The Wonder of You

It was Monday night and I had already put you to bed. I looked at the clock and I told Daddy and Bubba that it had been exactly 9 months to the minute that we first embraced your beautiful face. It had been 9 months that you first graced us with the wonder of you.

I have a book and I rarely read it to you, not because I don't like it, but because it makes me cry when I do. It talks about the wonderful night you were born. It says things like, "the moon smiled with such wonder" and "the wind whispered the sound of your name" and "not once had there been such eyes, such a nose, such silly, wiggly wonderful toes" or my favorite "Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born." This book has such true statements as innocent and elementary as they may be.

I go back to that night. I remember the pain. I remember the fight. I remember the joy. I remember the pride. I remember the overwhelming love that fluttered inside. On that wonderful, marvelous night you were born.

You are uniquely you. You have big blue eyes that turn into that shape of a rainbow when you smile. You don't just smile with your mouth but with all of your 14 pound body!

You have a little button nose that gets so full of snot that Mommy could scream. But you do all the fussing for me when I have to get that snot out!

Not that that is the only time you fuss.

But did you know that I love to hear you fuss as much as I love to hear you laugh? I do, it's true. See, your fussing tells me that you have insight. You, my little 9 month old know what you like and what you don't. You know what you want and want you could stand to live without.

Your dark, full hair makes so many, so jealous!

You love to watch your feet dangle and wiggle and flip and flop. You don't need toys as long as you have your feet!

See, my girl, you are uniquely you!

I can't count on all my fingers and toes how many hearts you bless each day. I can't fathom how many smiles you encourage along the way. I can only imagine how many prayers are prayed for you, sweet girl. The lives you fulfill are endless. The love you bring is forever.

This and so much more, my daughter, is the wonder of you.

Turkey Lurkey

As I mentioned, we had the Turkey Bowl last weekend. For those of you who don't know what that is let the pictures do the talking!

It was a beautiful day/night for some flag football. A few rain drops and out came a a rainbow!
We won the first game against some intense "adult" competition. But when we played this pink team, wow, we felt really old. They were young and several of us agreed that they ran circles around us. But we still won!!
It is not often you will catch me "in action" so enjoy! I did actually contribute with some catches and yardage this year!
The yellow team lost a few members in the 3rd game of the night. A collision that involved broken teeth and foreheads, ew! They are doing well now though.
Okay, Daniel is "warming up" but it really looks like he is wearing pantyhose and doing a dance!

Winner, winner, turkey dinner!!?? Yep, we won the Turkey Bowl. And literally, a somewhat cardboard turkey trophy. On top of that, we also won...Epsom salt baths!! Just kidding, but seriously, I could barely walk on Tuesday. They say the second day is always worse and they ain't lying!

Pictures Would Be Nice

Let's not waste anytime here. We all knew this year would be better. The last few years we have seen it on the horizon but there was still something missing. Well, this year, we found it. Our Middle Devil's have stepped out on the court and gave us that missing link. 2-1 is where we stand and it is gonna get better.

Our...let me just explain that I include myself because I am part of the team. Well, unofficially I am! My brother (aka Uncle Buck) is the head coach of our middle school boy's basketball team. I wish I could tell you how many years he has been in this position but, frankly, I don't know! Sorry, Brian. So, as I was saying, our first game was Monday a week ago and we played one of the toughest teams in the county. They have all-around good athletes and these guys came out looking like high school kids. They were tall. We played them hard and came up short on the score board.

Secondly, we played another big-name basketball team in a nearby town and they are always well-rounded on the court. This time we played our hearts out and came out on top. The boys were proud of their accomplishment but still had some work to do.

So, that gets us to tonight. We played one of the top teams around. I can recall all of our games against The Cougars being really intense. Most of them leaving us with our head's hanging. This time we showed them what we were made of. I have to admit I got there late but when I saw the scoreboard I was beyond impressed. It read 27-8. And it did, indeed, get better. The final time I read the scoreboard it read 48-29. I mean the hustle I saw in these boys was incredible. And that is one thing that you can't coach. These boys know what they want and they go for it. I have seen a lot of good games out of the Middle Devils but tonight stood out as the best. And the coach had to say this, "I could not be happier with them right now." Ha, he didn't know I was gonna quote him!

As the title of the post says a few pictures would have been nice. But did I mention that I was toting a 9 month old (as of today!!) with all her belongings *read...junk* with no help from a husband! A camera was not on the list of things to take with me. But next time I will do better, I promise.

Go Middle Devils!

The Slumps

It happens to everyone in all aspects of life. Professional athletes, writers, mothers, etc. Everyone experiences "the slumps". And, yes, yours truly is there. Right here. Right now. It is not that I have not had anything to write. I have. Lots. I have even mentally drafted a few posts and never got them down on "paper".

But I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am coming back around, slowly but surely!


Like I mentioned it is not the lack of material it is the lack of motivation. Material like Triston's first year playing basketball or my new job or the jewelry party or Daniel and his strange rash (on his face!) or Presley and the rigged Cutest Baby Contest! Whatever it may be I have lots to tell. And in all honesty will probably never get around to it all.


However, there are some things that I must get around to like my brother's basketball season starting on a good note and the Turkey Bowl (explanation to come). So, hang in there with me as I get my head out of the fog and begin sharing with you again.


For now, let these pictures of the "for real" cutest kids hold you over!!

What Have You Been Up To?

I know that is what you have been asking yourselves about us. We have been busy little bees. But for the first time in a month or so it has been a good busy, you know, all fun stuff!! Fun, fall stuff at that!!

The last few weeks have been full of parties and gatherings and events and treats!! My favorite...the treats, of course!!! To see one night of fun we had go here and then another night is over here. At least one of us had our cameras (and the time to write about our adventures)!

But I did take my camera with us to do some trick or treating Thursday night. We took the kids to the Trail of Treats that they do on the green way in town. This is the second year we have been and Tris loves it.

My brother and Presley...we have decided his name will be Uncle Buck!!

Triston and his scary ghoul costume

My lil' lady bug givin' her Bubba some suga!!

Daddy and our lady bug!

Aren't they just the cutest pair?!?!

Then on Saturday, Daniel and I met up with some friends and headed to Knoxville. We had a blast!! We ate and drove, and drove some more, and ate again, and watched the Vol Walk and the Pride of the Southland Band, and then it was game time!! Did I mention it was raining? Well, it was raining. (Even though the husbands who thought they were meteorologist said it wouldn't rain!!) But we survived it and we won, woohoo!!

Me and Daniel before having more food than we ever needed...thankfully, we walked it off!

Daniel liked what he was seeing!!

Our Vols were pumped!

Yes, we were wet and yes, we were cold...but we were smiling!!

They were really into it, huh?!

We arrived home pretty late from the game and hit the hay immediately. I am hoping that this week will give us some more rest than last week did.

However, I must admit I am a little nervous. I start my new job tomorrow. And I am not so worried about where I am working as much as I am actually performing to the best of my ability. Before leaving dentistry I was pretty good at my job. But it has been a year and a half and I am not so confident in my skill level. I am sure it will come back but it is nerve racking at this point. As far as leaving my old job, that wasn't so hard. I was chomping at the bit to get out the door on Friday and when I did I felt no regrets! I will miss the friendships I had with some of my coworkers but I am glad to get back to what I love! I will let you know how it goes.