A Christmas Like No Other

Christmas morning I held the last unopened gift from my love. As the wrapping paper fell away I discovered a jewelry box and as I lifted the cover small pristine snowflakes fell out and I saw the most beautiful engagement ring nestled in snowy white down. My life changed with four words spoken at that moment, "Will You Marry Me?" She gazed at me and when I caught my breath, I told her yes. We kissed and the love that I felt was so overwhelming and complete. I feel as my life is just beginning.

Edmund O'Neil wrote a lovely piece about the 'circle of love' and it's committment that I'm longing to fulfill with my fiancee...

Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.

Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. Spouses are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child.Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly.

Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfil.

Fridays

So...

Typically a Friday for me involves cleaning the house, doing laundry that mundane kind of stuff that doesn't get done Monday through Thursday on my work days. If I can accomplish what I set out to do then I can have Saturday and Sunday chore free. That didn't happen today. My girlfriend had a medical test done and as her doctor's office is only about three minutes away she came over to spend time before she went back to work. You know, sliding on the house cleaning is a-okay sometimes. :-)

That's what I call an early birthday present or christmas present or an other kind of present I can think of. Just seeing her lights me up on the inside like a Christmas tree...

Getting Away for the Weekend

I'm off to get some R&R this weekend with my sweetheart.

I can't imagine a more romantic time - A beautiful peaceful lake with fall colors, temperatures and spending time with the woman I love.

Love...

Love...

I am surrounded by her kindess, goodness, passion, thoughtfulness, generosity...it is overwhelming. I never expected that I would meet someone like her and now I know that I can't imagine a place in the world without her.

Amended to add thoughts that I find hard to put into words. Yesterday my love found out one of her good friend's mother had had a stroke a few days prior. We were snuggling in bed watching football and the realization hit that I would be so lost if anything were to ever happen to her. Life and love is so precious....I'm sure she thought I was losing it while I cried on her shoulder and I tried to tell her how blessed I was to have her in my life...

Love....

Moms and Daugters - Date Night

Tonight is date night with a twist. My honey's best friend is in town. We're going to make it a fun night by having their Moms and my daughter join in. We're planning on dinner and a movie but who knows where the evening will end. Its going to be a blast and I love the thought of having a generational get together.

Update just in...the evening ended in the parking lot of the restaraunt we ate at. We basically were kicked out at closing time and then continued the conversation for another two hours on the asphalt of J. Alexander's. We had plenty to talk about with such a diverse group.

And on side note...what is it about a smile that can light you up from the inside and just make everything around you more vibrant and alive on the outside?

The Eagles Concert: Long Road Out of Eden

The Eagles are just as spectacular today as they were since forming in the early 1970's.

Their music is iconic and holds special memories from when I was a young kid to the angsty teen years and beyond.

I went with my sweetheart to see them a few days ago in Little Rock. New memories were made as we sang along to the music and shared the event together. Rock on Don, Glenn, Joe and Timothy!

A Human Pretzel

Arms and legs wrapped around each other, fingers interlaced, your scent and mine mixing making its own unique intoxicating fragance as we slumber.

Slowly waking and feeling your body pressed to mine and the connection that is between us...is bliss.

AutoZone Park

AutoZone has to be one of the coolest Triple A Parks in the country. It is home to the Memphis Redbirds an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central Divison where my beloved Chicago Cubs also reside.

I'm going to be there tonight with my sweetheart and her family. She'll be meeting my daughter for the first time and I already know that they'll be thick as thieves as they discuss clothes and make-up and all those girly things :)

Following the game is a fireworks show and I can't wait to sit next the woman who has completely captivated me and watch the sky light up with color and sound. I imagine it will look a lot like the inside of my heart right now.

Life is Good

Just a quick update on life. It's good. In fact, it's damn good. School is almost out for the summer. My daughter is about to get her first car and be even more independent. Bring on sweet 16. It's an exciting time in her life.

And to my amazement and wonder I have met someone that I believe to be my equal. A woman who is full of suprises and never ceases to amaze me with her kindness, generosity and beautiful spirit. Life is full of love and adventure and most of all happiness.

Week 2 - Softball Update

This update is more for me to keep track of the team's progress. Opening week saw a split and a rain-out.

Today the girls gave an awesome effort and the game was a squeaker, but the ball rolled in favor of the visiting team by one point. We have a day off and play again Thursday evening before hitting the road for tournament two.

Counting Sheep

I don't know when it happened exactly but i have inexorably been sleeping less and less at night. Sometimes I sit up and watch TV or surf the internet. Other times I'll pick up a book and thumb through pages I've haphazardly already read trying to find the meaning in the blurred pages.

But often times, I'll cover myself with my bedding deep in the confines of the mattress I inhabit at night and stare at the ceiling wishing that I could mercifully fall asleep by...

Listening to sheep bleat as they hop over a fence rather the focusing on the intensity of your blue eyes as they focus on me and only me...

Counting bottles of beer on the wall rather than remember the kisses we shared whenever we occupied the same space and breath of air together...

Taking deep calming breaths rather than listen to my accelerated heartbeat as it reflected my memories of the night we made love...

No…I’m not counting sheep at night

Sshhh

I just have to whisper..because it's only a few days till opening day

go Cubbies :)

Pint Night

I love Monday evenings. It's the first night of the work week when I can go out with a few friends and have a couple of good brews to relax at the end of the day. :)

Tonight wasn't an exception. I sipped on a few cold draft Newcastles and just mellowed out. It's nice to just let go of the day and enjoy the warming spring air. Now if I could just sleep through the night...

Chloe

I went to see Chloe today. I'm still mulling it over trying to decide where I want to put it in my like-o-meter. Really, the highlight of the movie was the charged interactions between Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried....

Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes

I love this recipe. Low fat substitutions can be used to make this dish a bit healthier.

Ingredients:
4 large baking potatoes
8 slices of bacon
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions sliced, divided

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
2. Bake potatoes in oven for 1 hour
3. Meanwhile, place bacon in a deep skillet, Cook over medium high heat until evenly browed. Drain, crumble and set aside (substitue turkey bacon for a healthier alternative)
4. When potatoes are done allow them to cool for ten minutes. Slice in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. to the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese, and 1/2 onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with the remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
5. Bake for aother 15 minutes until done.

Rain

I saw your eyes in the brillance of the blue sky today
Remembering how they were filled with desire when we touched
Clouds swirled in filling the space left by you
Now I lay in bed surrounded by the sound of falling rain
Wanting your caress to drench me
Needing your kisses to restore my soul

Need You Now

Don't you love songs that capture your attention because of something or someone that has touched your life in a profound way? I'm not a huge country music fan but I like what Lady Antibellum records. The first time I heard "Need You Now" it pulled at my heart...

High School Softball Tournament Results

The girls finished their first weekend tournament. They didn't walk away with a placement but did gain valuable time on the field and practice which will make them stronger as they advance through the season. This is a young team and it's fun to watch them grow and learn individually and as a group. I'm such a proud parent and can't wait to see them play their next game.

A Perfect Night For Grilling

Mmmm Good...Grilling out tonight and having perfectly seared steaks with compliments of baked potatoes, tossed salad and good beer...friends and lively converations. Oh yeah :)

Twin Flame vs. Soul Mate

The concept of soul mates and twin flames intrigues me. I found this post and agree with the message...

We all have several soulmates. We only have one twin flame though....the twin flame is the other half of our spiritual self. Soulmates are people that have been with us for many incarnations---sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, but these are the people that are in your life for a reason and vice versa.

Your twin flame (or other half) may not choose to incarnate at the same time you do. In fact, he or she may be over on the other side. Usually, when Twin Flames reunite, there is a large age difference and unusual circumstances either surrounding them or preventing them from being together altogether. For example, you both might be married. When you find him or her you'll know it....you will communicate without words, you will sense each other even if you're far apart from each other (this can be said about soulmates too) and you will feel as though you can not live without that person---literally. Also, whether or not you can be together is irrelevant in that you have come together to discover something, even if it can only be on a friendship level on this incarnation. You must keep communicating once you have found each other---it really isn't an option. It's frightening, but incredibly wonderful.

Spring is in the air and that must mean one thing...

Girls softball teams are in full swing and I'll be following my daughter to her first tournament of the season.

Play ball!

Happiness is....
A three day weekend

Rainbows and Roots...Where am i going with a page title like that?? And what feast of small imagination sparked the dichotomy of two words that mean so much in my world.

Rainbows...all the hope and dreams and possibilities that life has to offer that i hold on to and wrap myself in (and the pots of gold that myIrish grandma told me i would find when i was a little girl).

Roots...the steady and deep ties that I have had in family and friendships. The core groundedness (is that a word??) of my own values and principals that who define me as a person...

Now on to sillier stuff...I hear I'm suppposed to have some fun out here :)