2nd Post for the Day!

Happy #0th Birthday Mom!
We love you!

Today is Esther Laura Powell's birthday. She is 18,263 days old . . . you do the math. I am not sure where to start. Proverbs 31 comes to mind "...Her children rise up and call her blessed...
Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."

Our life has not always been a bed of roses. There have been some hard times and tears. As a young Mother of three small children, circumstances forced my mother to start over down a harder more challenging path than she had been unexpected. My mom was in nursing school at the time and persevered achieving a degree as an L.P.N. Honestly, I don't know how you did it all, Mom! Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I write this. Then, working midnights and sleeping during the day... when we would get off the bus at home - we would wake her up. I remember evenings (as we got older) where she would take a nap on the couch... you must have been so worn out Mom. Not only physically & mentally but also emotionally after all the curve balls that life had thrown your way. Somehow - you managed to scrape by financially and provide for our needs. We weren't rich in money but we were rich in love, family, and support. The things that truly matter. A couple of MANY wonderful memories stand out in my mind. Our family vacation to Niagara Falls... sitting in the car parking lot at the falls... eating soggy egg salad sandwiches... stands out as a moment in time that you just want to freeze... perfectly imperfect. Together and happy. Another time. My sister and I were in chorus at school and there was some type of inter-school choral competition. My mom had worked the night before... we rode the bus from school to the event. And as we were on stage - I saw Mom in the audience. Words cannot describe the excitement that flowed through a little girl's body just from a little wave. That is love. Love sacrifices. Love shows up unexpectedly. Love goes the distance. Geepers... I am have a meloncholy day! My mom is a one of a kind person. The rough spots in life have just made her shine more. She has beauty that comes from the inside but radiates on the outside. She is the kind of Mom and Woman - I want to be.

This is just the tip of the iceberg - as far as the wonderful things about my mother and things that she has accomplished in her lifetime. She is an awesome Grandma also. Besides that my mom is fun and crazy. She will probably die at this video post!! ha ha.




If you don't believe that my mom was an excellent mother - look at me :-) the fruit of labor!! :-P

misc.

Happy Election Day! Get out and vote today! Should you choose NOT to vote - you forfeit your right (for the next four years) to ever complain about the happenings in our government! :-P

Emily had her 6 month pictures taken yesterday. I think all the big bright lights give her stage fright. She wasn't fussy but wasn't over smiley either. Oh - well. We got a few cute pictures.

This is not a joke!! I saw a lady wearing a side ponytail yesterday. I was like... wow... no way... it's making a comeback?!!! ha ha. Just kidding. I thought..... hmmm..... maybe no one told her Halloween (& her 80s look) ended Friday night!



Is there such a thing as "Mother Therapy?" Some days - I really think that I need some. I suppose it comes from being a perfectionist (sort of). I feel like I have so many questions ... about baby & life & training. Maybe - I have to chill out. I suppose ... at times like this... it is beneficial to be more sanguine. Fly by the seat of your pants. Easier to let your house be a mess. Let the dishes pile up. Skip doing the load of spit-up/poopy laundry - EVERY DAY! I am not the carefree person that I used to be. I feel like life is more serious - busy - and exhausting. . Some of you are probably chuckling right now (and that is totally fair) - since you have two or three children. I know that I do not have a right to comment on feeling t-i-r-e-d. I feel like I just need a mental vacation. How does that happen? Can that happen without physically leaving my house? If you have the secrets of life & motherhood... do share. You are welcome to e-mail me - instead of commenting.

Therapy is some form is on the way via my new journal. (Thanks to CT for the idea.) I used amazon gift card to buy this book. I AM SOOOO excited about the insane things in there. And wouldn't you know the book is dedicated to perfectionists. Hmmm..... Click on it to - go to amazon and see a few pages.


Thoughts from DUCKY: (compliments of my crazy sister)

	How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for Miss America ?
	I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
When I was young we used to go 'skinny dipping,' now I just 'chunky dunk.'
	Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? AMEN, AMEN !!
	Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?
Wouldn't you know it.... Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.
	Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed outside?
Bumper sticker of the year: 'If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier'