STOLEN ONE BUCKET LIST!!!

My bucket list was stolen!

It appears my bucket list was switched with someone else's. This other crazy person seems to have had doing a half marathon on her list. She must be someone much younger than I am. She has to be in much better physical condition than I am. She must have very different priorities than I do. Seriously, who has running on their list? Who could undervalue their knees like that? She deffinately didnt have "learning how to crochet a granny square on her list" like I did. I bet she eats tofu hotdogs and drinks green smoothies. She is probably not addicted to candy... like I might be.....if I was inclined to like that sort of thing.

Upon further thinking maybe she decided to do this race for a really good reason. Maybe it was in memory of a friend who died young of a terrible disease. Maybe that moved her off the comfy sofa watching Downton Abbey into the gym. Maybe she was eager to connect with a family she loved. What if she had lots of special memories of this family. Memories of lots of sisters of which she had none in her family. A family that always included her in their travels and life stuff while she was growing up. Maybe there was even one really special sister that became her friend during those horrible high school years. What if that sister became her roommate in college and the maid of honor at her wedding? What if one married and raised her family of three daughters on the sunny west coast and the other lived and raised her family of three daughters in the northern forested midwest and they hadn't seen each other in years? Could any of that be reason enough to change a bucket list?

It can. It did. It's tomorrow.

 

Eventually, all good things must come to an end......

Locks of love? ......or love of locks? The sparkling adornment on the bridge looks nice but as we got closer, we could see what was catching the light.

They are all padlocks! With names on them, keys thrown into the Seine....forever locking a couples love. In 2010 all the locks were cut off....you can see how well that turned out. Go love!

Other moments:

Favorite Easter guy's outfit.

Another Paris fashion statement. The socks make the outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul has found a new business. A store that only sells "balls." in Paris. The balls cover little light strands and sell for about $30.00. And this store can make a go of it? Of course he would have to change the name, perhaps, "Paul's balls?"

Not only the most awesome mullet. But a dred mullet. To his waist. Awesome.

And from where he was standing and we were eating dinner, it was as if we were all dining together.

Sights so breathtaking Paul was inspired to get out his camera!

Easter! And the first time I have ever seen the front of Notre Dame when not under scaffolding!

We spent Easter afternoon at my favorite museum along with most people from France.

A free Motzart concert at cathedral in St. Germain......another crepe, another chocolate, and another euro.....

And that was the end of two wonderful days.

Paul wants everyone who makes fun of him for pintrest to know that he found this bridge on there last week.

Good thing he is a pintrerster or we may have missed it!

 

Happy Birthday Sweet Caroline!

 

Today is my sweet Caroline's birthday. I am sad that I won't get to share it with her. The years when the kids were little we would be on spring break during her birthday week and we would always be able to celebrate with our family and friends. Most years when she was little we would go to Colorado. When spring skiing adult lift tickets were 10$ each. It was awesome. We would pick the kids up from school and drive through the night until one of the kids threw up. That was our que to stop. It was a lovely tradition.

In fact every year when C was really little we went skiing. It was the only place we went. I fully realized this one year when someone asked her " when will you turn four" and she answered them, " at Breckenridge." She didn't think she could have a birthday anywhere else. Because she never had.

So today we will all celebrate her .....but not gathered around the same table singing happy birthday. That would be my first choice. Happy birthday sweet daughter of mine! I love you to the moon! We are so thankful for you and the joy you have brought into our lives! We hope you have a wonderful day!

 

 

An Amazing Mother's Day

  Since my geographically closest child lives in the cities I went there for Mother's day.  (Actually, I went for several reasons but the location part remains true) and  I was treated to heart shaped pancakes for breakfast as we planned our day.

We decided to go to Piper's downtown campus for church and then head to the Guthrie and pick up "rush" tickets for "Midsummer Night's Dream."  That has been one of our favorite plays from school days.  I think the kids can all still remember their lines.

Everything goes as planned.  We wait in line....a slow going line that inches up every few minutes.  The three of us enjoy visiting as we wait.  After about 20 minutes a woman comes up to us and asks if we are here for Mother's day.  We are a bit startled at the question and look at her with one of those tilted head pauses while we replay the question in our heads.  "Yes," we  answer.  We are here for mother's day.  It is then I notice a young boy in a t-shirt behind her. He is slowly inching his way backward away from all of us  as he steps in retreat.  

The woman then reveals in her hand a long chain of tickets.  As she unfolds them she tells us, "I was coming here with my sister and mother for Mother's day.  My mom died a few months ago.  My sister and I just can't go without her.  We are still too sad.  Will you please take these tickets and enjoy the show?  Think of Elaine."  We are speechless.  We girls then burst into tears and give her a hug and thank her. We tell her how sorry we are and then thank her again. In a moment we see her walk out the door with the young boy running to catch up behind her.  She never looked back.

We stood frozen for a few moments and then looked down at the tickets.  The tickets were main floor, $54.00 each.  We realize she must have watched the line for some time to choose a group of three to give the tickets to.  We realize she had to come down to the theater to give them to someone.  We realize she could have just let them sit unused.  We realize she could have turned them back into the box office.  We realize she blessed us through her sadness and tragedy.  How amazing is that.  

It was a great show.  Our seats were wonderful.  Thank you sweet lady.  I hope I never forget what gift you shared with us that day.  It was so much more than the tickets.