Slow Motion

Some days are played out in slow motion. Today was like that for me.
It started early, with my niece, almost two, coming over while my sister ran into the office for the day. She was still sleepy eyed at 7am and I couldn't resist, instead of heading back to bed and falling back to sleep with her next to me, I sat on the couch and just looked at her for two hours.
I smelled her sweet breath.
I kissed her fluttering eyelashes.
I brushed back her unruly curls.
I cried all over her, and tried to keep my sobs quiet as not to wake her.
But I couldn't help it.
In just 15 days I won't be able to just run across my backyard, and grab her for some shuggars.
So, today, I just drank her in. I let my kids sleep in so that I could selfishly have her all to myself.

She got everything she wanted today.

So did I.

The Countdown

In fifteen days life, as I have come to know it, will forever change. My sister and best friend will pack up and move. KC, Justin and my niece Kannon who currently live a mere 15 second liesurly walk from my back door to theirs, will be gone. Fifteen days from now, the house will be empty and she and the family will be 90 miles away, instead of 90 feet.

Words can really not explain what this will do to me and my family. Really, I have no idea how we ever lived apart, now that we have been so close the last year.

Need a sitter? no problem.

A cup of sugar? Got it.

A roll of toilet paper? Here is two, just in case.

Inspiration for dinner that neeeds to be done in thiry minutes? Th

at is covered too, no charge.

A good cry? Just a walk away.

Shoes to make the outfit unbelieveable? Take those, and these earrings too.

Need to vent about a husband that just doesn;t get it? Go right ahead, I've been there.

Got a freaky personal question that you really don't want to have to ask a doctor about? We've gone there too, twice... and have laughed about it all the way.

Need to share really great news....or even horrible news? Either one is suitable at any time.

Need to have a mental break from homeschooling? She is all ears.

Need a snack cause nothing in your house sounds good? Raiding in always allowed.

Need someone to cheer you through the tough days of breastfeeding and potty training? Done.

Need someone to hold your hand through a lost pregnancy? Check.

Need to spend four hours in a salon getting your hair done? You've got girlfriend to go with you.

What I need to say

'Say' Music Video from Matthew Singleton on Vimeo.

One of my favorite daily reads is Pastor Pete at Crosspoint in Nashville This video came from his site and, well, you just need to watch it.

What do you need to say????

Random thoughts ....

Just checking in with everyone...we have been so busy with the surprise guests that I have not had time to blog. Here are just a few random thoughts..............

• Can you believe the election is only three weeks away? After two and a half years of campaigning, I am ready to VOTE!!!
• Did you catch the Cowboy/Cardinals game yesterday???? That was CRAZY!!!
• My sisters and I all gave pedicures to each other yesterday...well, not really, since we do not let Lucky do any painting...she is really bad at it.
• We are making Chicken and Dumplings tonight....just in case you were wondering
• Bridget, you need to check your email and get back to me ASAP.
• The Beez is going to be Lola for halloween. (fyi, Lola is Hannah Montana's BFF)
• I AM NOT DRESSING UP THIS YEAR....PERIOD
• Watched the movies Leatherheads this weekend...good movie....gotta love George Clooney
• Christmas Shopping....Our boys have outgrown "toys". This year it is all about electronics...as in IPODs....one word EXPENSIVE

That's all, just wanted to ramble a bit.

Hope everyone is well, we can catch up later this week.

One Thing...

One thing I want to......

.....do in the next year - Travel up the East Coast to visit family in New York

....to accomplish this week - spend time with our SURPRISE guests

.....do with my kids - go on a mission trip

.....do with my husband - travel to the Hawaiin Islands

....accomplish in the next 5 years - be debt free

One dream job I would like....I've already got it...Wife and Mother...but someday I would love to get my Doctorate and teach at the college level

One gift I would buy if money was no object....a muscle car for my husband

One thing I would change about my childhood...I would have been easier on my parents

One thing I would change about my adulthood...nothing yet

What about you????

The Great Surprise

So, it has been a tough week. We have been hitting the books pretty hard in school and trying to retain information for more than just a fleeting moment, which for mine can be a challenge at times. To add to that, The Beez started running mystery fever Tuesday night and all day Wednesday, which meant that her and I stayed home from church. I thought I would just enjoy my time with her, since although she has had a fever, her only other symptom was wanting to be attached to me permanently the last 48 hours. So, after the kitchen was cleaned up from dinner, we laid on the couch and watched Jon & Kate Plus 8...a favorite of us both. The husband called a few times to check in on us, and then after church took the boys to Sonic for ice cream. I told him Beez was in our bed watching tv and I was about to jump in the shower. He reminded he still had to get milk but that he would be home shortly.
So, there I am in the shower, washing my hair, and honestly in pretty deep thought, when the shower curtain is pulled back...and SURPRISE...my sister from California...is standing in my bathroom....with a VIDEO CAMERA!!!! Yeah, you read it right....me in the shower, her with a video camera....it was pretty HILARIOUS...But how surprised and happy can you be when your little sister is here for a surprise visit...but you are kind of shocked about the whole naked in the shower with a video camera?????
To be honest...it was PG-13 at most...but come on...I was trying to be happy shocked surprised...but I just stood there wrapped in the curtain, hair full of lathered shampoo, saying, "Okay...really...OMGosh...Kelly....How did????....Hey did you know????...turn the camera off....really....Okay....Kelly...the camera"
So the moral of this surprise story is this...Surprises are great...come visit us anytime....I love surprises....and my husband knew about it, helped plan it, and kept it a TOTAL secret...but come on...in the shower...give the girl some heads up...you can only be so happily surprised while naked in the shower.

Homeschool Haiku

This morning we were learning about Haiku Poetry...which if you don't already know is simple poetry that is bound by only one rule...it must have 17 syllables divided into three lines, 5-7-5 respectively.

Here was mine:

Bright sun beams aglow
Shining through my broken heart
Chasing grief away.


I was totally laughing that my poem had such a solemn and sad feeling about it...but when you have to fit the syllables in, you just have to go with the flow. It is ironic that this post follows the one about my hubby falling asleep on the couch prior to our date...but rest assured, we made it, dinner was wonderful, as was grocery shopping!!!!