Judysnotes’s Blog

Tomorrow, we will leave to visit another dear family of friends…the Palenskes.  Mark was our pastor for nearly 12 years.  He performed the wedding ceremony for my daughter, Tiffany, and the funeral service for my other daughter, Jennifer.  Needless to say, this family is special to us.  We will enjoy a couple of days together before returning home to start life after Christmas break.  We have had so many adventures together….from exploring a multiple story frozen waterfall in Colorado, to whitewater rafting on the olympic course in Tennessee, to skiing in Galena, to toboggan riding in Indiana – injuries included in all of the above!  Last year was fairly uneventful.  Except that Mark and Dena surprised us with these really cool St. Louis Cardinal jerseys!  We’re overdue for something exciting…….I can’t wait to see what happens!!!

The older I get, the more I treasure friendships.  Tomorrow morning I will meet my best girlfriend from my school days…..Kelly, for breakfast.  We became best friends when we were cheerleaders the summer before our 9th grade year.  Our lives have since taken so many turns – some happy, some sad, some surprising, some tragic.  We’ve supported each other through the 33 years (can it possibly be THAT long??) that we’ve been friends.  When I look back on those 33 years, it’s hard to believe that we’ve survived!  I have to say, she’s more than just a friend.  She’s more than the sister I never had.  She’s been my rock, my support, my voice of reason, my stability, my angel of mercy, my strength, and the one who I want to be there for every event in my life – happy or sad.

I’m looking so forward to our breakfast together.  The older I get, the more I realize that it’s the little things in life that matter – like taking time to have breakfast with your best friend.  If you have a really special friend, take the time to call her (or him) and tell her (or him) how much (s)he means to you.  Don’t put it off!  You never know what tomorrow may bring……

Well..my kids do it so I thought I’d give it a try.  So many stories to share!  Blogging is truly an art form I’ve discovered, if you do it right.  My daughter-in-law, Kelli, does a good job of keeping hers current.  My daughter, Kristi, is second best at this.  However, my daughter Tiffany pretty much stinks.  (Sorry Tiff, you know it’s true!)  Her last entry was in July!  My son, Joe, has like a thousand sites to maintain, so he does the best he can.  So, with all of these going on, and with my profession, adorable grandchildren, etc., I thought I would share some of the hilarious things that happen.

The first story I would like to share happened last night.  After an amazing Christmas day, Butch, me, Tiffany, Jeremy, Logan and Kristi decided to head out for the 8:00 showing of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.  Tiffany ordered our tickets early, but when we got to the theater, the parking lot was packed.  Let me set this up:  Butch had been sick for three days, and somewhat weak from the stomach flu.  It hadn’t been pretty.  Jeremy decided to let us out in front of the doors to the theater so we could go in and get the tickets and find seats.  Butch climbed out, and Logan decided to lunge out to him.  He forgot to tell Butch this.  Butch was caught off balance.  Logan and Butch both plummeted to the parking lot road – Butch flat on his back, Logan on top of him.  (Of course, Butch dramatized a bit to make it more eventful!)  Needless to say, people around us were very concerned, and I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.  I guess I must have looked pretty mean!!  Well…Logan was ok!!  And, I know my husband well enough to know he was just fine.

When we got into the theater, the place was packed to the gills.  We had to split up three and three.  Logan fell asleep, and we who are not his mom, stole snuggles and kisses.  That’s the only way we who are not his mom can get them anymore.  Sigh…..he’s getting so old.  This was truly a magical way to end a perfect day.