(My) Girls – They Just Wanna Have Fun

And boy! Did they!

I got to spend the MOST fun time with my daughters & Gdaughters for a short girls’ weekend.

Gathered/picked up all the girls and off we went to the hotel.  A first time treat for my younger Gdaughter Ms. Thang who quickly discovered that jumping on a hotel bed is so much cooler than jumping on the bed at home (plus you don’t get in nearly as much trouble!).  We unpacked and headed out to find us some dinner.

We drove to Oak Cliff which just happened to include a historical tour of the spot where my sweet husband told me we were getting married.  No, I didn’t get a proposal per se, but I knew exactly what he meant when he said, “When we get married . . . .”  Then off to BEE’s Enchiladas.  They claim to have the Best Enchiladas Ever.  And they don’t lie.  And we found out that the food tastes just that much better when you’re sharing with people you love and laugh – a lot.  Five forks up!

We definitely had to “walk off dinner” so took off for Bishops Art District – just around the corner from BEE’s.  Very expensive boutiques that none of us could afford to walk in, much less shop!  We ooh’d & aah’d for a while making a nuisance of ourselves and then went for the REAL reason why we were there – Dude Sweet!!!  A homegrown artisan chocolatier.  They let us sample just about everything they sell – to the point that we were almost all chocolated out – if there is such a thing.  They specialize in dark chocolates – which I normally can’t tolerate.  But this stuff is so good that I never have an issue.  After we all tasted as much as we could & for as long as they’d let us, I bought goodies for us to enjoy back at the hotel.  

More oohing & aahing as we drove past downtown Dallas on the way to the hotel.  Big D knows how to put on a light show – and the Gdaughters were most appreciative & delighted.  As well they should because I’m pretty darn sure that it was ordered especially for their amusement.  Good job!

Back to the hotel – where the girls got to stay in the room & read while the Gdaughters got to go swimming in the indoor pool – late.  At night.  Then after I’d had enough (and after they kept begging for “5 more minutes”) we went back upstairs.  And then Ms. B had a meltdown.  Migraine.  So – a call to The Man in our life – and he came racing to the hotel to give her a blessing. Late. At night.  He’s so good to us.

After Ms. B's recovery the girls decided it was time for a fingernail polishing party.  I never knew that 2 girls could stock away so many different colors/styles/brands of polish.  And every color got tried & tested.  Then on to make-overs.  Each making up the other.  Oh. My.  Clown face meets hoochie mama face – which their mothers made them wash over before going to bed.  But I got a great picture to use later as bribes - which I know will come in handy.

After a few hiccups & speed bumps with the hotel and their lack of customer service the night before – BIG breakfast.  Where we showed up in our PJs.  Heck. We didn’t care.  We were never going to see any of those people again.  And just as long as we don’t show up on the people of Walmart – I’m good with that.

Then packed, out the door and on to our next destination – Women’s Vision Expo.  The girls & I have been coming for years.  Ms. B has come a few times and this was younger cousin's 1^st time.  “Oh, Mimi! Thank you so much for inviting me!”  We didn’t buy much.  But we walked, talked & did a bit of shopping.  I was rather proud of myself for buying myself into a financial hole.  We pretty much watched over each other to make sure we didn’t over do.  Spent a couple of hours there and then on to food, glorious food.  PIZZA!  At a restaurant in Irving where we each got to create our own pizzas.  More good reviews.

Then home we went.  All of us were tired.  But it was a good tired.  And I hope that they all have good memories – and a few giggles – over our time together.

I know I will. 

It’s the Simple Life for Me

Last weekend I spent my time wisely - just hanging out, enjoying the breeze and the company of those I treasure most (w/ the exception of the boys not being there, but you know what I mean).

Storms rolled through the area on Friday evening. Loud. Beautiful. The sort that Younger misses.  The temperature dropped a good 30 degrees which made for good sleeping on Saturday night.  All the windows were opened and a wonderful breeze whipped its way through the house. I enjoyed some alone time on Sunday morning just lying on the couch and listening to the breeze as it blew through the house.

Friday night went to go see a loud-action packed movie – the last Bourne movie.  While I did enjoy the movie I got irked over yet another too long action scene.  Yeah, we get it.  You’re chasing each other down the alleys, across rooftops, and highways of Manila.  I really need to send a note to directors and/or the studio heads asking that they do those of us that get REALLY bored with all that stuff to kindly insert a footnote at the bottom of the screen that says something like, “For the next 15-20 minutes these guys are going to have a overdrawn action scene.  If you don’t consider this a pivotal plot point, please feel free to go out to the snack bar and have a soda on us. Or take a well-deserved bathroom break.”  That works for me.

Got to spend part of Saturday with Younger and 2 Gkids at their stake’s “Granny’s Attic.”  A brilliant idea!  Folks in their stake donate clothes, shoes, linens, car seats, etc. – all gently used.  She was able to get some cute school clothes for both kids and some things for her. I came away with some cute long (maxi - my favorite!) dresses for me.  It’s a virtual clothes treasure hunt.  And all items are free.  Whatever is leftover is taken to the Goodwill for them to do some good with it.  This is held during tax free weekend.  So instead of fighting crowds at the mall and/or box store, we got to visit with each other and members of her ward & stake.

Went out later in the day for yet another movie “The Remarkable Life of Timothy Green.”  A gorgeous & sweet Disney movie.  Great characters.  A very neat story (unbelievable but Disney is very good at making stories like this work).  A good friendship between 2 kids that are different.  A few tears.  Some good laughs.  Thoroughly enjoyable.

And we were bad – skipped out on Stake Conference.  Instead – spent the time at Older’s house, playing w/ the Gpups, peeling a testosterone laden Dachshund off of me, visiting w/ Gkids, and snuggling a cranky baby to sleep.  Nice to know that the ol’ stand up, cuddle, sing and rock still works.  Who says I can’t multitask? 

So – nothing really earth shattering.  Just plugging right along.

Which ain’t too bad in my book . . .

There's Sunshine in my soul

Thirty nine years ago today I was lying in a hospital bed in an American military hospital with hovering German & American nurses and a Hungarian OB waiting to catch my firstborn while my darling husband cheered me on (thanks to hours spent in Lamaze classes).  The doctor was more than willing to help ease my pain with meds but I wanted to be a “real woman” (please see earlier reference to Lamaze) and “do this” on my own.  The doc was confused.  I was determined.  And Jim was the calmest one in the room.  It was almost a contest between the OB & me to see who was going to last the longest. 

I won.  And I got the best prize of all – a 6 lb.10 oz. bouncing baby boy.  Named James Aaron Bratton – after his father, both grandfathers and all the other James’s on both the Birdwell & Bratton family trees (and there are a lot of them!). 

My oldest has finally grown into the man that we always knew he would become.  He is the perfect definition of a late bloomer.  He might achieve success later than some, but he’s received a lot of love and good solid friendships from others to help guide him through.  I’m eternally grateful for his friends, his good friends.  They accepted him when others would not have.  But that’s okay, it’s their loss.  And his friends' gain.

And for his birthday wish, this is what I’d want for him.

Peace.  True peace.  Calming, soothing peace.

That he never has to doubt the love & friendship of those around him. 

That the mistakes he’s made in the past will be resolved and that there will be no more pain. 

That some of the promises he made will not have to be kept (grandchildren – YES!!!). 

That he actively looks for happiness, because he deserves it.  And needs it.  Over the years as he’s grown up – and with a little push from a certain Girl - he’s learned to give so much happiness to others along his way.

That he knows that his parents love him.  And that he’s his mother’s favorite.  Not always because he’s been the one that’s been the farthest away.  Not just because he didn’t deserve it any more than others.  But that he broke my heart – and then mended it a thousand times over.  Any pain that was caused has been removed, smoothed over so that there is no scar.  The memories have faded away.  But the love remains.

Peace.  And with that peace, love.  Reach out for it.   Seek it.  And you’ll be rewarded tenfold.

You are my Sunshine.  My only Sunshine.

And don’t you forget it.

A Birthday Present for My Youngest

 My brain needs someone that can take dictation – straight from my brain to a repository somewhere.  I’ll be driving down the road and the most marvelous idea will flitter across my brain.  But when I get to the point when I can actually write anything – poof!  Gone.  I’d love it if someone – or something – would be the idea collector for me so that at a later place & time I’ll have the luxury of browsing through my thoughts and choose whichever one suits my fancy.  Or fits the bill.

Whatever.

I got to spend a little time with youngest via phone call last weekend.  He’s just turned 28 – all growed up.  His job has changed.  And his goals have changed.  What a surprise (nice) and a shock (completely unexpected) that he’s going back to school. You go, boy!!!!  He’s going to take some sort of fancy-schmancy programming classes for certification.  With the training and certification he should be able to get the sort of job he really wants.  I hope so.  Because he’s been floundering for a while.  But that’s okay.  My children all have my permission (as if they really need it) to change their minds and go off and do something else than what they originally intended.  Part of the plan of life.  

I asked him what he’d like for his birthday.  If there’s anything specific he wants.  “No, Mom, I’m good.”  So I gave him a birthday wish instead.

I wished him to have adventures, great ones.  I want him to continue to try new things, meet new friends, taste new foods and see new sights.  I want him to do things that he never thought he’d experience.  Do things on a dare or just because.  It doesn’t have to make sense – just as long as it’s legal and he doesn’t get hurt or he hurts anyone else (at least not on purpose).

At this point in his life the only things that “tie him down” are his job and school.  But until he really & truly has to be “all growed up” and has the responsibility of marriage & a family, I want him to experience life.  To the fullest.

I want him to have great memories.  Great outlandish wild stories to tell his kids and grandkids.  Tales that they’ll want to hear again and again.  Memories that he’ll want to revisit, as well.

When we lived in Germany I’m sure that I saw a lot of great things – but I sure couldn’t tell you what.  I’ve forgotten all of it.  I bet I have a journal somewhere but it’s probably buried in the bottom of a closet, box or file where I might have been smart enough to write down what we did, where we went, etc.  What a shame.  Living on our own completely away from our families was a great adventure.  I just wish I could remember it.

So if you’re ever to the point that you have a grown up child and don’t know what to give them, do as I did.  Give them your permission and advice to try on life.  Have them take pictures.  Ask them to tell you where they’ve been.  Who were they with?  Was it was as fun as they thought it would be?

Tell them that it’s okay to test the saying, “Ain’t life grand?!?”

Because it is. 

They’ll thank you later.