I bought these flowers for myself on Tuesday. I was feeling down and needed a visual reminder that life is beautiful. Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of my dad dying and it hit me harder than I imagined it would. In addition, my mom had knee replacement surgery and my husband hasn't been feeling …
Category: Steve
Change is Good
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.Anatole FranceLast summer I had experienced almost one year of feeling physically good. The relief from constant pain and stiffness in my joints allowed me to …
Quiet Thanksgiving Weekend – Just What This Introvert Craves
Long ago I came to the happy realization that I am an introvert. Once I accepted this about myself, I started respecting the needs that come with being an introvert. Although I love people, they exhaust me. I find that I get my energy from being at home reading, taking walks, or hanging out with …
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Returning to the Family Table
Eating together at the kitchen table is something that has always been important to me. It was the way I was raised and the way I wanted to raise my kids. When the kids were very little, I often sat one or the other on my lap as Steve and I ate so they could be included in …
Pull-Ups: My Body Never Ceases to Amaze Me
Life has been a little busy and it has taken a toll on both Steve's and my energy sources, so we chose to take about three weeks off from working out to let our bodies have time to rejuvenate themselves. We started back this week, but this morning Steve wasn't able to join me. So, …
23 Years
The other day Alexander and I were talking about expectations of others vs. following your heart. I shared how when I was 20 and his dad was 21, we got married. Many people felt we were too young and weren't afraid to share the expectations that we should date longer, we should have more experiences, …
Gifts from Two of the Men in My Life
I have heard it said that we choose husbands that are similar to our dads. Although my husband of 23 years (as of June 11), is different than my dad in many ways, they have a few very important things in common. First, they have both loved me for who I am no matter what decisions I have made in …
Date Night
For the first time in 14 years, Steve and I planned an overnight trip alone without kids. We didn't go far, just thirty miles away to a hotel located in downtown Chicago, but it felt like we were far away from home and all responsibilities. I hope to have many more date nights like this with my husband.Steve …
Marriage
Tonight I have a somewhat spontaneous date planned with my husband of 22 years. He has planned everything. My only responsibility is to make sure the kids have food for the evening and to make myself beautiful. I woke up early this morning excitedly thinking through what I want to do to make myself beautiful …
Making Christmas Ornaments
All of my shopping is done except going out tomorrow to buy food for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I am on a one month break from work. Homeschool group doesn't meet for two weeks. Today begins the first of my relaxing days. I feel the spirit of Christmas filling me as I begin to appreciate …
The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo 