8 Days . . .

I can’t believe it  . . .  is it really true?

Is the school year really so close to being through!

Eight days left from the 185

Wasn’t it just last month we were all wondering if we would ever survive

Well it’s true, I can say, summer and all it’s glory is just within reach

Time for this . . . time for that . . . maybe even time for a trip to the beach

Whatever June, July and August has in store for me

I can assure there will be some “chillin” with friends and family!

Writing About Not Being Able to . . . Write

Writing . . . sometimes the ideas just burst out of my head

Filling my page with words and thoughts that may never be said

So effortless . . . so easy . . . it’s such a surprise

That when I re-read my piece . . . there is little to revise!

But then there are the other times . . . like today

When there’s no words or thoughts to which I want to convey

It’s like a roadblock . . . a barrier inside my brain

And the harder I try, there are no words to obtain 

So I’ll sit back . . . relax . . . and count to ten

And remember that my words will come back again

I’m sure I’ve not written. . . said all I need to say

And know that tomorrow is another day!

Are You A "Bucket Filler?"

Last week my principal and assistant principal, “filled our buckets” . . . a good reminder that it’s the simple things that can have the biggest impact on people!  

“Bucket Filler” . . . do you know what this is?

If not don’t worry it’s not a pop quiz!

A bucket filler is just another way to say

Hey, let me help to make your day.

Kind words, thoughtful gestures, simply a smile

Can really make one’s day and last a long while.

So remember . . . fill some buckets . . . it’s never too much

And know that each person you reach out to . . . will feel your touch!

As if my bucket wasn’t filled enough, my niece shared something she wrote about my sister and I on Bobby Brown’s (the cosmetic guru) blog.  In fact, many of Bobby’s employees “filled” their mom’s bucket in honor of Mother’s Day.  Check it out!  

http://www.everythingbobbi.com/en/2012/05/10/to-our-moms/ 

Surprise!

Have you ever been SURPRISED?  

I mean really . . . really . . . surprised . . . 

THE HEART POUNDING . . . 

MIND BOGGLING . . . 

kind of surprise that literally takes your 

BREATH AWAY!

Well, until last Friday it never happened to me or my sister . . .

WAIT . . . BACK TRACK . . . REWIND!

(6 weeks earlier)

My niece and nephew call to ask my sister and I if we could take a day off from work.  The reason . . . they wanted to buy us a spa day for Mother’s Day.  SPA!  Of course we can!!!  They go on to to explain that they found an awesome Groupon deal for Mother’s Day and want to book the date.  Not a problem . . . book it we’re both in!

(2 weeks earlier)

My niece sends us our Groupon confirmation.  Susan and I go online to view the Spa . . .it is beautiful!!! We call to tell them how fabulous the Spa looks!  What a wonderful day they have planned for us!

(Morning of our Spa Day)

I’m driving over to my sister’s and my phone rings.  It’s my nephew wishing me a happy spa day. “We will definitely call when we are done being pampered!”  I walk in to my sister’s house as usual and call up to her that I had just talked to Jason . . .”he wished us a happy spa day!!!”  She tells me to come upstairs she needs to show me something.  I walk up . . . and literally start screaming . . . there standing before my eyes are Jason and Lyndsey!!!!  Jason flew in from California and Lyndsey from New York!  I was literally B*L*O*W*N away . . . WOW!

(9 hours earlier)

My sister gets woken up by her husband who is making a bit more noise than usual . . . Barely opening her eyes . . . wait, what?! am I dreaming??? Is that Jason?  What are you doing here? Still groggy from just being woken up, she is not even aware it is 1:30 in the morning.  Are you here for business?  “Mom, look behind you” . . . as she turns she sees Lyndsey and literally jumps out of bed!!!!  To say she was excited was an understatement!  As she’s hugging and kissing them, Lyndsey tells her that there is no spa day planned!

So that was our surprise, the surprise Jason and Lyndsey planned for Susan and I!  

We had a great weekend with them, and trust me, we never . . . ever . . . missed the fact that we didn’t have a spa day.  Spending time with them was the best gift they could have given us!  They both knew that we would rather of had the time with them, then any gift . . .  even a spa day!  And that is what made this gift even more special . . . they know us so well and took time to think about what we really would want . . . what really would make us SO . . . SO . . . HAPPY!  Thanks again, we love you both so much!

SPA . . .WHO CARES ABOUT A SPA???? 

P.S. Remember the Groupon confirmation . . .it was amazing what Lyndsey did with Photo Shop :-)

My Birthday Wish to My Sister!

My sister you are one in a bazillion!

You are everything I could ever hope or imagine a sister to be

I’m so lucky to have you as my sister . . . but also as my very best friend

When I think of you . . . I just smile . . . always so thankful that you and I have each other

Susan, I remember growing up sharing that very tiny bedroom where many a secret was told and shared

People don’t believe me when I tell them that . . . growing up and to this day, we have never had a fight or argument . . . 

I love this "thing" between us, this unspoken closeness, we’ve never needed to talk about . . . it’s just there

I feel so fortunate that throughout our lives we are always there for each other . . . Always no matter what!

When either of us needs picking up, the other is there without question or thought 

Susan you always tell me you wouldn't know what to do without me. . . and I say to you . . . I know what you mean . . . because I feel exactly the same way! 

It's funny because it’s not as though we’re totally alike . . . although Jason and Lyndsey may disagree 

Susan you are the more cautious one, and I have always been a bit more wild . . . willing to take more chances

You are the organized one, the one who takes a situation by the horn and gets done what needs to be done

We are both pleasers, and have a strong commitment to our family . . .

Although you always say I'm the stronger one, when I needed you to be strong, you were beyond amazing...you got me through one of the toughest times in my life

Of all the “greats” in our lives . . .the greatest hands down is Jason and Lyndsey . . . 

From the minute or should I say the second you told me you were pregnant I fell in love with them as if they were my own...and that love as you know, has grown stronger each day

I am so blessed that you have always shared them with me . . . but you know exactly how I feel

Susan you are a fantastic mom . . . your children are confident, strong and know without question you will always be there for them . . . 

You take “loving them unconditionally” . . .  to another level

We talk everyday, most days more than once

You and I can be together for a week straight and when we leave each other, one of us will call the other and we still have things to say . . . 

Something my hubby as you know is still amazed with after 30 years

Our relationship is so easy. . . no natural. . . so amazing . . . so rare

So on this special day I say . . .Happy Birthday Susan . . . 

I Love You with All My Heart!