Around the World in 7 8 Days

(Warning... this is a very long post -- feel free to skim)

There were 5 siblings in my family and my parents drove a 1980 model Volkswagen Rabbit -- It was some version of tan and had a hatchback -- The rents took the front two seats, the 3 girls sat in the back seats and the 2 boys would sit in the hatch -- We didn't know this meant our parents were struggling, nor did we realize they were only 29 and 31 years of age... I'm 31 now and drive a 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit --

Dan and I drove out of our driveway at approximately 9:45 a.m. December 19th not understanding what lye ahead -- Yes, we knew we'd go to Tennessee, Florida and then home... but who knew we'd drive over 2,300 miles to accomplish this -- Good thing we had our trusty VW Rabbit that gets approximately 30 mpg --

Of the 7 1/2 hours it took to get to Johnson City, TN where his uncle was in the hospital recovering from heart surgery, 3 of them were spent intensely conversing figuring out our schedule for the next 8 days -- We arrived just in time for visiting hours to be put on hold for 2 hours, so we grabbed dinner and hurried up and waited -- Uncle J looked great, was clearly doing well and all was good -- We left from there at around 9:30 and made our way to Knoxville, TN -- an hour and a half later we arrived at his Papaw's house and I greeted all the family that was anxiously waiting for us and politely stated If I don't go to bed now, we'll be enemies soon, Good Night and just like that, day one was over and 9 hours of driving down --

Dec 20th was my birthday and with all the excitement of Cousin A's wedding that day my husband forgot for most of the morning until I politely reminded him remembered late in the morning and then immediately was excited to give me my gift -- A gorgeous pair of Roman Glass earrings... Good hubs -- We then headed on our way to Chattanooga, TN for the wedding and when we made a pit stop for some Advil, we met a man selling Miniature Dachshunds -- This is where we met Elly Mae and our lives will never be the same...

As we drove for we thought would be an hour and a half through pouring down rain, we arrived 2 1/2 hours later at the Sheraton Read House in Chattanooga (which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Chattanooga) we realized we had 4.9 minutes no time to get ready and so the race began to throw shampoo through my hair and blow dry whilst my husband ironed my dress and fed our new puppy -- We then discovered Chattanooga, TN traffic as it took 45 minutes to drive 5.8 miles -- The wedding was beautiful although if we'd been any later we could have walked the new Mr. and Mrs. back down the isle -- Wow... and this is only day two -- How bout some pics :)

The Beautiful Bride, A



My Hot Hubs



A and I



Dancing til we can't dance no more

I. Love. Weddings.

21st -- We woke early, had breakfast with the family and headed to Jacksonville, FL -- 7 hours later we pulled into my brother and sister-in-laws driveway -- We had dinner and opened presents

Isabella and Cassidy
Don't ask :)

Bella modeling my new scarf from them --

If this pic of Dan isn't sweet, I don't know what is

We then talked for a few hours and I loved catching up with Tory... my favorite SIL -- 22nd we headed to St. Augustine, FL and spent the day with my sister, Eva and her 4 children along with Tory and her 3 and Tory's parents --

Dan and I and the nieces and nephews
Dan on the playground

Later that day we drove to Orlando and, again, stayed at the Sheraton (you'd think we owned stock) -- We spent two pain staking days trudging through masses of people celebrating the holiday glorious days enjoying the rides and sites of Disney (23rd/24th) --

Dan and I at Hollywood Studios
Elly could have been a main attraction, we actually had one family pull out there video camera and film her and us

Dan in front of this huge tree at Animal Kingdom

We then drove to Branford, FL where I grew up and my parents have lived 20 years -- This. is. home. -- We kicked off our walking shoes, enjoyed the hot tub, watched movies and finally felt like we could rest... only to realize Dan was getting sick -- ugh --

Finally! Christmas Morning!!! (25th) -- No children to wake us up at 6:00 am, so around 10 we all gathered to the living room and enjoyed coffee and french toast that my mom made (she knows it's my fave!!) -- I received the best gifts of which I have no pictures (what?!) -- The rents gave Dan and I a wedding album of over a hundred pages made by Shutterfly (which again, I recommend to anyone) -- My mom made this book a year ago and after I never ordered it, it became our gift... good move, mom :) -- I also received a gorgeous necklace, SBUX gift card and a subscription to O magazine! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Me and Elly
Dad, Mom, Matt, Dan, Me

Me and Dan

Dan, Me, Elly and Matt (my brother)

OK, Dan was definitely sick -- Yet, because he promised to help Dad out with their yard (2 1/2 acres) -- So, the 26th was filled with dirt and branches and more resting -- Ah... the 27th -- Home bound --

Dan and I listened to a fantastic Book on CD -- It took us 10 1/2 hours to get home, but it seemed like no time at all -- We had about another 1/2 hour of the story to listen to, so we left everything in the car and ran to our bedroom and through it into the Bose player and laid in bed to finish it... ahhh the joys of home --

Dan and I opened gifts at home (excepting Elly Mae was clearly not wrapped) -- Dan got me a Vicky's Gift Card (a little selfish? Sure... but why not :) -- A few books I've wanted, some sort of kitchen utensil (???) and a few other fun things --

MAY THIS YEAR BE YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL AND FULFILLING!!!
CHEERS TO 2009!

Objects May Be Closer Than They Appear

For those of you who saw this picture and actually thought, even for a second, that this was my turkey, surrounded by my vegetables, on my beautifully decorated table... um, yeah... it's 9:00 a.m. -- I. think. not. -- Remember? I'm the one with clean laundry hiding in baskets obscurely around the house :) Today is Thanksgiving and clearly we Americans actually need a special day to remember to give thanks, so... I guess I'll take advantage of it --

My family -- my. entire. family. -- is in Florida, right now, even as I type -- Every year, all five siblings, our spouses, their children, and even some strays, herd to my parent's 1900's colonial style home in North Florida for 4 or 5 blissful, family-filled-fun days -- This year, I happen to be an adult who has to work, so I'm still here in NC -- (so you don't feel too sorry for me, I will see everyone at Christmas :)

Oh, wait... I was supposed to be giving thanks -- Sometimes life can seem so unfair -- I find myself wanting to complain that while I have a Master's degree, I can only find a part-time job in my profession and that I'm only getting 20 hours a week toward my licensure -- I often times dread making dinner every night for Dan and myself and hate that I have to shut the chicken house at 11:00 p.m. when it's 29 degrees outside because I forgot earlier that evening -- (I promise, I'm going somewhere with this) -- There are moments when I just want Dan to stop talking so I can hear my own thoughts and days I want to just be alone because I do nothing but deal with people all day, every day -- Every once in a while I find myself dreading checking voice mail because 3 friends or family have called and I know I need to catch up with each of them, but I'm tired because I've been working non-stop on our new home or working --

It's just that today is that day -- That day when I'm reminded to be thankful I woke up at all, that I get to see one more sunrise and sunset -- That day that I'm thankful for the opportunity to have gone to school and been able to attain a level of degree that only 7% of all Americans have -- That day when I take time to realize that I shouldn't take the food I do have to prepare for granted, because millions have nothing -- That day I stop my busy world to be thankful for the little lives all around that bring me joy when I walk out my door every morning and I'm greeted with kisses and squawks because I'm loved (I'm talking about our animals, people) --

That day I thank my God I have a husband who does talk to me, who loves me so much he can wait to tell me every detail about his days -- That day I become aware again of the privilege of touching people's lives with healing words of encouragement and hope -- That day I remember it's a rare blessing to have the amount of friends and family that I have -- That day I feel ashamed, as I have called my new home a curse one too many times, because the truth is that I'm spoiled beyond imagination with not only a beautiful house, but a home --

I. Am. Thankful. -- I realize that all the stuff, all the goals, desires and dreams still lie in my imagination... Yet, with every thank you and because of my continuous attitude of gratitude, I also know that these objects are likely closer than they may appear --

Have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving... love your families and see your curses for the blessings that they are -- (and don't forget to enter my HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!)

NOT ME MONDAY!

Inspired by MckMama at MyCharmingKids

I would NEVER do a HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!! I do not love the Holiday Season and so I'm not giving away a very fun and fabulous prize December 1st! Nope! Not Me!

I did not receive the same award from two AWESOME bloggers this week -- Thank you, Kristy and Elizabeth!!! And it did not totally make my entire day and I am not totally feeling the love! Nope! Not me!


I would never leave my very expensive (not to mention my most prized possession for obvious reasons) wedding ring in the shower and my husband would never take it and hide it to teach me a lesson (really... he's not cruel :) and I would never run around the house freaking out like a dog on cocaine looking for it... Nope! Not me!

I would never run over a packet of ketchup (and therefore have a red speckled car), spill coffee all over my front seat and bust a whole through the bottom of my Styrofoam cup (holding Root Beer) by jamming the straw through it, all. in. the. same. day. -- Never... Nope! Not me!

I would never take my niece and nephew out to dinner and a movie just to get a little birth control, because I would never be getting the baby itch because of MckMama's babies -- (Seriously... I love my niece and nephew and have the time of my life with them... but it does help clear the air of needing babies :) -- Nope! Not me!

Lastly... but definitely not least (like, for real)... I would never be missing my family's yearly Thanksgiving/Christmas tradition at my parents house because for the first time in my life I can't take off work... I'm not totally and completely feeling the sadness of not being with everyone and I'm not completely feeling lonely :( I would never love my family more than anything in this world and this is a SHOUT OUT to them! Nope! Not me!

Now get on the ball and sign up for my HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

Seriously?

I don't know that I have too many friends whose first description of me would be she's the serious type -- Yet, truth be told, I am -- I take life to heart, I see people's lives through a lens of possibility, I seize moments that matter and I'm constantly writing about it in my mind so I can share all of it with readers like you -- With this, I'm naturally a free spirit who loves spontaneity, emotion, heart felt stories and kicking back on a crisp fall day with a cup-o-joe -- I like positive perspectives and when things don't turn out as positively, my heart breaks --

I sat in a trance, staring at the children sitting at my tutoring table -- They were doing their work so diligently and concentrating with every cell in their body -- As I gave instruction on how to read a word or figure a math problem, I watched them soaking up the information like a sponge to water -- At one point, I saw Alayna (name changed) writing, erasing, re-writing and repeating this sequence several times over it hit me that she was struggling to learn a skill that was second hand to me -- She was so serious --

It brought thoughts to my mind of middle/high school girls struggling to fit in or be the most popular -- They go to extreme lengths to feel beautiful, accepted, loved -- They use internet sites (not in my day, we still used typewriters) to create cliques and slander other girls so they can feel like they're at the top of the food chain, per se -- They don't eat for weeks so they can look glamorous in a prom dress or have the attention of whom they believe to be their fateful prince -- They give their bodies away in hopes to finally feel that complete fulfillment -- They are so serious --

I then see the college age students, giving up everything because they've got to get the A -- To be at the head of their class -- They give up dinners, parties, movie night, relationships and sleeping all to graduate valedictorian (I can barely spell it!) -- They move into the high rolling career and they loose themselves in it, it becomes who they are, what they breath, eat and sleep... it consumes their very being -- It's all so serious --

Then I see myself -- newly married -- While I didn't give up my family and friends, they most certainly lost me for a while -- I chose Dan over a lot of activities, girls nights out or study groups (when in school) -- I went from putting my all into our relationship to making it my all -- It took me about six months to realize I could come out of my newlywed self and interact with the world and I wouldn't loose my marriage -- I know this may sound kind of funny... but when you're first married, things seem fragile -- Every lesson learned seems ginormous and every word spoken seems like it's worth its weight in gold -- Then you learn that he/she is not going anywhere and you can relax... We were so serious -- (at least I was)

Now, when I enter my office and sit with women whose lives have been tortured not only recently, but since the time they breathed their first breath of air, my heart immediately attaches to their pain, emotions run high and all my natural and learned gifts come flying to the surface -- I am serious -- When I read blogs like My Charming Kids and Bring the Rain my perspective changes about what battles are worth fighting, what lessons are worth my energy and what life's truest purposes are -- their lives are serious --

I know that when your spouse is getting on your nerves or it seems like your job is at risk or your mortgage payment is overwhelming your finances life can be so serious -- Yet, what matters most, whether you can see it or not, is having your family alive and healthy, having friends who will pick you up and stand with you through life's truest crises, having a spouse who loves every part of your being and believing in a God who doesn't change although everything around us is evolving at light speed --

What I'm saying in all this is this.... What seems so serious to us today, will be a mere lesson learned tomorrow -- So here's to enjoying the sunsets, hearing children laughing, hugs from your spouse/friends/family, quiet moments with your faith and the beauty of creation -- Think twice about taking what you're facing so seriously... this too shall pass, but the truly serious issues of life will be with you for eternity --