Follow Me

You all know how techy savvy I am. Not.

Anyway, because of some other people being techy savvy and me being able to copy them (thanks, Lisa) I added a "Follow Me" gadget thingy to the side.

Right over here. ----->

Click "follow this blog" and let me know who you peeps are!!! That will make me clap my hands and smile big.

Thank you very much and have a fab Saturday. And War Eagle.

Where Were You?

September 11, 2001

Spencer and I had been married for 4 years. We had a beautiful baby girl, named Mary Emma, and we were planning on celebrating her 4 month birthday that evening. I was a 3rd grade teacher at the local elementary school and we were having a normal day. We were in line at the restroom when another teacher came down the hall and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. This teacher was FOREVER practical joking everyone on our hall, so I thought he was crying wolf. When his face didn't change, he looked at me and said told me to go see it on TV in the library while he stayed with my class. I sprinted to the library and found many teachers huddled around one TV, most of them crying. Then I saw the 1st Tower fall. I was terrified and wanted more than anything to be with Spencer and Mary Emma. My classroom faced the front parking lot and cars started swarming in and parents started checking out their kids, who were scared. As we all tried to go on with a normal day - for the sake of our students, we knew that there had become a new normal.

It was one of 2 days in my life that I, along with the rest of this country, will always remember where I was. The other was January 28, 1986, the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. I wasn't alive when Kennedy was assassinated and I was too young to remember Elvis.

Mary Emma hasn't asked about 9/11 yet. The other 2 are too young. Thankfully, they haven't experienced a life changing day like 9/11. By the grace and mercy of God, they will never have to.

I will never, ever forget.

Good Stuff

Read this. It's good stuff.
This guy, Jon, usually writes hilariously funny stuff. I mean stuff that will make your sides hurt and will bring about the silent, ugly laugh. You know what I'm talking about. But occasionally, he brings it all back home and gets serious. It's always a shock. You know, like when you take a sip of what you think is Coke, but the waiter accidentally put tea in your cup. Shock. I click on his site every day expecting a big laugh, but sometimes find that he has gotten serious. When that happens, he pretty much BRINGS IT. And it's awesome.

Also, it's Wednesday, so I think I'll head to Publix today. I'll be sure to tell ya about it.

Has Blogging Affected Me? Read On....

This weekend, as I was desperately trying to unblock my brain and think of something to blog about, I received an email from Queen B telling me that she was tagging me in a meme. She didn't tell me what the meme was, though. She's a sly gal. So I went out on a trusty limb and accepted the challenge. Because I am nothing if not a competitor. So here goes.

Here are the rules:

1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them

I'm chuckling at the last rule. Because I am a rule breaker (in the most innocent way possible - nothing dangerous like driving fast or playing with knives). So we'll have to see where that might lead.

Anyway.... Ahem....

1. Relationships: I am a naturally social person. I've never been one to stay home for days. Then I quit teaching school to stay home with my oldest daughter and I started staying home more. A little adjustment was required. But I could always throw her on my hip and head out to do whatever I needed. A little more trouble, but totally possible. I lived in the same town I grew up in, so I knew everyone. I couldn't go to Target without running into my entire senior class and was never freaked about being out of the "work force". Then we moved. To Florida. Tallahassee, to be exact. I knew no one. NO ONE. I was staying home, with a 2 year old, in a strange town, and my husband traveled on average 2 nights a week. It was the most alone time of my life. I would go to Target just to hear some adult conversation. I became really involved in my church and made some super amazing friends who helped me keep my sanity. I had to grow up. A lot. I got a little more used to staying home, but was never really fond of it. Then, 4 years later, I had 2 more daughters who were 16 months apart. The logistics changed. It wasn't possible to go out anymore. I had 2 babies. I could hardly handle the grocery store. I mean, where do you put the kids? I put Camille (who was in her pumpkin seat) in the front of the buggy and put Tait (who wasn't old enough to walk along side me) in the back (where the groceries go) and Mary Emma walked beside me. Great, except I didn't have room for groceries. My cart was full of kids. I realized that going out, anywhere, was out of the question, and I became a recluse be default.

Then I discovered Bloggyville. I started the blog mainly to keep up with the cute little things that the kids did. I've never been good at keeping a Baby Book and don't even mention the word "Scrapbook" to me. I will start twitching. But people started reading. And I started reading theirs. And a friendship formed. Then another. Then another. I was able to have a semblance of a social life, even being the mom of 1 kid and 2 toddlers - when leaving the house some days is more trouble than it's worth. I've always loved Beth Moore, but when I started reading her blog, I became a part of a community that has become VERY near to my heart. I even went to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago to meet these incredible people. There were over 700 of us and it was awesome. Here's a picture of us.



So definitely relationships have been positively affected by blogging.

2. Confidence: I never thought I could write. I never liked writing. I actually hated it. I have a friend who has wanted to be a writer for as long as I have known her and it has always blown my mind. Yuck. But now, I am enjoying it. I might throw a random comma in here and there (sorry, grammar/punctuation snobs) but I am having fun. And I might venture out and say that I'm decent at it. Ok, I'll step back from that - not sure I'm there yet.

3. Laughter: You people are hilarious. I laugh EVERY DAY at blogs I read. I will almost always click on a link to another blog when I reading a post because I hope there's something funny there. I read BooMama religiously because I laugh until my sides hurt. Plus, she's a really cool person, in real life. I would've probably never met her if it hadn't been for the blog. I'm happy she's my bloggy friend and my real friend. And I can't forget Annie. I met her in San Antonio and we are the same person. I heart her. And she makes me laugh out loud. And we both love the Reba show. That's a match made in heaven. And of course Queen B. If we lived near each other, we would get nothing accomplished ever because we'd hang out with each other all the time. We are bloggy friends and I wish we lived closer.

My next goal is to get my Aunt Dot to start a blog. She's the funniest person I know FOR REAL. Her blog would be an instant hit. You would laugh until you pee. You should see my family at Thanksgiving. We all sit around the table and listen to Aunt Dot. And we laugh so hard we are exhausted when we get up. She's hysterical, y'all.

4. See, this is where I'm a rule breaker. I'm only going for 3. Technically, it's 4, because I did put a #4, but it's not a real point. Don't split hairs with me.

All in all, this blog has become one of the most awesome blessings in my life. Every time I get a comment on my blog, I get excited. I love it. I love meeting you and knowing about you. You bless me every day. Thank you.

So now, I'm tagging......
Wendy - this chick has 11 kids. Eleven. And she rocks.
Jackie Sue - met her in San Antonio - love her.
Erin - my Tallahassee friend and San Antonio side kick.
Gayle - fellow Birmingham blogger who was also in San Antonio. Need to hang out with her SOON.
Dana - she was in my sorority at Auburn and we have reconnected through the blog world. She's hysterical and awesome and an amazing Christian woman.

Unexpected Blessings

Every Wednesday, Camille goes to gymnastics. She's actually a little young for this class (they're supposed to be 2 and she won't be 2 until November), but she holds her own. Actually, she does more than hold her own. She dang runs the joint. I've mentioned before that she's fearless, but it's especially true in gymnastics where jumping and running and flipping are not only required, but are offered in an environment that is covered in padding. She loves it.

After gymnastics, we always head to the grocery store. First of all, I only have 1 kid on Wednesdays. The other 2 are in school. Second of all, that kid has just run and jumped and flipped for 45 minutes and she's ready to sit and be still for a minute. As long as juice and a cookie (thank you Publix for free cookies for kids) accompany it. Can I get an Amen?

Every Wednesday, an assisted living facility nearby takes some if its residents to Publix. They come in a minibus, and in a matter of minutes the place is crawling with the sweetest elderly people you have ever seen. They buy their groceries, have them packed in a paper bag, the director writes their room number on the bag and places the bag in the back of the bus, and they get back on the bus and wait for everyone to finish. Now, you must know, that I have a HUGE soft spot when it comes to elderly people. I love them. There's nothing sweeter or wiser. And they all LOVE babies. And babies in leotards will melt anyone's heart.

Several of them have connected with Camille. She doesn't like strangers, but loves these people. She waves and says Hi and smiles and they eat her up. One precious man sits on the bench at the front of the store. He's a people watcher and doesn't want to sit on the bus. He always stands up when we walk by him because he wants to touch Camille's hand. And she lets him. They will say "There's that sweet baby that we saw last week!" I think she makes their day happier. I know they make her day happier. Mine too.

As we leave, we are sure to walk by the minibus and wave at the people in the windows. Then they head home and we do the same. And we can't wait to go back to Publix next Wednesday.

Who would've thought we could be so blessed in a grocery store? Just shows that God uses unusual places to touch your heart. Look for Him in the unusual places.

And....She's Gone.

Camille is fearless. FEARLESS. She slides down the stairs on her stomach. She jumps off of anything that will stand still. She climbs on everything. She swings from lights. She is now taking gymnastics, which is heaven on earth to her.

However, the one thing that terrifies her to her core is being away from me. It doesn't happen too often, but when it does, look out. She will go ballistic. She doesn't like people talking to her, looking at her, and DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT touching her. The drama is quite impressive. Or aggravating.

As a matter of fact, we haven't made it through a church service in about 6 months. After we take Mary Emma and Tait to their classes, we start heading toward Camille's class. Then the crying starts. Then the wailing. Then the screaming and clawing. And as I pry her off of me to go to the torture chamber that is otherwise known as the church nursery, I am covered in sweat, tears, and snot. As I try to straighten my clothes that have almost been ripped off my body, I walk toward the Worship Center and try to calm down and prepare my mind for worship. Not an easy task when your child is living her worst nightmare down the hall.

So we sit down, take a few deep breaths, and the service begins.

About 15 minutes later, whammo. Our security number flashes on the screen. You know, that number that means "Nursery teachers have had enough. Please come get your child."

And I failed to mention one little talent that Camille possesses.

She passes out. Cold. Unconscious. Flat on her back. She cries so hard that she literally passes out.

Oh, what a fun game that is!

Actually, she doesn't do it on purpose - she just can't catch her breath when she cries really hard and passes out.

Apparently, the nursery workers will put up with anything, except for unconscious children. Which means we get to take her to the nursery for 15 minutes, thus torturing her unmercifully, and then go get her and spend the rest of the service sitting in the lobby.

At least there's a Starbucks in the church. Because at that point, caffeine is a necessity.

Or a margarita. Which isn't typically offered at the average church.

Apparently, they've never tried to put Camille in the nursery, or it would be.

Happy Labor Day!

In honor of Labor Day, I decided to participate in a meme from Shannon. Because it's all about labor. You know LABOR - childbirth. A process that I have been through 3 times. So here goes.

How long were your labors?

Kid #1, 5 hours.
Kid #2, 6 hours
Kid #3, 7 hours.

Clearly, we love a good pattern.

How did you know you were in labor?

Kid #1, induced
Kid #2, started labor the weekend before, came again in the middle of the night - no mistaking true labor.
Kid #3, induced

Where did you deliver?

With all of them, at a hospital. Where the drugs are.

Drugs?

See above. Oh mercy, YES. Actually, my epidural for Kid #2 didn't take. My left thigh was numb, but nothing else. Nothing says easy labor like a numb left thigh.

C-section?

No, but Kid #2 almost was. Her heart rate kept crashing. Probably something to do with the extreme pain I was in (except for my numb left thigh). She rallied late in the 4th quarter and made a quick and PAINFUL entrance into this world.

Who delivered?

Docs. Doc #1 with Kid #1 almost missed it because he was in denial that I was moving along as fast as I was. Never, ever, underestimate me and my birthing skillz.

Doc #2 was a lady doc that I met in the ER that morning. It was Saturday and 4th of July weekend. My doc wasn't on call. New doc was great. A little awkward, though. Nothing like getting to know someone by flashing the old hoo ha within minutes of meeting them.

Doc #3 was fantastic - still my doc today. LOVE him.


If you want to participate in this meme, copy and paste these questions into your blog. Leave me a comment so I know to go read them!