Yeah Yeah, I know....

So I know you didn't ask for it...but because this is for posterity and some day I will thank myself for doing this, I thought I had better put some of my PAST into this post. Hey, when you hit the big 57 you do what you have to do and hope you get away with it....and yes I do want to remember my stupid birthday....I think.
Bob and I went to Mikes in Erda and as soon as I walked into the house at 8:30 pm Owen jumped all over me and hugged me and kissed me and told me how much he missed me and could we please Oma light the cake on fire and eat it? So that is what we did. They were all so excited that it was my BD or so they thought that we "ate cake" right then and there before I could even go to the bathroom! so dang cute. We spent the day with the kids on Saturday and Mike and Camille took Bob and I out to eat at Market Street Grill (I think) umm such a yummy dinner.
He said "mom you have got to try the latest and greatest steak, the BEST steak I have ever eaten, (you have to know when Mike says "the best" of anything, you had better believe it (family joke)) and it was a wonderful dinner! Dessert was yummy too! Then on Sunday Owen was "spotlighted" in Primary.
He has got to be the cutest dang cowboy I have ever seen in my life. He was so ever PROUD! I was sitting next to him in his little Primary seat on the front row and they started talking all about the "person" they were spotlighting and what he liked and when they said, "and this person loves to wear his cowboy boots all the time, and he loves to rope cows" Owen looked up at me and with great big eyes said, "I like to do that too Oma" so when they called his name he was soooo dang cute and all beaming! OH to be that innocent! So on the following Sunday, I got to "eat cake" again when Brad and his family came over.

Of course Kyler loved the idea of blowing out the candles too! Oh yeah, where was I???? umm, I woke up Monday morning (the 9th) and went to work, on the way I had to stop and take this beautiful shot of the valley of St. George...
and just like every birthday, it was cloudy, overcast, and COLD. (did I mention I have always hated my BD, because of the weather? EWWW I look OLD in these pics...., the main reason I am blogging this is because of the grandkids ya know....who cares that I TURNED 57 AND I AM ALMOST 60 AND BLIND, HUNCHED OVER WITH PAIN IN MY HIPS, OVER PONCHED (belly fat) AND MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I HAD BETTER SHAPE UP! ARGH blah blah blah, boo hoo...., I love my life! oh yes, on Monday (see where the mind goes at 57 from one point to another) my sweet darling adorable hubby took me to my favorite place to eat on my BD "Samauri 21"
umm we had my favorite...a couple of sushi rolls, soup, deep fried veggies, and I pigged out. My sweet hubby loves me in spite of my double chin, ponchy tummy, love handles, and all my other squishy parts....(sigh)and so do my grandbabies, so there! and that my friends...is THE END of this story...I love 57, it is great place to be right now!

I REMEMBER

I guess this is the month for birthday's. Mine was yesterday and I thought maybe I should put a whole bunch of pictures of myself on here, but hey, who wants to see what I looked like as a kid right??, so instead, I thought I would share something a little more special. Dad and I always shared birthday's. Mine Feb. 9th and his Feb. 10th....today...so he would have been 88 years young today. I am a whole 57. Yeah, I know, I don't look 57...lol, and he would not have looked 88....this picture was taken in 1992, on Feb. 9th, I turned 40, dad turned 71..he was beautiful. A lot can be said about dad, but the letter or poem I wrote him on one of his birthdays when I had nothing else to give him will tell it all. Hope you enjoy...Here's to you once again Dad.


I remember when I was very little, I don't recall the age, but I do remember I was very happy and felt a great sense of security sitting in your lap. You would talk to me and hug me and call me "your girl". I would look up into your very handsome face and hug you, kiss you, and then be too busy to stay for very long.

I remember how lucky I felt when you and I went to the Father's and Daughters parties together at the church. You were the only dad that knew how to dance! I felt like Cinderalla at the ball. I remember going to the Dutch Dances with you and mom on a Saturday night. People would watch us as we waltzed around the room, and they would smile. I felt so very lucky to be "your girl".

I remember you taking me to the doctor, I didn't feel so well. We drove to the hospital in a station wagon. You were very upset. I was scared and didn't know what was going on or why you were taking me there. I do remember feeling very safe because you were there with me. I was "your girl", you would take care of me.

I remember lying in a hospital bed. I must have been asleep for a while, but I woke up and saw you with your head down and your hands clasped together. You were talking very quietly. I couldn't hear what you were saying; I closed my eyes very quickly so that you didn't know that I could see you were crying. I remember how much I loved you. I felt safe with you at my bedside. I knew that you would make everything all right.

I remember when I was not so young, and all I had to do was sit on your lap, hug you, kiss you, and tell you that I loved you. I was still "your girl". Of course I may have wanted something in return, but I remember I still loved you. Do you remember . . . that I usually got what I wanted!

I remember as "your girl" started to become a young lady, the visits to your lap, the hugs and kisses became less frequent. Not that I didn't love you as much only that my love for you had only grown up. During those crazy mixed up adolescent years I probably thought that it wasn't all that important to be "your girl" as much as I wanted to be someone else's. But you knew that already, didn't you?

I remember a time in my life when "your girl" felt as if she didn't need that time on your lap, that special hug or kiss. That is when I desperately needed it the most.

I remember a day that will always remind me that in spite of ignorance, in spite of my self pity and selfishness, I was still "your girl". My wedding day. That is the day I realized how important sitting on your lap was. How all the hugs and kisses were always there waiting for me, unconditionally. It was then I realized that you would be there for me because, for no other reason, you loved me.

I remember how I still loved you too.

I remember that through some rough times and through shared happy times, many years have gone by. Though you may not know this, I have always looked up to you for approval, reassurance, guidance and strength. You have given me all of this and more.

Remember . . . my love for you grows daily, because there is no other dad like you. You are one of a kind. You have given me all that I have ever asked for and I will forever be "YOUR GIRL". Your are "MY DAD".

Remember when I was young and all I had to do was go to you, sit on your lap, hug you, kiss you and tell you that I loved you? Remember, I still want to do that.

Forever "your girl"
Linda

My Baby Girl!

January 29, 1971, someone came into mylife that changed it. It happend to me 38 years ago. My baby girl. I remember when I first thought I might be pregnant. I did have morning sickness. But it passed into evening sickness after a couple of months. Then I craved baked potatoes. My belly was no bigger than a childs basket ball when I delivered you. You came 6 weeks early and surprised everyone at 5 lbs 2 oz and 18 inches. You were sooo tiny that in your daddy's arms you would dissapear. You have always been his "princess". No one will ever take that away. Through your sweet baby and toddler years, to your adolescent and teenage years, then your adulthood, you have always and will always be a "princess". You have brought us laughter, and maybe a few tears over the years, but you have never failed in bringing us happiness when we needed it most from you. Talk about being melodramatic, HA, you were the best at tearing at my heart and your dads heart. Oh the memories! I know that some of these pictures you are going to kill me for...but you took your album so this is the best of the left-overs I scrounged up. I remember your first day at school, and I remember your last day at school. Maybe there is a lot in between that I don't remember but I do know that getting to this point, and to this day with new memories of you and know your girls, I wouldn't trade it for anything. The "hair" the "make-up" all of it, and I love the fact that we can laugh about all the good the bad and the ugly! I know I have told you "what goes around, comes around" and honestly,if your girls are anything like you (and I believe they both are) cherish these moments! Thank you for being such an awesome daughter, and for just being you. Love you forever....and always your mom.