A year later I arrived at Franciscan a bright eyed, bright haired, exuberant college freshman. I was excited about everything, all the possibilities that lay ahead for me. My future. God's plan. I would study Theology and Catechetics, find a household, meet life long friends, and maybe even find a husband. I moved into my room in Marian Hall and set out to meet as many people as humanly possible.
I had just gotten out of a three year relationship in high school and wasn't actually interested in dating right away (more just perfecting my eyelash batting) when my parents showed up for Parent's Weekend in the fall. I took them around, introduced them to my friends, dragged them to a Lord's Day, and worshiped with them at a Festival of Praise. After the FOP was over and we were walking around campus my mom said, "I feel like God told me something about your future. He told me that your future husband was in attendance at the FOP and that it was someone you had already met but someone you would never guess." My mind started reeling. "BUT I HAVE A CRUSH ON EVERY BOY!!!" I said in my best teen girl squad voice. I thought back to all the guys I had met and never once did the nice guy from my college visit cross my mind. I learned later that he was, in fact, at that FOP.
I wasn't exactly one for studying first semester freshman year and therefore I found myself spending a lot of time across the courtyard at Trinity Hall. From what I could tell, boys studied far less than girls and they also ate more pizza. Plus if you were a girl they would generally give you this pizza for free. I became friends with many of Kyle's friends. I did remember him from my visit a year prior but since I doubted he remembered me I kept my mouth shut.
Over the course of many months we because friends. I helped him bake a cake for his girl friend's birthday and he talked to me about my crush and encouraged me to "go for it". Over the summer I went to a retreat in San Antonio, Texas and he drove from Houston, just for the day, to visit with me. Still, no where in my mind did I think that we would ever date.
Kyle went to Austria in the fall of my sophomore year and during that semester I began my plans to study there in the spring. I thought about him occasionally but nothing more than I thought about anyone else who was studying abroad that semester too. During the winter, after he had gotten back from his semester, I had a complete nervous breakdown about traveling. I had never left my family for that long before and was scared out of my mind. I sent him a message online and he immediately called me and talked me down. Then he spent a good half hour talking my mom down too. After my mom hung up the phone she turned to me and said, "Who was he and can you date him?" I laughed at her and said, "Oh that's Kyle. We are just friends."
Over my semester in Austria I remember vaguely feeling a little, tiny bit disappointed to learn he had started dating someone but was confused as to why that was and pushed it out of my head. Really, what was going on back on campus was the furthest thing from my mind. When I got back from that semester I had changed a lot. I had seen the world, spent so much time before Our Lord in prayer, been there for a wake of John Paul the II and the installation mass of Benedict the XVI, made new friends, hitchhiked an 18 wheeler, and gone through my first ever heartbreak.
I would go to adoration every day and had spent every moment praying to understand the verse, "The Lord in my Shepherd, I shall not want." I had realized that there was so much in my life that I had desired that I had lost sight of the only One who could truly fill my heart. I prayed every day to love God above all else to the point where I would want nothing else except Him. I prayed that I wouldn't want to have a husband but to have Jesus, to not want to be a nun but to want Jesus, to not want friends but to want Jesus, to not want people to admire me but to want Jesus. I had never focused on something so hard for so long in my entire life. The ADD girl who couldn't focus a thought was gone, I was focused on becoming God's and God's alone.
As soon as my plane touched down in Connecticut I began making plans to visit campus before everyone left for the summer, as our semester had ended a couple of weeks before theirs. While I was visiting Franciscan before summer break I met up with Kyle and we decided to get lunch. I told him all about my semester and my heartbreak and how God was changing me. He told me how glad he was that I was doing so well and said, "You'll find someone. I mean, I'm not sure if I could ever date you because you are crazy but I'd marry you." And then I cracked up, because I am crazy, and he knew it.
The next semester Kyle broke up with his girlfriend and I tried to be there for him as best I could as a friend. After I visited my family over a long weekend he picked me up from the airport and we hung out, got ice cream, and just talked. Kyle told me later that he remembered thinking, "I just need to find someone like Sarah" but that he didn't think that would lead to dating me. And I was happy being his friend but I figured that I was God's now so I didn't want to be in a relationship.
Or so I thought....
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
A Rather Boring Update About Current Events at the Behr Cave Before I Post Part Two Tomorrow
This week has been a little better for me. I was able to get to physical therapy and learn some exercises to get my back healing. I'm still not able to do too much, but of course I over exert myself and pay for it later. Such is the life of a mother.
I tried to make it to mass yesterday for the first time in three weeks today and majorly failed. I was in so much pain only ten minutes in that I had to leave. Of course it's probably because earlier in the day I had convinced myself that it was a good idea to run errands with the girls and yesterday I had gotten sick of the clutter and cleaned. However, even if I hadn't done those things I have a feeling the hard wooden pews would have gotten me. Still, it was nice to even get those precious ten minutes in the presence of Our Lord. I have a feeling that He will really get to healing me this week. I am very peaceful at the idea of being able to attend mass with Kyle next weekend for our five year anniversary.
This week we are finding out when Kyle will officially go from being an employee of Air Tran Airways to one of Southwest Airlines. I am trying to bribe Kyle's boss for a promotion by baking her my special "chocolate and mint three layer brownies". Mostly though we have teased each other back and forth through Kyle about our sports allegeinces. I thoroughly appreciate that Kyle has a female boss, especially one who is also a Republican.
The girls have been restless being cooped up inside for so long. I try to get them out for a little each day but there is only so much I can handle and since Kyle has been working long hours and extra days he isn't able to help too much (although he wants to because he is an awesome husband and father). Today I took them out and we sat at the little local airport and watched the planes and helicopters take off and land. The girls were fascinated by that. I also tried to take them to the library but Madeleine threw a tantrum two minutes in and we had to leave.
My sister Lauren is coming in for a visit tomorrow and Kyle is going to watch the little ones so we can get some sister time. She told Madeleine that she was bringing her birthday present with her which Madeleine someone decided was a puppy. I had to talk her down off of that one. If it were up to me we would never get any pets ever.
Anyway, that the little update about our life. I'm still going to be posting the five part series about how Kyle and I met through when we got married. I can't wait for my kids to read it someday and realize that their parents really love each other a lot. Sorry this post is so boring, I've been taking it slow but it should perk up soon!
Keep praying for my back and keep reading the series about my husband!!
I tried to make it to mass yesterday for the first time in three weeks today and majorly failed. I was in so much pain only ten minutes in that I had to leave. Of course it's probably because earlier in the day I had convinced myself that it was a good idea to run errands with the girls and yesterday I had gotten sick of the clutter and cleaned. However, even if I hadn't done those things I have a feeling the hard wooden pews would have gotten me. Still, it was nice to even get those precious ten minutes in the presence of Our Lord. I have a feeling that He will really get to healing me this week. I am very peaceful at the idea of being able to attend mass with Kyle next weekend for our five year anniversary.
This week we are finding out when Kyle will officially go from being an employee of Air Tran Airways to one of Southwest Airlines. I am trying to bribe Kyle's boss for a promotion by baking her my special "chocolate and mint three layer brownies". Mostly though we have teased each other back and forth through Kyle about our sports allegeinces. I thoroughly appreciate that Kyle has a female boss, especially one who is also a Republican.
The girls have been restless being cooped up inside for so long. I try to get them out for a little each day but there is only so much I can handle and since Kyle has been working long hours and extra days he isn't able to help too much (although he wants to because he is an awesome husband and father). Today I took them out and we sat at the little local airport and watched the planes and helicopters take off and land. The girls were fascinated by that. I also tried to take them to the library but Madeleine threw a tantrum two minutes in and we had to leave.
My sister Lauren is coming in for a visit tomorrow and Kyle is going to watch the little ones so we can get some sister time. She told Madeleine that she was bringing her birthday present with her which Madeleine someone decided was a puppy. I had to talk her down off of that one. If it were up to me we would never get any pets ever.
Anyway, that the little update about our life. I'm still going to be posting the five part series about how Kyle and I met through when we got married. I can't wait for my kids to read it someday and realize that their parents really love each other a lot. Sorry this post is so boring, I've been taking it slow but it should perk up soon!
Keep praying for my back and keep reading the series about my husband!!
Kyle and Sarah Part One- The Meeting
As our five year anniversary approaches this coming Saturday I have decided to write about my husband in the five days leading up to it. Some people may roll their eyes and wonder why. I've seen comments on facebook before about people being uncomfortable by public displays of affection in social media between a husband and a wife. They seem to think that this means they do not say "I love you" in private. Let me assure you, I tell my husband that I love him as often as I can and I try to show him even more than that.
I don't really have any special talents (unless you count having an uncanny ability to recall 90s pop lyrics at the drop of a hat). I cook as well as most, I'm terrible at sports, I can't sing, I can't play any instruments, I have no artistic talents whatsoever, and I am no good at crafts. The thing that I am the best at and that I am the most proud of is how I love my family. I have a holy, loving, and wonderful marriage. All the glory for that goes to God, not myself, who is the source of Love and Goodness... He is Love and Goodness.
This series of posts is for Kyle and it is for God. God gave me my husband and I hope that in this world our love for each other can be an witness of the love of Christ and His Church. My witness is how I can thank God for all of my blessings, most especially my husband on this special occasion.
Anyway, with that said this is Part One of that Story of Sarah and Kyle. This is how we met.
*******************************
I met Kyle when I was a senior in high school. I had known that I wanted to attend Franciscan University basically since I was a freshman and the time for my college visit was finally upon us. I was beyond excited. My dad and I traveled to campus on September 10, 2002. Apparently since it was almost the one year anniversary of September 11th tickets weren't as expensive as normal. Originally I was supposed to stay with a random host but at the last minute a friend of mine had called and said that I should stay with someone he knew. Plans were changed and I unloaded my bags in a tiny room in Marian Hall not even thinking for a second that a year from now I would be living just down the hall.
My hostess took my around campus the next day after my tour was over, we went to two different masses and a prayer service for the victims of 9/11. I was so touched by the outpouring of prayer shown by each person in attendance and that most of the student body had showed up. After the prayer service we went back to the dorms and she introduced me to her friends. To be honest I don't entirely remember meeting Kyle. (Kyle, however, remembers that I was very blond and very pretty). I was bubbly and excited to be there and just wanted to be friends with absolutely everyone I met. Plus, I had a boyfriend at the time.
As the weekend went on I fell in love with the school. I knew that this school was a place where I would be able to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become and grow in my relationship with God. The students were kind and generous, open and loving. They all encouraged me to attend next year and said they would look forward to seeing me. I could feel God pulling at my heart, really reaffirming that THIS was the place I was meant to be.
On my last day there I really wanted to do something nice for my hostess as she had been so generous to me. Her tall, dark haired friend named Kyle offered me a ride to Walmart. I specifically remember being impressed by his car, not many students drove Audi A4s and the dark green color was particularly pleasant.
When we got to Walmart I grabbed supplies to make chocolate covered strawberries and we hopped back in the car to head towards campus. Of course, this was Kyle driving and with Kyle driving no trip out is that simple. He asked me if I wanted a tour of the town and I said, "yes" so we drove around the city of Steubenville and he showed me all of the major landmarks... not that there are many. It's Steubenville after all. It was fun driving around with him and despite his being shy I thought we got along nicely.
He dropped me off and I thanked him for the tour and that was the end of that.
Or so I thought...
I don't really have any special talents (unless you count having an uncanny ability to recall 90s pop lyrics at the drop of a hat). I cook as well as most, I'm terrible at sports, I can't sing, I can't play any instruments, I have no artistic talents whatsoever, and I am no good at crafts. The thing that I am the best at and that I am the most proud of is how I love my family. I have a holy, loving, and wonderful marriage. All the glory for that goes to God, not myself, who is the source of Love and Goodness... He is Love and Goodness.
This series of posts is for Kyle and it is for God. God gave me my husband and I hope that in this world our love for each other can be an witness of the love of Christ and His Church. My witness is how I can thank God for all of my blessings, most especially my husband on this special occasion.
Anyway, with that said this is Part One of that Story of Sarah and Kyle. This is how we met.
*******************************
I met Kyle when I was a senior in high school. I had known that I wanted to attend Franciscan University basically since I was a freshman and the time for my college visit was finally upon us. I was beyond excited. My dad and I traveled to campus on September 10, 2002. Apparently since it was almost the one year anniversary of September 11th tickets weren't as expensive as normal. Originally I was supposed to stay with a random host but at the last minute a friend of mine had called and said that I should stay with someone he knew. Plans were changed and I unloaded my bags in a tiny room in Marian Hall not even thinking for a second that a year from now I would be living just down the hall.
My hostess took my around campus the next day after my tour was over, we went to two different masses and a prayer service for the victims of 9/11. I was so touched by the outpouring of prayer shown by each person in attendance and that most of the student body had showed up. After the prayer service we went back to the dorms and she introduced me to her friends. To be honest I don't entirely remember meeting Kyle. (Kyle, however, remembers that I was very blond and very pretty). I was bubbly and excited to be there and just wanted to be friends with absolutely everyone I met. Plus, I had a boyfriend at the time.
As the weekend went on I fell in love with the school. I knew that this school was a place where I would be able to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become and grow in my relationship with God. The students were kind and generous, open and loving. They all encouraged me to attend next year and said they would look forward to seeing me. I could feel God pulling at my heart, really reaffirming that THIS was the place I was meant to be.
On my last day there I really wanted to do something nice for my hostess as she had been so generous to me. Her tall, dark haired friend named Kyle offered me a ride to Walmart. I specifically remember being impressed by his car, not many students drove Audi A4s and the dark green color was particularly pleasant.
When we got to Walmart I grabbed supplies to make chocolate covered strawberries and we hopped back in the car to head towards campus. Of course, this was Kyle driving and with Kyle driving no trip out is that simple. He asked me if I wanted a tour of the town and I said, "yes" so we drove around the city of Steubenville and he showed me all of the major landmarks... not that there are many. It's Steubenville after all. It was fun driving around with him and despite his being shy I thought we got along nicely.
He dropped me off and I thanked him for the tour and that was the end of that.
Or so I thought...
Monday, July 2, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
For her third birthday
Dear Madeleine,
Before we found out we were pregnant with you we had no idea if we could have any children at all. You see, a few months before I took that positive pregnancy test we lost your older sister or brother and one of my tubes. I suppose you will have no idea what that means for quite some time but it was the worst heart break I had even been through.
All my life I had dreamed about being a mommy someday. Other kids wanted to be doctors, astronauts, teachers, scientists, rock stars, and actors. I wanted to have children. During the months between losing our first child and finding out I was pregnant with you I went through many different stages of grief. I mourned my loss and I prayed that someday my heart would feel whole again. My heart ached. That part of me that I thought God had made to be filled with motherly love was instead uncomfortably stuffed full of fear and sorrow. I prayed that God would fill it instead with His love... in whatever form that may be.
He answered that prayer by giving me you. From the time that pregnancy test turned positive my heart was full of love like I never imagined was possible, love that could only come from the one who is Love. All of a sudden, so much of God was made just a tiny bit clearer so my tiny heart could understand Him. I loved you before I knew you; I finally understood how God could have loved me from the beginning of time. I would gladly die to see you in heaven; I could finally start to wrap my head and heart around Jesus dying on the cross for me.
I've been very blessed with a lot of love in my life. I have amazing parents, siblings, friends. Most especially I have your father who could and would and does lay down his life for me daily. This was something new though. Your grandmom would tell me when I was pregnant with you that I had no idea what I was in store for. She said explaining how much you love your children is like trying to explain how much I love Kyle to someone who has never been in a relationship. Until you have that kind of selfless, lay down your life, do anything to get them to heaven type of romantic love in your life you can never understand even the concept.
And so throughout my pregnancy I loved you. I loved you each time I threw up because I knew it meant you were safe and healthy. I loved you as my stomach started to expand and the stretch marks started to show because they were my battle scars, my proof to the world that I had carried life within me. I loved you when I first saw your heart beat on the monitor, when I was afraid I had lost you because I had spotted. I knew you were a fighter and that there was no stopping you from coming into this world. I loved you from the first time I felt you move, it was something special that only you and I shared because you were mine. I loved you when I found out that you were a girl, my daughter, my princess, my Madeleine. I loved you when your little head injured my pelvis and I couldn't even lift my legs onto the bed without help because in your movements I could sense your personhood and knew that even at that stage you were a complete individual. I loved you when I got kidney stones and I would do anything, suffer anything, to keep you healthy and keep myself out of surgery and the risk of delivering you early. I loved you when I was almost two weeks late and you refused to come out. I loved that the night I went into the hospital to give birth to you was exactly one year after I had lost your sibling and that the day of my deepest sorrow had turned instead into my greatest triumph. I was at the end of one of the longest marathons of my life and I was about to finally meet my child.
Since there were complications during your delivery I was not able to hold you right away. I watched as they suctioned your lungs from across the room. I took it all in, your giant size, your dark hair, your almond eyes, your pink cheeks, they way you stayed calm despite the bright lights and the sounds and the people. I watched as your daddy reached out and touched you for the first time and I longed to hold you in my arms. At that point in my life I wondered how I could ever love any more. And then I held you in my arms finally and I did. I loved you even more.
In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined that this much love is possible and I am reminded on a daily basis that I can love more and that the love I have for you is a fraction of what God has for us. Time has gone by far too quickly but as each stage, newborn, baby, toddler, slips away I am honored by being able to witness a new one, witness your growth and transformation into the person God created you to be. My prayer is that I can foster and stir up in your heart all of the gifts and graces that are yours by virtue of your baptism and that by growing up in God's light you will be open to even more love than I know. You could travel through time and space and I can guarantee that nothing will be as miraculous and life changing as finding love. Whether your become a nun or a wife and mother, I know that if you follow God's will that your life will be filled with untold amounts of joy.
I am so blessed that this is where God led me, to the path where I am a mother to a beautiful, smart, caring, cautious, imaginative, amazing little girl. I love you Madeleine. You are the answer to my prayers and you are the light in my life that lights the way to God. I hope that someday you can read this and realize that if you hold this much beauty to me, how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father and by your Mother Mary and I hope that once you realize that you never let it go.
Happy Third Birthday Princess.
All of my love,
Mommy
Before we found out we were pregnant with you we had no idea if we could have any children at all. You see, a few months before I took that positive pregnancy test we lost your older sister or brother and one of my tubes. I suppose you will have no idea what that means for quite some time but it was the worst heart break I had even been through.
All my life I had dreamed about being a mommy someday. Other kids wanted to be doctors, astronauts, teachers, scientists, rock stars, and actors. I wanted to have children. During the months between losing our first child and finding out I was pregnant with you I went through many different stages of grief. I mourned my loss and I prayed that someday my heart would feel whole again. My heart ached. That part of me that I thought God had made to be filled with motherly love was instead uncomfortably stuffed full of fear and sorrow. I prayed that God would fill it instead with His love... in whatever form that may be.
He answered that prayer by giving me you. From the time that pregnancy test turned positive my heart was full of love like I never imagined was possible, love that could only come from the one who is Love. All of a sudden, so much of God was made just a tiny bit clearer so my tiny heart could understand Him. I loved you before I knew you; I finally understood how God could have loved me from the beginning of time. I would gladly die to see you in heaven; I could finally start to wrap my head and heart around Jesus dying on the cross for me.
I've been very blessed with a lot of love in my life. I have amazing parents, siblings, friends. Most especially I have your father who could and would and does lay down his life for me daily. This was something new though. Your grandmom would tell me when I was pregnant with you that I had no idea what I was in store for. She said explaining how much you love your children is like trying to explain how much I love Kyle to someone who has never been in a relationship. Until you have that kind of selfless, lay down your life, do anything to get them to heaven type of romantic love in your life you can never understand even the concept.
And so throughout my pregnancy I loved you. I loved you each time I threw up because I knew it meant you were safe and healthy. I loved you as my stomach started to expand and the stretch marks started to show because they were my battle scars, my proof to the world that I had carried life within me. I loved you when I first saw your heart beat on the monitor, when I was afraid I had lost you because I had spotted. I knew you were a fighter and that there was no stopping you from coming into this world. I loved you from the first time I felt you move, it was something special that only you and I shared because you were mine. I loved you when I found out that you were a girl, my daughter, my princess, my Madeleine. I loved you when your little head injured my pelvis and I couldn't even lift my legs onto the bed without help because in your movements I could sense your personhood and knew that even at that stage you were a complete individual. I loved you when I got kidney stones and I would do anything, suffer anything, to keep you healthy and keep myself out of surgery and the risk of delivering you early. I loved you when I was almost two weeks late and you refused to come out. I loved that the night I went into the hospital to give birth to you was exactly one year after I had lost your sibling and that the day of my deepest sorrow had turned instead into my greatest triumph. I was at the end of one of the longest marathons of my life and I was about to finally meet my child.
Since there were complications during your delivery I was not able to hold you right away. I watched as they suctioned your lungs from across the room. I took it all in, your giant size, your dark hair, your almond eyes, your pink cheeks, they way you stayed calm despite the bright lights and the sounds and the people. I watched as your daddy reached out and touched you for the first time and I longed to hold you in my arms. At that point in my life I wondered how I could ever love any more. And then I held you in my arms finally and I did. I loved you even more.
In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined that this much love is possible and I am reminded on a daily basis that I can love more and that the love I have for you is a fraction of what God has for us. Time has gone by far too quickly but as each stage, newborn, baby, toddler, slips away I am honored by being able to witness a new one, witness your growth and transformation into the person God created you to be. My prayer is that I can foster and stir up in your heart all of the gifts and graces that are yours by virtue of your baptism and that by growing up in God's light you will be open to even more love than I know. You could travel through time and space and I can guarantee that nothing will be as miraculous and life changing as finding love. Whether your become a nun or a wife and mother, I know that if you follow God's will that your life will be filled with untold amounts of joy.
I am so blessed that this is where God led me, to the path where I am a mother to a beautiful, smart, caring, cautious, imaginative, amazing little girl. I love you Madeleine. You are the answer to my prayers and you are the light in my life that lights the way to God. I hope that someday you can read this and realize that if you hold this much beauty to me, how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father and by your Mother Mary and I hope that once you realize that you never let it go.
Happy Third Birthday Princess.
All of my love,
Mommy
Lots of rest for the not wicked
My mom came up Thursday and Friday nights to help me with the wee ones while I tried to recover from this whole "back injury" thing. By Friday night I was still in so much pain that I ended up in urgent care where they gave me some anti-inflamitories and told me that I needed to see a physical therapist ASAP.
We decided Saturday that since my mom had to head back to Connecticut and since I was still barely able to get off of the couch that she would take the girls with her for two nights. Although I've been away from Madeleine for that long before I had never left Juliette over night and was kind of freaking out internally. I knew it was best for me and best for them but I still didn't want to say goodbye.
We loaded them into the minivan and I went to each side to say bye. First I went to Madeleine and she gave me a huge hug and told me, "Now you go lie down and close your eyes." as if she was lecturing me on taking care of myself. Her little brow was even furrowed and her eyes were serious as she stared at me. And that was only the second cutest thing she did that day. Earlier she had put her princess crown on my head and smiled at me proclaiming, "You look perfect mommy. You are perfect mommy because you are MY mommy." She is an angel.
Then I went to Juliette's side of the car and rubbed her head and gave her kisses. She smiled at me and said, "BYE BYE DADDY!" really excitedly. You win some, you lose some.
Now I have been sitting here, alone, while Kyle has been working over time. It sounds great in theory. I mean, the first day I took a three hour nap, ate ice cream for dinner, watched TV, and then slept for 11 hours. However, I AM BORED. I miss my babies. And it stinks not being able to take advantage of this time by cleaning or cooking or shopping. It's just me and Jack Bauer and the gang at CTU trying to save Los Angeles... again.
I'm starting to do a little better. I've canceled all my appointments for next week and dominated round after round of Fruit Ninja. I'm taking it slowly and hopefully when the girls get back tomorrow I'll at least be able to sit in the playroom with them without pain.
God is good though. I'm glad I have a life I love and miss when I am not able to enjoy it. It would be sad if watching TV was better than my day to day. I miss those stinky, silly little girls but I'm glad they are having a blast at their grandparents. I can't wait to hear all about it when they get home.
We decided Saturday that since my mom had to head back to Connecticut and since I was still barely able to get off of the couch that she would take the girls with her for two nights. Although I've been away from Madeleine for that long before I had never left Juliette over night and was kind of freaking out internally. I knew it was best for me and best for them but I still didn't want to say goodbye.
We loaded them into the minivan and I went to each side to say bye. First I went to Madeleine and she gave me a huge hug and told me, "Now you go lie down and close your eyes." as if she was lecturing me on taking care of myself. Her little brow was even furrowed and her eyes were serious as she stared at me. And that was only the second cutest thing she did that day. Earlier she had put her princess crown on my head and smiled at me proclaiming, "You look perfect mommy. You are perfect mommy because you are MY mommy." She is an angel.
Then I went to Juliette's side of the car and rubbed her head and gave her kisses. She smiled at me and said, "BYE BYE DADDY!" really excitedly. You win some, you lose some.
Now I have been sitting here, alone, while Kyle has been working over time. It sounds great in theory. I mean, the first day I took a three hour nap, ate ice cream for dinner, watched TV, and then slept for 11 hours. However, I AM BORED. I miss my babies. And it stinks not being able to take advantage of this time by cleaning or cooking or shopping. It's just me and Jack Bauer and the gang at CTU trying to save Los Angeles... again.
I'm starting to do a little better. I've canceled all my appointments for next week and dominated round after round of Fruit Ninja. I'm taking it slowly and hopefully when the girls get back tomorrow I'll at least be able to sit in the playroom with them without pain.
God is good though. I'm glad I have a life I love and miss when I am not able to enjoy it. It would be sad if watching TV was better than my day to day. I miss those stinky, silly little girls but I'm glad they are having a blast at their grandparents. I can't wait to hear all about it when they get home.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Three weeks in bullet points- Sarah tries succinct
Welllllllllll it's been awhile.
I was in the TARDIS, time traveling with The Doctor.
Just kidding.
First there was the whole "vacation" thing. Then there was the whole "recovering from vacation" thing. Then there was the "throwing out my back and being unable to sit at a computer to type" thing.
I had originally planned on writing about all of it, but instead since I have a limited period of time before my lower back bursts into flames I have decided that bullet points are the way to go.
1. Life Teen Reunion- It was awesome. I was able to spend the weekend with some of my best friends AND go to mass AND have a jello shot at a dive bar. The latter was not a Life Teen sanctioned event. Holy mom who still manages to be cool. NAILED IT.
2. Next we flew to New Orleans to visit one of our good friends, Father Garrett. The "Father" prefix is rather new as he was ordained on June 2nd and therefore we decided that the Behrs would invade his home and "help" him celebrate. We dragged him to multiple parks and to a children's museum. He celebrated a private mass for our family. Twice. CAN I JUST TELL YOU HOW AMAZING IT IS TO SEE YOUR FRIEND CELEBRATE MASS! I made these here babies but YOU JUST MADE JESUS. Points go to Father Garrett for winning at Church.
3. THEN we drove to Clear Lake outside of Houston. Ya know, with the girls in a car for six hours. Can I just tell you how fun that was? Well, actually they were pretty awesome and the credit is entirely due to Madeleine's new Leappad which played episode after episode of Dora the Explorer for them to zone out to. FIRST we cross through the alligator swaps of Louisianna, then we crossed the bridge into Texas, and then we made it to CLEAR LAKE. Along the way Swiper swiped Madeleine's princess potty seat so consequently I spent the next couple potty breaks helping her hover over toilets. (No wonder I threw my back out.)
4. We were in Clear Lake for my grandfather-in-law's 90th birthday style and lemmetellyou. There ain't no party like a Behr party because a Behr party has PUZZLES. After the most awesome trivia game ever (I won the 500 dollar question by being the only Catholic on my team. Putting that theology degree to good, profitable use.) the family gathered around to drink wine, tell stories, and get unneccessarily competitive over a 500 piece puzzle. It was good times. Gotta love hanging out with family.
5. After Clear Lake we headed to Houston for my sister-in-law's bridal shower and to eat a lot of food. I weighed a good two pounds more after this trip than I did before it. Worth it. Also, my sister-in-law did such a spectacular job remodeling her house that my game plan for remodeling my own future house has changed from "Pinterest" to "copy what Lainey did".
6. Mixed parts happy and exhausted, we traveled back to Massachusetts. After Kyle managed to accidentally knock over my open (okay, it was overweight and I had to take stuff out) suitcase in the middle of the Air Tran check-in line, we made all three of our flights and even got first class on two of them. While Kyle took advantage of the leg room and Madeleine took advantage of the cookies, Mommy snagged herself some free vodka and congratulated herself on surviving an elaborate (albiet awesome) trip with two kids.
7. AND now the kids don't get to bed before 11 anymore. Such is my life.
8. Also I threw out my back and managed to wait six days before seeing anyone. Apparently I have some sort of swollen disk and according to the chiropractor, it's bad. I know this not because he told me but because after examining me I swear I saw little dollar signs pop up in his eyes. Before sending me away with an appointment for tomorrow morning he scolded me for not coming in sooner. I suppose not being able to stand up straight, crying out in pain when I had to move, and having numb toes should have been my first sign that it was more urgent then I wanted to believe.
9. And lastly, and most importantly, Madeleine turned THREE! THREE! MY BABY IS THREE YEARS OLD. That, however deserves it's own post and I vow to wax poetically about my love for her soon. I mean, I'm writing this blog so she can read it someday so I feel like it would be bad to miss this. Plus, I can't get enough of proclaiming my love for that little beauty.
All in all I am very blessed. There will be many pictures up soon as well because I just can't help myself. Please pray for my recovery. God bless.
I was in the TARDIS, time traveling with The Doctor.
Just kidding.
First there was the whole "vacation" thing. Then there was the whole "recovering from vacation" thing. Then there was the "throwing out my back and being unable to sit at a computer to type" thing.
I had originally planned on writing about all of it, but instead since I have a limited period of time before my lower back bursts into flames I have decided that bullet points are the way to go.
1. Life Teen Reunion- It was awesome. I was able to spend the weekend with some of my best friends AND go to mass AND have a jello shot at a dive bar. The latter was not a Life Teen sanctioned event. Holy mom who still manages to be cool. NAILED IT.
2. Next we flew to New Orleans to visit one of our good friends, Father Garrett. The "Father" prefix is rather new as he was ordained on June 2nd and therefore we decided that the Behrs would invade his home and "help" him celebrate. We dragged him to multiple parks and to a children's museum. He celebrated a private mass for our family. Twice. CAN I JUST TELL YOU HOW AMAZING IT IS TO SEE YOUR FRIEND CELEBRATE MASS! I made these here babies but YOU JUST MADE JESUS. Points go to Father Garrett for winning at Church.
3. THEN we drove to Clear Lake outside of Houston. Ya know, with the girls in a car for six hours. Can I just tell you how fun that was? Well, actually they were pretty awesome and the credit is entirely due to Madeleine's new Leappad which played episode after episode of Dora the Explorer for them to zone out to. FIRST we cross through the alligator swaps of Louisianna, then we crossed the bridge into Texas, and then we made it to CLEAR LAKE. Along the way Swiper swiped Madeleine's princess potty seat so consequently I spent the next couple potty breaks helping her hover over toilets. (No wonder I threw my back out.)
4. We were in Clear Lake for my grandfather-in-law's 90th birthday style and lemmetellyou. There ain't no party like a Behr party because a Behr party has PUZZLES. After the most awesome trivia game ever (I won the 500 dollar question by being the only Catholic on my team. Putting that theology degree to good, profitable use.) the family gathered around to drink wine, tell stories, and get unneccessarily competitive over a 500 piece puzzle. It was good times. Gotta love hanging out with family.
5. After Clear Lake we headed to Houston for my sister-in-law's bridal shower and to eat a lot of food. I weighed a good two pounds more after this trip than I did before it. Worth it. Also, my sister-in-law did such a spectacular job remodeling her house that my game plan for remodeling my own future house has changed from "Pinterest" to "copy what Lainey did".
6. Mixed parts happy and exhausted, we traveled back to Massachusetts. After Kyle managed to accidentally knock over my open (okay, it was overweight and I had to take stuff out) suitcase in the middle of the Air Tran check-in line, we made all three of our flights and even got first class on two of them. While Kyle took advantage of the leg room and Madeleine took advantage of the cookies, Mommy snagged herself some free vodka and congratulated herself on surviving an elaborate (albiet awesome) trip with two kids.
7. AND now the kids don't get to bed before 11 anymore. Such is my life.
8. Also I threw out my back and managed to wait six days before seeing anyone. Apparently I have some sort of swollen disk and according to the chiropractor, it's bad. I know this not because he told me but because after examining me I swear I saw little dollar signs pop up in his eyes. Before sending me away with an appointment for tomorrow morning he scolded me for not coming in sooner. I suppose not being able to stand up straight, crying out in pain when I had to move, and having numb toes should have been my first sign that it was more urgent then I wanted to believe.
9. And lastly, and most importantly, Madeleine turned THREE! THREE! MY BABY IS THREE YEARS OLD. That, however deserves it's own post and I vow to wax poetically about my love for her soon. I mean, I'm writing this blog so she can read it someday so I feel like it would be bad to miss this. Plus, I can't get enough of proclaiming my love for that little beauty.
All in all I am very blessed. There will be many pictures up soon as well because I just can't help myself. Please pray for my recovery. God bless.
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