Mr. Henry Martin

I was thinking today about my great- grandfather.
He was the only war hero I've ever personally known.
He lived to be 97.
I remember so specifically what visits with him were like.
I can remember everything- even the smell of his house.
And my great-grandmother Viola-what a beauty.
She's one of the queens that has gone before us.

When they were engaged to be married, they got into a car accident,
which chipped her diamond ring, and landed them in the hospital (where they were later married.)
Yeah, they got married in a hospital.

He had the ability to add dry wit to just about everything he said.
And their life was full of great stories.
They were homesteaders.
Had two boys & two girls.
He was a lawyer.
They were spectacular.

At his funeral, they read a letter that he wrote to his mother-telling her about Viola.
I had never heard anything so charming in life...I will have to see about getting a copy of it.

I was telling Abraham about him today. He was transfixed.
I wish I knew more.

Moral of the story...don't let your moments with your grandparents go by too quickly.
I remind my husband every time he gets a card or a call from his grandmother how blessed he is. Every year, her handwriting gets a little more squiggly- and it breaks my heart.

This is my advice, for anyone blessed enough to still have their grandparents around...
Close you're eyes tight and take in the sound of their voice.
Look deeply into their eyes.
Listen to their stories-write them down.
Keep their handwritten notes or letters.
Take pictures.
Tell them how you feel about them.
Ask them questions.
Pray that you will inherit their virtues, and are free from their vices.
And enjoy every minute.

Some of the greatest talks I've ever had were with my grandparents.

So my mom and sister-in-law visited me last week.
I loved showing them around, to all my favorite parts of the city.
And the evenings at home- just being family.
Once they left, I braced myself for the adrenaline crash.
I waited for the sinking feeling of missing them- and it came.
I realize there isn't some big explanation needed, although sometimes, I find myself thinking that maybe I'd somehow feel better, if people just knew how hard its been for me to have no family around.

I just really love my family.

But I'm making it-
and I'm happy.

After a few very hard years, I feel like I can do anything.
I guess that's kinda the point, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
I really hate that saying-because when you feel like your dying, stupid expressions are really annoying.
I also feel-
Traumatized and blessed.
Vulnerable and confident.
Very, very thankful.
I'm not sure if I ever had entitlement issues, but I don't anymore.
I'm pretty sure i will never assume that anything will be a certain way.
I don't think I will ever take things for granted.

Oh God, please don't let me lose sight of what I've leaned in this valley.

Back to me feeling like I can do anything-

I could write a manual on how to make something out of nothing (in your heart, at least.) I really just want to encourage people...because as it turns out- He really does give us beauty for ashes.

Hello, my name is Holly- and I'm a chronic overcomer- seriously y'all it's bad.

j/k.


I've written my goodbye letter to Huntsville a thousand times in my head.
But I think, if the day ever comes, it will be more like a thank you letter.
This time has been about so much more than just a change of location.
It's been a change of everything.
And as I've said before- change feels a lot like loss.
But change is really just change.
And change is good.

I thought I deserved a magical rescue, prayed for a miracle, cried out for mercy.
I got all of these things- just not in the way I expected.

I'm walking this out.
I'm staying the course.
I'm going to better in the end.

Dear Valley- thank you for absorbing my tears without flooding.
Dear Box- thank you for not letting me fit in you.
Dear Death- thank you for not taking me.
Dear Brokenness- there are no words.
Dear Mountains- thank you for lifting my eyes up.

Dear Purpose- I'm going to find you. I swear.

funny kids.

I realize, that probably most everybody thinks their kids are funny. But I've really gotta' tell you- my kids are super hilarious. Aiya with the quick wit, Abraham with the outrageous imagination, and Matthew with the dry humor.

I stole this story from Carlos' blog. I think it's great.

"So tonight I heard my kids laughing hysterically. When I asked what was going on, they said "we are making signs to protest". I asked "what are you guys protesting?" the answer was, "we are protesting signs!"
Huh!?!?

Here are some of the slogans written down on the signage:
"peace will be restored!"
"free all signs!"
"sign labor NO MORE!"
and my favorite...
"make signs, not war!"

Anyways."

be my little baby.

Tomorrow...Matthew turns seven.

s-e-v-e-n y'all.

How did that happen?

When I was pregnant with him, I was so afraid that because was my third born, he wouldn't get enough attention. I was determined that he would not constantly be in a car seat, or a swing, or a playpen, while I tended to life. So basically, when he was born, I bundled him in a sling, and he stayed there. As I grocery shopped, did laundry, pushed the big kids in swings at the park- he was right there. This is one of the best decisions I ever made. Already having two babies, I knew just how fast they grow. I knew I couldn't spoil him by holding him too much (despite what babywise says.) It might have been a little self indulgent- but babies are my favorite.

1. Matthew is a lion, he's fast and strong.
2. He eats all day, yet you cant pinch an inch.
3. He still runs over to give me a kiss when I'm leaving for work.
4. He over-explains everything. "I want a lot of cheese, you know momma, a lot- more than a little?"
5. He is really smart.
6. He is extremely funny, and sarcastic.
7. He is still my baby.

anonymous.

recently, a member of my family had to write this:
but i'm not the kind of mom who enjoys embarrassing or publicly outing my children for their transgressions. so the guilty person will remain unknown.

(the guilty person)

U2 top 10

goofy us on the train.

1. we had general admission tickets, it was my favorite- ever. it's to sad to be far away.
   
2. we took the MARTA to get there. we were with my brother, sis-n-law and his friends. it was really fun. it kinda gave the whole urban, big city adventure experience.
   
3. sadly, my ticket didn't scan for the circle. oh to be james duke.
4. the guy in front of me did reverse head banging (swift and unpredictable backwards head thrust) i kept my hand up to avoid having my nose broken.
   
5. we later moved.
6. bono pulled a lady on stage. she was wearing "mom jeans." they hugged for 5 minutes. that should of been me. i'm just sayin'.
7. my nails were painted black for this event.
   
8. muse was awesome.
9. i danced like a fool. i didn't care if i looked stupid. deep down, i'm still that crazy girl.
10. my favorite moment was actually at the end of the night. when the show was over, the guys met in the middle of the stage, shook hands, hugged, and walked off the stage. after all the fuss is over-they're just guys in a band. i love that.
    

magnificent.

i have lots to say-

but it will have to wait.

until then, i'll be daydreaming about having the time to collect my thoughts.

for now, i'll leave you with this...

my happy place.

the fabric of my hammock, is the same fabric as the sling i used for abraham.

it just kinda hugs you.

and this is my view.

i'm one lucky girl.

all of this can be yours...

we're about to introduce instant coffee at work.

this is the biggest launch in company history.

we're breaking down the walls between instant and freshly brewed coffee drinkers.

we're removing the stigma- changing the way people think.

apparently, instant is the new brewed. lol.

e. was singing a song yesterday at work that was something about

"we've invested millions-in the middle of a recession-so sell the stuff or you're all getting canned."

so there's a lot of talk, and hype about our ready brew-

and all the ways you can use it.

it reminds me of that guy who follows forest gump around- listing all the ways you can cook shrimp.

its your:

camping trip coffee

staying at a hotel with bad coffee coffee

don't have time in the morning coffee

don't want to brew a whole pot of coffee coffee

pour it in a bottle of water for cold coffee coffee

serve it over ice for iced coffee coffee

add to hot or cold milk for coffee that tastes more like a latte coffee

use in the event of a coffee emergency coffee (i'm not sure what a coffee emergency is.)

... boiled coffee...

.........fried coffee........

coffee scampi....................................