Ok, so I have shared quite a bit as of late about the new man in my life, Mr. M.
And many of you want to know, "Who is this Mr. M., Mr. Mystery Man?"
Well let me give you a glimpse or a sneak peak at the new guy:
Yep there he is...
Isn't he cute?!
Find yourself... keeping it real.
During that weekend, we had so much fun. I cannot tell you how hard I laughed. It was to the point of tears and one time I honestly thought I was going to pass out from laughing. (Yes, and make sure you read that right, I said "pass out" not something else.)
We ate at a fine Italian restaurant on Valentine's night. I guess it's funny now, but the place was full of couples while us three girls stood in the foyer waiting for a table for more-than-two people to come available. I think the wait was well over an hour. The hostess kindly let us know (where everyone could hear her) after thirty minutes that they had reset the restaurant with mostly tables for two for the night, to explain our long wait. (But the food was so worth it Vicki!) Oh the joys of being single on Valentine's Day!
While staying with her, she treated us like queens, she truly did. The best hostess you will ever find. Thanks again Vicki, for the superb weekend for us girls!
A few choice photos from the trip.
Both mornings her breakfasts prepared for us were like works of art!
Sweet Vicki
On the way back home from our V-Day Weekend trip to Vicki's house in South Carolina, Kris and I started listening to the audio book, UnChristian. It reiterates what I have felt during recent years, that as Christians, we sometimes box ourselves in and create our own little bubble that at times cannot be penetrated by the outside world or pre-Christians, as I like to call them. This is something I personally have tried to change in my life as I open my mind and my heart to others around me. I am currently placing the book in it's entirety on my iPod and will continue to listen so I can finish the book soon. Later I will be able to give you a better feel for the content and review of the book.
Oh and by the way....
We made it back to Virginia!
Find yourself... keeping it real.
Even with taking my kids here and there this weekend, Mr. M and I still made time to hang out.
I told him since he had met Kass on Thursday night at her school program, that if he wanted to stop by Friday night while we entertained two of her friends from school, that he was welcome. He not only stopped by but brought three bottles of sparkling grape juice with him. What a treat! I got out a few my goblets and the girls had the best time - playing restaurant and filling up the glasses. They flirted with Mr. M. most of the evening as they asked him to play hide and seek and stuck notes on his back. He was quite the hit of the evening.
Saturday, he showed up while we were selling Girl Scout cookies at the Sam's Wholesale, brought us bottles of water and then helped me find a dessert for the event Kass had on Sunday. She then left with a friend to go spend the night and I had to pick up Jas from one of his friend's house - get him home to shower and head off to a birthday party that evening. While I was making this mad dash with Jas, Mr. M. was off to find the correct tool to tighten up the loose legs on my dining room table. After getting Jason where he needed to be we met up again to go to dinner with Mr. M's mom and step-dad. (Are you out of breath yet, just reading about the hectic day?)
Luigi's was his mom's choice of restaurant for the evening, because I had never been and it was one of their favorites. The place was divine, a quaint Italian restaurant with food that was exquisite. We had so much fun talking and getting acquainted. And the meal finished off with some dinner music by a blues singer who also played the piano.
Well Sunday was even more hectic between getting my kids to different events from Girl Scouts to teaching at church, so I won't go into detail. But I will share the following:
Jas was able to meet Mr. M. over lunch on Sunday,
Mr. M.'s mom and I bonded even more when she found out I crochet (she bought me new needles and gave me some great rope style yarn for a new project);
and amidst the running here and there, Mr. M. managed to wash dishes at my house during one of our quick stops with the kiddos between outings. Now for a man to do dishes, you know that means SOMETHING!
Find yourself... keeping it real.
My baby as seen on the news clip of her fourth grade class musical "Let it Shine"- aired on Channel 10 News and the video is linked here. Go on over there and check it out if you have a minute or two. And real quick before you go.....
Here are a couple pictures from last night's performance:
And many thanks to Mr. M for video taping the "entire" program from the audience while I took snapshots. It was a wonderful evening all the way around. Isn't she precious!
Find yourself... keeping it real.
Well this has been a crazy week. Aren't all of mine crazy though?
This one I started out Monday morning with an appointment to see Jas' surgeon to reassure Jas that the pains he has been experiencing (still) after the surgery were normal and that nothing was awry.
Tuesday followed with Jas sick with respiratory infection which included fever and aches and pains all over his body keeping him out of school for two days and back to his regular physician to get started on antibiotics.
Lately, I haven't had much time to blog because - my nights after the kiddos go to bed are now filled with constant conversations with Mr. M by phone as we catch up on the day, even if we managed to grab a few stolen moments that same day to see each other. But if you follow me on twitter, then you know I have already met his mom. And if you don't why not!?
I can't keep count anymore how many times we have "hung out" but we have enjoyed each moment and I am finding he truly is a great guy.
When he leaves me emails or instant messages that include things like:
In case you haven't figured out by all these emails, I think you are pretty wonderful.
I can't help but smile.
I've been smiling a great deal lately. Not sure where this is all headed but we both are in agreement: We are enjoying "it" for what "it" is for now... and just letting "it" be.
So while I have been smiling and going to enough Dr. appointments lately, it wasn't too surprising to be dealing with the sudden dilemma of what shoes Kass was going to wear this morning. She has a school play tonight and had one performance during school this morning as well. It's already started,the "I don't have anything to wear," syndrome.
In case you are wondering... I'm feeling like this right about now.... stay tuned!
Well in the very beginning of a new friendship/relationship, I don't like to get caught up too quickly. Remember McDreamy? This one has begun in a small whirlwind but in an organized and controlled environment kind of way. Plus I can't say I have tried to stop it. But I am trying to keep my head on straight, as I recommended in December to others getting emotionally attached too quickly. And I have already said the words: "We are taking this slow," to which he has agreed. But I took some clips out of a recent email from Mr. M and wanted to share them with my readers. Let me know what you think.
You have left me speechless.....my heart no longer feels like it will beat through my chest... finally. :)
Wow, I really can't form much of anything that might sound like a meaningful sentence...
I want you to know, the first time I met you in Starbucks I thought, I want to kiss this girl: that was my very first impression. We then started talking and it was like every fiber of my being was wrapped up in our conversations, it's still like that when we talk deep and serious.....
I'm trying to figure so many things out about myself since I've met you, I guess that's not accurate, probably more accurate would be to say I am remembering so many things about myself. I thought that I felt like a stranger to myself. But it really seems like meeting someone you have known very well but haven't seen them in a very long time. I can't remember feeling so comfortable with myself, rather than being filled with insecurity. I'm trying to understand: is this me or an even better version?….
Well I was left with "wow" after reading this. And many of his emails are this deep and heartfelt. We are fascinated with our connection on a communication level. We understand each other and it has been the foundation from which this began. In other words, he is attractive and he finds me such as well; but our attraction from the start was our ability to communicate and relate to each other.
He is a single dad and he is still working through this new chapter in his life. As you can see in his email he is still finding himself as he walks through this journey.
Any advice you can offer to him would be welcomed. Mr. M knows I was going to share some of this on my blog. I hope you will reach out with a comment or two below.
Find yourself... keeping it real.
You gave me this valentine a few days ago. It was early for Valentine ’s Day but you had made it while sitting in class after finishing your work earlier that day. You said you made several but you included me. That was so sweet. You also gave me a box of chocolates you bought while staying with your cousin C this past weekend.
Thanks Kass for making my Valentine’s Day extra special.
Oh and I should tell you. I know you are growing up into a young lady… and I know that means lots (and lots) of changes. But please try not to have so many meltdowns, ok? Mommy loves you, but sometimes I don’t even know what to do when you get so upset over the little things, like biting into a piece of that chocolate candy you gave me, realizing it had peanut butter inside, and thinking it might have been part of the recent peanut butter recall. (Quick note, you didn’t die from eating it.)
It seemed to help you feel better when I said I thought your recent moods and behavior may be attributed to becoming a “big girl/young woman.” But remember you can’t use that as an excuse, ok?
Seriously, I hope you know what a special young lady you are, even if you do get a little excited sometimes. I love you!
Love, Mom
Find yourself... keeping it real.
Oh there it is.... Saturday, February 14.
Guess where I will be?
Yep, us girls are headed for a road trip!
My great friend, Kris and I will be headed to Vicki's house in South Carolina Friday and I just can't wait. She is a hoot to hang out with... and has an amazing sense of humor. The weekend will not be dull, I assure you.
Vicki has been a good friend for a long time. She is actually the one that took me and my two children into her home (when she was here in Virginia) and gave me a place to stay when I left my X in 2003. She provided a safe haven, for which I will be ever grateful. My kiddos also think the world of her.
But it will be just us girls this Valentine's Day; and oh the stories I will have to share with my wonderful longtime friends!!! And with Vicki back in the dating world, I know she will have stories to share with us as well!
Stay tuned and I will be sharing more about my world (not yours Vicki, don't worry!) with you here.
Seriously, I promised, didn't I?
Now what are your plans for Valentine's day... as a single... as a couple? Anything special... or just another day?
If you are still looking for some inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine's Day... check out dumblittleman.com for some great ideas.
Find yourself... keeping it real.
I'll share more about Mr. M very soon, I promise. But first this is what I did last Saturday night. Now it may sound like an old timey recipe… but don’t knock it till you try it. I promise it is exceptional. Oh, what is it? Bread Pudding: Now I know it doesn’t look like pudding and it’s more like a moist cake consistency; but it is so tasty! My mom’s recipe is what I still use today… improvising sometimes by adding in choc chips, pecans or even bananas to kick it up a notch. But Saturday I made it just like it is… plain bread pudding with cinnamon and nutmeg. MMMMMMhMMMM good.
Oh in case someone out there MIGHT want the recipe, here ya go:
2 cups milk
2 cups bread crumbs
1 ½ cups of sugar
3 eggs
½ cup butter (melted)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix up your liquids and the spices first then add in the bread crumbs. Continue mixing everything and then pour into your 9 X 12 baking dish. Heat at 350˚ for 45 minutes (don’t forget to preheat). It’s done if a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool or eat warm with ice cream.
Now you know I am not much of a cook, but it’s not that I can’t do it; I just have to get inspired. You know like for a big family get-together or such. But when I wanted to taste this treat… I didn’t mind pulling out the ingredients and getting to it. Plus it takes about 15 minutes to get everything mixed together and another 45 for baking. You can’t beat that.
I like to put it in a bowl and add a little milk while it is warm. But I can eat it cold, hot, lukewarm, on a summer day or a winter day, by myself or with family, watching the super bowl or watching a movie, standing on my head or laying on the couch, talking on the phone with a new friend (while they are talking, of course) or while working on my blog. Yeah I like it that much.
What do you do on a Saturday night at home?
Find yourself… keeping it real.
We looked up at the stars while standing on the parkway just outside his car. “That’s the big dipper,” he said… “Ok, where’s the little dipper?” I replied. “I don’t remember,” he said. Neither did I. “It would be neat to point out all the constellations to our kids, wouldn’t it?” I said smiling.
I knew he would understand what I meant. He has two kids of his own about the same age as mine. I kept staring up, way up in the sky. I wish I had thought to grab my camera before we got out of the car. This was so much better than a Superbowl party….
When we arrived back where my vehicle was parked at almost 1:00 am Monday morning Mr. M got out to check and make sure it was safe to get in (since we had been sitting inside Starbucks while there was a robbery at the store next door earlier that night). All was clear. I tried to give him back his sweatshirt he let me borrow while we walked around on the parkway and took in the view at the star.
“No, keep it,” he said. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Yes, It’s a ‘leave behind’ (remember Seinfeld?).”
I knew immediately and took the hint. He wants to see me again and the feeling is mutual.
Find yourself… keeping it real.
