I Had NO idea (Bee)

'I had no idea'...How often do we say that?  The more I've been thinking about it the more I realize I say it quite a bit.  The other day I wrote about my husband for his Birthday tribute.  It was all about the many 'I had no ideas' since marrying him.  After that post I've had so many other things come to mind.  So that's why I think I'll be writing some 'I had no idea' posts every now and then.

Just the other night we were at the last game of the season for my son's Basketball team.  I happened to get this great picture.

This is my daughter and her friend in the sombrero.  Gracia...lovingly called "Garcia" by some.  Aren't they cute?  And guess what?  'I had no idea' they would ever be at a Hillcrest boys basketball game together! Futhermore they played girls basket ball together too.  See, here's the scoop... Gracia's mom and I met over 28 years ago at the very same school, and became lifelong friends in the process.

Bee (short for Billi Jo ) and I met when I was only 14 and she was 15.  We both attended a Christian boarding school in MN.  I lived at home and she in the dorm.  She spent many an hour at my house eating popcorn, drinking Diet Coke and watching our favorite show ever ...Magnum P.I.!  Oh Tom Selleck how we loved you!!!  Bee was like family...in fact when Bee's parents would drive to town for a visit, they would come over to our house.  The more popcorn the better was my mom's mantra.

Here's my mom on the right holding our dog Herbie, and Bee's mom Grace...hanging out on our (horrendous) floral couch.  In defense of the couch it was 1985 ish...so I guess it was cool.  Kind of like Tom Selleck's super short khaki shorts.

This is Paul...Bee's husband..the day he graduated from seminary.  (that's my mom in the background...I'm sure she'll LOVE this picture)  You see this story is even more interesting.  My dad and Paul graduted together from seminary that day.  We were all friends and had known Paul for years as he was a dean at our school .  I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT...



Bee and Paul tied the knot!!! (a few years later) ....I was so happy to be a bridesmaid on that lovely September day.  Bee was also the maid of honor at my wedding the previous November.  I really had no idea... :) 

Here's Bee and me at a party before her sister's wedding.  That's a whole other post for another day too.  You see Bee's sister Missi is also one of my lifelong friends...and her kids and my kids also know each other and play sports together.  I had no idea...

In this picture I'm pregnant with our first baby (see the Baby name book)  Never mind my hair.  Can you say 1990, spiral perm? (I had NO idea hair could ever be so ugly)  I had my first child 2 days before her Birthday.  Her first child was born the day after my Birthday.  Our second children are only 3 days apart!!! And our two daughters are 2 months apart.  We still laugh at how that happened.  (Of course Bee was a bit braver than I...she ended up having 2 more kids squeezed in for a total of 5 versus my 3)

Here's Bee with Kiki our first daughter at about 4 months old.  I love looking back on all these fun pictures and saying "Wow, I had NO idea"  No idea that at age 14 and 15 we'd go through school together, drive out to CA and live there together, be in each others weddings, have children at nearly the same times.  I had no idea we'd visit each other often and laugh until we were in pain.  Literally in pain!  We still do!!  I had no idea that one day a couple of our kids could graduate together from the same highschool we did. 

I'm so thankful for the people God has placed in my life.  Today I'm thinking of Bee...but there are just so many.  I may not have had any idea what this friendship would mean for all my life...but God sure did.  He had all the right ideas.  If you're reading this Bee....I want you to come over for some popcorn, Diet Coke and a little hunky Tom Selleck OK?  xo

I have a good idea now

Last month my hubby turned 42. He catches up with me every year and for a time we're the same age.  We're only 5 months apart, but he likes to remind me often that he married an 'older' woman.  He's right...I was a whopping 20 (barely) when we married and he was still only 19.  Crazy.  Crazy?  Some would for sure say it was crazy.  We have a child who is currently our age when we got married.  In fact if she took after her father she'd already be married. 

Now when I look back I don't think it was crazy I just realize I had no idea what I was getting into!!  Usually when someone says that it's a bad thing....but for me it's just the opposite.  I had no idea he was even better than I thought.  (Hey this is my Rockstar's Birthday tribute...so I get to be mushy ooey gooey ok?)  So here's my Birthday list for my baby...some of the "I had no ideas"

             I had no idea...that...
~He would make me laugh as much as he does.
~He would never sing.  Not even in the shower.
~He would do projects for me at 11:00pm even when he's bone tired. All because I'm a night owl and get creative.  (see above picture)
~He would love me so fiercely.
~He would be so very, very careful with his words.

~He would not fly off the handle. Ever.  It's just not in him.  Unlike his wife...who tends to fly off the handle. 
~He would always be there to help me land after flying off that handle.
~He would be so instinctively good with our children.  A natural.

                 I had no idea... that...
~He would give of himself so selflessly...showing me what a true Godly man is all about. 

               I had no idea...that...
~He would leave toothpicks all over the house.
~He would vacuum without even being asked.
~He would not complain. He just does not complain. 
~He would slow dance with me..but only at home or weddings.
~He would be willing to chauffer me around while I shopped. And still be in a good mood.
                                   
I had no idea this one person, this man would become more than all my heart could dream for. 

Happy Birthday to you...my husband.  Your 'older' wife is thankful for you,  and tremendously joyful that you are mine.   xoxoxo (if you'd like to pick up your toothpicks though that would still be great)