Musician's Widow

Today is my nephew’s 13th birthday… I am not a poet, but I tried on my poetic shoes for his birthday. So a poem for my nephew:

What does it mean to be THIRTEEN????

What does it mean to be thirteen?
It’s more than an age,
It’s a new world to be seen.

It’s an age of excitement.
It’s an age of confusion.
It’s an age in which everything just seems an illusion!

On October 12, 1997,
You came into this world.
A gift to us all, one that came straight from heaven.

So precious and so small,
There you were in your Dad’s arms.
“Hey everybody,” he said, “Meet Cody Paul.”

We all ooh’d and ahh’d,
Each straining to see,
This little miracle of life, a gift straight from God.

“I wonder what he’ll be,”
was a question we asked.
That’s something we all must wait to see.

Oh the things we would teach you,
From books and from life.
Why the grass is so green and why sometimes we feel blue.

We would stop and explain.
With every, “What’s that?”
Not just for your knowledge, but for ours just the same.

There’s a truth you should know.
It is you who is the teacher,
Every day and every moment, you’ve helped us all to grow.

Your optimism, your drive,
Your smile and laughter,
You’ve quite simply just made us all more alive.

Along came a sister,
And I’ll always remember.
“Why do they want HER,” you asked in a whisper.

But in HER you have a friend,
One who cares and defends.
She’ll stand by your side, her loyalty won’t bend.

Your mom and your dad,
Grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles.
We are all so proud of you. You are such an awesome lad!

So here you are thirteen,
And I ask the question again:
Thirteen?? What on earth does it mean!?

It means a lot,
A lot to us all.
You’re getting older, whether we like it or not.

You are now THIRTEEN,
Enjoy it every second.
And don’t stop to think twice about what it might mean.

Live, laugh and love.
Every second, every day.
Gather strength, faith and hope, from the big man above.

We are all so very proud,
And we love you so much.
Happy Birthday, dear Cody, we shout that out loud!!!

30 Bound

I am just over a month away from the big three-oh.

It’s a big birthday! No more twenty-something for me. Another decade passed. Another decade begun.

Between me and all of you, I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I can’t even explain it in a way that makes sense. I’m just optimistic that my 30s will be great… and I am sticking with that optimism.

No big plans as of yet for my birthday. Luckily, so far, it seems my husband will be home for it. It’s a wait and see if that holds or not. You never know with this crazy business. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s missed my birthday due to a gig, and I always understand. But this one is special. This one is 30. More than ever, I want him here to celebrate if at all possible!

I’ve been having a little fun lately. I decided for giggles to make a wish list for my birthday. When I was a kid, I’d make a list for my birthday just like at Christmas. Things I want for my birthday. I’ve not made a list like that in a long time, so I thought it would be fun for this one. As I got started I decided that, to take it to the next level, I’d make it a list of 30 items. 30 for 30.

Believe it or not, it was actually very challenging. I’m not good at asking for stuff. Especially now that I’ve gotten good at tightening the belt. If its not absolutely necessary, then its not really worth looking at getting.

So, this really did take me about three days to put together. I added a little bit of everything in the end. Everything from a little silly to silly expensive. Some of these are specifically what I want. Others are just ideas.

So here it is in fancy widget-form thanks to Amazon.com… my birthday list.

Mostly for my own amusement.

Oh okay, it never hurts to throw it out there, right?

;)

Blowing out the candles on my birthday cake

Twenty-nine. That’s me now. My birthday was this week, and I am now officially knocking on the door to my thirties.

I’m not bothered by this fact! Really! I’m not! Believe it or not, I’ve actually looked forward to my thirties for years. I have always felt like they’d be some of the best years of my life, so as I pass through this next year staring down the barrel of three-oh going, “Bring. It. On!”

But, as I look back on the last year, I have to ask myself if I am any wiser than I was when I turned 28. I’m far more fabulous, that’s for sure. But am I wiser?

Considering the fact that in the last year we’ve watched the economy tank, its pretty hard not to answer that question with a great big resounding YES!!

Celebrating my birthday

With every year that passes… every day that passes… you gain knowledge and wisdom about the world you live in, and it molds you even as you mold it. In some ways, the world has left me very cynical about many things. The fuse on my temper has gotten a little shorter in direct relation to the amount of patience I have these days. I also am slower to trust people, things and situations.

However, in that very same breath, the amount of faith I have has not only doubled but quadrupled. A higher being — I say God — has stepped in countless times at that last second to catch me before I fell. Just when I am ready to throw my hands in the air, a hand reaches out to pull me back up.

I don’t take that for granted, of course. No, I always do all I can to pull myself through. I strive to make things happen for myself. But I’ve had plenty of things happen that make me go, “That has to be God talking to me.” I’m listening!

I’m listening to my heart and to my gut. I’m listening when someone gives me advice, and I take it to heart. I am growing wiser by listening and having faith. I’m preparing for my 30s and beyond.

So do I know what the next year will bring? Not at all. I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring. But I have my dreams and goals, and I am running towards them at full speed. How long will it take for me to get there?

Only time will tell.

I’m 28-years-old today. Not really one of those “milestone” birthdays, but I happen to think every birthday is special. It’s not a date to dread or to avoid. It’s a date to celebrate a life, and a date to look forward to the next year.

This birthday, I hit it super lucky. I’m getting to spend my birthday with my family. It so happened that it worked out for my husband and me to take a few days and visit my family for both birthdays and holidays in one fell swoop. I just happened to be lucky enough to be with my family ON my birthday!

Most notable for me, though, is the fact that for the first time ever, I’m spending my birthday with my husband. Every year prior to this he’s been on the road for my birthday. It’s the way of the road. Things don’t stop for birthdays or anniversaries. However, that just makes the birthdays, etc. that you get to spend together all the more fun and special. And that is this year… He’s with me on my day. And that alone is present in itself.