3+1=4

The Westberg family: A family of 3 for many years now, and about to become a family of 4! We are very excited that our new addition will join us right around Kelsey's 5th birthday in October. She is very excited to become a big sister and we are very excited to "complete" our family!

I realize, as if my life has not been chaotic enough, that a new baby will mean more chaos, but the good kind. As Henry Miller said, "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written". This new chaos will be our new reality. We welcome this new chaos into our lives with open arms!

Empty Nest

It's quiet around our house this week. Kelsey is in Florida visiting with my family and having the time of her life. We are enjoying our time alone as well, but her absence is absolutely felt! There is no coloring, no dress-up or games of pretend, and no Barbie movies playing on the DVD player. No sounds of Dora the Explorer or the Backyardigans, and no little hugs and kisses from my sweet baby girl. Joey and I are going to take a mini-vacation this week to Savannah and enjoy our time together (as it may be our last for a while!) and will get to pick up Kelsey on our way home.

An unknown author once said, "A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer". I am looking forward to my bright days and warm heart returning when baby girl comes home!

Happy Birthday, Mommo

At the rising sun and at its going down, we remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn, we remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us, As we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make, we remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share, we remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs, we remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live, For they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

(From the Gates of Prayer Reform Judaism Prayer Book)

I miss you and love you, Mommo. Happy birthday to my special grandmother.
Sending hugs and kisses to heaven. XOXO

2/17/37 – 12/31/08

It's the final countdown!!!

I admit it, the music from Europe's hit song The Final Countdown is now playing in my head.. "do do do do, do do do do do... It's the Final Countdown!". As I approach my 29th birthday this week, I realize that I am nearing a milestone in my life and the countdown to the BIG 3-0 will begin. Who knew that my 20's would fly by so quickly? Who knew that my youth would be over in a blink of an eye? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to wish away the next year of my life, I am trying to confront reality and accept the fact that time flies by. So welcome 29, I'm going to make sure that I send my 20's out in style this year.

2010

2010. A new year, a new decade. Two Thousand and Ten, or Twenty Ten, whatever you call it, welcome to it. New Year brings to mind a new start, resolutions that will go unmet, and yet a hope that we have a chance to make things right. 2010.

I’ve started thinking about what will happen in my life in 2010 that I can already expect: 1) I turn 29 years old. That last year in my twenties. Ugh. Enough said. 2) I move on to year two without my grandmother. It’s not going to be any easier, but maybe won’t seem as weird because we’ve done this once already. We’ve been through monumental moments without her here, we’ve celebrated holidays with her glaring absence noticed, but we’ve survived. Year two won’t be any better without her, but maybe will feel a bit more normal. 3) My brother deploys to Afghanistan. This is one thing I am trying not to think about on a daily basis but the reality is that he will be sent off to war to defend freedom and democracy in a place that many of us would never even dream of going. While I am so proud, I am also a very worried big sister. 4) Kelsey turns 5 years old this year. Five Years Old. Where has the time gone? I’ve watched my little girl grow up right before my eyes and yet I am asking where every moment has gone? I just might have a breakdown in October, FYI. 5) So many of my good friends are welcoming babies into their lives this year. I am so happy for them and can’t wait to share the love and joy that I have felt with my own daughter and know that they have experienced it too.

So Twenty Ten—I’m ready for you. Ready for the chaos that you will bring, and I will do my best to control what I can and give to God what I cannot!

“Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.”- Tom Barrett

The Last Time.....

The last time I saw her face

Her eyes were bathed in starlight and her hair hung long

The last time she spoke to me

Her lips were like the scented flowers inside a rain-drenched forest

But that was so long ago that I can scarcely feel

The way I felt before

And if time could heal the wounds

I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more

The last time I walked with her

Her laughter was the steeple bells, that ring to greet the morning sun

A voice that called to everyone, to love the ground she walked upon

Those were good days

The last time I held her hand

Her touch was autumn, spring and summer and winter too

The last time I let go of her

She walked a way into the night, I lost her in the misty streets

A thousand months, a thousand years,

when other lips will kiss her eyes

A million miles beyond the moon, that's where she is

But that was so long ago

that I can scarcely feel the way I felt before

And if time could heal the wounds

I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more

The last time I saw her face

Her eyes were bathed in starlight and she walked alone

The last time she kissed my cheek

Her lips were like the wilted leaves, upon the autumn covered hills

Resting on the frozen ground, the seeds of love lie cold and still

Beneath a battered marking stone, it lies forgotten

by: Glen Campbell

The Lord's been good to me..

"The Lord's been good to me, and so I thank the Lord

for giving me the things I need: the sun, the rain, and the appleseed, The Lord's been good to me, Amen."

This is Kelsey's latest prayer, and I have found it very fitting lately. A lot of people might have things to complain about these days: being tired, not having enough money, not having a new car, whatever it is. But really, the Lord's providing us with what we need. The sun rises each morning, the rain replenishes the earth, and the appleseed provides us with food on our table. Everything else seems trivial when you think about these basic needs. And so, I am going to thank the Lord today for all of these things, and thank my precious baby girl for reminding me of all I have to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving to me is about taking some time to stop what we are doing and appreciate those we love. So to my family and friends, I love you and I thank you for giving me the things I need: love, support, and encouragement. To those of you who have been a sounding board, thank you. To those of you who have given me a swift kick in the rear when I needed it, thank you. To those of you who are simply there to remind me that friends and family matter, thank you. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays to all.