More pictures

I'm learning to use Picasa... but I'm only able to upload a few pictures at a time.



Big Boy car seat!

This little monkey is so tall, he's learned how to turn door handles...

...and open doors. So, now, all doors have those protector things on them. Grant's befuddled. (Is that a word?)

What a face!!

More recent Grant pictures

Grant got a new Radio Flyer this day - which he loves! He was styling and profiling in his new sun glasses too!

My mom, sister, Grant and I went to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens recently to see their "dinosaur" exhibit. Well, Grant has this thing about getting his picture taken with his mommy. For some reason, whenever a picture is about to be taken, he LEAPS from her arms. So, she had to hold him however she could take him! Ha! Hence the funny angle!

Sweet angel baby getting recharged.

Since Grant could crawl, he's always crawled up and down my back, like a jungle gym. Recently, he'll ride my back like a bucking bronco. What a funny little boy!

GRANT

My sister said Grant just sat on the tractor wheel by himeself, without being asked. That boy loves his "tacs" (tractors).

Grant came and sat in my lap while we watched one of his "mo mos" (movies). Though, he wasn't still for very long. Always on the move, that little boy.

Grant has a drawer, just like Mommy, in the kitchen.

Salty Air...

Yeah! The beach is a mere walk away. The trip here was quite fun. My mom and I talked a good portion of the trip, then played a word game the rest. We laughed a lot! Fun times! We (mom, dad, aunt) arrived to the house around 5ish? We unpacked the cars and settled in... I wanted to go for a walk on the beach, but didn't. I don't like doing things alone. I need to work on that, I know. My mom made a DELICIOUS meal - Spinach Hamburger Bake served over rice. Very yummy! We watched "August Rush" while eating dinner.

Anyway, I'm just rambling. It's actually really interesting... I found a WiFi connection and I'm on it. I've never done that before, but this will save me a trip to Starbucks to get online. Though, obviously, I don't need the Internet at all while I'm here. But I thought it would be fun to blog about my trip. We'll see if I acually keep it up.

I took a picture of my first glimpse of the beach, which actually, was a really neat picture, but for some reason, my phone isn't letting me send it. I keep getting an error. Yet, I'm able to send text messages. Strange huh?

We're all watching HGTV right now. We're not your typical beach-going type family. We do a lot of nothing, which honestly, is quite nice. A little shopping. A lot of movie watching and playing games. Good times. I am eager to wiggle my toes within the sand and feel the cool waves lap against my feet. Perhaps tomorrow.

Well, off to bed, I think. Happy trails!

Running on empty

Welcome back my friend, Stacey! I've missed reading about your life!

I should have been in bed hours ago. Correction. I've been in bed for hours, just not asleep. You see, I've always had this "ability" to not sleep when something exciting is about to happen. (IE leaving for the beach in... EIGHT hours!!) I told myself tonight not to make a big deal of it (trying to psycho-analyze myself, crazy, huh?) Sometimes it works though... Alas, not this time. Good thing I'm not driving. A.D.D. land will be around tomorrow. Maybe I can just sleep some in the car. Lord please give my attitude a reality check as I know I'm going to be grumpy on so little sleep.

I've been pretty stressed this week. I had a lot to remember to do ahead of time and make sure people knew what to do. Please don't let them call me! I'm expecting to have an amazing time recharging my battery. I've been running on empty way too long. I can't wait to lie in the hammock, feel the ocean breeze and read a good book. Or better yet, work on my own book! Thanks to the HARD work and DEDICATION of my editors, Tammy and Jennifer, I now hold in my hands (OK, actually it's in my back pack) the 3rd edited draft of Strength In The Struggle. Very excited about what God's going to do with this. It's so amazing to have a vision, then watch as God unfolds it before my very eyes.

Oh boy. 2am? I'm going to need Starbucks on the way, aren't I? Which reminds me, I've been REALLY good not drinking caffeine the past month or so. I definitely miss things such as Diet Mt Dew and Diet Sunkist, but I've found that I feel better not having that extra 'whatever' coursing through my veins. Yeah me.

Ok, I must sleep. If I don't post again before I return....

Happy Trails!

Stuff on my mind, other than hair

I need to do better at updating. I have a lot going on to talk about, but at some point, I feel like there's too much and I don't know how to make it interesting anymore? Perhaps that sounds crazy? Or perhaps I need to stop worrying about what others might think and just write to write? Get my priorities straight again.

OK, here's a list of what I need to do this week. I meant to make this list earlier but didn't any scratch paper handy, so this is good.

1. Start piling things to take and leave them next to the door. (Did I mention I'm going to the BEACH next week?)
2. Pre-pack
3. Make sure work knows what to do while I'm gone... how to update rates, etc.

Ok, so maybe I don't have that much to do? I just feel like this week is going to be crazy. Which is why I really should be asleep right now. Why am I not? I went to bed late last night and woke up on my own at 9am. I didn't have any naps today at all, and now it's 1:30am. I need to wrap this up regardless.

I want to tell you all about my birthday though - another time - it was soo much fun! I thought about doing a reflection of the last year or something equally as creative? IDK. I'll think about it though.

Happy trails!

I will not walk on tiptoes...

I read this on my friend Carrie Beth's blog and was blown away by her sheer honestly! She is an amazing friend - whom I've never met in person - but one which God continually drops in my life at exactly the right moment. She is a dear, kindred spirit. I asked her permission to repost the following...


What is a woman's worth, anyway? What makes a woman? Is it in her smile? The way she carries herself? The way she throws her head back in complete and utter abandon as she laughs from deep within? Is it the sweep of her eyelashes against her cheek? Is it her passion for the things that define who she really is and what she loves? Is it the fire in her eyes when she's so angry she can barely speak? Is it the love that she radiates for all those who mean the world to her? Who am I kidding? A woman is not defined by any of that. A woman is defined solely by her weight.

I've been reminded several times again this weekend that I'm not a "regular" woman. You may ask yourself, "What is a 'regular' woman? And who decides what a 'regular' woman is?" According to a good friend of mine, a regular woman is someone with the proportions of 36", 24", 32." Hysterical, huh? Do you know that a woman who measures 36", 24", 36" is basically physically disproportionate? According to fashion industry standards, a woman who bears that fantastic, dreamy body would be simultaneously wearing a size 4 (hips), a size 2 (waist), and a size 10 (bust). That's virtually impossible.

Somehow, our country has become obsessed with physical characteristics. It no longer seems to matter how intelligent a woman is, how personable she is, or how much fun she is to be around. All that matters is her size. I even asked two of my guy friends last night... "Other than physical characteristics, what do you look for in a woman?" Neither of them had anything to say to that. Are they looking for a paper doll? Looks will fade one day. I can guarantee you that. When we're old and gray and sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair, we will not be as beautiful as we were in our youth. What will matter then is much more than looks. When physical beauty fades away, all that will be left is the beauty of the human spirit.

More interesting statistics...

• The average American woman is 5'4", weighs 140 lbs, and wears a size 14 dress.
• The "ideal" woman--portrayed by models, Playboy centerfolds, Miss America, Barbie dolls, and screen actresses--is 5'7", weighs 100 lbs, and wears a size 8.
• One-third of all American women wear a size 16 or larger.
• 75% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance.
• 50% of American women are on a diet at any one time.

Yes, I'm overweight. I am bigger than the average woman. I've dieted... lost weight and then gained it back just to lose it again. It's a never-ending cycle. Genetics are a nightmare. I come from a family of larger people. However, I can say that I love myself. Yes, I'm not too fond of my "wobbly bits" as Bridget Jones referred to them. I don't necessarily love the fact that I have to shop in plus-sized stores. But the major key point is that I LOVE myself. I know that I have more to offer a man than a Playboy Centerfold.

I'm smart. I have a college degree, and I'm working on my Master's degree. I currently have a 4.0. That means all A's. And not just all A's in easy undergrad classes. I'm talking about all A's in graduate level courses. And what's even cooler is that I have kept a 4.0 all while balancing a social life, family, and a career. I teach all day and go to school at night. Several nights a week. Instead of taking a summer break, I'm taking three more graduate courses. I'm smart. And my students' state assessment scores can vouch for it. I know what I'm doing, and I'm dang good at it.

I'm fun. I laugh - with you, at you, and more often than the other two, I laugh at myself. I'm friendly. I never meet strangers, and I generally have a positive outlook on life. I love to have fun. I live for spending time with friends and family - they are some of the most important people in my life. Not only am I fun, I'm fun to be around. I'm the life of the party. The girl who radiates energy and enthusiasm. I have values and morals. I live my life according to principle. I hold myself accountable to the ideals that I treasure most. I'm intriguing. A little bit mysterious. I don't bare all or speak all. I leave something to be imagined. These things are what set me apart.

Not only am I smart and fun and and mysterious... I'm beautiful. Sure I may be heavier than the average woman, but I'm gorgeous. Look at my sapphire eyes, my full lips, my naturally curly hair. I have a sparkle in my eyes - one that can't be bought or recreated. I'm just natural. Naturally me. And if that's not enough for you, then that's ok. I deserve better. And you deserve someone as shallow as you.

And when you say that "less is better than more," you're saying I'm too much woman for you. I know the truth. I know that you're scared. You're scared of who I am and what I have to offer. You can't believe that you'd ever be attracted to someone as fat as I am. You play off that spark we feel as just a little bit of fun and flirtation. I know the truth. I've seen it in your eyes, and I've felt your response to me. But hey, it's ok. Let's just keep playing the game. You keep searching for that disproportionate woman, that woman whose measurements are virtually impossible to have. You'll never find her. Years from now you'll realize that I'm the closest thing to perfection you will ever know.

(And let's be honest here, I'm not really talking about you. Don't flatter yourself. I'm taking about every you out there. But really, it's not about you - or any other guy for that matter. It's really all about me.)

Any thoughts? Comments? Let me know.

Now I Remember......

Oh yeah, now I remember why I haven't gotten online in a while. There's soooo much to do and see and write and catch up with people on Facebook and answer emails and read friends blogs and and and... the next thing I know it's 12:22 AM, when I was headed to bed at 9:30! How did this happen?! It's like the venus fly trap.

I really wanted to get those coveted eight hours of sleep. Is it even possible during the week? I spent a lot of last weekend sleeping. Is my body trying to tell me something? Oh, and what a week to 'give up' caffeine. I just decided to give it a try. I haven't had any Diet Mt. Dew's in the morning now for two weeks. I don't like it, and it's kinds rough until I wake up, but I feel like it's a good thing to do for my body. Drink more water has become my 'mantra'. Even if I don't feel thirsty, I go fill up my cup of water and take a few sips. How long will this last? I can't tell you, but it makes me feel good that I'm doing something good for my body.

Speaking of which, I'm trying to eat mostly organic food. . . or at least, foods which don't contain... oh man, I'm too tired to think of the word I'm trying to think of... (it's three words and it's on the Juicy Juice commercial, anyone know what I mean?) OK, well, regardless, I'm trying to eat healthier. Drink more water. Go to bed early. Get lost of exercise. I'm determined to make these changes. I'm determined to set free the trapped girl inside of me... I know that makes me sound crazy. More on her later...

With that being said, I'm going to bed now.

Life Art

I was without Internet for a while, so I have a back log of things I'd saved that I wanted to post.

I can honestly say Margaret Becker is one of my favorite authors of all time! She writes in a way to explain what I'm seemingly unable to express. She's cool like that. (I think we'll be friends in Heaven.) But this excerpt is how she feels about art. We all have an expressions of art, in one form or the other, are you using your talents for Him? Read this and see how it makes you feel. If it excites you, go out and DO SOMETHING TODAY!


"To enable and encourage others with any tool that I can successfully use.

The many irregular pieces that make it up-the details-they are secondary. It doesn't matter if it is with music, or writing, or speaking-or even juggling, for that matter. I will use anything to create a platform and gain a voice. Any means by which I can deliver encouragement.

This is what excites me. This is where I feel like I operate in a frictionless environment. This is where I feel fulfilled and unhampered, as though I am contentedly swimming along with the current in a stream of energy. It is my gift-but not in the sense that I have recognized that phrase in that past-as if what I have to offer is a gift for other people. No, more plainly, it is a gift to me-a private one given to me by God. A simple, figurative place or feeling that gives me pleasure. And when I utilize it, when I enter into it and enjoy it, somehow there is a pebble-in-a-pone effect. The ripples connect to a gift and flow outward, affecting those who are near enough to feel it.

It reminds me of the way art operates and the definition of the art. I heard on National Public Radio in an interview with Sister Wendy, the art expositor. The interviewer asked Sister Wendy what her personal definition of art was. Her answer was loosely this: Art takes you out of yourself, lifts you up and pulls you into something haright for a time, and then places you back at last, changed.

And art, according to Webster's Dictionary, is "human creative sill or its application."

Human creative skill. Creativity. Isn't that when we connect with our most passionate selves, the part of us that is in a flow, an unhampered exchange with the Creator? Isn't that when we connect to our gifts? I am energized as I consider connecting with passion creatively and
offering something that lifts people out of themselves into a stream of possibilities. I want to be a conduit between the mortal and the eternal."

Excerpt from "Coming Up For Air: Simple Acts to Redefine Your Life" by Margaret Becker

Leap of Faith

I just finished reading this amazing little book, "Coming Up For Air” by Margaret Becker. Here's one of the many quotes which stood out to me:

“The marriage of significance and fulfillment that now blesses my soul is the sweet reward that comes only after an initial leap of faith. The many pockets of peace that have settled into my interior are the result of risk and commitment. Wouldn’t it be nice if the prize was there before the leap, grandly rolled out like a red carpet, inviting all into its chamber? I would appreciate that kind of clarity, but I have found it only in hindsight.”