I'm Already Tired and It's Not Christmas Yet!

WHEW!  Is it Christmas yet?  I swear the time just seems to fly by, the older I get.  It seems like just yesterday Boston and I were playing in the swimming pool in the backyard and now I'm sitting here wrapped up in a bathroom. 

This time of year is always crazy busy - not just with Christmas and holiday stuff - but with my job.  Seems like home health admissions sky-rocket when it starts getting colder and this year is certainly no exception.  We've all been pulling 12 hour days for about a month now and it's really starting to take it's toll.  I actually fell asleep during a conference call the other day.  Thank goodness I had my phone on mute so they couldn't hear me snore.

This year we have the added activities of wedding planning.  I told you that Jenn would have the thing planned before the first of the year and she's right on track.  We went looking at dresses a few weeks ago and ended up finding THE DRESS.  It's absolutely beautiful - all lace and very vintage looking.  Hunter went with us and was such a trip - he definitely had an opinion about the dresses with comments such as "too sparkly" or "too plain". First time I've ever seen an almost 5 year old behave that long at a dress shop.  Boston was hunting rabbits with his new puppy and Justin & Poppy.  He wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes in the store and neither would have the dressses.

Life is good despite setbacks.  Money just seems to get tighter and tighter.  Christmas is going to be bare-bones this year but that's okay.  We've all gotten way too extravagant during Christmas and that tends to muddle the reason for the season. 

Still haven't heard from the Judge on the final divorce settlement and papers.  We were joking the other day that it's like TheColdOne is my "albatross" - the weight around my neck that I just can't seem to get rid of.  I try to not fret about it because I know that it is all part of God's plan and I need to quit trying to do His job - but damn it's hard.  I do miss being married this time of year though.  I miss not having someone to cuddle up with in bed on these cold nights.  Oh well - better to have a dry crust eaten in peace than steak eaten in strife.

Keep fighting the good fight and hang in through the tough times.  No matter how bad things seem, there is always someone with much more serious issues than you.  When you are as tired as I am, that's the only thing that keeps me going - being thankful no matter what my circumstances because things could be a heckuva lot worse - and believe me, they have been MUCH worse.

May God Continue to Bless You!

Wedding Bells Are Ringing Again!

Yes - that tinkling sound is wedding bells around my house.  Not for me, silly one but for my daughter.  You would think that I would be jaded against marriage after my experience but this is just such an exciting and blessed time for us all.  My daughter and her fiance came together at a time when both were coming off horrendous life experiences.  They knew each other in high school but went their separate ways after graduation.  A co-worker of mine "re-introduced" them about 2 years ago and they've been together since then.

He is a wonderful man - both to my daughter and my grandson.  He has a son from his previous marriage and the boys get along like brothers do. His family is as lovely as he is.  All in all, a mother could not ask for anything or anyone better for her daughter. He even picked out the ring by himself and did a damn fine job of that - even got the size right.

So excitement is building around our family.  The date has been set and the location of the ceremony and reception has already been reserved. We've got plenty of time for planning, etc (and also time to shave off some pounds and save some money) which makes it nice.  But if I know my little girl, she'll have the whole darned thing planned by Christmas.

I figured that I would be torn about my daughter getting married - especially after my Prince Charming turned into Satan Incarnate - but I'm content.  All marriages are not the same, just as all men are not the same.  I feel like they have been together for 2 years and lived together since May so they know all about each other's little weird things, etc.  The most important thing to me is that she truly loves him and he truly loves her.  And my little grandson just adores him and the feeling is mutual.  I don't even have a problem walking her down the aisle with her daddy (how sweet that she wants me to give her away also). Her father and I were able to bury the hatchet while waiting on the birth of our grandson, so we can manage to be nice to each other for our daughter's big day.

So another crazy chapter in my life is starting.  One that will bring lots of joy, lots of anxiety and lots of tears. She's already set up an appointment to look at wedding dresses with me, my mom and her future mother in law.  We plan on making that a day of just pure fun.  And bless my little girl's heart - she wanted to know if it would be too weird for her to share a dance with me at the reception because, in her words, "Dad gets a dance with me so you should too".  That brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

I am just so proud and happy for my little girl. I am so grateful that TheColdOne is no longer in the picture - he was always such an ass about my daughter. He once told me that my daughter was just using me - guess after all that's happened that ended up being more like the pot calling the kettle black. Despite his negativity my daughter has grown up to be quite a woman and a mommy. No mother could ask for anything more. And this wedding is gonna ROCK!!