We were spending our family day in the sunshine, exploring a new part of town. Although the full lunch told us to go home and sleep, the beach song called us to the shore. Rhissa promptly pulled up a spot to lie down, Ryan and Jaime cuddled for warmth while taking in the. cityscape, and mom and I stared at a jumble of kelp floating on the surface of the water.

After several minutes of sitting and watching this clump of kelp I started to hear it’s journey and the parallels it made in my life.

Kelp grows up in a world that isn’t the most stable. They don’t move to better climates, they make the best of their surroundings and “go with the flow.” The kelp spend a good portion of their life sheltering smaller fish and providing nutritients to the ocean. At some point, the kelp are removed from their stable existence and tossed into the great wide ocean. They are required to go in the direction the wave takes them.

Like kelp, my environment has not been the most stable. But what we lacked in stability, we gained in compassion and love, just like the kelp. At graduation I was up rooted and sent in the direction the waves were headed, college. Since then I’ve been a drift, at the mercy of the winds.

My path will change as the season in my life change. Eventually I will anchor again, and my life will be grounded and swaying in the current.

Until then, “anyway the wind blows.”

Overtime I’ve aquired fears for the following things:

Birds- because they can attack your face and you can’t always see them coming. 

Clowns (and chainsaws)- because of an extensive haunted house marathon in college.

Heights- this is MOST recent.  I hadn’t realized I was THIS terrified until I found myself screaming uncontrollably on a FERRIS WHEEL.

In any of the above cases I’d prefer not to fight.  That would require me to stay present in the situation and if you think I’m going to stick around and duke it out with a clown, forget about it!  However, I’d also prefer not to flee (flight).  Running from a clown only makes them chase you more, and TRYING to run from a bird is almost impossible.  They FLY!

I propose another option, GLITTER!!  I believe that if I carry a small vile of glitter at all times I will not be afraid.  If approached by a clown, I can throw glitter in his face.  To me, the glitter will make him less imposing.  He becomes “fairy-like.”  If I throw glitter at a bird, they will likely fly away as projectiles hurling at them, no matter the size, will distract from any ideas of attack on my face.. 

I’m still working out the kinks on the effectiveness of glitter on height.  But I believe, if I put glitter on near to anything, it instantly becomes prettier, and more acceptable to my psyche.

What are YOUR fears??

Be Yourself.  Everyone else is TAKEN.

Grandma got Ryan!

Thank you for the last 19 years, and I can’t wait to celebrate at least 19 more little brother!

Last night, Rhissa and I made a tutu!  Her school was having a spirit day, and neither of us knew where to buy a tutu.  After careful research, we found that the only supplies needed were some tulle and elastic. 

This project turned out far better than expected, and now Rhissa and I can add yet another “first” to our list. 

Do YOU have a first that you’d like to share?

Be Yourself! Everyone else is taken.

During an especially long trip to the car dealership with his mom, Tyler needed to wander.  Like any other three year-old, talking about purchasing car was no where near as exciting, as running around IN them.

On most outings when Tyler wanted to wander, Mommy Deb would say “Don’t go too far, people can be dangerous,”  and he’d come back to an area where his mom would be able to see him.

This time, as Tyler started to depart from the car conversation, he looked back at his parents, raised is arms, and in a downward calming motion exclaimed “Don’t worry mom.  I won’t be dangerous.”

Kids are funny….

On several occassions, she would see someone put lip moisturizer on, and say “Rhem…. lips?” and she would point to her tiny little lips.  After applying a thin coat, she would anxiously lick it all off! 

Kids are funny!

Tips:

Airfare
Alaska/Horizon Air Group can set up a “Conference” for your wedding party. This allows your guests to book with a specific code, and receive up to 7% off their posted fare. There is no expiration or fine print, it’s just a good deal!

Hotel
We’ve booked the nearby extended stay suites. They proved to be more cost effective, and provide our guests with more ammenities.
My suggestion is to just call around. It’s a lot of legwork, but your guests will appreciate it, and it may even be the determining factor in their attendance.

Other things you may consider are rental car companies, and providing gift baskets to their rooms, upon arrival. Your out-of-town guests will likely treat your wedding as vacation. In which case, it’s nice to be able to help make that vacation run smoothly.

Be Yourself! Everyone else is taken.