Today, I just have to give great praise to the family I have in my life. My in-laws who have always been there, thank you. And today, my brother and sister-in-law. Today, I give you two all my love and all my thanks for being my family and really coming through as a family should when it counts. Tomorrow is my 30th birthday. To be quite honest I haven't really been looking forward to this birthday at all. I don't know why this one is so different and why I am struggling with this one. Maybe it is because at 30 I am wondering what exactly have I accomplished in my life. Thanks to my mother-in-law, I was reminded of how far my marriage has come in the last 8 years and the last 6 years I have been blessed with 2 children. Those are great accomplishments. Both my husband and I feel like this is the turning point in our lives. We have made some costly mistakes and what not in the past, and now we feel we have been placed where we are for a reason in a situation with ample opportunity to forever change our lives. That I give all my thanks to God, and for my family of course. Now that I have strayed some-what from my original reason to post this blog, I will get back to that. As I have stated, my brother and sis-in-law really came through for me today. At the beginning of the week they told me they couldn't come the BBQ being held today for my husband and I to celebrate our 30th. Work schedules couldn't be changed. So they would come tomorrow. I was a little bummed, but I know they stick to their word and they would be here for my actual b-day. Well, this morning, I received a call from my mother saying that something last minute with my dad's job came up and they too would not be there. This news I took much harder and more personal. If any of you know my background and the struggles I have had in this area, you would know why this one upset me the most. Although growing up I was always taught that family always comes first, I also came to understand that there was a disclaimer attached (unspoken of course, but never-the-less, it was always there); work came first also. So this morning, in my eyes, once again, work got in the way without any regard to my feelings. I was told they would be here tomorrow, but I soon found out that I wouldn't be home all day because of some plans made for me weeks in advance (of course I don't know the details).
Now to my praise. My sis-in-law got the news right after I called my brother and told him. She got pretty upset (keep in mind she lives around my folks and sees a lot) and said that she wasn't going to let me have this BBQ w/o my side of the family there. So she called in sick for today and they are packing everything up and will be here for the BBQ and my day tomorrow! Right now there are not enough words for me to express my gratitude to them and how much this means to me. I'm tearing up even thinking about it now. And thanks for their quickness of pulling through when it matters, my mom will also be here (she's riding with them). I am sad that my dad won't be here today. I do know that what came up with the job was out of his hands, but if it were me and my children, believe me, I'd move the world. Don't get me wrong, I love my folks, they did an awesome job and I thank them. Everyone has their quirks though and now that I'm getting older, I'm finding what "I" believe in and what really matters to me. Family, and the little intricacies that come with them, no matter what, I will always do my darnedest to be there when it counts.
This last weekend I went to Twin Falls and then on to ID Falls to celebrate my grandmother's 89th Birthday with my family. Driving, even though your sitting, for some reason always zaps your energy. When a few of us girls got back from the store, we walked in the door to my aunts house and found my brother and his son like this, zonked! Little did they know we were snapping pictures of them. My lil' nephew absolutely loves his daddy! Anyone would know it if you were together with them. I can't believe that he'll be 1 in a little over a week. It seems just like yesterday I was in the hospital room w/ my brother and sis-law watching the birth of my lil' nephew. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be there and share in that moment. It is quite different being the observer than the one birthing. It in itself is a whole new experience and now I have that, since when I'm the one birthing, you don't get to see what's happening. While I was gone, my husband had our two kids. He is so good with them and keeping them active and taking them places. He took them hiking Saturday and they absolutely loved it. My son is a mini version of my husband. He loves the rock climbing, climbing what ever he can really, and just being outdoors. My son may have freckles from me, body build of my brother, humor like my brother, but he most definitely is his father's son.
I think in some previous post, months ago, I stated I was probably suffering from the winter blues or severe summer fever. Call it what you want. So here we are middle of June, my 3oth birthday just 10 days away (yikes), the 1st day of summer, and where in the world is summer? What is with this. I think that this year, I am a firm believer in weather affecting our moods. I know other things contribute, but man oh man, it has been quite depressing around here. I actually ran my heat today. My heat! Clouds, rain, cold weather, oh and don't forget 7 inches of snow off of I-84 in Oregon and snow advisory for McCall!!!!! Need I say more?! There is only one plus to all of this, my lack in working out and summer not here, at least I don't have to get into a swim suit or shorts for that matter. I have more time, or at least a little more time.
Well, my "evil one" finally got spayed on Sunday. The past two days have been great with her, she's actually been calm and has left the kids alone. Today she seems like she has fully recovered from the effects of anesthesia. So now it's a waiting game to see if spaying will actually help calm her a bit down the road. It was funny, when I went to pick her up and they give you all the instructions before taking her home, one of their instructions was like giving a bad kid constructive criticism. I felt like she got into trouble. My little Barley in trouble, no way! :) They told me that they "HIGHLY" recommend obedience training for her. The quotes and capitalization is to emphasise how it came across to me. I couldn't help but laugh inside. My poor 3rd child was too rowdy and now I'm getting instructions on how to remedy it. I know she needs obedience training, she's so smart, it will only make her that much better of a dog at home and around others. She may have her moments, but she really is a great dog! I know this is mean, but I wish I would have video taped her the day I brought her home. She kept swaying, her eyes couldn't focus for very long, and to add even more humor, I had them put a cone on her so she wouldn't lick the sutures. She kept running into things and even tripping over it in a sense. It's not as funny now, now she whips her head side to side with a lot of force until it flies off of her head. Gotta love dogs.
