We would so be BFF

So this weekend I'm going to Tampa. To see Beth Moore. Beth and I are close. Well, not really but it feels like it. We would totally be friends if we knew each other in real life. After all we are of a similar age and we are both moms with two daughters.

My own mom is going with me. I bought the tickets and booked the weekend this past Christmas as a gift for my mom. It might have also been a little bit of a present for myself too. We've both done lots of Beth Moore Bible Studies but neither of us have seen her in person so we're excited.

The conference begins on Friday night and runs thru half a day Saturday so we'll have some free time too. We are hoping to meet up with a friend of mine from the UK who now lives in the Tampa area. I've talked about the ex pat community on my blog before and have said it feels a little bit like college. You more or less live out of each others pockets and this was definitely true in our case. V and I were on the school PTA board together...we were on the Women's Club board together...we were in a bible study together every Monday morning at my house and then at Moms in Touch every Friday morning at her house. Needless to say, in the course of the 5 years in England where our lives overlapped we got to know each other very well. She moved back to the states in 2008 and we haven't seen each other since so I'm really really hoping it works out for us to get together this weekend.

There's more...the former Youth pastor of our church in Maryland is now the pastor of a church in the Tampa area and my mom and I are hoping to visit there Sunday before we fly back home. I haven't seen him since we moved to the UK but he hugely impacted my girls in their early teenage years and I'd love to say hello and thank you in person.

And just in case you are wondering....hubs will be at home cleaning, sanding, and staining all the outdoor Teak furniture this weekend. Can I just tell you how happy I am to have an excuse not to help... such a tedious job but right up his alley.

Oh yeah...now I remember

Pollen.

It makes me sneeze.

And want to claw my eyes out.

I know all you southerners have been drowning in pollen for a while now but spring is slower to actually spring in our little corner of the world.

I looked out my back window one day and saw this-

and I woke up on Saturday and saw this.

and this

And my eyes immediately began to water.

And I sneezed no less than 300 times.

And I took some allergy meds and had two naps on the couch.

All in all a very productive Saturday.

The weather was beautiful but I stayed mostly indoors.

Hubs was his usual energizer bunny self and by 7:45 (that's AM) had dressed, turned the mulch in all the beds, raked up the last bit of leaves from the back yard and was asking if I was ready to take the MG to the service guy for part 2 of her spring tuneup.

Is he kidding?

He entertained himself for the rest of the day by washing the cars and throwing down grass seed and I don't know what else while I was chained to the computer trying to coordinate logistics for a little family trip we'd like to take following daughter1's graduation.

Which will happen in 26 days.

I feel the need to say that often so it might one day sink in.

For both of us.

And our trip is STILL not booked but hopefully by the end of today.

Let me just state for the record that it's not easy to get anywhere in the universe directly from Greenville South Carolina.

Oh wait.

I did do something this weekend.

I watched The Masters.

I mean you can do that from the couch right?

We were rooting for Phil and were happy to see him win.

I would have been happy to see Fred Couples pull off a win too.

Because as the commentators liked to say, 'at 50, he's the old guy'

One of the UK papers actually put it this way,

" His dotage defying adventure of the last four days has also proved that he

retains a ruthless competitive edge."

Dotage defying?

Dotage is defined as 'a feebleness of mind, especially as a result of old age.'

Holy moly!

Have I mentioned that I have a big birthday coming up this year?

Consider it mentioned.

Happy Birthday to Me

No, it's not my real birthday. I'm linking up with Flashback Friday today and the theme is birthdays. Believe me, when my real birthday rolls around you're gonna be hearing about it. It's a BIG one. HUGE. Rest assured I'll be mentioning it a time or 50 on my blog.

Now on to my flashback...I don't remember having a birthday party every year but I do remember having at least a few. I found a couple of pictures in a scrapbook my mom made for me of my first 20 years of life and apparently my mom always made sure there was a fabulous cake.

Here I am on my 2nd birthday. Just look at this cake! My birthday is not in December but I love the peppermint sticks around the edge. I'm the one with the present. Pebbles is my younger sister. I'm glad the cake is out of reach because she looks like she is contemplating some mischief and I'm pretty sure that's exactly what she was doing because that was her modus operandi back in the day.

And check out this fabulous coconut cake on my third birthday. You may not have noticed the cake because you were distracted by my cousin's awesome glasses. That's my brother beside me. He looks like he's pretty impressed by the cake too.

Thinking back to my elementary school days I remember pinatas and goody bags and my favorite kind of party...the sleep over. Here I am getting ready to leave for a friend's sleepover birthday.

From the looks of this photo it was the dead of winter and we were sleeping outdoors. Check out the size of that sleeping bag! I love my little case though. I do remember that ovenite bag. I cannot imagine what in the world the present might be...a desk blotter? Hmmm...

My parents always made our birthdays special but they didn't do extravagant parties. They had four kids and the world was different than today. No ponies in the backyard, no performing circus animals, no blow up bouncy castles...but still, happy days. Fun days spent with friends feeling special, like the day was all mine.

I did have a sleepover on my 12th birthday. I remember playing Truth or Dare, pulling pranks on whoever went to sleep first, my dad coming downstairs telling us ENOUGH! GO TO SLEEP!, and then of course the girl sleeping beside me throwing up in the middle of the night no doubt from all the junk food we'd eaten. Good times.

I'll leave you with this fantastic photo from my 10th birthday.

I got a hot pink bicycle and it was precisely exactly totally and completely what I wanted that year. In fact I was so excited to hop on and go for a ride that when my mom told me to first put on some socks and shoes I was in such a flutter that I did not take my usual care to match my too cool knee socks to the rest of my outfit. When I look at this picture of course I see the socks because, hello...they CLASH...but I also remember being 10 years old and oh so happy to have that bike, to ride it all over the neighborhood, to ride with no hands, to jump on and go to a friends and not come home for hours...to feel the freedom of being a kid.

Why would you want to leave?

Yesterday we received the printed graduation announcements we ordered for daughter1. That's crazy. I'm pretty sure we were just in Target shopping for her first teeny tiny dorm room.

Guess not.

Daughter1 is very very excited to be finishing up with university.

Classes I mean...the rest of it, not so much.

The campus where my girls attend school is absolutely stunning. Seriously, hubs and I say we'd like to live there. In fact Southern Living built a house on the campus last year and we think we should be able to move right in...I'm pretty sure we've paid enough tuition to make a good case.

The house was built as 'a model of environmentally responsible design, building techniques and materials and energy-saving systems. It is a hands-on environmental learning laboratory' but whatever. We toured the house last year and feel like we could deal with a few students coming and going. And tending the gardens.

There is a beautiful lake on campus. The campus is very community friendly and you see people walking their dogs, jogging and biking. While my girls were in class one morning I walked the lake path and wondered if it was too late to go back to college.

There is also a little something called The Rose Garden.

The roses weren't in bloom just yet but my daughters tell me that if you walk through when the gardener is there he will cut a rose for you.

Do you love a Japanese Garden?

They have that too... complete with a tea house straight from Japan.

There are beautiful flower beds all over the campus...their school colors are purple and white so lots of purple and white in the gardens.

Then there are the fountains...

many, many fountains.

They are gorgeous.

I can see why it would be hard to leave.

And I haven't even mentioned this...

or this...

or especially this...

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth." ~Robert Southey

No foolin'...April's first Random

Before I get started can someone tell me what is going on with the ladybugs this spring? Crazy!

It's Wednesday which means time for another Random Dozen. Interesting questions this week...why not play along and link your answers over at 2nd cup of coffee?

1. Define a great relationship.

Wow. We’re not messing around this week are we? The first thing that popped into my head was my hubs. Marriage. I’m not sure there is one thing that defines a great relationship but I think a few key components are-

Similar values

The ability to listen and to talk. But mostly to listen.

Honesty. But not mean brutal honesty.

Forgiveness…both the giving and the accepting

Laughter.

2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?)

I have to really think hard here because truthfully I don’t do fast food very often. I had a light latte from Dunkin Donuts last Friday morning. That’s about as drive thru as I get.

3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.)

Gordon Setter...sweetest dog on the planet.

4. If you had to move to a state besides the one you currently live in, where would you move?

South Carolina. I could be happy in North Carolina or Tennessee too. Well truthfully I can be happy anywhere but we’d be super happy living south.

5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I had a pretty happy childhood. I’m sure it wasn’t perfect but nothing comes to mind when I think about changing the way I was raised.

6. Who's the funniest person you know?

Husband. Without a doubt.

7. Did you get enough sleep last night?

Yes. I guess so...how much is enough?

8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning?

Must mail one portion of our income tax return today...the accountant was unable to file one state return electronically due to some glitch in the system. My thoughts then generally head in the direction of- why do we pay income taxes to a state in which we do not live and in which we do not own property? Plus pay the state in which we do live and do own property. Plus the federal government. Plus the UK. I need coffee.

9. Grilled or Fried? –HONESTLY

Grilled. Unless we’re talking catfish which of course must be fried. I didn’t need to say that did I? In the past ten years we have eaten fewer and fewer fried foods and I find them almost too heavy these days. I can honestly say I now prefer grilled.

10. Are you afraid of the dark?

Not as in going to bed and sleeping with the lights off afraid of the dark. But I am not a fan of pushing the rubbish bin down our very long driveway to the curb in the dark. Thar’s bears out thar ya know. And I still have a secret fear of the basement in my mom’s house. We hated going in the basement when we were kids and I still don’t particularly like it.

11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A mother. A nurse. A teacher.

12. If you had one word to describe yourself , what would you choose?

I think we’ve established that I’m not a one word kind of girl. I asked my family and here is what they said…both of my children separately said patient. How sweet.

Hubs? He said stubborn. Seriously? That's the first word that came into your head? He said it with a smile but I'd like to change my answer to #6 please.

I guess if I have to pick a word myself then I'm going with optimistic.

Smoky Mountain Memories

An awful lot happens in the blogosphere when you are away for a week. When you've been more or less incommunicado for a week do you try to read back posts or do you just forge ahead? I'm thinking forge ahead. Except of course I'm going to go back to last week and catch you up on what I did because I'm pretty positive you wouldn't want to skip over that.

Now, if only I can figure out how not to overwhelm you with all the words in my head and the pictures on my camera.

I've had the best week with my girlies and with some extended family as well.

Last Tuesday morning I flew to South Carolina so I could have a little extra time with my kiddos before Easter. I left NJ in a monsoon and arrived in sunny South Carolina to blinding sunshine and warm weather.

I love the South.

Why are we living in NJ again?

I stayed with my sister and took my girls shopping and out to eat as their

class and work schedule permitted.

Oh, and we gabbed.

A lot.

The campus where they attend school is known as one of the prettiest in the country. I took lots of pictures but I think I'm going to chat about that in a separate post because I need to talk about Easter here. Daughter2 and I did do some talking in this spot though...

This is a seating area just outside the on-campus Starbucks.

Beside the lake.

Yes, they have a rough life.

Hubs flew down Thursday night and Friday morning we drove to Tennessee for the weekend. The hubs brother and sister in law own a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and we rented one near theirs for the Easter weekend. Hubs sister and brother in law and their two boys joined us and his parents drove back and forth from their house in a nearby town each day so lots and lots of family fun.

We had a beautiful view from the deck of our cabin and spent most of our time out there or on the deck at my sister in law's place.

The view is okay I think.

Saturday afternoon we piled in the cars and drove just a few minutes up the road to see some pretty falls.

The cousins had a ball clambering over the slippery rocks.

So did the hubs.

Like I said-mountain goat.

The Smoky Mountains are one of my favorite spots. To get there from SC we had to drive through the tourist trap town of Pigeon Forge which we secretly like. Daughter1 was on the phone trying to explain Pigeon Forge to the boyfriend as we came through town and she said it pretty well...

"Where else could you see The Worlds Best Beef Jerky Outlet, a hammer store, a replica of the Titanic, and a German hotel with a Christmas theme all in the space of less than one mile?"

It is such a lot of fun. And such a lot of traffic on Easter weekend especially. But once you get past Pigeon Forge and into the mountains there is glorious quiet.

And beauty all around.

After our outing we went back to the house and dyed Easter Eggs.

Here is daughter1 working on hers...did I mention she is an art student?

You probably figured that out from the look of serious concentration she has going on here.

Somehow making one ugly egg has become a tradition at our house.

I do believe Daughter2 has perfected the technique.

We don't have all the cousins on this side of the family together very often and they really enjoyed being together.

There was lots of laughing and lots of front porch sitting.

Back porch too.

Easter morning we gave the girls their baskets and made let them hunt for Easter eggs before heading down the mountain to go to church with my in-laws. We were married in this church so its always special to go back and visit.

It was just a gorgeous day and the service was lovely. There is a gentleman who sings in their choir who should seriously record an album plus they sang the Hallelujah chorus at the end and who doesn't love that? After church we all went back to the cabin for Easter lunch. We originally thought we'd eat out but after I described in my blog a few posts back what we normally would be having for lunch the girls said they were going to miss the traditional home made meal so mother in law and I cooked a ham and all the trimmings. Which may or may not have included a yummy coconut cake (Thanks Carol!)

Monday morning we packed up and made the drive back to South Carolina for our flight back home. I was definitely not ready to leave but knowing I'll be going back in a month helps. Daughter1 is graduating from college.

Is that right?

That doesn't sound right?

I could write a whole post about that and hey, guess what?

I will.

I don't wanna be a chicken I don't wanna be a duck...

Did anyone else read Linda's intro to the Random Dozen questions this week and start singing the words to The Chicken Dance in their head? No?

Well you probably are now. And you're welcome.


I'm sorta kinda taking a bloggy break while I enjoy Easter week with my girls. I did still manage to get in on the Random Dozen and everyone is invited to play along. Answer the questions on your own blog (or in the comments here) and then link up those answers with Lid over at Second Cup of Coffee.

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?

There is something aesthetically pleasing about the look of peeps. I want to like them but I really don't.

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?

Pray. I say all the Bible verses I have memorized that relate to worry, fear, and anxiety. I sing hymns in my head, most especially What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

You are welcome to steal my method : )

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?

Well, they have gotten to the point of ridiculous in my neck of the woods. NJ has had severe flooding and more rain is on tap this week. I know come summer we'll be glad the ground was good and saturated but it's getting a teensy bit old at this point.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?

I don't get this at all. If I were getting a tattoo it would not be someones face. That's why Kodak was invented. If you make me choose I guess I'd say my daughters. I can just picture their reaction as I remove my beach cover up and they see their smiling faces looking back at them from my lower back.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?

Neither. A nose ring isn't permanent so that should be my answer but I honestly cannot see myself with a nose ring.

And permanently inking myself is not appealing either. fyi-your skin at 40 something is not the skin you had at 20 something. Just sayin'.

Hubs and I did have one fleeting moment where I suggested we get tiny little Union Jacks tattooed somewhere out of sight as we were leaving the UK but then I remembered I have children who have been strictly instructed NO TATTOOS so we refrained. Gotta lead by example I think.

Plus I'm kind of a chicken.

Ha- did you notice the way I cleverly worked Linda's theme into my answer?

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?

yes : ) Tune in next week for a recap. I like a little mystery on the blog now and then.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?

Reese's Eggs. You can never go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter.

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?

I think it was my tapestry which I wrote about Monday. But I'm sure I will overwhelm you next week with Easter picture obnoxiousness.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?

'Stuff Christians Like' by Jon Acuff. I've been reading his blog since I discovered the blogosphere...he is absolutely hilarious and has just had a book published. Check it out.

And no, he did not pay me for the props.

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?

Normally I'd say washing windows but I've discovered the secret to that one. It's called pay someone. So I'll go with closets. How does so much accumulate in a season?

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?

Maybe 5...I need new flip flops this year. I haven't felt too motivated to go buy any just yet though because did I mention it was 26 degrees last weekend?

12. Which color makes you happiest?

yellow...the color of sunshine and happiness

Wishing you all the blessings of this special holy week!