Darius Rucker & friends

You know how we love a concert. And ever since Dierks Bentley at the White Oak amphitheater last year we've wanted to go back. So when tickets went on sale for Darius Rucker, Justin Moore and Jana Kramer I jumped right on a pair of lawn seats for us.

It was hot outside but not too hot, so perfect concert weather. There seemed to be about a million people there but luckily we made plans to meet up with my friend Amanda so she saved us some spots!

Justin Moore has some pretty good songs out right now and he's redneck-country so Jay really liked him. (Sorry, didn't take any pictures of Jana Kramer. She was just okay). 

Darius Rucker put on an AWESOME show. He sang his new stuff, his old stuff, his OLD old stuff, a duet with Jana Kramer, he sang Hank Jr. and his Hootie & the Blowfish stuff. 

And of course, would the night be complete without his cover of Wagon Wheel? I think not. 

Memorial Day

It's always hard to be without my army family on days like this. I miss the wives, taking care of the kids while the boys remembered the fallen. The girls did too, but it was different for them. We weren't there. We didn't walk beside men that wouldn't come home. We stayed behind, to grieve the loss of such men. I watched my neighbors enjoying a cookout in our court yesterday and it made me angry. Do they know? Do they even care? It's not fair that I singled them out, but did they take a minute to be grateful? I watched a woman become a widow and bury her whole world. I visited cemetery after cemetery in Europe. I sent a husband off to war three times, each time knowing there was a chance he wouldn't come back. My sacrifice pales in comparison to theirs. But I'm thankful every day to the "greatest generation" that died for my freedoms. The men that survived prisoner camps and torture to win a war against tyranny. I'm thankful for men like my husband that fought against terrorism. And to those who still carry the deep wounds of war that will never heal. 

Memorial day love

My little sassy girl 

Letters to Lila: Change

Dear Lila,

I don't like change. Ever. Even when it's good change. Because change means there's some modicum of unknown variables, and I like to deal in neither the unknown nor variables. I like to know what's going on. You, at the precocious age of 15 months, already have this quality. You want to know everything, and you don't like when things change. For example, in your little mind, doors are to be closed. All the time. You go in one, you close it. Simple, right? So when we leave a door open, to a bedroom or bathroom, you and your lifetime of determination make your way over to said door with lightning speed to close it. Doors close. Period.

But sometimes, baby bird, doors open. And we have to embrace change. Your mom had a door open recently. I was offered a job at Salem College. You know it well, having been there many, many times already in your short little life. You cut your first tooth there, in August while mommy was there to welcome new students moving in. You have done two Race for the Cures that start and end on that campus. And when mommy had the opportunity to go back to this place called home, she took it.

Change is good. But it's terrifying. Of my old job, I pretty much knew what to expect. This new job will be different. It will be very similar to the job mommy had right when she graduated from this great place, but this time she's a little more grown up. She has some knowledge of the world, and a family. She lives in a different city. There are things that have changed, and things that have stayed the same. This is a change that will be good for all of us. But that doesn't mean I like it.

It's okay to be afraid of change. But don't ever let fear hold you back. I'm a grown up and I'm still afraid of it. But if I let it hold me back, I would have never gone to Salem College and been the lady I am today. I would have never married your daddy, and moved to Germany and had my whole life changed for the better. I wouldn't have become a mom, I wouldn't have done most of the things in my life that I got to choose. Most people think your mom is fearless. And that's okay that they think that. Currently, you are fearless about some things and terrified about others. There's nothing wrong with that. It makes you smart and cautious, and wild and carefree.  And that is a good way to be, baby girl. All at the same time.

Change is inevitable. You don't have to embrace it right away, but you don't have to let it hold you back. Sometimes, doors are open for a reason.

Love,
Mom

Mother's Day

We have a fantastic daycare. The kids love it, the teachers love the kids, and I know they're safe. They're happy, they learn and grow. And the teachers always have something special for holidays. Mother's Day was no exception this year. Both kids brought home plants and sweet notes and fun things with handprints, and these are two of the precious projects Hayden brought home for me. I was laughing and in tears and I'm so grateful for his wonderful teachers! 

Race for the Cure

This was my third year as team captain for RFTC but this was our first year with a combined team of students, faculty, staff, alumnae and friends. We were over 100 strong and came out in full force despite the weather. It was 50 degrees, windy and drizzling but we powered through. Lila completed her second 5k (on wheels) and was a champ.

We ended up being the largest college team, and I think our shirts were definitely the cutest! Salem was well represented and we had a great time!!

We saw friends and family and walked our hearts out!

Uncorked Masterpiece

Our April wine club outing was a new adventure for us. We may be pros at drinking wine, but we are amateur painters at best!

We brought wine and appetizers and dessert and got down to business. We ended up having a great time and our canvases turned out completely different but really great. We even kind of want to go back.