The Thing About Sisters

This morning I am thinking about how thankful I am that God gave me a sister.  My sister and I are 20 months apart and although we are very different people, we are extremely close.  The thing about having a sister is that you always have someone there to cheer you on, to root for you. 

Growing up we would fight like crazy, but God help anyone who would mess with one of us because we'd immediately team up against them.  I may or may not have vacuumed over her hair.  In my defense, she was laying on the floor trying to get me in trouble when my dad told me to vacuum our room. 

As teenagers I woke up excited for the day and talking about what would happen at school that day and she would grump that I talked too much.  She isn't exactly an early morning person.  However, get her giggling late at night and she can't stop. 

To this day, she is the one person I like to scheme with.  She's been my Black Friday stay up all night and shop buddy since we were old enough to make our own money and drive and even now she goes with Hubby and I to search out the good deals.  It's much more about the bonding and the experience than it is about the shopping.  She may or may not have accidentally cut a chunk out of my hair recently (paybacks?).  We laughed till we cried and our kids wondered what in the world was wrong with us.  This is nothing new though.  Did I mention that she is the aunt who swoops in to save my kids when they are in trouble with me?  She treats my kids like they were her own and I am so glad they have her for an aunt. 

For the past several months my sister has suffered from debilitating back pain.  She is undergoing surgery this afternoon and I am praying that this will fix the problem.  It has been difficult for her to not be her usual active self with her love of exercise and chasing her 3 boys around.  Today I am praying for steady hands for her doctor and complete healing of her body.  I know that she is going to feel so much better coming out of this and I am looking forward to many more adventures to come.

Big God, Big Blessings

We serve a  big God.  There are so many reminders each day of how amazing He is, if only we will take them in.  I want to share a few of the reminders I have noticed in the last few days.

God made this beautiful beach.  The waves are so powerful and big yet...

He also made these delicate shells and He knows how many grains of sand are on this beach.

God made Prince's feet that are growing bigger by the day.  They started out as tiny little baby feet and look at them now!  These feet carry Jesus with him wherever he goes. 

God gave me not one, but TWO miracle children to love and to teach them about God's love for all of us.  I still can't fully understand God's love for us, but having children has brought me closer to that idea of unconditional love.

Speaking of unconditional love, God has given me a soul mate to share this life with me.  He's my partner in crime and my partner in life.  I know how much he loves me because every year on Black Friday he braves the stores and the maddening crowds "just for the fun of it" with me.  This relationship is truly a gift from God, He ordained it years ago and He knew even before I did, who my sweet Hubby would be.

My sweet sister.  God gave me this sister to grow up and old with.  We are forever connected with a bond that has so connected our hearts and lives, we often know when one is hurting, even though we aren't together.  We've always been that way.  The truth of the matter is that at times we drive each other totally insane, mostly because we have such different personalities.  But there is no relationship like that of a sister.  You can be at odds one minute, but then if you need her, she's right there cheering you on.  My sister is one of the most loyal and giving people I know.  I'm so glad God gave me a sister.  Look at Sweet Cheeks, sitting on her lap.  How can you not know that God made those precious, kissable cheeks?!

Last night we went to the final roll out of Space Shuttle Discovery.  It was awesome.  Yes, I am quite aware that this machine was made by man, but I can't help but be awestruck when I think that it takes man into space to see the amazingly intricate universe God created. 

It is so tempting to get caught up in the hectic, busy day and not pay attention to my surroundings.  To really look, and appreciate those people and things that God has placed in my life because He loves me.  But when I look around and see it, really notice the people and things He has done for me, I am amazed.  I am amazed that He can love me so much.  Amazed at all He created.  Amazed and so in love with Him! 

Chaotic Conversations and Messy Rooms

When I look at my life with these two precious children, I sometimes find it quite hilarious. This has been a funny and crazy week.

A few examples:
The other day my sister and I decided to go to Sam's Club together with our lovely children. Add to my twin 5 year olds, her 3 boys ages 5, 3, and 1. Good times. I had the Prince and middle nephew in my buggy and she took Princess, and her oldest and youngest in her buggy. The two in my buggy sounded like this, "Aunt Ro, know what Aunt Ro? I like to go to the Hampton Dinn. We used to stay there but we don't anymore. Do you like the Hampton Dinn? I wish we would go back there. Hey, look at that trampoline. I like trampolines. I wish I had that trampoline. See that beach umbrella? We don't have one. Miss B shared her umbrella when we go to the beach." Simultaneously, Prince was saying, "Don't run over that old lady with the buggy." I was trying to talk to Middle Nephew while hoping that the sweet white-headed lady in front of us did not hear Prince call her an old lady. As my buggy came up beside said lady she turned and said to Prince, "Do you think this old lady would let anyone run her over with a buggy? I wouldn't get run over." Me trying to cover, "Prince, I wouldn't run that nice lady over. Don't you worry."
We finally find my sister and are doing the last little bit of looking.
Sister: Is there anything else you need or are you ready to go?
Me: Um
Middle Nephew: Can we go home now Aunt Ro?
Me: Almost
Sister: What else do you need?
Me: Nothing else. I'm done.
Sister: But you said you were almost done. I thought you needed something else.
Me: What?
Sister: You said almost. What did you mean?
Me: I did? Why did I say almost? I'm done I don't need anything else.
Sister: I don't know, but you said almost.
Prince: Mom, can we get an icee now?
Me: Oh, I know why I said almost. I was saying it to Middle Nephew because he asked if we could go home now.
Princess: Icee? Can we get an icee now?
Oldest Nephew: Can I have one too?
Sister: Oh. OK, so should I get in line?
Me: Yes we'll get icees, yes get in line.
I couldn't help but laugh in my head as there was so much going on that it was utter chaos. Many years ago when my sister and I imagined our lives as mommies, I'm pretty sure we didn't know we wouldn't be able to have a cogent conversation.



Yesterday I was trying to clean house and I sent Princess and Prince to clean their rooms. Princess came out to announce that her room was clean in a short amount of time and I have to say that she did a great job. She is a good little cleaner upper. Prince on the other hand, sat in his room for a good part of the afternoon playing instead of cleaning. There are action figures of all different kinds on his floor...GI Joe, Planet Heroes, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, little green army men, astronauts...you name them, he's got them. It came time for softball practice so the room was going to have to happen at another time. I walked, I mean tripped across his room and said, "Prince, it is ridiculous how messy this room is." Without skipping a beat, Prince replies, "Ridonculous even, Mom." How could I not laugh? It's a good thing he's funny and cute. That has saved his hiney many a times. It's what keeps me from leaving him out on the side of the road on trash day. Kidding! Just kidding! Don't call Dept. of Children and Families on me. Besides, if I did leave him out on the road, I'm sure Grandma would drive by and pick him up. She's always saving my kids from being in trouble.

We are getting ready for our annual beach vacation. Although we aren't leaving just yet, I have been gathering things I know we'll need to take with us and trying to be sure we have what we need. Despite my saying that we aren't leaving just yet, Princess decided that she was going to pack herself this morning. She brought out a Minnie Mouse bag that was packed to the gills. This evening as I was looking in it, I found that she really has a better idea of what she will need than I do. The bag contained about 5 bathing suits, flip flops, her kid "i-pod," and a few other toys. What it did not include: real clothes, panties, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc. In her mind, she has all she will need.

Today Hubby and I took the kids to the movies to see Toy Story 3. And I cried. The kids loved it and I thought it was very well done. Just made me sad to think about my own kids growing up so quickly. These last almost 6 years have really flown by.

On another totally random note, does anyone have a recipe that would replicate Publix's Cranberry Walnut Bread? It sure looked yummy tonight but I didn't want to pay $4 for the loaf. I want to try to make some with my whole wheat flour.

I Heart My Hubby

Today was an interesting day. For one thing, my dear sister put acrylic fingernails on me and I am struggling to type because I haven't had nails like this since my wedding 8 years ago. I thought I would give them a go. I think I'm going to like them (at least for a while) but it is a bit to get used to when trying to type or do anything really that involves using my fingers. Holla, sis! I'm trying to use a new word. The Lumberjack's Wife uses the word Holla a lot and while I understand its meaning, I'm not very good at using it in context. So I thought I would give it a try. Everyone go say, "Holla!" to The Lumberjack's Wife here. She is one of my favorite bloggers and she provides me with a daily dose of laughter. I heart The Lumberjack's Wife. Her blog makes my day.

So this afternoon I was logging onto my facebook page to send a message when I notice my status says, "I love my husband sooooo much! He's the BEST," and people are starting to comment on it. Interesting...I don't remember posting that as my status. Wait a minute, I didn't post that as my status. Not that it isn't true, because I do love my hubby very much and I do think he's pretty much all that and a bowl of grits, but I didn't write that. Then I notice that my dear hubby "likes" this status and has begun to comment along with my friend. I could not stop laughing. I was the last one logged into facebook on Hubby's i-phone so when he went onto facebook this morning he was logged in as me and decided I needed a new status.

How could I not love this handsome man?

Tonight as I was writing this blog, I got an instant message across on my computer from...hubby. He was sitting across the room from me and decided to send me a message. He's so goofy...but he makes me laugh. He was making fun of all of the clicking from my new fingernails typing on the computer. He was also trying to give me blogging ideas, one of which I'll probably work on for tomorrow. One of my favorite things about my hubby is that he is fun to be with and he makes me laugh. Laughter is great medicine and I have needed a giant dose of it lately. Sometimes I think I take life too seriously and I need to stop and loosen up a bit. I'm reminded of that old Gaither song, "Kids under construction, maybe the paint is still wet. Kids under construction, the Lord's just not through with me yet." Thank goodness God isn't through with me yet. Life's too short to be so uptight and such a control freak all the time. This is why I am so thankful that God sent me a partner with the gift of humor. He knows how to make me laugh. I would like to end tonight's blog by saying on my own, "I love my husband soooo much! He's the BEST."

A Tale of Two Sisters

This is my little sister. Isn't she beautiful?

This is my sister when she was little:

I love this picture of her. She is still quite the fashion plate.

I am going to tell you a story about 2 sisters. It may or may not be about these two girls


My kids love this story. I don't know why.

Once upon a time two little girls shared a bedroom. Their mother was gone to the store and their dad was home with them. He asked the older girl to vaccuum her room. So being the obedient, compliant child she was, she got out the vaccuum cleaner and took it to her bedroom. The younger sister, who liked to get the older sister in trouble, laid down on the floor and said, "You're not going to vaccuum and you're gonna get in trouble." The older sister said, "Move it, sister or I'm gonna vaccuum over you." The younger sister continued to taunt her older sister and laid in the middle of the floor. The older sister did what any reasonable, compliant child would do. She started up the vaccuum and told her sister to move. Younger sister didn't move and therefore got her hair vaccuumed up into the vaccuum cleaner. Younger sister screamed, daddy ran down the hall unplugging the vaccuum on his way in the room and ended up having to cut hair out of the roller on the vaccuum. Older sister got in HUGE trouble. Those younger siblings are such trouble makers! The end.