'member When?

There are people in your life that make impressions on you. They become a part of you. This post was inspired by Bethany's comment on a previous post. Today is also her birthday, incidentally. :) I remember when we were very young, Lori and I would run around the school causing general chaos and being anything but the proper young ladies we were instructed to be by our dear teacher, Mrs. Hayes. When I think of Lori, I always think of that summer at the 4th of July parade in Small Town, USA. Some days just stick out in your mind as the best days. THAT was one of those days. Then, a little older, when we were finally allowed to "Go to town" Kristie and I thought we were oh so hot making the loop in her old Toyota with too much makeup on and too much hair. Summers with Kristie at the creek, on the horses, and on the four-wheelers are forever burned into my memory as some of the most fun I've ever had. College came and nights out with Nikki were one wild ride after another. Coming home barely before sun-up, borrowing each other's clothes, and making spur of the moment road trips to nowhere are so much a part of me. Just like Nikki is. There are a lot of things that make me remember life with Bethany. Rooming with her or at least near her for most of my college days has left me with memories of laughing so hard we cried and then couldn't remember what we were laughing at. Bethany and I had sooo much in common. And yet we are so different. Every time it is daytime and I pick out a pair of long dangly earrings to wear...Bethany's voice comes to mind saying, "RachAel, you cannot wear evening earrings in the daytime." My reply, "No, Bethany, YOU cannot wear evening earrings in the daytime. I can do anything I want." And now, I am not relying on my friends near as much, but making lots of memories with my husband, daughter, mother, and aunt. Also, there are those sillylovely Girls of Grace that I am back to teaching now. And...God has given me new friends. Marie, Sara, Leslie, Lacey, Hollie, and all those others I am building relationships with. I believe that He gives us the exact friends we need for the step of our journey that we are currently on. But oh how I wish I were geographically close enough to run right over to the houses of my "old" friends, remind them how much they mean to me and how much I love them and hug them really tight and say..."You 'member when...."

So much for being dedicated...

I was so excited that I had finally started my blog. Now millions (hee) of readers could read my very important thoughts about very important subjects such as how people should be raising their children. The first two posts went rather well. Fairly close together. I made a really nice background choice. Then....well...I'm not sure what happened. I let life take over as is all too usual and the poor blog didn't happen. Then, I log in tonight and saw two comments from two very dear people that I didn't know they had made. Sigh. I wish I didn't procrastinate so much. I wish I could "get it all together" and do everything I wanted to. Take sewing, for instance. I would so love to sit down and sew beautiful clothes for AliBeth, new quilts for my bed, etc. But alas, I am too preoccupied with everything else right now to chase that dream. I have aspired my entire life to become a writer. I would make the perfect writer. I am already good at daydreaming and am given to long periods of lounging. But alas, I got married and had a baby. Marriage and babies aren't at all conducive to long periods of daydreaming and lounging. Maybe this blog will become a tiny window into the coveted writer's life. I shall do better. For my sake and for the sake of my three followers.

me-the 2010 version

I am constantly reinventing myself. I think that life requires this of all of us. I do not mean that my foundational beliefs change, or that what makes me truly me changes. I just mean that the way these beliefs express themselves changes.

Summer of 2010 finds me still a newlywed (in my opinion) with a 3 month old baby girl. We live in a Summer Sky Blue cottage in Hustler, MS. When we found and purchased this cottage, it was listed as being in the Smithdale area. We later found out that it actually is in Hustler. Nice surprise. My husband Mitch and I were so excited to begin the restoration of what was to be our home. More surprises followed, including a gyser in the backyard that would rival Ole Faithful at Yellowstone. Not to be deterred, we persevered. We quickly found that restoring a 1950's-60's cottage sounded like way more fun than it actually was. And required way more money than we were willing or able to invest. Fast forward to 2 years later. We have accomplished a great deal with our little dream cottage. It looks and feels like a totally different place. We love it and it is home. Just took us a little longer than we anticipated. The result has been totally worth the effort.

I met my husband Mitch on July 14, 2005. Several months after my 21st birthday and only a month and some days before Hurricane Katrina. My life was forever changed (for the better). We married two and a half years later on December 31, 2007. New Year's Eve. One of my most favorite holidays. Aside from my salvation, Mitch is the most precious gift from God in my life. More about him later.

March 17, 2010 is when our baby girl arrived. It was 5:43 p.m. I know because the clock is exactly where I had been staring for the 11 hours prior to that. God had His hand on all of us that day and Alice Elizabeth Newman was born perfect and healthy. She is truly Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

I am also very blessed to have a wonderful relationship with my mama. She is a very important part of my life. I hang on her every word because I know that one day she will not be here. So, I try to talk to her as much as possible about important things like what I am supposed to be doing as a wife and mother. And not so important things like all the gossip from my hometown. I treasure her companionship more than I could ever tell her.

Just wanted to give you a run down on my life and the most important people in it as of this moment. Hope you find encouragement and some humor to lighten your load by reading my blog.

As you can see, Summer of 2010 finds me in High Cotton, as I hope you find yourself.

Introduction

This blog is meant to tell the story of a Generation Yer's transition from the corporate world to domestic life. It tells the story of a somewhat unusual view (given my age) of parenting, home life, marriage and Christianity. People my age generally do not share my opinions on many of these topics. And no, I was not "brainwashed" by anyone. (If you have met me, you know this.) These opinions are more than my point of view of things. The topics discussed here are generally my convictions. And yes, I do think that most people should agree with me wholeheartedly. But don't we all? Feel free to disagree with me, but fair warning...if your comments are rude, I will delete them. You may disagree politely. And I still may delete you. wink wink.