Tina + Mikey = My BFF's

Mikey (being tall - sorry I chopped off your head)

T (with a hair color that changes every time she goes to the salon)

Jaden (standing), Devin (hiding), and Kamryn (being a princess)

When I was in college, I did an internship in the Athletic Department at Christopher Newport University in VA. Even though I was “supposed” to be trained by “someone else” – Tina took me under her wing. When I first met her, I remember specifically thinking to myself “this girl KNOWS her STUFF!” And after many years of knowing her in her career field, SHE DOES!

Homegirl is very knowledgable about sport specific training, physical therapy methods, and keeping a sports team physically, emotionally, and mentally in the best shape possible! Not only that, she’s a H.A.R.D. worker! She’ll put most people to shame b/c she’s a work horse that doesn’t “cut corners” just because no ones “watching”… And because of her work ethic and integrity T is now the Fitness Director at an indoor sports complex in Williamsburg, VA.

During my intership, I ended up falling in love with T! She too(!) loved to dance, her smile was ALWAYS present (even on a bad day), her cup was ALWAYS overflowingly FULL, and her advice was ALWAYS well thought out, ALWAYS from the best perspective possible, and ALWAYS truthful…

…Even when you DIDN’T wantttttt to hear it!!

While I’ve always admired her career “skillz”, they AIN’T got NOTHIN’

on her heart regarding her family and friends!!

Yes, she has a good career.

Yes, she has been successful.

But in a moments notice, if she had to – she would lay it ALL down for her hubby, Mikey, 2 sweet boys, Jaden and Devin and one precious little girl, Kamryn.

Tina and I prayed for what seemed like an eternity(!) for her to get pregnant with Jaden… and then Devin!

…Kam on the other hand!!!

Ohhhh, She’s a wholeeeee DIFFERENT story! Much like the BIG surprise she was coming into this world so quickly(!) on the heels of her brother, Devin - I have a feeling that life with that little princess is going to be FULLLLL. OF. SURPRISES.!!! :-)

Mom’s around the world look to people like Tina and wonder: “How in the WORLD does she do it working full time with 3 kids?” “How in the world does she keep it all together?” “How does she look SO STINKIN’ CALMMMM?”

And really the only thing I can come up with is this: She has a God given gift!

She’s even keeled by nature (even though she doesn’t think so), she’s incredibly generous and thoughtful (which only brings blessings back to her and her family), and she has an INCREDIBLE husband who helps her to raise their kids WELL!

Mikey (of whom I am the ONLYYY person who is “allowed” to call him that :-) ) is one of my favorite people! He’s the big ~6’4” teddy bear in my life that isn’t afraid to call just to say that he loves me. He’s called and talked to me about things that have been hard for him, yet did it out of love anyway. He loves his kids and his wife so much that it’s a blessing to watch. And he’s the one who got my little sister, Lisa, front row seats to see Toby Keith on her 21st birthday…

Friends, it doesn’t GET much better than Mickey and T!

I get to call them my best friends – and I don’t “deserve” the honor - b/c they are SUCH good people…. But God picked them out for me – so they’re basically stuck!!

T ~
Thanks for always sticking by me. The moment when you literally pulled the car to the side of the road - forcing me to “hear” you… it changed my life. That sweet baby boy, Jaden… he changed my life too. That man you call “husband” has helped make my life richer. Without you, my life would be different – and I’m so blessed that God put me in that Training Room at CNU “under your wing”…

Mikey... “my” Mikey ~

Thank you for being the big brother that I’ve needed all these years. Thanks for stepping up to the plate, being obedient and being the man God has called you to be – you have no idea the prayers that have been answered regarding your role as a husband and father. Not to mention the beauty it is to observe it from afar! Ohhh, and thanks for approving of my husband! You’ll neverrrr know how much my “decision” weighed upon your “approval”!

I love you both SOOOOO much!
Xoxoox,
“Your” E*

Game Nights...

Last Wednesday night, we had a theme night that I called "Game Night." We picked out the game Pictureka to play as a family - my fabulous sister, Michelle gave it to the kids for Christmas. (Insert commercial music segment here.) This game is SO MUCH FUN... Even John and I enjoyed playing it with the kids - and would likely play it even if the kids weren't around. Everyone was laughing throughout the game. Basically, the player has to find a "picture" (or 4 or 5 or 6 depending on the number you rolled) on the game board before time runs out. Think Where's Waldo but with a competitive edge... And we alllll know how I can get when it comes to being competitive!? Sigh!

We have a lot of games - Truth or Dare Jenga, Scattergories, Mexican Train Dominoes, Clue, Scrabble, and my very favorite Balderdash!

Last night, we went over to our neighbors house with a dear friend, Pam (who came over within 30 mins of me asking her - I love people like that... AND she came over in her PJ's... Again, PEOPLE LIKE THAT = LOVE!... I digress). We ordered pizza, wings, and drank wine while playing Balderdash. I mean, really? A Sat night w/ friends in pj's, throw in some pizza, wings, and wine - a splash of Balderdash and trash talkin' and... in my opinion you got HEAVEN...

So... The question I'm pondering tonight - Why don't we do that MORE OFTEN? It's cheap, it's fun, it's an opportunity to grow relationally with the people that we love... all while talkin' trash in a little "friendly" game of Balderdash? HELLO?????? Is this thing on?

GAME NIGHTS = FABULOUS FUN!
Who's in for another night of "friendly relational competitiveness"?

:-)

Publish Post

Friends from long ago... Part 2 - Melanie!

Part 2: Melanie Winder (affectionately known only as "Mel" by me!)...

This is a hard one for me b/c Mel has been my friend since we came out of the birth canal. Our parents were very dear friends. When my father was taken to the hospital while away on the tugboat, I stayed with Mel and her family.

Miss Pam (of which, I still endearingly call her!) used to watch me when we were little. Mel and her sister, Jen (who was closer to my sister, Michelle in age) have always been like the sisters that "weren't but were?"

A few memories that always run thru my mind when I think of Mel:

• "Lane"... the only thing the child has EVER called me - which is only used by the closest people in my life.
• Ballet with Miss Geyer right near Donk's Theater (pronounced DUNKS)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches - of which I can no longer stomach because of how many we ate at your house... no offense, Miss Pam! :-)
• Always sleeping on "pallets" at nap time
• Sunday school and GA camp with Miss Donna
• Spit balls lovingly launched across the table at both of us courtesy of Curt or Jeremy DURING PRAYER in Sunday School!
• Sunday school picnics with Tommy trying to throw us in the pool
• The fact that EVERY TIME we went somewhere in the car Mel got to ride up front b/c she got violently car sick... Literally, people, EVERY TIME!
• Orange candy or mints - she LOVES the orange ones... (which was good b/c those were my least favorite!)
• Drawing on each others hands, writing notes or playing tic-tac-toe in preachin'
• Stepping up to the plate without being asked to help with my wedding reception set up
• And who could forget going to the mall together with our moms to get our ears pierced - one ear gun at the time at age 6?! OUCH!
• And of coarse the notorious "Festivus song" (if you want to call it a SONG?) left on my voicemail EVERY YEAR... she's NEVER forgotten!

But those aren't "THE" memory...

The biggest and hardest memory was hearing that my daddy had gone to heaven sitting on her doorstep. Thats "THE" big one. I was 4.5 years old when Mel leaned over gave me a hug and said that we could "share hers"... THAT's the biggest memory! And she's been sharing her daddy ever since! I love me some Mr. Howard and Miss Pam... The Hawplaw!

I love you so much that it hurts, Mel ! You're my longest, dearest and most fondly remembered friend...

Friends from long ago... Part One - Casey!

I am very lucky to have a handful of friends that have stuck by me from the very beginning of life... In no particular order, I'm going to share a few things about each of them.


Casey Love Shaw (who will always be Casey Love to me)...


We became friends when I was about 6-7 years old... Her mom and dad were really close family friends - they were always very fun to have around (her moms laugh is EXTREMELY contagious!). I always, always, ALWAYS loved when we would pull into her driveway! It was better than going to Chuck E. Cheese (of coarse, without all the noise or need for tokens!!!)


Casey had all kinds of fun stuff at her house:

• A trampoline (which to this day, every time I do a "butt, knee, flip" I think of her!)
• A GUMBALL machine that was ALWAYS stocked with either gum or fireballs (which have been my favorite candy ever since!)
• A school bus - LITERALLY! (we played on that school bus EVERY time I came over!)
• A Nintendo - we had one too, but her's was always more fun b/c she had MORE games!
• A go-cart that went MUCH faster than ours... just for the record, we always wore helmets!
• A pool -- (yep, I TOLD you going to her house was awesome!)
• The Ladybug - her first car, which she learned how to drive wayyy before her 16th birthday!! - up AND down the drive way like 100 zillion times - of coarse, with the sunroof open REGARDLESS of the weather!... b/c you know, it was the REALLLLY cool thing to do!

...But you know what? It wasn't the "things" that made her my friend. She was my friend b/c we were there for each other thru thick and thin. Every year we went to church camp together and were in the same Sunday School class. We got baptized on the same day, in the same church at the court house, in the same cold water, with all of our family in attendance... I'll never forget that day. We both felt so grown up - we were 12 and 13 yrs old!

We also swore that we were going to WIN it ALL at the Donk's Theater Talent Show - a duet by the Judd's.... Have Mercy!!! Oh, it was a BIGGG deal! I STILL know the moves that went with the words (which was probably rehearsed as many times as we drove up and down the driveway in the Ladybug?)

With Casey, there were so many memories made. SOOOO many happy times... band concerts, parades, band trips, vacations, Cow patty jokes, and prank calls! Her bachelorette party and the bracelet she gave me with my initals on it after I got married...

When I think of you, Casey - I think about the smile that was always on my face when we were together. And when I think of you today, that smile reappears... Thanks for making the memories so fun and for the big hugs that are always felt, even though we live in different states.

Forever friends... forever ladybug buddies!