Have you ever tried to completely empty your brain? Like, grab a pen and paper and just write.

List every single thing you are storing anywhere in your brain. All of the, "Oh, I need to get that. Need to call about that. Have GOT to remember to ask about that. Need to find time to order that." You know the stuff.

Well I have. I got to about 20 things, got distracted by somebody needing something and never got back to my list. Don't even know where the list is. 

I hate things being undone but have to live there most of the time. Undonesville. I'm NOT a fan.

There is never a time when every box gets checked. 

It's either a season or I'm completely incompetent. 

Maybe I need a "staycation". I've heard of those. Never done it, but that sounds just about right. 

I should send my little chickens off to Grandmas, and hold up in my house for about three days. 

I would probably spend the first 24 hours in a near coma. I would crash. Brad would come home that first day and find me in a vegetative state. Maybe even drooling. 

Eventually, the shock would wear off, the silence would bother me, and I would get down to business.

~I would organize every nook and cranny in this house.

~I would spend hours confiscating the million little, tiny "toys" that are stashed in my kids rooms and blissfully skip to the trashcan to rid myself of everything tiny and mismatched.

~I would sit at the computer, select and order two years worth of prints that I've been meaning to get into albums.

~I would go buy a stash of food and paper goods for my second kitchen. I would have enough toilet paper and paper towels to last six months.

~I would get every item of clothing cleaned, ironed, and put away ALL at the same time. 

If I ever get a staycation, that's what it will look like. 

Thank you, for affording me that little rant. 

~~~~~Brad loved this picture~~~~~                                          ~~~~~I loved this picture~~~~~

~~~We all love her chunky legs and sweet belly. She does NOT love clothes. Or the beach, as you can see below. ~~~

~~~We had a fun fall thing to go to the other night with friends. Didn't get a single "great" photo, but we had so much fun~~~

These pictures make me laugh because we were looking so rough by the end of the night! Look at the bare feet, rainbow hair, drool covered clothes, and sweaty heads!

~~~I'm pretty sure I ate two bags of cotton candy. I love it. Even though I'm 37.~~~

My bed is calling my name.

Good night and brace yourself for Monday.

Oh wait.

That statement would horrify my Dad. He would say, "Monday is going to be a great day!"

So, instead, let me say, "Happy Almost Monday. It's going to be the start of a great week" grrrr. 

~stacey

It was overcast, cool, and rainy today. I made chili for supper.

               Fall is definitely here.

If you know Avery, you know how pensive she can be. She asks a million questions, some of which are very grown up.

From the backseat, as she stares out the window while I drive, she asks,

"Is Sparky real?" (The stuffed mascot for Wednesday night kids church activities)

"No." was my instant reply.

"Well, then why do they say,'Sparky is watching'?"

"Uhm.....they are just trying to motivate y'all to have good behavior."

Her nose wrinkles up in confusion. "So, they're tricking us?"

"Yep. Pretty much, Avery."

"Hmm. I wonder why teachers do that."

"I don't know, Babe."

                ~She has a point~

Community.

1.a social group of any size whose members reside in aspecific locality, share government, and often have acommon cultural and historical heritage.

3.a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the largersociety 

within which it exists (usually preceded by the ): thebusiness community; the community of scholars.

5.Ecclesiastical . a group of men or women leading a commonlife according to a rule.

I have experienced community life in recent weeks that is almost hard to believe. 

You can't force friendship.

You can't force "real".

You can't fake trust.

You can't pretend "family" if it's not the real deal.

I realize that may make zero sense but I can't help but typing it.

That's where I am. After years of moving around, and with every move providing instant friendships because every move was centered around the medical community, i.e. medical school, residency, and fellowship, I was a little terrified of our first "non-medical" move.

I was sure our luck had run out.

There would be no more Young, Gambrells, Mitchells, and Dunlaps in the world. We were done. Hosed. 

Saturday morning, at 7 a.m., I got a call from my sweet husband, on his way to do rounds and operate.

He said,

"Jon called, has extra tickets, and wants to take the kids to the UGA game with him."

I thought, All the kids? He is c.r.a.z.y. Nice, but c.r.a.z.y. 

I refused to inflict pain and misery on this kind man by sending FOUR kids with him to a football game. 

Long story not so long, he ended up taking his oldest daughter and our Reese to Athens. (Anna Grace, affectionataly known as, "AG" by her family, has earned the nickname, "AG" in our house as well, because my girls think her initials sound even better than a full "Anna Grace". It is their term of endearment for this precious little girl.) 

The simple fact that I had zero hesitation about sending my seven year old to a collegiate football game with a friend and her Daddy, speaks  for itself. If that's not trust, I don't know what is! 

But the story gets better. Reese gets carsick and vomits in the parking lot on the way there.

~Yeah.~

But then, she got celebrity treatment at the game which made it all better.

Corndog, field level access, and pom poms. The little iPhone pics had me smiling all day.

Saturday night, we had the priviledge of going to an engagement/pre-wedding shower for Heather. Remember her? My amazing neighbor that brought me brownies and four smiling faces when I was barely pregnant and new to this town? Read her story here. It's actually only a part of her story. The rest is yet to be written and I am thrilled to be a part of it. You should know Andy.....he's pretty amazing himself. 

One day last week, a guitar knowledgeable friend dropped by to make sure the guitar I got for Jake fit him and showed me a cool tuning app on my phone. (Oh, and my house was a MESS when he came. I just politely said, "'excuse the mess, Chris. Come on in!")

We just got leftover brownies dropped off at 9:00 p.m. because our friends knew we like brownies. 

We had friends drop by last night after the shower and I actually changed into pajama pants while they were here. That either says how much like family they are or just how tacky I am. Or maybe just how much I love pajama pants. Either way, I'm pretty sure your about as good as family if you put on pjs when you have company. 

This morning at church, we actually had church. I could write an epistle here, but I won't. It was just one more example of people I've been surrounded by that I care about, want to invest in, and am so incredibly thankful for. People that let you say whatever is on your heart and love you anyway.

It sounds obvious to be thankful for people, I guess.

But like I said, you can't force friendship and family. "Authentic community" (I think I just made that term up), is a commodity I don't want to do without. 

So, to all my people, you are just that. My kind of people and I appreciate each and every one of you. 

How about some beach pictures?! 

And tomorrow is my birthday....in case you wanted to know.

I'm proud to say I'll be 37 tomorrow. Getting older beats the alternative! I'll take  37 with a smile.

  

 

  

 

 

Now THAT! Is funny. I don't care who ya' are. 

~stacey

Back from a wonderful vacation with friends who are even more wonderful. (Can't wait to post some pics)

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One at football, one at gymnastics, one playing with a neighbor, and one in my lap....where she most likes to be. 

I refuse to cook in a kitchen that has been thoroughly cleaned only hours before, so tuna fish is on tonight's menu. I figure it's healthier than fast food and cheaper than ordering in. 

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Tuesday to you! 

~stacey

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama 

~stacey

Whew. 

What a Monday it's been. Not all bad but just a Monday. Lonngggg school day but they learned a lot, and we all made it to 4:00 with pretty decent attitudes. That's a good day. 

I have a clean house, plenty of leftovers for dinner, and freshly washed sheets and bathroom rugs. 

Next week is fall break and woo hoo for that. We work hard for our breaks. So looking forward to it. 

After a weekend of football, I had to hijack the tv last night. Brad didn't mind, but Twilight sent him running for the computer. (espn.com is second best to Cowboys vs. Giants, I guess)

Speaking of Twilight, this forest reminds me of that. The kids, the girls especially, love this place. Grandpa calls it enchanted and they think it's amazing.

~stacey

It's raining in the mountains.

 Squeezed this "photo shoot" in today as the clouds were rolling in. It's  been too long since I've gotten even a snap shot of all four together. 

 This took a  grand total of 20 minutes and was so much fun. 

I like pictures that are full of life. Real.

I'm in my new pajamas. I feel like Doris Day when I wear them. They're striped, button up, bonified pajamas.

Kids are pretty much in bed, I think I'll join Brad and my parents on the deck. It's not every night I get to grab a blanket, go outside, and just sit.

Happy Labor Day!

~stacey

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
 

Inspired by SouleMama

If you'd walked in my house at any point today, you would have seen the exact same me each and every time. 

Black tennis/running skirt on. Not because I'm a real runner or tennis player, but because I was determined to get on the treadmill today and it was one of the few things clean and not horribly wrinkled. My lime green, rather unattractive "gymnastics mom" t-shirt, and pony tailed hair. Books all over the counter top and table. A baby in my lap or at my feet.

It's 3:45 and I'm just finishing school with the kids. This should dispel any notion that any one of my three days of schooling at home are easy. It's the hardest thing I've ever done and yet the most fulfilling. Don't know how long we'll do it, but I'm so aware of the "rightness" of this decision for our family, at this moment. (Ask me tomorrow and who knows what I'll say. I've cried and laughed a LOT over the last couple weeks.)

Poor Brad. The first week, every day he walked in the door so cautiously and asked,

"Well. How ARE you? Good day? Bad day?"

I know he's thinking, please Lord, let it have been a good day 'cause I can't handle her falling apart and running off at the mouth about how we're all doomed to failure.   On the bad days, I must say he handles it like a champ. Or I should say he handles me like a champ. Thankfully, the bad days are not as frequent as the good days! Progress, right?!

Which leads me to my point. 

Celebrate the small stuff!

I'm so thrilled I finally get to go take a shower! School is closed for the day. I feel satisfied after this day's work. I am officially in "love on my kids, laugh, and have fun" mode. We get to eat dinner together. Brad's not on call....at least I don't think he is.  I'm not going to worry about tomorrow's test at school, because today is all we have. If school til 4:00 isn't enough to have a child prepped for a test, then oh well. It'll be alright. 

~stacey 

Lucky for him, she likes to be thrown.

~We do so love our Chickfila~ 

The kids all wanted to sleep in the same bed last night. Usually this means lots of ups and downs, giggles, and other various delays in actually getting to sleep. This time though, I sent them to bed, told them I would be there to tuck them in. Ten minutes later, I walked in to find them all sound asleep. They fill up every bit of a full size bed. 

I'm ready for that first smell of fall. I always get a little ancy mid August. Anxious to pull out the boots, sweaters, and rakes. 

So glad it's a weekend. Emma is squatting down by the oven, waiting for the blueberry muffins. She LOVES muffins and eats about as much as the other kids. Hence her sweet little thunder thighs. Speaking of which, our movie in the car that we've been watching lately is the second Madagascar. It makes me laugh.  This should get your Saturday going: