7 years in the making!

Seven years ago today, friends and family were gathered in the mountains on a wonderful spring day to celebrate the marriage of Brooks and Erin.

Each time I think of our wedding, one song comes to mind --- A Page is Turned by Bebo Norman.

I absolutely love this song and it just so happens it is the song which played as I walked down the aisle.

Here are seven facts about our wedding day:

1. I almost left my dress at my parents house. Since we were married an hour away, that would have been an interesting situation. You know one of those situations where everyone else thought someone else had it. . .yeah, that's what happened.

2. I married a man who was my best friend and is still my best friend.

3. We got married on Tax Day so neither of us would forget. (Okay, so I wouldn't forget.)

4. The preacher told me to calm down in the middle of the ceremony. I may have been slightly bouncing from joy.

5. My sister traveled from India to be at our wedding.

6. I walked down the isle to a song played by a guitar and a song sung by one man. It was amazing. Simple. Us.

7. I had the whitest teeth on earth that day. I asked Brooks what one thing he remembers about our wedding and he replied without hesitation "White Teeth."

Here's to 77 more!

Bebo Norman \ A Page Is Turned

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him, the one

To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one

To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind And all this time, they're sharing with the one 

That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come

Fun in the Sun **Warning some pictures are painful**

Each year I am blessed with the ability to attend our Regions Special Olympics.

It is one of my favorite days of the year.

This year was no different.

We spent the day watching amazing children and adults enjoy a BEAUTIFUL day of good sportsmanship.

Yet, this year, thanks to many hours in the sun

(apparently facing one direction)

I have a poem to share with you.

The day was warm, not a cloud in sight.

This could only mean a day of delight!

A white Irish girl excited to see

The sun in the sky, bright as can be

SPF 50 she did apply

To protect her skin, as not to fry

The day was exciting and full of joy

Forgot to reapply -- Oh boy!

Just hours later her reflection she did see

How in the world did she burn behind her knee?

How many will think they are cleaver and say

"Did you know you got sunburned today?"

"What do you mean?" I counter attack.

"The red glow is an effort to bring the farmer's tan back."

Aloe is her friend which she can not part

Next time, more SPF would be smart.

The End.

"Those people"

So you know when you go to Walmart and you see the family and then you look at the parents and wonder if they looked at their kids before they left their house. 

We are that family.

You are welcome for the entertainment. 

Every night we eat at 7 o'clock so we can eat as a family (this is Brooks's break from school). So, after Addy's gymnastics we all loaded in the car and headed to meet Brooks at Firehouse Subs.

It wasn't until Brooks got there that I realized how we looked. 

I was dressed in heels and a skirt from work and the rest, well, can be seen below.

You can't see it, but Brody is wearing broken flip flops and lots of dirt.

Brooks sat down at the table and asked "Where are her clothes?" Hum. Good question. 

Nice Boots. Sadie wears those boots every day. EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY. Did I say EVERY DAY? Every Day! Well it's a step up from the snow boots of the Summer of 2012. And the crocks of Winter 2013, until the new Christmas Boots which have been worn EVERY DAY since Christmas. When she finds shoes she likes. She wears them until they fall apart. EVERY DAY. My fashionista. 

Here is the original picture in color.

So if you see us out and about, just know, I let my kids dress themselves. We have bigger issues to focus on other than fashion.

They will figure out fashion one day (hopefully soon). Peer pressure seems to prevail in this department. 

So for now, as long as they are covered and have some kind of shoes on them, I am okay with it. 

For now. 

This is coming from someone who's nickname growing up was "rag-a-muffin" and thinks yoga pants are acceptable everyday. Did you know you can dress up yoga pants by wearing a pair of earrings with them? It's true. 

Apple. Meet Tree.