Siblings and Lightening!!

 Last year all my siblings {except my youngest brother} came together for my Grandmother's funeral.  We haven't been all together in over 7 years.  It was so much fun...I know, I know, it was a funeral. Moving on....It was so much fun!!

Some very important healing between a few siblings began that day.  I wish I could write more, but I better not.  I will say THAT we are all having so much fun in these pictures literally brings tears to my eyes.  I love Beau, Katrina, Brock, Ramona and Micah with all my heart and soul.  Maybe it's that I'm the baby sister, I don't know...I just do.

 I have always been hyper active. A.D.D. I am sure.  Judge me if you must ;D

I was slightly struck by lightening on this day. SRSLY!  A thunderstorm came through, and I was watching it from our open sliding glass door.  I had my hand on the metal part, when a huge flash/and bang hit!  Everyone screamed!  I saw red and my hand felt pain!  The first thing I did was check my hair to see if it were on fire.  Since I lived, I must say:  IT WAS AWESOME!!  I am sure I have super powers now, just not sure what they are.  It was suggested that I try jumping off the roof to see if I can fly, haven't tried yet.  Ba,ha,ha :D  

{{HUG}}

Have I ever mentioned that I live in a small town in beautiful Arkansas?  I do.  Have I ever mentioned that I love my hometown?  I do.  Is it perfect....no!  Well, actually it is perfect...that's a little secret, so don't tell.  I have lived a lot of places, but in this town I get more {{hugs}} than anywhere I have ever lived.  I get hugs walking down the halls of church---full on big hugs from some of the older ladies (some are my kin folk), I get side hugs from many others, that come with a smile.  I get hand hugs---you know when people grab your hand and give it a sweet squeeze. I get karate chops, knuckle bumps, and 'up top's' from several kids that cross my path.  They are the same as a hug, only way cooler.  I get 'you are my 2nd Mom' hugs from the youth sometimes, a lot really.  That makes me happy all over, and makes me want to try harder to love 'em deeper and serve them better.  I get hugs when I go to the girl's schools sometimes.  I get 'hey how are ya!?' when I'm out shopping, that feels like a hug to me.

Hugs just feel good, they make normal days a little better!

I know, I'm cheesy.  I really have no desire to change that part of me tho'!!!

GO GIVE SOMEONE A HUG TODAY.

  

The days are flying by!

Saturday I our YW had our 5 mile/ 3mile hike to certify for Girls Camp.  Kaitlyn and I were the only two that went the whole 5 miles, because she is 2nd year.  It was sooooo humid, and we hiked through 'snakeville'.  We survived.  It was nice to finish the last 2 miles just the two of us!

We got home and had to get ready for a party at the LAKE.  Me and the girls went over and held on to a spot, then Sam came over and helped us set up.  We had Bad Mitten, horse shoes, Frisbees, and a game called ladders---which turned out to be the most fun.   Soon our friends began showing up, we had a total of 36 people there!  TONS of burgers, hot dogs (Nathan"s hot dogs are the only kind I eat--soooo good) chips, cupcakes, cake etc...  We were there for 6 hours, leaving only because the park closed at 10pm.  

We have such a tight network of friends here, It is so needed to 'check out of life' sometimes and just laugh and play with friends!  The Bass's daughter Kayla graduated 3rd in her class at RSVL High School, so we celebrated with her!!

Sunday, my parents came over after church.  They just got back from vacation out west, so they had gifts and pictures to share.

Monday was a crazy busy day, ending with the graduation of Samantha! Who graduated 2nd in her class at Dover High School!  We went to her house after for cake and punch.  

Tuesday I had to run errands and I checked Kaitlyn out for lunch, and we went to Brock's Dog house.  I had a little down time at home until it was time to pick up Graycie and take her to Flag Line try outs----She made it, and will be on her High School Flag line team!!  She is soooo excited, I am sooooo pleased with her success.  

After tryouts I had to get her and Brooke over to play rehearsal, we were there until around nine.  We just got the schedule for rehearsal's, and with four girls in it---we are going to be there A LOT!  It'll be easier when school is out.

I finally have a day at home (knock on wood)....okay not the whole day, I have to pick up G at 3:30 and take her to a meeting, and I have to be at church at 6pm.  I am ready for SUMMER!!!!

Mother's Day weekend

I have been wanting my back deck to be more inviting for a LONG TIME.  Sam asked if that is what I would like for Mother's Day, and I was so very happy to start shopping.  

Saturday morning Sam and I went out to some garage sales, to see if we could find any chairs for our old (as in I've had it my whole life) dining room table.  We were planning on refinishing and weather proofing some chairs.  We decided to go home and get the girls and take them out to some thrift stores with us.  We found 4 black patio chairs in great condition at a thrift store....for $5 each!!  Score. 

Next we took the whole fam to an auction north of our town.  It was in a huge barn like building, filled with chairs and old timers in overalls.  Even a fast talkin' auctioneer.  I won some TV trays, I had fun bidding---I know, I'm very easily entertained ;-)

We stopped in for lunch at Firehouse Subs grand opening.  Yummmmmo!  

Then we went and picked out plants, patio cushions, tiki lights, and other supplies for our patio.  The girls each picked out a plant.  

We got it mostly put together, and then had dinner outside!  After dinner we met up with the McCabe's for ice cream at the local ice cream joint.

We have spent so much time out there this weekend.  It is so inviting, and the weather is so beautiful right now.

Yesterday, the girls had the Bass kids over after church.  When the parents came to pick them up we all sat outside on MY NEW OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE and enjoyed each others company.

One of the best Mother's day weekends ever!  Simply spent with my family.

Eyes closed in every picture of me and my girls yesterday morning....sheesh!

I love a good song

I am so in LOVE with this group!  Brilliant musicians!  My MP3 is filling up with these guys.

Murder in the City is poetic!  "Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."

The bottom one is a song I love by Griffin House!

I grew up in a house where good music was played often and played loud.  I miss the scratchy sound of a turn table playing an album.  My Dad played a lot of Crosby, Still and Nash, Three Dog Night, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, and many more like that.

All my sibling share that love of music.  My youngest bro was in a band for years, and even went on tour a few times across the country.  My sister is a pure talent with any instrument  you give her, I have always enjoyed listening to her play.  She plays with a bluegrass group sometimes, and I could sit and listen to them for hours.  I have absolutely no gift for playing music, none.  I love to be the audience of music, and I'm okay with that....we can't all be on the stage, someone has to be the audience!

I play music while I'm cleaning house or working on a project, I have to have it on to focus and get the job done.  Now my girls do the same when they are working on chores...turn the music on, turn the music up.



 

Webc@m Weirdos

Ba,ha,ha.  Just found some files that I didn't know were on my computer.

There were a ton more :-D

Momma, Mama, Mother, Ma, Mommy, Mom's day

I've come a long way as a MOM, and I have a long way to go still.  

I'd like to share some things I have learned since changing gears to---- being a Mom of teenagers.

I have known my children since they took their first breath, but this is a time in their lives I am truly coming to know WHO.THEY.ARE.  

I listen to their words, I watch their actions.  I see their mistakes, I see their goodness.  

G and I went through a time when all we did, it seemed, was butt heads.  I WAS right all the time, she WAS right all the time.  She did not understand what I was wanting her to learn.  I did not understand what she was going through in her long, rough middle school days. 

ONE day she was sitting on a different couch than me, we were lost in some TV show.  I looked at her and couldn't remember the last time we snuggled together...I mean she was WAY too old for that, right?  NO!  I was wrong.  I had withheld that from her (from us) without either of us really knowing it.  

I asked her to sit by me, without a word she did.  I asked her to sit in my lap like she used to.  I thought she would think I was weird   She climbed into my arms and snuggled with me, almost the same size as me and she snuggled in my arms.  I felt like Heaven had opened and whispered to my heart, "Hold your baby girl".  Fast Forward a few years--- now she randomly hugs me all the time.  She locks arms with me often when we are walking together...at a store, at church.  I will never withhold touch from my children again...this I have learned, they are NEVER TOO OLD.  

I make it my purpose as a Mother NEVER to have jealousy of other girls accomplishments.  I admittedly got caught up in this for awhile.  I discovered I would compare my girls to others, and think they needed to be "like that".  I WAS WRONG.  I had to go through some painful life lessons to really see that I WAS SO WRONG.  If I am jealous of another girl, that means that this child that was given eternally TO ME is not good enough in my mind.  Oh, but they are good enough for me---they are better than I deserve.  I will say to them, "You are my FAVORITE 13 year old on this planet!!".  "You are my favorite 15yr old".  They are my team, they will forever be on my team, their husbands and children will someday add to my team.  I am loyal to those four girls.  And do you know what I discovered happened when I learned to not be jealous of  other girls?  I can be genuine, and real when I compliment their success.  If you know me at all, you will know--I do not like fake.  I do not wish to be fake.  I avoid fake people like I avoid snakes.  

On the same token I feel I really have to be careful of judging other Mom's.  The majority of Mom's are doing the best they know how.  They each make choices for their children, because they know their children best.  Some stay home, some have careers, some have their children in tons of activities, some do not, some go to church, some do not.  I once got  into a Mom's business of her daughter way too much.  I was wrong, I made a mistake.  I say in my head a lot now, "Phaedra---mind your own business, keep your mouth shut, focus on your own".  

It personally bring JOY into my heart and soul to 'focus on my own', so I do just that :-} 

Happy Mother's Day to all!  Love, Phaedra ~making mistakes, and learning to be a Mom since 1997~