Dear Jackson

Let me start off by saying I love you. You are my son, my first born, and I love you.

But I need to clear up a few matters.

First - I love your ambition to play basketball, sports are fabulous, but you should stick to using a basketball and a basket outside, your socks and your laundry basket don't seem to be your thing. I'd appreciate it if your dirty nasty pre-teen smelling socks would be IN your laundry basket instead of all over your room, behind your bed breeding something, or stuck in your window blinds.

Second - I know your fortunate to have a TV in your room, but that doesn't mean you can turn it on and leave it on so that you can catch a glimpse of something good when you happen to walk by. It really will turn BACK on after you turn it off. We do pay a power bill here.

Third - the refrigerator, cups, and ice are in the same place they have been for 6 years now, I know you remember that. I am more than happy to help you out on occasion but honestly, I think at almost 11 years old you would notice if we moved these items (oh yeah, the pantry too). I have the utmost of confidence that you can get off the sofa and get a drink all on your own. It makes me proud when you pour your own drink.

Fourth - I know you love certain shirts, but really they must be changed once in a while.

Fifth - while I appreciate you teaching your little brother lots of fun stuff, could you possibly avoid encouraging him playing DODGE BALL in the house with whatever happens to be closest to him? I think it's great you are teaching him sports, but outside is the best place for things to be flung about. And just to let ya know, it really is NOT funny when he flings a stone coaster at the dog.

and Last but certainly not least, no matter how funny it is, no matter how hard you TRY not to laugh, kindly walk out of the room to laugh when your "bubba" drops the D-word.

I do so love you, you are a great kid with a big heart, but thought I needed to throw these out there for ya, just little reminders in life.

My Dad.

My dad is cool. I looked at so many Fathers Day cards and some were great, but just didn’t “do it” for me. Maybe I’m picky or maybe you just deserve more than a card. Over the years, I’ve received many gifts from you and mom, and I always love them because I know that they are bought with love and thought. But one gift that I’ve gotten several times over the years, are letters from you, Dad.

The other day I was going through some pictures in my photo box, and I found a letter.. One that had not made it into a memory box or a scrapbook yet. It was a letter to Lauri and I on Fathers Day, 1982. What a jewel to find!

There are so many things I have loved about being your daughter. As a kid, I still smile when I think about playing office in your office.. kind of feeling like I was being you. Little did I know that was inspiring in me your hard work ethics, your dedication to your job and your family, and our crazy shared organization skills. I always felt important and special to be helping you work. Other fun fond memories of things we did and things you did for us – dancing us on your toes in the kitchen, the Disney trip, going to get LuLu, and the cheerleading and pageant girl stuff, putting up my basketball hoop on the side of the house and shooting hoops, going to El Cabritoes when Mom had PTA, you sleeping in the hallway when we were all three sick, you teaching me how to drive, you NOT teaching me how to mow the lawn because there wasn’t great success with mom and Lauri, all the nights when I’m sure you were tired from the week but you let us have ½ the neighborhood over to watch movies. The sacrifices you made for us, and continue to do so.

Some may seem like little things, but see, they left an impression on me. The things that you think we as kids will remember may not be. It’s the little things that last sometimes.

Many things about our family are rare these days, the unconditional love, the support, the help, the genuine feel of comfort and completeness when we’re all together, it just makes our family unique. And that is all possible because you and mom raised us right, you nurtured us and we never fully appreciated it or understood it until we faced some of those challenges with our own children. Having you share yourself with my own boys is like an amazing circle completing… I thank God for having the courage and strength and knowledge that you have passed to us and help us through still today Dad.

I have all of your letters, Dad. Every one of them that you’ve written over the years and each time I look at them and read them I swell up with the love that you wrote them with. They are the greatest gift from you.

So Happy Fathers Day Dad! I hope you know how much I love you and cherish our relationship and family. I have seen the saying 1000 times but nothing is more true.. .

Anybody can be a Father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad.

You are special Dad.
And I love you

Julie
2009

When Life Hands You Lemons...

screw Lemonade, go for the vodka.

So last I posted Bryan and I were celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary. The good news is, we're still married. I had also just celebrated my 40th Birthday with a new outlook and attitude on life... well I am still 40 and I still have attitude... lol So since then...

About a week before Bryan's Birthday weekend of surprises, I had a phone call from work. I knew it couldn't be "good" or one of those "just wanted to tell you are awesome" phone calls. No, it wasn't. It was the "we're cutting back because we have to and your job position has been eliminated". That sucked. I had been spending every waking moment working on Bryan's weekend, keeping so many secrets from him I was about to bust... but I'll get to that in the happy part of this blog...

So after 14 dedicated years with the company, my reign has come to an abrupt halt. In all fairness, this job has been more than fabulous to me. Even on my way out the door, my boss took good care of me and got me a nice severance to tide us over until I can find a new job. I am very blessed. I was stressed over the money side of things, obviously, and I cried and threw my fit and the boys looked at me like I was on crack. But I picked myself up and brushed off the mascara and said "damn it this is just a sign its time for me to get back out there". So my quest will begin soon. I am enjoying taking at least a little time to breath for the first time in forever. So sad news, bad news, but hey - that Vodka sure makes those lemons better to take! (just kidding mom)

So on to fun news, Bryan turned 40 on June 13. I had been working for about 4 months straight to plan his weekend! On Thursday, his two best friends from college came to surprise him. It was all running perfectly until he decided to leave work early to mow the grass. But after lots of crazy phone calls and with the help of my dear neighbors, we pulled it off and he was completely SHOCKED to see them pull up in the driveway. After that it was a breeze, cards all night Thursday night, golf already setup for them on Friday and Saturday and the party went off without a hitch! I think, after our 20 years together, I finally surprised him!

So the Feeney house has had a mix of good news, bad news, fun times, and probably one more margarita then necessary but was hard earned.

I guess I thought when I turned 40 that was the opening of a new chapter, but seems I was being lazy about it. The powers that be saw fit to give me a swift kick in the ass to go out there and look for those new doors and new windows and open one and climb on in.

Watch out - Here I come....