Happy Birthday to me!

Well, today is my birthday. It has been a good day. I have lots of trouble with birthdays, they always seem such a let down, never quite what you hoped for. My problem is that I am not even sure what I expect. Birthdays have always been reminders of what you have not done. Another entire year has gone by and everything is still the same , or god forbid, even worse. I am trying really hard to stay upbeat.

I have wonderful family and friends that have made today very special. I enjoyed a breakfast of Frosted Flakes and orange juice in my bed, brought to me by my kids. Alex planned an impromptu birthday lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. He paid for the four of us with his own money. My parents, Ashley and our neighbor friend joined us. I got to wear a sombrero while they sang Happy Birthday to me in Spanish.
Grandma Joy made me a chocolate cake.

This evening my sister kept all three kids while John and I went out to Olive Garden for dinner.
I will have some pics and things for you later.

Here are a few stages of the moon flower opening. It was very cool to watch the progress. I think it took about 30 minutes.

My brother Jason and his lovely wife, Becca

My little sister had a birthday! She is holding the market bag I knit for her. One of the few things I have knit that I was truly happy with the finished object. I might have to make one for myself.

Dogs on Thursday

Bath day!

All together now, aww poor doggies! They look so miserable, but they are much cleaner and smell better. The question now is how long will they stay this way??

Thoughts

How important is it to be happy? Really, on a scale of 1- 10 just how important is it? Many people live unhappy lives and they survive. I'm not sure about the quality of those lives.
I wonder if given a choice, would they make changes to ensure their future happiness? Being someone that has suffered from depression for many years, happiness is very important. It is so much easier to face the day if you have a bright or sunny outlook.

Are those around us supposed to make us happy or are we responsibly for our own happiness? I know that some can directly cause unhappiness.
As wives and mothers, who usually put everyone else first, how long can we function without happiness in our lives? Whenever I read about a husband or wife that has killed their spouse or a mother that has killed her children, I wonder about the cause of such tragedies. Many times it is the result of mental illness or drug/alcohol abuse but what if it is from years of unhappiness.
The breaking point is different for everyone.

I believe a person needs to make their own happiness. It could be as easy as finding a hobby (like knitting), making new friends (like knitting friends) or buying new shoes. Many times it is not that easy, you might have to decide to get a new job, leave old friends behind or move away from family. What if it was trying to decide to stay married? To continue on as things have been for many years , eventually dying inside and end up nothing but a shell of a person for your children. That is truly an overwhelming resolution. I can't imagine how terrifying that would be.

I know that vows are taken; for better or worse richer or poorer sickness or health, and those vows are important, they mean something. But at what cost?? For many years I have watched someone I love dearly, slowly wither away and become a shadow of her former self. It has broken my heart ten times over, I want her to have happiness and joy in her life.
If she has to make the most difficult decision of her life, then so be it.


I will be there to hold her hand every step of the way.

Random Pictures

Falls of the Ohio State Park

Dogs on Thursday

Things have been quite here from the doggie point of view. Not much going on at all. They are still under foot and behind you every time you turn around. Starsky has this very strange habit of plopping himself down next to the couch. It sounds like a grown man has fallen down. We have hardwood floors so it vibrates and shakes everything. Just when we think he can't do it any harder than before, he does.


This little girl is "Little Bits". She belongs to my cousin Lauren.
Here are some tongue photos for you. Starsky the black lab and Hutch the Shepard mix.