Oh how we love our Luciana!

Oh Luciana....our little love!

We welcomed this sweet baby girl on April 26, 2014. She came a bit early, very excited to meet all of us, I'm sure. She had no idea how excited we were to meet her. I was blessed to be with Amy and Sam through the labor and delivery and watch my little love come into the world. The experience was amazing. Amy was amazing. The fact that we fell absolutely instantly in love with that wet, squishy little ball of wonderful was amazing. And we fell hard!

The whole family was camped out in the waiting room waiting to find out if the baby was a boy or a girl. Yes, they waited until the birth. I know everyone finds out while pregnant (Nicholas and Amanda waited as well), and the "reveal" parties are pretty popular. But wow, there aren't words for the feeling to find out at the birth.

Amy and Sam are such incredible parents. Watching my baby girl become a mom has been such a life changing experience. I am touched just watching her love her baby. She finally knows how much I love her!

And we are so in love with this sweet girl. She has the sweetest personality, the sweetest face...so petite and delicate. Oh, and she is yummy and delicious and smells divine. I just can't get enough!

Oh Luciana Josephine Funari...we love you to the moon. You melt my heart and I love you!!

The Little Things

The further I get in this journey called life, the more I reflect on the roads I've taken. I haven't always taken the easiest of paths and I haven't always made the best decisions. We do the best we can, most of the time, and all any of us really want is to be healthy, happy and live with few regrets. I have some regrets but I also have a long list of things I am proud of, things that I am happy and content with.
Life is so full of change. And I for one want to embrace each new season of life with grace and thankfulness! That sounds amazing and impressive...now if I can ever really get there even I would be impressed. But I am trying.

One of the things that I want so much for my children is contentment. Having grown up with a Dad who was never content or happy where he was in life left me so unsettled but determined to take a different path. I wanted to grow up and just be happy with where I was and with what I had. I credit any success I have had in this area to my great grandmother. She was a country gal who really had very little she could call her own, but she was the richest person I knew. She lived with few regrets (she always told me to be mindful how I treated people so I wouldn't regret it later), and she honestly never complained (other than her back aching).

I have tried to pass some of what she taught me to my children. I want them to love the life they have and be thankful for each day, and be happy with the small things.
It really doesn't take much to make me happy. Richard and I laugh all the time about how silly we are. Sitting on the porch in our rockers watching cars drive by (yup, exactly what old people do), driving into Starbucks for a latte (which we did today), mowing the yard, taking a trip to Dairy Queen...pretty boring to others but highlights of our simple life.
 Of course now we take longer rides to southern Maine to see our kids and our yummy grand babies. It may not cost much, but it is priceless.

 I want to look out over the ocean and remember how big God is and how big his mercy is for me. I want to watch my children with their children and smile as I remember all those years ago when I dreamed of these days. I want to remember the hard times with a thankful heart because we made it through. And I want to enjoy the little things in life...because quite honestly, they are the big things!

My Sweet Gabriella

Just when I thought life couldn't get any better our sweet Gabriella was born ~ October 28, 2013.




Nicholas and Amanda didn't find out what they were having...they wanted to be surprised! But for some reason we thought they were having a boy. I will never forget the look on Nicholas face when he came through the doors from the delivery! He said "its a........girl"  We all just looked at him for a few seconds! But I think he was just as surprised! She had a full head of black hair and the sweetest little face! We fell in love instantly!

                                    
Dear Sweet Gabriella,
You make my heart sing
Your smile melts my heart...every time
 I love you!!!! 

The joy of becoming a Grammy

August 26, 2013 was anything but a regular day for me. It was the day I  became a grandmother!!

Cassy invited me to be in the delivery room with her and Matthew for Sadies birth and I was so honored and excited. What an amazing experience it was to watch my daughter in law give birth to my grandchild!

And, yes, it is an overwhelming love that fills your heart immediately. We can't get enough...of the sweet little sounds she makes, of the smell, of the warmth, of feeling the soft air come through her tiny nostrils, just staring at her. She is perfect!

I am also enjoying watching Matthew be a dad! He is so gentle and sweet with her, and so protective. It makes my heart so proud and happy!

I am loving this new season of life! This is our reward, the icing on the cake...

and we are loving every minute!

Add caption

Yes, we get along!

I was blessed to spend time yesterday with my two favorite daughters in law! yes, I only have two!

I found myself once again amazed at God's grace over my life. It just overwhelms me ....the way God blesses us, over and over!!

Cassy, Amanda and I were chatting over lunch about many things. We talked about church, friends, the arrival our our first grandbaby...due in August, and the relationship we share with each other. I looked amazed at these young women that God put in my life, and put in our family.  The girls my boys married.

Becoming a mother in law doesn't come with a manual, and there isn't one for becoming a daughter in law. We just do the best we can. I've made some mistakes...things might have gone terribly wrong. But thankfully God taught me very early on that my relationship with these girls will have a huge impact on my relationship with my boys, and eventually, my grandchildren. I desired a happy, healthy family where everyone gets along and enjoys being together.

God taught me that it wasn't up to them to form a relationship with me...I'm older, should be wiser :)  with more life experience. They were just starting a new life with the man they loved, the last thing they needed to be concerned with was how to fit into this nutty family. It was my job to get to know them and love them and fit our families together.. And I have tried really hard to do just that.

I am so excited for every new adventure we have together. Grandchildren, family vacations, holidays, family dinners, shopping trips...some of life's greatest blessings. And I look forward to all of it with these amazing young women and our incredible son in law. How can it not bless God's heart when we stive to get along and live in peace with each other?

So, as I wiped the tears from my eyes while thanking them for loving my boys, they just smiled.

They told me they love me too...

and I believe them!!

It really is the simple things...

November!!!  cool weather, wood stoves, leaves, chain saws, pumpkins, gourds, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, electric blankets, frost on the car window, turning on the furnace, standing around the wood stove, pumpkin muffins, turkey, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, heavy coats, pants, tights, family...

Can you tell I love Fall?? It just makes me happy!

We have had quite a busy one. We had a chimney fire in late September..that was so scary! So, we are waiting to have a new chimney liner put in before we use our wood stove again, and what a difference without it..we love wood heat!!  Richard had a huge wood splitting party in September and was amazed and so thankful when about 17 friends and family came to help! We are truly blessed!

 

 

Amy came home for a visit and boy did I need that!! We had 5 days to just be together and she was so excited to be home for an Autumn visit!

We just had our furnace cleaned and Richard is almost done taking care of all the leaves in the yard..and we sure had a lot of them!

And of course it's deer season, and that means countless hours spent at the shop, cutting and wrapping. Seeing old friends and making new ones, one of Richard's favorite times of year!!

I am so thankful for the incredible life we have here together! Life is so fragile and we need to live every moment to the fullest, embracing every opportunity to just simply love!! I really think it pleases God when we are happy and grateful. He has given us so much! With every birthday that passes (that's just a cute way of saying, "as I get older") it takes less and less to make me really 'feel' happy. I guess that gift must come with age.
We have had the greatest highs and we have certainly experienced some lows, so I guess that's why everything in between is just plain sweet!

So, as you enter into this amazing season this year, I challenge you to take a few minutes everyday to just stop and reflect on all God has given you! Because as you have more birthdays you will also realize it really is the simple things!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Home

                                                                            HOME



Amy was just home for a visit and we spent five fun filled days making memories. Cooking, laughing, shopping, laughing, drinking coffee, playing ,talking (and laughing) into the early morning hours... just being together.

Oh, how precious our time together has become. It wasn't that many years ago when I took those moments for granted. Now I long for time with her, to kiss and hug her, to laugh with her, learn from her, teach her, share feelings and ideas (face to face), cook together, watch our favorite shows, reminisce, all the things best friends do.

I've always felt that home is family...that no matter where you live, as long as you are with people you love you are home. I still think this is true but I have also come to realize that it is also a place. The look on Amy's face was priceless as the farm came into view...she hadn't been home in 10 months. The connection she has here was so touching. This house has always been part of her life, and while we, her family, mean everything to her....so doesn't this farmhouse, barn, apple trees, slaughter house and fields. I watched her walk around the yard and just drink it all in. It was beautiful.

It was during those first few moments of Amy being home when I realized that yes, home is made up of people she loves, but it is also the familiar smells, the old barn, the sun shining over the back field...the memories of a childhood of a little red headed girl......

A day in My journey

We just spent a great weekend with Matthew, Cassy, Nicholas and Amanda in Yarmouth...actually, we spent most of it in Freeport. Since July 4th fell on a Tuesday this year, the festivities were extended through the following weekend (this weekend). We had so much fun! The main street was blocked off and there were vendors set up all along the street selling all sorts of food and crafts. And the stores had some great sales as well. There were also 2 stages offering entertainment throughout the day..singing and acts for kids. We were especially excited that Rick Charette was performing...the boys grew up listening to his cassette. Well, ok, maybe I was more excited about them seeing him then they actually were...I admit it!!

The weather was overcast all morning, which was quite nice considering it was very hot and humid. But the sun gave way in the afternoon, not really bothering anyone, because there were plenty of cold drinks and fun around us.  In the evening there was a free concert with pop singer Chris Issak. He was great, the music was great and the place was absolutely packed...adding to all the excitement.
Almost immediately following the concert the fireworks started...and it was an amazing show!!
It was such a fun filled day, the weather was perfect, we were with our boys (and their sweet wives), but it was as I sat, watching the fireworks, listening to some patriotic songs that I was overwhelmed by the whole experience.

We were surrounded by families and lots and lots of children and dogs. And as I watched the beautiful colors in the sky I was reminded how very blessed we are.
life is hard. times are tough. people are scared.
 but in the middle of all of that....for just one day, for just a few hours we can relax, enjoy life, laugh, smile at each other as well as strangers because
life is great. times are fun. people are hopeful.
 And we are all in this journey of life together, trying to make it a good life, trying to find our way..doing our best to make it to the end in one piece and have as little in the way of regrets as possible. and of course we  just want to live a life that is pleasing to God. God has been good to us!
We live in the greatest country in the world, with the greatest of opportunities available, in spite of all the problems, we have so much to be thankful for.

I thought of my two sons sitting next to me. I want them to live life to the fullest, to never take for granted that we have the freedom to go to such a celebration with no fear, that we can and should always smile at those around us and remember that we are all in this together, that we all have the same struggles, fears and joys...just doing life the best we can, and we have so much more in common than we could ever imagine.

A Mother's Day Thought

During this Mother's Day weekend I have been reflecting on what being a Mother is all about. I know we say it over and over..."I can't believe how big my kids have gotten! Where have all the years gone?" We hear it and say it every birthday they have, every new school year, and certainly it is mentioned on Mother's Day.
God has blessed me with three amazing children. Saying those words never sounds big enough to me, I aways feel like the words just don't reflect how wonderful being their mom has been. Does anyone else feel like that? Like I should have some profound, earth shattering phrase that would shake the ground as I speak so that anyone listening would say, "Ohhhhh, she has been blessed with three amazing children!"  Which makes me feel like they can't really know how I feel.
I know that God created me to bring joy and unending happiness to my parents and siblings...which I have done happily! hahaha!! But obviously there was more to my journey of life.

I was chosen...yes, I said chosen, to give birth to and raise Matthew, Nicholas and Amy!! Wow, think about it that way and it will change you!! God chose me for them, and them for me! And I am so thankful for that! I have been feeling that I should be giving them gifts and cards today and thanking them for being my children...because I honestly couldn't have ordered anything that would have come close to these three!

And then they went and married these other three amazing people. It just keeps getting better!! Cassy, Amanda and Sam are truly gifts from God that were created for my kids!! Really think about that!!

I have thought many many times over these 31 years about something that my mom said to me when I was pregnant with Matthew. She told me that I would never really know how much she loved me until I had a baby of my own....and wow, is that the truth!!

So, I guess it is true that I gave them life....but honestly....they gave me life!

Remembering to Remember.....

My brother Mark has lived away for 25+ years. He has come home every year at least once, usually for a few weeks in November for hunting season and to spend Thanksgiving with all of us. I never realized how much I have missed him until these last few days.

When the phone calls started coming on Monday telling us that he had a heart attack, suddenly I was reminded how precious life is and how quickly things can change. I love my brother! This may sound odd, but I think I had forgotten. I feel like sometimes we go through the motions and the conversations....life is busy! And I have been quite busy raising my family over these many years, just taking for granted I would see Mark when he came to visit every Fall. The thought never really occurred to me that the day may come when he isn't with us anymore. Let's face it.....we don't like to think about those things! Yuk!!  To actually say that my brother had a heart attack bumps me into another place in life....the older years!!

I have so many great memories growing up with Mark. He has always been such a great big brother! We played together for hours...climbing trees, playing catch, getting polliwogs, riding our trikes in the road....yes....in the road! I was maybe 3 and he was 4! We lived on the edge back then!! lol   He would let me play with his army men as long as there was no love involved!! hahaha!!!
Of course all of this was followed by many of my friends wanting to date him.....and there were a lot of friends that wanted to date him............

He was my first best friend! And I am so thankful for him! And I am so thankful that he survived and I will have him around for many years....and yes, I will be telling him more often what he means to me!!

A new season....A new me!! (hopefully)

I absolutely love Spring! It is the end of a long cold winter and the beginning of change. A wonderful season of new growth, warm days, open windows, baseball, yes...black flies, cookouts, longer days, hanging out sheets and blankets and sitting on the porch after supper. I love it!!

I have decided that I want this year to bring change in me as well. Shouldn't we want to be new as well? I want to be nicer, kinder and more thoughtful. I know this will come as a HUGE surprise, but it doesn't come all the natural for me!! Are you shocked?? Not if you really know me!! lol!   I was brought up surrounded by "good intentions". Well, good intentions are pretty worthless...good intentions certainly can't be seen or enjoyed. But no more excuses!  So, here I go. I am really trying!

So, as the days get longer and the temperatures rise, this girl is going to mend some of her selfish ways. At least that is the plan. I want to grow into the woman that God intended me to be. I hope all of us will use this season to make things new....and better!!

Love and Laughter

September 1, 1979.
I have been thinking lately about how quickly time is flying by and how blessed I am to have such an amazing man to grow old with. I often ask myself who these little kids were. That may sound strange, but I just can't figure out how we got to the year 2012 so quickly. I look at my picture and try to remember what some of my thoughts were back then. For as long as I can remember I wanted to get married and have lots of kids..at one point I wanted 7!! I never wanted to go to college or travel. I just wanted to live happily ever after with my prince charming! Really!!  Unfortunately I didn't have any idea what that looked like. I wasn't brought up with a stable happy marriage being modeled, so I had little to go by. And this is the part where God shows up. He knew I would meet Richard at McDonalds at 11pm on May 5, 1978, and I believe with everything in me that he arranged the whole thing....and the rest is history.

I brought lots of baggage into our very young marriage. Mostly I didn't know how to trust. But I did know how to laugh. And that is what we have done for almost 33 years....laugh. And we raised 3 children laughing all the way...don't get me wrong, there were some tears, that is just part of life, but there was love, joy and laughter. God is Faithful!!

We haven't done everything perfectly. We have made mistakes and hurt each other. But we have done lots of things right...we have been blessed with the most amazing kids. What an honor that God chose us to raise these incredible children. I can honestly say we don't fight...really!! It has become Richard's mission in life to please me!! Sweet!!! So, I guess serving him all those years has paid off! hahaha!!

I would marry this man all over again! What an incredible life we have had! And it all started with Love and Laughter......

Embracing change

I have been accused of not doing well with change. And that is true with many things in my life..I admit it! I hate that I can't remember every detail of my babies...the smell of their breath and toes, the sound of their little voices, their laugh, their questions...it is too far back. But there are some things that will forever be engraved in my heart and mind...the love that can fill your heart and break it all at the same time, the sound of legos as my two little blonde headed boys played on the living room rug for hours, the theme song of Super Mario playing over and over, watching the boys play with their Tonka trucks in a huge pile of dirt that Richard had brought in for them each summer..brushing off their filthy bottoms and putting them in the tub which always left a nice ring, hearing Amy scream..and finding her in her closet playing with her Barbie dolls with more drama than I ever thought a 4 year old could have, watching her dance around the house all dressed in her princess dress and white gloves.  These are just a few of the things I hold on to, things that fill my heart with such joy and sadness at the same time.

But change is part of life, that is a fact that will never change. We can either embrace it and enjoy all the new chapters of life, or hold to the things that we can never bring back. God planned these seasons for us...he knew what he was doing. He knew that we would be sappy and cry as we looked at old pictures of years gone by, but he also gives us the present and the future to add joy constantly to our lives. I for one don't want to be stuck in the past..I am looking forward to all the new memories ahead of me.

Trust me when I tell you that having those little curly blonde/red heads grow into adults is SWEET! I not only love them, I really really like them! They are amazing people that we have so much fun with...they are our friends!!