Consider The Sparrow

Well, I haven't written much lately because things are pretty unchanged around here. We are still painting our house and basically just trying to keep it clean and organized. With two kids here 24/7, that's an amazing accomplishment. We had to change the colors upstairs. Two rooms were a mossy green and two rooms a bright sunny yellow. Although lovely colors, neutral will sell much easier. That was the most time consuming - taping, priming, painting 2 coats. Now we're scrubbing the walls of the common areas and then we will spot paint them. We hope to finish that today. Then we will need another day or two to finish touching up the trim paint in the parts of the house we haven't hit yet. What I wanted to take one week has turned into three. It's always that way, isn't it?
Our next step is to clean the carpets and detail all the cabinets - then basically just keep it like new. That is perhaps the most challenging part. We haven't even put a sign in our yard yet or anything. I feel like this is going snail speed. Meanwhile, I have vacillated between confidence in our decision and complete lack of faith. I feel like the stock market with so many ups and downs. I have obsessively watched the news each day hoping for some good news that will either positively effect our ability to sell our home or Baxter's possibility of work. So far, nothing good has really happened but we keep painting and cleaning and getting ready for ... whatever! With home prices falling and the credit market and mortgages in the toilet, I am reminded of the story of Noah in the Bible. He just kept building the ark, everyone calling him crazy. I hope we haven't done all of this for nothing!
I am also reading two new books: Positive Discipline A to Z and The Shack. I am really enjoying both and I feel that The Shack is giving me a lot of good perspective right now. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. I'm not one who believes in random occurrences, coincidences, or meaninglessness. Already trying to figure out this life-stage we are in and hoping that there is some great cosmic reason behind it, this book has reassured me of that fact. There is a lot of comfort in being able to lean not unto my own understanding. In fact, when you can just let go of your own notions about the way things ought to be, you are better able to see what you truly have. I have everything I ever wanted and then some. God has been good to me. Whatever the future holds, I know who I am and I appreciate the blessings I have been given. I am finally allowing myself to be the sparrow. I have always been a sparrow but somehow thought that the wanting, the struggle and the worry were helping. The truth is, none of that matters. I simply need to smile and say thank you and know that everything is working out in God's own wonderful, divine way.

EEEEKK!!! It's a bug!!!

I have to share something with you. Baxter has an old friend named Ross Gordon. He and Baxter both graduated from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. In his late 30's, Ross has not yet settled down. He's never been married, has no kids and has an occupation that allows him to remain as unsettled as he likes for as long as he likes (i.e., Ross is a photographer). Ross lives in Louisville, KY and they don't talk everyday on the phone. That's why Baxter only found out yesterday about Ross' latest adventure. When Baxter called him yesterday, Ross informed him that he had missed the UGA/Kentucky game and was already in Texas, heading for Mexico. Baxter had no idea what he was talking about and Ross filled him in. He has just begun his journey around the world in his 1971 Volkswagon Bug. He also directed him to the web site and blog that he set up. Reading his story was a nice break from all of the election fallderall. Please visit his web site and read what he's doing. I plan on keeping up with his blog as he makes this remarkable trip and I might even post updates myself. He is very literally driving around the world. He will have to put his Bug on a boat a few times; but the concept is very intriguing. What a great deal of optimism one must have to take on an adventure of this size? Since his web site has a place where friends or admirers can also make donations, I am assuming he is slightly underfunded as well. What will happen to him? There is no way to know. What he will see along the way? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure; I am anxious to find out and I can't wait to see the pictures!

Around the World in my Bug

Cravings

I have to admit to some pretty strong cravings lately. Some are food related; but they all revolve around Atlanta. I never seemed to miss the big city when we lived in Savannah. Maybe being an hour and a half away is a bit of a tease. I'm close enough to get there and back in one day - but never seem to find enough time to do all the stuff I want when I get there. Anyway, we have begun the work towards moving back (painting, cleaning out etc...) and since we started, my cravings for Atlanta things are only getting more intense! I decided I should make a list of the things I have missed the most and look forward to enjoying once we return ...

1. Whole Foods - don't take it for granted, it is a virtual universe of food! The last time we went, we spent almost 2 hours basically just looking at everything. I can't WAIT to make that a weekly ritual.


2. Douceur de France Bakery - after 5 years of looking for them, Baxter found real chocolate eclairs just like we had in Paris on our honeymoon at this wonderful little spot! They also serve a wonderful brunch. Best of all - it will be just a few miles from the new homestead!


3. Culture - too many things to list here separately: The High Museum, The Atlanta Zoo, multiple concert venues (and not just those for the under 30 set), and the chance to do just about anything you can imagine without having to book a hotel or crash on my niece's tiny bed!
   
4. Hiking - I can think of a handful of places that are great for family hikes that are just a short drive away. This is something we miss every Sunday afternoon.


5. Good bargains - I love discount shopping. Whether it's yard sales, thrift shops, or warehouses full of good finds - I love getting a deal and Atlanta is the place to find them.


6. Family - maybe it's not necessary to explain this one; but I haven't lived near my family in a very long time. I left for school at UGA at the tender age of 17. Of course, I was home again pretty quickly - but only for a while. Before I knew it, I was back in Athens - then Greenville - then Savannah - then Athens again! It's been a bit of a Merry-Go-Round for the last decade or so. Being near my family is going to be nice. I miss them all and at different times of my life have had a very difficult time parting from a visit. A few things have changed since I last left home. The Parks Family has acquired quite a number of homes in the Smyrna area. If they were all clustered it could be categorized as a compound. My brother now lives next door to my parents, my sister now lives about a block away from them all in my brother's old house and my oldest niece is moving into the "old house" on Concord Road which is about a mile away. Our house will be less than two miles from all of them. Closeness doesn't get any closer than that! Apart from the free babysitting and shared meals together, it will be nice knowing that I can be there to help my Mom and Dad when they need it. They're in their upper 70s now and I will want to check in on them from time to time.


7. Cultural Phenomena - not the same as culture, cultural phenomena are the things that tend to take over in large cities WAY before they do in other places. For instance, the grunge era, although ushered in by the good people of Seattle was immediately embraced by eager Atlantans. Other examples have more to do with the retail industry. For instance, although spending quite some time helping Baxter work on attracting Trader Joe's to the Athens market, I have never been inside one. They sound awesome and I want to go to one much like people in Indonesia dream of going to a Wal Mart. (Who am I kidding, they probably have Wal Marts in Indonesia!) I also have fallen in love with IKEA over the Internet; but our fledgling electronic romance will pale in comparison to the thrill of shopping there on a regular basis. Athens is great and Athens has its own cultural draws but Atlanta is the hub and I miss that.
8. Great Meals - Nuevo Laredo Cantina (bigger and better than ever) was once one of my favorite places in the city. I also miss OK Cafe (unchanged), the burgers at US Grill, Kobe Steakhouse, Johnny Rockets and many many more!


9. Friends - there are many friends in the Atlanta area that I would love to see. Jennifer, of course, comes to mind - Jen Curtis, Mandy, Melinda, Angie, the list goes on and on...The funny thing is that I had lost touch with all of them until just a few months ago. I'd call that pretty good timing. A year ago, I wouldn't have any clue if any of my old friends were still around or how to get in touch with them. In fact, it might feel a whole lot scarier than it does. At least if I feel like running away from the craziness of unpacking for a few minutes, I know some folks I can call on!
10. People and traffic. There - I said it. As much as I used to hate it and as much as I CANNOT BELIEVE I am saying this: I actually miss all that hustle and bustle! There is something very satisfying in negotiating the big city. I never lost my internal map of all of its' suburbs and I know a thousand shortcuts. After all of these years, I sometimes still find myself calling Baxter to ask him the best route from one point in Athens to another, "should I go through five points or take the loop?" It's almost like there isn't any room left up there for another city. Maybe my brain held onto all of those highways and byways for a reason. Now that I'm moving back, I'm going to need them! Besides that, I really do like the massiveness of the city. There is an anonymity that exists in Atlanta that you just can't get here. Today at Target, I saw no less than 4 other choir moms shopping the aisles. Last time I was there, I ran into 4 or 5 people I knew. Now, don't get me wrong, I like that a lot! I love seeing my friends and feeling so closely connected - most of the time! But it would be nice if I could leave my house without my makeup just ONCE and not see a dozen people I know!

My list would be longer but so much of Atlanta and Smyrna have changed. I could hope to find things the same at every little place that holds a memory for me; but that would be disappointing. I know things in the city never stay the same for long. It's sometimes sad but that ever-evolving reality is part of what makes me love it so much.

We're actually getting stuff done around here. I just loaded up Baxter's car with a ton of stuff to donate to Goodwill. We have painted our dining room and master suite and we're starting on the upstairs tomorrow. We will be signing our listing agreement on Monday. Baxter is still looking for a job but now that the election is over, he is starting to hear back from people. I hope that he will have some interviews lined up soon and we can really get this ball rolling. I will continue to report our progress, our hopes for the future and even our consternation. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us during this great time of transition. It means a lot to know you hold our family in such high esteem.

I Love To Get Tagged...

Mandy tagged me! So here goes...
(I preface this by saying that I'm in a strange mood right now)

4 Things I have done today...
1. Watched my ebay auctions close and sold 8/11 items - decent
2. Clipped coupons
3. Cuddled with the kids in our PJs
4. Read for an hour for pleasure


4 Things on my "To Do" List
1. Go to the Post Office to ship stuff
2. Paint my entire house and finish getting it ready to put on the market (ugh!)
3. Work on George's web site & finish scripts I'm working on
4. Have some fun

4 Guilty Pleasures
1. Tea (drinking decaf chai tea right now)
2. Wine
3. Blogging
4. Long phone conversations - long conversations period actually!

4 Random Facts About Me
1. I enjoy other cultures and would love to live in an exotic place
2. I am a terrible grouch when I'm hungry
3. I love my children beyond measure
4. Sometimes I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing

4 Favorite Movies
1. The Apartment
2. Every movie Bill Murray has ever done
3. Empire of the Sun (thus began my obsession with Christian Bale)
4. The English Patient

4 Places of Employment (what a resume!)
1. Gulfstream Aerospace
2. Harry Bissett's New Orleans Cafe
3. Chili's
4. Applied Media Technology Corporation (current)

4 Things Always With Me
1. Jesus Christ
2. The love I have for my family
3. My tattoo ;-0
4. Type 1 Diabetes

4 Favorite Memories
1. The day Baxter and I got married
2. The day Abby was born
3. The day Ford came home from the hospital
4. Tie: The day I first met Baxter and confused him with his twin brother AND the day I realized Baxter was realizing I was interested in him and overheard him talking to Jeff Chesser and I blushed from head to toe and I am pretty sure I already knew I was in love with him...

4 Things I Couldn't Go a Day Without
1. My true love
2. Talking to God and working on it all
3. My exquisite children
4. Lipstick

Okay, so I'm going to tag someone here...how about Jen Curtis?? Let's hope she's reading...

Just Posting...

It's Halloween and the kids are finally in bed. It's been a busy day for me - painting the dining room, organizing dinner and trick or treat activities and our normal stuff too. Baxter in down in Cordele at an 800 acre plantation/hunting retreat with a bunch of his buds. He missed trick or treating tonight and we missed him too. Even though Anna and her boys came, it didn't feel the same with Baxter gone. He's staying down there to watch the Florida game and will come back Sunday. I don't know how wives routinely miss their husbands. My friend Mindi's husband travels a bit with his job, Jennifer's hubby is on the road a good portion of the year and I've known a couple of military wives who really know what it is like to do it all on their own. I don't take Baxter for granted at all. I miss him. I knew I would miss him and I do. Abby and Ford also missed him. Life just isn't the same without him. For his sake, I hope he brings home a big trophy - although we already have three...

I have just posted a venison recipe on my food blog. I'm trying to catch up there after leaving a couple of drafts unpublished for too long. I'll probably post again in a few days there.

Trick or Treating was fun - I even dressed up as a bat (sort of). I have a lot of candy to go through tonight. Here are some cute pics of my kiddies...