They're Growing Up!

Strawberry pickin' with Rachel & Tyler

Atlantic Beach with the Dawsons and Parkers

Lily's 3rd Birthday

Good Morning Sunday

I have coffee brewing, a newspaper to read, a capstone to edit (finally got some comments back after waiting about a week--and it's due on Tuesday. . . I can see the light at the end of the tunnel), some paint samples smeared on some walls which I am in love, love, love with and can't hardly wait to put all over the rest of the walls. . . AND a puking 3 year old (which means sheets, bedspreads, pajamas are in the wash, sick blanket covering the sofa, baby wearing nothing but undies because I'm tired of adding more pjs to the wash with every vomit, lots of hugs and pats on back, washing faces and hands and necks, disinfecting bathroom with each puke, mopping must occur, and questionable food choices).

Yet, life is still good.  


Please also pray for our good friends, Troy and Heather Milburn.  Heather's mom passed away today after a series of issues resulting from a stroke and car accident several years ago.  Even when you know someone's health is failing and that death is coming, it doesn't make losing someone you love any easier.  However, Heather is comforted by knowing her mother has been made whole and she will see her again soon.  Thank You, Jesus, for the promise that our pains and struggles are temporary.  Thank You for the promise that we will overcome these trials.  Thank You for the comfort and peace of mind that comes in the face of death.  

Who are We and WHAT have you done with the Averys?!?!

Today we did a lot. A lot for the Averys at least:

• Went to the doctor at 9am to get Molly's stitches out.  We told her it wouldn't hurt.  She thinks we lied to her.  Apparently it hurt. 

• Went to Home Depot to compare their crape myrtles with Lowe's.  They didn't have any.  False advertising.  
• Went to THE Fresh Market to buy steak for dinner--and salad and dressing and candy because Mr. Gary pulled up beside us in the parking lot and gave my girls a dollar each because he had seen Silas the day before and apparently bought him some candy so he must be fair. Love Mr. Gary.  Said hello to Tytarr.
• Went to the farmer's market to buy tomatoes and shrimp for Chris and Molly.  Saw a stand for turkey BBQ--very interesting, but we didn't buy it today.  
• Came home, ate lunch, Lily took a 4 hour nap. 
• Watched Chris move the patio pavers to prep for a concrete pad so we can move the hot tub off the porch.  It's not as glamorous as one might think. 
• Went to Sherwin Williams to see what my favorite online colors looked like in real life.  They looked like vomit and pea soup and ugly.  Picked out 4 samples to try on my kitchen and hallway/foyer.  Love them in the cute sample cans--you were right Laura!--for $4.00 each.  I'm a sucker for brown, grey, and shades of brown and grey.  
• Went to Lowe's to purchase a crepe myrtle and 2x4x10s to put around the concrete pad. 
• Prepped steak and salads for dinner. 
• Planted crape myrtle by myself.  
• Cleaned dirty children. 
• Watched HGTV and DIY with Chris.  
• Painted sample colors on walls.  Stepped back and looked at them.  Not bad. 
• Ate apple pie with Chris.  We were hungry. 
• Have annoying bug bite.

Pretty tired, but a good day.  :)

A Little Slice of Heaven

Musical Find of the Day

I stumbled across this gem earlier today while syncing my iPod.

I think it's catchy and quirky--and it received 3 thumbs up from the Avery girls!

It's a free download right now on iTunes! I downloaded the entire album--$6.99 for fun music!

Thoughts On Thursday

1.  I am in love with this website!  Such cute stuff!

2.  Molly's stitches are still in and (knock on wood) will be taken out on Saturday morning at 9:00am.  I'm wondering if I should go, or perhaps let Daddy handle this one.

3.  KJ-52 is performing at our church this evening!

4.  I am design and decor starved at the moment.

5.  Lily is 3!

6.  Quilting patterns (with way hipper fabric) are exciting to me!

7.  I'm waiting to hear draft reviews from my panel. . . .since Sunday. . . .and it's due next Tuesday. . . .crickets. . . .

8.  I like the feeling of a clean house.  Too bad mine's not.

9.  I am so excited about Eclipse.  Don't judge me if you haven't read the books. . .

10.  Tomorrow is my last working day of the semester!  HIP HOP HOORAY!  HO! HEY!

What do you need?

For the record, I am NOT referring to the lovely ladies at my current church.  

This article struck a chord (DING!) with me this morning.

I have always been a little weary when it comes to rah rah women's groups.  I have been burned personally and burned out listening to groups of ladies talk so ugly about one another one moment and then spread their poopeatin' grins and say things like, "Hello Margie (I'm trying to think of a good old lady name)--I just love your sweater" (which comes out like "sweat-ah" in my southern brain) knowing good and well Ethel had just slammed that sweater to her Ladies Circle Home Girls.

But, there are times it would be nice to just get together and DO something worthwhile.  I would love to help someone paint, learn to work my grandmother's sewing machine when arrives, throw pottery, learn stained glass, cook something delicious, and laugh without the agony of pretentious church ladies ready to put their claws into each other.

I hope I'm never like that (and I have had my moments like everyone else)--and I have a lot of friends who are never like that.  I have my church friends and acquaintances, and then I have my real, honest-to-goodness throw you in front of the truck but never under the bus friends.  I love these ladies like they are my blood kin and I would do anything for them.  In some ways, we've developed our own circle on our own terms.  Which is wonderful, unforced, and real.

So, I would love to see/hear what people would love to have someone to do something with them.  I think it would be interesting to see what people come up with--and if connections could somehow be made.

My "circle" ladies have taught me a lot of things, but most importantly that life is short.  Too short.  Why can't we take advantage of this time together and connect with one another.  A lot of us are facing pain and struggles--but I think most of us would welcome time for ourselves with another lady who just needs a break, too.

Without the tea and petit fours. . . unless that's what you want to do with another lady. . . and then, well, that's ok, too.

And then things took a dramatic turn. . .

This morning Lily and I texted Lindsey, Silas, and Savannah to see if they wanted to meet for a playdate at Barnes and Noble around 10:30am.  I also had a little birthday money and a nice coupon from Hallmark--which is right next door!  Lily and I arrived early and I picked up a few things--a bunny basket for Lily ($1.00 clearance!), Silly Bandz for Molly & Lily to share for Lily's birthday favors, and some blocks to go on my mantle which spell "laugh."

Lily and I went next door and realized that it was story hour and there were a ton of little children--but NO ONE was at the Thomas train play area.  We played for a few minutes and then the Woolards arrived.  We played and chatted for a few minutes and my cell phone started ringing.  I saw an unknown number and decided against answering to be polite and things were kinda crazy with children all over the place.  Then my phone rang again and this time left a voice mail.  Something told me to check my messages and it was Molly's teacher calling to say that Molly had fallen down off of the playground at school and her chin was going to need stitches.

EEK!  Lily and I quickly said goodbye and raced over to meet Chris at the school and then the doctor's office.  I called my mother in law to come sit with Lily in the event we needed to have stitches.  Carolyn agreed to meet us at the office.  When we pulled up Chris and Molly were standing in the parking lot.  I almost cried when I saw her--she had blood all over her clothes and neck and legs.  They took her straight back and she was so scared she was shaking all over.  I immediately felt so sick to my stomach--I do not do well with injuries, blood, bodily fluids--and to see them on my child just made it worse.

She kept saying she was scared and she was tearing up trying to be brave as they flushed her wound.  I still felt sick but I kept talking myself out of it.  The nurse said most likely she would need stitches and let us move to a bigger room.  Carolyn arrived at this time to help take care of Lily.  My head started pounding and I got really light headed, but I kept talking myself out of it as we moved down the hall.  The nurse was already getting the instruments ready for the doctor.  My nose started burning but I just kept breathing and trying not to lose my cool.

Molly was trying so hard to be brave, Chris and his mom were sharing stories of Chris' injuries (am I the only one who never had stitches or broken bones (ever) until I had children???)  The doctor came in, decided she needed stitches, and left to get ready.  Carolyn took Lily to the waiting room and Molly laid back on the table.  She was so scared and started tearing up and making these whimpers--I've never seen her so upset.  I wanted to cry and scoop her up in my arms but I knew we had to get through the stitches first.  She was crying and the doctor warned her that he had to give her a shot first before he could sew her up and that the shot would hurt and she had to lie still.  She started crying and Chris and I held her hands and legs while the nurse held her head still.  I did fine until the doctor started with the shot--and the first dose was ok, but the second must have hurt worse because Molly let out a scream and I made the mistake of looking and saw her gash oozing and her chin meat all hanging out--and I started to feel very tingly all over.

I recognized this feeling--the feeling before I pass out.

I started breathing really hard and noticed things were getting black.  Chris was telling Molly all these stories and I just said, "Chris." hoping he would see that I was not doing well.

He ignored me.

I said, "Chris!" and the next thing I know I was being laid down on the floor by the nurses.

I passed out.  Apparently during this time Molly was freaking out and Chris caught me before I fell on top of her.

I heard people saying, "Lay her down, lay her down" and I thought they were talking about Molly--and I said, "She is down--I have her legs!" because the last thing I remember was holding Molly's legs down.

They gave me some chucks to put my head on and elevated my legs while continuing to work on Molly.

I was so embarrassed.

Really embarrassed.

But, I was too sick to move and I felt like I was going to vomit so I stayed on that floor.

I finally felt better but graciously accepted the offer for water and Coke from a nurse.  I still felt so sick, but I wanted to be brave for Molly.  Chris said I was as white as a sheet and sort of green, too.  I just sat in the chair on the other side of the room.

Ugh.

They continued to work on Molly and she went to sleep on the table while they fixed her chin.

Chris suddenly turned white.

I thought--now this is just great.  Both parents are going to be worthless in a minute.  Poor Molly is being sewn and she's just fine. But, Chris left to get some fresh air and water--the doctor didn't let me come back over to talk to Molly (not that I blame him).

Chris came back, I was feeling better, and Molly was cleared to leave.

5 stitches.  Pretty nasty mark.  

Molly was better when I told her she could have all of the Silly Bandz and she could pick whatever she wanted for lunch (Olive Garden).

Molly is feeling ok--but a little sleepy acting and she said her tongue hurt, too.  I'm pretty sure she bit a chunk out of it when she fell off the equipment.  Poor baby.

So, that was our exciting day--I'm glad that I do not have anywhere to go this evening.  I just want to crawl in the bed with my big girl and rub her back until both of us fall asleep.

Because I Knew You'd All Be Concerned and Curious Readers

I'm up to page 56 of the capstone.  I have a good chunk of the work completed and will send this draft to my panel readers to see what else I need to add or delete.

In case you are curious about how this process works (if not, just skip this paragraph), my panel consists of 4 members of the music ed faculty and I will submit all of my written documentation by June 1st NEXT TUESDAY!!!  They will give me the go-ahead or a woah-nelly.  If I receive the first (which I seriously hope is the case) I will make an appointment to take my written exam (which takes the average student around 3 hours to complete) and then schedule my oral presentation of my project (which I am allotted 30 minutes to speak).  When I complete my project I am literally sent out of the room while they decide if I graduate or not.  And then, if I graduate, I take my form across campus and turn in my request for my diploma.

And then you can start calling me Master Avery.  

Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

All joking aside, I really want this to be behind me.  I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to be able to work and complete a graduate degree at the same time, but I'm at the end of the program and I'm tired.

Tired of working on homework, tired of making my brain think after a long day at work, tired of rushing home to submit something before midnight, tired of having to mentally "check out" of my family life because I have an assignment to take care of.  It's been a long 2 years in some ways (and I started my blog when I started this degree program) and I can't believe it's finally coming to an end.

So, please pray with me as I complete this process.  I want to complete things well.  It's just who I am--I do things as well as I can.  I'm anal that way.

Updated:

• Submit Literature Review/Paper (somewhere between 10-20 pages as my panel does not seem to agree on the length) for final revisions by this weekend, due June 1st
• Submit 12 Lessons with materials for final revisions by this weekend, due June 1st
• Complete power point, due by presentation
• Update annotated bibliography for final revisions this weekend, due June 1st
• Bind project (luckily my sister works at FedExKinkos)
• Schedule written exam, most likely around June 15th
• Schedule presentation, most likely around June 21st
• Submit Capstone to committee members, June 1st

Smells Like Teen Spirit

I have recently purchased a new brand of dishwashing soap.  I only picked it up because I had a good coupon and I was looking at the cost, not the brand or the scent.

Just that it would only cost me about $0.50 for a large bottle.  I love, love, love Triple Coupons at HT!

Anyhow, when I used it the first time this week, the aroma hit my nose and I immediately thought of my aunt's laundry detergent smell.  I breathed it in over and over and just enjoyed those 5 seconds of nostalgia.

I love that!  I love smelling something and being reminded of a happy memory.

(Usually happy anyhow.  When I smell black mold I immediately go back to the days of Floyd and cleaning out friends' apartments.  That's obviously not so pleasant.)

I've been trying to come up with other smells that remind me of my past:

Jute rugs:  the old rug in the kitchen of my first childhood home.  Back when we lived in the GHEtto.  When we were the only people on our street who had a working telephone.  When people would come over all hours of the night wanting to use our phone to call a cab or a pizza.  One night around midnight the neighbors came over pounding on the door asking Daddy to call them a pizza.  Daddy said through the closed door, "You're a pizza!" and turned the light off on the porch.  True story.

Pearberry from Bath & Body Works:  my roommate from college, Charlene, used to swear by that fragrance.

Lavender:  Reminds me of my babies after their baths.  I recently bought another bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo in lavender because I missed smelling the sweetness on them.

Comet Cleaning Powder:  My mom used to swear by the stuff to clean the tub--gets the grimy ring around the tub right off!  It smells very. . . green.

Spring Water:  hiking a mountain trail at Ridgecrest and sipping some with my hands from a cold stream.

Satsuma from the Body Shop:  reminds me of high school.  I used to ration the body wash because we didn't have a Body Shop locally.  I would only use it on special days like date nights or when I wanted to feel cute.  When we were in NYC in October, we got off the subway one night and I instantly smelled that--not the first thing you expect to smell down there.  Turns out there was a Body Shop at the top of the exit burning the fragrance oil.  Yum!

Cigarettes, Motor Oil, and Car Grease in dirty car shops:  Reminds me of my Papa's car alignment shop.  Before he died, I loved going into to his shop and sitting on upside down crates drinking soda in a bottle and eating orange octagon crackers.

Woods by A&F:  Lots of boys I knew wore this scent in high school and college.  Usually they were really cute or trying really hard.

Coffee:  Reminds me of my mom's house--I loved waking up to that smell, even if I didn't enjoy the taste at the time.

Bacon and Grits:  Reminds me of my grandma's house.  Ed used to make us all a big breakfast when we spent the nights--delicious!

Morehead City Waterfront:  fresh fish from a recent catch (ugh) and salty air.  Reminds me of being on the water with my dad.  Throw in an obnoxious sea gull and I'm in heaven!

What about you?  What are the smells from your past?

 

Retreat! Run Away!

That's what I want to do when I think about my capstone which is looming.  I can't believe it's due in almost a week and a half!  I'm ready and not ready all at the same time.  AGONY!  I have a ton to do--but I should be ok to turn it in on time.

To Do List 

(only because Neal Alligood actually had to ask me about this on River Day--I'd hate to let him down!)

• Submit Literature Review/Paper (somewhere between 10-20 pages as my panel does not seem to agree on the length) for final revisions by this weekend, due June 1st
• Submit 12 Lessons with materials for final revisions by this weekend, due June 1st
• Complete power point, due by presentation
• Update annotated bibliography for final revisions this weekend, due June 1st
• Bind project (luckily my sister works at FedExKinkos)
• Schedule written exam, most likely around June 15th
• Schedule presentation, most likely around June 21st

Somehow, someway I will get this done.  I will get this done.

I

WILL

GET 

THIS

DONE!!!!

Thoughts on Thursday: Tuesday Edition

Looking for reader interaction here. . . 

1.  I am wanting to sew and quilt.  Any recommendations on sewing machines?
2.  I am enjoying eating more raw and natural foods.  
3.  I have a LOT to do in the next two weeks to get my capstone submitted.  UGH!
4.  I love The Office.  And Steve Carrell.  
5.  And Tina Fey. 
6.  I am interested in making strawberry jam.  Any good recipes?  
7.  I visited my parents this past weekend.  I really miss my hometown and surrounding area.  Not just the people but the atmosphere--military, coastal. It's completely different from Greenville.  
8.  I love seeing my little girls in nightgowns.  So summery, so cute!

9.  I am still stewing on my thoughts from meeting with Megan last week.  I crave more cultivation in my world--I need to seek out more opportunities for artistic education and how that can apply to me, my work, and my ministry.  
10.  Sunburn.  Bad.  

Grumble

Grumble grumble capstone project taking over my mind and free time grumble grumble.

What a Gift

Today I met with Megan, Jill's daughter, at the Art Room and talked about her show.

Whew.

Great.

Good.

Lack of coherent sentences.

Like. :) (that's for her. . .in the event she reads this)

We had some heart to heart, some artistic education (for me--to help me better understand the process), and some chuckles and smiles about her mother.

Jill is very special, no doubt, and Megan is high up there on my "I like these people" list.  

Megan, and her work, gave me a lot to think about and process.  I'm working through it all in my mind.  In fact, I called Chris on the way home to make him jot down some thoughts that were jumbled in my head.  I have children in the bathtub and a capstone to finalize, but I promise there will be something of substance through all of this.

Very chaotic, I recognize.  

But she (and her mother) have given me a gift in the middle of all this tragedy.

31.

This is me on Tuesday. 

My 31st birthday. 

No, it's not THE best picture of me. 

But, it reflects how happy I am with things these days. 

Life is really good. 

Tragic Delight

I am getting to do something really cool tomorrow afternoon.

Well, really cool and really tragic.

Megan, Jill's daughter, invited me to return to the Art Room to talk about her work.

I am so honored.

I am really looking forward to it.

I can't wait to jump in her brain and soul and see what she was thinking about.

I have my opinions, but I'm curious if they are the same.

I may high five myself if I'm correct.

Well. . .

That might be a little over the top.

She's Baaaaaack

• Dinner cooked and consumed
• Babies bathed
• PJs on
• Kitchen clean
• Homework completed and checked

It's 5:45pm.

Yep.  

She's back. 

A Dose of Happy

1.  Summer vacation
2.  PJ pants, tank, and a chick flick
3.  Coldstone Cupcakes
4.  Lemons (always, always, always on the list)
5.  Photography
6.  String cheese
7.  Old Navy $10 shrugs
8.  My new bracelet.  Love it.
9.  Fresh paint
10.  Bubbles
11.  Giggling children
12.  Live music
13.  Kayaking
14.  The sound of the ocean
15.  The smell of salt water
16.  Tomato plants
17.  Clean sheets
18.  Fluffy blankets
19.  Farmers markets
20.  Strawberries
21.  The sound of running water
22.  Music by Menken
23.  James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King
24.  Cooking
25.  Rain on a tin roof

Without Words

Yesterday afternoon Chris and I went to Megan Q. Bostic's exhibit in downtown Greenville.

I can't even tell you. . . .

I can't even tell you how I really wanted to grab some wine bottles and drown myself in a puddle of tears while walking through and looking at the pieces.

Anything to make the pain and sadness stop.

However, that just would not have been a good life decision.

And Megan did not need a crazy, crying, drunk person at her party.

I have my opinions about what most of the pieces reminded me of in regards to the family and emotions I've felt.

I have my opinions about what the pieces made me feel.

I have my opinions about what they did to my soul.

I found myself staring at them for a while and trying to remain composed in a room full of friends and strangers.

A little piece of me died in that room.

I found myself being unable to speak about what I thought they represented because I knew it would bring me too close to the point of devastation.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to speak of them without crying.

Right now I'm not allowing myself to talk about them out loud.

I just can't.

As we were leaving, Chris felt the need to talk about the pieces so he could recover.  He had asked Megan about a few of them and wanted to share that with me to get it out.

He didn't need to tell me.

I already knew.

But I couldn't even speak more than a few sentences about what I felt some of the materials represented before needing to take a breath and changing the subject.

I don't know Megan well, but I recognized a lot in her work.

She totally delivered and I was not left wanting more because it was exactly how I was feeling.

I don't know if I could even handle more.  

I am so pissed.

I am so sad.

I am so proud.

I am raw.

I am so. . . I don't know.

Hello Summer!

I've missed you!

I'm so glad you're back in my life again!

I can't wait to sleep in, drink lemonade, wear flip flops, and participate in water activities!

Thanks for coming back--it just wasn't the same without you!

Your Pal,
Amanda
XOXXO

Smiles and Frowns

Last night some students and I watched "Mr. Holland's Opus."  Such a great movie for any musician.  Good times.  Good laughs.  Good stories that will not be shared with the public but giggled about later.  Sorry to be such a tease, but everyone likes a good inside joke.   Mike and Landon--I love you both in a professional way.

Today I am running around like a mad woman trying to get things straight before the weekend.  Commencement is this weekend at MACU and I'll be gone Friday and Saturday morning.  The girls are going to my mom's for the weekend which is great.  They are very excited and won't even notice that I'm not home on Friday night.

Following commencement, Chris and I will be going to Jill's daughter's art show at ECU.  I feel very honored to have been invited.  We received the invitation about a week ago and it featured the piece that she wrote about here.  When I took it out of the mailbox it immediately caught my eye.  At first I thought it was junk email from Belk's--maybe a leather event.  And then I realized what it was and I felt like all the wind had been sucked from my body.  I just broke down in an ugly cry right there at the mailbox.  I couldn't breathe and my soul just ached at the magnitude of the piece.

I love art.  All mediums.  I love it.  It speaks to me in a way second only to music.  I love it.  In fact, my beloved, Christacular, planned a trip to the art museum in Raleigh on the day he proposed to me on our way back from CCYC because he knew my all time favorite, Toulouse-Lautrec, was on exhibit that month.

Stud.

I digress.

Anyhow.  I'm looking forward to the show in a tortured soul sort of way.  I'm looking forward to the cathartic release.  I'm looking forward to seeing my emotions embodied and being able to see the rawness that I feel on a physical thing.

So, yeah, I'm looking forward to agony and tears.  That's what we artsy people do, ok?

Then, afterwards we may be able to meet up with my oldest friend, Brandon, and his family for dinner.  Brandon and I have been friends since baby shots--seriously.  I miss him so much--and sometimes I wish I still lived in Jacksonville so we could spend more time together.  And with my family.   And the Copelands.

It's going to be a nice weekend.

I'm still waiting on final grades from ECU.  I think I did well, but I hate waiting for the professors to post their grades.  I have learned a lot this year about how to be a better professor from my experiences at ECU.  What to do.  What NOT to do.

I have to give an exam tomorrow at 8am.  Ugh.  Which means I have to leave my house at 5:45am to get there in time to potty before the exam.  I have been fortunate to not have to do this everyday AND Ms. Joan was nice enough to not schedule me on a Tuesday or Thursday, so I'm not going to complain.

I can't ever complain about my job--MACU has been way too kind to me and my family this year.

The end of the academic year is such a strange feeling.  In some ways you are so glad to be getting done with the wear and tear of school, grades, and routine.  It will be nice to operate at my own schedule for a few weeks, spend time with my kids, enjoy summer, and take the time to recover from the year.  I have always wanted to be able to be at home--and this job allows me to sort of live the dream.  I can be home, but I can retreat to work when I feel the need for grownup conversation and exercise my degree (almost a plural statement!)

However, I also tend to get sad at the end of every year.  Most of the time you have to say goodbye to some students and a faculty member or two and that always stinks.  Most of the time you know you won't see them again--even if they promise to come back and see you.

They don't--none of us do.

We all have intentions of visiting and maintaining our friendships, but most of the time life hits us square in the eyes and we do our best to keep up with the chaos of life.  It's not intentional, but it makes me sad when I look around at some of my favorite faces and know that I may or may not see them again until Jesus returns.

So, sweet folks headed to far off places--I'll miss you, dearly.  Behave yourselves and try not to be a stranger.  At least Facebook a sista once in a while!

minipost

I'm currently reading Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity.  I am usually not a "Rahhh Rahhh Girls Rule!" type of girl--and I really don't care normally to read these kinds of books.

However, I have noticed this year an overwhelming issue with insecurity.

And I'm not the only one dealing with it--I see it in my friends, students, everywhere.

So, I bit the bullet and started reading.

Overall theme:  Security (or lack thereof) comes back to sinful pride.

Ouch.

Ahem.

My birthday is coming.

Graduate final due Monday.

Ready for summer.

Need a long break.

Too busy to really sit down and pound out a blog of substance.