Warning: get your straight jacket before reading.
Okay, so next time you think you're having a bad day imagine how an octopus would feel in a straight jacket. Now that you feel instantly better, you're welcome!
So, the month of love is upon us, and actually, will be OVER before we know it. February. Goodbye to January which is laden with feelings of bitter resentment over Christmases that have gone by, leftover candy and junk that is preventing you from buttoning even your fat pants, and an overall sense of doom.
I deal every day with frustration of some regard (don't we all?), and sometimes I don't even think I'm speaking the same language as the customer service rep on the other line, my coworkers, or even my family. It's kind of like in the Miss Universe pageant...
They're all smiles, which I'm certain is a mask for a frown, and I can only imagine the exchanges that take place backstage. Miss Russia asks Miss China if she can borrow her curling iron, and Miss China gets angry, because she thinks Miss Russia just made a "Yo Mama" joke. Miss Ireland just told Miss Greece to shove it, but Miss Greece smiles and thinks it's a compliment. And Miss 'Hungary'? She's been eating lettuce and ice chips for three months.
The anti McDonald's outfit. How is that?
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That hat won't fit under the 9 foot clearance. So THAT'S how the contestants avoid fast food!
And soon the other contestants followed suit. Literally.
Now that you know why fast food restaurants have a height restriction, my work here is done.
2015 is currently doing its best to make me absolutely lose my mind, but I'm hanging in there.
TODAY was picture day?!? Good googly.
We ended the month of January with Wren's FABULOUS second Birthday party! Oh, DEERE, we had so much fun! Emerson was also introduced to her first tractor.
No toddlers were harmed while operating the farming equipment.
Alison did an AWESOME job with the party, and we had such a blast. How is Wren two already?!
And I got to meet PRECIOUS Caroline for the first time. Hannah, you look INCREDIBLE, and your Dad and Mom are so enamored with your little angel!
We celebrated Super Bowl Sunday with Jamie and Chris which included some Monopoly, Mario Kart, football, and Boston Butt (I still think Boston 'bottom' sounds more refined, but whatever works).
My swirling thoughts during Katy Perry's halftime performance were as follows:
How am I going to beat that lion entrance for Emerson's 16th Birthday?
We welcome the interior decorators of Mario Kart's Rainbow Road for this next scene change. Where is my Dramamine?
I'm deathly afraid of sharks...but sharks doing a semi awkward version of the Macarena meets disco? Suddenly they're growing on me. And those trees look like poop.
Oh, hello, Missy Elliot. I go to JV Martin, cheer for the wildcats, carry a book sack, and watch TRL.
:::Reading Rainbowwwwwww::: Wait, if this whole pop star thing doesn't work out, I think Jabs Fireworks is looking for a new I-95 billboard face.
Staying up late on Superbowl Sunday night made for a most miserable Monday morning, coupled with the fact that it was almost pitch black dark and raining. Of all mornings, I would have taken a pass on work if I could have.
Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul.
But just wait...this Monday had not gotten exciting just yet. During our commute, which was full of traffic that particular day, Emerson and I were :::BAMMMMM!!!!!::: rear ended. The impact opened the inner panel on my sun roof, shook the whole car, and scared the pants (er, Huggies) off of Emerson.
Obviously I wasn't at fault, but that still didn't prevent me from having to shuffle through piles of receipts, old CD cases, pencils, office supplies, and the like in a frantic search for my updated insurance card. Granted, I keep all of that information in my glove box/catch all, but somehow BOTH of the cards I had in the bag were from 2013.
You can file that under "Things-that-are-absolutely-no-help."
The kind officer waited on standby while I obtained an electronic copy of that lousy card, which is actually just a perforated sheet of paper. Why does insurance cost so much again? My Chance cards in Monopoly are more durable.
Meanwhile I was trying to rationalize what had just happened and what the motive was for hitting us...
I LIKE SUV BUTTS, AND I CANNOT LIE.
Or, perhaps the guy thought my license plate was his annual eye exam, and he was trying to read the letters really closely.
In any event, I was sore for the remainder of the day, shaken up, and above all reminded that perhaps the only way to organize my car would be to set it on fire and start over.
Oh, good grief. On second thought I take that back, because at this rate I need to be careful what I wish for.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Moody. You've now met your deductible!"
In all seriousness, though, I now know the man (by name) that hit us, whom I otherwise might not have met. I have prayed for him frequently, and I believe that was God's way of working.
:::insert celebratory 2:00 am cartwheel here:::
But unfortunately I, too, had been coughing my head off and also felt horrible. After a rough night I called my Dad at 8:00 the next morning. How incredible it was to sleep in! After telling him how sick we were he asked, "Do you need me?" without missing a beat.
Exactly one hour and forty minutes later my doorbell rang, and Poppy was HERE! I have a feeling that Emerson had a little something to do with it. My Dad accompanied us on trips to get her chest X rayed for possible fluid in her lungs and also another visit to our pediatrician, who at this rate will be included in our 2015 family Christmas card.
We are now seeing a pulmonologist and ear, nose, and throat doctor for next $tep$. See what I did there? One step forward with health is about one hundred steps back in the back account, give or take. But as my mother has always said: if you can pay to fix it, then it's not a real problem. I think she's on to something!
It's hard to remember that, though, when you receive TONS of medical bills in the mail from the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the actual hospital stay itself, the surgeon's dry cleaner, and even the guy who ironed his lab coat.
There is a pattern of emotions I see in my husband as the following items arrive in the mail:
1) The "un-itemized bill" face
2) The "insurance didn't cover this" face
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or 3) The "we expect payment in full within 30 days or else we're taking your car and first born" face
Angry Daddy bear
At least the three of us are extremely grateful for our other blessings!
Saturday, the 7th, was Hunter and Reagan's wedding, and what an absolutely gorgeous day it was! They had a relatively short engagement, and KUDOS to Reagan for pulling everything together. I have to make note of all the SPECTACULAR things their groomsmen and bridesmaids had to say about them at their rehearsal. It made everyone in the room want to be their best friends, and to see the Lord's work coming to fruition in pairing these two of His servants- it was just so heartwarming. I can't wait to see what He will continue to do through Hunter and Reagan.
When I arrived at Twigs Tempietto it was like one of those dreams where you say, "Hey, I've been here before!" Turns out, I had; for JK and Erin's wedding reception in 2012 where Aaron kept calling me "Mr. T" because of my gold necklace. I had just as much fun this time around, minus that one accessory.
I always welcome the opportunity to visit BEAUTIFUL Furman where I spent my freshman year of college on a music scholarship. Seriously, does it get much better than this? And the acoustics in this chapel are incredible.
I had so. much. fun at their wedding reception!!! Even IF my voice was almost completely shot with this congestion and nastiness I have, which brings me to the next misfortune. I have coughed so much the past couple of weeks that my doctor actually tested me for Pertussis (Whooping Cough). While I thankfully do not have that, this congestion and junk has had Ryan, Emerson, AND me in a horrible funk.
So for Valentine's weekend we celebrated at home with our Z Packs and inhalers. And Poppy and Nana came to visit bearing gifts!
Ryan and I made the mistake of getting Emerson a precious pink grocery cart for Valentine's Day. This seemingly innocuous purchase turned out to be a MESS in the making.
"Cleanup on aisle six" is now a common phrase in our house.
As we reflect on things we love during this time of year, here are a few things that make my list:
- JESUS!!!!!
- My family and friends
- A $0.00 statement in the mail
- My doorbell when the pizza delivery guy rings it
- Just ONE work day with no catastrophes
- Bottomless fries at Red Robin
- Unwrapped Reeses
- A scale with a low number (which somehow does not coincide with a majority of the things on this list)
- Green traffic lights
- No lines at the grocery store
Other exciting happenings have been as follows:
I had such a blast doing my first Taylor Swift parody of "Shake it Off" that I decided to do a new one with "Blank Space," also from the perspective of a parent. This particular blank space has to do with Mommy brain and all the things we do and are faced with on a daily basis.
You can watch it HERE!
So, "how do I find time to do all these things?" people ask. The answer is simple. I make time. I make time for the things that make me, me. Without outlets like these, I would cease to exist as a normal human. And on most days, that is still questionable.
And OTHER exciting news is that after years of saying I'd do it, I finally created and launched a Facebook page for my music. You can visit the page here.
My plan is to upload piano and vocal videos whenever I can and spread His message. I'm really excited about this!!!
It was GREAT to visit with Joy in Greenville recently, and we had so much to catch up on. Shout out to Heather and Ray for letting me crash in your beautiful new home! Part of our weekend included a tour of the Salvation Army of Greenville. We all see the people dressed up outside of stores during the holidays, ringing bells and asking for donations...but never before had I seen first hand the good that the Salvation army does to put people in this world in a better place...physically, mentally, and spiritually.
We took a tour of their shelters and actually met some of the people that lived there. It puts everything in your life in perspective. They have women and children come in with not so much as a diaper or hair brush, and they rely on donations for all of these things.
Most times I make an effort to put my money in the bucket each Christmas season, and sometimes it honestly (and I'm ashamed to admit) has to do with whether or not I'm in a hurry. But I can assure you that after hearing a former drug addict talk about how he now has full custody of his little girl, speaks in chapel, serves others, and now works for the Salvation Army will never again make me question whether or not I have a few seconds to put some dollars in that bucket.
Because it's not just a bucket. It's an opportunity for those who have no way out. It's a change for those who have no hope. And it's a way of being a good steward by furthering His kingdom.
It's Salvation- both in the spiritual sense and salvation from their current situations.
They didn't pay me to say any of this, I promise! It's just something that had such an impact on me that I wanted to share.
We took a tour of their shelters and actually met some of the people that lived there. It puts everything in your life in perspective. They have women and children come in with not so much as a diaper or hair brush, and they rely on donations for all of these things.
Most times I make an effort to put my money in the bucket each Christmas season, and sometimes it honestly (and I'm ashamed to admit) has to do with whether or not I'm in a hurry. But I can assure you that after hearing a former drug addict talk about how he now has full custody of his little girl, speaks in chapel, serves others, and now works for the Salvation Army will never again make me question whether or not I have a few seconds to put some dollars in that bucket.
Because it's not just a bucket. It's an opportunity for those who have no way out. It's a change for those who have no hope. And it's a way of being a good steward by furthering His kingdom.
It's Salvation- both in the spiritual sense and salvation from their current situations.
They didn't pay me to say any of this, I promise! It's just something that had such an impact on me that I wanted to share.
Keep spreading the joy, because somehow or some way...it WILL come back!
