Because Sometimes Real Life Comes Before Blogging

Sometimes life...real life...needs me more.

Sometimes the ever changing needs and seasons of children growing up requires more time...more attention.

Sometimes God opens new doors and brings new opportunities...and they need more time...more attention.

And in the chaos of trying to be everything to everyone...I only manage to feel like I am failing at all of it.

In July I felt God asking me to lay down my blog for a while.

Ouch.

I needed to be reminded.

I blog because moment by moment, memories are being made...and I want to remember...not be remembered.

I blog because I want to capture every moment I am given with my children...not capture an audience. {If I do...I am truly grateful...but not the goal}

I blog because clocks tick without permission, memories scramble in my mind with age, their faces change, their voices change, they grow taller and taller and I cannot stop any of it...only purge every detail here while I still remember.

I blog because every now and again, He gives me something to say...and I am to be obedient in sharing.

I see things like "stats" and "hits" growing...

My inbox fills with offers to write and promote and join...and I am tempted to please the masses...

Maybe I should this...or maybe I should that...I could do this to draw more...or I could start doing that to make my blog more....

Please do not get me wrong or take anything I am saying out of context.
I am so grateful for every momma blogger out there that is able to consistently blog or make a career out of blogging.
I have formed some of the most precious, genuine friendships through the community of bloggers.
My life is all the better because of their willingness to share their wisdom and engage with their readers.
Not to mention my decor.

But so often I have to be reminded...this is not what He has asked of me in this season of my life.

It is not the calling He has placed on me.

It is not to be my focus.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tonight...my house is in order...His blessing is on this...it is time.

So forgive me as I break the golden rules of blogging...1) apologizing for being absent so long 2) sharing way too many pictures. 3) writing more than a couple of paragraphs 4) confessing how much I have missed sharing my mindless ramblings with you all. :)

This.....this is why...in this season of my life....I blog.....

Because there are moments I catch a glimpse of my daughter's faith...and it takes my breath away.



Because my youngest child turned double digits...and requests cupcakes and orange juice for breakfast...and I oblige because he is my baby. Poor kid...he doesn't have a clue that I'm never gonna let him leave.



Because even though he's double digits...he still falls asleep in my lap...and I never want to move.



Because my four legged child likes to lay on the air vents...and take them with him. We call this Bo's bling.



Because we make a summer list...and check things off.



Because even at 36 you're not too old to wear braces...again.



Because this exact view has been a yearly tradition for the past 9 years.



Because the kids are older now...and we get to sip our coffee on the beach at sunrise...alone.



Because sometimes...if I'm lucky...a seagull flies into my frame...at just the right time.



Because there is never a dull moment with these three.



Because hot cocoa at The Donut Hole is also tradition.



Because having a teenager means having date night at the beach. ::please refrain from all metal mouth jokes::



Because sometimes they aren't looking...and I catch them...having fun...together.



Because I catch my 12 year old daughter reading Kisses From Katie...for the second time...and I feel terrified/excited/happy/humbled/inspired/terrified...all at the same time.



Because I find a picture of said 12 year old on Instagram and the air is sucked from my chest because I see the stunning young woman she is becoming.



Because she paints things like this...and I think...how on earth did such a talented, passionate, artistic, being ever come from my DNA???



Because we are homeschooling through high school...and Advanced Biology is a beast.



Because my 16 year old gets to do cool things like cadaver labs {yes, real cadavers} at Lipscomb University...followed by lunch dates with mom at Chipotle.



Because at 36 I've not only decided to correct what my 12 year old non-retainer wearing self did to 3 years of orthodontia...but I've also decided to radically change the way we eat in our home.



Because a new way of eating means a new kind of date night. Healthy is sexy.



Because 7th grade leaf collections lead to roaming the lake with my kiddos...at sunset.



Because a spontaneous trip to the flea market leads to super duper cheap vintage finds.



Because summer fades...and gives way to fall...and that means camping on the lake. And pumpkin butter.



Because fall is not complete without our annual LCA {homeschool tutorial} camping trip.



Because some friendships started in the 2nd grade...and are still going strong.



Because every fall we take part in the Junior Docent program at The Hermitage...home of President Andrew Jackson.
Because he is the only kid I have left that does not think he is too cool.



Because every now and then...I get lucky enough to capture a moment like this.
Tyler and his sheepish grin.
Maggie and her infectious smile.
And Aidan...my one of a kind Aidan... being one of a kind Aidan.

Because one day...they will be grown and gone {I will have no choice but to get a lap dog}...and this is all I will have left.

This is why I blog.

Remind me.






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Andrew Jackson's Crib

Every year our Homeschool Tutorial takes part in Junior Docent Day at The Hermitage...home of President Andrew Jackson.



The grounds are gorgeous.

If it weren't for the roaring highway in the distance, a person could walk around and envision what it must have been like to live there.



This was Aidan's first year to be eligible to participate in the program and he was super excited about this opportunity.



He worked hard to memorize his lines and was able to tell guests from all over the world {some from as far as Russia} about Alfred's Cabin.

Alfred was born on the plantation as a slave and died there a free man that chose to stay on as a personal servant to the Jackson family. He requested to be buried in the garden near Mr. and Mrs. Jackson...and so he was.

So interesting.



This was Maggie's second year participating in the program.

The girl is in all her glory here.

She simply loves it.



She was able to talk with people from all over the world as well and tell them about the rows of cedar trees that lined the driveway...how they were destroyed in the tornado of 1998 and had to be replanted.



We were so proud of our group and received multiple compliments on how well they did as Junior Docents for the day.

Maggie and Aidan are already looking forward to next year.





The Homeschool Post Field Trippin'


"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Winter the Dolphin {We Knew Her Before She Was Famous}

By now I am sure you have heard of Winter the Dolphin.

The star of "A Dolphin Tale"...you know, the newly released movie starring Harry Connick Jr? Too bad he's such a homely and unattractive man....

::crickets chirp::

Where was I?

Oh yeah...Winter.

Turns out we knew her before she was famous.

In July 2010 the kids and I made a road trip to Tampa to visit grandma.

As a homeschooling family, seeing Winter was on our list of things we must do while there.



We were lucky enough to walk up right when they were moving her from a private tank in the back, into the tank where the public views her. It was beautiful to watch.



Then she did what she does best.

She put on a show for us.

A "look at me defying all odds, doing exactly what no one thought a dolphin without a tail could do" kind of show.

The trust between this dolphin and her trainer was almost palpable.



After the show, a staff member happened to single out my kids and ask them if they would like to come into the "staff only" area {at Winter's private tank} and hold Winter's tail.

Would they ever?!?!?!

Literally we were the only ones there at that time afforded the opportunity.

It was super special.

While we were talking one on one with the staff, we asked them about the strange props we had see all around Winter's tank.

Notice the lighting rig behind my kids and the guy standing to the right?

There was a broom strapped to rope hanging horizontally over the water, a large plastic gasoline can painted black, a large board reflecting light, and about 6-8 people that were just standing in their places holding these objects around the edge of her private tank.

That was when they informed us that starting September 2010, filming would begin on a Major Motion Picture starring Winter herself.

Dolphins are so intuitive, and sensitive to their surroundings, that they had to condition Winter to the new people and objects that would be entering her world.

I was touched to find out that the people we saw standing holding these strange objects were volunteers that would spend 4-6 hours per day, for the next 3 months, preparing Miss Winter for her new life as a Hollywood star.

Seems Winter had stolen the hearts and the devotion of the folks in the Tampa/Clearwater area.

Next? The country.



The kids and I went to see this movie last night and it did not disappoint.

No language, no violence, no sexual content.

Just a good family movie.

Heck, they didn't even try to hook up Harry Connick and Ashley Judd. {My 15 year old thought for sure they would}

All throughout the movie, my kids kept looking over at me saying things like, "Mom, we stood right there!"...or, "That's where we parked."...and, "That's her tail that we held!"

It was a very neat experience.

I give "A Dolphin Tale" two thumbs way up.

Inspirational, funny at times, and the kind of movie that just makes you feel good.

I also give Clearwater Marine Aquarium two thumbs waaaaay up. A wonderful place to visit if you are anywhere within the Tampa area. You will not want to miss seeing Winter.

If you would like to see Winter right now, see a behind the scenes preview of the movie, or maybe even help support the efforts of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium {A rescue, rehab, release facility} you can click here.

The live webcam button is at the top of the page.

Winter shares an enclosure with a dolphin named Panama. You may see her in the video as well.

And just a side note...she only wears her prosthetic tail a few hours a day so she may or may not have it on.

And homeschoolers, you can also click here for a curriculum that Scholastic has put together to go along with Winter's story.



Linking up at the The Homeschool Post







"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

A Walking Tour of Nashville

This month will go down as the month of field trips for sure.

Phew

As I watch my oldest preparing for ACT's and college, I am more and more determined to savor the time I have with Maggie and Aidan.

And I want them to enjoy this time of just having fun learning before they get to the serious stuff as well.

This week we met up with a few families in our Tutorial and headed downtown for a walking tour of Nashville with I'll Take Tennessee walking tours.

I cannot recommend this tour enough! And if you decide to take it, you MUST request Marilyn. This lady made the tour. She is so knowledgeable and so passionate about what she knows. No rehearsed tour lines from this lady. She can tell you the history of this city and Tennessee in general the same way I would sit and tell you about the birth of one of my children. It comes from a place deep within her and it is both moving and contagious.



Affectionately referred to by the locals as "The Batman Building"

Makes the Nashville skyline unmistakable.

Did I mention I love this city?



The Cumberland River...She looks so peaceful and forgiving here. What a difference a year makes.



Fort Nashboro.



Marilyn told the story of the first families to settle here in Nashville. She told of the tremendous adversity they faced and of the unwavering courage and fierce determination they had. And after last year's flood, I can see that not much has changed about Nashvillians.



Why was this area so appealing to them? A natural salt lick right on the river.



We sat on the lawns of the Capitol building and listened to the story of the integrity and character of a 21 year old named Sam Davis. I cried. Even Marilyn herself got emotional telling this one.

I am ashamed to say that I've lived here almost my entire life and I never knew this story. State History is so important and yet we sometimes know the least about the very place we call home. Yikes...Not sure what I was learning in school.



Another statue on the Capitol lawn...Andrew Jackson. Mr. "Trail of Tears" himself. It was only when my kids were Junior Docents at his home last year that I really knew that much about President Jackson. He was, to say the least, a character.

His home, The Hermitage is a must see if you live in Tennessee or should you ever find yourself in the area.

We will be heading there tomorrow for Junior Docent Day once again. :-)



Finally we ended our tour at the {third} burial site for President James K. Polk.
The only president to make only 4 promises for his presidency and keep them all.

Imagine that.

Did you know that at the age of 17 he developed gall stones? He was taken to a surgeon in KY. and they removed his gall bladder...with no anesthesia!! They gave him whiskey {as if butchering him wasn't enough, now he can bleed to death too} and a group of large men held him down. I've had this surgery...and whiskey would not have been enough even after the surgery. Poor man.



The only thing better than fascinating stories about history?

Sharing them with your best friend.



**Every bit of what was shared in this post, I learned on this tour. I could go on and on retelling the stories we heard. They were not only fascinating but extremely educational. Tyler and another Sophomore joined us for this one and even they loved it and learned so much. So I highly recommend this one for all ages.**



The Homeschool Post Field Trippin'



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"