1st Day of School

It's the most wonderful time of the year ...

The 1st day of school.

Brooke is now a Junior, an upper class man, and excited to sport her new mode of transportation.

Me? I've always embraced and celebrated the first day of school and cannot even relate to those mothers who are sad their kids are leaving the house. Structure is good, too much free time isn't. Get a hobby and stop living vicariously through your kids.

Ahhhhh ... the house is quiet.

Welcome 2016-2017 school year!

Be of good cheer, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Warrior Dash 2017

There is simply nothing else like it, Warrior Dash is the muddiest and the funniest summer event!

I declined on competing in the event this year and really wish I had. It was a blast to watch. The weather perfect, thousands mud-covered, the music awesome and I liked the pretzel beer. Pretzel beer, I know right!

I'm in 2017 ...

A Double Birthday

 Plus ...

Equals a double birthday celebration for my beautiful Mariah now 21 years old and my handsome son-in-law Jeremy now 34.

A sparkling juice toast for her to welcome 21 and chopped salted almonds for him for our mutual favorite, chocolate ice cream with salted almonds.

Perfect weather, a cookout, corn hole, a bonfire and a burning of a bee hive made a fun-filled, relaxed family evening.

This photo I will title 4 Generations, because that's what this momma is praying for! 

Happy birthday, Mariah & Jeremy, I love you both!

A Perfect Vehicle

I found it!

After weeks of searching, days spent hitting countless car dealerships, testing driving, salesmen becoming a blur of business cards and hours upon hours of online searches, I found it. A Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with a pewter-like exterior, black leather interior with ALL the bells and whistles (including a few features I've never had before) is now nestled in my garage.

My payment? Significantly less than I was hoping/wanting to pay. It's perfect. Thank you, God!

Vehicle hunting is no easy task. As I bounced between new and used, I found myself nit-picking in frustration. I wouldn't like the color of the exterior or the interior, it didn't have all the features I wanted to justify a payment. I knew I would know it when I saw it and I did.

Cargurus.com is a goldmine for viewing what is out there dealership or privately owned. It searches vehicles according to Great Price! Good Price! Fair Price! and below value. My Jeep fell under a Great Price! search and I found it an hour away. Doing a 500 mile search, I did not find another like it close to the price. That is thorough car shopping [happy dance].

A new milestone in life has been reached.

Brooke now has the Honda CRZ and we are equal in happiness when it comes to her new freedom of having her own car embracing independence and I find myself feeling as if I am in my 20's again except it's ever better!

It's better because my home is established, I'm in the groove of a career I enjoy, my youngest daughter stepping into transportation freedom, working and embracing her freedoms positions me to wake up, stretch my arms and ask myself ...

"What do I want to do today?"

I know exactly what I want to do! Put a hitch on my Jeep, get the bike rack I want and start biking my favorite biking paths.

A Car for Brooke

When I wanted to get a kitten after Sammy Blue died, I did state-wide searches for Ragdoll kittens and was frustrated with one obstacle after another. So I made praying my foundation and although it took a bit of time, I found my Finneaus King Solomon whom I love.

It's time for Brooke to get a car now that she is working and starts school next week.

I feel as if I am on the total freedom home stretch with her almost 17 years old and becoming more independent. Her wants, I've always provided, are now being purchased through her own paychecks.

She is embracing and loving the beauty of working = having. She sure likes to have and that alone will be justification, motivation and inspiration to work.

She needs a car.

I certainly am not a car expert, so I am tapping into a lot of prayer to find the perfect car situation for both her and I, as I did with finding my sweet boy Finneaus.

A lot of prayer has lead to avenues opening and I am learning more in this car buying arena that I would really rather pass off to someone who enjoys this far more than me.

The goal is to make wise financial decisions while sitting in a vehicle I am excited and happy to drive for years to come.

And so my search continues ...

6 Weeks

I have been faithful in biking my 8-miles 4-5 days a week, walking my 2.35 miles, and occasionally incorporating running where I have found a walk/run system that actually works for me.

My bodies response, nothing.

Frustration kicks in and a memory is triggered around the 4-week mark. History reminds me that it used to take 6-weeks of pretty intense workouts before my body responds as if it realizes I've been doing something.

Push through, push through, two more weeks pass.

Ahhhhhh... there it is... down 3 lbs in a week.

I can feel it in my clothes, too.

Frustration is being replaced with hope and motivation.

Actively Doing My Thing

Actively doing my thing, I find myself with a fresh perspective, able to view upcoming scenery and arms open for a better life than the one I now enjoy.

I saw her from afar
     enjoying life to the fullest
         moving confidently
             through her dreams
                  weaving new dreams
              arms open
           as if expecting
         more blessings than she could hold
     and I wanted her ...
   I wanted to drink from her life
 to taste
what she thought was so sweet
      I wanted to fall asleep
           hearing her laughter
               and wake up in her arms
                  so strong
              so warm
            so able to live
          and able to love at the same time ...
      I wanted to wander through
    the maze of her mind
 and discover each fascinating thought
         I wanted to know
                who she was ...
                      every facet
                           every flaw
                                every strength
                         every weakness ...
                     I wanted her to
                 need me
             to not need me
         to want me
      to not want me
              like an elusive butterfly
                    drawn to the color
                          of my love
                                already drunk
                                     from the honey of the Son
                               while she decides
                           whether to alight
                    and partake or not
               I have already decided.
       I want her ...

           - Michelle McKinney Hammond