meet my momma

her name is janice and today is her birthday.
{i will not reveal which one out of respect, but if i were her i would wear my age PROUDLY! youre gorgeous, mom}

i could spend a week of posts on this woman and all that she has taught me.
but for now i will present a few things that first come to mind; things ive "picked up" along the way the last twenty something years:

1. never go to bed angry
2. relationships should always be 60-40 {giving 60%}. this only really works if both people participate :)

3. dont put your tomatoes in the refrigerator in order to retain the home grown flavor
4. proper table settings.  and thanks to her i am OCD about it.

5. how properly make a bed with hospital corners.  i am also OCD about this.
6. how to make paperdolls

7. how to cook.  anything.  she's gourmet y'all
8. nothing beats a handwritten note

9. pick your battles. 
10.  know when to say your sorry.  this has nothing to do with pride.  sometimes saying your sorry is the strongest thing you could do.
11.  how to load a dishwasher to the maximum capacity so that everything will fit, and everything will get clean :)
12.  how to shave my legs using soap and a disposable razor in the bathtub {ummmm OUCH mom!!! my how times have changed...}
13.  what a real gracious, godly woman is - and that one really can be both beautiful on the inside AND the outside

gosh i hate to end there bc that list is so deceiving.  as i stated earlier i could dedicate a week or more to "what my mama taught me" themed posts.



i inherited her ears, complexion, feet {size-really comes in handy-and shape} and love of mexican food
i wish i inherited her selflessness {its beyond admirable} and her legs {theyre great}

- Momma was my #1 cheerleader, encourager, & brain stormer through unemployment/job search... She always made me feel like I deserved the best even when it wasn't coming to me

- I got all my list making, note taking habits from her, from to do lists to menus & they keep me sane (even though I choose not to write on an envelope)
- Momma cooked me breakfast lunch & dinner when I lived at home... She taught us all the value of a good home cooked, sometimes gourmet meal
- She teaches me so many "momma" things that I could "remember" & go about my days not needing help like a big girl... But its way more fun & special to have her come prune my roses WITH me & for me to constantly call her while I'm in the grocery store & in the kitchen {i do that too erin!!}

~ erin

During my teenage awkward years, mama made me realize that being "me" was a good thing. She made me feel special, loved, appreciated, like I could own someone in the kitchen with my sweet cooking skills :), and stronger in my faith to be a good person. I like being "me" because of her.

In other words, shes the one who made me comfortable in my own skin

~ rachel

{thanks sistas!}


and now, for your reading pleasure...a quick interview with this baby's momma:

what is your favorite memory from childhood? 

I do have some good memories, because I am thinking of several!  But the first memory that came to mind, and it is a fond memory, was my love of climbing trees!  I was a girly-girl, but I loved a good tree to climb.  I loved to see how high I could climb, enjoying the challenge of how to get there, and deciding on the perfect limb to sit and enjoy the heights! 
 

what is your favorite color?

Blue

favorite color to wear?

Black

one thing you want to accomplish over the next year? 

This year I would love to incorporate exercising again in to my life.  There is really no excuse with a practically new elliptical trainer, free weights, and ab crunchers of several styles. 

what is the job/profession you think you would be really good at/really enjoy doing if you werent doing your current job...can be anything - doesnt matter if you are "trained" for it or schooled for it or anything?

Drawing/Design.  Wasn't trained, but a favorite past time when I was younger was drawing/designing house plans.  (Thrilled to see those 'dreams' come true with daughters in the profession). 

Now, with more recent experiences, I'm pretty sure I would have enjoyed being a landscape architect. Still drawing/design but outside spaces. 

In college, I actually paused in my studies and considered both fields at Mississippi State - Architecture and Landscape/Horticulture.  Several reasons I didn't change majors - a personality too focused on following through with what I started and no desire to take courses such as Concrete and Waste Management!

what are three things you could not live without {not people} 

Easy - my laptop, my lipstick, and 'just a little something sweet' :)

the biggest lesson you have learned in life {the one that rings most true to you}

Hard - several come to mind.  One lesson really rings true:  "Stop & smell the roses."  I say this because I'm still learning this one.  I grew up being a stickler for the  'work before play' philosophy.  I'm learning to enjoy along the way, enjoy the moment (the person, the friendship, the opportunity, the pleasure) when it is presented, knowing that the job will still be there to do later, and I'll still get it done.  Hopefully, these moments will mean a longer walk in my yard, pausing to listen to others better, a few more lunches with friends, a longer gathering with loved ones, etc.

rachel's auburn graduation december 18th...bennett not looking at camera WHATS NEW

three of your favorite movies? 

Long list...three would be 1)The Holiday, 2) American President, and 3) Dirty Dancing

team edward or team jacob? {my little sister claimed her next victim...after much bullying from rachel, my mom is halfway through the second book}

I am a romantic (see above)...Team Edward!!

if you were to have one more child, either sex, what would you name him/her? {your favorite name as of now for either}? 

Adam Michael

thanks for being such a good sport momma!  hope your day is spectacular and filled with "smell the roses" moments.



i love you!

xo,


picture credits: ohdeedoh, julianne david papers