40 years later

October is in full swing with the crisp mornings and just perfect afternoons here, and they’ve been so lovely to enjoy. I find myself getting outside on the back patio more and more soaking in the softer sun as I listen to all the little birdies chirp.

The weekend was much of that. The sun, the birds, the constant hunger… I mean… I’ll save that topic for another day.

Today marks a pretty big day over here in this family. It’s a day of celebration. 40 years ago, my parents said “I do”.

40 years ago!

Craziness.

In that time they moved countless times, been through a number of ups and downs, had 4 beautiful children {if I may be so bold to say…not to mention the 4th kid, she really is something extra special..} and 11 grand children.

plus… this little bean

Blessed.

4 year anniversary

I discovered a box of photos and have had fun looking back over their years (if you can’t tell). I’m so thankful they’re my parents. They’re gracious and loving, supportive and encouraging. And I get to call them mine.

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom and Dad. I love you both!

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A thankful me - 24

Welcome back everyone! Anyone eat those brats for me?? Would you believe I forgot I was craving those so bad until now…aaaand, I’m wanting them again, drats!

My weekend was jammed packed with stuff. Saturday consisted of being in a room full of Armenian women. If you’ve never been in a room with them, I can describe it in 1 word: LOUD. Ok, I have more words. They were really sweet and great, they make everything from scratch….and all talk very very loudly..and over each other…and in a different language. Picture the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding…that should put it all in perspective for you.

Some even did the whole screaming ‘la-la-la-la-la-la’ thing they do when they’re celebrating..you know what I’m talking about. My mind was pretty much blown the whole time I was there, and I drove the whole 35 minutes home in complete silence, no talking, no radio…just quiet.
I have to show you all they made, and this was only the beginning. The more that came the more that was brought. I had baba ghanoush for the first time!


They did the fruit platter themselves, and I also had mulberries for the first time. I didn’t even know what they were. I actually thought they were some sort of sugared candy.

Then Sunday was all about my to-do list and I have to say, I knocked that thing out! Well 90% of it. It took all day long to do. I was a machine. I’m so excited, I cleaned my back patio and scrubbed my chairs so I can actually sit out there. It only took almost 3 years, but I finally made it where I have a cushion on one of them and can enjoy my space.

So, with my crazy weekend, I’m thankful for:

- my patio cushion. Honestly, I’ve been peeking out my blinds at my new little sitting area. Just love it.
- my Dad. He’s a great dad, he is. I’m so thankful he’s still here to celebrate another Father’s Day with.
- fruit stands. I was able to hit one up on my way home from work and scored lots of fruit and veggies for super cheap!
- someone coming up with the cutest term for me: Adorkable..you know, adorable and dork put together? Adorkable. Is it odd that I love it??
- someone else thinking I’m stuck up upon first meeting me only to realize how fun and ‘adorkable’ I am. I probably should work on those 1st impressions a little more…or people could just stop judging me by the way I look…either way, I’m glad her opinion of me changed.
- $15 refund check for shipping. This girl loves a good refund check.
- making these delicious zucchini brownies! I know they ‘don’t sound right’ as Megan put it, but seriously, they are so so good. I used all natural peanut butter instead of almond butter and man oh man, they’re so darn tasty!

Fill me in on your weekends. Bake anything yummy?
- its been ages since I’ve baked anything, so it was nice to do…even if I will be the only one inhaling these.

What about your to-do list? Get anything crossed off? Pin It Now!

Rounding out the 50’s

Today is my Mom and Dad’s birthday. My dad is just a couple hours older than my mom. Neat, right?

Growing up, I always loved telling people that they shared a birthday…I don’t think I’ve ever asked them if they liked telling people that… hmmm can’t see why they wouldn’t, but think about how easy it is to remember the other’s birthday. No one can say they forgot, can they?

Happy Birthday to me!!!…wait, what? It’s your birthday too??! Gosh, must’ve forgotten that. See? It wouldn’t work.

Today marks 1 year away from living for 3 score (as my Dad is putting it). Did anyone else not know a score was 20 years?? Did anyone else just say, ‘4 score and 7 years ago?’

Let’s travel down a small road called, memory lane. I’m sure my mom will be nothing but tickled, since I have no doubt she hasn’t seen these pictures in years. :) I love you, Mom

aawww, the many years with the mustache.


10 days after giving birth to big little ol’ me, we went out for a picnic but poor Mom was really sick and feverish. I think I was showing my disappointment for being out, for her. {by the way, I realize her eyes are cut off, but this is one of my favorite pictures}


So pretty!!


Spring of ‘98


Summer of ‘99


Proud Papa to #3


I scored a free helicopter ride for the 3 of us. Our first ever! Even though we had to endure the song “Viva Las Vegas” on repeat the entire time (we flew over the strip) it was worth it.


I wish I had more to look through. Its weird not having a lot of pictures of my parents over the years. Pictures weren’t so big as they are now…or maybe that’s just me who thinks that, but I’m thankful for the ones I do have.

And I’m thankful they’re still here today for me to wish them both a very


Having you two as my parents have been the biggest blessing to me.
I love you both!!!

~~A sweet message my Dad said to my Mom on our family website yesterday~~

To think that 2 families 1200 miles apart were about to go through the same window. Those 2 babes would then meet 17 years later and become the foundation of this web site Whoda thunk it. I am more than pleased and happy to say after some amazing ups and downs here we are, the last day of 58 as you say. We will have known each other 2 score and 2 yrs. I LOVE YOU and your attitude,disposition­, personality, singing, style, not to over look your cooking, you have made me what I am today, just more to love. Going forward into tomorrow together, Looking ahead to the next big score. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!

For the record: My mom’s name is not Nancy.. I don’t even know why he called her that, but I’m pretty sure she does, and that’s where it matters.

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A thankful me - 5

Happy happy Monday to all of you!! I feel like I’ve been gone for so long and have to admit, I’m glad to be back in full swing again. It was nice being away from everything electronic though. I barely had my phone with me the whole time..heaven!

I have so much to tell you about our trip to Maui but for now I’ll sum it up in one word: Pamper.

We had no idea we’d be pampered as great as we were…it spoiled all future trips to all ‘normal’ hotels.

I can’t even tell you just how much I have to be thankful for, so I’ll boil it down to a toppers.

I’m thankful for:
- my Dad’s health. Talk about taking it all for granted until there’s a chance its all taken away.

- spending some great time with my family, catching up and enjoying each other’s company.

- all my sweet friends who were there to offer help and be there at the drop of a hat last week.

- being given the ability to come to Hawaii. I forget its Hawaii and sometimes see it as just another place to be, but being here really reminds me how blessed I am I get to be here as much as I do.

- a spur of the moment trip to Maui. We booked it that day and was on a plane within 4 hours.


- a great opportunity to have a blate with my beautiful blogger friend, Angie. {more on that later}

- unbelievable pampering by the hotel. Everything about the experience was world class and left us in awe.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I can’t wait to catch up on everyone from last week! Give me a recap in your comment. Tell me how you’ve been!!

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No foreigner of words

The past 5 days have been nothing but insane. Not to mention exhausting.

I never thought I’d ever say the words, ‘my Dad had a massive heart attack’ but I’ve said it several times in the last 5 days and know I’ll continue to say it, because he did. Friday.

I was in the middle of vacuuming when I saw my phone light up with a call from my mom’s cell and I knew it wasn’t good since she was supposed to be at work.

Things were definitely crazy. Calling my brothers, arranging all of us to drive or fly to be together. My sister was already at the hospital, waiting to hear more as he was getting worked on. By Saturday morning we were all in his CCU room together. It was weird, seeing him on the bed hooked up to monitors, but he was in good spirits.

My brothers were on the mark, cracking jokes one after another, having us be the only room in the entire CCU, making a lot of noise, laughing.
first time in 4 years we’ve all been together. {for the record, my sister has a scarf under her coat..}


He was given the clear to go to a normal floor and unfortunately had to share a room with a mental druggie who ‘mysteriously broke his ankle in 3 places.’ (he claims he ‘fell out of bed’…)

{I did overhear him say on the phone that “they broke it real good”…who knows what that means}

The weekend was long and exhausting. For my mom and me, and especially my dad. We stayed with him just about every hour of the day, talking and keeping him company. Coming back worn out and smelling of hospital.

Finally, Monday morning he was given the clear to go home. But not before his druggie roommate caused a commotion by refusing the nurse’s orders and hitting her in the arm. I can’t even tell you how done  we were at that point.

He’s going to have to make lifestyle changes. I don’t imagine it’ll be easy for him, but I hope he knows how important it is to stick around just a little bit longer. For selfish reasons, of course.

Thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers for him and my family over these past 5 days. They’ve been more than appreciated and felt. They said if he’d waited 15 minutes more before coming in to the ER, he would have died. A crazy thought.

Those words, I’m thankful for, will continue to be foreign for me.

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My indestructible Dad

My Dad is strong.
He does not get sick.
He does not get hurt.
Nothing bad ever happens to him.


He doesn’t age. He doesn’t have gray hair and he never has ailments. He doesn’t get pain in his chest, numbness and loss of feeling in his arm and he never has constant headaches.

He’s as strong as an ox. He doesn’t need doctors to stick him or poke him or examine him.


He’s healthy.

He’s always going to be around. He’s never going to not be there because he’s my Dad, and he’d never die.

And he knows that.
I’ll never not have my Dad around to hear his jokes.
I’ll never not have him around to watch movies with.
I’ll never not have him around for all those little moments in my life.

I may get older but my Dad won’t.
He’s indestructible.


I love you, Dad.

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I’m thankful for 18

Did everyone have a nice Father’s Day weekend? I didn’t get to spend it with my Dad but I made sure I let him know how much I love him.

I actually have a TON to be thankful for this week.

I’m thankful for:
- My Dad. He is a pretty great Dad. He might think of a million reasons why he isn’t but to me, he’s the best.

- New friends who make me laugh, real hard.

- 1 new friend in particular (I hope you don’t mind my sharing…you DID post this on facebook, sooo) after we became official friends, you know, FB friends (making it official) I sent her a ‘hi new friend’ note and she wrote this:

”I've always (ok, like for several months) secretly wanted to meet you and be your friend... nerdy, I know... but now that I have, I'm glad!!”

That seriously made my day, by the way. And I’m SO glad too, because I’ve seen you ‘across the way’ too and have always wanted to get to know you. You’re hilarious, adorable pregnant (cause that’s all I’ve known you as) sweet and an awesome gift giver. *cough birthday coming cough cough* – I kid.

- A hilariously great time at a bridal shower. I picked the right table to sit at, that’s all I’m going to say.

- My love’s safe arrival to X country's cousin, Y country. He’s gone again, even farther than normal. *sigh*

this was us splurging on 1st class on our way back from Europe. We all had individual seats that laid down into beds. In short, it was fabulous. Him traveling just made me think of it.


- God still showing me He’s taking care of and providing for me when I forget and begin to get scared.

- Still having insurance for some unknown reason. I know for a fact I’m not supposed to have it, yet they’re paying my most recent Dr. bills. I’m baffled but blessed and don’t want to ask questions.

Psalm 52:9
I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.

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Cause he’s my Dad, that’s why

Just a small reason why I love him.


I’m his favorite. Don’t believe me? Just ask him…and then my Mom. (she’ll confirm it too)

Being the baby of the family has it’s perks, like being their favorite. Its great.

Though it’s unexplainable, I don’t remember a lot of my childhood, let alone my teenage years. No, I didn’t do anything ‘mind altering,’ I just can’t remember.

But one memory that I recall as a 4 or 5 year old is me sitting in the family rocking chair with my dad sitting at my feet gently lifting my foot out of a tub of warm water and slowly pulling a nail out of my foot. Slowly because he said it wasn’t wanting to come out.

That’s all I remember of it all. Just that part. My mom filled in the rest telling me (just last night, THANKS Mom!!) that I was jumping off the fence and landed right on top of a 2x4 with a nail sticking straight up. It went straight in between 2 bones and came out the top.

Picturing it?? Sweet, right?

They rushed me to the doctor where he said to take me home and soak it in water (and salt, maybe?) and pull it on out.

let’s pause..a dr. telling the parents of a 4 year old to take her home and do it themselves…would that happen now a days?? doubt it.

And that’s what he did. My strong Dad!

That word doesn’t even begin to describe him either.

Another memory: 8 or 9, he comes in the door, home from work with his hand wrapped up. While he was on a roof working, the head of the sledgehammer makes contact with his middle finger, smashing the bone. He tapes it up and keeps working the rest of the day and the day after that.

It’s permanently bent from healing on it’s own.

Another: early 20’s, he’s cutting a piece of wood with a table saw, it moves or is about to fall (fuzzy on how) but his hand gets caught in the revolving saw, stopping in the protective shield.

He almost severs all of his fingers. His pinky is barely hanging on. He begins to wrap it up but my brother was there and insisted he go to the dr.

Each needle the dr. goes to use bends at the contact of my dad’s skin. It’s so callused and rough from work, the needles won’t penetrate.

That’s my Dad. Hard working, loyal, strong, honest, devoted, lover of God, goofy, tender, loving and mine. A man once said, ‘if you ever want to shake the hand of a man who’s worked all his life, shake my Dad’s hand. It will hurt.’

Wouldn’t trade him for any other father out there.

I am my father’s daughter. We eat Excedrin like it’s candy..which reminds me of another memory. He, me, 10 candy bars each, 1 night.

Priceless



I love you Dad.

Your favorite,
Grisel

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