Roots and Wings...Jen on the journey: 2011

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Dancing Heart

Please send me your last pair of shoes, worn out with dancing as you mentioned in your letter, so that I might have something to press against my heart. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today was happy. Enter, stage right, my daughter with a dancing heart. Hallen’s first ever dance recital was a special one. With all these little milestones, she continues to remind me the beauty of being in the moment.

Before the "Big Event"

Proud Parents

Hallen with Nana

Nona, "The Momma", Aunt Leigh, Hallen and Sarah

Nona with her second set of "girls"

Still smiling after a long day.

Three Sweet Girls
Sarah, Hallen and Sophia

Flowers

Dancing Shoes

Time to Celebrate!

Thanks for helping us celebrate this special time Nona, Nana, Aunt Leigh Anne, Papa, Aunt Brenda, Uncle Dave, Sarah, and Sophia. Hallen is blessed to have such wonderful people cheering her on. And from "The Momma" love to all. If you could see inside my heart, you'd know I love you all deeply. God's goodness is evident in each of you.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Dress Rehearsals

I woke up Saturday morning to a sweet four year old stroking my face. How blessed I felt in that little snapshot of time. Even in the most ordinary of moments, I find myself hoping she’ll remember times like this. At four, my little girl is going through a "I am going to dress myself " stage. Clothes are often everywhere. Her ensembles can be quite original. She has little regard for season, print, color or theme. At times, I can only go in her room for very short intervals. I know as soon as I sort, fold and put everything she owns back in the right place I'll walk right back into the same mess again. I figure if I don't look at it too much, I have a better chance of pretending it isn't there waiting on me. I know that is every Mom's survival creed all too often. Last night she went upstairs to change into pajamas. She reappeared in a corduroy leopard print skirt and a pink GUESS T-shirt. She happily announced she was expanding her pajama wardrobe. This didn’t phase me in the least, until she decided to wear her get-up on an outing with her daddy. I received the most beautiful card when Hallen was “brand spankin’” new in this world from my mother. I held on to it because it left such an impression on me. Fast forward to now, and I can’t believe my very own daughter was the inspiration behind this sentiment. (I have a feeling, if you have a daughter, yours did too. )

She will dream her very own dreams

Maybe she will look like you,

Talk like you, smile like you…

Maybe she’ll sing, paint, or dance like you…

But she’ll dream her very own dreams.

You’ve given your child so much already-

Including the precious gift of life.

And through the years, you will give her so much

more-

Not just food and clothing but laughter, ideals,

and love.

You cannot give her her dreams, though,

for those will be hers alone.

May they lead her to all that is beautiful in life,

And with your loving help and support,

May she make every one come true.

It was signed with this note: I thank God everyday for my precious daughters and grandchildren. I cannot begin to say how much I love you and how proud you make me. God has blessed us far beyond our dreams. Nona (my mother)

The inspirations behind this post

So in honor of my mother and the many other wonderful mothers I know, I dedicate this post. Please remember, if you see my child in one of her “get-ups” she does have a momma at home who loves her very much. I’m trying not to get in her way too much. Who knew dress rehearsals could be this much fun;)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Period. For. Emphasis

A friend of mine recently posted a similar list on her blog. She was inspired by magazines in which celebrities report random facts about themselves. I was inspired by her. So, Virginia Decker, thanks for the inspiration. Mine didn't get edited down to 25. I just went with it.

1. I dog ear pages of books when I read something that tugs on my heart or teaches me something. I double ear, triple ear, and quadruple ear the really good pages. I need to know how many to go back and look for.

2. I cannot tell you the price of gas or check my receipts.

3. I won’t purchase gas or use the restroom in convenient stores that sell fried chicken. My husband Mike travels on business. He once called me from Kentucky and offered to bring me back some Sushi from a combo gas/sushi station. Um. That. Was. No.

5. I prefer takeout to dining out. Room service (especially late night dessert delivery) is heaven on earth.

6. I want to learn to use power tools.

7. I have Recurring dreams. In one, I haven't been to school in forever. I Can't remember my schedule or my locker combination. I’ve read these dreams are about unfinished business. (BTW, I did graduate from high school and college).I have also had the missing teeth dream many times. This dream is supposedly about feeling like you over shared with others. Save the girl raised in the south jokes, please.

8. I LOVE reality TV . Two of my all time favorites - Family Plots and Rollergirls. Random...I know.

9. I am a compulsive and impulsive DVR"er" .

10. I'm a tenacious researcher. Love random facts and information.

11. I have a difficult time with left and right. I have no depth perception. Curbs and raised surfaces look out.

12. I asked Santa for Olivia Newton John style tight satin pants (think Grease finale) for Christmas when I was 5. I didn't get them. :( Santa did however tune up my sister's old bike with a new horn and basket one year . I’m in tight with Saint Nick.

13. I am angle sensitive. Items in my home and on tabletops have to be angled and placed according to my perception of the correct angle.

14. I am global. I don’t "get" list people. Don't give me yours and don't ask for mine. (interesting given this is a list) I am now considering changing the format to bullets.

15. I am on the perpetual search for the following items: cream horns (the kind from the old Pizitz Bakeshop), home fragrance refresher oil in Ambrosia, and cookie dough premixed to include chocolate chips, coconut and pecans.

16. I searched and hummed a tune from my childhood for years until finally found it on YouTube. Chuck Mangione, “ Feels So Good” . Until then, I had no idea what I had been humming.

17. I am a Pepper. So cold it burns your throat kind of pepper. And yes, I have the t shirt.

18. I taught my mother to do the "running man" when I was a teenager. Witnessed by many. Moms are awesome! I get that now.

19. I go through the ABC's in order when I am trying to remember things.

20. The sounds of trains remind me of being in the "big bed" in my grandparent's house. Little girl in a big world. Those are good memories.

21. My favorite children's book is The Paper Bag Princess. Close seconds are the Wide Mouthed Frog

and Piggie Pie. The reader has to get the voices right. I’m pretty good at Piggie Pie.

22. I am an owl, living in a lark world.

23. My favorite verse is Isaiah 40:31: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run

and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

24. When I was little, I wanted to marry B.J. McKay From B.J. And the Bear.

25. The character trait I admire most is sincerity. Second is generosity. I'd like to be more of both.

26. When I write I often include dashes, dots, parentheses... I can't help it (see what I mean). No particular rules for my methods- madness. I like slashes too. Not as in http:// but as in this/that (related words)-Periods.For.Emphasis. Are. Empowering.

27. The acronym for laughing out loud annoys me a little. I can't even bring myself to type it here. I do, however, really like people who use it.

28. I follow a hilarious blog called Catalog Living. A fresh perspective can be hysterical.

29. I won the citizenship award when I was in first grade. In second grade, Marquita enrolled in my elementary school. She dethroned me and held the title for the rest of our elementary school years. If you know Marquita, you get it. She was very deserving.

30. My first valentine from a boy in first grade had I love you written in cursive. I couldn't read it and asked my teacher to tell me what it said. his much older sister wrote it for him. I don't think he knew what it said either.

31. I know some really courageous kids. Life lessons from them- Daily. I wish they didn't have to be-again daily.

32. I love the sticky note application for a computer. Sheer genius.

33. I can share really funny fertility clinic stories. Laughter can coincide with heartbreak. We all have a story to tell. Therein is the goodness of a VERY BIG GOD.

34. My grandmother used to tell me I was pretty and I was smart. She would follow with don't ever let anyone know how smart you really are. That was a Lela"ism". I still haven't figured out that piece of advice. ( My grandmother was a riot . She had no idea either ) I could fill this page with Lela"isms".