From Flowers to Final Scores A Valentine’s Weekend

Happy Valentine’s Day. We had a low key weekend to kick off the holiday. I sent some flowers to Carrie at work and got them to her on Thursday. She brought them home from work on Friday so we could enjoy them together. They look pretty and smell really good. Friday night, we went out to White Linen, which is a fancy place here in Topeka. They were offering Valentine’s dinners all week, and it was fantastic.

Saturday was a day of basketball, with Washburn playing at home. The women tipped off at 1 and the men at 3, and Carrie and I made plans to go to both games. We had a fun time cheering on the Ichabods. For the women’s game, we sat in the comfy chairs, had a few drinks, and talked with some friends. For the men’s game, we moved to our season seats to watch. Both the women and men won their games.

The games were broadcast on WIBW Channel 13 out of Topeka and were also shown in Kansas City, Lawrence, and Wichita. I was hoping for a sold out crowd, but it was still a good turnout.

Saturday night we watched movies. There was not a lot planned for the rest of the evening or for Sunday. We needed a quiet weekend, so it was good to relax by watching basketball during the day and movies at night. I am hoping to get some reading in on Sunday and finish another book. I still need to read two books a month to meet my goal for the reading challenge.

Winding down for a Valentine’s Day Saturday. I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day and an enjoyable weekend.

Happy Mother's Day to My Moms and All Mother's!

Happy Mother's Day! What a beautiful time of year! The grass is green, the trees are green, and the flowers are in full bloom. Makes me wonder if having Mother's Day this time of year was planned. What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with new life everywhere we look this time of year.

Happy Mother's Day to both of my moms! I am so fortunate to be able to see my mom frequently and I try to talk to her everyday. I am able to see my mother-in-law frequently and we do a lot of things together. I love how she checks in with the kids frequently and works out time to get us together each week.

Over the course of the past year, I have had friends that have become mothers. It is so great to see them enjoying their families and being wonderful mom's to their children. Often times I reflect back on when I grew up and how much my mom did for me and my siblings. Cooking meals, doing laundry, cleaning up after I made a mess, or simply making sure I was doing my homework. Seeing my friends with their kids always makes me think back to myself and my mom.

Back in 2002, I was fortunate enough to marry into the Shirron family and gained another mom. So wonderful to have two moms who are both wanting to take care of us in old old age (of middle 40s). Both are always available to answer questions or help with a decision. Wonderful having two mothers!

The holiday also makes me think of those children that do not have mothers in their lives. Or, even worse, those that have mothers but the mother does not care or tend to the child's needs. As with any holiday, I am left wondering how those children deal with this day when they do not have someone to honor.

I am happy to honor my mom, Nancy, and my mother-in-law, Joan, on this day. I try to not only honor them on this day, but throughout the year. I know how much they do for us and their impact on our family. I am also happy to honor my friends that are mothers and I see the work that they do for their children.

Happy Mother's Day!