Mothers Day

Instead of writing about Gale's perfectly picked out presents, a wonderful dinner and being treated like a queen all day. (Which is no different than any other day!) I wanted to write down the really important things about Gale. The real reasons that you can't help but love her and most of them need no explanation. Just a prayer of thanks to the good Lord for making her that way.

1. She has blinders on when it comes to the weaknesses of her family (referring to myself and the girls). She doesn't seem them and never comments on them.

2. She sees the best attributes of her family and comments on them often.

3. She really sees us. She is always touching us, loving us, hugging us and making sure we feel we are seen.

4. She listens. (At times for hours as the girls spill their hearts out--and loves it). I think my record is now up to 15 minutes of listening. Even when I'm on a kick and going off about something she listens.

5. She is kind and her heart is kind. No malice in that heart of hers for anyone. (Even if I try to put it there)

6. She doesn't judge. Her mantra really has become "that person is doing the best they can at the moment." She may notice, but she won't judge.

7. She is just good to the soul.

8. She has become more beatiful as the years have passed by. Why? I have often wondered, not just her physical beauty, but the traits that she has developed over the years make her an irresistable woman. (Okay--she is also still hot on the outside)

9. She does everything she can to make her family happy.

10. She is smart and getting smarter everyday. She studies, reads good uplifting books and wants to go back to school for her advanced degree.

11. She has the most phenomenal out of this world goals and she will accomplish them.

12. Not the last, but the most important of them all. She makes me an incredible person when I am around her. I would not be anywhere near the person that I am or accomplished what I have without her.

I think she deserves to be kept around for another year! I love you sweetie and have a gratitude for you that can't be measured.

Chris

Garage Sale

The Preparation
I have always hated garage sales. Well, I like them when they are over and we have a few hundred extra dollars to blow, but the preparations are the worst. This year I talked Gale into doing it right. We went through the house and got all of the junk out and just piled it into the garage. The night before the sale we took two hours to organize our junk and got it ready to set out. We were ready to go. The Sale
I had so much fun at the sale I think we are going to have another one next month. My favorite part is all the stuff that I know for sure is going to bring in big bucks. I watch the buyers peruse and touch all the top end good merchandise just figuring out the max price they will pay for my wares------and then they walk away, go grab the junk and buy it. I was dying laughing by the end. All of the good stuff that had value was left and everything that I considered junk was sold and gone. So what does that tell me about what I value? Maybe it was all junk in the first place!

The Aftermath
Everybody wants a deal and wants to check out what you have lying in your driveway. After the sale was over we piled everything next to the garage and called the Salvation Army to come and pick it all up. They couldn't come for two days so our stuff had to sit in the driveway (neatly piled) for two days. The best part of the whole situation was our neighbors. They had to check out what was left over and one by one they made their way over to get some of the remaining stuff. (Free of course!) No one called the homeowners committee to tell on us for leaving junk in our driveway for two days, wonder if it had anythign to do with the free stuff all of the neighbors came and took. By the time Salvation Army marched on over there was barely anything left!

What did we spend the money on?
Gale and I decided that we would treat ourselves to a nice sushi dinner so we spent $30 on the meal (we never spend that much on date night dinner). As for the rest.....hhhmmm I don't know, Gale probably spent it on groceries etc. I did notice a new phone system in the house so maybe that's where it went. Chloe and Olivia got some new shorts. I did sneak $5 and went to Starbucks for a Venti double chocolate chip cream based shake....only $4.85 what a deal. I think we all came out happy.

The house is going up for sale next Thursday. (If the stars align with the carpet and paint people) and we are going to do another clean out and garage sale before we move. Getting rid of stuff is actually really fun.

Tennis Day and Elle goes on a big Date!

Chloe had a tennis tournament today in Shawnee. She plays doubles and they placed 5th in the state tournament! This was great due to the fact that she just changed doubles partners. We did not go due to conference, and it was the first real big tournament that we missed. The team actually got to go in an official team bus with the coach so she was excited to ride with the team.

Today was a great day for Elle. At the school auction a few weeks ago Elle won a date with her teacher. (Who she really, really, really likes!) Elle spent her morning watching conference and making a necklace for Ms. Rath. When they met up to head to the mall for a movie Elle had her gift all wrapped and Ms. Rath had a gift for Elle. Elle was the happiest person in the world. They went to the mall, saw a movie, had some popcorn and then went out for some food. Elle couldn't believe she got time with the teacher all to herself.

Olivia had a friend sleep over and stay until 6 the next evening and Ava had a friend over the whole day as well. Let's just say my kids all had a great time today.

Dolly Is in the House!

We have a fascination with Dolly Parton in our house.  It is quite unexplainable, yet is the cause for much joy.  If Dolly is on Hannah Montana we watch, if she comes in concert to Oklahoma we go, if she comes out with new songs we download them.  It is a funny thing.  

Dolly was on American Idol last night so we had to watch.  We crack up at her songs, we like how she talks in the middle of her songs and gets cheesy sometimes.  Elle's favorite song right now is "He's Alive" by Dolly.  It is a resurrection song that Dolly wrote that tells the story of the resurrection.  During Easter we would play the song and all sing along.  It has a really big ending that tops off with Dolly belting out "Sweet Jesus".  The other day Ava got all excited about going on some errands and she yelled out, "Sweet Cheese!"  So the song from here on out has been ruined as we all sing out "Sweet Cheese!" during the big ending.  So much for the spirituality of the song.   

April Fools is Banned

April Fools Day and the Bray household have never gotten along well.  It all started when Chloe was in 1st grade and for an April fools joke Gale put a potato and an onion in for her school lunch.  Gale then arrived early to school and had Chick-Fil-A in hand for when Chloe opened the lunch. Well, Chloe opened it and immediately burst out in hysterical tears and even after seeing Gale with Chick-Fil-A in hand she was not to be comforted and spent the rest of lunch time crying.   We should have learned our lesson.  But we didn't.

We decided to revisit April Fools this year so we made some delicious morning juice complete with tons of salt.  When Elle tasted it she looked at Gale and said, "this tastes really funny!"  Gale and I yelled "April Fools" in which Elle burst into tears running from the room.  She rarely cries, but she held onto this one for a good 20 minutes making the rest of the girls late for school.  

April Fools is now banned in our house.  We won't even acknowledge this horrible holiday in 2009.    

Effects of Edmond Tornado March 2008

When the lights went out Olivia was beside herself and ran into the pillar between our kitchen and our living room.  I thought I would share with you the effects of the Edmond Tornado March 2008--We don't know if Olivia will ever be the same.

Yes, the impact did change her face structure just a bit but the doctor assures us that she will return to looking like a ten year old in the next couple of days.  

Trust me!

My girls don't trust me anymore. As a father it is my obligation to always care and protect them and now they don't trust me. After last night's tornado (check Gale's blog for full details) my girls have lost all confidence and trust in me. They feel that the pantry closet in the middle of the hallway, in the middle of the house is not sufficiently safe to save them from Oklahoma's tornados. They let me know tonight that a tornado shelter (in a basement) is the only way they will feel safe. I have put their lives in jeopardy and peril long enough and they will not stand for such unsafe living conditions. (it is important to note here that we have only had two close tornado's in 9 years...but then who is counting?)

I tried to reason with them and show them the houses on TV that were struck by the tornado a couple of miles from our house, the roof was gone, but everyone was fine. As long as your in the middle of the house in a small room with no windows you are fine. They still don't believe me. I even told them to remember Dorothy from Kansas. She ran to her bed and was just fine. She even got to meet munchkins. They didn't find that funny. They want a storm shelter in a basement or at least one in the garage. Do I not care for their well-being and safety they ask me?

I actually figure it was my fault. I was the one who grabbed the kids and headed to the neighbors in the middle of the night after I heard the tornado was a mile away. I should have stuck to my guns and stayed in the pantry closet. Now I'm going to be out a couple thousand for a storm shelter for my one moment of not trusting the pantry closet. Live and learn.

And who said Oklahoma wasn't a fun place to live. Such excitement. Who needs a beach or mountains close by when you have the thrill of tornado's. I already realize I'm going to hear about this night for the next 80 years.

Want to see the damage? It is always about the damage! Thanks to Melinda for letting me steal her "damage pictures!"