HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there who are near and dear. I think about all the mothers that have been influental in my life including my own Mom. There was my best friends mom when I was a kid. They lived across the street from us in Calif. When I was 6 and my father passed away her father was there with us. Her Mom was always there for us. She would take me school clothes shopping with her own daughter and buy me clothes for school.
Then of course there was the mother of my hubby. She was raised in a boarding school in Canada. She had a very rough childhood and then married a very difficult man. They relocated to the U.S. and she did the best job she could to raise four children far from home and family. She has not had an easy life but continues to try and be cheerful and lift those around her.
Of course there are the mothers of my grandkids. My daughter-in-law is a saint. She endured the first five years of marriage and three kids with an alcoholic husband. There were times when she was the sole bread winner as well as trying to take care of my son. Now she is happily a stay at home mom and loving it.
My own daughter of course is awesome. they always say that you know you have done a good job of parenting if your children are a step above you. I think I must have done something right because she is a great Mom. Being the provider for her family, as well as the spiritual leader and going to school full-time. Lots on her plate and she keeps up with it all very well indeed.
And of course a happy day to my own cool mom. I have talked of her often and bragged about how cool, and totally awesome she is. I have decided she is and always will have to be the caregiver, but it is good because someone has to do it.
I just wish a happy and peaceful day to all on this special day.

MOTHER OF THE YEAR WINNER !

Did you know my daughter was "mother of the year"? I didn't think you knew that, because you don't read the Costa Rica newspapers, but sure enough she is. Then again maybe it did not make it to the newspaper, but we all know the truth and that is what matters ha?
As you can see she loves to cook and is very good at it. My favorite things she makes are the enchiladads from Hondurus. They are amazing and very good. I also love her cookies and her chicken and potato dishes. All in all I love her cooking. She is trying to quit eating, but it is hard when you cook so good.
Besides being the "mother of the year" she is the "running partner of the year". She will do our long run with me on Saturday at any time. She has been good enough to wait until six in the evening before and will even go at six in the morning. We are training for the Tamarindo Marathon in August and she is great about keeping me on task.
She is also an awesome sister. She is good about keeping her sisters to task and making sure I know what is going on. She remembers things I don't about being young and can remind me when I forget what it was like to be young. She is also awesome to take in her brothers and help them get on their feet here in Costa Rica.
I think the frosting on the cake is the fact that she is just an all around awesome daughter. She is my best friend and I am constantly amazed at how smart and on the ball she is. She is also my business partner and is great about teaching Mom how to run a business.
After the things she has been through, with hubby being deported, major health issues as a baby, as well as job hassles, she has handled with grace and courage. She is an inspiration to me and I hope you are lucky enough to meet her some day and be inspired by her as well.

HAPPY 25 BIRTHDAY

Today is my daughter Rebekahs' 25 birthday! It was fun and we had a great day celebrating. We took the girlies to the pool for the day, then it was out for ice-cream, then it was home to make her favorite dinner, salmon patties, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

It is hard for me to believe that 25 years have raced by so quickly. I was telling Rebekah while we were at the pool that the day was very similar on the day she was born. She was born in Wahiawa Hawaii, so the weather was pretty much like it was here in Costa Rica today. About 80 degrees with a slight breeze and beautiful.

Rebekah was one month early so she was only five pounds when she was born. She also was born with her thumb in her mouth! It took us about 10 years to pry that thing out of her mouth and that would explain why she is wearing braces now at 25.

I have to brag about her a little bit since it is her special day. She has always been very quiet and mellow. She is a super hard worker and a great mommy. I am very proud of the mom and woman and hotmom she has grown up to be. I am thankful for her and that we are best friends, running partners and partners in most crimes. She told me when we made our resolutions this year that like alcoholics that avoid friends that influence them to drink we influence each other to eat and should really not hang out if we really want to get skinny!

Forget that I will take the extra 10 lbs. and a great friend to hang out with. Happy Birthday Rebekah!