"Why Did I Get Married?"


I have to laugh because honestly, I'm not asking that question! I wrote awhile back about the Tyler Perry (hunka hunka burning love) movie, "Why Did I Get Married?" and said that it truly has become one of my favorites. I get Tyler Perry, his humor, his sensitivity, his everything! I am his everything...sorry, I digress! lol Ok, I'm not going to go into the movie, just see it for yourself.

Two things though- My friend, Amy, went to see it and then reported to me that she did like it but that it was hard to watch one of the actors in it because we know him and he was so mean in it! I had seen the movie 4 times and never noticed it but we do know Richard T. Jones! The funny story is that his wife, Nancy & I have been friends for several years now. I know their 4 kids and even watched their youngest son while Nancy would gather up the kids from school! Too funny, huh? I never knew that he was an actor! I remember a meeting at school where he & Nancy came and I whispered in Nancy's ear, "I'm in love with your husband!" She assumed that I had seen him on "Judging Amy" and the many other jobs he had done but I had not...I was just thinking he was a gorgeous man and I wanted one! When I finally found out that he was an actor, I told Nancy and she laughed and said she had to tell him that I didn't know and that I just thought he was hot! She said he would just eat that up and love it. So she told him and now every time I see him he just smiles and winks at me until I turn beet red! Hmmm... I wonder if Nancy would be offended that I have a photo of Richard in my closet...along with one of Usher without a shirt on! lol

Second thing- In the movie there is one scene where Richard's character has just openly admitted to her at a full dinner table that he is divorcing her and that he has been cheating on her! In a later scene she goes to a snowy mountain top with Lamann Rucker (my hero of the movie) where she is crying and venting but she is also wearing the cutest scarf & hat! I am all about doing things NOW and not procrastinating, so while I was on vacation in Monterey a few weeks ago...I made the scarf! A friend's mom at church is going to make me the hat so I'll be set- now all I need is Lamann and I'll be set! lol

Open Your Eyes To A Gift...Sunrise/Sunset

I always pride myself that I am one of the early birds as far as getting my taxes done! Every February (usually by my birthday on the 4th) Shea & I wake up, get ready and leave for our drive out to Santa Maria. I know, I know...why do I drive out to Santa Maria? Quite frankly, Jeffrey has done my taxes for over 25 years and if anything, I am loyal. Over the years it has become more of a "family visit" than just having my financial security set for another year. We start out by a Jerry's Deli stop to pick up Jeffrey's order (they don't have Jerry's up North) then enjoy the 2+ hour drive- listening to music, laughing, talking and taking in the beautiful sunrise! After visiting with Jeffrey & Ruby, getting our business done and watching them enjoy their lunch, Shea & I take off further North to go to have our "favorite" lunch at the Madonna Inn! This year I had a beef dip and Shea had a hot roast beef...We're in love, what can I say? Hey, ranch dressing with my fries...makes me hungry just thinking about it! We brought Phyllis (Mrs. Madonna) a pretty, mini rose plant and left her a cute Valentine's card. We love her so very much. As we drove home, my Cookie fell sound asleep. As I was listening to my favorite CD of all time, Luther Vandross, I noticed that the sun was about to set. So I pulled off the freeway, woke my Shea up and got the camera out. As her eyes slowly opened and she asked me what I was doing, I just pointed at the gorgeous sunset and said, "Look Sweetie, makes you know that God is near, huh?" She just smiled and nodded in agreement.

There is so much that we concern ourselves over yet God still makes our sun rise and set every day without fail.

The next time I get stressed out, I'm going to remember that!

Each week my church has a "joke of the week" in the bulletin- I couldn't help but think this one was especially for ME! lol

Three Hymns

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns.

After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in the offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate.

And there sat our "AD" all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns.

Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three most handsome men in the building and said, "I'll take him and him and him!"

Our Birthdays 2008


Shea had her 13th birthday on January 22nd...a couple of weeks later on February 4th I had my 44th. A month before Shea's birthday, I saw an ad in the paper that Kool & The Gang would be playing a concert in Valencia...only problem was that they were playing on Shea's birthday! A stinkin' Tuesday night, who would have guessed??? Dang it...but Shea wouldn't mind "switching" birthdays this year, right? After all, it's just a day, right? Not that big of a deal, right? WRONG! When I asked Shea if we could just switch birthdays this year, let's just say that she wasn't real thrilled about the whole idea. We discussed it several times before I just threw up my arms and said, "Just forget it!" But since I am the "Mom" after all, I bought the tickets anyway! I broke the news to her and gave her the choice of going with me or doing something with her Dad or Grandma & Grandpa. Whatever her decision would be...I was going to the concert with or without her. Now before you go thinking that I am a mean mom...I never do stuff like that and I usually always give in but not this time. After all, Kool & The Gang have been one of my favorite bands since high school. I'm happy to report that Shea did decide to go and we had the best night! I didn't realize that we had front row tickets so we got up close and personal with the whole band! The lead singer even held my hand and I danced with him while the crowd went wild! Y'all know how I can love on those singers! I swear they look for me every time. I was singing every word to every song and he just came right to me! "Come to Mommy!" To make the night even better, he also took Shea up on stage (birthday crown & all) while "Happy Birthday" played in the background and she danced in front of the whole audience! She does love the stage but more than that, the stage loves her! On our drive home she said to me, "Mom, that was the best birthday ever!" My response was, "See Cookie, I may be the Mommy but I can still rock it out!"

What did we do on my birthday (which was really Shea's birthday choice) you ask? We went to Disneyland & Goofy's Kitchen with Hayley girl, of course! Hayley & Shea still made me wear the birthday crown that day. The Disney employee who gave me my birthday button guessed my age to be 27! Damn, they are good!

A local church always has the cutest sayings on their marquee out front...

"Aspire to inspire before you expire!"

Right On!!!

Life

Gosh! It's been awhile since I have stopped to write in my blog. I have an ongoing list that I keep with all that I want to write about but I just haven't taken the time to do it. Honestly, it could be that it's basketball season and I don't ever want to a miss a game! lol It's been a rough few months. Many issues with life in general. Lots of things that need to be worked out and yet today I realized something...I'm so much better off than most people out there. Shea & I continue to do our children book donations to the area hospitals and we were also able to distribute new slippers to the patients as well. Our church acquired a large number of brand new slippers that they had no use for so I grabbed them up knowing that I could make good use of them for my patients. Today as Shea & I drove to City Of Hope in Duarte, laughing & listening to our music...we stepped out of the car and it hit me! Shea was wearing her pink Laker hat (most people wearing hats there are going through chemotherapy) and went to the back of the car to help me get the 2 huge bags full of slippers out when I realized that I was there only as a giver. Most of the people that were also there are either patients themselves or with a family member who has cancer. How blessed I am, even with the "shit" that happens in our lives that I am on the end that I am. I have a healthy & happy daughter who was able to lift the heavier of the two bags and walk them in with me. My visit today really kicked my butt back into the right perspective that I needed. I was feeling confused, worried, & blue...now I'm energized, hopeful, encouraged and very clear!