What My 30's Brought Me

Today is my 40th Birthday!!! I am not sad, worried or having a mid-life crisis. I love the life I have and I pray that my 40's are as good to me as my 30's were.

Reflections:

I turned 30 on 12/30/98. What an amazing 10 years it has been. Of course we all know life gives us both ups and downs but I do my best to not dwell on the downs because without them I might not be the person I am today so I prefer to call them life lessons.

Here are some of the high & low lights of the past decade of my life.....

Joe and I bought our first "house" - we closed on it on 1/7/99. 10 years later it is our "home" and already full of so many great memories.

Danielle was born on 10/21/99 and Joseph on 4/7/02.

Five of my Twelve nieces and nephews were born over the past ten years.

Colleen and Amber lived with Joe and I and we were there with them for first steps, words etc.... They moved out on their own and then onto NY and broke my heart - obviously the story has a happy ending as the came back to Charlotte a few years later and Baby Alex was born.

Steve, Regina and the girls move right around the corner from us!!! Talk about a major GREATNESS.

Mine & Joe's entire immediate family now live in Charlotte or Matthews.

I bought my first ever brand new car.

My relationship with Tom (my BFF since I was 12) has grown even stronger, him and Joe get along GREAT and he married Lisa - a wonderful girl and our kids are growing up together.

I got a job that I truly enjoy and have been at for 10 years. I could not have asked for a better boss.

The same job brought Tina into my life. There were many things I would not have made it through without her sitting next too me and holding me up. Plus I would never have laughed this much at work.

My friend Lori and I shared our first pregnancies. It was so nice to have someone going through all the same stuff at pretty much the same time.

I have met amazing people here in Charlotte who fill my life with love and happiness and who I know with all I my heart would do anything for me, Joe, the kids or my mom.

Joe's job at Verizon brought us Daryl and Andre and their boys. They are truly an extension of Joe and I and they are 2 people we can't live without. We have laughed together, cried together and laughed somemore.

God spared my brother-in-law Jimmie after a near fatal car accident. It was a long road but he is here with us and as good as ever.

Some of the people who I love the most in this world lost one or both of their parents and my heart broke with and for them - having been through it I did my best to support them.

I lost my grandmother who most people know meant the world to me. I do remain grateful that I had her for 38 awesome years.

My mother moved in with us - and frankly I could never, ever say enough about her and what she does for us and the kids.

I lost the man (Tom's Dad) who sent me my first dozen roses when I turned 16 and then again when I turned 21. I know if he was still here today my door bell would ring and a dozen white roses would be waiting for me.

I have witnessed God move those closest to me, closer to Him. I have seen 3 people who I hold so dearly give their life to Christ and reaffirm that through baptism. I have seen God in my children daily.

I have seen my sister not give up on finding happiness, she didn't settle, sell-out or give up. I give many thanks to the people who love her and stood by her and held her up and I give thanks and praise to Elevation Church and the people she has met there as well. She has come full circle and realized in her heart she deserves happiness and inner peace and now she has found it.

Joe and I have grown closer and stronger in our relationship.

I have reconnected with several family members through Facebook and it feels great.

Most importantly - I have learned that the material things Joe and I have are not what makes our life so amazing - what makes it amazing are the people in our lives. If I wake up at 40 with nothing - I will still be one of the luckiest, most blessed girls because of the riches my family and friends shower us with.

Stay tuned for what I hope my 40's will bring me......

What Would You Give Baby Jesus

While working with our 3rd graders last night, my sister-in-law Regina and I read the story of The Birth of Jesus. After the story we asked the kids "If Jesus was born today, what gift would you bring Him?"

Some of the responses:

A blanket to wrap Him in the keep Him warm
Gold
Clothing

Some wanted to give Him their little brother or sister!!!

But my absolute favorite response - and this was our first response of the night:

I would bring/make Him a tag/sign that said

THE DREAM IS BORN

What a great response!!! I wrote it on the board so we would all think about it.

So tell me, what gift would you bring Baby Jesus if He were born today???

Elevators Spreading The Word

My daughter Danielle was in a Christmas Program at her school (Highland Creek Elementary) last night. Part of the program was each 4th grade class performing on stage. In one of the classes a girl had on a E-Kidz Shirt, so in the middle of their performance Little Joe (not very quietly) says "MOM - that girl has an e-kidz shirt on!!!" So I say, yes she does. And the performance goes on. There were several hundred people in the auditorium and we were all leaving together - on our way out we saw the girl again and Danielle and Joseph were so excited and pointing at her, her mom noticed this at the same time we noticed her mom was wearing an Elevation shirt.

She was very happy and excited when we told her Colleen is also an Elevator and before we could tell her we have visited Elevation many times she was inviting us to attend service. I can not express in words how excited and proud she was to be a member of such an awesome Church.

This is a pattern for sure - anyone I have ever met that attends Elevation is never just oh I attend - it is always I attend the best Church EVER!!!

Know Your Limitations

I volunteered to watch my nephews Noah (3 1/2) and Logan (2) for a few hours. I figured how bad could it be, it would be just the three of us - so we would get great quality time together.

The expression "God never gives you more than you can handle" was on my mind today. I realized that He certainly knew that a day like today more than once in my life would have been too much.

Here is how it went:

Up and getting breakfast at 7 (no problem I am an early person)

Me trying to check some work e-mail - Logan, Logan, Logan where are you....
I found him in the master bathroom trying to turn the water on in the tub.

Noah needed me to turn a game on for him - so we go to the TV that the kids play games on - which is always set for the game. Guess what, someone decided to watch TV in that room. I will sit here embarassed to admit I am remote control challenged - but only in my own home - Joe has all kinds of set ups and I have no patience for it at all. So I say to Noah ok lets get the remote - I now have three in my hand and I am trying to figure it out - Logan is sitting next to us and I hear him say "Dare you go" and the input changed - he had the remote we needed in his hand.

Me trying to get them in the car so we can go to Concord Mills so I can let them play on the little playground in the Mall - HONESTLY my only purpose for going as I am trying to stay out of the stores. Logan, Logan, Logan where are you....
I found him sitting on the chair in my office banging away on the computer keyboard. He looked up and said "I workin".

We get to the mall and since we are there for one reason I carry Logan in and hold Noah's hand as we walk in. We get to the playground I take off their coats and they are off and running. It is a small playground so one way in and out. I am standing right there - and I mean right there. Here comes Logan off the slide and bam he is off and running right out of the playground and into the Maidenform Store directly across. I am running and hoping the nice lady that is there with her son will keep one eye on Noah who is still playing.

This happens about 3-4 more times - I honestly lost count - and I promise you all that you have never, ever seen a 2 year old this fast. So I say ok time to go home and have some lunch. We bundle up and we start walking out - I am getting my keys - oh wait, no I am not because I can't find them. Back to the playground and we look around - NO KEYS. So I walk out to see if I can see them in the car, all the while looking at the ground to see if I dropped them. NO LUCK

So I call Joe - I lost the keys, WHAT, I lost the keys, your kidding, no I'm not - I am frazzled and I can't find the keys. Ok check customer service and call me.

Of course we were parked as far away from customer service as possible so not I have to carry Logan the length of the mall and hold Noah's hand. In just getting back into the mall I was exhausted. As we came in I saw and empty TJ Maxx Shopping Cart -and YES I put those 2 kids in the shopping cart and pushed them all the way through the mall.

No keys at Customer Service. Call Joe - he is on his way. Now walk all the way back to the van. Waiting outside of the van - kids still in the shopping cart and Joe comes. He unlocks the van but still no keys. Then he looks at me and says - and I quote "what are you doing?" "you are the ghetto queen of the mall with 2 kids in a shopping cart" - I was like, what? I am exhausted and I couldn't carry him all around - this seemed like a good idea.

We go back in the mall and look at the playground again. No keys so now I just want to get home to feed them. So Joe gives me his key to the van and we get in and I start the car. From the back seat I hear Logan say "Oh found the keys..." and no he didn't mean he found mine - he meant oh good for you - you found the keys. So I say no babe these are Uncle Joe's. This whole time we are 100% confident that Logan must have picked up the keys at the play area - Noah said he did and Logan said he put them on the table. So we looked on every flat surface in the play area - nothing.

I get home, make them some chicken nuggets and mac n cheese. We have lunch. I call Colleen and give her the whole story - without even telling her what Joe said about the shopping cart she says "No you did not put those 2 babies in a shopping cart and walk the mall" - so I am hysterical at this point because she just keeps going and going about it. I look over at Logan and he is taking the cover off of his cup - only water, but still - and he turns it over and poors it into his empty bowl and exclaims "TA DA". So I throw some papertowel on the floor and just leave it there. I figure at this point what does it matter.

My mom is pounding on the garage door to get into the house at about 1:30 - I have no idea how it got locked. So I run and open the door - and as soon as I do she just looks at me and starts hysterical laughing. She did know what happened but it must have been my appearance that tickled her so. I looked at the boys and said -"get your coats, Nana is here..." She was taking them home. Again she laughs. Then she looks around my TORN UP house and says - what the heck happened....n I said "I am afraid to take my eyes off of Logan for one minute, so this is all the results of that."

They left, and they were crying, they did not want to leave me. I was touched - but I still helped them get in the car quickly.

It felt so good to sign on my computer and work!!!

Colleen, Kristy, Tina and my other closest friends know that I am a TYPE A personality and in 39 years and 11 months I have not lost keys, my purse or my wallet. So this has set me back for sure.

I left my number with mall security so keep good thoughts that I get these keys back - the one for my van costs $75 to replace and I really don't want to go that route.

And here they are - the two responsible for all of this:

The Johnsons

My sister Pattie has 5 kids, they range in age from 13 - 2 years old. They are, Devin, Isaiah, Mackenzie, Noah and Logan. However for our family, the are affectionatly known as "The Johnsons" - seems easier than Aunt Pattie, Uncle Dan, Devin, Isaiah, Mackenzie, Noah and Logan, doesn't it???

They fill a house, raise the volume, empty the fridge and pantry - HOWEVER - they also fill it with love, laughter and great times!!!

They were at my house yesterday and here are some pictures of them that are potential Christmas Cards......

Cold Night of Fun

On Friday night our neighborhood had its first ever Holiday Gathering. The neighborhood is 10 - 12 years old, but very small (68 houses) so therefore no clubhouse.

Our new social committee decided to take a chance and have the gathering on one of our cul-de-sacs. They had a big outdoor fireplace in the middle of the street to provide warmth and they cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, smores - there was hot cocoa, soda and each family that came brought a dessert. It was a great way to spend time with our neighbors.

I invited Amber and Alex (because Robert had big plans for http://colleencorbett.blogspot.com/2008/12/were-getting-married.html) and my niece Mackenzie. You already know my mom lives with us, so here are some pictures of the kids after Nana made sure they were all bundled up!!!

Christmas List - From Stephanie's Blog

Stephanie had these questions with her answers on her blog - now these are my answers:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I try to use one style of wrapping paper for each family we give gifts too.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real growing up - artificial now.
3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving Weekend
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually on New Years Day or the following weekend.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Diamond Name Plate from my father. (we lived in NY so don't chuckle - it was a big deal up there)
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband's Uncle Matt
8. Easiest person to buy for? Little Joe
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - Precious Moments - I would love to get the Willow Tree People one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't recall anything being that bad.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone - it brings me great memories of my grandfather cracking up at all of the pranks.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Let's see I have 12 nieces and nephews and my own 2 kids - so there are time I start shopping the day after Christmas!!!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My grandmother's sugar cookies.
16. Lights on the tree? The more lights the better! White or Colored - depending on the decorations.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Christmas Eve in Sarajevo (Trans Siberian Orchestra)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home for the Holidays now tht everyone is here in Charlotte with us.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Probably
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? One Star, One Mickey Mouse and One Santa.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve as a child. Now it is Christmas Eve with family and Christmas morning with the kids.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people don't realize traffic will be heavier, lines will be longer etc... and they freak out about it.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Disney Characters.
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Our big meal is on Christmas Eve - Italian Food - I love it all.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Joe and I have decided no gifts this year. We took a nice trip for our birthday's so......

Now it's your turn. Go ahead and fill out your own answers and post on your blog!

Decorating for Christmas

My dad gave this Santa to my mom many years ago. After he passed away it brought great memories to all of us when we take it out each year and think of him.














In our house we call this the Corbett (my maiden name) Family Tree. My mom lives with us and this tree is every ornament that me, Colleen, Danny & Pattie have ever made as well as ornaments that each of her 9 grandchildren have made for her.











Joe and I are HUGE Disney people and so are our kids - this is our Disney Tree. Each ornament is some kind of a Disney Ornament. Joe and I started collecting them before we even had children.














Our Mantle. I LOVE IT - for some reason this year it just looks so awesome to me. I think it is because Joe recently put a wood floor in the family room. I could sit and look at it all night. Notice the Disney stuff....












This is the tree that Joe and I bought the Christmas before we got married - so just about 15 years ago. We got up early on the 26th and met at the store to get the best deal. The decorations are different this year - but the tree was prestrung when we bought it - different than prelit in that we can take strands off if we want too - but I have to say we really have only had 2 strands go out that we needed to replace.


I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoy getting the house all decorated!!!

Giving Thanks - Part 2

I have been thinking for days about who to thank or what I am thankful for. Here is what I have come up with:

I have to be one of the most blessed girls in the world - I have so, so many people in my life that I am thankful for - that I couldn't narrow it down to just one or two for this blog. I feel so lucky to be able to say that, I truly do. God has placed such wonderful people on my path of life.

I feel like thanking just one or two of them would be slighting the others and that is not what I want to do because every one of them are a strong link in my "circle of life".

So to all of my friends and family I say this - My life would not be complete without all of you and I appreciate all of the love and support I get from everyone of you, all year long. Thank you for blessing my life with your presence!!!

Giving Thanks

I first want to say I had an AWESOME Thanksgiving!!! If you had asked me leading up to the Holiday I would have told you I was stressed about having it at my house just after my surgery or that I wished me, Joe and the kids were just spending the day alone eating Chinese Food!!! Again, because of my surgery. Those that know me, know that I can not just do something - it is not in me - I want it to be special, I want my guests to know how much I love having them etc....

This year was different, I honestly did the best I could and then hoped everyone would be understanding. Before out bell rang with the first guest I said to Joe - I am going to have a good day - it may not be all I wanted to do, but I did what I could and I am going to enjoy myself. Then the bell rang - it was my brother - arms full of stuff!!! He was supposed to be taking care of dessert - but like me, my brother loves to cook and wants to introduce people to new and interesting foods. So outside of enough dessert to feed an Army he brought appetizers and some seafood -he whipped up homemade brushetta and a tray of individual fresh mozzarella and tomato appetizers. As dinner was just about to be served he fired up our grill and cooked up some coconut curry shrimp and sea scallops wrapped in bacon that I promise you were the size of half dollars!!! When he came in from doing that he pan seared some Tuna that was encrusted in pecans, sesame seeds and poppy seeds - he did have a special sauce that he seared it in (that he made) but not being a seafood eater I can not tell you what it was.

My sister Colleen and Robert and Robert's Family came arms full as well. Deviled Eggs, Spinach Dip and two different types of sweet and sour meatballs.

All of this before the main meal!!! We are Italian....

This was the first time we all met Robert't Parents and they are really nice people. We sat and talked around the table and everyone blended so well. It was a nice, relaxing day.

At the dinner table we had each of the kids say something they were thankful for and as you can imagine - it was very cute.

So outside of all the food that everyone brought - I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone for all the help. They made sure I didn't do too much, they went out of their way to help me and help our family have a nice holiday - and in doing so we all got to spend good, quality time together.