mountains, halloween, and turkeys...

hello to all...
not many people would take this many pictures AND share them profusely like i do but... i guess... again..you all choose to read and indulge in mindless activity like reading my thoughts so i share...once again...my thoughts and what i view as amazing through pictures hoping that maybe you will see them how i did...
a wonderful moment captured by my camera (that i need to learn how to use)....or maybe even just the leaves - so we won't forget how beautiful they are this time of year....
fall is my absolute my favorite season for this very reason...isn't it wonderful that when you are so tired and all dried up like we all are at the end of summer...there is something wonderfully colorful or interesting that seems to come out of absolutely nowhere? at the end of the summer..i am always ready for something new, new season, a new school year, and cooler weather..football too...pumpkins and mums...long-sleeve tees and shorts...a wonderful combination by the way..
and so i share...a day at the park, with camera in hand as usual...what an amazing creator we have...
















halloween was today of course...hilarious as usual to see the littles dressing up and even funnier to see how much candy they think they can eat...every year they get a little better at navigating people's front yards, while running, in a costume, with a mask. nobody even biffed tonight!!! mia dressed as DORFTY...NOT dorothy but DORFTY -precious one had a ball probably more fun than big brother...who was bumblebee by the way for those unfamiliar...

i am so grateful for the memories..red wagon and all...mia actually laid down inbetween houses in the wagon... great memories to be sure....



















lastly...tomorrow i will share (if all goes well) pictures of spring fabrics...a sneak peak...they are definately starting to roll in as the remainder of fall rolls out...

i am leaving you all with a picture of a turkey at the park today that i believe was running for his friggin' life...he knows it is coming...everyone staring at him "nakid" on their dining room table...made me laugh even if you don't....see? i told you i'm quirky..run turkey run!!
love to all and especially bebek and sam...

just a quote...

hey to all...
enjoying your weekend i am hoping...sounds like everyone is busy this weekend...tons of halloween things and pumpkin patch trips...i am hoping you all are enjoying the weather like we are...
this weekend so far anyway...i watched a movie given by a friend "shadowlands" it's a CS lewis movie ... a story of true love found...i wanted to share a quote...you can imagine with lewis writing it, it was amazing...
there is a part where jack (lewis) says to his life love..." you know? i don't wish to be somewhere else anymore...not waiting for anything new to happen..not looking around the next corner or the next hill...I'm here now and that's enough...

maybe it made sense to me because i have been dwelling on those thoughts alot lately especially in the last few blogs...so i thought you might enjoy the thought as well...
all my love as usual...
and to bebek and sam thoughts, prayers, and my love...

park time and open house...

hello to all who read..
we hardly ever leave the house after mia's nap and after logan's rest after school...kindof asking for grumpy-ville and it almost never sits well with one or both or even me...
but today fresh air was needed for me especially and the kids were excited and promised to be sweet...so we went to the park...(above is the view from the park...GORGEOUS...who wouldn't be encouraged...)

so just down the street and we are enjoying the outside and I the levity that comes with watching two kids run around...the conversation between them is much different now than it used to be with mia getting older and logan growing more tolerant of a sister that can finally play with him...and converse well i must say (hmmm wonder where they got that?). they miss each other during the day and i enjoy so much just to listen to them...

a little rest from the workroom and just life in general (namely laundry) came in the way of the park bench and taking pictures...what a fun time and i am so grateful for my littles...

while at times completely overwelmed by the boxes and packages found in the workroom seemingly without an end -i found encouragement today...

logan was obviously taking these two pictures...obviously...had to share even though rubbing...









Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

on another note...open house!! our precious friends at ML scheduled a meeting and open house right during the Auburn game...promising updates of course which is big bad news for those of us who TIVO like it's our job...someone suggested that i should've TIVO-ed the meeting....LOL what a fabulous idea!!!

and so i share...i am so grateful for logan's sweet teacher and the encouragement that she provides...certain creativity and a wonderfully organized day which works so very well for logan....

and the most popular sing in the car song these days...

the mom i got to "move my banana chart" because i was sooooo good...


and so just like my little one's school projects - i too have projects like everyone and sometimes while they are all good and you would change nothing a little levity and a break are great for the mindset...

until next time...love to all held close and blessings to new friends and those who read...

i love you bebek and sam...

a special birthday...

happy birthday brylee....
we had a great time with you and your family today...Shelley you are a wonderful party planner... and fabulous with BBTN as well...thanks for including us...so the cake walk was a huge hit and hayride of course....


















baby ct..you are beautiful and maybe your mom will teach me to run a really long time without being chased...

















while saturdays are really not days for deep thoughts...more like organized chaos while moving the whole family places...youknowwhatimean? we did tons today and it was really fun but i'm so very glad i went to exercise early..before it all started... provides that clarity i was talking about sometimes..quiet moments do...

while we were not participating in the mt laurel festival today- that is where i went for my cardio this morning for a change of pace...there is a beautiful lake there that is probably one of my favorite spots in birmingham ... beautiful- i always wish i had my camera when i get there because it is amazing...but an aerial view would be much better...it is hard to capture the effect unless you stand still and turn as you take it in...there is wonderful all around you...much like our lives...it is so very hard to see all of the good things if you stand still and look just forward...but if you stop, take a deep breath and turn around slowly you may see it all in a short enough time frame to really remember and take it all in....

that's all for tonight...i hope you are all well exactly where you are in your life...blessings!
i love you bebek and sam...

just pictures today....

this is my view as i leave for a walk in the morning usually...worth every bit of the early....and one of my precious littles...

try hard...really really hard...

hello to all that read...
i hope you are all doing well in each of lives...i hear from lots of you old friends and new but rarely do we get to have the deep conversations that lead to - how are you really? are you enjoying where you are? better...are you doing what you want to be doing? i am not speaking of close friends but those who you can't see often...
isn't that wonderful to be able to have a conversation...and be better for it on the other side? with a good friend...encouraged or to encourage whichever way it happens...
i love those friends and those conversations... so as a result i think i long to try hard to make them happen... skipping the nonchalant or meaningless and trading for - how are you really?

are you enjoying where you are in your life...engaging in your activities with a fully present heart and mind... or letting the excuse of being busy steal the joy of being available to feel wonderful things that happen daily. i am resolved to not let them go unnoticed...

i ask because i think those conversations with friends lead you to some conclusions that maybe you wouldn't make on your own...goals or even just guts to do something you have been wanting to do...like start a company, workout, diet, or finish your scrapbooks...whatever it may be... i am almost always inspired and encouraged by those type of conversations. how i love to share words with a wonderful friend...

and so i share pictures from a drive in atlanta this weekend...with these thoughts in mind i wonder if you have things that you just lack the encouragement to do...or lack the confidence or even just the clarity.

clarity is another thing that i think comes from honest conversations...if you are not happy with not achieving whatever goal or lack guts in an area...friends have a funny way of inspiring you to be better...much better.

and so you know i'm funny about my paths, love paths and streets...they always lead to somewhere else and you won't know unless you go...and find out for yourself. and also i had a thing for the trees in atlanta this weekend...they were fabulous and majestic- sustained like us by the hand of an almighty God that cares about every single leaf...lest one not be lost....


and so to share a piece...thinking about guts...start something new (possibly here too) do something that you don't think you can do...or dive in and "getr done" even if you have never been able to do something before...ambiguous to some, maybe... but hopefully loud and clear to others....

God's mercy is new every morning....
blessings until next time...
i love you bebek and sam!!

newest BBTN member....

welcome to the world....our newest member of the BBTN family...
Camryn arrived yesterday, precious little one of Kimberly....BBTN employee extraordinaire....she actually worked monday before being induced tuesday...not as mobile but worked and packed...
congratulations kimberly and wade and big sister carsyn....we love you so very much and can't wait to watch as little one grows up....your sweet family has blessed us so very much...i love you dearly!

nice to meet you....

hello to all who read...
no rare form today...very subdued actually (i promise i do not have a mood disorder)...overwelmed by boxes, orders, and at the feet of Christ on several things... while things are so much fun most days struggles ensue as soon as you think life is grand...a quick reality check sometimes.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."


i got an email from a friend asking who bebek and sam were...they asked and then responded with "i love bebek and sam too" which of course made me cry...and so
i want you to meet my precious friend and sister in Christ...Rebekah aka bebek and little one sam...

i got to see bebek shortly this weekend- she actually came to help us set-up for market and evidently was in need of "manual labor and girl time" which to those of you who know this business there is TONS of both...we are no strangers to manual labor and we love to make it fun...so we got to visit...and with that came more encouragement from her than she will ever know although told.

She inspires me...truly that she would have and be taking care of 3 boys, be training for a marathon and have the outlook, attitude, and be a woman after Christ's desires for her life. While Sam has retinol blastoma he is a trooper...smiling through chemo treatments and making everyone else happy along the way. While it certainly is no picnic as you all know i am encouraged by their reaction and resolve to use this as something that will help someone else...eternal implications.

i got to see bebek again on sunday before we left and we shared a few quiet moments when words are not enough for a great friend and practically sister...tears are sometimes but not words...
i am asking for your prayers...please cover this precious family in your petitions to God Almighty...safety, health, and encouragement. Not to mention all of the details...
and so today...full of thoughts as i am ...i wanted to introduce you to my precious bebek and baby sam...

i love you both...bebek and sam

glamorous potty stops, lots of clothes, and a rascal

hhhhhhaaaaaaayyyyyyy
to all who read...your emails and comments are fabulous and provide laughter on my end...thanks!
and so i share...
once again you are going to have to put up with my quirkiness... so here goes..
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN IN MEMPHIS!!
a wonderfully safe and productive trip filled with great music (of course), flying clothes, new faces and old... precious memories for sure....
thank you amelia for your precious help, expertise, friendship, and desire to serve all of those who have ordered...you are fabulous at what you do and i love that we are best of friends...i look forward to many years...(of roadtrips, bands, and clothes)....
so a few funnies...because a blog is just about the only place where you can share pictures and stories and MAYBE you all will think it is half as funny as i do...
first..let's set the stage...UHAUL, MINIVAN (yes, i went to the dark side),CARPOOL LINE- enough said...i think amelia was actually embaressed to be riding with me (sorry A)...














and so the potty stops...ok girls THERE ARE NO POTTIES ON CORRIDOR X...so one of us...not telling who is walking across this "soon to be" gas station parking lot after all but off-roading in our travel get-up to get to a freshly cleaned porta potty...it was either that or grass so we were grateful...it never fails..what a joke!!












we are also not only almost always in pursuit of a potty we also desperately need a sonic drink...crushed ice...mmmm diet CHERRY limeade..nothing else will do... and so we found one but evidently someone else was in pursuit as well...coming down the on ramp to the interstate here is a picture of our friend on a rascal...maybe he had been traveling too and needed a limeade? who knows but a great source of laughter for us...as we passed him...













but after all things are laughed about and catalogued into my fabulous memories folder in my forgetful brain... i am so grateful for all of the girls that we got to help in memphis...meeting our long-time customers makes being rattled to death by the uhaul all worth while..thank you to each one of you for your loyalty ...and to the hostesses...our memphis girls are second to none... i believe we serve a mighty God even through all of the silliness of these clothes...thanks for the memories....new friends and old...



i love you bebek and sam...

blinking bats and a uhaul....

hhhhhheeeeeeyyyyyyy to all that read...
i am in rare form today, so bare with me...quirky as usual but there is no way to handle my life today unless done with a great amount of humor...boxes, clothes, racks, hangers etc. flying...logan is sick...no mother's day out, house is dirty and i have to pick up a u-haul after a pediatrician appointment (STREP BTW)...that can't be a good combination, right? while i know everyone has these days i can't help but think i have brought this on myself in so many ways...and maybe everybody does but why are we all such gluttons for punishment...???

while i say that motherhood is hard...i can conquer most things in my pajamas and i am so grateful for the opportunity to do so...

we leave tomorrow for memphis... amelia, mia and i with uhaul in tow...packed full no doubt hopefully not bumping behind too badly...great music and great times in store as always ..amelia and i never have a tough time getting along or working together so i am thrilled and up for the adventure ...and memories that always come with roadtrips..
i also absolutely love meeting customers and getting to see old friends in memphis (my hometown)...fun times in store!! not to mention i am hoping you all come knowing that you cannot live without a bunch more BBTN items in your child's closet...you couldn't possibly live without payton paisley pants or meghan skorts right? what kind of mother would you be if you didn't have matching bows?? (a big LOL on that one as mia runs around with a ponytail holder in a target outfit - that i love on...) life is short but not too short to have target clothes and TONS of BBTN things....

so everybody needs blinking bats on their front porch, purple no less and a ghost named "alex"...it's starting to feel like fall with mums blooming and pansies planted (had to plant early because i killed my summer annuals)...isn't it funny how you are willing to let the old ones die and so ready and rejuvenated all of a sudden to plan on watering new flowers... don't husbands love it when you let annuals die!?


i love annuals and here is why...they are bright, ready for the new season, and if you give them time and attention they will give you all that they have... story of me!! ready for every single new phase and season, i crave time and attention (just like everyone) and i will give all the passion i can muster...



i know this is how i am called to live it's just i can't do it alone...there are too many things that seem harder than they have to be...
our God is great, merciful, loving and kind yet just...

blessings until next time...see you in memphis!!