A Sad Day, A Happy Day

interesting title, no? Well, today is a day filled with lots of different emotions. Waking up this morning, I was flooded with memories of waking up on October 3, 1997, 11 long but short years ago. 11 years ago today, my hero, my confidante, my grandmother lost her battle with breast cancer. 11 years ago, I got out of the shower to a ringing phone that I let ring over and over and over again because I knew what was waiting on the other end. 11 years ago, I thought my world had ended and everything in my life changed. 11 years ago, I felt more pain in my heart than I have ever felt...ever.

But a funny thing happens over 11 years. Although sometimes the pain is still so raw, I have been able to weed through the yucky feelings and embrace all the really great feelings that surround my grandmother. I share all my great memories with anyone that will listen and I am reminded everyday in little ways that she is still very much a part of my life. A lot has happened in the last 11 years...

2 week after her death, I met Dave
4 years later Dave and I were planning a wedding
5 years later we were married
8 years later we welcomed our son into the world
10 years later we welcomed our daughter into the world

All really great things and I know that she was with me every step of the way. So, today, Dave the kids and I are headed to Arlington National Cemetary to put some flowers on her grave. Yellow roses, her favorite.

And now onto the Happy part of the day!!! I think it is safe for me to post this without ruining the surprise that I've had in the makings for the last month!! You see, as I posted a few weeks ago, today is the day that my BFF Sarah and her family are returning to the States, from Spain, after 3 years!!! And I, BFF extroidonaire (j/k), am planning to surprise her at the airport tonight! After hearing about all the stress she has been under, I figured she could use some familar faces and tons of love when she steps off that plane to begin a new journey in her life. So, we've got our sign ready, a bag full of goodies to welcome them home and I can honestly say I AM SO EXCITED, I can hardly stand it! I hope all goes well. I nosed around with enough questions to get all of their flight information without her knowing what I was doing. I haven't seen her since Christmas Day and I am so anxious for tonight!

***UPDATE***  So things haven't gone according to plan so far.  The McBrides flight was delayed by over 5 hours and they aren't due in until 12:30AM :(.  But, that isn't gonna stop me!  It is 11:15 pm, we are at Barbs...kids are sleeping (dave too) and I am getting ready to head back out to the airport for round two of my big surprise!  Lets hope that this time I really get to see them!  I hope for their sake that things in the air went smoother than things on the ground.  I will be sure and post the reason for their delay as soon as I know but I am sure that being stuck in an airport or on an airplane for 5 hours with a 14 month old must have been a nightmare!!  And now I am off.......

So, as you can see, a sad day, a happy day but all in all, a good day! :)

I'll post pictures later!!! :)