Sisterly Pride

On Friday I took my kids out of school, packed their backpacks with treats and activities, gathered movies for the drive and Tom, the kids and I all headed to Tacoma to watch my brother Spencer play in his last soccer game as a Wildcat.
Spencer is my little brother, although only in age, not in height as you can see. I was 12 1/2 when Spence was born. All our lives I have walked that line between big sis and little Mom. But in both of those roles I have experienced such pride in him.
In all honesty, although I never tell him this, he is my hero. He is a gifted athlete who has always been exciting to watch on the field. More important than that however, is that he is an incredible person. He is a loyal and devoted friend. He really wants the best for those around him. He has no ego that gets in the way of thinking of others above himself. Both our parents and myself honestly sit around when he isn't there and wonder how we got so lucky. He is a rock star to my kids. He babysits for free. I could go on and on!
So, I watched him play his last game, and I have to admit that I was glad I had my sunglasses to hide my tears as the game came to a close. Not because I won't see him play again because soccer will always be a part of him and he will find a way to play, but because I am so proud of what he does and who he is.
We are a fairly emotional family. Or maybe it's just me and Mom that are emotional so it seems that way. Regardless, my pride in him probably doesn't come as a surprise to Spence, I hope he has know all along how I brag about him every chance I get. But I feel the need to tell him again as this chapter in his life closes. I am so excited to see what part soccer will play in his life next, there is no question it will always be there in one form or another.
But Spence, just in case there is a moment (no matter how small) of identity crisis for you as you move on from here I want you to remember that you are and always will be my little brother and my biggest hero! I love you bud!

Tag, I'm it!

My friend Sherry tagged me, then after having to e-mail her to find out what that meant I had to come up with 6 interesting things about myself, or 6 of my favorite things, etc. Here are a little bit of both:
1. I love mystery books. Think Nancy Drew rather than Stephen King. Agatha Christie is brilliant and I am working my way through her books in between several other series I am reading. All of them have female amateur detectives that have a regular day job. Some of them are set in coffee houses, bookstores and cookie shops. All of them help my brain escape and relax. They certainly don't make me smarter the way reading is probably suppose to but I love them all the more for that!
2. God has blessed my life with the most amazing women. Sherry said something similar and I have to echo her sentiments. I have a wonderful array of close, closer and closest relationships with some outstanding ladies. At one time I prayed for female friends and let me tell you that God answered! So give it a try if your circle lacks estrogen and God will surely provide!
3. I have two very unique and precious children. Already at almost eight years old my daughter is mature beyond her years. I am going to learn a lot from her. If she reads this one day let me just say that she is more patient with me than I deserve. She is comfortable enough with herself and I to call me out when I am crabby for no good reason and she is the first to praise me when I am doing something that impresses her. She will make a marvelous Mom one day. My son will always turn my heart to mush with his long eyelashes which I know God gave him on purpose to counteract his mischievous nature! He makes me laugh often as he invites me to see the world his way (where sharing is not always the best way to go and every meal should be made primarily of sugar). What a gift they are!
4. I am married to a man that is the perfect balance of quiet strength and outgoing leadership. He makes people feel important, including me, always honoring them for who they are. He is a great Daddy and boss (which are the same thing sometimes). He is the kind of guy that gets a birthday card from a secretary of a high school that he was employed at six years ago. What a might good man!
5. I love iced mochas and although I won't use the word "addiction" I will say that I have tried to go a few days without one and those weren't the best days ever.
6. I love "The Joy of Painting" with Bob Ross. You know, the PBS show with the guy with big hair? His voice is mesmorizing to me. He is on at noon around here and I have been known to steal a little time with his show and doze a little. . . . mmm.

So now, I get to tag Amy W. and Leslie!

All Right Here

Sara Groves is my favorite singer/songwriter of all time. Her lyrics always go right to my soul. When I started my blog the other night the first name that I tried was "All Right Here", which is the name of a favorite song of mine. Alas the name was already taken. But the song itself still represents my blogging philosophy and so I wanted to share the lyrics.

It's every loss and every love
It's every blessing from above
Here I am all added up
It's all right here
It's what I know and what I'm guessing
It's half truths and full confessions
It's why I choose to learn my lessons
It's all right here
It's caution and curiosity
It's all the things I never see
Welling up inside of me
It's all right here
It's what is best and what is worst
It's how I see the universe
It's in every line and every verse
It's all right here.
Every heart has so much history, it's my favorite place to start
Sit down awhile and share your narrative with me
I'm not afraid of who you are.
I'm all here and you're all there, some of it is unique and some of it we share
Let's add it up and start from there
It's all right here.

So, hopefully this blog will represent my narrative that I can keep a record of and somewhere along the line you will share your narrative with me. Either through comments or by starting a blog of your own that I can read!

Finally . . .

The day has finally come! Judging by how many names I had to go through before I found one that wasn't taken I know I am probably the second to last person to set up shop in my little piece of cyberspace. But thanks to Stefanie Riddle, who made a house call a few nights ago to help me set up, I am finally up and running!