This past weekend marks one of my favorites of the year: Memorial Day weekend. I can only think of a few things that could be better than having a holiday on Monday.
Getting free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches every day for a year
Winning a million dollars
Opening up for Taylor Swift on tour
That pretty much sums it up.
And because of the true reason for Memorial Day I must honor and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country and fought for our freedom. God, please bless America, even when we continue to turn from You.
JAY arrived home on Friday night!!!
You know, it seems like just yesterday on Christmas Morning of 1991 when the two of us ran in the garage to find new bikes waiting for us. Now our cars occupy that space.
Somewhere I can hear the "Wind of Change" playing.
I miss the 90s every day. They were such carefree and wonderful years for me. I remember all the toys, shows, commercials, and even fashion.
For the record, though, I never did understand the fetish of walking around with a comb stuck in your hair.
It's a slippery slope to me. First a comb in the hair, and then where would it stop?
??
???
Food for thought.
I only had a couple of minor mishaps prior to the ceremony: spilling ice in the sanctuary and walking back to my seat with the microphone that the reader was supposed to use shortly after my song.
Quicker and more sly than a serpent I slithered up the stage to put it back before anyone noticed.
Is anyone looking? Now's my time.
Also, I noticed a BUG in the hair of a lady in front of me and shook the pew laughing. Why is everything exponentially funnier when you're supposed to be quiet???
Let me be. It's comfy here.
All in all the ceremony was beautiful and the reception was so much fun. We love these guys!
When I congratulated the lovely couple at the reception Kirk said he vividly remembered coming over to play with Jay and hearing me sing Britney Spears songs at the top of my lungs in my room.
Oddly enough, this particular hit was not selected to be part of their ceremony- ha!!!
Oh, blackmail memory lane.
Pigtails, dances, Tommy Hilfiger...this was the life. I was 14 in this picture, and a few months later I'd be driving.
This alert just in from the US Government.
Speaking of driving- I fondly remembered a time in 10th grade when I was on the way to dance lessons and backed into something on the way out of the garage. Turns out it was our trash can.
Along with Birthdays, Anniversaries, and holidays my mother never forgets trash day. It's permanently etched in her calendar. As I got out of the car wondering what on earth I had hit (I thought the mailman came earlier...) I looked out to find the trash can overturned, trash all over the driveway, and the WHEELS on the bottom heading right for the road.
In a flustered rush I picked up the scattered trash, chased down the wheels, and placed the trash can on top of them. Who would notice?
The next day:
"Randy, what happened to our trash can???"
Me: "Uhh what? What do you mean?"
Trash Collector Ann: "It's all messed up! I can't wheel it in the garage!"
Me: "Gosh, that's terrible. I guess trash men aren't what they used to be these days."
The next week after a call to the city my mother got a new trash can. And I told her the truth about five years later.
Ryan had Memorial Day plans out of town, but our family of four had a blast together at home this weekend. Few things in life make me happier than being together with them!
For part of the scheduled itinerary (I wonder by whom...) we watched two good movies and played many games.
Jay ended up battling it out with Daddy at the end and winning Wizard of Oz Monopoly.
Make note: when Jay's back in town it means we'll have a Mario Kart marathon. We played every single race on the game- all 32 of them.
Would you BELIEVE that on the very last race we ended up TYING for first place??? It was like the apocalypse.
One thing's for sure, I love games. I was in Toys R Us recently for myself and stumbled upon surely one of the greatest things since Jesus broke the loaves of bread:
Let me process this. A Mario Kart K'NEX set?!?!?!? I can't handle this.
It is settled. If we have a son he is getting this masterpiece for his first Christmas.
"But he would only be seven weeks old..."
Minor details! Surely he'd enjoy staring at and listening to this sensory overload, which would send the other baby toys back to the store crying. Plus his Mom would have a BLAST putting it together. I'm just saying.
This sure beats a pair of Baby's first Christmas socks.
Note from the editor: do not send me messages about hazardous choking parts. I'm not that clueless...on the other hand...
When I first moved to Columbia I babysat this beautiful boy for several months before I got a job.
I seem to be a hit with children, most likely because I'm just a bigger version of them.
Anyway, on one particular morning the boy's mother told him he was not allowed to eat any candy that day. So when we took our daily trip to Kroger I talked him into a bag of Cheetos instead of Skittles. It wasn't so bad after all.
But when his mom came home at the end of the day I could hear her scolding him.
"I told you not to eat any candy!!!"
"But Mom, I didn't!"
"Don't play that with me; your mouth is totally green!"
I felt terrible and was trying desperately to figure out how, at three years old, he found candy around the house. A few moments later I walked in the room.
"Katharine!!! Your mouth is green, too!!!"
"Huh?"
I in my infinite wisdom had bought Shrek edition Cheetos that turn your mouth green when eaten.
And the poor boy actually hadn't eaten candy. Bless his heart.
But there is an underlying lesson here. Sometimes in life our situation can make us look guilty. In all seriousness, the Bible tells us to flee even the appearance of evil. That means watch out who you hang around, the places you go, and the things you do. This concept is ageless, so remember to put yourself in situations that will glorify Him.
A holiday weekend wouldn't be complete without some family yard work...
What could be funnier than Randy Carlson cutting bushes in his Grinch shirt?
I hope you and your family had a fabulous Memorial Day, and remember, friends, it pays to have great taste.
