Oh, happy day!

Sometimes it is the little things in life that bring us much joy. Today, I had one of those moments. The girls and I had to go to Michael's for art supplies for a science project for Jesse (I'll post pictures when she is done). You know how they always have the row of small, awesome things you could live without? Well, today they had an item (maybe two) that I just could not do without and I already knew how I would use it. The girls told me to buy. I put it down; then picked it up and brought it home. It is a simple item. A bag. (Yes, John another bag, but wait!) This particular bag is rather small, but I knew it would be the perfect size to house my watercolor pencils, brushes and notebook. Guess what? It was a perfect fit! Now I have all my tools together (minus the water) and it makes me happy.

It is awesome! Right?! I love it.

The second tech rehearsal went much better last night. We actually ran the curtain calls three times and ran through the entire play. A couple of lines were messed up (one was a Que for Chloe; she was slightly irritated). I even charged my camera for pictures! Then promptly left it at home. So frustrating! I'm hoping to take a few pictures tonight backstage, but not sure how well I'll do with that. It is so much easier taking them during the rehearsals rather than an actual performance. Will see what I can accomplish. Fingers crossed that everyone breaks-a-leg!!! :)

Sunny today and snow tomorrow?!

Today was absolutely gorgeous! So glad John was home today; therefore, no school. We took a short trip to the zoo. Short because all the food places (except pizza) were closed today. I'm not sure who decided that, but we saw quite a few families leaving at lunch because of it. The weather was perfect. And we had fun while we were there.

Chloe got up this morning, put on her coat and shoes then went right out to swing. lol  Jesse is harder to wake up, so she didn't swing until we got home from the zoo. I think they spent about an hour swinging this afternoon. Crazy! But I'm glad they are enjoying them.

Chloe had rehearsal tonight. I really don't think they will have rehearsal tomorrow and maybe not even on Wednesday, if it stays as cold as the meteorologists are saying. Opening night is Friday and I'm really hoping everyone knows their parts. Costumes haven't been handed out yet either. My fear is Thursday night is going to be L.O.N.G. Oh! If you haven't ordered tickets yet, then you are out of luck. I heard tonight the show is a sellout.

Lesson learned: Sometimes I have to be reminded that my thoughts are different from others. Tonight was one of those nights, but not knowing this person I kept my thoughts to myself. While she was judging, I thought okay I'm not going to judge her based on this one point. Then there was another point. And more points. And then more. By the end of the night, I decided she is not the type of person I would associate with personally. I don't agree with many of my friends on many topics, but we don't judge each other. We accept each other. That is the key.

A country road

Yesterday, the girls and I loaded ourselves into the car for a last minute trip to Charlotte. My Mom wanted mulch for the front yard and we went up to help spread it all out. In the end, she purchased two truck loads and, thanks to my cousin Alan, we had all of it done by 2pm, including lunch.

I decided to take the back roads back home. I often want to take the back roads home, but often we need to get back quick and sometimes the back roads take longer. But I always here the roads whispering to me, "Marsha. Marsha. This way, Marsha."

I was half way home yesterday, in Union County, when it dawned on me that I was feeling no stress. I was happy. It seems like I've lost that feeling a lot these days, even John comments on the fact I don't often seem happy. I am happy, but rarely is there nothing in my mind causing some sort of stress. But yesterday afternoon, while driving those winding, curvy roads I was beyond content. I was happy.

Then to make it even better my new favorite song came on the radio: "Take a back road". This is one of those songs I hear that just makes me smile and start singing (no, I cannot sing), which embarrasses the girls. In other words, one of those memories they will have of me long after I'm gone. ;)

I love looking out over the open fields just outside of Monroe. Then surrounded by woods as I venture past Pageland. So many beautiful scenes you get to pass through. I don't understand why so many people just fly through those roads not seeing the beauty surrounding them. I am looking forward to the day I look at my own yard and feel that way.

Moments

I believe there are moments in our lives that define us. Sometimes we recognize them immediately and sometimes we do not. But that moment changes you. Oh, there are many moments in our lives that change us. From tasting an awesome new milk, then refusing any others from that moment on. A moment when a stranger sends you a message on the computer and fifteen years later you are married with two children.

Then there are the moments that change the way you view yourself. Some of these moments are beyond your control. Meaning you did not put the moment in your life, someone else did but it is there and you have to deal with it because it directly effects you. I believe these moments are harder. In a split second, your life has changed. Will it be for the better or worse? Only time will reveal that. But in that second you immediately see life, and yourself, differently. You question your ability to cope, or change.

Then there are the moments that just make you angry. A moment where words cut so deep into your soul that you can barely stand. You only have seconds to decide if you are going to fight for what is right or let it go. Either way the change will be there. You will see life in an alternate way. This moment for me came in high school during a very traumatic time for my family. This is the moment, for the first time in my life, that I had to decide to fight or flee. I fought. I did not fight for me, but for my family. They, however, have no clue this battle took place. To this day they do not know. Oh, of course my parents know. But I'm not sure I ever told them the whole story. The reason I fought. The words that stabbed through my heart like a hot blade. But they are still there in my memory. They still hurt. They were vicious and cruel. Now, whether they deserved my slinging the girl's face into a brick wall is debatable I grant you. But to this day (even as I type) thinking of those eleven words send me to tears. Mean does begin to cover my feelings. I hope no one has ever treated her the way she did me, and my family, that day. It is too harsh to even wish that upon her.

Moments are simple. They are quick. They are defining. Sometimes you only have moment to stand up for yourself or those you love.

How many changes in 24 hours?

I am closer to being able to talk about taekwondo. I am not positive if I can open up about everything, but I will say the wheels are in motion.

Last night when I got home from taekwondo, I saw where Dr. Dial has passed away. Dr. Dial was bigger than life on the Pfeiffer campus. He was over the science department and not a man to mess with. He had a photographic memory and made sure each and every student knew it. I had dinner one night at his home. A night I'll never forget. It was his son's, Tory's, birthday. Tory invited me to dinner. Nervous would not to begin to explain how I felt that night. But I was honored to be the only outsider at dinner for Tory's birthday. In my mind, Dr. Dial will always be bigger than life.

A good friend of mine got some bad news last night. Okay, that does not begin to cover the news, but it is her life and I will not reveal things here. However, she and her family have been on my mind all day.

So, not everything is mine. Meaning not everything I've listed directly effects me. But each one does effect me. Each, in its own way, promotes my brain to work in overdrive. Poor John has had to go from one subject to another almost sentence by sentence with me today.

Life is always changing. Sometimes others change our lives for us, whether we want them to or not. Those changes are harder, but you still have to pull yourself up by the boot straps and keep going. There is something positive in everyday we just have to be open minded enough to find it.

Change

Life is full of change. When you are young the years seem to drag. As you age, the years move a bit quicker and you a bit slower. The face in the mirror begins to change and age. The hair turns more grey, or decides it likes the floor better than the top of your head.

Change comes easily to some. They see change as a chance for growth. Change can somehow enhance their life in a way they cannot see at the moment, but they know it will come. They embrace the warmth of something new and shiny.

Others fight change. They loath it. They feel the change will bring something cold and unfeeling into their life. Somehow it will ruin what seems to be perfect already.

No matter how you look at change, it is inevitable. Something in your life will change.