for the soul

(Logan Ladies, some, but sadly, not ALL)

We become the person we want to be, when we BE the person we want to become.

(can't remember who said it, but mama like)

When I visit my "ladies" I come away wanting to BE so much more than I am, because they give me the desire to live better and the confidence to spread my wings and TRY. Amidst engrossing conversations, a few tearful moments, deeeelicious food, and a whole lot of laughs, I learned a lot of worthy things on my mama hiatus. Putting my Time Out For Women, free, leather bound journal to use, I jotted some "worthies" on the miniature, striped paper, and days later when I pulled the petite book from my bag, reading over the lines, a flood of emotions rushed over me.

Oh, how I missed the "ladies."

Visits together

are like therapy for the soul.

Thank you for reminding me,

to share from the heart
to not let our dreams think we've forgotten them
to pick one thing and do it well
to focus on the things people can't see not just the things they can
some things are more important than others
image melts away fast
the influence of a good women lasts
which wolf will win, the one you feed
gently apply, don't pump (insider)
Emily is, most certainly, the angel of the school (insider)
Tower of spending (insider)
StrOganoff, NOT StrAganoff, Stephano! (I am laughing as I type, Em!)

Lastly,

It's not what you do, but how you make people FEEL.

*****************************************************

Ladies, as you know, I'm usually FULL of words,

but to find the right ones to thank you is seemingly perplexing.

Plainly put but most sincere,

your friendship is invaluable to me.

Loves.........

the mr.

From Collages

He's getting big,

and

MAMA DON'T LIKE!

Baby, oh baby, stop growing up so fast.

this and that, and a whole lot of grateful

 

When you live in a small home with 6 people, you need to be organized.

Well, we're NOT.

Bob argued, "You're TERRIBLY unorganized!"

Before I could hang my head and sulk, he finished with, "....and I'm even worse!"

He was forgiven.

 Consequently, Friday date night tuned into a mission of organization. We hit Sonic first for our favorite drinks, accompanied by piping hot, salty, delicious tots and then headed to Lowes where we strolled the aisles gathering "this and that" with high hopes of "this and that" restoring order to our noticeably unorderly home.

The next day was spent cleaning, taking loads of unused "this and that's" to Goodwill. Hanging and assembling our new "this and that's" so that shelves and hooks could house the backpacks, jackets, swim bags, soccer duffels, and everything else that didn't have an official dwelling spot besides right smack in the middle of my floor!

 I concede, Bob spending the day checking off items on my long list of, "Please Honey Do!"

.....totally my love language.

Watching him measure, hang, and load hooks with kid's garb, knowing I won't have to trip on another backpack, made me want to marry him all over again.

Things are in somewhat better order, and it feels nice.

I'll sit back and sip on "nice" for a day or two, cuz Mama knows...

 it won't last long.

__________________________________________________________________________________

During the weekend rally to institute order round' here, I came to a pretty BIG realization.

Our house is small, filled with little people and loads of little things,

and that can sometimes feel cramped.

Then I watched the kids help Bob and I all day, stopping now and then, to play an imaginary game together or grab snacks from the cupboard and run around the yard laughing, sharing Goldfish.

In the midst of me worrying about what we didn't have I shined the the flashlight of my attention on what we did.

Suddenly, cramped felt pretty good.

Cramped doesn't feel alone.

Cramped feels FULL, and FULL of LOVE makes a happy home, no matter the size or value.

For my home,

and especially my little lovies,

  abiding within,

I'm a whole lot of grateful. 

******************************

Push STOP on the Good Noise player located on the upper right. Play the video below.

Prepare for wet eyes and a warm, melted heart.

              

Halloween 2011

From Halloween 2011

From Pumpkin painting

                                                                                                                                                                 

 **********************************************************************************

........and the Pumpkin Patch too.

From Owen's first bus ride.

From Pumpkin patch

cancelled subscription

 

Owen uses pencils, pens, and kitchen utensils as players in his make-believe football games, cuz if my boy aint' outside playin' it, he's inside improvising!

I could be wrong, but I can't help but to think if I had a close up shot of Bob at this age, it would be identical to this one of Owen.

Leaning over the office counter, I quickly scribble my John Hancock across the volunteer badge before making my way into Avery's classroom for the afternoon.

Owen's K teacher happens to walk by.

"Mrs. H", I call.

Stopping, she turns in my direction.

Me: "How are you?"

 Her: "Oh, good, thanks."

Me: "Great. How is Owen doing today?"

"Owen," she says, pausing....

AWKWARD MOMENT,

then she slings, 

"He's doing......... alright."

Alright?

Just alright?

Hmmm.......

I'm standing there thinking of what to say next when she comes quickly towards me.

"Ya know, I've noticed he spends a lot of time twirling the back of  his hair. It's become quite a habit."

Nodding, knowing she's right. I concur.

I'm stumped. This comment about his hair wasn't something I expected.

"Ya," I respond,

"We should probably just cut his hair," falls out of my mouth before I can catch it and shove it back in.

To that, she gives me the squint eyed, pierced lipped look, (the one that says, I think so, without saying anything at all)  nods, and goes on her merry way.

*****************************************

Yup, you bet the over analyzer in me has been a mullin' over that one for the past few days!

 I went through the ole' camera and found recent pics. of Owen sporting his mangy mop.

Fact of the matter is: I'm secretly digging his do.

However, after the incident in the hall with his K teacher, and comments here and there from others, I really have contemplated snipping his strands.

Ya see, one of my "problemos" is,

(I confess and Bob tactfully reminds)

I care TOO much what people think.

Then, today, while lazily enjoying my Sat. morning (the first one in months without an early morning soccer game),curled up on the couch wrapped in my favorite blanket, I was watching Andrew Luck's interview with my Logan Lady Stephanie's old crush, Steve Young, and Andrew said something  that's sticking pleasantly with me, like the chorus of a good song.

"If you subscribe to what other people say, it just gets in your head.

 I don't subscribe to what people say."

To that, I decreed,

Mrs. H,

"I AIN'T SUBSCRIBING!"

(Bad grammar, for this English teacher, is synonymous with cuss words, wink wink.)

.......and with that, 

 the unruly, rangy, dirty blond locks,

remain.

first moves

Remember when we were dating,

and neither of us were daring enough to say, "I love you."

So, one day, when we were driving in your car, on our way to drop me home, I had a "moment", where I was feelin' all over the moon about you, and although my inner crazy felt like shouting it, I just wasn't brave enough yet for the BIG words, so instead I threw out a little diddy like this......

"Like (cuz I said that a lot then too) I pretty much love you, Robert McBride."

.....and there ya had it.

Remember when we were dating,

 and you would drive an hour and a half to my little, white house in Logan and stay til' the wee hours of the morning but had to leave and drive like a mad man through all the small farm towns in order to make it back to Pocatello in time for your early morning football meetings?

You stood on my back porch for hours, craving a good night kiss, but not brave enough to lay the first one on me. You  played softly with my hands and looked tenderly into my eyes but just didn't have the courage to graze my lips.

So I grabbed hold of your big self and pulled ya in real tight. I kissed ya all romantic, just like the actresses in those soaps I was so into back then.

 ....and there ya had it.

Remember when we were dating,

 and we would spend hours upon hours chattin' it up on the old telephone?  My roommates were darn near appalled by my phone bill, and I was in shock too, as it was hundreds of dollars this girl didn't have! I remember calling my parents and shamefully begging them to help with the payment, the ONLY time in my entire college career I had to borrow money from my folks. My pocketbook nor my heart could take it any longer. I was ready to seal the deal on this relationship. 

So late one night in the middle of one of our conversations, I interrupted ya mid-sentence because I wasn't listening to a thing you were sayin' anyway and blurted out my best proposal...

"So, should we get married?"  

......and there ya had it.

                                                                                                                                                     

Fifteen years and four kids later here we are celebratin' your 38th.

Maybe I should apologize that it was ME who made all the bold first moves, but if that's what it took to snag YOU,

I'd do it .....

again, and again, and again.

f a m i l y p i c s

 Family pics.

I rate em' right up there

with
plucking eyebrows.

Cringe at em' both.

Despise em' really.

Not the pics. per say,

cuz' amazingly enough

little miracles take place

with each click of the lens

and a few actually turn out....

surprisingly nice.

It's the PROCESS,

I really dislike.

The gettin' it all together.

The weighty chore of figuring out what to wear,

  everyone looking just right,

 at the exact same moment.

It's darn near impossible really.
Oh, but we moms practically die trying.
.

I have the privilege of being dear friends with the talented Whimsy Pix,

when she called this morning stressing about which and what

to wear for her family pics.  

 I knew.

I knew it was a curse.
Prep for family pics. was an unavoidable curse. 

That girl's got more talent, style and down right awesome flare,

than I could ever dream to have,

and even SHE stresses about family pics.

I was reminded today and lately too, how much a conversation with a good friend "lifts."

It's like therapy.
I forget when I'm feeling the weight of the world,
 that my load isn't much heavier

or different, for that matter,

than anyone else.

It seems, when I open up, with unfeigned conversation

I find this to be TRUE.

Undoubtedly true.

I believe it's crucial that we,
"Vent", or "Share", if you will,

 refrain from judgment,
but rather, take time to listen, relate, and LOVE.

The impact?

Growth, aid, and comfort,

to name a very, small few.

I'm thankful for the reminder,
we are all in this together, more similar than we will ever know.

I've been blessed my entire life, 

with AMAZING friends.
Friends who listen without judgment,
forgive me of my follies,
accept me the way I am,
support and lend me their hand
and most importantly...
love me.

Cuz this girl's a lover,
and Oh how I LOVE my friends.

BIG, BIG, BIG

each and every one.

I didn't listen when Whimsy Pix advised, "Never bare your arms. 3/4 sleeves are always best." Darn, I wish I'd taken heed, and POOR Bob, completely uncomfortable with any display of PDA!

Not me, I'd devour him in public if he'd let me! wink, wink

This, of the girls, one of my faves.

Sure easy to spot my two cheesballs, A?!

Mr. Max, captured in his very true colors.

Yo, Avery....camera's this way!

Avery is missing shoes in every family shoot we've ever done.

It is NO surprise to me that one of Max's only words is, OWEN!

  

Thank you, gifted Cynthia for your patience with my family and the beautiful pictures you captured in the midst of our little clan's chaos!

K

All spruced up for his big day.

Kindergarten 2011

Maple Grove Elementary

Name tag and folder, it's feelin' official.

Pretty sure frenzied butterflies are sworming bout' now.

Deep breaths, Owen.

Holy....DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS!

It was tough leaving you, O....especially when you started to cry.

Mama didn't want to go, even when your teacher pushed/ushered me out the door, assuring me you'd be just fine.

I politely obliged and strolled Mr. Max right out into the hall, pretending to leave.

 

Then, real inconspicuously, I walked past your room a measly twenty times or so.

You were still crying.

I couldn't leave.

Max and I camped outside your classroom door for what seemed an eternity, ready to run in and whisk you away if need be.

Ya settled down.  Ya sang songs. Ya started to smile. 

Ya had a good time.

.....then it was just me and the Mr.,  feeling jealous of Kindergarten and your lucky friends who get to enjoy YOU the entire afternoon. 

Now Mr. Max, tell me.

How do you feel about Owen's new adventure and leavin' you home all alone with Mama?

From Collages

U huh. I thought so.