A Family Reunion

I have been storing up memories in my mind from my June trip to Texas. We went to a family reunion on my mom's side. It was seriously a great weekend. It was a fast week/weekend.

While we were there we had the opportunity to see multiple houses that my mom and her family lived in over the years. It was amazing. Ironically enough, about that time I heard a country song, sung by Miranda Lambert that I feel sums it up.

House that Built Me

I know they say you cant go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move
on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

My Grandpa

More stories to come.
Love to all,

Wickedly Wicked

Saturday my parents and I went to Wicked in Chiacago. It can be described with three words:

A. Maz. Ing. Seriously. Here are a few pictures from the day:

Some of this and a little of that...

Time with the fam can be summed up with....

Jake the "Cake" not laughing...

...A little of who knows who....
(who likes peanut butter and skateboarding?)

...making dumplins'...

...note the puff of flour...
(this is me and my first dumplin dough)

...sisters...

...who did what???...

...off into the distance...

...picture perfect...

Nothing like time with the fam. To the above, add hours of watching movies, sleeping in the living room, some singing, a lot of craziness, mashed potatoes, more singing, more craziness, a dash of love...

And here we are!

There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

Of course, Dorothy must have know what she was saying when she said: "There is no place like home." I could say the same, because there's nothing like a little weekend trip to good 'ole Middlebury.
Two weeks ago on my visit home here's a little taste of what I did.

My mother is a magician. I can not explain in anyway shape or form how this is even possible. If someone could explain how this works I would appreciate it.


The two forks are intertwined, balancing on two toothpicks.

Next up: Special Olympics basketball game.

My brother and his teammates are quite the athletes. I am proud to admit that John's, my brother's team, won!

Me mom


Teammates
In the air it goes
Walking proud
Nice moves!
Up, up and away!
In it goes!

The rest of the weekend I ate, watched movies, ate, watched more movies, slept, and had an all aroud good time!

Day with Dad

On Friday night I picked my dad up from the airport, and the next day we experienced a day of fun!
First stop- Whistlestop Cafe in downtown Fox Lake. No, we did not have bar-b-que for those of you thinkin' Fried Green Tomatoes, but, we had a "skillet" of tasty goodness!

Next stop- downtown Chicago to the Field Museum. I would like to say that we made it with no problems, so that's exactly what I'm going TO say! (But really, we did!)

I thought these were super cool:


These are lions from the movie Ghosts in the Darkness. The lions were responsible for killing 140 people!

This is my Totem Pole Face. I thought it was a good likeness:


On Saturday, I found out a little about my heritage. (Some of it I already knew.) But I am some German, Irish and Cherokee Indian. I walked around the Native American exhibit looking for Cherokee indians....Finally I found her:
I know the picture is somewhat hard to see, it was dark, and it was hard to get a good shot, but I think if you look closely you can see the resemblance!


These little creatures look like something right out of Jurassic Park. If you watch long enough you can actually see them moving!
My dad and Sue:


Baby Dino:



This thing is SO cool!


Could it be a moose??? Put down your rifles- this thing is already LONG gone!
And finally-

Many people think that this is the Aztec calendar, but in fact, it's not. I would love to explain what it is, but I have to remember first!
I loved the face in the middle. I wonder if they actually used a model and if it's a true likeness to any particular person.

After the museum we made a quick little trip across town (really only 2 miles) and I dropped my dad off on the side of the road. Literally, I did. I pointed at a section of the sidewalk, and said, "Go there, and then walk that way, and then you'll be at the train station." My directions were apparently PERFECT because he made it without any problems to the South Shore, and I successfully navigated my way north, and out of Chicago.

The End.

The Sweetest

My cousin's son said the sweetest thing to my aunt (his grandma) the other day.

"I love you so much, my heart is coming out."

Isn't that so cute!

Ode to my favorites...

I am aware that mother's day has past and so has father's day, but it is the night before my dad's birthday and just a few weeks away from my mom's so I had to take the opportunity to, well, probably embarass them. That's not really the purpose. I want to say Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's and Father's Day. If I could choose my parents, I would choose the EXACT same ones God gave me.

What have they taught me you may ask.

Because of my mom and dad I know:

How to laugh.

How to cook.

To not be afraid to try new things.

To embrace my weirdness and all that means...(ha ha)

That guilt is NOT a feeling.

To believe in myself.

That memorizing God's Word and putting in my heart is the most important thing.

That every day is a new day, and each day I get to start over.

That I can always come home (even though I no longer have my "own" room).

That if I practice I could say the geneology of Jesus in 1 minute 17 seconds- best in State.

How to ride my bike and drive a car.

How to talk to myself and not get caught...LOL.

How to love...

I could go on and on and on...

Needless to say, I love you Mama. I love you Daddy.

You are my favorites!

Love your favorite daughter.