts that were to be considered for both birthday and Christmas, a time too busy with Christmas parties for anyone to be available for a birthday party). Of course, looking back, I don't believe any one of those things ever actually happened, with the possible exception of the birthday/Christmas joint gift, and that would have meant it was something really huge. I don't doubt for a second that these were the thoughts of a selfish kid/teenager/young adult... it's unlikely that I actually suffered in any way because of my birthday's proximity to Christmas. Nevertheless, this was how I felt.
Fast forward 32 years... with a husband and young son, an Elf on the Shelf, a boat load of hidden presents in the basement, and a serious love of the holiday season... and I'm suddenly feeling like maybe this isn't so bad. Over the last few years I've started to tell myself that everything holiday related is actually about my birthday. I'd been seeing things the wrong way for so long and, now, I've suddenly got it right. It's not about Christmas... it's all about me.
Okay, so that's a little over the top, but nevertheless, just because it's decorated with ornaments and bows, doesn't make it any less special for me. If anything, I'm fortunate to have a birthday surrounded by glitter and lights and people everywhere wishing you 'happy holidays'... a birthday is like a holiday, right?
My husband and I spent the day before my birthday together... went to lunch, got a massage, drove around town singing Christmas carols and finishing our Christmas shopping. There wasn't anything about it that screamed 'birthday', but I loved spending my day with my husband... Christmas shopping isn't something we usually do together. It was about 'Christmas' but it was also about quality time together. I enjoyed every minute! And I really didn't mind his decision to give me my presents a day early... it doesn't hurt that my husband has impeccable taste in purses!
On my actual birthday I received flowers at work, very much a Christmas arrangement and somehow the most beautiful flowers I'd ever received. I was planning to cook dinner, but my husband ordered pizza... sure, he could have cooked, but instead we got to spend more time together because neither of us was stuck slaving over the stove or doing dishes afterward... it was a perfect dinner (and one we didn't have to battle our son over, making the meal so much more enjoyable). My son picked out a 'birthday' cake for me... a monstrous chocolate cake with chocolate frosting... with a Christmas tree on top. My husband says he was adamant about the cake... turns out he was super excited about the tree. And seeing it through my son's eyes, I was suddenly not at all concerned about the fact that Christmas had spilled over into my special day. I couldn't have picked a better birthday cake! Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, my husband bought me doughnuts... cream filled, frosted and with little Christmas tree sprinkles... not at all bothersome when I realized that my husband had managed to track down exactly what I'd told him earlier in the day I was craving. Makes a girl feel pretty special to know her husband understands exactly what she wants (in both purses and doughnuts!)
Turns out any day can be special when it's spent with the right people.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Dinner on the table when I got home from work...
Okay, so the meal was tacos and didn't require a serious amount of skill, but I have a limited number of days in which I plan to account for all 12 days of Christmas, so this is where I'm fitting this one in :)
First and foremost, have you ever had someone cook you dinner while you were on your way home from work so that when you walked in the door there was no question that you were required to do nothing more than sit down and eat? It's awesome! Make someone do it for you sometime! I'm fortunate enough to have a husband that enjoys cooking and I get this treatment from him far more often than he does from me. I'm a very lucky woman.
Second, the fact that I'm so appreciative of a taco dinner should most definitely not take away from the kind of cook my husband is. Tacos were my suggestion, but he can do far more than ground beef and shredded lettuce. For example, he's the only one who can cook a steak exactly the way I like it (even though the thought of a medium rare steak makes him sick). Others are good... his are amazing! But his skill definitely doesn't end at the grill. He can fry up a pork chop like nobody's business. And would you believe he's a hell of a baker too? He's perfected homemade bread and makes a killer pie. Give him a recipe and he can do it. More frustrating for me, however, is his ability to throw something together with no recipe at all. This is a skill I do not possess. I would say my cooking is mediocre at best, making me appreciate his cooking even more. He's most definitely a keeper!
And I'll take a home cooked meal over two turtle doves any day :)
Okay, so the meal was tacos and didn't require a serious amount of skill, but I have a limited number of days in which I plan to account for all 12 days of Christmas, so this is where I'm fitting this one in :)
First and foremost, have you ever had someone cook you dinner while you were on your way home from work so that when you walked in the door there was no question that you were required to do nothing more than sit down and eat? It's awesome! Make someone do it for you sometime! I'm fortunate enough to have a husband that enjoys cooking and I get this treatment from him far more often than he does from me. I'm a very lucky woman.
Second, the fact that I'm so appreciative of a taco dinner should most definitely not take away from the kind of cook my husband is. Tacos were my suggestion, but he can do far more than ground beef and shredded lettuce. For example, he's the only one who can cook a steak exactly the way I like it (even though the thought of a medium rare steak makes him sick). Others are good... his are amazing! But his skill definitely doesn't end at the grill. He can fry up a pork chop like nobody's business. And would you believe he's a hell of a baker too? He's perfected homemade bread and makes a killer pie. Give him a recipe and he can do it. More frustrating for me, however, is his ability to throw something together with no recipe at all. This is a skill I do not possess. I would say my cooking is mediocre at best, making me appreciate his cooking even more. He's most definitely a keeper!
And I'll take a home cooked meal over two turtle doves any day :)
Monday, December 10, 2012
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
The drive to put my running shoes back on...
An important thing to note about my husband... he dislikes running. I mean, I think he really, really dislikes running. I don't know why he does it. Sure, it's good exercise, but I can't imagine doing something I didn't really enjoy (aside from work, which doesn't count since I get paid to do it... of course, if someone I work with is reading this, then you should know that I'm only kidding and I really, really do enjoy work! ... I digress...). And yet, there he was on Saturday afternoon lacing up his running shoes while I'm curled up on the couch attempting to take a nap.
This is awesome for my highly motivated husband. This is super crappy for me. Maybe it's my competitive nature. Maybe I'm just jealous because running is supposed to be my thing. Or maybe it was just the swift kick in the rear that I needed...
So, on Sunday afternoon, with our son down for his nap, I laced up my own running shoes, threw on the headphones and headed out for a two mile run. And it felt wonderful! I always forget how good it feels to get out there, to work up a sweat, to work hard and to burn a few calories. It was the reminder I needed. I missed running more than I'd realized. Sure, it's only been a few weeks since I last ran, but it's so easy to get lazy... especially as the weather turns cold and it gets dark before I'm even home from work.
Thank goodness for this wonderful, motivated, inspiring man that I am fortunate enough to call my husband. Whether he wanted to or not, he reminded me just how much I need running in my life! I love it!
An important thing to note about my husband... he dislikes running. I mean, I think he really, really dislikes running. I don't know why he does it. Sure, it's good exercise, but I can't imagine doing something I didn't really enjoy (aside from work, which doesn't count since I get paid to do it... of course, if someone I work with is reading this, then you should know that I'm only kidding and I really, really do enjoy work! ... I digress...). And yet, there he was on Saturday afternoon lacing up his running shoes while I'm curled up on the couch attempting to take a nap.
This is awesome for my highly motivated husband. This is super crappy for me. Maybe it's my competitive nature. Maybe I'm just jealous because running is supposed to be my thing. Or maybe it was just the swift kick in the rear that I needed...
So, on Sunday afternoon, with our son down for his nap, I laced up my own running shoes, threw on the headphones and headed out for a two mile run. And it felt wonderful! I always forget how good it feels to get out there, to work up a sweat, to work hard and to burn a few calories. It was the reminder I needed. I missed running more than I'd realized. Sure, it's only been a few weeks since I last ran, but it's so easy to get lazy... especially as the weather turns cold and it gets dark before I'm even home from work.
Thank goodness for this wonderful, motivated, inspiring man that I am fortunate enough to call my husband. Whether he wanted to or not, he reminded me just how much I need running in my life! I love it!
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