Wednesday, December 22, 2010

SOME DAYS TRY THEIR BEST TO STEAL YOUR JOY

Stay with me, this post may be too long…to wordy and to random…but maybe you have been here.  If you haven’t you will not have a clue what I am talking about.  But there are GREAT pictures at the end.
Yesterday was our last day of our mini vacation.  You have to understand I am a planner which can easily translate into a controller.  It all began Monday night.  Amanda and Micah went on a date while the kids stayed with us at the hotel.  I still had not finished stuffing and writing a note in my Christmas letters and the Post Office was telling me that time was running out.  I have written a Christmas letter for at least the last 25 years….some good ones, some terrible ones, some that I read today and laugh, some that I read and still cry, but before blogging it was my way to record life.  Ok, already off on a trail.  So for five hours I worked on the holiday mail..while doing that I also was watching my favorite football  player play on Monday night Football and probably his very last game EVER. Like Christmas letters, he had been a part of my life for 20 years.  (Please don’t send me any hate mail about what you think he did…I don’t know what happened and neither do you) So I am believing him.  He left the game with a concussion and I think his football days are over.. One point no one will ever dispute, HE IS the toughest player to play the game.  If you do not love football, I hope you skipped this rabbit trail.  After the game, after I finished the Christmas letter, I opened my email and I had an email from someone I love very much, telling me I had really let them down.  Holiday feelings are always raw.  I read the letter, reread it, thought about responding, part of it was true, part of it I could explain and part of it was just a breakdown in communication about holiday dates.  Still I was sorry they were hurt.  After the last 12 weeks since Jack’s stroke and tree season, I really felt like I had little left to give.  Fast forward to morning, the schedule got totally messed up…Everything I had planned and looked forward to was not going to work out…so I went to plan B and before I could work that out, Amanda, Micah and the boys had left to come home. She felt bad and just did not feel like shopping.  So guess what…This Mom, the planner of all fun things,  that was still hurt over the email from the night before got mad.  I am just trying to keep this blog real.  We are not the Brady Bunch.  AND THE HOLIDAYS BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERYONE…NOT.  Now add to this, it was almost 80 degrees in Dallas and for a gal that loves cold weather and especially at Christmas, it was MISERABLE.  Then out of the mouths of our children…I open FB and Amanda had posted this..she knew what I was dealing with
I love this time of year and I refuse to let other people steal my joy. I wish people would look beyond the disappointments in life and be thankful for what they have. Christmas is the celebration of a baby that changed EVERYTHING! Let's not lose sight of what's important!
Then we get home and or house has been vandalized.  Someone broke the front door lock, did not get in, but the straw that broke the camels back was they had destroyed my Vintage Mickey Christmas blowup.  I have lots of stuff, as the police made mention of as he sat in the den he could see four or five loaded trees kind of like a store. Ha
Most of my stuff I have little attachment to and would give you anything you wanted .  BUT I WAS attached to this MICKEY.  I had looked long and hard to find it and doubt that its replaceable.  Some kids had just cut a hole in it…plus damaged another Mickey and Minnie, plus keyed my car to the tune of 2,ooo worth of damage.  So we spent 3 hours with a policeman at our house…I actually think I know who did it and if I can catch them, they will wish the police had caught them.  So my day just kept on giving and by the time I went to bed there was not one ounce of Christmas spirit anywhere near our  house.   
Then came TODAY.  Today is my birthday (which is not something I think much about…I mean its 3 days before Christmas, who has time?)    I was still asleep at 10 AM and I could hear this little voice coming up the sidewalk talking about Grammys birthday and in came Parker and Jack with flowers, doughnuts, cards, gift certificates for massages, and  kisses.    
What a difference a day can make.   One of my tree customers sent me this wonderful cookie basket.  I got over 120 Birthday wishes from FB friends….talk about making a girl feel loved.  What I realized today is that  families will never be perfect, friends will let you down,  we all say and do things that we wish we hadn’t, relationships are tough  but this HOLIDAY SEASON I choose JOY. I have so much to be thankful for.  Jack survived a major stoke…. our family is OK, and even after a BAD DAY, there comes a GOOD ONE.  So we celebrate the MIRACLE and we CELEBRATE the BABY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. 
Now if you survived reading all that,  here are some fun parts of our trip.
    SWEET BOYS
100_3961 Parker loves his little man                      

                 
The Gingerbread Decorating                          100_3982    POP HELPING JACK
100_3983
 Jack LOVING  THE ICING
 100_3994  POOPED  JACK
100_4002  PARKER LOVES HIS CHEESECAKE

100_4008    BEAUTIFUL HOTEL
  100_4013     BOYS HAVING FUN                             ICE…VERY COLD
100_4030 BABY ITS COLD IN HER100_4033HEADED TO THE SLIDE
100_4037
100_4049  When a Man Loves a WomanICE  TIME FOR BED
Saturday night it was just us and the boys…AKA  INDULGED…Almost anything goes.  Such as pillow fights, jumping on the bed, making pallets on the floor of a great hotel….renting movies, staying up until they want to go to bed…….Micah and Amanda went to the Cowboys game on Sunday and then met us at the Gaylord.  We spent Monday in Frisco shopping, eating at La Madeline’s, making some GAME STOP, stops!
For a laugh from tonight…one of Amanda and Micah's good friends is the city marshall.  He was at their house tonight .  These were Jack’s words ,  Charlie showed Jack his badge and he said, "Uncle Charlie, u are a weal cowboy!"
Jack and a real cowboy

17 comments:

Theresa said...

Oh Teresa, I am soooo sorry that someone said mean things to you! People should write what they think sometimes and hit DELETE! I know that hurt your heart to read those words!

It sounds like you all had a great mini vacation even with a few problems:) Love the picture of Parker and Jack hugging, too sweet!

Now for the vandalism! MEAN, JUST DOWNRIGHT MEAN! I am so mad at people who just do mean things and don't stick around to let you look them in the eye! I hope you can find a replacement for your precious treasures AND catch the thugs!

Love you bunches! Blessings and Christmas wishes to you and your sweet family!

Dogmom Diva said...

Oh my. Teresa, my prayers are with you..you are right Jack survived and your family is all together..but how awful to have all that tragedy..my prayers and thoughts are with you..

hugs
Barb

Sally said...

I'm so sorry that happened to you guys, but your wonderful spirit is such a beautiful gift.

Love the pics; the littles are so cute. Merry Christmas! :)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh your little Woody cracks me up every time. Two of ours used to dress up like Buzz and Woody all the time. They are now ll and 13, girl where does it go???

My heart just aches for you. I don't know anyone who has been through the roller coaster ride you've been on lately. Throw that on top a a busy Christmas business sweetie, of course your gonna to be wearin' some of your nerves outside your skin.

Sittin' on the outside we can all say don't take a hurtful comment seariously...for heaven's sake...we are strangers but I know that isn't so. We form bonds here in the cyber~world and truly care about eachother.

Honey, the control issue...I'm right there with ya too. I always have everything planned and visualized on just how it's gonna go.

Vandalism too??? Glory, how much more does one woman have to take??? I'm so sorry.

Children always have a way of puttin' everything in prospective for us.

Sometimes I think we often give out a little too much info...like when our house is going to be empty...in our blogs and FB.(I haven't even started the FB thing)

You take care and just keep hangin' on to the true meaning of Christmas 'cause Satan will robe us of our joy anytime he can.

God bless you my sweet friend and have yourself a wonderfully blessed Christmas surrounded by the love of those you hold dear.

Merry Christmas...you are a blessing!!!!

Vicki said...

Happy Birthday! I also want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2011. I'm with you, I'm focusing on the blessings I've been given and refusing to let the stress of the season rob me of joy!

Cathy said...

I am so sorry for all that you have been through. I admire your determination and strength. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

-stephanie- said...

What a horrible thing to have happen to your home! I'm sorry your Mickey is destroyed. People can be just rotten.
I'm glad you choose JOY in this.
You know I'm with you on your Fav(re)ate football player. :o)
He's one tough boy. Football won't be the same without him.

Happy Birthday!

Linda said...

Teresa...I'm so sorry that you had that very bad day...but glad that the next day was good....and that you had a Happy Birthday!

So sorry your house was vandalized..and that your car got keyed...but glad you had such a special time with your boys. I loved the sweet pictures.

So glad Jack is doing so well...and I pray you all will have a wonderful year ahead!

Merry Christmas!

Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

gayle said...

I know how you feel because I am a planner too! My daughter had a melt down today because she found out (from my husband's sister) that Christmas dinner is going to be between 12 and 1 and she said if it's like Thanksgiving, it will be more like 3. No one else has anywhere else to go after but my daughter does, so this really upsets her and Now I am upset for her too! Thinking of making a phone call but last time I did I caused a mess and everyone was mad at me.......I was only sticking up for my daughter.

ShirleyC said...

What a bummer with all you've been through! I'm sorry about the vandals, but it could have been a lot worse. I do hope you all have a wonderful Christmas celebrating together.

Kathleen said...

What a way to end an already challenging year. Thank God His mercies are new every morning!

A blessed, healthy & merry Christmas to you & yours,

Kathleen

Tanya said...

First of all, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope it was a special one and it sounds like those little boys made it that way!
Well, second of all, you have every right to just let it all out girl and vent vent vent! We blog friends are great sounding boards! Amanda was exactly right in her words! ;0) So I need not say more. Don't let anyone steal your JOY! You just enjoy your time with your family.
Third...go get um tiger! Those culprits! They will only wish the law got to them first! :0)
Blesssings and Happy Christmas Eve tomorrow!
You will be in my prayers!
Love,
Tanya

Beth Herring said...

Praying for you still teresa - God is still on the Throne! Praise His Name!

Merry Christmas!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I am so sorry about the trouble with the hurt feelings and I am truly sorry about your Mickey. What a day you had. ((HUGS)) The pictures are all so precious. Have a beautiful Christmas. I am so thankful that you have to many blessings to count.

Nancy Mon said...

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas! I am so sorry that some kids destroyed your Mickey. I'm glad you have chosen joy. Best path! Hope you have wonderful holidays!

Debby said...

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.
I read recently from two people that emails set the tones for misunderstandings. I think it is so. My Mom's always hit me the wrong way.

As for the vandals.....go after them. How could anyone hurt Mickey. I never did get the cruelness of keying....just plain mean.

(((((HUGS))))

Cousin B said...

OMG! I couldn't quit readying and I say: That's just too much.... Please just know you are loved by us too. I'm so sorry about the vandalizing, that's just awful! I admire your strength and ability to look beyond all the negatives and count your blessings. Happy holidays girl.