Smiles

Here is something else that makes me smile:

Brendan is so cute. This is us going shopping. He loves to shop! Just like his Dad!!

Walking

I have walked to work twice this week. Today, it is pouring rain, but I walked anyway. It felt good to get out there and stretch my legs. I want to be able to actually do some hiking when we go to the Smoky Mountains this August. I don't want to be the one to hold the group back. So I am going to keep walking.
But beyond that...on my walks I have been taking my own advice. Today, I stopped by my neighbor's yard. Their yard is so gorgeous. They spend so much time working in it with pride and it shows. (I actually stopped one day while out walking when I spotted the Mr. in the yard and told him I really appreciated all the hard work they put in. It's absolutely beautiful. He just smiled). They have a beautiful rose bush right next to the fence. It is in full bloom and so lovely. The perfume of the blooms just transported me. I had to stop and just breathe in deep.
As I continued my walk under my umbrella, I came across a number of people driving along, looking frumpy. After all, it is raining and gray out. I hope the smiles I gave to each and every one brightened their day. A few even smiled back...I may have changed a mood today...that makes me smile...

Thankful

A friend sent this to me today. I thought it was very sweet. I know that we take a lot for granted, so I am sharing this with you, my faithful readers (all one of you!):

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING, AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


And I am thankful:

For a husband that even though he comes home late most evenings, HE COMES HOME.
For kids that irritate me with their energy because they are healthy!
For friends that listen to me complain and laugh with me for all the stupid things that happen to my life mostly because of my own doing.
For having a place to come to everyday and make a little money to help pay for my kids activities. They would be miserable without them.
For having a place to lay my head down every night and not worry that I will be shot while I'm sleeping.
And so many other things...

Positivity

I was lying on my bed this morning after the kids got on the bus thinking about stuff. Nothing heavy, just plans for the day, what I would be wearing, if I would be able to get to the bank, you know, normal stuff. Randy asked me what I was thinkin' 'bout. And it occurred to me that a lot of my time I spend thinking about stuff. And not doing. And then I started thinking about this little blog of mine. I definitely took a turn for the dark side there for a while. I think that the winter does it to me. I get so depressed sometimes. That is probably why I love the spring so much...you know, re-birth and all that. This is not to say that there are no issues in my head. Oh, no, no. That is not true. There are many things that bother me, but I am not going to allow them to rule my life any longer.

Do I want to tell my m-i-l off? Of course! But I'm not going to. Do I want to kick someone's butt for not getting me anything for mother's day? Yes, but again; I'm not going to. There's no point in it. I get myself all in a tizzy about stupid crap. It's not worth the drain to my psyche.

So this morning I did something positive. I walked to work. Oh, yes, walked. It's just over a mile and it's all uphill (only one way, geez!). It took me about 17 minutes and I was hot and sweaty when I got here. But the amazing thing was how I felt. It's a beautiful day: Blue skies, light breeze, warm air, blooming trees and flowers. Gorgeous! How can you not feel great when you can walk in that beauty?!? How many times do you just drive by in a hurry to get to your next thing? I do it. Cam's gotta go to work, we have a band meeting, we have this, we have to do that. With the good weather, we should all take the time to enjoy it. You never know when it can all be taken away.

Stop and smell the roses...and lillies...and mums...and jasmine...and whatever else may be blooming in your neighborhood.

Mother's Day

How can you not smile when you see these two? Just a small reason why I am so blessed...

My boys...

And my oldest...

I couldn't ask for more beautiful children. Not only are they intelligent, attractive and thoughtful, but they are healthy and so much fun to be around.

Thank you babies for enriching my life...

Random goofiness

Are you really serious? Do you really think you become invisible when you are inside your car? I mean, come on...get a tissue or something. There's nothing quite like driving by someone at an intersection and they are mining their nose like they might find buried treasure! WTF??

And, what of those folks that beep at you at a stop sign?! Do they really think I am just sitting there to inconvenience them? I just couldn't possibly be stopped AT A STOP SIGN because there might be traffic coming down the road. I especially love this when the person behind me cannot see past me and my mighty minivan!

I have no hope for the intelligence of this world! (Well, maybe I do...it's just funny!)

Good things

You know, I realized that I mostly blog about crap in my life. So here is a short post about something absolutely awesome that has happened in our lives!

My oldest children have been part of a fantastic marching band. Most of the people I know already know the details:

18 Kentucky State Championships
1 Bands of America Regional Championship (2007)
2 Bands of America National Championships (2005 and 2007)

They are hard-working and dedicated. They really bust their butts to be the best of the best and it shows in everything they do. But here is the ultimate dream: Mr. Tim Allen, band director extraordinaire, wanted to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Of course, he thought they would never look at our tiny little small town band even with all the accolades. But with some not-so-gentle nudging from the percussion guy, Doug Neal, he decided to apply. We just found out that our little band with the big sound is going to be performing in The Parade in 2009!! We are the smallest high school band ever accepted! And we are one of only 8 high school bands to make it and the only 1 from Kentucky. 500 bands applied to give you an idea of the absolute scale of this acheivement. I can't even tell you how proud I am of these kids. And this would be a great example of how hard work and high hopes can acheive great things.

An example of their show from last year (2007):