Happy Birthday Douglas!

Good Morning It is my brother's birthday ! Happy Birthday to him.... I don't think he has ever read my blog, or even knows what a blog is :) but maybe I'll print this off and share it with him. My childhood was unlike any other. It was what stories are written about, fun~ carefree~ simple~ happy~ loving... Really I don't have too much bad to say about my childhood. I have never had to discuss it in therapy, let's put it that way :) When my child hood was brought up by a counselor, they never spent much time on it. So growing up the youngest of three kids I was the chosen baby.... Doug is 10 years older than me . Actually almost exactly, 16 days separate our birthdays. He was the best and I mean BEST big brother. He taught me so many special things. How to lick my hand before touching the electric fence to see if it was on or not...... Ya that one get 's the prize I think. I remember riding Komachee ( his black big horse) holding on for dear life as he galloped him up the hill. I remember boyscout trips and camp outs we went on too~ the Appalachian Trail for instance , we would stay behind a little , ( Mom Molly and I ) and when we would catch up with them " Dougie " was the first person I wanted to see.
Dougie as I affectionately called him could do anything he was as strong as Superman and could swim faster than Neptune ! He went to the Marine Corps when I was only 8. I remember those weekends and occasional visits as well. He always made time for me even though he would have much rather spent that time with buddies o a girl...
I recall being packed up like i was going for a weekend to be put in the back ( way back ) of the family vista cruiser and a new coloring book crayons and flashlight, to go to the drive inn with my big brother and his date, to stay in the back and not make any fuss I would be bribed with a dollar.... I wonder how many times that happened or if it was only once that it seems like many! ? Life was good. His Maverick car red and so messy in the back seat. The other thing I remember as a little girl was going with Doug for a brown cow ice cream. Out to the Dairy Inn in Berlin Center. ( a brown cow is chocolate ice cream and root beer) ...
Oh fun thoughts, I must conclude with Doug and Martha's beautiful wedding. St John's Church downtown Youngstown with the beautiful rock work and long so long aisle. I was 12 .... The junior brides' maid . my teeth full full full of braces, my hair permed and fuzzy, my first high heels, wooden soled brown sandals that had a 2 or more inch platform.... and the walk down the aisle I sobbed as if someone had cut my fingers off. It was a beautiful scene. Martha's girl friends as the bridesmaids in beautiful hunter green, pretty yellow roses and not to mention Martha with her beautiful long dark hair and gorgeous ivory gown, she was radiant. My dad was Doug's best man, Uncle Jack was one of the groomsmen, Molly was a brides maid ... it was picture perfect. ~ accept for my tears.... When asked why I cried so," I said My Dougie looked so pretty..... "
In honor of you my Dougie. Happy Happy Birthday. May God Richly Bless You this Whole Year Through.... You are truly one of my heroes... I love you.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is so fun, I always look forward to it because it is one of the busiest days as a florist. Mother's Day usually takes the prize for the very busiest week as everyone has a Mom be she with us on earth or not. ( so either way it's appropriate for flowers from a florist ) But Valentine's Day is a lot of fun. My personal goal was to sell 12 dozen roses. Ya, not thinking I will make that desired quota, But so far so good. Still just Friday tomorrow so I have 2 more days to sell what is in my little cooler.... :) <3 That little symbol is a heart if you couldn't tell....
So if you can give me a call at the Dutch Tulip to order something lovely for your Valentine. I can make it masculine for the man in your life , feminine for your sweetie or fun and cute for a young person. The sky is the limit. Allow me the opportunity to make something really special and creative for you and your loved one !!! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so let me show your TRUE BEAUTY !

Are you in love? I am..... Love is a work, a process, an effort must be made to create love. I have learned that love grows. I know that sounds like a " cliche'" but it is so true. Sometimes it is not easy to love , sometimes it isn't easy to like either. When a dear one to me was just little she said that she was in " like" with a boy from school. That is not the easiest thing to remain in after years of marriage, However love is a mutual agreement that we must work toward with commonality and compromise. and "like " comes along for the ride.

However you look at it relationships are hard work. Learn to be selfless, learn that in giving we receive, in serving we are served, in loving we are loved.
People need Loving the most when they deserve it the least....
Anyone in your world need a swift kick in the pants? ~ I can name a few~~~ but you know what they need instead ? A caring listening ear with some compassion and selfless sacrifice.
They will be better for the effort you put into it , and will be easier to love after the effort as well.... I can name a few that I'd rather ignore and hope they'd travel out of my path.... Seems those are the very people the lord is calling me to care for...
I love my boyfriend, my husband , my best friend , my companion, my soulmate, MY HERO, my daughter's dad, my mother in law's son, my brothers' in law 's brother. - you get the picture. 14 years... a lot of life has happened in those years. Much of it a struggle, and I mean a STRUGGLE. No one ever said it would be easy, and some of the time I thought I wouldn't make it out alive, but you know what ???? I would not trade this 14 years of Life Love and Happiness for all the $ in the world .
Kenny Wehr is my beloved, I am his and he is mine. I am not a beauty queen, nor a fashion model, but he treats me as if I were the only woman in the world. For that I am grateful.

I love you Ken Wehr more today than I did yesterday
and tomorrow i will love you more than i did today.


<3 ~ * <3 ~ * happy valentine's day honey * ~ <3 * ~ <3 you..... are my sunshine.
I LOVE YOU.XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Groundhog Day!

One of my most favorite days of the year, One day I will be there to see Phil. The Prognosticator of prognosticators! He did indeed see his shadow thismorning so we will have 6 more weeks of winter. I'm over this winter stuff Phil ! Who says it's global warming when it hasn't been over 25 ' in a week? Most mornigs of late we have been around the 16-19' temperatures.
Well off to the Dutch Tulip Just had to tell you about this special day for me. Some day I'll spend a few days there in February , ( not october) ~ like we have already... I love GroundHog Day !!!