WHOOPSIE

Just took a peek at the blog. Eleven months later....It's been a crazy, busy, stressful, delightful, gray hair making eleven months. Maybe I'll write about them. 



Tomorrow.

Hello Monday, Pumpkin Edition

Saying hello to family fun & pumpkins this Monday....

       hello, dancing in the parking lot

hello, louisburg

hello, apples

hello, cider making watchers

hello, pumpkins

hello, pumpkin hugs

hello, sister hugs

hello, big girl behind the lens

Linking to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday post. I'll say it again: visit her shop. You will love it. Christmas is coming & I will be making a list of my Lisa Leonard needs very soon.

P.S., Please vote.

Hello Late Night Monday

Saying "hello" a bit late today....Here's some fun stuff from the weekend:

 hello new adventure

hello roadside flowers

hello 20+ year old legos

hello air that i breathe

hello family history

hello crappy sketch artist

hello tuesday prep & book repair

Linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday post. If you haven't already checked out her beautiful jewelry & accessories, you need to do it now. For serious.

Happy Monday!

Hello Monday

hello aunt normie's buffalo check fabric rosettes

hello cuddle time

hello graffiti artist

hello mommy naptime (with bonus toys)

hello shortened nap due to phone ringing pedicure

beautiful big girl home from school

hello more graffiti

hello daddy

hello grilled tacos

hello baseball

 Fun way to document the little things in my Monday after 10 days of icky sickness....Linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday post.

Creative Mind Combustion

I have been sick. Like fever having, cold chills shivering, hallucination inducing, crying for my mama, sick. For a week. I spent my entire Labor Day weekend in bed. I journeyed to the kitchen a couple times for pudding & tea, but that's it. Thankfully, my husband & the girls were gone because I think I would've driven them crazy. 

Since I couldn't move for almost 3 full days I laid in the bed & watched a TON of reality shows. From "House Hunters" to "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" to "Married to Jonas" to "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo", I watched it. I was more than horrified at myself for watching most of it, but the remote was just too damn heavy to lift.

The thing that's been the worst is knowing I have a big pile of fabric & nearly completed projects just waiting for me. And it's making me crazy. I mean, LOOK it this!!!!

In between cussing out potential home buyers & learning how to "redneckcognize", my creative mind kept plotting. I have lists & sketches. Time to get to work, ya'll.

Blessings

Last night I had the honor of sharing in a woman's journey from this world into the next. She was surrounded by friends & family, all sharing with her words of love, hope, & strength. It was one of the most difficult, yet most beautiful experiences I've ever had. I am so thankful to her family, especially her beautiful daughter, for letting me be there with her. I love you, Seefus. 
 
I haven't forgotten our talk; I will keep my promise to you.
Rest peacefully, Lizzy.   

Nobody's Perfect

Now that my chicken rant is over (but not forgotten, I assure you), let's get back to some serious business....

80's hair bands. I love them.

"I'm real sorry 'bout the shape I'm in, I just LIGHT MY PHONE every now & then." 

You guys, I am not even joking. I honest to CC Deville thought that's what Bret Michaels was saying UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. 

He does not say that.

On Why I Won't Appreciate Chick-fil-A Today; AKA, The Chicken Rant

Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has deemed today Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. He has invited people to "eat more chik'in" & support the company's right to free speech. In case you've been living under a rock recently, I'll give you a brief overview: CEO of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, was recently questioned about the company's support of the "traditional family". He replied "guilty as charged", then went on to state: "We are very much supportive of the family --- the biblical definition of the family unit...."

Then everyone in the entire world went apeshit. 

Some are angered the company allegedly supports the anti-gay agenda, while others are complaining the liberals & gays are just too dang sensitive. In the wake of Mr. Cathy's statements, the company posted this press release:

"Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business.

The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.

Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

As we all know, opinions are like assholes....& here's mine:


The first, & perhaps most obvious, reason I will not be a patron of Chick-fil-A today is because I do not eat meat. OK, OK, seafood on occasion, but I pay for it later. Easy enough; no expansion needed. Right? Right. Moving on....

I will not be visiting Chick-fil-A today because I am a fatass. I do not need some sunglasses clad cow enticing me to eat waffle fries (although, admittedly delicious waffle fries) when I can pack on the pounds at home for free.  Which I need to stop doing, but I digress.


I appreciate Dan Cathy for standing by his convictions & love that we live in a country where he is free to do so. However, I am saddened that his company's WinShape Foundation has chosen to give money to organizations that so blatantly work to deny a specific group of people rights & equalities. According to the Christian Post Chick-fil-A has given monies to organizations such as the Family Research Council, The Family Foundation, & Exodus International. I did a bit of research on each organization; I was, at times, appalled at what I found. 

According to the Frequently Asked Questions page on their website, the Family Research Council believes our nation is  "seriously threatened by the legalization of same-sex "marriage", this is our current priority when it comes to public policy about marriage." FRC also has advice & resources for you to fight against LGBT groups in your child's school, as well as referrals & information on what to do if you find yourself struggling with same-sex attraction. Hey, LGBT friends, apparently there are ways to help cure our wrongness AND stifle young people's identities! *insert GIGANTIC eyeroll here*

Over in Virginia, The Family Foundation believes marriage is "a lifelong union between one man and one woman, an institution of God and a foundation for civil society." The Family Foundation also has initiatives in place to oppose domestic partner benefits. According to their website, homosexual advocates have already worked to diminish the status of marriage by working to provide marriage benefits to every relationship. Really? At a fifty percent divorce rate do you honestly think anyone wants that "status"? 

The most confusing website I visited was that of Exodus International. This organization has a program called "Love Won Out". Attending one of these seminars will help you better understand how to love your homosexual child without compromising your faith. You will also learn the steps to follow down the "difficult path" that will help you overcome your unwanted homosexuality. You will even hear from people who have reformed their gay lives & are currently living the heterosexual dream (my words). I wholeheartedly disagree anyone can "ungay" themselves any more than I can make myself not like "MmmBop" by Hanson. It's in my heart; I just can't help it. The confounding part of Exodus International is their Policy Statements. Their position is everyone, "....regardless of sexual orientation, is of inestimable and equal worth to God." They even state they will stand by the LGBT community in times of violence & will not support any legislation that deprives people of life & dignity. And yet, Exodus International's Mission is "To mobilize the Body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality." Testimonials on the website tell of parents' heartbreak at their children's homosexuality, but with the help of Exodus International they're able to understand all they can do is pray for God to reform their children's hearts. The Exodus International website seems, to me, to be fraught with contradictions. God loves you, but the homosexual lifestyle you lead goes against His graces.

I will not go to Chick-fil-A today, or any other day in the foreseeable future. Not because I don't believe in freedom of speech, "traditional" marriage, or delicious waffle fries & sweet tea. I am not going to Chick-fil-A because I cannot bear the thought of my family's money being used to promote exclusion, discrimination, or the denial of anyone's right to marry the person they love. 

To quote a person I will one day sing backup for: "Eat, drink, & be merry, for tomorrow we'll die." And, hopefully, the places in which you choose to do these things promote love & equality. 


End Chicken Rant.

 

 

Hello, Monday

So, I was going to weigh in on the Chick-Fil-A nonsense....But I am not feeling particularly insightful today; my strongly worded opinion, which will no doubt offend some, will have to wait until my brain can function on a productive level.

Instead I am doing something light & fun: I am linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday posting. Go check out her amazing hand stamped jewelry, accessories, & home decor. I love her work! 

My pictures for this Hello Monday's post are recent, random images from my phone. I am constantly driving my children crazy by shoving a camera in their faces. I love it.

Hello, DMB show night 2

 

Hello, Mama & big girl

Hello, searching for dragons

Hello, searching for GaGa & PooPoo

Hello, Lorax trees (aka, thistles)

                      

Hello, snacks & amazing fireworks show

Hello, vacation hangover at Aunt Helen's

Hello, rock stars & messy living room

Hello, sidewalk chalk paint

Hello, napping babies

 Hello, Bob the Builders

Chicken ranting will happen another day....

A Part of Me

The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning to music?' My answer would be, 'Yes.' And 'Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?' My answer to that would be, 'No.'

Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)

  

 

 

Many times throughout my life I have been asked "why" I listen to this song or that one, "why" I like this band. I've gotten more than a few raised eyebrows & the occasional look of pitied amusement when I tell people how my husband & I met (college band geeks). The quote above pretty much sums it up for me. Music just is.

Most of my favorite memories revolve around music. My first radio I could listen to any time I wanted. My dad singing with the radio & just staying on one note if he couldn't quite reach the higher ones (sorry, Daddy). My mom sitting on the living room floor playing her flute along with Led Zeppelin records. My grandma & her piano. Family sing alongs. KU Band Camp & the discovery of jazz. My first solo in front of a crowd at Old Settler's. Practically running, while trying to play, on the damn marching field because my legs are so short. Laying on Tom's floor in the dark, listening to whatever composer he put on the stereo. Introducing junior high kids to the wonder of Adagio for Strings. Mary Chapin Carpenter on the radio the first time I told my future husband I loved him. Listening to the boys at Step Sing & anywhere else a few gathered (my personal faves: the pirate song & that Viva song). That sweaty night in Ellis Hall. Ars Musica. Sometimes I will call a friend just to sing her part of a song we love; she always knows it's me. Johnny Hartman singing to my first baby in my belly & her calming to that same voice late at night. Luther Vandross singing to my second baby; she recognized his voice, too. 

 

The most important people in my life have come to me through our shared passion for music. There is nothing quite like   

witnessing someone so immersed in their music they simply forget the rest of the world. Hell, there's nothing like that feeling.

It's heartbreaking when the world loses someone like that; a passionate lover of music....

I believe with every ounce of my heart & soul it is up to us left here on Earth to keep that legacy, that passion, that fire for music alive & burning as bright as possible. 

 

 

 

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.

George Eliot (1819 - 1880)