2009 already???

Wow, I can't believe that it's 2009 already, and not only that, but February!!! Life here in the cold windy city continues to be fast paced, which I like! Nannying, hanging out with friends, shopping, dinning, wedding planning for a friend, working at Peek-A-Boutique on Saturdays, etc, etc, etc, keep me busy! Hawaii is around the corner, departing Feb. 12th with a couple good friends is going to make for a FAB little break! Warmth and sunshine. I can't wait!! The snow is lovely and I love it, but it does get tiring after a bit! I've seen a few sparrows and robins, so I'm hoping that Spring is around the riverbend! Here's a pic of the girls. They are growning and getting soo big! Lilli is 5 now and knows it all :) and will be in Kindergarten (gulp!) this fall after a fun sumer thats going to be filled with days at the pool and bike rides. And Bella is 14 months going on 14 years, smiles 24-7, figured out "child-proof" locks within hours of Jared putting them on, and has uncontrollable curly hair! Any suggestions would be great! I've also started a little side business with a girlfriend, making baby/toddler headbands! Yes, I know, something else! It's been so fun, and we are hoping to sale them at the boutique that I work at! Ok, back to nannying duties, Pray all's well with you and you are savoring the "New" year!

"When the sand runs out..."

I spent the morning at an old friend's graveFlowers and 'Amazing Grace', he was a good manHe spent his whole life spinning his wheelsNever knowing how the real thing feelsHe never took a chance or took the time to danceAnd I stood there thinking, as I said goodbyeToday is the first day of the rest of my lifeI'm gonna stop looking back and starting moving onLearn how to face my fearsLove with all of my heart, make my markI wanna leave something hereGo out on a ledge, without any netThat's what I'm gonna be aboutYeah, I wanna be runningWhen the sand runs outCause people do it everydayPromise themselves they're gonna changeI've been there, but I'm changing from the inside out That was then and this is nowI'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new manAnd when they carve my stone, they'll write these words"Here lies a man who lived life for all that it's worth"I'm gonna stop looking back and starting moving onAnd learn how to face my fearsLove with all of my heart, make my markI wanna leave something hereGo out on a ledge, without any netThat's what I'm gonna be aboutYeah, I wanna be runningWhen the sand runs outAnd as the cold wind blows across the graveyardI think I hear the voice of my old friend, whisper in my earI'm gonna stop looking back and start moving onAnd learn how to face my fearsLove with all of my heart and make my markI wanna leave something hereGo out on a ledge, without any netThat's what I'm gonna be aboutYeah, I wanna be runningWhen the sand runs outI wanna be running When the sand runs outYes I do, mmm

She went home....

For anyone who knew her...Grandma Roth went home on Friday afternoon. She is now in a new, painfree body, singing, dancing (hey-one can dream!), and mingling with others who we've lost over the years...one thing she was looking forward to...being re-united with her one true love, and meeting her birth mom. I take peace in knowing she's better...If any of you are in the area and are able to attend the service, it'll be at Sweet Home Church of Christ on 18th and Long at 2:00pm on Friday, July 25th...Thank you for the tiny and big ways you blessed her life!

Bibidibopidiboo

(prepare yourselves...this is a long one) Sometimes life runs so outta control that just for a second you wish that you could borrow that magic wand from the Fairy GodMother and say those magic words...Bibidibobidiboo...then I start to think of all that I would miss in those few seconds. What if I hadn't used the wand, how would this or that situation turned out? For the better or for the worse? I guess that for right now, I will just sit back and watch Cinderella use the wand and enjoy the "betters" and "worst" that happen here and there. Thankfully more "betters" than the other. While driving somewhere the other day, cruising along with the windows down and the music blaring, a song came on that I'd heard before, but not really thought about...it's by Trace Adkins and it's titled, "You're Gonna Miss This". Here are the lyrics in case you're not familiar with it:

She was staring out the window of their SUV
Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me. 
I've got 2 babies of my own. 
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

Of course it was the chorus that kept repeating itself in my head. I do find myself at times, more lately than usual, looking back and wishing that life would just slow down. That we could savour our cherished moments just a moment longer. Here's a few things that I was thinking I wish hadn't gone by so fast...

• High School-yes, even though I was the poodle with big glasses, I wish that I had known to nurture my friendships more and not take them so for-granted. I wish that I had paid attention more in classes. All classes for that matter! Mostly Business, as a couple years ago, our Business teacher died of cancer and won't make it to our class reunion. Sad. 
• Family-though it was cold, and though it was early, I wish that I had gotten my lazy butt outta bed and gone out and fed cows, moved cows, branded cows, or bailed hay. Those are moments that I could have built more memories with family...I am SO thankful for the memories that I do have. I wish that I had spent more time with Dan and Katie in Latvia. I really didn't think that it'd be 8 years later, and I wouldn't have returned to visit. This list could go on and on....
• College - if you went to college with me and you are reading this, you are going to laugh...I wish that I would have stayed up later. Though a late night owl now, I wasn't then, hitting the bed as early sometimes as 7:30! What was I thinking???? Thanks to those who often tried to keep me out past that bedtime, and I apologize and ask for forgiveness to those whose heads I bit off if you weren't being quiet enough..sorry
• Any kids that I've taught/played with/crossed paths with...I wish that I'd listened to you more when you were trying to tell me something. I wish that I'd asked more questions instead of doing all the talking. I wish that I'd savored your little "funny" moments more, tickled more, laughed more, played more and had you sit in time-outs less. 
• And last that I'm going to write about, but not last on my list...love. I wish that I hadn't put myself out there in loving the opposite sex so many times just to come back a little more broken each time. I've been thinking about that phrase, "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"... In what context was this written? Love as in relationship love with the opposite sex? Cause I have "loved". I have poured out love to family, friends and kids. I feel as if I could die tomorrow knowing that I have loved. Some I have lost. Some friendships I have poured love into are no more. Some kids I have poured love into don't have a clue who I am when I run up to them and say "Hi!" And sometimes that feels like a lost. So I do agree with that statement in that context. I don't think that I agree with it in the LOVE (passion, desire, attraction to the opposite sex) sense. Why would you want to go through the rest of your life trying to mend and mend and mend a broken heart? Yeah, you "get over it" with time, but you never really "get over it", know what I mean? It still lingers in the heart. A friend of mine told me that 6 months is long enough. Long enough to sulk, long enough to cry, long enough to hear that song and fall apart, like your chest is being ripped from you with a knife, and you can't breathe, and you feel like you're going to throw up. 6 months. Is that really long enough? Yes she said. Have a "Goodbye ________" party! Make it an occasion! Burn pictures! Burn memories! This sounds harsh! I don't know if I'm into that whole idea, but I am into "getting over it". Shoving it into the backest, deepest part of my mind and heart so that when I do hear that song or see that picture, I don't become sick. I'm thinking, "Better to not have loved than to mend a broken heart."

Ok, off of that heavy subject! I'm wanting to close up this blog...I have to work tomorrow. Yes, it is Sat, and no, it's not babysitting. I decided that I'm not "busy" enough, so I took a Sat. job! It's at this CUTE baby/kids boutique in Northbrook. Yes, I put an alcoholic in a liquor store! One of these Sats. I'll bring home a paycheck! Check out the website if you get time...www.peek-a-boutique.com. 

Lilli and Isabella are growing, it's incredible. Bella is crawling and just our little ball of constant joy, I'm not kidding! Smiles and laughs 24-7. Lilli is GREAT at being a big sister from running and getting diapers to feeding her while I make our lunch. She's the best! I'll download some pics of them soon! Paxton Bailey will also be downloaded soon. I did his 1 month and they turned out great! For now, I'm off to catch some zzzzz's-Sweet Dreams!

the long awaited return of.....

"rebeccasdailyramblings!!!" coming tonight.......stay tuned!

Need 5 minutes from you, please!

So, Florida was great! I'll get pics up soon, I promise!

So, here's what I need....I wrote a while back about the nursery that I helped my girlfriend, Jessica with...well...it's loosing it's rated status as a 4.3, and I need to get it back up there! So, if you have 5 minutes, which we all do, right?! Please go to:

1. (to highlight, double click on: http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com/SNC/viewitem.aspx?pguid=6db6be3f-1720-4ba3-a081-999042c09b6b&itemGuid=bf9f4bd9-cf54-4163-bc89-b6017d8f8316
2. copy, and paste in a new browser
3. sign up as a member...they wont haunt you, i promise! I signed up 2 months ago, and haven't gotten a single email from them.
4. and rate accordingly....of course, I'm humbly looking for 5 stars, but your honest opinion matters too!
5. feel free to pass on to others!
   
6. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
   

Off and running....

Off and running to......Florida! We are headed to Key Biscayne for a much needed vacation. Kim's sister, husband and kids just left, and my head is still ringing, so many kids, so little space, so much noise! I think that's the highest my stress level has been in a while-but, I did have fun! Anyway, if you get a chance, check out our residence while we are on vacation at: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/KeyBiscayne/Default.htm
It's beyond beautiful. The weather is supposed to be somewhat rainy, but I'm PRAYING that it changes it's mind! Alrighty, off to finish packing the girls, SO exciting!!!