Ode to Nashville

Last night Drummer Boy and I enjoyed a meal with our family that celebrated Nashville. He spent the day smoking a pork shoulder and we had pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with cole slaw and baked beans. We invited Drummer Boy's sister and her family and my parents to dine with us.

Before I lived in Nashville, barbeque to me meant brisket or beef ribs or sausage. But living in Tennessee exposed me to the deliciousness that is pulled pork BBQ sandwiches. After 13 years in Nashville, this has become one of my comfort foods: pulled pork with cole slaw slathered with barbeque sauce between two sides of a hamburger bun. We are so glad to be in Texas with our family and our old and new friends, but Nashville is still very close to my heart, and it felt good to share a meal with my family that was a little bit of Nashville to me. Thanks Nashville! I miss you!

Amazing Moment

This is amazing...It is 4:00 in the afternoon. I am at home with my 2 girls, both of them are awake, and it is quiet!! They are playing quietly in Princess's room. Princess is looking at old artwork of hers that I saved and Pumpkin is rummaging through things. Not only is the quiet amazing, but dinner is on the stove simmering and I just washed the windows! Washed the WINDOWS!! A chore that I only do about every 6 months, if that, and I only do it when I feel like I'm "caught up" on the other chores that are much more of a priority. I actually feel like today, and probably only today, I've got it together. I'm just going to sit here and revel in this moment......................

Okay that's over. Now my youngest needs something to drink and my oldest wants me to read a book to her. I am attaching a picture of the artwork that Princess did today. She painted penguins, in her own favorite colors.

How Romantic...

Speaking of not knowing where life will take me...I never would have thought that I would end up marrying my "high school sweetheart", or even that I would have someone who would qualify as a high school sweetheart. When I was in junior high, the parents of one of my close friends had been high school sweethearts, and I thought that was so romantic. Almost like a fairy-tale, like in the movies. I never thought it would happen to me. In the spirit of Valentines Day, I thought I would share my romantic story...

My freshman year in high school I met and began "dating" Drummer Boy. Well actually, you can't really call it dating, since I was too young to even ride in the car with him. I would ride my bike over to his house or he would come over to mine and we would hang out. Eventually, after about 6 months, my parents did allow me to start dating him. I guess they realized that he wasn't just a little fling. I remember feeling sick to my stomach often during the first month or so that we were together, and my father telling me that I was "lovesick". Drummer Boy was the first boy that I ever kissed.

During my junior year, I began looking at colleges. Initially I was only interested in schools in Texas because I didn't want to be too far away from Drummer Boy. I think my parents had bigger aspirations for me. They wanted me to broaden my horizons and consider some of the more elite private schools in other parts of the U.S. My father sat down with me and asked, "Amy, do you think you are going to marry Drummer Boy?" I can't imagine what went through his mind when his 16 year old daughter answered, "yes". But, he kept his composure and explained that if we were meant to be together, we would be, no matter how far away I went to school. And he was right. Drummer Boy went to west Texas and I went to Tennessee. And we broke up and dated other people. But in the end, we realized that we only wanted to be with each other. He moved out to Nashville after graduating and one year later we got married...and lived happily ever after.

I'm not sure why God chose a "fairy-tale" story for my love-life. I have a hard time believing that God wants to give me the desires of my heart, even though he has done it time and time again. What I do know is that His plan for our lives is the best plan, even when it is not all roses and rainbows. And so I'll just trust in that, and look forward to where life might take me next.

I Never Know Where Life Will Take Me, Or Bring Me Back To...

Today the girls and I went for a playdate at a my friend Lorie's house. She's not just any friend though. She was my first friend in first grade. She was one of my best friends all through elementary school. We lost touch when my family moved away after 5th grade, and although I saw her a few times in the years that followed, I realized that I didn't know her anymore. And I guess I thought I'd never know her again. But shortly after we moved back to Texas, I ran into her at McDonalds with our kids, and then saw her several times in the next few months. Our friendship has started up again almost right where it left off. Hanging out with her feels like being with an old friend, as it should I guess. I'm just amazed at how comfortable it is after all these years. But I'm so thankful. I never would have guessed that after losing touch with her, and after living in Nashville for 13 years, that I would move back to Texas and run into her at McD's and pick up our friendship again. I guess I just want to express how thankful I am that life has brought me back here. Lorie is just one of the reasons for my thankfulness.

My favorite hour of the day

My favorite hour of the day is 7PM-8PM. At 7:00, Pumpkin and I go to her room, along with a cup of milk, a pacifier, her blanky, puppy, kitty, baby, hippo, and lovey. Who knew she would have so many attachments? Anyway, we go into her room to read one or two books with her sitting on my lap in the rocker, during which I steal many a kiss from her cheek or neck. After the stories, I turn out the light, she finishes her milk and pops in her paci, and then she turns around and snuggles up against me with her head heavily laid on my shoulder. It is the sweetest moment of my day. I sit there with her and rock, and usually sing a song or two or pray. And then, when I'm ready, I stand up and lay her down in her crib, but not before I steal one more kiss from her neck.

Once Pumpkin is down, I come back into the living room for our family devotion. We read a short story with a bible verse and then we pray together. It is funny and very sweet to hear Princess's prayers. Then Princess gets ready for bed and has her "movie time". About 20 minutes before bed she gets to watch Barbie or Clifford or whatever our most recent library movie happens to be, and she has a little night snack of craisins, cereal, and a few chocolate chips. I hate to admit that I usually end up picking up the kitchen or something, but sometimes I sit down with Princess and Daddy and watch her movie for a little bit. And then around 8:00, Princess and Daddy head into her room for her bedtime stories. And thus ends my favorite hour of the day.

Usually when I lay down to sleep, or if I wake up in the middle of the night, I think about holding my girls and try to feel the weight of their bodies against mine, or the smell of their hair, or the sound of their laugh. I fear that one day I won't be able to remember what it feels like to hold them or snuggle up with them, so for now I try to soak it in as much as I can.