Tomorrow...

Tomorrow, I turn 26. Yep, 26 on the 26th. I was told once that this is my golden birthday. I was just thinking back to some birthdays remembered. Here are a few to share,
When I turned 10 I had just a few friends over. I had just broken my collar bone playing soccer at school. I remember Lisa was there, and Emily and Jennifer and Kim, of course. That was a good birthday.
When I turned 14, my birthday was on the same night as a church dance, so I of course went to the dance. I guess I didn't know how to impress boys yet because I dressed up like a freaky witch. No one really asked me to dance and non of my friends were old enough to go yet, so I was pretty lonely the whole time. I remember wanting Jordan to ask me to dance for the last dance. I think he did. I guess it ended up being a good birthday.
When I turned 16, my mom sent me a big bouquet of roses to school with a balloon. My friend Kim took me to her graphics class and took a picture of us, put it on a button (I still have that). Then Kim asked if I wanted to go to her house for lunch that day. We went and lo and behold she had set up a big surprise party for me with my friends. Amy, and Tiffany(?) Elliot, David, Mark, and Jared. Jared was my big crush at the time. Jared got me a card, it was a Mulan card, with Mulan pop outs.
When I turned 18 I was attending Big Bend. It was my senior year and Jon from the basketball team had just asked me to go to the movies with him. I was thrilled. I was on cloud nine because although he was 21 I had a major crush on this boy. When I got home, I was nervous to tell my parents, but apparently they had other news to tell me, sad news. My dad had lost his job. I went to bed at 6 o'clock that night and didn't wake up again till that next morning. I still got to go on my date, just I had to have a chaperon, Melissa. Lame.
When I turned 20, I was attending WSU. Shane wrote me a beautiful poem. Brittany called right when it turned midnight to wish me a happy birthday. Melissa, Jess, and Jenny decorated the house with streamers and balloons and made me caramel apples. Melissa made dinner, but that was a daily thing. Shane took me shopping and let me pick out whatever I wanted. I bought a WSU track jacket. I still have it.
When I turned 21 the girls from my RS at WSU came over and we carved pumpkins and had jell-O shots, virgin style. Lacey, Alysia, and Kierstin had a little birthday party for me. My parents came up and we went out to dinner with Jeff. I think that was the first time they met him. My parents got me a crock pot, I guess they were concerned since I hadn't eaten dinner since Melissa moved out almost a year ago. Jeff got me a jewelry box and tickets to go see Lion King, the broadway show. The show was amazing, absolutely amazing. We learned that we like going to musicals together.
When I turned 23 my parents came to Pullman and watched Evalie so Jeff and I could go out to dinner. We went to Tucci's in Moscow.
When I turned 24 I no longer felt youthful anymore. Brittany got me a ticket to go see Phantom of the Opera at the Opera house in Spokane.
Another year older and wiser (I guess) too. Happy Birthday to me.

Martos came over...

"Evalie after school today Marcos is going to be here to play with you."
"Martos? Not Lilson, or Cooper?"
"Nope, just Marcos."
"Oh, Martos is my best friend. And Lane is my best friend too."
It's true. She loves her cousins or friends, those words are synonymous to her. Marcos and I walked to pick her up from school. He chatted my ear off the entire way. As we were walking back Marcos and Evalie held hands the whole way. They laughed, they cried. It was a really nice day to spend with a nephew I don't know all that well. I got to know him a lot better. He loves football, and Lightening McQueen. His favorite color is dark blue. He will eat anything I give him. He is a chatter box, definitely didn't know that about him. He is a sweet boy to have around. 

Homeless, anything helps...

I read this sign from an old man with a long speckled gray beard. A thick dark blue beanie on his head, gray dingy sweatshirt, probably in his late fifties. Around him is trash from fast food places and grocery stores. I am first in line at the stop light making a right hand turn so I see him and he see's me, face to face pretty much. I just finished grocery shopping at WinCo. I love WinCo. So much food for so much cheaper than anywhere else. I even was able to pick up a couple items for my food storage. Which, by the way, is turning out excellent. I see this man and I think, "is he being sincere. I don't believe it." All these thoughts running through my head. "He sure looks the role if he is truly homeless. " "I don't have to give him money, I could give him some oranges or bananas." "If he really is homeless why does he think this is the best way to make a living?" I can't think of any good reason not to give him food and I don't think of any good reason to give him food, so I take the turn and act as if I hadn't seen him. Then I thought about the poor and how am I serving them. Sure there are those that scam, but I don't think everyone scams. Living in Spokane this is a frequent dilemma. I am mixed with emotion every time I see a homeless person. Because I don't have much myself, but I have enough to give.

And the government will be upon His shoulder...

and His name shall be called.... Wonderful (wanduhful)... Counselor (khansolor)... The mighty God!
Yep I have been singing for Handel's Messiah. Our Stake is doing it for the Nativities around the World display they do every year in December. We are singing a number of selections. I was excited for this because I sang it as a little girl too. I am now learning that I didn't know my part very well at all! These songs are challenging both in rhythm and range. It's also nice to have some just me time working on something I enjoy. I have always enjoyed singing. Singing is one thing that ties me from my childhood into adulthood. I have always sang. In HS I sang in select choir then jazz choir. I sang in competitions, in church, for family. But I have always wondered... do I actually sing well? I know I can sing on key and I get the notes right and I can sing high and I can harmonize, but what about alone? I have always wanted to be able to sing and for people to be amazed. Not like I want to go professional, but just sit and really enjoy, not say "oh isn't she cute". I asked Jeff if he thought I sounded good, his response was "yeah", and that was it. That's what I got. I know I can't ask my parents because if you have ever met my parents then you would know that they would tell me that I am the BEST singer they have ever heard. Well Celine move over because here I come. I want to go on American Idol so that I could get a completely honest answer. The thing is I don't really know my style of voice, I don't know my best vocal range. Maybe I have a back up singer voice. I just don't know, I guess I could record myself. Oh well, I guess I'll do regardless of how I sound to others and pretend I am ignorant to it and do it because I love it. Ya, that sounds good. I'll do that, at least until I can get answers.

I finally did it. It took me 6 months, but here he is; Charlie Noah Rippy. I wasn't able to do this on Photoshop like I am use to, but a friend introduced me to Picasa. I am really liking it so far. Its very simplified but have a lot of options. So here is his birth announcement a day late and a dollar short. I guess that's second child syndrome. I think it turned out nicely. This will be blown up into a poster to keep on his wall.

can it get much better than this...
Evalie is down for a nap; Charlie is down for a nap. Dishes are clean, dinner is in the crock pot, my house is clean.
Awwww.

Dear Evalie,
Today you started Preschool. You were so excited. It started at 10 am and I could barely keep you contained at home before it was time to leave. We ended up leaving early and waiting in the hot sun until the doors were opened. Then you excitedly exclaimed "the doors are open!!" Jumping up and down like you do. You played with marbles and you colored, you listened to a story, and practiced writing your name and the names of colors, you went on a field trip and blew bubbles. You brought your Elmo backpack and made sure everyone knew you were going to school. You were there for 2 hours. It was a great 2 hours because when I came to pick you up, you wanted to go back. Monday can't come soon enough for you. I just wanted you to know Evalie, I am so happy for you. I am thrilled you get this opportunity. As I watched you so anxiously waiting to enter that building, stroking your soft hair, I thought back, just for a moment, of the days when you were so so little. I wish I could remember those days better. I hope as you enter this new season of life that you will get lots of opportunities, that you will be kind, that you will grow, and that you will always know you are a daughter of God.

Love,
Mom