Christmas 2017- The Whirlwind that was our Holiday

Christmas 2017 was a whirlwind.  Hallie arrived home (first time since June, when she stepped on the plane to head to West Point), on the 21st, followed in short order by Kip and Brandon, who flew in on Christmas Day.

It was loud, fun and rushing here and there, trying to see everyone in a few days.  During all this visiting chaos, I was readying to move to the ranch in Guthrie.

The plan had been to wait until Saturday, so I could have several men help me move.  When the temps threatened (and DID) drop into the single digits on Saturday, I hurried to move it up on Friday.  My Friday help was AMAZING (Johnelle, Trent and Alli Evans saved my butt), while Steven's friend, Nathan Wilson, brought his mom, Melissa, who was a cleaning, packing machine.

Every time Kip came over to my house during the week, she asked me, "Aren't you moving, don't you need to pack?"

Well, yes, but you and Hallie wanted me to live here while you were home, so NO, I'm not packed on the things we need. 

So Friday I basically threw everything that wasn't tied down in a trash bag and moved it.  It's been SUPER fun unpacking.

Jon Evans joined us for the unpacking portion of the trip, and all of Hallie's former Peak volleyball players came over and helped unload, so it was much easier to take it off the truck than load it on.

We couldn't get the fridge on the Uhaul, so one quick call to my friend, David Woodward, and he supplied the guys and vehicle and bailed my butt out on that deal, and had it set up in Guthrie 3 hours after I called him.   Now that's some support.

Hallie's sister, Sammi, got married on New Years Eve, so Hallie was having fun with her through most of the unpacking process.  Also, Tyler had helped me move some beds up the weekend before, and in one smooth move from  me, I managed to give him a concussion and break my left thumb, so his eye would start to twitch if I even mentioned the word "move" to him.

Lacey, DD and Serenity (their foster 17 year old) came up on Saturday and bless Lacey's heart, she tried as hard as she could to get me organized. She hung a few pictures and took over my pantry.
But the excitement started shortly after we lay DD down for his 1st nap at Lolly's house.

I was cooking us some food and all the smoke detectors went off.  I thought, Glory be to God, welcome to the ranch.   We opened all the doors, immediately making the house a tundra (4 degrees outside), because this is what worked in the house in Norman when I cooked bacon and set off the alarms.   Didn't work.  Meanwhile, all 7 alarms are singing their songs.  Top volume, no stopping them.  You have to understand the two in the front room are about 14 feet in the air on the vaulted ceiling.   I run to my neighbors house, and she tells me hers went off at 4 am in the morning, handed me a long pole and told me to "Hit on the alarm". 

"Hit on the alarm".

Somehow Gina aims true and stops the errant alarm and all is silent.  DD has ventured into the front room with wide eyes and wonders "What is happening with the Kalarms?" and "Is the firetruck coming"?

I call the executive director and question her and she tells me one probably needs a battery, that they are all hard wired, meaning if one goes off, the all do  (Sheep on a cliff, people) and to use compressed air to clean the eye of the alarm.

Compressed air.  I can't even find forks at this point, and I need compressed air.  And 9 volt batteries.  IN large supply, which EVEN in the best of organized times, I had none.

So 5 minutes later, when we heard the dreaded "CHiRp" and knew we had about 60 seconds before chaos rang it's lovely chimes again, I grabbed my keys and headed for the car to go buy batteries.

Where as I used to sit in 7-11's back door in Norman, OK(not kidding), I now live at least 25 minutes from a store with 9 volt batteries, that is 50 glorious minutes  of "Kalarms" ringing in my house.  I head to the closest gas/snack station.  I buy all 7 of their 9 volts for the bargain basement price of $40 and head back to the ranch, about 20 minutes have elapsed.   I walk in to quiet.  Lacey said they are like a dance troupe now, the minute they hear the chirp, they all run to their "Posts" with their "Poles" and start the beating dance on the reset button.

I gather my courage and get my ladder and climb up the ladder to the top rung, where I periously hang for my life while figuring out how to open the perpetrator and take out it's internal power.  It miraculously falls in my hand, and I am able to change the batteries in the front room quickly.  Followed shortly by all 5 of the rest of the loud, obnoxious beasts.  One dares beep at me when I change it, as if to say, "Welcome to the neighborhood, sucker".

Peace reigns in the home over the evening, as we play Giant Uno and eat our weight in chips.  Tyler has joined us now, after getting his Saturday duties done at church.  Hallie is due in from the wedding after midnight, so we have said Happy new Year and headed to bed.

A bit after 3 am, after I hear Hallie crawl in bed, I hear...."Chirp.....Chirp"....I am HORRIFIED and race to the front room, just in time to see Lacey and Tyler come racing in, with DD on their heels, "LOLS?" he says..."LOLS?"  As if I have some magical power surging out of my grandma body to make these beasts from hell stop their beeping.

Tyler is the man, and grabs the ladder and unplugs the blaring psychopaths from their holders.  They are still going off!  I feel like Pheobe from friends, and I find myself yelling, "Let's throw them outside", but once the batteries are removed from their warm place of hiding inside of the traitors, they start to wind down, and then, blessed silence.

They remain on the counter, disabled, as Tyler says, "Anyone smells smoke, Grab a buddy and head outside"  and we all crawl to bed, exhausted, but victorious over machine.

Next day, DD is still having PTSD over the fun of the day before, and we have the traitorous bastards lined up on the counter with their batteries in trying to locate the perpetrator, when we hear CHIRP coming not from one of them, but two.  EVEN WITH new batteries.  and clean lenses.  It's a conspiracy.

 Come to find out, this happens to most everyone.  Several of the houses, have experienced this same dilemma.  And everyone has figured out how to conquer the beast.

All great fun.

I forgot to mention that we were welcomed with a Christmas basket full of towels, movies, popcorn, games, candy....and then Saturday morning our Executive Director popped over (falling getting out her truck, slipping on the icy sidewalks)....bringing us two baskets FULL of food, fun and fabulousness from the neighbors at the ranch.   Then later that afternoon my neighbors on the right brought us pasta and pizza and ANOTHER laundry basket full of goodies, welcoming us!  It was overwhelming and wonderful.

First day of school went great.  Steven said everyone stared at him all day (I'm the only Asian kid in the school), but no one was mean and everyone wanted him to sit with them, and Zachary made "4, no 5" friends.  but Gina had the topper.  She told me, "A boy came up and asked me if I liked to smoke weed.  I stared at him a minute, and said, "No! Do you like to go to church? You should".  Then she dug out her "I am A Christian" tshirt and said "I'm wearing this next week".  Gina suffers No fools, that is for sure.  She calls it like she sees it, and has a pretty amazing discerning eye for a kid of 17.

I woke up to take Hallie to the airport at 2:30 am on the 4th (the same as the kid's first day of school) and drove her two hours to Tulsa, and then drove back two hours, in time to wake up the Vietnamese and get them ready for school.  Took them and got them settled and then worked all day.   By the time I got home and fed them dinner (the minute they walked in from school at 4pm) I was TOAST.  I was in my pjs in bed, watching netflix on my ipad, when the door knocked and in walked a girl for Gina, and a boy for Steven.   FRIENDS, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.  IT's a Christmas miracle. 

Their mom text me shortly and said, "I have bigs at your house, hope it's ok" to which I replied, "Do you have an 8 year old boy?" and she said, 'Coming your way".    Two minutes later,  knock knock knock.   It's kid heaven in this neighborhood.

It's the community my kids have never had, since living with me.  I am SO thrilled to be able to give that to them.

We are settling into a routine.  I have to sell my house in Norman (anyone know anyone that needs a good deal on a house in Norman?) and we will be set.

God is oh so Good, people.  Even in blaring Kalarm situations....All the time.

                                                    our view from our living room.  Not a bad life. 

Baby Boys and Plebe Update

I was so good in keeping everyone in the loop on all things Hallie during Beast.

Then the school year started and she really got busy.

She's taking like 19 hours and playing volleyball and traveling practically every week.

Plus inspections, learning random knowledge (that she has to know at any given moment), different personalities all around her, clean uniforms, and maintaining grades.

Nothing about this school is easy.

Not.One.Thing.

She is so homesick and for some reason (I can't even recall why) we made the decision that she would stay in NYC for Thanksgiving and come home for Christmas.  Don't even ask me why we thought that was a good idea.  FOR. THE. LOVE.

It will have been 6 months when that girl finally steps back on Oklahoma soil.  6. Six. Months.  (that's too long)

She's embracing the suck, and getting it done.  For the last two years, she has multi-tasked as hard as she could with volleyball, work, high school, vo-tech and concurrent college, so they say the hardest thing about being a plebe is learning time management.  She had that down to a science before she went, so she has really just embraced it, and trying not to be a procrastinator (which is our middle name).

I will just be super glad to have her home in 6 weeks.  Cannot wait.

On the other coast of the USA, you will find my pregnant daughter, Kip.   I was CERTAIN this baby was a GIRL.  I just KNEW IT.

WRONG.  They called me and yelled "It's got a PENIS" and I almost dropped the phone.  Then I was sooooo OVERJOYED because I LOVE me some grandsons!

The only one NOT thrilled with the news is my diva granddaug, Brielle, who believes she is a human.

I'm pretty sure, she will come around.  She liked DD, ok, even when he tried to eat her tags on her collar.

I love me some little boy humans,  and big old diva granddaugs.

Deaton is getting so big.  He's 2 1/2 now, and calls me "Lols" instead of Lolly.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it.  Just pretty big for his britches.  Told him we were going to a party last weekend and he piped up, "What kind of party?"  He's so sweet and funny and ornery and rambunctious, just the perfect blend of all of it.   He's a great negotiator ("DD, it's time for bed"  "Just four more minutes, lols?"  or  "Ok, last book, then time for sleepy",  "Wait, just two more books")  and becoming a pretty picky eater  ("No eat that, my no like that, lols")

So, life is pretty fun with grandsons.  I'm looking so forward to meeting the newest one in April.

But first, let's get that Plebe home for Christmas, and get that Kip and Brandon here, and move to the ranch, (oh, did I tell you we GOT IN and are FOR SURE MOVING!?)  Yeah, that too.

SO, 2017 has turned out to be a pretty good year for the family.   2018 is just going to be over the top.

I Mean, fo' reals.

God is certainly good,  all the TIME.

The Day That You said Yes

I'm cleaning drawers like a cleaning fool.

And I stumbled on this today, and cried in my floor.

Some may not even get it, but I'm adding it to my blog, because there is not One Day that goes by that I am not proud of my Lacey.  (or all my kids, but today it's Lacey)

I helped her with an event for her non profit that she heads as Executive Director... Legacy Parenting Center.  She had a "Trivia and Tapas" event in Shawnee, and basically put the entire evening together, with the help of some Junior Service League girls, and several volunteers, and our favorite hostest with the mostest, Nona Merriman.

It was outstanding.  Her heart is so open for helping families, and babies, and families with babies...it's just amazing to watch her go.

And it all started because she said Yes to the unknown, the journey with her baby, Laynie.  When all the medical world told her No......she said Yes.

And I found this poem I wrote her in my stuff today as I was cleaning drawers.....


When You Said Yes


A whole new world was coming our way
Everything clearer day by day

Not our control, but One much higher,
And surrendered we'd become, our belief on fire. 

Born to our family, a tiny gift
and in her presence,
our hearts would lift.

God knew what He as doing when He picked
you from the rest,
God Knew what He was doing,
Because you said Yes.

A life created to teach us all,
to make our walks, more loving, more tall
of a tiny gift that made Prayer a call...

The day that you Said Yes. 

Thank you Lacey DeeAnn for saying Yes to Jesus, everyday, in every way.  It's such a blessing to not only call you my daughter, but my best friend, too.

Must be Something in the Water

I've been reading back through my blogs from five years ago (5 years ago!) when the kids came to live with us.

Whoa, those were some interesting times. 

So, what is my family up to, you ask?

Every time one of those ads come up with kids needing homes, I always try to reconfigure my house in a way that I can stick more kids in here.  Because at the end of the day, it ain't about me.  It's about helping people.  And people to me, are kids. 

SO.

God Willing, and the creek don't rise, and the community votes me in, The Take-outs and I are moving north.  To Guthrie.   To Peppers Ranch.

Read about Peppers Ranch Here

I drive almost every day to Guthrie anyway to work, so it makes total sense to move 10 minutes away from work.  (5 if they ever get the bridge built)

My kids will have a built in community of kids just like them, going through the same thing, living life on a RANCH, with horses, golf carts, fishing, community, tutoring ON SITE, and most of all, a big enough house we can live in and actually not sit on top of each other, whilst we are doing a netflix binge. 

And I will be able to take in a few more kids and help them, and love them, and show them life is more than their circumstances. 

We still have to go through an interview or two more, but I would appreciate your prayers and good wishes going forward.  My prayer warriors move mountains for me, and looks like we will be moving a few more over the next ten years. 

Now I'm not sure that "Sound Mind" part really applies here.  Pretty sure I'm not of sound mind right now.   I'm overloaded on Supernatural peace and power that comes from above. 

What I've learned from this journey on earth, is this, you don't have to be equipped with all the education, all the extra room, the extra time, etc, etc... God equips the called. 

If you have a desire to foster, I promise there is a kid out there needing to be living with you.  If you have a stirring in your heart for something more than your currently living....to truly being the hands and feet of Jesus, answer the call. 

DHS Website to get more information about fostering

If you can't take kids full time, you might consider Emergency Placements, Respite (YES PLEASE, and MESSAGE ME DIRECTLY FOR THAT NUGGET OF INFORMATION, FOR YOU SHALL BE MINE) or even simply as Donating to Peppers Ranch, so they can find more crazy people of sound mind to live in the three new houses they are currently building.   Over 100 children live on this ranch.  That's 100 kids that are being given a chance of seeing what life looks like without neglect, abuse, drugs, etc.  That's 12 houses of foster/adoptive parents that are CALLED and EQUIPPED to love kids.  (Yeah that averages out to about 8-10 kids a house)  (Don't let me do the math for my house).    Sound mind, Sound mind, Sound mind. 

It's all good, so we are taking this party north.   I have 10 years of accumulation I have to pack in the next 7 weeks.  Boxes, boxes and boxes are needed.  If you have these things, let me know.   I've decided if I haven't touched something in a year, it's probably going to be donated, or sent to our local dump.  Can't move it all. 

Prayers and more prayers, people.  Prayers for the doors to fly open and my house to sell, and let the adventure continue.

Living the Dream, baby.  And boy, are we going to have some fun blogs over the next few years.  WWHHHEEEEEE, let's DO IT.

Health is a Gift

As a salesperson, I have had so many friends come to me with their products and encourage me to sell them.   Almost weekly, someone had something they loved they wanted me to try.

You guys have NO IDEA how I have struggled with this post.  It's been literally years in the making.  Because I don't want you to think  "Oh she is just selling something".

KEEP READING.  For the love. of love.   Keep reading.

I've seen  Reliv and Zeal and Mary Kay and Rodan & Fields and Monat and World ventures and Scentsy and .... and..... and. 

There were things about all the above that intrigued me, but with my schedule I have limited time, resources and patience.

Then Scentsy tripped my "House Beautiful" trigger and I sold it for about 5 years.  Really low key, never pushy, just "Hey I sell scentsy if anybody wants anything" kind of selling.

Now I'm getting older and my memory is getting bad, my middle is expanding and I have aches and pains that make my daily life not so great, and worst of all.... hot flashes.

So, when I'm reading through facebook and all it's many posts, I see several of my friends, start drinking Plexus and taking their products.

And seeing results.

I'm intrigued, and enjoy reading their successes, but still not inclined to "take the plunge" so to speak.  Still too tired, too stressed, and no $ to take on any new "self indulgent" pleasures.

Until one day I read from a daughter of a friend, whom I had been praying for that was seriously ill, how after having thyroid surgery, she started a plexus regime, and it changed everything.

People, I had to try it and see what all the hype was about.  I'm wasn't going to "sell it", just "Try it" and see if it does anything for me.

Has a 60 day money back guarantee, so what have I got to lose?

Turns out, it made me feel (and act) 20 years younger.

I took the product (on and off) for about a year.  I'd take it until I ran out, then go a couple of months and buy some more.

The significance of how I felt when I was taking it, and how I felt when I was not WAS STAGGERING.

It's so subtle, that you may not even realize you feel better, until all the sudden you have so much energy, you feel so much better, your aches and pains have eased and you feel like you are 40 again.  LOL.   In fact, I think when I finally realized it was Plexus was when my brother's significant other commented, "How do you do what you do, and HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY?" and it went off like a light bulb.....  It's PLEXUS.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.   I had credited more sleep, less stress, everything but Plexus.

So I deliberately stopped taking it.  For almost a year.  (People, this experiment and experience has grown over time), just to see what happened.

I had fallen back in the spring, twice pretty much in quick succession (no plexus, brain fog) and had my chiropractic genius work me over.  She did great, but I had a deep sciatic nerve pain in my butt that couldn't let me sit in my car.  This was a problem, as I sit in my car for up to 3-4 hours a day, driving back and forth to work.  It was to the point, I wasn't sure what I was going to do.

Then, I remembered the pink drink that used to make me feel so good, except I didn't credit the pink drink for making me feel good, because HEY,  I was THAT good.     (LOL, for the love)

So I started mixing up the pink drink in the morning, and drank THAT instead of my half sweet/half unsweet ice tea I drink EVERY MORNING  (which was a huge step up from the DDP I use to drink everyday from age 25-46)

Ok, so what I'm about to tell you, you can believe or not.  In a week, I realized I could drive in my car with no hip pain.  I was making it all the way to and from work, and actually bounding out of the car, instead of falling out of the door and taking 10 steps to get walking properly.   My brain fog cleared.  (well.  mostly cleared, I still have children at home that eat my brain cells for breakfast.)  I was HAPPY again, and no MOOD swings (man this is huge for me and my family loves this deal).  I was sleeping like a baby at night, and all the feet tingles I experience daily from lack of B vitamins and D vitamins in my depleted system, all but disappeared.

It's a christmas miracle, In July.

Now if this had been a life threatening illness, I wouldn't be embarrassed to ask for prayer or share with you my results.   But because this is a MULTI LEVEL MARKETING company, I have stressed and stressed over, "Will my friends think I just want to SELL them something???" and I have finally decided to quit worrying about this, and just tell you my story  (Which is kinda what I always do anyway).

In some ways I wish it weren't an MLM, because in some cases, that immediately turns some people off.  BUT I WILL NEVER PUSH YOU TO SELL IT.  EVER.

I just want you to FEEL BETTER.  There is no reason in the world this wouldn't help everyone.  It's AMAZING.

And here's the deal.  When you join my team, and when I say join my team, I mean, you can buy product from me, you can become a preferred customer (and get a better price) or you can become an ambassador (like me).  I jumped right in, (2+ years ago) and got it as cheap as I could, and never did a thing with it. (ask my upline)  But to get the best results, you have to give it 60 days (and still get your money back if you decide you don't like it).   But I am BETTING,  YOU WILL LOVE IT.

It's stupid how much you will love it.  Because, you need to love yourself enough to get healthy.  I spend over $100 a month on Sonic sweet tea.  That's embarrassing and impressive all in one sentence.  I bet if you really put a pencil to it, you spend at LEAST $120 a month on drinks, snacks and food that you buy outside the home in a month.

Why not use that money and get yourself healthy?  Once you get your gut in check (which is the ROOT of all things overweight and unhealthy in your body) you will find your body fat down (which is what shocked me) and your mental clarity, overall feeling of goodness and your body aches and pains down to a minimum.

The whole reason I got into this deal, pickle.. (see what I did there?) was this friend, Samantha, had a complex thyroid condition and celiac disease, and by taking a solid regime of Plexus and the products they offer, she is off most of her meds  and in the best health of her life. Look at this picture (shared with permission)

The giant man in the second picture is her husband, Brad.  He is Tyler-size (6'7) (and yes she is a pixie and yes, I have given her crap for taking the tall men) and was a pro athlete.  He believed that diet and exercise were the only way to get healthy for years.  He watched his tiny wife literally change before his eyes, and humored her by drinking the pink drink with her.  He had some job changes that made his anxiety level go THROUGH THE ROOF (anyone have those?) and committed to his wife that he would seriously start doing the Plexus thing faithfully.   He lost weight, and has SO MUCH energy.  He's not a huge gym rat, or hard core dieter.  (In other words, the boy likes his wings and beer).  But this man doesn't go one day without his pink drink and backs this product 100% (and has become an ambassador as well)

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH.  If you want to lose some weight, if you want to quit hurting all the time, if you want a mental boost, IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF A FUN TEAM (with me) Contact me.

Check out my website here:   http://shopmyplexus.com/lauraddeaton/

The first step of your healthier future starts today.

If I didn't believe in this stuff, I wouldn't be using my forum that I so love and protect to promote this product.    I push Jesus on this site, and family and love and hope.  You need health as much as any of those other things, and this product can help get you in optimum shape.  Get healthy.   Drink Pink.

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THE SECRET IS OUT!

I'm GOING to BE A LOLLY AGAIN!

Kip and Brandon are having a BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My grandma heart overfloweth.

God is faithful.  These two have been trying for two years to have a baby, and on the eve of beginning fertility treatments, this angel baby from God is brought to the two most deserving people I know.

THE ONE TIME Brandon doesn't go to the doctor with her, she FINDS OUT SHE IS PG.  OF course.  Of course, she can't believe it, so the doc has to bring in the pregnancy test and show her.  She is still not believing it!

God is so faithful, friends.  Even in the waiting, the endless waiting, HE IS SO FAITHFUL.

So.

How she told everyone.  Pam (Brandon's mom) and I have been longing for this day since the day they got married.  I mean, WE ARE PUMPED.  (duh)

SO... she and Brandon drive up to Don & Pam's driveway and Brandon calls them and says, can you come outside, we want to show you something??

Screaming, whooping, tears, and that was just Don.  HAPPINESS IS A NEW GRANDBABY!

That stinker daughter of mine, KEPT IT FROM ME for a week, because she knew I was going to see her in Dallas when we went to see Hallie on A-Day!   (Ed. Note:  Yes, people, I have known this superb news for a while and my daughter has been teaching me the art of PATIENCE, never one of my top virtues, so PRAISE THE LORD, she has shared her news!)

As Lacey & I are arriving on the escalator, I see her at the top with her faithful video camera.  Me, thinking she is videoing us for HALLIE, am acting like a total dork wagon, in the big fat middle of the Dallas Love Field airport, and Lacey is yukking it up beside me.  Well Lacey is SOOO busy trying to "Out Dork" me, that she totally misses Kip unzipping her jacket to REVEAL THIS....

And when I stop and my mouth falls open and I'm like  "WHAT???? REALLY???"   Lacey, in total ignorant bliss echos,  "REALLY????"  still in full ACTING mode for "Hallie's video" and watches in disbelief as Kip and I run into each others arms and dissolve into tears together.   Lacey is standing there dumbfounded as the Least-emotional two females of the family, are boohooing in the big fat middle of the airport.  She grabs the video camera and says something like,  "Wow, We are doing this!"    STILL CLUELESS as HECK about the enormity of the moment.   Finally Kip and I step back from each other and I'm wiping my tears and Lacey says, "Wow, you guys were really happy to see each other" and I realize she is totally ignorant of what is happening.   I point at Kip's shirt and say,  "LACEY DEEANN, GET THERE FASTER" and as she looks at Kip's shirt, she FINALLY sees it, and we have another emotional meltdown in the middle of the airport.  

I put a subtle clue in my "A Day" blog, with this picture, and NO ONE saw it but Jessi Sutterfield, whom we called immediately from Dallas to share with her.

 If you look at Kip's phone you will see an ultrasound picture for us to ooh and ahh over.  More tears.

Both of my girls, are going to be mommies. Lacey, already one.  Kip, coming soon!   The. Very. Best Day. Ever.  

Our flight was delayed, and it was ALL GOOD because we TALKED AND TALKED and CRIED and Talked about it until we had hashed it all out.

Later that night as we were laying down and STILL TALKING ABOUT IT, Lacey threw out, "I am SO GLAD I came, I would HAVE Missed it",  to my total dry sarcastic return, "You kinda did".  We laughed until we went to sleep.

Good times.  

Then when Hallie found out, it was just precious as can be.   Take a look.....

Our reactions to the BABY NEWS!

There is NOTHING more wonderful than a GRANDBABY!  And friends, my cup runneth over.  

God is SO good.

Private Hembree turns 19

I was lucky enough to sneak to Chicago this past weekend.

When I made my reservations several months ago, it was with the intent to surprise Hal and show up at her tournament for her birthday weekend.

To watch her.

Then she ended up in a boot.

And I still went to Chicago.

And watched her.

Sit on a bench and take some serious stats.

And watched her.

Lay beside me on my bed and talk my ears off my body.

And watched her.

Ride on a stationary bike for 20 minutes to get her cardio in.

And watched her.

Pepper with a fellow player like she was the boss of that ball.

And watched her.

Tear up and cry as I drove off from her Saturday night.

And at 7:11 pm on 9/11 my youngest born will be 19 years old.

This sweet bald baby is 19!  Every year that I write about her on her birthday I go on and on about how I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

And now she has done it.

Grown up and moved away.  This kid is doing things I would have never believed possible.  She absolutely blows me away.

She told me that she wasn't sure how she was going to get everything accomplished.  "There's so much to do, so little time.  It's just almost impossible."

Here's my words to you, young skywalker.....

You may be overwhelmed now, my daughter, but your hard work and laser focus made the dream of West Point a reality.  For someone who had never touched a volleyball before the age of 14, and worked with a laser like focus and determination I have never seen in a teenage human before, to become the best volleyball player you could be, makes me know for certain that you will handle the rigors of this life you have chosen, with the same determination and focus you had to make the dream happen.
Don't become so stressed in the "doing", that you lose sight of the "experience".  You are one of a few women that have chosen this life.  Don't let others dictate what you should decide for yourself.  You know your heart, you know your self worth, no one else knows it better than you (or me).  There is NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING you won't accomplish.  (except that first land nav)  (and even then,  you went back out and KICKED IT'S BUTT) SOO, with that being said, You know what you want, you are on the precipice of having it, just be brave enough to reach out and take it.
Your sisters believe in you, your brothers believe in you, and I know, by experience, that there isn't ANYTHING you cannot do, when you set your mind to it. Just let God guide you through, and nothing on earth can stop you.
You is smaht, you is kind, you is Impo'tant.

Happy birthday, my love.  I will see you in October.

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