Tis the Season....

Here we are another year has evaporated. I wish I could find the brakes on life. I would really like to slow it down just a bit. But c'est la vie....Thanksgiving was wonderful. My paternal grandmother was able to be at our house which made me very happy. 

Chris, Allison and I embarked on our yearly tradition of going to the local Christmas tree farm the day after Thanksgiving to pick the perfect tree.   We were successful and the decorating commenced. I sort of like that Thanksgiving was early this year. I feel like I'm ahead on getting things done for the holidays rather than the usual feeling of "hurry up" because I'm behind. It is really looking a lot like Christmas around our house. 

We have been big kids the last couple of weeks too. I think we have managed to watch every Christmas cartoon that has come on network television and have the DVR set to record the ones we might miss because of other things we have to do. Of course, the season is not complete without viewing National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation at least once. CHECK...that's done. And, of course, A Christmas Story will be viewed on Christmas day. 

Shopping is almost finished. Yay! Christmas cards must be mailed this week. I'm slowly ticking down the list. The Christmas parties begin this weekend and pretty much go each weekend until Christmas. They will be a good time though. Family and friends are always a good time. However, this Christmas will be one member of my family short. My uncle passed away last week. May he rest in peace. He will be missed. I love you Uncle Rickey.  May your first Christmas in heaven be a most glorious occasion! What better way to celebrate Christmas than with Jesus?!?

It's been a minute...

Well October came and went in the blink of an eye. I'm telling you time just seems to go by faster and faster as I get older. October was a busy month too. Allison's last high school homecoming, friends got married, the ZBB had their annual Southern Ground Music and Food Festival in Charleston, traveled to Greenville to see our good friends the Southern Boys Band open for Blackberry Smoke (very cool) and my most favorite holiday, Halloween!!  November started with a bang too. CMAs in Nashville, college tours at Alabama, Auburn and Vanderbilt with Allison and Thanksgiving preparations began last weekend. I suspect that things will not slow down until well after Christmas. December is already full of parties and family gatherings. 

As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded that I have so much in which to be thankful. Healthy and happy children, a fantastic husband, my parents are back in our hometown, I have a good job and a boss that is great, unbelievably awesome friends and, though my life is far from perfect, I am at peace.  I am truly happy and extremely thankful.  

I had never fully understood what it meant to "choose happiness" until I actually started doing just that...Happy Thanksgiving....

Happy Halloween Y'all!!

Happy Halloween Y'all!!! I cannot explain why it is that I love October and Halloween so much but I do. Maybe it's the inner child in me that is determined to never grow up. I am so NOT a fan of Fall but from October 1st until Halloween I am giddy with excitement. When my girls were little I was the mom that made ghosts out of blow pops and goody bags for handing out to the kids in their classrooms at school. When the girls were little we lived in a neighborhood that was THE place to trick-or-treat. I loved going to the door and handing out candy and seeing all of the cute costumes.  Oh and I LOVE to decorate for Halloween too!! I'm so glad that Chris loves that I'm kooky!! Just one of the many, many reasons that I love him so much!!

Home...

Home has many meanings to many different people. Home could be where you live currently, it could be the city where you were born or it could be the place where the majority of your relatives inhabit. For me, the photo in this blog is home. I only lived in this house for four years when I was a child, but the memories made there have lasted a lifetime. When my dad's job transferred him to another city my paternal grandparents purchased the property. So this house has been in our family for 37 years. When I go to visit I become the little girl who once lived there. I can picture exactly where my swing set sat and were my daddy grew his garden every year. There used to be a very large oak tree in the yard that had a tire swing hanging from it and on lazy Sunday afternoons my daddy would sit me in his lap behind the wheel of his pick-up truck and let me drive the quiet country road that ran in front of our house.  I remember breezy summers sitting on the porch sipping lemonade, holidays with my family who came to spend the night and the festivities becoming a big slumber party.  Dropping in to visit my grandparents holds dear memories too.  Cookouts, holidays and family reunions filled the house with laughter and happiness.

It is bittersweet when I visit now. The life that once poured from this place is slowly drifting away. My grandfather passed several years ago and I no longer feel his presence when I visit.  There will come a day when my grandmother is no longer there. I'm not sure what will happen to this place when the time comes. It is my hope that it will stay in the family, if for no other reason, because we love it so. 

The house has a story all it's own. I keep telling myself that one day I'm going to take the time to search the public records of the town and learn the details. All I really know is that it is well over 100 years old and that a doctor built it those many, many years ago. As a child, (and now) I would walk the halls and wonder about the early life of such a wonderful and beloved structure. I truly wish the walls could talk. 

Not much to say...

The Month of "Holly" is well under way and the girls' summer break is rapidly coming to a close. Alabama football will be in full swing very soon and the sweet wife Chris knows will disappear every Saturday until the end of college football season! Roll Tide!! 

Summer has been super busy. Work, travel, and house-hunting for/with my parents. Also, my domestic endeavors have continued to be a source of longing for the whole "Donna Reed Show" way of life.  Over the last couple of weeks I have been reminded several times that Christmas will be here before we know it. So, much to my dismay, I succumb to my overly organized, excel spreadsheet, obsessive compulsive tendencies and started my Christmas shopping list. Believe me when I say I am not happy about planning the holidays when it is only August. But, c'est la vie...

Past life....

Oh how I long for a time that I have never experienced. I often say that I was born in the wrong decade. I miss a more simple time. To say "I miss a more simple time"  is funny to me because how can I miss a time that occurred before I was even born? A time when the husband/father went to work and the wife/mother was a homemaker. A time when everyone had a garden and a clothes line in their yard. A time when kids played until well after dark and caught lightening bugs to put in a mason jar. A time when life seemed to move at a much slower pace. Yes, I guess I would like to live in a "Leave It to Beaver" episode. However, since the 1950's can no longer exist, I will make the most of trying to capture some simplicity in my life. I am on a quest to preserve those things that I remember my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother doing every summer. They would (as they called it) "put up" vegetables so we would have fresh ones to cook during the winter. I have such fond memories of snapping beans, shucking corn and shelling peas. I went several years ago and spent the weekend with my grandmother learning how to make homemade pepper sauce. It thrilled me to have her teach me something she had learned from her mother. With technology being what it is today, I know these recipes can be found online but it meant so much more having her to teach me rather than reading it off of an internet page.  

Nesting mode happens to me twice a year. Now and during the holidays. Right now all I want to do is go to the Farmer's Market, cook fresh veggies, plant stuff and create. A dear friend gave me some bread starter last week. I have been feeding it and made my first batch of fresh bread tonight. It was so good. I had visions in my head of a time when making bread was the norm not a novelty. You know...the scene where the bread or pie is sitting in the window with a checked cloth over it while it cools. 

I often catch myself saying "if I had the time" I would do this or that. I realized tonight that I do have the time. I just need to reorganize it. 

Sleep...What's That?!?

June is flying by so fast. Before I know it the summer will be gone. Where to begin...well, early this month I followed my sweet boy to Bangor, Maine. This was my first trip to Maine and I cannot wait to go back. It was absolutely beautiful there. I finally got to meet several Zamily members at a luncheon I attended. They were awesome (you know who you are!) The entire trip was an adventure from beginning to end. My flight out of Birmingham was cancelled, managed to get on another, my connecting flight was delayed and upon final arrival to Bangor I was informed that I would be staying at a "haunted" Inn.  The Inn was adorable though. Chris and I were able to visit with a dear friend from our high school days before the show on Saturday. We really enjoyed being able to catch up with her. The ZBB show was incredible as always in spite of the fact that I was freezing through its entirety. The adventure continued as I travelled home. More delays but the cool thing was that Chris made it home before I did and was waiting for me at the airport (a total role reversal). No rest for the weary...the following week was the CMT Awards and CMA Fest. Run..run..run. Actually, it's hurry up and wait. Anyway, lots of fun. 

I thought my fun was over for a minute after returning from Nashville when......Allison (who NEVER wants to go to anything ZBB) asks to go to BamaJam. No biggie. Enterprise, Alabama is only 3 hours from Birmingham. Soooo, we loaded up Chris and headed South. Now remember, I am also working a full-time job while having all of this fun. I AM EXHAUSTED!! 

The girls have discovered the show "Supernatural" and have been trying to catch up on episodes via Netflix before the Fall season begins. This translates into me and Chris being hooked on the show too. Family time is now between 11pm and 2am. Have I mentioned that "sleep" no longer exists in my schedule? I have, what I now refer to as, long naps. 

Finally, as my routine is getting sort of back to normal, I came in from work today to find my sweet husband mopping our kitchen floor. Ladies, be jealous....be very jealous! I have the perfect man....

School, Pampered Chef and an Anniversary....

FINALLY!!! The school year is officially over for Ashley and Allison. I have no idea who is more exhausted. Them or me! I cannot believe that Allison is going to be a senior in high school next year. This is my last true summer with her and next year will be so busy. I plan to enjoy every minute with her. I have felt very nostalgic lately with regard to my girls. I am so proud of the young ladies they have become but a bit melancholy that they are not little anymore.  However, I am ready for our next adventure!

Last week Chris and I hosted a Pampered Chef party. I normally have a PC party in the Spring. They are usually a great success and this one was no different. Lots of fun and good food. Chris was to sweet. He actually placed his own order to help me with getting more "free" product from PC (truthfully, he wanted to make sure that he got the goodies he wanted). I'm most excited to be getting some more fantastic tools for cooking!

This week (May 22 to be exact) Chris and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. It was a great day! I have to pinch myself sometimes in order to realize that the fairy tale is real. I am also volleying for "best wife ever" as Chris' gift from me was a hammock for two. He isn't fully convinced that I didn't buy it for myself! The last couple of evenings have been so relaxing laying with him in "Our Happy Place." We are in complete agreement that our home is our refuge and solitude from the busy pace of life. So what better addition to our home than something we can use together to facilitate tranquility? Chris has already won "best husband ever" by just being himself and being so completely wonderful to me and the girls but he further solidified his position by giving me a shiny pretty for our anniversary.  Oh how I do so love my sweet boy!!! 

California, NHS, Hedgehogs and Exhaustion....

I know it has been a hot minute since I last blogged. However, I have been busy lately following Chris out on the road, working and helping the girls bring their school year to a close. I have changed time zones so many times in the last few weeks that my body clock has no clue what time it is and I would love to just sleep an entire day. Alas, I will not be sleeping all day any time soon. I seriously do not know how Chris travels like he does AND plays a show AND then comes home to yard work and household "man" chores. He is Superman!!

I followed him to California a couple of weeks ago. This is the third or fourth time I have been there and have seen very little of the state. (Note to self: take an actual vacation to California) I ate at an "In-N-Out Burger" in L.A. If you have never had a Milo's burger or a burger from Mcguire's in Pensacola, FL then it was good.  The weekend was a wonderful adventure with my sweet boy. We saw some old friends and some new ones. We really enjoyed every minute of getting to visit with them all. When I got home it was right back to work. I love my job and have a fantastic boss so getting to travel is even more enjoyable!

Last week was eventful as well. Allison was officially tapped into the National Honor Society. She has worked so hard for the honor. I am so proud of her but a little bit proud of me too!! ;-) The school year is drawing to an end and both of my girls are exhausted. Projects, papers, tests and study groups seem to be the theme of their week until mid-May.

Saturday has been slated as "Get Allison a Hedgehog Day."  So we are ending a very busy week with a trip to Dodge City, AL. Somewhere in there I have to squeeze in cleaning house and doing laundry. I'm starting to think that a fairy godmother is in order!

Have I mentioned that I'm exhausted?

Vegas, Friends and An Award Show.....

Whew!!! What a weekend!! I survived my first trip to Las Vegas. And I do believe I will require a return visit. I never left Mandalay Bay and would like to go back and sight-see. Chris was very busy rehearsing for the ACM Fan Jam so I was left with some time to burn. As it turns out, some friends of ours had coincidentally planned a trip to Vegas for the same weekend. So we all got together and I have not laughed that hard in a while. Thank you Matt, Laura and Alyson for being hilarious!!! 

As I sit here reflecting on the weekend, I'm thinking that the best part by far was getting to spend it with my sweet husband. Even though it was rushed and he was busy those few moments of quality-time here and there made the trip special. 

For those who might be wondering, I TOTALLY forgot to take my camera so no pictures :(  I guess if there isn't any photographic evidence what happened in Vegas really will stay in Vegas!?!

Take Your Wife To Work.......

I know it has been a hot minute since I last blogged. Have been busy with work, the girls, Chris and life. Last weekend I was lucky enough to get to travel with Chris. Getting to go with him is not something that happens often and especially not for an entire run. In short, it was a blast!!! We left Thursday night and headed to Atlanta to catch the band bus. It was so odd getting into the truck with him. I'm usually standing at the door waving goodbye as he disappears into the distance.

The weekend began in Columbia, S.C. and ended in Richmond, VA.  I had the privilege of seeing three ZBB shows and I'm not sure how they do it but each show was, in some way, better than the one before it. I have said a million times before that I never tire of watching Chris play. And this time was no different. At each show, I found my perch just off stage and was glued to all the energy happening before me. 

Chris and I were able to visit with some of his family while in Columbia, as well as, a couple of very dear friends. Getting to see people that we know and love is always a bonus for me. On Sunday, in Richmond, we participated in a fan club (Zamily) lunch gathering.  I was able to finally meet some really awesome people with whom I had only corresponded via Facebook. It was a really good time.

The greatest thing about getting to go out on the road with Chris is that it gives me an understanding of his job on a functional level. I hang out and get to absorb what a work day is like for him. There are a few differences because I'm there of course. However, on a basic level, I get it.  Anywho, I cannot wait to do it again!!

Happiness is Being Married to Your Best Friend

Well tour season is gearing up and this translates into Chris being away a good bit of the time. As I was driving home from work today I was pondering this fact. (It's funny how random things just pop into my head sometimes.)  My mind drifted to the relationship that Chris and I share. And while I am no expert on the subject of relationships, I do have some life experiences to bring to the table and realizations that make this topic easy for me to talk and write about.  As I was driving, I was thinking about the things that make our relationship tick. The good, the not so good and well, all of it. And I had a epiphany that some will understand and others will not but follow along if you can. There are several things that make what Chris and I share beautiful. A couple are that we can finish each other's sentences or that we can convey love without ever having to utter the words "I love you." But one of the things that really lets us both know that we are with the right person is that we miss each other. We have all had times when we have been parted from a loved one and have missed them but what I am describing is what most couples do not get to experience. Every time Chris leaves to go on the road it presents a set of circumstances in which we miss each other terribly and just a few days apart creates a level of anticipation in each of us awaiting the moment of his return. It seems as if our relationship is always being renewed. I guess what I'm saying is we never fall into the rut of routine that so many marriages fall into. I'm not saying routine is not a good thing but what I am saying is sometimes we get so settled that we begin to take things for granted. We miss the small things that bring us happiness because we are to busy with other stuff or we unknowingly ignore each other's needs because there is always later. For me and Chris, there isn't always a later. It's now. 

Being with the right person is beyond important. If the relationship is not solid there are larger obstacles to be hurdled. I have recommended this book to everyone who will listen to me rave on about it but it changed the way I look at every relationship in my life.  "The Five Love Languages" by Dr. Gary Chapman. Do yourself a favor and read it. I mean READ it! And if you don't get it the first time, read it again. 

Chris and I receive the sweetest compliments all the time about how inspiring our relationship is to others. One key fact that some know and others may not is that we have been the very best of friends since we were kids. As I get older and the longer Chris and I are together there is nothing that I believe more than happiness is being married to your best friend. He is the first person with whom I want to share good, bad, happy or sad news. He is the first person I think about when I wake up and last I think about before I go to sleep. With the exception of God, Chris is the most important man in my life. It's turning out to be a fabulous time growing old with my best friend!

Not Much Going On...

It has been a minute since my last blog entry and to be honest I really don't have anything to share right now. I make a real effort to keep my posts positive, encouraging or simply informative. So with that in mind, if I don't feel like what I have to say accommodates one of those three then I don't write. Trust me. I always have something to say and definitely have an opinion on most everything.  However, that doesn't necessarily mean that I should always share.

One tidbit of recent news I'm happy to share is that I will be traveling overseas with my daughter Allison upon completion of her senior year in high school next year.  We are very excited. I also entered her into a spokesmodel competition with the photography company that takes senior pictures for her high school and she was chosen. Exciting stuff!

We have tickets to see Jimmy Buffet this weekend! I have never been to a Buffet concert so I'm pretty excited about it AND we are going with a group of wonderful friends. It should be a good time. I'm threatening Chris with matching hula skirts and coconut bikini tops for us. He tried to tell me that he "misplaced" his coconut bikini top but I told him "not to worry, I can run to the grocery store and have you another whipped up in a jiff." We are so silly!

Ooo....another little something going on is YARD WORK!! Chris and our good friends the Baileys have been kicking much tail in getting our yard ready for the summer. We are also finally going to paint Ashley's bedroom. I have a constant project list going with regard to things I want to do inside the house.

Well I guess that's it. Not much going on......

Hope....

Ever had one of those days that you weren't in a bad mood but you weren't really in a good mood either? One of those days where you don't understand why things happen they way they do or why people act a certain way. A day when you question every single decision you have ever made. I don't have those days often but sometimes I do. When this happens something else most spectacular happens. God sends encouragement to me and then everything is put back into perspective and my world makes sense again. 

Today was my "one of those days" and, true to form, God sent me a message via a dear friend and as I was reading the story below things became very clear to me and my day was instantly better and my attitude changed. Thank you to the sweet friend that sent this to me and thank you God for knowing I needed encouragement. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did:

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God,  had a slave who, in all circumstances would always say “my king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect. He makes no  mistakes!”

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild  animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not  prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and  without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman asked

      "Is  God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."

       The slave replied:

      "My king, despite all these  things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows why these things  happened. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"

       Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

       Later, the King left for another hunt, this time alone.  He was captured by savages who engaged in human sacrifices. On the altar and ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages discovered that their victim did not have one of his fingers. According to them, only a whole person with all his/her parts intact could be offered to the gods. The  King without a finger was deemed an abominable sacrifice for their gods. So they released the King.

       Upon his return to the palace, the King  authorized the release of his slave. He received the slave affectionately.

      He asked his slave, "my dear, God was really good  to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I  was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put  you in jail?"

       The slave answered, "my King, if I had gone  with you on this hunt, I would have been sacrificed instead because I have no  missing finger. Remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong. He  made you keep me in jail so I would not be with you on the hunt."

      

       Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

       Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

       Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and  ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!

      You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows,  because He

never makes mistakes.......

       The path of God  and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the way of

all those who trust in Him...

2012...

2012 is in full swing. Chris, the girls and I are busy, busy, busy. Work and school are back in high gear and life is back to normal. Being the planner that I am, I have already begun thinking about Spring cleaning and re-arranging. But first, Allison's 17th birthday is on Friday. UGH!! Where did the time go? This time 17 years ago I was anxiously awaiting her arrival. Ashley was 3 1/2 and ready to be a big sister.  Oh how I do miss that time....well maybe not the pregnant part but I do miss little ones. 

Chris has some time off in February sooooooo the "honey do" list is ready for him to tackle while he's home.  Of course, I might be able to help him with some of it since my dear sweet husband gave me my very on ladies tool kit for Christmas and it's PINK!!! I was so excited when I opened it because I have been asking for a pink tool kit for months. It's perfect. I'm always looking for a screwdriver or hammer and now I have my very own! LOL! We have some fun planned while he's home too. It won't be all work and no play. My cousin, her husband and their sweet baby are coming from Atlanta for a visit. I'm really excited to get to spend some time with them. It has been a while since we have been able to hang out. 

2012 is shaping up to be a good one and promises to be a busy one too!! 

Perfection...

Through age and experience, I have come to realize that people are going make choices that I may not agree with and they may have points of view that I do not share. However, this is part of what makes us individuals.  I think life has thrown some curveballs at me in order to show me that people are not perfect  and most especially, neither am I. However, if I love God I must afford these people the kindness and mercy that God gives to me each and every day. None of us are perfect and none of us are worthy of His divine love but He gives it to us unconditionally and without hesitation. Now does this mean that I force myself to be the best friend to every person I know....of course, NOT.  

If someone is deliberately unkind to me I do not hate them. I pray for them. I will distance myself from them because I am not going to allow myself to be mistreated. And I am aware that those who set out to steal my joy have lost their own. These same people fail to recognize that they are in control of their own happiness and should only be concerned with such. I have also found that nothing irritates people more than being polite. 

Chris, I love you and thank you for loving me in spite of my imperfections!!

Happy New Year!!!

2012 is off to a fantastic start!! This has been a wonderful weekend. ZBB in Nashville kicked off the fun and it wrapped up with the ZBB New Year's Eve show in Atlanta....well actually it was wrapped up with a trip to a 24 hour diner with some amazing and very funny friends. I must say the highlight of the entire adventure was getting to share my New Year's kiss with my sweet, sweet husband. I was initially concerned that we might miss this yearly tradition because he was performing; however, just before the stroke of midnight the guys stopped playing.  I hurried to the stage and climbed up on, what seemed to me to be, the highest drum-riser ever (it was a little scary up that high), and counted down "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy New Year" then kissed my soul-mate, best friend and the other half of my heart. Ahhhhh.......it was a great night!!!  After the show we were starving. We decided, along with several of our friends, to search for food. The only thing open was a 24 hour diner a few blocks from our hotel. I will not bore you with the details but I have not laughed that hard in a minute. The walk was funny, the wait at the diner was funny, sitting at the table was funny and getting back to the hotel was funny. For the better part of 3 hours I felt as if I was living a sitcom!! I do so love my friends!!

This has been a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year!!!