Venice...Love

National Geographic Magazine August 2009; "Vanishing Venice" by Cathy Newman:

"What is Venice - so seductive, so lethally attractive - except the most sublime setting for the trilling of the heart?

For example, one fall day not long ago two children, 12 and 13, from Grosseto, a town in Tuscany, decided to run away. Their parents disapproved of their romance, so they saved and spent their allowance on a train to Venice. They walked narrow streets paved in stone and lingered on the bridges that vault the canals. Night approached, and with it the need for a place to stay. They arrived at the Hotel Zecchini, a modest guesthouse with an inviting orange-and-white awning. The clerk heard a small voice ask about a room, looked up, saw nothing, leaned over the desk, and looked into the faces of two children. Skeptical of their story about an aunt who would arrive soon, he gently questioned them, listened, then called the carabinieri.

"Such innocence and tenderness. They just wanted to be together," said Elisa Semenzato, the hotel manager. When the carabinieri arrived, they took the pair on a tour of the city in their boat, then to district headquarters in a former convent and put them to bed in very separate rooms. The next day they were served a three-course meal on a table set with lines in a hall facing the 15th-century courtyard.

Romance triumphs; reality intrudes. The parents, less than enchanted with the Romeo and Juliet narrative acted out by their children, arrived that afternoon to take them back to Grosseto, away from the soft ache of first love and the gilded beauty of Venice.

Kisses end. Dreams vanish, and sometimes cities too. We long for the perfect ending, but the curtain falls along with out hearts.

Beauty is difficult."

Love, and all good things to you.

I've given this a lot of thought and I've decided to discontinue my blog. I have enjoyed keeping it for these four years and have met many other bloggers that are wonderful and have amazing lives and stories to share. Lately, I haven't been posting much and I think it's because life is so full right now and all my attention is on our now and future plans. I have so much ahead and I want to give that my full attention. I cannot, however, sever my ties to all you awesome folks, so I will continue to visit and comment on your blogs and enjoy keeping up with you in your lives. Please take care and may God bless you in all your days. Love.

On Hold

You'll be seeing less of me on here for a bit. Reason? We'll be on the move...again. H has finished his training and we will be heading back to NM. Right after, we will be on the road to Utah and Idaho to visit family and a few friends. So, I have a ton of packing and cleaning to do. Hope you all have a wonderful end of September and beginning of October, if I'm not back on here before then. Take care and God bless.

The first 11 years.

Last night, H and I celebrated our 11th anniversary by leaving the kids with a sitter and heading out on a date. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse...love those rolls, then went to a honkytonk for some pool and dancing. We scored the only free pool table and played until we got our butts handed to us by a pro. It was great. The music was awesome...lots of George Strait. And then, before we left they dedicated a dance to H from me and it was "Amazed" by Lonestar. I didn't pick the song, but it couldn't have been more perfect. Here's the lyrics:

Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh, it feels like the first time, every time
I want to spend the whole night in your eyes

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

And that's what it feels like...every year has been better than the last. And he's still the best person I know. I pray we can have many more years together and are always able to work through the rough spots. I'm a blessed woman.

11 Years

Today is our 11th anniversary. We'll be doing something fun tonight. Think I know what it is, but no plans are ever final. Will update later. Yay for us! 11 years! And we like each other more than when we started. That's a good way to go.

I'd like to claim it's genetic, but I think she just learns from our mistakes.

Me (to Tiny): If you had a bunch of money, what would you do?

Tiny: Pay my taxes.

Smart girl I'm raising.

Wiling away the hot summer days.

Moving things around a bit. Trying out a new layout and title. Seeing how they fit. Just needing to change it up a little. Here's what we've been up to...

4th of July weekend with some fireworks and playing on a boat.

Kicking back

Enjoying some good food

(Yes, that's butter. He loves it.)

Watching a few movies

Playing dress up

Running through a sprinkler or two

Gaining battle scars (this one is from trying to shave like daddy after finding a disposable razor)

Working on our balance

Meeting new friends

Hitting the road

Watching a few more movies

And heading to the library about 3 times a week.

It's a tough life...but someone's gotta do it.