...and mother of the year goes to...

...me.

So last week we had our first big dump of snow. Cali had been so good all day so I thought that she could play in her exersaucer while I went outside for a few minutes to shovel off the walk. I positioned her in front of the storm door so that we could keep on eye on each other while I was outside.

Anyway I was outside happily shoveling as Cali played. Once I was done I walked up to open the storm door. It wouldn’t open, the handle would turn but the latch wouldn’t release. I guess the cold froze it somehow. I freaked out… I didn’t know what to do. I tried prying the door open with my shovel, then I tried with a pen (that’s all I had in my pocket). At this point Cali was ready to see me up close and started to cry.

I ran over to my neighbor’s house, she wasn’t home. Then I thought I would try my friend, Danielle’s 3 blocks away; at one time they had a spare key. I ran there as fast as I could in all my winter gear. I was glad to see that they were home. To my dismay they had recently moved and didn’t know where the key was. Luckily enough Michelle was there too and drove me back to my house while Danielle called a locksmith.

After we arrived Michelle calmly suggested a back window. So I ran around back and ripped the screen off the window. Since we don’t have crank windows I was able to break in. In my state of mental panic I was about ready to jump through the window when Michelle reached inside and unlocked the door.

I ran inside, grabbed Cali and began to sob. I had never been so happy to hold her in all my life, and let me tell you I barely let go of her for two days. Cali was fine, just a little sad. That night Ed replaced the handles on both of the storm doors and bought a keypad for the lock. What a great guy, huh?

I hope that never happens to any of you, but from what it sounds like everyone has a incident like this.

Thank Heaven for good friends!

Last night I was up far too late with some friends sewing Christmas pajamas. I had a great time as we talked. I just thought about how nice it was to talk to people who are going through the same stage of life as you are. Mind you it's also nice to have friends who have "been there" and "done that" so you can get great advice, but honestly realizing that you aren't alone gives a great amount of comfort.

Through the years I have realized that friends do come and go. That's not all bad; I find that God put people in my life when I needed them. We don't have to stay "best friends forever" for that relationship to mean something. I have many friends with whom I have lost all contact, friends who helped me through really though times in my life and taught me great lessons. I look back to those friends and I am so grateful for their presence at that time.

Here is a little story about one of those friends.

My first year of university was so hard for me. I had no idea where my life was headed, there were so many paths to choose and I didn't know which one to take. It seemed like everyone else had it all together; they had a career goal, they knew who they were. I didn't have a clue. One morning I walked to my sociology class and there a notice on the door stating that my class was canceled. I thought "great, I got up for nothing". As I proceeded to walk home, I recognized a girl from my class. I told her that the class was canceled and she felt the same way I did. So I invited her back to my apartment for breakfast. She came back with me and we sat and talked for hours. She was in the same place that I was. We never came to a conclusion or a solution to our problems but it was just nice to know that someone felt the same. Oddly enough I never saw her again, I don't even remember her name; but I will never forget our conversation that day.

When I was younger and would lose contact with friends, I would be so sad. Now I understand that that's all part of life. People are there when we need them, or they need us and we move on. I am just so grateful for all the good friends that I had to help me out after I had Cali. That was really tough on me and I couldn't have done as well as I did if it wasn't for your support and friendship. You know who you are; if we ever lose touch I want you to know that I will never forget how much you helped me.

Thank you all for being my friends! I wouldn't be where I am or who I am without you.