How much do I love Easter? Pretty dresses, Easter church service, country club brunch, baskets filled with surprises, and being with family.

How much do I love these two cutie patooties?


We've had a wonderful week on vacation with my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and two nieces.

And we ended our Spring break week with Easter... what can be better than that?

I'll post more this week with pictures from vacation.

Labels: family

This time last week we were getting ready to sit down to our Valentine dinner... a dinner that was shared with all of my family.

Phil was heading home from San Francisco, my parents worked their "enjoying our retirement" job late, and I had to work then race to make it to Perry's valentine party at school. It was a terribly busy day for all of our family, and all I could think was... this family could use some good ol' fashioned comfort food. I made my dad's easy meatloaf, along with macaroni and cheese, corn and buttered rolls. I placed Perry in charge of setting the table, and he amazed me with his creativity.

At least there's a positive to taking him out to dinner frequently!

If you look closely, he even made place cards for each of us. We're fancy like that...

Labels: family

So this past Saturday night, we had just finished dining on our gourmet meal take-out mexican when we received a phone call from a nice older couple informing us that they were on their way over to our house with another nice younger couple accompanying them.


As I ran upstairs to take my pajamas off brush my teeth, I yelled at Perry to turn off his movie.


We invited them in, extremely happy for someone to socialize with on a dull Saturday evening. We played and patty-caked with the darling little girl that belongs to the younger couple. Perry invited the older gentleman down to bowl with him on the Wii. The first-time bowler even won the first game. They played several games. We served coffee, played with the little girl some more, and just all around enjoyed the evening.

Soon they were out the door as it was getting past the little girl's bedtime. We hugged them goodbye, talked of seeing them again soon, and then safely closed our front door and locked in for the evening.

As I was turning around to head back to the kitchen, I heard Perry exclaim "nice people" as he was heading up the stairs.

I laughed until I fell on the floor.

These lovely older people and the darling little girl belonging to the younger people were my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my niece Ainsley.


I had been wondering when Perry was finally going to give them his stamp of approval.

You would have thought he was 80 years old wrapping up his thoughts on another day down.

But you're right on Perry - they are nice people.


Ainsley says thank you!

Labels: family

Perry started off this past Saturday's fall baseball game pitching for his very first time.

I was a "nervous nellie" watching him. He was so methodical... taking his time to concentrate on the batter, surveying around all the bases, trying to make the perfect pitch. In his inning, he walked six batters, struck out three and gave away no base hits. Pretty good for his very first time.

I either spent the inning closing my eyes so that I didn't watch the pitches, or closing my eyes to send up silent prayers to God for srikes. "Please God - let him throw more strikes. Please God - give him confidence in his pitches."

This is the hard part about being a mom.

Forget the feeding schedules and the no naps in the afternoon. This age is getting even tougher. You want so much for them. You pray for confidence, selflessness, teamwork, patience... stuff that is so hard to comprehend at the tender of age of "almost nine."

And the silent prayer that I really need to offer up is "Please God - help me parent this young boy into the gentleman that You would want him to be."

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. — Proverbs, 22:6

Labels: family

As I lay in bed about to drift off last night, I was thinking to myself that Phil was working awful late. The light was on in his office, and he was busy working away.

But this morning, when I got to work and looked at my email, this is what I found. A beautiful piece he had written and sent out to many of our friends and family, as well as his colleagues.

Phil arrived home early just this past Tuesday so that he could pick up Perry from school, and come home and start dinner for the three of us. As we sat out in the backyard on Tuesday watching our son play football with his neighbor friends, we reflected ourselves on how much the beauty of this day reminded us of the beauty of that day. It was sunny with just a crisp in the air... just like it was back then.

This is what he wrote...

September 11th is very much a day of reflection. Everyone remembers where they were, what that day was like, the seemingly unending tragedy of events unfolding on national television. But for me, I am almost haunted by my memories of that day - that I was, as were some of you, in a commercial airplane on an early morning flight, going about our business, just like those who perished. In my "end-analysis", there just never appears to be any difference between myself and those who were not so fortunate to be able to return to their families - maybe the only thing separating us was simple luck. I just don't know.

So, on September 11th, I am overwhelmed by how thankful I am for what I have - a loving and supportive wife, an absolutely wonderful son, an encouraging family, both immediate and extended, who are always there when you need them, close friends who's families mean so much to mine, and a special collection of business friends and colleagues, some of whom have been very influential in my career - to the best of my abilities (and if I had your e-mail address handy), you are all copied herein.

I am especially thankful for my brother, Sgt. Paul D. Worden, U.S. Army (Ret.) and my very good friend, Sr. Mst. Sgt. Carl J. Quijas, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), who served our country in defense of the freedoms we enjoy - still, the best part of their name and rank to me is the (Ret.) as both are now civilians. My thanks goes to all who continue to bravely serve our country.

In addition to being thankful, September 11th is also a day for remembering. I am forwarding to you a link to an Op-Ed that appeared yesterday in the NY Daily News, written by the sister of one of the American Airlines pilots who perished that day. I encourage you to go read this well-written piece and take to heart the message therein.

May God continue to bless each and every one of you - and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Thank you, my sweet husband, for keeping our life in perspective.

Labels: family

Today we celebrated a very special birthday - my mother's 65th birthday. We all gathered at the Cheesecake Factory for a family lunch and presents.

Her three kids went in together on a very special gift. An 8" Digital Picture Frame. We loaded it up with hundreds of family pictures, and had it ready to go as soon as she brought it home.

She will be able to look at pictures all day long if she so desires.

This weekend has been full of friends, family and fun. We spent Friday evening with three other couples and their kids having dinner at the club, and then going back to our friend's home for ice cream and conversation. Yesterday, we spent most of the day at our next door neighbor's home celebrating college football season opening with them, and other friends from the neighborhood. I am so thankful for our friends and neighbors.

Tomorrow I'm hoping for a restful Labor Day.

I am anticipating another busy week or two here. Work has really picked up and I am going to take a break from my blog for a little while.

Oh, but first... my answer is You've Got Mail. I love that movie so much. I could watch it every time I see it on TV. But I do love me Sleepless in Seattle... I just wanted to know what everyone else thought.

But I will return. And hopefully I'll have more thoughts to writw about after my break.

Labels: family

While consuming a hearty breakfast of a strawberry pop-tart, followed by an apple cereal bar with a skim milk chaser, I ask Perry what he would like to take for lunch today.

As I timidly open the refrigerator door to find nothing behind it (recall my kitchen is not in its practical state), I then ask him how he would feel about a cheese sandwich.

Perry: "Do you have any turkey or ham to put on it."

Me: "Um - no, can't recall any turkey or ham products in our refrigerator in the last 3 months."

Perry: "How about PB&J?"

Me: "Remember - no peanut products at summer camp."

Perry: "Well, okay - I'll take a cheese sandwich. I guess we could try mayonnaise with it."

Me: "Okey-dokey. Mayo it is."

Not even a single piece of meat to slap on my son's sandwich.

Yes, I truly won Mother of the Year this morning.

Labels: family

This morning my son visited the dentist. It was his semi-annual time to clean the teeth.

However, I forgot to tell him before he went to bed last night that we would need to have this taken care of in the morning. When he got up this morning to get dressed, I just happened to casually mention that he had a dentist appointment, and that we needed to hurry a little quicker this morning so we could get out and get there on time.

He looked at me with that lowered left eyebrow, and then replied... "usually you tell me that I need to go to the dentist before... like yesterday... and you didn't tell me yesterday or anything."

Yes, you're right. I did forget to tell you. But let's be a good sport and just go ahead and get it done with.

What I failed to mention to him as we are hurriedly getting dressed is that when they called to remind me of my appointment yesterday, I told them that I needed more of an advance notice, so could they kindly give Perry my 8:30am appointment for today, and schedule me in a couple weeks later?

Yes, that's right. I fed my 8 year old son to the wolves dentist instead of me.

So after we hurriedly get out of the house, we run to Starbuck's for my caffeine ingestion and I let Perry order his favorite crumbleberry coffee cake for breakfast. Nothing goes better with a tall skim milk than a crumbleberry cake, and this is his favorite treat. Besides, I was making him go to the dentist in my place and all.

We arrive at the dentist and they take him immediately back. In the meantime, I have called his grandparents to come and pick him up at the dentist so that I can get to work. I was off yesterday, and very behind. They agreed and when they showed up, I asked if I could go back to see him and kiss him goodbye.

As soon as I got to the room, I could tell that all was not well. He was sitting up with a towel in his hand, tears in his eyes, and a very scared look on his face. The nurses looked up at me and told me that he just threw up as they were starting the sealant on his back teeth. They had just started with the first one and needed to complete that one and three more.

And his gag reflex just gave in and he didn't make it. He has a terrible gag reflux - just like his momma.

Fortunately the hygeniests are used to this kinda thing (so they told me). They even got the bowl in front of him just in the nick of time. And when I showed up, he was just cleaning up, and getting control of his "gagness." I'm afraid that crumbleberry coffee cake didn't feel so good coming out as it did going in.

And here's the most unbelievable thing... he wanted to finish the sealant. He didn't care if he just tossed his cake, he was going to get those teeth sealed, and he was going to do it right then and there. I kept asking him if he wanted to come back another day, but by golly no, he would have nothing of that. He called me from his grandparents after it was completed and he was good as gold.

I don't know about you, but if I had lost my breakfast in the dentist's chair, I'm thinking a sick day, followed by an evening on the couch would have been just divine. As they say... "milk it." But he went to his grandparents and then asked them to take him on to summer camp so he could go swimming this afternoon.

So I didn't win Mother of the Year today... and feeling pretty bad about it here at work this afternoon.

Do you think after his morning ordeal, I should give in and buy him that coveted Nintendo game he wants so bad? I'm kind of a sucker like that.

Labels: family

First of all, there is my father. What I most appreciate about my father is that he has been my mother's solid rock for over 44 years. Having gone through the trials that life has handed her... breast cancer, macular degeneration of the eyes and a significant hearing loss, her optimism has never diminished. And my father has stood by her through thick and thin. He never wavers as she plans her day, knowing full well that he will accompany her, driving her anywhere she wants to go, and never once complaining. And I think a great example of my father, is that he puts his wife first, his family second and his interests third. That's my dad.

~Clarence B. Kelland~

*************************************

And the third example of an extremely hands-on father that I got to experience today is my baby brother - who is now a father to a precious baby girl. As I watched these 2 youngsters get hitched 5 years ago in Vegas, I would have never imagined that their life would ever include being parents. Oh, I always knew they would someday settle down eventually. But the love that they have for Ainsley is amazing. And they are indeed wonderful parents... and Brad is showing himself to be a great father.


I thank my heavenly Father today for the examples of a father that He has given to me in my life.

These are men of integrity that will help lead my son to be a man of integrity.

Labels: family

Labels: family

I had a wonderful Mother's Day - or as I really should call it - a wonderful "Mother's Weekend." It was all about me and the family - the only way I would want it to be.

We started off our weekend with Perry's baseball game on Friday night - with the lights turned on. The boys were so excited to play with the lights on. "Just like playing in the major leagues!" And they won 27 - 3! Way to go, Comets!


On Saturday, we got up early to enjoy breakfast at our favorite local eatery - First Watch. After some yummy scrambled eggs and hot coffee, we ventured out to our local nursery to pick out flowers for our pots. We have 7 pots in the front and 2 pots out on the back deck that Phil lovingly plants for me every Mother's Day weekend.

It's a yearly tradition that makes me feel so special.

Even though I have to water them every. single. day. from now until eternity (or September really, but feels like eternity!)

Then Perry and Phil took me shopping at a cute little home interior store in our city's downtown area. They bought me a gift card so that I could re-do our entry table in our home. I bought 2 new lamps and a a beautiful votive display that sits on the table, and am hoping to add 2 new picture frames to the display. The decorators at the store gave me some other suggestions for the table so as soon as I have it the way I hope for it to look, I will post a pic.

And then we had an early dinner at The Bristol. What more can a mother ask for?!

Also celebrating her very first Mother's Day was my sister-in-law Cindy. She and my brother ventured out to the Lenexa festival this weekend, and guess who they saw? Our good friend KC Wolf.
I love that Ainsley made her first appearance with the Chiefs mascot at just 4 weeks old.

We also made a visit to Phil's "mom" Dodie. We give her a beautiful hanging flower basket for her front deck every year, and this one was the best ever. I'm so blessed to have her in our life.

My mom and dad are in Hilton Head enjoying the sun and beach so I didn't get to spend Mother's Day with my mother. I know they are having a great time with my aunt and uncle eating out, walking on the beach and relaxing in the sun... and that sounds like the best Mother's Day weekend to me.

Labels: family

Labels: family

As I mentioned here and here, I married a man who came with a former family. A very large former family. And I met them very early in our dating life. I used to call them "Phil's football family" for lack of better explanation.

Phil and I had only been on our second or third date when he decided that it was time that we talk about his extended family. He was married at a very young age to Chris and following some very rough years, their marriage crumbled. Through his marriage to Chris, he had developed very personal relationships with her family... especially her mother, Dodie. Dodie had become the mother to him that he had lost. When he was just 15 years old, Phil's beloved mother Katherine lost her battle with breast cancer , and Dodie lovingly took her place. Along with Dodie came a very large family that loved Phil more than sliced bread. Even after their divorce, he still was very much Dodie's "son."

The first time I ever met the family was at a Chiefs game. I had been given tickets through his work and he took me to the tailgate after the game to meet them. I was so nervous, but after meeting them, I knew why he was still involved with them... they were the most wonderful people I had ever met. And to think they were meeting someone who may even replace one of their own.

Six months after we started dating, Christmas rolled around and we were invited to their house on Christmas Eve. It was a yearly tradition to gather at Sonny and Dodie's house for Christmas Eve. It is still our family tradition. He had been doing it since he first met Chris... and things weren't going to change. Remember, this was his family.

It was undoubtedly one of the toughest, most uncomfortable things I have ever had to do.

But, they welcomed me.

Chris and I even talked.

And again, I met more and more family and really developed a love for them because they loved Phil unconditionally.

When he asked me to marry him, he wanted to invite all of them (minus one) and I didn't even hesitate. And they all came and were seated in the third row just behind his father. They were his family and they were all seated as his family.

Fast forward a few years after we married and we are expecting our first baby. It would be her first grandchild and they were so excited.

Chris threw us a baby shower for the family... yes, you did read that correctly.
(And I threw her one two years later.)

And they invited my family. It was a wonderful day - full of excitement for Grandma Dodie's first grandchild and for Phil being a daddy.

(Phil and his mom Dodie)

This family loves the Chiefs... talks about them all the time, counts down days until the NFL draft, and emails fly back and forth when someone has been signed or cut. Ever since Phil became part of this family, he would sit with Dodie at the games.

Visitor's side, 2nd row, 47 yard line... folks, these seats are down front.

They tailgate before the game with a big crew of the family. 4 hours before the game begins. She is one of the most devoted fans I know. Until just this past year, I would not usually attend the Chiefs games.

She never gave up her seat. Ever.

I would watch from the comfort of my home... first by myself, and then along with Perry. She retired from her seat in the stadium this past year, but it wasn't a full retirement. She still went to at least 3 games... she always gets first dibs.

What is most important to me now is how much bigger that circle can get. I had never been married before, and I must admit that I was rather naive in thinking that families are only made up of humans who share your blood type. Families are made up of people who love you - people who share your spirit - people who share your soul.

Dodie and her family proved that to me.

They are no longer "Phil's football family” as I used to call them. Almost 13 years later, they are now just his family.

They are my family.

Labels: family

Labels: family

1) Sunday was a day filled with complete joy for two families - mine and my sister-in-law Cindy's. Her family and friends and my family with friends all attended her baby shower and it was a fabulous time.

All the guests at the shower took dibs on whether it was a boy or girl, exactly the day he/she would be born, and how much the baby would weigh when it decided to appear.

We don't have a winning prize, but one guest stated that getting first dibs on babysitting would be a great prize.

We have it in writing - so we'll let the winner know as soon as we know.


2) Lots of friends have taken my test (see below) and I have one friend who has answered all the questions correct. She is my bestest friend - one that I have known since I was in the sixth grade. We don't get to spend a lot of time together now - but she is definitely a true blue. If you haven't tried my test - do it soon. I'm posting the answers tomorrow.

3) My good friend and co-worker Janna had a darling little baby girl last week. Her name is Reese Irene and she is a keeper. Here she is with her big sister Maya Jo. I didn't get to hold her in the hosital, so I will need to go and visit her soon. I need my baby fix.

4) A terrible tragedy happened in our neighborhood just a few days ago. A fifth-grader at my son's school took his own life. I have no other information, but I've been very upset about this. It has been hard thinking about his parents, his siblings, his family. I just don't know how I would go on. Please pray for this young boy's family this week. And hug your children even closer to you.

5) Getting ready for Spring Break - coming soon our way.

Labels: family

Today we woke up to a cold chill of 7 degrees - that's right - it is only 7 degrees here in western Missouri. And the windchill is even lower.

After climbing out of our warm bed, I had to then step into the cold closet that sits above our garage to iron my clothes for the day's work. (Yes, another weird thing about me - I have a need to iron all my clothes before wearing them... don't even get me started.) Anyway, I digress... While ironing, I remembered that I needed gas. Man, I hate it when that happens.

So, I bundle up tight to get to work today, but I must stop at Costco to get gas. Wait, my husband is there at the gas pump too! He had arrived just before me after he dropped Perry off at school and he is sitting in his car waiting for his tank to fill. I pull up right behind him and wave to him to "fill 'er up." And what does he do - he shakes his head no - not once - but twice - shakes his head no!

So I climb out of my car, open the tank, pop in the credit card, and that is when his gas stops pumping and out he climbs from the warmth of his car.

With my evil eye and voice that only nagging upset wives are known for, I gave him the ol' one - two: "I'm SO writing about this on my blog today and you are going to not like how I talk about you."

I did see him again 5 minutes later at the local Starbucks. He was in line buying me my coffee.... trying to make nice. So I ask him... "what has happened to chivalry?" Good old-fashioned open the door for my lady, drop her off at the front door of the store, fill her gas tank to show my love common courtesy that my father to this day still indulges in for my mother? He kissed me, walked out of the door and smiled... that's all I got...

Guess he's not winning husband of the year today (for Rachael).

But here's hoping for the gallantry and polish that will someday be taught to our son.

I'm thinking that I'm going to need to call on my dad for the teaching of those ways.

Labels: family

Well, it finally happened... Perry came home from school on Monday afternoon after I picked him up from a long day at work and informed me that Mrs. K told him that he was Star Student that week and he forgot his poster. So the conversation that followed went somewhat like this...

"Mom, I really am sorry to tell you this, but I am Star Student this week, and we need to make a poster about me."

"WHAT? You are what this week? And you forgot to tell me?"

"MOOOMMM - I didn't know. But she told me today." Oh that makes it so much better...

"Okey-dokey, let's get a move on this. You're going to have do most of this. I'm not going to do it all for you."

So off we went to the closest store to buy posterboard and new markers... as if new crayola markers were going to somehow make this poster-making all that much easier. But hey, if it gets the boy motivated, so be the spending of an extra $2.99 for the new markers.

Thankfully, I'm a scrapbooker and have MANY pictures always on hand... ones that I usually don't need, but keep because I have a weird issue of throwing pictures away. (Anybody else have a problem with this?) So I begin to dig through my stash... searching for anything that shows his hobbies, sports, family, friends... all subjects of interest that were to be included on this poster.

So we start working on it, pasting pictures, labeling them, and writing a list of favorites. Favorite food, favorite sport, favorite song... an hour and a half later I think we actually rigged up a pretty darn good Star Student poster.

And then it occurred to me... we still need to get his Students As Teachers subject ready for this month. So I say to Perry... "how about we do your Students as Teachers presentation on "How To Make a Star Student Poster" and then you can also present your poster that you worked so hard on?" He could talk about his sports and friends and all the favorites he listed.

Wow - I must be brilliant!!

Thankfully Perry also had the same thought - no, not about the presentation - but that I was brilliant! He hugged me and told me he loved my idea and then we proceeded to work on his production - I mean presentation. By george, I think he's got it.

And it worked out wonderfully. He came home the next day and told me that his teacher thought it was great.

I hope this is the last of the one night notices, but I have a feeling it won't be... I know better than that! I'm the mother of a boy.

Labels: family

Since hubs is out of town this week and will more than likely check my blog, I decided to post this great picture of him with Perry taken at Donuts with Dad at his school.



We miss you Daddy and can't wait for you to be home!

Labels: family

I saw this game on Amazon this afternoon. It looks like a great game to play on Game Night with our Sunday School friends. We get into boisterous men vs. women rounds of DVD Scene It and The 80's Game. I think the men are still winning against the women - but just you wait - the rematch is on December 16th.

I think my husband had another idea for this game yesterday afternoon though... he calls it...

Shout at the television as loud as possible so that all members in the rec room run upstairs and hide. And if I jump up right in front of the television screen and yell even louder, I'm sure the coach on the sidelines will hear me.

Perry invited a friend over after church this morning. Our good friends (who also teach our Adult Sunday School class) have a wonderful little boy in Perry's SS class named Joshua - the oldest of 3 boys in his family. Perry and Joshua have known each other for many years and they are like brothers. I'm sure Joshua is used to a noisy household and all with 3 boys and a fun dad that reside there with him, but seriously?! I don't think he was in the mood to play this game at our house yesterday afternoon.

Today I emailed his mom to make sure that he wasn't traumatized. "Surely you jest", she stated... "Joshua also too sees his dad yell at the tv on Sunday afternoons." He obviously thinks that's what all dads do on a Sunday afternoon in their home.

Now I'm just trying to think of a new Sunday family tradition for the moms. I think it goes something like this...

At approximately 6:00pm, shout to the microwave and oven in our kitchen that all fixing of dinners have been banned this evening, and I will be heading here - alone - and returning near bedtime.

Ahhh - I like that new tradition.

Labels: family