Ladies Night

About ten minutes ago I received a beautiful email from one of my "girlfriends" and it made me stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving. You might ask why? Well 20 years ago my dear friend Debbie got married and wanted to use her new dishes, silverware and glasses she got as wedding gifts. Kevin was traveling on business so she invited me and four other girlfriends to dinner. Oh what fun we had eating, sharing stories and just enjoying each others company.

So was born Ladies Night in September 1988. So this morning when I opened an email from Debbie and click on the link "girlfriends" I was transported to every ladies night we have shared over the last 20 years. I don't think any of us on that September night had any idea that we would still be going strong 20 years later.

In 1988 my daughter was nine years old and Debbie was our only married woman...she now has five children and the oldest will be graduating from high school this year. We have had only one change to our group and that was when Marissa announced she was moving back east. So we decided she should pick her replacement and we had the one and only "oven mitt hand-off" ceremony. We miss Marissa very much and she has made it back out here twice. Once when Cheryl got married and we had our first slumber party/bacheloret party at my house and then again when we celebrated our 10th anniversary by having a sleep over at Embassy Suites. We could not have picked a better replacement than Norma who is our "God Rock" and keeps us focused on His blessings by leading us in prayer every time we come together.

As of today, two of us are single and four are married, we have collectively 12 children and one grandchild. We have laughed and cried together, we have agonized over raising our children together, we have held each other as we have lost grandparents, parents and siblings. We have celebrated births, baptisms, 1st communions, a quinceañera, confirmations, graduations and weddings. We had to stand by and watch one our own give back a beautiful baby boy when the state decided he should go to one of his birth parents instead of staying in the loving environment he had been in for over a year and then watch as God blessed her with another little guy who has added so much joy to her family. We have learned more than we ever wanted to know about adoption, foster care and neonatal units. We have formed a bond stronger than anything man could make and we know who has our back!

We all have other friends and groups we do things with and as the years pass we may only see each other when we gather for Ladies Night once a month, but we know that in this crazy busy world we live in that if we needed someone or something we would be there for each other in a heart beat.

So this morning when I should be working I am taking a moment to say THANK YOU for the five women who know me better than anyone and who have stood by me through all my good times and bad. God bless and see you tomorrow night!

Can someone explain where the last five years went?

See that darling little guy there...he turned 5 today! Now I am not sure how that happened since it seems like only yesterday that picture was taken. I said to myself when Benjamin was born that I would treasure every minute I spent with him because as I watched him come into this world I had to pinch myself...how could my beautiful baby girl have turned into that beautiful woman giving me the greatest gift I could ever imagine? It was all just too surreal. So as we all gathered together to celebrate this wonderful milestone of turning 5 I took a little journey down memory lane.

Benjamin came into this world on his own terms and gave us all a little scare when he had to be given a little help with his breathing...he does like to do things his own way! Once the medical people were sure all was well he headed off to visit with mom and dad and a very happy Nana (yep, that is me). Soon it was off to Nana's house where we all stayed together until their place was ready for the three of them to move in. This made me very happy as I was able to spend lots of time with my new little guy. We formed a very special and strong bond, one that will last a life time. We even have our own song...Good night, Sleep tight. And it wasn't too long until I gave him a nickname...Boo...his favorite game was peak-a-boo and so he became Boo. Last night as we cuddled in bed he said I can always call him Boo (yes, that is the sound of my heart melting).

The last five years have been filled with several trips to Disneyland (his favorite place in the whole world), family vacations down to Newport Beach, overnights at Nana's house, and going to the movies. Now I know I am going to sound like a bragging Nana, but going to the movies with Boo is an experience. He sits in his chair with a bag of popcorn and drink and watches the movie. He doesn't get up and down or run around...he just sits there watching the movie it is really a kick and he has been doing this since he was a little more than two. We have read stories, put puzzles together, we have gone to build-a-bear and made bears, we have sung songs, we have danced, and snuggled under the covers watching cartoons.

So as I sit here having pizza with my dearest friends celebrating Benjamin turning FIVE I have to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for blessing my life so abundantly! And look forward to the many adventures Benjamin and I am sure to have.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BENJAMIN

Mama, Mommy, Mom, Nana

Of all the titles I have held in this life of mine these are by far my most favorite and the ones I would not trade for anything.

I still remember the moment I heard the doctor say, "she's a girl and she has your dimples!" Once I got over the shock it was a girl...see I was sure I was having a boy...it was all I could do to wait for them to let me see her. Wow was she a beauty, big eyes, wonderful smile and just as cute as a button. Since I delivered her by emergency c-section they whisked her away to soon and finished their work on me. It was a little while before I got to hold her, but once she was in my arms I knew that I would do anything to protect her and that I loved her more than life. She was a wonderful baby, a great kid, a pretty good teenager and has blossomed into a beautiful young woman and mother. Wow did I hit the mother-load when God blessed me with my cuddly little girl. I would have loved to have had more children, but that just wasn't in God's plan and I was okay with that since I knew God was the master of my life.

Now as my little one grew up she held a very special place in my mom and dad's life. They helped me raise her and showered her with more than I thought possible. There wasn't anything they wouldn't do for her and they spoiled her. I would find myself saying to them, "you never did that for us kids," and they would reply, "just wait until you have grandchildren." Of course, I didn't understand, but I would.

A little over five years ago my daughter announced she was pregnant. I was so excited...I was going to be a grandmother! Now before you ask, no I was not at all upset about this change in my life. I embraced it and when people would tease me about becoming a grandmother they were surprised to find out it didn't bother me at all...I was ready! So as the time grew nearer I moved my daughter and son-in-law in with me and we waited. I threw her a shower and her friends threw her a shower, but the best was when she threw me a shower. Somehow this little blue eyed girl has grown into the most incredible woman who wanted me to feel the specialness of becoming a grandmother or nana as Benjamin calls me. My friends gathered around me and showered me with the things I would need to begin this new journey of my life.

Well the day finally came and I stood by the side of my daughter and son-in-law Ben as we welcomed Benjamin into this our lives. I was honored when my daughter asked me to be there for the labor and delivery and it was the greatest experience to participate in and witness. To see my daughter go through what I went through was a very bonding experience and then to lay my eyes on this little guy who stole my heart at that very moment.

This little man has open my eyes to a whole new world and teaches me more about love than I thought I could every know. He looks at me with his big blue eyes (just like his mom's) and I melt. I wish my mom was still alive because she would have a wonderful time saying, "I told you so!" And she was right, there is nothing that can explain the feelings and relationship of a nana to her boo (a grandmother to her grandchild) and I think my friends, Joyce, Judy, Sylvia, Lori and Mary would completely agree with me. I love being a mom and I love being a nana!

As Benjamin drove off last with his mom I could hear him saying, "you are the best nana in the world!" My response was, "you are the best boo in the world." Thank you, God, for the two greatest gifts I could ever have hoped for!!!!!

To blog or not to blog....

It is about 10:15 Tuesday night and my wonderful daughter and I have been messing around setting up this page. So now it is time for me to begin my very first blog.

Sentimental journey means two things to me...it is the very first song I remember singing with my mom when I was a very young girl and it is taking a look at the journey I have traveled so far in my blessed life. And now it is the place where I can go to share my thoughts, prayers and stories, but it is not a place to journal. Because I cannot journal! Ah, now you are asking yourself, how does she know this, everyone can journal.

I must look like the journaling type, because many of my friends have given me journals over the course of my life and I have bought many myself. They look so wonderful and I really have every intention of using them. Yet there they sit gathering dust on my bookshelf. I cannot even give them away since I have written on at least several of the pages in an attempt to journal. I really have tried, but it is no use I just go blank. Then comes the guilt and shame that for some unknown reason I just cannot seem to put pen to paper. So I decided to just admit that I cannot do everything and that is just fine with me.

So when my daughter suggested I start blogging I feared it might be to much like the journal and I really did not want to go through that again, but I have been reading other peoples blogs and it seems more like a place to go and chat. So in the coming days, weeks, months and years I plan on coming here to chat perhaps with a very nice glass of wine. I hope you will come and join me from time to time.

Until then, may God bless you and keep you safe.