Wearing: Fur Pom-Poms

Michigan. 28 degrees. Christmas Eve.

I love everything about this day.

The excitement. The flurry. The presents under the tree. The food. The anticipation.

But, it's the intangibles of life that I love more than anything...These are my gifts.

The awe and wonder of my small children.

The gift of grandparents still living.

The loyalty of a man that chose me, loves me (can you imagine?).

Being surrounded and folded in the laughter of friends who accept me as I am (weirdness and all).

The beauty of those small moments that stay with you forever.

I've never been so inspired by life...so lost in the feeling that I could stay here forever.

With all my breath and body, mind and soul...

I love this day.

(LOFT vest, Anthro Circle the Globe skirt, Pony Prix tights, Walmart scarf, H&M belt and shades, J.Crew tuxedo blouse, American Eagle Trapper Hat, Mia Cadet Booties)

Wearing: Americana

Here I am, blogging at six in the morning when I could have slept in,

'cuz my mind won't quit stumblin' over all the ideas floating around in my brain.

I hate when that happens. Not really.

But I sorta wish my brain would stumble somewhere between two and four in the afternoon when

my kids are napping and I could actually do something about it.

I feel like a little kid.

Five days before Christmas and I absolutely think I might die from the waiting.

I don't know what the holiday holds for you, but we're gonna be kickin' it in the Arctic-like environs of Michigan,

surrounded by my (very large) extended family.

My cousins, who are all extremely accomplished in their respective fields, are always an inspiration to me.

I sit around with them and think, Wow, when I grow up, I wanna be just like them!

Never gonna happen for this SAH-Mommy from the sticks of Indiana, but a girl can always dream.

Now that I'm thinkin' about it, the fact that I look up to them so much is actually sort of funny, 'cuz I'm the oldest cousin, oldest grandchild...I'm just old (compared to them)...hehehe

Hmm...maybe now would be a good time to remind myself that I don't feel a day older than 21...

(Charlotte Russe jacket, J.crew tuxedo blouse, belt, Anthro Circle the Globe skirt, Walmart plaid scarf, Nicole boots)

Wearing: Pony Prix

(Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt and Pony Prix tights, AE plaid shirt, Gap cardi, Target stud belt, Mia Cadet Bootie)

It's the small moments when relationships blossom.

Nothing else matters for me but being present--

physically and emotionally for these

miniature people that rely so heavily on me.

I don't ever want to be the mother that assumes

my children know how I feel about them.

I have to tell them. I'm compelled to.

Because one day, they just might not be around to hear.

No regrets.

When I stand over my dead brother's headstone,

I have no regrets.

The love we had for each other was not just implied,

but consistently declared.

There was nothing I felt for him, he didn't know.

Nothing he felt for me that was left unspoken.

There was never a moment's doubt in any situation.

He had my back, and I had his;

until the day came when he simply didn't.

So, I'm going to tell my family how much I love them today,

knowing today is all I'm really guaranteed.

No regrets.