Ok, here's the last of my special days for awhile....at least the known special days. Of course Papa gives me special days each day I wake up and see the world around me. But these are special calendar days. Today was our anniversary. Yes, this means that Dodi does all his shopping in one week each year. We start the week with Little Critter's birthday (see special Day number 1), then three days later is my birthday (see special day number 2) and then three days later we have our anniversary. Folks laughingly ask how we managed to arrange things this way, but I assure you it was a G-d thing! Even the anniversary was set by Him. Dodi wanted a December wedding, I wanted a June wedding......the only time we could get the church to be married in was in March. So we married in March. And it just so happens, our anniversary always falls during Spring Break, so we don't have to worry about work the next day for Dodi. (I often have to work the next day since it always falls during tax season, but my boss is great so it's never a problem.) This year, our 17th anniversary, Boss gave me both Friday and Saturday off. And since the office is closed on Sundays, I got a three day holiday from work!! Too cool during tax season!!!
Since our anniversary also fell on Shabbot, we enjoyed a very relaxed and enjoyable day. We started the day with a treat for breakfast....we had cinnamon rolls. We usually don't eat them (although we all love them) due to Dodi being diabetic. But we ate them this morning. Then after watching some Christian cartoons with Little Critter, we went to the local feed store and got the last of the seedlings/seeds for the garden, and spent some time out in Papa's gloriously beautiful sunshine planting same. Now I realize the Torah says we're to do no work on the Shabbot. But we don't consider gardening work.....it's fun and relaxing for us. We enjoy it. We get to spend time together as a family, we each have our sections of the garden we're responsible for and often compete to see who's able to keep the weeds out of their section the best. (Yes, even Little Critter has his own couple rows he has to weed...and he really does a pretty good job for a 9 yo squirrly boy!) After we'd planted, we watered the whole garden (here in Texas we're still in the midst of a several year drought.) Then we ate some lunch, took a rest, and spent the afternoon playing in our own ways. Little Critter of course was outside making an incredible amount of noise and running all over the place. Dodi rearranged his wood shop and played with some of his woods and tools. I was a lazy bum and watched a Christian movie for a bit, then read a little bit. Later, we took the cabbage from Shabbot dinner over to Pawpaw and visited with Nana and Pawpaw before going to dinner. All in all, it wasn't romantic, exciting, or even expensive as anniversaries go. But it was relaxing, refreshing and family oriented. Dodi told me he felt that as long as we were together, doing things as a team, and enjoying ourselves, it was a wonderful anniversary. I agree with him. Candle-light dinners at expensive restaurants in fancy clothing and extreme bills are nice.....but really not that necessary. Instead, while gardening, we dreamed of the things we'd like to do to our home, our garden, things we'd like to do after tax season, after school ends, sometime this year, this lifetime....what we'd like to see in Little Critter's life, his character....we talked, and we talked and we enjoyed each other. I think we had a better anniversary than if we'd spent lots of money on an evening out. Besides, tomorrow, we're to have lunch with friends. How could we ask for more? Papa reminded me today thru my beloved Dodi, that I'm loved for who I am, not for how I look ,(and trust me after 20 minutes in the garden in the sun...I don't look too good!!!!) , that His/his love for me isn't predicated on what I have, but on what I am, and that His/his love for me is lasting....even unto the end of time. It was a blessed day and I am grateful to have experienced it. I pray each of my readers gets to experience this kind of love. And that you'll find the love letters from Papa in your lifes. Shalom, Joie
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Special days number 2
Well, it's been a busy week....hence the delay in posting all week. My last post I got to explain how Little Critter had a wonderful and fun birthday. Well, Wednesday, the 18th, was my birthday. And no, I won't devulge my age!! And Noah didn't graduate in my class!!!! (I think he was 2 years ahead of me.......hehehehehe) But moving on.....
I had to work at the tax office. But it was fun. I started the morning with getting up quietly to let Dodi and Little Critter sleep. (Dodi is on spring break from school and getting to share the joy of homeschooling Little Critter this week. It's been an education for him.....poor darling.) As I get ready to leave the house, suddenly I have Little Critter wrapped around my waist, a cat around my foot and both of them crying "No, Mommy, don't go!" As I peeled them both off my body, explaining I had to go into work and would be back later, the clock rang the time...I was now late. Rats! After some good hearted ribbing at work, the day went uneventfully. The boss took me out for lunch which was quite pleasant (not to mention unexpected!) and complemented me on the job I've done for him. Then I got to leave early so was home a little after 2:00pm. (usually work until 6:00 or later!) So I took a bubble bath and soaked until my toes turned pruney!!!! It was SO decadent for me. Deep sigh of contentment. Later the boys took me to dinner and we went to church where they sang Happy Birthday to me. But the best part was the cards I got from my boys. Dodi's was really nice, even saying I was the best of the fine women in the world! I told him he didn't have to go overboard!!!! But Little Critter's card really surprised and startled me! He's been picking his own cards for years now....he carefully reads each card and chooses on his own what card he's going to sign for someone else to receive. The card he chose starts out with " Mother, (something he NEVER calls me) You're loved and appreciated"....then it goes on to explain how children don't realize the difficulties of being a parent, the special things done for the child, the worry and concern for their welfare, the love demonstrated in a gazillion little ways. And he signed it "Mommy, you're the best Mom....Love Little Critter". It was such an adult type card, I even questioned him later as to whether or not he understood what it said. He informed me " Mom, (his new name for me....seldom calls me Mommy anymore....sniff, sniff) I know what the card means....it means you do lots of stuff for me that I don't really realize and that you do it all because you love me. And one day I'll do the same for my kids and they won't realize either till they grow up." OK, pick me up off the floor!!!!! I plan to frame and mount this card, folks. Such wonderful, blessing words from a newly 9 year old! Boy does Papa love me. He spoke directly thru this precious child to let me know my attempts to show His love had been seen, understood and appreciated. Wooo. I am SO blessed. Then later after the boys were in bed, I found I had a bazillion birthday ecards from friends and family out of town. I went to bed with tears in my eyes and my heart full of the love showered on me....Papa blessed me with a great family, an awesome Little Critter, and more friends than should be legal....and His Own love. I pray you each find His love letters to you each day my friends. They'll blow your socks off you! Shalom, Joie
I had to work at the tax office. But it was fun. I started the morning with getting up quietly to let Dodi and Little Critter sleep. (Dodi is on spring break from school and getting to share the joy of homeschooling Little Critter this week. It's been an education for him.....poor darling.) As I get ready to leave the house, suddenly I have Little Critter wrapped around my waist, a cat around my foot and both of them crying "No, Mommy, don't go!" As I peeled them both off my body, explaining I had to go into work and would be back later, the clock rang the time...I was now late. Rats! After some good hearted ribbing at work, the day went uneventfully. The boss took me out for lunch which was quite pleasant (not to mention unexpected!) and complemented me on the job I've done for him. Then I got to leave early so was home a little after 2:00pm. (usually work until 6:00 or later!) So I took a bubble bath and soaked until my toes turned pruney!!!! It was SO decadent for me. Deep sigh of contentment. Later the boys took me to dinner and we went to church where they sang Happy Birthday to me. But the best part was the cards I got from my boys. Dodi's was really nice, even saying I was the best of the fine women in the world! I told him he didn't have to go overboard!!!! But Little Critter's card really surprised and startled me! He's been picking his own cards for years now....he carefully reads each card and chooses on his own what card he's going to sign for someone else to receive. The card he chose starts out with " Mother, (something he NEVER calls me) You're loved and appreciated"....then it goes on to explain how children don't realize the difficulties of being a parent, the special things done for the child, the worry and concern for their welfare, the love demonstrated in a gazillion little ways. And he signed it "Mommy, you're the best Mom....Love Little Critter". It was such an adult type card, I even questioned him later as to whether or not he understood what it said. He informed me " Mom, (his new name for me....seldom calls me Mommy anymore....sniff, sniff) I know what the card means....it means you do lots of stuff for me that I don't really realize and that you do it all because you love me. And one day I'll do the same for my kids and they won't realize either till they grow up." OK, pick me up off the floor!!!!! I plan to frame and mount this card, folks. Such wonderful, blessing words from a newly 9 year old! Boy does Papa love me. He spoke directly thru this precious child to let me know my attempts to show His love had been seen, understood and appreciated. Wooo. I am SO blessed. Then later after the boys were in bed, I found I had a bazillion birthday ecards from friends and family out of town. I went to bed with tears in my eyes and my heart full of the love showered on me....Papa blessed me with a great family, an awesome Little Critter, and more friends than should be legal....and His Own love. I pray you each find His love letters to you each day my friends. They'll blow your socks off you! Shalom, Joie
Friday, March 20, 2009
Special days number 1
Well, last Sunday it happened....my Little Critter had his 9th birthday. He's no longer Mommy's Little Critter. Sniff, sniff. He's now becoming Mommy's Young Man Critter. Yuck, I don't even like to say that!!!! Although I'm hit with the reality of it everyday now.....he's almost 5 ft tall and he's just turned 9! To keep this in perspective, I stand 5 ft 3 inches if I stand really straight!!!! Surely it was only last week we brought him home from the hospital....gracious, how quickly the time flies! (and yes, we are having fun.....at least most of the time! ;-)
He was a bit cranky when we started the day with a simple Happy Birthday Little Critter. And then told him to stop dawdling and get ready for church. He got more excited when he got a card and money from one of the men at church. Then he asked if we were going out to eat lunch afterwards and we said no, we'd just go home and eat leftovers from Shabbot the night before. Deep and heavy sigh from Little Critter. We could almost see the bubble above his head reading "It's my birthday!!!! Aren't we going to do ANYTHING out of the ordinary?!?! Where's my cards, and gifts and lavous attention?!?!?!?!" Poor Dodi and I were having a hard time maintaining ourselves. We managed to keep it together till we got home. While we'd been at church, Dear Cousin had been quite busy on our behalf. When Little Critter went in to change his clothes after church, he was met by a new grown up type desk, a computer of his own, and a raspberry chocolate crumble cake! It was wonderful seeing his joy and surprise. Now, before one thinks we went on a serious shopping spree.....I mean after all we are a single income family! The desk is the desk MY father (Pawpaw) built for me when I turned 10. (Yes, Gayle, that makes it an antique! LOL!) And the 'new' computer is really built by Dear Cousin out of various and assundry parts....it was a 10 year old computer Dear Cousin gutted and rebuilt with new parts. Pawpaw donated the computer and monitor for the celebration. Dodi cleaned up and did some minor repair work on the desk, and I made the cake. All in all, Little Critter (who later got more money from family and friends) felt the day was a wonderful birthday. We also gave him an extra blessing....one of thanks for the blessing he's been to us. Then we snuggled on the couch and watched movies for the afternoon....it was cold, wet and yucky outside. So we made precious memories inside instead. What a joy. For those of you who have 'littles'....enjoy them. I know it's hard when they're little. You have no time to/for yourself. But trust me, that time passes SO quickly. Treasure the time you have with your littles while you can, it's over in a heartbeat. So my love letter today (the 15th) came in the form of a little boy quickly turning into a young man and the bitter sweet tug at my heart. As much as I love Little Critter, Papa loves him more. What an amazing thing. That I can feel some of what Papa feels when He sees Little Critter. Wow! Yes, the job of mother is amazing. Be blessed my friends. Shalom, joie
He was a bit cranky when we started the day with a simple Happy Birthday Little Critter. And then told him to stop dawdling and get ready for church. He got more excited when he got a card and money from one of the men at church. Then he asked if we were going out to eat lunch afterwards and we said no, we'd just go home and eat leftovers from Shabbot the night before. Deep and heavy sigh from Little Critter. We could almost see the bubble above his head reading "It's my birthday!!!! Aren't we going to do ANYTHING out of the ordinary?!?! Where's my cards, and gifts and lavous attention?!?!?!?!" Poor Dodi and I were having a hard time maintaining ourselves. We managed to keep it together till we got home. While we'd been at church, Dear Cousin had been quite busy on our behalf. When Little Critter went in to change his clothes after church, he was met by a new grown up type desk, a computer of his own, and a raspberry chocolate crumble cake! It was wonderful seeing his joy and surprise. Now, before one thinks we went on a serious shopping spree.....I mean after all we are a single income family! The desk is the desk MY father (Pawpaw) built for me when I turned 10. (Yes, Gayle, that makes it an antique! LOL!) And the 'new' computer is really built by Dear Cousin out of various and assundry parts....it was a 10 year old computer Dear Cousin gutted and rebuilt with new parts. Pawpaw donated the computer and monitor for the celebration. Dodi cleaned up and did some minor repair work on the desk, and I made the cake. All in all, Little Critter (who later got more money from family and friends) felt the day was a wonderful birthday. We also gave him an extra blessing....one of thanks for the blessing he's been to us. Then we snuggled on the couch and watched movies for the afternoon....it was cold, wet and yucky outside. So we made precious memories inside instead. What a joy. For those of you who have 'littles'....enjoy them. I know it's hard when they're little. You have no time to/for yourself. But trust me, that time passes SO quickly. Treasure the time you have with your littles while you can, it's over in a heartbeat. So my love letter today (the 15th) came in the form of a little boy quickly turning into a young man and the bitter sweet tug at my heart. As much as I love Little Critter, Papa loves him more. What an amazing thing. That I can feel some of what Papa feels when He sees Little Critter. Wow! Yes, the job of mother is amazing. Be blessed my friends. Shalom, joie
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