Girls Night Out

Wooooohoooooooo! The girls decided to take advantage of my birthday and planned a night out. I cannot remember the last time I laughed that hard! We had a great dinner at Hoggy's and then dessert at Cheesecake Factory, needless to say we were stuff, happy, but stuffed! The part that was the most fun was what happened between the pork and the cheesecake! We did a little shopping, so to speak. I'm guessing that since I am getting so old (I'm the oldest of the group by the way) that they thought I needed a little help picking some things out. As a gift one on my friends gave me a gift card for a free piece of... well, let's just say apparel. So we went to pick it out. We got to laughing so hard, and making comments about all of the choices I had, that the sales lady kept coming to check on us. I'm pretty sure she thought we had had a little too much to drink, but it was water all around for us! Finally, after picking out just the right piece of "clothing" that represented the evening well, I used my gift card to pay for it, however, as we were leaving we found the perfumes. Now, we girls can't smell just one, so we had lots of smells going on in the store. After we found just the right one, one friend thought it would be good to spray my new "clothing". I have to apologize to her husband who is probably still smelling the perfume in his car! Of course, we laughed about that too!

What a great night, thanks my friends for a very fun, memorable evening! We need to do that again soon! Love you all!

Hello, my name is Vicki and I just turned 40!

That's right I just turned 40! Isn't if funny how we think some ages are more significant than others! Did we not live through the others years to get to this one? I've had people ask how I was feeling about turning 40. But what are they really asking...you're kinda getting old are you ok with that? Ummmm, yeah, I'm still alive aren't I! : )

I'll be honest, turning 30 was really difficult for me. When you are in high school and looking at the whole world in front of you, you make mental goals of where you want to be at certain times in your life. Well, 30 is one of those, surely by the time you turn 30 you should have it altogether. Ha! At 30, I had 4 children (6,5,4 and 2) there was no "together" anywhere to be seen! Survival mode better sums it up. Now don't get me wrong, I would not trade those days or my children for anything, it just wasn't the picture I had of where I should be.

So now that I am a decade past all of that and I think about being 40, I realize/have learned that nobody has it altogether! Amazing what a little time and perspective can do for you!

I am very blessing with a wonderful husband that loves me, and incredible children. I have family and friends whom I cherish. Even after being told that I didn't need a big party, my husband and mother threw one any way (I knew they would), and it was a wonderful evening! The party was, however, trumped by the OSU game, but living smack dap in the middle of Buckeye Country what can you do! I did find out who my "real" friends are because they were talking to me instead of watching the game! Not really, I know they all love me too! : ) I'm just glad they won so everyone was in a good mood!

One thing that really sticks out to me is the fact that God has never left me, or tired of being there for me during these past 40 years. When I think about the history that we have, all that He has done and all the places He has taken me, it is very overwhelming! What's even more amazing is that I know He will continue to be with me over the next 40 (or so) years, and so as I look ahead now from this age, I have no idea where I'm going but that's ok, He knows the way and I'll let Him show me the steps!

Everyday Life

Oh, sometimes you just have to laugh! Day-to-day life is the best, it's the little things that make you smile.

This afternoon, as my husband and I were sitting and talking, he was flipping through the ads that come in the mail. He was looking an ad from a grocery store and was telling me some of the prices. He told me the price of bacon and I, thinking that was a pretty good price, asked him if it was the 12 oz. or 16 oz. package. He just looked at me, after a minute he asked how I knew the size of the bacon. And then he tested me on potato chips, and I was right again! I told him that was my job! I am not one that goes to the store and just randomly picks stuff up--no, mom and I have a lengthy process of planning meals and shopping as cost effectively as possible! So you can better believe that I am going to get as much bacon as I can for the lowest price!!!

Then, one of my favorites today--one of my children, told me that they just figured out what "six-feet-under" means! Ahhhh, perhaps we should have better classes on idioms!

Oh, by the way, I have now been passed in height by 3 of my children! Of course, I tell them that is not really that big of an accomplishment, but I guess it's a big deal to a growing boy!

Good times!

Weird!

Weird...have you ever felt that way? And not even sure why? I've been struggling through some things and I'm just feeling weird and that's about all that I can do to explain it. It's not comfortable and I don't really think most others would understand. It's somewhat a feeling of uselessness, or perhaps a feeling of being replaced. I think anytime you are replaced, you are not sure where you fit anymore. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that those who have replaced you are bad, in fact, they are doing a great job, just without you and it doesn't seem right to jump in and help them. I hesitate to even mention it because I don't want a "pity" position, but what do you do with it? Where do you go from here? The circumstances are not that which I can leave and "move on", so how do I "move on" without leaving? I've been ponding this for a while now with no idea of an answer. I do realize that this is a time of growth--better yet pruning! Very uncomfortable! My facade is wearing down and I feel like others are beginning to see my frustration. How do you cope with that--you want to be real but you also don't want to be seen as a whiner! It's hard to keep up an appearance when you are so sad and confused on the inside. I'm sure this isn't making a lot of sense but then again, I'm just feeling weird!