Somethings are better left unblogged.

My Husband

I did not get a chance to blog on Norman's birthday but I would like to do that now. He is kind, thoughtful and generous, a hard worker, a good provider and a wonderful father to our children. Sometimes he makes me mad and we do not always agree but I would not trade him for anything in this world. It is very comforting to have him by my side through good times and bad. I am blessed to have him as my much better half.

Believe me I know how long it has been since my last blog!!! It is not that I don't want you to know what all I have been doing but it is finding the time to write it all down. I finished school last Friday, December 14 and do not have to return until Jan 2!!! Yes, I love my job!!!!!!!!!! Things around the Norman household have been very exciting with the anticipation of Christmas and four very excited grandchildren under the age of 7, a dog in heat and a 22 year old home from college. I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with them even though it is hectic most of the time. This morning I was able to snuggle with the three boys and read with them for about an hour in my nice warm bed. Boy, their feet are cold when they crawl into my bed!!!! Reading to them is one of my favorite things to do. We did attempt a gingerbread house yesterday. Lets just say ours did not look exactly like the cute picture on the box and I would definitely not want to eat it!!! YUCK!! Samuel arrived yesterday and it is sooooo good to have him home. He always keeps things lively. Sara and Ryan are both finished for this semester and boy am I glad!!!! Norman is on the road this week but we were able to enjoy his office Christmas party on Friday night. They always have the best food! On Saturday I spent the day with Summer and Sara doing our Christmas baking. It was a lot of fun and everything turned out so pretty. I love my girls!!! They are such a team when it comes to stuff like that. Thanks to Norman and Luke for babysitting for us. It really meant alot to me. A special thanks to Josh for bringing us lunch and going back in the rain to the grocery store. We missed Ryan but are so very thankful that his dad is doing so much better. We look forward to them coming this weekend and seeing Luke Baines and Katie. Thanks to Summer for letting us trash her house!!! I want to make this an annual event. I am soooo looking forward to everyone being here for Christmas. I have not sent Christmas cards again this year but I do hope everyone knows how much we love you and hope you and yours have a very wonderful Christmas and a very blessed New Year. Until next year....

Yesterday, December the 8th was a very special day for me. Twenty-nine years ago on that day @ 12:04pm, after 24 hours of labor, I became a mom. When they laid that precious little baby girl in my arms, Norman said a complete peace came over my face. She was beautiful!!!
However, there was one problem. She did not come with an instruction manual!!! We had taken Lamaze Classes for weeks and learned the latest and greatest way to get her into this world easily with the use of certain breathing techniques(Yeah right!!!!) but they forgot to tell us what to do with her after she got here. Thank goodness my mom was there with us for two weeks afterwards or she might not have survived. I was going to be the perfect mom and use those soft cloth diapers, make all her baby food and never give her sugary sweets!!!!! Boy, did I have a lot to learn!! The day my mom left to go home I folder diapers for an hour and then promptly sent Norman to the store for a large box of disposal diapers. I boiled her pacifier to the bottom of the pan. And one night when she cried and cried and cried I began to cry right along with her wondering what on earth to do!!!! I had no idea. She was the guinea pig!!!!! The first to cut a tooth, the first to say, "Momma", the first to walk and talk, the first to start to school, the first to become a teenager, the first to drive, the first to have a date, the first to graduate from high school, the first to get married. And despite all my many, many shortcomings she survived all that and has now become a wonderful wife and mother. She has always been very self-motivated. Whenever she made up her mind to do something she did it!!!! She graduated Valedictorian of her class and received numerous scholarships to college. (I think they actually paid her to go). She took 21 hours the semester before her wedding and almost made all A's. She has been on two trips to Ukraine and has found time in her schedule to keep in touch with many of the young people there helping to make a difference in their lives. She is a good big sister to all of her siblings and even manages to keep me focused when I get side-tracked. She is very thoughtful, always wanting to do for others. She will graduate from college in May after much hard work and determination. She is not only my precious first born but my friend. I love her very much. Thank you, Sara for blessing my life in so many, many ways.