Laughter in Sadness

Sadness:
My grandma passed away last night. I miss her. I'm still trying to understand that she's not here anymore. She's always been here, so how can she not be here? I know she is in heaven, and whole and rejoicing. I will see her again. But for now, I miss her.

Laughter:
To break the news to my girls, I asked them to come sit with me on the couch so I could talk to them. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: Girls, Grandma Fisher went to heaven last night. She is with Jesus now.

Cutie: I'll miss her.

Sweetie: Why did you pause the TV?

Had to laugh at that one.

Riding Alligators

When we are in a mall or a big hotel, the girls refer to the elevators as "alligators." So sweet.

I have been riding alligators a lot lately, in the eight-story hospital where my grandma is right now. Up and down, over and over.

The girls like to lay down on their backs when they ride an alligator. But I prefer to take a deep breath and just get it over with. They make me dizzy.

It's been a few days since I've been home. But sometimes the demands of life take precedence over time at home with my sweet husband and girlies. My lovely grandmother is declining rapidly, has just a little more time left. I need to be with her and my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins.... I need to tell her one more time how much I love her and to say goodbye.

I'd much prefer to be in my small, comfy, quiet home with my three favorite people.... But right now, as hard as it is, this is where I'm supposed to be.

It's good to be here.

Spending her Allowance

The girls get 4 quarters a week for their allowance. They've been saving it up for a couple weeks, so Matt took them to the Target dollar section to unload all that money.

Sweetie chose 2 spray bottles-one as a present for Aunt Lisa (so sweet) and the other to help me clean the house. All day she kept asking me when she could start cleaning the mirrors and windows.

But we had a busy day yesterday-a family wedding reception for my younger brother, with lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, grandparents... The girls ran and played for hours and were wiped out and fell asleep in the car on the way home.

As we pulled into the driveway, Sweetie stirred. Groggily, she croaked, "When can I start cleaning?"

I wish I woke up with those words on my lips! We went in the house and I poured some Windex into the bottle and gave her a towel. She worked hard for about 20 minutes until I made her put the cleaning supplies away and get in the bath tub.

This morning she woke up and said, "Mom, can I clean some more today?"

Sure, babe. Right after breakfast.

Cutie's Monologue on Chewing Gum

It's NOT okay to throw your gum on the ground when you are done chewing it. Why do people do this? It's NOT okay.
If a mouse was walking backwards, he might step in something sticky. He would wonder what it was. It would be sticky gum.
Poor little mouse. That's why gum goes in the trash.

ABC's tagged by Robin

A. Attached or single? Happily attached.

B. Best friend? Lisa, Ellen, Susan

C. Cake or pie? Cake-chocolate or carrot, actually I'll eat anything sweet

D. Day of the week? Everyday.

E. Essential item? Iced tea, planner, nap

F. Favorite color? clothing-black, accessories-red

G. Gummi worms or bears? Aren't they the same thing? I'll take either.

H. Hometown? Cypress, Ca.

I. Favorite Indulgence? Coca Cola, donut, chocolate chip pancakes

J. January or July? July-summer vacation, 4th of July

K. Kids? 2 girls-twins

L. Life isn't complete without? Family, lots and lots of family

M. Marriage date? June 30

N. Number of siblings? Six! Four sisters, two brothers

O. Oranges or apples? Watermelon

P. Phobias? Car wreck, choking, drowning, death of family member

Q. Quotes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matt. 6:26-27

R. Reasons to smile? family, nature, rest, Jack Black

S. Season of choice? Summer

T. Tag one person. Nyla

U. Unknown fact about me? I don't know. If you've spent any time with me, I've probably told you everything!

V. Vultures or parakeets? (I made this one up, because there was no "V".) Parakeets

W. Worst habit? Anxiety

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? X-ray.

Y. Favorite food? (Why is this the question for "y?") Meat and potatoes and dessert. No I'm not an organic vegetarian. I wish...

Z. Zodiac sign? Pass.

After Sneezing...

"Mom, I think Cutie gave me her bless-yous."

After second sneeze...
"Mom, I just had a messy bless-you."

You can wear a tutu

wherever you want when you are four years old.