Country Queens...and where did my Summer go?!

wow...I woke up this morning and went outside to get my Colby bear doggie poo and realized that Fall is starting to settle in. What a beautiful, cool morning! If it wasn't for Dan going to work I would've gone for a long run and listened to some soothing music on my ipod.

"Country Queens" finished this last weekend and this week I'm looking around thinking,"Where has my summer gone!!!!!???". It feels like the last time I looked around and smelled the roses was back in June...and now it's September!! The show was wonderful...as was the ladies I shared the stage with. What a wonderful experience. I have more stories to tell and moments of pure joy that were brought from my summer of country music! It was wonderful. There was the infamous machanical bull riding from each of the country queens.....

Always fun to be had with the Queens! Then there was dancing.....LOTS of dancing......It was an all around wonderful summer.

Did I mention singing? That was the whole point to "Country Queens"! SINGING!

Then there was the moments backstage that only the people in the show will know about. The moments when your dress comes undone and your upper body is covered in tape..only to walk out onstage being held together by a thread but you have a HUGE smile on your face and no one sitting in the audience knows that your boobs are ready to pop out of your dress and your so uncomfortable in your 4 inch heels you could cry....

But, at the end of the night it was all worth it...and you do another 14 shows to prove it!

William Richard at 10 Months . . .

I am forever amazed at this little man that Dan and I have the privilege of raising. Will has definitely been keeping us on our toes the last few months and is now MOBILE. His curious little hands are into everything from the vents in the floor, the contents of the refrigerator, the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, the toilet bowl (yuck!) & anything dirty or covered in germs.....and we can't forget to mention his new fascination- closing the door behind him and sitting on the other side of the door in hopes that no one can come into the room he is in. He even giggles when we try to move him with the door. Everything is a game and you can't help but play along.
I've found myself thinking,"Am I doing this right?", "Should I be doing something more?"... It's crazy how you are given this huge amount of responsibility and then sent home from the hospital with a smile and a pat on the back...meanwhile all of us mom's are thinking..."WHAT DO I DO?". I try my best to take it one day at a time and live in the moment with my sweet son. I have come to realize with his personality that a schedule is VERY good for him. If I give him an inch he will take a mile(sounds familiar). He has a wild spirit and although I encourage him to try new things and take on the the pots and pans in my bottom drawer....I'm learning to set limits, and it's hard. For example saying, "no." or "no you may not play with the butcher knife that you found in the dishwasher."...followed by my babies clinched fists and a face that turns as red as a tomato and a scream that would hurt anyone's eardrums in the near distance. Then I have to address the temper and it goes on and on. Mom's out there are going, "Yes, I remember that!". Fun, Huh?? I'm with Will most of the time so I know by setting limits for Will the Thrill now, it will be easier down the road when he is bigger than I am. (tear, tear)
Everyone told me when he was an infant to take in every moment with him and cherish each day with him because it goes by fast. That it does! Wow! Will is turning 1 October 24th! This year has flown.
I love you sweet baby William . . . I always will.

Just a Friendly Reminder.....

REGISTER TO VOTE! If you haven't done so thus far you can register at your County Board of Voter Registration office. Stand up for what you believe in and make a difference. You must be registered to vote 30 days prior to the election. Your vote counts so make it a priority!

County Board of Voter Registration:
Address: 301 University Ridge, Suite 1900 (Greenville)
Phone: 864-467-7250
Fax: 864-467-7256
Web: www.scvotes.org

Politics and Barracuda's

Politics....a very touchy subject. Everyone has a built in defense system that turns on when this subject matter is brought up. It brings out the worst and the best in people. I have very strong beliefs and opinions in the realm of politics and religious issues. I choose at most times to keep my mouth shut in social circles to avoid having ridiculous conversations that go no where. I would rather have an adult conversation with someone who really wants to know more about what I believe in...not someone who is just waiting for their turn to talk. I love to discuss political and social issues that are going on in our world and I learn so much from the diverse world of friends that I have. Thank God for them!
On this note I've been so disgusted with the media this past week. I'm thrilled that McCain has chosen Sarah Palin as his VP! What a break through for woman...and she stands for so many things that I believe in...God, Family, Life, Environment. I've heard from some women that this isn't a step for our sex( After all she isn't a feminist). This is where I say...Not all women are Feminist!! There are women like myself that are strong, brave, intelligent, and stand for rights for everyone. But, this doesn't mean that women who take a stand and have the opportunity to be leaders choose to be feminists. This is why our world turns. We have DIFFERENT, DIVERSE, and an incredibly colorful world of people who have beliefs that are not our own. I choose to be accepting and open to the ideas of others.
Dan and I often refer to Sarah Palin as "Sarah the Barracuda"...and she absolutely is. It just makes me ill to see the media covering the story on her young daughter who is pregnant. I understand how important it is for our country to KNOW who is running as the Republican VP, but there is line that has been crossed in their privacy. It's the only thing I've heard yesterday and today on the Today show. It's the only thing the newscasters talked about during the breaks on the Republican National Convention last night. S. Palin has been very open about her history and the issues with her family..but to me it only makes her more real. More human. We all have family crap and hardships. It's how you handle the hardships that mean the most to me. I just wish the media would give them some breathing room. Cover the story and be done with it.

Here's to the next president taking over and making this country a better place to live in and raise our families in ... whoever wins the next presidency!

Spinx Run Fest 2008

The day is coming fast and I feel confident that I'll finish the race. The half marathon is scheduled for October 25th in downtown Greenville. I'm looking forward to finishing something I started back in February. It's been such a struggle to get back into shape and it feels great to run distances that I haven't run since I was in high school. Having a great running partner has helped tremendously! Jen is such a great motivational person to run with, and I'm so thankful that we share something like this to keep each other on top of our game. I've had a goal for years to complete a marathon, and we plan on signing up for that in February of 2009. I'm starting to deal with sore feet and shins...so I'm praying that my body will get the "pins and needles" and stiff legs so that so I can keep moving on without injury. Anyway, it's great to overcome a goal I've had and move on to the dream of finishing a marathon!

Here's to 10 miles this Saturday morning!

Life and Death

My Papa Rockwell is ready to pass from this earth and go on to a better place...

I just received a phone call from mom telling me that he isn't responding and has been put on morphine. Death is such an unexplainable happening to those of us who are still living. No one truly knows what the body, mind, and soul experiences in the last moments accept the people who have gone before us. Is Papa in another place right now even though his heart is still beating? What is he thinking about? Is he rejoicing with other souls around him? My heart hurts and longs to be next to him in his last moments here on earth. I want to kiss his great big hands one more time and tell him I love him dearly. I believe in heaven and know that his faith is strong and will be passing on to a better place where his love of over 50 years here on earth will be waiting for him. Can you even imagine what that will be like? Seeing the love of your life after years and years of not being together? wow...what an overwhelming feeling.

I love you Papa....my heart is with you....

Run2Overcome

This is a picture of my friend Jen and I at the end of the race we finished this past weekend. The run was so much fun, but had a meaningful purpose. The race was to benefit a family who experienced a terrible experience. About two months ago a 19 year old girl was raped while going for a Sunday morning jog at 9am. It happened in a nice area and at a time you wouldn't think something like that would happen. Before we started the race two victims of abuse/rape spoke and inspired everyone to be cautious and aware of your surroundings when you run by yourself. I thought about the victim as I struggled through all of the hills and challenges the race brought. There was a huge turn out...I think over 1,000 ended up coming and supporting the cause. What a fantastic day!