Sunday, November 15, 2009

Tailgating Fun

I spent yesterday afternoon with Chuck and Emma on the beautiful campus of Mississippi State University.  As Alumni, Chuck and I are huge fans and supporters of MSU Athletics.  We try to make it to most every home football game and as many basketball and baseball games as possible.  Although, not living in Starkville, and having an almost 11 month old, sometimes makes that challenging. 

                                       
 
Yesterday was such a great outing.  We tailgated in our usual spot, just outside the Junction, with our usual crowd.  It was fun times and great food.  The atmosphere was electric and cowbells rang loud and clear all day long.  Even Emma was ringing her cowbell in support of the Dawgs!  It is such a fun atmosphere; it is one of hospitality mixed with some friendly ribbing, as it is not unusual to see a fan of the opposing team at a Bulldog tailgate. The air is always thick with smoke from grills, and there is the slush of a cooler as background music.



To make the day even more fun than usual, my brother, Justin, sister-in-law, Jennifer, and niece, Laila, joined us.  They came with a wagon and babydolls in tow.  The girls had the best time riding in the wagon.  They giggled and played with dolls and truly enjoyed the day.  They posed for the hundreds of pictures that were snapped... Emma ever took her sunglasses off for one!  They both know how to work a camera!

                            

They were definitely a hit on campus, as they feed off one another.  Everyone that passed us had to stop and talk to the girls, who alternately smiled and hid from the passersby.  They squealed with delight as they were pulled through the crowd and around to several different tents.  And, when one squealed, the other did too... only louder!  They played this little game with one another until they burst into fits of laughter...only to begin again when they stopped. 

One of the highlights, if not for the girls, for me, at least, was having Emma's picture taken with Bully.  Suprisingly, she didn't cry, but she truly considered it.  It was something Chuck and I have wanted to do at each game, but haven't had the opportunity.  So, when I spotted Bully in our vicinity, I hauled them over and took several, okay, hundreds of pictures.  Here's the best of Emma and Bully...



We also watched as the coaches and players came through, as well as the band.  Emma loved the band and danced to everything they played.  Even though she had only an hour nap, she was happy the entire day and into the night.  We were able to see a little bit of the game before she became too terribly tired and needed to leave.  Chuck and I loaded her into the car; and before I could back out, she was sound asleep.  It was a quiet ride home, with only Jack Crystil on the radio narrating the game.  Sadly, the Bulldogs didn't pull off the much wanted upset over the Crimson Tide, but overall, the day was a success!



Saturday, November 14, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

Are there...

Are there ever any words to truly describe how much you love your child? 



Can you ever express the depth of your love to your child?



Can you ever separate this little person from yourself?  And, if you can, why would you want to?



Can any day not be made better by looking at this sweet face, which is just full of puppy love?



Can any darkness not be lightened by a smile this bright?



Can anything not get lost in these eyes?



And, can anyone not be inspired by this determined little face?



I think not!


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Wednesday for Wyatt

This is from a blog I follow... Letting go and Letting God



"So far, we are up to 1,443 signatures! Lets try to keep them steadily rolling in.

For those of you who are not familiar with my family and what we are trying to achieve, here’s a brief run down...

Our son Wyatt was diagnosed with a fatal condition at our 18 week ultrasound, but chose to carry him to term. We waited to meet our son with love, all the time praying we would get to see him alive.

On June 1, 2009, Wyatt made his way into the world by c-section. To our amazement he had a faint heartbeat and was breathing! He died two minutes later, but I’ve clung to the two minutes my son and I breathed the same air since his passing.

Upon calling to get a copy of Wyatt’s birth certificate, I found out he was listed as a stillborn. You would assume it was a mistake (like I did), but there was no mistake. According to the definition of live birth in Tennessee my son was not “alive enough” to be deemed a live born baby. His two minutes of life has gone unrecognized by my state, and I intend to change this piece of legislation so I can solidify the validity of my son’s short life.

Wednesdays for Wyatt was created to help spread awareness for a law that needs to be changed, as well as to generate more traffic to my petition. So if you’re reading this, thanks for taking the time to help our family!"


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

I AM...

I am the face of depression...



But it is not the face of me...



I am the one in every four women in this country that has depression...



But I am not a woman that SUFFERS from this disease...




Depression is only one aspect of my life...




And, the whole story is not one of sadness, but one of triumph...




One of fulfillment, that should be shared...




Because, although I am the face of depression; it is not the face of me...