tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61955014715907163782024-02-19T13:52:24.498-08:00living the best life with the martinsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-48795944061871894752011-01-07T08:10:00.000-08:002011-01-07T10:26:12.363-08:00Drowning Your Sorrows<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Summers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ago</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">kids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">headed</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">found</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">place</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">virtually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">deserted</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Towels</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">strewn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">about</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">chairs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">place</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">meals</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">half</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">eaten</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">toys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">everywhere</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">must</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">gone</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">bathroom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">pool</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">concluded</span> , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">looked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">the</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Adult</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">open</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">business</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">parked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">in</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">planning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">meeting</span> David for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">poolside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">dinner</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">later</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">signed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">in</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">ordered</span> a Pina Colada, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">kids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">jumped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">right</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">in</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">thinking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">cool</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">Big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">People</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">side</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">Everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">looked</span> normal, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">felt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">wrong</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">After</span> some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">small</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">talk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">hour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">swimming</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">found</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">why</span>. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">girl</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">drowned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">family</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">earlier</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">day</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">Why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">long</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">someone</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">tell</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">part</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">country</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">club</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">open</span>? As <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">story</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">unfolded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">later</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">week</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">learned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">pool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">crowded</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">three</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">guards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">duty</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">parents</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">everywhere</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">yet</span> no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">noticed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">until</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">was</span> too late. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">drown</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">someone</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">feet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">away</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">How</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">could</span> no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">noticed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">girl</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">struggling</span>?<div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">Summer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">later</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">when</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">read</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">article</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">silence</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">drowning</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">It</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">desperate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">thrashing</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">arms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">waiving</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">crying</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">help</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">movies</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">act</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">drowning</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">quiet</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">body</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">goes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">survival</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">mode</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">instincts</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">kick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">in</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">arms</span> move <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">close</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">body</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">feet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">tread</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">water</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">air</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">yelling</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">conserved</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">breathing</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">People</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">drown</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">every</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">anyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">knowing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">something</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">wrong</span>. </div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">After</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">tragedy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">pool</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">parents</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">kept</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">closer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">eyes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">children</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">read</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">book</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">talked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">phone</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">depth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">conversations</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">poolside</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">see</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">child</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">trouble</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">again</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">summer</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">like</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">read</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">panic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">eyes</span>, no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">obvious</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">signs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">struggle</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">held</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">hand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">pulled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">her</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">safety</span>.</div><div>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">wish</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">same</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">sister</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">law</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">drowning</span> too, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">but</span> no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">save</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">her</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">think</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">often</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">different</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">Why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">couldn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">taken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">hands</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">held</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">out</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">her</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">wanted</span> to stop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">sinking</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">panic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">eyes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">was</span> too late. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">weight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">alcoholism</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">hopelessness</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">was</span> more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">help</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">bear</span>. </div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">Rebecca</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">Lynn</span> Martin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">lost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">struggle</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">days</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">Christmas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">year</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">In</span> some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">ways</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">loved</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">lost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">struggle</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">well</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">trying</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">her</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">swim</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">shore</span>. Some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">threw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">ring</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">knowing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">safest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">way</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">save</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">trouble</span> is to stand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">solid</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">ground</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">hope</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">grab</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">on</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">Others</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">dove</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">selflessly</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">holding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">up</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">until</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">own</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">strength</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">exhausted</span>. </div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">days</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">of</span> 2011, I'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">ve</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">spent</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">thinking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">Becci</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">glory</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">days</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">girl</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">jealous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">of</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">naturally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">thin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">legs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">striking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">green</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">eyes</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">And</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">loved</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">clothes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">dressed</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">the</span> nines. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">deep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">voice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">carried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">through</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">like</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">microphone</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">tease</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">Aidan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">Aunt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">Becci</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">uncanny</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">loudness</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">Becci</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">hands</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">rare</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">perfect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">manicure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">long</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">graceful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">fingers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">When</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">Camryn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">born</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">things</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">noticed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">elegant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">fingers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">Aunt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">Becci</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">hands</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">Everyday</span> I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">reminded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">children</span>.</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">Why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">Becci</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">couldn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">grab</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">on</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">us</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">we</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">ll</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">know</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">trying</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">reach</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">throwing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">ring</span>. </div><div> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">drowning</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">quiet</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">been</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">witness</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">stunned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">onlooker</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">can</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">help</span>.</div><div>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">now</span> realize <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">sometimes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">drowning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">completely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">silent</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">sorrow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">pulling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">down</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">until</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">there</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">ripples</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">surface</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">show</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">ever</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">all</span>. </div><div> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">Becci</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">lived</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">weight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">alcoholism</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">threatening</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">drag</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">everyday</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">That</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">weight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">lifted</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">May</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">spirit</span> soar to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">heavens</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">May</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">hand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">God</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">lead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">safely</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">shore</span>.</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-82338971735350438382010-01-15T13:43:00.001-08:002010-01-25T17:12:15.672-08:00Approaching 43...Learning to yield and come to a complete stop.This might sound like a lesson in "How not to get a ticket in Grove Hill", famous for its' friendly neighborhood sting operation, but it's actually the way I'm going to change my way in 2010.<br /><br />For once it's not about all the things I'm going to do , like get in shape , eat healthier, keep the house clean, read more, spend less, hug my children, yada, yada, yada. Let's face it, if by 43 it aint happenin', it aint happenin' for a reason.<br /><br />That reason is me.... the "me" that got me this far, and the "me" that's gotta go , to get me goin' farther. (Try to say that six times fast).<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I've gotten to this point because so many of those old resolutions have been resoluted, resolved, whatever the word may be. I'm in pretty good shape, I eat as healthy as I'm willing to pay for, my house will never be clean, I don't have any money, neither of my kids want to be hugged anymore...and now I need a challenge... Now I'm going to the inside. <br /><br />While so many people are working to get what they want on the outside, myself included, recently I've come to my BIG AHA moment....no amount of possessions, surgeries, procedures or shopping trips are going to make me happier. I need to work a little deeper.<br /><br />So first off, I'm going to try to learn to yield (and no, not to traffic) to people. For those of you that know me, you know I like to be in control. Some people call it "leadership", but when you have a hard time watching your husband clean the kitchen, because he's not doing it "your way", it's called "control freak" . There are times I'd rather do everything myself, for fear it won't be done "my way". I've already started letting David cook on the weekends, and it's true that even a sandwich tastes better if someone else makes it. I'm relinquishing control and letting the counters go un-wiped, the toys unsorted, and the trips go unplanned. I'm "control freaking -out"just typing it. <br /><br />The second thing I'm yielding to is this aging body. I'm not going to lie and say I've never contemplated having some work done, but I realize now, it was more a reaction to all the work being done around me. Nowadays, there's competition over who's "fake" looks the most real, how some one's "real" has to be fake, and who has the best doctor. Well that little surgery tossing around in the back of my head for a couple of years is tossed out. I'm yielding to my natural body and all that it can do to change itself. If my double chin is competing with my double A's to see which can reach my belly button first, I'm yielding to gravity. If over the counter creams can't tame my laugh lines, I'm going to smile more so you can't see them. I'm going to yield to aging gracefully and feeling good and strong on the inside. <br /><br /><br />Lastly, and the hardest for me, is I'm going to come to a complete stop . In almost 12 years of marriage, we have lived in six different houses. We seem to barely get our feet on the ground, before we face another transfer, I am always looking toward our next move. The moving truck has barely pulled away and I hear myself starting sentences with "In our next house...." I've decided to stop treating my life like I'm at a "Rest Stop", on my way to our final destination. This is where I am, and I'm going to stop and enjoy. It seems a little late for this, but we've lived here longer than anywhere. I wish I would have planted my feet firmly from the beginning and not held people at bay with "We won't be here long". How do I know?<br /><br />Well I do know this, I'm here now, and the "here and now" is where I'm living. I'm moving over, letting people in, and aging gratefully. Goodbye Ms. Stubborn, hello Ms. "Be prepared to merge". Let the construction begin.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-27827584739163432862010-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:002010-01-10T15:48:19.903-08:00Images of the Heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj7hbyVKP2LNS07ox5b4Jb2S4nkc2w_cYa517oOsBvKyk-deCUaLryYIzoPJNrxlTx6h_dRxd9yPHLY2qAWFcp2gPeWCk8oqaW-vO862XM3Le-2eK7AQ1ynun2VGQ0L0WMQMJ8Rj5v-Ma/s1600-h/IMG_0967.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425261899762808690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj7hbyVKP2LNS07ox5b4Jb2S4nkc2w_cYa517oOsBvKyk-deCUaLryYIzoPJNrxlTx6h_dRxd9yPHLY2qAWFcp2gPeWCk8oqaW-vO862XM3Le-2eK7AQ1ynun2VGQ0L0WMQMJ8Rj5v-Ma/s400/IMG_0967.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6dYv1udzbrQGam3LGFxyZWbQziJ97lFlZ2S5pDDRJd9upGu8JCSQIZG8HxhnOeB4Kn0YhDVBJVypRUWw2L0FpYGx-gF34HS12bEsCrfAbkDNeMaORVvBHcBLd_CoVsnmLNw6aqdIIYM1/s1600-h/IMG_0893.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425231106101903906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6dYv1udzbrQGam3LGFxyZWbQziJ97lFlZ2S5pDDRJd9upGu8JCSQIZG8HxhnOeB4Kn0YhDVBJVypRUWw2L0FpYGx-gF34HS12bEsCrfAbkDNeMaORVvBHcBLd_CoVsnmLNw6aqdIIYM1/s400/IMG_0893.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Whew, this post has been a long time coming, and quite honestly, so has this wedding. It seems as if Grace and Ethan have already experienced a lifetime together, both growing up in Memphis, attending the same church, sharing the same friends and both graduating from Auburn. They share a deep history, a strong faith, and many, many, many people who love them.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The wedding was last weekend and since getting home, I've been working hard at downloading, cropping, and reviewing pictures, trying hard to decide which ones captured the beauty of the celebration. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There are none.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The images that stand out in my mind weren't captured in my camera. They were captured in my heart. Here they are in "a thousand words".</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grace's flower girls meeting for the first time and raising their little hands up to touch, palm to palm. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grace and her Dad walking down the aisle at rehearsal, her dearest friends, family, and Ethan soaking up her unadorned beauty. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Camryn seeing Grace in her wedding dress for the first time, mesmerized by the real princess.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In the keeping room, before the ceremony, Grace on a stool, her gown flowing around her, her bridal party surrounding her in prayer. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grace's Mom, holding her hand, and thanking God for her Grace. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grace's friend Effie, singing during the worship service. It was truly the most beautiful, spiritual, uplifting performance I have ever heard.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>These images have come back to me so many times in the last week and the love we experienced in those few days will remain with David and I.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Some beautiful things can't be captured with a lens. Those are the times we need to put our cameras down and just revel in the moment. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm not surprised I didn't have the picture to do this wedding justice.</div><br /><div>As far I know, they don't have the technology to catch the beauty within our hearts. </div><br /><div>I don't think I have the words either.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-12623810454739429862009-12-20T10:32:00.000-08:002009-12-20T11:37:08.279-08:00A Little GiftSometimes gifts come in packages you can't see, can't put your hands on, and are so small you wonder if it's really a gift at all. David and I got one of these gifts on Saturday. It was a returned Christmas card, the only one we got back this year.<br /><br />As much as I love sending Christmas cards, receiving them is even better. The kids and I watch for the mailman, fight over who's to open each envelope, and then hang them on our card trees. David even goes to the trees first thing when he gets home to see who we heard from that day. <br /><br />Saturday night, we met up at our favorite pizza place and were talking about the day and of course, I wanted to know if we got any cards. That's when David told me that we got one returned from his high school friend Donny. I wasn't surprised since we hadn't been able to get a hold of them when we were in Michigan, but I wanted to send the card anyway. <br /><br />For a brief minute or two, we talked about the Lintons and both silently wondered where they had ended up since we last talked. Minutes later, amongst the chaos of the kids, David's phone rang. It was another old high school friend who delivered the news that Donny had been killed in a car accident that morning. It was unbelievable. We were literally talking about him moments before. <br /><br />As much as I wish that card would have made it there, the "return to sender" gave us those few thoughts of our friend, alive, and enjoying the holiday with his family somewhere. We'll never have those thoughts again.<br /><br />When we got home that night, I could hardly face that red envelope on the desk. It was a reminder of being too late to get in touch with someone that was important. Then I realized that if it had made it there, it just would have been one of one hundred cards I sent, its' recipient crossed off the list.<br /><br />So in honor of David's friend Donny Linton, gone at age 40..... get in touch with those friends that you keep meaning to call , send a card to someone you haven't heard from in a while, and appreciate life's littlest gifts.<br /><br />Rest in heavenly peace Friend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-34800233951763413182009-12-18T15:49:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:26:38.305-08:00A Very Happy Soul...Frosty that is.<u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u><br /><u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u><br /><u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u><br /><u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u><br /><u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Camryn</span> entertained us at her very first recital in a jazzy little number to "Frosty the Snowman". There are eight three year <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">olds</span> in her class and each one loved every minute of being on stage. I'm amazed at their lack of stage fright and pure joy in performing. This is considered a "demonstration" at her dance school and preps the girls for their big ballet in May, <em>Cinderella</em>. I just can't wait.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgN_o1WUSwLMo100VhPXtFvIKe0kNPO6quEILuzzhHPraL3KEabG5goVLwpIJOf8TDknneDy2gPwclJEEdDufdM1FLiK6Tc6NVkd9iD57wIbR6AP5WmEQ-YxxJpricOChKAxdWhuTqRd/s1600-h/IMG_0500.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416733025805390178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgN_o1WUSwLMo100VhPXtFvIKe0kNPO6quEILuzzhHPraL3KEabG5goVLwpIJOf8TDknneDy2gPwclJEEdDufdM1FLiK6Tc6NVkd9iD57wIbR6AP5WmEQ-YxxJpricOChKAxdWhuTqRd/s400/IMG_0500.JPG" /></a> Waiting back stage for their"costumes".<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjF3Qojd5RSy4d78p8VMG7upogYFJo-nqdqOW-0vyOKcAFQmSr8Ij4wiGtJKIRMG-6BoOAmRijOX0fLTTeAvMTffz-w0sTgqnXKb4haaPVFcqhPca_2XIg9xBQTXBoFbgnoJQLiAl-RCZ/s1600-h/IMG_0506.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416733018591869426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjF3Qojd5RSy4d78p8VMG7upogYFJo-nqdqOW-0vyOKcAFQmSr8Ij4wiGtJKIRMG-6BoOAmRijOX0fLTTeAvMTffz-w0sTgqnXKb4haaPVFcqhPca_2XIg9xBQTXBoFbgnoJQLiAl-RCZ/s400/IMG_0506.JPG" /></a> Concentrating so hard to stay on that star and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">plie</span> at the same time.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JcG3jl_JRKCAlmSPJhOStc-eembR-OZ8p9v9-9mAKbieqaotzDFYLUmAPkOLpzLSnchgoFFsv5hLBZPzOTvlzP3Kteg6hsMwqb0Fhi9sWzGlHO2z6YrvLCvvcaNxo7Cl2oHSSXfnD7zk/s1600-h/IMG_0507.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416733010055567426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JcG3jl_JRKCAlmSPJhOStc-eembR-OZ8p9v9-9mAKbieqaotzDFYLUmAPkOLpzLSnchgoFFsv5hLBZPzOTvlzP3Kteg6hsMwqb0Fhi9sWzGlHO2z6YrvLCvvcaNxo7Cl2oHSSXfnD7zk/s400/IMG_0507.JPG" /></a><br /> "A jolly happy soul..."<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkw1YyT7GbkkFj1dSHzVB9mHNqczbq5zE3SF25ETkzZZyMmZC2ne8lBnR4aikJneQcYiMzd45OtYmJIWnStVBvM9LrVhmVXSUEgaJ3jA_OxYB5JaqQj2tShAg0Zf1hyphenhyphenZVU4tAmw1D1SiE/s1600-h/IMG_0514.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416732522724996882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkw1YyT7GbkkFj1dSHzVB9mHNqczbq5zE3SF25ETkzZZyMmZC2ne8lBnR4aikJneQcYiMzd45OtYmJIWnStVBvM9LrVhmVXSUEgaJ3jA_OxYB5JaqQj2tShAg0Zf1hyphenhyphenZVU4tAmw1D1SiE/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" /></a> " He came to life one day....."<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c7Bn8WuQRy_v6Tm4ksmEDA5CwrdWAuBHzcinngpCPzdwXr2AMTp0LP4ns8xpbe4mk-NY_cqv87IQV68D9d3f7tPYA4_CaN8nLBot4U9690L7Sdee9fmPUE5R-dqUcmcjKZBPsGrXXlrZ/s1600-h/IMG_0515.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416732515725331074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c7Bn8WuQRy_v6Tm4ksmEDA5CwrdWAuBHzcinngpCPzdwXr2AMTp0LP4ns8xpbe4mk-NY_cqv87IQV68D9d3f7tPYA4_CaN8nLBot4U9690L7Sdee9fmPUE5R-dqUcmcjKZBPsGrXXlrZ/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" /></a><br /> (look at that form)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzC6FIvrNuzzbWKg4HxEN60YH84BzvG-6AINSw0-3PDhyKd_Qo6sbABOkZ0iQlP-ZmhGhofbvAb6GOWhlnnZbxQr6xg5hZZ9dgwY-2iK6Hwv16xN_2UDUJ4jc6x5cZ89t7lnvre4y9AJ4/s1600-h/IMG_0525.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416732507166198962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzC6FIvrNuzzbWKg4HxEN60YH84BzvG-6AINSw0-3PDhyKd_Qo6sbABOkZ0iQlP-ZmhGhofbvAb6GOWhlnnZbxQr6xg5hZZ9dgwY-2iK6Hwv16xN_2UDUJ4jc6x5cZ89t7lnvre4y9AJ4/s400/IMG_0525.JPG" /></a><br /> "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Thumpity</span>, thump, thump...."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07w4bST4_auQ5HDeDZ5yIU25FB1buBUbTTrUG-RL5G1691qCv5TcCCsplu-jkgQg-lN9XM9bf2p772xzKFT-5yVOR-5_8hDckOj4Ms6_t6byOHoIbHfKbZWe5E2SWc0ytWvDAQU2lkGJK/s1600-h/IMG_0528.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416731230602764290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07w4bST4_auQ5HDeDZ5yIU25FB1buBUbTTrUG-RL5G1691qCv5TcCCsplu-jkgQg-lN9XM9bf2p772xzKFT-5yVOR-5_8hDckOj4Ms6_t6byOHoIbHfKbZWe5E2SWc0ytWvDAQU2lkGJK/s400/IMG_0528.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /> "Over the fields of snow..."<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDkpM_kd8WMpMoDC1uGLS-4RsuToM9hc-IdI408QMopkN1BeY2n639D5KiC-qa1Z7HWTUslB5cLWVfN5DYepPwoiYMQQYfw7W6UQWyk9bB7LUMgbOAWY48VwWsBDNwz64zLqnzIt7B8os/s1600-h/IMG_0532.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416731218585231074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDkpM_kd8WMpMoDC1uGLS-4RsuToM9hc-IdI408QMopkN1BeY2n639D5KiC-qa1Z7HWTUslB5cLWVfN5DYepPwoiYMQQYfw7W6UQWyk9bB7LUMgbOAWY48VwWsBDNwz64zLqnzIt7B8os/s400/IMG_0532.JPG" /></a><br /><br /> I think we're done now.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN-8rqsV52VVtpG0T_vklpRqlfNvLQldWBUYMZksQ53z1hZQe0HEqlWQCN2RUFF9duytRAifqk0BpPP5iPGNZ1Mha0mJzSqhiFowyLNDdLkS2ELJlDuNFiW-Z5x8UVk3XYcR8pRXkgcW2/s1600-h/IMG_0533.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416731214768351122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN-8rqsV52VVtpG0T_vklpRqlfNvLQldWBUYMZksQ53z1hZQe0HEqlWQCN2RUFF9duytRAifqk0BpPP5iPGNZ1Mha0mJzSqhiFowyLNDdLkS2ELJlDuNFiW-Z5x8UVk3XYcR8pRXkgcW2/s400/IMG_0533.JPG" /></a><br /> Yep, we're done.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xLoGPEw2V0fRzAN_Ji0ujR7BhykqfGiXqxLcaGEmMxuSF9Y56YL4nXxgDFr09wnucWVW-BQKwDis2cmaKScBrbYPOg6qr5naFNJ9unRQxo9fW-F-wepFPcX6UIthf76laiRp4FPtW3lA/s1600-h/IMG_0537.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416730577472816818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xLoGPEw2V0fRzAN_Ji0ujR7BhykqfGiXqxLcaGEmMxuSF9Y56YL4nXxgDFr09wnucWVW-BQKwDis2cmaKScBrbYPOg6qr5naFNJ9unRQxo9fW-F-wepFPcX6UIthf76laiRp4FPtW3lA/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Aidan being a supportive brother.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1kINXrzLPorLgZ5MFfhVVJBFBBJswxNEiEEc7j9Q21ltaYpn7NWh1qqomCokxNx10I5nH2DscTomAJJ3M7Xw42RLO454fxpnjWn4YGpSsm21Wi88ab7M0xOpg9o1F-HrDWSuXfdhzbym/s1600-h/IMG_0539.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416730571027631042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1kINXrzLPorLgZ5MFfhVVJBFBBJswxNEiEEc7j9Q21ltaYpn7NWh1qqomCokxNx10I5nH2DscTomAJJ3M7Xw42RLO454fxpnjWn4YGpSsm21Wi88ab7M0xOpg9o1F-HrDWSuXfdhzbym/s400/IMG_0539.JPG" /></a><br /> Here she is.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXR2-oR9wWdgLXNosgExWi-zf0rEHGDy_mawGQ7DwlToIKmmZE_UUUSMVCbklFKsXdGKm84zrDEYeINKD-FjC1zNJc2w4q-gaQawrttpC_lRyN6Tr-VqpA2cmASI_eOnFutm1xbl8TkYln/s1600-h/IMG_0540.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416730563157827458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXR2-oR9wWdgLXNosgExWi-zf0rEHGDy_mawGQ7DwlToIKmmZE_UUUSMVCbklFKsXdGKm84zrDEYeINKD-FjC1zNJc2w4q-gaQawrttpC_lRyN6Tr-VqpA2cmASI_eOnFutm1xbl8TkYln/s400/IMG_0540.JPG" /></a><br /><br /> The star of the show (ours anyway).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-42335146214869346702009-11-19T10:28:00.000-08:002009-11-19T11:11:31.643-08:00Just say "Yes"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp0PYgyIPfY7YWbrPalT4DTBFTuhid4sOGjMGmO_7Mv5QPbnjF7W83rIYf0UMW1Jb13_cIZCIkQthJqIM_ITpo6IXCY3-XGUOWlrfpIcXUIN0J7WJ3TFMwXpu_QykyjWi8HRvOQGnPXmm/s1600/Halloween+036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405894375663746370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp0PYgyIPfY7YWbrPalT4DTBFTuhid4sOGjMGmO_7Mv5QPbnjF7W83rIYf0UMW1Jb13_cIZCIkQthJqIM_ITpo6IXCY3-XGUOWlrfpIcXUIN0J7WJ3TFMwXpu_QykyjWi8HRvOQGnPXmm/s400/Halloween+036.JPG" /></a><br /><div>"Mommy, they're the same shade as you" said Camryn. We were sitting on the kitchen floor, sink full of dishes, pile of dirt next to the broom, laundry piled on the counter. I had used every form of "no" you imagine that morning (without actually saying N-O). "In a minute", "Just let me finish this", "I've got to get this done", "Mommies has too much to do right now", "I need to fold this before it wrinkles". </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And here she comes again with the nail polish. I love that about kids. They don't give up.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"Mommy will you paint my toes?" Elbow deep in dish water, I just didn't have the energy to explain why I couldn't, so I just said "YES, I'd love to paint your toes!". </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I don't know why, but I've said "Yes" to every little request since. Sometimes it was something so quick, like snapping Barbie's dress, or pushing play on her princess CD. Other times, it took a couple of minutes...holding her hand through the scary part of Snow White, making her a glass of chocolate milk, drawing a self portrait in crayon.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What's crazy is, I think I spent more time telling my three year old why I couldn't, than I did "doing". I still managed to get tons done and I felt happier.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We all need to put our kids at the top of the "to-do" list. Sit down and share their after school snack, color with them, watch their favorite show, let them help cook dinner. These are the things they'll remember. They won't remember a clean house, they won't know their clothes aren't wrinkled, and they won't care if your pedicure is perfect.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When Camryn's nails were done, they were the same shade as me. But really, I was the same shade as her. Why does it take a toddler to bring us back to our true color? How did I get so caught up in thinking "perfect things" were more important than "perfect moments"?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So my new motto is "If you want to see me, stop over anytime. If you want to see my house, give me a couple days notice". In the meantime, I'll be hugging my kids and saying "yes, there's nothing I'd like to do more".</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-86984574880193621902009-11-17T11:36:00.000-08:002009-11-17T12:17:50.278-08:00One Thing Leads to AnotherSometimes life is just a chain of events that that gets longer and longer until it wraps around your ankles and you end up face first on the ground. Welcome to my excuse.<br /><br />This is how I found my way back here after all this time.<br /><br />Thanksgiving is fast approaching and my Dad is coming from Michigan to spend it with us. I need to have my house decorated for the holidays by "Black Friday". Our attic storage is off of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">the</span> guest room where my Dad will set up shop on Friday, so this weekend I decided to get out the boxes of stuff to deck the halls and get it all out before my Dad comes. How would I get it done otherwise? Last year all things came together nicely. My creative juices were flowing. This year I felt stuck in the mud and overwhelmed by all the garlands, lights and baubles. I decided to use a cheat sheet and look at pictures from last year and just copy, at least for now. That would be easy because surely I showed off my hard work on blog last Christmas. I logged onto my blog, blew away the cobwebs and intended to skip right to December 2008, make some notes, and run downstairs to re-create.<br /><br />Then the music started. Man, I love my music. I spent as much time searching for songs as I did on my writing. Every song has a meaning , a memory, an effect on me. I was suddenly in no hurry to go anywhere. I started scrolling and instead of scrolling, I stopped.... and read. An hour later (and a few tissues), I realized something. <br /><br />I had made a conscious decision to stop blogging when I did. It didn't seem like my family in Michigan was really logging on very much, I wasn't so enthused to keep it "real" anymore, and..... it took time.<br /><br />Yesterday, I knew that every minute I spent was worth it. Reading back through, it was so clear that I wrote every sentence for me .... from my heart. Every quote by Aidan, every silly thing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Camryn</span> did, every commentary on current events, brought me right back there. The weeks I didn't blog still were lived, but I can't get them back in the same high definition. I couldn't get logged in quick enough to capture as much of my life as possible.<br /><br />So maybe I will be the only one who ever bothers to read what I have to say. There might not be so many picture stories either. It was the words that held me, like secret little notes passed between friends.<br /><br />So that brings me to this. I never found any pictures of my decor from last year, but my search lead me back to my blog ( which will definitely have a post titled "Holiday Decor 2009). Happy reading...to me, from me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-66795902446403366642009-09-09T13:58:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:30:49.271-07:00Random Acts of August<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAvep_YxzIG142SO2TyqtpioiZL5TTh9Wjwt_CJA2LosZssqnSdSzSX5YlIWCPNuZVbHwQN1fOvjSfSufXssEAIIWX1y8axv3EPpIEPWBWFApoSKYJiUXek0aRKFo-E-MRDAdTpAhfn9T/s1600-h/Fun+Run+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379578935558860050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAvep_YxzIG142SO2TyqtpioiZL5TTh9Wjwt_CJA2LosZssqnSdSzSX5YlIWCPNuZVbHwQN1fOvjSfSufXssEAIIWX1y8axv3EPpIEPWBWFApoSKYJiUXek0aRKFo-E-MRDAdTpAhfn9T/s400/Fun+Run+013.JPG" /></a> Boosterthon Fun Run...Thanks to all who pledged!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqqJXPs8ngFni47ntHRSb_LreOSV1OBcm9OH5gcNSVf2990YjFvzBVdSlWK9shcIm3nAnvZGpHxbQLN53rrozbAcMqoAipJQ906TuT2temh6Oplf4U2CzZAEbFV3Yyyy2Bh3B-nI4E1T3/s1600-h/Fun+Run+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379578927792268258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqqJXPs8ngFni47ntHRSb_LreOSV1OBcm9OH5gcNSVf2990YjFvzBVdSlWK9shcIm3nAnvZGpHxbQLN53rrozbAcMqoAipJQ906TuT2temh6Oplf4U2CzZAEbFV3Yyyy2Bh3B-nI4E1T3/s400/Fun+Run+025.JPG" /></a><br />Train of friends.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1UdJK-_U6g9xyytufCtV6C28TKbpXsYLQVxwz_BtB74bsnhcnu_Rp_EcPVxraJkFij4agg6PF5MqKhEEuou5a1pCYLTvB1zGDo4PTN1OMfKZodunUaYPRQc3_69WGhTVuL7f21HbUN1F/s1600-h/Salvation+and+Sloss+117.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379578921590136786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1UdJK-_U6g9xyytufCtV6C28TKbpXsYLQVxwz_BtB74bsnhcnu_Rp_EcPVxraJkFij4agg6PF5MqKhEEuou5a1pCYLTvB1zGDo4PTN1OMfKZodunUaYPRQc3_69WGhTVuL7f21HbUN1F/s400/Salvation+and+Sloss+117.JPG" /></a><br />Dancin' at the "Stokin' the Fires BBQ and Music Festival.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyez3V2ex6F64zl5VONJCuJLMztw8rsEcj0-5xLpwa0vucGrJdh27HYHSaQeG_aZUKIDhNbKo4wSRGzLNiT3ha3WhYx-8P1oiU0a_5Wk7Gf7s6KSUGQnvOSH8O1Sr9LE-bHIhIUv2tKvBr/s1600-h/Salvation+and+Sloss+037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379578913874789138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyez3V2ex6F64zl5VONJCuJLMztw8rsEcj0-5xLpwa0vucGrJdh27HYHSaQeG_aZUKIDhNbKo4wSRGzLNiT3ha3WhYx-8P1oiU0a_5Wk7Gf7s6KSUGQnvOSH8O1Sr9LE-bHIhIUv2tKvBr/s400/Salvation+and+Sloss+037.JPG" /></a><br />Chillin' and listening to music at "Stokin' ".<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXev0HHfrHiCvaLgZ6lDPEC38veoUn5zLNH_WfQOAAUlQV3F0DU5idQ1PuJB-ttDRcFF7KIB9xDdeI-0XR6NgGhUEUP6WVCFQk-TT-8YegSqf_Xnr2zP0ogOoDsiRcqY8xGjayUtCN93sV/s1600-h/Salvation+and+Sloss+027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379578906938981810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXev0HHfrHiCvaLgZ6lDPEC38veoUn5zLNH_WfQOAAUlQV3F0DU5idQ1PuJB-ttDRcFF7KIB9xDdeI-0XR6NgGhUEUP6WVCFQk-TT-8YegSqf_Xnr2zP0ogOoDsiRcqY8xGjayUtCN93sV/s400/Salvation+and+Sloss+027.JPG" /></a><br />The Sloss Furnace National Historic Site in B'ham, AL.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig93gMtztZjWJ079RCSnS21TGR6pRMKskimCPHwGqLnROgFj9Tl5BfAdVfuFSb55jXtK63cuzem4wGvrQYwf4yYodP5K_Q17GiDn3qiXv7WYObn_OiMESOr7pZBTX-yxePGqjnpLFEH73r/s1600-h/Salvation+and+Sloss+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577415637325394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig93gMtztZjWJ079RCSnS21TGR6pRMKskimCPHwGqLnROgFj9Tl5BfAdVfuFSb55jXtK63cuzem4wGvrQYwf4yYodP5K_Q17GiDn3qiXv7WYObn_OiMESOr7pZBTX-yxePGqjnpLFEH73r/s400/Salvation+and+Sloss+019.JPG" /></a><br />Diggin' in the Sloss dirt pile.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz_bbcHWjomjb9dmAHtdTdUdGWfDawO6mf8qj3MS05sqQTdcYB49bL3FKpLY6fckdWxy9Z0ej0DaASICpPF4qE7XCYKPIQ3hQqZDTxYCpOihs3ZSFvxhr8BUwS_p7AToIQCgjUqaHh2Jg/s1600-h/Princess+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577404971465074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz_bbcHWjomjb9dmAHtdTdUdGWfDawO6mf8qj3MS05sqQTdcYB49bL3FKpLY6fckdWxy9Z0ej0DaASICpPF4qE7XCYKPIQ3hQqZDTxYCpOihs3ZSFvxhr8BUwS_p7AToIQCgjUqaHh2Jg/s400/Princess+011.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Trying on her dress for Grace and Ethan's wedding.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYmZ243ONRxAaLGwJOJQx0zB18dvofI_fNR1UzKK7DVrRdhi5OP2QObRme9qVIbF7osmib0-rn36Yu0mCnokUrZFODevRO3Y0GfqPFXWcoKfBOBjnEdYbKybFSYcmlbqWN6_M91Fvcyvp/s1600-h/Princess+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577398656551746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYmZ243ONRxAaLGwJOJQx0zB18dvofI_fNR1UzKK7DVrRdhi5OP2QObRme9qVIbF7osmib0-rn36Yu0mCnokUrZFODevRO3Y0GfqPFXWcoKfBOBjnEdYbKybFSYcmlbqWN6_M91Fvcyvp/s400/Princess+004.JPG" /></a><br /><br />First day of Ballet. </div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDJqa6rPmcEGdwvlKCtnrokAYQOU-oHHiow92oVaFde9XVUpo-8tLPN7iRC1MBoHyt6zC70KKbEe6qMPfzO_ymNTcknhjZxL5o1RrGS_WWwcO_kLaLWVVt53Xyv8wnxaN0ns3IZ9f6QvW/s1600-h/Back+to+school+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577390805484610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDJqa6rPmcEGdwvlKCtnrokAYQOU-oHHiow92oVaFde9XVUpo-8tLPN7iRC1MBoHyt6zC70KKbEe6qMPfzO_ymNTcknhjZxL5o1RrGS_WWwcO_kLaLWVVt53Xyv8wnxaN0ns3IZ9f6QvW/s400/Back+to+school+010.JPG" /></a> <div><div>First day of second grade.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRnrw7xjyT0Ri2JqKaKXP2jbag4AVAVpSlYetGXfkDzJP7bxFdJEfjM_xPOoPUpi1wCLx3rAkkDN3Dt-MDlevAIQQxdZktlevrDGvJLYGYJBl-bfmS6SX8YjBnYIAHofAgGsJDsiJTlLN/s1600-h/Surfside+Beach+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 344px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577382526823458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRnrw7xjyT0Ri2JqKaKXP2jbag4AVAVpSlYetGXfkDzJP7bxFdJEfjM_xPOoPUpi1wCLx3rAkkDN3Dt-MDlevAIQQxdZktlevrDGvJLYGYJBl-bfmS6SX8YjBnYIAHofAgGsJDsiJTlLN/s400/Surfside+Beach+021.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Loving each other.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-13153073280832480342009-07-19T17:51:00.000-07:002009-07-19T18:01:51.109-07:00America's Next Top Model Obsessed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFTW8VTFT3T3hO4UIl_uJ6RvxR4YJ4tO4L6vVyQ381JhtcwgMF0TilOK04h0MEhNcWNR8cfmfYq3Rb4e3tBHRnH6fdA-HXoM5VsozvYS7wAdEAiR6Nwu1L6oJy_rS9EokcRKvCcD2AxKS/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360340467167495826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFTW8VTFT3T3hO4UIl_uJ6RvxR4YJ4tO4L6vVyQ381JhtcwgMF0TilOK04h0MEhNcWNR8cfmfYq3Rb4e3tBHRnH6fdA-HXoM5VsozvYS7wAdEAiR6Nwu1L6oJy_rS9EokcRKvCcD2AxKS/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj1Suv3F2oMnM9TmS3s4tAU1MZyIeKkgsMVd7SqHVJNajnbWXpagEwMWdrcZDTfvagXDu4CdrLVzlLXwqYW4BgZdu2ItqYIYmphAmKSgqUt3a2T6Oo8ue6NY1VjhJqL1g5T9l9w4hVmCQ/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360340464550556642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj1Suv3F2oMnM9TmS3s4tAU1MZyIeKkgsMVd7SqHVJNajnbWXpagEwMWdrcZDTfvagXDu4CdrLVzlLXwqYW4BgZdu2ItqYIYmphAmKSgqUt3a2T6Oo8ue6NY1VjhJqL1g5T9l9w4hVmCQ/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-BSWLFkArDgNHmh9r6pTvAhv0P2Xv10OVM7YQjWnMa-o9ySVJByYeYHuBpc0WmFqT77XwPoqYRtfDQ2yAlD8N1Xg8KJAF0hsZFZWNgHr2H2G6ZSwOlSvCJWfanoTkTyFNNfcyWWpWHfp/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360340455163001410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-BSWLFkArDgNHmh9r6pTvAhv0P2Xv10OVM7YQjWnMa-o9ySVJByYeYHuBpc0WmFqT77XwPoqYRtfDQ2yAlD8N1Xg8KJAF0hsZFZWNgHr2H2G6ZSwOlSvCJWfanoTkTyFNNfcyWWpWHfp/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-euPo03BkGBBmM1v6NrjI3V7ZDk4YWTQVbt_WwVL_s-6J7RIgU2TqCApjCY_bmdDHWUysCspth9_n3qrmyARVPBMuKmjbTlvLeVTUlwxuqvKtjMO_e62PjCFcpGPug6IdXXMY2fDxYu9/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360339162847327042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-euPo03BkGBBmM1v6NrjI3V7ZDk4YWTQVbt_WwVL_s-6J7RIgU2TqCApjCY_bmdDHWUysCspth9_n3qrmyARVPBMuKmjbTlvLeVTUlwxuqvKtjMO_e62PjCFcpGPug6IdXXMY2fDxYu9/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJJ0XXUMP-uQn8xEMUUt-ZvLNjc-H9EWJpYEz6qE8DjqstxsSxfZgUhPB85KkjJb6Ajg7Bft-olTJx5bf2Tp2g7sdEFKuBw-JGNDSKhLvTvmDMFBya44So25UGlHEAgdC3HoQlXV8jLgs/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360339157361867330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJJ0XXUMP-uQn8xEMUUt-ZvLNjc-H9EWJpYEz6qE8DjqstxsSxfZgUhPB85KkjJb6Ajg7Bft-olTJx5bf2Tp2g7sdEFKuBw-JGNDSKhLvTvmDMFBya44So25UGlHEAgdC3HoQlXV8jLgs/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A direct result of watching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ANTM</span> Obsessed marathon today while house cleaning. This is a close copy of one of the make-up jobs. This is all her frames. Watch for her on the cover of Three Magazine or maybe Toddler Vogue.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-59423458066663663212009-07-15T10:13:00.000-07:002009-07-15T10:51:42.704-07:00"Lovin' summer, happened so fast."<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6FoZFD-phJ9zFbkbvnglflRS5YwuFcqhtcTGEavQVKaG-lRSRKPkLrTtbibt6UweJB-luTYf0mabMIw0fNwI72okJY25zQBelf6NrEZ66RSpmFg9E81v6ncwJBeKjyPMjmD-FtX6VgRG/s1600-h/MI+trip+226.JPG"></a> </p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanx2Gk097TJ0Dwxw6ybxV6xqN1aYTkEeUuE-SNE2F7Add8FZyHunrVoOJnJgg4crKAfY1EbH6HQ8XFya2BOQbrOskvWzONyQMbKVLKi422Qr_NOpSbhGBoudiexgpDNnD1_FEDSzlrE3b/s1600-h/MI+trip+162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358744112414641922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanx2Gk097TJ0Dwxw6ybxV6xqN1aYTkEeUuE-SNE2F7Add8FZyHunrVoOJnJgg4crKAfY1EbH6HQ8XFya2BOQbrOskvWzONyQMbKVLKi422Qr_NOpSbhGBoudiexgpDNnD1_FEDSzlrE3b/s400/MI+trip+162.JPG" border="0" /></a> My Sister,Cindy, and I enjoying the lake at her house.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRLEJA5g5sFacHb0QQkggD1ScHrt3YCrvCuNfc2M_Wbr_UAVcqFvoUDQeMFDZmr7vrGPlrNNnJGkgqeYnWT4wODSyoou8ErY5OSRYzXdFUdDHcZaOk49Ki8qYjs-T_EvSsvXKfSYByXxJ/s1600-h/MI+trip+158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358744098529574690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRLEJA5g5sFacHb0QQkggD1ScHrt3YCrvCuNfc2M_Wbr_UAVcqFvoUDQeMFDZmr7vrGPlrNNnJGkgqeYnWT4wODSyoou8ErY5OSRYzXdFUdDHcZaOk49Ki8qYjs-T_EvSsvXKfSYByXxJ/s400/MI+trip+158.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn</span> and my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cousin</span> Robert resting on the boat.<br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUKRDN4fIkV3zTn50sAyRSHXhOd-6W-NuHoJInFC2YfP6I3eiQ800MTmvxQ390ESbJr1l_-v2goVPCMErDNWI50unYPWb-cpBCsB48VgX8k-Tl5NYXRmql4sI_Np0xQG467aq-J9OTVgu/s1600-h/MI+trip+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358744094674161026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUKRDN4fIkV3zTn50sAyRSHXhOd-6W-NuHoJInFC2YfP6I3eiQ800MTmvxQ390ESbJr1l_-v2goVPCMErDNWI50unYPWb-cpBCsB48VgX8k-Tl5NYXRmql4sI_Np0xQG467aq-J9OTVgu/s400/MI+trip+061.JPG" border="0" /></a> Aidan's beautiful hair blowing in the wind on Lake Huron.... This morning at camp, all smiles!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxvBDBJ1YOkmTBASPKjv9cUrPeg2H9I5umHPGaz5mlv6Lqb0UeRAClDlAUXRt80pFtAVP5m22suo42oHS2Q7yw3fTlG2iintjVsvFo0git1Uk_iEBX9WPo-2vz7BdrcfGVpAYPFJaCD3O/s1600-h/Camp+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358744082528090962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxvBDBJ1YOkmTBASPKjv9cUrPeg2H9I5umHPGaz5mlv6Lqb0UeRAClDlAUXRt80pFtAVP5m22suo42oHS2Q7yw3fTlG2iintjVsvFo0git1Uk_iEBX9WPo-2vz7BdrcfGVpAYPFJaCD3O/s400/Camp+001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It's hard to believe it's been a month since my last post. </div><div>Last ummer seemed to drag on endlessly, and this year I barely have time to breath. We made it to Michigan and back, had friends visit from Cleveland, and (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">drum roll</span> please..... cut off Aidan's hair). For the record, it was all his doing, his idea, his triumph when I finally gave in and said yes. I really didn't think he would do it when it came right down to it. He did, and I long for it back every day. He looks so grown up. Which brings me to today. Aidan left for camp this morning. What kind of mother sends her 7 year old off to camp? The kind who thought we'd all need a break by now. The truth is, I wanted to stay and enjoy camp with him. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">looks</span> like so much fun. He didn't shed a tear, barely had time to hug us good-bye. I'm not sure what to worry about for the next four days. I have two hands and only one child. Maybe my house will finally be a little cleaner. Probably not. I usually wait for the next rainy day, and the pool is calling today. I think I'm just going to take a deep breath and enjoy only having to put sunscreen on one child. Oh gosh, I hope someone reminds Aidan to wear sunscreen!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-35611908346365402192009-06-11T15:50:00.000-07:002009-06-11T16:23:39.748-07:00Quick ThoughtsIf I have any regular followers, I'm sorry I've been AWOL lately. Life has been being lived and I've just not taken time out to reflect. So we're leaving tomorrow for two weeks and I have a few things on my mind, some thoughts I need release. Here they are in no particular order. <br /><br />I'm feeling at peace for our neighbor who lost his painful battle with brain cancer last night and sadness for his family and Auburn University where he was a beloved swim coach.<br /><br />I'm amazed my little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn</span> is swimming like a fish and I'm not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">exaggerating</span>! Jumping into deep water, surfacing, and swimming to the side where she starts all over again. That girl is wearing me (and my bathing suits) out.<br /><br />I'm glad the "road rash" on Aidan's face has almost completely disappeared. It was downright gruesome at it's worst. I can actually look him in the eyes without crying now.<br /><br />I'm now looking forward to two days in the car with the family. As much as I've complained, I realized we haven't had a family meal since David's company filed bankruptcy. It'll be nice to reconnect. I'll probably take this all back before we're through Atlanta, but right now I'm hopeful.<br /><br />I'm proud to live in a city on a "best" list. We know we love it, now other people can see why.<br /><br />I can't wait to be with my big family all at once. They fill me with so much love, crack me up like no others, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rejuvenate</span> my spirit. They are what I miss about Michigan. They are "home".<br /><br />I'm not scared about David's job security. What happens, happens. We'll just roll with it.<br /><br />I'm thankful to all the people I interact with everyday, that make me smile, make my kids happy, are apart of our lives here in Auburn. We'll miss you while we're gone. <br /><br />Happy Summer!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-77208708171966642192009-05-22T10:19:00.000-07:002009-05-22T11:02:59.381-07:00First and Last<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NKaD-rdE0arVeEVv9rRQzaRVD1dxZ-z4r2hEPdRQcy3_SU4xUtPLcQqI2CQcFEDryvzeHvbA7uVoissP0snQFYV9V1wQYv9fwGPcdRUmGqQqr2xVZP57tLvk-UvT1B-3FB4wdoGeL83n/s1600-h/DSC02017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338699931921661298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NKaD-rdE0arVeEVv9rRQzaRVD1dxZ-z4r2hEPdRQcy3_SU4xUtPLcQqI2CQcFEDryvzeHvbA7uVoissP0snQFYV9V1wQYv9fwGPcdRUmGqQqr2xVZP57tLvk-UvT1B-3FB4wdoGeL83n/s400/DSC02017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUdhMEV-Be53huE-6Sq_kzeiaUj4kQKy_R8frFg7oOP6AHkzzNkinnv8fJQRhRSy7Eqo319bmI-pZwlBBzjvGzlVDoKOy5xBEhM6UGXvTpoMEfPVtBqWF607zxJSv-kE3w6PYUYvAsCM/s1600-h/last+day+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338699591390106786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUdhMEV-Be53huE-6Sq_kzeiaUj4kQKy_R8frFg7oOP6AHkzzNkinnv8fJQRhRSy7Eqo319bmI-pZwlBBzjvGzlVDoKOy5xBEhM6UGXvTpoMEfPVtBqWF607zxJSv-kE3w6PYUYvAsCM/s400/last+day+002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The picture on the left was taken this morning, Aidan's last day of First grade. The picture on the right was taken on the first day of school. I thought he'd look so much different. He IS so much different. I'm not even sure how much he's grown in inches, but I know he's grown much bigger on the inside. I really wanted something tangible, something I could see with my own two eyes. I guess I'll have to be happy with the worn tennis shoes that I know are too small now and were too big in the fall, the tired eyes today that were bright with anticipation at the beginning of the year, and the changes in my decor that show that time has passed and life has changed.</div><div> </div><div>Aidan breezed through first grade, loved his teacher, and worked extra hard to keep his brain active. I pushed for harder curriculum, but had to settle for extra work due to testing requirements. Many afternoons when Aidan's friends were out playing, he was sitting inside still doing homework. He never complained about the additional harder work, but gave me heck about the easy stuff. He loves to be challenged. David and I had to stop ourselves from expecting perfection and embrace the fact that he is only seven. What I hope he left first grade with, is not all things perfect, but the love of learning that he has always had. Boredom can be a very defeating monster, but with the help of his teacher, I hope we kept it at bay.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This summer will be about rejuvenating. I pledged myself to my kids and making them happy. No schedules. We are traveling a lot, Aidan is going away to camp, and we're having visitors too, but in between, we're going to be lazy!! I've got to get that sparkle back in Aidan's eye before school starts again. August will be here before we know it.</div><div> </div><div>Happy Summer everyone!! IT BEGINS NOW... if you live in Auburn, AL that is. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-66723509932269058632009-05-21T09:49:00.000-07:002009-05-21T10:34:13.250-07:00You are My Sunshine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RkSf0UNnQWPz58yIMugOqtsxszY_hru39RlIfqN_DdQF96vxrTR1Kq3yE1JAMqXUMZioRDdpbt_xu3KutHTGAcIzsZvqfJyL2fpLZZMVOc0bm2euJe2uC4TsYt6V6I1_px0Yp_XPUk3A/s1600-h/Recital+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338323708118781810" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RkSf0UNnQWPz58yIMugOqtsxszY_hru39RlIfqN_DdQF96vxrTR1Kq3yE1JAMqXUMZioRDdpbt_xu3KutHTGAcIzsZvqfJyL2fpLZZMVOc0bm2euJe2uC4TsYt6V6I1_px0Yp_XPUk3A/s400/Recital+039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Every Wednesday morning since August of 2008, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn</span> and I have been working our way toward last night, her very first recital.<br /><br />I say "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Camryn</span> and I", because it was a "mommy and me" class, meaning that I was also in the recital along with the other Moms. We were more like animal trainers on stage, just prompting and poking to get the little two year girls going in the right direction. I have no idea how cute they were. It was over in flash. Every minute spent preparing, was worth sharing this experience with my daughter and she loved every minute of it. In reality, it was worth it to see her in her costume feeling like a real ballerina, literally walking on her toes from the minute she put it on . The performance was just icing on the cake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMKvm5P7xn7dr4X_Z9SQagMQJ2nU86cufAqCwtRZFl4NKQ5olShf4CfcUWz14ufG-zgJq8yWCeQUMwHNcNo6dYFd1mXS6OmhwVEnvjuevbZo_Iz4qn60xq9AB2xlS1i1X_dMkghghvVef/s1600-h/Recital+077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338323702476424066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMKvm5P7xn7dr4X_Z9SQagMQJ2nU86cufAqCwtRZFl4NKQ5olShf4CfcUWz14ufG-zgJq8yWCeQUMwHNcNo6dYFd1mXS6OmhwVEnvjuevbZo_Iz4qn60xq9AB2xlS1i1X_dMkghghvVef/s400/Recital+077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Backstage , waiting for their turn in the spotlight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtUVKU9Pyxa2t0fHjoaL1GIA8Hfm0EN0q0vgKCJ8xFYzFoxQtZmfdUGNbmbCjXxUI83DPE2ZyZXnBFr93U41xa2LBVl3wXbFJ4AF0VC0tuFnoYrY0qnJzRwJqHdcrToHenrWojUyCpFtl/s1600-h/Recital+047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338323697488104018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtUVKU9Pyxa2t0fHjoaL1GIA8Hfm0EN0q0vgKCJ8xFYzFoxQtZmfdUGNbmbCjXxUI83DPE2ZyZXnBFr93U41xa2LBVl3wXbFJ4AF0VC0tuFnoYrY0qnJzRwJqHdcrToHenrWojUyCpFtl/s400/Recital+047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My first "bun", a requirement for all ballet students.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFXr2OC62-6XgD5mZ73IBXD90yv1es52__sKXuTM8plk3WxBnevFl47J_TA1ObfWqg3t4CUIsmk5JyEef-GFzlQBnMPiboR8XTNfQyftzbheeb3B23l3uO1H4gPhN5raybBPoJNKrgOI4/s1600-h/Recital+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338323691995678994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFXr2OC62-6XgD5mZ73IBXD90yv1es52__sKXuTM8plk3WxBnevFl47J_TA1ObfWqg3t4CUIsmk5JyEef-GFzlQBnMPiboR8XTNfQyftzbheeb3B23l3uO1H4gPhN5raybBPoJNKrgOI4/s400/Recital+082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lining up to head to the stage.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoppRDpUk_s_jXDGZ15YKPbrRTkwtCSdgsL6p9XaQ_htcz_uTyZaPau3Rzwx49w-kZWLGWTt6I9NFBSy5FHFSlfrOEMQJGf4YnlQxV5syHGfI_ya2hT4slgYrG1REXQzVCpArIiRAjEBkU/s1600-h/Recital+084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338323687559038226" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoppRDpUk_s_jXDGZ15YKPbrRTkwtCSdgsL6p9XaQ_htcz_uTyZaPau3Rzwx49w-kZWLGWTt6I9NFBSy5FHFSlfrOEMQJGf4YnlQxV5syHGfI_ya2hT4slgYrG1REXQzVCpArIiRAjEBkU/s400/Recital+084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The anticipation is too much.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33KH6t6bYmSG8E_JfifdW1y_vbMFEj6hlNkMuWDE8bLD1XTrNqVnC12YO4NZ1hmahKWxbRkj4hnnA4juMiGNZrPbjr-hWDElGhCnlobZfpbtEuVKtBnHG5OYFILoUvGECCp5jyqTzNWhz/s1600-h/Recital+089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322766846062498" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33KH6t6bYmSG8E_JfifdW1y_vbMFEj6hlNkMuWDE8bLD1XTrNqVnC12YO4NZ1hmahKWxbRkj4hnnA4juMiGNZrPbjr-hWDElGhCnlobZfpbtEuVKtBnHG5OYFILoUvGECCp5jyqTzNWhz/s400/Recital+089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Waiting for their curtain call, all pressure off.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZK0A8rQHkbeH3lobsdnFs7u_rGXhoJwBMqX2hyphenhyphen8cOLosxoDtYhtIUs38zfIM3tFSWgJZSWOJDFHQrI4RO840SdLuBfeQoFRfWOIH99zI7mTktocyYNh5p0lVIogC8_m16fjLX8y8aX_g/s1600-h/Recital+090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322759768077074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZK0A8rQHkbeH3lobsdnFs7u_rGXhoJwBMqX2hyphenhyphen8cOLosxoDtYhtIUs38zfIM3tFSWgJZSWOJDFHQrI4RO840SdLuBfeQoFRfWOIH99zI7mTktocyYNh5p0lVIogC8_m16fjLX8y8aX_g/s400/Recital+090.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bonding with her dance buddies.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuM7sdUvJIF7KqoyCHbNnzYVK4sQgkbt3vsc3Vjfb5DE2_9fbRBunVU70292iAMsRSjw49L83MJW7QKx4LQPrNVM2srY57JUDlXCl2gs834pyAprmyLpoWp_TuN9SdHor15B-HFgMvU5S/s1600-h/Recital+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322751998860930" style="WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuM7sdUvJIF7KqoyCHbNnzYVK4sQgkbt3vsc3Vjfb5DE2_9fbRBunVU70292iAMsRSjw49L83MJW7QKx4LQPrNVM2srY57JUDlXCl2gs834pyAprmyLpoWp_TuN9SdHor15B-HFgMvU5S/s400/Recital+091.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Cracking herself up!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqse1L1aqNjenw67_RYQNGgTZi-62CaxYSLPHagiOdaOmUV9FVvrBDynKOq128fbHeTu2mwsIRD-6GaOyxxJZsngizch3pZqZI9EO-v4Y0ZMtd8VvaJjX5z6gVpeYtKjKbX_MB49LyGIBL/s1600-h/Recital+095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322749512557058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqse1L1aqNjenw67_RYQNGgTZi-62CaxYSLPHagiOdaOmUV9FVvrBDynKOq128fbHeTu2mwsIRD-6GaOyxxJZsngizch3pZqZI9EO-v4Y0ZMtd8VvaJjX5z6gVpeYtKjKbX_MB49LyGIBL/s400/Recital+095.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Making silly faces.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF6KFymTkDk4ykntGvURPfGxnGvFi5Pbfa6gfcqjsnV-_ka2ciDbKiS5jqdjfXEvw073uCMci0jg5DFxrETRcRvo2tTF2WLkMOmPtKjbqXrOfc9v3DyT8Wv00v6wF1HEZiV2jGebCqngC/s1600-h/Recital+096.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322743776886514" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF6KFymTkDk4ykntGvURPfGxnGvFi5Pbfa6gfcqjsnV-_ka2ciDbKiS5jqdjfXEvw073uCMci0jg5DFxrETRcRvo2tTF2WLkMOmPtKjbqXrOfc9v3DyT8Wv00v6wF1HEZiV2jGebCqngC/s400/Recital+096.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Making Libby's face silly.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPVk3FteifsEpeFwH_QhOnSkp03g1LlxNaDNOtymLZJEvXjfXvRTqoeCP1IFJyVp5td4iRyHV5qteQW8apVSIlHb9AczkTgrleTP2lcilU3ZxW6SYxrlqsi3s7Xtjc0qCV3T1xz6VnQrN/s1600-h/Recital+098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338321618263432258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPVk3FteifsEpeFwH_QhOnSkp03g1LlxNaDNOtymLZJEvXjfXvRTqoeCP1IFJyVp5td4iRyHV5qteQW8apVSIlHb9AczkTgrleTP2lcilU3ZxW6SYxrlqsi3s7Xtjc0qCV3T1xz6VnQrN/s400/Recital+098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Getting flowers from Aidan.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlpnwDtGJJfOMhV_AZa1P1hkjPHi2qWpwbWjAQqGERqQUc9oeEj9HmGKSZ3BQiDVwBAgBG9xVQojsqI1Fd-kqWSWa41FM1H68Iw28jt7YRZrEnOJXqaqy1-iPfdLHo6u7GNG-qaTWWxxo/s1600-h/Recital+099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338321612711044658" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlpnwDtGJJfOMhV_AZa1P1hkjPHi2qWpwbWjAQqGERqQUc9oeEj9HmGKSZ3BQiDVwBAgBG9xVQojsqI1Fd-kqWSWa41FM1H68Iw28jt7YRZrEnOJXqaqy1-iPfdLHo6u7GNG-qaTWWxxo/s400/Recital+099.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> Aidan was so proud of her!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWuw2BDWLxS0F99jpRqZk_YmXuBHWXZI_criqvSJHmUcwpl2rfkoCniQLWnq752CHuy1PkQaARQgQtHQNP31-QyMhKK0QUg2ZL3QK8gXO6dm47n6Rr2tCbl0pUSiF82AnMaEbuqfOrUp-/s1600-h/Recital+101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338321608108718050" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWuw2BDWLxS0F99jpRqZk_YmXuBHWXZI_criqvSJHmUcwpl2rfkoCniQLWnq752CHuy1PkQaARQgQtHQNP31-QyMhKK0QUg2ZL3QK8gXO6dm47n6Rr2tCbl0pUSiF82AnMaEbuqfOrUp-/s400/Recital+101.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or maybe he just wanted some attention.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cMQShJTAuSfMB80pvPoWRG8nMBJh_FvasT12h_0Y4xZWPhLsFJpiNjfuymVeeOwPHJEl4OuuNWYmNJqGzp0GiHTU6kuvVpZcZHLtiERu5BSmyF2KX6DnvSIaYRhG-H-fY9nMK8TAKrxh/s1600-h/Recital+103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338321604564848002" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cMQShJTAuSfMB80pvPoWRG8nMBJh_FvasT12h_0Y4xZWPhLsFJpiNjfuymVeeOwPHJEl4OuuNWYmNJqGzp0GiHTU6kuvVpZcZHLtiERu5BSmyF2KX6DnvSIaYRhG-H-fY9nMK8TAKrxh/s400/Recital+103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She couldn't wait to see her Daddy after the show. And yes she waved from the stage!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtjxjmELEQSZ-tuney9_HPsOnKVM2QazvVyvbq9U1q82lcdahw5FuWYewgyUA6Kb0TTD-7Pktvrmci7OFHLUUGRsZoy1DBrSEvKfSqgJFbSlF2zuGDJNbKZcwAcz0ATayO4QelwhKKigc/s1600-h/Recital+104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338321599386039362" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtjxjmELEQSZ-tuney9_HPsOnKVM2QazvVyvbq9U1q82lcdahw5FuWYewgyUA6Kb0TTD-7Pktvrmci7OFHLUUGRsZoy1DBrSEvKfSqgJFbSlF2zuGDJNbKZcwAcz0ATayO4QelwhKKigc/s400/Recital+104.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Do I look tired?? My eyes were so bloodshot from the backstage hairspray, that the "red eye" fix on the computer turned them blue. That's what happens when you're in a room with forty girls under the age of six. I think I better get used to this. I danced until I was fourteen. Thanks Mom! Now I know what you went through and I know how much you loved it. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-62790438150217150012009-05-19T14:47:00.000-07:002009-05-19T15:00:07.122-07:00Life is Beautiful<span style="font-size:130%;">Dancin' her toes off!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b4T76s76LPEmMblXj7whYO8GrdpAsHeaUo7HlrPbWlpd4p0sSAgQ-PHhXRMhEeVpIAa1t_7p92ZDA17pCEhHtVfsH_5grVXs6kzwU7WlEbCFKERdYYaIG_70oct2DboL8-PmGr0Gdawz/s1600-h/Camryn+Ballet+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337656757675912946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b4T76s76LPEmMblXj7whYO8GrdpAsHeaUo7HlrPbWlpd4p0sSAgQ-PHhXRMhEeVpIAa1t_7p92ZDA17pCEhHtVfsH_5grVXs6kzwU7WlEbCFKERdYYaIG_70oct2DboL8-PmGr0Gdawz/s400/Camryn+Ballet+060.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz7sUxZiOPDJ0TIXEAc4M__TsrHo6raMyywKvAp7uqCsvfcWubDmPoGiGMXCgf54F3gzWvUlF1OH5jYLWwjdiYKrm5kThht1ho9JvB9zGoARIqa8UgZc5H3T8bcXlcjm_9MKX4iNSaePs/s1600-h/Camryn+Ballet+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337656755617444786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz7sUxZiOPDJ0TIXEAc4M__TsrHo6raMyywKvAp7uqCsvfcWubDmPoGiGMXCgf54F3gzWvUlF1OH5jYLWwjdiYKrm5kThht1ho9JvB9zGoARIqa8UgZc5H3T8bcXlcjm_9MKX4iNSaePs/s400/Camryn+Ballet+056.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAYaW5RtceneNQiMisGV7daFwEHFg9NRAF6Op9nrsLffnAyErlaLCkiklcklh4lIoqxBSUKyTqKr2g2YE5Ia0pYIhsrsSA7jGoSVXr1X8HydLUEwrnGKvLgyvTQBQ5PJMGVZVemvQa7Sm/s1600-h/Camryn+Ballet+054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337656754266503730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAYaW5RtceneNQiMisGV7daFwEHFg9NRAF6Op9nrsLffnAyErlaLCkiklcklh4lIoqxBSUKyTqKr2g2YE5Ia0pYIhsrsSA7jGoSVXr1X8HydLUEwrnGKvLgyvTQBQ5PJMGVZVemvQa7Sm/s400/Camryn+Ballet+054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-ytbuS24RBeSLhOjhgrYRMGidjfc6W5jAeIGNHvveUTD0I8useGICwOQIiOlSfVg-1553hINAbrkQR9vt0bic8Cl8FtpXj7rJrQKBA6QxS9tXJ3wORaznrTmcjNmy1BWUaAah0A87oeC/s1600-h/Camryn+Ballet+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337656749383756994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-ytbuS24RBeSLhOjhgrYRMGidjfc6W5jAeIGNHvveUTD0I8useGICwOQIiOlSfVg-1553hINAbrkQR9vt0bic8Cl8FtpXj7rJrQKBA6QxS9tXJ3wORaznrTmcjNmy1BWUaAah0A87oeC/s400/Camryn+Ballet+050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our little fairy princess.... It's hard to believe she'll be three next week. </div><div>Today she was my sunshine!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVwcJpxvZythWE37X70XJxTSG_G-iqwT6owwLgmHyxhzpn9x6739ZVBtxl0s5A0jJ2-MmUKsN9iiDFkOeDZwqxNGA5Meqozk8PzJAbYe7jP9bxe0j1ayrIJQ_VeRNedtmb3GKBj0Ourzo/s1600-h/Camryn+Ballet+041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337656740641103410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVwcJpxvZythWE37X70XJxTSG_G-iqwT6owwLgmHyxhzpn9x6739ZVBtxl0s5A0jJ2-MmUKsN9iiDFkOeDZwqxNGA5Meqozk8PzJAbYe7jP9bxe0j1ayrIJQ_VeRNedtmb3GKBj0Ourzo/s400/Camryn+Ballet+041.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-20351712001464888672009-05-04T15:47:00.000-07:002009-05-04T16:16:59.038-07:00Our Amazing Grace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNoyy7iiCIp8yKjfI6UCXIpKA8Va4Kb-Cimyg3MjDvndetVHTmfu-ishchdXPnaCTMq2arrhBONhAQNWpE5DyD1c9ZpWaDWwW0HI_jIFf44q0R1_vY6EKojkLJ3zQkCLpFdobU6olw2Y_/s1600-h/Grace+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332105563810965010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNoyy7iiCIp8yKjfI6UCXIpKA8Va4Kb-Cimyg3MjDvndetVHTmfu-ishchdXPnaCTMq2arrhBONhAQNWpE5DyD1c9ZpWaDWwW0HI_jIFf44q0R1_vY6EKojkLJ3zQkCLpFdobU6olw2Y_/s400/Grace+002.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sometimes people come into your life unexpectedly, stay a short while, and live in your heart forever. That is our Grace (and her equally amazing Fiancee Ethan). We met Grace and Ethan last year at the beach and they've been a part of our family ever since...mostly babysitting, but also as friends. We were also lucky to have Grace as an intern in Aidan's classroom the last few months.<br /><br />This week we're saying good-bye. Grace is graduating from Auburn this weekend, Ethan will follow shortly, and at the New year they will be married and make their home in Memphis.<br /><br />I know how much Grace loves my kids, but I don't know if she knows how much we love her. Some people are born with the ability to change the world, one small step at a time. Grace has done that for us.<br />She has been our peace of mind when we needed to be away from the kids. I trust her and love her like family and will miss her everyday ( and every night we want to go out and need a babysitter).<br /><br />I can't wait to see the great gifts life brings their way. So long friends. Your Auburn family already misses you!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDxZ6eQnlEUxQCsjUpAKx1-M5VRkhWrtkd2ZCev12Knu3jVSt2UhTIQSCqAJ2gc1gcRzoxbf8nB8LoQR0JUwAsKg7EE9cL0AmSz1Q3v_fTz9PB4O1N7SrP-e8buNdhyphenhyphen3kSE2B8atwjbt3/s1600-h/Grace+002.JPG"></a></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTk4_Mk_wJtHwHNmVY7mc9puCWPJjCGhBe7oRnfY-aoOQRhJDUPXn1p_vtdBxEuxZS0HIDxPxsKD4o1e8cgmIudRnKqE1YdovnM3b9dY4u8OIfBucHY7hwTkgEPnOeYr17Wlac7rW7tTO/s1600-h/Grace+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332105004874962514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTk4_Mk_wJtHwHNmVY7mc9puCWPJjCGhBe7oRnfY-aoOQRhJDUPXn1p_vtdBxEuxZS0HIDxPxsKD4o1e8cgmIudRnKqE1YdovnM3b9dY4u8OIfBucHY7hwTkgEPnOeYr17Wlac7rW7tTO/s400/Grace+009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> Grace, Camryn, and I<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2-NFJvekJCyypejWdXqXz17LS5drEtqOmicddNz9D7oLsPtupR4QKWsmUMHDLGuLuOs8NzdqJBlmkp5nrhM5-fYrgIX9yWm0ZZlErwc1NG1w4oi9vHyVcAxZxyIdm88EMjdKt6iNht42/s1600-h/Grace+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332104998623662290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2-NFJvekJCyypejWdXqXz17LS5drEtqOmicddNz9D7oLsPtupR4QKWsmUMHDLGuLuOs8NzdqJBlmkp5nrhM5-fYrgIX9yWm0ZZlErwc1NG1w4oi9vHyVcAxZxyIdm88EMjdKt6iNht42/s400/Grace+020.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><div> Grace's First Class (They loved her) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQd-ND_0tvUfgl5T5SasjOS2_sH1ZGQmJwbSrSvyhDW30HOpObcAUPraGuXCSae-n6_fe0Wef7gavHPftrQFMgRChpl0b-l3XaDjy62u7_86C-cNlkDWruaB8JTLGrm-r7ZtxaVoOj5N-/s1600-h/Grace+023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332104990670312914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQd-ND_0tvUfgl5T5SasjOS2_sH1ZGQmJwbSrSvyhDW30HOpObcAUPraGuXCSae-n6_fe0Wef7gavHPftrQFMgRChpl0b-l3XaDjy62u7_86C-cNlkDWruaB8JTLGrm-r7ZtxaVoOj5N-/s400/Grace+023.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div> Acting the way they want to.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo50t0zHadp-RH0TBGxudgVyCdXKguL5_pv7hmhe0Ge2RLjWRvgEuOBiCnxU4EE3mnt2vaL9buZT3u_TAJIplGr-ikOvGmtBBTaxFeppNcCglGcp9Frmbj31PMHH811wO8gQtbrhUEP4U-/s1600-h/Grace+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332104989120542178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo50t0zHadp-RH0TBGxudgVyCdXKguL5_pv7hmhe0Ge2RLjWRvgEuOBiCnxU4EE3mnt2vaL9buZT3u_TAJIplGr-ikOvGmtBBTaxFeppNcCglGcp9Frmbj31PMHH811wO8gQtbrhUEP4U-/s400/Grace+024.JPG" border="0" /></a> We needed some comic relief. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> Beautiful Grace with the kids saying good- bye.</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-38414924135217730572009-04-30T13:49:00.001-07:002009-04-30T14:16:04.240-07:00Life's a BeachOne week ago today, fair warning went out to teachers, doctors, neighbors and relatives. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mommies</span> were heading out of town for a much needed break. Dad's were fending for themselves and we Mommies only had ourselves to worry about. We all did a great job, had a terrific time, and loved life a little more when we came back to reality. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaajiVKWkG79XTiU67ZWEO3xHlAyGneHSfEyfMwtLSi6KtsdkpTKc3OF8anlxFY70OrcSRcjYo52XMJ38bdYN5owLmU10iDCvzBXhxkTP6MT2woAYJyAgY2uKkjMMA4lETNK8dd93mckX/s1600-h/Beach+108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590483591979026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaajiVKWkG79XTiU67ZWEO3xHlAyGneHSfEyfMwtLSi6KtsdkpTKc3OF8anlxFY70OrcSRcjYo52XMJ38bdYN5owLmU10iDCvzBXhxkTP6MT2woAYJyAgY2uKkjMMA4lETNK8dd93mckX/s400/Beach+108.JPG" border="0" /></a> All the girls at one of many good meals, although any meal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">uninterrupted,</span> is a good one for me.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbexuh7DyK6qw6aiZA2nezjVmZKzE-4aC6GcRYmfBIbpolpPG9bo60C86zbWj5eED2ssjt24P-B-PmhPrFJg60y5ZYPoL9-xYHUda6yjgLZBZo0UMsslbd7nKYsBxhyUWvmn1qu7_y54gu/s1600-h/Beach+113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590222489057826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbexuh7DyK6qw6aiZA2nezjVmZKzE-4aC6GcRYmfBIbpolpPG9bo60C86zbWj5eED2ssjt24P-B-PmhPrFJg60y5ZYPoL9-xYHUda6yjgLZBZo0UMsslbd7nKYsBxhyUWvmn1qu7_y54gu/s400/Beach+113.JPG" border="0" /></a> Shannon, Rachel, and I shaking a leg on the beach. We had been there for twelve hours at this point!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvI6ngl79b9dfdsPMOLvNEGgQ1leG71VgeobZid1ZoUa-CruE7H-OkaG9nD9ytqvYdXZpjF68wMxLLKX0C3q8_SSzIyXdH1DtOXR1jbYXSuoSSeM_ex7KbnozI2omMjOEQEvUyxxsaCXQ/s1600-h/Beach+112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590219045244418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvI6ngl79b9dfdsPMOLvNEGgQ1leG71VgeobZid1ZoUa-CruE7H-OkaG9nD9ytqvYdXZpjF68wMxLLKX0C3q8_SSzIyXdH1DtOXR1jbYXSuoSSeM_ex7KbnozI2omMjOEQEvUyxxsaCXQ/s400/Beach+112.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> Carrie, Jeanie, and Tamara sharing one of a thousand laughs shared that weekend.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7nokIKfJ8j-ea7qmgOKEKKeNSj2jaSGKC61cOP9xMjTjTUVe6YsTYKGsZQpmHmgEOCSaSZGCZM4JH5LsyD9teK0NgGop5K7ymbt6fCOYcrUY9bhOW_JM8-6sjV_10h3cAsgHaD20Zdn7/s1600-h/Beach+102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590215708504370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7nokIKfJ8j-ea7qmgOKEKKeNSj2jaSGKC61cOP9xMjTjTUVe6YsTYKGsZQpmHmgEOCSaSZGCZM4JH5LsyD9teK0NgGop5K7ymbt6fCOYcrUY9bhOW_JM8-6sjV_10h3cAsgHaD20Zdn7/s400/Beach+102.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me, doing what I love to do best at the beach, having an ice cold beverage with my toes in the sand.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMon8JLXsBhJQ4bNAQJvVq74VeeKZnC3w1Kh1BKnER_H7nmIObWz-jQNeYCx1LjgCQJcBjuRua0NRggJtInFQPvHF1QMFRhQVg2JkXESjUCDJu4I-HP1OjCH0FP6wVj7sNcs9hVRspZkTi/s1600-h/Beach+103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590211883207058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMon8JLXsBhJQ4bNAQJvVq74VeeKZnC3w1Kh1BKnER_H7nmIObWz-jQNeYCx1LjgCQJcBjuRua0NRggJtInFQPvHF1QMFRhQVg2JkXESjUCDJu4I-HP1OjCH0FP6wVj7sNcs9hVRspZkTi/s400/Beach+103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Rachel and I getting our sun on, and on, and on.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOQq5PMdn43LhkGscbuLab4VAZTUf2M8-yPwYCTtQUaroNEh7QRM8PAQSZAo3h7sGqzhelh9OcsG4LIeiIZuCxlYzX0IUZupQzVvsc9b4Xu1a7OaMpzWwP07o75TEpOZ11OFX-a_kMoTs/s1600-h/Beach+094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330590209185280978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOQq5PMdn43LhkGscbuLab4VAZTUf2M8-yPwYCTtQUaroNEh7QRM8PAQSZAo3h7sGqzhelh9OcsG4LIeiIZuCxlYzX0IUZupQzVvsc9b4Xu1a7OaMpzWwP07o75TEpOZ11OFX-a_kMoTs/s400/Beach+094.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> Tracey and Carrie kicking back.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Thanks to everyone who had a part in this trip. It was perfect, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rejuvenating</span>, and tons of fun.</div><div>My stomach still hurts from laughing so hard. To my friends whose bathing suit shots I've posted, I think you all look terrific and I hope you're happy with my pics. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-72553152892811814942009-04-30T13:40:00.001-07:002009-04-30T13:48:23.748-07:00There's a Wocket in my PocketI'm not going to say much , other than, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn</span> loves pockets. Her leotard doesn't have a pocket. She found some pocket worthy treasure (muddy rocks). She improvised. Sometimes you just have to laugh .... and grab your camera!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93UzIeaQvb3tE6Hv-uFXctP-s0IRWIckdNYW_ANAjryIUBX58FzMMoVxrKOvvFVf_HiAgttPhohMGS0LCCee2EI5iuSznnk_7oad-HHiysecaszXqq_HNEEPjSL_X49PrpSNNE7dkO5H6/s1600-h/Beach+068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330588262906456242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93UzIeaQvb3tE6Hv-uFXctP-s0IRWIckdNYW_ANAjryIUBX58FzMMoVxrKOvvFVf_HiAgttPhohMGS0LCCee2EI5iuSznnk_7oad-HHiysecaszXqq_HNEEPjSL_X49PrpSNNE7dkO5H6/s400/Beach+068.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dxHLuMNh23IV_y4POPcvW9BxH_QFaAYlYFdAx4K3o74twA9CGyeK-0TxQBcatlEzZ9BxZkguTCiYKR-s3PQbLAf3RjSgPLUbBMW9c5k11NV7zLQ7fQedo9rolZWiubWOL_fRQrGTXm8H/s1600-h/Beach+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330588257066683106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dxHLuMNh23IV_y4POPcvW9BxH_QFaAYlYFdAx4K3o74twA9CGyeK-0TxQBcatlEzZ9BxZkguTCiYKR-s3PQbLAf3RjSgPLUbBMW9c5k11NV7zLQ7fQedo9rolZWiubWOL_fRQrGTXm8H/s400/Beach+062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVezTQgRfUf0rPh8AP_YUhdOzpvsBPK3Fr9FmNJSfNZmiSjfTM5qXrX5AG2HI4SwqhiPImj0nnoc9Q7e2VneMQ7WpdcFpOQR2y2BY7JdEpafKPK5UnmcEfLRTAlt5iKpwSeRo6r7I5IE/s1600-h/Beach+059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330588252007561634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVezTQgRfUf0rPh8AP_YUhdOzpvsBPK3Fr9FmNJSfNZmiSjfTM5qXrX5AG2HI4SwqhiPImj0nnoc9Q7e2VneMQ7WpdcFpOQR2y2BY7JdEpafKPK5UnmcEfLRTAlt5iKpwSeRo6r7I5IE/s400/Beach+059.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-76651883045159858072009-04-14T11:38:00.000-07:002009-04-14T12:03:24.133-07:00Easter Aftermath<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJLhA2jbAFANcenuNZWmvJhz5Jy5aUOiEqP1nqo-Eg3y_SISkdvtGbtruRiWq92dVnUvo7MVXiN_4GhrzaRQHxVck78t2BQpZwG4nX7DnUsHDmTf_BXx_xUF_NGeOGsnvbTNvtqh2-P86/s1600-h/112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324624224397495522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJLhA2jbAFANcenuNZWmvJhz5Jy5aUOiEqP1nqo-Eg3y_SISkdvtGbtruRiWq92dVnUvo7MVXiN_4GhrzaRQHxVck78t2BQpZwG4nX7DnUsHDmTf_BXx_xUF_NGeOGsnvbTNvtqh2-P86/s400/112.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_GZl13Wzl1SQ5HPAzQSvf4rI64P4QWfV4tdzb3Qo7LHlm2LCBaAHsr2ufBUFMTnFCKSTz16C52XCgv7M9UQAI4XzvnALT9w8FwlkjIBXNsGC7tdoYE6BvHLtD3xxpyA8Ts1pmT1mR1tO/s1600-h/091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324624219067077858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_GZl13Wzl1SQ5HPAzQSvf4rI64P4QWfV4tdzb3Qo7LHlm2LCBaAHsr2ufBUFMTnFCKSTz16C52XCgv7M9UQAI4XzvnALT9w8FwlkjIBXNsGC7tdoYE6BvHLtD3xxpyA8Ts1pmT1mR1tO/s400/091.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsbxjzbDiWzVe6B9a1wgEtnqfSJOdrjdjGupSQO0AQieWdGMAvGOpna_VpnOzwGBl0Xc6BW9W_zq3JOzZE6nj28BSRgpIlfx4EdXBwCaTT6s1nV4Yh-fKFrWgchF2An1LY1cS8VTmuCcM/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324624215246667858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsbxjzbDiWzVe6B9a1wgEtnqfSJOdrjdjGupSQO0AQieWdGMAvGOpna_VpnOzwGBl0Xc6BW9W_zq3JOzZE6nj28BSRgpIlfx4EdXBwCaTT6s1nV4Yh-fKFrWgchF2An1LY1cS8VTmuCcM/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlpZfPrkuvuETZjPapKc4zK02sLjBXaDmF9yuwZqzphf-v0h-sS1LHj3yqne7JIJEcfp7qk-sifBOzPn94PxV96XPuXK_LEoiFi-vsdtJbYgatSTfj45UH00eqAe5D6uKMEWn8mZyfT4h/s1600-h/097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324624214102015922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlpZfPrkuvuETZjPapKc4zK02sLjBXaDmF9yuwZqzphf-v0h-sS1LHj3yqne7JIJEcfp7qk-sifBOzPn94PxV96XPuXK_LEoiFi-vsdtJbYgatSTfj45UH00eqAe5D6uKMEWn8mZyfT4h/s400/097.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lmAkP16vfQ45B8nUaUnXKFa3X2iTKro74i0DWp6mIBvbaOWs9cyGb05DhsKduKd5V0YbfmyCgA-0SFxSGuL3-Am-Q_YoKL0Nr7V75l7ChnY9TBD_hNrzmxjJCzwjnaqfc-ETVdAWQhJB/s1600-h/115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324624206252094162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lmAkP16vfQ45B8nUaUnXKFa3X2iTKro74i0DWp6mIBvbaOWs9cyGb05DhsKduKd5V0YbfmyCgA-0SFxSGuL3-Am-Q_YoKL0Nr7V75l7ChnY9TBD_hNrzmxjJCzwjnaqfc-ETVdAWQhJB/s400/115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Thirty-seven jellybeans, hundreds of rainbow colored foil scraps, a handful of half eaten candy bars, and green plastic grass stuck on my feet later, I think I've taken the upper hand on Easter.</div><br /><br /><div>Last year I wrote a letter to the Easter Bunny asking him not to bring all those little cheap toys next year, and thank-you, he listened. One big toy each kid has been begging for. He didn't get the memo about the candy though. Don't get me wrong, my kids love candy and I have no problem with them eating it. The problem is, I love candy too. I never buy it for myself, but for some crazy reason that Easter Bunny brings all my favorites. Thanks Easter Bunny.<br /><br /></div><div>All in all, it was a beautiful day. My kids have grown so much since last year. I couldn't get them to care about coloring eggs last year and this year, they fought over who got the last one in the dye. Camryn looked for her own basket this year and Aidan seemed to tower over all the little egg gatherers at the egg hunt. He's almost as tall as the Easter Bunny.<br /><br /></div><div>As we were getting ready for bed Sunday night, Aidan wanted to know what the next Holiday was. Something to look forward. For some reason, Memorial Day didn't thrill him. I know my vacuum is happy, although there's something to be said about smelling cotton candy every time you turn it on. </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-82288980026501396602009-04-14T09:41:00.000-07:002009-04-14T10:54:21.361-07:00Letting GoTwo years ago today, I woke up in a surgery center in Indianapolis without my thyroid. It was filled with cancer that had been growing slowly "for years". Cancer had a lot of time to get used to living with me, but I barely had time to digest the word before I knew I had it. <br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn</span> was seven months old, when a routine sore throat resulted in weeks of tests and the eventual diagnosis on my fortieth birthday. I was one of those cases that went against the odds. Thyroid disorders run in my family. It was very unlikely anything but benign growth, easily controlled with medication. I had never felt worse in my life. Always tired, moody, dry skin, brittle hair, bloated, always thirsty, achy joints, sore muscles. Looking back, I can't believe I was able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone care for an infant that had been conceived while I had cancer. I just pushed through every day thinking it was all post <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">par tum</span> symptoms and it would get better. <br /><br />The first week I was given the synthetic hormone to replace what my thyroid wasn't doing, I felt like a new person. I didn't know I had cancer yet, but I did realize just how exhausted I had been. The pounds (about 8) fell off in days. It was all water that my body had retained due to the wrong message from the thyroid. Goodbye to what I thought were those last "baby pounds". Suddenly all those moisturizing creams were actually working. My parched skin started to look healthy. My body stopped hurting. I was happier, better prepared to face my fate, when it was delivered a month later.<br /><br />Yes, I did get the news on my fortieth <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">birthday</span>. The Dr. didn't really know me. He had just been assigned my case to regulate my Thyroid, not thinking he would be passing me off to a cancer team within the month. Unfortunately, he was given the task of breaking the bad news to David and I. <br /><br />The last two years have been a whirl wind of Dr.s, hospitals, treatments and tests. What was started in Indiana, continued here in Alabama. I have had an appointment pending for two years. I've been waiting for some test, a scan, my next radioactive treatment since January of 2007.<br /><br />Today, April 14, 2009, I am cancer free, but I will always be a cancer patient. I don't have an appointment scheduled for follow-up, but I need to call and make one. I ran out of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">EAMC</span> Cancer Center last month without stopping at the appointments desk. I just wanted a brief <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">reprieve</span>, nothing looming in the future. I've decided to officially let go of my cancer, let go of thinking it will come back.<br /><br />Good-bye damaged me. I'm fixed and fixed up.<br /><br />I have never been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">stronger</span>, never happier, never more sure of my faith than I am today. This journey has taught me a lesson in God. I was never scared. I wasn't sad. I never saw my kids without a Mother. I found an incredible opportunity to see life in a way most people only imagine. It truly is a gift from God. Cancer planted my feet firmly on the ground and lifted my faith to the heavens. I had a peace and calm I couldn't explain. My life is divine.<br /><br />This is why...when I sing, I do it at the top of my lungs, when I run it's full speed ahead, and when I jump, it's to the sky. <br /><br />It's because...I can.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-73155381666243684142009-04-08T14:58:00.001-07:002009-04-08T15:18:30.826-07:00Sweet ZaneAfter my previous post, I realized I had forgotten to include this picture of my nephew, which led me to remember a conversation we had while my family was visiting. <br /><br />Zane is the middle child in my sister's family. Then I realized he's also the middle Grand child. <br />Basically, Zane just hangs in the middle a lot. He's so sweet, mellow, and content.<br /><br />I think he deserved his own spotlight, since he's often standing in the wings, watching the show.<br /><br />I also wanted to highlight the only brunette my sister or I managed to have.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QqZZuVMGDps2_91osesN9SdUT8otSaVS6DnQ8igEBcj4kVv4wyBAX2wLd3DhxF4pDBWBtPnJG2cgmL4PvChygCPUi7rH3rv2trIsZEMaO2bqIb1aFr2BHTEyLrFuhRB7tuNsfBfDvcsv/s1600-h/nessens+visit+054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322444016493602498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QqZZuVMGDps2_91osesN9SdUT8otSaVS6DnQ8igEBcj4kVv4wyBAX2wLd3DhxF4pDBWBtPnJG2cgmL4PvChygCPUi7rH3rv2trIsZEMaO2bqIb1aFr2BHTEyLrFuhRB7tuNsfBfDvcsv/s400/nessens+visit+054.JPG" border="0" /></a> Playing squirt gun tag.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e1xmXGk7ZKAaNbNjICrMV4dXrNv_60e-RwJqScnN049jQ1-CPp9M9IeX7CDK1_-OSmJws-c1CqxkTN8ZWo1vLLJi6XxfAjM7nAt4rTiRr1K2r1zHzZrwfiON2gmVM4QxEwt2vke7S8-j/s1600-h/nessens+081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322444014634756674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e1xmXGk7ZKAaNbNjICrMV4dXrNv_60e-RwJqScnN049jQ1-CPp9M9IeX7CDK1_-OSmJws-c1CqxkTN8ZWo1vLLJi6XxfAjM7nAt4rTiRr1K2r1zHzZrwfiON2gmVM4QxEwt2vke7S8-j/s400/nessens+081.JPG" border="0" /></a> Quietly playing airplanes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiBB-TukOtJuv6srNXd2nagZ8gdkUI-Y4S9jNZhmhHdkQkr5uzW6A4dvJtbAzReg7_TSScpLsSe_GRrWhRXQUPaj2bwgsCVw4-OAri0qAiZRq-jMtEhrM48eawI63x8R_yHYwy_VyQZJY/s1600-h/nessens+047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322444007379786562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiBB-TukOtJuv6srNXd2nagZ8gdkUI-Y4S9jNZhmhHdkQkr5uzW6A4dvJtbAzReg7_TSScpLsSe_GRrWhRXQUPaj2bwgsCVw4-OAri0qAiZRq-jMtEhrM48eawI63x8R_yHYwy_VyQZJY/s400/nessens+047.JPG" border="0" /></a> The only one smart enough to call it a night.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-13210446907222777862009-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:002009-04-08T14:34:45.554-07:00Happy ChaosThree kids in a car for four days- crazy! <br />Ten people under one small roof for six days-chaotic!<br />Great times with our family-priceless.<br /><br />I'm sure my sister and her husband thought many times "What are we thinking?" when they made the decision to drive from Michigan to spend their Spring Break with us. I hope they thought it was worth it. It helped to have my Mom come along, for all our sakes. Grandma was kept busy having all her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Grand kids</span> in one place.<br /><br />One thing was clear, the bonds of family withstand distance and time, and grow stronger with every memory made, as well as shared.<br /><br />Thank you for blessing us with your visit, your laughter, and your love. We can't wait to do it again this summer! <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4MPe6EjZyMy5KdD2kzBKYoRKco6k31BYZuAXViy3Vsa-myngKL-eVl8oiZ7bAtd7FsTdVfxTDUpnWDzenUWWQIQpfdFNlVu849D2vD6ZYNMEt9XtY38gun12ilYaHgmiodvk_kTF_3GX/s1600-h/nessens+119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322432769490370834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4MPe6EjZyMy5KdD2kzBKYoRKco6k31BYZuAXViy3Vsa-myngKL-eVl8oiZ7bAtd7FsTdVfxTDUpnWDzenUWWQIQpfdFNlVu849D2vD6ZYNMEt9XtY38gun12ilYaHgmiodvk_kTF_3GX/s400/nessens+119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-xU2_L-RZbgv891XQ6Lz2vlapKL2pOrnemMXvNPleajOBX1c3ZKBMLDcdwcFddcSKYIFUFIkpSpLm0XOLMQDb8ypEFDuRCmVZK3ey8N8QBm4gy2tZtw1uHr0gaowEYE8XQzpO6WlcoKZ/s1600-h/nessens+visit+083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322432766222973922" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRRwrjSYL2EE5wPPyhhLOCrOJtq121K2JgtSPzFr0vJ2mFIMwOjUxGlVMuSEpZ19_IpDs0EaNpGYEngpGaBi7Keomb7bDvREOHiqisb4VIc7ug2U9TW9gQl7pw56Djl4Zh82NBcDJWmbB/s400/nessens+visit+022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8AEM33-LA_DmttVpf2kqurRGj03lJBr721pLj48D1i8Oig5Drlonkw-McVRbkmv1IHyTAwjs-iEyX2xoJT4SKUWyapnA_NoR4rDGBYYzvISJHXCGwHJx5cHPNLtGr7Fz15TmrEn5or5W/s1600-h/nessens+155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322431913426391794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8AEM33-LA_DmttVpf2kqurRGj03lJBr721pLj48D1i8Oig5Drlonkw-McVRbkmv1IHyTAwjs-iEyX2xoJT4SKUWyapnA_NoR4rDGBYYzvISJHXCGwHJx5cHPNLtGr7Fz15TmrEn5or5W/s400/nessens+155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJG5DJLt_n4UdPcmwUha8XIUV6ETQ25GPbBWFw527uNJ_lPOyXd8FwV2owrcPKOkU02HDawrDbXt1jKGHE4Q4XIHZLw-kwkIS5HFqd3cCxQcwKQ8fAhlfWku3odfr-yvoHYrfQwL3fV9G/s1600-h/nessens+148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322431911501739746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJG5DJLt_n4UdPcmwUha8XIUV6ETQ25GPbBWFw527uNJ_lPOyXd8FwV2owrcPKOkU02HDawrDbXt1jKGHE4Q4XIHZLw-kwkIS5HFqd3cCxQcwKQ8fAhlfWku3odfr-yvoHYrfQwL3fV9G/s400/nessens+148.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub97faZ7r8HwSUmr63-04RZXN_VSXMsjA5wOwFk2TJqmTm3lET1yL54Nfy5WbyIltd9kKkAHjAY1tlSIRdbhtGQ80oiBwEJJjMhbvTq3t9-QNP1_A0WWGu-tJW5DJxNKmjiMI28ypCoZ1/s1600-h/nessens+114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322431911451324386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub97faZ7r8HwSUmr63-04RZXN_VSXMsjA5wOwFk2TJqmTm3lET1yL54Nfy5WbyIltd9kKkAHjAY1tlSIRdbhtGQ80oiBwEJJjMhbvTq3t9-QNP1_A0WWGu-tJW5DJxNKmjiMI28ypCoZ1/s400/nessens+114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xWv-B3MFs9ads1rGG77DoT1RcvR0KsALx0Fz8oejHTNHFbixsnLnZhJ0qNrkYhxc7E3eH6a5uwiVDqbaQW13aUU4jBU1zcAmpRiH7uaNnsGE3mon67UuNw5ibggCIKRf6AmNANVRC1ga/s1600-h/nessens+076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322431904226240514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xWv-B3MFs9ads1rGG77DoT1RcvR0KsALx0Fz8oejHTNHFbixsnLnZhJ0qNrkYhxc7E3eH6a5uwiVDqbaQW13aUU4jBU1zcAmpRiH7uaNnsGE3mon67UuNw5ibggCIKRf6AmNANVRC1ga/s400/nessens+076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-20242727069742884502009-03-23T14:59:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:29:58.843-07:00"What I Did on My Spring Break"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnzS4O-lUE3z29HrF2-U2B-_eNJF0vjS8mtK7HUy3Xshbmtk9zGhoWDsQEntrlHkMMBJhD1c_yJ4NuCbvJnuhGnYmv-LD68nFq59wqzMzLi97vwyWIWJMShmr2VA-GEHuNMuszjCk283D/s1600-h/Spring+Break+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316508432309279170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnzS4O-lUE3z29HrF2-U2B-_eNJF0vjS8mtK7HUy3Xshbmtk9zGhoWDsQEntrlHkMMBJhD1c_yJ4NuCbvJnuhGnYmv-LD68nFq59wqzMzLi97vwyWIWJMShmr2VA-GEHuNMuszjCk283D/s400/Spring+Break+009.JPG" border="0" /></a> Forget what I did on Spring Break. Poor David worked and then worked some more. <div> </div><div> </div><div>But Saint Patrick's Day still had to be celebrated<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu9Rm7TzwxtvykURBbwM6QF3_Droy07yB9fRL0TQyG8StGfdCjv7t-7jHFxgBpnqAT9EZMjiEmMqEvn6RGSP7pfUesCO2O5PF57A6W8V_6ZOVxiZs3PSL2LZjEiX5Zg6HVgf55meK91U0/s1600-h/Spring+Break+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316508433298022802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu9Rm7TzwxtvykURBbwM6QF3_Droy07yB9fRL0TQyG8StGfdCjv7t-7jHFxgBpnqAT9EZMjiEmMqEvn6RGSP7pfUesCO2O5PF57A6W8V_6ZOVxiZs3PSL2LZjEiX5Zg6HVgf55meK91U0/s400/Spring+Break+010.JPG" border="0" /></a>,Spring Break still went on.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>So we drank our green beer and ate our corned beef with the sound of his typing and griping in the back ground.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVej8EfoY4On22UHbueCDmvafrdxKSnK2PO2bBFanic1Fxq25XqZ3VAgUKmFK_JIF3rZK56szb1tWGjOwVocxzhEeTjrpHS8VG8mwc-u6dwjwCPlklRdsTD9kgbyMpKRm4l5STxOUrcs8/s1600-h/Spring+Break+012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507869392497810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVej8EfoY4On22UHbueCDmvafrdxKSnK2PO2bBFanic1Fxq25XqZ3VAgUKmFK_JIF3rZK56szb1tWGjOwVocxzhEeTjrpHS8VG8mwc-u6dwjwCPlklRdsTD9kgbyMpKRm4l5STxOUrcs8/s400/Spring+Break+012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Aidan and Camryn had a few friends over for lunch .<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9EjxeTEgASMScg-Dh7dKVjSH0ZYs2njZbKWwynjCYpDjq_98C91VTjafzVnUAEoUxJavE40kQu2q47zGUuqZ7QUF5uO3xBzFnzXLTMJ01amil5xvPaHcKL5lTe4hw83KxSxE5fhWXQ56/s1600-h/Spring+Break+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507865125104402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9EjxeTEgASMScg-Dh7dKVjSH0ZYs2njZbKWwynjCYpDjq_98C91VTjafzVnUAEoUxJavE40kQu2q47zGUuqZ7QUF5uO3xBzFnzXLTMJ01amil5xvPaHcKL5lTe4hw83KxSxE5fhWXQ56/s400/Spring+Break+014.JPG" border="0" /></a> I caught a few rays here and there.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMMGRqsZNGnM4gq97sZoZ-C3tfzYqjRKtvYdJIhimXQdkn5I93h9V8M5l-SNLCE9AAcWdqFrgiV7elURIPvRg_AFqsU79zv_0beQI41qiCJ2WktTBjjB0bNDsoYPNUN0p31r4Fequ3y54/s1600-h/Spring+Break+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507863712494098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMMGRqsZNGnM4gq97sZoZ-C3tfzYqjRKtvYdJIhimXQdkn5I93h9V8M5l-SNLCE9AAcWdqFrgiV7elURIPvRg_AFqsU79zv_0beQI41qiCJ2WktTBjjB0bNDsoYPNUN0p31r4Fequ3y54/s400/Spring+Break+015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We traveled to Atlanta on Friday and watched the Detroit Red Wings beat the Thrashers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CK4xDvt-ECwOrp65doasIhWV0khbNChnHAtwIwP8oKPX9iei9DgwGsnSubi_-t6mBuUIvvBUgAbNIMYNfhq1W04X9Ouy5mxybuICKqF-tDWXuW5Ocbn3Jz_5KO8qaCEUACD9Q5tXIpj-/s1600-h/Spring+Break+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507859459931858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CK4xDvt-ECwOrp65doasIhWV0khbNChnHAtwIwP8oKPX9iei9DgwGsnSubi_-t6mBuUIvvBUgAbNIMYNfhq1W04X9Ouy5mxybuICKqF-tDWXuW5Ocbn3Jz_5KO8qaCEUACD9Q5tXIpj-/s400/Spring+Break+018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We relaxed at the Omni.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonzOqZlYWkYAvAih5v9YmPTeHk48N3KitoAyd3jFlHxNIk1Qafl1wNU6Kn9Gak493mNw41vt8tCSS-X92_6OmnIotYli16dpofRfQ_2kMc1EieyvNtyHjtuMD6MiJCk8RmqJR15EK-xS3/s1600-h/Spring+Break+067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507843771968482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonzOqZlYWkYAvAih5v9YmPTeHk48N3KitoAyd3jFlHxNIk1Qafl1wNU6Kn9Gak493mNw41vt8tCSS-X92_6OmnIotYli16dpofRfQ_2kMc1EieyvNtyHjtuMD6MiJCk8RmqJR15EK-xS3/s400/Spring+Break+067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Spent some time in Centennial Park.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7YnCI1ywU8moZonabajzJIfqHwBCfTTHM4A0FUZm1HyKxZGMvH3FnPVblS60GL0D9jNnouW7JU9vmpiBvmeyzvkBN8ewEqmww-ePILfFU3p5HmfkYpjyBtzjVXMv-Xkmj4FDMY_zNPsl/s1600-h/Spring+Break+031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507281921202210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7YnCI1ywU8moZonabajzJIfqHwBCfTTHM4A0FUZm1HyKxZGMvH3FnPVblS60GL0D9jNnouW7JU9vmpiBvmeyzvkBN8ewEqmww-ePILfFU3p5HmfkYpjyBtzjVXMv-Xkmj4FDMY_zNPsl/s400/Spring+Break+031.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Cooled off in the fountain.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0JqvT3wZI8s4mj_mavy-DcwRP60XDQnC2x0sXW4hBjVzlPTIX3P1xLvQ50FArNuNJjWRQ38fWU6f9R3OjP3-4_bjhFU7U24izFQJmB3HKBfP4UpJiW3w8b8cpBmZ0p0MRHQJLW2ny1yk/s1600-h/Spring+Break+026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507279193532866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0JqvT3wZI8s4mj_mavy-DcwRP60XDQnC2x0sXW4hBjVzlPTIX3P1xLvQ50FArNuNJjWRQ38fWU6f9R3OjP3-4_bjhFU7U24izFQJmB3HKBfP4UpJiW3w8b8cpBmZ0p0MRHQJLW2ny1yk/s400/Spring+Break+026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I enjoyed my kids, my Husband and getting out of Auburn for a bit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRuG9yzLB1Bt77SEpHSfwoVMjz3pBoev3YRZgVlpmIjZJ4GQh9EyfAkQOFSXJ9GKme7DKxa0ufZjTqC_1o2vw0RZJJs8vmSI5rRe3bxPo6QKRfO5C45tCbKvHWT05slOsWTkQaldO4aFK/s1600-h/Spring+Break+058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507268859056754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRuG9yzLB1Bt77SEpHSfwoVMjz3pBoev3YRZgVlpmIjZJ4GQh9EyfAkQOFSXJ9GKme7DKxa0ufZjTqC_1o2vw0RZJJs8vmSI5rRe3bxPo6QKRfO5C45tCbKvHWT05slOsWTkQaldO4aFK/s400/Spring+Break+058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4aumY2VvOV_RsBlDhqtvfvTrYAHfg9ekzDEiJrAs_d16oiGRUWog1eP6xdBtbj7sIjj-wNqjzMC8WTb3LVKoKvF0-VlC6rMoylGMCsLwP5ltbZqdrWAd4BdzpJGzYKSKEAOQs8z75GFF/s1600-h/Spring+Break+034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507263472196610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4aumY2VvOV_RsBlDhqtvfvTrYAHfg9ekzDEiJrAs_d16oiGRUWog1eP6xdBtbj7sIjj-wNqjzMC8WTb3LVKoKvF0-VlC6rMoylGMCsLwP5ltbZqdrWAd4BdzpJGzYKSKEAOQs8z75GFF/s400/Spring+Break+034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I even managed to sneak in a little sewing. A few other highlights....my camera broke, Aidan got a new bike and had to learn to reride it, we got our yard work done, David golfed, and we were all sad to see it end. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMegmBTO4_kq0tuWYYRbUQszdHL0REVVZEw6c52naSWQveqO7pHI97OUroLy8hDyphU7EtEYr0hpqHYceWzLDTP6-EdGMn4CMTWSW49TopdgSd5obCkzr1QdKK7XQBiKMMRxR0XyXIw8N/s1600-h/Spring+Break+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316507255086959666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMegmBTO4_kq0tuWYYRbUQszdHL0REVVZEw6c52naSWQveqO7pHI97OUroLy8hDyphU7EtEYr0hpqHYceWzLDTP6-EdGMn4CMTWSW49TopdgSd5obCkzr1QdKK7XQBiKMMRxR0XyXIw8N/s400/Spring+Break+082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I really missed Aidan and David when they left this morning. This will be a tough week catching up on all the stuff I didn't do on my Spring Break, like housework, grocery shopping, answering email, eating healthy. I'm officially going through withdrawal from consuming too much junk, drinking more than usual, and having my two favorite boys around. Summer can't come too soon!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-87724585474406817962009-03-17T10:00:00.001-07:002009-03-17T10:03:21.322-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDqJIPXVNnwFesi1llTOYDtzS3McTPMPU5Khtky4tg6G0UQV8LaXTFjKJ26HfEBUs4P5SlwPjOQR7MpshoUBr7OdqsRWm3VY99ZQHMEaNItLeKHqZAMatRGcU0OHPlnZumNLylx_DI53G/s1600-h/084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314203316365027042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDqJIPXVNnwFesi1llTOYDtzS3McTPMPU5Khtky4tg6G0UQV8LaXTFjKJ26HfEBUs4P5SlwPjOQR7MpshoUBr7OdqsRWm3VY99ZQHMEaNItLeKHqZAMatRGcU0OHPlnZumNLylx_DI53G/s400/084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFje-HOUix5OqCnEqyewh5011wb8opJXA4qjrI_ahzhxhKivBujAt0w0En3Li1OoLlX7s04etdXJaGjDvXEObfPCS-KvkHE3ATqho6qLLsTBbZUrSZDJoT2sPcKHeXDqja2WYRf0GREaZ8/s1600-h/079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314203305005916194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFje-HOUix5OqCnEqyewh5011wb8opJXA4qjrI_ahzhxhKivBujAt0w0En3Li1OoLlX7s04etdXJaGjDvXEObfPCS-KvkHE3ATqho6qLLsTBbZUrSZDJoT2sPcKHeXDqja2WYRf0GREaZ8/s400/079.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBHGnNRAzzKImX07qz0wni3bI0e7lR7iZs6oyCdfr2n87rUPi02aDKGPGftY2K4YP4tVyoTUkpV_eD9t-_jlOoVkpx_yREJ4cE01PU6pp-MBiNr5EVbe9jREEA3AbTJhFDHHgzsv2dbao/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314203294405967250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBHGnNRAzzKImX07qz0wni3bI0e7lR7iZs6oyCdfr2n87rUPi02aDKGPGftY2K4YP4tVyoTUkpV_eD9t-_jlOoVkpx_yREJ4cE01PU6pp-MBiNr5EVbe9jREEA3AbTJhFDHHgzsv2dbao/s400/075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-67583112470230741882009-03-05T14:07:00.001-08:002009-03-05T14:18:58.346-08:00My Kind of ParadiseAn ice cold beer, fresh chips and salsa, a gorgeous beach, and plastic chairs. That's my idea of "perfect". Sometimes you see a picture and not only do you want to be there, you feel like you belong there. I love this place and where these pictures take me in my mind. I can almost feel the breeze. So for those of you stuck home for Spring Break this year, like me, grab a cold one, plop down in your lawn chair, close your eyes and dream. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQa6ZjTwHu9nupuqdQYvtq_FKMN6KuJMgLlolJ4zlAgzybmM2ilsRdmes0zsyemeARCS_kK9MqRHRq78dKKbQhgzbnaNa0fwer_3pICIDukXogK-CqKH10ClKLA1cXSWLAyDLUD-R1vcE/s1600-h/DSC01098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309829575748139634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQa6ZjTwHu9nupuqdQYvtq_FKMN6KuJMgLlolJ4zlAgzybmM2ilsRdmes0zsyemeARCS_kK9MqRHRq78dKKbQhgzbnaNa0fwer_3pICIDukXogK-CqKH10ClKLA1cXSWLAyDLUD-R1vcE/s400/DSC01098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zKp0Au4QnHToMDxuWKslJYbCbpvHcPzz8LFAMgwSYLmSo2ndBPIPlXO2pQfUsCitXBy4A0QX7NUvHB5F4LZLpZy-j9CMmJIvwqTnLBBYjwTclzUNVKyArcp46iKJ-Neg61oMJdn2eNyB/s1600-h/73268828bsFbEl_fs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309829569043475810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zKp0Au4QnHToMDxuWKslJYbCbpvHcPzz8LFAMgwSYLmSo2ndBPIPlXO2pQfUsCitXBy4A0QX7NUvHB5F4LZLpZy-j9CMmJIvwqTnLBBYjwTclzUNVKyArcp46iKJ-Neg61oMJdn2eNyB/s400/73268828bsFbEl_fs.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thanks to my friends for reminding me, that sometimes, it's the less glamorous things in life that make it grand!!<br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195501471590716378.post-63030754481517905422009-03-01T09:52:00.000-08:002009-03-01T10:30:05.633-08:00Snow Birds!!!<u><span style="color:#0066cc;"></span></u>We have surely lost our wings since we've flown south! When we heard snow was coming, we were afraid to hope it would happen. When we woke to snow falling, we were all excited. When we tried to find appropriate clothes, we realized the kids had outgrown almost everything. When we finally made it outside, we froze our tails off!! There's a frenzy to take it all in before Thursday. Forecast- 72 degrees and sunny!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV65dxoEaQSryvznZP3nWMJiVCKxk076OkkfsWNzX_jbo5_uEap0fjBOUNHJ5bSnKPxp3MwPGD0BJCgU7_nOWiAcchGZelU_bfCCmPAJ0DJDy-Jbtfy81RXAEz6vG5npZl97bSFCOR98j/s1600-h/Snow+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281607337338994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV65dxoEaQSryvznZP3nWMJiVCKxk076OkkfsWNzX_jbo5_uEap0fjBOUNHJ5bSnKPxp3MwPGD0BJCgU7_nOWiAcchGZelU_bfCCmPAJ0DJDy-Jbtfy81RXAEz6vG5npZl97bSFCOR98j/s400/Snow+010.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thank goodness for hand-me-downs and our little snow bunny.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JKeBRHmQ3eal6JwTNhB_RrJ6rUkrxqYXYc7anMOfcTdw2OaPDYA_AUPcAT-x6cR7UJnddbvDJZzRYbYlwEqSM7rtjZPuqJ3OH7MJD-qjTmZrqpya3kfyQC-bb0S-F98jji2_u_-nTOW7/s1600-h/Snow+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281601239823330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JKeBRHmQ3eal6JwTNhB_RrJ6rUkrxqYXYc7anMOfcTdw2OaPDYA_AUPcAT-x6cR7UJnddbvDJZzRYbYlwEqSM7rtjZPuqJ3OH7MJD-qjTmZrqpya3kfyQC-bb0S-F98jji2_u_-nTOW7/s400/Snow+011.JPG" border="0" /></a> Let it snow!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWxueeHfBFm0C8I9yEaa63gMzjwbaiLXbzZkZnZsmtlu-j5-d3FNL1hmuo4dIyDCoehMEA2uULZ6FZxhFp6Fdahyphenhyphen_OghN3XtXbn3QMEFIpt-kxrGk96HqFg9sU-N6HhqDKKeU0UpIxr_b/s1600-h/Snow+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281582959652322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWxueeHfBFm0C8I9yEaa63gMzjwbaiLXbzZkZnZsmtlu-j5-d3FNL1hmuo4dIyDCoehMEA2uULZ6FZxhFp6Fdahyphenhyphen_OghN3XtXbn3QMEFIpt-kxrGk96HqFg9sU-N6HhqDKKeU0UpIxr_b/s400/Snow+014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> She's not cold (yet).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CJO8Ifm8h2sJKC7TeEb3BGHAMD7n2Teei2Oz04UiJYg0cHTAPMor-5F3sWA4rm9bJHikcjsPLFXws_82SDv4KmLUaJPhlzo9zmTAxNGQrW7d4BvonwMeaVzlIfY5hSaFh_Krpfv0C72b/s1600-h/Snow+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281577093991410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CJO8Ifm8h2sJKC7TeEb3BGHAMD7n2Teei2Oz04UiJYg0cHTAPMor-5F3sWA4rm9bJHikcjsPLFXws_82SDv4KmLUaJPhlzo9zmTAxNGQrW7d4BvonwMeaVzlIfY5hSaFh_Krpfv0C72b/s400/Snow+018.JPG" border="0" /></a> Snow Buddies.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KnXRXhd9RDOTsAonx7dwLWVu1j3tHYX3t40-n8cmfRqVFiCAX0oSZQmXLc6eeaPQwdUMwDfcyRH93R1hsVp5U43fnLC05b2vVivSSABWH-jsiy8EGobu6MqcDkHkiDma-RAprX9aYp3P/s1600-h/Snow+026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281079435091074" style="WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KnXRXhd9RDOTsAonx7dwLWVu1j3tHYX3t40-n8cmfRqVFiCAX0oSZQmXLc6eeaPQwdUMwDfcyRH93R1hsVp5U43fnLC05b2vVivSSABWH-jsiy8EGobu6MqcDkHkiDma-RAprX9aYp3P/s400/Snow+026.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Frosty , alive and well in Alabama!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Um1blFS6lvnLhgnlRDd8p3tSc7EOgAbf3tyUZa9oKKtPqK6LShLp1F_mvu_JzThrlNPFjZ1VkrSLxoG4-W_sZs9ARoWj3QIbAXnBTviTizs-h9ttoYhJjT0ANEM2smeY0s-uwm4l9QPH/s1600-h/Snow+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281066426888114" style="WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Um1blFS6lvnLhgnlRDd8p3tSc7EOgAbf3tyUZa9oKKtPqK6LShLp1F_mvu_JzThrlNPFjZ1VkrSLxoG4-W_sZs9ARoWj3QIbAXnBTviTizs-h9ttoYhJjT0ANEM2smeY0s-uwm4l9QPH/s400/Snow+028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Camryn's</span> first encounter with a real live Snowman.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcZlhbis365l6fW6Kvy2XhiZxJKOxra0Tu4dICB36pQcO6hZYTX_fdbRq8dVyvkhh_9WRIDUInUfSDkh2kbFZqqld8RoG-3iJD1d3CoZ7pfMYONqKKe80Ms6OI8VeVl4p8f-j9fZseR-V/s1600-h/Snow+029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281064182779394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcZlhbis365l6fW6Kvy2XhiZxJKOxra0Tu4dICB36pQcO6hZYTX_fdbRq8dVyvkhh_9WRIDUInUfSDkh2kbFZqqld8RoG-3iJD1d3CoZ7pfMYONqKKe80Ms6OI8VeVl4p8f-j9fZseR-V/s400/Snow+029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Our house, pretty as a postcard.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7lx7498JRdHe-Ntu_1rMF3CgoUajOPRYC-JuXfRYpfBZv7JjA60HG-8a1XWMQNpKR09zghuCkBOjxfigmy_0ZykcRAZTdMsVhY1kEp94UA2-otq4mkGaCTIqHAZ_06F1az1zlrML430x/s1600-h/Snow+032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308281054439075682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7lx7498JRdHe-Ntu_1rMF3CgoUajOPRYC-JuXfRYpfBZv7JjA60HG-8a1XWMQNpKR09zghuCkBOjxfigmy_0ZykcRAZTdMsVhY1kEp94UA2-otq4mkGaCTIqHAZ_06F1az1zlrML430x/s400/Snow+032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying the morning coffee, neighbors, and a winter wonderland<br />I thought I'd never see in these parts. Thank you Mother Nature!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6kRPFEOEf_SNug73cgZDQluBZDB-ATS6xLoFEdaLPtOqt8CjTwGeac5H-qUbCZIkiudJ0LLOZzIiGph9N' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div> </div><div>Sweet ending....chocolate, hot chocolate!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4