Happy Birthday, Dad.

We're not in Sulphur, so we can't tell you in person.
You're probably not awake yet, so we can't say it on the phone.
Your Facebook friends will probably write it first, so we won't do it there either.

But, we have this blog (and access to Photo Booth & Youtube), and that's how we'll say, "Happy Birthday Papa John!" and "I love you" in a song...

Kind of hard to hear Jim Croce and not think of my childhood. 

Thank you for the memories, Dad.

I have a problem.

I'm obsessed with 410 Greene Street, Starkville MS 39759.

This is mostly a problem because we still haven't sold 3003 Geranium Dr, Bloomington IL 61705.
But also written on my hell-no-you-can't-buy-a-house list:
- we're still saving for our 3-6 months of expenses fund, which means...
- we're no where near close to having a down payment
- we're emotionally scarred from owning and trying to sell a home
- we will probably never be able to afford this house
- our credit score is shot from stopping our mortgage payments last year
- our credit score will be doubly shot if this short sale actually goes through
- we don't even know if we'll be in Starkville long term
- the house we rent right now (Also addressed as 410. Coincidence?) is perfect for us & fits easily into our budget

Oh. And I should probably mention that it's not even for sale.

Did that stop me from writing a 2 minute speech that I was fully prepared to deliver to the occupants on our evening walk? No. I was going to cover the fact that their yard was void of any signs (not to mention our wallets void of any cash) and casually offer a business card for reference for the day that sign does appear. The speech's main points were:
- we are not weird (read: stalkers)
- we are not ready (but neither are you)
- your house is beautiful (read: can I sneak a peak at your walk-in closet?)
- please call us if you plan to sell (preferably before you call someone that could make an offer you'd actually accept...)

Sadly, I chickened out. I never was one for public speaking...

Just because we're not ready to buy doesn't mean I don't like to look. If I could, I would go to every Open House on the weekends. I would walk up to homes and ask, "Can I see your floor plan? I'm just curious." I would roam the isles of IKEA, Target, Pottery Barn, or World Market (wait... I live in Starkville). Bottom line, I love love love looking at houses, homes, trailers, mansions, dorm rooms - anywhere people live, really. And I hate driving at night because it's harder, dangerous - actually, when you're trying to see into someone's living room through the open curtains.

But this house, it spoke to me from the road. It really is beautiful and on the most perfect street. I liked it so much, I immediately came home to type greene st starkville ms home for sale into Google's search engine to get an idea of what something around there might go for. And you wanna know what comes up first when you do that? The house! (Go ahead. I'll wait while you look through the 34 photos of this prime real estate). My guess is that the link is an old listing that the internet has saved, because it's not really for sale right now.

Having lived here for 3 years and driven around this small town, I can tell you that the number of houses with my dream wants are really limited, mostly by location. There's just not a large quantity of the older homes in the area we like that aren't surrounded by shady pockets (and not in a good way) or run-down college rentals. This house, seems at first glance, to have most (if not all) of my dream wants:
- it's in the center of town, 2 blocks from downtown, but not on a busy street like most of the streets in this area and not surrounded by crappy undergraduate rental properties
- older home with character, but upgrades, too
- front porch & back porch
- 4 bedrooms + a bonus den. Can you say studio space? Plenty of room for a master, kids room, guest room, play room, and one beautiful room devoted to sewing and graphic design. ahhh.
- dining areas (two!) separate the kitchen and living spaces which lessens the noise while watching tv or visiting - something really hard to find in today's open living floor plans (that's just a personal preference - I'm sure some of you would disagree, but I like my dining room in between the kitchen and living room, but I also don't like the kitchen secluded away in a corner like we have now. This kitchen is the breeze way to the other spaces. love.)
- all of the bedrooms appear to be along the same side - also something hard to find in today's floor plans that separate the master from the rest of the bedrooms. I like to be close to the kids.
- fenced in backyard and a front yard that's not 2 steps to the road (like we have now)
- easy flow from sitting room to dining to kitchen to breakfast nook to den - perfect for entertaining
- there's probably more, but I just haven't thought of it yet...

Originally, I thought writing this post would be some sort of therapy, helping me emotionally let go of something I obviously don't need, nor or ready for. I see now that it's only confirmed one thing. I'm right and I really want that house.

Whoops.

So very blessed.

You knew it was coming, right? A post dedicated to all things Mother on this very special day. Well, here it is.

As tradition holds, my gift is an illustration of our family by Jude. This is my 3rd one. I just love them and I can't wait to have decades of drawings of us, watching us grow into the future - maybe more kids, the addition of their spouses & children, or maybe even a pet (who am I kidding...). And this year's is so sweet!

And since mother's day isn't all about me...

I want to say how very fortunate I feel. And not just in the general way that we all feel grateful for our moms on this day, but a very specific appreciation for the present relationships I have with my mothers.

We can all look back and be thankful for the gifts they've given us and the sacrifices they've made for us, but I've come to realize that so many people, many are dear friends of mine, have damaged relationships with their moms and especially with their mother-in-laws. And in this is where I feel most fortunate. Not only can I look to the past with appreciation, but I am so very blessed by the relationships I have now with these great women.

 My mom offers the same generosity and sacrifice now, as she did 28 years ago. That whole, "Hey - I did my time. This is pay back!" mentality will never find a place in my mom's heart or mouth. I've never known anyone to go to the lengths my mom will go, just to help. And to be so generous our entire lives, yet avoiding having 3 very spoiled girls, must be a miracle and a gift I hope to pass down... And some people have mothers that are still trying to raise them - butting in on their decisions and giving out unsolicited advice. But my mom chooses to listen and dole out compassion and encouragement instead.

And the mother-in-law I have - oh man - I am blessed. The stories some of my friends can share about the rude and antagonistic comments their mother-in-laws have made... these are what movies are made of. My friends have stories of how they've overstepped boundaries or interfered in their families, pinning kids or husbands against them. Or in the moments when they were seemingly generous or helpful, they hold these actions over my friends' heads and turn the gift into a debt. Not mine. In fact, she's so similar to my own mother, that it's been so easy and natural being around her. She is helpful and generous, but always defers to us for decision-making. And her gifts, tangible or not, always come from a truly humble place - never for leverage. She trusts me with her son and her grandchildren, and this is the foundation of our great relationship.

So yeah, I have it pretty good. My prayer is that I'm able to have these types of relationships with my own adult children and their possible spouses. I will forever remember the exchanges of love and admiration between me and my mothers, and hopefully I'll be able to demonstrate that in the future, too.

Joan's 4th Birthday Party

It was a circus, in theme and overall atmosphere.

 

Signage. (good to be married to a graphic designer)

 Food!

As in popcorn! peanuts!

hotdogs!

soft pretzels! animal crackers!

and send 'em home with cotton candy!

Lots of friends...

Lots of games...

Lots of love.

 Happy Birthday, Love.

(My friend Monica took most of these photos and if you live close to me, be sure to check her out!)

Verbatim

"Momma, my feet are so big from all the four-ness."

Happy 4th Birthday, Joan Bernadette. 

You are one of a kind and we are blessed to call you ours.

More Festival Photographs

A couple of other people had taken photos of us at the Cotton District Arts Festival. We found the photos on Facebook and decided to share them here for family members who are not on Facebook. Speaking of craft shows, Alisha and I will hopefully be manning a booth at the Porter Flea Market in Nashville, TN on June 16th. If anyone's in the Nashville area that weekend, please come to see us! 

Making things makes life better: Birthday gifts

 I got the idea for these adorable stilts right here, I just jazzed them up a bit because, you know, I can't leave anything alone.

 Poor Joan, I always make her pose with other people's birthday presents...

And remember this dress? Well long before I made it, I thought I had seen a version of it on Make it and Love it, but when I went back to search for it, I didn't see one. I thought I was going crazy and then finally went crazy when I made this frock all on my own. A few days after I finished it, my friends were passing around this tutorial on Pinterest. A day late and a dollar short. Oh well. It's there if you need it at least...