Pops

Today is my Daddy's Birthday. (How old do you have to be before "daddy" is not OK?)

Any who- I love you old man and am SO proud to call you mine. Lets take a trip down memory lane.

Pops with his infamous car. (and hair)

We were so cute back in 1988. Even if none of your kids stayed blonde and little. 

And I will take your word for it that those glasses were "trendy"

You were at every game, practice, rehearsal, concert, and what not we ever were apart of... 

without fail.

Three Generations!

 Senior Prom. 

They are the best

And oh so cute (still)

Like father like daughter

One of the many adoptive children 

Love you daddy and Happy Birthday!

"As long as one and one is two, there will never be another daughter who loves her father as much as I love you." Paul Simon (sorta, wink wink)

Cripple

I am the cripple at Your table.
I come broken and battered and scarred. The humility drenches my being as I can't even lift my eyes.
All I desire is for the scraps to fall to floor. For the crumbs to find their way to my hands as my starvation is overwhelming. I am at Your feet, yearning for a morsel of what it could be like to be made whole. But as my knees become calloused and the condemnation becomes haunting I felt something. For the insermountable evils that laid upon my head and surrounded my heart created a down cast soul.  They are more than the hairs on my head; therefore my heart fails. Your hand reached down and the markings of labor and sacrifice reminded me just how human you were. I began to fight off the power that consumed me, and allow Your power to overwhelm me. As my eyes crawled up to You and I beheld the sovereignty of your grace, I was placed next you and I realized the power of acceptance.

I was made whole.

Daily Reminders

This is a conversation I had with my Pops earlier today. (via Text)

Laura Jean: I was looking at old Israel Pictures today. I was skinny!

Dad: Dear God, please break my daughter's body issues. Thank you. Amen

Laura Jean: Oh you pray that too! lol And I have gotten better!

Dad: I know. I was just giving you a hard time.

Dad: and Yes, I pray that everyday along with "Bring her a man."

Laura Jean: THANK YOU!

Dad: Just doing my dad duty

Love you too Pops.

Cleaning out the Attic

  I have often referred to me "needing to clean out the attic." I read it in some literary magazine in describing when your brain becomes full, your heart cant take anymore, all you need to do is empty it all out when pen meets paper. Even if no one reads it or if it just floats out into the vastness of blog world. Either way, your brain is no longer full of cobwebs, your thoughts are no longer clouded and you can exhale.

Do you smell that? Its my coffee brewing. Time to sit down and sweep.

If only I had some pie....

These Please

Maybe? Yes. But only if I get to go put the shoes on the lil black babies feet.

Toms Shoes

Nesting

One day I will have my own house. One day I will be able to decorate, move and create all that I want. That season of life is not at the moment, so I will put it all together in my head.  (before you get all preachy, I know all this will probably never happen, buy I will continue to be my mothers daughter. I will go to the stores and create wish list online.)

Some things I like come and go, but there are a few that are must haves. Even if I live in a double-wide out in Loyd with a pet goat.

One, is outside will be an extension of the house. I don't know where I will live or end up, but even in Florida where the weather is only nice for 3 months out of the year, I must have these strung across the porch:

And my kitchen will have counter tops like these

and a sink like this one: 

Also, I would like to have a fancy, crazy, eclectic chandelier. Like this one:

And a funky chair that would sit next to the over stuffed chocolate brown couch, with the bare brick fireplace as the focal point and black and white pictures of my husband and 2 1/2 kids. 

The first step? Marry rich. 

OH! and fresh flowers are a must. 

Pie

There are many things and ideas I am always bouncing around in my head.
One is my own baking shop, cafe or something of the sort. Lately it has been pie.

Thats right- a pie shop.

Did you know that outside of a lil shop in Crawfordville (that doesn't even specialize in pie) there is no pie shops in the Big Bend area? No place you can go, grab a piece of cool key lime goodness, a cup of coffee and chat.

If I had a pie shop I would name it "Laura Jeans" 

It would have to consist of at least 2 design elements:

A wall full of books! 

Everything from Jane Austen to Stephanie Meyer to Tolken to Moses. 

And then, bare brick. There is something timeless and classic about looking at a bare brick wall and knowing it is seeping with history and is yearning to tell stories of its own. 

At this wondrous pie shop, there would be cozy chairs, over stuffed love seats and a mood that sparks thought and enables an escape. 

But, most importantly we would have Pie. 

Spring would be filled with chilled Key Lime and a zest of Lemon Meringue  

Summers would over flow with the classic crispness of Apple pies dripping with a la mode. 

The Autumn falls, so would the Pumpkin and Pecans.

As the Holidays approached, Cheesecake and Razzelberries would keep us warm. 

Of course we have warm quiche, cute lil pies, and

 all the espresso you could obtain without dropping your fork.

WHO WANTS PIE? 

A case of the Mondays

   All I want to do is leave this place. To step outside this building and let the sweet sunshine hit my face. To know that I can take off my shoes, let the grass crawl between my toes, and allow my shutter speed capture the day. To enjoy the light breeze and let go of the breath I have been holding in. 

"For you will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." Psalm 18: 28

Questionnaire

Just because its a slow day at work... and I am a Curious George.

1. What is your favorite band right now? (can even be a Pandora station)

2. When you are not feeling too hot and you are forced to suck it up and go about your day- what do you crave as a comfort?

3. Favorite "dang it, I am having a fat day" outfit.

4. If there was nothing holding you back- what would you do with your life?

5. Secret talent you wished you had?

6. good book lately?

7. pet-peave you can never let yourself do

8. name on things that you are looking forward to.

9. half empty or half full?

10. are you a dreamer or a realist?

Fall

Last night in my 1st and 2nd grade class, I was teaching the story of Moses. In the middle of the story, right as I was about to blare my trumpet, the youth decided to play our anthem. And without fail, all my 7 year olds fell into FSU unison, ending with

"FLORIDA STATE! FLORIDA STATE! FLORIDA STATE! WHOOOO!!!!"

(No worries, we finished with moses.)

But it once again reminded me, that in less then 48 hours I will be here:

I am so ready.