Thursday Kind Of Stuff

Remember back when people blogged? There are still loads of people blogging, but it's a quieter platform than when I started eight years ago. Social media has gotten louder (ahem!), but blogging seems to not be altogether sure where it fits these days.

My blog has always been a slice of life, and those are still my favorite blogs to read. Back in the old days (2009) bloggers used to post a lot of lists, particularly on Thursdays because Thirteen Things on a Thursday felt like a thing.

I'm making it a thing again here today because a list feels orderly and manageable and the last day of the month calls for exactly that.

Also, this list won't be all that interesting. Ha! Some things never change in the blogosphere. In no particular order, here are thirteen things on a Thursday-

1. You guys! The most adorable baby boy in the world is one whole entire month old now.

2.  I'm busy planning a trip out west to see
my grandsonsome of the coast and more of the PNW, and as a result I've spent hours on travel sites and travel blogs and Pinterest and wow am I ever easily distracted. I mean the Internet makes distraction easy, but y'all there are so many fabulous things to see in this big wide world.  How will we ever see them all?

3. I wish I could rock the bright red lipstick the way Taylor Swift rocks the bright red lipstick. My coloring (or is it my age???) doesn't seem to complement the bright red. And I know she's not country anymore and she's not fifteen anymore, but I still like Taylor. Have you seen her new video? Yowza! She has not lost her way with words.

4. I recently finished a book I loved-Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. 

5. I've just started reading Beartown by an author whose writing I adore (Frederik Bachman), but am having trouble digging in. I think it's because I know something bad is about to happen, but I don't know what exactly that is or to whom it will happen and I'm mentally unprepared.

6. Hubs has a birthday this week. As per usual it kind of snuck up on me, but I accidentally rallied. We're meeting friends for dinner at a nearby restaurant and I kept adding friends to the reservation and now it feels like a bona fide party. Whoohoo!

7. Hey, remember when Throwback Thursday was a thing too?

Last year on hubs birthday I had a teensy tiny issue with my gall bladder and this year it's my ribs. But don't worry...he's used to me.

8. Here's an updated list of things I'm not allowed to use when hubs is out of the house aka unavailable to drive me to the ER-

knives
step ladders
a chair as a stepladder

I'm sure there's more.

9. We have three birthdays this month, including my own. Is it too early to mention that? Actually we have no birthdays this month and three next month, but in my head it's already September.

10. My Bible Study group is getting ready to begin again after a semi unplanned summer hiatus. We tried to hang in there through June and July, but life and all that nonsense. We're going to try a Jen Wilkin study on 1 Peter this fall, and I've heard great things about it. I am so ready.

11. I'm a little bit excited about all the blank space in my calendar this month. I mean our calendar isn't blank blank, but it is about as blank as we ever get. I am so looking forward to leisurely cups of coffee in my pjs on the porch.

12.  In other house news, hubs and I hung three more pictures on Wednesday. When it comes to home decorating slow and steady wins the race, right?

13. Still the best hair ever-

Still my favorite little man.

Hodgepodge Carolina Style

Wow Wednesdays sure do roll around fast. The whole calendar is rolling around fast if you ask me! Wednesday means it's time for another edition of the Hodgepodge. If you've 'labored' over this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then run say hi to your neighbor. Here we go-

1. Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

There are several things I need to tackle this fall but high on my list are getting our old VHS tapes transferred to DVD, finding a couch for my screened in porch, and coming up with a plan for my home office. Right now I have furniture in there from my previous house and it's not really working for me. I mean it works in that you can sit on it and there's a desk, etc but it's not the look I want for the room. 

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

This may sound funny to some of you, but I'm going to say it would be my job as a camp counselor while in college. The pay was next to nothing but the perks were second to none. I spent all day outdoors beside the Chesapeake, swimming, sailing, canoeing, etc. It was an opportunity to have a positive impact on the young teenagers in my care, I made lifelong friends, and I grew up a lot-not just emotionally, but spiritually as well. So much. The job was demanding in every sense of the word, the pay was lousy, and the perks? They were golden. 

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC? Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

As it happens I live in the Palmetto State and I love it here. I've seen/done most of the 'top ten', but had to look up the Ace Basin as I wasn't sure of it's exact location. It's essentially between Beaufort and Charleston so I've been in the area, but haven't explored much in the way of wildlife there. I've never been to Morgan Island but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you now that monkeys en masse creep me out so I will likely give that one a miss. 

I think a trip to Bishopville might be in order as that's a new one for me. And as a resident of the state here's a tip-don't miss Greenville. She's an absolute gem! #yeahthatGreenville

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? What's a dish you enjoy that really 'sticks to your ribs'?

Okay, so it's possible my ridiculous injury got me to thinking about how I could incorporate 'ribs' into a question this week, and while the question has nothing to do with the human skeleton it fits. Also, I can't imagine breaking ribs because my bruised ribs are miserable. 

Back to the edible kind-I like all of the above, but short ribs are my favorite. Something I enjoy that sticks to my ribs? Oatmeal with dried cherries and sliced bananas are a favorite breakfast here. 

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

I think everyone needs basic social skills, should know how to budget their money and time, and have the ability to cook something. That's three things, but I couldn't narrow it down to just one. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear: 

I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

Thinking of all those struggling, suffering, and also those serving the hurting in some way right now in Houston. So many amazing acts of kindness, courage, and generosity are on display and it warms the heart, doesn't it? 

There are many organizations with boots on the ground that need our financial support to help with what will be a massive long term recovery effort. Here's a link to the donation page of one I like, but there are many-Samaritan's Purse. SP receives very high marks from Charity Navigator in terms of finances, transparency, and accountability. 




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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 319

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC? Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? What's a dish you enjoy that really 'sticks to your ribs'?

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Well That Was Fun

What a fun few days we've had with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. This was their first trip to the lake, and my nephew declared it would not be his last. He was only here about five minutes before he started asking his mom if they could stay a little longer. Real life beckons so that was not to be, but we did make the most of the time we had together.

I guess I won't mention how I whiled away four hours the afternoon of their arrival in the Emergency Room making sure I hadn't broken any ribs since that was kind of the low point of the
monthweekend for me.

Okay, I'll mention it.

I was happily minding my own business Wednesday, getting the house ready for company when the incident occurred. Since my brother-in-law's birthday was Thursday I thought I'd get a jump start on the meal by making the cake the day before. His favorite-a homemade three layer carrot cake with buttermilk glaze poured over each layer and a cream cheese icing over the whole thing.

Hubs had run to the store for the 47th time and as I was mixing up the icing I noticed our hummingbird feeder hanging sideways on the kitchen window. I stopped what I was doing and went outside to find all the sticky sugary syrup dripping on to the deck where it was baking courtesy of the hot hot sun. I went inside and grabbed a cup of boiling water and poured it on the mess, all the while thinking how helpful I was to get this knocked out before hubs came home. Then I realized the sticky stuff had dripped through the deck and was running down the lower level bedroom window, so I got my trusty step ladder and ever so carefully wiped the window clean.

As I was admiring my handiwork the ladder somehow collapsed, I slid, and hit the bar going across the top of the ladder. HIT should be capitalized. I hit that bar so hard, like a Floyd Mayweather jab just below the rib cage. I might have cried. Hubs got home about fifteen minutes later and I was frosting my cake and crying and he said we probably needed to make sure I hadn't broken a rib or ruptured my spleen and we argued a little about whether or not I could drive myself while he finished getting the dinner prep done for our soon-to-be-arriving company or he would drive me there himself. Guess who won?

It only took an hour to get into the exam room. The doctor said I'd have to have a chest x-ray and if any ribs were broken I'd have to have a cat scan to be sure my spleen was intact and long story short I have some very severely bruised ribs that will take two to three weeks to heal.

Hello company! I hung tough, but was definitely off my hostess game. Fortunately the weather was absolute perfection and we pretty much spent the entire three days in the water.  Seriously if we hadn't insisted my nephew get out of the lake he'd still be in there swimming.

Thursday morning we packed a lunch and motored out to a little island we love. There's a nice sandy beach and we felt like we had the whole lake to ourselves.

I think he had fun?

Hubs grilled steaks on the Green Egg for our brother-in-law's birthday dinner, then got up Friday morning and put a pork butt on the grill to smoke all day. Somebody enjoyed being sous chef.

And fishing with his uncle.

And catching a football thrown from the water.

We were on the boat again all day Friday and there was more swimming and flipping and the required sister selfie.

I don't see my younger sister often, and normally when we're together it's around a holiday, so this was really special. No agenda, just relaxation and conversation.

Friday night Daughter2 and her roommate drove out to spend the night and have BBQ with us, and Saturday morning we all got right back in the lake for some repeat fun.

About noon Daughter2's boyfriend arrived with her pup who is NOT a swimmer (although we tried to coax her in) and then my older sister and her hubs arrived from their nearby town to join us for an early dinner.

We grilled burgers and did our best to finish up the carrot cake before we had to say our farewells. My younger sister and her family started their long drive home Saturday night because work on Monday, school starting soon, and other non-summer bits of life that need tending. 

These cousins got the good hair gene.You're welcome kids!

Daughter2, her boyfriend, and her roommate stayed for an evening sunset cruise, then her roommate had to hurry home, and it was just the four of us once more. I think Daughter2 and her boyfriend played some pool, but I can't say for sure. I took my Advil and fell asleep sitting up in the comfy recliner because laying flat is still completely miserable.

The longish weekend went too fast and my nephew is already making his travel plans for next summer. We can't wait to do it all again!

Except the part about where I crack my ribs.
Next time I'll skip that and go straight to the fun.
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Mooning Over The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and say hi to your neighbor on the list. Here we go-

1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts? Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar...what's your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?

First things first-the snack list Ha! Pass the Milky Way please. 

Absolutely we watched the eclipse. We live in the path of totality and skies here were clear. I thought it was completely amazing. Hubs and I went to a viewing party in a neighbor's backyard where we all wore our special glasses and collectively oohed and aahed as the moon showed off. A stunning display of God's handiwork. 

2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?

Well the answer to that first one is easy-

photo courtesy of my daughter's mother in law

As far as something I enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon' hmmm....how about drink a diet coke? Every once in a while I get a craving for a bubbly Diet Coke with lots of ice. Definitely not something I drink on a regular basis so I think the phrase fits. 

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

Birds, specifically hummingbirds, bluebirds, and hawks. We put up a bluebird house and mom and dad moved in the very next day. Babies were born and have grown and now the whole family flits around the birdhouse when they hear my hubs whistle. They know he's bringing the chow. It's really fun to watch. 

We also have a couple of hummingbird feeders, one in my kitchen window so I can see them up close while I'm at my sink. They're just amazing little creatures.  We have two regular bird feeders too, and a couple of bird books, and the bird man at our nearby shop has been really helpful in educating us, particularly about how to attract the bluebirds.  

4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

I remember new clothes for the first day, and always getting new shoes too. I remember in elementary school we used to have to bring in a cigar box for our pencils, etc. Cannot imagine asking parents in 2017 to send in a cigar box, but back in the 1960's everybody seemed to come up with one. I don't even know where we got ours but we always had one for that first day of school. 

I remember the night before jitters and the anxiety on that first day waiting with my friends to hear my name called and know who my teacher would be. I remember the feeling of a fresh start. I have always liked fresh starts. 

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

mother-everything about this word says comfort to me. 
It soothes my soul. 

dream-I've always had a big imagination, and I'm still a dreamer at heart. 
Dreams awaken my soul. 

water-being on, near, or in front of the sea (ocean, lake, a good spring rain) helps me refocus when life feels tilted sideways. Water refreshes my soul. 

rest-because life is quite often too full. Hitting the pause button helps me remember I'm more than my literal and figurative to-do list. Rest energizes my soul. 

hope -because I still like fresh starts. 
Hope restores my soul. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hubs and I met Daughter2 for dinner last night. She's been back at work for a while now, but Tuesday was the official first day for students. This is her fifth year teaching, her second in kindergarten, and she still gets excited for that 'first day of school'. 

My daughter told us a neighbor couple brought over a quiche for her and her roommate in case they were 'too tired to cook this first week'. What a wonderful gesture that meant so much. This couple has grown children, which made it all the more special. May we all look for ways to bless the teachers who cross our paths this next school year. 




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Total Eclipse Of A Summer

If you're looking for the Hodgepodge questions, scroll on down. 

Y'all it has been a summer. Not the summer we anticipated, but summer nonetheless. What day is it anyway? Is it still August? Where's my calendar? If I had a nickel for every time I've written the phrase 'once life slows down a little' in this space I'd be blogging from my beach house in the Caribbean.

But here I am on the back porch, which is not the Caribbean, but it's almost as pretty. We've had a fun day watching day turn to night turn to day here in the Palmetto State, and I thought I'd try to catch up a little.

When last we spoke I had just returned home from a two-week visit to Washington State where I got to meet my grandson. Everybody say hi, but quietly because he's sleeping-

Still not quite over the fact he's 3000 miles away, but my daughter's in-laws have been out there visiting and her mother-in-law has been sending me a text with pictures every day so that's something.

Also, my daughter set up a family website on Tinybeans and she drops pictures and sometimes videos in there almost every day. We get on her about the 'almost' but she did just have a baby so we try to be patient. Not really our thing, but we try.

She's doing great! by the way. That's her with baby boy tucked in close for a hike down to the water. He slept the whole way so I think he liked it.

Tinybeans is a terrific way for families spread far and wide to share photos away from social media. The admin invites whoever they want to have access to join their site, and it's very user friendly. It's been especially nice for the great grandmothers who haven't gotten to meet baby boy in person yet. Tinybeans also has an app for your phone, and visitors can like pictures and leave comments.

Anyway, back to the last seven days. We got home late Sunday night, then met up with some friends for dinner Monday. Somehow as we were chatting the subject of bloody marys came up, and I mentioned hubs makes the world's best because he hand crafts them, and someone in the group challenged me, so I ended up inviting everyone to our house for breakfast on Wednesday. Two friends there had house guests but the more the merrier, right?

I should host more breakfasts. I love entertaining this way. I made two different breakfast casseroles the night before, and hubs was in charge of the drinks where he proved me right. It was a fun relaxed morning and something we'll do again.

Actually I made the food the day before because the night before we met my daughter's in-laws for dinner a few towns over. We wanted to compare notes before they headed west. Our waitress was a good sport and looked at more than a few baby pictures on our phones.

Yes. We are those people.

I think I've rambled so let's recap...travel west coast to east coast all day Sunday, dinner out with friends Monday night, dinner out with family Tuesday night, 11 people at my house for breakfast Wednesday morning, and I haven't even mentioned yet the fabulous progressive dinner ala lake style we were part of on Thursday night. 

Oh, and laundry and packing on Thursday too because guess what? We were getting up early for a road trip to Maryland on Friday. Also, hubs needed tires which led to needing an alignment, which led to needing some other big expensive auto repair and we squeezed that in last week too. Mostly. Car repairs. Grrr.

The ladies in my bible study group planned a progressive dinner, and we thought it would be fun to travel to the various houses by boat. And it was!! We had a late afternoon storm that made us a little anxious, but the skies cleared and the weather cooperated beautifully.

Appetizers were at my house, so everybody boated over here for that, after which we loaded back up on the boat and motored a few coves over to another house for the main. We did a big Mexican feast which was perfect. When that course was finished we loaded back up on the boat and traveled a few docks down to a third house for dessert. Such a fun evening!

We slept a few hours, then woke bright and early (but mostly just early) Friday, loaded the car, and headed to Maryland. My nephew's Eagle Scout ceremony was on tap for Saturday afternoon, and his brother had a starring role in a community play that evening so it was a double header kind of day. Here's the Eagle with his uncle Eagles-

We were thankful both events were happening in the same weekend, and bonus! My mother-in-law was also in town for the happenings so we had a chance to spend time with her too.

Also, I love me a good ceremony and an Eagle Scout award makes for a good ceremony.

We knew going up we'd likely have horrible traffic coming home on Sunday since so many people were traveling to our area for the eclipse. We had the bright idea to get up at 3:30 in the middle of the night morning and get on the road. It worked, but we were wiped out Sunday and spent most of the afternoon napping. Well I napped and hubs mowed the yard because that's hubs.

Which brings me to Monday. Hey did you hear there was a solar eclipse on Monday? Ha!

We live in prime eclipse totality viewing real estate and the marketing for this event was ka-razy! We did not take the boat out, but instead went to a party at a neighbor's house. Two reasons really...one-they live on the water so the lake is right there, and two-we really wanted to spend time with some of our neighbors. We have been away so much this summer we've missed that. It was great fun, and the perfect place to see the whole event.

And that's the week that was.

The end.

Except not really because my sister and brother-in-law and their son arrive Wednesday. I'm excited to see them because we don't get a lot of time to just hang out together, and they haven't been to the lake yet. Also, my nephew can't wait to take a running leap off the dock with his aunt. He doesn't know it yet, but he can't wait.
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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 318

So much to blog about, so many other things that need doing besides blogging. In the meantime... here are this week's questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Fly back here tomorrow and add your link to the party.

1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts? Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar...what's your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?

2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

It's The Dog Days of Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say hello to your neighbor. I've got a full calendar this week so let's get to it-

1. Do your actions match your words? Elaborate.

I'd like to think so, but I'm sure that's not always the case.  I certainly want them to line up, and I do try to always do what I say I'll do. For me the problem is more personal. Where I drop the ball tends to be in the words I tell myself. It's the promises I make to myself about things I want to change/improve/quit doing/start doing where my actions don't always line up with my words. 

I'm a work in progress. 

2. Sick as a dog, go to the dogs, dog days of summer, dog tired, it's a dog's life, every dog has it's day, can't teach an old dog new tricks...now doggone it which saying could most recently be applied to your life?

It's a toss up between dog days of summer (Washington State last week!) or dog tired because we've been traveling, have about forty things on this week's calendar, another quick trip coming up, then company coming. Whew! 

3. Your favorite book featuring a dog in the storyline? What makes it a favorite?

Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls  If you've never read it I highly recommend. I read it many times as a child, then read it to my own children, and have re-read it myself another time or two.  I cry every single time. The timeless tale of a boy and his coonhounds may not sound like your cup of tea, but this sweet sweet story captures your heart and never lets go. I get teary eyed just thinking about it. 

4. What's something you hope to one day have the confidence to do?

Dock the boat. 

5. August 16th is National Tell a Joke Day. So tell us a joke.

I'm terrible at telling jokes. I usually remember the gist of a joke, but am not great at the delivery. Here's one we always laugh at in our house...not sure what that says about us, but we think it's funny. 

'A horse walks into a bar. Bartender says, 'Hey why the long face?' 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We spent two weeks in Washington and due to the Canadian wildfires our only view of Mt. Rainier was from the plane heading home. Still, not too shabby-

Also, what's a post without a picture of baby boy? 

You're welcome. 

Like Riding A Bicycle

If you're looking for this week's Hodgepodge questions you'll find them here. 

So we're back home in the Palmetto State after nearly two weeks out west. I know I need to write something, but where in the world to begin? I think I'll start here-

With this girl.

She's a mama now, yet when I look at her with the pony tail and the bright eyes I struggle to mesh the passing of time with the here and now.

Baby boy is absolutely beautiful. He has long legs like his Daddy and long arms and fingers too. Babies are so funny. Sometimes he holds his arms out wide like he's conducting a symphony.

And of course I don't need to mention his hair do I? It's the best! The dark color was such a surprise to me because my girls are, and always have been so fair headed, but I love it.

When I look at his face I see my daughter. There is definitely much of his mama in the shape of his face, his chin, and the way his deep blue eyes seem to study you.

He has a sweet disposition unless you try to change his diaper, then all bets are off. He's a mover and a shaker and while many babies absolutely hate 'tummy time' he seems to enjoy it. I know this for a fact because he told his PawPaw so.

One other little thing that upsets him is if you're slow in getting his supper to him. And by slow I mean not lightning fast. He gets hangry which I guess means he does have a little of his Nana in him too-ha!

Hubs and I so want to be those laid back go with the flow kind of grandparents, but who are we kidding?  We're not those people.

We're often a little bit too helpful, because that's how we roll in these parts, but here's the thing...baby boy's mama is still our girl and she's so geographically far away from us that we just want to take care of things for her when we can.

Don't get me wrong. These brand new parents are two very capable adults who are managing the early days with a newborn like they've been doing it all their lives, but still...hubs and I? We need to help. And my daughter seems to know this so she lets us.

Sometimes I don't know quite what to do with all the love I feel for my girls so I cook them dinner and wash their dishes and put meals in their freezer. I run the vacuum and fold the laundry and hubs mows the lawn and handles a car repair and does his best to wear their puppy dog out when we're in town because that says love to us.

I'm not close enough to babysit for a Friday night date but by golly when I'm in town I'm going to mop your kitchen floor and change your sheets so you can rest and feed your baby.

There's an old home video in our family that we all love so much. It's my Daughter1 learning to ride a bicycle, pedaling her way around our cul-de-sac. In the background you can hear her sister, aged 3 1/2, saying, 'Keep going Sissy. You're doing great'. 

Honestly it kind of makes your heart go all mushy inside. The sheer sweetness of a summer day. The slightly nervous smile, the innocence, the joy all right there on her face for everyone to see.

The small glimpse you're given of a seemingly distant future...

photo credit: Chris Klas Photo

That place where your little girl pedals through life without mom holding on to the seat, her family loving her and cheering her on...