Happy Birthday Mommy

Dear Mommy,

Once again, I found myself the other day thinking that I needed to get you a card to send for your birthday and then I remembered that I didn't need to.  And yes that made me sad.  But this year it's a different kind of sad.

I am sad that I don't get to call and sing you Happy Birthday or better yet buy you a cake and sing to you in person.  And yes, I said buy.  You know, I can't cook.  Well, I am not a bad baker, I seem to have no problem making sweets.  But a cake made by me would not look as pretty as one that I could buy.   But I am thankful that I can at least bake.   Maybe it's that sweet tooth that I have always had.   I blame you for that one.   But that's okay.  We both have a deep love for anything chocolate or sweet for that matter.

But I am also sad because there is so much going on in my life right now.  I am sad because I can't pick up the phone and tell you all about how I have fallen in love and that there's this really great guy who has fallen in love with me too.

I am sad because earlier this week when I introduced B to Daddy, I so wanted you to be at the table too.

But then I think back and remember that you have met B.  You met him back in 2010.  It was you that convinced me to look at one more apartment complex.

It was you that encouraged me to take a tour, even though I thought the apartment was out of my price range.    And that tour was led by this tall and handsome guy named B.   It was you that kept telling me that B was flirting with me.  It was you that encouraged me to sign the lease once B told me about this great deal that made this apartment cheaper then the one I thought I was going to rent.   And it was you that would send me packages so that I would have to go to the apartment office to pick them up.  It was you that encouraged me to go to the social events that the complex held, and of course B was always at them.  And it was you that I called when he finally got up the nerve to ask me out for the first time.

And then it was you that gave me a brand new set of pots and pans that year at Christmas so that B could cook for me.  Because you knew that I could not cook so I needed a someone in my life that could cook for me.

And B is so thankful that you did.  He is thoroughly enjoying using them to cook for me again.  Yep he is cooking for me again.  He made me french toast yesterday for breakfast.  And it was yummy.  So yep that means that B is here (for good- no more long distance relationship).

I totally know now what you have known for years now.  I think you knew what would happen one day and that I just needed to be patient.  You knew how much I liked him, you knew how much I would talk about him.  You knew that he had captured my heart.  I just had to wait for him to let me capture his heart.

So today on your birthday I want to tell you thank you.  Even though you aren't here for me to celebrate with, I have someone at my side to help me remember you and celebrate your memory.  And I have you to be thankful for for that.  It all started with a tour of an apartment complex when I was just starting this journey of learning how to live, laugh and love all over again.

So as I sit outside this morning, drinking my mocha, a mocha by the way that this really cute guy went and got me this morning, I have tears in my eyes, but joy and love in my heart.

Happy Birthday Mommy.

I love and miss you.

G's

A Sneak Peak Into the Future

So this weekend, I got a glimpse of what life is going to be like in just 3 months.  B decided to make a trip down South to take care of a few items in preparation of his permanent move down here at the end of the summer... which resulted in us getting to spend the weekend together.

Like a normal couple.  Yep,  I said it.  A couple.

It was nice.  We hung out with some of my co-workers at Lonerider brewery on Friday after work. Then had a date night out at Carolina Ale House which ended by enjoying the beautiful Spring evening on my back patio with more beer.  I promise we do more then just drink.  I am just trying my best to teach him that there are much better beers out there then just a Budweiser.

Saturday morning included cinnamon rolls, coffee and B doing homework at my kitchen table.  Well, he sat at the table, I sat outside on the patio enjoying the morning sun.

Hobbes was trying to help figure out the Algebra.  But decided to give up.

Then of course lunch was at Chick-fil-a.  I still can't believe that there aren't any in Detroit.

Saturday afternoon was filled with watching my small group (aka, Bible Study) leader get married.

So that meant that some of the girls from my small group got to meet B and give him their seal of approval.

And then of course came the tearful good-bye Sunday morning as B left to go back to Michigan.  Stupid Algebra class.  Why do you have to schedule tests on a Monday?

It's okay.  I will get to see him in July.  Yep, you read that correctly.  I have to wait until July before I will get to see him again.   But it will be fun because I am going up there.  I can't think of a better place to spend the July 4th holiday weekend then by meeting his family and getting to know the area that he has called home for so many years.

But I am so thankful that we had a spur of the moment weekend living life together.  One that was full of life, love and lots of laughter.    And I can't wait to see what happens next.

The reason for my smile.......

So a few of you have been asking why I am smiling so much lately. Well, I have decided to let you in on a little secret......

I have a boyfriend.

Checking out the Durham Bulls

Yep.

That's right.  And ladies (and gentleman), I have landed a keeper.  And I mean a keeper for life.

Ironically, it isn't anyone that I met online.   In fact, I met him in September of 2010.   I met him while looking for an apartment while starting my life all over again.  I met him with my mom.  So, yes B has the seal of approval from mom.

And for those of you with good memories..... you are thinking, what?!?!, he looks familiar, I think I have heard this story before.   Well, yes, you are correct.   You have already been introduced to B once before......

So if you need a refresher or a first introduction, here is the link from that post.

And now all of you are wondering..... what happened to the guy that I had met through eHarmony?  What happened to the guy that you went to opening weekend at the Bulls game with and who got the Easter basket?   Well, he faded out of the picture.   Sorry to disappoint those of you who were cheering for him.   I had no intention of letting him fade away, it just happened.

But believe me,  I am so glad that he did.    The whirlwind of a romance that I got caught up in two weeks ago is nothing short of amazing.  So there is a silver lining and a reason for the other guy fading away.

And I am so thankful that a spur of the moment road trip with someone from Michigan turned into falling in love all over again.   Yes, that means I did not go to the beach by myself.

So stay tuned for more details of what's to come.   But I will give you a hint, I really want this summer to go by fast and by fast I mean warp speed.

Until then.......

Happy Mother's Day to My Mommy

15 years ago (wow, it really has been that long), I walked across the football field at Kenan Stadium and graduated from the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  It was bright, sunny and beautiful day. 

I remember it, like it was yesterday.   Your college graduation is something that you just don’t forget.   It is a symbol of four years of hard work, dedication, and countless hours of studying, paper writing and research.  I promise I had fun in college too, probably a little too much fun at times, but we won’t talk about those moments.  That’s not what this post is about.  

This post is about what else that day was about.   That day was a special day not just for me but for my mom.  Because not only was it graduation day, it was Mother’s Day.   My mommy told me that it was the best Mother’s Day present that I could ever give her.  I gave her the gift of her daughter being a college graduate.   She told me that it brought tremendous joy to watch me graduate from college that Sunday in May. 

Now I didn’t get to walk across the stage, that just doesn’t happen when you graduate from a large university. But I did walk across the field with my friends and I turned my tassel and celebrated.    I did get to walk across the stage at my departmental ceremony the afternoon before, so don’t worry, I still got “stage time”.    

I spent the weekend celebrating not only with my friends but also with my family.   There were lots of pictures taken.....

Jake, you could have smiled.  

but this one is my favorite.......

I know that my mom was very proud of me on that day and I am sure that she is just as proud of me today. 

The past year has been a journey and a lot of the “firsts without” have come and gone, but that doesn’t make it any easier.   A lot has happened these last few months and in particular this past week (I promise I will fill everyone in soon)  and I have wanted more than anything to talk to my mommy about it.  But I haven’t been able to do that.

I have tried not to focus on the fact that I feel that my mommy is missing out on what is probably the most exciting part of my life.  But, I will admit that it has made me really miss her.  A lot.     

Instead I have tried to focus on the fact that I know that she is still really proud of me.  Not only because what I accomplished 15 years ago, but what I have accomplished since that day.   More importantly what I have accomplished these past 4 years as I have started my life over again as a single women.  It has been an adventure.  One that has been full of ups and downs.   Lots of ups and downs.  And lots of lightness and darkness.  But I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Well actually, the end of the tunnel is here.  In fact, I am standing in the bright sun light and have the biggest smile on my face. 

And I know that my mommy is looking down at me and smiling right back. 

Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy.  I love and miss you greatly. 

Spring Has Arrived...kind of

And finally, Spring is here.  Well sort of.   I thought it was here and then it went away, made another appearance and then went away again.   I just hope that it is here to stay.

It's Easter and Spring should be in full swing by now.

I mean...the Easter Bunny even came to visit someone......

I will let ya'll try to figure out who the basket is for.....

But Spring isn't quite fully here yet.

Now one nice thing about this delayed and on and off again Spring is that the pollen hasn't been too bad.   There have been some rough pollen days but all of the rain last week helped to wash it away.   But I have a feeling that this is going to be a more drawn out pollen season.  

I love Spring, but I am not a fan of pollen. Because with pollen comes watery eyes, stuffing nose and sneezing.  So basically, the arrival of Spring equals the arrival of the allergy symptoms.

And this on and off again Spring is messing with my body.  Enough of the flip flopping.  I want to be able to wear my flip flops, capris, skirts and cute new TOMs that I got.

But I also know that with the full blown arrival of Spring,  the pollen will be in full force which means that my outdoor time has to be limited.  Or I. am. miserable.

However, I have places to be, parks to visits, patios to sit on, baseball games and outdoor concerts to attend, BBQs to host and picnics to go on.

I mean this is the best time of the year to be dating.  There are all kinds of fun things to do.  So here's to wishing that Spring finally stays put and the pollen goes away soon.

Because this girl is tired of being cooped up and is ready to get out and have some fun.

And for those of you who are curious...... there will be another eHarmony update coming soon..........