Out of the mouths of my babes...

Almost daily something funny or touching happens, or is said, that I want to remember forever. I should write these things down.
"You should write those things down!" my mother is always saying. Noooo...really?! I keep meaning too, but life just sweeps me along.
Here are a few that pop into my mind as I'm heading off to bed.

The second day the children woke up in our home, they both gathered at the kitchen window early in the morning while I was making breakfast. They were still very quiet, and Briana piped up with, "Can we go play in the park?" "What park, Sweetie?" I asked rather distractedly. "That one." she said pointing out the window. "That's our back yard, Briana. You can certainly play there." "That belongs to you?" She asked with surprise in her voice. "Well, that belongs to all of us now, it's your back yard too, Briana." She began instantly to tell Brandon how much fun they were going to have in their new back yard, and all the games they would play. I was wiping my tears over at the sink, of course...and NOT because I was in desperate need of coffee, mind you.

One evening Briana was talking about how excited she was for Christmas. She said she couldn't wait to wake up on Christmas morning and get her stocking full of goodies and canned goods. "Canned goods?" we asked? "Yeah, like candy and stuff." Hmmmm...someone may be getting a can of creamed corn in their stocking from here on out, along with the goodies, it will be a funny new tradition.

When I took the children to shop for Matt's Christmas presents this year, we made a day of it and went to the Rockaway Mall. They've only been there once before, and are completely enthrauled by it. Since their Mama isn't a fan of shopping (I've got hobbies, thanks.), we do NOT do the mall thing. They've been begging to go for about 2 yrs.
We got there early in the morning, and had a lot of fun with our list of gift ideas we'd put together, focusing all our attention on what Papa would LOVE to recieve. They'd been talking about how they KNEW that Santa was sometimes in malls, they'd experienced this when they were really young...we have the photo to prove it. They both kept saying, "He's probably not here. He's probably busy in the North Pole." They clearly didnt' want to get their hopes up...it was quite touching to see how cautious they were. I surprised them by leading them right to the "Santa area" of the mall, and they were shrieking and jumping up and down with joy, their arms wrapped around my leg and waist. Briana had tears in her eyes she was so beside herself. There was practically no one there, so we were able to get to him in moments. Both children rushed him and threw their arms around him. He was quite surprised! Brandon scrambled right up onto his knee (uninvited, mind you), and Briana sat next to him, snuggled right up under his arm. She looked up at him with sheer bliss on her face and said, "I would like a doll bed." And Brandon said, "I'd like a train. And a reindeer. Please." "I'll, I'll do my best..." Santa answered a bit weakly.
The picture of the children with Santa is one of the best pictures I've ever seen of them. They looked totally joyful, relaxed, and full of blissful wonder. It was a precious experience for me! We gave the picture to Matt as a surprise Christmas gift.

At the end of bedtime prayers last night, Briana clearly wanted to prolong the actual going to bed part of the ritual. She quickly asked if she could say a "special prayer" for all of us. She began quite seriously, "Dear Lord, please help us to love one another... and to be more complicated (WHAT?!)", blah, blah, blah...she began throwing in BIG vocab words left and right that made no sense at all, I do believe the word obliterated was used...and finally I had to cut her off and say, "Ahhh, Bri? Do you know what any of those words mean?"
Matt and I were totally laughing at this point, and she giggled and said, "Nahhhh...not really."
Man...such a staller, no?

Briana recieved a super cute horseback riding themed computer game for Christmas, from Brandon. It's a story about a young girl who's family moved to the country from the "big city", and they buy a farm, and she gets to have a horse of her own. Did I mention it's super cute? Anyway, the graffics are great (man, am I such a geek that I was compelled to mention that?!), and after she spent an afternoon playing it, she was dying for me to join in on the fun and give it a try myself. I was happy to oblige. She quickly got bored watching me learn the ropes of the game, and went off to play with new dollies and such. Brandon was glued to my side though, still soooo obsessed with everything horses. When I FINALLY was able to successfully jump the horse in the practice ring, he threw his arms around me and said,
"Mama, that makes me want to marry you right now!"
Woah, Nellie... :)

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Before we put 2007 to bed, I thought I'd better pause and ponder a bit about some of the things that have been a part of my world since I started writing here.

Reading back over my blog entries, there are SO many stories, happenings, challenges, and blessings that didn't get written about. Shoot! There just aren't enough hours in a day to tell it all.

In the Fall of '06 my sister Shannon married her sweet husband, Ian. What a truly joyous way to begin that winter. It's been wonderful to watch them become a married couple, the love they have for one another is a beautiful evidence of God's Grace, for all of us.

This Sept. the children and I began our adventure with the St. Gregory the Great Homeschool Co-Op. It's been such a wonderful experience of community. Being a part of a group of truly on-fire women who share the richness of our Catholic faith, offer mutual support, and who are deeply commited to creating a rich educational experience for all our children...wow. There are no words! It's been a gigantic blessing and asset to our family.

The children had their first experience performing in the NJ Civic Youth Ballet production of The Nutcracker, a few weeks ago. This professional ballet company experience for children, who get to work along side adult pro's...what a cool thing! I was asked to give one of the important props of the show, the Swan Sleigh, a total make-over. I got it moved into my kitchen, and then it began to rain...and that turned to snow....and so the swan stayed and stayed and stayed...smack dab in the middle of kitchen. Thanksgiving was only days away, and I was still coating the entire thing in irridecent glitter. It DID get finished in time for me to host a small group for Thanksgiving at my house, minus the swan. It shimmered and sparkled on the stage, thank goodness...and if anyone wonders where the fairies live...they must be here at #27 Forest Rd., because no amount of vacuuming is removing the ever-present pixie dust that now resides here. Both children had a wonderful, truly fun experience being a part of the production. It's certainly an experience that none of us will ever forget. They were the cutest tin soldiers I've EVER seen, that's for SURE!

I've been working on my novel (if that's not the most grandious sounding statement, I don't know WHAT is)...or maybe I should say I've been "playing novelist", randomly and sporatically, for months now. My inspiration comes and goes, but the other night I found myself working on the storyline at about 3 a.m. while laying in bed trying to trick my body into thinking I'm actually asleep. I may be ready keep going, and put some of those nocturnal ponderings into my computer. You never know. But what a fun thing to fool around with!

Briana is prepairing to recieve the Sacrament of Reconcilliation in January, and then her First Communion in May. I can hardly take that in! So much bounty in one year! It's so exciting to see her SO thrilled with what she's learning in CCD. She turned to me when we were walking up for me to recieve Eucharist on Christmas Eve, and she and I hold hands (otherwise who ever is handing out Eucharist tries to give to her too, because she's so tall!) so I can keep her next to me, and she whispered with such intensity, "I can't wait until I can recieve Jesus!" It's moments like that that remind me why I was born.

Matt and I watched what was promised to be the most scientific, definitive special FINALLY laying bare all the evidence about the existence of Sasquatch, or you might say, Big Foot.
I am sorry to inform all of you that even after extensive research that was indeed layed bare during two grueling hours of tv viewing...I may NOT be a believer after all.
But all is not lost, tonight there's another show about Swamp Creatures that promises similar proof...I'll keep you posted.

I've had a really great experience in my Physical Therapy, for this darn knee. All is quieted down for now, no impending surgery at present. I'll wait until Spring to set up a summer surgery, if the Dr. still agrees to do it. All in all, the prayers of everyone this time around truly made a difference in my life. The recovery has been pretty great, and my life is not too hampered at the moment...so I'm content for the time being. My ice dancing (pairs, of course) career may be shot to hell...but hey, I'll be 40 next November, so the whole thing had a shelf life anyway.

Reuniting with my old classmates from Mt. St. John's after 20 yrs. was a REALLY special happening in 2007. It's been so wonderful to keep track of one another via e-mails, to see so many pictures of their beautiful children...and to just be reconnected. What an amazing group of strong, bright, accomplished women...to think we all wore knee highs, started food fights, and mocked our teachers together!

Sharing in the 20 yr. reunion in my home town, for the Bernards High class of '87 was another wonderful happening this year. It was so amazing to talk with people I've not seen in so many years...to see some of the people who had such an impact on my teen years and my faith journey, and to share some beautiful, and often hysterical, memories. What a rich life I have, and what a blessing this reunion was.

My sister Erin Patricia, and her husband Lou, announced the impending arrival of their first child, this Fall. She now has an adorable baby belly...and is one of the prettiest pregnant girls you could ever see! She's due in April, only a few weeks before Meghan get's married...so we'll all be begging for turns holding the baby throughout that festive day, I'm sure. Erin is one of the most beautiful women I know, watching her grown in holy womanhood during her college years was such a huge blessing for me and my life. She and I became dear friends, companions on the journey, during that precious time. I'm so proud of who she is, and seeing her carrying this new life, it's such a miracle! I can't wait to know this little person who Erin, Lou and God created together. This will be just one more way that God reveals Himself to me, I'm sure.

Matt and I celebrated our third Christmas with our children, this year. Our morning at home was just wonderful. They make everything so magical! Gift giving and recieving was more fun that it's been since I was a child, and we had a beautiful brunch together around our dining room table. It was a really special day, of course. We celebrated Christmas afternoon/evening this year at Maura and Seth's house here in Budd Lake. What a cozy day we had! Everyone gathered to share delectable food offerings, wine (shots of Irish Whiskey), time around the fire place in the dining room, and around the wood stove in the living room (man, we love FIRE)...we did our Secret Santa gift exchange (always so fun and festive), we sang carols while Maura accompanied us on guitar...and all-in-all had the most festive and picture perfect Christmas I can remember in my adult life. I don't think anyone wanted the day to end.

Matt and I are nearing our 14th Wedding Anniversary, on Feb. 25th. I've been really aware of what a life-changing blessing he's been to my universe these past 14 yrs. I can honestly say that he's so much more than I even imagined...way back when. His ability to empathise with others, how communicative he is about his love for me, how well he lives out his vocation as husband and father...Jesus is revealed to me through Matt in ways that I never thought I'd deserve! Do you know that song from The Sound of Music that Maria and the Captain sing to one another? It's when they finally admit that they are in love..."nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could...so somewhere in my wicked childhood, I must have done something good...for here you are standing there, loving me...whether or not you should..." they are awed that such incredible love has come to them. That's exactly how I feel! I know, I've taken my geekdom to a whole new level admitting my deep connection to that song...but that song plays through my mind on a regular basis. That might be my internal theme song for my relationship with Matt. He's a continual revelation to me, a daily blessing, the best friend I've ever had, my greatest champion, so often the preserver of my dreams, and the greatest evidence I've had for 14 yrs. that Love is a Mighty thing. No matter what life throws at you. No matter what.

And there you have it. This is still absolutely inadequate in representing the beauty of all the people and experiences that I'm so richly blessed to have in my life.

2007 was another year of growing, loving, and living the life that I've been blessed to recieve. I look forward to all the ways that 2008 will unfold because I know Who'll be holding us all the while.

You all will continue to be in our prayers, and I pray that this new year will bring many blessings to you and yours. Sending Christmas hugs, New Year's cheers, and a lot of love.
Peace~in Christ,
Brig