WHERE IS MY MAMA????

Wordless Wednesday - Springtime

NC Zoo

Saturday before Easter we took the boys to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. We had not been as a family in almost 4 years so the boys didn't even remember it (although Brendan has been back on a school field trip). We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful resource close by, and I am saddened that we have not taken advantage of the zoo more.

Taken from the zoo's website:

"Located just south of Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is seated on a 1,500 tract of land in the Uwharrie Mountains. Approximately 500 acres of this property have been developed into one of the largest "natural habitat" zoos in the United States. You won't find cages made of steel and concrete here! Our animals are given enclosures that mimic their natural habitats to include trees, ponds, rocks, grass and dirt."

We had a great time, and I took a lot of photos that you can view in the following slide show if you like.

Staxx

Staxx Rings

One of my great friends introduced me to Staxx rings this past fall so I put a starter set on my Christmas list!

The Staxx company features an interchangeable jewelry line with "Endless Combinations…Beautiful Results"! The website states, "Staxx is all about creating beautiful custom jewelry that is unique to you, and that can be changed in dozens (or even hundreds) of different ways to match your look, your mood or even your whim."

First you choose your base or foundation. I wanted a stainless steel ring like this one:

I really liked the "Bouquet of Blue" ring set, and this was part of my Christmas gift from JC:

I love it! Just recently I added a few interchangeable centerpieces and a stainless steel topper to make this beauty:

Orange just might be my favorite color this summer!

I also found this ring in the "Design/Idea Gallery" on the Staxx website. I love these centerpieces as well, and this would be perfect with all of my Carolina gear:

What fun jewelry - although it could get a little addictive!!!

04.21.09

I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici
It has been one very long year! 04.21.08 to 04.21.09 - what a milestone! One year ago today, our father passed away, and our world stood still. At the time I remember thinking, how can life just keep going? Work continued, school continued, sports continued, life, in general, continued for all of those around us. I felt like every atom/every cell in my body was frozen by fear, anxiety and extreme grief. As the anniversary of this day has been approaching, I have begun to relive these raw emotions.

I choose to live today in great joy though! I want to remember the great times we had as a family. I want to relish in the fact that I knew my father for 34 years on this earth. I want to remember how it felt to be loved by a father who would have done anything to give me and my sister all that we could have ever wanted.

I miss you Daddy!


"For in our suffering, not apart from it, Jesus enters our sadness, takes us by the hand, pulls us gently up to stand, and invites us to dance. We find the way to pray, as the psalmist did, "You have turned my mouring into dancing" (Psalm 30:11), because at the center of our grief we can find the grace of God."
(excerpt from Henri Nouwen's "Turn My Mourning into Dancing")

We feel very lucky today as well. My Mom was in a horrible car accident this morning. She was hit by a car turning into traffic as she was travelling about 45 mph. Her 4-Runner flipped three times and landed on the hood of a truck in a parking lot. Thanks to her seatbelt and side airbags, she walked away with just a little soreness! What a miracle! We are very thankful tonight for her safety.

Heart and Sole

On Saturday, April 18th Brendan and JC ran in the 4th Annual Heart and Sole 5k in Kernersville , NC . All of the proceeds from the race go to the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program’s Patient Scholarship Fund at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center



This was Brendan’s third 5k, and I think he did fantastic considering he hasn’t run in one since this race last year on April 19, 2008 (just two days before Daddy passed of Cardiovascular Disease). He finished in 34 minutes and one second. JC let him run ahead and finish before him so that Brendan would have the “bragging” rights.



Saturday was absolutely beautiful here. There was not a cloud in the sky and temps were approaching 80 degrees. Not only did Brendan run this race, but we had to be back at the baseball fields at 11:30am for photos and then a game at 1pm. It was a long day, but it was a fabulous day to spend outside.



I am so proud of Brendan for committing to run in this race and then sticking to it. They ran the entire time, and although, Brendan asked to stop and walk a few times, JC was able to convince him to finish strong. I know his PaPa was smiling down on him Saturday!

Just Martha and Me

So I decided that I want to learn to sew...the basics!!! I am not delusional enough to think that I'll become a "seamstress", but I would at least like to know how to hem a pair of pants for my 5'2" self! So thanks, MiMi for this beauty...

Some of the other spoils from my birthday...

I'd like to thank my mom, sister, MIL, and friends for making this a great day, but I'd especially like to thank my husband. I have been dreading this birthday so much, but not for the reasons you all remember. You see, my 2008 birthday was the last day that I saw my father (he passed 6 days later). That's something that will stay with me forever. JC was so sweet yesterday. He arranged for my entire Body Pump class to sing to me (quite embarrassing), met me for lunch at Qdoba and then surprised me with a babysitter and a dinner just for us at PF Changs. I love you, J - not bad for a day that I had been dreading!

Wordless Wednesday - EASTER 2009

And the Winner Is...

Felicia over at The Fleur-de-lis Cottage is the grand winner. Brendan graciously agreed to be the official "name picker"! Thanks Brendan and...

CONGRATULATIONS Felicia!!!! If you have never visited her blog, you should stop by and check it out!!!

100th Post Giveaway

Most of you don't know this, but occasionally I make jewelry. I sometimes sell it on Etsy, but mostly I make it for me or friends and family. I selected the necklace below as my giveaway!!! It is made using sterling silver chain and handmade Bali sterling silver beads. The lobster clasp allows you to pick the length. It can be worn as long as 19.5 inches. The large rounded rectangular stones are a mystery. I think the website I bought them from called them African Opal, but I don't think that's what they are. The colors are gray with garnet streaks. The rondelles on either side are genuine garnets.

Please leave me a comment here to enter this drawing. If you do not have a blog, please leave a comment and include your email address and first name so that I may contact you.

I'll leave this open until Monday, April 13th!

It's been fun so far! Can't wait for the next 100 posts!

Friendship Award and 100th Post

I would like to thank two very sweet bloggers for giving me the Friendship Award. The first was Marci at All Things Wonderful who left this award on April 2nd and Tara at The Kelly Korner who left this award yesterday. What an amazing way to commemorate my 100th Post!!! Check back tomorrow for my giveaway!!!

Per the rules: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I pass it on to these girls:

1. Caroline at Beyond Friendship Gate (we've been friends since before Kindergarten...went to grade school...high school...and on to Carolina together!!!)

2. TEG at Life by the Hill (another old friend and fellow Tar Heel)

3. Felicia at The Fleur-de-lis Cottage

4. Stephanie at More Than A Mommy Blog

5. Angela at Love Being A Nonny

6. Heather at Grace303

7. Lisa at The Long Road to China

8. Rachel at Loving Lily

Thanks, Ladies, for making this blogger world fun and enjoyable!

National Champions

As a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill in 1992-'93, I never expected to be a part of Carolina's third NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. What an absolutely unforgettable experience!!! We watched the game on tv, then immediately went to Franklin Street to join in the mayhem! That is an experience that I will always treasure, and I hope that one day my boys will share in this same tradition at Carolina!

Who could have predicted that both Brendan and Jackson would have already lived to see Carolina win TWO National Titles? Their first was in 2005. The photo below is of Jackson taken the day after we beat the University of Illinois!

To hold this title again four short years later is absolutely amazing. This photo was taken today of Jackson! I can't believe how much he has changed! He is no longer my baby!!!

The following video was posted on the University's Newspaper's website today. I wish we could have been there last night! It's just as I remember...


Timelapse: Franklin Street after the victory from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

An Oyster Experience

We are here in New Orleans. Last night we walked through the French Quarter and even took a carriage ride through this very historic district! Did I remember my camera???? NO! :(

Anyway, our tour guide recommended a little restaurant named the French Market Grill (I think). Our friends ordered raw oysters as a starter. I've been out to eat a lot with friends who order these, but I have personally never tried them. I was talked into it last night. My friend has a photo, but I haven't downloaded it yet.

Anyway, as I put this oyster in my mouth and bite down...there is something very hard at the front of my mouth, thankfully. So I proceed to spit it out, and it was a little pearl! We are hoping this means good luck??? Don't know, but that was probably my first and only experience with raw oysters. I was not a big fan!