Shhh...

Living this life of mine, is not an easy thing.  Not to mention, walking alongside me.  There is no denying that my husband has to make a lot of sacrifices to support me and my career.

Kids in Kentucky...
Surprise Day Off...
Dear Friends...
Concert Tickets...

thanks

~verb

to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgement

I just felt thankful and I wanted to let him know.  So I called his boss, took the day off, bought concert tickets and invited some best buds.  Cheesecake Factory made for a delicious dinner, Darrius Rucker and Brad Paisley made for a great date and Big E and Lil T made for the best double-daters.  

I don't say it often enough, but I feel it all the time.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to share this life with him.

~ao

Lucky Seven

Seven is a magical number.  I would even venture to say it is the most perfect number (and I think I could reference some scripture to support that statement).

Blue eyes peering from behind the lenses...

Fumbling, bumbling around the room...

Stuttering and stammering as he finds the right words...

And then he smiles...

heart

~noun

capacity for sympathy, feeling or affection

Seven years ago, we were blessed with the most amazing gift.  When I watch him, I find myself completely captivated by his charm, intelligence, and pure perspective for life.  He teaches me something everyday and it usually involves how to be kind to others.  I have no doubt in my mind, that he will change the world someday.  In fact, he's already started...

Tate, I am so blessed to be your mom and know that I am forever changed by your beautiful soul!  Thank you for your love.

~ao

Soft Shell

Parenting is tough.  Some crucial advice I was given early in my life as a mother was, "Don't try to figure out how to get them to thrive...Just love them and they will thrive on their own."  No matter how hard I try, that theory is tested over and over again.

Eggs and a Spoon...

Kids in a Line...

Race to the End...

And suddenly...

crack

~verb

to break with a sudden, sharp sound

Who knew an egg race could turn into one of those moments that challenged the spirit of a child?  One after another, the egg would crack and then the spirit would break...disappointment, failure, lack of confidence...  

Fortunately, our wonderful cruise director, Nonny, was able to redirect and bring smiles back on their faces quickly.  I think next time, I'll leave for the eggs for the cake :)

~ao

Tate's B4

That boy of mine has such a beautiful heart (stay tuned for annual birthday post on Monday).  So, when I approached him about the plan for his 7th birthday, he managed to show that beautiful spirit in full force.

Kids running...

Kids jumping...

Kids screaming...

One happy, birthday boy...

bash

~noun

a thoroughly, enjoyable, lively party

Tate's Big Blue Birthday Bash was a great time.  He wanted all teams to feel welcome, so while celebrating his Kentucky wildcats, he invited his friends to wear the jerseys of their favorite team.  There is nothing that makes me happier than to see me kids smile, and man was I happy all day!!!

~ao

Ouch

When I was a kid, I thought Pepto Bismol could cure anything.  If I fell and scraped my knee, all I wanted was the pink milky syrup to make my pain go away.  This past weekend I thought it was time to rip the bandaid off.

Cabin retreat
Moments alone
Circle of friends
Tears and laughter

heal

~verb

to make healthy, whole, or sound

That word means a lot to me right now...WHOLE.  I needed to write, so I gotta out of town.  Thankfully, I had some friends follow my bread crumbs to one of my most inspirational places.  There are not many people that understand the nuances of Autumn, but these ladies...they get it.

I sat in the sun feeling the wind blowing through my hair.  I was pretty excited that I had actually written the intro to my book.  I had focus and purpose with my writing like never before.  And then the greatest thing happened...a spontaneous dance party...right there in the great wide open!!!  Little house on the prairie will never be the same again...

Thank you to Turner, James, Mish, DDK, Lou Lou, Doc Mondi, and the Dirty Librarian for loving me, filling me and making me WHOLE.  And thanks to my husband for knowing how much I needed it and making it happen.  And of course, thanks to Warren for allowing us a slice of his mountain retreat. 

This girl found her spirit somewhere between the lounge chair and the hiking trails.

~ao

Photograph

I usually tell my story through words, but there's something about a picture that tells you a story.


Stand up tall
Get closer together
A little to the left
Now smile

picture

~noun

a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, as apainting, drawing, photograph, etc.

I love this picture.  It is a picture of my dad's young family.  I think its amazing to see the foundation of something that means so much to me now.

I made fun of my mom for hunting all of us down to take a family picture before we left NY.  Its the first picture we've taken as a family in over a year.  Now that I have it, I find myself staring at it and feeling a huge sense of pride.  It makes me feels such warmth knowing that I am part of something bigger than I am.

So thanks mom...I was wrong :)


~ao

Absent Words

Its hard to explain.  I have a hard time describing this feeling to anyone.  It's almost a numb, yet sensitive part of me that I don't recognize.  Simply said...I miss her.

I didn't get to see her very often, but knowing she was there gave me a settled spirit.  I've spent the past few weeks trying to get back to my "ole" self, but the sadness seems to stay much longer than I expected.


A pat on the bottom
Sparkle in her eyes
A calming laugh
Deep-dimpled smile

Closure

~noun

a bringing to an end; conclusion

The only thing that brings me closer to that place are the remnants of her that I found threaded through the people around me.


I find her sass in my cousin, Jacqueline and her "get-to-it-ness" can be found in my cousin, Emily.

The great debater rears her head in my brother, Tony and her stubbornness rolls all over my brother, Russ.

 Her skill in the kitchen is captured by my cousin, Nick.

My cousin, Allison, has her quiet way

and Ashley is a fighter just like she was.

Sassy

Get-to-it

Debater

Stubborn

Skilled

Quiet

Fighter

God, I miss her.

~ao