dear blog, aren't sisters awesome???

while checking my facebook this morning i found a message from my twin sister. i thought it was odd to get a message from her since we talk on the phone maybe twice a day. after reading what she wrote i realized that some things are better said in writing. i love her sappy heart! family is such a beautiful blessing and gift (i'm going to print this letter and put it away for a later date).

Marian,

I opened a box of memories tonight. It's continents were from our life...you know that life long long ago when "MAC Make Up" was something special and the "Inland Center Mall" was where we wished we could shop.

While going through this time capsule I came across our baby book with notes from Momma to us that she had written on our birthday (really sweet), old photos of me you and Mia with nappy heads wrapped in a comforter in our panties and tee shirts, photos from Halloween in 12th grade when we were B boys (hilarious) and pictures of that trip we took to the beach before you left for your mission.

After looking through pictures I came across some old greeting card, 2 Birthday card from James (trash), 1 Thinking of You card from James (trash), 5 Valentine cards from James (more trash), 1 letter from you while on your mission (smile), 1 thinking of you card from Nekenya (smile), 1 Birthday card from you while on your mission (laugh) and then another card...this one had pictures of sand and sand dollars and inside it read:

"I dreamt we walked together along the shore. We made satisfying small talk and laughed. This morning I found sand in my shoe and a seashell in my pocket. Was I only dreaming?" Maya Angelou (heart sinking feeling and tears)

In the card you said that the quote reminded you of our trip to the beach before you left and that you missed me tons. The 4th of July was coming up and you wanted to let me know you were thinking of me. My eyes welled with tears the same way they did the day I got the card in the mail. It bought back so many memories of how much I missed you while you were gone and how I couldn't wait to be close to you when you returned.

After drying my eyes I picked up a note book from undergraduate in it was writing assignments from some of my classes. I fingered through a few pages then came across a poem that I had written called "Ode to Anger". As soon as I read the title everything came back and with every word that I read my conviction grew deeper. The assignment was for a creative writing class I was taking during to beginning of your and AJ's relationship. Reading it I remembered how HORRIBLY I treated you. That was such a tough time in my life and I was unhappy for many reasons that I don't think I really understood until NOW. I don't know if I've ever apologized and it may seem silly 6 years later but I have too because I was DEAD WRONG. It's so funny how life turns things around, I was so pissed at you for putting yourself first and following your HEART and now that is all I encourage you to do.

Looking through this box of memories we have had sunshine, clouds, storms, a few floods and plenty of RAINBOWS with butterflies. I'm sorry for being an ASS and over bearing...it was so STUPID, I was so STUPID.

Know that you are my TRUE love and I never want to be separate from you because you are my support and very best friend. I love 99% of the things you do and ADORE the woman you have become and the mother that you are. God knew that we would need each other even when we didn't and no one ELSE could give me all that you have given me dear sister. My love for you has been 31 years in the making and it will continue until heaven and beyond.

With my whole heart,
Maxine Ragsdale

aren't sisters the best??? something funny about receiving this letter is that last night, for a short moment, my mind wondered back to the trying time my sister and i had when i was dating my husband. i thought it was weird that something so long ago would come to my mind, and i dismissed the thoughts without much effort. the very next morning i receive a letter from my sister confessing her love and appreciation for me. we are truly connected at the heart, mind, body and soul! i love having a twin sister. we experience a special bond that is hard to explain.

my little family and i went to central california to help hubbies grandma move out of her house. the house is on 15 acres of land that she just sold to the family who bought her dairy farm about 30 years ago. anyway, during our visit we volunteered to help feed the calfs. it was an exciting experience for our little girl. she was a brave little helper and enjoyed every single moment of being a farmer. i also got the chance to help birth a calf into the world...WOW!!! i would share pictures but they are pretty graphic! some of you might find this hard to believe but i am truly a tomboy at heart and working on the dairy farm for a day made our trip completely worth my while.

another awesome picture of ~S~ while shooting into the sunlight. i took these pictures with my cell phone.

3 already!!!!!

our little girl had her third birthday last month, and as much fun as it was for me to plan her party it was also a very sad time for me. it is heart breaking to see how fast ~S~ is growing. i sat down and tortured myself a couple of days before her birthday by looking at her baby pictures/videos, and cried my eyes out. i just love her so much and both hubby and I are excited for her future, it's just bitter sweet seeing my little girl growing up (i'm sure you moms know what i'm talking about). anyway, the party was a blast! one of my sisters was able to come to the party so it was exciting and a joy to have my family in town. ~S~ enjoyed every moment of her party...she played hard. i love watching ~S~ have a good time! here are some pictures of our baby girl on her special day. enjoy!

some of the goodies i made

hubby, making sure all the kids at the park got in on all the birthday fun. i really hate watching kids standing around wishing they could join in on some party fun so we invited the playground kids to have their share of the candy from the 4ft tall Dora pinata. eight pounds of candy should be enough for everyone, right???

finally, a REALLY cute picture of ~S~ and her grandma

THE END!!!!

what...christmas in February!!!!!

No, it's just me trying to catch up on a couple of important blog post. we had a wonderful christmas in 2011. my family came to visit us, and i hosted my first family christmas dinner. it was a lot of work. i think i was up til 4am on christmas eve! anyway, i didn't take pictures of my yummy dinner (i completely forgot) but it was very pretty and delish!

hubby got me this new nativity for my birthday, and it's my favorite.

little miss on Christmas eve in her new P.J.'s

~S~ was nice enough to let us sleep in on Christmas morning but here she goes with one of her presents. we had a great time watching ~S~ open, and play with her gifts.

finally, a couple of weeks before Christmas, we went to California to support my big sister Mia, who graduated from Azusa Pacific University's Nursing School. i'm a little disappointed because i took pictures for my sister and i can't find them on my computer. out of maybe 200 photos, the two below are the only ones I could find. It's a good thing I gave her a disc before I deleted them from my camera. anyway, Mia is pretty amazing!!!! Out of all the women in her graduating class she was one of the first to take the state bored exam for her nursing license, and pass on the first attempt. She also has a job working as a Registered Nurse in the NICU at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and she accomplished all of this before her graduation. we are very proud and impress with Mia's drive, dedication, discipline, and hard work. my family and others had been praying for her through out her journey, and she has been abundantly blessed.

mia's hubby, Alex (we heart him).