39 and Holding

Stephanie is one of the children who has always been inquisitive. A bright student, and like her mother willing to take risks and challenges. Growing up, she was the most challenging to me as a mother. Maybe we have always just been too much alike [any other parent know what I mean?!]

Well, today is her 39th birthday, and remember the day so well way back then. My water had broken two days before, went to the doctor the 16th of December and he told me that I had two more months. I was to go home and just take it easy. My words to him were, "don't plan anything tonight, don't think two months is in the baby's schedule."

After picking up her sister from my mom's house, we started home which normally was about 20 minutes to my house. For some reason I didn't take the regular route, but wanted to take a shortcut and beat some of the traffic. You guessed it--went into hard labor on a back road with nobody around, and before cell phones.

Somehow I got her sister upstairs and into her crib, changed my clothes and laid on the floor waiting for daddy to come home and take me to the hospital. I will add at this point that the doctor was flying down the hallway throwing his tuxedo off to the nurse as he ran to change into scrubs as I was taken into a delivery room. He got there just in time to basically catch the baby. Why don't doctors ever listen [smile] Christmas came early, the cute little bundle of no hair and so tiny. She was indeed a bit early.

Must admit during our years while she was growing up, it was hell on wheels, going somewhere and nowhere. Today, we can call each other friend--and that is a very good thing!

A bright and energetic child, grew into the same type of woman. Loves to read, still inquisitive, and a great mom to her two children. Before I left to live in Africa she asked me for something special that was just me to her. Stephanie has the only copy of a book that I wrote for the NaNoWriMo a couple of years ago. Hopefully one day it will be worth something besides sentiment.

When I moved from Utah to New York and was distributing things to the kids, Stephanie had the presence of mind to take one of my most valued dolls from the collection. Today it is worth thousands of dollars, perhaps to be given to her daughter.

So Ms. Stephanie in keeping with my promise, here is your blog for your birthday, may you share the joy of life with others, become even more of what you have dreamed. Do not let people tell you who you are, discover life and what it holds for you. Never give up and remember the edge is a step away to an adventure most will never try.

Lova lova you! Miss you! Happy Birthday, I was excited the day you arrived and even more excited to share your dreams and future and watch you grow and become ...

#29

My youngest child, Allan turns 29 today. So to him this page is dedicated--the son, the soldier, the little boy who grew into quite a man, loving yet stubborn, and currently in the United States Air Force. That is a my son in a nutshell.

As a youngster he demonstrated quite interesting skills. He loved "camping" under my desk, and fascinated with electricity. We had to put every knife and screwdriver up and away. He dismantled anything with screws to see how the product or outlet was put together. I had a consulting business and worked from home. He decided he was going to be an entrepreneur. One day he went out to play. As little boys do, he was in and out of the house, but one time took his bucket outside. He was excited and really focused on whatever he was about.

"What are you doing?" I asked

"Wait till you see, but gotta go." He quickly ran back out.

A while later he came back in dusty, and that played hard look. It was time to get ready for his half day of school. After school he was back in the bathroom, washing rock in the tub. Not thinking anything about it, left him to his job and went back to mine.

Later that evening we had a loud knock on the door. There stood a gentleman with a very unpleasant look on his face, and his young son at his side. He wanted to see Allan. Sheepishly he came into the room. The father then told the story of how Allan had came around the neighborhood selling his beautiful rocks. His son had no money but decided instead to trade one of his airplanes. To Allan, sell made and all were happy. I might add, Allan has always loved airplanes as well.

Dear Allan got his first experience of "the customer is always right", except in this case, it was the dad of the customer. Rocks and airplane exchanged, Allan and I had a discussion about buying and selling--but I refused to stifle his ingenuity and sense of adventure into the world of possibilities.

It has been interesting to see him make decisions on his own--like joining the Air Force after 9/11--without even a consultation with any family member. Making things work, counting the costs, and going for his dreams. I guess you could say, he too, Rides the Comet (see the blog a few days ago).

Happy Birthday Allan, may your comet fly high, fly into the places designed for you and get your supply of all good things. I pray your safety and continued spirit for life as you travel back and forth to the "big sandbox", and live your life of fishing, hunting, and the forever cars and trucks that makes you a very special person.

Love ya,
Mom