They Say It's Your Birthday

On this day, in the year 1976, the stork left a little bundle of joy for Roger and Maureen Crump...he goes by the name of Adam...and this is for him!

Happy Birthday to Adam! We love you so much! Happy Birthday Dear Adam! Happy Birthday To YOU!

Adam and Audrey 2005

The Family Christmas 2005

Lauren's Birth Day 2007

Disneyland Christmas 2007

The Beach in Barbados 2009

My First Rant

You know, since I started this blog...I don't think I've ever used it in any way to voice my inner thoughts or feelings. I didn't intend this to happen, but it just did. I'm really quite personal and am always afraid to share what I'm really thinking, on the off chance I might hurt someones feel bads. But, it's funny how small things can slowly accumulate until you have one HUGE thing you are carrying around on your back! So, in an effort to encourage this huge SOMETHING to take a hike, I'm ready to spill my guts.

Before I start though, I have to say that I'm feeling out of the loop with this whole blog thing. Here's why...I don't have any snazzy nicknames for my husband or kids...it seems this is really popular out there. Is it because I should be afraid someone will try to find us if they know our REAL names? Just wondering. I could call Adam - "Dum" or something. I also don't have any fancy BIG words or different fonts or different colors in the body of my text. Is this bad? I think I need all these things, I must have them. Let's give it a try.

Have you ever noticed that it only takes ONE person to make you feel as if you exist...or don't exist?

A friend who calls you out of the blue to see how your day is going.

Someone, who should care, that doesn't return your phone calls.

A note from a dear 90-year-old Grandmother to tell your two girls (and you) ,

"I Love You!"

Telling your woes to someone, only to find it wasn't kept in confidence.

A friend who shows up on your doorstep with offerings for dinner, because they know you're struggling.

Your daughter patting you on the back (like she's the mother!) when you're blubbering like a baby.

There's more, there's ALWAYS more. Some of these have happened to me recently, and some I've seen happening to others. Lately I feel lost in a sea of selfish people (me probably being one of the worst of them) and it's getting harder and harder to find the life raft with the self-less people on it. I see it in the greed of THINGS and the greed of POPULARITY, and the need for self-gratification. I feel disgust, and it's all that's on my mind lately. Thank you for those people who have showed me the life raft, or I might have drowned by now.

Because of this, I've been able to feel even more gratitude than I thought I would ever feel for being POOR. That's right, I said it...I'm glad to be POOR. Not because I like wondering how we'll pay for the mortgage or groceries next month...that is NOT fun. But, it is nice to realize that my life was full of THINGS. Things I don't need...cars I don't need...clothes I don't need. They don't define me. What defines me is being the person that shows up on my friends doorstep to see how her day is, or sending that thank you note for the kindness sent my way.

Now...would some of YOU people out there (not necessarily the YOU people that are reading this!) PLEASE stop being blinded by your own trials and start seeing others? It will help you to see that your trials are only for the moment...remind me of this later will you?...and not for eternity. It's really more important to be the kind of person who makes people feel as if they exist, rather than not. Don't you think?

On a side note...as I was bathing the girls tonight, Audrey informed me that tomorrow they were going to be "good" girls. To which I replied, "Uh-huh, I have absolutely no faith in you whatsoever." I really should try harder.