So Long Summer

A Very Old Cemetery
Charleston, SC
Summer 2009

Dear Summer,

We sure had a blast!
Charleston not once,
but TWICE!
Unlimited pool days with the kids,
waiting and more waiting,
for news that finally came,
beach days with friends,
grilling out,
veggie kabobs and ribeyes,
zucchini and tomatoes.
Summer, you know I love you.
You are my fave.
Always have been.

So long summer,
You sure did fly by.

Love,
Deciduous Heather

Whichever Way the Wind Blows

I am the type of person that likes consistency....
I like to know when things are going to happen,
and I usually have a plan.....I am a planner.
That is just how I roll!

Change.......

Change is good.
Right?!

When things gets unpredictable, inconsistent,
or when all sorts of unknowns are flying around all over the place....
well, um......it drives me crazy!

I got one word for you=anxiety.

This specifically applies to my life, our lives, right now.

School is predictable.
It is still hard, still challenging, still pushing me to my limits.
Predictable.
I can do predictable any day of the week.

But LIFE....lately,
has NOT been predictable...
anything but, actually.

My Rock has a new job.
(CONGRATS, BABY!!!)
It will potentially mean
a MAJOR relocation is on the horizon for our family.....

a NeW state
a NeW city
a NeW house
a NeW school for the kids
NeW neighbors
a NeW LiFe
for all of US.....

Change is good, right.

Well, maybe I can say that and actually mean it,
once we figure out
where we are going,
when we are going there,
and maybe once everything falls into place.
As I know they will.

Change is GOOD, right?!
Somebody agree with me ALREADY!!

After all, home is where the heart is.


And my heart is with him.
Wherever he goes, I go.
Period.

Throughout this whole process
WE have prayed without abandon
for His will to be done.

I know His Will is the right path for our family.
He would not lead us astray.

So whichever way the wind blows....


I will follow.

So wherever that takes US,
I promise to be open to change....
(and maybe even embrace it).

Right Now.....

Our Sun, 9 years old, almost ten. Right now he is crazy about science, magic, Star Wars, and Happy Potter. Right now he would eat pizza everyday for each meal if I let him, and he usually eats more than me on any given day. Right now he is growing like a weed, and we have to go buy new blue jeans this weekend. Size 14 slim. His feet are bigger than mine, see?


Right now, he is still super protective of his little sister and he is in that "in between" stage.....5th grade. Right now he still believe in magic, Santa, ghosts and aliens. I hope he never loses his willingness to believe in things that can't be seen or explained......He is still my sweet little boy, for right now.


Our Flower, 7 going on 17, is blossoming into a little diva. She is crazzzy about Taylor Swift, jeans skirts, hot pink toenail polish, and stick on ear rings right now. She is my little dreamer...


Right now we love to sing out loud on our way to and from school every day, and for now she thinks her Mom is a pretty good singer. For a moment there is nothing wrong in the world, as we zoom down our two-lane country road blaring...."Can't you seeeeee, you belong with meeeeee?!!" Right now our days are punctuated with mini concerts on a whim, dance routines just because, and practicing gymnastics in the living room. Fun girl stuff.


Right now, she still lets me pick out most some of her clothes....as we discuss some of her more inappropriate independent choices; right now I usually win those little battles. I know one day she will try to spread her wings a little more as she grows up.....Right now, it seems like she can barely wait.

Right now she loves cooking with me; making cupcakes, brownies, salads, and pancakes. My little helper. We have spa time and do each others' toe nails and plan her next birthday party, or where we will shop that weekend, or what kind of skirt her friend had on at school that "was awesome"!! Right now, she loves school and does well in anything she attempts. I hope she never loses that confidence and belief in herself....... and never ever lets anyone take that away.


They are growing up so fast, and they amaze me daily. I can't imagine loving them more than I do right now. But I know I will. Right now, I feel like one incredibly blessed Mommy.

Johnny and Baby

It's weird that I mentioned Dirty Dancing in my post a few days ago. Remember?

RIP Patrick Swayze

This may not say much about my mom's parenting skills...but
growing up we watched this movie
about 876,439 times between
the years of 1987-1995.
Seriously.

Johnny and Baby.
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner"
We tried to do the dances.
We attempted "the lift" in the living room.
We probably watched THE END
of the movie an additional 726,382 times.
That was our favorite part.

It was part of my childhood.
AND part of my coming of age.
He was
the first "bad boy" I ever loved.

Diseases, Drugs, and Dave

I am reminiscing tonight as I sit here and make a valiant effort to study fun things like Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and Infective Endocarditis and the 20,000 gazillion drugs used to treat each disease state. I decided about 2 hours into study time that I needed some music.......for a variety of reasons:

1. To just procrastinate. Yep, it's a bad habit, but I am guilty.
   
2. In an effort to wake up my brain. It is 30+ years old now.....it ain't as limber as it once was, folks!
   
3. In an attempt to drown out the background noise (9 and 7 year old) and Spongebob Squarepants (does he drive any other moms bonkers?) I prefer Caillou or Dora..but that's neither here nor there and I know I must let go of the past, the kids don't like them anymore!
   
4. To remind myself that I am alive and did have a life before Pharmacy school. A pretty durn good one as a matter of fact...
   
5. To take me way back to the good ol' college days since I am studyin' and all...Something I did not do much of way back when cause I was busy......you know, young love and all that.

So I chose......one of my all-time faves:

Do any of my loyal blog followers (all 9 of you....) recognize this album cover?

It's the best!!

I used to love Dave Matthews Band back in the day....way back in 1995....
and I still do!

FAST FORWARD 14 years....

"Crash" is my ringtone when my sexy hubby calls me now.

And sometimes you just gotta revisit the good ol' days....although if I really think about it,
I think I prefer NOW.

Because these days are pretty fantastic too.

Now, back to studying....gotta love Tick Bourne Diseases, Drugs to Treat Sepsis, and Dave.

One of My Fave Blogs

Seldom do I stumble over a blog
that I love to read.
And continue to read for a while.....


Nie Nie is so inspiring.
I check in on her often....
Her posts are simple and deep.
She survived a near-fatal plane crash
and came out more beautiful
on the other side.

She is an inspiration as a
woman, wife and especially as a mother.
You should visit her too!

I was having
one of those days,
and I visited her blog
and read this post
and felt better.
Like, instantly.

I Remember One Fall

“ think of all the beauty still left
around you and be happy.” —anne frank

Our Family
November 2005
Chimney Rock, NC

I remember one Fall....
we took off for Western NC;
What a beautiful trip.
We spent a day fishing
at Lake Lure.


Didn't catch a thing.

They filmed parts of "Dirty Dancing" there.
I love that movie.
I looked for Johnny and Baby.

It was our Flower's
4th birthday weekend.
She celebrated the whole weekend.

We used walkie-talkies to chit-chat
back and forth
as we climbed up the mountain.
Our call signs were:

Grey Wolf (daddy)
Brown Halo (mommy)
Flower Dream (daughter)
Bear Claw (son)
Over and Out.

We had a blast.
We later dropped one walkie-talkie
in the lake.
Oh well, they were fun
while they lasted.

We bought ribeyes
and all the fixins'
at local grocery store
so we could stay in our cabin
and eat by the fireplace.

The driveway
to our secluded cabin in the woods
scared me to death
as it curved 3 times to the bottom.
But, it was the perfect location.

We looked for bears---
with baited breath.


I was (kinda) relieved that we did not find them.
Don't tell our Sun that.

We slept late on king-sized beds
covered with country quilts.
Ate breakfast at a local
Mom and Pop joint
that served strong coffee
as we headed out of town.

I froze as we drove down the mountains
it was 50 degress outside,
and I announced that
Fall was definitely here.

The leaves were still beautiful.
Golden browns, burnt umber,
Earth tones all around.
My Rock loves this part of the state
and he pulled over
to snap this picture.

In an attempt to capture
the depth of simple beauty,
the curvy roads,
the breath-taking mountains,
and the hidden driveways that seem to go
up-up-up.

Buffalo Shoals Road
was our favorite stretch.
It looked like the perfect place
for the good life.

I want to go back.
With my Family.
Maybe this Fall.
It's almost here.

Back Together Again

This pic was from Labor Day, 2008.

Sunset Beach, NC

We did not go the beach this year, BUT we did have a reunion of sorts.

We had a wonderful weekend; visiting with family, hanging out with the kids,
eating at one of our fave restaurants, sleeping in
and just enjoying priceless time together.

It flew by!

We are so blessed to have spent this weekend together.

I love this picture of my family.


I can't wait until we are all back together again.

Happy Labor Day, 2oo9!

Wordless Wednesday