A story of Humanity

I didn't write this, however I wish I had. Please read it is truly inspiring.

Breakfast at McDonald's

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end!

(After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human

being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway.

So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone

around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me

as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing

behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend.

I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman

was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter

asked him what they wanted..

He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me,

judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.

I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.

When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the

attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

There is an Angel who was sent to watch over me and I thank g-d everyday I have him in my life. You know who you are friend and I am so proud of you! You know you've been my inspiration and as you said not too long ago "it's not about the stuff my dear or the money, that's not important". My reply "you are so right my friend."

People will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head.. To handle others, use your heart. God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

I have a special request for all of you. Before running out and spending gobs of money on gifts for friends and family this holiday season just for the sake of impressing, do something that matters. Open your wallets and give to those who are in need. Truly in need! Make a difference. Have a truly blessed holiday!

No regrets...

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

so love the people who treat you right,

forget about the ones who don't,

and believe that everything happens for a reason.

Author Unknown

I don't make this stuff up...............

Living in an million dollarupscale gated community should be safe... Well, one would think with what we shell out in HOA dues. It's nice living behind the gates of our own little world. But, well... our neighborhood is a scene straigh from "Wisteria Lane including fireworks display. See for yourself.....

• "Authorities say a 39-year-old woman went to a former employer's house in Leesburg and held him and his wife at gunpoint. The Loudoun Sheriff's Office says the Ashburn woman showed up at the home Saturday morning brandishing a gun. The couple's daughter was also at home, but managed to escape to a neighbor's house and call police". --- My neighborhood. How did the crazy bitch get through our "secure" gate?! Never did hear why the woman was holding up her previous boss...Maybe her raise was a bit skimpy or it had to do with the current gas prices!

• :"he Loudoun County Sherrif's Office said Thursday that 25-year-old Faris Nassar allegedly used the fake money to buy a dirt bike from a Purcellville man the day before. Troxell says sheriff's deputies searched a home on Emerald Dunes Place late Wednesday and seized U.S. currency, computers and the bike. Nassar has been charged with two counts of counterfeiting and one count of fraud by false pretense. He's being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center". *** Again, my neighbor! I know. You wish you had neighbors like this! I wondered where he got all his money. Always one to "pick up the check"!
  
  

• "A fire July at a townhouse in River Creek, that caused about $400,500 in damage was caused by improperly disposed fireworks. The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office issued the homeowner a summons for carelessly damaging property by fire and for possession of illegal fireworks, Loudoun County Fire-Rescue spokeswoman said". ** Yes, you guessed it. Another neighbor! Be jealous....no one thought to call the police until the place was engulfed in flames! Wtf?!?!

"Here, take mine, take mine".....

Would you ask your child to give his/her life for you?! Take a bullet for you? How do you sell something like this to your child? "Honey, I was thinking, you know your dad and I didn't give much thought to your college education while we were getting high so we were thinking maybe you could sign up for the military". "You know see the world and as a bonus get an education". "Free". That is providing he/she doesn't come home in a body bag. Who in their right mind would encourage their child to sign up for a death wish?! Who I ask? Would he?! Of course not. He's planning a wedding. But he wants the young to believe they are fighting for the cause. Do they even know what they're signing up for? Or what they're fighting for? I'm sure they glam it up, but no, it's his personal cause. After all he was an oil man way before he was (sic) our Commander in Chief. I use that term loosely. Of course it's in his best interest to protect his stake. Don't get me wrong. I believe we need a military, just not for this war. I'm sick and tired of his bull shit. I am sick of this fucking stupid war and frankly I am pissed about the ever increasing gas prices. This is not just about the truck drivers. This effects all of us. When will it stop? Sixty dollars to fill my gas tank this evening and it's a sedan not some gas guzzling SUV or mini van. We are looking at trading my big black sedan for a Hybrid. What are you doing? How much money do the oil company's need to make to be profitable? Nine. Billion. Dollars?! Do their CEO's need to earn one million dollar salaries plus stock options with golden parachute clauses when we have people living far below the poverty line or wondering how their going to pay their rent. I know for some of you none of this matters. But it does matter. What will it take? I know from experience we can expect to see air fare increasing and only affordable to the super mega rich. Not the upper middle class. I'm talking the super uber duber rich. Food prices sky rocketing to the point where families are forced to scale back to the bare bones. The elderly who are living on a fixed incomes being forced to decide whether to purchase food or medication. Asking themselves "do I starve to death or run the risk of having a heart attack"? What about the young and those who aren't earning a six figure income? Huh? This is a situation that has gone terribly wrong. And the stimulus relief? What a laugh. People will not be putting that money back in to the economy. Hell no. As the news reporters are reporting nightly they're using that money to pay their bills! Congress needs to take action. What are they waiting for? A paralyzed nation?! I'm fed up. Are you?

Flash: Just so as I don't come off as a total hypocrite, yes we do drive an SUV. We bought it before we brought the girls home. it was for the girls. Had to be something this mommy would be seen in. You all know how I hate (really hate) mini vans of any kind. I don't get them at all. But we bought the SUV (we've always had an SUV) to haul the chicks in. Although I love it and it's is not one of those mother jumpers that you can't see around on the highway, I think her time with us is short lived too. We will probably be trading her in for something more "green" friendly and "gas" friendly. AND, no, I will not be buying a mini van! EV-AH.

The story continues...

The girls were sleeping. We still had hours ahead of us before we were snuggled soundly in our own beds. Although we had a great time I was tired and ready to get home. I had missed sweet thing. I missed Mag's too. As the music played my mind wandered back to the summer of 1976. The Bee Gee's were playing. I grinned. G-d, I could still remember it as if it were yesterday. It was me and T. back then. It was always me and T. She was the most beautiful friend I had ever had. Back then, I was a bit homely awkward and hadn't really blossomed yet. All naturale in the day! Still wearing braces and aviator glasses. I looked like a cross between Steve McQueen, Adam Ant and a giant bug. Hot. And if that wasn't enough I was quite ignorant innocent when it came to the male beast. True. Seriously. Anyway, I think if there ever was a girl crush this was it. I simply adored her. No. I Idolized her. She didn't know how hot she was even with guys tripping over themselves to talk to her. There couldn't have been a sweeter more genuine person. Ev-ah. We were inseparable. We biked back and forth to one another's home almost daily, which was well over 10 miles one way!! We would pedal (that's right on a bicycle!) all over town wearing nothing more than short shorts and bathing suit tops. No wonder we had great legs. It never failed however when she spent the night at my house we were always (I mean always) out of toilet paper. What family with five girls ever runs out of toilet paper? My mom was notorious for forgetting the paper on her weekly shop! Even with a list. We use to tease when we ran out that "T. must be coming". I snorted out loud as I recall the evening we tapped in to her dads liquor cabinet and how we giggled till we pee'd ourselves with our silly talk. G-d that was some nasty shit. it did taste better the more we drank. My fondest memory would be how we practiced diligently for drill team try-outs for weeks only to discover only one of us would win. She was after all the better dancer. But I was still crushed. I wanted this to be something we did together. And the night we ran up and down Cherry Bottom Road (yeah I swear that was the name) stark ass naked for no other reason than a silly dare. We would take off running as we tore our clothes off laughing and squealing hysterically ducking behind the trees at the slightest rumbling of a car coming. All you could see were the teeny weeny white tan lines of our bathing suits and hear the laughter four states away. There was that time when the car snuck up on us. We took of running only to realize the car was pulling in her lane! We barely crawled beneath the covers --still undressed where we heard her dads key in the door. Shit, our hearts were pounding. We were so almost busted. We both just cracked up. I loved more than anything spending all my free time at her house. Not only did she have this awesome home filled with gorgeous antiques, but her parent's were the most handsome couple I'd ever met. They both exuded such sex appeal. It was so easy to be around them. And her brother was simply adorable. Even at five or six years younger than us. Her dad was a dead ringer for Clark Gable and had this super cool inspector job. I thought it was so funny when T. would share stories of his inspecitins at the local "peep shop". And her mother might as well have been an identical twin of Connie Stevens. Smoking ass hot. I can't remember what her mom did but I'd like to believe that she had some big executive job. I still giggle the time T. and I were snooping found pictures of her mom and her best friend posing in some pretty provocative poses and if memory serves me they were covered with nothing more than a large beach hat! We laughed our silly asses off. I thought at that very moment her mom was and couldn't possibly be any cooler. She never judged. EVER. She always called everyone "kid" it was just her way. She allowed her kids to work things out for themselves, but she was always there for them. When T. told me her mom and dad were getting divorced I think I cried harder. I thought they would always be together and T. and I were going to be best friends forever. T. had the most amazing relationship with her mom. It was no surprise that when T. had her own daughter they too would have a close loving relationship. Her mother had done well. I'd always said if I had kids I hoped I had the same kind of relationship with my kids. I have been thinking about her a lot lately and have wondered why or how we allowed space to come between us. Sure, we both got married years ago. And divorced. And re-married. I know I've moved around and probably have made it difficult keeping up with. We're still friends, but I miss what we once had. I hope you know "kid" I will always love you. No matter what. I hope to grow up to be just like you...... Stay tuned the story continues....

The Shoebox..

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had Shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no Secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe Box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not Recover.

In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000. He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said, " my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll." The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two Precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two Times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with Happiness."Honey," he said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the dolls."

A Prayer.......

Dear Lord,

I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;

Love to forgive him;And Patience for his moods;

Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,

I'll beat him to death, because I don't know how to crochet.

I nearly pee'd myself!!!

Why I love them soooo..

The girls were dining tonight on "awfuls" (translation waffles-their request too!) loving every bite smacking and licking their littles lips as if it were their last meal when I said:

Me: "Girls, we're gonna take a bath tonight, you're filthy"!

Katie: Nodding her head in agreement and says "Yeah, and wash my hair".

Me: "That's right baby girl".

Abbey: Smiling (and never one to disappoint) "And wash my dirty butt"!

Me: All I could do to not crack up. "That's right Abbey, momma's gonna wash your dirty butt".

Gotta love my little "mommy me's"! `


My little "hurricanes" keep me on my toes. They love their video's and I think Cars has now bumped Cinderella to second place. Whew, there is a g-d! lol. We were watching Cars the other night for the uptenth time that evening when Abbey said "Mommy, mommy, that's mommy". I looked up and she was pointing at the telly and shouting "mommy". That's right. She thinks I'm Sally (the porsche) from Cars!!! What's funnier that's the car I drove before my two little hurricanes! lol.. They know! Of course they also think their daddy is Dr. Phil!!! Umm, not only is he BALD but he's also almost a foot taller than my baby...... my girls are so confused.....

No words needed.....

There were no words needed between s.t. (sweet thing) and I those first couple days in China. It was as if we were one. He would fetch lunch, and most often dinner too while I stayed back at the room with the babies. We didn't take many meals outside the confines of our protective compound. it was too much work! We traveled to China as two. And we returned home a family of four. I remember us watching Florida play in the play-offs in our room while feeding the babies and feeling happier than I've ever been in my life. Oh sure I was exhausted, but believe it or not I would get up every morning at 5:00am so that I could shower and have a cup of hot tea before the girls woke up. We had decided long before travel plans that we would make the trip solo. Sure we got a lot of slack for it, but frankly we didn't care. We knew we could do this. This was going to be our experience, and ours only. Not that we didn't want to share the girls, but we knew once we returned home it would be nearly impossible keeping the masses at bay. They were all anxiously waiting our arrival to see our perfectly beautiful, healthy babies. We couldn't hold the "mil" though. She would be standing on our door step nearly three weeks later! And s.t. would travel out of town two weeks after her departure on a business trip to Las Vegas. Hmm, business trip? *snort* Right. I mean it was like a circus at our house back in the early days home. Door bell ringing, babies crying, packages being delivered, babies crying, phone ringing, babies crying... did I mention babies crying? All. The. Time. Maybe he needed a little rest. Poor baby. We were (when I think back) walking zombies the first year. We both went back to work within a week of returning from China. I know, crazy! But we also had the girls on our schedule too. Not for the weak at heart. Anyway, my sister (one of 3) would fly in to help with the babies while s.t was gone. She was so helpful with the babies too. Of course she is a natural. She could make Mr. Grinch smile. She just has a way about her.

Her are some pictures up until the girls were about 1.5 years old. S.T. absolutely hated any of the pictures with the bows. He thought they were the most ridiculous thing he'd ever seen! What he didn't know and the reason I made the girls wear them (they too hated them) was I had given my right kidney for those damn ugly things! I needed to have my head examined I don't know why I bought into it, I am so not a "bow" person. Oh, I'm girly and all, but "uptown" girly. Well, use to. sorta. Enjoy.

Pictures of girls sleeping is righ after I gave the babies too much cough syrup! I thought I had killed them...they were out cold within seconds.

Forever and ever..... March 28, 2006

After what I thought would be the longest plane ride of my life we landed in China. Fin-ally! The ride home would be by far the longest. Evv-eer. It was March 28th just after midnight. We were scheduled to arrive the day before, but discovered while waiting in the lounge at the Beijing airport that there had been a flight change. That day. A five hour delay! When we fianlly arrived in Nannig to our suprise our guide was still waiting for us. And even in the late hour wearing a smile and waiving the big agency banner.(little did we know how big his tip was going to be!) He quickly loaded our luggage in the car and after a really long ride we arrived at our hotel where we were greeted by an oh-to gracious staff. They rolled out the red carpet as if we were Brad and Angelina! We were a little slap happy at this point and thought it was all really sweet. We had been up over 36 hours. But nothing could have prepared me for what I would experience minutes later. The bellman wheeled our luggage up and we carefully inspected our suite as he brought everything in. It was beautiful. Of course at that hour of the morning a card board box would have been inviting. But as I walked into our bedroom I nearly dropped to my knees. There set up next to our bed were two tiny little blue cribs. I was racked with emotion. I gazed upon their tiny little cribs and cried. It occurred to me at that moment that we really were going to be parent's. Dh by this point could barely keep his eyes open. He was beyond exhausted. While I unpacked he fell into bed. I couldn't have slept if I wanted to. I was in over drive. I carefully unpacked the babies things smelling everything to make sure it still smelled fresh. Planning out what I would put on them in just hours. I prepared the gift bags we would give to the officials the next day. Then fretted that we hadn't brought enough stuff even though they were overflowing!

Our guide scheduled a driver to deliver us to the Civil Affairs Office later that day. Daddy and I were anxiously awaiting your arrival. We were nervous. Pacing. Jumpy. Anxious. No words were needed. You had just arrived from a long hot bus ride with your nannies. They ushered your into a "holding" room while they finalized paperwork with the officials. I had rehearsed this moment in my mind--100 times, no a million times over. What would you feel when you looked into my eyes? Would I be overcome with joy? Would I know you? What would you smell like? Would you look the same? Would you cry? Would you embrace me as your mommy? I was beyond nervous. I could barely whisper anything audible. Speechless. The room was spinning. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to see you. I snuck down the hall and peeked my head in the room where you were. Oh. My. G-d. You were more beautiful than I imagined. You were both sleeping. I couldn't wait to get my hands on you and smother you with sweet sweet kisses.

Then suddenly there you were. Both of you. In my arms. There was a ton of commotion. I let out a gasp when they handed you to me. First Abbey and then Katie. And right on que you both took one look at me and started crying. It didn't matter though. When I looked into your beautiful black eyes my heart nearly melted. Yes, you were born in China, but you grew in my heart a very long time ago. You took my breath away. I was crying. Tears streaming down my cheeks. I looked at your daddy and smiled, as if to say "they're ours, all ours". I had waited for this moment for so long and now you were mine.

As I sit here watching you play together today my heart is full. I couldn't imagine my life without you. You were my beginning. I love you today and always.

I love you both with all my heart.

Mommy

How To Dance In The Rain

I haven't felt like blogging lately. I check in on some of you but I've been adjusting to my new schedule and enjoying my family time. As I sit here days away from what we will be forever called our "Family Day" I have so much to be thankful for. I had an epiphany while driving back from Ohio a couple of weeks ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I'll share later. But in the mean time I wanted to share this beautiful story with you that someone shared with me. I have a neighbor who we fondly call "Papa Jack" who reminds me of the man in this story. He and his wife (both very active and such an attractive couple) are the cutest and sweetest couple I've ever met. He is a retiree who had one of those "big" positions with a big fat title. Traveled the world...still does. But he's so not that. Lorraine who has had to have knee and a hip replacement surgery always manages to have a smile on her face. And if you ask her how she is doing you will never hear her utter a negative word! Papa Jack is so attentive o her needs. But he is a pistol and my girls adore him. If he is out playing golf with his buddies (which is often I hear) and sees the girls out walking he will stop his game and come over to see the little ones. He has to or else the girls continue to chant "Papa Jack, Papa Jack". Not good for the swing. Insert: big grin. And Katie who has always been more cautious with strangers will barge right in to their home to see Grandma Lorraine. They both have a way about them. So natural. So loving. I hope to have what they have someday. Their sincere tenderness for one another is touching. I really admire their relationship.

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's,arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

I love you

A special friend from across the pond (thank you Lynn) sent this to me and I wanted to share with all of you. I think sometimes we need to be reminded of our loved ones. About living in the present. Today. Don't wait until it's to late to say "I love you. You may not have that chance.

One day a man’s wife died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the husband was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more 'just one minute.' Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, before we can say 'I love you.' So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage . And old cars . And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!

Life is too short

I know many of you have grown to love my "retro" Fridays. Well, today I want all of you to see something that has left a marked impression on my life. Watch it all the way to the end. AND get a kleenex, no a box cuz you're gonna need it. Then think about the message........

http://video.stumbleupon.com/?s=ithct48cqw&i=ufcchmyxqsuj9vwsemax

On the road again..

Part II... Our trek continues....

Run for your lives if you see us pull up. We give new meaning to the word excess baggage. Oh yeah, we have our issues too. Not one to travel lightly we packed everything everything including the kitchen sink. I gotta hand it to Uncle Rock and Uncle Dex for putting up with a bunch of females for a 24 hour period. Not to mention having to take a number to get into the bathroom! Dead. Last. But, we sure enjoyed those "smelly" soaps the boys insisted we use. Mmmm-mmmmm. And I think I was able to convince Rock that "no, I had not left sweet thing(s.t.) and I was not on the run......*snort*......he honed in immediately that I was not wearing my marital rings.

We arrived at Sam's with barely a slight hiccup. I'm sure if I'd purred an licked on "Sophie" (as s.t. calls his nav system) she may have cooperated a little better. I phoned Sam straight away and she she stayed on the phone until we were idling in front of her compound. I had the good fortune to meet the effervescent tall and handsome man that makes Sam weak in the knees (that is what you said, right Sam?) and the adorable Cullen! I had no idea the kid was so tall. Within minutes of arriving my girls found "the room". They stood with saliva dripping from their fly traps gazing in awe at all of little Miss Kieren's things. They did not know where to start first. It's as if they had been handed the keys to Disney. We were there long enough for them just to get comfortable when we were on the the run again. But this time to Auntie Heather's. We were treated like movie stars the minute we crossed the threshold. Her hospitality would have put Scarlet O'Hare to shame. She prepared a mouth smacking delicious meal that my children devoured and me too! After dinner the big people did a little wine tasting that left us all feeling a little loopy. We loaded the troops for our final destination of the evening. The Beagle B& B. By the time we arrived the girls were wound up and it would be several more hours before they settled down. We were handed the keys to the "Presidential Suite" upon check-in and escorted to the oh so private wing of the house. Here is where we would spend the next couple hours laughing and chatting it up. We awoke the next morning to five inches of snow on the ground! Sam graciously offered us a room at the Inn for an additional stay, but I knew my dear friend Jody would be disappointed not seeing us while in town. So, after showering and eating breakfast I once again loaded the kids and luggage into the car. Thank you Sammy. We had so much fun..... and can't wait to do it again.....when it's warmer.

After a hairy drive back to Columbus we were warm and snug as a bug waiting for Jody to arrive home. We decided upon her arrival due to it being so damn cold to stay in and watch American Idol. Jody picked up a couple salads from one of our favorite dining establishments while I uncorked some wine. WE sucked and swirled the grape and were enjoying ourselves until Katie with a sweep of her little hand knocked over my wine. My red wine on Jody's oh-so white carpet! Oh shit. Her home is like walking into a beautifully decorated model home. Simply gorgeous. We quickly tried to remove the stain, sadly with no luck. She did call me later the next day to say she was able to get the stain out. Whew.....I thought I was going to be replacing an expensive rug!

Finally last stop on the tour. My parent's nest. Awwww. We. Were. Tired. I think the unpacking and packing the car plus getting the girls in and out of the car had taking it's toll on me. Plus the severe cold. My dad met us in the driveway and carried the girls and the bags in. We spent the entire day with my dad as my mom was working. Our plan was to leave the next day but once again another ice storm. After conversation with S.T. we decided it was in my best interest to stay. He did not want me driving through the mountains in the ice with the girls.

I didn't realize how found of "Barney" Abbey had become. However I heard this banging noise after I had put her down for a nap. bed. I placed her up against the wall as she is our "flipper". Well, much to my surprise when I came down the hall it was her head that was smacking up against the wall as she was mounting Barney! Not knowing what else to do I closed the door and left her to enjoy herself....... I still am a bit disturbed about it.....I hope this is not a sign of her sexual appetite.

I do have talent....

There is never a lack of babble in our cave and as you know nothing is off limits. Ever. I dole out bits and pieces of our sometime all too humorous real world with any who wish dare to pass through. Fh and I were preparing for bed the other night and I was expounding about how I wish I could come up with something creative like her to sell when I was hit with a bolt of lighting! Shazam I think I've got it. Anyway, I didn't really think fh was tuned into what I was flapping my jaws about, but he was all ears. Fascinated.

We were discussing (I initiated---he was listening) my hair brained brainstorm ingenious idea which included me and a sewing machine. Stop laughing! I do have talent. Well, in my think trap I do.

Fh: "Um, honey, only one problem." "You don't know how to sew"! Oh, bother.

Me: Not one to ever let that impede me. "Yeah, yeah I know, but really how hard could it be"?! "Besides I've already inquired about taking a sewing class'.

Fh: "Really"?

Me: "Well, of course"! I have.

Fh: "Um, sweetie, did it occur to you that you don't possess a sewing machine"?

Me: "Yeah, but I did a little research and I can purchase one from Costco for a mere $150.00". Problem solved. Now I can put my plan in motion.

Fh: "How much will it cost to make these "award-winning" aprons"? (I want to make sexy hot designer aprons like in the picture) "What kind of cost are involved"? "And how many can you make a day'? Key for fh. How much???.....

Me: Great, he wants a business plan. "I don't know, maybe I could bribe pay some unsuspecting soul to make them"! I'm already thinking I could set up some type of assembly line working 24/7 and maybe outsourcing too!

Fh: 'Laughing, and maybe you could make the girls clothing too".

Me: Ok, now that was just mean. "I think that may be a long shot"!

Fh: Yeah, they'll loathe you when they hit junior high and want you to finance the latest trends in clothing and you respond "I can make that for you"!

Me: Laughing. I remember the outfits my mom made for my sisters and I when we were growing up. Matching too!

Fh: Maybe you could make my suits. *snorting*

Me: Eyes rolling, and snickering...... Funny man.....

Note: After speaking to my mom tonight she reminded me that I do in fact own a sewing machine. I inherited my grandmother's when she passed! I'd completely forgotten that I had it. Must dig it out of the vault tomorrow. Running to check out his site....