Doug's B-day

Today, Doug turns a very young 38 years old. He is just the BEST!! The kids and I met him for lunch at a park after Music Class today. We again had our standard from the "meal house". After we ate, Amanda wanted to go walk across the red bridge... So, she and Doug took off. It literally melted my heart to see the two of them walking hand in hand towards the bridge. For some reason, I sprang forward twenty years and imagined them walking down the aisle on Amanda's wedding day... Doug is a wonderful husband and an even better father. The kids and I are so blessed to have him in our lives. For his birthday dinner tonight, Doug has requested Spaghetti Bake, Salad, Garlic Bread and a fancy-shmancy Austrian chocolate cake with apricot and chocolate glaze. Looks hard... I hope that it turns out ok. Happy Birthday, Doug!

A friend of mine that I used to work with read my blog(s) yesterday. He said that they are good, but they are missing pictures. Perhaps I need to work on that. I think that the only picture that I have posted in my blog so far is a picture of Oscar the day that he passed on.

Thoughts and prayers to all of the families and people affected by a horrible car accident on I-69 north of us last night. A van carrying nine people from Taylor University was hit head-on by a semi that crossed the median. A horrible, horrible situation... It reminds us that life is so short and so fragile. We must enjoy every second of it.

On the way home from lunch today, I heard one of my favorite songs... and one that always makes me cry. The song is "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin. How sad and true it is that so many parents just waste all of the time that they have while their children are little... and, then the children grow up to be "just like (them)". No wonder we have such a messed up society. I truly love the song. It has a very strong and clear message that should not be ignored. A couple of other songs that I love that always make me cry are "Run for the Roses" and "Same Auld Lang Syne" both by Dan Fogelberg... and "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. "I Hope You Dance" has hit a chord with me since I first heard it, and it has an even more deep meaning since I have had children. Oh, what every parent wishes for their precious little gifts...

Speaking of "planes to catch and bills to pay", Mendi's husband Dean is scheduled to fly to San Francisco to present a paper (or something) on Saturday morning. Mendi is now 3 cm dialated and 100% effaced. I pray that the baby comes before then... or holds out until he returns on Wednesday. Her ob/gyn said that she could go ahead and make her appointment for next week but probably wouldn't need it. I cannot even imagine not being there for the birth of my child - of course being a "mommy" I wouldn't have much of a choice now, would I?