Out in the Country - Part 1

Bonfire Prep.

Papa and his Tractor

My dad

Tyler and Dad - Photo by E

Driving

To Build a Fire

Tractor

E and Papa - Best Friends

Over Thanksgiving, we went to visit my parents out at The Farm. Looking back over the pictures, it was really a time of relaxation with my parents. Tyler and E helped my dad build a fire and played out in the yard. My mom and I cooked for Thanksgiving dinner. I really appreciate the setting of my parents' house lately. It's calm, quiet, and away from the city, a refuge from Charlotte and much needed every now and then.

Let's Be Honest - Adventure Shoes

Adventure Shoes

Imagine me, 10-years-old, sitting on the bed at my grandmother's house, surrounded by all of her old gadgets, books, and nostalgia from many trips abroad. I'm writing, speculating, pretending I'm on an adventure. Of course, in my imagination I'm twenty or twenty-three, independent but not old. I imagine the storyline of some book or two I've been reading. I am free to travel whenever, wherever I want. I am intelligent and can solve mysteries and quarries between people. My adventure begins in the woods, in a setting much like the woods in this music video. I spend most of my time outdoors and reside in a cute little loft or cottage, which is always clean and well-stocked with food. My independence allows me to be free to roam. I see myself alone, capable and the only decision maker. I have no friends but only because I don't want them. I am in complete control.

Fast forward 15 years. I am here right now, sitting alone in my unkempt house, only half-decorated for Christmas. I am imagining, speculating, pretending. I'm writing an adventure I remember from my snap-shot memory. My childhood comes back to haunt and play with me. I'm captured by memories of sitting by the river, my toes in the cold water, flying down hills on a bike without any regard to my brakes. I flicker back and forth between Christmases and birthday parties, friends and travel with my parents. I thrive on muddy shoes, wet hair, and early morning hours. My hands bear marks of assignments and phone numbers in colored ink. I hope for macaroni and cheese for dinner each night and scoff at broccoli and spinach. My adventure shoes carry me places I now, as an adult, am no longer permitted to go. 

I imagine:
15-years in the future, I am the mother of a brood, owner of a chaotic, but friendly house. I find peace in quiet, sunlight across the hardwood floors, a cup of coffee, and a few moments of unabashed girl-talk with a heart friend. I balance my housework with writing. I write about my glory days, back when I was young and newly married, before I had a house, a mortgage, a large group of children constantly hungry. I write about the time when I was able to invest time in myself, my looks, my hobbies. I had time for the self, or much more than I now have. I write about the long weekend holiday getaways. I'm nostalgic about the couples I see, walking down the street still holding hands (though I'm entirely tempted to run them over with my car). I'm nostalgic when I see people moving into townhouses with their wedding gifts in tow, couples beginning the adventure of setting up house together, learning to fight and to forgive, to hold their tongues and to speak calmly.

Why do we always find the adventure in others' lives and our memories or future goals when we have moments to experience right now?

My adventure shoes, and my two favorite companions, are waiting for me right now. My end goal? Who knows, but we will adventure together.

I don't agree with this completely, but i do think we get caught up in the "end goal."

Let's Look Each Other in the Face

1st Anniversary - June 11, 2012

Many days can go by without me looking Tyler in the face. Oh sure, I glance at him. I watch him talk and interact with other people. I see his smiles, furrowed brows, puzzling tilt of the head, chuckles, and fear.

But sometimes this isn't enough. I have to stop Tyler while he's washing dishes or editing photos. I must pause Netflix and just look him in the eye. I need to put my face close enough to see the flecks of color, the true state of the soul. It's so easy to merely coexist and kind of be excited for someone's joy, but I need to feel the same emotions, the same moments, the same elements of life my husband experiences.

We do this not only with the people we love, but with everyone else we encounter. So rarely do we take the step to look at someone's heart, to look in their eyes, probably because it scares us that we will open up our hearts to pain and rejection if we chance to care. It's just easy to keep going.

Recently, I had a conversation with a great friend. I said, "Hey. How are you?"

She said, "I'm really kind of tired and frustrated."

I said, "Good."

She did a double-take, and I realized I wasn't even listening to what she said. And I really count her as one of my true friends. Of course, there were 15 other people in the house creating quite a ruckus, but I still didn't look her in the face, listen, discern, understand what and how she was experiencing life. I'm so thankful she is understanding of my short-comings.

Let's look each other in the face. Let's care about how another's soul feels, the state it's in, the pains, and murmurings of the heart. We may have to risk being hurt, but we experience so much more joy together even amidst any pain. Like the Jack Johnson (am I really quoting him?) lyrics say, "it's always better when we're together." Togetherness makes for more joy in life.

Obsessed with this song.

Some Jingle Bells for everyone's holiday season.

It's a Baby Moustache!

This month, I had the privilege of helping throw a shower for my lovely friend, Katy, who is expecting a baby in early January 2013. Another friend, Jenni, had the idea to throw a moustache-themed party for Katy's new little boy. I think the idea stemmed from some amazing moustache invitations Jenni found on Etsy. We ordered those invites, but used Orange and Blue as our colors because Katy and Cody are decorating the baby's nursery in those colors.

Inevitably, the whole party followed the same theme. Thankfully, there were five of us throwing the shower, so we were able to do more food and decor for the shower than we would have with less people. I took some pictures of the things we made. *Disclaimer - It was dark in the house, and the pictures are not amazing quality. I need to get a real camera or stow my husband in my pocket at all times.*

Made by a Johnson and Wales Student - Tootsie Roll 'staches

Yum. - Moustache Food Labels

Bunting

Diaper Guessing Game

Balloons

Gifts and a Moustache Bunting

I am so thankful for this time of celebration with Katy. I cannot wait until that little boy is here in January.

Amazing Mom

Mom.

I've finally gotten to the place where I really appreciate my parents. Everyone always tells kids they'll appreciate and understand their parents one day. Typical of any child, I didn't believe what I heard. But I guess about the time we start turning into our parents, we also start appreciating and loving certain things we used to puzzle over. Ironic and scary.

I love my mom. She seems very quiet when you first meet her, especially in large groups, but don't let her fool you. If you get her one-on-one or in groups of people she knows well, she will speak her mind. I would even suggest to call her a "firecracker." I mean really, look at that sassy look on her face above.

I remember the first time I saw her teaching. She taught at the high school I attended, and I was walking through the hall to take something to another teacher. I looked through the window and watched her for a few minutes. I really couldn't figure out who she was. The woman teaching so little resembled the woman I knew in groups of people. Obviously, in a classroom, she is comfortable and supposedly in charge, so her attitude is much different than in a public arena. I was so confused though, as I watched her quick, witty sarcasm and joking permeate throughout the room. I had never seen that side of her before. 

My mom is great at being crafty. She quilts, sews, knits, crochets, cross-stitches, and paints. She even used to do underwater basket-weaving when I was a kid. It's pretty impressive. I like to think I got some of her creative genes (but my dad is pretty creative in his own way, so I'm sure between the two of them, I've got it covered). 

I'm particularly thankful for my mom this year because of how encouraging she is about E. She always sends me new and inventive ways to encourage E in schoolwork and by praying for him. My mother is a prayer warrior. I do not know the countless hours of her life she has dedicated to praying with and for my dad, sister, and myself. She prays for E, his future wife (what?!?) and Tyler as well. It's so encouraging to know she daily thinks of us and my other family members, too.

Out in the Country - Part 2

Aren't we close to being done with Thanksgiving pictures? No.

Post Thanksgiving Breakfast

Noni's Kitchen

Love this face and this place

The shed

Look what we found!

Noni's House

Favorite Room

Where we got hitched!

Lift Off

Found Objects

We visited Tyler's grandmother, Noni, in Lamar last week after a lovely vegetable quiche Tyler's mom made. Every time we visit Lamar, it reminds me of my wedding day, when I walked down beneath the giant oak tree and vowed to love Tyler forever. Yes, this is mushy. Moving on.

This particular visit was much different than my wedding day. I took a long nap on Noni's couch (most certainly didn't happen during the wedding) and I made cookies with Noni. Tyler, E, and Tyler's dad shot off rockets. The rockets did resemble the fireworks from June 11, 2011, but they thankfully did not explode in the sky, but parachuted back down to safety. 

It was a great day of rest and relaxation in the country. We found Tyler and his brother's old go-kart in the shed. It needs some work, but we're crossing our fingers it will get fixed soon. Then we won't be able to stop E if we try.

Just a little comedic extra for your day...

Thanks, Faith! I had to post this. I just love how tween girls are thwarted in trying to be cool. Don't look at the comments — It's the 21st century, people!

How students feel about grades.

Facebook Stress

I would be absolutely terrified. This is so not funny, but kind of funny!