Momma Gotta New Hair Doo

My hair is once again front and center. It betrays me so. I love on it, buy it good products, pay good money for a cut and color and yet it hangs limp and lifeless. One word to describe my hair lately....

Blah.

I'm going to turn 40 in just two short months and I want to look better at 40 than I do at 39. At least that's the plan. (Maybe this would be a good time to quit eating the Parmesan Garlic Thin Crisps. Hmmm..) Anyway, lately I have had it with this limp and lifeless hair 'o mine. The ponytail has NOT been a good look for me.

So I called in Marinell, the Hair Coloring Genius. I've known for a while now that she could really color my hair. But honestly, I haven't had enough hair cut off to know how well she could really cut my hair.

Well. I found out today. And you know what?

She can REALLY cut my hair!

Introducing, the new me. The make-upless rather tired looking me.. BUT the me with a new doo that is quite stunning if I do say so myself.



The color would be my new Spring and Summer look. Quite blonde, isn't it?!? Well, at least my hair matches my brain now.

Also, I started my new photography blog today... I have two whole posts. Woo-hoo! I'll be adding more as I get the chance, but go check it out! It's an easy read.

www.beautifulyouphoto.blogspot.com

I hope y'all have a fantastic weekend!

Climbs and Throwdowns

Okay. Y'all just rock. Do you know that? I am simply blown away by the kind and encouraging comments y'all left in the last post. Kinda makes a girl feel a little special, ya know? And a little guilty. Cause there's thing called posting that people have come to expect from me occasionally and I have managed to not do that very much lately.

Actually, I've managed to NOT do quite a bit lately. Mostly I'm just proficient in sitting on the couch eating Parmesan Garlic Thin crisps while perusing Facebook and learning how to work my new Blackberry.

It's all about goals, people, all about the goals.

And while I sit here, living out these lofty goals of mine, I have also had a couple of little girls who have been begging me to take them to a movie. Last weekend, the Big Birth Weekend, was supposed to be when I took them to this little movie, but seeing that I didn't get in bed until about 4 am Saturday morning you can pretty much surmise that I was ...uh...toast for most of the remaining weekend. Catatonic might even be a better word here.

Well, Monday rolled around and they were still begging. Specifically Grace was begging because while Liv may start to beg, something shiny will catch her attention and then she's all like, "Look! A squirrel!". That's a lot how my life works as well. Go figure.

Well, I decided that I was not going to put it off any longer and I took them to a movie. At 9 o'clock AT NIGHT, Y'ALL! Oh yes, my friends! We walked into the theatre and we were the ONLY ones in there. I explained to the girls that it was because all the really decent parents had their children home in bed already. They seemed happy with that explanation so I left it alone.

Anyway.

Now is the part where I make a huge confession. A confession in which I hang my head in shame while shifting uncomfortably in my seat. (Still clutching my box of half eaten Parmesan Garlic Thin Crisps, I might add.)


I took them to see Hannah Montana The Movie.

::cringe::

I know! I know! How could I? I don't know! I don't even like the show ~ for more reasons than just Billy Ray Cyrus's reasonably pathetic acting skills! They break my achy breaky heart!

Ba dum bum!! Thank you folks, I'll be here all week!

No really, I'm not a huge fan of the Hannah Montana hysteria. And usually I'm a big fan of a bunch of hillbilly's that achieve fame and fortune . But this time? Not so much. Not that I find anything offensive about the show itself (other than Billy Ray's obvious acting disability), I've just never seen what the big pull is.

(Thankfully, I'm happy to say, we missed the whole High School Musical rage and I firmly believe we are better people without having known Troy and Sharpay ~ don't even ask me how I know those names because I have absolutely no idea. It's probably government brainwashing.)

Now here's the second confession: I liked it.

I know! I also realize that my IQ just dropped about 40 points for admitting such a thing, but I can't help it. I liked it. It was really endearing in that hokey, hillbilly sort of way. It was a positive message about a father trying to get his daughter back to her roots and away from the materialistic draw that fame was having on her.

And it was in Tennessee and everyone talked with that southern draaaawl that is just Oh So endearing! Especially the Grandmaw. Which, by the way, was their first mistake because we all know (or at least I do) that if you're from Kentucky or Tennessee you call your grandmother Mamaw.

It's a fact.

Anyway, I texted my friend S. through most of the movie (which you can do when you're the only ones in the theatre because all the really decent parents already have their children in bed), but I really enjoyed it. And possibly got a little teary eyed in all the appropriate moments.

Especially when she sang, The Climb. Which I will also admit, is now the ringtone on my cell phone. Half of y'all just now deleted me from your blog roll and felt the need to take a shower, huh? Not counting the ridiculously cheesy video, I just like the words to the song and can really relate to it right about now.

Wow. I can't believe I just typed that I can relate to a Miley Cyrus song. Seriously. I think I need to shower.

I may have also smiled and tapped my foot a little when they were doing the Hoedown Throwdown in the movie. I will not admit, however, that I might have come home and looked it up on Youtube and quite possibly started learning to bust the moves myself. Nope. I didn't.

Grace, Maddie and my friend S.'s daughter, Elisabeth did... but definitely not me.

Grace's face was lit up like the Fourth of July through the whole movie, which was quite nostalgic for me. I remembered that same look on Maddie's face when I took her to see the Lizzie McGuire movie about 6 years ago. At that moment I was really thankful that I had taken the time to bring Grace and Liv to the movies. Even if it was 9 o'clock AT NIGHT and all the really decent parents had their kids in bed already.

Now Olivia? Well, at one point she announced really loud that, "this movie isn't funny AT ALL!", which ironically, was very funny. But she mostly just had to pee and then cried because she was tired because her mother had her at a movie at 9 o'clock AT NIGHT because (say it with me now..) all the really decent parents already had their kids home and in bed!

It also made me wonder what big movie I'd be taking Hope and Charlie to in 6 or 7 years. (By that time Monk will qualify for a Senior discount, so maybe he can take them!) Hopefully, it's nothing that requires busting a move or two because by then my Move Busting body parts may just be considered...um...busted.

And there you have it, y'all. The confession of all confessions.

You respected and admired me on Monday and now? Well...you just sort of feel sorry for me, I imagine.

That's okay, I feel a little sorry for myself too. And a little amused as well. I mean, what 39 year old mother of 6 downloads a Hannah Montana movie song to her cell phone and also tries to learn the dance moves to The Hoedown Throwdown???

Apparently me.

This is the Post Telling You What's Up. It's a Doozy.

Okay.

I'm not even sure where to begin. It's crazy really. Yet I know God's hand is firmly upon it. At least I think it is. Sheesh.

Welcome to my world lately. My crazy, exciting, feel-like-I'm-gonna-throw-up-at-any-second-I-can't-believe-I'm-doing-this world.

And no....the feeling like I'm gonna throw up is not because I am pregnant. But I am dealing with pregnant women if that counts for anything.

Vomiting by osmosis. Who knew.

Part of me is a little embarrassed to admit this. Why? Well, it has to do with photography and while I've really become rather obsessed with photography over the last year, I'm still very much a beginner. Or amateur. Or beginning amateur. And there are some people who read here occasionally that have some absolutely STELLAR photography skills. (Hi Andrea! Hi Mindi!) And me? I'm a schmuck.

A beginner beginning amateur who is still learning about f-stops and apertures and white balance and whatever else I can learn, absorb or inhale about digital photography. I am a photography sponge. Well, with the exception of the whole Photoshop boob thing where I obviously have some sort of creative block. Or. I'm just a boob.

Anyway.

My "plan" was to take this year, while Charlie is still nursing, and just learn all I could about photography. Take classes, read books, scour the internet, send long emails to photography bloggers asking long questions and making them think I'm some sort of weird, creepy, fertile, stalker mother and just learn, learn, learn. ( I really did send an email, y'all. Or two.)

Then, AFTER I had done all of this research and practice..... I was going to start a birth photography business.

There. I said it.

Me, the very, very, very, very, beginner beginning amateur-lame-o-can't-even-understand-Photoshop photographer was going to start a birth photography business. I had a plan. I never have a plan, so the fact that I actually had one was a miracle in and of itself!

My plan crumbled 3 weeks ago. That's when the whole pit the size of a grapefruit took up residence in my stomach.

My wonderful friend and midwife, Ann knew of my aspiring photography plans and was very happy for me. After all, she is in the business of birthin' babies, owns a birth center, etc.., so I knew she could hook me up. Eventually. I'm not sure if she knew about the whole I'm-gonna-take-a-year part or not.

You see where this is going, right?

Three weeks ago, while eating hamburgers and baked beans at a cookout, she informs me that she gave out my name at her last birth class as a photographer who was willing to do birth photography for free while building my portfolio. Wha??

(This would be the part in the movie where the stunned expression comes across my face, my burger falls from my hand and the sounds of tires screeching to a halt can be heard in the background.)

But in all honesty, I sort of laughed it off. Who was going to call some schmuck photographer with no experience to take pictures of something as precious and as priceless as a birth? ::thought while chuckling to herself::

I got the first call on Monday. I met with the people on Tuesday and they hired me on the spot. (Is it truly hired if you're free?) Then, in a moment of utter insanity I offered to take maternity pictures and do newborn shots as well. Gratis.

I am building a portfolio, after all. Oh my.

Since that day I have done three sets of maternity photos, booked a second birth photography client and photographed my very first birth this past Friday night! All while screaming on the inside, "what the heck am I doing????".

::excuse me while I go throw up::

The plan is to start a photography blog in the next few weeks that will act as my "portfolio" of sorts ( I feel so weird and grown up using the word port-fol-io). It will be there that I record this crazy mixed up photography journey and post pictures as I am given permission to do so.

All the while learning more and more about photography. While still nursing a baby. A baby who by the way, went with me to photograph my first birth (a homebirth) this past Friday night AND who slept through the WHOLE ENTIRE THING thankyouverymuch!!! Ah yes, Charlie is a gem!

And there you have it. The Big News. It's a dandy, ain't it? I bet y'all were thinking I was pregnant again, huh?

I'm sure y'all want details about this whole "photographing the first birth" thing, am I right? Well. You're gonna have to wait. It's a good story ~ maybe not as exciting as my own hilarious tale of birth, but a good one nonetheless. And it deserves it's own post. You're thinking murderous thoughts of me now, are you not? Anyway, I'll try and elaborate on that one a little later in the week.

But I'll leave you with this picture. Just cause I'm nice. And you love me. And little Baby R is so precious I just can't keep her to myself! She was staring intently at her daddy in this picture.



So? Is there a stunned silence out there? ::cricket:: ::cricket:: Whadda y'all think?

(Not about the picture, but about e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g? But the picture too if ya want.)

Pick a Winner

Apparently my children aren't the only ones around here who pick their nose and eat it. Seriously. If I have nothing better to talk about than cat boogers than I am pretty pathetic.

::cricket. cricket. cricket::

Actually, we've been to the park TWICE this week and the Botanic Gardens once. It has been a week chocked full of frenzy, let me tell you. Unfortunatley, no house cleaning has been done and I simply MUST do that today.

So.

I'm putting a big hold on the Vague I Can't Tell You What's Up Quite Yet post. Sorry. I hope you understand. Frankly, if there is anyone still reading I will be MORE than giddy with excitement.

Y'all ARE still reading aren't you? Hello? Y'all?

Leave me a comment if you're remotely interested in this blog still. If not, that's okay....I can pass the time watching the cat pick lick his nose.

This Boy and His Momma

This boy was in a car accident on Friday.

His momma was leaving Target with three children and a truck load of groceries when he called her.

This boy told her he was fine, but he was stuck in a ditch and waiting on a tow truck.

His momma dropped off the other kids and the groceries to go to his rescue.

This boy was standing beside the road, next to his car which was stuck in a bunch of trees and bushes in a ditch.

His momma turns Phil the Suburban around and proceeds to try and pull off the side of the little two lane highway on the opposite side of him.

This boy motions her to NOT do this because it had been raining and the shallow ditch was full of water.

His momma was quite sure that it would be okay because she would leave one of the back tires on the pavement and therefore wouldn't get stuck. After all, she was driving Phil the Suburban. (Phil being short for Philistine.)

This boy stood there and shook his head.

His momma rolled down her window to make sure her boy was okay.

This boy assured me he was fine and then told me I was gonna be stuck in the mud.

His momma laughed and told her boy she was driving Phil the Suburban and just watch her get out with her Mad Driving Skillz.

This boy stood there with a smirk and shook his head.

His momma started to pull away, but couldn't. Her tires were stuck in mud. Apparently she missed the pavement with that back tire.

This boy stood there and shook his head.

His momma rocked Phil the Suburban back and forth, back and forth and did nothing but sling mud approximately 20 feet.

This boy stood there and shook his head.

His momma realized she was stuck when she saw that her passenger side back tire had spun a hole large enough to be under consideration for a new lake. Or pond at the very least.

This boy said I was gonna have to call a tow truck to be pulled out.

His momma called Monk instead and asked if he could bring some boards and come and rescue her.

This boy stood there and shook his head because now he AND his momma needed to be rescued.

His momma had a stuck boy, a stuck truck and a 4 1/2 month old Charlie that needed to be nursed.

This boy stood and waved to the Good Samaritans who stopped by asking if he was okay. They ignored his idiotic mother on the other side of the road and thought it probably best not pull off and try to help lest they get stuck too.

His momma finally saw Monk coming around the corner and was relieved because she had a baby that was becoming hungrier by the minute.

This boy not only stood there and shook his head, but now laughed as well.

His momma watched as Monk approached Phil the Suburban and began to shake his head. These men and their head shaking was about to get on the momma's last nerve.

This boy still stood on the other side of the road, shaking his head, pretending he did not know the crazy red headed woman with the baby and the stuck truck across from him.

His momma watched as Monk looked at the mud half way up the back tires, shaking his head in disgust, trying to figure out if boards were gonna be enough to get Phil unstuck.

This boy watched as a kind passerby with a BIG truck and even BIGGER chain stopped by and offered to pull Phil out of his predicament.

His momma secretly happy danced and was ever SO relieved when Phil was released from his miry depths and driven off to a more secure, non-muddy spot.

This boy was relieved that his idiotic mother was now further down the road and not drawing any more attention to him and his stuck car.

His momma still waited with this boy long after Monk had left to retrieve the family some dinner.

This boy talked on his cell phone and must have talked to a dozen friends that drove by shocked and asking if he was okay.

His momma waited with him for 2 hours for that dumb tow truck.

This boy kept claiming that once his car was unstuck he could probably drive it home because he couldn't see any damage.

His momma shook her head.

This boy was very excited to see the tow truck approaching and finally got off of his cell phone.

His momma stood and watched as the tow truck had to block both lanes of the two lane highway in order to pull this boy's car out. People were not happy.

This boy was rather shocked that the entire front driver's side of his car was in shambles and his axle was broke plumb in half.

His momma shook her head.

This boy didn't think only going 30mph could do that much damage,

His momma shook her head.

This boy thought the tow truck driver was really cool.

His momma, in a moment of sheer irony, thought the tow truck driver reminded her of Mater off of the Disney movie, Cars. Dad gum.

This boy laughed when his momma told him that.

His momma was SO relieved when the tow truck finally drove away.

This boy, I think, was thankful his momma was there to rescue him.

His momma was thankful, too.

Especially thankful that this boy wasn't hurt. Cause she loves him. Just a little.

It's All Good

Once again and entire week has escaped me and I've written nary a thing. It was, however, quite intentional this week.

You see, in the CrAzY that has become my life lately, I just needed some time to spend in my home, with my family and catching up on sleep. If I'm not careful I slip into what I like to call my Computer Zombie Mode. Which essentially means I become a dark eyed zombie, spending entirely too much time (especially late at night) perusing blogs and websites, etc...

This past week has been spent getting caught up on housework, which by the way I have become entirely convinced will NEVER happen around here, getting my laundry under the double digit numbers and actually, you know, cooking hot meals in the evening. I cancelled all lessons for the week, only appointments on Monday and made it to bed before midnight every night. And you know what?

It's been nice.

I'm not overly tired, I'm not feeling overwhelmed anymore (at least concerning household things) and I don't have any guilt hanging over my head for the things that haven't been getting done.

It's all good.

I will admit that I've missed blogging. I like that outlet and for some weird reason pouring my life out to the entire world brings me some sort of strange satisfaction. I'm just going to have to learn a few things about balance. When my family gets out of balance, EVERYTHING gets out of balance. And with the new things that are happening in my life at the moment, the pendulum just really took a hard swing to the right (because I would never swing to the left. Ever.). Balance will be more important than ever.

And yes, I'm purposely being vague, but guess what? I'm gonna spill next week! Why? Well mostly just because I couldn't manage to keep my mouth shut if I wanted to. But honestly, I just want to share it with y'all. I'm hoping that if I do, the knot the size of a grapefruit that has taken up residence in my belly might just decide to leave me alone. And I don't even like grapefruit, y'all.

But for now I'm just gonna enjoy being where I am and take things one day at a time. Because really, that's all I can do.

Scarborough Fair ~ And Not the Simon and Garfunkel Kind

So thanks to Monk's abnormally large brain power he won us some tickets to a somewhat local event called Scarborough Fair. Being $21.50 a pop, we weren't about to let these bad boys go to waste! That and we've never been before.

We also heard it was thee place for Freaks and Geeks to gather and Monk and I are just meddlesome enough to go and see for ourselves. But we would never make fun of them. Never. Ever. ::snort::

So, we loaded up the four youngest of our brood, grabbed our good friends, Ann and Bob, and were off on our merry old way.

Or should that have read, Ye Merry Olde Way??

Upon arriving we had to park about a quarter of a mile away from the enterance. Not so bad, right? Unless one has to push the brand new double stroller carrying 36 pounds worth of children and another 40 pounds worth of junk for the upkeep of the 36 pounds of children.

Poor Monk. I just walked with my hands in my pockets. I was a little chilly.

But Ann and Bob? Well, they hitched a ride with a dude pulling a cart which was pretty much akin to a Renaissance Era rickshaw. I would show you pictures, but alas, my camera was on the wrong setting and those pictures pretty much came out blue. Kinda how I feel for totally messing them up!

Upon entering, my dear, sweet, Grace volunteered for a lesson in shooting a canon. She, along with several other adolescent volunteers, were some pretty good public entertainment for the next 15 minutes. Liv, who is our wild and crazy child and would seem to be the one more suited for volunteering for something involving a large weapon, sat crouched with her hands over her ears anticipating a loud noise. Which never came, by the way.

This was Sis being harassed during the demonstration.


After this last picture, Monk and I pretty much spent the rest of the time spending money. Oh yes, my friends, apparently it costs a pretty penny to be transported back to the Renaissance Era.

(And just a side note here to any Renaissance-ey, actor-ish people who might be reading here: When I order two turkey legs and then ask how much it will be, it most certainly does NOT lighten the blow when y'all reply, "13 shillings and 50, mum". Shillings schmillings. It's $13.50 for two stupid bird legs, people! Olde English and even the best British accent doesn't make that go down any easier!)

Oh look! Two fair maidens!


Next up was the swinging pirate ship. But this one was wasn't controlled by electricity. Nope, just ropes and a guy pushing the thing. And that thing went high!

(This photo pretty much sums up my girls in this sort of situation. Liv is all about the fun. Grace appears that she is going to puke, but is really having a good time. And Hope? Well, she was fairly nonplussed by the whole thing with exception of keeping an eye on the piratey dude. I think if her vocabulary had allowed, she would have been screaming "HIGHER, YA SCALLEYWAG!!!")

They sold pretzels as big as Hope's head.


Here was the parade. This dude was rather serious about his role. He fell under Geek category. Do y'all think the guy to the left is looking a little envious of the guy on the right? Maybe the red guy's legs looked better in the kilt. Ya think?


And this Jester was pretty funny. She would be a Freak (with a Geek! ha!)


And Momma found another cute, little fair maiden who happened to be hiding in the Mei Tai! Call me biased, but she is SO stinkin' cute! (Her, not me! Man I need to learn Photoshop! That "Whiten teeth" tool would have been effective here!)


Two of the sweetest people I have EVER known!


Um...another Freak. His name was Noobler and he had a catchy song that I can't get out of my head! Also, he had some of the most amazing dreads I have ever seen!


This picture sums up what Hope did most of the day. Oh, wait! She cried most of the day, but when she wasnt crying and running amok, she was eating. But at least she's a cute eater!


I know I've whined a little (or a lot) about how expensive it was, but I have to admit ~ for all the crying, the dirt, the sunburns, and yes, the money...it was ever SO much fun!! And we will probably go back next year. When we can take out a loan. Or sell a child. For parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

If you don't get that last sentence then you are young. Too young to appreciate Simon and Garfunkel. Go here if you would like to know what the heck I'm talking about. Be warned ~ 70's music will ensue.

p.s I realized AFTER I loaded all of them, that my pictures read Beautiful You Photography. They are supposed to say Monkswife.blogspot.com. Madgirl and I were messing around and the BYP got put on there by mistake. Because I'm technologically challenged, I have no idea how to change it. Please disreaguard. Or just think I'm stupid. Whichever is more appropriate.

Life ~ It's Happening

It's never my intent to neglect my blog. I love my blog. Really, I do. I love the writing, the picture posting, the sharing, the interaction with complete and total strangers that I have grown to love and admire. It's sort of sick and demented and cool all at the same time, ya know?

But guess what?

Life is happening all around me these last few days and I honestly haven't had a moment to write. That and I'm just plumb tuckered out! My online adventures consist of updating my Facebook, checking a few blogs and Twitter and I'm done. Seriously.

There are so many wonderful things that are happening that are completely and totally being orchestrated by God that I'm just in awe. Unfortunately for y'all, they're not things I'm ready to share rightthissecond. They are good things that have me doing the Happy Dance AND trembling with fear and trepidation. It's been like riding a roller coaster. I'm having a ball and ready to throw up all at the same time. (Analogies? Apparently not my gift). Trusting God and yet saying, "God, are You sure?"

(And no, I'm not pregnant. Again.)

I do have about a bajillion and one things I want to post about right now, but I just don't have the time. I've had my dentist post almost done for about a week now. Just no time. New and exciting things are happening and I can't wait until I can share, but for now I just want to ask y'all to hang on!! Don't leave me! I won't be out of it for long! Just please pray for this new journey that I'm embarking on. Even though you have NO clue what I'm talking about ~ God will most definitely know!

Your prayer could go something like this:

Dear God: That crazy red head with all the kids? She asked me to pray for her new and exciting journey and that You would be in it. Please be in it. Please be glorified. Please don't let her be afraid. Give her wisdom and insight and peace. Please help her to stop eating Ding Dongs. Thank you Lord for giving her this opportunity. Amen

I will give you a hint though ~ another blog will "probably" be involved. Yea, like I need one more thing to keep up with, right?

Oh my word, people. Good things. God things.

iHeart Faces ~ My Friend and I ~ Kids

This picture and these girlies mean the world to me. Elisabeth (on the left) is one of my very best friend's daughters and I've known her since she was in her momma's belly. And of course, my very own Madgirl whom iHeart very much! These two have known each other...well...forever. I could go on and on about both of them, but I'll spare y'all my stroll down memory lane for the time being. To be totally honest, my strolling has become more like tripping and falling. I'm gonna need some Ginkgo Biloba before long people.

Go check out some more friends at iHeart Faces this week!

She's My Sunshine

A little sunshine, a little lamb skin, a little Charlotte....









...makes for a whole lotta beautiful!

Happy Friday, y'all! Have a great weekend!

Sweet Sixteen

April 1, 1993 I was blessed with my first daughter. From the moment I met her I was hooked.

I was thrilled at the thought of all the bows and baby dolls, and all manner of "girlie" I was going to have the pleasure of experiencing with her. My heart burst with excitement at the thought of the grand adventure it was going to be to have a daughter.

(Little did I know that I would be swimming in bows and baby dolls with four more daughters many years later, huh?)

Madison (aka Maddie, aka Madgirl) never let me down in the girlie department. She loved bows, American Girl dolls, dresses and every other girlie thing on the planet. If it sparkled ~ we owned it.

She's pretty much the same today. Her sparkle just comes in the form of lip gloss, shoes, purses (all 40 of them ~ no kidding. She needs a 12 step program) and personality. She's a lot like me with one exception.

She has a backbone.

Where I have pretty much been a doormat for the last 39 years, this beautiful daughter of mine can stand her ground. And she does. She was put into a situation last year where she had to return to public school. She was not very happy about it then nor is she currently. It's been a tough two years because of this.

While I've seen her personality change to have a somewhat tougher exterior (which I don't necessarily like), I've also seen this amazing desire in her to stand up for what she believes in. Sometimes, much to the chagrin of her teachers. HA!

She's not somebody's wallflower to be seen and not heard concerning her Christianity. Not to say that she's perfect by any means, but this girl can argue debate. And she does. She may not always be the most eloquent or even in some cases, respectful (which I'm not advocating, by the way) in her disagreements, but she will make herself and her beliefs heard. Even if she's the only one on her side, she'll still defend until the end.

Why share all of this?

I guess because I blinked and my meek little girl with pigtails turned into a beautiful, bold young woman. One who wants to know the Lord and serve in any capacity He's called her to. Even if that means ::gasp:: missions. (She told me this the other day) And I'm just sitting here, shaking my head trying to figure out where the time has gone and how she got to be so stinkin' amazing.

(Amazing, but still very trying at times. Don't be fooled ~ we have our moments...ahem.)

And if I'm going to be honest, I may have prayed a selfish little prayer that said, "please Lord, don't take her far away from me."

I bought her a silver heart locket for her birthday and per her request, took her to have her hair cut and highlighted. When she was finished and Marinell (remember, my Hair Genius?) turned her around, I gasped and my eyes stung trying to fight back tears.

She was beautiful and for the first time it really hit me that she was almost grown. And that she really could go away and do missions someday! And that I just might not have her close by for the rest of my life! And that time was precious! Time was precious y'all and what was I gonna do if the Lord called her to missions and she moved far way from me and I want her to serve the Lord where He's called her and I don't want to be selfish, but Oh Please don't take her far away from me and, and and...

And then?

I breathed. I have her now. And now is enough for me.

Happy Sweet 16 Madgirl. I love you.