Most Improved

Madison finished her last day of the Lady Eagle Basketball Camp today. This was the first year we braved basketball at all, and I do mean brave! We muddled through the season, and then embarked on the camp tradition to "develop those skills". I have to say, even I felt that pang of fear when we entered the gym on Monday. The camp was open to those "entering 2nd grade and up", so Madison was one of the youngest. She was a tad overwhelmed. Once I ushered her in, and she was settled with a basketball, she seemed capable of coping. Throughout the week she talked about the possible trophies at the end of the camp. She said over and over that she probably wouldn't get one because all those other girls were "so much better". God help me, today when they were handing out trophies, my fingers were actually crossed that they would call out Madison Scroggins!! THEN THEY DID!! She got a most improved award, and actually she IS more improved than the beginning of the week!!! Even I noticed it. That little fake gold statue was the little boost she needed to think she has pro basketball skills. Don't we all need a little fake gold every now and then? Just think of the possibilities.

Blueberry Patch

Today we went to Bailey's Blueberry Patch with some of our playgroup friends. For no particular reason, I had been looking forward to this field trip so much. One of the other mom's noted that her husband thought we were nuts to think this was a "fun outing". But-moms ARE nuts. Otherwise we'd stop at just one kid. :) We all promptly pocketed a brochure as we left to show our hubbies all the fun they did miss!!

and let me tell you-we did have SO MUCH FUN!! We carried our little buckets all through the rows of blueberries, and tried desperately to overflow them with yumminess. Grady, however, skipped that middle man bucket business, and just ate the blueberries off the vines during the 2 hour picking process.

After our picking, we relaxed for some blueberry lemonade and a picnic lunch. Could that sound more like summer???

Beach Bums

There's No Place Like Home

Dorothy said it best. We are back from a week at the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I highly recommend this type of vacation. Rent a house on the beach. Play at the beach. Watch movies all the way home.

My Inner Sap

After reading today's posts, my sister IM'd to tell me that I'm the sappiest person she knows-that all my posts leave her weepy. People always tell me my writing makes them teary, and I never know quite how to take that. I'm assured it's supposidly complimentary, but still-makes you wonder. While we were talking, I joked about my sappy factor-I am quite the sentimental one; I have always known this about myself. Cotton commericals and the preview for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants give me goosebumps. Lately, instead of hiding that fact, I have begun to embrace it. I often hestitate as I am about to post, or send my yearly Christmas letter wondering if I have pondered the year's events a little too much. Perhaps it's my advancing years (I've been told your thirties are when you find your voice), or perhaps it's this blog, but I am beginning to accept my inner sap and share it with the masses. Take it or leave it, it's who I am.

Sex and the City

So a few nights ago, some girls from my book club took a field trip to see Sex and the City-ultimate Girl's Night Out just by definition! As we were discussing the movie at dinner, it struck me as funny that none of us were a true die hard fan of the show. Yet here we were, driving an hour to watch a movie with a bunch of friends. The whole premise of the show is based on friendship, and not just your normal everyday casual friendship-but the nitty gritty bear-your-soul kind of friendship. True Friendship. The kind of friendship that forgives; the kind of friendship that celebrates; the kind of friendship that sympathizes; the kind of friendship that will hold your hair when you've had just one too many; the kind of friendship I have craved and sought after my entire life. I'm a little broken on this topic-and I blame my military brat background for that, but I have always sought out kindred spirits. I cherish those that I have found, and protect that sacred bond. But sitting at dinner the other night, I thought that perhaps I wasn't the only one-here we were, sharing time together because of the premise of this movie. A movie that tells a story about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows-and how friends walk those lines with you. I think-no I know that's why Madison's slumber party was so special to me. Watching friendships begin is almost magical, and I pray Madison finds those kindred spirits to help her walk through this crazy life.

7 going on 17

Madison turns 7 next Thursday, June 19. SEVEN! I can't believe that she's so old, and that I've been a mom for SEVEN years now. You'd think I'd sorta have the hang of it by now! User manual in progress I guess.

So, for her birthday she decided she was ready for earrings. She's been wanting them for a while, but when I noted that it hurt, she retracted. This week, she was ready for the pain associated with such beauty. We had a girl's day and went to Sweet and Sassy (a kid salon). She picked out the traditional gold balls, and sat ever so eagerly to await the right of passage. Now, I remember HUGE PIERCING GUNS-these were just little tiny things. I cringed as they pushed the earring through, and Madison didn't even cry!! Not one tear! They even did her ears one at a time, and she let them do both! I was a little shocked by the bravery, to be honest. But now she has beautiful ears. She loves them-as do we all.

We bravely hosted Madison's first slumber party to celebrate her 7th year. She invited 3 friends over, and they had a blast! I remember so well the thrill of a good slumber party. The late night talks, the junk food, and the o so tired feeling the next day. They made pizzas, popsicles, necklaces, bracelets...they played outside in the "clubhouse"...they played the Wii Fit (which I will discuss on a later post-pretty awesome game that one is)...they listened to Hannah Montana, and watched Hannah Montana, and talked about Hannah Montanna, and then remembered when they were first singing Hannah Montana...she's a pretty popular girl that Hannah Montana! I wasn't sure whether to tell them to go to bed, or just let them be. Finally around 1:30, I decided their moms would appreciate me stepping in-and they all crashed. When they woke around 9 this morning, we had a big breakfast complete with OJ in wine glasses-there's just something special about a wine glass. It was fun to watch the girl bonding, and the memories being made. The giggle factor rates this party a success, and Madison's taking a nap now-recovering from her first late night party.

The Shack

My book club met last night to discuss The Shack. The book centers on one man's spirituality after a great loss. This loss almost cost him his Faith and his Family. "The Shack" addresses those losses. This is a book that will make you pause and consider your own spirituality and belief system. It will make you question your motives in the name of religion, and it will open you to the possibilities of more. I loved this book. I loved this book for so many reasons. I loved this book because it allowed me to validate some of my own beliefs, and give those beliefs a voice.

Growing up Catholic is something that, until I moved to Decatur, I took great pride in. My sense of spirituality and religion was instilled at a very young age. I wanted to be a nun when I grew up for heaven's sake! I loved the tradition, history, and universality of my church. No matter where we moved, I knew church would always be familiar. It would always be safe. Upon moving here, a whole new world was opened to me. I was asked, "are you Catholic or Christian". I was asked if I "had been saved". I was asked "Do you pray to Mary?". I'd never had to defend my religion before, and this was a new path on my spiritual journey. This opened my mind to spirituality as well as religion. This is when I began to define myself as "incense and crystals", and when I began to discuss fate, karma, and contentment. My relationship with God became more about God, and less about the building I worshiped in. I worked my way through some questions, and in the end, I have come home to the Catholic Church-not because it's the "right" church, not because "it's the only way", but because it feels like home. and as for the structure? I know it sounds crazy to believe so broadly and yet worship so specifically, but as everyone said last night, God is too big for us to understand. If you were a fly on the wall at book club, you would have seen that first hand. and if we can't comprehend Him-how can our children? Children need something to grasp to understand what their heart is telling them. For mine, that will be a rosary. For others, it might be a book. Either way, there will be a Foundation of Faith for them to begin living with, growing with, and hopefully they will have a spiritual journey that gives them peace, hope, and above all else, love.

Now, as you can imagine, this made for one of the most lively book discussions to date. It has been said to "leave religion and politics out of it", and while I've never really been one to do what "they" say, I can see "their" point. Emotions on this subject can be heated and raw. Just look at my own history, and you will know why even the hair on MY neck bristled a few times. and isn't that annoying? That in a circle of friends, we bristle as someone questions our beliefs? I think it's annoying. I was annoyed with myself. It happens though; "they" knew just what they were talking about.

Last Day of School

i'm always a little teary. no different today.