one for me, two for you

{my moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Inspired by SouleMama

here's mine:

{my moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama

more on friendship

A culmination of events either within my own relationships or watching those around me have gotten my brain running on the topic friendship.  Maybe not even specifically friendships but how we treat people in general.  Friendships are so important in our lives; especially as women, we crave deep and meaningful ones.  If they’re so important, they should be something we are intentional about, rather than falling into haphazardly (as I do so many other things in my life) and maintaining willy nilly.  

 

I’ve been sad lately 1) because I know I haven’t been a good enough friend to people that really care about me, namely two of my best friends who now live overseas with their families.  I’m not always great about keeping up with what’s going on in their lives (and my nieces and nephews!) so far away.  Isn’t it awful when you realize you’ve been guilty of “out of sight, out of mind?”  Recently I’ve begun to feel a weight for lack of a better term, a responsibility or challenge to stay invested and to love and support the people that are most worthwhile in my life.  I have kicked myself for continuing to invest in friendships along the way, if even halfway, that were not truly rewarding but instead draining, while allowing my most meaningful friendships to wane.  I miss the depth I had with a select handful of college friends.  We were so involved in each other’s lives in a very special way.  Intimate and spiritual.  Each of those people is still in my life today, ten years later, and has walked with me through the absolute darkest times in my life.  I owe them so much more than the half-friendship I’ve offered them in the last couple of years.  Which brings me to 2) I miss having deep friendships in my life, period.  The kind of people you live life with.  Maybe this could be found in a church if I could find one that didn’t irk me on so many levels.  That’s probably something to pray for and look for, though I’m selfish with my time and energy and view that as an immense and undesirable chore.  I wish I could just pluck up all the people I love from all over the world and do church with THEM.  It saddens me too to know that even pouring into those overseas won’t bring them closer…

 

I miss my best friend.  My sister.  I miss her, and her family.  Her husband is a brother to me.  My children call her aunt.  Her children are my niece and nephew.  I will forever cherish the year we spent together before she moved across the ocean.  And the moments I will get with her when she comes to the states, her other home. 

 

I’m envious when the sweet man in my life talks about his friendships.  In his world you’re either someone he knows or you’re family.  And his handful of close friends scattered across the country are literally that, family.  I guess my close friends are the same; I’m just not nearly as intentional and consistent about keeping in touch with them.  I want to be better and do better.  I simply want to recognize the people who have truly been brothers and sisters to me over so many years and respond to their love by being a friend back to them.  I don’t want to be a selfish person.  I think I allowed the pain and confusion of the last several years of my life to isolate me and make me feel insecure and protective and almost secretive of my life and I don’t want to live that way anymore. 

 

Like my mother told me as a child, “if you want friends, you have to be a friend.”  Time to learn it, live by it, and teach it to my own.

I pledge allegiance to the flag...

This year, I attended my first Tulsa Pride Parade.  It was just one part of an epic family weekend with the urban family.  It was so exciting to bring the boys along with other families to an event that celebrates diversity in such a unique way.  I want my boys to know, from a young age, that "there is room for everyone in God's love," a quote spoken every Sunday morning at a local church I've visited several times recently.  Sadly this is a truth I embraced way too late in life, and now that I have I will never let go.

As a parent I want my children to never doubt themselves, who they are, what they want, what they think, and what they can accomplish in life.  As a Christian, I know that God's love is way bigger than most religions give him credit for.  As an American, and member of the human race, I know that all people were created equal and unique and deserve equal opportunities and celebration.  It makes me think of those words emblazoned on our memories from the Declaration of Independence,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Aidan once asked me if God was the rainbow.  I answered that people think God is a lot of different things and asked if he thought God was the rainbow.  He said, "yeah, I think that's nice," and I agreed.  The rainbow is a symbol of God's covenant with all the earth from the book of Genesis, chapter 9,

 "I am making a covenant with you and your descendants, and with the animals you brought with you -- all these birds and livestock and wild animals.  I solemnly promise never to send another flood to kill all living creatures and destroy the earth."  And God said, "I am giving you a sign as evidence of my eternal covenant with you and all living creatures.  I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth.  When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds,  and I will remember my covenant with you and with everything that lives. Never again will there be a flood that will destroy all life.  When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth."

So, when someone walked by us selling little rainbow flags, I jumped on the opportunity to buy one for Aidan and one for Alec.  I crouched down and told them this flag means that God loves them, and that they can be whoever they want to be and do everything they want to do in life, that they are special and unique, and I love them so much and will always be proud of them.

Enjoy some pictures from our adventure!

Waitin' for the parade... Ry, is that a pirate face, or just plain margarita face?   It was HOT... Thank the good Lord Jesus for goldfish! And for Aunt Brandi bringing books along in case the kids start melting down! And Uncle Ryan!
Still waiting...Um, this picture really needs no caption, but we're thankful for alcohol too.  And straws...Luh you Jer!
Luh you Brandilicious!
Here comes the parade!  So much to see, so much to celebrate.
I had chills toward the end of the parade when there were people of all different shapes, sizes, and color carrying the massive rainbow flag!
And topped off the whole night with our kids' first concert ever.  Eric and the Adams.  They were phenomenal!! 

 
Dancin' fools!  We had so much fun.  Aidie was bustin' out all the "good moves"! Shortly after this delightful experience and epic adventure, Aidan was learning the pledge of allegiance at daycare, and would often practice and recite it to people.  Several weeks went by, and one afternoon after I picked the boys up from daycare and overheard Aidie teaching Alec the pledge in the backseat.  I looked back and realized he was holding one of our little rainbow flags, and showing his little bubba how you look at the flag and put your hand over your heart when you say the pledge.

I almost cried... That's a pledge I can get behind. 

Say it with me,

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Amen.

Inspired...

i want to be ashley ann

and amanda soule

and tracey gaughran-perez

and bakerella

and holli b

and lil blue boo lady

and ms. single mama

and ree

and nie nie

and oh, so many others...

but for now i'll just be me. and today i'm inspired, and determined to figure out what i want and how to get it. and do ALL the things i love in the mean time!

love you.

love,

me.

Adventures in Tulsa - The Admiral Twin Drive-In

I love adventure.  I love discovering hidden treasures while running errands or catching wind of some festival or market happening around the corner.  I love knowing you don't have to travel far to find excitement and adventure.  Usually, my kids are my partners in crime (see Robots and Donuts saga, and our trips to the Philbrook), and now I get to drag the boyfriend along too! 

It's been since at least Jr. High youth group that I've been to the Drive-In.  Check out Pinball Rebel's blog about it - great pics!  I simply mentioned it to the boy and he was equally delighted about the idea.  Immediately, we began discussing what would be included in the picnic dinner, how we would arrange the truck for optimal comfort, etc. etc.

The day we had planned to go, ideally chosen for our mutual lack of offspring, had showers off and on and we were afraid our plans would be rained out.  Thankfully, it rained just enough to cool things off, and by the time we rolled in to our spot the skies were clear and the weather was perfect!

Here we go!

Comfort optimization of truck bed, accomplished by the layering of moving pads, pillows, and a quilt for chills when the sun goes down, check!

Snuggle worthy? Check!

See, clear skies, told you!!

Delightful picnic of grilled chicken, sliced sharp white cheddar cheese, grapes, strawberries, and crusty french bread with butter.  Sam Adams and Lindeman's Framboise in the cooler.

 
Yum!

Toy Story 3 (yes, we are adults who intentionally went to see a kids' movie without the kids, and it was delightful!) on the big screen!

 

Smiles all around.  What a fun, fun, and most perfect date!

Here's to adventure; it's everywhere!

And sometimes...

...you don't have to buy your own flowers.

Mr. Wonderful comes along and buys them for you... He often comes home from the grocery store with a handful of them and a myriad of other surprises.  He always brings them at the right time, either when the vase needs refreshing, or I do.

And they are ever so loverly.  As is he.

On Friendship

Read this blog.
 
What great provoking thoughts on friendship. My mind has been turned upside down as of late, thinking about friendships and relationships. What they mean, and don’t, what they should be but aren’t and whether or not to try to change them into something they maybe never could be. People are complex knots of hopes, dreams, emotions, fears, baggage, love and hate, and when we enter into relationship with each other we give and take all of those things. 

If only it could all be as simple as giving friendship bracelets and swapping PBJs after recess, or passing a love note that says, “check YES or NO.” 

To be continued…

 

Alphabet Soup

1. Luna bars have absolutely become one of my MOST favorite things.
2. So have Mod’s Crepes…and gelato, but I’m bummed that I STILL haven’t tasted peanut
   butter cup, which is the flavor I suggested to Rusty the owner. I have a whole separate post I need to do on Mod’s alone.
3. And Elote.
4. And Boomtown Tees.
5. I never caught up on Grey's Anatomy, or Heroes, or SYTYCD.  Is Heroes even still on?
6. Do you have any idea how many blog topics I have in my head to do that I still haven’t done? 
   Maybe I should do a whole post and just list the ones I need to do. Still haven’t done “When you just can’t take any more B-O-O-T-S, BOOTS!” which I promised you long ago…
7. Have you read or listened to Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover”? Or taken a
   Financial Peace seminar? If you haven’t, you should. Now. This should be required instead of premarital counseling. Period. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!
8. If I just made a point to visit all of my favorite people on the planet (along with other people of
   connectedness), I’d have some killer vacays lined up. You know what’s waiting for me? New York, New York again, Connecticut, San Antonio, Galveston, Flahrida, Hawaii, Bangkok, Tibet, Nice (now 2 blocks from the Mediterranean, thanks for rubbing it in Megs!). Did I
   forget anyone?? Hence #6 and vacay cookie jars.
9. There are JUST too many things I want to do and see and accomplish, and not nearly enough time in the day.
10. confession: I still haven’t finished my kitchen cabinets.
11. confession: I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t do and started 3 other projects before finishing the
    kitchen cabinets.
12. defense: I couldn’t help myself!!
13. Did you know there were meteor showers last week?  Apparently the best time to
    watch is about 3am. I was tempted to set my alarm, but opted for sleep, and I'm glad because Mel said she DID and went outside and never saw a thing!  Boo!
14. My Baby turned THREE this year, and my Aidie starts pre-K in less than 2 weeks. What is this world coming to?! Omg, and my nephew is riding the BUS to school this
    year. Seriously, universe, just rip my heart out why don’t you?!
15. I used to think decorating with a “Paris” theme was kinda silly. I don’t anymore.
16. I have a few acronyms I adore.  And I love saying them in conversation. The acronyms, not the
    phrases they stand for: OMG, PTL, BTW. PS, WTF, BFF, PFS…and OMFG on really special occasions.
17. I didn’t realize until recently how much I use exclamation points. Apparently I’m excited ALL the time…!!!!!

This post looks really terrible without the numbered list it was intended to be...#editingnightmare.  Hence the title.
 
That’s it for today, folks. More to come…once
I wade through some of these projects…PROMISE!!
 


 

there may be weeds, but the hostas are blooming!

Just when things seem hectic in life, I am often reminded to stop and smell the roses, and take note of the beauty and blessings surrounding me in various forms. 

Let's do a little recap.  In the last three weeks the following have occured:

1. I invited my brother to a Robert Plant concert (phenomenal experience = understatement of the year) to which I thought I had purchased tickets, only to show up at will call with no record of my reservation or payment.  Embarrasing! 

2. I also endured a pimple/bugbite/bee sting thing on my FOREHEAD that caused my entire face to swell to the point of bruising, requiring two antibiotic prescriptions and Lortab. 

3. Massive heat rash covering about 2/3 of my body (presently). 

4. Unexpected medical expenses, another dry spell of a certain kind of monthly payment from a certain kind of ex something-or-other (not mentioning any names), and other not so smart financial decisions that have made me feel the squeeze of low budget living the last couple of months (ramen anyone?). 

5. My four year old literally pulling a chunk of my kitchen wall off (lovely for my rent deposit). 

6. Air conditioner freezing solid to the air filter.  That was a hot and sticky night as we slept with the air off so it could melt.

7. Pieces of my car dragging and falling off on the highway, as well as having to roll down the window every time I need to get out of my car because something's messed up with the handle mechanism.  Yes, I'm still slowly adhering to the list, and have made an appointment for THIS Saturday with the dealership to have a full tune up and check out my "issues."

8. Undertaking the painstaking cabinet painting project, also on the list, the promptly getting distracted by the many things in life and watching it go unfinished every day, which is driving me crazy!

 

You know...I could go on and on about all of the ludicrous things that happen to me on a daily and weekly basis, but I'll spare you.  Let's just say my life is pretty haphazard to say the LEAST!  But in the midst of that, there are sweet things happening with my children, road trips and other surprise adventures everywhere (be on the lookout for our caterpillar investigatory reporting!), precious blooming relationships and friendships, new inspiration and hope for dreams that have been burning within me for years, and of course, blooming hostas in my flowerbed, where yes, the cats are still pooping...

There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, friends, and often many stars along the way.  Here's to the blooms, and the weeds that make them possible!