To my Friend...

Today I find myself once again mourning Virginia.  For today, I would be throwing the biggest most amazing party to celebrate the ?th birthday of the most amazing person.  Natasha has been a dear friend to me for the last 14 years.  Not only will you find in this post why I love this girl so much but you will find a list concerning what makes a true friend; for that is exactly what she is to me.  I have been fortunate in my life to have many of these types of friends and a list like this reminds me of how I need to pay it forward by being such a friend in return.

So here is why I cherish Natasha and our friendship and why she is so deserving of a post like this:)

--We can laugh and cry together all in the same breath.  
--I feel safe within our circle.  We can talk about ANYTHING and not only will it stay between us but there is also no judgement.
--She is a listener.  She takes interest in my life by asking questions and then listening as I go on and on (because I am good at doing that).
--We are a problem solving team.  When either one of us has a problem in life we quickly act together to solve it.  My problems become hers and hers become mine.  It is awesome.
--She is hysterical.  When I get too uptight or serious about something she can find a way to easily bring me out of it by making me laugh my way through it. 
--She makes me feel like she wants nothing more than for me to be around.  We are constantly finding ways to make "girl" time.  Although her husband and my husband make it an amazing foursome we do enjoy our alone time.
--She knows Harvey just as well as she knows me.  So if Harvey and I are ever in an argument (which never happens!:) she knows him well enough to understand both sides of the fence and even at times helps me to understand him myself!
--She provides me with the best example of motherhood.  She really deserves mother of the year.  She shows me that her children are her priority and that every second with them is a precious gift.  
--She also shows me by example of how to be the best wife.  She deserves that award too!  She has a true love story with her husband and I always walk away from them determined to be a better wife.  So I guess to sum up the last two, to be a good friend is to be a good example.  Leave the friend that your with desiring to be a better person for all the right reasons.
--Now to add an example just to show you why she is awesome, when we went to the Dominican Republic I got very sick the night before we were to leave and she took care of me as if she were my mom, unafraid of getting herself sick she wanted to help in any way she could.  True friends will even accept the possibility of catching a nasty bug while on the vacation of her life in order to aid the friend in need!


So Happy ?th birthday to a dear friend of mine.  I hope you are not uncomfortable with this post but realize it's truthfulness.  I love you and enjoy your birthday knowing that if I were there we would be celebrating big time.

On this Mother's Day...

For some reason I don't always look forward to Mother's Day.  For no other reason than the fact that I feel guilty my kids have to go to so much effort to make it a special day for me.  A day where they are left wondering if they have truly made it a great one.  So I feel guilty.  Only a Mother could manage to feel guilty on Mother's day.

But when the day approaches and the gifts are given I am left feeling overwhelmed and yet more guilty. Overwhelmed because I have amazing children that can't wait to give me their sweet homemade gifts, which I love.  Overwhelmed because I am a blessed mom with 5 incredible children that for some reason are able to overlook my many faults and still celebrate the fact that I am "the best mom in the whole wide world."  Overwhelmed because the sweet words written on their cards humble me and bring me to tears of joy over the fact that I am a mom.

But guilty because I sit back and a small part of me wonders if those words written are truly how they feel or wishful thoughts of the mom they want me to become.  I know, insert the "Aww Lindsay you are WAY to hard on yourself."  But the larger part of me graciously accepts those words as a loving tribute to the mom I am striving to be and grateful that they notice that effort.

I do love Mother's Day because at the end of the day it comes down to one simple fact, I AM A MOM.  I am grateful to be one and grateful to have one.  Happy Mother's Day all, and may you have a guilt-free glorious day!:)

I love this picture because I told the kids to "smile as big as they love me."  However, Emma must have thought I said "yawn as big as you love me."  She must love me lots.

Little with a big bite

As a parent there is always that feeling of insecurity that comes when you set your child off into the world.  Will they get their feelings hurt?  Will they survive that hurt?  Will they have true friends or will bullies ruin their life?  All the insecurities or experiences that we dealt with as children unfortunately rub over onto our own children.  I feel I need to give my kids the pep talk on how to deal with bullies encouraging them that if needs be they can fight back and I will be there to support them in that decision.  For most of my children, the thought of hurting another child is beyond their comfort zone.  They will inevitably take the other routes of killing their enemies with kindness or telling an adult and receiving protection that way, long before they would ever lay hands on a peer.  However, my teeny tiny Madison is much different.

It was her birthday in April, again I am behind...and like every year I point out something about that child that is unique but also that I love.   And I strangely enough love this trait Madison possesses.  Maybe it is because it is a trait I don't possess.  She is a Scott...I often wonder if there is any Graham in her at all.  She is a fireball and as most parents feel that one day they will be in a situation where they are dealing with a bully...I feel I will one day be in a situation where Madison is the bully.

Now why do I love this?  Because I know Madison can defend herself.  Madison will never intentionally be a bully, her bite comes as a defense.  So when I say I will be dealing with her as a bully I know it will be a situation where I have to prove it was out of self-defense.  She not only defends herself, but she is the first to defend her loved ones.  One day Carson was a victim of a bully attack and before this kid could think Madison had pulled him off of Carson and pushed him to the ground.  Ready for a rumble she stood over him with her hands in fists and this kid took off before he was sure to get his butt kicked.  I have a love/hate feeling towards this story.  I love it because the love she feels for her brother is not to be messed with, I hate it because I was expecting an immediate visit from this kids parents where I was going to have to defend my daughter.  Now I am not one to put my fists up like Madison and I truly do hate contention however, I am one to defend my children.  And there was certain to be a shouting fest and there is no doubt I would have won for being the loudest and most emotional.  And I hate when I get like that.

Another reason why I love this about Madison is she is the threat to bullies.  Let me explain, there was a kid at the bus stop that was playing with Madison.  He was a younger kid and he was on her back.  He fell off and got hurt.  He blamed Madison for this fall and retaliated by trying to beat her up.  Pulling her hair, kicking her...as he came around for another grab she elbowed him from behind and down he went. Don't mess...were words I am sure she mumbled as she stepped over him and got on the bus.  Now this kid is a wild hair often letting loose and I loved that Madison put and end to it.  I don't have to worry about Madison.

I am certain I am one of those moms that probably doesn't hold Madison as accountable as I should but seriously it is refreshing to finally be in a position where I don't have to coach my child through a bullying situation.

I also have to mention that she puts this energy into everything she does.  She is competitive, driven and unstoppable.  Hmmm, who does this sound like?   If we can hone these skills correctly she will be an amazing adult.  Much like someone else I know!(her daddy)

Madison I am proud of the little person that you are and I am proud of the way you conduct yourself in situations where you have to stick up for yourself or those you care for.  Happy Birthday my sweet 10 year old.  I still get stuck spilling that one out.  I can't believe you are 10. I stumble with every year you turn older.  Nonetheless, I love my 10 year old Maddie.