Twenty Four

24 is sweeter than 23
Because I am one year older.
And every moment that adds
to my age in this life
Brings me closer and
closer
to your heart
How I love your heart.
So each second
each day
each year
is a little happier than the last.
I watch them pass
and I watch us grow
and I find that we are 

ever so much more
in love
than we were
when I was only 23.
24 is sweeter than 23
Because you make it so.

   

(My birthday was a special one. My presents included…
cozy flannel sheets, an old fashioned map of North America,
some classic books I've been desperately wanting, a delicious home made dinner… 

and tickets to see the Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical!!!!!!!!)

 

7 AM Opening. Day Spent in Pajamas. Red Raspberry Smoothies.
Apple Wellness Black Friday Sale. Many Customers. Day with husband.  

Chipotle dinner. Happy wishes. Pretty presents. Green and Orange Balloons.

Birthday Number 24. Apple Monthly Anniversary Number 5. 

Twice the reason to celebrate.

Perfect Birthday Day.

*Timmy and I skipped Thanksgiving to celebrate my birthday yesterday. 

More on my fun Timmy surprises and presents later…*

I am the happiest girl that ever lived, 

because I am married to the happiest boy that ever lived 

– because he is lucky enough to be married to me. 

(At least that is how Timmy explains it.)

 

And this week is my Happy Birthday Week, 

on account of my birthday being this coming Friday. 

In celebration, Timmy has been showering me with sweet surprises. 

 

So far, I've gotten a surprise visit at work (my favorite), 

a surprise raspberry smoothie for lunch (three days in a row), 

a surprise gift of the game Jenga 

(which I have been wanting for months and months), 

a surprise painting of a pretty girl in a pink coat in London, 

a surprise smoothie cup from Starbucks,

a surprise meal from Chipotle,

and a surprise living room full of 24 colorful balloons!

So you see, 

I am the happiest girl that ever lived, 

because I am almost 24 years old 

and married to the cutest, sweetest, most darling boy that ever lived, 

and he is married to me. 

(That's how I explain it.)

(Tomorrow I get my great big birthday surprise. 

Timmy is very good at surprises…)

Business Busy-ness

Some things we've been up to…

 

I was commissioned to design two "guy-like" retirement cards. 

With "manly" color variations. (Guys designs are a little boring.)

Apple Wellness began it's sponsorship of Life 102.5, a local radio station.
It makes my stomach flip flop to hear our name mentioned
on the radio!

The Apple Wellness Black Friday sale is coming soon:

I designed a new brochure for Care Net:

(Front)                                            (Back)

(Inside Spread)

Business is busy,

but we kinda sorta love it.

Home.

 

My parents' house will always be the place I call Home. 

It remains my little haven in the middle of a forest, 

and the feelings that emanate from this place have not changed, 

despite my absence as an occupant. 

Every time I return, I slip easily into my place of Daughter, 

ready to step on familiar carpeting and sink into spaces I know by heart. 

The very walls of the house seem to send forth memory echoes  

of childish laughter, still finding a place to linger. 

They belong to my memories, and there they will stay. 

Nooks and closets smile with old secrets that were once shared within their corners, 

and the air is full of a very special, comfortable sort of feeling. 

Everything is good, and life is at one of its happiest points, 

when we are Home. 

 

My parents built the physical walls of our house, 

as well as the spiritual foundation of our lives. 

It is all their doing, this Home they have created. 

To be with them is to be loved, and with their company comes 

consciousness of protection and wisdom and joy. 

Home is where they are. 

  

And Home has expanded to envelop another heart. 

Timmy belongs at Home, just as I do, 

because he was always meant to find his place as a part of our family. 

He fits into Son without squeezing, 

and his presence has become irreplaceable within this circle of love.

We're all best friends here.

My adult mind has long ago confirmed 

 a sneaking childhood suspicion 

that my parents are truly exceptional in every aspect.

 

(This past weekend was what we called Snuggle Weekend, and had been starred on our calendars for months. Timmy and I spent the entire weekend basking in Mom and Dad love.

About a year ago, Dad built a little cabin across the creek for us girlies to stay in when we come Home to visit, and the four of us spent most of the weekend snuggled in the cabin, making breakfast on an old wood stove, playing games, doing puzzles, eating yummy Mom-made treats, and sitting in candlelight, just talking. 

 (Eggs. Gross.)

It was, as Timmy would say it, "One of the best weekends OF MY LIFE!" And the rest of us, I think, would agree. When Mom, Dad, Tim, and Becki are all at Home, magic happens.)

Hawaii Diaries: Polynesian Cultural Center

(Originally Written by Timmy, November 16, 2009)

Today I played the drums on stage

at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

I rocked.

Hawaii Diaries: Above the Clouds

 

November 19, 2009 (written by Tim)

Good morning, good morning! 

That is what I said this morning, eagerly looking forward 

to our last hours at the most amazing hotel I have ever stayed in! 

God really blessed us with that. 

We packed up mighty early and were off to catch our flight. 

We were on a much smaller plane where Becki felt even less safe. Unfortunately the plane hit some turbulence that was strong enough to shake everyone up. My favorite thing to do on plane rides is to comfort my honey and sing to her. Becki is my delicate flower. We drove into Maui ready to conquer and fairly quickly headed up a 10,000 foot mountain!! 

We were above the clouds, and it was breathtaking. 

Going down, I got to be in neutral for 60 out of 61 minutes. 

It was exhilarating. 

I kept enough speed around turns to keep going 

but slow enough not to scare my honey. 

November 19, 2009 (written by Becki)

Today we drove up Mt. Haleakala! 

10,000 feet! It was enchanting. 

One of my favorite things Timmy has ever said to me was, 

as we were driving up, 

"I knew I would drive off into the clouds with you someday." 

He is the sweetest boy.

Hawaii Diaries: The Seven Sacred Pools

(originally written November 21, 2009) 

Today we drove down The Road to Hana, (a 10 hour round-trip drive)  

and to the Seven Sacred Pools.  

Quite disappointing. 

I think I was expecting something a little more pool-like 

and a lot more fabulous.

First of all, there are more than seven – 

more like The Twenty Three Sacred Pools. 

But I guess that doesn’t sound as magical.

Also, it’s kind of hard to tell where one pool ends and another begins, 

so it really resembles more of a stream with little circular pockets here and there. 

 (is this one of the seven pools?)

We drove an extra 3 hours to swim in those Seven (Twenty Three) Sacred Pools, 

because it SOUNDED oh so romantic, 

despite the fact that our trusty Frommer’s guide book warned us 

they weren’t worth the trip. 

When we got there, we were immediately greeted 

with “Danger!” and “Warning!” signs, 

followed by pinned up newspaper clippings, 

detailing horrific stories of tourists who met their death while swimming in the pools. 

These traumatic instances were due to flash floods that came suddenly 

– without warning - 

and whisked those poor souls out to sea. 

The entrance to the ocean is especially rocky and rough in this area. 

And, it is guarded by man eating sharks. (Or so the sign says.) 

Their bodies were never found. 

(The narrative hinted at the likelihood of the man eating sharks 

having something to do with that.) 

 (rough ocean)

You will understand then, why the romance 

surrounding the Seven Sacred Pools quickly died in my heart.

Timmy and I were in and out of the smallest, 

most easily accessible “pool” in less than five minutes. 

Then we took an hour long nap, safe in our car. 

That may have been the best part of the entire experience. 

The Seven Sacred Pools are bo-ring

and could be hazardous to your wellbeing.

Spread the word.