Cody and Laura's honeymoon to Italy

Pictures and adventures of my Cody and Laura's honeymoon in Italy...

"ate gelato three times, met some fun dogs and cats, saw a free classical concert, and oh yeah got locked into an underground museum of an ancient Roman city in the middle of Perugia... plus scorpions!" ~ Laura

"Teaser of the day - museum closed early without telling us and turned off all the lights...while we were underground in Etruscan-Roman ruins. Using the flash to light the way to the emergency exits (that were locked) and making it upstairs just in time to see the front door close and lock and to set the alarms off. Yay! (Filed under 'things that only ever happen to us1)" ~ Laura

Florence, Italy

Venice, Italy

 

 

The Wedding

My son was married Friday to the most beautiful person a mother could want as her daughter-in-law.  The colors were turquoise and brown and was held at the zoo... yes, the zoo! A beautiful zoo and a beautiful wedding full of love, happiness, fun, laughter, tears of joy, yummy food, and of course, dancing.  There was a cotton candy booth, a photo booth, pinwheels everywhere and silly, fun lovin'  abound!

These are just a couple of the pictures I have and rest assured there will be MANY more! The song for the mother and son dance was Beautiful Boy by Ben Harper (cover song of John Lennon's original) and yes, I cried.

So, here is a glimpse of what I have so far of the most funtastical wedding EVER!

My love to my son and his new wife... forever and always, Mom

My Wish for my son... and CONGRATULATIONS!!

Eat, Pray, Love

For Mother's Day I received some beautiful gifts. The first being the gift of being a mother to an amazing son. I know I have mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating over and over and over again. I'm not meaning to brag by any means, I just feel so fortunate to have been given such a wonderful child.

Along with seeing the beautiful faces of him and his girlfriend and receiving the most endearing hugs, I got some yummy brownies that they made from scratch. Yes, my son knows how to cook as does his girlfriend. Yummy!!

They also gave me a book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I can't remember the last time I read a book and I admit I was a little hesitant to start this one. I have no idea what it's all about, they wouldn't tell me and neither would my mom, who has already read the book, but it's definitely my kind of book. Chapters are short and among the seriousness is a sense of humor. The author focuses her first four chapters from her bathroom floor while sending you off to many places she's going through in her mind. Note: This is MY interpretation which may be completely different as I read further, but to me it's a remarkable one that I can relate to completely! (Have I mentioned how my son also seems to have the knack for giving the "perfect" gift?)

Included with the book was a bookmark of The Pirates of the Caribbean with, of course, the handsome Johnny Depp!

Then there is the card. A black and white picture of 2 kitties cuddling in a hammock on the front (I love kitties!) and inside he wrote to me the following...

Happy Mother's Day!

No matter what you think or say, you have been a great mother to me and I don't know how or where I'd be if someone like you hadn't raised me and taught me the true lessons in life.

Thank you for always supporting me and what I do.

Love, Cody.

"Eat, Pray, Love" is not only the title of what I'm sure is going to be an amazing book, but it also defines what I believe to be the basis of love.

My son....

For one reason or another I've been having a difficult time putting my thoughts into words. Not verbally, that rarely happens, but in writing. It has been frustrating, VERY frustrating and the more frustrated I got the harder it was to write... so I didn't ... until now.

I was blessed with the most amazing child, my son, Cody.  In his second year of college he made the President's Honor Roll.  He didn't do it by taking easy classes either, he had Calculus, Chemistry and Physics!  And not only is he keeping his grades up, he works full time, is financially independent, and spiritually sound. He sees the light through the tunnel and does not let that veer from his sight.

That's him in the picture. It was taken during his baptism. It has not been retouched with Photo shop or anything else. That's exactly how the picture came out. Prior to taking it, Cody had been crying and yet there are no signs of tears or unhappiness in his eyes.

Yes, I believe he is my angel and that I have been given a gift.  As to why?  I haven't a clue.  I am no one special.  I haven't done anything extraordinary in my life but yet I have been blessed with a child who has touched my heart and brightened my world so immensely. The world can be pretty ugly and mean and people aren't always nice and respectful. I haven't kept my son sheltered from  all the hatred and ugliness. He has seen many sides of humanity and yet he is prevailing and shining in spite of it all. He gives me strength just by his presence. He listens to my incessant babbling even when I can't listen to myself anymore. He’s steady and steadfast and has grown into a fine young man.

Is it how I raised him? I tried but it sure wasn’t by example. Maybe by an example of what NOT to do. Yes, I am his mom and I believe he is my angel but I also believe we all have faults and it's our faults that make us strong and compassionate.  I have never tried to hide mine from Cody and there are times I just plain couldn't. It wasn’t always the right thing to do but it happened and we survived. To quote Izzie from Grey’s Anatomy,  

"I believe in the good.

 I believe we survive.

I believe that believing we survive is what makes us survive.”

Cody wants to be an Oceanographer. I don’t know a whole lot about Oceanography, in fact I don't care for the ocean much at all. But it's not what I like that's important, it's what he likes. There is no doubt in my mind he will succeed in whatever he chooses to do. That’s just how he is.

Cody,
There are no words to describe how proud I am of you!

You deserve the world and more.

You make things shine with your peaceful serenity and I know that you will achieve whatever you believe.

Stay strong, calm and true.

I love you!

"Always and forever" ... Mom

Where do I begin? Well, that would have to be with what I cherish the most... my son, Cody. He's a tough act to follow but I'm his mom so it can't be that tough... right?

Captured by Cody

Cody drew this picture of a man he saw playing guitar down by the beach where we live. I have never met him nor have I heard him play, but his music will forever warm my heart.

Mr. Music Man...

May you feel the warmth of all the hearts you have touched...

Thank you for touching mine.

~ Meesharie