Christmas stuff

Yesterday my table looked like this:

Jealous? I can honestly say that packing up all of that fun stuff is just about the worst part of the entire season. Besides the standing in line at the post office, which I have a strange phobia of. I  have to talk myself into it a few days in advance. That's why my shipping date can't change, it then takes me forever to talk myself back into it. Today is shipping day. 9 packages are boxed, taped, addressed and ready to go. Good thing we don't have a big family, right?
Aren't you just dying to know what's inside all of that perfectly packaged goodness? I can't wait to post about it, after the holidays. I had a good time sewing and being creative this year.
  On another note... it's hubby's birthday and he's sick. Birthday post coming soon. Wishing him health and comfort this year. He's a pretty awesome guy and I am one lucky girl.

Happy Mother's Day to Me

Mother's Day never was one of my favorite holiday's. Not that I don't love my mom, mother in law or grandmothers, and it's not that I don't love being a mom. I have had my fair share of over the edge and crazy days as a mom and times I wanted just two minutes without anyone needing anything from me. I do appreciate thoughtfulness and kindness. I just have issues with the whole thing. Father's day too. I am an equal Grinch on the subject.

Let's just start by saying I am pretty hard to surprise. (That's not a challenge.) At least my husband and kids have a hard time surprising me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they are all "finding" challenged or that they just hate to keep surprises. They can't wait to see the look on the faces of their family members when they have a gift to give. This Sunday my rock star husband pulled it off though.

First on Sunday morning he let me sleep in. Late. And kept the kids out of the room. Heavenly. Then he made me breakfast. That was yummy. I got to read the parts of the newspaper I wanted all the way through. Then when I went on a bow making kick, I didn't even get the look that says "This mess is going away soon, right?" He helped get the kids ready for church and took steak out of the freezer for dinner. All awesome things that I really appreciated.

The kids and I left for church. In Nursery Meg's teachers had helped her make a lollipop flower that said Happy Mother's Day on it, and she insisted on eating the lollipop almost before the car was started to head home. No thought of sharing that at all. That actually made me laugh, more at the nursery leaders than at my daughter.

When we came back, he wasn't home. I got a call a few minutes later that was cut off right after I heard "How important to you is..." Is what?  4 more dropped calls and I still had no idea what he was asking.(grumble grumble ATT)  I made dinner wondering what he was up to. Finally almost an hour later he came home. He had a mother's day gift for me in the car. I wasn't expecting that. One of the kids then brought me the topsy turvey upside down tomato planter and gave me a hug. Thanks, I think. I wandered around a little confused for a while until Adam helped him carry in the real present. A new electric grand piano from Yamaha. I was floored. That wasn't even on my radar at all. Things have been tight since we have moved here and while I really do miss my piano, I wasn't expecting any kind of replacement for quite some time.

Turns out he's been looking for one for quite a while and found a great deal on it. It just took some time and negotiating to get it to his car. What a guy. I am feeling pretty blessed today by a wonderful guy who still cares about what's important to me and wants me to be happy. The gift was amazing, but in this case, it really was the fact that he was thoughtful and caring that made all the difference in the world to me.

Mother's Day never was my favorite holiday and whatever happens next Sunday is of little consequence to me. Yesterday was mother's day to me and I am so happy to have a guy who knows how to surprise me now and then.

I miss my Hubby

"Men who know little are great talkers while men who know much say little." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

I have long maintained I married the smartest man I know. He is truly the reason for our brilliant children. If he can't fix it, re-purpose it, or work it out, it can't be done. That's not to say we have always made wise decisions as a married couple, but we have always gotten through it all together.

He's not much of a talker though. We split a cell phone plan with Mom and when the bill comes (on months he's home) his share is about 7 minutes used and I always know that's been under duress and has something to do with work. He doesn't talk much in person either, but he's very funny in a sly kind of way and gets your attention when he does speak. He's become much more affectionate in the past few years and in silence will often reach for my hand or touch my shoulder as he walks past me.

I am missing my husband this week. It's always this time in deployment when I am more than ready for him to come home. I need his strength, silent or not, I need his presence back at home. I need his reassurance, his kindness and his help. I just need him home... Most people are really sad at the beginning of a deployment, and I admit to having a bad day or two. For the most part though, the end kills me. I can't stand the waiting when I know the date is near. I just want it to be over already, I want him home.

I just want you all to know (not like I have tons of readers here) that I really think married the perfect man for me. He's my other half, and I really miss him this week. Are we there yet?