What's on Heidi's Mind?

Howdy Hoo

2012-02-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

Hey there, gang... well Heidiopia is ROCKING these days (something new and different, right?)!!

Last weekend, I headed to NYC to hang with Amy and get a break from our on-going rat saga and Man Land in general. Amy and I had a great weekend, though it went by waaaayyyy too fast. We took in an awesome play, Other Desert Cities, courtesy of El Presidente. What an incredible play -- clever dialogue, interesting story line, wonderful cast (Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach, Judith Light, Rachel Griffith). It's playing in the Booth Theatre which is one of the older, smaller venues, so there are no bad seats. It was our kinda night! We had some good food, a bunch of cocktails, took in some antique spots, and walked the High Line.

I took this shot of the Empire State Building from the High Line, a new greenspace in the meat packing district that encompasses the old elevated train tracks. Amazing. The red and white and blue lights are in honor of President's Day -- cool huh? And you see the building in the left foreground with DVF emblazoned on the side? Yep, that's Diane Von Furstenberg's boutique AND loft. Love being in close proximity to creative genius. This was a fun Sunday night adventure in a new-to-me part of the city!

I came home to jump into Mardi Gras Tuesday with my class...

Aren't they precious? I had two absent that day and was bummed that they missed out on the whole "Fat Tuesday" conversation, king cake, and making our Mardi Gras masks. See what's on the chalkboard behind them? Yep, they're reading -- little geniuses. :)

I ended the week by loading goodies into our antique booth. It's ongoing, but we got most of it in and priced, open for business as of yesterday -- exciting stuff! I'll share some pics soon.

Update on the rats: we still have a renegade or two in the house. It's driving me crazy. By the time I got home from NYC, they'd availed themselves of my houseplants and I'm left with sticks in pots bearing a handful of leaves. We've got 16 traps and 3 glue boards in the basement (their primary hangout), 8 traps in my family room/kitchen/laundry room, and 4 in the attic. And we got nothing. God bless the cheerful Arrow characters that come every few days to check the traps and brainstorm on how to outsmart the little #@*&%s! Warranty is a good thing.

I'll be posting some new February reads here in the next few days -- two Do's and one Don't Bother. How's that for a teaser?

Funniest moment of the week:

Jack: Mom, what are YOU giving up for Lent??

Me: Grocery shopping.

I amaze myself with my witty comebacks sometimes. :-) Ahhhh, Man Land -- who's really in charge? Ha!

Ciao!

As If You Didn't Know...

2012-02-11T10:08:00.001-05:00

Not sure where the time goes these days... oh yeah. Work/teaching. Monitering the Boys Under House Arrest. Managing 3299. Decor blog (click HERE to see the latest!). New venture. Sound exciting? Hmmm. Kinda. Lots of heavy going on, though, too. Alec lost another friend and classmate to a tragic pile-up on I-75 two weeks ago. My Mom radar is on high alert. We're coming up on a year since Josh took his own life and I worry about Alec's struggle to process life and death at the age of 16.

Lately I've had the urge to just check out on my reality for a bit. Good thing NYC is in my plans for next weekend. Good GF time, a Broadway show (or two), and a teeny bit of retail therapy in the Big Apple may be just what the doctor ordered.

In the meantime, my friend Pamela over at Road to Joy has thrown down the gauntlet in the blogging department. I mean she called me out. Right there in the blogosphere. :-) But it gives me a good excuse to pop back here and update y'all, too, so who am I to complain?? She's challenged me to answer 11 questions about myself here in my space. Y'all know me already, so these probably won't come as a big 'ole surprise.

1. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Funny enough, Pam has the same answer: Gary Biggers, my English teacher junior year in HS. He instilled in me a love of writing and fed my curiosity about the big wide world outside of Amarillo TX.

2. What were your sports of choice when you were younger?
Tennis, tennis, and tennis. I'm pretty sure ballet, chorus, and piano aren't considered sports.

3. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer and art gallery owner. Still do. Am I grown up yet?

4. What profession did you ultimately end up in and why?
HA HA!! Really?? Hmm. I'm a preschool teacher/small business owner/blogger/mom/stepmom/wife. Why? I'm growing where I've been planted.

5. What is the single most important thing you think parents should teach their children?
Two things: responsibility and a work ethic. Way too much entitlement and blame shifting out there.

6. When you run, what is the one thing your mind turns to most often?
Well, I'm not running right now due to a foot injury, but when I do I just zone into the music or daydream about what I'd do if I won the lottery. Deep right?

7. What is your favorite book and how many times have you read it?
The Secret Garden. I read it about every three years or so. Little Women is a close second. You know all about what I've been reading and loving (or not) lately. :)

8. If you could pick one movie to watch for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is tough, because El Presidente has about 10 that he's content to watch over and over. And over. And over. Johnny One Note. But I digress. Maybe The Thomas Crowne Affair?

9. Are you comfortable in the city or country?
Both! Sick of the suburbs, but would love the big city or a sprawling ranch in the country equally. Can I have both?

10. If you had the option of spending three months of the year in another place, where would it be?
The beach. Or Tuscany. Paris, maybe?

11. What is your all time favorite museum to visit?
National Gallery of Art in D.C. I went at least once a month while I lived there and have never regretted it.

So there you have it! Did you learn anything new?

Speaking of new, MK and I have pulled the trigger and signed a contract to open our antiques booth at the end of February!! We'll be setting up camp at Olivia Morgan here in Marietta. Super excited and though it's busy now getting our system and goods figured out, we're looking forward to our new venture. I'll share more when the time comes...

This was our full moon last month... cool huh?

Until then, send some positive energy my way, please!!
xo Heidiopia

Great Reads

2012-01-20T18:13:00.002-05:00

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How awesome is this pic? Looks like heaven to me, being the bookworm that I am. :) I'm off to a good start on my goal to read more books in 2012. Considering we're only 20 days into it. Ha!

Wanted to share a couple of good reads that I'll be adding to my Amazon store (in the right side bar).

Right before the holidays I finished off Wendy Wax's Ten Beach Road.

This was loaned to me by a friend, to whom I had loaned Magnolia Wednesdays about a year or so ago. She knew I'd enjoy and she was right! The story of three strangers from different walks of life, bankrupted by a Ponzi scheme, and thrown together as joint owners of a delapidated beach property, this book has much more to it than meets the eye. Wax has a gift for character development and weaving a mystery into a fun, engrossing read. While our three gals circle each other warily and try to come to grips with their shared predicament, they cast their lots on the side of friendship and a common goal. They'll battle secrets, betrayal, despair and humiliation, but discover courage, loyalty, and true friendship. Tuck this one in your bag for your next vacay.

Over the holidays, I picked up Jan Karon's In the Company of Others, her most recent tale of Father Tim with the Mitford ties.

Though this is the 9th or 10th Father Tim book, you need not have read them all to appreciate this stand-alone gem. Father Tim and Cynthia embark on a long over due trip to Ireland, but end up confined to a small fishing B&B and reluctantly embroiled in a family's bitter feud and the mysterious disappearance of valuables. During their confinement, the Kavanaughs find themselves serving as confidantes, mentors, and detectives to help their hosts and new-found cast of friends. Karon is a gifted story-teller and she does not disappoint, especially in the chapters of an Irish doctor's 150 year old journal that shed light on their surroundings and the on-going mystery. I was charmed, as always, by her lyrical prose and character sketches. She is a breath of fresh air in modern literature.

Lastly, I just put down the marvelous Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant.

This was my book club's January pick and I. Loved. It. Quite unexpectedly, I might add. Set in a convent in Ferarra, Italy in the mid-1500's, this book offers intriguing insight into the inner workings of a convent during the late Renaissance and the lives of its inhabitants. Portrayed as a veritable microcosm of society, the nuns of Santa Catrina maintain an independent economy and hierarchy of authority, quite contradictory to the place of women in Renaissance society outside the protective walls of the cloister. A young entrant, confined to convent against her will and in the throes of a doomed love affair, threatens to upset the delicate balance of spiritual serenity and order, exposing and exploiting an underlying power struggle within the convent itself. A cast of all female characters and ripe with intrigue, deception, and cunning, this one had me cheering on the she-warriors in the habits. This is no light read... be prepared to dig in, but it's worth the ride.

Happy Reading, folks! What good books have you immersed yourself in lately??

Holiday Pics and More

2012-01-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

So sad... the 14th of January and I'm just now posting some of my holiday pics for y'all. Suffice to say, I am perpetually behind. No matter how hard I try to stay on top of things, I always seem to underestimate three things grossly: time, money, and energy. Last fall did me in. Seriously. Too much uncertainty. In a totally new place in parenting. New websites and business opportunities. Too much travel (yes, there is such a thing). Too little energy. Not enough money. OK, I'm through whining. :) We're moving on!!

The Christmas holidays were very different for us this year... we were in school right up through the 22nd of December and between that and my roof rat infestation, there was no time to enjoy the season. None. On the 23rd, the kids went to the Ex, and El Pres and I got on the road in the wee hours to Albany to be with MIL and family. I went straight to bed when I got there. :-/ Not one of my finer DIL moments, but I was done. Finished. Kaput. Totally. Thankfully, she understood. :-)

He looks how I FELT when we got there.

Homemade eggnog anyone?? Hoping she'll share the recipe with me sometime because it's YUMMY!

Are they the cutest, or what? Siss and Bob.

The best SIL EVER and her funny hubs.

Siss and her chicks.

Amazing what a little sleep can do...

The day after Christmas, I flew to Amarillo for four days... by myself! What a treat to have my parents all to myself! We had such a great, leisurely visit... saw "War Horse" (don't miss it! ), went shopping, rearranged the furniture and even took a ride...

Yes, our Old Girl needed gas, needed to be driven, and even got a new pair of shoes. I referring of course to the car. :-) Such fun to tootle around town in her! And YES! That's snow you see on the house...

Now THAT's what I'm talking about! Just enough to look pretty, but not be a problem.

That's the view from Mom and Dad's front porch. Nice!

I even squeezed in lunch with an old friend. Such a great trip-- the perfect way to recharge after several crazy, stressful months. Mom and Dad are the best hosts.

And then I was thrilled be back with this bunch:

I did miss them! We had a fun time celebrating a VERY late Christmas on New Year's Eve. El Pres was duck hunting in Arkansas and joined us on New Year's Day... with enough duck and geese for a veritable feast.

I spent the whole next week trying to regroup and actually enjoy being off. There was lots of sleeping in, digging out of email, mail, papers, etc, and making of plans and goals for the new year.

When I looked back at my goals for 2011, I was right about CHANGE that was coming. And I accomplished a handful of things on that list. My writing probably suffered the most, ironically. As my Decor & More took off, my writing projects, querying, and hopes to take a writing class fell by the wayside. Those goals aren't gone completely, but you won't find them on the list this year. The antique booth is well in the works (Yay!). Some painting and updates took place at 3299, but we spent way more time and money addressing problems with the house. We never rejoined the gym, but we did continue exercising... we'll try again this year for the gym, but I'm not making any promises. :) With my new camera, my photography was much improved! I was even asked for advice recently. Yikes. And I did face changes and new opportunities with courage... and with thanksgiving. I listed over 2000 gifts from God after reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. If you haven't read this yet, it needs to go on your TBR list.

So what about 2012?

While 2011 was all about change, courage, opportunities, 2012 will be about balance and peace. Two things that were sorely lacking in my 2011. Here are some specific goals...

Read more books. I did a lot of online reading last year, working on my business and website. This year I want to read more books than online articles.
Continue listing My Gifts. Nothing is more healing.
Travel less. All my travel last year, while wonderful in many ways, put me terribly behind at home. And when I'm behind at home, I stress. So fewer trips this year.
Get more sleep. No small feat for me, as you know, but I'm working on it.
Finish what I've started at 3299. I have lots of redecorating and updating projects that are in process. Part of finding some peace will hinge upon finishing what I've begun.
Spend less time online. With the launch of www.heidimilton.com this won't be easy, but I'm determined to spend less time in front of the computer this year.
Eat healthier, drink more tea and water, exercise regularly. All doable.

So there you have it, friends! Right there in black and white. Hold me accountable, okay? So now, I must put the computer down and get my Saturday rocking... I'm cleaning house, working on two craft projects, getting the boys haircuts, and watching my Saints and Tim Tebow play football today. Oh, and exercising. :-)

What does your day look like? Any goals for the new year to share??

See ya soon!!
xo Heidi

What a Year! 2011 Recap...

2011-12-22T15:16:00.000-05:00

The end is near! It's been an interesting year, friends and fam, but I think I'm ready to move on. 2012 promises to be another interesting one, but there's certain things I'll be super happy to leave behind. :)

Last winter we weathered ice and snow storms and I weathered the flu -- which just so happened to coincide with a week that we were snowed in. I've decided that was not a bad thing, since life as we knew it came to a screeching halt anyway and there was plenty of lounging, movie-watching, popcorn popping, since we were all housebound. I also travelled to NY to traipse around their snow drifts with Amy and loved every minute of it.

In the spring, El Pres and I celebrated my birthday on the beach in Destin. Shortly after we hosted Mom and Dad for Alec's confirmation. And then again for Erin's graduation. Big doin's!!

The summer kicked off with Alec's trip to Greece. One of MANY trips... Lake Rabun (twice), NYC, Albany, Lake Blue Ridge, Pensacola, Amarillo, Austin, Athens (twice), and Destin. By the time Labor Day rolled around, I had quite a few miles on me. :)

Miss Erin got started at UGA in August, sending me into the biggest funk I've ever experienced. Not only did I miss her terribly, but I had that overwhelming sense of crossing into another phase of life. And I wasn't keen on it. Now that things have settled a bit, I'm feeling a little more comfortable in my own skin. About the same time, my grandmother began "visiting" me in the wee hours. That's a blog post alone, so I won't go into a whole lotta detail. Suffice to say, her "visits" are benevolent and not alarming, but they have caused many a sleepless night.

This fall we travelled some more: Albany, College Station, and Murfreesboro-- leading me to the conclusion that I cannot be out of town for 3 out of 5 weekends. Not at this stage of my life anyway! I have felt like I've been playing catch up ever since. Not a good feeling! HeidiMilton.com went live and while I'm still learning all the bells and whistles and fine tuning its direction, I love it. The learning curve hasn't been too bad, but I'm hoping I can get a good grip on it over the holidays. :)

We returned to Albany for Thanksgiving with everyone in tow.

Thankfully, I got our Christmas card photo done there!

Good looking bunch, no? We were missing Coop of course. He's working in a new job and gets next to no time off unfortunately. We're hoping he'll come home to visit soon after the new year.

This month, El Pres and I enjoyed a quiet weekend at Lake Rabun.

How's this for a relaxing view? Yes, that's a mimosa. :) We were celebrating his 53rd birthday, after all!

The Christmas holidays will be busy, with lots of in and out, some travel, and the on-going battle with our rodents. I've never been so happy to write a $1600 check in my life. It's such a relief to know our problem is being addressed. It still gives me the willies, though. :(

Anyway, to end on a high note, everyone's finishing the semester in good form and we're all rocking into the holidays healthy. Hollah!!! I'm looking forward to new ventures in the new year and am filled with gratitude for all my blessings and excitement for what is to come. One of my goals will be to post here more regularly for you, my faithful readers. So from me to you, a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years! See you in 2012!

Looking for the Christmas Spirit

2011-12-19T05:56:00.000-05:00

I'm digging deep these days, friends. This is my favorite time of year. I love to decorate for Christmas, shop for gifts, gift wrap, make Christmas treats, watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas tunes. But this year-- try as I might-- I'm finding it hard to be in a celebratory mood.
I've continued listing my Gifts each day, working on channelling that Attitude of Gratitude that normally comes so easily to me. What's not to be thankful for, after all? We're all healthy, we're paying our bills and still have a roof over our heads and food in the cabinets, no one's in jail (that we know of), El Pres and I both have jobs. But forgive me while I rattle off my frustrations of late.
Budget blown to smithereens. It all started around Thanksgiving, when the boomerang came home and the schedule ramped up. Extra mouths to feed + very little time to plan and cook = budget disaster.
Sleepless nights and days where I must be 100% on my game -- preschoolers don't care if you only got a couple of hours of sleep.
Boys that cannot seem to seal the deal academically. Since Thanksgiving, my days from 4pm on consist of managing and micro-managing their academics-- prodding, reminding, proof reading, communicating with teachers, reviewing and quizzing. Here in the 11th hour, I'm not hopeful, even after all of that. Most of this is a disaster of their own making.
Add to these frustrations this crisis: Roof rats.
Yes, 3299 is infested. These little nasties came in through gaps in our roof line and have made themselves at home in the attic and the basement storage areas. I discovered them (or evidence of them) when I pulled out my Christmas decorations. You know, the ones I love to deck the halls with? Since that day two weeks ago, I've spent HOURS pulling out boxes and bins from our basement, meeting with wildlife exterminators, and laying awake listening to them party in my attic at night. We've had to throw away a ton of stuff, which maybe isn't SUCH a bad thing, but much of it we didn't want or intend to part with. Entire days devoted to minimizing what's in storage, cleaning up rat droppings. You see, they come tomorrow to seal the house up and set traps. They've got to have open space to work in and as clean a slate as possible so we can gauge success. Add to this that we'll all be gone for a few days over the holiday weekend. I have visions of them taking over every square inch of my home in my absence. We have no idea how many of them there are. Nor do our wildlife exterminators. They don't know how many visits they will have to make to clear out and reset the traps. It. Makes. Me. Crazy. And it's pretty much killed my Christmas spirit. And further decimated the budget. You don't even want to know what the bill is for wildlife extermination of this magnitude.

Oh, and my washing machine died yesterday.
Bah Humbug, y'all.

Hope to be back to you with a 2011 recap post that's full of happiness and levity. In the meantime, I'll keep counting my Gifts. It's the only thing keeping me sane these days.

Sharing Thoughts of Gratitude Today

2011-11-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'm posting at Fancy Little Things today. Please join me there and then come back later for a Thanksgiving week wrap up. :)

I {Heart} the Holidays!

2011-11-20T14:40:00.001-05:00

I snuck into Target early this morning, Starbucks in hand, and it was quiet, stocked, with Christmas music playing. *Sigh*... my favorite time of year. I love holiday preparations. Love it. Call me crazy, but it's true. Love decorating my home, shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, spending time with my crew, change in the routine. Throw in gingerbread lattes and it's pure heaven. :)

3299 has been busy, but our fall sports are over, so it's not quite as nutty as it was there for a while. School has been busy, too.

Here's my Little People, ready for the Thanksgiving Feast with their grandparents.

This is the Gratitude Tree we made. On each leaf is something the children are thankful for-- always so cool to see what lies in their little hearts. :)

After all that, the Boys and I loaded up yesterday and headed to Athens.

We had tickets to the UGA- Kentucky game {courtesy of our fairy godmother} and we needed to pick up Miss Erin for the Thanksgiving break, too.

Sea of red and black outside the stadium.

Great day to be a Dawg fan!

So fun to share the day with her!

Today, we got Junior back in the fold as well. Everyone is napping (except me), in preparation for a family dinner tonight, and a nice week of catch up and festivities ahead.

Off to Albany on Wednesday to celebrate Thanksgiving, home on Friday, dinner party Friday night, and then the decorating is ON!!

If you get a chance, check out my guest post on 1000 Gifts over at Fancy Little Things today. You'll see there where I am in my list. :)

Hope you're enjoying your weekend, too! Ciao!

Gig 'Em and Mea Culpa

2011-11-11T18:42:00.001-05:00

OK, gang, I beg your forgiveness for the scarcity of posts lately! I cannot seem to find enough hours to get it all done this fall. I know... blah, blah, blah, right? Not that I'm any busier than the next person/mom/wife/teacher/blogger etc. But I seriously can't seem to get a good grip on my reality this fall. I'm working on it. And keeping a good attitude about it, too, because it is what it is, no?

The new website is AWESOME (if you haven't already checked it out, this would be the shameless plug here!). But with the new site I am on a learning curve again. At a very busy (otherwise) time of year. So a great deal of my "spare" time has been spent learning the ropes at Wordpress and keeping fresh content up to keep my readers engaged. There's been a lot of material to post about (thank goodness!), but it can be time consuming to compose the post, take and edit the photos, make sure all the links are good, etc. So my little space over here has suffered, and I'm sorry. I'll try to do better. Lots of good family stuff coming up to post here anyway. :)

First of all, quick updates on My People: Erin is rocking along at UGA, loving being a Bulldog (like we knew she would), and seemingly keeping up well in her classes. Oh, and she's having some fun, too. And blogging (wonder where she gets that?). Check out her space HERE. Alec's football team is in the playoffs, and I'm thrilled that he's so enjoyed his season and worked really hard at practice and during games. He's evolving into the fine young man I want him to be and that he's meant to be. Jack had a super soccer season and I think we've hit on a great sport for him. He busted it during practices, scored lots of goals during games, and met some really nice kids and families along the way. *Winning!*

And here we are, the first weekend of deer season. Can you guess where in the world is El Presidente? Ha! I will be flying solo at home this weekend, armed with my weighty to-do list, a handful of Starbucks gift cards for my gingerbread lattes, yard bags, and spray paint. Don't ask. It's just gotta be done. Oh, and I've gotten started on my Christmas shopping-- yay for me! Don't hate me, I just had to do it.

I discovered a source of my time shortage last month. Plain and simple: Travel. El Pres and I were out of town 3 weekends out of 5 during October. And now I'm saying "uncle." He loves to go. Go where ever, travel, see things and people, have fun. Me too! I just can't do it as frequently. Too much I want to do at home, too many other obligations that then overload me during the work week. Epiphany, no? Someday, I'll be able to pick up and go without all the angst that sets in when I get back home. I hope. :)

One of our super cool trips in October was to this magical place...

Have you guessed?

Woo hoo! It was El Pres' first trip to Aggieland and my first Aggie football game! Mom and Dad were gracious hosts for the weekend.

(I think Dad was either talking, looking away, or had his eyes closed in just about every pic from the weekend).

We got a bonus visit with Robyn, who drove over from Austin just to meet us for pre-game breakfast. Now, she would NOT stop laughing during pictures! Click HERE to find out what had her so tickled.

It was fun to see her!

And how could you not be impressed with the Corps marching?

Gives me hope for our future when I see these guys! And (sorry, Erin) but I think Reveille has to be the prettiest mascot in college football.

I love seeing her run out ahead of the players!!

Now, the game didn't go so well for the Aggies, but that didn't stop the tailgating fun.

El Pres was the self-appointed official greeter from Auburn and the SEC that day. We had some lovely conversations with some very excited Aggies. :)

Loved this... right by the "guest book". Never seen a guest book at a tailgate, but I love the idea!

We got a supplemental Bill McCarty tour after the tailgate, too.

Beautiful weekend. Fun time. A&M will be a great fit for the SEC. Saturdays next fall will be veeeerrrrryyyyy interesting around here. :)

So that's it for now, folks. I promise I won't be so MIA from here on out. Now that the boys' sports are winding down, my evenings just got a little calmer. Later this month I'll be guest posting about Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts at Fancy Little Things. Thrilled to be part of that awesome little website. So you can see, lots of good stuff happening. Buckling my seat belt.

Ciao for now!!

HeidiMilton.com is LIVE!

2011-10-19T06:32:00.003-04:00

So exciting! And a little scary, I might add, but I'm thrilled to have my own little corner of the blogosphere now. I hope you check it out. :) Tell your friends, share on FB... just sayin'.

More family/travel updates coming shortly. El Pres and I have been on the road some and things are rockin' at 3299.

click HERE to visit my new website!

I Missed Ya!

2011-09-23T17:00:00.001-04:00

Wow, I can't believe I've been gone so long-- it was completely unintentional, I assure you. Did you miss me? ;-)

You know how life sometimes takes on a "life" of its own and you feel like you're starting from scratch? Along for the ride? Everything's a little out of control? Not terribly out of control, just... out of reach. The past few weeks, I've only been able to be reactive and not proactive. And you know that just doesn't sit well with me. The day to day feels different. The schedule is busier than I'd thought it would be. I'm stretched, to say the least.

The interesting thing to me is that none of this is bad. Bad as in negative. It's just different. I'm adjusting. Slowly getting back on top of things and putting my game face on for the days that start at 5:30 am and end somewhere around 11pm.

How handsome is he? :)

He's come back from an ankle injury finally and is working his way back into games. He adores football. Loves almost everything about it. Respects his coaches. Works hard in practice. Works harder at his grades to ~~avoid stadium stairs and bear-crawls after practice~~ please his coaches. :D. Good stuff.

Yes, he's 16. Yes, he has his permit. No, he doesn't have his driver's license. Yes, the running him around is killing me and my gas budget.

And here's the Other One. Soccer this year.

He. Loves. It. Yay! I've never seen the kid run as much/as fast/as hard as he does on the soccer field. His team is fairly good but not great, but he's learning a lot this year, and I've seen him improve just in the 4 weeks they've been playing.

Yes, his practices overlap the end of football practice. Yes, I am in the car for roughly 2 1/2 hours three nights a week. Yes, I miss my Georgia Bulldog driver. :)

Speaking of... she's loving Athens and UGA. She's studying probably harder than she needs to (shhhh, don't tell her!) but is having fun getting acclimated, too. And sunburned and hoarse from UGA football games. Lucky her, she gets a break this weekend, because they have a bye! She's coming home for the weekend in two weeks and we're SOOOOO excited!!! I could use an estrogen infusion here at 3299.

Speaking of 3299, repairs continue to plague us. Ah, the pitfalls of a 26 year old home. I won't bore you with the gorey details, just suffice to say that our handyman (aka Jay's hunting buddy Jim) is vacationing in the Caribbean this week. Hmmm. I'm in the wrong business, I think!

Speaking of business, exciting things are happening!!! I am about to become a dot com! Show some Decor has taken hold in the decor blogging niche and as I get ready to open an antiques booth early next year and start offering e-design services, I am launching heidimilton.com in October. Can you believe it? I would never have thought it possible! But I have wonderful friend I met online last spring; she has been one of my biggest Willow House and blogging cheerleaders and she just happens to have a business building websites. So, after several phone and email conversations (that may or may not end up of the girlfriend gabbing variety), we've decided to team up to take my business to the next level. Exciting, right?? I was scared to death, but she is a great 30-something hand-holder with a lot of tech savvy for this forty-something entrepreneur in the making. I'm breathing a little easier and having fun making the design decisions for my new decor space!!

Don't worry-- I'll still be here at What's On Heidi's Mind, posting pics, funny stuff, my occasional 2 cents worth, and other interesting (or not) tidbits of our crazy life. I know I've neglected you while I got myself back on track lately and I'm sorry for that. My brain has been addled and on the severely overtired side. I promise to do better. In fact, I've got some interesting reads to share with you soon!

If you're curious about my Little People this year, they are AH-MAZ-ING. Funny and with different sensibilities than I've had in years past. So smart that I am kept on my toes daily keeping them engaged and challenged. A refreshing change for sure, and a big challenge too. I'm blessed with an awesome assistant, Brandie, that manages to keep up with me and is even sometimes one step ahead of me. My kinda gal. God was good to give her to me this year. :)

So that's the update, gang. Thanks for hanging in there with me while I worked through the past few weeks. More to come soon!!

xoxo, Heidiopia

What I Learned {Last} Week

2011-08-28T21:56:00.000-04:00

Well, here it is-- Sunday evening at 9:41 and I'm still behind from my Friday to-do list. Not that plenty wasn't accomplished in the interim, but that nagging list always seems to grow fangs beginning around Sunday 7pm or so. Know what I mean?

Anyhoo, we continue to rock along at 3299. I was happy to be back at work last week, but each day left me completely whipped... wait'll the Little People start tomorrow!! I have the sweetest little class and can't wait to dive into our year together.

Alec is recovering from a football injury, so is sidelined for another week or so. He continues to go to practice and do weights and learn plays, so I'm glad to see his heart is still in it, even if he can't dress out just yet. Jack has already got a teacher on the edge with his chattiness and energy. No worries, that's how she rolls, and I would know after the older two weathered the storm of her classroom. I love that he lobbied to be moved to a different class, citing the obvious "fact" that "she HATES our family, Mom!" Ha! Like his resourcefulness. But he's staying put. :)

Busy week ahead with soccer gearing up, more football, and packing to head to the beach for Labor Day weekend, so here's what I learned last week:

I'm blessed to have the job that I do, the co-workers that I do.
My new assistant is a pleasure and a hard-worker: Praise be!!
My Girl is settling in... the texts and phone calls are dwindling. Sad for me, good for her.
Alec's pilgrimage group shared an amazing experience in Greece this summer... they are suddenly grounded in their faith and community. Such an wonderful thing to witness.

I wanted to leave you with a link that I came across tonight, while winding down the weekend. My friend Michelle over at Graceful wrote a piece for her "Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday" feature that struck home. It's about praying for those that persecute us. I'll be pondering her words in the week ahead... check it out for yourself HERE.

Pray that we have a busy and fun week ahead-- I know I'm looking forward to it!

What I Learned {Last} Week

2011-08-21T09:56:00.000-04:00

I think I'm depressed. Not really, but just in that foggy funk feeling of something's-not-right. I miss My Girl. School and sports have started for My Boys. Work gears up tomorrow. Good stuff, but crossing the threshold into a new phase of life isn't easy. Anything but.

But I'll be okay. The routine and uber-busy schedule headed my way will benefit me. I've spent a little time licking the wounds in my spirit and now it's time to grab the bootstraps and press on. I'm good at that. :)

Last Friday was our first taste of Friday Night Lights for the school year.

Remember these days?

#67 is mine. :)

Great night for football, or what?

After football we loaded up and headed to Lake Rabun for the last hurrah of Summer 2011. My Girl was in the midst of the emotional roller coaster that is Rush and the first few days on her own, so I was tremendously stressed and worried. She had turned the corner by Sunday and breathing some mountain lake air and a few plunges from the dock helped me a bit, too.

There was alot of this...

This would be El Presidente himself doing a back flip off the dock. Show off. :)

And alot of this...

And some of this, too...

Notice the orange lips courtesy of Fanta.

Thank you to our sweet Aunt Anne, who lets us enjoy her beautiful lake home. It can recharge batteries like no other.

So here's what I learned Last week {sorry for the late posting... blame it on the funk}:

I'm ready for high school football ~ such fun Friday nights ahead!
Passing an empty bedroom every day is no small thing.
Old issues don't ever go away, they simply reinvent themselves. Especially with ex-spouses.
The 24 Hour Rule is invaluable. A certain clarity that promotes calm creeps in over those 24 hours.
At the age of 44, I don't have to put up with passive agressive email bashing.
Middle age is not so bad. Chipper Jones just announced his return to the Atlanta Braves for the 2012 season. He's been here as long as I have and has still got it. Let's hear it for the forty-somethings!

Haven't done a quote of the week in a while, but had to share this one from my very own Jack, last weekend at the lake.

"Mom, you have wrinkled knees."

What was I saying about middle age again?

What I Learned This Week

2011-08-12T16:45:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a week. I feel like I've run a marathon the past few days, between getting Erin packed and then moved to UGA, 5:30 a.m. football practices, a few sleepless nights, coaching Erin through Rush via texting, and prepping for back to school on Monday.

I cooked dinner for this crew that showed up on Erin's last night at home. They played Apples to Apples after dinner, and yes...

Junior showed up to see his sister off. (so sweet)

Tuesday we were off to UGA with just about everyone in tow. You know: many hands make light work, right?

Jack's friend Caley came along, too. Lucky him. :)

what are brothers for?

Look like your dorm room?

cuz a girl's gotta decorate. :)

Before the tears started. And yes, there were tears.

So friends, here's what I learned this week:

I was not ready for my little girl to go off to college. Didn't she just get on the bus for kindergarten yesterday??
Unlimited texting is a beautiful thing when your first child goes off to college. No, I'm not a helicopter mom, but being able to encourage her via text has been so valuable, especially during Rush.
Having a daughter that's going through Rush is ten times harder than going through Rush yourself. Just wait.
Alec has truly tapped into his desire to play football. 5:30 a.m. practices all week and not one complaint.
It's a darn good thing our school board did not approve an August 1st start date for the school year. All orientations/meet and greets have been cancelled this week because the construction on our middle and high school is still not finished. Can you say poor planning????
I miss My Girl. So there.

Tonight is our first football scrimmage of the season, so it's Friday night lights for us. Tomorrow and Sunday we'll be at Lake Rabun for one last hurrah before school starts Monday morning. In the meantime, please keep My Girl in your thoughts and prayers while she makes this adjustment. I could use a few, too. Along with a cocktail.

Later!

I'm Baaa-aaack!

2011-08-07T15:15:00.000-04:00

Did you miss me? So sorry, dear readers, to be gone so long. I knew blogging would be a challenge during my mac daddy road trip to TX and I was right. Since we last visited, I've been to Athens, GA for Erin's orientation...

calling the Dawgs...

...where she registered for classes and got all kinds of tips, tours, and information, and I got information overload. Huge learning curve for parents with first kids going to college! My brain was fried after 2 days of UGA input.

Then we loaded the car and drove 20 hours over two days to Amarillo! It was somewhat enjoyable-- just me and my kids in the car together-- but a bit brutal at the same time. Here's a few photo highlights from our 5 days at Mom and Dad's...

El Prez flew in for a couple of days, too.

My People

Mom's the uber-hostess. Here you get a sneak peek of her seriously awesome new kitchen.

My favorite fellas in the whole world. :)

Spent a sunny afternoon at the new and improved Tascosa swimming pool.

Had a "Build Your Own Omelet" supper one night.

Got entertained at the Big Texan Steak House...

Had to take in Wonderland Amusement Park. A family-owned and operated park that celebrates 50 years in business this year!

They were off and running to the rides. Mom and Dad and I people-watched.

A beautiful West Texas night!

I think we wore every body out.

We left Amarillo and drove 8 hours to Austin to hook up with my sisters for a short stay.

Ever seen a wind farm? Coolest thing ever!

Took them for a dip at Barton Springs pool... the coolest spring fed pool!

Plenty of horseplay for the cousins.

With the Laynes...

with Aunt Robyn.

The drive home from Austin was a brutal 18 hours... and we did it straight through. Which is why you're just now getting this post a full week after our return. Totally. Wiped. Out. Then, of course, the machine that is the schedule kept churning with football practices, doctors appointments, college shopping and preparations, and general catching up at 3299. It didn't care that I was totally. Wiped. Out.

2700 miles in 10 days. 46 hours total drive time. Glad we went, but I won't do it like that again. :)

Head over to Show Some Decor for my favorite things this time around. We take Miss Erin to UGA on Tuesday, so be prepared for a little more radio silence while I wrap my head around taking a child to college. Then I'll be back with photos. :)

See ya soon ~ Heidiopia

What I Learned This Week

2011-07-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

Back again and still catching up... the "to do" list is dwindling on the one hand and growing on the other. How does THAT happen? Some fun stuff this week:

Stencilled this lampshade:

And painted this desk:

I can only show you the "before" pic because the reveal will happen over at Show Some Decor {shameless plug to get you to visit. :)}. But I love projects like these because you have instant gratification when you through... unlike waiting for Sears repairmen that decide not to show. Don't get me started.

El Prez and I had the pleasure of attending a book launch for a local author last night and it was a super fun time. Lisa Baron is a political press secretary turned author/bean-spiller and a friend of our pal Meg Reggie of MRPR -- perfect combination in our book! The party (hosted by Meg plus 7 other high-profile Atlantans) was a study in people-watching at a Midtown nightclub and I came away with a new (signed) read and another night out with my husband: WINNING! Just sayin'... I've already dug into the book and it's a HOOT and QUITE scandalous! I'll give you the low-down when I'm finished, but so far me likey!

Now how about some pics from Pensacola and the Blue Angels?

Headed out of the bayou for the day

EP's college roommate El Capitain on the jet ski. EP drove the boat and that's a whole story in and of itself.

Anchored for the show... do they look like trouble or what??

A small part of the scene... you can't even imagine!

Up on the tower of the "big" boat that was part of our group.

Pre-show stunt planes... they were awesome, too!

one of my fave shots... so incredible to watch!

this one rocks, too.

Have you ever...????

our hosts for the weekend: El Capitain and the Mrs.

Headed home to the bayou.

It was an amazing day in so many ways. Makes you so proud of our incredible service men and women who are among the elite. We'll definitely go back if El Capt and the Mrs. will have us!

Now what I learned this week:

Tubing on the bayou, while incredibly fun, is a great way to aggravate your tennis elbow.
El Prez brings out the spontaneity in me.
I really don't like it when people I don't know or have just met call me "Heidi Ho." That is reserved strictly for my father and there's a "Princess" tacked on the end in his case.
Although we've loved our CFZ (Child Free Zone) for the past couple of weeks, I'm ready for my chicks to return to the nest

There you have it! Headed to UGA on Monday to register My Girl and in the meantime, back to the catch up at 3299. Enjoy your weekend and here's the link to Lisa's book if you'd like to check it out!

Day Late and a Dollar Short {4th of July}

2011-07-13T08:42:00.000-04:00

Did ya miss me? Wonder where I've been? Me, too... just kidding! El Prez and I have hardly been home the past couple of weeks, so the catch up when we breeze in the door has been substantial. Laundry, college preparations (including sorority rush prep!), bill paying, a HUGE Willow House sale, some quickie home projects and maintenance, and keeping up with my growing Show Some Decor... whew!

Anyway, I'm home for a few days before taking Miss Erin to Athens for her two-day orientation, so I'll try to catch you up. Right after that we'll be on the road for Texas, so I'll be posting a bit from there if I can work it out. Bear with me!

Anyway, I wanted to share some fun pics from our busy 4th of July weekend. We started by heading to Albany to take in a quick high school reunion party for El Prez. The bonus was a short visit with my sweet in-laws and their new "pet."

Meet "Sybil"... the gator that resides in the pond on the golf course right behind my MIL's home! My MIL feeds her twice a day. Marshmallows. Seriously.

Have you ever...???? My MIL loves it. Here she is for the late morning feeding.

Don't worry, there's an iron fence separating us from Sybil, but she'll come up the bank of the pond for her treat. Too funny.

After the reunion party, we got up at o-dark-hundred to drive up to the North Georgia Mountains and Lake Blue Ridge. We'd been invited by an Auburn fraternity brother and his wife to enjoy yet another reunion of sorts at their lake home for the 4th. Lake Blue Ridge is located north of Ellijay, Georgia, almost on the Tennessee state line. In fact, the lake is part of the Toccoa River that flows north into Tennessee and is controlled by the TVA and the USFD. As a result, there are large expanses of shoreline that will never be developed. Lots of gorgeous lake homes, but lots of green space, too.

There were four couples in all and we so enjoyed connecting and relaxing with everyone. We took in the fireworks over the water on Saturday night after a good natured rib cooking contest. Ben and Harriet are the hosts with the most and we all enjoyed great food, boating, swimming, and basically laughed ourselves silly.

Rick and Meg

Barnabus... isn't he the cutest?

Harriet and I, meeting for the first time and fast friends.

you know...

JT and Nancy

We did lots of this.

Barnabus did lots of this!

So refreshing!

And we did lots of this, enjoying the gorgeous lake that has lots of undeveloped shoreline.

JT, Benny, and El Prez... can you imagine the Kappa Sigs at Auburn back in the 70s?

Like I said-- good eating!

Rick is an extraordinary chef, especially for large groups (he and Meg have 8 children. seriously.)

Rick and Meg

Such a relaxing and fun time with friends.

Can you see yourself here?

We are so lucky to have so many generous friends and family members in beautiful places. Thanks, Ben and Harriet, for sharing your gorgeous getaway with us!

I'll share where we were LAST weekend next post. :)

Thanks for dropping in!

What I Learned This Week

2011-07-01T06:45:00.000-04:00

I've had my nose to the grindstone this week. El Presidente informed me that we'd be gone ALL weekend this weekend {starting today!} and we'll be out of town next weekend, too, so I went into overdrive trying to cross some things off my list. My People will go back to their dad today for two weeks, so I've been busily getting their stuff done, too (appointments, college preparations, football stuff, blah blah blah). Isn't summer supposed to be for relaxing?

We did pause to celebrate Jack's 13th birthday!

I now officially have only TEENAGERS... no more "children." WAAAAHHHHH!

Notice the death grip on Jack's right arm and the absolute glee on Alec's face. It's been that way all. week. long.

Bad mother didn't bake a cake... he wanted a "selection" of treats, so that's what he got. And wings. And a huge brownie sundae from the restaurant. And a mac-daddy belly ache. It's good to be 13. :)

We also got Miss Erin registered for rush at UGA and I put the call out to all my Greek friends to get busy writing recs for her. Of course, I have the best friends and family and they're all excited to toot her horn and sing her praises to their various sororities. Hoping she pledges Pi Phi, but most of all want her to be happy wherever she ends up.

El Pres and I are off to Albany today for high school reunion socializing then promptly headed up to Lake Blue Ridge with two other couples for the remainder of the holiday weekend. Next week will be furiously-finish-my-half-done-projects until we load up for Pensacola and a little deep sea fishing.

I did learn a few things this week in all the hustle and bustle!

I should've stuck with Nikes. What possessed me to try a new brand of running shoe is beyond me. I'm now on pair #2 of the summer and nursing sore knees and feet. DRAT!
Blogging is fun. And work. I've been working steadily on a back log of posts for Show Some Decor so I can still post while travelling. Whew. I'll try not to neglect y'all either, but I may have to master mobile blogging.
Having a list and a deadline is highly motivating.
Even in the summertime, there are not enough hours in the day. Granted I've been a little distracted by Wimbledon matches this week...
Three teenagers = I am officially middle age. Yikes. Could've sworn I was still 28. :)

Here

's a summer reading recommendation for you! Check out Mary Kay Andrews' newest, Summer Rental. Quick read, lots of fun, with a little mystery thrown in there. Three childhood friends escape to the beach for a month together and have some adventures while they reconnect, solve the world's problems and some of their own. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm in the middle of Tina Fey's Bossy Pants right now and wish I could say I'm lovin' it, too, but... not so much. Not sure why. I'll get back to you on that one. It'll be along for the ride this weekend (along with my proverbial stack of shelter mags that I'm addicted to!!), so maybe I'll end up enjoying it more as I go along. I think she's a bright and witty woman, so I don't know why that's not translating into print form for me.

Since El Pres is rushing me out the door, my list of gifts will have to wait. Next week, I'll share some fun movies I've seen lately! Enjoy a safe and Happy Fourth, everyone!

NYC {My Way}

2011-06-27T12:57:00.000-04:00

You must know by now how much I love New York. Incredible energy, culture, restaurants, entertainment... I could go on and on. Factor in that my Forever GF is there and I'm in heaven. But I don't "do" New York the way you might think. You won't find me with the hottest ticket in town-- I love smaller shows and Off Broadway productions. And you won't find me dining at the hot spots. We love to find a little spot and enjoy a glass of wine and appetizers. And you won't find me shopping at Bergdorf Goodman or Saks (though I've done that once in the past). Let me prowl around and find the smaller shops. We've even been known to spend an entire gloomy day on her couch in our jammies, chatting away.

This last trip was ripe with some fun and different experiences! After my first NYC manicure (I ran out of time before I left home), I had to pop into TaROO, one of my favorite little boutiques. I scored a few dresses for myself and Miss Erin... great prices on really unique pieces, clothing and accessories. Check them out online HERE.

Sunday we took in a matinee of Baby It's You which chronicles the rise of the black female musical group The Shirrelles in the 1950s. I wasn't familiar with the story of their discoverer and benefactor Florence Greenberg and the barriers she broke as a Jewish woman in the business, but the music was all familiar tunes, such as "He's So Fine" and "Dedicated to the One I Love." The performers were a talented bunch and the costuming was a gorgeous study of women's fashion from the 50s and 60s.
.
What we weren't prepared for was audience members (behind us) that insisted on singing along, snacking and commenting throughout the show! What happened to theatre etiquette, folks? I'm guessing the matinee crowd is a little different than that of the evening shows, but we had a similar experience during a Saturday night "Phantom" showing a few years ago. Such a shame. We enjoyed the show in spite of our fellow patrons. :)

We popped into The Lamb's Club for a glass of wine and ended up sharing some appetizers and chatting with the manager of this newly renovated and reopened bar and restaurant. I loved the pendant lights that hung over the bar.

Look familiar?

Monday we trekked down to SoHo and I fell in love with the neighborhood feel of this area. The streets are narrower, quieter, tree-lined and filled with shops, galleries, and restaurants. We enjoyed a late lunch at Balthazar's, an awesome French bistro on Spring Street.

I loved the antique mirrors lining the walls. It's a great place to people watch, too, and is known for it's celebrity pop-ins. We had to walk off our lunch then so we took to the streets, popping into cute little boutiques. I was on a budget, but still managed to score a few one-of-a-kind finds and a couple of gifts, too. We especially loved the Lunessa jewelry boutique (lots of vintage inspired pieces), Unpomela (great sale of summer apparel going on!), and Volang Boutique that was like an artist's market of clothing, jewelry, and accessories. You can shop Lunessa and Volang online, too (lucky us!). I love coming home with something I know no one else in ATL will have-- at least, no one that I would cross paths with, anyway!

We popped into Vin et Fleurs because our "dogs were barking" after walking, shopping, browsing for a while. We enjoyed some great service, delish pate, and refreshment to wind down our evening. If you go, ask for "Fazio"... he has a very thick French accent, but was charming and will take great care of you.

On Tuesday, we headed to the East Village and a great little vintage shop owned by one of Amy's friends. Once again, I was amazed at the green spaces and artistic vibe of "Alphabet City." This area is being "turned around" and is loaded with starving artists and young businesses rejuvenating its streets.

There's a little park like this one every other block, maintained by the residents for the most part.

Voz is a delight, showcasing carefully selected vintage clothing, books, decor, shoes, and handbags. You can see some of their offerings online HERE and read about the shop and its owners, too.

Alex, one of the owners and an extremely talented designer, was a pleasure to meet. Check out the floors of the shop: dictionary pages with a heavy layer of shellac. Brilliant! He then steered us to a little Brazilian cafe on the corner for lunch.

We had a lovely lunch and a Mojito Royale (mohito with champagne-- try it!), enjoying the June breezes pouring through the open doors and windows.

I won't bore you with all the "girlfriend" time and doin's, but it was wonderful as always! And that, my friends, is how I "do" New York... My Way. :) Thanks, Ames, for another fab trip.

What I Learned This Week

2011-06-24T08:45:00.000-04:00

Well, I fully intended to blog the second I got back from NYC, but I spent Wednesday digging out from under and Thursday finishing a desk project in the home office... I knew El Presidente could only handle the upheaval of the office for so long! Time well spent-- we love the results!-- but I neglected you all in the process. Sorry!

Of course, it was a lovely time in the Big Apple with Ames! I'll post the blow by blow of what we did over the weekend, but we were treated to beautiful (80 degrees!) weather and some new and different experiences for me. Best of all was spending time with her in "girl world."

My People are at the beach with their dad so 3299 is strangely quiet. Two stormy days also meant no yardwork and some good catch up time on projects around the house. I've even embarked on a Ten Tasks in Ten Days challenge by my friend Cha Cha at Sit Relax and Read. Hopefully this will jump start my efforts to right the ship at 3299 this summer. If I can tear myself away from Wimbeldon coverage. :)

I did learn a few things this week! Here you go:

A coat of paint can make a world of difference.
You can't go wrong with an easy breezy summer dress.
My Girl will most likely always be The Responsible One.
Waiters and waitresses in NYC are among the cream of the crop... professional, pleasant, polite, efficient.
I have a penchant for choosing theatre seats near other patrons who must sing along with the production numbers. Really?
Theatre etiquette is MIA. More on this later. :)
A good idea is sometimes all it takes.

If you've missed it, Southern Living magazine is featuring Lake Rabun as one of the best lakes in the South this month. They're late to the party in my opinion, but it's still fun to see it written up. You can read tidbits online HERE. We d;ned at the Lake Rabun Inn this last trip and it was a delightful meal with live music and lots of ambience... just in case you're ever in the area.

And from my trip, I snapped this photo of the old water towers from the streets of SoHo... such a cool juxtaposition!

More gifts...

561. Easter Egg dot-to-dots

562. Teachers, voices whispering prayers.
563. Twin boys, faces smeared with chocolate.
564. Joint birthday celebration for brothers.
565. Cupcakes with towering frosting.
566. Scavenger hunt creation.
567. Sausage sizzling.
568. My Girl, Elite Senior Award.
569. Words honoring her committment and integrity and academics.
570. Tween, cavity-free, jaunty smile.
571. Celebrating birthday of a friend.
572. Time with the older generation.
573. Long day ended.
574. Few minutes stolen with my book.
575. Relief of eyes closed.
576. "Soli Deo Gloria" ~ to God alone be the Glory... Johann Sebastian Bach
577. Notes to Him on masterpieces.
578. Using creative gifts to praise.
579. Prayers of friends, hands clasping, hearts melding.
580. Courage of confession of troubles.
581. Being strength for one another.

Have a great weekend, y'all... the NYC run down and recent reads coming soon!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T10:59:00.000-04:00

I could only hope to be person my father is. He embodies loyalty, fairness, and integrity. And he tells a mean story, Texas-style. Happy Father's Day to man who makes me proud every day that I grew up "McCarty."

And to my husband, who is loved by his own children and mine, too, and views all of them as his life's greatest accomplishments (and works-in-progress!).

Every child should have men like these in their life.

What I Learned This Week

2011-06-17T09:46:00.000-04:00

I've been a little remiss here, friends. Yes, yes, I have-- don't deny it! I've posted plenty of photos of the family antics in the past month, but given you very little substantive reading... I almost feel guilty. Almost. But I've decided to not indulge that feeling. After all, this blog is about what's on my mind, what's going on in Heidiopia. Truth? My mind's been a little mush for about the last six weeks. I couldn't have pounded out a substantive post if my life had depended on it. I'm still not quite there, but hopefully I'm creeping back into my writer shoes. :)

This week I dove head first into my home office makeover. WTH was I thinking? Oh, yeah. El Presidente was out of town (fishing) and the kids are all pretty self-contained. Well, I'm in over my head a bit with this project will press on. You can see some progress over at Show Some Decor this morning.

Alec is still on a high from his trip to Greece. He is changed. In the best possible way. His heart is a little more open. He breathes a little easier. His smile appears more freely. There is a calm and a peace about him. I'm praying that I can nurture those seeds that were sown overseas. This was so needed.

Erin busies herself constantly with babysitting, volunteering at VBS, and friends. Last night I was awakened by the laughter and chatter of six young women around my kitchen table. I didn't mind.

Jack, my compliant child, is morphing into The One to Watch as his 13th birthday approaches. His wide range of friends and influences has me on Mom Edge these days. Isn't there usually one that needs the Eagle Eye of parent upon them?

All three are off to the beach with their dad next week. I will be in NYC, getting my GF fix and marking a transition with my bestie. Of course, there will be a show and window shopping involved... emphasis on window due to the austerity measures at 3299. :-)

And still, I've learned a few things this week:

Having my chicks back in the nest is a joyful thing for me.
I should always have the house cleaned before leaving town so I come home to spotless!
My husband has the most generous heart of any man I've ever known, except for maybe my father.
My in-laws are some of my favorite people on earth.
There's something about being by the water that rejuvenates me.
After 18 years of motherhood, I still don't have an organizational system that works. Drat. Oh well. :)

I wanted to share these pics, because they tickle me. This is what brothers do to pass the time during their sister's graduation ceremony while waiting for 400+ names to be read.

Ever heard of an app called CamWow? It will entertain for hours. :)

And the counting continues:

541. Braves baseball in the sunshine.

542. Children's shouts echoing in the neighborhood.

543. Tween friend with the newly liberated smile.

544. Power walking and brainstorming.

545. Husband looking for together time.

546. Girl sorting a rainbow of jellybeans.

547. Generous heart of a husband, taking the worry away.

548. Laughter.

549. Brothers, heads bent in unison over a shared game.

550. Canopy of green unfurling against the dusk.

551. Moon, shining full orb.

552. Counting jellybean sweetness.

553. Snapshots of Little Ones, organized and uploaded.

554. Books to read ~ that never-ending joy.

555. Prayers in the wee hours.

556. Still of a slumbering house.

557. Palm Sunday peace: Hosanna!

558. Monday madness.

559. Woman at the well: FAITH! (John 4)

560. Cities built out of Legos.

** You can see that these gifts I'm just now sharing were from April. I continue to list and don't know that the blog will ever catch up. That is a gift in itself.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Five and Counting {Good Stuff}

2011-06-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

We had a lovely weekend on Lake Rabun with our Aunt Anne, who has got to be the most gracious hostess this side of the Mississippi. She has a come-on-in-make-yourself-at-home mentality that we just love... plus there's this.

So we boated...

{this is Honey... isn't she sweet?}

And then we plunged...

Then we relaxed...

Aren't we lucky? Cheers!

Thanks, Aunt Anne, for making our anniversary weekend so relaxing and special!

Happy Anniversary to Us

2011-06-12T17:58:00.000-04:00

The day that Jay-merica and Heidiopia took the plunge...

We're going back to relive the moment today and enjoy a weekend of R & R. See you back here next week!

Open Doors and Empty Chairs

2011-06-08T19:45:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning to open doors and empty chairs.

We had to say goodbye to my sweet, crazy pooch of 16 years yesterday. I find myself petless for the first time in 21 years.

She came to us through Cobb County Animal Control and though she made me crazy with her Houdini-esque escape tactics and her "aren't we playing chase?" mentality, one ear perked up tongue hanging out tail wagging taunting, I could identify. She wanted to run free. But not far. Don't fence me in, but I'll never leave... I'll always be back, just let me feel the wind in my hair for a bit.

October 1997. She'd been with us just over a year. The golden is Barkley, another rescue operation we lost in 1999.

There were a few years in there when I wasn't the best owner/mommy. I was on my own with three young ones and there was little left over for her. But she was faithful and forgiving. And when El Presidente came along and made her into a house dog, she had the best of both worlds and love and attention 24/7 like she deserved.

Together she and I survived an absentee husband and father, the arrival and incorporation of surprise baby #3, a move, a nutty dog-hating neighbor that reported me to Animal Control (that was a hefty fine, but worth every penny), heat waves, floods, new family members and pets, renovations, parties, celebrations, illness, neighborhood bullies and buddies, and made it for some final love from her 'grandparents.'

She's in a happy place with no pain in her back legs or labored breathing now. She's looking for squirrels to chase, holes to dig, fences to escape from, and an easy chair waiting right now. And I know she has it all up there in Doggie Heaven.

So this morning, no doors had been closed to keep her safe from stairs and "her" chair was empty in the morning sunshine. And my heart is sad. Rest in peace, my faithful friend.

Sleeping in her favorite chair last summer.

June 7, 2011.

Pilgrimage Updates

2011-06-08T19:39:00.003-04:00

Oh, my gosh, what an incredible trip these Pilgrims are having! I alternate between *pride*, *envy*, and *awe* at all the wonderful sights they're seeing and the lessons they're learning.

For my regular readers, I have not stopped counting gifts... they are too numerous in these days and I surpassed 1000 some time ago, but I have omitted them temporarily from these lengthy family posts so you can avoid overload... they'll return soon and you can continue to journey with me.

In the meantime, these photos are so incredible... the group has been posting Facebook updates daily since we are limited in our individual communication with them. I am so proud of Alec and his fellow pilgrims, and can't wait to get the "low down" from the 16 year old Man-Child when they return. Until then, check out their amazing journey in Paul's footsteps...

Steps from where Paul was imprisoned in Philippi.

In Thessaloniki... I marvel at the scale of the monument and those ancient carvings!

View of Mt Olympus from their hotel on Olympic Beach.

"C" is for community... they're learning!

Waterfall on their hike on Mt Olympus

If this doesn't inspire you... from Mt. Olympus.

One of the Hanging Monasteries they toured.

The boys... they all look good!!

Part of the group at the stadium at Delphi.

Their mantra-- Stop, Collaborate, and Listen. Love it!

The group at the Treasury of Mycenae... unbelievable.

Like I said, I can't wait to get the skinny from him on his trip! An incredible Godly experience for these young people. What a blessing!

World Oceans Day

2011-06-08T08:23:00.000-04:00

I love putting together these posts every June 8th so I can relive my favorite moments where the sand meets the sea. Feel like joining me?

How about Destin, FL?

Or St Thomas?

St. John?

Newport, RI?

Send-Off to Greece {Good Stuff}

2011-06-07T07:45:00.000-04:00

I've known it was coming for two years and it still snuck up on me! Last Wednesday, I sent Alec off with 15 other teenagers and 4 adults to Greece. This is the culmination of two years of study, preparation, and fundraising for the J2A (Journey 2 Adulthood) curriculum at our church, St. Peter and St. Paul Episcopal Church. They began their journey in Thessaloniki and the writings of Paul. I'll post more pics we've gotten from them on Facebook soon, but I wanted to share their departure last Wednesday.

Last minute instructions and prayers.

Excited bunch of pilgrims, ready to journey in the footsteps of St. Paul {and have some fun, too}

Last hug for Aunt Amy, his godmother and my bestie who helped me keep my head straight. xo Aims!

Last hug for Sis and Bro

And one last one for Mom... and yes, I got weepy.

Loading the vans and trailers with luggage for 20 people travelling internationally.

I've often said that my children are blessed, but they are particularly blessed by the Godly leaders and other adults in their lives. I'm humbled by their commitment to and love for these young teens. God speed on this wonderful journey of faith!!

This trip was put together by Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries. Visit their website to view other such trips they've arranged and coordinated for churches all over the country. They were the organizational powerhouse behind this pilgrimage and that of my daughter to Italy two years ago. Every T is crossed and every I is dotted... how else could I send My People abroad? So blessed!

Graduation Party Pics {Good Stuff}

2011-06-05T15:33:00.000-04:00

We loved that we had family and friends here to celebrate Miss Erin's graduation at her party The Day After. Here's some peeks at the fun, keeping in mind that I kept forgetting where I set my camera down. :)

We had over 50 guests over the course of the party ~ lots of coming and going among the young ones, but that's what we intended for her celebration. SHE attended six parties in 3 days. Remember those days?

I am slowly regrouping thanks to some time spent in front of the French Open (go Nadal!!) and poolside coupled with a few early nights. Next time: Alec's departure for Greece and a few pics of the pilgrims on their trip via Facebook. Amazing what wonderful opportunities these kids have!

Enjoy your Sunday!

What I Learned This Week {Good Stuff}

2011-06-03T10:30:00.001-04:00

I survived. I could probably end this post with just those two words, but there's much more to share so that wouldn't be fair. I continue to have trouble with my laptop and much to my chagrin fell victim to a hacker/fake antivirus scam along the way. I have limited internet and managed to rescue my 1000+ photos, but Ruby will be making a journey to the Geek Squad.

The past week has been one of milestones and an enormous emotional roller coaster. Graduation, graduation parties (one of which I hosted), family and friends, and then sending Alec off to Greece for a 10 day pilgrimage in the footsteps of Paul all in the span of 6 days. I am drained. I feel the need for quiet, for rest, for slowly catching up at 3299 after 30+ days of being on the run.

Graduation...

My favorite :)

Had enough? More to follow in the next post as I navigate my computer issues and mental fatigue. Good stuff. :)

What I learned this week?

Staying in the moment is hugely important.
Nothing is better than celebrating milestones with family and friends.
Allow a couple of days to do absolutely nothing when all is said and done. :)

Thanks for popping in~ more photos of the parties, decorations, and Alec's departure for Greece to follow soon.

Linking up with Cha Cha's Sentimental Sunday this week.

Just a Quickie :)

2011-05-26T07:47:00.000-04:00

I haven't fallen off the earth, I promise! In addition to all the graduation and year-end shin-digs and party prepping going on, end of school, etc, my lap top crashed. Start the funeral dirge, folks. I still don't know what the problem is or was, but my computer time has been squeezed considerably. I also had to get over putting out there what might not be a substantive post... y'all don't mind, do you?

A couple of pics for you--

Chorus banquet for Miss Erin- she received another scholarship! So proud of her.

Preschool end-of-year program (taken by Miss Erin who skipped school to attend)

Black and Gold scrimmage for Alec (he's in the black with his gray undershirt hanging out-- playing defensive end).

#64 coming off after a nice QB sack!!

And in the midst of all the functions, I am making my own party decorations for Saturday. Head over to Show Some Decor for a peek at a few.

So I'll be back with much more once the dust settles and my out-of-towners are gone. Alec heads for Greece in less than a week, so you can look forward to some posts about that coming up, too!!

Off to cut the grass and do a final once over before the parents arrive. :)

More May Madness {What I Learned Last Week}

2011-05-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Blogger was down for two days (Thursday and Friday), hence this delayed weekly wrap-up, but better late than never! And, I must confess, not having the option of blogging sent me out into the yard, mowing and planting tomato plants, and then shopping for Graduation party goods. In other words, the unwilling hiatus was good for my TO DO list that is currently growing fangs. :)

Another busy week has passed... I swear it seems like I was just celebrating St. Patrick's Day in my classroom and here I am wrapping up my year with the Little Ones while the Big People keep me hopping in my "off" hours.

Last weekend was all about Jack and the celebration of his Rite 13 liturgy. This is a wonderful milestone in their spiritual journey, marking passage from childhood into the teenage years and the path (journey) to adulthood. Yikes. His group is a gregarious, funny, close-knit bunch and I see them doing wonderful things with the outstanding guidance and love of their leaders, Don and Susan, and our fabulous hands-on Deacon Chip.

Aren't they precious? All 12 and 13 year olds.

How on earth did they all get so big? {I'm wearing 3 inch heels, FYI}

Following the service, I had a lovely brief chat with our minister, the distinguished Rev. Robert F. Certain {read more about Father Robert, his service to country and his time as a POW at his website, Unchained Eagle}. He is a wonderful, caring, down-to-earth individual... with a great sense of humor. His blue eyes twinkled at me as he had one hand on Alec's shoulder and the other on Jack's.

"I've seen alot of you lately," he said to me, looking meaningfully at each of My Three and then back at me. Then he winked. "And I'm gonna be praying for you." Thanks be to God. Nothing like having a man of the cloth in your corner!

Monday night, we enjoyed Jack's Spring Chorus Concert. A HUGE group of middle schoolers singers-- so lovely to see. Jack even had a little solo part and he rocked it just like last year, only an octave lower (thanks, hormones!).

Their sweet director Ms. Moore is a saint!

very serious business you know...

See how happy he is here? Post-concert social hour with all the 8th grade girls... I kept waiting for him to sign autographs. Thank God Father Robert is praying for me!

And so we rock on... Erin finished the last of her FOUR AP exams on Thursday and enjoyed her Senior Picnic on Friday. She's coasting from here. Tonight we'll be at her Chorus Banquet and tomorrow morning she'll be recognized with the other graduates at church before we take in Baccalaureate and then their final Youth Group meeting.

Alec is practicing football every day, working on passing all his classes (!) and preparing for his pilgrimage to Greece in a few short weeks. Lucky soul had a 7am meeting with the Brotherhood at church this morning and then will spend the day pounding the pavement and selling his football fundraiser.

Me? I survived the Preschool Carnival and the Preschool Ballet recital this week, managed to get everyone where they were supposed to be, get my haircut, supervise repairs at 3299, and even took in a few minutes of a former student's Shetland baseball game last night (so cute!). More shuttling and banqueting and celebrating and honoring and recognizing and picture-taking ahead.

Had enough? If you made it this far, undoubtedly so! Thanks for being in it for the long haul... just a few things I learned this week:

When you most want to escape to a far away location is the same time lots of good stuff is going on. I wouldn't want to miss any of it.
Yard work gives me a sense of accomplishment like none other.
I really can get by on just a few hours' sleep... not sure how long I can keep it up, but hey.
Football takes all the intensity out of Alec... he's never more agreeable than after a 3 hour practice in 90 degree heat.
I am a 28 year old trapped in a 44 year old body. I swear... somebody let me out!

Counting Gifts... just a few... thanks for reading...

526. Full moon rising in the eastern sky.

527. Skies still after blustery turbulance.

528. Minimal damage to husband's car after a collision with a deer.

529. Shiny choices after a contest win.

530. Backyard vista filling in green.

531. Encouraging words: Stop, Be Still, Pray, and Listen.

532. Husband, coffee waiting for me in Sunday morning stillness.

533. Parents gathered in Pilgrimage planning

534. Fresh steaks and fresh flowers.

535. Crisp spring sunshine.

536. Man-Child working in the sun, mower humming.

537. Composing the Easter tablescape.

538. Shutter clicking on pastel eggs, moss, and fresh blooms.

539. Earnestness of a young Youth Minister, ready to lead her charges overseas.

540. Bees humming in the holly tree.

Love this quote:

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. A.A. Milne

Have a good weekend... thanks for stopping by!!

These Crazy Days

2011-05-10T22:24:00.000-04:00

wwI had every intention of posting a heartfelt Mother's Day message for you all yesterday. Honestly. And then life happened. Confession: I am dragging and feel pulled in way too many different directions. And by the time I sat down yesterday I could hardly string two words together, let alone a thought-provoking post. Hope you don't mind.

It's been a rollercoaster of mother emotions the past few weeks. How can mothering be so exhilarating in one moment, so humbling in the next, and full of fear of failure in the next? The ride has been continuous wrenching of the heartstrings back and forth and I am raw from it. I take comfort in knowing this phase is temporary, but then the tredpidation creeps in for what lies ahead.

If you haven't popped over to Show Some Decor to see the Mom's Tea at the preschool, I would love it if you did... you can catch a glimpse of all the work that goes into making that day super special for all of our wonderful moms. And then they leave to enjoy the rest of their day and we pick up the pieces with the Little Ones. Tears from newly discovered separations anxiety, coupled with overall excitement that Mom was here and a sugar rush, make for a long aftermath. It was, however, a lovely event and the moms enjoyed themselves trememdously.

That night, we attended Erin's last chorus concert at Sprayberry HS.

Such a talented group! They've made the best of the construction this year by having all of their programs in the Large Group Instruction Classroom. Not the best acoustics, but they rocked it anyway!

Eighties hair bands... great music and they had fun!

And then the seniors showered their director with Silly String. :)

When I totally get my act together (!) I'll share a video of one of their numbers... really awesome stuff!

The weekend was then full of Jack's Rite 13 activities and celebration at church, so I'll be sharing those photos shortly, too. In addition to his middle school concert that we enjoyed last night. Whew! Are you feeling me? May Madness at its best.

In the meantime, how about a few more gifts? Thanks for stopping in. :)

Counting Gifts...

496. Patrice and her passion for literature.
497. Gathering of women, fellowship, shared love of books.
498. Neighborhood beauty, the robe of spring.
499. Closing eyes weary.
500. Message received just in time.
501. Beach-like morning in Atlanta.
502. Blanket of pink cherry blossoms.
503. Treat inspiration for my class.
504. Compiling my Favorite Things post.
505. Dresses in every hue ~ choosing for My Girl.
506. Gentle reminder of Lenten commitment.
507. Crock pot aromas as storm brews outside.
508. Safety from the fury of a spring storm.
509. Tween and old friend, blender whirring with fruit smoothie goodness.
510. Girl's safe arrival home amid the downpours.
511. Nourishment of rain for our spring landscape.
512. Love notes from the husband, gone fishing early.

513. Plans with Michelle on a Saturday morning.

514. Courage to enroll in Bloggy Boot Camp (yikes!)

515. Blessing from Kellie at This Blessed Nest.

516. Antique browsing, stockpiling inspiration.

517. Bank balance in the black.

518. He provides.

519. Learning not to fear ~ TRUST.

520. Thinking things through ~ TRUST.

521. Chilly afternoon power walk... clearing the mind and spirit.

522. Contest win of silvery beauty.

523. Pork chops sizzling on the grill.

524. Wrapping Easter gift for Coleman... a cross for her pocket and "Grace'.

525. Red ripe tomato.

Linking up at Ann's Multitudes on Monday...

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T08:08:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful devoted moms out there, including my own. May your day be full of rest, pampering, and family. :)

Peek at our Mom's Tea at the preschool last week by clicking HERE.

Catching Up and What I Learned This Week

2011-05-06T07:24:00.000-04:00

My gosh. You'd think I'd have this down by now ~ May Madness, that is. But in reality, every year is just different enough from the one before to present its own challenges. This year, I'm feeling like I have two full days packed into every day of the week. The first 6 hours of the day, I am ON. Shuttling People out the door and then preschool... where there is no time to even pee some days. I'm completely serious. Race out after school to fit in a few errands before my second day within a day starts-- that being My Own People and all of their activities and obligations.

It's the first week of May and I'm already worn out. Throw in some Middle Child drama at home and I'm ready to head for the hills. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, but there's alot that's getting shoved aside. As I type this on Thursday afternoon, I've just crossed our Mac-Daddy Mom's Tea at the preschool off my list, run errands, have dinner on the stove, ready to fly out the door for Miss Erin's last high school chorus concert. The weekend ahead is full (surprise!), but looks like good weather for all of our doin's.

Anyway, check out two good reads if you have the time in your own May Madness! The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was our April book club pick. It's a bona fide love letter to literature and the power of books to absorb and motivate us. This is no quick easy read, and you'll want to do a little research on Barcelona and Spanish politics of the 1930s through the 1950s to fully appreciate this rich read. But it is well worth your time! Full of intrigue and edge of your seat excitement with a love story (actually a few!) thrown in. Good stuff!

The other one is After You by Julie Buxbaum. This is the story of a young girl who witnesses her mother's murder, and how she and her godmother, her mother's best friend, come to terms with the loss, the grief, and the choices the two of them are faced with in the aftermath of tragedy. I love that my childhood favorite The Secret Garden is front and center in the journey of Ellie and Sophie. A true page-turner and fantastic beach or weekend read.

The past couple of weeks, I've had next to no time to read anything other than a magazine article here and there, so I'm looking forward to revisiting my Book A Week challenge this summer when things have settled. :) And now the short list of what I've learned this week.

There is nothing like a good belly laugh to bring on the hysteria. Thank goodness my Little People don't scare easily. :)
Apparently, the concept of nesting tupperware is too difficult for my family to master. Unbelieveable. An avalanche every time I open the cupboard.
125 years ago today, the first Coca Cola was served in Atlanta, Georgia. Cool.

If you ever need your faith in the younger generation restored, attend a high school awards ceremony or concert. The talent and work ethic of these kids will blow you away.

Prom Night

The girls in the group

Her best buds

Little brother love.

Yes, she had a blast. :)

Counting Gifts...

468. A timely word... re C's mom.

469. Playground discoveries-- abandoned wasp nest and an inch worm.

470. Chapel Wednesday...busy day for the Little Ones.

471. Little Girl: "I bet there's a purple sun in heaven." Is there anything more glorious to a four year old girl?

472. Pyramids of magnolia branches.

473. little Twin with a song in her heart.

474. Lunch lovingly prepared by teaching hands and hearts.

475. Little Ones singing songs of praise.

476. Generosity of Husband.

477. Loving words spoken.

478. Conversation with Man-Child.

479. Statistic of drug use that opens eyes-- 62% of adults that use marijuana before the age of 15 use cocaine later in life.

480. Cobb students filming documentary on drug use... enlightening.

481. Time spent with kids on a school evening.

482. Dad ~ his ways, his heart, his humility.

483. Mom ~ her devotion, her unconditional love, her integrity.

484. Growing up "McCarty."

485. Little Ones sounding out words.

486. A teacher's giving and thoughtful heart.

487. Sunshine warmed playground.

488. Faces full of wonder, gathered around the caterpillars.

489. Ladybug mystery and love.

490. Gentle-spirited handyman, a gift to the school.

491. Calm demeanor of the eye doctor.

492. To sit for a few minutes, resting eyes.

493. Man-Child reaching for Jesus Lives in a place of conflict.

494. Sweet Little One with Veggie Tales book in hand.

495. Gabe on my lap, reading to me ~ former student, 6 year old boy joy.

More regrouping this weekend for more Madness ahead. Have a restful one, everybody!

What I Learned {Last} Week

2011-05-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

Confession: last week was a hard. A roller coaster of emotions, activities, obligations, and opportunities. We laughed at my horoscope on Easter Sunday...

Your energy level is high during the week ahead. It may be time to put more irons in the fire.

No joke. We laughed because how... how could I possibly have more irons in the fire??

This would be why we place no stock in horoscopes. I rolled into the week already spent ~ emotionally, physically, and even financially. The repairs at 3299 are a drain in every way, but necessary. My school year with my Little People is ramping up and winding down {all at the same time} and I can feel the clock ticking away my moments with them, my opportunities to instill in them what matters: love of the Lord, confidence in their own abilities, tolerance, obedience, kindness, and yes, kindergarten readiness. May Madness with My own People is in full swing -- this year on steroids because it's a graduation year full of ceremony and celebration. I am fearful I will miss something and I don't want to miss anything. My business rocks on, amplifed by sales and promos and blogging opportunities.

Yes, all good things. But the stress has been creeping into my psyche and stalking me in the wee hours. I am trying to keep my hand open to receive Gifts, but it's a physical effort to do so these days. I am diligently and reverently listing my Gifts still, but it's a digging deeper process than in previous weeks. I am weary. Storms have ravaged our area, leaving a path of destruction and overwhelming need and desperation. Contrast that with celebrating My Girl's academic and extra-curricular achievements and Senior prom preparations. And I watched a young royal couple embark on their marriage, full of hope and giddy happiness that blessed me thoroughly.

The diametrically opposed emotions themselves will drain one. Today {Sunday} is a regroup day. The weeks ahead are, quite literally, non-stop and I am desperate to regain some footing before Monday morning hits once again. Wish me luck. :) So today you will get the visual highlights from last week. I suspect there may be more photo-heavy posts like this in the busy weeks ahead, so thank you for indulging me...

Erin accepting her PTSA Scholarship.

Proud mom :)

She didn't know she was going to be honored. :)

Remember those days? I'll post prom pics later in the week... you've probably had enough for now. :)

So you'll still continue to get snippets of my Gift List, since that's an ongoing effort. The actual list is up to #739 as of this morning... truly a worthwhile exercise that will change your thinking and your heart. But I can't let you go without sharing one of my new Favorite Things: OPI's You Don't Know Jacques nail polish. Crazy, right? Sometimes it looks brown, sometimes gray, but it rocks either way. Thanks, scrangie.com for the image. :)

I haven't found this one in stores, but my nail salon carries it-- may have to buy up their supply since it's my new go-to color after using Suzi Says Da for the past three years!

Hope you're having a ReGroup Day as well...

Counting Gifts...

445. Tissue paper crosses like fragile stained glass.

446. Raising a grateful child... on Ann's blog.

447. Teens blowing off steam with a basketball.

448. Shower warm -- pjs comfy.

449. Deep sleep to battle fatigue.

450. Cool morning air following the storm.

451. Isaiah 61:11 "For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make the righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." ~ HOPE for the our broken world.

452. Time with His Word too short.

453. Growing hunger to hear more, learn more.

454. Wall of storm clouds receding into the dawn.

455. My Girl, lounging, waking up slowly.

456. Purpleheart peeking through soil and pinestraw.

457. Sparkly pink barrettes in silky hair.

458. Sharing stories of mothers' angst.

459. Prayers for teenage sons, making their own choices.

460. Peeks of sunshine on a blustery day.

461. Grill sizzling in the early evening.

462. My first Guest Post.

463. Kind-hearted comments.

464. "Did I hurt your feelings?"

465. Embrace of the travelling husband.

466. Home runs and celebrations.

467. 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Mary On the Day After

2011-04-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

That was her baby on the cross. He that she carried for nine months, He that she swaddled and nursed, and watched in awe as he grew into his pre-ordained destiny. That was her boy that they mocked. And beat. And humiliated. And nailed to the cross. Her baby, her boy.

Since the day that I became a mother 18 years ago, Good Friday has never been the same. The day went from somber observation of Christ's flogging, humiliation, and crucifixion to a day when I can't escape a mother's anguish watching her son's suffering. We shouldn't escape it. It's part of the story.

Our sons, they make missteps. They sin. They make hasty errors in judgement. They lie sometimes. They give into temptation.

Her son was blameless. Her son suffered to pay for the sins of ours...for all of broken humanity.

Did she know? On that terrible Friday, when the skies darkened and the earth shook and the fabric was torn in two, did she know that He was suffering and dying to redeem us?

Would that knowledge have erased her mother's pain? Did her faith in the Lord mitigate her pain?

Did she sleep a wink that night? Or did she see him there ~ on the cross ~ every time she closed her eyes? And on the Next Day, the Day In Between, what images were burned into her heart?

His hands, nails driven through.
So that we may see hands holding pizza slices, shooting basketballs, working game controllers.

His arms outstretched against the wood.
So that we may see arms swinging baseball bats, elbowing siblings in the back seat, pushing lawn mowers.

His head bloody and bowed under the weight of earthly pain and a crown of thorns.
So that we may see heads crowded together over a container of tadpoles, thrown back in laughter, resting against the sofa pillows during a tv show, dripping sweat during a pick-up basketball game.

His legs, sinewy and too heavy, making every breath one closer to his last.
So that we may see legs running down the soccer field, jiggling with pent up energy under the lunch table, dangling off the edge of a dock, growing by the minute it seems.

His feet, filthy and pierced, just out of her reach.
So that we may see feet shoved into barely fitting flip flops, crossed on top of the coffee table, wet and muddy from trudging through the creek on an adventure.

His body, battered, limp, lifeless.
So that we may see eyes lit up with joy, young bodies around our dinner table, playing fetch with the dog, piling onto living room furniture.

We may see all of these and know that her mother's suffering and HIS was to redeem us and ours.

Today, on the Day After, on this Day In Between, think of her: Mother Mary who watched the dawn, now without her child. And begin your List of Gifts.

Joining Michelle DeRuscha at Graceful...

What I Learned This Week

2011-04-22T07:55:00.001-04:00

What an Easter week... that slide into May Madness is in full swing and I find myself a little bleary as a result! Crazy schedule, crazy weather, crazy Little Ones full of sugar, love of Jesus, and Easter bunny dreams... get the picture? :)

In addition to our water woes in the basement here at 3299, we've discovered termites and then El Presidente had a run-in with a large doe on Highway 190 on his way to go fishing. I'm working on keeping my sense of humor about it all... you can let me know how well I'm doing, okay?

Tuesday night was Honors Night for Sprayberry High School and I watched Miss Erin revel in her academic success and receive a $1000 PTSA scholarship. It's only the beginning of the accolades for her... she humbles me at every turn. We are sooo immensely proud of her and are enjoying her ride. Spring football gets revved up next week for Alec. Though I'm not looking forward to the 6:30am shuttle run to the high school, he is ready to get back in there and will no doubt benefit from the more rigorous schedule. :)

I've realized I will not reach my 1000 Gift goal by Easter, but the exercise of listing the 619 gifts I have to date has grown my gratitude tenfold. I will continue listing... at least until I get to 1000, and quite likely beyond. It's become a part of me in less than 40 days.

So, wearily, and gratefully, here is what I learned this week:

Murphy's Law is alive and well at 3299 {water heater, toilet leak, termites, sink holes}, but I still love my home. Now if I could just win the lottery to fund all the repairs!
I have a sudden urge to grow tomatoes this summer ~ I imagine the tasteless variety at the supermarkets is what's driving this latest urge.
My Girl LOVES her Braves baseball... she will race through anything to be able to tune into her beloved Bravos and will quote stats until the cows come home.
Even the "best" families-- the most grounded, involved, in tune, faithful families-- are not immune to illegal drugs. They {illegal drugs} are everywhere, all the time, before our children.
Denmark is rated the Happiest Country in the world. Think I need to go check that out!

Alot of wonderful opportunities in the blogosphere lately, but my Real Life has me a bit behind. This week I was so thrilled to accept the Versatile Blogger Award from Fi over at Inspiration to Dream! I'll be formally accepting and paying this forward on Monday's blog... I'm extremely honored that anyone reads my ramblings here, let alone bestow an honor upon this space and its author. Thank you, sweet Fi!

Ready for Easter... get the details over at Show Some Decor. :)

Counting Gifts... on this Good Friday

411. Prayers for answers from Him.

412. Work to quiet a mind, heart, spirit so that I can hear Him.

413. Crewel work beauty.

414. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. " Psalm 51

415. Sermon of "dead places."

416. Young confirmands, renewing Baptismal covenants.

417. Husband with a helpful heart.

418. Fans humming, remedying the damp.

419. Beautiful sunshine on Confirmation Day.

420. Azaleas blooming in cathedral courtyard.

421. Stained glass window beauty.

422. Purple robes.

423. Soaring arches of stone.

424. Organ crashing beauty.

425. Familiar hymns, written on my heart long ago.

426. Parade of parish youth, spirits ready to receive.

427. Amy and Brett, supporting and celebrating.

428. Cozy brick floor and round table for the family celebration dinner.

429. Fresh bread and olive oil.

430. Cheerful countenance of our waitress.

431. Gifts of spiritual growth for the Man-Child.

432. Husband safely arrived.

433. Prom dress awe from grandparents.

434. Sweet comfort of bed after a long day.

435. Do I see art everywhere?... a challenge.

436. Weight of husband's arm around my shoulders during worship.

437. Sharing the List with Mom.

438. Clouds scuttling across a blue sky.

439. Smile and wave of friendly UPS driver.

440. "Eeyore" faces on a Monday morning.

441. Construction paper raindrops raining from the ceiling.

442. Fresh breezes on warm sunshine.

443. Chain of kindness.

"Never wrestle with a pig. You just get all muddy and dirty... and the pig loves it."

~Pastor Jimmy Dodd

Words of wisdom. :)

Have a most blessed Easter weekend, everyone!

Linking up with Ann's Multitudes on Monday...

Catching Up {Favorite Things and Cool Finds}

2011-04-18T06:39:00.000-04:00

For those of you that have missed my Favorite Things and Cool Finds from my Friday posts, I thought I'd compile a catch up post for you. My List of Gifts gets lengthier and in order to share it regularly I pushed these fun things aside for the time being. Thanks for understanding!

Favorite Things of Late:

Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp, delish, and reasonable. Their website is a fun place, too. :)

My dermatologist recommended this and I looooove it. Great sun protection and easy on the face.

This latest Pottery Barn catalog... so many yummy ideas!!

My new favorite pianist, David Nevue. Beautiful.

How about some Cool Finds?

Check out the (in)courage website for inspiring and encouraging posts daily by some many gifted women. I subscribe via email so I'm always hooked up with the latest!

And you'll also want to peek at Fancy Little Things, if you haven't already. I did a guest post on Tuesday in their Home and Garden section (click here to read) but Aimee and her girls there post daily on Projects, Faith, Books, Health, and much more.

And one more Cool Find that I just stumbled upon today... Jo Totes! These are really beautiful oversized camera bags for women. Not that I tote around a mac-daddy camera with multiple lenses, but I love the size of them, the removable and interchangeable pads to section off and protect electronics {I'm thinking IPad here, people!!}, and look how chic they are. Definitely going on my wish list {right behind the IPad}.

Are you shocked that I picked the purple one to share? You must not know me very well. :)

That's it for now... I'll do more catch up posting soon on books I've read recently. In the meantime, the List continues:

Counting Gifts...

380. Raindrops tentative.

381. Sale of 6903... relief for Mom and Dad.

382. Preparing family dinner.

383. Tween, willing and able.

384. Plates piled high with birthday dinner goodness.

385. Husband asking blessing, giving thanks ~ eucharisteo

386. Shrimp skins and tails discarded.

387. Lingering over empty plates and full hearts.

388. Back deck dining... the first of the season!

389. Unexpected communication from distant-hearted aunt.

390. Blue birds' return to nest in the fish.

391. Girl's cheers during a Braves game.

392. Candles burning, waiting for the wish.

393. Girl with cookie cake lips, opening birthday gifts... wasn't it just yesterday she had her 2nd birthday?

394. Dad, Tween, and a silly moment.

395. Braves baseball -- how we love it.

396. Coffee brewing and dog snoozing.

397. Time to reflect on the previous day's Gifts.

398. Husband ~ kitchen cleaner extraordinaire.

399. Mom, energized with a task.

400. Time spent together, running errands.

401. Pizza feast on the back deck.

402. Three off to buy ice cream desserts on a warm spring evening.

403. Words to say "forgive me," to acknowledge a mistake.

404. Search for peace in shattered thoughts.

405. Questions raised that must be answered.

406. Fragile calm following a storm of words.

407. Confirmation Day dawn creeping in through the kitchen window.

408. Old dog snores from the arm chair.

409. Chirp of birds on the back deck rail.

410. Few moments of quiet ... to reflect. Such a gift.

And so it continues...

What I Learned This Week

2011-04-15T08:42:00.002-04:00

April 15th and that familiar "I have no idea how I got here" feeling... only 5 more weeks of school for me, 5 1/2 for My People. Wow. The inevitable slide into May Madness has begun so I may be a little incoherent between now and June. Sorry in advance. :)

I won't even go into all the things going on/wrong with 3299 {the house} but suffice to say I'm hoping the old saying that things happen in threes is true. Onward!

What did I learn this week?

There's never enough hours in the day. Period. Especially in the spring.
The attitude of gratitude continues to prevail. Praise be!
April is National Poetry Month... I forget how beautiful and lyrical poety can be. Who is your favorite poet or poem?
Guest posting is scary good. I hope there's much more of that in my future.
Shopping for other people's homes {Mom!} is even more fun than shopping for your own.
62% of all adults that smoke marijuana before the age 15 go on to try heavier drugs like cocaine later in life. Share that tidbit with your teens the next time they say: "it's just pot."
The wonder of caterpillars, ladybugs, and inch worms is all encompassing. Dig out a magnifying glass and take a peek. :)
Growing up McCarty was something really wonderful.

My People and I saw a very powerful movie over Spring Break called The Fifth Quarter. The actual story happened locally back in 2006. A local high school football player was involved in a reckless driving accident and pronounced brain dead. The movie chronicles his family's grief, their decision to donate his organs, and their journey to try to make sense of his loss. His brother Jon played football for Wake Forest during this time and donned his brother's number 5 in his memory, inspiring his team to a championship winning season in the process. This hit a little too close to home for us, having lost Josh senselessly just a few weeks ago. But the message of the movie is one no one should miss. Click HERE to see more about the movie and you can link over to the Abbate family's foundation from there as well.

Yes, my blue birds are back, nesting away in our fish again!

Counting Gifts... the List grows...

351. Washing machine humming.

352. Childhood peer that's grown into a friend and cheerleader, Pamela Fagan Hutchins.

353. Working side by side with my husband.

354. Bright green rows of freshly cut grass.

355. Selecting the 18th Birthday Gift for My Girl.

356. Sweet spirit of the sales lady who shared her story.

357. Silver beads glinting.

358. Followers multiplying.

359. Wrapping gifts with love.

360. Young birds feeding.

361. Crisp and cold grapefruit juice.

362. Thin clouds cooling.

363. House clean and quiet.

364. Bedroom pressed and dressed for visiting family.

365. Making the grocery list, preparing for celebration.

366. Chat with Amy.

367. Fresh pine straw, copper colored against spring green.

368. Legs fatigued from trudging the hill during yardwork.

369. Learning something new.

370. Young mother, revelling in her role, soaking it all in.

371. Birds chirping in the early morning dark.

372. Prayer of forgiveness.

373. Last slow morning of the break. :)

374. Friendly words of Debbie Miller.

375. White tulips in a vase, welcoming.

376. Proprietor, gracious and accomodating.

377. Safe arrival of Mom and Dad.

378. Warm embrace from my father ~ is there anything better?

379. Teenagers sharing with grandparents.

380. Mugs of steaming tea.

More to come... and I have to leave you with this most delicious quote from one of my Little Girls, imagining the glory of heaven during chapel this week:

"I bet the sun in heaven is purple."

She couldn't imagine anything more perfect or beautiful...

Have a wonderful, gift-filled weekend. :)

Linking up with Ann Voskamp's Multitudes on Monday...

Celebrations

2011-04-13T17:42:00.000-04:00

So much to be thankful for... my List has far surpassed what I've shared here on the blog, but I'll keep dolling it out to you a bit at a time. You wouldn't believe how you start seeing them {gifts} everywhere-- even in hard things. So today I decided to let the pictures tell the story of our celebrations.

18th birthday wishes... is it possible?

Mom and Dad visiting... it's been 16 months since their last visit.

Alec's confirmation group.

A beautiful spring day to renew our Baptismal covenant and support this leg of Alec's journey in faith.

3 of my favorite guys in the world.

Grandparents proud.

God mother's love.

Counting Gifts...

309. Projects waiting, fueling.

310. Ideas flowing.

311. Cold leaving... slowly, surely.

312. Postive, values-affirming messages on TV.

313. Linking up on Multitudes on Monday.

314. 7 Gifts a Day:: Gratitude Journals.

315. Cherry blossoms raining down in the wind like pink raindrops.

316. Brisk breezes following a storm.

317. Smell of fresh paint-- progress!!

318. Dinner with the husband ~ just us two.

319. Man-child hands, project engrossed.

320. Baseball on TV-- oh, how we've missed you!

321. House quiet at day's end.

322. Planning for company.

323. New Pandora station ~ all piano music.

324. Words and pictures flowing.

325. Snapshots of birds... our feathered friends.

326. Guest post drafted.

327. New hostess excitement!

328. Husband, cheeks sun-burned from golf.

329. Editing photos, leaving the mark.

330. College basketball:: the athletic endeavor.

331. Settling in for the night early, body weary.

332. Laying worry aside ~ TRUST, FAITH

333. Ordering butterfly larvae, lessons in God's creations.

334. 18th birthday of my precious Girl.

335. Opportunity to minister.

336. Choosing confirmation gift for the Man-child.

337. Titles upon titles of Christian tomes.

338. Walking in sunshine.

339. Glimpse into the heart of Junior.

340. Moments of pampering-- forced relaxation.

341. Happy text from Amy, enjoying her day.
342. Reminder of a friend's good heart.
343. Deliciousness of a fresh Mexican dinner.
344. Dark-eyed smile of the proprietor.
345. Finalized sale of my childhood home-- bittersweet.
346. Readying for family visits, long overdue.
347. Husband, healthy and before me.
348. Test ordered, alert eyes on the EKG.
349. Husband's hand, fingers intertwined with mine.
350. "I don't like loose ends."... praise!!

What I Learned This Week

2011-04-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

Spring Break! We've all enjoyed letting our wheels down a bit and I've gotten caught up (somewhat) around 3299. We are blessed with beautiful spring weather... and cursed with the pollen. Those of you not familiar with springtime pollen in Georgia would be amazed at the yellow film that covers everything. So when you most want to have your windows open to enjoy the fresh air-- don't do it! Unless you've got your Swiffer Duster and allergy medicine handy.

Mom and Dad arrive today {Southwest Airlines willing} to celebrate Alec's confirmation on Sunday. We'll also squeeze in Erin's 18th birthday celebration tonight so they can partake. Party, party, party! I've been cleaning, yard working, organizing... not just for them, but their impending visit was a great motivator. So though I didn't manage one day of doing nothing like I'd planned, I feel quite accomplished instead. I'll take it.

Lots of great stuff happening! My Willow House business is busy this month and next Tuesday Show Some Decor will be featured on a new website called Fancy Little Things. I met Aimee online and she issued the invitation... I am thrilled to be stepping out there, promoting my blog and my business at the same time. If you can, pop over there and see what she and her partners are doing and leave me a little comment love. I'd love to be invited back!

So on to what I learned this week and then the continuation of the Gift List...

I love to work in the yard on a beautiful day. I'd almost forgotten how wonderful it makes me feel.
The smell of paint = the smell of progress.
Watching genuine affection grow between step-siblings is one of the sweetest things in life.
El Presidente can be a true work horse when he puts his mind to it.
I am old enough to have an 18 year old daughter. {Duh!! You may say, but this really was a revelation to ME!}
Co-parenting with an ex-spouse is the hardest thing I've ever done. Prayers that it gets easier rather than harder.
I could spend an entire day reading all the talented writers, bloggers, and crafty women's musings out there. And then start over the next day... gifts abound!

If you've missed my Favorite Things features, I'll be doing a separate post soon listing some of my recent Cool Finds and Favorite Things. With addition of the Gift List to each post, I didn't want to get too terribly wordy, so stay tuned!

On our deck rail... more of these to come; you'd be amazed at all the different visitors we have!

Counting Gifts...

272. Droopy teenagers, ready for spring break rest.

273. Dreams of my grandmother, gentle and snowy-haired.

274. Sipping coffee with my husband on a quiet Saturday morning.

275. New green shoots, welcoming spring sunshine.

276. Rows of freshly cut grass.

277. Man-child lending a hand.

278. Raw peanuts, shells scattering across a crowded table.

279. Burgers dripping, stacks of napkins no match.

280. Teenagers trying to drown out "old" songs on the radio with their banter.

281. New business.

282. "Empty to fill." ~ Ann Voskamp

283. Old dog frisky in spring morning coolness.

284. Sunshine as my alarm clock.

285. Creative juices flowing anew.

286. New readers, words encouraging.

287. Question asked: does my inner life match my outer life?

288. Morning sunshine transforming old red leather into beauty.

289. Isaiah 58: 10-11

290. Mexican music wafting from a backyard radio.

291. Lawn mowers humming in the neighborhood, sounds of spring.

292. Shimmering prom sheaths draping My Girl in dressing rooms.

293. Warm afternoons on the back deck.

294. Parade of feathered friends feeding.

295. Heartfelt words from the Man-child, convicting and illuminating.

296. Two across the table at the Chinese restaurant.

297. Lion fish, spiky and floating serenely in the aquarium.

298. Chill white wine in crystal on the arm of a deck chair.

299. Pink jet trails across an early evening sky.

300. Husband who takes care of so many things.

301. Peaceful evening with country music awards on TV.

302. My Girl tucked up on the other end of the couch.

303. God who sees me (Genesis 16).

304. Waking, feeling rested.

305. One-on-one with the Man-child, soothing the burns from yesterday's words.

306. Mothers with kids on spring break in tow.

307. New milestones for the Man-child.

308. "Thank you, Mom."

Enjoy your weekend and remember to count your Gifts. :)

Linking up at A Holy Experience's Mutlitudes on Monday...

Late to the Party? Almost!

2011-04-07T21:22:00.000-04:00

I've decided to have some fun and post over at the Ultimate Blog Party this year... I love meeting new blogger friends and this is a great way to do just that.

My regular readers know that I've been blogging for two years now...and what a two years it's been! As the mom of three, stepmom of two young adults, wife of a reformed Bad Boy, teacher, and businesswoman, my mind has a hard time shutting off. I'm prone to sleepless nights, list-making, running myself ragged, and an overall postive mental attitude. This year I'm journeying further in my faith than ever before, blogging here and over at my decor blog regularly, and readying myself for some new business ventures... oh, and will be sending my oldest child off to college in the fall. This is where you'll read all about it: the mostly good, the sometimes bad, and the occasionally ugly. Ready to come along for the ride? I'm glad you're here!!

Going Lower

2011-04-06T08:26:00.000-04:00

I reached the end of Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and it's only the beginning. She has forever changed how I see things... including myself. There a gifts by the thousands raining down on us every day-- we only have to open our hands to catch them... to RECEIVE them. And in receiving them, we give thanks for them. It seems so simple now. I understand nothing and yet I understand everything.

I see through the eyes of Little Ones everyday.

"What are you doing there?" I'm asked, as though I wasn't fulfilling some perception of my intellectual potential. I myself didn't understand it. I only knew I was there for a reason.

And now I know... it's because I see through their eyes... where everything is surprise and wonder and joy.

"The joy of small that makes life large." ~ Ann Voskamp [emphasis added].

On your knees, doesn't everything look different-- look bigger, more magnificent? Imagine that vantage point always! To be truly awe-filled all the time... filled with awe by God's gifts, even the simplest of His gifts? To have that humility that enables receipt of His gifts with open hands and surprise.

"In the upside-down kingdome of heaven, down is up and up is down, and those who want to ascend higher must descend lower. And so 'anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven' (Matthew 18:4)." ~ Ann Voskamp

I've always known that every day in my job is wonder-full. You've read that I sometimes marvel that I get paid to do what I do.

I'm humbled to see things through their eyes every day. I know now why I am there, shaping Little Hearts and Minds and readying them for kindergarten. I love what I do and recognize the value in what I do, but it's me who should be thanking them. You see, I am closer to Him because of being with Them. There's no need to reach higher and higher to receive His Gifts... they aren't up there. They can be found on bended knee. Go lower so you can truly see.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 NASB)

Counting Gifts...the list continues:

232. A kite poem that inspires masterpieces by Little Hands.
233. Crayons and chalk as tools of the Artists.
234. Opportunity to positively reinforce behavior with a Challenged One.
235. Empathy flowing between Little Friends.
236. Tulip beauties shared with a friend.
237. Sun-filled calm on a quiet car ride.
238. Safe travel.
239. Destin sunset in the nick of time.
240. Sushi dinner with an old friend.
241. Memories brought to life over a dinner table.
242. Maturity of a Girl who can be left "in charge."
243. Gulf breezes.
244. White sand with blue shadows.

245. Friend who lends an ear.
246. Mothers and children blessing.
247. Gentle rain on dogwood blossoms.
248. 16th birthday of our Men-Children for me and Michelle.
249. Sidewalk chalk imagination.
250. Vases overflowing in the preschool kitchen.
251. Anticipation of time off and family visits.
252. Testing of a Challenged Little One: the gateway.
253. Light-hearted words.
254. My Girl with a servant's heart.
255. Delivery of my Bible, my List, abandoned on the stair.
256. Prayer for guidance in the wee hours.
257. Old dog clipped for now-elusive warm weather.
258. Row of trees in blooms of pink, white, yellow, and red.

259. Soothing ticks of a clock on a quiet morning.
260. Teaching a child that's not your student ~ opportunity.
261. Michelle's fresh eyes on a situation.
262. Teacher appreciation gifts that exude thoughtfulness.
263. Coffee and a muffin - blessings from a mom.
264. Medicine to heal the husband.
265. Painted umbrellas lining preschool hallways.
266. Cotton ball covered lambs marching across my bulletin board.
267. Hot tea on a chilly afternoon.
268. Cream sweater, wrapping coziness and beauty.
269. Teacher dinner, sweet faces around the tables.
270. Glasses clinking in shared moments of celebration.
271. Sweetness tucked into pink boxes of thanks.

What I Learned This Week

2011-04-01T08:39:00.001-04:00

I have no idea where the past week went, but I'm still trying to channel this...

amidst the everyday chaos that is 3299. Not working! We had a whirlwind celebration of Alec's 16th birthday {finding that hard to believe}....

and school was challenging and delightful with Teacher Appreciation week, emotions running high amongst my Little People, and a full curriculum.

Today is April 1. No fooling. Finding that hard to believe, too! But I'm looking forward to Spring Break week to catch up at home, have some fun with some decor projects, and enjoy My People and Miss Erin's 18th birthday. I know-- it goes on and on.

So in the midst of my re-entry and all the normal hoopla, I still managed to learn a few things this week.

I will always get the slowest gas pump... when I'm in the biggest hurry. And then someone will come along and pump on the other side, which slows it down even more.
It's best to keep one's mouth shut when your 12 year old wants to make a fried egg for "dessert." At least it's protein, people.
Having a pal and awesome partner in the classroom makes every day {even the hardest ones} a little bit fun.
Nothing can rejuvenate better than a few days with your toes in the sand and the sun on your face... throw in a dear friend and your husband and it's paradise.
I still love watching Carrie and Big on the Sex in the City re-runs. Sure beats Good Fellas, Shark week on Discovery, or the other smak that's on tv now. Take me back to the late '90s and let me watch in peace, thanks.
Keep your list of Gifts with you at all times... you never know where you'll find them-- Gifts, I mean. Scrap paper works just fine.

Counting Gifts...

202. Sisterly conversations
203. Business that I enjoy.
204. Candles filling the air with fresh scents.
205. Gentleness of an old dog.
206. Birdseed scattered along the deck rail.
207. Giggles of preschoolers.

208. New ideas!!
209. Words of a friend that warm.
210. Birthday cake detox {you know what I mean!}.
211. Strength and poise of a Young Woman that's suffered great loss...her mother.
212. Late afternoon sunshine on the driveway.
213. Brothers shooting hoops...a momentary truce.
214. New sunscreen.
215. Packing food for the beach.
216. Choosing birthday gifts for my Man-Child.
217. Card from a dear friend... gift itself in an envelope.
218. Portraits of daddies by Little Artists.
219. Warm afternoons melting into cool twilights.
220. Husband/bird whisperer spreading seed for friends of feather.
221. New followers and friends.
222. Man-Child's passport renewed, readying for world travel.

223. Looking up and into the eyes of your young Man-Child.
224. 3 teenagers scrambling in the morning.
225. Hot coffee and God's Word to start the day.
226. Sugary donut sweetness.
227. Daddy moments right before my eyes.
228. Building a "monster truck city" out of wooden blocks.
229. Little Girl that needs a hug... and says "I love you, Mrs. Milton."
230. Note from a mother that blesses.
231. The search for a 4-leaf clover.

Life is good. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Linking up this post at A Holy Experience: Multitudes on Monday...

Where The Sand Meets the Sea

2011-03-29T18:31:00.006-04:00

Oh, how I needed this getaway... this little span of time to fall into the rhythm of waves and birds and sunrise and sunset. How I needed this time with my friend and with my husband, sun warming while breezes were cooling, the sand still chill under our feet. Time to shed-- if only for a bit-- the weight of these past weeks.

And the batteries were recharged. We still weren't talked out. No two days are the same at the beach, you know. The sand is different, the water and skies shifted, words upon words interrupted by daydreamy silences, comfortable in companionship.

And now the schedule is full blown again, with birthdays still celebrating and soon a confirmation, and then a graduation. Can we ever recharge enough?

Counting gifts...

184. Sweet daddy moments with Little Ones.
185. A grandad acting as father now to four.
186. Husband/stepfather unafraid to parent.
187. Clover-seeking Little Ones, magnifying glasses in hand.
188. Chill spring breezes that take your breath away.
189. Miles passing by in blessed quiet.
190. Laugh of an old friend over sushi dinner.
191. Sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico.
192. Feet on the deck rail, sipping coffee.
193. Dolphin fishing and playing in the surf.
194. Cool Gulf breezes in warm sunshine.
195. Sand still cold from the night's rain and chill.
196. Blue canvas slung chairs lined up.
197. My Best Friend in the chair beside me.
198. Hard honest conversations received with open hearts.
199. Encouraging words that come from sun-warmed hearts.
200. Days that melt into watery sunsets while birds fish for supper.
201. Laughing at old college stories, told too many times to count, but still as funny as ever.

And the counting continues...

What I Learned This Week

2011-03-25T09:27:00.000-04:00

El Pres and I are at the beach with friends, continuing the birthday celebration for moi {do I know how to celebrate, or what?}, but I do have a few things to share after our busy week.

Just knowing a getaway is imminent makes bumps in the road seem smoother.
Watching Daddy-child moments -- even when neither of them belong to you-- is joyous.
Some people you can always count on.
Being able to help out a friend is good for the soul.
Looking up at your Man-Child brings it's own quirky joy... not to mention a new perspective.
El Presidente really does know how to mop a mean floor. Seen it first hand. I am one lucky lady.

My List is going strong... more to come next week. In the meantime, just picture me here.

Have a great weekend! And check out my final Mondays in March Giveaway over at Show Some Decor...it's a biggie!!

Days Full

2011-03-23T15:39:00.000-04:00

There are so many blog post ideas floating around in my mind, but my days are consumed... with my business, work, teenagers, home and The List. It's occurred to me that reading my List is alot like weaving through my day. El Pres and I are headed south soon to put our toes in the sand for a few days. A much-needed escape from the Heavy Things that are part of our days now.

I celebrated 44 with a wonderful day. Every one should celebrate their birthday with a class of 4 and 5 year olds. Every moment is wide-eyed bubbling excitement. When was the last time you felt that way? Cards, hugs, flowers, and ... cake. At home, precious time with My People, a Mexican dinner, and... cake. I'm in birthday cake detox right now. :)

We're prepping for Donuts for Dad this week, one of my favorite preschool events. The Little Ones have been working feverishly on portraits and gifts, all leading to a whopping 45 minutes of sugary treats and Daddy's undivided attention. It's sure to be a precious day but the lesson plans may have to go out the window once the daddies leave...I'm a realist. :) I'm thinking an outdoor science lesson.

Counting Gifts...
151. Sunscreen on my face.
152. Pork chops grilling.
153. Basketball bouncing in the driveway.
154. Red velvet yumminess.
155. My Girl washing dinner dishes.
156. Husband sunburned from fishing.
157. House settling into quiet after a busy week.
158. Sleeping with the windows open.
159. Birds chirping in the early morning.
160. Cupcakes waiting to be iced.
161. A sister-in-law that's a sister and a friend.

I'm liking only one candle to blow out. :)

162. Super-moonlight pouring through my blinds.

163. Teenage helping hands.

164. Dinner with friends.

165. Cool morning breezes.

166. Scrambled eggs with cheese, prepared by my husband.

167. Strawberries ruby red.

168. Husband vacuuming and mopping floors (!).

169. Yellow tulips keeping watch on the kitchen island.

170. Ladies talking decor over bubbly beverages.

171. Crackle of bags being loaded with new-found treasures.

172. Birthday phone calls the night before.

173. Packing cupcakes to share at school.

174. Good wishes abounding.

175. Homemade cards from Little Hands.

176. Purple blossoms.

177. Thoughtful parents.

178. Cake to be shared.

179. Little People warbling "Happy Birthday." {with gusto}

180. Yellow blooms of forsythia.

181. Walk with my husband on a glorious spring afternoon.

182. Online friendships that surprise and delight.

183. Family dinner...together in one place.

And the List continues... what Gifts have you counted lately??

Good Stuff on my 44th

2011-03-21T06:22:00.000-04:00

Love the Good Stuff... the Gifts that are ever-present, ever more a part of my day to day. Our weekend was busy and full, but we all had just a bit of down time that was precious, too. In honor of my 44th blessed birthday...

We thought we'd trapped the leprechaun...

Counting Gifts...

111. Old dog begging with brown eyes.

112. Resurgence Surgical Gifts-- non-profit meeting surgical needs for families without means

113. "Small pockets of time"... wise words by Michelle Deruscha (Graceful)

114. Teenagers rough-housing in the kitchen.

115. From The Girl: "Mom, wanna watch 'Glee' with me?"

116. Father who's always working behind the scenes for my good.

117. Gentleman who calls me "young lady."

118. Laying down after a long day.

119. Writing notes to new friends.

120. A care calendar with no empty spaces.

121. Dancing feet that cannot be contained.

122. A Girl's Facebook status against bullying.

123. She walks The Walk daily.

124. Puffy white clouds against brilliant blue.

125. Cheerful voices on the phone.

126. Lunch lovingly prepared in celebration of a birthday.

127. Husband beaming.

128. Fleur de Lys beauty in silver.

129. Sunshine reappearing after a gray chill day.

130. One year since JT's BMT journey (bone marrow transplant).

131. 98% Donor cells and HEALED!

My Boy singing in the middle... a night of wondeful music by young people.

132. A Girl's big big heart.

133. Words and prayers that come at night.

134. The cool side of the pillow.

135. Warm weight of down.

136. Body resting, even if the mind doesn't.

137. Steady breathing in the dark.

138. "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." Psalm 16:7

139. Dog roused from slumber by the smell of coffee brewing. :)

140. Words of caution for parents about teen drinking... may every parent heed the message.

141. WArm sunshine on the playground.

142. Wide eyes and mouths open with amazement.

143. Green pudding hiding a buried treasure treat and topped by a cloud of whipped cream.

144. A sea of green-clad Little People, dancing to Irish music.

145. Laughter.

146. A day of fun and rejoicing.

147. Middle school voices united in song.

148. Morning sunshine streaming through blinds.

149. A full calendar.

150. Loopy tired kids stumbling out the door for school.

...and the List grows.

Leprechaun Pie, anyone??

How many gifts can you count today?

Linking up at A Holy Experience/Multitudes on Monday.

What I Learned This Week

2011-03-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

I've been faithfully counting gifts this week and the list grows along with my gratitude. When you open your eyes and your heart His gifts seem endless-- a new one at every turn to be received, acknowledged with open hands, and rejoiced in.

The schedule has been hectic, ramping up towards the April/May Madness that will be even more so this year with My Girl's graduation. My birthday looms on Monday and I keep insisting that it's not possible to be turning 44. There's some mistake ~ I'm a 28 year old trapped in a 44 year old body. {That's what I tell myself, and please don't burst my balloon}. But I'm in an easy place with my age overall...I don't get nutted up about stuff like that. Life is too short. I am blessed.

Yesterday was the greatest treat I could possibly imagine, in the form of St. Patrick's Day giddiness with a class of Little People. Their joy, their unrestrained unfiltered glee was added to my List of Gifts. Is there anything better? Anything more healing for brokenness? We revelled in it ~ in the magic of a leprechaun, the building of a trap for him, and the freshness of the color green, and pudding with chocolate gold-foil covered coins buried inside and --SURPRISE!-- we didn't catch him, but he left little black pots of treasure for each. And thanked God that we are the lucky ones that get paid to have a front row seat every day.

Last night, I heard middle school voices in perfect harmony-- how often does that happen? Song is the great uniter. And young men and young ladies dress in formal attire and share their gifts with loved ones and community. I breathing easier this week, unclenching my fists a bit. Taking it all in and storing up what reserves I have for the wild ride that is Spring.

Sunday I'm hosting my Cupcakes and Cocktails celebration marking four years with my Willow House (Southern Living at HOME) business. Has it been that long? I keep on keeping on. The business is changing and I think in a good way. I'm hanging in. And offering up some pretty sweet deals on my inventory, too. Hoping for a great turn-out to match the beautiful day that's predicted. So the next couple of days are cleaning, cooking, pricing, prepping. Sound like fun? :)

Speaking of, I'm having some incredible giveaways over at Show Some Decor, so make sure you pop over there to enter to win this lovely:

And because I'm going to list a good number of Gifts at the end of this post, I'll keep the What I Learned This Week list short and sweet!

Leprechauns must be stared down.
They also leave tiny glittery footprints in playground mulch, revealed only to the eyes of a child. :) Isn't imagination wonderful?
Each day ebbs the sharpness of pain a bit.
Friends, even good ones, will let you down sometimes. And it's okay.
My favorite lunch is one that's prepared for me.
I have the greatest job in the world.
My Girl walks the walk each and every day. I'm so humbled by her heart and her spirit.

My new Favorite Thing is the necklace I just won from The Rusted Chain. The greatest price points for gift-giving, fabulous customer service, and beautiful pieces. Here's what I chose:

My quote this week is so fitting, in these days of unrest and little sleep.

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." Psalm 16:7

Counting Gifts daily...

78. Bradford pear blossoms falling like snow.
79. Cool spring breezes
80. Michelle, with a Bible verse ready
81. Little People glee over a pretend leprechaun.
82. brothers sparring
83. funds to repair the car
84. Girl in pink shorts, heading out for her walk.
85. Voices of parents, loving and concerned
86. Good ole Texas drawl over the phone
87. Burgers on the grill.
88. Crunch of a dill pickle.
89. Hubby's quirky clothing choice for tennis practice.
90. Favorite old song on the radio.
91. Comfortable bed and a good book waiting.
92. Quiet car ride where words aren't needed.
93. Thoughtful husband
94. Sofa with a nest of pillows.
95. Stories of teens that achieve on the news.
96. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
97. outpouring of support for the Japanese people.
98. Painted furniture inspiration
99. A sleeping household with rain pattering outside.
100. A Little Person: "Mrs. Milton, have you had a hug yet today?"
101. Michelle, "walkin' on the wild side."
102. Little ballerinas
103. Ham sandwich with cheese.
104. Hot green tea with orange and jasmine.
105. Unexpected love of a new product.
106. Sweet reaching out from a Willow House consultant.
107. Stinky 12 year old boy.
108. Smell of dinner baking.
109. Green pudding waiting to become a St. Patrick's Day treat.
110. Dishes clattering in the sink.

...only a portion of the List compiled to date. The counting continues. Have a blessed weekend!

Counting Gifts

2011-03-14T06:25:00.002-04:00

We've been blessed with three beautiful sunshiny days in a row. It's been amazing and healing to soak it all in as we've gone about our schedule and ministered to our sweet friends.

Josh was laid to rest on Friday after a standing-room-only memorial service in which the rabbi spoke frankly and beautifully to all of the young people present on behalf of the family. We hugged, we cried, the kids wrote notes of love and memories to be compiled into a book. Visiting their home on Saturday as they sat shiv eh I was confronted by Josh's image at every turn. His mother, my friend, is a children's photographer and almost every moment of his sixteen years is frozen in time and bound by frames. It seemed all the more surreal-- expecting him to come barrelling in the house, lacrosse stick in hand, any moment.

My People's Sunday School classes discussed teen suicide. This has rocked our entire community, you see. Jewish, Protestant, Catholic-- we all are grieving. The discussion opened fresh wounds in My Boy and he has been working to regain his footing. This will be a process.

And throughout the weekend, I focused on eucharisteo -- giving thanks-- for all the little minutiae in life that go unnoticed daily. And in doing so, in keeping my hand open to receive, I feel more at peace. Thanks be to God.

There's a heaviness overlaying everything right now, that I hope will start to thin a bit in the coming days. I'm looking ahead to a busy week at school, in business, and at home, and I'm thankful for that, too.

What gifts did you count this weekend?

43. Bradford pears blooming

44. Sipping a coffee drink

45. My Boy's anger over a friend's drug use

46. Sunlight streaming through stained glass

47. Synagogue overflowing with mourners

48. A rabbi and family not afraid to speak the truth

49. Young ears-- a captive audience in their grief

50. Hug of a friend, not seen in a while

51. Three lives saved through organ donation

52. Aunt Anne

53. Her gracious ways

54. Her loving conversation

55. Sunshine on a Saturday morning

56. Steaming grouper on a bed of asparagus

57. Jet trails in a blue sky

58. Trees budding

59. Swoop of a hawk right in front of me

60. Red cardinal that comes to feed on our deck

61. Warm sunshine on my skin

62. Flag flapping in the breeze

63. Tears and hug of a mourning mother

64. Smile of a boy, frozen in time

65. Little blond brothers in a joyful moment

66. Bulldog puppy love

67. Teens comforting each other

68. Loving neighbors and friends supporting a grieving family

69. Calls of geese crossing a Sunday sky

70. Sleeping until I wake... to sunshine

71. Smell of coffee brewing

72. Dove nesting outside our window

73. Sweet old dog snoozing in the sun

74. Caring comments left on a blog post

75. Unexpected win in a giveaway

76. Three sun-kissed young faces

77. A new week ahead.

Linking up today with Multitudes on Monday/ A Holy Experience.

What I Learned This Week

2011-03-11T07:53:00.005-05:00

Where to begin? Another week of roller coaster emotions. We're burying the child of friends this afternoon. The sadness runs deep and we search for understanding and comfort-- and for the proverbial "take-away" as parents of teens.

He took his own life. Substances skewed his perspective and up-ended his reality. His parents-- his lovely parents-- sought to protect him from himself and checked him into rehab. They thought he would be safe. They thought he could heal. He came out in an ambulance, brain ceasing to function, and never opened his eyes again.

There's very little I can add today. A light-hearted post just isn't in me. But with the onset of Lent, this season of reflection, I think that's okay and I hope you do, too. Edie over at life{in}grace posted a beautiful reflection of Lent as a journey. I just happen to have begun my journey in the midst of a tragedy. It's imperative that I unplug just a bit, open my ears for My People who are confused and hurting and make certain I'm tuned in to them. What I can leave you with are the beginnings of my list of 1000 gifts. Of course, these aren't in order of importance by any stretch, but just thoughts in the random {or not} order in which they appeared.

This discipline, it turns out, is timely. Because in consciously thinking of, digging for, and listing the gifts, I've found the edges of my own sadness and fear softened. There's much joy in the weeks ahead: the onset of spring, birthday celebrations, a confirmation and time with far-flung family, the joy of Easter morning...that much I know. I'll add that to the list, too, because that is a gift that sustains.

Hold your children close. Peace and blessings to you all.

1. Blue eyes of a girl.
2. Laughter in the classroom
3. Letters from my grandmother
4. piano music
5. the right words at the right time
6. sunshiny walk on a March afternoon
7. glass of cold water
8. blogger friends with enormous hearts
9. Thursday afternoon decompress
10. Finding new sources of beauty
11. Sliver of moon on an early spring morning
12. Clean house.
13. Friday morning quiet.
14. Pink cherry blossoms against a grey March sky.
15. Ann Voskamp
16. "God is in the tremors."
17. tea time
18. freshness of green
19. gentle rain
20. pansy faces blooming renewed
21. still of early morning
22. hot shower on a chilly morning
23. a book that touches
24. butter on a bagel
25. day of rest
26. IPhone :)
27. bolts of fabric waiting
28. 3 kids home and safe
29. friendly smile of a Comcast repairman
30. Internet.
31. 3 children, alive and well.
32. 14 precious 4 year olds
33. faces around the dinner table
34. rain for parched seed
35. cheerful friend in Jenny
36. words of comfort for MK
37. Glynda's understanding
38. husband's love
39. Psalm 51
40. a friend renewed
41. high school musicals
42. teacher-moms juggling it all with a smile.

...to be continued.

Remember That You Are Dust

2011-03-09T14:17:00.000-05:00

"...remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19

Ash Wednesday, the first day of our Lenten journey toward Easter, began gray and stormy, my heart so heavy. Can you imagine...

Fifteen year old boy, skilled lacrosse player, brother to a twin and one more, son to loving involved parents, friend to My Own since kindergarten and many more, teammate to even more. The goodbyes are being said today as I type this. The darkness was so heavy for him he looked for a way out, not knowing that the tremors you feel at fifteen are God passing by. A community, my friends, my Own, and I grieve.

How do you explain? How do you minister? We're ever-vigilant, even more so now as teenage hearts break, crushed with anger, betrayal, and the void of understanding. As parents, our own void stretches before us, grasping for answers, wrestling with faith, searching for words. On this day of prayer, of reminders of our own mortality, I know He's here. But still the heartbreak and helplessness, trying not to turn inward in our fear, but outward with eyes and hearts wide open.

Weeks ago I made the decision. My Lenten Discipline is to record 1000 Gifts by Easter. Did He know? Did He know how badly on this first day of Lent I would need this discipline? That in the hard moments-- the hard eucharisteo-- comfort would come from this.

"Eucharisteo [giving thanks] precedes the miracle." ~ Ann Voskamp

Peace be with you. Peace be with My Friends and All of Us. Josh is safe now in His arms.

It's Personal {Just My Two Cents}

2011-03-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

I read an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week about taking cursive writing out of the curriculum in the schools. One parent of a fourth grader observed that she would rather her child be proficient at keyboarding [typing] than writing cursive.

The Old Soul in me cried, "No! Not that, too!"

As it is now, no standards exist in the K-12 curriculum for mastering penmanship. It's left up to the individual districts to decide whether to teach cursive in the classroom. Most districts here in Georgia have opted 'yes' to date, but discourage teachers from spending more than 15 minutes a day on handwriting. My boys have terrible handwriting. It's painful for them to handwrite anything [hence the handwritten essay on respect that I had Alec write a couple of weeks ago]. They would rather type than write. I get it. It's easier.

Technology has changed things.

One of arguments for keeping cursive in the curriculum is that children need to be able to read documents that are handwritten, as in historical documents. Another argument is that cursive is actually easier for some students than printing. Interesting. Even my own handwriting blurs the line between traditional cursive and printing. No one addressed the fine motor benefit of learning cursive. Is there one? I'm inclined to think so, though I'm not qualified to say. But I cling to a less concrete argument for teaching children cursive writing--a highly subjective one.

The handwritten note is largely a thing of the past. Handwritten anything, for that matter. I still make my children write handwritten thank you notes. A text or email is not acceptable...yes, it's the thought that counts, but nothing says personal like a handwritten note. Pen in hand, fingers forming words that flow from one's mind and heart... isn't that a form of art? Doesn't one's handwriting say something about a person? Aren't there handwriting analysts that identify personality traits and one's unique imprint by studying handwriting? Our handwriting is personal... an extension of us. No one person's exactly like another person's. Like a fingerprint.

Saturday, I came across of stack of my grandmother's letters to me from a period covering about the last nine years of her life. She's been gone a little over two years now. What would have been her 104th birthday passed a couple of weeks ago. And as I read through her letters, it was as if she were speaking to me.

She had beautiful penmanship. Her letters are art to me, her fountain pen ink looping gracefully across the pages. Anecdotes from long ago she was remembering, the weather that week, what she was reading, how much she enjoyed seeing the children. Holding those sheets of letter paper that she once held, that she had painted with her thoughts, memories, and wishes, was holding a work of art.

Will our children and our children's children and our children's grandchildren ever experience that? Holding a loved one's artfully composed handwritten epistle in their hands? Feeling them present through their hand-crafted communique? Or will they be looking lovingly at a saved email or text on a screen...no trace of the author's fingerprint in sight?

The Old Soul in me journals by hand, too, not just in cyberspace. Lists, notes, calendars, and yes, handwritten letters will be my legacy. My penmanship is not the art that is my grandmother's, but it will provide that connection. You see, it's personal.