New Year’s Resolution

I wanted my last blog post for 2014 to pack a powerful punch so I decided to use one that Corey wrote in his blog a couple weeks ago (not because of the swear words, I promise) with his permission.

If you have been wanting to change something in your life but have been procrastinating, please don’t wait any longer, January 1st is a perfect day to start. Maybe together we can make 2015 the best year ever for ourselves and for everyone around us.

Happy New Year. We love you like crazy.

The Lambert Family

I took this picture of my parents two years ago today on a ski lift in Winter Park, Colorado during a family vacation. It’s strange to think that my mom was skiing on a mountain in Colorado just two years ago, because now, well, fuck.

For better or for worse one single moment can change everything. So live the life you’ve imagined, carpe diem, no day but today. Sail away from the safe harbor. Face your fears and live your dreams. Get it while you can. Go do, now. Because life is short and there are no guarantees. And also because, well, fuck.

God Never Wastes a Hurt

Bryan’s beautiful friend Jessica sent me this quote recently and I wanted to share it here.

“God never wastes a hurt. God will never waste anything painful you go through in life, if you keep the right attitude. He’ll take that evil and turn it around for your good. He will grow you and build your character.”

Just Being

A few days before Christmas Bryan and I spent two hours walking along our beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline taking advantage of the fifty degree weather we were enjoying on a December day in Muskegon. Bryan has this amazing ability to make me feel like he has nothing better to do but spend time with me on his day off from work while Mark was out running errands.

We talked about many things while on our peaceful walk but no words were necessary because just being was enough.

My Christmas Toast

My speech is barely understandable these days so I asked Mark to read a toast I prepared for our last family candlelit dinner together before Chad, Cole and Peyton had to head back home to Dallas.

When Dad and I were newlyweds living in Baltimore we talked about writing down our hopes and dreams for the future and putting them into a time capsule. We thought it would be cool to compare the then and now. We never did get around to writing anything down, but I know we exceeded our expectations by a lot.

As we celebrate today, we want you all to know how blessed we feel and how proud we are of all of you. Cheers to our best Christmas ever. We love you all so much.

Our dinner was extra special this time because everyone consciously showed up trying to make every moment count. We were passionate with our words as we talked about our time together the last five days.

Christmas was absolutely perfect.

This Christmas

Our gang is all home to celebrate Christmas and each other. I love seeing our three grandsons interact with one another. While having dinner to celebrate Chad’s 35th birthday on Monday, Cole, Peyton and Harrison were sitting next to each other enjoying the food that Grandpa and Chad prepared for us. Since I wasn’t eating I had plenty of time to watch the three boys. I saw Cole discreetly pass food under the table to Peyton and Peyton quickly popped whatever the food was in his mouth.* I heard pleasure in Harrison’s sweet-sounding voice as his mama fed him broccoli with her fingers. Our dinner was so peaceful and lovely I didn’t want it to end. And last night and the night before Cole, Corey, Peyton and I all camped out in the living room for a slumber party in front of the Christmas tree.

I’m not going to pretend that life is normal around our house this year but we’re all doing our best to make it extra special and make it last. Kelly, Chris, Corey, Bryan and Ashley have done a great job of planning, shopping, creating and wrapping in an effort to make this the best Christmas ever. Tonight we are hosting our annual Lambert/Neinas Christmas Eve Party which we all look forward to each year.

I pray that this Christmas is very peaceful and joyful for all of you and your families and friends and know that our family has been abundantly blessed by all of you.

*I asked Cole about this the next day and he said he doesn’t really like cherry tomatoes or cucumbers so he gives them to Peyton who will eat anything. He asked me not to tell his dad.