Challenging Blog - I mean, Blogging Challenge

Jeff has a load of cousins.
And even though we have been married for 24 years, I haven't met the majority of them.  And oddly enough, neither has he.

But I have met Jeff's cousin, Dawn.
She is a lover of words.
And she likes to help people write.

And I am always curious about what she has going on.
So I read her stuff.

She is offering a 14-day blogging challenge.
And for some strange reason, I am compelled to participate.

I LOVE to write.
I am always driving around thinking of things I would like to blog about.
Not because I want people to know my business, but because I love putting my thoughts down and sending them on their way.

I am not the best writer.
I also don't really give a flip about proper grammar.
Surprisingly, I have quite a few friends that are grammar Nazi's.  My hope is that they teach me a little proper grammar while I teach them to lighten up a little.  (one can hope)

So here I go.
Gonna do the 14-day challenging blog.

Maybe it will set me free.
Maybe it will make my eye twitch.
Either way, I am up for the challenge.

Friendsgiving 2015

Friends are the family we chose for ourselves.
I am one lucky girl.

Tried As An Adult

The one that first made me a mom turned 18 today.
It seems so hard to believe.

I understand that in the eyes of the world, he is considered an adult.
But in my eyes, he is still my sweet baby.

I wish I could hold him one more time.
I wish for those sweet little boy days when he would hold my hand.

We feel the growing pains.
We know that he is ready to go out into the world.

I worry that I haven't told him everything that needs to be said.
But I have to believe that he will be okay.

I hear from a few reliable sources that he will come back to us at some point down the road.
That the aliens that have invaded his mind and body will slowly slip away.
I am holding on to hope that the day comes soon when my buddy is laughing and hanging with us again.

For now, I will admire him from a distance and be proud of him.
He is a good kid.
With a big heart.

He is one of my greatest accomplishments in life.
18.

Whoa. What just happened? #mayorofacl

The kids and I joked that our family should enter the Mayor of ACL contest.
My friends and I kinda laughed about it and talked about what fun it would be.

There was a contest.  My friend, Becky, nominated me.

We made a little video to enter the contest.  Jeff came up with the idea.  The kids were happy to play along.  I mostly just stood where I was told.  :)

Then we got picked in the top 3.  And before I even knew what was happening, I was on the original set of the famous Austin City Limits show being interviewed by Evan Smith.  (WHOA)

 





And before I knew it, there was a social media election.  I was a nervous wreck.  All of our friends and family rallied behind me.  The kids were on board and had their friends tweeting and sharing like high school kids do.  The moms from the neighborhood were in a bar (campaign central) retweeting and hashtagging and alla that stuff.  While I sat at home with all of my kids asleep and my husband snoring on the couch.  It was best that I was alone because it was all so overwhelming.  At one point I looked at my phone and had over 200 text messages. 

And then I saw this.  I still can't believe it.

It still seems unreal.
I am so thankful.
And excited.

And I will do everything I can to be the best #mayorofacl and an ambassador of fun!

Huge big thanks to all of my friends, family, strangers and social media friends.  Big air hugs coming your way!!!

12, 11, 9, 6, 1

And just like that, we have a senior, junior, freshman, 6th grader and 1st grader.
I don't even know what to say about it because I am too busy trying not to cry.
Damn, I love these people.

Where I Come From

Where I come from...

Friends are loyal (whether you like it or not), family comes first (even when you make each other sick), neighbors help each other (even when you secretly wanna take a dump in their yard) and money is hard earned (imagine that).

Maybe that is why I sometimes feel so lost in this place that I am now.

Even though I love it so.

The Days

The days have been beautiful around this town lately.
Truly amazing weather.

I have found myself in a very reflective and quiet place the last few months.
Introspective.
Confused.
Protective.

The need to share and write and grow has been stifled by the need to hold things close and allow somethings to be just my own.

Which is odd.
Because I like to share.

Lately, there have been approximately 1 million blog posts rolling around in this head.
Maybe the newness of spring is sparking the need to shed the layers of the long hibernation.

Whatever it is, I am back.
I don't know for how long.
But I've got a few things to say.
So pull up a seat and hold on.