Magic Eight Ball

I always loved a magic eight ball but not for the same reasons everyone else does.  I'm not a big fan of predicting the future...I kind of take things as they come.  I'm not interested in shaking the ebony sphere and waiting to find out my "destiny".  The moment that I love doesn't have anything to do with the question or the answer.  It's that moment right before the answer rises to the surface.  Distant...blurry...and the bam...there it is.

Night's Sleep
Silent Prayer
Encouraging Words
Deep Breath

clear

–adjective

free from darkness, obscurity, or cloudiness

It is amazing what a good night's sleep will do.  I thank the Lord today for discernment when I needed it most.  It's good to be on his team.

~ao

Crochety

Stop reading if you would like to feel inspired or enlightened.  This post is not going to fill your soul or swell your heart.  In fact, you might need a good cry.  Well, now maybe I'm exaggerating, but today...I am a crochety old woman who didn't like the word I found.  I have decided that tomorrow's word will be much better.

Sick Boy
Miss New York
Unresolved Conflict
Misunderstanding
No Apology Necessary

ill

–adjective

of unsound physical or mental health; unwell; sick:

I like this one better...

ill

–adjective

evil; wicked; bad

 
Yes, that was me in the starring role...evil...wicked...bad.  I'm hoping my mood shifts tomorrow.  Stay tuned...
 
~ao

First Base

When I played softball, I was often referred to as "stretch".  I don't think this had as much to do with my height, as my pure skill.  You see, whenever someone would throw the ball to me at first base, I would reach out and extend myself to the ball.  I'm not sure if it made much difference, but I always felt like I was doing everything in my power to make the play. 

Parent Meeting
Schedule Conflict
Business Lunch
Student Concerns
Tate Doctor

stretch 

–verb (used with object)

to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent

 

Stretched to my full extent, but I don't consider that a bad thing.  I believe when you are stretched, you grow.  I'll consider that while I nurse my strep throat patient tomorrow.

Par

Today was anything but par.  Not average, not normal, not standard, not ordinary.  There are days when I have to grasp for my strength.  Today was not one of those for I had strength around every corner and there was my word...

Snacks packed...
Clubs loaded...
Cart driven...
Four For Fore...

four

–noun

a cardinal number, three plus one.

for

~preposition

with the object or purpose of

fore

–interjection

used as a cry of warning to persons on a course who are in danger of being struck by the ball

Man do I love a good play on words almost as much as I love a good play on the greens.  Three day weekend achieved.  Work week here I come.

~ao

P.S.  If you see my son over the next few days, you must mention his 70 foot loft shot.  Yep, you read it right.  He shot better than his mama today.  Sad day for mama!

Word Wall

My favorite blogger (and friend) KMAC is having a 30 day journey of words. Since writing is one of my passions, I was quick to jump on board.  So this is how it works...every day...one word that inspires you, motivates you, moves you to do something so amazing that it completely changes your perspective for that day...week...month...maybe even your life.

I apologize in advance for not posting daily...I will try to do better.  And now...join me on my "Journey of Words"...they may not mean much to anyone else, but to me, they gave me a moment of "Pause" which is hard to come by these days. 

I found my first word on Wednesday.  Robbie and I were sitting in the park watching the kids play and chatting about our weeks.  This was a rare opportunity since the start of school, but one I inhaled and savored for every second.

Wind Blow...
Kids Chase...
Thoughts Twirl...
Heart Swell...
Time Stopped...

For a moment...and then, a laugh with my mate as we observed our two engaged in the act...

flut·ter

–verb (used without object)

to wave, flap, or toss about

 

Anyone who knows my kids, knows they are in a constant state of "flutter".  It's that moment before spoken words where their actions speak volumes.  For Lily, its a sway of her hips and a shrug of her shoulders.  For Tate, its the swipe of his hair from his forehead.  As a mother, I absolutely love these moment with my kids.  And sitting there in the park, with all my loves, I found myself in my own state of flutter.

 

Thank god for that moment, for I found myself using that inner strength to get through the next day.  It took me longer to find my word on Thursday, but finally...in the last moments of the day...I found it.

 

Cool Temps

Starry Night

No Agenda

True Friend

o·pen

–adjective

 

unreserved, candid, or frank

 

Friends...they are the food for my soul.  And when I don't have them, I starve.  The beauty of friendship for me is the absence of effort, or the ability to just "be".  I love that moment when I can just sit with a dear friend and not say a word.  It is then that I know I am in the presence of a "soul sister" of which I am blessed. 

 

The flutter and freedom of my soul, carried me straight in to Friday.  I woke up and my word smacked me right in the face.  It was so intense, that I made a game plan change on the way to work.

 

Drums Tap

Band Plays

Students Cheer

Team Pride

spir·it

   

–noun

 

an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action

 
And my Lily girl played hookie and got to experience the day.  School spirit ran with reckless inhibition through the halls of my school and ended with the sweet taste of victory.  A moment that lifted my spirits to a new height.  One from which I shall not descend for quite some time.
 

 
Saturday, I woke up with one thing on my mind.  After some distractions and a few preparations, I found myself exactly where I wanted to be.

Apron Tie
Spices Blend
Veggies Chop
Table Set

rec·i·pe

–noun

a method to attain a desired end

My new kitchen is like one of those fluffy, white robes that you never want to take off.  From the moment I stepped behind my new cooktop, there was an instant connection.  Of course, I loved these moments of culinary solitude, but my true euphoria only comes when that beautiful sanctuary is filled with "soulfood", those beautiful souls I'm blessed to call friends.  So, as the definition says..."my desired end"...I cooked, I laughed, I cried, and I ate a whole lot of food.  My kinda night...

So today, I lathered up with my word.  I wore it like a cheap suit and shouted it from the rooftop of my soul.

Nap Time...
Movie Watch...
Curled Up...
Barely Asleep...

rest

–noun

refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor

I have only moved once from my seat and that was to locate my laptop and start the blogging.  Sometimes you just have to shut it down and shut it down, I did...

The Book of Stef

A few weekends ago, Robbie and I had a wonderful night of dinner and the theatre featuring our favorite thesbian, Stef.  She was the lead in the play, The Book of Liz.

Michelle and Allan even drove up from ATL and Kendra's new beau visited from Tampa.

We had a great dinner at Taco Mamasita and then enjoyed watching our dear Stef as the star of the show.  Afterwards, we headed to Mudpie for some tasty desserts.

Looking forward to Stef's next play at Lee. 

The Mooneys Take Over Cleveland

I hate to equate my family with the Beverly Hillbillies, but they do have one similarity.  The town is never prepared for what the Mooneys bring for the invasion.

This year's family reunion was in of all places, Cleveland.  So, the family (without my mom and dad) came down to enjoy some of the local sights and sounds.

I apologize in advance for my lack of pictures, but I did manage a few from our trip to Rock City.

Yep...you saw it right!  That was my son rock-climbing.  I don't think he would have been brave enough if it weren't for his two older cousins going first, but I was super proud of him and he almost made it to the top!

Grandpa had a fall in the shower and ended up staying at the hospital for the night, so we missed out on several of the family festivities.  It was still great to see the fam.  Looking forward to next year in NY!!!!