Chicken Nugget

She is TEN today. TEN years old. Double digits. When did this happen?

Oh, yeah. Today.

I've been thinking about her birth a lot today. I had been having contractions for a week before the doctor decided to get things rolling. I was put in the hospital on Tuesday, the 19th, about 4pm. I began the induction process, and I remember a lot of friends and family coming in and out all that night and the next day. I remember watching the Columbine tragedy on TV while laboring. I remember pushing till I thought I could not push anymore, and at one point saying, "I cannot do this!" I remember finally hearing her cry and being overwhelmed with several emotions, and also being exhausted. They handed her to me; she was so tiny and as soon as she heard my voice, she looked right at me and stopped crying. Later that night, she and I were alone in the hospital room, and I held her and wept. I told her over and over how much I loved her and that I was so glad she was mine. I was overcome, and crying was all I knew to do. I didn't think I could ever love anyone that much.

The years have been crazy for the two of us. Being divorced from her dad before she was even a year old, then moving three times before she was four years old; getting remarried and watching she and BW have ups and downs, then moving once more before she was six. Then add three more people to the mix - but she's taken it all with grace and stride.

I have not always done right by her, but she is always gracious to accept my apologies and offer quick forgiveness. She is so special, and everyone who has ever known her says how wonderful she is. And, well, she is! I may have made many mistakes these past ten years, but thankfully, I have many more wonderful years with her to learn and grow and become better and better. She has taught me so much, and I am humbled by the amazing person that she is. I do not know what I'd do without her.

I love you, sweetie! Happy 10th!

Easter Pictures . . . Oh, Wait . . .

Yeah, I don't have any. That's because our stupid digital camera is, well, stupid. And dead. But let me try to paint the picture:

Chicken Nugget - satin-esque, sleeveless, white with diagonal blue stripes, wide waist of white ribbon with blue ribbon making a bow and a lovely blue jewel in the middle of the bow. White headband with flat bow. Off-white matte flats with slightly raised heel, cut-outs, and rhinestones. Ruffle socks. Stunning.

Noodle - blue cotton-blend sleeveless, white floral with tucks on the front, tied in the back. Gathered bottom. Lovely faux daisies (three) with blue beads in the center of each flower. Simple and elegant. White headband with gigantic white flower at the side. White sandals with silver flowers down the middle. Ruffle socks. Lovely.

Banana - blue plaid-patterned shorts with sky-blue belt, white button-down pique short seeve with collar, blue sweater with bunnies around the bottom edge. Argyle socks, white canvas strap shoes. Very country-club. Quite handsome.

Baby Butterbean - blue plaid Classic Pooh one-piece romper, short sleeves. Argyle socks. Blue puppy bib. Adorable.

Last night was fun; we dyed our Easter eggs. Again, due to stupid digital camera, please picture eggs colored with crayons and then dyed pastel pink, yellow, green, and blue. Twelve of them. After the dying, we made hamburgers and hot dogs. Then fixed up our Easter baskets with grass and our dyed eggs; Noodle had drawn about 12 pictures for the Easter Bunny, so she also put those in her basket; the Easter Bunny must have loved them, because he took them with him. Today, after church, I hid eggs for the kids, but inside; it was raining. They didn't seem to mind. I got nervous when one of the hard-boiled eggs still was not found, but thankfully it turned up about an hour later.

Church was good this morning. We had a cardboard testimony service. I had never seen one, and it was very moving, even for me - a dried-up cynic at this point. Most moving were my friends who held up their cardboard sign that said, "Three Failed Marriages Between Us" and on the other side, "Now a Blended Family Growing in Christ - Just Celebrated 4-yr Anniversary."

I don't know, still, about a lot of stuff, but I know that today's service was meaningful, and that the church's stage was full of people, my friends, who had found some kind of restorative power in a God that they personally know. Look at this to see a cardboard testimony service. I wish ours from this morning was on youtube, but this will give you the general idea anyway.

Hope you all had a blessed Easter, and found what you needed today. Much love to you all -

Poetry and Stuff

I'm putting some new stuff here.

It's just stuff that I don't think fits with family updates, etc.