One more day...

There is this breathtaking song by an old country group, Diamond Rio. The title is One More Day. I've always loved this song from the very first time I heard it. It was in 2000 and I instantly thought of her. I'm sure it was intended to be a song written for lovers, yet I thought about the woman who shaped the life of my mom...the woman I was named after.

I lost her in my late teens and to be honest it was such a crummy time in my life over the break up of a high school boyfriend that I took for granted the last moments I had with her. I was too focused on the loss of a ridiculous relationship to focus on what was fading before my very eyes.

I have so many fond memories of her. Our weekends together introduced me to lovely things like piano and coffee. Flowers and the pain that comes from "pickin your own switch." I can close my eyese and take a deep breath and I'm THERE...with my sister Sherry. We are watching Heehaw (which she'd never probably admit to!) I can hear her voice even now "Auther you make those girls some coffee (now let's be clear it was mostly warm milk and lots of sugar but there was a teaspoon or two of coffee and HEY THAT COUNTS!) I remember watching her take her long her out of her bun and brush it for what seemed like forever.

I have to wonder now, what would my dear Grandma Lahti think of me now. There are so many things that we would disagree on quite frankly but wow I am so like her. Stubborn, strong, grounded. What I wouldn't give, especially today as my birthday approaches to have one more day. To have her know me as an adult, better yet as a Christian Woman...as a mom. Oh to have her meet my girls.

"Grandma, I would hold you EVERY second and say a million I love you's...that's what I do, with one more day with you."

You can watch the Diamond Rio video here.

The Woman behind the Legend...

Today is her birthday. Most women cringe at the thought of mentioning their age but not her. She's never been one to cringe at the thought of anything...well, I take that back. She hates the thought of losing somebody she loves. But anything else, there is always courage. No fear, no backing down. Today, she is 54 and she's beautiful. Take a look for yourself...My Momma...

I will start this post by saying blogging comes up often in my conversations with my mom. I haven't posted anything in FOREVER. I'm just too busy but it's one of the things she loves most, reading. And for some reason, she loves reading what I have to say, so here is my gift to her. I will resurrect my blog...for her. It seems a small price to pay for all the many sacrifices she has made for me over my lifetime.

My mom is by no means a Saint. She has lived a hard life and paid a very high price for it. She has made a lot of mistakes and I'm sure shed a lot of tears because of those mistakes so please don't read this and think for one second that I place her on some type of pedastool. Believe me, if I even attempted to, she climbed down quick, take me out back, make me "pick my own switch" and get down to the business at hand! She was afterall, raised by Leah Lahti!

However, even in her mistakes she has taught me a lot. She raised four of us essentially on her own and I love knowing that with all of our ups and downs, successes and failures, she looks at the four of us and smiles. She sees success in all of us. She finds pleasure in the small things.

I love that in the last year or so, my mom and I have found restoration, healing. I love that God showed me a part of my heart that was closed off to Him and to her and forced me to open it up. He came in with a broom and dustpan. He cleaned it up and cleaned it out and now there is something beautiful there where something cluttered and dusty used to lay.

My mom has taught me that through it all, even the darkest night, love will shine through. She also shown me that blood may be thicker than water but love is thicker than blood. When you love somebody, THAT is all that matters. It's not the bloodline that runs through your veins or the heritage that runs in your name.

Diane taught me the importance of being a giver, even when you think you have nothing to give, you ALWAYS have the shirt on your back because there is somebody out there who is worse off than you. She showed me the value of the dollar and how to not let money be my master.

I am proud of the woman she is today. I'm proud of the person she still strives to be.

Happy Birthday Mom...I love you.

And a child shall lead them...

Backdrop - Moe & Pediatrician at 4 year check up.

Pediatrician - draws a "t" and asks Moe, "do you know what letter this is?"

Moe: "mmm, yep."

Pediatrician: "What's the letter?"

Moe: "it's not a letter, it's a cross."

Pediatrician: "Oh, okay, you are right but what letter is it?"

Moe: "it's a cross.."

Pediatrician: "what letter does it look like?"

Moe: feeling un-heard, "It's a CROSS...Jesus died on it for MY SINS and YOUR SINS!"

Pediatrician: "Umm, okay, sweetie but what letter is it?"

Moe: Rolls her eyes, "if you turn it sideways, it's an "x" but that is a cross, okay?"

Well, alrighty then...Mommy wasn't sure whether to laugh at her child being cute or cry at her child's ability to witness to a doctor. Don't try to tell her where she can and can't preach her faith!

Happy Birthday sweet girl, you will do amazing things for our Lord and Savior.

Peace Out!

Watch out Thunderfoot...Moe's comin' for your job, Dude!

Moe celebrates her 4th birthday this week while Mommy & Daddy are on a cruise to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.

So, Uncle JJ & Aunt Tata decided to give her birthday gift to her tonight...what can you say but

THANKS!!! (and revenge is painful!)

Enjoy ;0)



Peace Out!

I Want to Go to There!!!!


Thanks to my brother-n-law, Jason, I have finally been able to determine my official retirement spot.



Watch CBS Videos Online


All I can say is, I want to go to there (~Liz Lemon, 30Rock)

Peace Out!

I Stand Amazed...

I know it's been a while but a lot has changed in this chick's life over the last few weeks. I recently decided to go back to work. Shocking I know, but it seemed like the right time and a position was available at my church doing the job I've been volunteering to do for over a year now so...I jumped!

I can totally feel God's presence through all of this but that is not to say that there aren't a few adjustments but hey I'll get there.

So back to the blog post...

I'm not sure if you are a Christian or not but I am and I will admit that sometimes I feel totally alone when I am out there in the big, bad world. I take a look around at school mom's/dad's and people in the grocery stores and on the road and I just get a sense of sadness. It's so cliche, but I find myself asking, "What is this world coming to?" Whenever I start to feel that way, it will generally be followed by something amazing to remind me that while the world may "be going to hell in a handbasket" (as the saying goes) God is still in control. He is STILL ON THE THRONE! And let's just be honest here, I know how the story ends...HE WINS! Satan, sorry but GAME OVER!

This week I received two of those blessings. First, for Christmas, Other Guy and some of my closest friend's hubbies went in together and bought us all tickets for the Chris Tomlin concert. We have all been patiently awaiting February 3rd and let's just say it was AMAZING! To take a look around the Sprint Center and see thousands of people with hands raised high, pouring out their heart's in song, crying, laughing...but most importantly WORSHIPPING GOD!!! Can I get a Hallelujah???? I had a great time, I can't even remember the last time I laughed that hard. I loved being with my sista's and their hubbies. I loved looking down the dinner table and seeing the menfolk laugh and share just like we womenfolk were doing at the other end of the table. My favorite part of the night was singing the part in the song Indescribable, "You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same! You are amazing God!" Over and over we sang that line with the beat of the drums getting stronger each time. Oh thank you Father for knowing me, for knowing the depth of my heart and loving me still!!! You truly are amazing God!!!

As if that wasn't enough to set your week on the right path...yesterday, our staff gathered 'round the table in the conference room for breakfast. A lovely member of the congregation made a mac daddy breakfast for us and delivered it! Now people, I'm not talking about dropping off donuts...OH NO! This was the full spread and I will admit that the diet was broken in a very bad way yesterday. (don't worry, it's back on today!)

During the partaking of this glorious food, one of the minister's told our senior pastor that he had a flat tire. Oh no! Tim got up from his chair, took a look out the window and then sat back down. WHAT? No freaking out? (that's what I would have been doing) No rushing out to fix it? (that's what I would have done) No calling somebody to come fix it? (that's what I would have done if I couldn't fix it) He simply sat back down and finished his breakfast. Oh, okay I get it...finish eating the freak out, fix it, call somebody...

Once again, no go. When I questioned him, he simply stated that he would not let that interfere with his study time and prayer time. He said (and I am paraphrasing here) "I have to make a daily choice to protect the things that mean the most to me. Otherwise, there will always be something to take me away from what is important. The car will be there at the end of the day, the flat tire will be there...I will just borrow some body's car to have lunch with my daughter and fix it later!"

Seriously, did I just hear that correctly!? I had to fight my own desire to go out there and fix it myself because that's who I am, that's what I do! Boy howdy, what does that say about me? I simply told him that he had amazing will power and then we went about our day.

Oh Lord, give me not only that will power but that desire to always put you first! To never allow outside things take away your attention, your praise, your time!

Well, that's it...for now.

Peace Out!

REALLY?!? with Marie King

There is a skit done on SNL's Weekend Update titled Really and it's pretty funny...it's one of the first thing I thought about when I saw something on the news last night. So here goes...

REALLY??!!!!, REALLY???!!!

The porn industry, yes ladies and gents, I said the PORN INDUSTRY has officially asked the US Government for a FIVE BILLION DOLLAR BAIL OUT!

I'm sorry did I fall asleep and wake up on some whacked out island where the world is totally going to pot? REALLY???!!! REALLY???!!

Mr. Flynt, and I use the word MR very loosely, what are you thinking, REALLY!!!????

Oh, I'm sorry, what was that, "with the economy being so bad apparently the last thing on people's mind is sex!" REALLY, REALLY!!!??? Oh poor baby!

And that's a problem WHY??? My hope is that your industry would crumble along with the mansion that it has put you in. I hope we rise up as a nation and say NO MORE..REALLY!!!!

I hope your company (& others like it) totally go belly up with no hope of ever making a come back...REALLY!!!!

And to our good ole U S of A government, you will have reached an all time low if you even consider giving these scum bags one cent of tax payers money...REALLY!!!!

Peace Out!