Wedding ring...I once was lost, but now I am found..

On Friday morning ,as I was getting ready for work , my wedding ring flipped off the jar top I keep on my bathroom vanity that contains cotton balls .
There is a narrow space between the wall and the back of the vanity, my ring disappeared into the neather regions of " behind the vanity". I screamed "OH NO! OH NO!" My husband came hobbling in the bathroom on crutches since he is recovering from a broken ankle, I broke into sobs," my ring, my wedding ring flipped off the top of the jar" he asked " where did it go?" I pointed to the space. I ran from the room to get a flash light to see what I could see. Nothing. I opened the doors of the cabinets hoping against all hope my ring some how mananged to fall in the towels below in the cabinet, no such luck. I opened the cabinet on the other side of my double sink vanity, franctically pulling out all the cosmetics and junk, still no ring. My mind was racing now... If I just had one of those camera things like they have in hospitals where they look into small places in your body. I do have a digital camera, I stuck my arm in the space cut out under the sink so you can get to the pipes, and started flashing away,I have some really neat pictures of the pipes and wall. It was getting later and later, I had to finish getting ready for work. I thought, I will hook up my vacuum cleaner and try and suction the space out still not really knowing where my ring was. I went to work so broken hearted.
Your wedding ring is such a symbol of your love for one another. In your wedding vows it even says it is an "outward sign of your commitment to your husband or wife."I wanted my ring back.
I felt especially bad because we had had a fight the night before and exchanged some cross words with one another, I pulled my ring off in the bathroom as I prepared for bed, I usually keep it in my bedroom on my head board. I take my ring off because I have an allergy to metals and my hands will break out sometimes. I was angry as I set it on the jar top and I let my temper get the best of me.
I came home after work only to find the vacuum cleaner wouldn't reach, I was resolved that my ring was lost forever. I plotted and schemed how I was going to pull that double sink vanity away from the wall and get my ring. Fast forward to Monday, still thinking about my ring. We looked in the Sunday adds in the paper, I found a few rings I liked, but it was just not going to be the same. My husband put this ring on my finger on our wedding day, I wanted MY Ring.
We planned to go shopping, I was showering and praying to God He would help me get my ring back. I got a smaller flashlight and craned my neck as close to the wall as I could, there on a stud behind the vanity layed my ring, I could see it shining amongst the dust behind the cabinet. But how to reach it? I screamed for my husband, once again he came hobbling in the bathroom, I exclaimed, "My ring, it is on the stud, I can see it" But how to retrieve it? My mind starting racing again, we need a really small hook. Being the Christmas season, I ran to my tree pulled off an ornament, ran to the bathroom with the hook. After several tries my husband pulled the ring from it's hiding place. I don't know if you believe in miracles, but I do. I began to sob and my sweet, wonderful husband took me in his arms and held me ever so gently as he place the ring back on my finger. I did not want to give up on finding the ring, I guess I am that way, stubborn. MY husband exclaimed"All is well with the world"

Mike's Boy

Today is my son Jimbo's 27th birthday. Ihave been reflecting on this day since I woke up this morning. giving birth to a 9 pound 4 oz baby is not something you easily forget.
I can say this is probably one of the happiest days of my life, for once in my life I got it right. Not to say that I wasn't happy with the birth of my precious daughters, but a husband wants a son, it is a reflection of him. it means his family name will continue, it is a part of him.
I knew about youJimbo before you were born, God told me I was going to have a son, he also told your daddy the same thing.I never doubted once who you were. such a special baby, such a special child. such a beautiful son. I am remembering how you came into this world. there was hurricane hitting out in the gulf named Frederic. I think it did come ashore in Biloxi, sometimes when the barimetric pressure drops, like it does in a hurricane, or goes up, women can go into labor. there were 17 of us laboring the night I went to the hospital to have you. They told me you were going to be a big baby and because there were so many of us I had to have a monitor placed on me to watch the progression of my labor. I layed there in my bed alone watching this tiny screen and your heartbeat.This machine was spitting out a tape that measured my contractions so the nurses could look to see how I was doing. It was dropping onto the floor in piles after so many hours of labor. Then the time came to take me to the delivery room.The nurse I had was getting off her shift, but she wanted to see this big boy I kept talking about, so she came into the delivery room with me. When you were born, you cried just a little, they layed you on my stomach and we looked into each others eyes, it was love at first site, now they call it bonding.I spoke to you and you quieted your crying. Then they took you away to clean you up and weigh and measure you. The doctor laughed and said we were going to fool your daddy because they only had pink blankets in the delivery room. He wasn't fooled he knew you too, you were Mike's boy.
They wheeled us out into the hall, your daddy was waiting for us, but the look on my face told him everything he wanted to know and already knew. My son was here. As I look back on this time I am so thankful to God he gave you to me, I Love you son. Mere'

Flashback Friday "the Titanic"

Here goes.
my flashback is about the movie Titanic.
this is the last movie I saw in a theater with my now exhusband Michael. I have not been able to sit through it until this week. On our local PBS station there was a piece about some family members of the tragic passengers trying to identify them through DNA. It was fascinating. The forensic scientist were able to positively identify a child, formerly known as the "Unknown child of the Titanic". He was only 13 months old and his distant relatives were from Finland. So to make a long story short, I decided to watch the movie. I made a startling discovery, that I had not heard before in the theater. It was the scene in which Jack is trying to get Rose to come down from the railing because she is trying to jump. She is being forced to marry a jerk just to keep her Mama in the lifestyle they both knew... Money. Anyway, Jack starts telling her where he grew up in order to distract her. He first mentions ice fishing, then Wisconsin. Chippewa Falls to be exact. I have been to this place!. Little did I know sitting there in the theater watching this movie 8 years ago would I ever imagine I would be where I am today.
Remembering what was happening in our lives at that time, my own marriage was a sort of a Titanic, it was going down and I was hanging on for dear life. I didn't want to let go. I sat and watched the movie and I cried at the approiate times, but this time there was no remorse at it.
then I listened to the song at the end sung by Celine Dion as the credits rolled and I reflected on my own heart. It truly does go on. My heart has gone on. Now if I could just get that stupid song out of my head!

Flashback Friday

THERE IS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING!

I did something the other day that I have never done before in my life!!!!!
I went to see a movie by myself( audible gasp!!!)
and it was not just any movie, it was The Pirate Movie.
Now before you say, so what?
In all of my 52 years have never been to a movie theater to see a movie by myself.
I thought it was time, I am a grown woman, I can do this.
I checked out the times in the paper, made my plan, got in the car. Got to the theater
walked in, plunked my money down, bought my ticket. I was waiting for the guy behind the counter to say "Ok, where is your husband?" "Are you allowed to be out alone?" I didn't flinch
I had the biggest shock of my life at how much the concession cost. I can remember when I was little, my mom would send us to the movie with a quarter. We got pop corn, a coke and a candy bar and the ticket to the movie. My popcorn and drink was $6.00. Whatever.
I was here at the theater, I needed something to distract me and boost my confidence to walk into the theater and sit down like I did this everyday.
I was really surprised that I was not the only one there on a Monday morning at 11:30 am.
There were the usual retired people there, a couple of girls that looked like they had just crawled out of bed, I am appalled by the new fad of wearing your pajama bottoms out in public.
I took the middle row,the middle seat. Great seats. I munched on my pop corn, sipped my soda, and waited for the movie to start. Of course you have to get through the 15 minutes of previews of the upcoming attractions.
then finally , the movie I had come to see. Me and Jack Sparrow. I loved it. Now I guess I should back my story up. My husband and I had already seen this movie on the opening day, Friday evening. We had our tickets bought in advance, but our seats were deplorable. First row. I came away with a stiff neck and dizziness like I had been on a horrible ride at Disney World.
so I decided to go it alone. No sharing of the popcorn, no punching my husband to keep him awake after the popcorn is gone.
it was very interesting to see my other movie goers on this day. There was a mom with two little kids who looked like they got lost on their way to "Cars", and two guys who sat behind me who were supposed to be at work. And another couple who sat down from me. This guy could have been a professional laugher. You know the kind they hire for TV shows to get the other audience members to laugh.
I have had many memorable first in my life.
First steps, I don't really remember this but my parents did record it on 8mm for posterity. My twin sister and I look like two weaving drunken sailors in our front yard.
My first real kiss, lip lock ,tonsil swap with a boy. I was all of 12 going on 13 and His name was Mike Guidry. We were at a party and we were playing spin the bottle. He walked me around the front of our house, took my face in his hands, looked deeply into my eyes and planted one on me. I felt likeI had taken a shot of buorbon on an empty stomach. WOW!
My first time, now we all know what this means. On my wedding night, with my husband, whose name also was Mike. Enought said on that one.
I shared this experience of going to the movie alone with some of the girls I work with and It was very interesting to see how many of them had never done this. I called my twin sister and she was shocked. it was a very freeing experience.I highly reccomend it to all you women out there waiting to get asked out. Go by yourself girlfriend!

"Hey Jube"

He is here, our first grandchild. His name is Jude Michael LeBlanc. What an awsome name for such a little fellow.
I spent much of the day he was born (11/21/05) cleaning my house. I must admit I was a nervous wreck waiting for updates on my daughter's progress. She was admitted on that Monday to be induced(been there done that not fun at all). She was progressing slowly, so in the early afternoon the team of Doctors decided to do a C-section. Never having one myself, I cannnot speak of the experience. Ginger's (my daughter) husband was with her and was able to video tape the event. A few weeks later I was able to see the miracle of Jude's birth.I will never forget the rush of emotion. concerned for my daughter and what she was going through, I was not with her. A week later I flew to Louisiana to take care of Ginger and the baby.
To hold your childs child for the first time is an experience I cannot describe. My twin sister Mary ,became a Grandmother in January of 2005. She said holding that child the first time is like seeing your family in the face of that child, your Mom and Daddy. it was so true.I thought of my parents at this time, they are deceased, my mom 11 years ago and my dad 3 years ago. i wondered if they felt this way about my children. to me it is like God saying "it is ok for life to go on". I will go on, my bloodline will continue. what a mixed bag of heritage this little fellow has. Jude you come from a red faced Irishman, a German greatgrandmother, a Cajunfrench greatgrandmother, and scotchirish greatgrandfather. you also have a little English, Swedish, Canary Islander. what a special young man you will be.
I know all grandparents are particulary proud of their grandchildren, but there was never such a beautiful child born as this one. After all he is our first.I know I will love all my other grandchildren, and I hope there will be more. But there is nothing like that first one.So my wonderful little man your Nana loves you so much.

PS. the reason for the title is not a typo. My husbands Father sends out a Christmas news letter and announced we had become the proud grandparents of baby"Jube". this has become a running joke in our family.

whatever

gee I hadn't realized how long it has been since I wrote a blog!!!!
Now that we can't get on to the internet anymore at work this really sucks big time.
i really only went on the net during my lunch time which is really my own time I would say.
But no "big Brother" now moniters everything we do.

oh well enough of the ranting. My first grandchild is going to be a boy and I coudn't be any happier. His name is Jude Michael( named for his paternal uncle and grandfather) and after his Dad. I can't wait to see the newest member of the family. I will be going to La. to help after the baby is born. it has been awhile since I changed diapers, about 22 years maybe. Except for the occasional diaper changing of kids in the nursery at church. I think I can still do it. it's like riding a bike, you never forget.

except the last time I did change a diaper, it was my great neice Danielle and things were a little bit different. They have little characters across the front so you know which is the back or front. And the tabs were different too. I can remember if you got desitine on the tabs they wouldn't stick. Ofcourse I didn't use too many "Pampers", I stayed home from work after my son,who is now 25, was born. we were poor so I used cloth diapers. AW, there is nothing like the swirl method of getting poop out of a cloth diaper in the toilet. My favorite thing was the rubber pants. they got real soft if the went in the dryer. And crackled and got real hard afterward. I did use the disposals when we went to church and out of town. My youngest, Jessica< was allergic to "pampers", so we went the cloth route too with her. There is nothing like the smell of a real rank diaper pail. Do they still make those, and the little cake of air freshner that gave the diaper pail a wonderful pine smell, I felt like I was in the North Woods on that one. Oh well, now they have this thing called a diaper genie. I am imagining Barbara Eden crossing her arms and blinking once and the kid is changed, or a big blue guy pops out of the top and says " What do you want" ?? Presto changeo, But I don't think that is what that thing is for. I just know who ever invented Pampers, huggies, Luvs, and all the rest, God bless you.

Saturday in St Paul

Bored out of my mind!
but last night was the best, went to see the Twins play the New York Yankees
Yes the team that gave us the Sultan of Swat, the Bambino, The Babe, not to mention the Iron Horse Lou, Lou, Lou, Lou, LOu Gerig. Well we beat them 6 to 3 and was it a great game. I thought I would never live to see this day. I was so keyed up I coundn't go to sleep.

they are playing again tonight, I hope they win , but who knows. Go Twin's!
Jeeter...Your number is up, A Rod you suck, chop sui Matsui,syonara.