House call.

Yesterday Scotty made a late morning house call not too far from where we live. (Yes--there are M.D.s who still make house calls and I just happen to live with one of them!) He surprised me by phoning to say he'd finished early and wanted to come home and see us before Caroline's nap. Oh, and could I please make a peanut butter & strawberry jam sandwich for him? But of course, my dear! Caroline loved getting to see her Daddy during the middle of the day, and she even offered to share her pre-nap snack of yogurt and vanilla wafers with him. Thanks, Daddy, for making our day! Please do it again more often!

Turn Around...

Tonight Scotty and I were playing with the girls after their bath, just before bedtime. This particular evening consisted of Caroline twirling around in her nightgown (or as Aunt Mandy calls it, a "turn-around gown!") while Libbey sat on Daddy's lap and watched from the sidelines. Ever his sentimental self, Scotty wistfully said "Time is flying by...these girls will be grown before we know it..." Libbey cheered him by procclaiming, "Daddy, I'm never moving out--I'm gonna live with you forever!" While that is precious, dear daughter, I said the exact same thing to my parents not so many years ago. And here I am...6.5 hours from home...and right in the center of God's will. Amazing...

Was it just yesterday that Libbey was a 4 month old with a head full of dark brown hair?




I'm certain it was only last week when I posed Caroline in her bathroom, to capture shots of her at 6 months of age...baldy that she was!


Yes, time is flying...I'm taking pictures with my heart, trying to capture it all and store these memories forever. And once again, I'm getting all Hallmark-ish here, but it's just what I'm feeling now. So there you go.

Home!

As of early this afternoon, GeGe is home! Thanks for all your prayers and queries regarding her over the past week. She is doing better and we thank God for that. I made a ton of crock-pot potato soup today, so guess what she'll be eating for lunch tomorrow? I hope it's a welcome change from 6 days of hospital food.
(Picture of GeGe and "Dorothy," taken 10/31/07)

Swag.

Remember the good ol' days--that would be the late 70's and most of the 80's for me--when you'd go to a friend's birthday party? If you were grew up in Warner Robins, GA, bless your heart, chances are you had a party at Olympia (and played the "Dice Game!" or tried to impress boys with your backwards skating abilities!), or Burger King. Or maybe your parents were really cool and took you to Macon for big time fun at Showbiz Pizza. (My parents fell into the cool category--but only Eric got the big Showbiz treatment. Obviously I've never gotten over it.) Even if it was just a party at the home of the birthday guy or gal, it was still a festive event...a couple of hours spent pinning that donkey's darn tail on, chugging Kool-Aid, eating lots of cake and ice cream and ooohing & ahhhing over the awesome Magic Curl Barbie that was just opened by the honored child. At the end of the event you might have been handed a treat bag--a blow-out horn, some candy, or if the kid's parents were totally rad, a jelly bracelet to match the jelly shoes you were ruining your feet by wearing every waking hour. I'm talking Madonna-wannabe here. Anyway, so you came, you partied, you gifted, and you were rewarded with a tiny token of the birthday child's appreciation...the treat bag. Those were the days.

There is a new trend (or new to me at least--correct me if this is old news to any of y'all!) in our neck of the woods regarding birthday party treat bags. Or I should call them what they really are. SWAG. Pure, unadulterated swag for the under 10 set. At Libbey's 5th birthday part last year, we gave out little cellophane bags that I'd filled with fruit snacks (Vitamin C, y'all!), a piece or two of bubble gum, a pair of sunglasses ($3 for a pack of 8 at Target!), and the ubiquitous blow out thingy. Darn fine parting gift, I thought to myself at the time. Excuse me for being so wrong. I hope I haven't offended any of your children. The horror!

Since early December my girls have attended a few parties and have returned home with gift-sized bags so full of stuff that I accused them of stealing from the birthday gal's stash of presents. "Libbey--you can't take that Barbie or Care Bear--that was Jane's* gift, honey!" (*name changed...duh!) Then I turn to their father, party chauffeur extraordinaire, "Scotty--were you not watching as they pilfered through the pile of gifts? I could kill you--how embarrassing, honey!" What I get from him in return is a very exasperated, "Honey, these are their treat bags." Um...excuse me? Treat bags are little sacks of candy and bubbles. Swag bags are what my girls are bringing home. I'm talking Barbies (the real ones, mind you--not faux Barbie, or the dollar store imposter!), Care Bears, Hardcover books, large tubes of "Raspberry Truffle Body Creme", a big box of crayons--64 in all, lavishly embellished crowns, complete with rhinestones and feathers (please God, women, why do you buy these? I'll pick feathers off the floor 'til Easter, and then it will be the darn green basket grass that I swear multiplies each time you pick a "blade" off the floor...) The list goes on and on. Here I am fussing at my daughters because I'm fearful they're turning into little birthday party kleptos..."Hmmmm, let's see...whose party can we hit next? I bet Bronwen will get some good Hannah Montana loot, and she'll never know it's missing...heh-heh-heh!" Oh no...they're not thieves-in-training...they're just bringing home the swag.

Hey, I've got a brilliant idea! Poop on this writer's strike--we're going to LA next month and raiding the pre-Oscar swag tents...surely we'll be able to find a nice, free iPhone! Better yet, maybe Suri will have an early birthday party! You know that baby daddy is gonna give away a nice Burberry cardigan in his precious child's Louis Vuitton treat bags. Score!

Is it me, or have birthday parties become just a bit too much? This whole goodie bag issue is really bugging me, mostly because I'm too cheap to provide a Toys 'R Us shopping spree for all the little guests who attend Libbey & Caroline's shindigs. But also because it's teaching our kids a not-so-great lesson...greed or gluttony, anyone? Remember when you were excited over that little bag of candy or a plastic spider ring? Thankfully my girls are still very appreciative of the little plastic necklaces or mini bubbles they usually receive as parting token at a party. And blessedly, Libbey has not asked that I start wrapping Ballet Barbie or Transformers for the treat bags we're giving away at her party in a couple of weeks. Actually, we're not doing bags this year...I bought purple plastic mugs to give to each guest, and they are quite cute, if I do say so myself. And I do! (We're doing a Tinkerbell theme--a welcome change from all the Hannah Montana we've seen this year, even though we do love our Miley Cyrus.) I'll stash a little sticker strip or pack of gum in each mug...but that will be all. And enough, I might add.

Happy.

It's truly the little things in life that make me happy. I am fully surrounded by blessings too numerous to count. Of course the biggest ones, such as my salvation, my husband & girls, family, friends, and health, are at the top of the list. Then there are the small things that create comfort in my life...little items/situations/experiences that bring me joy. We all have them, and whether yours are finding a big bargain at Target (shoutout to my thrifty/creative gals, Beckie & Vicki), or taking delight in the latest University of Kentucky basketball win (right, Shannon?), I think it's time we all stop and take a moment to reflect on what truly warms our hearts.

Yeesh...could I sound anymore like Oprah and/or a cheesy Hallmark card? Maybe it would've been better to simply say, "Yo...here's what I dig." But I don't say "Yo." Not too much, that is. Regardless...here's a short list of "diggable" things.

Q-Tips

Much to my sister-in-law's chagrin, I fully believe that Q-Tips are one of the greatest inventions. (To her credit, she is an audiologist and fearful of sticking things into the ear that aren't for medical purposes.) Not a day goes by that I don't use these little white wonders. It goes without saying that I keep my ears squeaky clean with them, but there's so may other fabulous uses...such as setting my eyeliner, wiping smudges of eyeshadow, using them as a "brush" when Caroline & I break out the fingerpaints, cleaning out the crevices of tarnished silver (yes, I'm a southern gal--we love our silver stuff!)...and on and on. Any brand will do--but I prefer the wooden sticks--the kind that are plastic are flimsy, which I just can't abide. Q-Tips...cotton swabs...whatever you call them, to me they rock!

Candles


Our house always has candles burning in it...we are not the "they're too pretty to use" or "we only light them when company's over" types. If I'm home, my candles are glowing in the kitchen and living room...always! This is a perfect gift item for me because it's something I can and will always use and enjoy. Christmas brings pine-scented candles, so our faux tree will have a real scent. When it's cold and bleak outside, inside my house is filled with the wafting fragrance of fig or currant, which instantly warm. In spring I love to have tuberose and peony scents burning...it's the easiest way to have that fresh-cut smell. Summertime is when I break out one of my favorite scents ever, "Sun & Sand" by Yankee Candle. This thing smells exactly like the beach--a mixture of citrus, musk and something quite Coppertone-ish (and we adore the smell of Coppertone!). If I can't be at the beach all summer long, there's no reason my home can't smell like it! In the fall, of course, I look forward to lighting up my favorite autumnal scents such as clove, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Scent is a powerful sense, and something as simple and easy as lighting up a fabulous-smelling candle just makes me gleeful!

Lipstick


Hi, my name is Leigh Anne and I am addicted to lipstick. It is my crack, my meth, my drug of choice. Because I was brought up right and surrounded by good, southern women, I have never left the house without something on my lips. The phrase "corpse" comes to mind when my lips are bare. A good lipstick or gloss can instantly make me feel better, even on a bad hair day. It's the single item of make-up that I buy constantly. Some of my favorites are on the pricy side (Chanel's "Moire" comes to mind--but man, is it fabulous!), and then there's the bargain L'Oreal gloss that I could purchase by the barrelful. A tube of Bonne Bell Lipsmacker in the Dr. Pepper flavor sits on my bedside table...it's the last thing I put on before climbing in to bed each night. I might not always have the perfect outfit, or the most fabulous pair of shoes...but darnit, my lips are always well-accessorized. Sigh...bliss.

A Good Book


Since the age of 4 I have been a lover of reading. I'm constantly devouring the printed word, whether it's the back of a cereal box, a friend's blog (2 years worth on Kelly's!), or the latest bestseller. I try to read a book every couple of days. Some reading for fun, such as the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (way wonderful!), and some is for instruction, hence God's command that we love and learn His Word. The "Mark of the Lion" trilogy by Francine Rivers (the best!) taught me a lot about ancient Rome and what life was like not long after Christ died and rose. (These books area fiction--but very historical and MUST-reads!) And I get excited whenever Beth Moore releases her latest, as I know it will teach me to understand more about my God. Books are just "it" for me...a way to relax, escape, grow, and learn. If I could describe my perfect day, sitting on the beach with a fabulous read would definitely play a part.

There are many other "happys" in my life. These are just a few that I find pleasure in...Scott & I are always saying, "It's the little things that make us happy!" It doesn't take much...some swabs, a candle, gloss and a book and I'm the happiest gal on the planet. Woo-woo!

Everyone needs a GeGe.

Grandma Litton (or whom Libbey affectionally named "GeGe") was put into the ICU yesterday evening by her loving, yet concerned grandson. She has bilateral pneumonia & we are praying for God to heal her quickly. We love GeGe. We want her to feel better soon. Upon seeing her at the hospital tonight, I said, "You sure know how to grab the spotlight, don't ya? Lying here in a hospital bed, letting us fuss all over you...I know that was the plan all along!" She laughed...and agreed!
(GeGe, the girls, and Mamaw Pene, photograped in August '06)

Most Beautiful.

Taking a moment to count 2 of my biggest blessings. Ever. I am unworthy, but I am also thankful He saw fit to give these precious ones to me. Sigh...
(Libbey & Caroline, August 2007, Hilton Head Island, SC)

Rule of Three?

My husband's precious grandfather, the late Papaw Smith, always said when stuff breaks, be prepared for two more items to fail you..."things break in threes," he'd say. Well...our family proved that theory not once, but twice in the past 2 weeks.

The day before Christmas--of course--my fabulous "high efficiency" washing machine came down with a "virus." The computer in it is failing miserably, and while I can still get my clothes april fresh, one load takes about 5 hours to complete from start to finish. Ugh. It ain't looking so highly efficient right now, I'll tell ya. The next day, something malfunctioned in our fabulous "top-rated by Consumer Reports" dishwasher, and the spring in the door is kaput. Like the washer, it still works, however the door slams to the floor with the faintest touch--my feet have the bruises to prove this. Ugh. Later on in the same day, our ice maker broke...we have the kind that's built in under the counter--it's not a part of our fridge, that is. The sound of ice tinkling in my glass is a faint memory. (Oh ice, my dear, how I didn't appreciate you as a presence in my life 'til now.) Ugh.

Three major appliances on the fritz...well, that just proved Papaw's rule of three theory. Great. Just what we needed. Thankfully the washing machine & dishwasher are both under warranty, so we are out no bucks. Regrettably, the ice machine's warranty is a dream that once was. Now we gotta buy a new one. Merry Christmas to us--now we know what we're gonna do with all the Christmas money we received from family.

In one of the previous posts I regaled you, dear reader, about our plight on the side of the mountain. No flat tire will ruin Scott & Leigh Anne's date night, oh no! Even before the tire issue, Scott had an encounter with a tree that left his right side mirror in a mess. So there were our two auto mishaps. My mother-in-law reminded us, "Things happen in threes, as my Daddy always said." Yeesh. Just what we need!

Indeed, while driving to Knoxville, TN, this past Saturday (not in our car or the truck--the minivan!) my friend, Kim, glanced over at my side of the windshield and asked, "Is that a crack in the glass?" I didn't even have to search for it...OF COURSE it's a crack. I mean, things happen in threes, right? At least they seem to for us.

Rather than being bogged down and playing our "Oh, woe is me" card in all this, we decided to look on these events as blessings. I am trying to find more blessings in my days, rather than stressings. I'm grateful for my semi-new appliances (we built this house in '04/'05) and for the vehicles parked in our garage. Even if they do fail me every now and then...or in threes...at least I have them. Everything's fixable. And now that it's after-the-fact, it's kind of funny. Not hysterical, mind you, but mildly amusing.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

The wait is almost over...

Myspace Countdown Clock

Jason Statham

I'm just saying.

Boy, did we ever need a date night!

Our dear friends, the Cress family, asked if they could have our girls for the evening, and since we are loving parents, we decided to take them up on their offer...because we want to share our children with those who love them! I had visions of a night at home, cleaning as usual, or maybe even my favorite treat, "book/bath/bubbles/bedtime." To my delight, Scott called me yesterday afternoon and said, "Hey, since the girls will be gone, ya wanna go out to eat?" (And let me preface this by stating that since we live in the middle of nowhere, "going out to eat" at someplace that isn't McDonald's involves a minimum drive of 30 minutes.) I jumped at the chance for a date night--our first of the new year! Yippee!

After delivering the girls to Bill & Kim's place, I came home and proceeded to go through my beauty routine...I mean, after all...it's date night in full force so I had to get gussied up! Just as I was slipping into my too-cute boots, Scott walks in with a very dour expresssion...and I knew my date night was over before it began. He'd had a mishap with his truck...the right side mirror is now dangling...and I won't go into more info because I love him enough to preserve his integrity/pride! Never fear, though...he said a good steak would help him get over the truck trauma, so we were still on for our date. We're not ones to let damage to our truck spoil our good time...no sir! Especially when we have babysitters keeping our children overnight! Hooray!

We'd been in our car less than 2 minutes when I started hearing a weird thumping noise. When I inquired about the source of the noise, my husband blew me off. (To be fair, he was on the phone with his father--so waving his hand and shaking his head was his way of telling me to chill.) Another 2 minutes later and the noise hasn't subsided. Scott begins giving me what we refer to in our family as "a lesson," (which I get from him at least once a day!) whereby he informs me that we've had temperatures in the single digits for many days now, and the car hasn't been driven...so the tires are cold and they just have to warm up. Blah-blah-blah and all that. Well...OK...what do I know from cold tires?

Fast-forward about 5 minutes later, as we are speeding down a mountain...the car starts pulling, the noise gets much louder, and my husband heaves an enormous sigh and admits, "I think we have a flat." OK y'all...score one for me, because I didn't utter a word...not a single syllable, which was killing me, as those of you who know me personally will attest. We pull off onto the gravel--did I mention we were traveling down a big ol' mountain--and determine that yes, indeed, we do have a flat tire. Well...I'm not one to say "I told you so." Actually, I am, but in this instance I refrained. Seriously! Still, I was thinking it, of course.

Thirty minutes later, after summoning my in-laws with a pitiful, "We're stuck on the side of the mountain, please help--and bring a jack!" and with the spare tire almost installed, I see my sweet hubby of almost 8 years take a tumble. Thankfully he didn't roll down the mountain...but he did slip on some black ice (it's been way too cold here!) and after he assured us that he was quite fine, thank you very much, my mother-in-law and I laughed. Out loud. At him. Because it was funny. So glad he wasn't hurt, though. I mean, we still had the promise of a fabulous meal at our favorite restaurant, AND we had a giftcard to use to defray the bill. And by this point in the evening, we needed a good laugh because I couldn't get Murphy's Law from running through my head on a loop..."This would only happen to us....this would only happen to us..."

About an hour and a half after leaving our house (and returning back to said house to fetch our minivan), we finally arrived at our destination, "The Chop House," in Kingsport, TN. Yes, we live in Virginia...and yes, we eat and shop in Tennessee. It can't be helped. We had our delicious meal (Shrimp Bisque soup, Filet, a skewer of grilled shrimp, and cheese grits...divine!) and even went to Target (oh Target, my beloved!) to take care of some shopping. Then we came home and continued our date 'til bedtime...

It took a slightly-wrecked truck, a flat tire, and a fall on some ice to make it happen...but we got our date. And that's what matters!

Oh...and tonight, my in-laws want our girls to stay with them...and that's fine, but Scott and I are staying HOME! We don't need anymore mishaps this weekend, please God.

New Year, New Chances...

So...
I don't make resolutions. But I do have goals for 2008, so here goes.

First of all, I received the most fabulous Christmas gift from my husband...the Rosetta Stone French course. Yes, that's right...I'm going to learn to speak French like it's my JOB. My goal is to sit at some chic little bistro in Paris and order a fabulous meal without sounding like Clark W. Griswold. I started my lessons last week and they are FUN. I'm learning lots...but I still sound worse than the Griswolds (remember "European Vacation?"), so I have a long way to go. Au revoir!

Secondly, we built a new garage last summer and added a nice-sized room above it. We painted, put in carpet, added some heat/ac and now the room is ready to be used. Since we are not the skinniest of people, Scott and I decided to use this new addition as a home gym/hang-out room for us and the girls. The BowFlex is already up there...so is the treadmill. Now I just gotta get a TV, some mirrors, and some jammin' tunes so that I can start working my flabby booty out. Oh...and I need a sofa (not for me--I'll be feeling the burn, remember? It's for my girls!) and a few other things. But the goal is to get that room in order and USE IT!

Finally...as a child of the Most High, I have decided that I need to know Him better. For Christmas I have my sweet husband 2 books on Bible maps/timelines/charts, etc. and they are fascinating! I wanna learn more about Biblical history. (Gee--don't I have a degree in this already?) I wanna learn more about my Jesus. I wanna study the Word more. Basically, I just wanna grow. Well...I want my physical body to shrink, of course, but the spiritual stuff needs to keep on getting bigger and bigger. And how awesome is it that these two can exist together???? God is good.

This blog thing is way new for me...I have a lot to learn, so hopefully this will get more interesting for you, dear reader. Stick with me...


p.s. The countdown has begun...my beloved "Lost" returns on Thursday, January 31, at 8 pm on ABC. If you haven't delved into the Lost world (and why the heck haven't you? It's only THE best show. Ever.), get your sweet little act together and rent all 3 seasons on DVD now so that you can get caught up. I'm serious. Run to the rental place, or get them in your Netflix queue...whatever you do, get ready to get Lost again. 28 days and counting...