Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Suz, My Mom

This past week and a half hasn't been my favorite. It has been busy with "busyness" if you know what I mean. Plus, we've taken out stock in Kleenex, toilet paper & anything else around to wipe runny noses. I got the ever so common cold topped elegantly with a yeast infection, oh and did I mention that I am pregnant with a very LARGE baby?? Poor Beanie went to the doc only to come away with pneumonia, a double ear infection and medication that induces diarrhea. So we have that going for us. All this too say, I've been a little down. And you know what, suddenly my mom showed up. In the midst of several things going on in her life and not to mention the fact that I haven't been exactly the little ray of sunshine I am sure she would prefer, she asked me to text her my grocery list, came to my house to bring me them so I didn't have to go out & then took Griffin for the afternoon so Beanie & I could get some rest. I can't tell you how much I needed that. I feel so much better after an afternoon "off". My dad always says, no body loves you like your mom, and he's right. Who else can be there for you like that but your own mom??

My mom has her faults, just like we all do but sometimes I just can't believe how blessed I am to be her daughter. My mom is a gracious host and more generous with her time, talents & possessions than I can believe (when I feel like being selfish and stingy with things I ask myself, WHAT WOULD SUZI DO??). She is great at making people feel special, she is faithful, kind, a shelter for all of her kids. She loves our friends and their kids and their parents for that matter. She makes it to/has made it to as many activities and events over the years as possible, and there have been some real dosies...track meets in the pouring rain & badmitton (Ali:)!!). She's a volunteer, a helper & a good friend. She lives the importance of putting God and then my dad first. Not only that, she has always pushed me to extend to my fullest potential. She made me do and try things I totally didn't want to, and you know what...I liked most of them. She's not my problem solver, but she will pray and help me when I have a problem. She never let me give up on things just because they were hard. She never said, just come home and I will fix this, she always said, you can fix this and I will be there to pray along side of you. She raised me to be independent, to live on my own, to raise my own family in confidence. She let me go knowing that doing so would bless my life. She guided me in to adulthood, but I still love her and need her like a child at heart...and that I know will never change. She does little things for me that bless me all the time, just because...lunch out, water bottles & easy mac at her house stocked up for the boys & the occasional grocery run. I could run out my whole blog with stories and toasts to her.

For now, I will just say this. I am about to become a mom to my 3rd child. I have a lot on my mind about how it's going to go...can I love them all enough?, can I do this?, will it all come together?? I can already hear my mom saying, yes of course you can. And then in the beat of my own heart, I can hear myself saying yes you can, and you have a great example of how to do it. And you can because she gave you all the right tools, love, pushes & shoves where need be & confidence to live out your life the way God planned for you to.

Thanks mom. I really can't tell you how much I love you or how thankful I am to be your daughter.

Monday, February 13, 2012

My 30 year old Valentine...


2.14.12 marks 30 years since this photo...
and since this precious babe was born. Do you know who it is? This is the sweet face of the adorable little love bug, best buddy & husband!
and it just so happens that this little chubby cheeked bundle was born 6 days later (2 weeks late), you aren't surprised are you??
It's me! The future wife of that little boy above! It only took another 19 years for us to meet and spend a birthday together, and we haven't been apart since!

In honor of my hot little hubs 30 years of life I have made a list of 30 "facts" about him! Enjoy!


30. (all about my very own "he")

1. he has ridiculous enthusiasm for the small stuff.

2. he is a jack of all trades, including but not exclusive to pancake making, renovation, fixing anything i break, directions, keeping me from getting too worked up & knowing what it takes to make the us smile!

3. he is geek sheek. he loves super heroes, clothes, off beat yet cool music. (the avett brothers...ohhhhhhhh!!!!)

4. he has a wallet that gets washed way more than any wallet should, because he forgets to take it out of his pocket & I forget to check them before the wash.

5. he helps out with my crazy whim of projects, even when he doesn’t really want to.

6. he loves me even though I forget to put the lid on his toothpaste.

7. he likes to cook & always follows the directions!

8. he does amazing voices, LOVE when he reads to the boys.

9. he is patient beyond the call of duty with this little family, me especially.

10. he loves the packers, and even though this isn’t a redeeming quality to me, he is a true fan.

11. he has however, come around to some chicago sports and we do share a love of the bulls & the cubs.

12. he likes looking at fonts & decorating magazines (& LOTS of manly stuff too!)

13. he loves desserts and is always willing to make and eat them with me.

14. he gets up in the night to get me juice boxes when my sugar goes low without a thought and he will go get my supplies whenever i forget or just can’t go grab them myself.

15. he listens (or at least pretends really good), to all the days’ events that i love to document and tell in great detail, with a smile.

16. he loves the huskers, loves to wear red, and convinced Griffin to feel the same.

17. he prays with me and for me.

18. he is the boys’ favorite playmate and the sound of their wrestles is the best sound.

19. he’s dedicated to us no matter what.

20. he loves the summer and the lake.

21. 10 years ago this valentines day we ate our first piece of cheesecake together (just as friends…haha) for his birthday and we’ve done it every year since. i even attempted key lime cheesecake one year since we were going to florida right after (MAJOR flop) but he still appreciated the gesture!

22. that same year he brought me tulips for my birthday (in attempt to get me to ditch the “just friends” title and it started to work.)

23. that year we also spent easter together and i put a little note in a egg asking him to be my boyfriend, and he saved the paper saying, “I’m gonna show this to our kids one day!” and he will.

24. he is my best friend. i miss him when he leaves every morning for work. seriously.

25. he finds humor in my quirkiness and i find it in his, so we work.

26. he’s always up for an adventure.

27. he loves Jesus first.

28. he knows just how to encourage and coach.

29. he is always up for a party and convinces me I am too!

30. he is the answer to my prayers & the one I am sure God made for me to do life with on earth. life without him isn’t imaginable…there’d be no beat to my song or pumpkin to my pie.

I love you Ryan Patrick Eccleston. Here’s to many many more years of things to love & laugh about. Happy 30th Birthday!

We got to celebrate with some friends and family last weekend and have many happy memories to carry us into the 30's! It's going to be a great decade, we can already tell! 30 and almost 3 kids...so hopefully "3" takes to us well!

Happy Valentines Day 2012!

Love our little buddies,
Griffin, Sawyer & Baby