Best Visit EVER!!

Seriously, it was! This was the most relaxed, enjoyable, but yet still doing lots of vacation stuff with my parents here. We did so much and yet it was never rushed. We went to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and saw an alligator show. We had dinner with Mr. Jarrett and got him to sign books for us. We went to Savannah, Fort Pulaski, the beach. We hung out at the house and ran errands and just enjoyed being together. I just really, really enjoyed being with my family and my parents.
As if that wasn't enough, one of my friends just posted this beautiful blog entry about her newest addition to the family and her joy at motherhood. I'm so grateful to be a mother and to have my mother. I'm just so happy and enjoyed the past few days so much. We miss them already, but that's what makes the moments so sweet.
Love you, Mom and Dad!! I'd love to spend all of my birthdays with you!

Yes, she's sinking!! And enjoying every minute of it!! The girls braved the wind to play in the ocean.

Look closely at this picture to know why I put it on here...there is a unique architectural feature in there. Something to do with a carousel horse.

Just a Memo

I like my house to be clean. It isn't always spic and span, but it is never really bad. Anyway, for the past two years, the house has been on the market, so I have to keep it in even better condition than the normal Jack and Jane American. Someone called me today and asked what I was doing. I replied that I was tidying up the house. She said, "Again? Your house is always clean." Um, yep. That's what happens when you clean and tidy. And, it is especially important when you are trying to sell your house. At any given hour I could have someone in my doors wanting to visualize the space. The less clutter, the better for this activity.
So, if you have a problem with me "always" cleaning my house, STOP CALLING!! Obviously you call too often if you know how frequently I clean. And, PS, my parents are coming into town. I'd like them to have a nice and clean place to be while they are here.
Okay, vent done.

Caterpillars and Bubbles

What is Spring without bubbles and caterpillars?
Gianna and I have had fun the last few days by enjoying both of these things (though, the caterpillars have been "enjoyed" more by me by having them NOT touch me).
She kept one caterpillar for a couple of days. It became her pet and she has loved on this thing like it was a cat or something. Tragedy of all tragedies occurred today as she was skipping through the house with the "pet" on her arm. He slipped off and went splat...right under her shoe. The poor child was horrified that she had killed her own pet! I was trying to be consoling, but it was rather funny at the same time.
Now we are blowing bubbles and she has identified different types of bubbles. My favorite is when two bubbles are joined together, it creates what she calls a "hippo". Hilarious! I love it.

Two Seasons: Hot and Less Hot

I know this isn't supposed to be "normal" weather in Georgia. However, over the course of the past twelve months, we have had two seasons: Hot and Less Hot. We are currently experiencing Less Hot, although by some people's standards this may qualify as Hot. It's not. Hot happens when the temperatures rise above 100. Anything less is simply Less Hot. Of course, we did have a few days of Cold, but again, that is relative to our own weather and not indicative of what others in the world may experience and count as being such.
And, in case anyone has followed the simple indicator of my attire, I still wear a light sweater indoors (because people are crazy with their AC) and in the evenings. Therefore, it is the season of Less Hot.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Serious. Say "Hello!" because this little friend is here to STAY! Eric came across a website a couple weeks ago and found that our school district was getting rid of some old pianos. Since we have a goal to move and that means my current piano I have (thank you, BETH!!) will not be traveling with us, we thought we should start shopping around for a piano. Who knew we'd find one that quick!
Anyway, the story is worth telling. We took a friend who works on pianos (read, has great expectations in a piano). He gave his recommendations and we bid. Of course, he felt that what was available wasn't worth a penny and told us not to waste our time. We, obviously, didn't actually listen to him. We bid on one piano he recommended and another he didn't give the time of day. The second piano had suffered unknown damage and was in quite a terrible state. We bid on it ONLY to get the piano trucks off it and to use them on the "better" piano since it was the only piano with a set of working wheels.
Well, we won both of those auctions and brought the babies home today. With a bit of TLC and elbow grease, the pianos look SO much better. AND, the big surprise...we chose to keep the poor, greasy, water damaged piano (you know, the one we only bid on because of the piano trucks). Turns out we like it better and will be giving the second piano to a family member. Who knew such a treasure was under all of that mess! (Eric has plans to refinish it, too, but for now, it sounds pretty good and looks incredible for how it started out.)
For $10, we are going to have a lot of fun with this piano and are super happy!!

A Goal Complete: Order Your Copy Today!

Mr. Jarrett and I are finished. Completely. We won't do any more changes. So, now you all can purchase your own copy of his autobiography and find out why it was so interesting for me to work on it and get to know this man!
But how would I find this book, you ask. Easy!! Here's the link. Just click on it and it will take you to the website. Order and enjoy!!

http://www.thebookpatch.com/BookStoreDetails.aspx?BookID=5840&ID=f704c6ba-99c7-4a7e-864c-023c18dcde8f

"Imagine"

Yes, "Imagine," as in the John Lennon song. I always thought I liked the song, but recently, I've found that there is something in it that I'm opposed to.
It's this:
"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace"
See, I don't think that religion is the culprit here. In my faith, we are supposed to view each other as brother and sister. We, as a world family, are supposed to learn to get along with each other and to serve one another. Peace, therefore, ensuing. HOWEVER, and it is a BIG however, I believe that the "natural man" syndrome gets in the way. Now, if John Lennon could have changed those lyrics to imagine that there was no greed, no corruption, no forcing individuals into the same way of thinking and acting upon the world, okay. I can roll with that.
I feel that removing religion is not the answer. Teaching people to truly love each other is a much better answer. Isn't it easy to love an individual who is similar to you? How much harder (and more commendable) to love those who are NOT similar. I really appreciate those with different approaches to thinking because it helps ME to think and also rethink the way I have viewed things. It challenges me and creates a better and more diverse world, not an assimilated one.
So, John, don't imagine such atrocities. Instead, imagine the ultimate: where people can set aside their differences BY CHOICE, and live in harmony with each other. For me, that isn't hard to imagine, especially seeing the circle of friends I have and that they vary quite differently in many ways from myself, yet there is always one connecting factor of taste/interest/world view or whatever it may be, it is only a part and not the whole.
And as a man by the name of Dr. Benjamin Carson has recently stated, "The emphasis should be on learning to be respectful of people with whom they disagree.”

Her First Lost Tooth

In our home, we've been discussing how to refer to the missing spot in one's mouth after losing a tooth because....Emily lost her first tooth!!
I can't believe we've reach this stage already. It's funny how much of a mother's time is spent in nostalgia. It isn't that I need to relive those years, but it would be pretty awesome to have some video recording so I could replay those moments.
I now have a "medium" child and a "little" child. Apparently you become "medium" when you start losing your teeth.
It's hard to imagine being a happier mother than I already am. I look forward to what the future brings and these beautiful children who help me remember what it is to be a child and to continue discovering the world and experiencing life.