How my birthday made me realize - I am the luckiest mom on the planet!

I love my kids. 

All three.  Equal. 

Every single day, they amaze me.  Their heart, soul, laugh, faces, well - you name it.  Everyday.  Pure amazement.

But last night - took the cake. 

Let me give you a little backstory.  I hate video games.  Abhor.  They make me mad.  I hate to see kids just completely consumed by them.  But there was a time, about 10 years ago - that I too, had an obsession with a video game.  That game was SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE!

I loved that game. Tariq and I would sit for hours, side by side, playing this game.  Until a very tragic day.  They day, that at seven years old, he deleted my game.  The memory card.  I was about to beat the game.  Months of playing, straight down the tubes.  It was so sad.  I never turned it on again.  That was the last video game I ever played.

Through the past 10 years, I have been asked why I don't like games.  If Tariq is around, I tell them that it's because, "Your memory card could be deleted, and then it's heartbreaking." As I would look at him.  He would always say, "I'M SORRY!", and we'd both laugh.

But last night, I cried.  Again.  Over a video game.  And here's why. 

Tariq led me into his room telling me he had a surprise for my birthday.  He had created an emulation of Super Mario Sunshine on his computer - and had the game back at the spot I was at - when the game was deleted.  I was floored.  Overwhelmed.

The amount of work, the amount of time, the amount of dedication that it took on his part to make sure he knew how special I was to him - overwhelmed me.  That he remembered.  He worked.  And he surprised me.  I just can't even believe it. 

I really am the luckiest mom alive.  The luckiest woman alive.  I have never felt more cherished and loved in my life.  God has blessed me in ways I don't deserve - and I am forever grateful.

My Favorite Things this April!!!!

A little Vlog about my favorite things right now!!  Little things that help me find my inner princess. 

You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.

Tonight, I am feeling kinda somber.  Yesterday - was my grandmother's 103rd Birthday.  And I know - It is amazing that she has lived to this age.  But to be honest, she isn't doing good at all.  I spoke to my mom yesterday, she has double pneumonia.  She is bed ridden.  She doesn't know where she is at - or who is with her.  She sometimes thinks that my mom, is her mom.  She is calling out for her own parents.  She is mostly blind.  It's just completely sad.

And what makes me feel so sad - is that she has lived.  And it's okay for her to go.  I am totally at peace with it.  I don't know if it is that I am hardened, and I worry that I am.  But I honestly feel like she has lived a long life - and she is now only existing.  She isn't living.  My grandmother, as I know her, has been gone for a little over a year.  This woman, now, isn't the woman I knew growing up.  My grandmother, would eat chocolate fudge cake and mix it with a peanut butter sandwich.  My grandmother, would go through pictures with me on her couch - and tell me about the things I did when I was little.  My grandmother put up her Christmas tree  way too early - just because she thought it was pretty.  This woman, in the nursing home, is just what is left of who she used to be.

You know, although I thought for awhile I would die myself when Shaun died, I didn't.  When he died - he was full of life.  He lived every, single, solitary moment - up until he died.  I can't imagine what my mom is going through - seeing someone she loves - just not there anymore.  I am so thankful I never saw that.  So my heart hurts for her, too.

It will probably be any day - and I pray it's sooner rather than later.  That makes me feel awful to say - but it's honest.  She just isn't who she was.  She has lived - and has a legacy behind her.  I just hope she knows how much we love her - and it's okay for her to go.  She doesn't have to live forever, we will be okay.

The heart of my little boy.

I am the mom to a fourteen year old boy, and 10 year old girl, and a three year old little boy.  I love my children in many different ways.  My oldest was my first child, he grew up with me in a way.  My daughter came next, and she is like my little mini me.  And then Jacoby, the baby.  The child that I am in complete awe of, everytime I look at him, because I know just how precious he is.  And I know, after having two before him, how fleeting this time is in his life and to appreciate the moments.

But tonight, I am talking about my oldest.   I have never been a fourteen year old boy.  I can't imagine what that is like.  I have never had divorced parents.  I never lost a parental figure.  I never was a stepchild.  My son, has experienced more in his fourteen years more than I have, in many ways.  And for the most part, he is a well mannered, well spoken young man.  Does he do things that drive me absolutely crazy?  More than you could ever know.  But does he have a good heart? The best.

I am writing this because he has weighed on my heart a lot lately.  I moved him across the country - and he was willing to go.  He started a new school, that is triple in size than the high school that he would have went to, and he went with a smile.  No fear.  His first day of school - he didn't have a schedule.  He went with a smile.  I have never been as strong as that kid.  He has seen more in his fourteen years than many people in the US see in their lives.  He has experienced more pain, and pain of his family, than I ever came close to.  And he still does it with a smile.

So what I am saying, Is I am thankful.  Thankful for the resilience of a child.  Thankful for all that he has taught me.  Thankful for the trips we have went on together.  The adventures we have had.  And I look forward to the many to come.  I have not been the perfect parent, I wish I had.  I have learned a lot with him - and I know that I am a better parent to Bella because of it, and even better to Jacoby.

To be honest, on June 22, 2011 - Tariq was a little boy.  On June 23, 2013 - he was almost a man.  Overnight he grew up - literally.  And he has never been the same.  I think, at times, I have expected a lot from him, because of how adult he can act.  Which makes me sometimes forget, that he is still a kid. Learning.  Figuring things out.

So this post is for my son.  I love you Tariq.  To the moon and back again - and I know I am not the perfect momma.  But you are most definitely the perfect son.  And God blessed me so much by giving me  you.  I love you baby.... More than you could ever know.  And I just felt like you should know it too!