Just a brief word...

ROLL TIDE!!!
Alabama 41, Georgia 30

Might I just add that this "little" victory has put us squarely at #2. Choke on that NCAA.

Me an' me maties!

So, this is why I will never grow old! My cousins and I have been posing like this for 20 years!

Best Friends

I just visited the blog of one of my dearest friends and was so overcome with emotion (due to a rather sudden increase of hormones) that I had to post. I think that every blogger who visits this page will be able to relate.

There is always a time in your life when things just kind of stink. You're just walking along, whistling a little tune, when out of no where you stub your toe on a little rock, scrape your knee and fall headlong into the mucky business of living. It's happened to all of us, and so it happened to me almost a decade ago. The pain was acute, and sometimes I still feel it. But, just when I thought all hope was lost, enter three beautiful women with a tree trunk to pull me out.

Never could a girl ask for truer, more devoted friends then these three. Never. I love them like they're part of me, and so they are. We have our own lives now, and I rarely see them. But when we get together, it's as if we were never apart. These women are completely different from one another, each having strong characteristics that set them apart. And at the moment I thought hope was gone, they swooped in and saved me--each of them in her own way. I would be living a life quite different than the one I have now if they had not intervened. I never would have married my husband, rediscovered my sense of humor or been inspired to write again without them.

And now, they are still incredible and I look up to them more than they can ever know. They are superb mothers, resilient in the face of sorrow and strife. They are loving wives, who show by example what it means for two hearts to be one. They are determined and intelligent, influencing the lives around them through stories, charitable work and support. They are faithful and show me what it is to be a daughter of God. Don't ask me their faults, they are greatly outweighed by virtue.

I can only hope that you, dear readers, have friends like that. Forgive my narrative, but it had to be told. I have other friends, who are just as appreciated, but these three will always have a special corner of my heart.

A Woman's Place

I'd like to start out this post by saying that I believe a woman's place is in the house. And in the Senate. And in the governor's mansion. And in the White House, should Providence see it that way. A woman's place is anywhere she dadgum well wants it to be. End of discussion.

The fact that Gov. Palin has five children, a special needs child and a pregnant, unwed teenager doesn't really concern me at all when it comes to her run for VP. It's nobody's business--your's, mine or the media's--how she handles her family business. It's an honor to be selected as a running-mate and as long as she has the support of her family, more power to her. If I don't vote for the McCain-Palin ticket, it won't be because she's a woman and ought to spend more time at home. It will be because I don't agree with her on abortion or Iraq (though she speaks very well and very intelligently on both subjects.)

If women kept their talents hidden at home (although, it's important for a woman to fill her home with those talents) the world would, indeed, be a dreary place. Women have a unique ability to change the world around them for the better. The problem is, I think, that the world so often changes women. The world needs leaders who are truthful, compassionate, gentle and kind while standing up solidly for all that is good and decent. It is absolutely imperative that a woman be involved in her community, whether it's with the PTA, mayor's office or Capitol Hill. What the world does not need are so-called feminists who are mere shadows of what being feminine is all about. I think we need to make that distinction.

I hoped for quite some time to have a political career. In fact, until my senior year of college, my goals were to that end. The reasons for deciding on that career path and deciding against it are my own and, ironically, centered around me being a woman. That's not to say that I have shut those aspirations down completely. I am still active in my community and when my children are school-age plan to make a run for the school board, then city council. That will be enough for me. I don't have to be a Senator in Washington to promote change around me.

Is there a difference between what women can do and what they should do? You bet your homemade chocolate-chip cookies there is. But what that difference is for the individual, I can't say.* I was taught from childhood to marry in my religion, and I did. But what about Esther, who is revered for her faith and piety? She married a heathen...with more than one wife even! Was she wrong? How do you judge her? She saved an entire nation and was very much favored by the Lord. It doesn't serve well for any of us to be a judge.

I'm so fed up with the media and other women; they can be so catty. So, you worry about you, I'll worry about me, and Gov. Palin can worry about Gov. Palin. It's all of our responsibility to make a difference in this world. I'm sorry, car pool lanes and play groups simply aren't enough. For good or bad, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. If you want it to be your hand, you better get it in there.

*The only exception I make to this rule is pro wrestling, stripping and prostitution. No woman belongs in any of those. Though, we are very good at them.

Beach Bums

That misty look is sand blowing. It stung you're legs.

Aubrey and Olivia

The sea was angry that day, my friends.

I love this picture. It's Aubrey's sister Beth and her son Ty. Where they're walking in the water, it is usually beach. You can see in the background how far the water came up.

Olivia playing in one of the little pools that had formed at the top of the beach.

She looks so small in this picture!

We got back from the beach yesterday re-energized, refreshed and ready for real life. We got there Thursday, just as Ike was closing in on Texas. The waves were HUGE and there was water all over the beach. You could tell that it had been right up to the fences in front of the condos because there were pools of water (probably close to a foot deep) and other debris at the top of the beach. We couldn't go in the water, obviously, but the kids loved splashing in the little pools of ocean. The wind was really gusty and literally pelted us with sand. I feel like my legs got a good exfoliation treatment. Friday and Saturday the wind died down just enough for us to play on the beach, but not enough to really get in the water. We stood at the edge and let the tide lap at our feet, but we had to be really careful not to go out too far. The water was swift and would have carried the kiddies off with no problem. At night the wind got worse. It was so loud and dragged around our patio furniture. Sunday was a lot better and the water was almost back to normal, although the double red flags were still up when we left Monday morning. Olivia had a blast, as usual, playing in the sand, laying in the sand and chasing sea gulls. The last one is a new hobby and was hilarious to watch. One seagull led her all over the beach, letting her get within three feet before he hopped away. Good times!

Big Bang, You Ain't No Thang

Was anybody else relieved to wake up and not be in a big black hole this morning? Everyone around the world told those silly scientists they would implode the earth if they ran their particle smasher beam thing. But they ran that "abomination" anyway. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't wake up last Tuesday or something. Scientists are super excited about it because it takes them closer to explaining how the universe was formed. I, too, am very curious. Of course I believe in Creation, and I don't believe that something came of nothing, and I don't believe the Big Bang, as outlined by science. I do, however, wonder if this can tell us how God used the elements during creation. I'm not expecting it to prove anything to me (I do not use science to verify my religion) but it could certainly give some props. It's all very intriguing, though I don't pretend to understand science beyond biology and basic chemistry. Physics has entirely too much math and I am in awe of anyone who's an expert in it. I'm duly impressed that they built a machine to blow up atoms, but I'm also still impressed with nuclear energy and microwaves. Here's hoping subsequent tests at full power (they hope to ultimately form new particles) yield the same results: more clues to the universe and me waking up in the same bed on the right day.
You can get the story, related articles (including what religious nuts say) and cool pictures here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,420062,00.html

All about Olivia

It's been awhile since I've updated, so I thought I'd show you what Olivia has been up to lately. She leads a very rich, full and interesting life.

Olivia loves the water. Aubrey caught her trying to climb into the dogs' water bucket. She loved it. When she sat down, water came up to her chin.

Olivia likes to help me with the dishes. I have to say, she can be a little bossy.

Olivia has very little fear. Those of you who know Parley know just how much courage it takes to do this. Parley hits her a lot (which Olivia thinks is hilarious) but hasn't clawed her. We believe it's only a matter of time.

Olivia is a big fan of stairs. She climbs them and plays in her room or our bedroom. When she wants you to come up and play, she sits at the top and yells.