Life out west.....

Was afraid I wouldn't have anything to write, but then Dad and Garrett just blew something up on Grandma's car....so there is some excitement. (No idea what...dad said, "it blew up all around me but didn't actually hit me..." Sure made Garrett jump and run for something out of his truck...after I observed no apparent injury, I came in.)

Splash here has the blue-blahs. Was really a rough week last week. 

First of all, I miss my droplet. I really do. I don't know what I'd do if you were here, but at least you'd be here. You could lay on the bed with me and giggle. 

Worklife is work life. I don't get off tomorrow. Not that I really care, but I always am curious why it's the only federal holiday that Texas doesn't observe. But oh well. Dad and Garrett may do something. Garrett off for sure. 

Got to see Laura this week....ate three meals with her....went to mountain top (did not jump)...saw ducks at duck pond (appears Laura is scared of ducks/geese)..also got to see Ma on Tuesday. Ma seems fine. Need to call her.  

Let's see....after a really really bad Friday, we drove to Ballinger for the football game. Not a fun game. Got home 12:30 am. I was in bed around 12:45 am and up at 5:00am to get Garrett up and delivered to school for the band trip.  Then dad and I drove separately to the contest and I came back while boys went on to Rex and Amy's for hunting stuff. Whatever they do.

I ordered and picked up from that new express Chinese place. Can't think of name. Not Szechuan. Not wok. Hibachi...that's it. (Garrett just told me.) it was good.  McAllisters opens this week. Uh-huh!!! For real!!! 

Today I ordered pizza...girly kind. Spinach and junk the boys won't eat. 

They've only been home about 45 minutes. Enough time to blow up a car, I guess. (I just asked Garrett, "WHAT happened?" In true Garrett-fashion, he says, "with what?"  So you see how that explanation will go.)

Don't think we can make RoundUp this year. Garrett has competition in Odessa.  Too long of a trip. And we are too old. At least the game is here on Friday night. Against Stanton. You know to hug all for me. And soak in that feeling of family.  No other feeling like it, babe.  

Boys are now working on AC.  If it blows up, I'm moving in with you. No AC for a week already. 

Steve mentioned horseback riding today, but guys got home late. That would be fun. Did I tell you, though, that I re-hurt my bad leg. Yes...the go-cart accident leg from the 80's.  Was insisting on trying to open the painted-shut windows in living room. MIGHT have been standing on furniture, acting like I'm not a 45 year old woman, and MIGHT have jumped on couch cushion, bent knees, and hit that danged arm of that couch. It is an evil arm.. Remember when I threw myself on that couch once before while being dramatic and broke my tailbone? Yeah...so anyway, my leg is very swollen and bruising is finally making its way through all the swelling to the surface. So horseback riding might should wait.  

I have a present for you.  Not gonna tell you what it is. Tee hee

Better let you go.  Don't know what, if any photo relates to my boring life, but I'm about to go find a random one and put it on here so there is some color. 

Life as of lately

Gee Wiz Deena, We've neglected this blog!!!! Me thinks we shall catch the world up on all of our quirkiness and goings on!!
   Life has been fairly interesting for me lately. I'm enjoying my first apartment in Austin and my roommates are super great! Classes are going well; I'm only taking 12 hours right now so it's pretty calm. This year I have an officer position within Best Buddies ( http://www.bestbuddies.org/best-buddies ) and that's keeping me super busy, but I am having an absolute blast! My matched Buddy, Vicki is an incredible woman! Vicki has the sweetest demeanor that you will ever meet and I love every minute spent with her!
   Rory and I are doing really great and we will be celebrating 3.5 years together on October 24th! We recently started a "daily" couples devotional and it's been an exciting experience, but we're lucky if we can get in 1-2 readings a week (we really need to get better with that).
 Rory is, as usual, crazy busy as an engineer major but he's doing really well and working a few nights a week.
   I began a weight-loss journey in June and so far I've lost around 15+ lbs (muscle gains too) and it's really exciting to me to finally start seeing results. I'm learning to love myself and to not be so hard on myself. Let's just say that it's a struggle. I have ups and downs nearly daily, but I am very proud of what I've accomplished and how strong and healthy my body is.
   Ohhhh and if you haven't noticed......IT'S OCTOBER!!!! My favorite month!!! Autumn is upon us!!! Next weekend is our family reunion and 25th is my 20th birthday!!!!!
   hmmmm....I believe that is all I have to say for now...it's your turn Deena!

gym time

Best Buddies Matching party (Vegas night theme)

sometimes I try to cheer up Mommy by sending her ridiculous pictures.

"Coin"cidence? I think not!

Ok. Need to give some back story to those who don't know us well.....

Heather and I "believe in", "follow", "get comfort from".....whatever you want to call it.....Pennies From Heaven. The basic premise is that when you find a penny, it was sent from a loved one in Heaven.  We started talking about it after Granny died. I'd find a penny and would announce "Granny sent me a penny!" Heather would do the same. Then after my Aunt Barbara passed, we kind of alternated who we thought sent it. At this time, Heather, please correct me if I'm wrong, we'd find a penny about once a month.....or less. Of course, in financially hard times, I swear they would send quarters and even a dollar once. 

Then my daddy.....Heather's "Pa" died. I remember having a conversation once....how will we know if the penny is from Pa, Granny, or Barbara.  In my recollection, it was within an hour that I found a penny....and it was rough around the edges. Well, as we all know, boys are less polished than girls. So, that was my answer....Pa's pennies would be, in some way, "rough around the edges".

That's the background story. I think I can speak for Heather when I say the number of pennies we find nowadays is amazing. I average one a day.  Now I am aware there are some skeptics that might reason that pennies have very little value these days, so people dispose of them, and I find them. But I know better. My reasoning.....yes, there is no surprise that there is a penny on the floor at check-out lines at Walmart. But...why did I just HAPPEN to wind up at that particular line....when I was having a stressful day....and needed a reminder that life is good? More amazingly, why did we once all pile into an SUV with friends at Philmont Scout Ranch....drive deep into the camp....pull over to see the lake....and there on the ground is a penny.....rough around the edges. Why did we stop right there? 

So, Heather, my droplet....here is today's story. I am in Abilene for training. Decided to drive a different route to the hotel. I find myself driving up Sayles and of course I love the beauty of the greenery and the old houses. My mind wanders. Oh, how I would love to drive to Ma and Pa's house and knock on the door to surprise them. I could imagine Pa's smile. His booming voice.  The hugs. A time in the past when he was still on earth. The tears flowed.  I let myself CRY for a split second. Composed myself. Drove past the house, vacant, and headed on to the hotel. 

I knew I needed to get gas.  So I'm driving towards the general mall area, trying to figure out if I wanted to get the gas now or when I go to grab dinner..... Where should I stop, I should pay attention to price, make it easy......these were thoughts in my head. Then I suddenly changed lanes and turned into a gas station on the LEFT side of the road.  You know how I like to get in the lane I'll be turning out of and not change lanes? Well, this was not the lane I was going to be turning out of. So I chastise myself for turning, knowing I'll have to pull out in traffic from both directions afterward. I put the car in park. I get out. Wipe the drying tears off my cheek from earlier.....and there is a penny on the ground. A rough-around-the-edges penny from Pa telling me all is fine and he loves me.  

Then, of course, I see your post. And the tears came. Again.

Love you, droplet!

Oh...and once I was walking somewhere with Steve Gray and Garrett and saw a penny in the middle of a crowded parking lot with cars driving by. I told Steve in my bossy way to grab it for me. He did. Later, days later maybe, he asked if it was shiny, how did I know if it was from Granny or Barbara.  I thought for a minute and said since he didn't get kicked mysteriously in the pants as he picked it up, that Granny must have sent it.  He looked at me oddly and asked, "would your Aunt Barbara have kicked me in the pants?" Yep....and she would have laughed about it hysterically! Ya just had to know her!

Bad Splash! Bad Droplet!

Why on earth have we let this fall by the wayside? No more. Perhaps I shall babble today. 

First things first! Guess what I got today?? My new hat!! Just like my old hat! Yay! Who knew I'd feel so attached to a hat? Of course, as you know, I started wearing a hat because of your Grandma's skin cancer battle. If I'm going to be outside shooting photos, I need to protect my noggin, right? And of course I considered other styles, but I remember seeing this hat and it was JUST RIGHT. Then came the move two summers ago. This hat gave me spunk when I wasn't feeling particularly spunky. It gave me a place to hide when I decided to stop wearing make-up (mostly). It gave me a way to disguise my not so perfect hair. And on that last day of the move....when we broke down on the side of the road....again.....I could hide my tears from Steve when he came to rescue us. (Though I didn't succeed at that, truth be known.)

Then last summer....well...the hat was there for most all of last summer.  The tears. The tragedy. The hat was "homey" for lack of a better word.  Then! It was gone!!! I truly hope whoever found my original hat found it magical like me. And, as you know, I've tried to replace it. Stolen your hat, even...and no magic in these others. 

So last week I put into Amazon "cowgirl hat turquoise" since it had that turquoise doomahickey on it. Lo and behold....there it was.  I frantically pulled up all of my old photos where I was wearing it. And it MATCHED!! So I ordered. And it arrived today!!

Yay me!!!

On to other news! 

Gypsy has been weird today. Maybe she misses you! 

Been trying to think of food for the summer....just us chicks. Of course we will have to plan on the boys being home some weekends. 

I want chocolate! Like really bad..

Oh, yeah! I shot some prom-goers Saturday. In the middle of the shoot I was making small-talk and mentioned you.  They all went "ooooohhhhhhh yeah! Now we see the resemblance!" Lucky me to have such a beautiful "twin". 

The Royal Baby....named after your cousin Charlotte, cousin Elizabeth, and of course Ma!!

Ok...I hear thunder. Pulling up the radar. Yeah....better bring dogs in. You know how they are!!!

I'm out of wisdom and excitement tonight. 

You Get It, My Child

Hi, dearest Droplet. Sorry I haven't blogged in so long. You were home for Christmas...then I visited you when I had training....now I am REALLY missing you.

And your Snap-Chat today.....made me really miss you.

You said you had watched a flag-folding...and it made you cry. I understand, baby girl.

You and I endured SO much together this past year. Things we agreed no one will ever understand. Things that we want to forget. Things that haunt us. But the folding of the flag at Granddad's funeral....it is a moment that despite the circumstances, will always be held close to my heart. I remember watching every motion. Every fold. Every movement of the two young soldiers. I remember their pride. Their respect. My pride.

I have always wanted to photograph a military funeral. Sounds odd. That's probably why I have never done it. I don't know how to get the permission without seeming disrespectful. But there is SO much to capture. The respect that is present at most any funeral is something to be admired. But there is a different level when we are honoring someone who has served our country.

Anyway....I am sorry you had tears today...but know where those tears come from. They come from pride. They come from the memory of honoring our own hero. They come from knowing that the flag deserves respect and when respect is given to that flag and all it stands for...it is emotional.

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

The title of this blog...."you get it"....refers to your ability to recognize a moment....a memory....when it is being made. And to appreciate it. I would claim some responsibility....but you come from a long line of family who have always been blessed with that ability!

Love you, sweet child of mine!