Mixed Nuts: The Birthday Boy

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Birthday Boy

Today is Mat's birthday. If you asked him, he would tell you he was 29.

The truth? He is 38. 38!! When did 40 suddenly become right around the corner? Next it will be senior citizen discounts, and being forgiven for saying inappropriate things because you are old.

Today we had just a tiny little party because his parents are coming in this weekend to celebrate with him as well. I got him the smallest cake on the planet, and stuck a candle in it and we sang. Kids thought the cake was hysterical.

We gave him his presents, and we had Chipotle for dinner. He wanted to go out, but we had puppy school, so we couldn't. Tommorrow night we will go out to eat at his favorite restaurant. Red Robin. So.sad.

Mat and I have been together since he was 17. 21 years and I can't imagine spending all that time with anyone else. He is the best family man, a hard worker, my best friend.

He is also a guy that now shaves his hair short enough to hide the gray hairs. But that is another story.

How I wish this day was only about happiness with my love and celebrating another healthy wonderful year. But today always marks something else. We lost another Matt this day 9 years ago to a car accident that still haunts us every day. My Godbrother, Matt was killed on his way to student teaching his last year of college. It happened in an instant and his family, and ours, were changed forever.

There isn't a day I don't miss him. There isn't a day that I wish he could meet my kids, and his niece and nephew. I can see him laughing at them and their antics and just being his clever self. He would give them the world's biggest hugs and mean it with every inch of his body. They would have never met anyone sweeter.

I hate that this is all we have left of him is memories. But I know he watches us and watches over us. When I am particularly down about Finley, I have a chat with him and tell him to help us find the peace we need. And he does. I feel it.

And to my Godparents Mary Louise and Chris, who are like parents to me, I hope that over the years our love for them has taken away a little bit of the pain. I hope they know that we will always keep his memory alive.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal"

-unknown