Sunday, April 6, 2008

Glass Flowers or Leaving Las Vegas, Part II

Since you have embraced the sadder times of life with me, it is only fitting that I share this little miracle with you.  This is my youngest angel getting to know my great-niece, soul to soul.  And yes, she smells as wonderful as she looks.  There is something about a new baby...Let's just say that I might have had another one if my husband and my OB hadn't nixed that idea.  I am one of those kinds of women.  Extremely maternal and naturally in tune.  As a child, the only thing which I knew for sure about my future was that I would have children.  I am very lucky that I married the man that I did.  He is also a natural father.  Strong, paternal, and a total goof-ball with our daughters.  I only hope that our angels marry men who are a lot like their father is.  My future son-in-laws will have some big shoes to fill.
Ah, Las Vegas.  Interesting town.  Whenever we go there to visit our dear friends, I think about how many times this town has redefined itself.  From the days in which the mob ran this place to the failed attempt at making it a wonderful family destination(Bad idea. Very, very bad idea.), this city has changed it's facade dozens of times.  Being the "card shark"(tee-hee) which you now all know me to be, I have witnessed several of the major changes, myself.  I will tell you one thing.  People do not go there for the shopping.
I'm not sure who the man in the white shirt is(good thing he still has his shirt after spending some time in Vegas), but I can tell you who all of these lovely, smiling individuals are in the center of the frame.  On the left, is The Cheesemiester, my oldest daughter's boyfriend, and my newest Black Jack student.  I think, from now on, I will also refer to him as "Grasshopper". Next to Grasshopper is Angel Daughter Number One, Angel Daughter Number Two, Angel Daughter Number Four(I get so confused when they mix themselves up!), and Angel Daughter Number Number Three.  Next to AD3 is...Wait who is that pretty young lady and what is she doing in our picture?!?!  Okay, just toying with you.  That's B, one of AD3's very best friends.  She came with us to Vegas, and I am very glad that she did.  B is a very sweet girl.  Polite and friendly.  It makes me happy to know that my girls have such wonderful friends.  She was a delight to have around.  You should have seen our suite after six kids and two adults got finished with it!  Oy.
If you have never been to Las Vegas, this is the ceiling at The Bellagio Hotel where we stayed.  Those are individual colored, glass flowers which were placed up there to resemble a giant flower garden.  The colors are vibrant and magical.  I must admit that with the endless supply of money that Las Vegas takes in, they do use their imagination to create interesting and creative casinos.  However, people sometimes forget that glass flowers are still made of glass and can easily shatter unlike the real thing.  This town can fool people into thinking that what they are seeing is real.  Most of it, is in fact, a facade or an illusion.  Much of this isn't reality.  Once again, let me remind you as a kind of public service announcement.  People do not go to this town for the shopping.
And finally, here is my family.  Look!  All of our angels are in the correct order, surrounding their daddy.  He is a very lucky man.  We are a very blessed family because we have each other. This is what is real.  No glass flowers here.(except on the ceiling)


May you be blessed with as much good as your heart can hold.  May you always find a way to recognize what is important and holy in a life which can sometimes be painful.  Life is a classroom and we are both the students and the teachers.  May you find ways in which to learn from all of the experiences of your days, and may you sometimes stop to contemplate who your teachers are and who your students might be.  Distinguish what is real, and hold fast to it.  Balance.  Balance.



15 comments:

Ness said...

What a beautiful family you have! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures! I've never been, nor have I had a desire to go to Las Vegas but glad I got to "visit" it through your eyes. Balance. A hard lesson, but I am learning it one moment at a time. Have a beautiful week, my friend.

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Love your pics and LOVE Vegas. John and I had so much fun just people watching while there. We walked for miles and just spent time holding hands. We're not big gamblers so we didnt spend much time in the casinos although we did walk through almost all of them.

It really can be a fun place if you act responsibily.

Glad you got to meet your grand niece. She is simply beautiful.

Hallie :)

Anonymous said...

I love your blog!! it's great!! as for posting more pics, i am not too sure, girl. Blogger has always let me post as many as i want. hmmm, i wonder why it won't let you post more? lemme see if i can figure it out.

anyways, WOW! your daughters are GORGEOUS! what a beautiful, fun family your have!

NeereAnDear said...

Hi sweet one... I should have a post soon... I think I have the problem fixed... my computer however wants to make a lot of noise and such so I can only get online for short periods at a time...

Lovely post you have here... the ceiling... I am wonder if that is a Dale Chihouly (hope I spelled that right)... he does incredible glass work... and it is exhibited all over the world...

If not its beautiful anyhow..

Thanks for stopping by... I will see you real soon..

HUGS

JO

Alice said...

Another lovely post. And I love Las Vegas, too. But it is easy to get in trouble there. It's so funny you talk about balance in this post - that was my New Year's Resolution. To find the balance in my life. A great reminder!

You have a beautiful family - so much to be thankful for. And I hope you know that even the ones who aren't there with you phyically are still there.

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

HOw DARE you remember my Ambien induced chocolate bar purchase!! I want EVERYONE to forget about that!!

You apparently have the memory of an elephant!!

Hallie :)

Kellan said...

Wonderful trip to Vegas and great pictures too! It looks like you have a wonderful family.

Thanks for stoppig by Debra - so nice to see you. Have a good evening - Kellan

kim-d said...

And who is the lovely person on the end, standing next to lovely Angel Daughter 1, in the last picture?

What a beautiful baby girl, being held by YOUR beautiful baby girl. I think your four angel daughters are going to find wonderful husbands. With you and your hubby as parents, that is a sure thing. I cannot imagine them having better role models for the way marriage should be than you two! And as usual, I leave your blog feeling a peace that I didn't feel when I got here. I love your final "Balance" paragraph...love it. And I thank you for sharing, dear friend!

You make me happy in such a peaceful way, Deb...

Gentle hugs...

kim-d said...

Hehehe...thanks much, Deb...hehehe! Yes, it's true...a LITTLE bit of trouble doesn't hurt, right? :)

More gentle hugs & love...

Anonymous said...

I love your posts! You have such a way about you Deb!

Oh! And that baby! Oh my goodness...

kari and kijsa said...

What a beautiful family and a wonderful trip!! The photos are great...the glass flowers amazing!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Alison said...

You have a beautiful family, and you are a beautiful woman, and your husband is handsome also!! I love this post, how your allude to the allusion of Vegas and show the "real" part of life...family and love. Wonderful post Deb, written by a wonderful woman!

Catherine Holman said...

What a beautiful family! Spending time together is so precious. I have a friend who just became a grandma and that sweet little baby brings so much joy to those around her. It's been so long since I've held a newborn and memories just came sweeping over me.

Just enjoy each and every moment around you and feel the blessings!
Hugs,
Catherine

Preity Angel... said...

Wat a lovely family you have.. thank you so much for sharing all pictures with us...Raj, my hubby went to Las Vagas.. and he had a lots of fun there...I will definetely try to go one day..

Have a good day

Irene Latham said...

Oh we are in such agreement about Las Vegas! I did not enjoy it at all. I blamed it on introverted me -- light stress and noise stress will get you in that town! It's one of those place I've been but have no desire whatsoever to go back. My favorite part of the trip was seeing the tumbleweeds rolling around on our way out to Hoover Dam. I am so happy you are getting such good family time! Wonderful for that balance thing. And I am just like you on the motherhood front -- hated to stop at three. sigh. xxoo

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