Old Man Bry

For the 100th day of school, Bryant's class dressed up like old people. I wanted him to pull his pants up really high, but he wouldn't! And we couldn't find the baby powder to make his hair look white. But I love the results just the same! He reminds me of my Grandaddy!

Dalmation Mania!

A couple of weeks ago, I did something that I was really proud of!

I got a phone call from a friend of mine, offering the kids and I free tickets to see 101 Dalmatians at the Birmingham theatre. I LOVE going to the theatre! I went when I was a single lady a lot... Phantom, Love Letters, Fame... it was so much fun to get dressed up and go enjoy a night of pure entertainment. And I just knew that my kids would love it every bit as much as me.

I knew it would be a challenge with just me and my kids... and I almost turned down the tickets just for that reason. But I decided to be brave and said thank you very much!

For those of you that really know me... it's no secret that I detest driving in the city. You also know that I take my kids with me just about anywhere... so it wasn't that I was nervous about handling my kids by myself... it was more taking my three most treasured gifts into the place that makes me THE MOST nervous. But I figured with it being a family show, I would probably find a parking area with lots of families.

While we were on our way, I told the kids that we needed to pray for a good parking spot. And then the kids and I went over holding hands, not running away from Mom, etc., etc., etc. When we got to the BJCC, the first lot I pulled into was nearly deserted. So I pulled my happy little butt out of there and found another one. I parked close to the main entrance, and wasn't really sure where were going. I just stayed with the flow of people, and it turns out that we parked directly in front of the entrance way to the play! Thank you, Lord! It's the small victories that mean the most to me.We found our seats and waited for the show to start! We were on the ground level, right next to the doors and near the restrooms.
So we got settled and waited for the show to start. And what better way to pass the time than taking pictures?






There was no photography once the show started (or so the picture police informed us wwwaaaayyyy before the curtain was raised), so we put up our camera and enjoyed the show!

Sophie did great until intermission... and then she wanted up and wanted to walk around. Thankfully, she made friends with the lady usher after intermission and took turns sitting with me and sitting on the stairs with her.

I thought the show was fantastic! I loved Cruella D'evil! She had an amazing voice! And the real dogs doing tricks were a huge hit with the kids.

Brotherhood

I am so very proud of my two little guys. I mean, for all intents and purposes, they are supposed to be pushing limits and playing Hank and I against one another during this transition. We've encountered a few issues, but nothing we haven't been able to get under control!

They help me out so much. They help keep their rooms and the toy room clean. They help set the table for meals, they do their homework and take showers/baths when they are told. They put their dirty dishes in the sink and their dirty clothes in the hamper. And they tell me all the time that they love me! They are GOOD BOYS. They are EXCELLENT BOYS! I can not brag on them enough. Not only are they polite, but they think of others.

I was cooking dinner the other night, and asked Tres to please put ice in the glasses. I watched him very carefully choose a Hershey's cup for himself, a Reese's cup for Bryant, and a princess cup for Sophie. Then I watched him switch the ice maker to crushed ice and fill Bryant's cup.... switch it back to cubes and fill his cup. Then he paused and asked, "What kind of ice does Sophie like, Mom?"

We've gotten into a good routine of Bible study and devotion every morning and prayer time at night. I love their prayers... "Please let a little boy's Mom and Dad buy our house cause Daddy needs us to live with him! Amen." "Thank you for my DS and pizza and for my Junie B. Jones book." "Thank you for making mom cook us food tonight."

I remember so vividly finding out I was pregnant with Bry just before Tres's 1st birthday. I cried... and I cried hard. I didn't think I was prepared to split up my love and I didn't know how we were gonna do two and keep on working. But God knew, huh? God knew that these two little boys would balance one another out... one pushes the other to read... one pushes the other to play outside. I love the dynamic between my boys. I love the closeness... and I love that Tres has a letter he wrote for Bryant that says, "You are my best brother."

Carpe Diem

Today I spent the day with a good friend. I am soaking in my time. I know it is only a matter of time now until I won't be able to call up my girls and spend some quality time talking, laughing, and sharing!

It seems like our little family is in a holding pattern... waiting on our home to sell. We've had lots of interest, but no follow through so far. We have determined in our hearts that whatever happens, we, as a family, are resting in our choice to trust the Lord! It's my new motto. I can't say that I trust God and then pull it back when I think that things should go a different way... As if I could do better.

Thank You, God. Thank You for teaching us...scratch that... thank You for teaching ME patience and perseverance. I know You have Hankie, Tres Man, B-Bry, Ava Sophia, and me smack dab in the center of Your will.

Coming Soon To a Blog Near You

I have taken a blog break. I got a little down about some response I got on a previous post and had to adjust my thinking. I have always been super careful of others thoughts and feelings on this blog. And while I will still consider people's feelings, I'm not going to dismiss or overlook my own, especially when I feel like that I am going through it molding and shaping what it going on in my life. So, I'm coming back with a new outlook!

Friend or Fiend

I took this down for a while, but am putting it back up. I just feel like I want to know where I've been when I look back at this. My blog. My decision! Love to all.

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Something has been bothering me... bothering me crazy bad... for a while now. Does that ever happen to you?

Here's my problem. At least, I think it's a problem. I really don't know.

A friend won't talk to me. I have apparently done something so God awful that I am to be excommunicated for life. Did I hit on her husband, you ask? Did I abuse her children? Did I talk about her behind her back? No... I did not. I truly have not one single clue as to what happened between us.

Trying to get information from her is like running into an ice burg. Nothing... Nada... zilch... not a thing. Did I try to call? Did I e-mail? Did I hit her up on face book? Yes, to all of the above.

I've cried and prayed and wondered. I've gotten mad, then sad, and finally sulky. My husband has banned me from speaking of the 'incident.' He tells me that trying to guess is only going to drive me crazy. He tells me that a true friend would try to work it out with me.

Here's my conundrum... I want to be a good friend. So do I just give up? Do I just say "Oh, well!" and move on? Because, truthfully, I just don't know that I can do that. I feel like I'm owed an explanation. I don't think that anyone deserves to be written off so thoroughly without knowing what they did and how they could be a better friend, to them or anyone else, in the future.

I thought about not blogging about this. I truly struggled with it. I don't want to air dirty laundry. I'm not trying to get said friend mad. But this is, after all, my blog... right? I still have freedom of speech. And in a year, I want to be able to look back at this and try to figure out what I'm supposed to have learned from all this.

So, I don't do this often, but what do you think? What would you do?

I am the first to admit... hold you breath and get ready to be surprised... I'm not perfect. I try to be a good friend. I want to be the type of friend that I would want to have. I could have done something unknowingly that insulted or hurt this friend. I just want the chance to try and make it right, if it's possible to.